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Author
Mai

;A SCARLET SIN.

A I>iiOVKl^.

- FLORENCE MARRY AT,

Uithor of ''Mount Eden,'' ''Love's Conflict," ''7 he
Master Passion'' " Spiders of Society'' etc., etc.

Montreal :

JOHN LOVELL & SON,

23 St. Nicholas Street.

Entered according to Act of Parliament in the year i«59u, by
John Lovell &* Son, in the office of the Ministe^ ot Agnvblfeure
and Statistics at Ottawa.

A SCARLET SIN.

ar layu^ by
Agnvtilture

CHAPTER I.

THE MISTRESS OF GLEBE ROYAL.

rLEBE Royal never looked more beautiful than it
lid in autumn, when the varied hues of dying
Mature were on its glorious old trees, turning their
^|nantling leaves from every shade of green to yellow
^nd crimson and copper brown ; when the carpet of
Ibracken that lay under them was rust color, and
^%*ackled as the deer sprang over it ; and when the
imooth-shaven lawn in front of the house was studded
#ith dahlias, like living gems — for Glebe Royal had
Hlways been celebrated for its dahlias, and Sir Alan
Chichester took a pride in keeping up everything as
j it had ever been. But on the autumn afternoon
I that sees this story open, the day's glory had de-
parted, and left a misty veil like a pale grey cloud
l^/g^er the landscape. It had been raining heavily, and
lough the shower had abated, the raindrops still
|ltung upon the "invisible" fence that divided the
gardens from the park, and dripped silently from the
overhanf^ing eaves. The deer were huddled together
their sheds, the dahlias hung their heavy laden
lliossoms downwards, and the adjacent stables and

// SCAKLKT SIN,

kennels seemed strangely quiet, for it was a hunting
day, and Sir Alan Chichester, M.P. for the county,
had been away since nine o'clock in the morning,
with all his retinue. Not a sound was to be heard,
except the crunching of the gravel drive under the
clumsily shod feet and heavy tread of the baronet's
sister, Miss Chichester, as she tramped up and down
like a soldier on duty. Miss Chichester was a woman
about fifty, full ten years older than her brother, Sir
Alan, and of what most people mistook for a hard
and uncompromising nature. Glebe Royal had been
her home (as it had been that of her brother) all her
life long, and her visits to other places had been few
and far between. Her circle of acquaintance was
therefore necessarily small, and her mind had had no
opportunities of development. Her ideas were nar-
row and bigoted ; she wished to do right, but she
had a most unpleasant way of doing it. Once put a
notion in her head and it was impossible to drive it
out again. Her settled opinion was, that what was
right for Tom must be right for Harry, and that if a
thmg was advisable on Monday, it was advisable on
Tuesday. It was in the fulfilment of this theory,
that she was marching up and down the drive of
Glebe Royal after a soaking shower at five o'clock in
the afternoon. The damp ground made her feet cold
and her frame shiver. She was swallowing the rising
mists in an unlimited quantity, but she knew it was
healthy exercise to walk for an hour every day, so
she would have done it had the heavens rained fire.
Not only that, but she would have left no stone
unturned to make her friends do the same, for herein

I n ting
)unty,
rning,
leard,
er the
onet's
down
roman
sr, Sir
I hard
1 been
\\\ her
zn few
:e was
lad no
e nar-
ut she

put a
rive it
at was
lat if a
ble on
heory,
rive of
lock in
et cold
; rising

it was
iay, so
ed fire.
I stone

herein

A SCARLET SIN. f

lay the disagreeable part of Anna Chichester's
character, she could not be contented with carrying
out her own ideas of right. She wanted to force
everybody else to think and do exactly the same as
she did. The rapidly approaching shades of evening,
which threatened to obscure the outer landscape, had
made the inside of the house look still more gloomy.
The servants had lighted the lamps in the hall and
passages, but Lady Chichester had refused to let
them illuminate the drawing-room in which she sat,
and the vast apartment was full of fitful shadows.
The huge log of wood that lay smouldering on the
hearth, and threw up a flickering flame'every now and
then, made the subjects of the paintings that hung on
the walls, and the statuary that stood in the corners
look almost ghostly. But Lady Chichester had no
fear of ghosts, unless they were the ghosts of the
past, and was thinking only of herself and her ail-
ments, as she cowered on a sofa close to the fire, and
wondered what could be the matter with her that she
felt so ill. She was a slight, frail-looking woman of
about forty, round whose attenuated figure a white
woolen shawl was wrapt so closely that hardly any-
thing was to be seen of her but her face. She had
been very pretty in her girlish days — one of those
fairy-like, ethereal creatures that strong, vigorous
men delight in, for their very contrast to themselves
— but all the beauty was gone now, and only the
fragility remained. Her hair had become scanty and
was thickly streaked with grey ; her large blue eyes
gazed at you with a shrinking, scared expression that
betrayed she had no confidence in herself or in her

A SCARLET SIN.

own opinions — if she possessed any. As she sat
there in the gathcnn«j t^looni, she did not appear to
make any effort to employ or amuse hcrscir. A ball
of wool and some knitting pins, with the fn-st volume
of a novel, certainly lay on a small table beside her,
but she did not seem to have made any proi^ress
with either. Lady Chichester was only wondering
vaguely if she should soon feel better again, or if she
were going to die, and if you had offered her the
choice of the two, she would probably have chosen
the latter. For she loved her husband with a meek,
mute adoration, felt by few wives in the present day,
and she knew she was a burden and an annoyance to
him, rather than a pleasure, and that he would be
better off if she were gone. She was so absorbed in
her own thoughts, that she never heard the hall-door
bell ring, and was quite startled when the footman
threw open the door and announced " Dr. Jolliffe."

Dr. Jolliffe could not have been better suited with
a name, for it sounded so much like "jolly," and he
was one of the jolliest people possible. He never
entered a house without brightening it up. His
cheery voice brought hope and confidence in its
train, and desponding hearts, looking doubtfully into
the future, took courage from its tones to battle suc-
cessfully with the disease that threatened to overcome
their physical powers.

" Why ! how is this "i " he exclaimed, as he passed
the threshold, " all in the dark > How am I to judge
of my patient's looks if I can't see her? With your
leave. Lady Chichester, I must request John to light
up ! I have very sharp eyes, but not sharp enough
for this."

// sr.iKf.r.T ../A\

?he sat
pear to

A bnll
volume
ide her,
)roiTres.s
nclcring
)r if she
her the

chosen
a meek,
;nt day,
^ance to
3uld be
>rbed in
all-door
botman

ollifife."
ed with

and he
; never

His
in its
Uy into
tie suc-
ercome

passed
0 judge
th your
o light
enough

" It is so pleasant to sit in the twilight when one is
alone," said Lady Chichester in a plaintive voice, as
the gas flared u[) and revealed her features.

" Pleasant perhaps, but not prudent," replied Dr.
Jolliffc, as he felt her pulse. " Have you never heard
th.it it is iv't good for man to be alone, nor woman
either? Where is Miss Chichester ?'*

' I don't know ! I have not seen her since
luncheon."

"And Sir Alan?"

"O! he is out hunting ! Did you not hear there
was a meet to-day ? "

" No! Why didn't you call for me in the carriage
and take me to it ? I should have enjoyed the sight.
Did you go ? "

*' I? O! doctor," replied Lady Chichester, depre-
catingly.

" Well, and why not ? It was a lovely morning,
though it has ended in rain. It would have done
you good. The fact is, you shut yourself too much
up in the house, Lady Chichester! I shall have to
lay my orders on Sir Alan to see that you drive out
every day. We shall have you ill, if this goes on."

"O! doctor, \ am ill," returned Lady Chichester,
shivering and drawing her woolen shawl still closer.
*' Sometimes I think I shall never be any better, that
I am going to die."

The doctor laughed long and heartily.

" Going to die ! So you are ! You are quite right,
my dear lady, and so am I, and Sir Alan and every-
one dies in due course of time. But we won't order
our coffins just yet."

A scAh'/rr SIX.

" But what use am T ? " she said earnestly. " My
good, true Alan is as kind to me as he can be, but I
am only a drag upon his daily life. We can share
nothing in common now, and of late I have felt much
worse than usual."

" Tell me all your symptoms, never mind how
trifling, and I will give you a true opinion on them,"
he answered her. He sat, silent and attentive, whilst
his patient gave various details concerning herself,
but his eye twinkled occasionally as he listened, and
there was just the suspicion of a smile about his
mouth.

" Now, my dear lady," he said as she concluded,
" you're not ill at all, and I'm going to make you as
right as a trivet."

"O! doctor.'*

" It's gospel truth, and the first thing I prescribe
is exercise. You must take gentle exercise daily,
either by driving or walking."

" But I cannot walk, I am too weak."

"Then you must go in your carriage until you
regain the use of your legs. And you must have
more society ! It's enough to make anybody feel ill
to sit by herself all day. What is Miss Chichester
about to leave you alone like this ? Why isn't she
here to amuse and divert you ? "

" Anna has always had her own apartments at
Glebe Royal, and occupied them as she saw fit.
Besides, I would rather be by myself, Dr. Jollifife.
My sister-in-law and I have n£yer been very close
friends, nor thought alike on the same subjects, and
anything approaching a discussion is sure to upset
me. I am better alone."

•:*'

A SCAKIET SIS\

y. " My
be, but I
:an share
felt much

inci how
n them,"
^e, whilst
\ herself,
ned, and
bout his

"You arc no such thin^, my lady, and I must see
Sir Alan on the suhjict, You need cheerful society,
and you must have it."

'* But I dislike evening and dinner parties exceed-
ingly. It is quite a trial to me to preside at one. I
dread that Sir Alan should see how incapable I am
of amusing his guests, and lately he has been good
enough to excuse me from appearing at table, and let
his sister do the honors instead."

"A great mistake on Sir Alan's part," replied Dr.
Jolliffe impatiently, "but I was not alluding to
parties at all. What you require is a cheerful com-
panion to remain with you all day, and to share your
walks or drives. Now, what would you say to
having some nice, bright, warm-hearted girl to run
after you wherever you went, to read aloud to you,
or play and sing perhaps, and make herself generally
useful."

Lady Chichester's pale cheeks actually flushed.

" I should like it very much, I think, doctor, but I
know of no young people. I have no nieces, or
cousins with whom I am intimate, or — or — " with a
deep sigh, "children."

** I know that, but everything can be got in this
world with money, and there are plenty of young
ladies who would only be too thankful to come to
a home like this ! I wish / was a young lady. Lady
Chichester, / woulo jump at the offer ! Glebe Royal
is a little paradise."

"That is just what I used to say when I first came
to it," replied Lady Chichester with another sigh,
" and to think it must pass away to strangers ! No

A SCARLET Sm.

'Xi

wonder it makes Sir Alan sad to speak of it ! Some-
times he says he'll chuck the whole thing up and go
abroad to end his days."

Dr. Jolliffe laughed again in his hearty reassuring
way.

** Nonsense ! Nonsense ! Sir Alan is only making
fun of you. He knows a trick worth two of that !
And what may your ladyship's book be?" touching
the volume on the table — " anything new from
Mudie?"

"Yes! Mr. Rider Haggard's * She/ A startling
story, doctor, and very improbable. But the print
is rather small and my eyes ache, else I was getting
very much interested in it. Fancy ! a woman living
for a thousand years ! Could such a thing ever have
really happened ? "

*' I'll go far towards making you live for a thousand
years if you'll follow my advice," said the doctor.

She actually laughed. Such a thin quavery little
ghost of a laugh as it was, and yet so unused to make
itself heard that it was almost immediately succeeded
by tears.

"If you could make me just a little like my former
self, a little more like what I was when Alan married
me," she filtered, " I should be so happy."

"So I \ ; V' he rejoined, " if you'll only be good.
Now, will }ou promise me to go out driving to-
morrow morning, wet or dry ? "

"Wet or dry.?"

" Certainly. In the open carriage if it should be
dry (which I think it will), and in a close one, if it
proves rainy. Drive to Gambletown and back, and

A SCARLET SIN.

V making

of that !

touching

2w from

starth'ng
le print
3 getting
m living
v^er have

|iousand
:or.

ry h'ttle
to make
:ceeded

former
narried

good,
ng to-

- ?■■■*;

bring me a new pair of dogskin gloves from Munster's
to prove you've been there. Is it a bargain ? "

" Yes, doctor, if }'ou really consider it necessary."

" It is more than necessary. It is imperative, I
want to bring the roses back to your cheeks, LaJy
Chichester, and the gloss to your hair. You are not
doing yourself justice at all. You will look ten years
younger when you have been for a week in the open
air."

'< I will go, indeed I will go," she replied quite
eagerly; " but it is almost as lonely driving by oneself,
as sitting here by oneself"

*' Take ' She ' with you then, and fancy you are sit-
ting on the sofa at home. Before long I hope we
shall have secured someone who will talk to you and
amuse you whether you are out or in. I ought to
have thought of it long ago."

He rose to take his leave, holding her pulse again
for a few seconds between his fingers before he did so.
The touch seemed to inspire him with some hope.

" You are not so ill as you imagine. Lady Chiches-
ter, by a very long way, indeed ; I shall not be sur-
prised if a few months sees you entirely restored to
health. Take heart and resolve to be well. Then,
you w/// be well ! Good-bye."

He left his patient still v»eak, trembling and scared
looking, but he left hope behind him, and a more
contented look settled down upon her countenance
as she sank back upon the sofa, and resumed her
perusal of "• She."

Meanwhile l)r. Jolliffe having assumed his top-
coat and an enormous woolen comforter (which he

A SCARLET SIM

wound about half a dozen times round his throat) in
the hall, took his umbrella and turned out into the
open air, when he ran straight up against Miss
Chichester, who had walked for exactly sixty minutes
by the stable clock.

feiU

A SCARLET SIN,

throat) in
t into the
inst Miss
Y minutes

CHAPTER II.

HOME FROM HUNTING.

" Hullo, Doctor Jolliffc ! " exclaimed the lady in her
discourteous manner. " What on earth are you here
for ? " (For amongst Miss Chichester's pet aversions
she classed the entire medical fraternity, whom she
commonly designated as a set of cheats and fools.)

" That's not a very polite way in which to welcome
a visitor to Glebe Royal, Miss Chichester," replied
the doctor good-humoredly, " Suppose I came
especially to make a call upon yourself! "

" O ! you know me better than that ! You know I
would rather die a natural death at any time than be
forced out of the world by your filthy pills and
potions. You can keep them to kill yourself with.
You'll never get me to swallow them."

Her rudeness, unaccompanied by the slightest
pleasantry, had no effect upon the doctor, who only
laughed at it in his usual hearty manner.

*• I am quite aware of it, Miss Chichester, and I
never intend to ask you ; moreover, I am Christian
enough to be able to add, that I hope you'll never
feel the want of them. No ! I didn't come to see
yuu. My visit was to Lady Chichester ! I thought
she looked ill in church yesterday, and that I might
venture to offer her a little advice."

"Alice ill! Fudge! She's lazy! That's what

you mean,

A SCARLET SIN.

" Indeed I do not, and if you will walk back with
me to the drive gates, I should like to speak to you
about her."

"All right," replied Miss Chichester, wheeling
round. *' If Alice would only conic out and walk down
the drive with you, herself, she wouldn't need either
your advice or any of your dirty messes."

" I agree with you there, but that would argue she
had as fine a constitution as yourself; and unfor-
tunately she has not. She is very feeble and ener-
vated ; in fact there is no doubt she is ill."

*' What's the matter with her ? " demanded his
companion curtly.

" That I am not quite prepared to say."

" You doctors never arc prepared to say anything.
You always have to go home and grub in your books
before you can form an opinion. And then you're
generally wrong."

" I am aware that you have not a very high
opinion of the medical profession, Miss Chichester;
still, I have pretty well made up my mind regarding
her ladyship's symptoms, but I decline to disclose
my surmise at present. What I wish to consult you
about, is the treatment necessary to her case. She
must not be allowed to mope."

" Mope ! Who makes her mope ? "

" I call it ^moping' to sit alone for the greater
part of the day, like Lady Chichester, unemployed
and brooding (as she evidently does) on melancholy
subjects. I want more life and sunshine for her."

" But, bless you, man," cried Miss Chichester, stop-
ping short on the gravel drive, and arresting his

A SCARLET SIN.

»s

back with
;ak to you

wheeling
/alk down
eed either

argue she
ind unfor-
and ener-

inded his

anything.
3ur books
en you're

ery high
lichestcr ;
regarding
disclose
nsult you
Lse. She

greater

;mployed
ilancholy
her."
tor, stop-
stinc^ his

' i'i

attention with a violent dig from her umbrella,
** why doesn't she take them, then } She's alive, and
jshe's got legs ! But she won't stir from the sofa ! She
won't even go out in the carriage, and as for a walk
such as I have just been taking, why she'd die
straight off at the thought of it. She's a fool, that's
what she is, and always has been," concluded Miss
Chichester resuming her walk.

" You're too hard upon her, indeed you are ! You
cannot judge of her capabilities by your own. Lady
Chichester is naturally of a very delicate constitution,
and has increased her physical weakness by giving
in to it. She wants rousing and encouraging, and
more cheerful society."

" Cheerful society ! Isn't Sir Alan cheerful ? One
of the happiest dispositions possible, and active and
vigorous as can be ! All the greater misfortune for
him to be tied to such a useless creature as Alice."

"Your brother is everything you say. Miss Chi-
chester, but then he possesses an imusual amount of
strength and vitality, and his habits have become a
second nature. But he is very seldom with Lady
Chichester. She does not see much of him."

" How can she when she scarcely ever leaves the
house ? "

" And has almost arrived at the pitch when she is
incapable of leaving it. Well! if she can't go out,
she must have companionship indoors. I insist upon
it ; and shall take the earliest opportunity to tell Sir
Alan so."

Dr. Jolliffe spoke so unusually gravely and de-
cidedly (for him) that Miss Chichester became a little
alarmed.

A SCARLET SIN,

« Is Alice really ill ? '* she asked.

" She will be if my orders are not attended to."

** But I am a great deal with her ! I have lived at
Glebe Royal ever since my brother's marriage twenty
years ago. I always meet my sister-in-law at meals."

" That is not sufficient, and excuse me for saying I
want a younger and more congenial companion for
Lady Chichester than yourself, someone who will be
always with her, to sing or play and suggest means
of amusement, who will let her have her own way, in
fact, and not argue with or contradict her."

Miss Chichester tossed her head.

" And pray where will you find this rara avis ?
They don't grow in Glebe Royal."

" We must advertise for one."

" You mean to engage a hired companion for I idy
Chichester. I won't allow it."

"Then I must speak to Sir Alan myself on the
subject. I thought you might have paved the way
for me, but it is no matter. I shall call in again
shortly. Good-evening."

And, without offering to shake hands with her, Dr.
Jolliffe passed through the drive gates and left Miss
Chichester alone. It was very dark and very damp
as she stood there for a few minutes looking after his
retreating figure, and almost wishing she had not
spoken so hastily. But the proposal had annoyed
her. They were very conservative at Glebe Royal,
and the idea of a stranger being admitted to the
family circle, to hear all their secrets and be a con-
stant spy upon their actions, was very distasteful to
her. Added to which her pride was hurt at the idea

./ SCARLET SrX

ed to."
e lived at
ge twenty
at meals."
r saying I
panion for
ho will be
est means
yrn way, in

ara avis ?

I for I idy

2lf on the
d the way
1 in again

th her, Dr.

left Miss
^ery damp
ig after his
e had not
i annoyed
be Royal,
ed to the

be a con-
itasteful to
at the idea

iff

that her society was not considered sufficient for her
sister-in-law. She had lived under the same roof
as Alice ever since Sir Alan had brought her home
to Glebe Royal, a blushing, shy girl of twenty,
had nursed her in her rough unsympathetic way
through her illnesses, and been regarded in every
respect as an elder sister. And now this doctor
(who was as great a fool as the rest of his pro-
fession) threatened to depose her, and set up a
stranger in her place. She waited at the drive gates
for fully twenty minutes watching for the return of
her brother and his friend, Captain Henry Fauntle-
roy, from hunting, and when they arrived, muddy and
splashed, she placed hergauntleted hand on Sir Alan's
saddlebow, and commenced to march up the drive
with him in that position.

"Take care, Anna," said her brother, "'the
Squire ' and I are dreadfully dirty. We came a
cropper over the last brook in Tangle field. He will
soil your dress if you walk so close to him."

" Rubbish ! What do I care for a little mud ? I'm
not made of sugar, like Alice. By the way. Dr.
JoUiffe has just been talking to me about her. He
thinks she's ill."

If the evening shadows had not already commenced
to fall, Miss Chichester would have seen the change
that passed suddenly upon her brother's face. He
and his wife had drifted very far asunder in the last
few years, but she had been the one love of his life,
and he would never quite forget it.

*' ////" he reiterated quickly, "what's the matter.?
Surely nothing serious ! "

J SCAKf.r.T SLV,

k '

«•.

Miss Chichester gave a kind of snort of contempt.

**T only said that JoUifife thinks she's ill, and you
must know what fools these doctors are. For my
own part I don't believe a word of it ! Alice is a
chilly mortal and somewhat lazy, and she won't go
out this weather. If she did, she'd be all the better
for it. But Jolliffe declares she requires amusement,
and we must get a companion for her."

" A companion ! " repeated Sir Alan knitting his
brows, " a companion, when she has ?«^ ! "

"And 7/ie too! That's just what / said, but he
was obstinate, and declared he should speak to you
himself on t^ e subject."

** I shall send down the groom to ask him to come
up again to-night," said her brother as he dismounted
at the hall door. '* I shan't rest till I've heard the
truth oi" it. Alice ill ! Why ! I have never heard
her make the slightest complaint ! "

He turned abruptly from his sister and his friend
as he spoke, and walked straight into the drawing-
room, where his wife was lying on the couch before
the fire, with her book in her hand. But she had
heard his footstep, and her large eyes were turned
towards the door, expectantly. As she caught sight
of him, and saw that he had not stayed to change
his dress, before seeking her presence, her pale face
lighted up with pleasure which increased to the verge
of making her tremble, as he came up to her side and
kissed her. He was a man to be proud of. His two
and forty years had but perfected his muscular figure
until assimilated with his height. He had a small
head, covered with close-cropped curling hair, brown

./ .SC.l/C/Js7' SJJV.

ontempt.
and you
For my
\.Iice is a
won't go
he better
lusement,

itting his

id, but he
;ik to you

1 to come
smounted
leard the
ver heard

his friend

dravving-

ich before

she had
re turned
ight sight
to change

pale face
the verge
T side and
His two
liar figure
id a small
air, brown

'-y

I'.'i.

V i' r rmcd nose, and a full-lipped mouth
shaded b) I heavy moustache. His pink coat and
top-boots iMid breeches suited hitn admirably, and
ihe appeared to be (as indeed he was) the essence of
linanly strength and vitality. He looked as if he
■could have taken the fragile woman on the sofa and
crushed her between his finger and thumb, and some
feeling of this sort, some sense of the 'ast gulf th:it
yawned between them with the passing years, had
done more to estrange them than anything else.

How could a man who reveled in hunting, shoot-
ing, fishing and all other manly sports, to whom,
indeed, they were esijcntially necessary as part of his
existence, derive much enjoyment from the society of
a wife too feeble to accompany him anywhere ? And
she had never given him any children. T/iaf was the
great secret disappointment of Sir Alan Chichester's
life. How often, when she had been the one great
passion of his boyhood, his promised bride, as yet
unclaimed, had he not dreamed with the confidence
of two and twenty years of the sons and daughters
she would bring him, and of whom he should be so
proud, because they belonged to his pretty, fairy-like
Alice, with her wild-rose complexion and her dainty
ways 1 And then came marriage, but without the
realization of that boyish dream! The wild-rose
bloom on Alice's cheek had faded into pallor, and
the dainty ways had degenerated into lassitude, for
Lady Chichester was also a disappointed and un-
happy woman. She recognized that, though from
no fault of her own, she was a failure, and that her
husband could never look at her without remember-
illg that his vast estates and riches and title must

, ^,

! •'

■ n

A SCAHLET SIN,

pass at his death to strangers, because she had borne
no son to inherit them. Miss Chichester too — with
the pride of a member of an old county family — felt
the disappointment ahnost as keenly as themselves,
and many a bitter hint or allusion from h(!r lips had
made Lady Chichester's lot more hard to bear. But
through it all, the wife had adored her husband,
perhaps all the more so because she felt as if she had
hinoccntly wronged him, and he — well ! he loved
her still (or thought he did) that is to say; waves of
tenderness for her would sweep over him occasionally,
when he remembered what she /lad been, but when
he ho ' remained for a few minutes in her society he
generally contrived to escape from it to that of his
male companions, so opposite had they grown in all
their tastes, opinions and pursuits. Miss Chichester's
intelligence, however, had awakened one of those
sudden ebullitions of feeling to which Sir AJan was
subject, and as he embraced his wife he asktd her
quite affectionately,

"Well, little woman, and what's the matter with
you ?

" Matter ! dear Alan ! Nothing at all that I know
of. Only I feel very tired sometimes, and good for
nothing. Dr. Jolliffe has been here."

" So Anna tells me ! What did he say ? "

** He said he would make me quite well if I would
obey his orders."

"Then you must obey them. By Jove ! I wish
you could come out hunting with me ! T/iat would
set up. You should have tried it twenty years ago,
Alice, when I wanted to teach you."

" Ah ! Alan ! I was always too silly and timid to

h
P

^/ ^TAAlJiT S/AT,

•I

had borne

too — with

mily — felt

lemselves,

r h'ps had

3car. But

husband,

if she had

he loved

waves of

casionally,

but when

society he

that of his

rown in all

Ihichester's

e of those

r Alan was

asktd her

latter with

hat I know
id good for

»»

if I would

e ! I wish

r/iaf would

years ago,

nd timid to

iniike a good horsewoman ! All your instructions
were so much time thrown away."

"You would have been a different woman if you
had followed my advice. It would have put new
life into you. You should have seen the run we had
to-day. Straight as the crow flies, from Brierly
Downs to Tanglewood, and without a check. * The
Squire * and I came to grief over the last brook.
The bank was so soft from the rain, he couldn't get a
grij* of it, so we both flopped in."

" Not in the water," exclaimed Lady Chichester in
a voice of terror.

*' 0( coursi; in the water ! head over ears ! How
could we ' flop * on dry land ? Hullo ! what's the
matter with you ? '*

For even that excitement had been too much for
Lady Chichester's enfeebled frame, and she had sunk
back upon her sofa cushions in a faint. Sir Alan
rang the bell furiously. The sight of extreme weak-
ness did not soften, it rather hardened him. He
^ believed so fully in the arrogance of his own strength
that it was quite avoidable. He ordered the servant
who answered the bell to send Lady Chichester's
maid to her assistance at once, and as soon as Jane
Wood appeared, he resigned his wife into her charge*

** I can't imagine what's the matter with your
mistress, Jane! She's always fainting now-a-days!"
he said in a tone of annoyance. " You mustn't
encourage it. It's the worst thing possible for her
to give way."

'• 1 encourage it. Sir Alan ! " exclaimed the maid,
"ycui're quite mistaken! I'd lay down my life for
her ladyship ! But it's my belief that she's very ill,
poor dear I very ill indeed,"

. '

d SCAKLUr SiN.

CHAPTER IIL

MASCULINE CONFIDENCES.

AlTTIOUGTT Sir Alan did not entirely believe the old
servant's statement, yet, combined with his sister's
information, it sufficed to make him both thoughtful
and silent at the dinner table, at which Lady Chi-
chester was unable ti) appear. Captain Fauntleroy
was the only f;ucst stayin^^' at Glebe Royal at the
time — indeed he was so constant a visitor there, that
he was almost regarded as one of the family. Al-
though some seven years the junior of his host, they
had been students at school and college together, and
these youthful friendships are often the strongest of
all. Anyway, it had proved so in their case. Henry
Fauntleroy had neitlier the good looks nor the good
fortune of his friend, but their difference in worldly
position had never been an obstacle to the course of
their aftcction, and whenever he could obtain a few
days' leave, he ran down to Hampshire to spend them
at Glebe Royal. He had been intimate with Lady
Chichester therefore ever since her marriage, when he
had been a stripling, newly emerged from his Eton
jackets, and allowed to take all sorts of liberties with
the bride, just because he was so young. He had
called her " Alice " in those days, with the full appro-
bation of th.j bridegroom, and he had called her
"A'icc" c I 1- since. As soon as the servants had
v/ithdrawn their presence, and Miss Chichester had

^rl .«

A SCAKLET SIN.

«3

^ve the old

lis sister's
^liougluiul
Lady Chi-
Muntlcioy
yai at the
there, that
nily. Al-
host, they
jet her, and
.rongest of
e. Henry
■ the good
n worldly
course of
ain a {q\w
)end them
''ith Lady
J, when he
his Eton
Tties with
He had
u 11 appro-
all cd her
ants had
ester had

stalked out of the room, saying in a very hoarse voice
that she would go and imiuire after her sister-in-law,
Captain Fauntlcroy drew his chair closer to that of his
friend and asked the reason of his unusual mood,

" What's the matter, old chum ? " he said affection-
ately. "Anything happened to vex you ?"

" It's only this business about my wife," replied
Sir Alan, lighting his pipe (for they were Bohemian
enough to smoke in the dining-room at Glebe Royal),
"she fLiinted again just before dinner."

*• Ikit that's nothing new, is it ? She's always
fainting or something."

" You're right, Hal ! That's where the shoe pinches !
I've been married twenty years, and 1 might just as
well be a bachelor for any good Alice is to me."

" That's not her fault, however."

•• I didn't say it was her fault," returned the baro-
net, with the nearest approach to ill-humor his happy
disposition could command, " but it makes it none
' the less liard to bear. I've come to the conclusion
that marriage is a mistake, Hal — the greatest mistake
one can make."

"Come! Come! you're the last man in the world
who should say that, Alan ! Why, Alice positively
adores you — I always quote you among my acquain-
tance as the luckiest fellow I know."

" That doesn't disprove the truth of my assertion.
Hal ! It's the condition of marriage that I condemn.
See what it has done for me ! Tied me for life to an
invalid, who can neither join in my pursuits and
amusements, nor look after my establishment as she
should do. We have almost had to give up entertain-

■t,'

'1 -.. ■

84 ^/ SC^iRLET SIN,

ing on account of it, for the ladies don't care to come
to a house where the mistress scarcely ever shows
herself, and my sister (though an excellent, well-
meaning woman) is not a genial hostess."

" Poor Alice," said Fauntleroy, ** and she was such
a lovely creature when you married her! Boy as I
was, I can remember how I admired her sweet, blush-
ing face and her shy, girlish ways. She was my type
of womanhood."

"Ah! fight shy of those ethereal, angelic-looking
women for yourself, Hal. Take warning by me, and
choose a wife with more flesh and blood in her, and
less spirituality. It may be very pretty to look at,
my boy, but it isn't healthy. Transparent complex-
ions, fragile forms, and varying blushes, mean hysteria,
dyspepsia and consumption, and anything but a
woman fit to bring your children into the world I
Look at me now with this* splendid estat'* on which
I, and my father, and my grandfather were all born
and reared, — and I have to keep it up, and spend
money on it, for some distant cousin, or other, to
inherit after me! — so distant that I don't really know,
if I died to-morrow, who would be my heir. And
we — whose names have been known in the country
for generations past ! It is too hard ! Do you think
I don't remember it every time I walk over the estate,
and curse my folly for not having had more fore-
sight > "

" Poor Alice ! " reiterated Captain Fauntleroy, with
a sigh.

" And I think you might add poor Alan. The
fact is, every nation manages their marriages better

A SCARLET SIN,

re to come
jver shows
[lent, well-

e was such
Boy as I

eet, blush-
is my type

He-looking
3y me, and
n her, and
:o look at,
t complex-
n hysteria,
ing but a
he world !

on which
e all born
and spend

other, to
ally know,
leir. And
le count!}-
>you think

the estate,
nore fore-

eroy, with

Ian. The
ges better

than wc do ! They should be ordered as they were
in ancient Rome, and not declared valid until the
woman has borne a son."

" Come, old man, you don't mean what you say,"
replied his friend soothingly. " I know the want of an
heir has been a great disappointment to you, but, after
all, marriage was instituted for something higher and
holier than that, and I am sure that you would not
change your wife for any woman in the world."

At this direct thrust Sir Alan looked rather con-
scious.

" Well ! perhaps not ! I married her from feelings
of affection only ! No one knows that better than
yourself, and she is undoubtedly very fond of me.
Still, I maintain that it is very hard for a man of two
and forty, with every capability for enjoyment, to be
chained to a sick woman, who looks ten years older
than himself, and who lea\es him to go about the
world without companionship or counsel. Honestly,
Hal, Alice is not of the least possible comfort to me."

** I grant that, Alan, and I realize the difficulties of
the position ; still they might have been worse. You
might have married a wife who was indifferent to you
— or even deserted you ! Here am I at six and
thirty, a bachelor and likely to remain so, and all
because a confounded jilt thought fit to play fast and
loose with me."

" How was that, Hal ? You have never men-
tioned it before."

" Perhaps not ! I don't care to parade my wounds
for the inspection of the public! I only spoke of it
now to show you that others suffer i^s well as yourself,
though in a different way."

A SCARLET SIN.

ViV-

*' Tell me about it, old boy ! Wc have never had
any secrets from each other."

"There is not much to tell. It happened five
years ago, when we were stationed at Plymouth. I
met one of those beautiful Devonshire girls — ' De-
vonshire witches ' they call them, and I am sure she
bewitched me — and I fell desperately in love with
her. I had never experienced a real passion before,
you see," added Captain Fauntleroy almost apologe-
tically; ''and where a man doesn't talce the measles
until he is over thirty, he generally takes them badly.
I fully intended to marry the girl — for she was the
most fascinating creature I have ever met — and I
believed her to be fond of me, because she always
said so, and flirted with me outrageously for months,
but, when I plucked up courage to propose to her,
she put me off in the neatest manner possible, by
declaring she was under age (I am sure she was f/ot
though), and had no power under her late father's
will of marrying without the consent of her guardian
and trustee. I demanded an introduction to this
worthy, who dismissed my suit on account of my
poverty with an insolence that made every drop of
blood in my body boil."

" Did the lady approve his action .' "

"Of course she said she didn't, but I had seen
enough of the determination of her character to be
sure that, had she chosen, she could have held her
own against a dozen guardians. But she did not
love mc — she had only been amusing herself at my
expense — th.it was the truth of it, and when I dis-
covered tlie truth, I left her. Hut not unscathed.

A SCARLET SIN.

Alan ! I shall be a bachelor to my life's end for her
sake."

" Such a woman is not worth the regret of a life-
time," replied the baronet. " Try your luck once more,
old man ! There are as good fish in the sea as ever
came out of it ! I only wish I had your chance of
choosing again."

" Don't say iJiat, Alan," cried Fauntleroy earnestly,
" for it is not true ; cherish a sweet pure angel like
Alice whilst you have her, for you don't know how
many she-devils there are walking about the world
in robes of light."

Sir Alan was about to make some caustic reply
when the footman appeared to announce the arrival
of Dr. Jolliffe.

" Show him in here," he exclaimed, and then, as
the doctor appeared, he continued in his own genial
manner, *' Ah ! Doctor ! how are you ? Sit down and
take a glass of wine with us! It's good of you to
come up here for the second time to-day, but I feel
rather anxious to hear what you think of Lady Chi-
chester."

" I will leave you together," said Fauntleroy, rising
from his chair.

'• Not at all," cried Sir Alan, and, •• not at all, sir,"
repeated the doctor. " Had I any private communi-
cation to make concerning her ladyship, I should
have asked to see Sir Alan in another room."

"Then you don't consider her so very ill," remarked
the baronet, returning to his pipe.

"No, not very ill — decidedly," said Dr. Jolliffe
slowly ; " but in a condition requiring the utmost

care.

y ' i

'■'.'.■J

^y:

. .•■■*i
'"' • ^

. 1:1, '.!

''.-.'

'''■■♦•IP

I ■>:

" "J

! n

■•'!i! •

// SCAKJ.ET sin;

" She has nothing actually the matter with her.
then?"
- " I don't say that, Sir Alan ! "

"You are very mysterious, doctor ! "

" Say rather, very cautious. In some cases we are
compelled to be so, and, to toll you the honest truth,
I am not prepared to give a decided opinion upon
her ladyship. There are symptoms present which
might portend very different issues. But I have
quite made up my mind on one thing."

" What is that ? "

" That Lady Chichester must not be permitted to
lead her present life for a day longer than is neces-
sary. She wants more brightness and cheerfulness
infused into her, Sir Alan. She needs rousing from
the apathy into which she has fallen. She mustn't
be left alone to read or work, or brood by herself!
She must have constant pleasant society to amuse
and distract her."

" Won't it be sufficient if my sister makes a point
of always remaining with her ? I am sure she would
do it, if it is for Lady Chichester's good."

Dr. JoUiffe made a grimace and shook his head.

" No ! Sir Alan, no ! This is a question on which
I must have my own way, even at the risk of offend-
ing you. Miss Chichester is not at all the sort of
companion for her ladyship. She is too hard — too
unsympathetic — too autocratic, in fact. I want some-
one younger, softer and more lovable. I have known
you long enough, I hope, to be able to say this."

" O ! yes ! It's all right ! I know Anna can make
herself very disagreeable at times. W^hat, then, do
you propose?*'

A SCARLET Sl^r.

with her.

ses we are
lest truth,
lion upon
ent which
t I have

rmitted to
1 is neces-
eerfulness
ising from
ic mustn't
Y herself!
to amuse

es a point
she would

his head,
on which
of offend-
le sort of
lard — too
int some-
ve known
:his."
can make
, then, do

" I want you to engage some young person as Lady
Chichester's companion."

" Confound it ! How am I to set about the busi-
ness } I don't know where ' companions ' are to be
found ! There are none round Glebe Royal. There
never was a place so destitute of girls."

"Just so ! and they wouldn't be the right sort of
girls if you found them. Will you let me help you
in the matter, Sir Alan } I have a married brother
in practice in London, and his wife has often helped
me out of a difficulty. If I have your permission to
tell her what we require, she will soon send down the
right person from town for us."

" If you are quite sure it is necessary," replied Sir
Alan; "but I must say that I hate the idea of a
stranger about the house."

" This young lady, if she knows her duty, will not
in^.'ude upon Sir Alan. She will come here to devote
her energies exclusively to Lady Chichester! She
will read aloud to her, and play and sing if required
— arrange her needlework, write her letters, carry
her messages, and accompany her out driving or
walking — behave herself, in fact, as if she had the
good luck to be her ladyship's daughter ! And if
she doesn't do all this — if she doesn't prove satis-
factory, we must send her back, and try another ! It
is the first prescription I order for Lady Chichester,"

"And you think it will cure her V

" I think it will have a beneficial effect on her
health, whatever may succeed it. For I will not
conceal from Sir Alan that her ladyship's condition
is Jiot satisfactory. You must see that for yourself.

:i^

". . t3^

■ »

' 'ffl

M If

.i''i

A SCARLET SIA\

These constant fainting fits, without any palpable
cause, are not the right thing at all ! "

" And yet you can't tell what they proceed from,"
said Sir Alan moodily.

" I decline to say what I think, until I am sure/*
replied Dr. Jolliffe ; ** but when I am sure, you shall
be the first to benefit by the discovery. Meanwhile,
I do not consider her ladyship in any immediate
danger, and the more you distract her mind from
dwelling on herself, the better she will be. And now
I will go home and write that letter to my sister-in-
law, and I shall hope, in a few days, to have some
news for you. Good-evening."

" It's all d d unsatisfactory, it seems to me,"

grumbled Sir Alan, when the doctor had disappeared;
" he doesn't seem to have the least idea what's the
matter with Alice, and as for a companion doing her
any good, I don't believe it. I detest the idea of
some vulgar, apple-cheeked girl about Glebe Royal —
some creature, half servant, half lady, not fit for the
kitchen, and not good enough for the drawing-room !
Alice ought to have more spirit than to consent to
such an arrangement. If I could only make her
shake off her confounded laziness, and go out walking
with Anna, she'd be well enough."

But notwithstanding his grumbling, Henry Faunt-
leroy observed that, as soon as he had finished smok-
ing. Sir Alan walked up to his wife's dressing-room
and remained there for the remainder of the evening.

me]
qui

[palpable

A SCARLET aiN,

a»

d from,"

»»

m sure,

ou shall

anwhile,

mediate

nd from

And now

sister-in-

ve some

s to me/'
ippeared;
hat's the
doing her
e idea of
; Royal —
fit for the
ng-room !
onsent to
nake her
t walking

y Faunt-
ed smok-
ing-room
evening.

CHAPTER IV.

LADY CHICHESTER'S COMPANION.

Dr. Jolltffe wa as good as his word. He wrote
a full description of what he wanted to his sister-in-
law before he went to bed that night, and in the
course of a few days he received the following reply •

*' My Dear Andrew,

" Your request that I should look out for a suitable
companion for Lady Cliichester reached me at an oppor-
tune moment, as I had just promised to find a nurse to
accompany a patient of your brother's to India, so I was
able to prosecute search for both parties at the same time,
and I believe that I have been successful. I have seen
several young ladies who are anxious to obtain the situa-
tion, but one amongst tliem strikes me as especially suit-
able. Her name is Charlotte Murray, her age (she tells
me) is twenty-four, but she looks older. She is, apparently
quick, sensible and well educated, speaks perfectly, and has
every appearance of a lady. She is a pleasant looking
young woman also, and very modest in her demeanor ; her
references are good. She is an orphan, but I have seen
her uncle and guardian, who is evidently a gentleman of
birth, though in poor circumstances, or (as he told me)
nothing would induce him to allow his niece to earn her
own living. He showed me a letter from her last employer,
. now in America, speaking in the highest terms of Miss
.' Murray's devotion to his daughter (now deceased), and of
Ilis own gratitude to her. Miss Murray sang and played to
me ; she seems to be a competent musician. She also
speaks French and German, having been educated abroad.
She asks one hundred pounds a year as salary, and I
scarcely think your friends will obtain what they require
for less.

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" Let me hear what you think about it as soon as possible,
that I may give the young lady lier answer. She is very
anxious it should be in the altirnritlve.
" I am, dear Andrew,

" Your affectionate sistcr-in-law,

" MARr.AKI'.T JOLLTFFE.

" P.S. — Joseph says that Miss Murray is more than pleasant
looking, that she is very jiandsome. Doul^tless you
gentlemen are better judges in such matters than myself,
but I still adhere to my own opinion.'*

Dr. JoUiffe read this letter two or three times over
before he replaced it in the envelope.

Yes," he said to himself, " Miss Murray sounds

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promising. Margaret is sucli a severe juug<
own sex, that she has probably made less of her
attractioiis than they really are, and a girl with such
accomplishments must necessarily be quick witted.
I think we must try Miss Charlotte Murray. I will
walk up to Glebe Royal and ask Sir Alan's opinion
on the subject at once."

Sir Alan's opinion did not prove to be worth much
He was still opposed, in his own mind, to his wife's
having a companion, but as the doctor considered it
necessary, of course it must be so. Only he wished
that they would arrange the matter among them-
selves without any reference to him. He knew nu
more about it than he did about engaging Lady Chi-
chester's maid. If Jolliftc considered it all right, he
had better send for the yirl. Miss Chichester was
even less cordial than her brother, on being called io
a consultation on Miss Murray's probable fitness for
the post of companion to her sister-in-law. She
sniffed and snorted and declared. openly that she had

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A SC.IKLET S/N".

Limes over

lever given her consent to such a thing, and declined

to give her opinion. Alice had better decide for

lerself.
And then Lady Chichester was appealed to, and,

>n the letter being read to her, turned her scared eyes
[first on Alan and then on Anna, and finding no help
Ifrom them, begged Dr. Jolliffe to do as he thought
[best, and so the doctor followed his own instincts,
[and sent word to London to have Miss Murray en-
[gaged at once, and sent down to Glebe Royal as
soon as might be convenient to herself. When he
had been advised of the train by which the young
lady would arrive, he walked down to the station to
[meet her. The Glebe Royal carriage, with a couple
jof horses and a couple of men servants, was there
before him (for whatever Sir Alan Chichester's dis-
position might be, he never forgot what was due to
himself), but Dr. Jolliffe stood on the platform de-
termined that it should not carry the new-comer away
until he had an interview with her. When the train
arrived, there v/as but one passenger for Glebe Royal,
and he knew at once that it must be the person he
[waited for — a tall, slight figure, modestly attired in a
idark traveling ulster, and a black hat with a thick
[gauze veil tied round it which almost concealed her
[features. She was standing still, until the porters
I should secure her luggage, when the doctor accosted

her.

" Miss Charlotte Murray, I presume."

She turned quickly at his words, and the doctor

saw a pair of large dark eyes with strongly marked

brows regarding him curiously.

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A SCARLET SIN.

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"Am I speaking to Sir Alan Chichester?" she
asked.

"O! dear no! My name is Jolliffc. I am the
brother-in-law of the lady who engaged you. I am
also Lady Chichester's medical adviser. And before
you go to Glebe Royal I should like to have a few
words with you respecting her ladyship."

" 0 ! certainly ! Have they sent any vehicle for
me ? "

" Yes, the carriage is waiting."

"Then perhaps we can drive on together, and you
can say what you wish to me on the journey," she
answered, in a perfectly assured voice.

The doctor was a little puzzled. He couldn't
make her out. Instead of a shy and somewhat
nervous dependent, coming for the first time to a
new situation, ivfiss Murray appeared and spoke
more like a guest who was about to confer an honor
on Glebe Royal by her company. However, he
agreed to her proposal and entered the carriage with
her, and, having asked the coachman to drive slowly,
at once opened the conversation.

" Doubtless Mrs. Jolliffe informed you, Miss Mur-
ray, that Lady Chichester is a great invalid, in fact
she has so given way of late years to nervous debility
and depression of spirits that she has become almost
incapable of controlling her actions."

" Do you mean that she is out of her mind } *'
demanded the stranger coolly.

" Dear me, no ! nothing of the sort, only she is
lamentably weak and inert. She lies all day on the
sofa, and believes herself unable to appear .at the

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A SCARLET SIN,

dinner-table, or take the slightest exercise. Now,
this is all fancy ! She can walk and she must walk,
or drive daily, and be encouraged to move about the
house. I understand you are an excellent musician.
Lady Chichester was at one time devoted to music.
Try and rouse her interest in it again. Read and
talk to her, and make her laugh if possible. Keep
her mind interested as much as you can, and never
discuss her own symptoms with her, for I wish her,
if possible, to forget that she is ill."

" You think she won't live," remarked Miss Mur-
ray.

The doctor started. He did think so, but he did
not care for his thoughts being read in such an off-
hand manner, and he refuted the suggestion almost
angrily.

"Certainly not! I am surprised you should say
such a thing, and I beg you will not breathe a hint of
it at Glebe Royal. Sir Alan is devoted to his wife,
and the mere idea would make him miserable. All
that Lady Chichester needs is cheering up, and it is
with the hope that a young and bright companion
may have that effect upon her that you" have been
sent for."

"I will do my best, of course," replied Miss
Murray. The carriage was turning into the park
gates by this time, and Dr. JoUiffe thought he had
better get down.

" There is no need for me to go further," he said j
" you know what is required of you now, and I am
sure you will do your utmost to second bur en-
deavors and to carry them out,"

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" But why quit me ? " urged the young lady ; " since
your patient is so nervous, surely it would be better
for you to stay and introduce me to her ? When the
first introduction is over, you can leave us to make
friends with each other with greater confidence."

" You are a bright girl," replied Dr. Jollifife
admiringly, "and I feel sure we shall get on together.
You are right. I will take you myself into the
presence of her ladyship."

As he handed her from the carriage at the hall
door he asked the servant if Sir Alan was at home.

" No, sir," replied the man ; " Sir Alan has driven
the captain over to Broxton in the dog-cart. The
captain leaves to-day for Cork, sir."

**0 indeed ! I didn't know he was going so soon.
Is her ladyship in the drawing-room ? "

"Yes, sir," and in another minute their names had
been announced to Lady Chichester. The poor little
woman was standing by her sofa as they entered the
room, trembling all over with the dreads ^ antici-
pation of meeting a stranger, but Dr. Jolliffe went up
to her at once, and took her reassuringly by the
hand.

" Here, my lady, is Miss Murray," he exclaimed,
" ready to do all in her power to help and assist you.
Miss Murray and I have been having a long talk
together as we drove up from the station, and I am
sure that she fully understands what will be required
of her."

" I am afraid she will find it so dull here, all alone
with me. I am such poor company," replied her
ladyship in a deprecating voice.

A SCARLET SIN,

" I feel sure that I shall do nothing of the sort,
Latly Chichester," said the new-comer in her rich
tones, " that is, if you permit me to be your com-
panion. I love the country dearly, and all country
amusements, and you will never hear me complain of
dullness whilst I have music, and literature, and your
society."

Lady Chichester seemed suddenly to gain courage
from the other's confidence. It was a case of the
stronger mind controlling the weaker.

" O ! my dear," she exclaimed, " you have a beauti-
ful voice ! Do take off your veil and let me see your
face ! "

The young lady gave a low laugh, as she disen-
gaged herself from her headgear, and stood revealed
to her employer. What a contrast they formed to
one another ! It took the doctor's breath away to
look at them. They were as opposite in appearance
as a damask rose and a lily of the valley. And yet,
at first sight. Miss Murray did not appear to possess
any particular beauty. She had large dark ey^s with
straight black brows, a nose too short to be symme-
trical, and a large mouth with red lips and a set of
perfect teeth. But she possessed physical vitality to
an extraordinary degree. Her face glowed with
health, you might almost see the electric fluid in her
blue-black hair, and her upright form was the embodi-
ment of feminine vigor. As she stood before them
she seemed to make Lady Chichester shrivel to half
her former size, and the sickly pallor of her com-
plexion to take on darker shades, but the force of the
contrast did not strike the one who suffered from it

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On the contrary, she seemed to be attracted by the
very difference between them, and to bask in her
new companion's physical powers, as a sick man
basks in the sun.

" O ! my dear ! " she cried, admiringly, '* you are
beautiful ! How I wish I had your robust appear-
ance ! You will be quite a tower of strength to me.
Doctor, you have brought me someone I can lean
upon. How shall I ever be able to thank you ! But
Miss Murray will be glad of a cup of tea after her
journey. Please ring the bell. And take ofif your
heavy cloak, my dear. This room must feel very
warm to you."

Upon which Miss Murray divested herself of her
ulster, and shewed she possessed a perfect figure, well
developed — round and supple.

Lady Chichester had become quite excited. Her
cheeks were flushed, her eyes shone, and she kept
moving about the room in a restless, nervous manner.

" Will not your ladyship lie down on the sofa and
let me serve the tea "i " said Miss Murray as the tray
made its appearance. "You must not think me
officious, but I suppose this is to be one of my duties,
and the sooner I am installed in them the better."

" O my dear Miss Murray, but you must be so
tired," expostulated Lady Chichester.

" Not at all. You don't know how strong I am,"
replied Miss Murray, and having assisted Lady
Chichester to the sofa, and placed the couvre-pieds
over her feet, she made and handed her a cup of tea.

"Isn't this nice, doctor?" said her ladyship with
a little watery smile, as she sipped her tea ; "so

A SCARLET Sm.

different from having John to pour it out for me, or
even poor old Jane ! It takes away my appetite to
eat or drink alone."

" I don't think Miss Murray will ever allow you to
do that again," replied the doctor, who was secretly
delighted at the success of his plan.

'*0f course not," said Miss Murray decidedly,
" that is if Lady Chichester consents to it. We can
have the cosiest little dinners together by the fire
when she doesn't feel equal to sitting at the dinner
table."

" O my dear, that will be good of you ! " exclaimed
Lady Chichester quite eagerly, " and I really think I
could eat a little chicken or something if you talked
to me the while. And then, when I have gained
strength I may be able to go into dinner again as
usual."

" Of course. It only requires a little time," said
Miss Murray, cheerfully.

And Dr. Jollifife left them on the high road to
friendship and sociability, and chuckling to himself
over his own perspicuity of judgment.

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A SCARLET SIN,

CHAPTER V.

THE BARONET IS CONVERTED.

Sir Alan came home later than usual that evening,
and the dinner gong had sounded ten minutes before
he entered the hail. He was rather out of sorts too,
— partly because a resting horse and a dark road had
caused the delay, and partly because he had lost his
chum, Fauntleroy, who had received an unexpected
summons to rejoin his regiment. Captain Fauntle-
roy represented his chief interest in life at that
moment. He filled the void created by his wife's
illness and his sister's uncongeniality with his com-
panionship. Sir Alan entered the house hastily, and
threw his thick driving ulster to his servant before
he went upstairs.

" Anybody called } " he asked curiousiy.

" No one, Sir Alan — except the doctor when he
brought the young person as is come to wait on her
ladyship."

The baronet's brow contracted. He had forgotten
all about the " companion."

" Oh ! ah ! So she has arrived. What is she
like } " he was just about to add, when he remem-
bered he was talking to his servant, and substituted,
"Where is she.?"

"In the drawing-room, Sir Alan, v/ith her lady-

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A SCARLET Sm.

ship. The dinner has just been carried in there.
It's ten minutes past seven, Sir Alan."

" All right ! Ask Miss Chichester to give me five
minutes' grace," he said, as he walked upstairs.

His sister was looking very grim when he joined
her. She did not approve of unpunctuality, even in
the master of Glebe Royal, and at the age of forty-
two. But she had been so accustomed from his
birth to regard her brother Alan as the " baby of the
family,'* that she had not got out of the habit of ^
correcting him even now.

After detailing the departure of Henry Fauntleroy,
and the reason of his delay, Sir Alan alluded to the
matter which was somewhat worrying them both.

" Have you seen the new arrival ? " he asked, as the
domestics left them for a moment to themselves.

" I have," replied Miss Chichester curtly.

" What is she like > Nice ? "

" It is impossible to judge in so short a time. I
was only in the drawing-room for a few minutes."

** Is she good-looking ? "

Miss Chichester snorted in her peculiar manner.

" I don't know what you may call her. She
strongly resembles Sarah Jenkins to my xnind."
(Sarah Jenkins being a black-eyed, vicious-looking
dairy maid lately added to the establishment.)

Sir Alan's face fell.

"Like Jenkins? O Lord! But I won't have
Alice worried on any account, so if this young person
doesn't turn out trumps she'll have to go."

" O ! Alice seems more than satisfied for so short an
acquaintance. However, she will doubtless tell you
all about it after dinner."

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"Yes! yes! Alice will be the best judge of what
she wants," he replied hastily, as he turned his
attention to the meal before him. As it drew to a
close, and his sister rose to leave the dining-room, a
strain of music entered through the door which
opened for her egress.

" There ! " she exclaimed, stopping short, " that is
the sort of thing, I suppose, we may expect to have
to endure at any time, whether we desire it or not!"

"She sings well,' remarked Sir Alan, lifting his
head to listen.

" Sings well I " retorted Miss Chichester angrily,
*' so does a canary or a lark, but we don't want our
ears split, all the same. So loud too. You might
hear it all over the house. I consider it great impu-
dence in a stranger."

" Alice has probably asked the young lady to sing.
Are you going in there } "

** Certainly not! I hate all sorts of music, as you
kno"V well. I shall go up to my own apartment
until bed time. If you want me, you will know
where to find me," replied his sister as she bounced
out of the room.

" It was certainly time poor Alice had a companion
of some sort," mused Sir Alan sitting alone, " for
Anna is a most unsociable person. I Iiope it will
turn out well. Whatever the girl may be like, she
has certainly a magnificent voice."

He lingered a little in his passage to the drawing-
room listening to it. Miss Murray was singing a
German love song, one at which poor Lady Chi-
chester had been used to make a {ieeble attempt in

A SCARLET S/AT.

the time gone by ; but Sir Alan, in the memories it
brought with it, forgot the unworthiness of the inter-
pretation, and thought only of how happy and hope-
ful he had been in the days when he had last heard
it sung. He was passionately fond of music and so
was his wife, though neither of them were musicians
(artistically speaking), and a very softened feeling
came over him as he stood outside the drawing-room
and listened to the dulcet German air. It brought
back Alice in her prime to him — Alice, with soft, fair
hair and tender eyes — and when at last he entered
the room, it came almost like a shock to him to see
his wife standing there, with every appearance of
youth vanished for ever. His entrance caused a
little commotion. Lady Chichester gave an exclama-
tion, and the young lady at the grand piano jumped
up and stood in a respectful attitude of expectation.

" Don't let me disturb you," were his first words.

" O Alan ! I am so glad you have come," cried his
wife, "you will be charmed with Miss Murray's sing-
ing. And she is so clever too ! She never saw any
of those songs before, and yet she can sing them
straight ofif. They are my old songs, you know.
Miss Murray has not unpacked her own music yet."

** I recognized the last one, Alice, as having been
one of yours. But you have not yet introduced me
to this young lady."

" How silly of me 1 I was forgetting you have not
met. Miss Murray, this is my husband. Sir Alan
Chichester. I am sure he will delight in your music,"

'* It will be at Sir Alan's service," replied Miss
Munay, deferentially, but as she bowed to her new

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employer she looked him full in the face with her
speaking eyes. Sir Alan was certainly surprised, and
somewhat startled. The first impression made upon
him by Miss Murray was not that she was the
handsomest woman he had ever seen, but certainly
the most remarkable. He had not enjoyed a la/ge
experience of women, for he hated London, and
seldom left Glebe Royal, except when obliged to do
so. His circle of acquaintance, therefore, had been
narrowed (like that of his sister), and the ladies of
the county families who visited his wife had never
appeared either entertaining or interesting in his eyes.
Indeed, for a man of his age, he was singularly
innocent of the wish or intention of wrong-doing;
and disappointing as his married life had proved, he
had never dreamed of letting his thoughts stray from
their legal resting-place. He was all the more likely
therefore to prove a deserter, when a stray tempta-
tion was placed in his way, because he was so
ignorant that he ran any risk in encountering it.

The new-comer struck him as remarkable at first
sight, because she formed so great a contrast to what
his eyes had been accustomed to see. Clad in a
perfectly plain and perfectly fitting cloth dress,
which showed every line of a figure replete with
grace — with her abundance of dark hair piled upon
her head, and a kind of subdued passion smoulder-
ing in her eyes and playing about the curves of her
mouth, Miss Charlotte Murray (without being a
beautiful woman in the strict sense of the word)
doubtless formed a very beautiful picture. It has
been too often proved to need repetition, that it is

A SCARLET SrAT,

not the most faultless beauty that takes the strongest
hold upon the other sex. Regular features are too
apt to lack expression, and where is the charm of an
eye that cannot speak, and a mouth that cannot look
unutterable things, as the soul within plays upon
them in dumb show ? Sir Alan felt his blood stirred
in an unaccountable manner, as he encountered Miss
Murray's gaze, and was angry with himself the next
minute for the sensation, for, after all, what had the
poor girl done to provoke it ?

"There is nothing I enjoy more," he answered,
referring to the music, " but don't let me interrupt
you ; pray proceed."

" I think her ladyship must have had enough for
this evening," said Miss Murray discreetly, moving
away from the piano ; " another time, perhaps."

" O no ! no ! " cried Lady Chichester, eagerly. " Do
sing again. I want Sir Alan to hear you. He will
enjoy it as much as I do. Please sing the *Lieder'
once more."

The young lady complied, her rich contralto
voice throwing all the force and expression of which
it was capable into the impassioned German love
song, and dying away on the last plaintive notes,
until one might have heard a pin drop amidst the
sweet, faint tones.

Meanwhile Lady Chichester, who had induced her
husband to occupy the seat next her on the sofa, and
had got fast hold of his hand between her own, kept
on murmuring in his ear, —

" Isn't it lovely ? Isn't she clever ? O Alan ! I
am so glad she has come. I am sure she will be a
comfort to me."

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And he continued to answer at random, **Ycs
dear! Yes, dear!" whilst his whole soul was
being drawn out of itself, and absorbed by the
glorious tones that filled the apartment. When the
song was concluded for the second time, Miss Mur-
ray quickly closed the instrument, and asked Lady
Chichester's leave to withdraw.

"If your ladyship can spare me," she said defer-
entially, "and since Sir Alan is here I should like to
unpack some of my things for the night."

" But shall I not see you again } " asked Lady
Chichester in a pleading voice.

" Certainly, if your ladyship wishes it," returned
Miss Murray smiling. " You have but to send for me,
you know. Perhaps you would like me to attend
you to bed. What time do you retire } "

" About nine as a rule, and I should like to see
you then very much, Miss Murray. I seldom go to
sleep at once, and old Jane worries me with her silly
chatter."

" I will read you to sleep, if you will let me try,"
said her companion, briskly.

" O ! that would be charming, if it won't fatigue
you too much."

" You need not be afraid of that. I don't know
the meaning of the word. And now, I will leave yc u
for a little."

" But, Miss Murray — one moment ! Do you prefer
to be addressed formally, or may I call you by your
Christian name .<* "

" I should feel honored by your ladyship using it.
But please don't call me * Charlotte.' I dislike the
name, and I am never called by it."

A SCARLET SIN.

" What, then ? "

"'Cora/ if you don't mind. It is only a shorten-
ing of the other, and I am afraid I should not answer
readily to anything else."

" 0, I think it is lovely, and I like it exceedingly.
Good-bye, then, Cora, for a little while, and Jane shall
let you know when I am ready to retire." On this,
the young lady bowed respectfully to them both, and
left the apartment.

As soon as she was out of sight, Lady Chichester
turned to her husband.

*' O Alan ! What do you think of her ? Isn't she
charming ? I feel that I can never thank Dr. Jolliffe
enough for sending her here. She has quite bright-
ened me up. I ate a better dinner than I have
done for weeks."

The baronet's acquiescence was given with dis-
cretion,

"Yes, she seems a suitable young person, and I
hope she may prove of use to you, but, Alice, don't
make too much of her. Remember, she is, after all,
but a kind of upper servant, and keep her in her
proper place."

" 0 Alan ! she is a perfect lady ! You can surely
see that."

"That may be, but even ladies sometimes en-
croach upon kindness. You must take care to main-
tain your dignity. But she certainly has a most
beautiful voice."

" She has indeed, and do you know, dear, I have
been thinking already, how nice it would be if you
would let her play your accompaniments and get up
some of your old songs again.'*

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Sir Alan laughed.

" My dear Alice, my voice must be like a cracked
tin kettle by this time. It is years since you ever
touched the piano for my benefit, and I have forgot-
ten the little I ever knew. I wonder if that girl has
ever been on horseback. She has a magnificent
figure for the saddle."

" Hardly likely, dear, I should think, in her position.
She must be very poor, I am afraid, to do all she is
going to do for me for a hundred a year."

" Nonsense ! It's a very good salary for a young
woman like that, and look at all the advantages she
gains with it. Where are you putting her to sleep .?"

" In the room next mine. I gave her the choice
between that and the one above, but she says she
would rather be near me in case I should want her
in the night."

Sir Alan sighed. He had been banished to an
upper chamber for a long time past, because his
vigorous breathing disturbed the precarious slumber
of his wife.

" Have you had one of those horrid fainting fits
to-day, Alice .?"

^'Not a regular one, dear Alan. Only a slight
attack on rising this morning. O dear, how I wish
that I were strong ! "

" Well, let us hope that this young lady may help
you to become so. Are you going to try and drive
to-morrow ? "

" Indeed, I am ! Miss Murray says that she will
wrap me up so warmly that I shall not feel the cold
at all. I think I shall call her ' Cora,' Alan. She is
so much younger than I am."

A SCART.ET SW,

"Call her anything you like, my dear, so long as
she continues to treat you with proper respect."

And so they talked over the merits of the nc., -
comer, until Lady Chichester felt weary and went to
bed, and Sir Alan sought refuge in his smoking-room.

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CHAPTER VI.

(-■ •'„

OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSEHOLD,

The first unpleasantness which Lady Chichester
encountered because of Miss Cora Murray -ame
through her old servant, Jane Wood. This woman,
now sixty years of age, had been her nurse when she
was a child, and had followed her to her husband's
home when she became a wife. Like many of the
humbler class, when they take a real attachment, her
feelings were very strong, and usually evinced them-
selves by an intense jealousy of every one who
approached her mistress. She still looked upon
Lady Chichester as the delicate child whom she had
nursed through so many illnesses, and she scolded
her just the same as she had done then, if she took
any liberties with her weakly constitution. On the
evening of Miss Murray's arrival old Jane descended
to the drawing-room exactly at nine o'clock to attend
her mistress to her bedroom, and, when they reached
it, she commenced to undress her, for she had never
allowed any lady's maid to usurp her privileges.
Her ladyship's private attendant might look after
her wardrobe, and wait upon her room, but old Jane
was the only person admitted to the sanctities of the
toilet.

" Your ladyship looks over-tired to me to-night,"
she remarked, sourly, as she removed the different

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A SCARLET SIN.

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articles of clothing. " Your face is quite flushed. I
expect you've been sittinjj up too much."

"O! no, indeed, Jane," exclaimed Lady Chiches-
ter, as though anxious to disarm her wrath. " I have
hardly sat up at all. I have been lying down ever
since Miss Murray left me. What is Miss Murray
doing ? Have you seen her, Jane ? "

" ^ecn her,'* echoed the servant, " what should I
want to see her for ? She ain't come here to be
looked at, has she ? Though I don't know what else
she wMs wanted for ! There are more than enough
of us to wait on your ladyship, and this young person
is like the fifth wheel of a coach, to my mind."

" But Miss Murray has come to be my companion^
Jane — not to wait on me," said Lady Chichester,
timidly.

" Companmi ! '' sneered the old woman, "as if she
was fit to be the companion of such as yon — a
baronet's lady, and the daughter of one of the oldest
squires in the county ! "

'' But you don't understand, nurse ! Miss Murray
is a lady, the same as I am, and will drive, and walk,
and talk with me. I want someone to do that, you
know. Miss Chichester is so fond of sitting by her-
self."

" You should have had a family of strapping boys
and girls," grumbled the old woman, " and then you
wouldn't have been dependant on anyone for com-
pany."

" Ah nurse ! what is the use of talking about it ?
It is God's will."

"Rubbish! You'd have had *em fast enough, if

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you'd have taken my advice from the first, and
looked after yourself a little better.'*

( For it was one of Jane Wood's fixed ideas, that
the lack of an heir to Glebe Royal was entirely due
.0 the fact of her not having been consulted in the
matter.)

" Don't speak of it any more, nurse," replied her
mistress with a sigh, " and please ring the b»ll."

"What for?"

" I promised to let Miss Murray know when I was
ready to go to bed. She is going to read me to
sleep.'

The servant's jealousy took fire at once.

" You're going to have that young woman in here
at this time of night to keep you awake till all hours
with her gossiping ? Well, then, I won't allow it ! I
know your constitution, my lady, better than anyone
else in the world — not barring your own father and
mother — and I won't stand by and see it ruined by a
stranger. There's no companions comes into this
room of nights, whatever mischief they may do by
day. It's past nine, and time you was in bed. So
just you get into it, my lady, and go to sleep as fast
as you can."

" But you know, Jane, that I never can sleep,"
expostulated Lady Chichester plaintively. " Some-
times I lay awake till it is quite light."

" Well ! you'd better lay awake in peace and quiet-
ness, than with a lot of nonsense dinning in your
ears. Besides the youn^ woman is most likely asleep
by this time. They're all selfish at that age. It's
only an old friend like me as would sit up waking
till all hours to do a good turn for your ladyship."

A SCARLET SIN.

" Perhaps you're right, Jane," replied her mistress,
as she lay down submissively, " and besides the poor
girl will be tired after her journey and want a good
night's rest. I should have thought of it before."
And she closed her eyes patiently, and tried to fancy
she was drowsy.

But old Jane was sill moving about the room, and
putting away her things in the wardrobe, when there
came a light tap upon the door. The servant
(suspecting who it was that asked for admittance)
unclosed it about half an inch, and informed Miss
Murray, in an acrid tone, that her ladyship was
already in bed, and she couldn't come in.

" But that is the very reason I am here," replied
the companion, coolly, as quietly but effectually she
put the woman to one side, and walked into the
middle of the room. She had exchanged her travel-
ling dress for a loose wrapper, and held a small
volume in her hand.

'* I have been expecting a summons for the last
half hour, Lady Chichester," she said pleasantly,
" Have you forgotten that we agreed to try if my
doctor could not lull you to sleep ^ " holding up the
book she carried.

" O ! no," exclaimed Lady Chichester, brightening
with pleasure. " I had not forgotten it, indeed, but
Jane thought you must be very tired, and were likely
to have gone to bed, and so I didn't like to disturb
you."

" You mustn't attend to Jane next time," replied
Miss Murray, with an effrontery that made the old
servant's few remaininer hairs stand on end, '* I am

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here by the doctor's orders, remember, expressly to
minister to your ladyship's need, and I will not
forego my duties for anyone. And now, you must
let me put out these lights. One candle behind the
bed curtain is that I shall require, and more will hurt
your eyes."

" How thoughtful you are ! " murmured Lady Chi-
chester, " you think of everything."

" Has your ladyship all you require for the night ?
I would rather your maid left the room before I
commenced reading," continued Miss Murray.

" O ! I'll go, Miss, sharp enough ! You needn't
be afraid of that," snarled Jane Wood. " I've nursed
and attended on her ladyship since she was a baby,
but, of course, I have to give wrty to any stranger,
if it's by the doctor's orders, so I wish you both good-
night." And grumbling at the innovation, she took
her way down the stairs.

** Slightly jealous," remarked Cora Murray, with a
laugh as she disappeared. " These old servants are
terrible tyrants sometimes. But if your ladyship is
ready I will begin. I mustn't talk you awake again."

She settled herself with her back to her employer
and commenced in a low rich voice, that was replete
with feeling, to read ( or almost recite) from Tenny-
son's " Idylls of the King." There are some good
singing voices that are not melodious in speaking, and
some natures full of emotion, who have no capability
of reproducing it in oratory. But Cora Murray could.
She was a singularly gifted woman, and she knew
her power, and where she could exercise it. She
read steadily on for about lifteen minutes, but then,

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A SCARLET Sm.

stealing a sly glance at her patient, found her wide
awake, and with dilated eyes in which the tears were
standing, following the pathetic story with sym-
pathetic eagerness.

" O ! this will never do," said Miss Murray rising.
" Tennyson is keeping you awake instead of doing
the other thing ! I think I must try the effect of
one of Gladstone's speeches instead."

" It is so beautiful," sighed Lady Chichester, " and
you have a way of reading that makes it all seem
real ! But go on, for I am really enjoying it."

" I think 1 had better not. Lady Chichester, for
excitement may have the worst possible effect on
you. I did not know you felt poetry so strongly, or
I would not have advised it as an evening dose. We
must try it in the forenoon instead. Will you let
me see if I can magnetize you to sleep 1 "

*• V lat is that .? "

" Nothing very fc rmidable ! Only to lay my hands
upon your forehead in order to induce slumber. It
does not answer with all people, but I have been
very successful with my friends. Lying awake at
night is simply a habit. The nerves require sooth-
ing. Yet it is a very difficult habit to overcome.
But once mastered it does not often return."

As she continued talking in this indifferent strain
upon subjects of no great interest, Miss Murray kept
passing her fingers lightly over Lady Chichester's
forehead, and in a few minutes she had the satisfac-
tion of seeing her eyes close, and after dreamily re-
opening them two or three times, and murmuring
some indistinguishable words, Lady Chichester sank
back on her pillows in a deep, mesmeric sleep.

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" I thought she would be a good subject directly I
saw her," mused Miss Murray, as she watched her
ladyship's slumber for a few minutes, "and she is
about the easiest I ever tried. Plastic as Avax 1
should imagine, asleep or awake ! Poor woman !
what an existence to lead ! And poor husband too,
to be tied to her ! I am sure from Dr. Jollifife's man-
ner that he thinks there is something very serious
th . matter. Well, if all turns out as it promises to
do, it will be decidedly my interest to keep her alive,
and my own fault if I am not comfortable whilst I
am here."

She made a few more passes over the sleeping
lady's forehead, as if to make sure she would not
wake again, and then she extinguished the light
and stole softly from the room. And when she
reached her own apartment, she sat down by the
fire, and, drawing a small table in front of her, com-
menced to write the following letter :

" Glebe Royal, October loth.
" Dear JOxIn,

" I have arrived safely, and the old party did not
exaggerate matters. Everything about the place is as nice
as can be ; a little countrified perhaps, but peace and
plenty reigning notwithstanding. Lady C. is an' amiable
nonentity, and Fir A. good-looking but bucolic. The only
unpleasant member of the family is Miss C, a horrid old
maid who looked daggers at me, but I shall win her round
if I can. A pint of oil is worth a gallon of vinegar, as I
am always trying to impress upon you. I magnetized
Lady C. to sleep this evening ; I am afraid I should have
a hard task to magnetize the old maid — cats have never
been amenable to magnetic influence — but I think the
baronet would fall an easy prey ; doubtless, however, he
sleeps well enough without it. Altogeth jr, I like the place

A SCARLET SIN,

."lid the people, but remember that I don't stay in it a day
longer than I choose. You must understand that plainly.
I am not a child to be coerced against my will. It was
ray pleasure to come here, and it may be my pleasure to
leave, as it was some time ago when I was so bothered
about F. And wherever you may be, whether in New
Zealand or the Brazils, I claim my right to be with you if
it suits my purpose. But for awhile (and since I don't
particularly care about sea voyages nor any othiir risks) I
am contented enough. If you can see me before you start,
do so, and if it is impossible, let me have full notice of
your departure. I might get leave to run up to town for a
day.

" Yours affectionately,

"LOTTA.

" P.S. — By the way, when you write, don't put my own
name on the address, as I have told them to call me
'Cora.'"

When she had finished this epistle, she put it in an
envelope, addressed to

Mr. T. Masham,

*' Three Pigeons " Hotel,

Birkenhead,

and carefully locked it up in her blotting case before
she went to bed. The next morning found her
bright, glowing and vivacious. She was more of a
daylight than a candlelight beauty, and her wonder-
ful vitality always made her look as fresh as a rose.
Her first inquiry of the housemaid who brought her
hot water was for Lady Chichester.

" Have you heard what sort of a night her lady-
ship has passed, Ruth } "

" No, Miss ! Old Mrs. Wood is that jealous of
her ladyship, she won't let any one of us pass over
the threshold of her door."

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" Ah ! old Mrs. Wood must be disposed of,'*
thought Miss Murray with an inward smile ; "her
ladyship shall see the old nuisance in her true colors
before she is many weeks older." But she didn't
say anything more to the housemaid. She was too
clever to show her hand before a servant.

As she was der.cending the staircase z.^. the sum-
mons of the breakfast bell, she was met half-way by
the same domestic.

"Your breakfast is laid in here, please, Miss! "
she said, intimating a small room on the landing.
Miss Murray entered and found a fire but just lighted,
and a very simple meal laid for one upon the table.

" It is by Miss Chichester's orders. Miss," said the
maid apologetically, " and she only gave them to me
ten minutes ago. If I'd known it last night, the fire
should have been lighted earlier, and I could have
asked you what you'd like to take. Miss Chichester
said as an ^^^ and a cup of tea would be sufficient,
but if you'd like a slice of ham, Miss, or buttered
toast or anything, I'm sure cook would send it up
directly."

" No, thank you, Ruth ! It will do very well,"
replied Miss Murray, quietly, as she took her seat at
the table.

She didn't intend that state of things to continue,
but she knew better than to appear dissatisfied on
the very first morning of her residence in Glebe Royal.
So she commenced to pour out her tea and demolish
her ^^^, as if she had never expected to see a more
luxurious meal.

A SCARLET SIN,

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. ■■■: ' ■ 'i 1

CHAPTER VII.

MAGNETIZING THE MASTER.

Sir Alan entered the breakfast room rather more
briskly than usual that morning, for it was not a
hunting day, and, as a rule, he considered his hunting
clays the only ones worth living. He glanced at the
table as he passed the threshold, and, seeing only his
sister seated in state behind the tea-urn, he ex-
claimed :

" Hullo ! I'm not the only late bird this morning,
1 see."

" I don't understand you, Alan," replied Miss Chi-
chester, presenting her ear for the fraternal salute.
" I was down punctually at nine o'clock."

"I mean Miss What's-her-name ! — Miss Murray!
She will surely not wait till Alice has her breakfast !
The poor girl will be starved."

^^ Miss Murray!'' repeated his sister frigidly —
"did you expect to see her ? She breakfasts in her
own room,"

" What room ? "

"The one on the stairs. I ordered Ruth to lay
her meals there."

"What! in that dismal little hole! Surely she
would rather take them with us."

" I don't know what Miss Murray would prefer^
but I know what is suitable to her position. She can

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never have expected to be admitted to the family
circle."

"And why not? If she is good enough to be
Alice's companion, surely she is good enough to be
ours. I never heard of such an indignity. It is a
positive insult."

" You are very quick to take up arms in this young
person's defence. I thought you were altogether
opposed to her presence in Glebe Royal."

" So I was — quite as n.uch as yourself — but since
Jo.liffe considers her presence necessary to Alice's
well-doing, I will not have it turned into a torture.
The girl's a lady, and she shail not be treated like a
servant."

" / shall never treat her as anything else," said
Miss Chichester, tossing her head.

" Excuse me, Ajina, but you will do as you are
told. You are not the mistress of Glebe Royal,
remember, and in this instance you must follow the
cue thai Alice gives you."

" I have lived under this roof, the roof which
sheltered my dear parents for fifty years," exclaimed
Miss Chichester, " and you have never spoken to me
in such a strain before, Alan."

"There may not hav^e been an occasion for it,"
returned her brother. "And now, will you go and
ask Miss Murray to join us at the breakfast table, or
shall we send Humphreys with the message .'' "

" I shall not go," said Miss Chichester.

"Very well. Then I will go myself," replied Sir
Alan as he left the room again. Miss Chichester sat
behind her tea-urn, paralyzed with indignation.

A SCARLET S/AT.

"Baby" Alan had given her a "bit of liis mind"
on several occasions before, but she had never seen
him so determined in the cause of a perfect stranger,
especially one whose advent he had so strongly
deprecated. Meanwhile the baronet had walked
upstairs to the little room on the landing and knocked
at the door.

"Good-morning, Miss Murray," he said on enter-
ing. " I have come to ask you if you will join Miss
Chichester and myself at the breakfast table. There
has been some stupid mistake about your breakfast
being laid up here. My sister fancied you would
prefer a room to yourself, but I don't think you look
so unsociable as all that. What do you say ? "

"That I am quite of your opinion, Sir Alan/*
replied Cora Murray, laughing. '* I am not at all
unsociable. I am a gregarious animal, especially at
feeding time, and when Lady Chichester does not
require my attendance, I would greatly prefer taking
my meals downstairs."

"Then come along at once," he said gaily, " for I
have not commenced my breakfast yet, and it will be
quite a pleasure to see your bright face at the table."

In another minute (to Miss Chichester's disgust)
the two had entered the breakfast room together.
She) saluted Miss Murray with a cold and rather
discourteous bow on meeting, and then, having asked
if she would take cea or coffee, she relapsed into
silence, and left her brother and the '' companion "
to do all the talking by themselves. And the worst
of it was, that they did not seem to notice that she
took no part in the conversation, but chattered on

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every subject that rose to the surface. Sir Alan was
a great talker when he hrd\\6 anyone sympathetic
enough to talk to, but his sister's stoney indifference
and his wife's easily provoked fatigue had somewhat
quelled his powers of late years. Miss Murray,
having gauged the temperaments of her employers,
cast off the reticence she had assumed on first
arrival, and now proved herself able to talk freely,
yet modestly, on a variety of subjects, amongst
which, to Sir Alan's surprise, she touched on hunting,
as if quite conversant with the sport.

" You are fond of horses ? " he inquired.

** Who is not, Sir Alan, who is worth anything ? "

" And you can ride ? "

"YesI"

" And have you ever hunted } "

" Often ! "

" O ! this is a surprise," exclaimed the baronet, at
home at once on his favorite topic ; " tell me where
and when ? "

"Ah, Sir Alan, you touch an old wound when
you ask me that,'' replied Miss Murray, with clouded
eyes. " Don't forget how circumstances have altered
with me. They were times that will never return,
and the less I think of them the better."

" You must pardon me if i hurt you," he said
apologetically, '*but if you are fond of riding, I'll
give you a mo\uit any day. I have a lovely little cob
in my stables, just up to your weight, which must be
about — let me see" — he added musing, as he scanned
her rounded figure.

"Ten stone to an ounce," she replied smiling, **but

A SCARLET SIN,

with due thanks, Sir Alan, you mustn't talk to mc
about riding; it is quite out of the question. I
haven't even a habit now."

" O ! that can soon be remedied," he returned con-
fidently. " Lady Chichester must have two or three
in her wardrobe."

"Which reminds me that I am here to Pttend
upon Lady Chichester, and not to ride to meets,"
with a modesty which she knew would further her
cause with both her hearers, " and so please let us
talk no more about it."

*' But I don't see why it shouldn't be managed as
nicely as possible," he continued pertinaciously ; " the
little cob would be just the thing for you. My friend.
Captain Fauntleroy, generally rides it when he is
here, but he has just left us, worse luck ! and we're
not likelv to see him again for some time."

Miss xvlurray made no comment on this piece of
news; indeed she was at the moment looking for
something uiider the table, so it is quite doubtful
whether she even heard it.

*' Let me help you," said the baronet galhntly ;
"have you dropped anything ? "

'' Only my serviette. Pray don't trouble yourself,
I have already found it," and she raised her face
again, which had become rather red from the exertion
of stooping.

" Have you seen Lady Chichester this morning ? "
inquired Miss Chichester, breaking the ice for the
first time.

" Not yet," replied Miss Murray. " I have inquired
for her, of course, but have received no summons to

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go to her room. I did not leave her until she was
fast asleep last night."

•* Indeed I " remarked Miss Chichester incredulously;
"that's strange, for my sister-in-law generally lies
awake for hours after retiring."

"What charm did you use?" said Sir Alan.

" None, Sir Alan, except an attempt to sooth her
nerves, which are in a very irritable condition. But
I am usually very successful in calming nervous
patients. The doctors say I inspire my own vitality
into them."

** You appear to have any amount to spare," said
the baronet.

" Yes. I am very strong."

" You are the embodiment of life," he continu'^d
admiringly, as they rose from the table. Then he
stretched himself before the fire, after the manner of
Englishmen, and said,

" I am going my morning round of the stables. Miss
Murray. Will you come with me, and have a look
at the little cob 'i "

*' O no, thank you, Sir Alan. It is quite impos-
sible. Her ladyship might want me at any moment."

" We can leave word for a messenger to be sent
after you."

" No, thank you," she repeated with dignity ; " it is
out of the question."

And then he left the room and they saw him no
more. Miss Chichester locked the tea chest with a
snap, and, pocketing the keys, was about to follow
her brother.

" Do you think ? " inquired the *' companion " in a

// SClKr.KT SJN.

«5

meek voice, " tliat I mi^hl venture to go to her lady-
ship's room now ? "

" I don't know, I'm sure," replied the other
grumpily. '• I am iiol even acquiintcd with the
duties of a comi)anion. It's the first time there's
been one within the walls of Glebe Royal."

" Well, they don't consist of going to the stables
to see Captain — Captain — What was the name of
the gentleman Sir Alan alluded to ?"

"Captain Henry Fauntleroy, I suppose you mean."

"Ah! Captain Henry Fauntleroy's cob, I'm sure
of that," returned Miss Murray steadily. "Fauntle-
roy is a pretty name. I think it belongs to a
Norfolk family."

" I can't inform you, and, as I have my housekeep-
ing duties to attend to, I must bid you good-morn-
ing," said Miss Chichester, sailing from the room.

" Yes, the old cat will certainly take a lot of
magnetizing," thought Miss Murray as she gazed
after her, " and I very much doubt if I ever succeed
in doing it, for the antagonistic fluid is very strong.
N'importe! She's not the first woman in the world
that has hated me, and yet somehow — I live. So I
dare say I shall survive all her clumsy sarcasm."

Then her face softened a little as she turned it
towards the window, and looked out upon the glories
of the park.

"And so they know Fauntleroy, and there is a
chance of his coming here at any time. I must
watch his movements like a lynx. Poor Fauntleroy !
I feel as if I could not even meet him, for his sake as
well as my own. He has never reproached me, but

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he is the r nly man who has ever made me reproach
myself. If ever I hear of his proximity I will run ten
miles the other way, and yet I think he cares for mc
too much to betray me."

She turned and walked slowly into the hall, where
she encountered Sir Alan, rather excited, with a bunch
of autumn violets in his hand.

"Are you fond of violets, Miss Murray 1 " he ex-
claimed ; "some ladies like to wear them in front of
their dress, and these are very sweet. My lodge-
keeper's little girl gathered them for me, so I thought
I would bring them in to you whilst they were fresh.''

'*They are my favorite flowers," she replied as she
took them from him. "Thank you so much. Sir
Alan. But I shall not keep them for myself; I will
take them at once to Lady Chichester." And she
ran UghLly upstairs as she spoke.

" The good baronet appears to be a little magne-
tized as well as his wife," was the thought in her
mind as she left him, but she appeared as simple as
a girl as she entered Lady Chichester's room.

" How has your ladyship rested .? " she inquired
deferentially as she approached her chair.

"Wonderfully well, Cora. Better than I have
done for weeks past, and I feel so refreshed this
morning. What lovely violets ! "

"Are they not beautiful ? Their perfume fills the
room, and Sir Alan sent them to your ladyship, and
wishes to know when the carriage is to be ready to
take you out."

"The carriage!" echoed Lady Chichester with a
shiver, " Surely it is too cold to drive this morning."

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SCARLET SIN.

" Not at all. It is only fresh, and will do you all
the good in the world. Now, dear Lady Chichesten
remember what the doctor said, how imperatively
necessary it is for your health that you should go out
every day."

"I've known her ladyship's constitution since she
was a baby," grumbled Jane Wood, "and I never
knew her take any good from exposing her delicate
chest to a north wind. It's as likely to be her death
as not"

"Well, if you think you know better than Dr.
Jolliffe, will you tell him so next time he comes, and
request him to give his orders to you instead of to
me," retorted Miss Murray, with a determination that
made the old woman wince, and be silent.

" If you are sure it will do me good," commenced
Lady Chichester feebly.

*' I am quite sure of it. I have been out on the
terrace without my hat, and it is quite mild. Let
us drive in the close carriage, if you like it better,
and take Tennyson with us, and then, if you feel it
too cold, we will close the windows, and I will read
to you instead."

" O ! I shall like that I " said Lady Chichester with
alacrity, and half an hour afterwards, the baronet,
plodding through the stubble, looking after his coveys
of young birds, was startled by the sound of wheels,
and glancing up, saw his wife, wrapped in furs, driv-
ing in an open carriage, with her companion by her
side, and both women smiling and nodding to him as
they passed.

"That girl is certainly working a revolution in the

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household," he thought as they went by. "To
imagine Alice out in the open air by noon! It is
incredible ! I suppose Jolliffe was right, and all she
needed was the incentive. Ah ! " he ended with a
sigh, " if she had only half the spirit and vitalty of
her companion."

A SCARLET SIN,

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CHAPTER VIII.

SIR ALAN HAS SINGING LESSONS.

Dr. JOLLIFFE discreetly kept aloof from Glebe Royal
for a week, in order to allow the new-comer to settle
down to her duties ; but when, at the expiration of
that period, he looked in to see how his new plan
had succeeded, he was satisfied beyond all his expect-
ations. He found Lady Chichester with a smile in
her eye and a tinge of color in her cheek, quite
eager to tell him where she had been, and what she had
seen during the last few days, and how good Miss
Murray had been in amusing and distracting her.

" Come ! come ! " cried the doctor, " here's a vast
improvement already. Your ladyship's pulse is more
regular and stronger, and the action of the heart is
increased. How many fainting fits have you ex-
perienced since I saw you last } "

" Only two, doctor, and during the last one I never
lost consciousness. Cora thinks I was laced rather
too tight. I feel much easier now."

" And how is your appetite } "

" Really better, though you know it is bad at the
best of times. But Cora thinks of such dainty little
dishes for me, and has them prepared at such unex-
pected moments, that I can't help eating. And she
always brings me a glass of wine and a sandwich
before I go out driving, and it seems to keep me up."

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"She knows what is good for you! And how
about the sleepless nights ? "

"Ah ! Dr. Jollifife, I am afraid you will laugh, but I
really think Cora has nearly cured them too. She has
such a soothing way with her, and she won't allow
me to sit up until I am over-tired, and then she makes
me take another glass of wine and a biscuit, and rer-i-
by my bedside till I am quite drowsy. And I dare
say the fresh air I have taken has had a good effect
on me too, but I don't lie awake nearly so long as I
used to do."

" Then the advent of this young lady has really
turned out a success. Lady Chichester t "

" A success, doctor ! Why ! I don't know what I
should do without her even now. I never had any-
one to look after me as she does. She is so clever,
and so thoughtful, and so amusing. She sings and
plays beautifully, and Sir Alan has begun to spend
his ev^enings in the drawing-room again now, which
is such a pleasure to me. And you can't think hoT
accomplished Cora is too. She can ride on horse-
back, and skate, and dance, and do everyCiing. Sir
Alan wants her to ride with him sometimes, but she
won't leave me."

" Of course not ! I should be very much surprised
if she did. Her object in coming here was to wait
upon >ou. But I should like to see this female
Admiral Crichton ! Where is she ? "

" I think she must have run away in order that we
might have our talk alone. Please ring the bell,
doctor, and John will ask her to come down again."

In a few minutes Cora Murray, looking very hand-
some and sparkling, entered the room.

A SCARLET SI^

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" Well ! young lady," said the doctor, shaking
hinds with her, " I must congratulate you on the
change your presence has effected here ! My patient
is decidedly better, and she says she owes it all to
you. I think that is something to be proud of."

'* I should be proud of it, sir, were I not afraid that
her ladyship flatters me. She is too good. She has
interested herself so much on my behalf that it has
benefited her own health. But I am very glad you
think her better."

Lady Chichester had got liold of Miss Murray's
hand, and was looking up affectionately into her face
as she spoke.

" Dr. Jolliffe sees a vast improvement in me, Cora,
and I have been telling him that you must think of
yourself, as well as of me, and take some rides on
horseback with Sir Alan. You have been used to
.ruch more exercise than you get here, I am sure.*'

' Is that the case .'' " asked the doctor, regarding
hor steadily in the face.

" I can't say that it is not, but there is no neces-
sity for my riding on horseback. Walking exercise
serves the purpose just as well, and I have always
time for that before her ladyship rises. When the
warm weather sets in I shall be out at six o'clock in
the morning.''

" Ah ! that's the way to keep in robust health !
But if you have been used to a great deal of open air
exercise. Miss Murray, you cannot neglect the practice
now, or you may suffer from sitting up at night."

*' Now that is just what I said," exclaimed Lady
Cbichestcr, "and sol shall get that habit altered

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to fit you at once, Cora, and I shall insist on your
going out riding with Sir Alan. I should be quite
miserable if your health suffered from waiting upon

me.

" That will never do me any harm, Lady Chiches-
ter," replied h.^r companion.

" Well ! well ! Take care of yourselves and take
care of tjch other," said the doctor as he rose to go.
" Miss Murray, I should like to try a new medicine
with her ladyship. If you will accompany me to
the library, I will write the prescription, and give
you directions for its being taken."

As he sat at the library writing-table, and glanced
up at the beaming eyes and dark brows that gazed
at him from the other side, Dr. Jolliffe thought sud-
denly how much too handsome Cora Murray was
for a companion. But she was very pleasant to look
at, all the same, and as his eyes met hers, they told
her so.

"Dr. Jolliffe," she said, bending towards him, " as
you have placed me (as it were) in charge of Lady
Chichester's health, I think you ought to let me know
what is the matter with her."

" She is simply a great invalid."

" She is more than that, sir ! She has a com-
plication of symptoms that puzzle me. How can 1
guard against danger if I don't know from which
quarter it may arise ? "

"You're a very sensible young woman," said Dr.
Jolliffe, *• and I think you're quite fit to be trusted
with a secret. I am not quite sure what is the
matter with her ladyship myself."

A SCARLET SLY,

" But you must have formed a conjecture on the
subject. Are her lungs affected ? "

" No."

" And her heart ? "

" Yes, the action of the heart is very weak, and
the whole vitality at a low ebb."

" You detect no organic disease ? "

" None that I can certainly pronounce upon. Her
symptoms puzzle me more than they do you. Either
she is the victim of an internal disease, or — well ! I
will say no more at present. You must be content
with th^,t."

•* Do you think she will li-oef' asked Miss Murray,
seriously.

" I will not say what I think, except that she is In
a very precarious condition, and requires the utmost
care. What she most needs is strength to go through
whatever may be before her. Improve her appetite,
give her plenty of fresh air and induce sleep, and
she may live for years. But you have begun
well, Miss Murray, and you have only to go on as
you have begun."

" You may be sure I will do that^' she replied, as
she took charge of the prescription he had written.

When dinner was over that evening, and Sir Alan
made his appearance in the drawing-room, his wife
attacked him on the subject of Cora's riding on
horseback.

" Dr. Jolliffe says she must not 'leglect taking her
usual exercise, Alan, and slie has been used to much
more than she gets here, and he says she will be ill
if she stays in the house, and so do persuade her to

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ride for an hour or so every day. She could do it
before I get up."

"■ I have already told Miss Murray that my stables
and my services are at her disposal. ' Cock Robin'
will carry her beautifully, and your old saddle, Alice,
is ready to put on him to-morrow morning, if she
wishes it.'*

" Ah ! m)' old sa idle." 3a* J Lady Chichester, with
a sigh. How lon..^ it \\ since I have seen it, and
how vexed you used to be w. !-?, me for my bad riding,
Alan."

" You were so absurdly timid, my dear, that I was
always afraid of your meeting with an accident."

" You were always too good to me, my darling.
But Cora will not be timid, I am sure. I think she
is as bold as a lion."

" I was put in the saddle almost as soon as I could
sit up by niyself," replied Miss Murray, smiling, " so
there is nothing wonderful in my having overcome
all fear ! But may I ask if that is a roll of new music
in your hand, Sir Alan t "

** Not exactly," replied the baronet, blushing and
stammering in an unusual manner ; " the fact is — that
is. Lady Chichester wished to hear me sing, and so
I brought some of my songs, to see if I can persuade
you to play the accompaniments for me."

" Of course I will ! " replied Cora Murray, whilst
his wife exclaimed, '* O ! how good of you, dear Alan !
I am sure Cora will be delighted with your singing!
You can have no idea," she continued to her com-
panion, " what a beautiful voice he has."

" Boii't talk such rubbish, Alice ! I have not sun<j

A SCARLET Sm.

for many years, my voice must be as rusty as that of
an old crow. I am more than half a^'raid to open my
mouth y ore Miss ATunay."

" O ! 1 Kiow what 't is to be out of practice too,
Sir Ala. and -^an quite sympathize with you," said
Cora, ' init, a tor singing a fe-/ songs, you will soon
find youisclf in v jicv. again. What is your voice,
baritone or tenor ? "

" Baritone, I believe — such as it is ! "

■ Such a useful voice for amateurs," she said,
softly, " you can do anything with it. Which of
these songs shall I try over for you ? "

He chose some simple ballad, and the practicing
bcj^ciu. Sir Alan Chichester's singing proved to be
like that of many amateurs. Naturally, he had t\
good organ, but he had never been taught how to
use it, and his idea of time was so peculiar as to re-
quire a great deal of accommodation on the part of
his accompanist.

]kit Miss Murray smoothed over all the difficulties
in a skillful manner, that sent Lady Chichester into
raptures over her husband's singing, and made the
baronet so pleased with himself that, after his wife
had retired to rest under the cJiapero7iage of Jane
Wood, he inquired if her companion would think
him too troublesome if he asked her to play one or
two of his songs over again.

" Not at all," she answered. " Indeed, why should
you ask the question. Sir Alan ? Surely I am here
to make myself useful Xo you, if it is possible, as well
as to her ladyship."

The baronet was leaning on the side of the grand

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piano, and gazing full at her as she spoke. As she
sat there in her velveteen dress, which just showed a
glimpse of her creamy throat and bosom and the
turn of her rounded arm, she was so unlike any
specimen of womanhood with which he had ever
been brought into intimate contact before, that the
sight of her stirred his blood in an almost forgotten
manner.

*^ But I am so afraid of worrying you," he answered.
" I sing so badly, but — but — when j/o?i play the
accompaniment, it is such a pleasure to me, all the
same."

" And it is a pleasure to me," said Miss Murray,
briskly, as she touched the instrument.

Sir Alan stumbled through another love ballad,
and then he took to leaning on the piano again, and
gazing at his accompanist.

"And you will really consent to ride with me?"
he inquired presently.

" I never said so, Sir Alan ! "

" But you wt/l, I am sure. My wife wishes it, you
see, and I am certain you will enjoy it. We live in
a beautiful county, and the drives and rides are full
of interest. Besides, you must hunt with us. We
have one of the finest packs in England, and quite a
number of ladies at the meets. I shall mount you
on my little hunter * Ariel ' for that."

''You are too good to me," she murmured, though
she knew all the time that it was not his goodness,
but the glamour of her fatal eyes that had evoked
the baronet's offer.

" Not at all ! It will be more pleasure to me than

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A SCARLET SIN.

to yourself. And about such appointments as you
may require ! Order them, Miss Murray, and we
will make it all right on settling day."

•' I don't know how to thank you. Sir Alan," she
replied in a low voice, " but — I feci it ! "

Sir Alan was about to reply that he too felt it,
when their conference was interrupted by the sound
of a harsh cough. Miss Chichester, having heard her
sister-in-law go to bed, thought it but right that she
should come down, and see what was ijoing on in
the drawing-room, for she had not overcome her
original dislike to Miss Murray in the slightest degree.
On the contrary, it seemed to increase as the days
went on. On discovering her propinquity, Cora
commenced to play one of Mendelssohn's " Songs
Without Words," which enabled her to go on talking
without being overheard, and exasperated the other
beyond all description. s

" Lady Chichester has gone up to her own room.
Miss Murray I " she said, in a loud voice, as she
established herself with her knitting by the fire.

" I know it, thank you ! I was here when her
ladyship retired," said the companion quickly.

" She may be wanting you ! "

** We have agreed that her ladyship is to ring when
she is ready for my services."

Miss Chichester snorted.

" I should consider it more becoming if you were
to quit the drawing-room at the same time as she
docs. I dislike music exceedingly. It makes me
ill."

" In that case we will close the piano and defer

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our practice, Sir Alan, till a more favorable oppor.
tunity," replied Miss Murray, as, with a dignified bow,
she left the room.

" What do you mean by speaking to her like that ?"
demanded the baronet angrily, as Cora disappeared.

'•What Ao yoH mean by treating her like a guest,
instead of a dependent ? " retorted his sister.

** I treat her like a lady, as she behaves, which is
more than I can say for yourself," he answered.

" O ! of course not I I saw how it would be from
the beginning — what with Alice's weakness and your
stupidity, you will spoil the girl between you and
then she will have to leave. She will get too fine for
her work ! "

**That is our business, and not yours! But I
insist upon your treating her with' politeness."

And so Miss Chichester found herself worsted,
which only increased her hatred of the new com-
panion.

I-

A ^CAKLET SIAT.

'''•i

CHAPTER IX:

MISS MURRAY IS CALLED AWAY.

What with the united persuasion of Sir Alan and
Lady Chichester, it was not many days before Miss
Murray was to be seen mounted on " Cock Robin,"
and the skillful manner in which she handled the
spirited little animal so increased the baronet's ad-
miration for her talents, that he became eager to see
her in the hunting field. A perfectly fitting habit
and hat having arrived mysteriously from London,
she appeared at the next meet, riding by the M. F.'s
side, and raised a storm of curiosity, malice and
envy. No dress — except perhaps a pair of tights —
shows off the lines of a woman's figure so well as a
riding habit, and Cora Murray's figure was her
strongest point. She could not help seeing the looks
of admiration directed towards her by the men, and
the curious glances with which the women succeeded
them. She was in hf^r glory, and the knowledge
added an extra sparkle to her flashing eyes. She
had been working for this from the beginning. All
her little wiles and graces — her apparent reluctance
to accept the baronet's offer — her fears lest she should
be stepping out of her province by doing so — had
been so many artful means to attain an end. And
now she had succeeded. She was placed in a position

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that must bring her in association with members of
the best county families, and there was no knowing
what it night no<; lead to. All the sportsmen wanted
to ascertain the name of the handsome girl riding by
Sir Alan Chichester's side, for it was so rare an occur-
rence to see the baronet in familiar intercourse with
any woman, that the fact alone was counted worthy
of notice. But Sir Alan did not seem disposed to
share the spoi' v/ith his fellow men. He stuck like
a leech to Cora's side, as long as ever it was possible,
ignoring all the hints thrown out for an introduction
to her, and only parted from her when (to his dis-
may) he saw her lissom figure, perched on Ariel, fly-
ing over hedges, where his sixteen stone of solid
flesh warned him it would be folly to attempt to
follow her. Then indeed Sir Alan found himself
sighing, and wishing he were twenty years youiiger,
or that he had met such a woman as Cora twenty
years before. As she came proudly up to him at
the death, to receive the brush from his hands, with
her glowing eyes and cheeks, and her frame trembling
with the excitement she had gone through, he felt
as though he had found a companion to sympathize
with his tastes and pursuits for the first time in his
life. And as he lifted her from her horse at the
door of Glebe Royal, when the day's sport was over,
he whispered something of the same sort in her ear,
and told her he had never enjoyed a run so much
before.

'* You're a fool ! " said Miss Chichester abruptly to
her sister-in-law, a few days later, as they watched

I-:' .

A SCARLET SIN.

the departure of the baronet and Miss Murray for a
second day's sport, " and Alan's another ! You're a
pair of fools, and I have no patience with you !"

" But why ? " exclaimed Lady Chichester, turning
her large pathetic eyes upon ^he speaker. "What
have we done Anna, to make you speak so strangely ?"

" Why do you let that girl go out hunting, when it
is her business to sit at home and sort your wools ?
You might just as well bring the cook to lie on the
sofa in the drawing-room."

" O Anna ! How can you make such a com-
parison ? Cora is a lady, any one can see ihaty
and if she likes horse exercise why shouldn't she
take it ? "

" And leave you alone for a whole day to look after
yourself? That's not what JoUifife sent her here for."

" But she has very little amusement, poor girl, and
we mustn't forget she is younger than we are. Young
people need variety. I was quite glad when she
consented to go."

"Humph! am?csementy' snorted Miss Chichester;
"it strikes me Miss Murray is a young lady who
knows how to amuse herself."

''Well! you wouldn't grudge her doing it, would
you, Anna ? " said Lady Chichester.

" Ah ! it's not my business — she's not my com-
panion, thank heaven," replied her sister-in-law;
" she'd soon see the outside of Glebe Royal if she
were. But what dLVQyou going to do all day without
her ? Who will drive with you and read to you, and
carry your messages to and fro ? "

" I don't know," said Lady Chichester, with a

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plaintive look. " I shall miss her terribly, but I am so
much better now that I must not be selfish and keep
her always by my side. Perhaps old Jane will bring
her work into the drawing-room, and — and — would
you drive out with me, Anna ? " she added timidly

"// No, thank you ! I hate driving! The rock-
ing of a carriage reminds me of a boat at sea. /am
going for a good ten-mile walk into the country."

" Never mind," returned Lady Chichester, gently,
whilst a faint flush mantled in her cheek, " I shall be
very well amused with my books until dear Alan
and Cora return." And she walked slowly back to
the sofa as she spoke.

Miss Chichester regarded her with a look of ill-
disguised contempt, and then turned on her heel to
seek her own devices, whilst the unselfish little lady
resigned herself to a day of solitude, in order to
promote the pleasure of the two people she loved
best in the world.

When Sir Alan and Cora Murray returned from
their sport, she received them with a genuine welcome,
and listened with pleasurable excitement to the ac-
count of their run.

" And now you must have a cup of tea with mc
before you change your habit, Cora ! John will bring
it in a minute. And here is a letter for you, dear,
that came by the afternoon post."

Miss Murray tore open the envelope and ran over
the contents.

" What a nuisance ! " she exclaimed.

" What is it ? " asked Lady Chichester.

" Only my guardian is about to leave England for

111 V'!'

A SCARLET SIN.

awhile, and wishes to see me before his departure.
Would your ladyship be able to spare me for a few
days, to run up to London ? "

" Spare you^ Cora ? O ! how can I ? What shall
I do without you ? But still, if it is necessary, \
mustn't be too selfish. Is your guardian going away
for long?"

" No, only a trip abroad — but he wants to see me
before he goes. He is my only relation, you know,
and he is foolish enough to be — well " — with an arch
gla*^ " at the baronet — " rather fond of me."

" But %ve are fond of you too," said Lady Chiches-
ter coaxingly.

" I will not go unless you can really spare me,*'
replied Miss Murray, toying with her cup of tea.

" We shall never be able to do that, Miss," inter-
posed Sir Alan, gallantly.

" I would promise to return on the third day,"
replied Miss Murray.

" Well ! I suppose we shall have to make up our
minds to it," said her ladyship. " When must it be } "

" O! we will talk of that after dinner," exclaimed
her companion, rising. " I have really not half mas-
tered the contents of my guardian's letter."

But as she was on her way upstairs, she felt a hand
placed on her arm in the half light, and heard Sir
Alan's voice say : " You will not go, Cora — will you } **
and she answered, " Not \{ you wi >h it."

She looked handsomer than e) er that evening as
they sat down to dinner, for Lady Chichester had so
far recovered her strenfith as to be able to sit at the
table. S'r Alan and Miss Murray were full of their

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day's sport, and the adventures they had met with
in the field, and as they laughed over their joint re-
miniscences, the guardian's request seemed to be
entirely forgotten — indeed, Cora joined eagerly In
the discussion of plans for the next few days. But
before the meal was concluded, the butler brought
Sir Alan one of those yellow envelopes that betoken
a telegram.

'' No bad news, I hope," said Lady Chichester,
anxiously — poor womaii ! the least suspense had the
power to make her tremble like an aspen leaf — " tlie
sight of a telegram always makes me so nervous."

" Nonsense ! you shojJd fight against it," said Miss
Chichester roughly.

" Bad news ! Alice .'* " replied her husband cheerily.
" Not at all ! The very best of news ! Dear old
Hal is coming back to us ! He has obtained a week's
leave before the regiment sails for Gibraltar. Dear
old Hal ! I wish he would sell out, and settle down
altogether at Glebe Royal. I am sure you will get
on with him. Miss Murray. He loves all active, out-
door sports, and is as keen after hunting as your-
self,"

" But who is he "i " asked Cora, smiling at her host's
enthusiasm.

" Why ! my greatest chum, Henry Fauntleroy — a
captain in the Queen's 99th Tartans. Such a
thorough*
tioned his Jt.'.ine to you before .''

" O ! )'e 4 ! several times ! And is he to be here
to-iiior*^. V. )"'

"But cn'y for ^wc days — worse luck I He must

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.4 SCARLET SIN.

Spend a little time with his own family. But you
will sec him long enou^^h to find out how nice he is.
He will cut us all out, Miss Murray."

" Do you think so ? But I may not be here."

'' T thought you had given up the idea of visiting
London," said the baronet, with a crestfallen air.

" I am going to talk it over with Lady Chichester
after dinner," replied Cora discrcjtly.

When she began to talk it over, the reasons for her
going to London without any delay appeared to in-
crease tenfold. Before, she had been rather irre-
solute; now, she was quite decided. Mer guardian
was her uncle and best friend — she owed everything
in life to him — and she could not think of allowing
liini to leave the country without saying farewell.
Me was in delicate health too, and might never return.
In fact, when Lady Chichester attempted to reason
her out of the project. Miss Murray declared emphati-
cally that she would rather throw up her situation
than be guilty of such a piece of ingratitude. This
clinched the matter at once.

"O Cora!" exclaimed her ladyship, ''how could
V'OLi imafrine that we would be so unc^ra^eful as
to place a barrier in the way of your duty ! And
after all you have done for me, too ! I should be
making you a bad return. Pray go, dear, as soon
as you like, and return when you think fit. I shall
be only too glad to see you again, but I will not ask
you to come back a single day before your guardian
is willing to part with )'ou."

" 0 ! as for that, dear Lady Chichester, he would
keep me with him always, if he could, but I have an

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independent spirit, and will not eat his bread whilst
I can earn my own. Still — he is my father's brother,
and I owe him more than I can ever repay ; and so,
as you kindly give me leave, I shall go up to town
by an early train to-morrow."

When the baronet appeared he tried hard to make
Miss Murray alter her decision, or even put off her
journey for another day, but she was resolute, and
the next morning (to Miss Chichester's intense dis-
gust) he prepared to drive her to the station himself
in his dogcart. His sister stood at the window watch-
ing their departure, w'ah her long nose high in the
air, and as they drove out of the gates Cora remarked
to her charioteer, " there's one person who would
rather see my back than my face."

" Do you mean my sister } "

" I do. Have you not observed her dislike to me ?
Why, it is evident ! "

'* I think she is jealous, Cora, as well she may be,
of your talents and your beauty. What woman is
not jealous of them ? You have set Glebe Royal in
a flame."

" Except dear Lady Chichester ! She i:j too good
to be jealous of anybody ! "

*' Ah ! my poor wife ! But she has been used for
so long to think of nothing but her own ailments,
that she seems to have lost the ordinary instincts of
her sex. I am very unfortunately situated, Cora.
My wife is nothing but a burden to me. She has
neither power nor energy to keep up the prestige of
our race."

" She may regain them, Sir Alan !"

A SCARLET SIN.

" Never ! I am convinced that to her life's end she
will be a hopeless invalid. And your peculiar bright-
ness and vitality seem to make the contrast still more
distressing. Poor, poor Alice ! "

" Well, Lady Chichester has an alleviation to her
troubles at all events, Sir Alan, in a good and faith-
ful husband," said Miss Murray.

The baronet winced.

** Ves. I have been faithful to her, Heaven knows.
For twenty years I have never uttered a word of love
to any other woman. And my heart has been as
faithful as my lips. But now — what shall J say now,
Cora ? '

" I don't know ; " she whispered, with downcast
eyes.

"Nor I either," he replied, pulling himself togethei ;
*' but if it were the truth I am afraid it would not be
very satisfactory. But here we are at the station.
Woa ! mare ! steady — steady ! That's it ! " and
throwing the reins to his groom Sir Alan assisted
Miss Murray to alight.

** Come back sooji" were the last words he whis-
pered to her as he held her hand in a farewell grasp,
•' and remember there is someone at Glebe Royal who
prefers your face to your back."

"Write and teU me all about your friend's arrival,
and exactly how long he intends to stay with you,
and I will try and return in time to catch a sight of
him," was her reply.

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CHAPTER X.

CAPTAIN FAUNTLEROY'S SUSPICIONS.

When Captain Fauntleroy arrived, his friend found
that his chief reason for a visit to Glebe Royal was
to ask his advice on the knotty question of whethci
he should retire from the army or not. He was a
man who greatly disliked foreign service, and a rich
godfather fro . whom he had expectations had
offered to make him an annual allowance if he woukl
remain in England. But Fauntleroy v/as of active
habi*-'- and felt he could not live a life of idleness, at
the same time that he would not have sufficient
money to go about and enjoy himself. So he had
come in his per'jlexity to Sir Alan.

" Stop at honar, old fellow, by all manner of means,"
cried the baronet heartily ; " we'll find you some
appointment, never fear, or, what is better, an heiress,
with whom you can settle down near Glebe Royal.
I've been breaking my heart over the prospect of
losing you. Marry, Hal ! get hold of some woman
with money, that's my advice, and cut the service
altogether."

Fauntleroy's brow contracted as if with pain.
" Don't talk like that, Alan. I've told you already
that I shall never marry. This is simply a question
of whether I can live on my half-pay and the income
my godfather proposes to allow me. If I can keep

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// SCAKIET SIN,

a couple of hunters on it, my mind is made up, but I
could not give up lumting for any man alive."

" Of course you couldn't. I was talking of your
love of it only the other day to Miss Murray, and
saying how thoroughly you and she would agree
upon the subject."

"Miss Murray! Is that Alice's companion?"

" Yes."

" But what can she know of hunting ? "

"Why, my boy, she's one of the most splendid
horsewomen I ever met. She rides straight as a
dart. She's the admiration of the whole field. IVe
been mounting her on Ariv4, but I think I shall let
her try Rochet. I believe she could manage any-
thing."

Captain Fauntleroy smiled.

" It seems strange to hear of a * companion ' hunt-
ing. 1 don't knov\- why it should, but I suppose one
generally ima<gincs them to spring from a class too
poor for luxuries."

*' But Miss Murray has been used to a very
different portion. Her family v/as very rich, but
they have come down in the world. It is sad for
her, poor girl, but she bears it bravely. '

"And she is so accomplished, Henry," chimed in
Lady Chichester; "she sings and plays beautifully.
1 wish you could have seen htr. It is such a disap-
pointment to me that she had to go to London just
at this time. I want you and Cora to be iriends."

" So you have ar'-'vcd at calling her by her Christian
name, Alice ? "

" O dear, yes. You don't know what she has done

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for me by her kindness and attention. I owe her a
great deal. Don't you see how much better I am,
Henry ? I even walk a little now in the morninof
when the weather is fine. Her society has done me
more good than all the doctor's physic. Hasn't it,
dear Alan >"

" It has indeed, Alice."

" And she is so pretty too, Henry. She has the
loveliest dark eyes, and such a sweet smile. I am
sure you would admire her."

" I don't know. I prefer fair women to dark."

" But you couldn't help liking Cora. She is so
clever and entertaining. O Alan ! I have thought
of a capital plan."

" Wliat is that, my dear .? "

" Henry shall marry Cora. Wouldn't it be delight-
ful, and then they should both live at Glebe Royal
with us. How I wish it could come true."

Fauntleroy only laughed at the wasted dis{)la\' of
energy with which her ladyship clasped her little
hands togethe." as she gave utterance to the idea, but
her husband appeared to be unnecessarily annoyed
by it.

" Don't talk such nonsense," he said sharply, " you
might be a child of ten years old,, You have heard
Hal say over and over again that he never intends
to marry, and as to Cora, I mean Miss Murray, I
should hardly think she was a woman to choose a
husband in a hurry."

Lady Chichester's meek eyes filled with tears.

"It was only a joke," she said deprecatingly.

"A very unbecoming joke in my opinion. Please

A SCARLET SIN.

don't repeat it," he answered curtly as he turned
away. Alice left her scat, and, p;oing to the further
end of the drawing-room, commenced turning over
the contents of a drawer, whilst the baronet con-
tinued his conversation with his friend.

Presently her plaintive voice was raised to attract
her husband's notice.

*'Alan, dear!"

'' Well ! "

" I can't find Cora's photograph. Have you taken
it ? "

"Taken it? What the d -1 should I take it

for ? "

' Don't be angry, dear. I only thought you might
h.'ve done so. But where can it be, then ? I am
sure I put it in this drawer."

" What do you want it for ? "

** To show to Henry. I want him to see what a
handsome ;^irl she is."

*' Nonsense ! Don't bother Hal about such trifles.
What can he care if your companion is handsome or
ugly. It's no affair of his. Come back and lie down
on your sofa, or we shall be having you so tired that
you cannot sit up at dinner."

" Does Alice actually appear at the dinner table }
That is good news ! " exclaimed Captain Fauntleroy.

"O! yes! she has made wonderful strides since
Miss Murray took her in hand," said the baronet.
"But I don't suppose it will be of any permanent
use," he added in a lower tone, and to his friend's
mind a very indifferent one.

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A SCARLET SIN,

she continued to talk of her young companion's
mental and personal beauties, until Fauntleroy won-
dered how such a rara avis had ever been allowed
by the world of men to be the architect of her
own fortunes. He was honestly pleased, however,
to be able to conduct Lady Chichester to the dinner
table after so long an interval, and to observe that
she really seemed stronger and more cheerful than
she had been for years. But when the ladies had
retired, and he hastened to congratulate his old friend
on the change of afifairs, he fancied again that Sir
Alan was strangely indififerent to the subject.

" Let me wish you joy, old fellow," he commenced
as soon as they were alone ; " your dear wife is
decidedly better. She seems to me to have taken
out a new lease of life. It is quite wonderful to see
her sitting at table and eating like other people."

" I don't suppose it will last, Hal. Jollifife seems
to think she has some internal complaint. I should
not be surprised to hear any day she was on the sofa
again."

** O ! you mustn't look at things in that gloomy
light, Alan ! Of course I can understand that the
matter is one of such vital importance to you that
you are almost afraid to hope too much, still, anyone
can see the improvement in Alice's health. It is
palpable. Had she any organic disease, she would
grow steadily worse. Jolliffe must be mistaken."

" I don't know why he should be. He is a very
clever doctor."

" But why then doesn't he name the disease she
suffers from ? "

A SCARLET SIN,

♦' He says he is not prepared to do so just yet, but
will give me his decision in the course of a few
weeks."

"But the suspense must be intolerable to you.
Why not send for a specialist from London ? "

" Because I have no faith in any of them doing her
any good, Hal. Alice has been like this for years,
and she never will be any better. That's my belief."

" But she is better ! I can see that without any
medical knowledge. She has lost her apathy in a
considerable degree."

"Ah! that is Miss Murray's doing! She is a girl
with an enormous amount of vitality and energy, and
she infuses it unconsciously into every one with
whom she is brought into contact. Were she to
leave us, I believe Alice would very quickly sink into
her old state of inactivity again."

" Then I don't wonder at your not wanting to part
with her, even for w^," replied Fauntleroy laughing.
But though he laughed outwardly, he felt grave.
Something was altered in Sir Alan Chichester as
well as in his wife, though he would have been
puzzled to say what it was. After dinner, some
business connected with the estate took the baronet
to his private sitting room, and Fauntleroy, pipe in
hand, accompanied him. Webster, the bailiff, had
to be admitted to a conference concerning a dispute
over a chandler's bill, and as Sir Alan hastily turned
over the papers and receipts in a drawer of his writ-
ing-table, Fauntleroy caught sight of a photograph.
He thought nothing of it at the time, but when the
baronet was compelled to accompany the bailiff to

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the stables for a few minutes and left him there, with
the drawer open, idle curiosity alone impelled him to
take up the photograph and examine it. It repre-
sented a young woman of perhaps two or three and
twenty, sitting in a careless attitude with her arms
thrown back, and her hands clasped above her head.
Her large eyes were gazing upwards, and her profile
and figure were both clearly lined against the artistic
background. As Fauntleroy caught sight of the
picture he started violently, and when Sir Alan
re-entered the room he found him gazing at it as if
he were spell-bound. As the baronet discovered his
occupation he also started and colored, much after
the fashion of his friend,

" Hullo ! Hal," he tried to say indifferently, " what
have you got there ? '*

Fauntleroy answered the question with another.

" Alan ! " he exclaimed, " w/to is this ? "

** That ! By Jove ! that's the photograph Alice
was looking for. Where did you find it t In my
drawer ? She must have put it there herself. I
think her memory gets worse every day."

" But, Alan, who is it ? Do you know the original ? "

" What ! Smitten already ? Of course I know
her ! That's Miss Murray, my wife's companion ! "

" Murray ! Murray ! " repeated Fauntleroy, in a
puzzled tone, " this is Miss Murray^

" Certainly ! What do you think of her ? Though
that photo doesn't do her justice. She is really a
glorious looking creature." Then be added, as
though afraid he had said too much, " I wish Alice
wouldn't litter my table drawers with her rubbish!
I hate to have women messing about my things."

i? I.'t

A SCARLET SIN.

Captain Fauntleroy had recovered himself by this
time.

•'Where did you meet with this — this young
lady ? " he inquired.

" I had nothing to do with it. Old Jollifife recom-
mended that Alice should have a companion, and
his sister-in-law sent Miss Murray down. But she
has proved to be a lucky find for us. Alice is quite
devoted to her."

" And of course you know her antecedents."

" What do you mean } " exclaimed the baronet
firing up.

" Nothing but what I say. I suppose Miss Mur-
ray is an undoubted gentlewoman. Murray is a
good name. Perhaps you know her family } "

" I know no one but herself, but Dr. Jolliffe's
sister ascertained all that was necessary. And if you
had seen her, you would never ask another question
on the subject."

"I wish I ^ad seen her, as she seems to be such a
fascinating young woman. Perhaps I may still.
When does she return to Glebe Royal ? "

" I don't know. Alice can doubtless inform you,"
replied the baronet, who seemed to have taken a
sulky fit. " Meanwhile, if you're done with that
photograph, I'll lock it up again."

" I thought it was Alice's property. Shall I take
it to her ? " asked Fauntleroy quietly.

"Just as you like," replied Sir Alan, and he shut
the drawer with a bang and put the keys in his
pocket.

Captain Fauntleroy carried off the photograph of

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A SCARLET SIN,

Cora Murray, but he forgot to deliver it to Lady
Chichester. On the contrary, he took it up to his
own room and sat for a long time contemplating it
before he went to rest.

" Cora Murray ! " he thought, " Cora Murray ! Is
is possible you can be one and the same with
Charlotte Mapleson ? You must be ! There cannot
be two women so exactly similar in the world. But
how have you come here ? And what has made you
choose the unsophisticated life of a lady's ' com-
panion ? ' No wonder that you can ride to the
admiration of the county, and sing and dance and
play. I wonder what there was that you could not
do in the old days. And where can your 'guardian'
be ? That brute who quenched all my hopes in the
most devilish manner that ever turned a lover to a
fiend. O Lotta! how much you have to answer
for!"

He bowed his head for a moment on his hands, as
if overcome by the recollections engendered by her
name, but when he raised it again his face was calm.

" I must see her," he thought, " by hook or by
crook. I must ascertain, before 1 leave England, if
she is living the life she ought to do, as the companion
of that pure, innocent-minded creature, Alice Chi-
chester. And if not — well, whatever it costs me, I
must expose her for the sake of my old friendship
for Alan. If she has heard my name, as no doubt
she has, I don't wonder at her being called away to
London just as I am about to visit Glebe Royal.
And she will not come back either whilst I am here.
I will say good-bye to them on the day I first in-

A SCARLET SIN,

tended, as if it were for good and all, and then, if
it is in any way possible, I will return for a few hours
without giving them any notice, and see if I can catch
her unawares. Even if I spare her the disgrace of
exposure, I must satisfy myself that it is she^ and that
she will behave herself properly whilst she is here."
And with this resolution. Captain Fauntleroy was
fain to rest content.

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A SCARLET aiN.

CHAPTER XI.

THE GUARDIAN AND TRUSTEE,

Meanwhile, Miss Murray, having reached the end
of her journey in safety, drove straight to a quiet
hotel in Jcrmyn street, where she asked to be shown
the private apartments of Mr. Masham. She was
confronted, as she entered them, by a business-look-
ing, middle-aged man, who was seated at a table
covered with papers and engaged with correspon-
dence,

" Well, Jack," she said familiarly, but not affection-
ately, as they found themselves alone, "and so I've
come, you see. Now, is it a true bill that you are
going to leave England, or only a ruse to get me up
here?"

She threw her hat and mantle on the sofa as she
spoke, and going to the mirror smoothed her ruffled
hair with both her hands, and examined her general
appearance critically as though she felt quite at
home.

" It's a true bill enough," replied the man, as he
rose and stood beside her, " and what's more, it's a
deuced unpleasant one. Young Perry has committed
suicide ! "

Miss Murray turned round sharply and regarded
him. Her face had become very pale, and her eyes
had a frightened look in them.

-^!

A SCARLET SIN.

"What ! " she said under her breath.

'• It's the truth, my dear. The young fool has shot
himself, and some of your letters have been found
upon him. His people are wealthy, and will cer-
tainly make a stir about the matter, and, as my name
may be implicated, I have been warned to keep out
of the way. So I start for the Brazils to-morrow
evening. It will only be anticipating my departure
by a few weeks, and under your new name you will
be safe enough. But I would not trust the news to
paper. I felt it would be safer to let you know by
word of mouth, though there is no chance of its
affecting you now."

But Miss Murray's lips were still white from the
shock she had received, and she could only murmur :

** Shot himself I George Perry ! O 1 what fools
men are ! "

" What fools you women make them you mean,
Lotty," said Mr. Masham. " I warned you about this
particular case, you remember, on more than one
occasion. I told you the young fellow was ultra-
sensitive, and took all you said in earnest. I know
he confidently expected to marry you."

At that her lip curled.

" To marry me ! What nonsense ! A lad of twenty
without a shilling of his own to depend on. My dear
Jack, you make the unfortunate creature out a greater
fool than he was."

" He loved you, my dear. He couldn't have given
a t^reater proof of his folly than that."

"Thank you. But he has, at all events, been a
fool in good company. And so he has gone, poor
fellow ! When did it happen 1 "

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100

A SCARLEl SIN,

"Last Monday. He went to bed apparently as
usual, and was found in the morning with his brains
blown out. Forster wired the news at once, and I
wrote to you. But, as I said before, you need not
be the least uneasy about the matter. Only I
thought I should like to see you before I started, and
hear from your own lips how you are getting on at
Glebe Royal."

" First rate. They make a regular pet of me. I
have my own riding horse, and hunt three times a
week, and Lady Chichester says she doesn't know
what she would do without me."

" You have turned saint forher benefit, I suppose."

" Not quite that, but of course I am intensely
proper, and read to her, and write her letters, and
arrange her needlework, as if I had done nothing else
all my life. She is a feeble little woman, without a
will of her own, and I have magnetized her to sleep,
each night, until she clings to me like a child to its
mother."

" And the baronet — what of him } '

Miss Murray laughed.

" Well ! I think he is pretty well magnetized too."

*' Ah ! well, don't go too far this time. Remember
your bread depends on it, and don't have a repetition
of young Perry's case for heaven's sake."

" Why do you keep on alluding to young Perry ? "
she said frowning. " / can't help it, if men will fall in
love with me. Perhaps you would like me never to
speak to one of the sex again. O ! by the way, talk-
ing of lovers, who do you think has turned up at
Glebe Royal .^ Henry Fauntleroy."

Mr. Masham whistled.

A ''CARLET Sm.

"By Jove! What did he say to you ? "

" I've not seen him, my dear. Pas si bite. He's
there now, or was to be, and directly I heard he was
coming, I took the next train to London. It appears
he is one of Sir Alan Chichester's oldest friends."

" Then they'll tell him you are at Glebe Royal."

" How can he recognize me under the name of
Cora Murray? He only knew me as Charlotte
Mapleson. Besides, he is only there for a couple of
days, to say good-bye before sailing with his regi-
ment for Gibraltar. It is lucky for me he has no
chance of making a longer stay."

" I don't know that," replied Masham, thought-
fully. " Henry Fauntleroy was very much attached to
you in the old days, and I expect that with a little
of your {^mvMXiQ finesse you could soon make it rii^ht
with him again now. You know, Lotty, that, though
you are very handsome and very clever, you are no
longer a girl, and a respectable marriage is the proper
ending of all your sex."

"What a pity you didn't think of that yourself a
long time ago," she said with a sneer.

Masham shrugged his shoulders^ He was a stout,
broad-made man, with grizzled hair and a florid
complexion, not at all handsome, and rather " horsey "
in appearance, but with a shrewd eye, and some
amount of humor in his composition.

" It was, wasn't it, my dear," he answered quaintly,
" but I should never have been a good enough match
for you. I was only the lever to place you in the
position to make one, which you would have done,
long ago, had you not been so fastidious. But with

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A SCARLET SIN.

regard to Captain Fauntleroy, don't you think you
could manage him now ? "

" He is not worth the attempt. He has no more
money now than he had when he was at Vlyniouth.
I have heard Lady Chichester say he has nothing but
his pay. Besides I have not the same faith in my
powers that you have. Fauntleroy heard a great
deal too much — thanks to your fear that he should
take me from you — and I should not think he was
the man to patch up a broken faith easily."

" Still, your bodily presence is very fascinating,
Lotty, and you might try. I should like to sec you
happily married."

"Thanks again — for nothing. When I do marry,
it will be to please myself and not you. But I can
foresee a much better prospect looming in the future.
Lady Chichester is in her last illness."

" Dear me. Ts that really the case } "

" I am sure of it. The old doctor won't say so
decidedly, because, as you know, these medical men
always hold out hope to the last, especially with a
lingering case. But he has confided to me that he
believes her to have an internal complaint, and all
her symptoms point to it. She is a regular invalid,
passes half her time in bed, and can hardly eat or
drink sufficient to keep her alive. She has picked
up wonderfully since I went there, but I can see that
every exertion she makes is too much for her, and,
before long, she will lie on her sofa again all day, as
she used to do."

" And is the baronet very devoted, Lotty } "

" To his wife — do you mean — or to me } Well,

A SCARLET SI I^.

103

■ttiy

he tvonldhe very devoted indeed, if I let him, but I
won't. I intend to be very reticent, almost repulsing
towards him whilst Lady Chichester lives, and attend
closely upon her, and then — when Sir Alan wants a
second wife, which won't be long. Nous verroits !'*

" Is he an attractive man ? "

"So, so," replied Miss Murray with an expressive
gesture. " I suppose most women would call him
handsome, but you know I am not easily satisfied,
lie is about fifty years of age, tall and good-looking,
very talkative and very excitable. I see I am rather
a revelation to him, and you men will go mad after
any novelty. He has been a good boy all his life,
and stuck close to his nonentity of a wife, and a most
unpleasant maiden sister, with the foot of an elephant
and the moustache of a grenadier. A woman be-
tween the two, who unites brains and character with
a fair amount of youth and beauty, is something
which he has never met with before. And so he
runs after me like a calf after a cow."

" And the money ? "

" O ! they have lots of money and no children.
That's where the shoe pinches. And they belong to
one of the oldest families in the county too. Lady
Chichester never goes out anywhere, bu the big
wigs call constantly to ask after her health. And
Glebe Royal is a magnificent estate. I should say
they rr.ust be worth at least ten thousand a year,
perhaps more."

'* It will be a grand thing if you jump into it,
Lotty."

" I mean to jump into it, in due course of time.

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But you must have patience, and let me play my
cards my own way. To hurry matters would be to
ruin my future chances, and as I don't care a pin for
the man, I've no temptation to do that."
" Did you ever care for anybody, Lotty ? "
" Perhaps ! But it is not anyone you have sus-
pected, or that I shall ever meet again. The world
judges women very hardly, when it says we have no
hearts. We all have hearts, but some of us have
buried them out of sight, and don't care to remember
even where they lie. But to return to our subject.
Sir Alan is hooked — don't make any mistake about
that ; but the landing must depend entirely on time."
" How long is his wife likely to last ^ "
" That I can't say, but if the doctor is right, and
she has an internal disease, she will sink very
rapidly, for she has no strength to bear up against
its inroads. I can see he is secretly alarmed about
her, though he won't let the family see it. However,
it must be settled one way or another soon."
" But should she recover } "

" Don't bother me with your suppositions, Jack.
She won't recover. You may take my word for it,
but should a miracle be performed on her behalf,
well, there are as good fish in the sea as ever came
out of it. You should see the members of our hunt —
squires, and lords, and sons of lords, and I might
have my pick of the lot, if Sir Alan were not so
jealous that he will not introduce anyone to me
unless he is absolutely obliged. Ah ! mon ami, I
have the ball at my feet now, believe me. and I mean
to kick it."

A SCARLET SIN.

'OS

"I hope to goodness you will," replied Masham,
" for I'm in such terribly low water I may never
return to England, and I should like to hear you
were comfortably settled, Lotty."

•'At anybody's expense but your own, Jack! " she
replied sarcastically. " I quite believe that, old boy.'*

" I don't see any need to sneer, Lotty. Whenever
I've made a haul, you've had your share of it, and a
good big share too, as you well know, and it would
have gone on the same to the end if you'd only kept
true to me. But there are some things a man can't
stand, however fond he may be of a woman."

" 0 ! bar sentiment for heaven's sake, Jack. You
know I never took it kindly in the old days, and I'm
not likely to begin now, when you're fifty, and it's
over. Let's bury it, and have done with it ! You
have no more money, and I — well, my interest in
you is pretty well exhausted. Let's talk of -some-
thing pleasanter."

" All right. Do you make any stay here ? "

" I promised to return on the third day. But not
unless I hear that Fauntleroy v: well off the premises.
He might spoil everything just at this moment."

" How do you expect to receive the news ? "

*' Sir Alan said he would write to-morrow."

"I see! Well, what do you purpose to do this
evening ? "

*' Anything, so long as it is not compromising. I
can't afford to compromise myself at this juncture.
We had better go to the theatre, and sup here after-
wards. But for heaven's sake let us enjoy ourselves.
You're a first-rate companion, Jack, when you leave

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sentiment behind you. You ought to know by this
time what a wishy-washy, worthless thing it is."

" Yes, when a woman has grown tired of it."

" That's just it, and I have grown tired of it. It's
no use at all except as a means to an end, and our
end was accomplished ages ago."

Mr. Masham answered nothing, but he looked at
the handsome creature who stood with one foot on
the fender, excitedly addressing him, with a sigh.
He had no wish to renew the past, but he had not
quite ceased to regret it, although he knew that
Charlotte Mapleson was a woman without a heart,
and with very little conscience. But she was beauti-
ful, and when has virtue ever had the same power
over men as beauty ?

The meekest and purest spirit upon earth has no
chance against a flashing eye, a dimpled chin and a
seductive mouth. No woman ever knew her power
better than Charlotte Mapleson, and though she had
been unpleasant and almost insulting to this man,
she atoned for it so amply afterwards that he waited
on her pleasure for the rest of the day as if he had
been a subject, and she a queen, and was almost happy
in doing so. The following morning brought her a
letter from Sir Alan Chichester, not by any means a
familiar one, for the baronet was too sensible to
compromise either her or himself, but a few ordinary
lines to ask her to return on the third diy as she had
promised, as Captain Fauntleroy's time was very
limited, and he could not possibly remain at Glebe
Royal over Thursday.

" That decides me," said Miss Murray, " I shall not
return until Friday."

A SCARLET SlIST,

107

" Upon my word, Lotty, I sometimes think you
would be wiser to meet the man, and have it out with
1111.

" And why, my mentor ? "

" Because, what can he say of you after all ? You
may have flirted with liim — and that's an open
question — but no one can blame you for not marry-
ing him. If you'd married every man who has
happened to ask you, you'd have a masculine harem,
by Jove."

" That may be true, Jack, but Fauntleroy*s know-
ledge doesn't stop there, I'm afraid. He knew Rod-
ney after you had quarreled with him."

" The d 1 he did ! Where did he meet him V^

"At the old diggings at Newmarket, I suppose.'*

" And who told you of it ? "

"Rodney himself, the night he threatened me.
That is the only reason I want to evade Fauntleroy.
I think the poor fellow was fond of me, and he would
meet me with a torrent of reproaches, and blurt out
the whole story before Sir Alan. O ! it would never
do. When I heard how well he knew them all, I
blessed my lucky stars I had changed my name."

" It was cute of you, Lotty, but you always are
cute. Still I stick to my opinion, and say, meet
Fauntleroy if you can, alone, and secure his silence.
There is no need to advise you how. You could
make him believe anything you chose, and Rodney's
spite will easily pass for jealousy."

"If I am obliged to meet him, I will remember
what you say, Jack, but I should like to get my affairs
settled before we do meet, and then I can snap my

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fingers at him. And unlikelier things have happened,
because he is just about to sail with his regiment to
Gibraltar, and won't come back under three years.
And what may not happen in three years, Jack ? Why,
if I am not Lady Chichester by that time, I shall be
on to * fresh fields and pastures new,* where the
virtuous Fauntleroy shall know me no more."

A SCARLET SIN

109

CHAPTER XII.

THE RETURN OF THE WANDERER.

Sir Alan. Chichester felt rather disappointed that
Miss Murray's first question, when he met her at the
railway station, should be after his absent friend.
He had dressed himself up with the utmost care in
order to welcome her back to Glebe Royal. His top-
coat and driving gloves were faultless, in his button-
hole bloomed a tiny branch of waxen stephanotis
from the conservatory, and his face was radiant with
the anticipation of meeting. Yet the first words
she spoke were :

" Has Captain Fauntleroy left Glebe Royal ? "

" Yes. He went last night. But why are you so
anxious to know ? Are you disappointed at not
meeting him } He's not a bit handsome, if that's
what you've been thinking."

But the arch glance she threw at him dispelled the
fit of jealousy at once.

** Suppose I asked the question because I prefer
that we should be alone. Sir Alan } I can assure you
I have no wish to see any strangers introduced to
our circle. We are so very happy, are we not, all to
ourselves ? Anything like a change must be for the
worse."

"/ should think so," replied the baronet, squeezing

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her hand, as he helped her into the dog-cart, ''though
Fauntleroy's an old chum of mine, and has been wel-
come to come and go as he pleased. But I'm afraid
he found me a dull companion this time/'

" Why ? " demanded Miss Murray, innocently.

"As if you didn't know zvhy. We have all been
miserable without you, Miss Murray. The house
hasn't been the same thing at all, and as for my poor
wife, she has done nothing but fret after you and talk
of you, and I believe old Jane Wood nearly bullied
her into fits last evening for ingratitude towards her-
self."

" Dear Lady Chichester," murmured Cora, softly.
" I shouldn't have left her on any account had it not
been absolutely necessary. But my poor guardian is
very ill, Sir Alan, very ill indeed. He is going abroad
for his health at once, and I greatly fear I shall never
see him again. And he is the only friend I have in
the world."

" No, no ! you mustn't say that," cried Sir Alan^
heartily. " We are all your friends at Glebe Royal,
and as for myself, I feel I can never repay you for
the services you have rendered my wife. You shall
never want a guardian whilst I live, Cora."

" I don't deserve your kindness, but it is an in-
estimable comfort to me," she said, sweetly, and then
she added in a brisker tone, " and so your poor friend
has really left England for good. How you must
have felt parting with him ! "

*' He is bound to sail with the regiment next Mon-
day week," returned the baronet, " but I hope he will
not stay in Gibraltar long. I have been trying to

A SCARLET SIN".

Ill

persuade him to sell out, and settle down with a nice
wife near Glebe Royal. He's a dear old fellow, and
would make an excellent husband, but he is a regular
misogynist. He had a great disappointment some
years ago, and I think it has made him a bit shy of
the fair sex."

" A disappointment ! How romantic ! There are
so few men in the present day with feeling enough to
be disappointed — thai is for long. But is there no
chance of the young lady and himself coming to-
gether?"

" O ! not the slightest. She was a regular bad
lot. He wouldn't have anything to do with her if
he could. He hates the very thought of her."

Miss Murray pursed up her mouth.

" I am afraid I have been indiscreet in putting the
question. Sir Alan. Such persons are best not
alluded to. I am very sorry for your friend, but I
should think his common sense would show him the
folly of avoiding all women for the sake of one worth-
less one. Perhaps, after all, he may find his consola-
tion in Gibraltar. I hope Lady Chichester has not
neglected to take her daily drive during my absence } "

"You must ask her that yourself, Miss Murray, for
my time has all been taken up with Fauntleroy. He
was quite pleased to think you were keeping * Cock
Robin ' in exercise for him, and astonished to hear
you could ride * Ariel ' out hunting, for, to tell you a
secret, 'Ariel' has sent Hal over his head more than
once at a flying leap. But, as I told him, you could
manage anything, myself included."

" I hope you didn't say that^ Sir Alan } "

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112

A SCARLET SIN.

" Well, not exactly, perhaps, but I know I felt it.
The fact is, Cora, you're knocking me into a cocked
hat. I have felt like a silly boy all the time you've
been away, and my thoughts have invariably turned
to the one vital question, ' How soon shall I see her
again ? * Those three days have seemed like three
years. What devilment have you exercised over me
to change the whole of my life like this ? "

** Hush ! Hush ! Sir Alan," replied Cora, as the
dog-cart turned into the gates of Glebe Royal, " you
mustn't speak to me like that, indeed you mustn't.
Remeaiber I am only a weak girl, and that life is
hard enough to me as it is — without ^^«," she added,
in a low tone that spoke volumes.

It was a speech calculated to draw a man on, in-
stead of repulsing him, and she knew it but too well.
The baronet looked eagerly in her face as she finished
speaking, but she had dropped her eyes and he could
read nothing further. But there was an increase of
confidence in the way in which he drew his mare up
at the hall door, and exclaimed, " Here you are. Miss
Murray, home again, and you won't get another hol-
iday in a hurry, I can tell you."

She laughed as she jumped lightly to the ground,
and ran past him to the drawing-room. But she
knew that she had rivetted another link in his fetters.

Poor Lady Chichester was absurdly delighted to
see her young companion again, and tears of ex-
citement mingled with her smiles of welcome. She
began at once a detailed description of all her feel-
ings and symptoms during Cora's absence, and how
she had quite forgotten to take her drops before din-

A SCARLET S/Y.

»»3

ncr, and Jane Wood had neglected to put her second
cushion in the carriage, and so she had been suffering
with a backache ever since yesterday's drive.

"Don't you think we might entertain Miss Murray
with something livch'cr than a description of your
ailments, Alice ? " demanded her husband, somewhat
crustily. " She has only just come off a long journey
and must be tired. Order in tea, or wine, or some-
thing. It wants a good two hours yet to dinner
time."

*' O ! thank you, Sir Alan," exclaimed Cora Mur-
ray, "but I would much rather wait until her lady-
ship's afternoon tea. T am not at all tired — how often
am I to say that nothing tires me — and I will run up
first and change my dress, if Lady Chichester will
permit me."

" No, Cora," pleaded her ladyship, retaining her
hand, "don't leave me. I cannot part with you yet.
Ring the bell, like a dear girl, and order in the tea-
tray, and then come and tell me all you have been
doing since we parted. It seems such a long time
since you went away, and old Jane has wearied me
so with her foolish chatter that I have been too tired
to sleep after it."

*• I see it is quite time I returned, Lady Chichester.
You are actually looking paler than when I left Glebe
Royal. I shall send you to bed very early to-night,
and old Jane must talk to herself, for I will not allow
her to worry you."

The baronet, finding that the current of conversa-
tion had turned in an entirely feminine direction,
stalked, somewhat offended, from the apartment,

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A SCARLET ST N,

but when Miss Murray went up to her room to make
the necessary changes in her toilet, she found a little
bouquet of hothouse flowers on her table, that told
their own tale. And as Sir Alan glanced up as she
entered the dining-room, he saw that they were bloom-
ing in her bosom.

That was a merry evening for all of them, except
Miss Chichester, who was indignant at the fuss made
by her brother and his wife over the return of the
** companion."

Cora Murray was in the highest spirits and most
delightful of moods. She rattled off a lively de-
scription of all she had seen and heard in London,
caricaturing people and things till Sir Alan was con-
vulsed with laughter, and even Alice joined in his
merriment. Nor did Miss Murray monopolize all
the conversation. She took care to draw her friends
out in return to tell her every minutia connected with
Captain Fauutleroy's visit to G ebe Royal, and, as
far as it was possible, what remarks he had made on
hearing of her presence there.

"We told Henry everything^ dear Cora," criedi
Lady Chichester, enthusiastically, " and he was almost
as anxious to see you as we were. And I wanted
to show him your photograph too, but I couldn't find
it. By the way, dear, do you know where it was
put?"

" In the drawer of your writing table, I think, Lady
Chichester."

" So did I, but I cannot find it. I hope no one has
stolen it."

** A thief would scarcely purloin such a very worth-

A SCARLET S/AT.

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less article," replied Miss Murray, smiling, but as her
eyes met those of the baronet, she guessed who the
thief had been.

Lady Chichester's excitement at getting her young
friend back again tired her so, that she was quite
willing to accede to her proposal that she should go
to bed at nine o'clock, and when Cora had magne-
tized her to sleep, she stole quietly out of her room,
intending to go to her own. But in the dark corridor
she was met by the baronet, who had been lying in
wait for her.

" Sir Alan," she whispered, as he caught her hand,
"you must not detain me. Miss Chichester has not
yet retired. She may appear at any moment."

" And if she did, what harm is there in my exchang-
ing a few words with you ? I might be inquiring
after my wife. And I must speak to you, Cora. I
cannot sleep until I have told you how glad I am to
sec you back at Glebe Royal. And promise it shall
be the last time you ever go away."

Cora laughed softly.

" That would be very rash on my part, Sir Alan,
but I will promise never to leave you unless there is
an actual necessity for doing so."

"But I cannot live without you, Cora. I have
tested my heart in these few days, and it has spoken
the truth. I love you \''

" Hush ! You mustn't say that. Whatever you
feel you must keep it to yourself. It would be very
wrong of me to listen, and very foolish, because —
because — "

" Because what, my darling > "

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*' My heart would speak too, were I not afraid to
listen to it. Have pity on mc, Sir Alan. Remember
that I am alone and unprotected. Do not force me
to seek refuge from you in flight."

" Good heavens ! No ! I will never open my lips
again, sooner than you should think of such a thing.
I could not part with you. Only it would make mc
so happy if you would but say three words."

'* And what are they .? "

" I love you."

" Cannot you guess ? What need is there of speak-
ing ? Why make me confess my weakness } But if
it is to make you happier — I love you."

His arms were clasped round her in a minute, and
his heavy moustache brushed against her lips. And
she submitted — although she loathed herself and him
whilst she did so.

** Let me go now," she whispered, " or some one
may come this way."

He kissed her again and again before he released
her, and she left him trembling with the passionate
instincts she had provoked.

His was a coarse-fibred nature which needed
coarse nutriment, and the life of enforced restraint
which he had been compelled to lead had well-nigh
dried up the generous current of his blood, until her
charms had set it flowing. She appealed to the
lowest part of his nature, but also to the most power-
ful, and for the time being he was infatuated.

He remained motionless, gazing after the place
where she had disappeared, and then he stooped
down and kissed the spot where her feet had stood.

me one

A SCARIF.T STPr,

117

'• Good pracious I Alan, what on earth arc you do-
in^ there? I ini^ht have fallen over you, " exclaimed
the harsh voice of Miss Chichester, as she came upon
him whilst thus employed. •* Have you lost any-

thilV^r?"

He might have answered, " My senses'^' but he only
muttered something about dropping his breast-pin,
as with a very red face he rose to his feet again, and
bei;an fumbling with his necktie,

"Well, I don't see how a breast-pin can fall out
upon the ground, and* I don't believe you're tell-
ing the truth," said Miss Chichester, with more
acumen than politeness, as she strode onwards to her
bedchamber.

But what cared the baronet for any of his sister's
sarcasm when he met Cora Murray at breakfast the
following morning radiant with youth and beauty^
and ready to join in any of his favorite pursuits.

" It isn't a hunting morning," he observed, " and I
am glad of it, for you had a fatiguing journey yester-
day, and I can't have you knocked up. But if you
feel inclined to ride out as far as Battersby, I want
to look at some young cart-horses there that Meason
has for sale. Do you think you can manage it ? "

" I am sure I can. It will be delightful," she
answered, brightly.

" Have you obtained Lady Chichester's permis-
sion ? " asked Miss Chichester, grimly.

" I never go anywhere without first asking her
ladyship's permission," said Cora,

"And, by Jove! it's no business of yours if she
didn't," added the baronet, with a frown.

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A SCARLET SIN.

" Miss Chichester is very kind to remind me of my
duty, only I trust that I don't need reminding," in.
terposed Miss Murray, sweetly.

" I'm sure you don't, you are simply devoted to
Alice, and no one is better aware of what she owes
to your care and attention than I am," said Sir Alan.

His sister was just about to make some caustic
reply when the door of the breakfast-room was sud-
denly thrown open, and in walked, without ceremony
or warning. Captain Henry Fauntleroy,

A aCAKLET dll\t.

•■9

CHAPTER XIII.

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.

To say that his entrance caused a general surprise is
nothing. Sir Alan — who believed his friend to be in
Cumberland — first stared at his apparition with round,
open eyes, and then burst into a noisy shout of wel-
come. Miss Chichester displayed her teeth, and de-
clared he was the last person on earth she expected
to see, and Miss Murray, who was supposed, naturally,
never to have met Captain Fauntleroy before,
dropped her maiden glance upon her breakfast plate,
whilst the hot blood surged into her face, and she
tried with all the will of which she was capable to
force down the violent beating of her heart and the
heaving of her bosom.

Henry Fauntleroy's eyes traveled, first of all, to
the drooping figure of the companion and recognized
it, with a sudden access of feeling of which he had
believed himself to be cured, whilst his countenance
became as pale from emotion as her's was red from
mingled shame and fear. But he shook it off bravely,
and turned to grasp the baronet's outstretched hand.

" You are all surprised to see me back again, like a
bad half-penny," he said in rather an uncertain
voice; "but I found I could spare you another day,
Alan, and I was loath to miss one, when so few re-
main for me at Glebe Royal."

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" Right you are, Hal ! " cried Sir Alan ; " but why
did you ever leave us, old fellow ? I thought you
were safe in Cumberland by this time."

" I always intended to see my old friend, Dr. Mc-
Pherson, on the way, you know," replied Captain
Fauntleroy, mendaciously, " and whilst there I received
a telegram to say my brother will not be at home
till to-morrow, so I thought I would worry you in
the meanwhile."

He had concocted this ingenious fable on the way
there, but it served to blind the eyes of the baronet
and his sister.

" Well, sit down, old man, and have some breakfcist,"
said the former, cheerily. " I am sure you must have
started without it, for you look blue with the cold.
It's a sharp frost this morning, hang it ! We shall
have no scent left if this weather goes on. Miss
Murray and I were going to ride out to Battersby
— O ! by the way, I never introduced you, but there's
not much need, I expect you have heard all about
each other ! Miss Murray, this is my old friend,
Captain Fauntleroy."

The companion bowed, scarcely raising her eyes as
she did so, but slight as the glance was, it was suffi-
cient to let her catch the expression in that of her
old acquaintance, and she despised herself for the
faintness that came over her, and the want of moral
courage she displayed.

"After all," she said, inwardly, "what have I
done that I should fear him } If he has come here
with the intention of betraying me, I will dare him to
say what he knows to my detriment."

A SCARLET SIN.

121

And with that resolution she looked at Henry
Fauntleroy a second time, smiling sweetly as she did
so, and sent such a flood of unhappy recollections
sweeping through the poor man's brain that he be-
came confused and incoherent, and made his uneasi-
ness palpable to all present. As he played with the
viands they had placed before him, Sir Alan attacked
him again on the subject of the proposed ride.

" You had better come to Battersby with us, Hal,
if you're not tired," he said. " I want to see Meason's
cart foals. It's a charming ride, and will freshen you
up, and, by Jove ! you look as if you wanted freshen-
ing. What's the matter with you .? Have you been
traveling all night .•* "

" O no ! I started at seven this morning."

" Then you must be bilious. However, a good
gallop will set you all right. We would go over to the
kennels instead — you remember I wanted you to see
those new pups of * Regent ' yesterday — only Miss
Murray and I have already made our plans for the
morning."

*' Sir Alan," interposed the companion, in her rich
soft voice, "please don't consider me. I would rather
attend her ladyship's summons. I would indeed."

" O nonsense ! Alice never wakes till ten or eleven
— you know that well enough — and we'll be back
before she is out of bed. Besides, I want Fauntleroy
to make your acquaintance. He was so disappointed
at missing you before."

Miss Murray — who had risen from the table — was
about to reiterate her request, when W\st Chichester
(who had already reached the door) calleJ sharpiy

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// SCARLET SIN.

to her brother, " Alan ! Come here ! I want to speak
to you."

The baronet was in politeness bound to obey. In
another moment, she had drawn him into the hall
beyond. Henry Fauntleroy saw his opportunity,
and caught at it. He rose also and stood by Cora's
side, looking out upon the Park.

" I must speak to you alone," he said, in a hurried
whisper. When and zvhcre can I see you .^"

" Are you hero to injure mc } " she asked him in
return, looking him full in the eyes.

** By heavens, no ! but I will not leave till I have
spoken to you. Quick! where shall it be.?"

*' In my sitting-room on the landing, in an hours
time," she answered.

*' You will not deceive mc 1 If you do — " he com-
menced.

" You will tell Sir Alan," she answered calmly.
*' No, I will be there."

At this juncture the bnronet returned, looking
rather crusty. Miss Chichester had been taking him
sharply to task for evincing so much interest in his
wife's companion, and knowing what his private feel-
ings were on the subject, Sir Alan felt very much like
a boy who has been discovered with his pocket full
of applet during school time. If his hawk-eyed sis-
ter were going to peep and pry after all he said and
did in the future, he recognized that his life would
not be worth living.

"Come along," he exclaimed curtly, " don't let us
waste all the morning. Have you made up your
minds what you are going to do ] "

A SCARLET SIN:

123

<*/am altogether at your disposal, Alan," replied
Fauntleroy.

" And /," said Cora, with downcast eyes, " think it
would be better if I stayed at home, at all events for
to-day. It is the first morning after my return, you
see, Sir Alan, and Lady Chichester may ask for me
on waking, and as you have Captain Fauntleroy for
company, you will not need mine."

" All right. Do as you please," said the baronet
sulkily, but Miss Murray did not mind his sulks, for
she knew she could cure them at her will. All she
thought of at the moment was how to conciliate the
other man. So she turned her glorious eyes on him
with a beseeching look in them, and said, " I do not
suppose you will be gone more than an hour"

" O no," answered Fauntleroy, significantly, " we
shall be back in an /tour. You may depend upon
that."

The baronet glanced from one to the other with
a puzzled air. What was it to Miss Murray wAen
Captain Fauntleroy would be back at Glebe Royal,
and what right had his friend to determine the length
of his absence for him } And (when he came to think
of it) why had Hal returned to them in so mysterious
a manner, unless it had been for the express purpose
of meeting Lady Chichester's companion } Sir Alan
was a very jealous man, and his suspicions were
quickly roused. He hurried Fauntleroy away after
this little episode, as though he had detected him in
a crime, and the latter v^as not slow to detect the
feeling he had so suddenly evoked. Miss Murray
watched them leave the room, and then stole quietly

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A SCARLET SIN,

up to her own (which she had made far more home-
like in its appearance by this time), and tried to think
what was best to be done. Had Fauntleroy deceived
her, and would he tell the whole story of their ac-
quaintance to the baronet during their morning ride ?
She thought twf. Though it was five years since they
had met, she remembered enough of his honorable
sentiments and behavior to believe that he would
never lose the instincts of a gentleman. He had
said he would not injure her, and he would keep his
word. Only, he might think it necessary to warn
her off the premises of Glebe Royal, and then what
would become of her little plans with regard to the
baronet ? She would not have been afraid of any-
thing, had Fauntleroy not met with Rodney, who
knew every circumstance of her former life. She
pressed her forehead hard with both her hands as
she remembered Rodney's power of betrayal, and
wondered what falsehood she could invent with
which to meet any probable accusations on Captain
Fauntleroy's part. She was still thus occupied when
she heard Miss Chichester's untuneful voice calling
over the banisters on her name.

" Miss Murray ! Miss Murray ! where are you ?
John, go and find Miss Murray, and tell her to attend
Lady Chichester's bell at once. It has rung twice
for her. Anne, run up to her bedroom and see if
she's there. If she is dressing for riding, say she
can't go. Lady Chichester particularly desires her
presence without any delay."

" I am here, Miss Chichester. You p.^e giving
yourself unnecessary trouble," replied Cora, appear-

A SCARLET SIN".

laj

ing at the door of her sitting-room ; " it is not often
that her ladyship has to employ a messenger to take
me to her side."

" Well, she has this morning at all events," replied
the elder lady, tartly, " and I beg you will go to her
at once. What with riding, and walking, and talk-
ing, it is difficult to know where to find you some-
times. One would imagine you had been engaged to
be my brother's companion, instead of his wife's."

" That is Sir Alan's business, I suppose, and not
yours or mine," replied Cora, in a dignified manner,
as she passed Miss Chichester on the stairs and en-
tered her ladyship's room. The old woman hated
the younger at all times, but more especially when
she put on her dignity. She could compete with
rudeness, bnt not with the essence of silent indigna-
tion.

The urgent call to Lady Chichester's assistance

proved to be an unnecessary one.

Alice had awakened, brighter and better than usual,
and had asked for her young companion only that she
might kiss her and thank her anew for having come
back to her, whilst Jane Wood stood by, green with
envy at the sight, and muttered to herself.

" O Cora, dear ! " exclaimed Lady Chichester, with
a happy sigh, " I think you must have brought back
good luck with you, for I have had such a beautiful
dream, all about the days when my darling Alan was
wooing me to be his wife, and we looked forward to
such a long, happy life of love together. I feel as if
I had been in heaven."

" But it is all true," replied Miss Murray cheerfully.

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126

A SCARLET SIN,

" You talk as if you had been disappointed. When
you are strong again, you will have all your heart can
desire."

** Ah ! when,'' sighed Alice, again, " when. And
meanwhile I am nothing but a useless toy. O Cora!
if I had but your life and beauty, how different life
would be for me and my poor Alan."

" Lor ! my lady," cried Jane Wood, indignantly,
"you shouldn't bemean yourself by a comparison
with anyone else, and, least of all, with them as is
beneath you. Sir Alan wouldn't change you for
the Queen on her throne. I'd take my oath of it."

" Jane ! I will not allow you to speak like that.
Miss Murray is my dear friend."

" Hush, dear Lady Chichester, Jane is quite right.
I am beneath you in everything. And now shall I
assist you to rise } "

" No, I don't want to get up just yet ; I am so
afraid of losing the sense of that delicious dream. 0
Cora ! some day I will tell you more about that happy
time when I and Sir Alan were young. How hand-
some he was — the handsomest young man in the
country side — and how he loved me ! For he did
love me, Jane, didn't he } You saw it all from the
beginning."

" He worshipped the very ground you trod on, my
lady. Everyone could see that, and so he do to
this day, bless you, only the older we grows, the less
we speaks our feelings out."

"Do you really think he does?" said Alice, with
her blue eyes dimmed with tender recollections.
"Sometimes I hope so too, and then sometimes I

A SCARLET SIN.

"•7

fear that I have tired his patience out. Jane, tell
Miss Murray what Sir Alan looked liked on our wed-
ding day, when the church at my dear father's home
was filled with the people who came to see us married,
and amongst them all there wasn't a man who could
hold a candle to my brave young husband of twenty-
two, was there, Jane ? "

"To be sure not, my lady, but what business is it
of Miss Murray's ? She's got her own duties to look
after, like all of us, and no time to go dreaming of
the past, like your ladyship."

" But then I should like her to know how hand-
some he was in those days, Jane, how good and true
to me. But he has always been that, God bless him !
I believe in my Alan as I do in Heaven. And some-
times, Cora, I wonder if, when I am gone, he should
marry again (as he musty you know, for the sake of
the title), his second wife will ever love him as I
have done."

" My lady, you mustn't talk such things," exclaimed
Jane Wood. " A second wife indeed ! You're far
more likely to live to be married again yourself."

Alice's eyes dilated with holy horror.

" O Jane ! think what you are saying," she cried.

" But Jane is right, dear Lady Chichester," inter-
posed Cora, gently ; " you should neither think nor
speak of such an improbable contingency. There
are many years of happiness before you both, and if
there were not, I am sure Sir Alan is the last man
in the world to dream of marrying again. Who
would who had lost you f "

" I am a wicked, ungrateful woman ever to be sad

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138

A SCARLET SIN,

or desponding with such a husband and such a friend
as you and Alan," replied Lady Chichester, smiling.
"And now go, dear Cora, and leave me to myself, and
I will close my eyes and try to dream that beautiful
dream over again."

Miss Murray rearranged her pillows and kissed and
left her, content and smiling, and walking back to her
own room, shut herself in, and waited in perplexity
and suspense for the advent of Captain Fauntleroy.

A SCARLET SIN,

129

CHAPTER XIV.

FOOLED TO HIS BENT.

At the time appointed, he came, but she was pre-
pared for him. As soon as he crossed the threshold
of the door, she turned the key in the lock and laid
her finger on her lip.

" If you must speak," she whispered, " do it in
tones that cannot be overheard. The old woman
has ears like a lynx, and is not above applying them,
when necessary, to the keyhole."

She laughed a little as she concluded, but her
laugh was very nervous. She could not think where
all her courage had gone, nor why the presence of
this man should make her feel timid, and even tear-
ful. As he heard her injunction he came close up to
her side.

" You know that I must speak," he replied, in a low
voice ; ** that it would be impossible for me to meet
you here — in intimate communion with the wife of
my best friend — and to go away without asking you
a single question. What would Sir Alan say to me
if the truth were at any time revealed to him ? "

" Then you mean to betray me, you have returned
for that purpose," she said.

" Not if you satisfy me that there is no necessity

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130

/i SCAK/.ET SIN.

for it, that the past is really past, over, and done
with for ever."

" I really don't understand you. What is there in
my past to unfit me for the post of Lady Chichester's
companion ? "

" Have you not confessed it, Lotta ? Did you not
ask me if I intended to betray you ? "

" I was merely alluding to such foolish passages
as may have occurred between you and me. Captain
Fauntleroy."

*^ Foolish, do you call them, Lotta ? That is far too
mild a term. Call them * criminal' at once, for what
greater crime can a woman commit than to lead a
man to believe she loves him, and then, when he con-
siders he has earned the right to claim her as his
wife, to throw him aside like a worn-out glove, and
mock at the life-long pain she has caused him ? How
much I wish that you and I had only been foolish.
I should not then have felt the knife turn in the
wound, as I do when I look at you even now."

He turned his face away fron. lier as he spoke, and
she was obliged to keep silence for a few minutes, in
order to make her voice steady. She had never ex-
pected that his presence would affect her to such a
degree, but the old times kept surging in her mind,
and Fauntleroy had made more impression on her
then than she had ever cared to acknowledge.

" Fauntleroy," she whispered, " don't be silly. I
was not worth caring for. For heaven's sake let me
hear what you have to say, and get this interview

over.

»>

" I am a fool," he said, slowly, " to suffer myself

, » '

A SCARLET SLV.

«3«

to be overcome by a memory, but I never denied
that I loved you. Yet, let us keep, as you suggest,
to the question in hand. How is it I find you /tcte?**

*' The answer is very simple. I am cast on my
own resources for a living, and there is no other
means by which I can make one. I advertised for a
situation, and was engaged by Lady Chichester, I
didn't know they were your friends when I came to
Glebe Royal."

•' But that man then — Foster — what became of
him.?"

" You mean my uncle .^ "

" No," replied Fauntleroy, with a savage frown,
" I do not mean your uncle. I mean the min you
introduced to me under that name, but whom I found
out afterwards to bear a very different relationship to
you. It is useless your denying it, Lotta. I have
met Paul Rodney and he told me all.'*

" Paul Rodney }" she said, elevating her dark eye-
brows, " my greatest enemy, who swore to blast my
character wherever he went ! And what had that
rascal to say to you of me V

" Why should he be your enemy } "

" For a very common reason, for the same which
makes you vindictive against me now. Because I
refused him."

" /am not your enemy, Lotta," said Captain Faunt-
leroy in a meek voice; " I would not injure you for
all the world. But I must know what sort of a life
you are living now, if I am to leave you at peace
under the roof of my friends."

At that suggestion, Cora Murray hid her face in

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132

A SCARLET SIN,

I-"'
11

her hands, and commenced to weep in an unobtru-
sive, silent manner.

" O heaven ! " she moaned, " it is very, very hard,
that the stigma which others have cast upon a woman
can never leave her, however earnestly she may strive
to cast it off, but will keep cropping up to stab her to
the heart, even at the hands of the man who pro-
fessed to love her."

" It was no profession, Lotta, I did love you truly
and devotedly, as I believed you loved me, and
should have continued to do so to this da/ if you
had evinced the slightest feeling for me in return."

"You men are so blind," she sobbed.

" Do you mean to tell me that you did feel for mc
when you refused my overtures of marriage with
insult and scorn } "

" He did — the man who taught me to believe he
was my uncle — not / — and it was Rodney who in-
stigated him to the deed, because he hoped to marry
me himseir. But why refer to the miserable Paul.
It is over and done with, and neither of your hearts
are broken. Let it rest."

" The man who taught you to believe he was your
uncle ? " repeated Fauntlerov. " What do you
mean ? "

" I mean that I am a wretched waif and stray, who
does not even know who her parents were — that I
was picked up, or adopted, by Foster at an age too
early for me to remember — that I always believed
him to be my uncle till a short time ago, and was
told that I owed him the obedience of a daughter.
But when I found that I had been deceived I left

A SCARLET SIN.

>33

him, and determined to support myself. And now,
I suppose you will take my living from me, and I let
starve ? "

" But where is this Foster ? "

" In Australia, I think, but I am not sure. He left
England some time ago."

" And where have you been since, Lotta } "

" Earning my daily bread as I d'^ now, by waiting
on the whims and fancies of other women, and having
no will of my own. It is not a congenial life, as you
may well imagine."

Henry Fauntleroy was silent for a few minutes.
He knew this woman to be brilliantly accomplished,
and he had seen her in a very different position. He
could not quite understand w/iy she should have
chosen to sink herself and her identity to the level
of a lady's companion, unless she had some ulterior
motive for doing so. He was too sensible a man not
to he suspicious, but at the same time he was longing
to be convinced that his suspicions were wrong.

"I can well imagine," he said, after a pause, "that
the position is most irksome to you, but tell me then,
Lotta, why you adopted it. Last time I knew you,
you were on the stage. Why did you not remain
there?"

She cast down her eyes.

" O Fauntleroy, how can you ask me ^ Were j^ou
not the first to urge me to quit so perilous a pro-
fession ? I suffered enough in following your advice,
I can assure you, not only in loss of money, but in the
resentment of my guardian, who abused me for what
he termed my infatuation for yourself. But when

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134

A SCARLET SIN.

we parted, I threw up my engagement, and refused
to take another, for I was too sad just then to think
much of consequences, and so I lost my place in the
theatrical profession, and should not find it easy to
regaiin it."

"And you did this for ;«j/ sake," he said, stead-
fastly regarding her, " How little I thought, when I
searched the theatrical papers in vain for the name
of Lotta Mapleson, that you had withdrawn it be-
cause / asked you. But there is another thing," he
continued quickly, a second suspicion rising as fast
as the first was quelled. " Why should you chani^^e
your name ? People who have nothing to be ashamed
of do not conceal their identity in that manner.
Why did you not come here as Miss Mapleson ? "

" O Captain FauntJeroy, you are too hard on me,"
she cried, with tears in her eyes, " you are ready to
believe the very worst. I am indeed unfortunate to
have sunk so low in your estimation. Would it not
have been f Uy of me to retain my own name, when
it had appeared, as you have just confessed, in the
columns of every theatrical newspaper ? Was it not
a very innocent deception to conceal the identity of
Lotta Mapleson, the actress, under that of Cora Mur-
ray, the companion ? I am no longer on the stage,
I shall never return to it. Why should I mar my
new career by placing it in the power of my new
employers to trace my connection with the old one ?
Surely, you are not such a purist as to blr.nie the
girl who has done all in her power to follow the advice
you gave her, even though she has been forced to
deny her own name in order to do so."

A SCARLET SIN.

»3S

" No ! No ! " exclaimed Fauntleroy, in genuine
distress, " don't think so badly of me as that. I blame
you for nothing, Lotta. I confess that, when I found
that you were living with the Chichesters, I was a
little startled, for Paul Rodney told me such a terrible
scandal about you that I have had but one desire
since, to forget that you ever existed. But if you
can assure me that he lied, if you will tell me that
there was no tie between you and that man Foster
except the falsehood he had invented to keep you at
his side, and that you are here for the sole reason of
earning an honest livelihood, then Heaven forbid that
I, of all men, should be the one to put a spoke in
your wheel. I will go away, silent, as I came, and
trust you to do your duty by both my friend and his
wife."

" I knew you would never have the heart to betray
me," said Cora, with a sob in her throat. " I felt sure
that you — of all men — -of all men — "

But she could not finish the sentence. Something
seemed to rise in her ihrorit and prevent it, and Henry
Fauntleroy eagerly took up the parable.

" Go on ! " he exclaimed ; " why me of all men ?
Is it only because I loved you, Lotta ? "

" No."

"Why then.?"

" Because I loved you ! "

"You loved ?;/^f"he reiterated, in astonishment.

" Why not } " she ansv/ered ; " is there anything
extraordinary in that t Are you so unloveable, or
do you not credit me with the ordinary instincts of
my sex } Would I have made the sacrifice I did if
I had been indifferent to what you thought of me \ "

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136

A SCARLET SFN.

" But, Lotta, one moment. If you loved me, why
did you refuse my hand in marriage ? "

" I never refused it. The man I called my uncle
refused it for me, and I have already told you who
instigated him to do it. And I suffered — Heaven
alone knows how I suffered — from the effect of his
decision,"

" Surely you might have let me know it was against
your wishes. You sent me from you broken-hearted
— more than that, for I believed you to be unworthy
of me, and that is the hardest of all griefs for a man
to overcome. Why didn't you write to me, or follow
me, and I would have sheltered you in my arms
against a thousand such scoundrels as Rodney and
Foster.?"

" I did not know the extent of my power," she
whispered. "I believed Foster to hold ^egal authority
over me, and that he could use force to drag me back
again."

Henry Fauntleroy's eyes began to gleam with the
awakening fire of an almost forgotten passion. His
frame trembled, as he pressed closer to her side, and
the glamour of the past threw its unholy light once
more upon the face and figure of Lotta Mapleson.
She had always been a dangerous woman for him,
and now, with the new belief that she had loved
him all the while that he was grieving over her sup-
posed indifference, she became more dangerous still.

He lost his usual common-sense, and thought only
of her power over him, as he poured a second tale of
passion in her ear.

" Lotta ! Lotta ! " he murmured, " it is not yet too

.■H.

A SCARLET SIM

137

late. Let us forget and forgive all the past, and live
for each other in the future. There is no one to come
between us now. I am still poor, my darling, and I
shall never be rich, but if you will be my wife, I can
at least support you in comfort and save you from a
life of servitude. Lotta, you will come to me." He
*hrew his arms about her and laid his hot cheek
against hers as he spoke, and for a moment Cora
Murray wavered. There are times when the most
worldly and dissipated of mortals long to fly from
their surroundings to some blissful haven of rest, but
such longings seldom last. Cora's face flushed, and
her lips trembled, for Fauntleroy, without either
good looks or means, had come nearer to touching
her heart than any other man. But she could not
afford to indulge in sentiment which carried poverty
in its train. Her mind was bent just then on settling
herself :'n marriage, but not with a penniless captain
in a regiment of the Line. And so she lay very quiet,
with her face against his, and murmured,

"Don't ask me, don't tempt me. I shall never
marry."

" But why not, since you love me > "

" I am not worthy of you."

" That is all nonsense, and concerns no one but
ourselves. The love I bore you in the past has rushed
upon me again like an overwhelming flood. Lotta,
be my wife."

" Impossible ! I have promised never to leave Lady
Chichester while she is ill.'

" But will you give me no hope ?"

"If you will join your regiment in Gibraltar as you

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«38

A SCARLET SIN,

Intended, and neither seek me out nor write to me
until I give you leave, I will let you know when I
have made up my mind. For you have asked me
too suddenly. You must give me time to think.
And meanwhile you must be silent as the grave. Will
you promise me ? "

" The conditions are hard, my darling, but I con-
sent to them, for, before long, I feel you will be mine."

But as he left her, and the fascination of her pre-
sence faded from his view, and his fevered blood
cooled down to its usual temperature, Captain Faunt-
leroy felt he had done a rash thing which it would
be well to undo again ; and Cora Murray recognized,
with a heavy sigh, that she had turned for the second
time from the advances of the only man she had ever
cared for.

A SCARLET Sm.

CHAPTER XV.

AN UNHOLY CONTRACT.

Captain Fauntleroy left Glebe Royal on the
following mornlni^, this time without any intention
of returning, and then Miss Murray found there was
the baronet to conciliate before she could assume
her former position in his good graces. For though
she had been as cautious as her nature prompted
her, and had scarcely addressed Fauntleroy for the
remainder of the day, her lover had not been equally
prudent. It is difficult for people who love each
other entirely to conceal their feelings from the
world, for eyes will speak though lips are shut, and
Sir Alan had intercepted several glances that had
made him feel uneasy. What business, he thought
to himself, had Hal to be looking at Cora Murray in
that "spooney" fashion, when he had never seen the
girl until that morning "i Was she, after all, a flirt,
and had she, by word or deed, encouraged his
evident admiration } The baronet's jealous tempera-
ment was roused, and he became unusually reserved
with both the delinquents. A long evening spent
together in the smoking room, and passed in recall-
ing old reminiscences, somewhat restored his genial-
ity towards his old chum, yet he was not sorry when
the morning came, and he saw Fauntleroy drive

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A SCA ISLET Sm.

away in the dog-cart to the railway station. SucK
power have the charms of a worthless woman to
upset a friendship of twenty years' duration. Miss
Murray was not present to bid Captain Fauntleroy
farewell. She purposely kept out of the way until
she knew he had left the house, for she felt there was
danger in their meeting, and she regretted having
said as much as she had to him the day before.
Men were so impulsive. There was no knowing
what they might do under the influence of passion.
Fauntleroy was even capable of resigning his pro-
fession, if it would keep him a few days longer by
her side. And that was indeed what he had been
thinking of ever since their interview — whether he
should not close at once with his godfather's offer
and remain in England to woo her for his wife. But
she had asked him to go to Gibraltar with his regi-
ment and leave her time to think, and like a gallant
gentleman he consented. So he drove away from
Glebe Royal with rather a heavy heart, and Miss
Murray descended to the breakfast-room, and set to
work to bewitch the baronet over again. But Sir
Alan was a little sulky, and Cora had to flash her
eyes several times at him before he consented to
smile.

"Are you going to Battersby this morning. Sir
Alan ? " she inquired sweetly.

" It lies with you. You didn't seem ♦:o care about
it yesterday."

"Indeed you are mistaken. Have you never
heard of anyone relinquishing her own wishes for
the sake of another } Captain Fauntleroy was your

4 SCARLET SIN,

141

guest, and I thought you should devote your time to
him."

'* Are you trying to teach my brother his duty,
Miss Murray ? " demanded Miss Chichester, with
asperity.

** By no means, Miss Chichester. I should not
presume to take such a liberty. I was only showing
Sir Alan that I knew my own."

" I am glad you do," was the answer.

Cora smiled and glanced at the baronet. The
smile said, " See what I suffer for your sake," and
Sir Alan's heart softened.

" Well, will you come to Battersby this morning } "
he asked her.

** With pleasure, if Lady Chichester does not re-
quire me."

" Lady Chichester is fool enough to say anything
sooner than keep you to your duties," snapped Miss
Chichester.

Sir Alan frowned.

'* I beg you will remember who you are speaking
of, Anna, and not call my wife a fool to my face," he
said.

" I shall call her what I choose and yourself into
the bargain," was the retort. "You're both fools,
if that will please you better. You, for running all
over the county with Miss Murray, and she, for
allowing- \^. And so now you know my mind about
the matter."

And with that. Miss Chichester left her seat, and
stalked majestically from the room. Sir Alan and
his companion stole a stealthy glance at one another,

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but had no need to speak. Something told them
both that things were coming to a crisis.

" Ought I to go ? " asked Cora presently.

" Certainly," replied the baronet. " I'm not going
to be bullied by my sister in this way. Besides, I
have something particular to say to you. Make as
much haste as you can, and I will order the horses to
come round at once."

And in a few minutes more they were riding down
the drive together.

"You are very silent this morning," remarked
Cora, as they gained the high road to Battersby.

" I am thinking of my sister's confounded imper-
tinence," he answered moodily. " Suppose she were
to repeat it to Lady Chichester. She might make a
nice mess of it for you and me."

" Nonsense, Sir Alan. You cannot believe Lady
Chichester would be so foolish as to be vexed about
our riding together. Why, it was she who urged it
upon me. But you were not yourself all yesterday.
I cannot imagine what has come to you."

He turned round on his horse to regard her.

" You cannot imagine, O what dupes you women
try to make of us, when you know the reason as well
as myself! Do you mean to tell me that you did
not perceive how Hal Fauntleroy admired you?
Why, he never took his eyes off you all day ! "

" Captain Fauntleroy ? " she said incredulously.
" O, Sir Alan, you must be mistaken."

" I couldn't mistake the evidence of my own eyes.
It was palpable to everyone."

" But even if it were so, what harm does it do meV
she inquired.

A SCARLET S/JV.

«43

"Well, I don't suppose it can do you any real
harm, but I cannot stand it. I wouk' .. no man's
eyes ever light upon you except my own. Cora,
you don't know what I feel for you yet. You are
driving me wild. If I cannot have you for my own,
no other man ever shall."

"0, Sir Alan, have I ever given you any cause for
jealousy ? Have I — have I not sufficiently revealed
my feelings to you in return ? How can you fail to
see — to see — "

" I do see it," he exclaimed fervently, as he laid
his hand on hers, and brought their horses close to-
gether ; " every dear look you give me, every word
when we are alone, reveals the truth. But, oh
Cora ! where will it end > What are we to do with
this terrible, delicious love of ours ? "

*'We must hope and wait," she answered; "no
one knows what may lie in the future for us,"

" Ah ! my poor wife," he said, relinquishing her
hand with a sigh. " I do not suppose there is any
chance of her complete recovery. She seems to
grow worse and worse to me instead of better. I
often wonder what the issue of her illness will be.''

" I am afraid to give you much hope, Sir Alan.'*

"No one can do that. I se.* what Jolliffe thinks
of her plainly enough. Only yesterday, he spoke to
me about having a specialist from London to consult
upon her case. But it will be useless. I feel I am
to lose her."

He rode on silently for a few minutes after that,
with his head bowed forward, until Miss Murray's
hand came stealing into his own.

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A SCARLET SIN,

*'Dear Sir Alan, don't look like that. I have
not much more faith in doctors than Miss Chi-
chester, and Jollifife is only a county practitioner.
Let us wait and hear what the London specialist may
have to say. He may discover it is a mare's nest
after all/'

" But in that case what is to become of you and
me, Cora?"

"Oil am no one by comparison with her. Leave
me to my fate."

"By George, I never will. Besides, my fa.te and
yours are one. I should be wretched without you.
If Alice were only strong and healthy like other
women, I should say — "

He stopped at this juncture, as though ashamed to
speak the words, as well he might be, and after a
while she asked softly —

" What would you say, Alan } "

He turned towards her passionately.

** I should say, * Come away at once, Cora, and
end this life of torture, and begin a new one with me
at the other side of the world.' Would you — would
you.?"

** It would be so wrong," she whispered.

" O I hang that. Everything is wrong when a
man's heart has once gone a-straying. The question
is, what else can we do .? "

"We must have patience. Things may right
themselves before long, and you must not bring an
open scandal on the name of Chichester. Some
day," she said with a downward glance, * some day
you may have children to inherit it from you.
Meanwhile "

A SCARLET SIN.

«45

" Meanwhile, I suppose you are going to ofifer me
your friendship as a stop-gap^ after the manner of
women, but I won't accept it from you."

" O I not my friendship," she cried impetuously,
"but my love, Alan, my faithful and devoted love, to
solace you, if it can solace you, under the trials you
must pass through."

It sounded like a genuine outburst of feeling, and
Sir Alan responded to it fervently. All remembrance
of the pale, sickly wife at home faded from his mind,
as he seized the hand of the ardent creature who
rode beside him, and believed he had found a panacea
against loneliness and disappointment,

"And //," he said, half bashfully, as though
ashamed of saying it — as, after a mutual confession
of regard and life-long fidelity, they rode on towards
Battersby — "//* it is ever possible for me to requite
your goodness, Cora, and place you in the position
you deserve, you know — do you not — that I shall
do my duty by you ? '*

They jested and laughed with each other, after
having arrived at so satisfactory a conclusion, much
after the fashion of two newly engaged lovers, and
every word that Cora Murray spoke seemed to
rivet her chain still faster round Sir Alan Chichester.
But, in the midstof their self-gratulation, the thought
of his sister's remarks came like a cold douche.

"We shall have to be very, very careful," observed
Cora, " for your sister hates me, Alan, I have told
you so from the beginning. She watches my actions
like a cat, and I am sure she meant a great deal
more than she said in her remark this morning.'*

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A SCARLET SIN,

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"She may say what she likes, my dear, so long as
she doesn't carry her suspicions to Lady Chichester.
Not that I thipk that my wife would believe her.
You see, Alice has always been devoted to me ; she
thinks I am perfection, and incapable of doing
wrong. Ah! well," continued Sir Alan, as a sudden
sense of his treachery and ingratitude smote him
between the joints of his armor, " it seems very
strange that no amount of devotion should serve to
keep a man straight when s creature like yourself
comes along. What arts have you used to charm
me, Cora ? What sorceries have you used to blind
my eyes and steel my heart against every woman
but yourself? You are a regular witch, and I am
at your feet, metaphorically and physically."

"But of what use is it, but to make us both
wretched," she exclaimed, as though suddenly smit-
ten with despair. " The years will roll on and bring
us no nearer to one another. Would it not have
been far better if we had never met 1 "

"They shall bring us nearer, my darling. They
shall unite us for eternity. Why should we waste
our lives in vain longing for each other ? Yours has
not been a happy life hitherto, Cora, from what you
have told me, and mine was spoilt until you came to
build it up again. Don't let us die of thirst when
the goblet of love is close to our lips."

He looked at her eagerly for an answer, and she
acquiesced, without a remonstrance, to his proposal,

" I suppose it is Fate^* she sighed pensively, " and
we really have no power to avert certain ends. Why
should Mrs. JoUiffe have selected me from a dozen

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A SCARLET SIN,

147

candidates, and sent me down to Glebe Royal, instead
of some woman whose heart was full of another — /,
with my intense desire to be loved, to meet you^
whose arms were empty ? If it were not Fate, it is
the working of some evil fiend whose object is to
make us both more miserable than we were before."

" Say, rather of some angel, Cora, who took pity
on our loneliness and brought us together for our
mutual comfort. O ! my darling, you have taken
twenty years off my age to-day. I feel like a boy

again, as I was when I But we will not think of

the past. We will talk only of the happy present
and all the joy that may wait us in the future. And
if the time should ever come when I can seal this
contract and make you legally mine, you will trust me
to do it, Cora, will you not V^

" I should indeed be unhappy if I thought you
would fail in thaty Alan, but I know you too well
already to have any doubts upon the subject. But
we are on the estate. Pray drop my hand lest we
should meet some of your tenants."

" It is so hard to let it go," replied Sir Alan, as he
pressed it firmly, " particularly now that I know it will
some day be my own. Kiss me, Cora, and then we
will consider the agreement signed and sealed."

He threw his arm about her waist, and drawing
her towards him kissed her several times upon the
lips. Kissing in lover's fashion is rather engrossing
work for the time being, and it is difficult to do two
things at once and to do them well. However that
may be, this particular act of kissing lasted sufficiently
long to enable a pedestrian to turn the corner of the

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148

/I SCARLET SIN.

lane in which it occurred, and to witness it for her-
self. Indignation kept her silent during the proceed-
ing, but she stood her ground manfully, with her
umbrella stuck in the damp earth, as a support,
and when Sir Alan and Cora Murray disengaged
themselves at last, and prepared to settle down
comfortably in their saddles again, they felt rather
more startled than pleased to see Miss Chichester in
the middle of the road staring at them.

CHAPTER XVI.

A PAIR OF CULPRITS.

It was not possible to make any valid excuse for the
close proximity in which they had been detected,
but the instincts of her sex made Cora Murray
immediately bend over her saddlebow, as though she
had discovered something wrong with the reins,
whilst Sir Alan shouted in a voice, which was
intended to be perfectly at its ease :

" Hullo, Anna ! have you come out to welcome
us home ? '*

But Miss Chichester vouchsafed no reply, except
such as was conveyed by a violent snort of indigna-
tion, as she turned abruptly from them, and, entering
the park by a side gate, commenced to stride rapidly
in the direction of Glebe Royal.

The culprits glanced at one another in consterna-
tion, and then Cora tried to pass the matter off as a
joke.

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A SCARLET S/J\r,

149

" I don't envy j^oity dear boy," she said, shaking
her head archly at Sir Alan. " You're in for a scold-
ing, there's no doubt of that. Miss Chichester will
give you a mauvais quart dheiire as soon as you
reach home."

But the baronet did not laugh.

" I wish that was to be the worst of it," he said
moodily, " but I'm afraid our lucky star is not in the
ascendant, Cora. What on earth can have induced
Anna to walk in this direction ? She generally stays
at home all the morning."

" She came to look after us, there's no doubt of
that," replied Miss Murray. " Didn't I tell you just
now that her remark at breakfast time meant a great
deal more than the mere words would imply ? "

" Then it's all up with us," said the baronet.

- What do you mean ? " she inquired with a
startled air,

" I mean that she is quite capable of going straight
to my wife with an account of what she has just
seen, and you can guess what the consequence of
that would be. It would h^ilf kill Alice. She be-
lieves so perfectly in my fidelity to her. There has
never boen any question about it through all these
years, and if she heard of my folly now, just at this
juncture when she is so ill My God ! if any-
thing happened to her through it, I should never
forgive myself."

" Your folly t'' repeated Miss Murray, frowning.
"That is not very complimentary to me''

'* O foreive me, Cora. You know what I mean.
I love you, but I am married — I can't get out of that

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fact — and my wife has no suspicion but that I am
entirely her own in word and deed. If she thought
otherwise I believe it would break her heart. Let
us ride home as quickly as we can. I must see my
sister before she has time to speak to Lady Chi-
chester. Excuse my abruptness, but I am half
distracted. And now, let us be off."

He did not say another word, but, putting spurs to
his horse, set off at a smart gallop, in which she was
fain to follow him^ and did not draw rein until they
had reached the portals of Glebe Royal. And then
his first inquiry was, if Miss Chichester had returned
home.

" Thank God ! " he ejaculated when the answer
was given in the negative, and as he lifted his hat to
wipe the perspiration from his brow. Miss Murray
saw that he had turned quite white with appre-
hension.

He lifted her from her horse, with the whisper,
" in time, thank goodness," and immediately walked
off to his wife's room.

Cora Murray looked after him with a pang of
envy. She recognized — what so many women have
done before her — that whatever a married man may
say or do behind the back of his wife, she holds the
first and only place in his interest directly there is a
question concerning the honor of his house and
name. The legal ties- are the only unalienable ties
after all, and even if a husband is faithless and
unloving, the woman who bears his name stands as a
queen on her own hearthstone, to warn off all intru-
ders that may be distasteful to herself. Sir Alan

A SCARLET SIN,

151

"bounced" into Lady Chichester's room, making her
heart palpitate from the suddenness of his entrance,
but the smile and the flush with which she welcomed
'^him made him feel more guilty than a hundred
reproaches could have had the power to do.

" How are you, my dear ? " he said affectionately,
as he quietly kissed her forehead.

" Much better, my darling, almost well," she an-
swered brightly; "indeed I cannot imagine why Dr.
Jolliffe should need a second opinion about me.
Don't go to the expense of it, Alan. I am sure it is
not necessary."

" But though you feel better, Alice, there is great
room for improvement still, and it is only right we
should have a first-rate opinion on your case at once.
I gave Jolliffe permission yesterday to do just as he
thinks fit."

"You think too much about me, my dearest
husband," said the sick woman, as she turned her
fragile little fingers between his. " I am not worth all
this care on your part. Yet, if they could make me
well again, strong enough to join in some of your
amusements, and be your companion as I used to be,
what happiness it would afford me." And she laid
her lips upon his strong, nervous fingers as she spoke,
and tenderly kissed them. SU Alan drew his hand
away almost roughly. The touch of those loving
lips stung him like a snake.

"Yes, yes, darling," he said hurriedly, "have a
little patience, and I am sure it will all be right by
and by. I don't think Jolliffe thinks half so badly
of your case as he used to do, in fact he looked so

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sly about it yesterday that I accused him of being
an old humbug, and only hanging about Glebe
Royal in order to make up a fat Christmas bill."

Lady Chichester was still laughing in her quiet
way at this very feeble little joke when the door
opened, and Cora's glowing face appeared upon the
threshold. She had changed her riding habit, tind
was ready to assume her usual duties, but when she
perceived the baronet was present, she drew back.

*' I didn't know Sir Alan was with you," she said
apologetically, " I will come another time."

" No, no, Cora," exclaimed her ladyship, ** come in
at once, please. I have already been longing to see
you. I have just been telling my dear husband that
I feel so well. I half believe I could manage to get
down to luncheon."

" O, that would be delightful," cried Miss Murray
as she knelt on the hearthrug in front of Lady Chi-
chester's chair. *' Haven't I always told your ladyship
that you would get quite strong some day, and live
to be an old, old woman to make everybody happy
around you ! "

She looked so earnest as she uttered the pleasant
prophecy, that Lady Chichester bent forward and
kissed her forehead, and Cora responded eagerly to the
embrace. There was something in that caress that
repulsed Sir Alan. He rose at once, and telling his
wife that, now she had her companion, he would go
and look after his own business, he kissed her
heartily, and prepared to leave the room. But as
he approached the door, it opened again to admit
Miss Chichester, attired in her rough tweed ulster

A SCARLET SIN,

>53

'■' ■'*,

and " billycock '* hat, just as she had come in from
walking.

" O ! you're ihere^ are you ? " she exclaimed, ad-
dressing her brother ; " well, I want to speak to you,
so come this way."

"Don't you say * good-morning ' to Alice?" he
replied, in order to cover his retreat.

" Good-morning to Alice*' repeated his sister, " why,
of course, I said good-morning to Alice hours ago.
/ don't walk out of the house directly my meals are
over, and leave my manners behind me. But my
business won't wait, so please come at once."

She stalked before him to her own sitting-room,
and he followed, quietly apprehensive of the coming
interview.

Miss Chichester's room was like herself, hard and
uncompromising. She would have no such frivolities
as birds or flowers to strew her carpet with litter, or
distract her attention, and no easy chairs or sofas to
encourage indolence. A case of forbidding-looking
books in stern bindings, a sewing machine that was
warranted to siitch leather, and a black writing-case
that might have belonged to a solicitor's clerk, were
the only appliances for use or pleasure that she
allowed herself. All other articles came under the
heading in her denomination of falfals, and were
considered utterly unworthy of a sensible woman's
consideration.

Miss Chichester closed the door of her room be-
hind her with a bang, and motioning her brother to
one of her black horse-hair chairs, sat down on
another, with the air of a judge about to try a crimi-
nal.

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A SCARLET aiN.

" Well ! " she commenced, " and what have you got
to say for yourself ? "

Sir Alan felt as if he were once more the little boy
of ten years old, who used to stand trembling when
detected in an offence by his tall sister of twenty, as
he replied :

" About what you saw take place in Horseman
Lane just now ? Well, it was an accident, that's
all."

Miss Chichester glared at him like a dragon,

" x\d accident ! How dare you tell me such a false-
hood ! I catch a marri d man kissing a hussy on
the sly, and he tells me it was an accident. Faugh ! "

"You shall not call Miss Murray by that name,"
returned the baronet, hotly.

" I shall call her by what name I choose, sir, and
she may think herself lucky that I don't have her
turned out of the house altogether. And if it wasn't
for Alice I would."

"Anna, you will not say anything about the
matter before Alice," he said imploringly.

" No, I shall not, but not for your sake, or Miss
Murray's — for I'd like to see you both whipped at a
cart's tail — but for Alice herself. Why, it would kill
the poor girl. I'm diseusted with you."

" I'm not sure that I'm not disgusted with myseif,"
said Sir Alan humbly, "but it would be difficult to
explain to you, Anna, the temptations thai assail a
man. One might not think of such a thing unless the
opportunity occurred, but when one is placed in
juxtaposition with a very pretty woman, one may
happen to forget oneself,"

A SCARLET Sl^r.

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"I

'* Pretty fiddlesticks," cried Miss Chichester,
never could see the pleasure of kissing myself, but if
you must kiss somebody, huveiit you got Alice and
me?"

He was too nervous even to laugh.

" I forgot Alice for the time being, I acknowledge,
and I am very sorry for it. But it shall not happen
again, Anna. I will place a better guard over myself
for the future."

" I hope you will, and give up riding about lonely
lanes with that hussy. And what are you going to
do about her, pray ? Is she to remain in this house
after having outraged my feelings in ^hat abandoned
manner ? "

" What alternative do you propose ? We can*t
send Miss Murray away from Glebe Royal without
causing great annoyance, if not danger, to Alice.
You know how she depends on her for everything.
I believe it would throw her back altogether if she
were to lose her now.'*

" You're right, Alan, and I wonder what it would
do for Alice to be made aware of your infidelity to
her."

" Don't talk of it. You know I would save her
from the knowledge at any cost."

" You won't have to be faithful to her long — that's
my opinion."

'* Anna, what do you mean ? "

"Just what I say. That fool JoUiffe can't make
head or tail of her case, and has to call in another
fool to help him. That is why I walked towards
Horseman Lane to meet you this morning. He

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A SCARLET SIN,

came here directly after you had left to say he had
received a telegram from the London doctor to say
he would bf down at Glebe Royal at three o'clock
this afternoon."

" So soon ! I had no idea Jolliffe would be so
prompt, though I gave him leave yesterday to act in
the matter as he thought fit. Anna, why is a con-
sultation necessary ? Is there going to be an opera-
tion, or anything dreadful of that sort ?"

"I don't know, but I fear so. There's evidently
something altogether wrong. Any fool could see
that for himself."

" My poor wife ! How will she stand it, so frail
and delicate as she has always been I The very
prospect will be enough to kill her, O Anna, I
have been very wrong. I have forgotten lately how
much poor Alice has suffered in the past, how soon
we may be parted in the future. But believe me, I
have been only thoughtless, not wicked, and if God
spares her to me, I will never do luiything again
that I should be ashamed to go and tell her,"

"That's what you men always say. Out of sight
is out of mind with you. But I'm glad you feel so,
Alan, I should have been very much ashamed of
my brother if he had not, for there's no doubt about
it that Alice is very ill, and this afternoon will decide
the matter, one way or the other."

Sir Alan sat for a few minutes with his face in his
hands, thinking, and then he said sadly:

*' I feel as if there were a death in the house
already. I dread the arrival of this specialist. I
shall feel like a man about to be hung whilst he is

// SCAR/ /■// SLV.

makl*"g his decision. But, whatever it may be,
whether for Hfe or death, I shall take Alice away,
Anna, to Mentone or Italy, and spend a few months
with her alone. Don't you think it will be a good
plan ? The business of the estate and the kennels
occupy one so."

" If the doctors will let you," said his sister grimly,
" but her disease may not admit of traveling. How-
ever, we mustn't meet trouble half way. Let us
wait and hear what they have to say for themselves.
And I must go and tell the cook to have a meal of
some sort prepared for the fool who has to go back
to London. Fifty pounds for just coming down to
look at a woman. Ridiculous! And when I dare
say he doesn't know any more about it than I do."

And in her indignation at the specialist's fee, P^iss
Chichester left the room without discharging another
shaft at the head of Cora Murray.

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A ^iCAhW.F.T SIN,

CHAPTER XVII.

AN UNMITIGATED SURPRISE.

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That was a very dull and portentous morning at
Glebe Royal. Sir Alan sat in the library, smoking
moodily, and glancing every now and then at the
clock to see how the time went. Miss Chichester
shut herself up in her own room, and refused to dis-
cuss the subject of the approaching consultation with
anyone. Even the servants (who dearly loved their
gentle little mistress) were infected with the general
depression, and spoke in whispers as they met on the
landings. And, worst of all, Lady Chichester herself.
who had been so unusually bright and cheerful that
morning, took alarm as soon as she was told that the
specialist had really been telegraphed for, and re-
mained in her dressing-room, a mute picture of misery,
patiently awaiting the dreaded arrival of the doctors.
Miss Murray was the only one who held up under
the circumstances, and calmed Lady Chichester's
fears by so many cheerful and sensible arguments
that Alice said — both at the time, and afterwards —
that she did not know what she would have done
without her. The great specialist came punctually
to his appointment. He valued his time at so much
a minute, and could not afford to get behind-hand
with his engagements. Dr. Jolliffe went down to the

A SCARLET Sm.

>59

station in the baronet's carriage to meet his celebrated
confrere. Sir Alan went into the hall to receive him
when he reached Glebe Royal. Dr. Mark Norman
was a middle-aged man, bald, short-sighted and serious-
looking, as befitted one whose life was spent in pro-
nouncing the doom of his fellow creatures. He
bowed gravely in return to the baronet's salutation,
and refused to take any of the refreshments provided
for him.

"No need, I assure you, Sir Alan. I lunched be-
fore starting. A glass of wine afterwards perhaps,
but nothing at present. With your leave, I will ask
Dr. Jolliffe to conduct me at once to our patient. I
conclude she is ready to receive me."

"Quite ready, Dr. Norman. This young lady,
Miss Murray, v/ho is her companion, will show you
the way to her room."

And then he waved his hand towards Cora Mur-
ray, who stood on the staircase, and with a face the
color of ashes walked back into his study and re-
signed himself to be miserable.

Miss Murray, having tripped upstairs before the
doctors, and ushered them into the presence of" Lady
Chichester, who was as white as a lily with appre-
hension, descended to the library again, with a view
to consoling the baronet. She found him sitting in
a chair, with his arms thrown out over the table, and
his head pressed down against them, as though he
would fain have shut out every sound that might
reach him from the upper rooms. Cora walked up
to his side and laid her hand upon his arm.

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A SCARLET SIN.

fit 1 "'it

*' Now, Sir Alan, I will not have you anticipate
evil. Hope for the best, the London doctor's opinion
may be quite different from what we expect."

" Please go away," he answered, without raising
his head. "I wish to be alone."

It was a decided rebuff, but she would not accept
it as such.

" You mustn't speak to me like thaiy dear," she
whispered, softly, as she laid her head against his
own; "have you forgotten that I love you, and should
never urge you to anything unless I thought it was
for your good ? "

'"Good heavens !" he exclaimed, jumping up sud-
denly, and beginning to walk up and down the room.
" Can't you see how I am suffering ? My brain is on
fire. Leave me to myself, for goodness sake, until
this miserable suspense is ended one way or the
other."

" And don't you think that / must suffer too ? "
she asked, with a faltering voice.

" I don't know. I know nothing, except that my
wife's fate is in the balance — that her life is perhaps
at stake — and I have no heart to remember anything
else. Don't worry me any longer."

" O ! indeed, then I think it must be time for me
to go," replied Miss Murray, with an offended air as
she left the room. But the baronet did not heed her
mood, nor her departure. He wanted nothing at
that moment except for the harrowing suspense in
which he was plunged to be over, and to hear for
certain what he had to contend against in the future,
and whether Alice would live or die. As he sat

A SCARLET SIN.

I6l

there mute and motionless, or stalked up and down
the library floor in agony of waiting, the thought of
his wife, as she had been when he married her — a
tender, delicate girl — kept recurring to his mind, and
making him shudder as he dreaded what might lie
before her now, that dainty, frarile darling whom
once he had almost worshipped. His sister looked
in upon him occasionally, but she brought him no
comfort. The two medical men were closeted with
Lady Chichester and Jane Wood. They wouldallow
no one else in the room, and she had been unable to
r.uiher anything from listening at the door. They
seemed very quiet, they were not talking much, she
did not think there could be anything very serious.

" But perhaps the case needs no discussion. It
may be too pre-evident," argued the unhappy hus-
band, " and they are afraid to tell us the truth too
suddenly."

" Nonsense," exclaimed his more strong-minded
sister. " Do you suppose they'd care a pin for our
feelings, when their time is their money ? We must
have the truth, sooner or later, and to my mind the
sooner the better. But hark ! They have opened
the door, and are coming downstairs. Now, Alan,
my dear," she continued, clapping him suddenly on
the back, " be a man and bear whatever they may
have to tell you bravely."

The baronet stood up at once, and dashed his hand
across his eyes. Englishmen are so falsely ashamed
of being detected in giving way to anything like
sentiment or emotion, even though the cause may
be an honorable one. But his face twitched visibly

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A SCARLET SIN:

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as the medical men entered the room together, and
carefully closed the door behind them.

" You have arrived at some conclusion, I hooe," he
said, with a sickly smile, as they approached him,
" and — and — I should be glad to learn what it is as
quickly as possible."

" Pray don't pull such a long face about it, Sir
Alan ! " exclaimed Dr. Jolliffe, smiling, " we do not
bring you bad news by any manner of means,"

" Not bad news ? " he echoed, faintly.

" I think not. Dr. Norman — eh, sir ? "

" I think not," reiterated Dr. Norman.

Sir Alan sat down again.

** Pray let me hear the worst or the best at once,"
he said, " you do not know the suspense I have been
suffering."

" Of course, of course, naturally," replied the great
specialist, slowly rubbing his hands. "Well, I am
happy to be able to assure you. Sir Alan, that our
fears (in one direction at least) are unfounded. My
good friend here, Dr. Jolliffe, was led to imagine (or
rather I should say to fear), from a course of symptoms
which might portend very different issues, but which
from various circumstances connected with the case
he was quite justified in supposing pointed to a cer-
tain end, that her ladyship might have to undergo a
very serious operation,"

" Yes, yes, yes, " responded the baronet, fever-
ishly, " but what is your own opinion ? "

" Dr, Norman is coming to that — eh, sir ? " inter-
posed Dr. JollifTe, still broadly smilin;;;',

" Certainly," replied the great authority, evidently
not over pleased at the interruption. " Under these

A SCARLET SIN.

163

circumstances, Sir Alan, my friend. Dr. Jolliffe, al-
though he had really made up his mind respecting
Lady Chichester's condition, considered it advisable
to have a second opinion, before he made the truth
known to yourself."

" And Dr. Norman, I am happy to say, entirely
coincides with my own views on the matter," said
Dr. Jolliffe.

" Certainly ! There is not the least doubt about
it."

"Yes, yes — " repeated the impatient husband,
" and your decision, doctor ? "

" My decision agrees with Dr. Jolliffe's previous
opinion, Sir Alan, that Lady Chichester's symptoms
are all dependent upon one cause. She is about to
make you at no very distant period — a father."

The baronet dropped into his chair as if he had
been shot.

" What ? " ne exclaimed, incredulously.

" A father," repeated Dr. Jolliffe, seizing him by
the hand ; " my dear Sir Alan, I would have told it you
weeks ago, had I not been so much afraid of raising
hopes, only to disappoint them again. But now, let
me congratulate you on the happy event. I know
it is the one thing needed to make your married life
complete, and, please God, you will see it realized
before three months are over your head."

The baronet stared at him in a dazed fashion for a
few moments, and then, dragging his hand away, hid
his face from view and gave vent to his emotion
unseen.

Miss Chichester was almost as affected as her
brother.

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164

A SCARLET SIN,

" You are sure!' she cried, excitedly, " that you
know what you are talking about. Dr. JoUiffe. Thi
is not some mare's nest of your own finding, I hope.
I suppose you know Alice's age ? She was forty
last birthday, and it isn't often women begin to have
families at that time. You wouldn't trifle with such
a subject, I hope, and make us believe ^-lire's an heir
coming to Glebe Royal when it's all moonshine."

" I can't swear it will be an heir^ Miss Chichester,"
said the doctor. *^ But heir or heiress, it is coming
sure enough, and I see no reason why it shouldn't
be followed by two or three more. Anyway, it's the
truth, and the sooner you begin to make the bibs
and tuckers the better."

" God bless her," exclaimed Miss Chichester, fer-
vently. "I'll forgive her everything she's ever done
after this."

" She's never done anything that requires forgive-
ness," said the baronet, brightly, as he stooa up and
tried to pull himself together. " We ow i you incal-
culable thanks. Dr. Norman, for this unexpected and
wonderful piece of news. It would be impossible for
me to tell you what I feel at its reception. It will
transform the whole of my future life. But you
must be ready now for a little refreshment. Pray
come into the dining-room. And I feel as if a brandy
and soda would do me no harm," he continued, slap-
ing his chest, as though to assure himself that he was
really awake.

" A glass of wine. Sir Alan — nothing but a glass
of wine," replied Dr. Norman, looking at his watch,
for I must catch the five o'clock train."

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A SCARLET SIN

i6s

" The carriage is waiting to come round whenever
you may order it," replied the baronet.

** At once then, my dear sir — at once," said the
speciah'st, and five minutes after he had pocketed
his fee (Sir Alan had never written a cheque with
such heartfelt pleasure before), shaken hands all
round, and driven off to the station.

As soon as he was gone, the baronet looked at his
old friend again with humid eyes.

" Jolliffe," he said, " can it really be true ? I feel
as if I were in a dream. To have suffered such a
torture of suspense on her account, and then to be
told that it will end in that, of which we had given
up all hope years and years ago ! It is incredible.'*

" I daresay it seems so to you. Sir Alan, but never-
theless it is true. But now I must give you a caution.
You mustn't make too much of it before Lady Chi-
chester. I cannot have her excited. Let her be
peacefully and calmly happy, and all will go well.''

" Does she know it ? Did you tell her ? "

" Certainly ! the very first thing. She would have
died of fright else."

'' And how did she take it, Jolliffe ? "

" Very much like yourself. I don't think she be-
lieved it at firi't, but she does now."

" I must gc> to her. My poor Alice ! To think
that all her patience and her suffering should be
rewarded like this."

" It will be a reward indeed. Fancy a fine, stout,
little fellow riding over the estate on his pony by
your side, Sir Alan. It won't be long first, you know,
and I shouldn't be in the least surprised, as I told

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A SCARLET SIN.

your sister just now, if he had four or five little
brothers and sisters coming after him. LaJy Chi-
chester having commenced to walk in the right way,
may go on triumphantly to the end."

And Dr. JoUifife laughed uproariously at his own
Wit, in which the baronet wasquiteready to join him.

"Alan!" exclaimed Miss Chichester, suddenly,
" we must call him * Geoffry ' after our father. I
won't have any other name, unless you like to add
your own to it."

" It's rather early to decide upon his name," replied
her brother, smiling.

" I don't know that. Everything will have to be
marked, you know. I suppose you don't intend the
heir to Glebe Royal to come into the world without
a shirt to his back. However, you men know nothini,^
about such things."

" I only know one thing now, Anna, that I am
happier than I ever expected to be, and I must go
and tell my Alice so. Good-bye, Jolliffe, and God
bless you. You won't see me again this afternoon."

He ran upstairs as he spoke, and encountered Miss
Murray on the landing.

" Have the doctors gone ? " she inquired, with a
long face, "and what is their verdict? I hope — I
hope It is not so bad as we expected, Sir Aian."

Her appearance brought back an unpleasant
memory with it, but he was too overjoyed to feci
vexed, even with himself.

" It's not bad at all," be answered, smiling, " in fact,
we're all delighted with it. Go and ask Miss Chi-
chester."

A SCARLET SIN.

167

** Cannot I accompany you to her ladyship's
room ? She may require my services."

" No, no, not now. She requires no one but
me, and we do not wish to be disturbed," he said, as
he dashed past her to his wife's room, and left her
standing there with a deep frown upon her brow.

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A SCARLET SIN^

CHAPTER XVIII.

THF 'El EWAL OF HAPPINESS.

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Lady CHXHFSTi' !i, robed in a pale-tinted gown, that
suited her deiicate ^ pearance, and with a French
lace cap on her head, was seated before the fire, lost
in a blissful reverie, whilst Jane Wood, with a look
of proud importance o^ 'rui face, was moving the
articles on the toilet w- l>.e in a vague manner, as if
she didn't half know what she was doing.

** Now, didn^t I always tcil 70 jr ladyship that
things would come right some dsi, she was saying;
" and so they would have done, years and years ago,
if you would only have taken your poor old nurse's
advice."

But here she was interrupted in her exordium by
the entrance of Sir Alan, who rushed in like an im-
petuous school-boy, and throwing himself at his wife's
feet, clasped both his arms around her figure. Jane
Wood needed no hint that she had better leave them
to themselves. She j ust gave a glance at the baronet's
attitude, and hobbled off into the next room, with
her old eyes filled with tears.

" Alice ! " exclaimed Sir Alan, as soon as they were
alone together, " Alice ! my own dear wife."

Lady Chichester looked at the glowing eyes raised
to her face, and read in them an expression which
she had not seen for years. It seemed as if the weary

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A SCARLET sm^

169

interval had magically sHddcn away, and they were
once more a boy and %\x\ madly in love with each
othtr i^nd look-ing forward to a life of unmitigated
happiness, and her n w-found joy could only find
vent in tecijrs, as she replied :

"O Alan! I am so thankful."

" 1 hankfuly dear ! Thankful is no name for it. I
?.m half-intoxicated with this sudden news. After
having dreaded the suffering that might lie before
you, to hear that it is to end in this supr lU -"lappi-
ness is almost too much. And the surpri ^ c !thas
taken my breath away. And so this y-^x^- hoping,
and waiting, and being disappointed ij t Lave its
reward at last. What do you think of ^;lice ? "

" What do /think of it, my darling husband ? That
I would die a thousand deaths sooner than it should
not take place. Fancy a child of our very, veryo^fXi.
A baby with my darling's hair, and eyes, and mouth,
O ! I cannot believe it. It is too good to be true."

" And you have never suspected the truth, Alice ) "

' Never ! It has been as complete a revelation to
me as to yourself. But Dr. Norman says there is
not the slightest doubt of it, and if I were not in such
delicate health, I should have discovered it long ago.
But I was so persuaded that I had some terrible
disease that would eventually end my life, Alan, that
my thoughts never wandered in any other direction."

"We have been a set of ignorant boobies, Alice,
but we shall be wiser next time, eh, my darling t "

His happy, confident manner and affectionate
tones brought a flush into Lady Chichester's face,
and a sparkle to her eye, that see ned to take ten
years off her age at once.

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Pitfevi

** O Alan ! " she sighed, " I'm afraid I don't deserve
such a blessing, for I have been very wicked some-
times. I have almost blamed the Almighty for with-
holding from me what every other woman seemed to
enjoy, and I have envied the mothers I met, until
the rest of my life has not seemed worth having to
me. And sometimes — sometimes — "

** Sometimes zv/iat, my Alice ? " inquired the
baronet, who was rather calmer by this time, and
had taken a seat by her side.

'* You mustn't be angry with me, Alan, for saying
so, for I know it was only my own wicked feelings
that prompted the idea, but sometimes I have even
fancied that you had wearied of me, because I had
borne you no children, and had fallen intv^ such a
stupid state of health that I could go about with you
nowhere, and that when you looked at other women,
younger and stronger than myself, you remembered
the disappointment I had been to you, and almost
wished that it was all over, and you could choose
again. I only fancied it you know, darling," con-
tinued Lady Chichester, timidly, as she watched her
husband's head droop lower at her words. " I knew
that you were far too good and kind to dream of such
a thing in reality, only a wife who has no children
feels herself to be a mistake, and cannot help think-
ing that others must feel the same."

Sir Alan could not answer the tender, little appeal
for some moments, his guilty conscience rapped so
loudly at the door, and when he did, he carefully
avoided treading over the same ground.

" My dearest Alice," he said, " do you remember

A SCARLET .9/.V.

171

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the day I brought you home to Glebe Royal as my
wife ? "

'' Remember it ! O Alan! Do you think I have
forgotten a single thing that took place at that time,
though it is twenty years ago."

"Twenty years ago," he repeated ; " we might, had
Heaven pleased, had a son as tall as myself by this
time, but we shall love the rascal all the more, dear,
for having kept us waiting for so long. Twenty
years ago ! What a sweet, fair, tender darling you
were then, and how I worshipped you ! Do you
think such love can fade in reality ? I know that, as
the years ^o on, and we grow accustomed to the
blessings of this life, we are apt to make less of them,
but it is only in seeming, Alice. The chance of los-
ing them makes us aware how dear they are to us still,
as the dread of to-day's consultation made me feel
about you. Don't talk to me again as you did just
now, it hurts me terribly. I have not been so good
a husband to you as I should, perhaps, but I have
never really wanted any other woman bat yourself.
And for the future, I don't know how I shall be able
to make enough of you. We will think that we have
just been married, my darling, and starting on life's
journey together."

Lady Chichester clasped her little hand tightly in
that of her husband. She didn't know how to ex-
press all that she felt for him.

" I have left you too much to yourself," continued
Sir Alan, " because I thought you were too weak to
take any interest in my sports or occupations. But
I will do so no longer. If you cannot go out with

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me, we will stay at home together. You shall never
have to complain of my inattention again."

** O Alan ! I never have complained of it," ex-
claimed Alice, earnestly, " and it would be most sel-
fish of me to wish to keep you indoors because my
strength will not permit me to go out. I will not
hear of it. Dr. Norman says I am to continue my
drives and walks as usual, and to lie on the sofa as
little as possible, and tliere is always Cora to go with
me. Dear Cora, she has been so good to me to-day,
keeping up my spirits till the doctors came. I don't
know what I should have done without her. Docs
she know the great news, Alan } Have you told
her.?"

*' No. I only saw her for a minute on the staircase
as I came up to your room. But she is not one of
ourselves, Alice. It is no business of hers, though
doubtless all Glebe Royal will know it before night.
Anna is nearly crazy with delight at the prospect of
an heir, and old Jane seems the same."

" Poor old Jane cried like a child when she heard
the doctor's decision. She has always sympathized
so much in my disappointment. But I should like
dear Cora to know it, I am sure she will be glad, for
my sake and your's."

" Well, we can hardly expect Miss Murray to feel
like ourselves on the subject, particularly as the
advent of the little stranger will. I suppose, sound the
keynote of her own departure. Don't you think
you could dispense with her services now, Alice ? I
intend to be your companion for the future, and drive
and walk with you, and I really don't see what use
Miss Murray will be under the circumstances."

1.1

A aCAKLhT HJN.

«73

L.itly Chichcstci *s eyes beamed with delight at her
husband's proposition, but she would not consent to
part with her companion.

*• Send Cora away, dear Ahm, and just now when
we are all so happy ? O ! that would be unkind to
both lier and me. 1 want Cora for a thousand little
things that you can't do for me. Fancy, my asking
a dear, old, blundering darling like you to sort my
silks and wools, or write my letters, and read aloud
to me. It would make us both miserable. No, dear
Alan, you must not ask me to part with Cora, for
she has become quite necessary to me. She is just
like a younger sister, and no one, not even you, could
fill her place. And just now, too, when my mind
will be full of all the preparations I must make for
this wonderful event, 1 shall want her advice and
her assistance more than ever."

" But afterwards, Alice — when you have the baby
— you won't want her then surely .'' Is she to be a
fixture in the house for ever ? "

" No, perhaps not aftcrivardsl' said his wife in a
dreamy tone, and then, as though waking up, she
continued, more briskly, " Don't let us talk oiafter^
wards, Alan. The present is enough happiness for
me. The future seems almost too much."

At this juncture Miss Chichester asked for ad-
mittance at liie door. Her speech was rough and
brusque as usual, but there was an evident feeling
underlying it that robbed it of any power to wound.

"Well, Alice, my dear," she said, with a ferce
peck at her sister-in-law's cheek, " and so you're go-
ing to do your duty at last. I'm very glad to hear

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'74

/I SCARLET SIN.

it. Glebe Royal won't be the same place when we
have a son and heir scampering all ovt r it. I have
told Alan he must be called ' Geoffry ' after our
father, and you mustn't try and persuade him out of
it. It will be our child, you know, a great deal more
than yours. It will be a Chichester, with our nose,
most likely, and our mouth — at least I sincerely hope
so — and so you mustn't get any absurd ideas into
}^our head about his belonging to your family, and
give him a lot of names that the Chichesters never
heard of."

" Dear Anna," replied Lady Chichester, smiling,
"I care for nothing so long as he comes, and you and
Alan may call him what you like."

" But I won't have Alice worried on that or any
other subject," exclaimed the baronet, rising ; " you
remember what Jollifife said, Anna, that she is not lo
be excited. And now, my darling, what do you
wish to do this evening } Are you too tired to come
down into the dining-room, and shall I send your
dinner up here } "

" By no means, Alan. Directly I heard the good
news, my sickness seemed to fall from me like a
mantle. I know what it all means now. I have no
longer any fears to contend against, and I shall grow
stronger every day. If you will leave me to Anna
and Jane for half an hour, I will change my dress in
time for dinner."

He kissed and left her, still buoyantly pleased,
but yet already sufficiently accustomed to the event
looming in the future to enable him to feel a great
deal of annoyance at what had occurred between

4 SCARLET SIN,

himself and Cora Murray. How could he have been
such a fool, he kept on asking himself, as the un-
pleasant memory cropped up iu his mind, and above
all, what attitude could he assume towards her now ?
To continue the course of folly he had so thought-
lessly begun, with the revulsion of feeling he had
experienced, was impossible to him, for if Sir Alan
Chichester was a weak man, he was not a wicked
one. His affection for his wife had been deadened,
not destroyed, and her new prospects had revived it
in a measure which astonished himself. He had
not proved strong enough to resist the temptation
offered by a very charming woman bent upon his
conquest, but he was not prepared to carry on a
double gamx' when his fault had become apparent to
hitn, and, strange to say, all desire to do so had sud-
denly evaporated. He could think of nothing but
the promised heir, and the want of gratitude he had
shown to her who was the mother of it. Had it
been feasible, he would have sent Cora Murray away
from Glebe Royal then and there, and never seen
her again. But it was not feasible, Alice strongly
objected to the proposal. She loved her young
friend, and would not consent to part with her un-
less for oome stringent reason. And Cora would not
be, he imagined, incapable of taking her revenge, if
dismissed in order to conceal his misdoings. She
was a clever woman. She would guess the cause,
and might even reveal it to Lady Chichester. His
treachery to his wife might revolve on his own head
by injuring her, and perhaps even the long-expected
heir. No, it was impossible, hX all risks, Miss Mur-

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.4 SCARLET Sm,

ray must remain at Glebe Royal until Lady Chi-
chester herself consented to her departure, and
meanwhile he must keep the peace with both
women. It was an unpleasant predicament to be
placed in, but, so far as Sir Alan could see, it was
unavoidable. The only plan to be pursued was to
behave cordially to Miss Murray on all occasions,
and carefully to avoid being left alone with her. Act-
ing on this principle, the baronet entering the library
a minute afterwards, and seeing the lady sitting there
with a book, smiled pleasantly, and said,

" Of course you've heard the grand news, that we
are to have bonfires and bell-ringings in Glebe Royal
before we're many months older, eh ? A wonderful
ending to all our apprehensions, isn't it ? I suppose
the little hamlet will go off its head when the event
really occurs,"

" Yes, if it does," replied Miss Murray, without
raising her eyes from her book.

The baronet's face fell.

" But why should you say tfiat ? "

" Not to frighten you, you may depend on it. But
these events are always uncertain you know, and her
ladyship's health is so delicate that I snould not like
to make too sure, for fear of a disappointment."

" But Jolliffe says she will get stronger every day
now," said Sir Alan, irresolutely.

" Will she ? I am very glad to hear it," replied
Miss Murray, still intent on her book.

The baronet saw he was not yet forgiven for his
brusque behavior of the morning, and, turning on his
heel, left the apartment without another word.

A SCARLET SIN,

«77

CHAPTER XIX.

BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

When Sir Alan met his wife again, radiant in the
pride of her new position, his temporary annoyance
vanished, and he found it an easy task to make him-
self generally agreeable at the dinner table. But
when he joined the ladies in the drawing-room, and
Lady Chichester seemed to expect him to renew the
devotion he had exhibited towards her during the
afternoon, under the very eyes of Cora Murray, the
baronet commenced to feel shy. He sat at the foot
of his wife's sofa, it is true, playing with the ribbons
of her dress, whilst he conversed with her in a low
tone, but he felt very guilty when Miss Murray
suddenly turned round and detected him holding
Lady Chichester's hand, or looking in her eyes as if
he loved her. Poor Alice had no idea v/hy he should
jerk his hand away without any visible reason and
color like a school-boy as he lowered hi > gaze, but her
husband felt very uncomfortable all th ) same, and as
if he were placed between two fires, at one of which
he was sooner or later to be well roasted. He stood
his ground, however, manfully, until Lady Chichester
expressed a desire to move, and then he insisted
ui)on accompanying her to her own room, and seeing
her safely delivered into the hands of Jane Wood.

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He was congratulating himself, as he came downstairs
again, that he had escaped the inevitable roasting, at
least for that night, and would have a little more
time to consider how he should get out of the scrape
he found himself in, when he ran straight up against
Miss Murray with her handkerchief held to her eyes.
The sight struck him with remorse. Bright, viva-
cious, high-spirited Cora Murray weeping ! It
seemed incredible, and yet his conscience told him
who was the author of her grief, and he felt it would
be unmanly, nay, brutal, to leave her in sucli a
predicament without inquiring the cause. So lu
stopped short, and said,

" Cora ! what ails you ? What is the matter ? "

" O ! leave me, leave me," she replied, passing by
him to her little sitting-room on the landing, "it is
the only thing you can do now."

But the words seemed like a challenge to follow,
and accordingly he entered with her, and closed the
door behind them. Miss Murray sank into a chair
and began sobbing in real earnest with mingled
mortification and anger.

" Don't cry, pray don't cry, Miss Chichester may
hear you," the baronet kept repeating, as he stooJ
by her side and essayed to dry her tears. But Cora
dashed the handkerchief away.

"Why should you care .? " she exclaimed passion-
ately " whether I cry or not } What is it to you t
Go back to you" wife and leave me to myself. I am
nobody in your estimation now*"

'* Vou are v.Ty much mistaken," replied Sir Alan,
soothingly. " I esteem and admire you as much as

■ i

A SCARLET SIN,

'79

ever I did, and I am glad to have an opportunity to
tell you so. For I feel that I have done you an
injury, Cora, for which I ought to ask your pardon,
and I hope you will grant it to me."

"I don't understand you, Sir Alan.*'

" I mean that I should never have spoken to you
as I did this morning, that my feelings got the
better of my discreti /n, and I took a mean advantage
of the position I found myself in. I owe you an
apology for the affront, and I tender it humbly.
Will you forgive me ? "

Miss Murray raised her face from the shelter of her
hands, and gazed at him fixedly.

"Then you didn't mean what you said?" she
exclaimed ; " you were trying to make a fool of me,
Sir Alan?"

"No, no. Hov/ can you think so basely of me?"

" If your words were true, why apologize for
them ? "

" Because words, even if true, are often better left
unsaid. Because, since they can never be a thing
/;/// words, it was a cruelty both to you an' nyself
to utter them, and I am ashamed to think 1 nad not
more control over my feelings."

"You have certainly changed your nion in
many respects since this morning. The^i^ il I remem-
ber rightly, I was an angel, sent by heaven to console
you in your loneliness. Now, you ha/e the prospect
of being no longer lonely, and the angel is not
needed. Is not that the real truth, Sir Alan / "

Her sarcasm stung him to the quick.

" By heavens ! no, Cora. You do me a great
injustice. I was very imprudent, but I meant every

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A SCARLET Sm.

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word I said. I do not know how to thank you
sufficiently for the interest you were good enough to
express in me, but can I take advantage of it ? Can
I break up my home, desert my wife and child, and
make my name a scandal in the county, and all in
order to ruin an innocent girl like you ? It is
impossible."

Cora laughed softly at this tirade.

"Certainly not, Sir Alan, and I don't think we
talked of such a thing, did we ? However, I quite
understand your change of tactics. You have had a
new motive presented to you for being moral, and all
other considerations fly before it, like chaff before
the wind."

*' Do you blame me for it ? " he responded eagerly.
**This morning I seemed to have no one but myself
to think of, and a frail life that the first breath might
blow away. To-night, I feel that I am already a
father, awaiting an event that will bring me an heir
to my title and estates, a son for me to bring up and
live for, and probably transform my wife from an
invalid into a healthy woman. Don't you see how
it changes my whole existence at one stroke, dnci
makes me feel that I am bound to live a sober and
respectable life for the future ? "

" Precisely. I do see it, and that it has changed
your sentiments for me into the bargain. However,
they can never have been very strong, if a breath can
blow them away."

She cast her fine eyes upward as she spoke, and
the glamour of her beauty fell upon him again like an
evil spell. He knelt down by her side and threw his
arms around her slender waist.

A SCARLET SIN.

•' There you are wrong," he said. " What I felt for
you this morning, I feel now, and shall never cease
to feel. But I dare not be so open in expressing it.
A great issue is at stake for me. The continuation
of my name and title depends in a manner on my
wife's peace of mind, and I must do nothing to upset
it. You saw what a risk we ran this morning. If
this piece of news had not turned all our prospects
topsy-turvy, I verily believe that my sister would
have carried the story to my wife. Judge what such
a discovery would do for her now. It would kill her
and my child into the bargain. Be merciful, Cora,
and make some allowances for a man's ambition and
desire for posterity."

"I should care for nothing," she whispered into
his ear, " if I only felt sure that you tprke the truth
when you said you loved me."

"Then, care for nothing," he answered, kissing
her, " for I did speak the truth. Could I have my
own way at this moment I know where it would
lead me. But we must be satisfied with the secret
knowledge of our mutual regard, Cora, for there
must be no further open expression of it. It is too
dangerous, both for you and for me."

" Perhaps you would prefer that I should iec.ve
Glebe Royal," she said with a sigh.

" No, no, don't think of it. Besides, Alice wouldn't
part with you for all the world. You must stay and
help me in my work. Be her friend, Cora, and keep
lier mind peaceful and at rest, and you will be doing
me the greatest possible favor."

" / haz'e been her friend," replied Miss Murray
weeping. " I have never omitted to do or say any-

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thing that I thought would please her, and I have
borne with all Miss Chichester's coolness and affronts
without answering a word, because — because — /
loved jyoHy Alan."

How soothing it is to a man's self-esteem to know
that two or more women are simply prostrate at his
feet in silent adoration. It puts him on such good
terms with himself that he cannot help pitying the
owners of the affection that is lavished upon him,
and feeling that he is in duty bound to offer them
some consolation. More, the very fact of knowing
h<^ is beloved is pretty sure to work up an answering
passion in his inflammable nature, until he is not
sure himself which one of them all he is really in
love with. Sir Alan Chichester was a very simple-
hearted country gentleman. He had never mixed
in the world of fashion and dissipation, and the free
and easy manner in which the husbands of the nine-
teenth century trample on all their marital obliga-
tions was a sealed book to him. He had been
terribly ashamed all day of the imprudence of which
he had been guilty during the morning ride, but as
Cora Murray sobbed out her confession of love to
him, he felt that he owed her something in return.

" I know you have," he replied emphatically ; " you
have been the best and dearest friend Alice has ever
had, except myself, and no one is better aware of it
than she is. But I want you to be my friend too,
Cora. I want you to help me to take care of her,
and to ward off all annoyances from her, until this
expected event is over, and you don't know how I
shall love you in return. Is it a bargain ? "

/t SCARLET Sm,

183

He thought that, by claiming her friendship eqi^ally
for himself and Lady Chichester, he was placing
a barrier between any warmer feeling on their part,
and that the woman to whom he had vowed a
passionate love would be content to aid his kindly
offices for his wife without any sinister intention in
doing so. Cora Murray saw through the baronet's
design, and smiled at its futility. But at the same
time she was too clever not to accede to it. A
refusal on her part at this juncture would have
caused an irreparable rupture between them. The
object to be gained was to remain by Sir Alan
Chichester's sidt>. If she could not effect thaty she
might as well throw up the sponge altogether. And
so she put out her hand and said, " It is a bargain ! "
and the baronet raised it to his lips and kissed it
gratefully. But as he was about to take his leave
and creep cautiously from the room, Cora gazed at
him, aiiKi he came back again immediately and kissed
her warmly on the lips. When the door had closed
after him, she laughed derisively to herself.

^^ Friendship ! my dear baronet ! Yes, that's just
the sort of friendship you'd like to have with me," she
thought. '• Now, I wonder if it's worth my while to
keep it up with you. This sudden fit of morality is
all moonshine ; still, if her ladyship intends to live and
bring you a family, there'll be no room here for
me, I see that plainly enough. My sympathy and
affection was wanted to fill up a gap, but if an heir
comes* you'll be too proud of your paternity to risk
his name or your own.

" Now the question is, will your prospective heir

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become a certainty ? I should say the chances arc
against it. Her ladyship's age and her extreme
delicacy are not in her favor. And meanwhile
Masham's at the antipodes, and Fauntlcroy's at
Gibraltar, and I cannot do better than stay on here
and keep your lukewarm aiTection simmering, until
I see how events ti-rn out. You're like a Kitchener's
raiige. I can always bring you up to the boiling
heat directly I see fit to do so.'*

Having arrived at this conclusion. Miss Murray
set to work to behave herself in the most de-
corous manner, attending closely to Lady Chi-
chester's wants, and only reminding the baronet by
an occasional sigh or love-lorn glance that she had
ever thought of him in any way but a p itron and a
friend. Her clever tactics threw them all off their
guard, and especially the man for whom they were
intended. He became at his ease, and confident in
his own stability at once. In truth, it only required
a little reserve on her part to make him so. He
knew he had been wrong, and he regretted his
weakness, but, like many others, he had not the
strength of mind to fight openly with the partner of
his folly. He wanted to keep the peace with both
women until Cora Murray should be out of the way,
an end which he was determined to accomplish as
soon as it could be accomplished with safety to his
wife. Meanwhile, Lady Chichester clung to her
young companion with an unbounded confidence
that would have been very touching to any one that
knew the position which they held towards each
other. She had become so quietly happy, and even

// aCARLET SIN.

I8s

merry under the influence of her renewed happiness,
that she chatted all day, like a rippling water, of the
past, the present and the future, and laid her inno-
cent heart bare for the edification or ridicule of her
hearers. She never tired in those days of telling
Cora about Sir Dlan's courtship, of how they first
met, and what he said, and how soon he proposed.
And then the marriage festivities were retailed, and
old Jane Wood's memory was called into requisition
to relate how many guests were present, and what
the wedding feast consisted of, and what was said of
the bride, and what of the bridegroom. And Lady
Chichester even went so far as to produce certain
little love letters, written both before and after
marriage, and to read out all their "darlings" and
" dearests " and *' own beloveds " for the edification of
her companion, whose face would turn livid with
envy and contempt behind the broad smile with
which she received her ladyship's confidences.

"But perhaps I am boring you, dear Cora," Alice
would exclaim after a while, "and you will think
me awfully silly to talk so much to you about Alan,
and what he said and did so many years ago. But
then I am not quite like other women, you know.
I never had another lover but Alan. He was my
first and last, and I have no one else to talk about
And now, you know, I am sure you will understand
that he seems dearer to me than ever. This has
been the only thing that was wanted to make our
married \\{q perfect.

" I shall never envy anyone again upon earth, and
I should say just the same if I knew that the day of

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A SCARLET SIN,

my baby's bl-th would be that of my own death.
For it will be but a very short time, after all, before
we all meet again, and Alan and I will still be
husband and wife and father and mother in heaven."

.^■•1

A aCARLET SIN,

187

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CHAPTER XX.

- 'il

DR. JOLLIFFE'S OPINION.

" Lor ! my lady ! " cried old Jane Wood quite crossly,
"don't go for to talk such rubbish. Day of your
your death indeed, and when you are as well and as
hearty as any mother could wish to be. You don't
expect to feel as if you were nineteen, when you're
hard on your forty-first birthday, do you ? Why
you're wonderfuly that's what you are, taking all
things into consideration, and six months hence, I
expect to see you trotting about all over the place,
as you used to do when you first come to it, and I
after you, with young master in my arms."

Lady Chichester smiled brightly at the picture the
old nurse had conjured up, as she turned over a
drawer full of little caps, all highly bedizened with
Valenciennes lace and ribbons, and each bearing the
cockade that betokens the wearer to be an embryo
lord of the creation.

" We make quite certain it will be a boy," ^he said
softly, " but, for my part, I don't care which it may
be, so long as it is alive and well."

*' Then I'm ashamed to hear you say so, my lady,"
resumed the servant, ''and I shall be ashamed of you
into the bargain if it isn't a boy. Lor ! what should
you have but a boy, and the first time too ! It must

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A SCARLET SIN,

s.'^2^:if

be a boy ! Sir Alan and Miss Chichester, to say
nothing of your own family, will be all terribly
disappointed if it isn't. A girl wouldn't be of any
manner of use at all to us. She could only take the
money and leave the title to go to strangers just the
same. You mustn't ever think of such rubbish, my
lady. You can please yourself afterwards, but the
first time it viust be a boy."

Lady Chichester smiled again at the old woman's
enthusiasm.

" But one mustn't make too sure, Jane," she said,
"or the disappointment will be twice as hard to bear.
Leave it to God's hands, my dear friend. He is
sure to do everything right. Cora dear, if you are
not too tired, I should like you to unpack the rest of
the layette. How beautifully the little clothes are
made. I love to look at them and handle them.
They seem to thrill me through and through as if I
already knew the dear little child who, please God,
will wear them hereafter,"

" Don't you think, dear Lady Chichester, that you
had better lie down and rest now until Sir Alan
comes to take you for your drive } I will unpack
the other boxes during your absence, and have
everything laid out ready for your inspection on
your return."

"Yes, dear, that certainly will be best; but you
always seem to know what will be best for me. If
I get over my approaching trial, Cora, and live to
see my child grow up to manhood or womanhood, I
shall always think that I owe it chiefly to your care
of me. Everybody is very kind and attentive, my

•M

A SCARLET SIN.

189

darling Alan most of all, but you seem to anticipate
my wants, and prevent ill consequences. You are
my pilot engine, Cora, and your love goes before me
to avoid danger. How can I ever repay you for all
your goodness to me ? '*

Cora bent over the speaker and kissed her
warmly, whilst Jane Wood turned away and mut-
tered to herself in the distance. Miss Murray had
gained so firm a footing in Glebe Royal, and was on
such excellent terms with both the master and the
mistress, that no one in the household presumed to
question her orders, or pay inattention to her wishes.
Even Miss Chichester, when she observed the very
reticent demeanor which she had maintained ever
since the day of the doctor's consultation, and the
strict attention she had paid to her duties, began to
doubt whether her eyes had deceived her on the
morning in question, and whether the poor girl had
after all been a willing recipient of her brother's
impetuous embraces. Still, Miss Chichester could no
more overcome her dislike to Cora Murray than
Jane Wood could. Both these women bore a
marked antagonism to Lady Chichester's companion,
and .ere always on the alert to detect any short-
coming on her part, and it says a great deal for Miss
Murray's acuteness that she managed to elude their
vigilance as long as she did

On the morning in question. Sir Alan came in,
radiant with good humor, to take his wife down to
her carriage. He was always good-humored now.
He had obtained his heart's desire, and he was in
charity with all mankind. He had become so care-

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ful of Lady Chichester, that he would not permit
anyone to drive her but himself, although the old
coachman, who had been in their service for years,
was a much better whip than his master. But the
hunting season was over by this time. Spring was
close upon them, and the baronet was free to spend
his days as he chose, and he chose to employ them
by waiting upon his wife. No one must walk with
her, or drive with her, or carry her meals backwards
and forwards but himself. To some women this
devoted attention from a husband who had shown
himself decidedly weary of their society for some
years past would have proved rather enniiyantey but
Alice took it all in good faith, and basked in it like
a cat in sunshine. She did not see, happily for her-
self, that the unwonted devotion was laid, not at her
feet so much as at those of the mother of his heir,
and that all his new-born fears and anxieties were
for the child that was coming to him, rather ihan for
the woman who was destined to bear it. Cora
Murray's thoughts ran much after this fashion, as she
watched the big baronet clumsily folding the mantle
round Lady Chichester's form, and supporting her
downstairs to the carriage that was in waiting.

" Ah, poor dear," sighed Jane Wood as she looked
after them, " pray the Lord everything may go right
with her, but it's a terrible trial as lies before her,
and though of course the master will have the best
of advice and nursing, I shall never have a moment's
peace till it's well over."

" You don't think her ladyship will pull through
it," remarked Cora, carelessly.

A SCARLET Sm,

191

**God forbid, Miss. Twould be a dark day for
Glebe Royal and poor Sir Alan if anything hap-
pened to my lady, as was his first love and will be
his last. But there's no doubt she's weakly, and I
am afraid this will leave her weaker than before.
But there ! She'll have the dear baby, and that will
compensate her for anything."

"Yes, if it lives,'* said Cora Murray.

" O Miss, don't hint at the contrary," cried Jane,
"for it would break all our hearts. What ! to lose it
after we've been waiting for it so many years ! Sure,
the Lord could never be so hard as that. O no, we
shall have an heir to Glebe Royal right enough, and
if her ladyship only gets back her strength and is
able to enjoy her happiness, we shall have nothing
left to wish for. You seem so fond of the mistress.
Miss Murray, that you ought to rejoice over her
prospects as much as anyone," she continued in a
suspicious manner.

" And who says I do not, Mrs. Wood ? '* rejoined
Cora. *' Lady Chichester's treatment of me is sufficient
to show in what estimation she holds my services,
but I am not in the habit of showing my feelings
perhaps as easily as other people. But I am going
to take the opportunity of her ladyship's absence to
have a walk, so leave the rest of the unpacking until
I return. Lady Chichester has left the matter with
me, and desired me to see that it is correct."

And with that she walked out of the room.

"Not in the habit of showing your feelings," solilo-
quized old Jane, as her back was turned. " No, I
should think not, considering you've got none to

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A SCARLET SIN,

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show. I don't believe in your wheedling ways and
kisses, and I wish my poor dear didn't believe iii
them neither, but I daren't say a word to upset her
at the present moment. But just wait till it's all
right again, and then see if I don't let her know one
or two things as has come to my ears lately."

Meantime Cora had assumed her walking attire
and started for a ramble, not, however, without a
hidden purpose. Her desire now was to inveigle
Dr. Jolliffe into her confidence, and find out if his
opinion of Lady Chichester's condition coincided
with her own, and whether there was any chance of
her own wishes being realized in the future. Dr.
Jolliffe had always been very partial to Lady Chi-
chester's companion. He considered her a great
success, and a success we have helped to build
ourselves always appears double to us. So when he
met her that morning, quite accidentally, as it seemed,
in the course of his daily rounds, he saluted her with
a smiling face, as he asked after Lady Chichester's
health.

" Off guard I see. Miss Murray," he said, " and so
the question is almost unnecessary. Your attention
to her ladyship is so proverbial that I am sure you
would not have left her side unless she had been
quite well."

" You are right, Doctor Jolliffe," she answered with
a subdued smile. " I should certainly not be out
walking if Lady Chichester required me. But she
is driving with Sir Alan. His devotion puts mine
to the blush. It seems as if he could not bear to
lose sight of her since you brought the happy news.

// SCARLET SIN.

«93

But I do hope she will not over-fati^uie herself. She
is very delicate, you know, and the least exertion
does her harm, and I am almost afraid sometimes
that she is taking too much exercise."

"Not a bit of it," cried the doctor cheerfully;
"she can't take too much exercise as long as she
enjoys it."

"Oh, but, doctor," cried Miss Murray, "you only
see her at intervals, you know, and after she has had
a good night's rest. If you watched her all day, as
I do, you would be alarmed at the weakness she
sometimes exhibits. Yesterday she fainted at the
dinner table without any reason whatever."

"That's nothing. Lady Chichester is a fainting
subject. She has been used to fainting all her life,
and in her condition it is the commonest thing
possible. How does she sleep at night 'i "

" Very well, I believe, but then you see her mind
is at ease. She has no apprehension of the future.
She is very ignorant on such matters, and fancies
everything must go right with her, poor dear."

" And so it will, so it will," exclaimed the doctor ;
"we shall have a bouncing boy or girl at Glebe Royal
about the middle of March. Does she eat well } "

"Yes, for her," replied the companion.

She was speaking the truth now because she
wanted to extract the truth from her auditor. She
had sought the interview with the sole view of as-
certaining exactly what he thought regarding the
chances of life or death for her employer.

"Well, what do you want more," asked Dr.
Jolliffe. " She eats well, and sleeps well, and takes

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194

A SC IRLET S/JV.

'■V (

exercise, and is in good spirits, I call that a ckan
bill of health. We shall see her ridin^r to the meet
next season with Sir Alan, and then your nose will
be put out of joint, ch, Miss Murray ? "

"O doctor, pray do not jest on such a subject.
You make my blood curdle. You do not know
perhaps how attached I am to her ladyship, nor how
anxious I feel on this subject. I have a forebodinc^^
that all will not go well with her in March, and that
Glebe Royal will be turned into a house of mourn-
ing. Pray, pray relieve my fears, if you have any
reasonable ground for doing so."

The doctor looked grave, and a little puzzled,

*' I don't know why you should be so anxious,
Miss Murray. I see nothing in Lady Chichester's
condition to make you so. Of course, we all know
that life is uncertain, and that it is impossible to
foretell the future, but as far as science can decide
for her, she has every prospect of a successful issue
to her trial."

" But, doctor, think of her age, and the many years
of previous debility from which she has suffered. It
is not as if she were a young and healthy woman.
Even for such it is a great risk, but for her, I cannot
think how she will ever go through with it."

"It's only your ignorance that makes you so
nervous. Miss Murray," replied the doctor ; " many of
these cases for which the greatest fears are entertained
turn out the easiest in the end. There's no occasion
for your forebodings. They do honor to your feel-
ings for your employer, but I must beg you will
dismiss them from your mind or they may infect

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^ SCARLET SIN,

«9S

her. F()r to suspect that those around her have any
fears of her safety would have the worst possible
effect upon Lady Chichester. I want her to be
perfectly at ease and tranquil regarding herself, and
there is no reason whatever why she should be
otherwise."

•' Then you really and truly believe that I am
frightening myself for nothing," said Cora Murray,
with an inquiring look at her companion.

" I believe that your warm heart, in this instance,
has run away with your cool head, my dear young
lady," replied Dr. Jolliffe, "and lam as anxious to
allay your fears for your own sake as for that of her
ladyship. I fear nothing for her, ;/d7//«;/^ whatever,
and believe she will run no greater risk than any
other woman. She is delicate, but she is perfectly
healthy, and has, I believe, a long life before her.
I'd lay any odds that she outlives the baronet, robust
as he appears to be. And with the care and affection
which all her friends, yourself included, will lavish
on her at this juncture, why, nothing can go wrong,
and that's my candid opinion."

"Thank you, Dr. Jolliffe. It is such a relief to my
mind to hear you say so. I have been worrying
myself about her more than you would believe, of
late, but I shall follow, your example now, and look
forward to nothing but happiness."

"That's right," said the doctor, "you're a good
girl, Miss Murray, and a sensible girl, and my sister-
in-law couldn't have chosen a better companion for
my old friend. Well, good-bye, and let me hear you
laugh and sing for the future."

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A acA/iLJ-rj aiN,

" Yes, on the wrong side of my mouth," thought
Cora Murray, as she shook hands with him and left
him.

A SCARLET SIN,

■97

:;|.

CHAPTER XXI.

AN HEIR TO GLEBE ROYAL.

After this, the days succeeded each other very
quickly at Glebe Royal, and were chiefly employed
in making preparations for the important event that
was expected to take place in the middle of March.
Sir Alan's devotion to his wife continued unabated,
and his manner towards Miss Murray was so easy
and indifferent, that a sharer of his secrets might
have well doubted if the baronet remembered that
any passages of a tender nature had ever taken place
between them. But Cora was too much a woman of
the world not to know better. She was perfectly
aware that whatever a married man may swear or do
when he believes himself safe from detection, he is
very seldom prepared to stick to his word when there
is a chance of being found out. Men, as a rule, are
too intensely selfish to risk anything. It is the women
only who are such fools as to throw away their
reputations and their happiness for the sake of a
loving word or a warm embrace. Cora Murray
knew that when the question of wife and home and
friends came to the front, such as she might go to
the wall. She had never worked for more than to
catch the fickle heart of the baronet in the rebound,
and that she still hoped to do, and, given the oppor-
tunity, was firmly convinced that she should do. For

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198

A SCARLET Sm,

if she sometimes almost believed that Sir Alan'?,
pricking conscience had rendered her presence dis-
tasteful to him, a chance look, or touch (to say noth-
ing of the anxiety he exhibited not to be left alone
with her), betrayed that the feelings to which he had
confessed were kept in abeyance from a sense of
honor, and that it only needed a breath on the
smouldering fire to make it burst out into a flame
again.

Had it not been so, she would have felt that she
was wasting her time by remaining at Glebe Royal.
As it was, she decided that it might be worth while
to stop and watch the course of events.

" Should anything go wrong with Lady Ckiches-
ter, and there is always the chance of it," she argued,
" the baronet will be ready to run to anyone for com-
fort, and I don't think he will waver long between
his sister and myself. Were my heart at all con-
cerned in the matter, this state of things would be
altogether intolerable to me, but as it is, I really
don't much care which way it turns out."

But no one who had seen her patiently trimming
little cambric shirts with lace, or knitting baby shoes,
could have suspected her of harboring such treach-
erous thoughts against the peace of Glebe Royal.
Even the blundering baronet was deceived by her
modest demeanor, and flattered himself that she felt
as sorry as he did for having been betrayed into
such disloyalty to Lady Chichester, and was as anxious
to make up for it by an extra amount of attention
and care.

A SCARLET SIN.

199

Of course, everything that was done to welcome
the expected heir to Glebe Royal was on the most
extravagant and costly scale. Sir Alan could not
think of sparing money on such an occasion, and his
anxiety concerning his wife made him enjage the
highest authorities possible to look after her welfare.
Dr. Norman was to be telegraphed for, directly there
was the least sign of his services being required, and
to remain at Glebe Royal in conjunction with Dr.
JoUiffe until her ladyship's safety was assured, and
a nurse (who had never attended anyone lower than
a countess before) was settled there for at least a
week beforehand. This person, Mrs. Markham by
name (who was a very fine person indeed), came
rustling down in her silks and her satins, and gave
a great deal more trouble than the mistress of the
house. Of course, everything that had been pre-
pared before her arrival was entirely wrong, and had
to be altered immediately, and if the baronet or Miss
Chichester ventured to make a suggestion, or argue
a point, they were immediately treated to such a
dose of Lady Caroline This, or the Duchess of That,
as effectually closed the discussion. As for poor
Lady Chichester, she hardly dared say her soul was
her own during that terrible week of waiting. Mrs.
Markham sat upor her as effectually, both figura-
tively and literally (as she seemed to consider it her
duty not to leave her alone for five minutes together)
that the poor little lady almost felt at last that she
had been very presumptuous in having a baby at all
without first asking Mrs. Markham's permission.
The person in Glebe Royal that this authority

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200

A SCARLET SIN,

i.S:J|; ■"

seemed to like best, and associate with most, was
Miss Murray — partly, perhaps, because she fancied
that she was more on a par with herself than the
members of the family, and partly, she could say be-
fore her what she would not have dared to say to
them. For if a monthly nurse can't ta/k, she is no-
where. One might as well deprive her of her meat
and drink at once.

" Ah," Pvlrs. Markham would observe, with a solemn
shake of the head, as she and Cora descended the
staircase together after having attended Lady Chi-
chester to bed. " Ah, it'll be a trying case this —
mark my words. Her ladyship is terribly delicate.
She reminds me so much of the Duchess of Thistle-
down. I'm sure I can't think how she'll ever pull
through it."

" Do you think there is danger ? " whispered Cora
back in return.

"We must hope not, my dear. Dr. Norman is
very clever. I've seen him do miracles. I'm sure
when Lady Languish lay about dying, with her
breath like a cold vapor on one's face, he brought
her back, as it were, from the grave. He'll do his
best for her ladyship, you may depend upon that.
But I shall have a fine time of it, I expect, nursing
her. I only hope we may have a healthy baby, or
my hands will be full."

" I suppose Mrs. Wood will take the baby for you,
won't she } " asked Cora.

Mrs. Markham rustled her portly figure round to
express her astonishment.

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A SCARLET SIN,

,.;:|.

'e round to

" What ! trust the heir to that old griffin to look
after ? No, my dear, I know my duty better. Boy
or girl, it don't leave my hands under the fortnij_,.it,
and then it must be to someone more scientific than
that old woman. Why, she wouldn't know how to
handle it. It requires a lot of practice to wash and
dress these tender creatures, and I wouldn't answer
for its life — no, nor her ladyship's either — if I'm not
thereto look after them both."

But however well-intentioned Mrs. Markham might
be, she was not powerful enough, it seemed, to fore-
tell the decrees of Fate, for, a few days after she had
entered upon her duties, she was going upstairs after
a plentiful supper, and a little of 'something hot,*
and turning round suddenly to address Miss Murray,
she missed her footing, and rolled right down into
the hall again. Cora flew after her in a moment,
and Sir Alan and Miss Chichester came out of the
library at the same time, but they were too late to
prevent an accident. She was a tall and portly
woman, and she had fallen with her legs under her.
The consequence of which was, that when, in answer
to an urgent summons, Dr. Jolliffe appeared upon
the scene of action, he found that the limb was
broken, and that the nurse must at once be put to
bed, and abandon all idea ofpursuing her professional
duties.

" But what shall we do for a substitute } " exclaimed
Sir Alan, with a long face blanched with apprehen-
sion ; " my wife may require her services at any
moment, and there is not a woman in the village
whom I would allow to enter her chamber."

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A SCARLET SIN.

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" Dear me, dear me, that's easily settled," replied
the doctor. " Haven't we got women and to spare
in the house, who will look after her ladyship till we
can send for another nurse from London ? But our
first object must be to get this poor creature's leg
set. She's an inflammatory subject, and the sooner
it's done the better. Have you a bedroom on the
ground floor, that we may avoid carrying her up-
stairs } I don't want Lady Chichester to get wind
of this accident, or it may give her a bad night."

" But Jane Wood has already told her. Dr. Jolliffe,"
interposed Cora Murray, " and her ladyship wants
to see you as soon as ever you are at leisure."

" Confound that old woman's meddling ! " ex-
claimed the doctor ; " all the mischief in the world is
done by these chattering tongues. All right. Miss
Murray. Run back and tell her ladyship that I'll
be with her directly, but this is quite an ordinary
accident, and nothing whatever to be alarmed at."

But when the poor moaning and groaning Mrs.
Markham had been carried to bed and undressed, it
was found that she had sustained a compound frac-
ture, and had nothing to do but to lie there until she
was well again.

"The most unfortunate thing that could have
happened ! " exclaimed the doctor, in a tone of
annoyance, as he pulled on his coat after setting the
fractured limb, " and here's the twelfth of the month,
and we can't telegraph to London till to-morrow
morning. Well, well, it can't be helped now, and it's
no use crying over spilt milk."

" Doctor," said Cora Murray, as soon as he had
left the room, " will you come up and see Lady Chi-

A SCARLET STAT,

ao3

Chester at once ? She is so excited, I think you will
have to give her a draught before she goes to sleep."

The doctor went upstairs, grumbling all the way
at the carelessness which had occasioned the trouble,
and walked leisurely into Lady Chichester's room.
But after a few minutes there he came out again,
and called for Cora Murray from the head of the
stairs.

" Come in here, I want to speak to you," he said,
turning into her own sitting-room as she joined him.
And then, when the door had closed behind them,
he continued : " What were you about to do .? Go
to bed ? "

" Certainly, if there is no occasion to sit up. Dr.
Jolliffe. It is past one o'clock."

" But there is occasion. I am not going home to-
night, and her ladyship may require you."

" Do you mean to say ? "

" Yes ! I do mean to say, but I only say it to you.
I don't want the whole house to hear the news,
especially that old fool, Jane Wood. Neither do I
wish to alarm Sir Alan and Miss Chichester. The
less people her ladyship has about her the better.
Can't you manage to make them all go to bed } "

'•'They are going now. Dr. Jolliffe. They have
made all arrangements for Mrs. Markham's comfort —
Annie, the housemaid, is to sit up with her to-night
— and are lighting their candlesticks in the hall."

" Very good. I will go and tell them that I will
He down on the sofa for a few hours in case Mrs.
Markham should require me, and you must go into
Lady Chichester's room and dismiss Jane Wood for

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A SCARLET Sm,

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the night. If anything should happen — as I can't
have Dr. Norman or Mrs. Markham — I would rather
be alone with your cool head and ready hands to
help mc."

" It will be easy to get rid of old Jane, because
she always goes to bed first and leaves me to read
her ladyship to sleep."

" Very well. Make haste about it, for I want that
prying old fool out of the way."

Miss Murray did at once as she was bid. She
found Lady Chichester in a terrible state of excite-
ment at the idea of nurse's accident, and what would
become of her and her baby if the great authority
was absent after all. Cora sent Jane Wood away,
and tried her best to soothe her ladyship's feirs, but
they were not easily allayed. Alice's cheeks were
feverishly bright, and her tongue ran incessantly,
until physical uneasiness began to turn her thoughts
in another direction. Dr. Jollifife only waited to be
sure that the baronet and his sister had retired to
their own apartments, when he threw off the plaids
and rugs, with which they had insisted upon cover-
ing him, and crept upstairs to Lady Chichester's
room, where he found his patient quietly moaning,
and Miss Murray setting all things in readiness for
the event as deftly as if she had been Mrs. Markham
herself.

" You're a clever girl, my dear," he said, admir-
ingly, as he watched her. " I should like to have you
for my assistant. If I had known you were half as
intelligent, I should never have sent for Mrs. Mark-
ham at all. A sharp friend is worth twenty pro-
fessional nurses in a case like this."

A SCARLET SIN,

ao5

■:m

" You mustn't praise me so much, or I shall grow
conceited," said Cora. " You forget that Mrs. Mark-
ham has been here nearly a week, and arranged
everything in readiness for herself. I am only imi-
tating what I saw her do."

" Well, you do it so nicely that I am almost
pleased to think the old woman is safe downstairs.
This is going to be a much shorter business than I
anticipated, Miss Murray. Her ladyship is going on
wonderfully well — couldn't be better — and we shall
have that young gentleman here before morning."

And in effect, after a vigil of some four or five
hours, whilst the household were still wrapped in
slumber, a loud squall was heard in Lady Chichester's
room, and the heir to Glebe Royal was ushered into
the world with the dawn.

" All over, my lady ! " exclaimed the doctor, heartily,
" and here we have the boy at last. And a good
thumping big boy too. Mercy on us, sir! you
needn't squall so loud, though you are the heir to
Glebe Royal. Do you want to wake the whole house
to do you honor \ Well, I hope your ladyship is
satisfied at last."

" Cora," said Lady Chichester, faintly, " call vay
Alan to me."

"Yes, yes," acquiesced the doctor, "you can go
and tell Sir Alan the happy news. Miss Murray, but
say he must be as quiet as a mouse if he comes in
here. And call up old Jane at the same time. Now
that everything's happily over the old witch may
make herself useful."

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A SCARLET SW.

CHAPTER XXII.

SOLEMN CHARGE.

■ ' .-81.

Cora Murray heard the words plainly enough,
but for a moment she stood motionless, transfixed
by the thoughts that overwhelmed her. It was de-
cided then, and the Fates were against her. Dr.
Jolliffe had been right, and ah the res: wrong. The
promi ;ed heir had arrived, strong and lusty — Lady
Chichester was a happy mother — and she would be
nothing whatever in future to any of them. And
this was the message they entrusted her to carry
to Sir Alan — the death-knell of her own hopes and
schemes. Her teeth clenched and her black brows
lowered. All the inherent malice and revenge in her
nature was to the uppermost, and she felt that she
could have killed Alice Chichester where she lay,
exhausted but smiling, with her. infant in her arms.

** Make haste, Miss Murray, please," urged the
doctor, " we have no time for dawdling. Send Mrs.
Wood down here first to attend to this young gentle-
man, and then you can rouse the baronet. ^. suppose
he would never forgive us if we neglected to give
him the earliest intelligence of his son's arrival ? "

" I will go at once," replied Cora Murray, as she
left the room, still walking in a dream.

The commotion that followed the announcement
of her news may be easily imagined. It was like

^ SCARLET SLY.

the sound that we are promised at the Last Day —
the trump that wakes the dead, and converted the
unconscious household of Glebe Royal into the
semblance of a disturbed ant-hill. Old Jane Wood
fell on her knees as soon as she comprehended what
had taken place, and began offering up hallelujas
instead of putting on her clothes, until Miss Murray's
orders and female curiosity combined made her
hurry down to welcome the new arrival. Miss Chi-
chester (who, like many other elderly and ill-favored
women, did not consider she was safe unless her bed-
chamber door were barred and bolted for the night)
took a good deal of waking, and, when fully aroused,
had to appear before Cora's astonished eyes in a mar-
velous garment of flannel before she could distinctly
hear the reason for which she was disturbed. But
when she did hear it, the hard face quivered with
emotion, and the bony hands trembled so violently
that she had the greatest difficulty in fastening her
dress.

" Perhaps you will kindly inform Sir Alan of what
has taken place," said Cora Murray. " Dr. Jolliffe
commissioned me to tell him, but I think you are
the proper person to do so."

" O certainly. Miss Murray. You are quite right.
It would hardly be the correct thing for a young
woman to inform a gentleman of such an event.
And at his bedroom door too. O dear no ! You
had better return to Lady Chichester, and I will tell
my brother the good news myself."

The consequence of which was that, half an hour
later. Sir Alan, pale with excitement, came creeping
into his wife's room, and, going up to the bedside,

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A SCAJiLET SIN.

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knelt down there as if in prayer. Dr. Jolliffe turned
his head aside at once, and walked into the adjoin-
ing room to give Jane Wood some directions regard-
ing the infant. His sensibility made him recoil/rom
being witness to such a scene : it was sacred to the
newly-made father and mother. But Cora Murray
had no such delicate scruples. In /ler eyes there
was something distinctly ludicrous in seeing a big»
burly man like the baronet sprawling on his knees,
like a boy of twenty, and in hearing the words of
love and gratitude that came bubbling from his lips.
Her mouth had an ugly sneer upon it, and she felt
that she hated them both, as she stood by and
watched them folded in each other's arms,

" My Alice ! " the baronet exclaimed, in a voice
full of emotion. " Thank God that you are safe.
This is the very happiest day of all my life."

" O Alan, I am so thankful, I don't know what to
say. Look at the little darling. Isii't he sweet ?
His eyes are quite brown, like yours, oear, and his
little head is all over curls. I never thought we
should have such a blessing as this to call our own.
And a boy too ! It seems too much — as if God were
resolved to leave us nothing to desire."

" Nothing could be too much or too good for you,
my own sweet wife. This dear little fellow has come
as a reward for all your long-suffering and patience.
It is / who do not deserve him. And yet he is mine
— ours — all our own. We shall live our future lives
in him."

But at this juncture Miss Chichester stalked into
the room, looking unnaturally tall in her deshabille^
like a grenadier in a dressing-gown.

// SCARLET Sf/V,

•09

" And so Gcofifry has arrived," she began, in her
stentorian voice. " Alice, my dear, I congratulate you.
You've done the ri^c^ht thing at last. And is this the
heir? Dear me. He looks rather small and red to
own the whole of Glebe Royal, but I suppose he'll
grow before that time comes. I can remember the
day^tf// were born, Alan, and you were very much
like this. Well! well! Time works wonders, and it's a
fault on the right side to be too young. It's lucky
for you that you're a boy, young sir, for I should
never have forgiven you if you had been a girl."

" Miss Chichestor," said the doctor, coming for-
ward, " I'm sorry to cut short your congratulations
but I can't have so much talking nor so many people
in the sick room."

" Well, there are others you can send away," re-
torted Miss Chichester, with a glance at the com-
panion.

" You mean Miss Murray } No, I can't spare her.
She has been of incalculable assistance to me during
Lady Chichester's illness, and I intend to appoint
her chief nurse until Mrs. Markham's substitute
arrives. But I must ask you and Sir Alan to leave
the room again now. Lady Chichester is very weak,
and requires the most perfect repose. If she is at
all excited she will suffer from it afterwards."

The baronet rose at once, and kissed his wife and
child.

" Good-bye, my darlings, for the present," he said
"we are all under the doctor's orders. Come, Anna."

" I call this an insult," exclaimed Miss Chichester,
as her brother drew her away, " and that fool Jolliffe,

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shall answir to me for it by and by. To turn us
out of Alice's room while that minx, Cora Murray,
remains in it! I never heard of such a thing I I sup-
pose she's been philandering with him now, and try-
ing to twist him round her little finger. A pretty
state of affairs indeed, when Geoffry's father and
aunt are not allowed to see him, whilst Miss Mur-
ray is to be installed as chief nurse. It's not been
done by fair means, I'll take my oath o{ that."

And so, fuming and fussing, Miss Chichester re-
treated to her own apartments again, whilst Sir Alan
sought the open air to try and walk off the excite-
ment that threatened to stifle him. Meanwhile Dr.
Jolliffe having administered some soothing mixture
to Lady Chichester, watched her drop off into a
tranquil sleep, and then called Miss Murray into the
adjoining room.

" I am going home now, for a few hours," he said,
"and if you want me you'll know where to find me.
But I don't apprehend any necessity for your doing
so. Her ladyship is going on very well, and by this
evening we'll have a nurse to take the charge of her
off your hands. But I must have her kept quiet,
Miss Murray — absolutely and entirely quiet. I have
told Jane Wood to keep the infant in this room, and
I want only you to remain in that one. Now, do
you understand me ? Please to lock the door against
all intruders until I return. I shall not be longer
than I can possibly help."

" I will obey your orders, Dr. Jolliffe, but you had
better explain them to Miss Chichester and Sir Alan
also. I cannot help myself if they come hammering
at the door for admittance."

A SCARLET SIN,

911

" They must not attempt to enter. I will make
that clearly understood. Lady Chichester's welfare
depends on it. And now, Miss Murray, I am about
to give you a serious charge. There is only one thing
I fear, and that is, the state of her ladyship's heart.
It is very weak, and any attack of faintness must be
carefully warded off. That is why I have chosen to
leave her in your care. You are intelligent, and you
are attached to her. Don't take your eyes off her
face. Sit down here," continued Dr. JoUiffe, placing
a chair by the bedside, " and don't leave her for a
minute. If she sleeps on, well and good, but if she
wakes and appears at all agitated, give her a dose of
this without the slightest delay."

" And how much does a dose consist of ? " inquired
Cora, as she took a small vial from the doctor's
hand.

" A teaspoonful in a wine glass of water. Have
everything ready beside you, so that there may be
no hesitation in administering it. You don't know
how much may depend on your promptitude. I had
prepared Mrs. Markham for this, but her accident
has of course rendered my directions useless."

" I conclude this mixture is to revive the action of
the heart in case of failure," remarked Cora, still
examining the bottle of medicine.

"It is — but there is no need for you to know too
much, Miss Murray," replied the doctor, smiling,
" Give it if necessary, thought I trust it may not be.
These nervous shocks are sometimes followed by
very grave consequences to a constitution like Lady
Chichester's. "

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212

A SCARLET SIN".

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He went up to the bedside and felt the sleeping
woman's pulse as he spoke. "Very quiet and
regular," he said, ** everything going on as well as
possible. I leave her in your care then, Miss Murray,
and after I have had a look at the broken leg down-
stairs, I'll go home and relieve Mrs. JoUiffe's mind of
the cause of my staying out all-night."

He walked cautiously fron the room as he spoke,
and left Cora at the bedside with the vial in her
hands.

" Everything going on ivell" she thought to herself,
" of course every thing is going on well, and will con-
tinue to do so, and I shall have to look out for a
berth elsewhere. It's just like my luck. When I
was getting on so capitally with the baronet, and had
the ball, as it were, at my feet, the whole scene
changes as if by magic, and instead of a coffin, we
have a cradle and general rejoicings ali round. Bah !
it makes me sick to see them spooning over each
other, and to remember what might have happened
if my lucky star had only been in the ascendant.
But I shall never get him back again whilst she lives.
I can see that plainly enough. She has assumed a
new importance in his eyes as the mother of his heir,
and ho will never be able to separate the two again.
He will worship his gratified vanity in her, and
imagine it is love for the woman he was ready to
betray. What self-deceiving fools men are, and how
quick to believe what they wish to be true."

She poured a teaspoonful of the medicine into a
wineglass of water, and set it on a little table by her
side.

A SCARLET SIN,

213

■:|

" It will be best to have everything ready in case
of need," she thought, " and then there will be no
delay. But, supposing she wakes as the doctor des-
cribed, and I did not give her the mixture. What
would happen then, I wonder — I wonder "

She sat down in the chair by the bedside and
folded her hands in her lap, and gave herself up to
unholy thoughts. Do the spirits of evil really come
at such moments, and whisper in men's ears the
deeds they wish them to commit ? Are they enabled
to make some peculiar temperaments imbibe their
doctrines, without knowing why they should do so,
or what unseen power urges them to commit crimes
against their will ? As Cora Murray watched by
Lady Chichester's side, her handsome features dark
and lowered, the enemy of mankind himself might
have been hiding behind those frowning brows and
angry, envious eyes. To most women, the fair, pale
prettiness of the newly-made mother would have
appealed for sympathy — her trembling, long-expected
happiness would have secured their gratulation. But
not so with Cora Murray. She had never even liked
Lady Chichester. Her pretended affection and in-
terest had been assumed for her own purposes, and
now regarded her simply as the obstacle to her gain-
ing the prize she had made so sure of. And as she
sat there, silent and solitary, watching the exhausted
sleeper, the daylight seemed to fade away, and the
room filled with ghostly faces and spectral fingers,
all urging her on to remove the stumbling-book that
stood in her path, and clear the way for her own
advancement. As she was listening with bated

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214

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breathing and horror-stricken eyes to the devilish
voices within her, there was a start, and a stifled
cry, and Lady Chichester awoke, flushed and pant-
ing, and sprang upright in bed, struggling for breath.

Cora intuitively seized the glass of medicine which
was to relieve her, but paused a moment, and in that
moment of hesitation some fiend seemed to hold it
to her own lips, and force her to drink the draught
down to the very dregs.

" Lie down," she whispered hoarsely to the
patient, " you mustn't rise. Lie down."

" Air — air," panted Lady Chichester, as she feebly
struggled with her encircling arms. " Cora, air."

" Be quiet. Lady Chichester. Lie back on your
pillows. This is nothing. It will be soon over."

Alice lay back as she was desired. Her heart was
failing fast, and she had no power of resistance. Her
flushed face faded to ashen grey — her parted lips
became livid — her dilated eyes glazed over with the
film of death.

"Alan! — — my child!" she murmured, faintly —
and closed her patient eyes in the eternal sleep.

A SCARLET SIN.

ais

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE BEAUTIFUL ANGEL.

At first, Cora Murray could not believe that it was
over, really over, and that Lady Chichester would
speak to her no more. She stood at the bedside for
some minutes waiting for her to revive, but when she
saw the blue eyes wide open, but without sense or
light in them, a sudden horror seized her that her
wishes should have been fulfilled so soon, and she
caught the dead woman in her arms and shook her
violently.

" Wake up ! wake up ! " she cried ; " try and
shake off this drowsiness. See! I have some medi-
cine for you, Lady Chichester. Open your mouth,
and I will give it you."

She tried with trembling hands to pour out a second
dose of the mixture, but spilt it over the table instead,
and another glance at the silent figure on the bed
made the bottle fall from her hands with a crash
upon the floor.

"It is useless," she exclaimed in a frightened
whisper, " she is really gone, and / — O God ! what
am I? Alice! Alice!" she continued vehemently,
" it was a mistake. I didn't know what I was do-
ing. As Heaven is my witness, I never meant to go
as far as this."

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A SCARLET SIN,

L 5 J'* ,1. '

But it was too late for Lady Chichester to extend
either mercy or forgiveness to her unhappy com-
panion, and, with a shriek of genuine hori'or and
dismay, Miss Murray rushed to the next room, and
roused old Jane Wood, who sat, with the heir on her
lap, nodding over the fire.

" Mrs. Wood, wake up for Heaven's sake and come
to Lady Chichester ! Something dreadful has hap-
pened to her. She will neither speak nor look at
me. My God ! what can it be ? '* She was shaking
all over, and her teeth chattered so violently, as she
stared with her large, dark eyes into Jane Wood's
face, that the old servant guessed the calamity that
had fallen on the house at once. Her consternation
took the form of anger.

" Why, what should have happened to her lady-
ship, unless it's one of them nasty faints, and if you'd
been doing your duty by her, Miss Murray, yor'd
have prevented it's coming on," she exclaimed, as she
laid the infant hastily in his bassinette and ran to the
assistance of her mistress. But the first glance told
her the truth. Lady Chichester, already looking
twenty years younger under the influence of the
beautiful angel, was laid back on her pillows unmis-
takeably, irrecoverably dead. The old nurse gazed
at her for a few moments in speechless dismay, and
then fell to sobbing as if her heart would break.

" O, Miss Alice, my darling child, my nursling,
come back to us ! O, why have you gone just now!
Now, when everything has come to you that you have
been waiting for so long ! O my lady, my lady ! We
shall never, 7tever see your like again."

A SCARLET Sm.

217

to extend
ippy com-
lori'or and
room, and
leir on her

) and come
has hap-
or look at
as shaking
tly, as she
ne Wood's
amity that
isternation

I her lady-
id if you'd
ray, yor'd
led, as she
ran to the
lance told
y looking
ce of the
vvs un mis-
use gazed
smay, and
jreak.
' nursHng,
just now!
t you have
ady ! We

She wept for some minutes in uncontrollable
anguish before she remembered what was due to the
rest of the family.

" I must go and break this terrible news to Miss
Chichester and the baronet at once," she said. " O
poor Sir Alan ! It will just spoil the rest of his life
for him, and I doubt if he'll ever bear to look at the
child now that's taken her from us. Miss Murray,
stay here whilst I go and call him. It's our first
duty to tell the poor gentleman what has happened."

" No, no, don't leave me here," cried Cora, with a
look of horror on her scared face. " I am. not well,
Mrs. Wood. I cannot stay. / will go and send
Miss Chichester to you. I will say that her ladyship
is ill. We must not break it to them all at once.
The shock will be too great. But are you quite,
qtiite sure that she is gone ? "

" Have you ever looked on death before. Miss, and
can you ask me that question ? Gojte ! Yes, indeed,
she is gone, God help us ! She's one of His angels
now, if ever a woman was. But if the sight of her
blessed face scares you, why run and call Miss Chi-
chester, as you say, and send for the doctor. He
can't do no good, but it's right he should be here.
O, my dear, dear lady, that he should come back on
such a pitiful errand as this ! "

Cora Murray left the old servant kissing the hand
of her dead mistress and crying over it, whilst she
flew, still with that blanched and horror-stricken
face, to Miss Chichester's room.

"Come downstairs at once," she exclaimed breath-
lessly. " Mrs. Wood wants you. Lady Chichester is

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A SCARLET SIN,

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not so well. I am just going to send for the doctor."

" Step in a minute, if you please, Miss Murray, and
let me understand my sister-in-law's symptoms. It
is of no use hurrying in this way. I thought Dr.
Jolliffe was very foolish to trust her to the care of a
person so inexperienced as yourself, but these doctors
are all fools. Is she feverish, or faint, or what.^
Was no medicine left for her to take in case of an
emergency ? "

"I cannot wait, Miss Chichester. I must send
James at once for the doctor. Go down to Mrs.
Wood and find out for yourself, but pray go.''

The urgency of the appeal, as well as the expres-
sion on Miss Murray's face, sent Miss Chichester
downstairs in double-quick time to hear of the
calamity that had befallen them, whilst Cora, having
dispatched the servant to summons the doctor, went
up trembling with fear and remorse to her own room,
and locked herself in.

What had she done ? What had she done ?

She sat down at the table and leant her elbows
upon it to support her head, which seemed as though
it were about to burst with the whirring and the
buzzing of a thousand wheels within her brain, but
they shook so that they only made her worse. And
so she lay back in the chair instead, and fixed her
eyes upon the grey March sky, and tried to persuade
her conscience that it had all been an unfortunate
mistake, and no real blame could lie at her door for
Lady Chichester's death. She had intended to give
her the reviving mixture — why should she have placed
it in rer«,diness else ? — but in her flurry and, confu-
sion she had swallowed it herself, and, before she had

A SCARLET SIN.

219

the doctor."
Vf urray, and
nptoms. It
thought Dr.
be care of a
lese doctors
, or what?
1 case of an

must send
/n to Mrs.

the expres-
Chichester
lear of the
"era, having
loctor, went
rown room,

lone ?

her elbows
d as though
ig and the
r brain, but
orse. And
fixed her
to persuade
unfortunate
ler door for
ded to give
have placed
and, confu-
bre she had

time to prepare another dose, the poor creature had
gone. It was a terrible thing to have been mixed
up in, but there was no doubt that Lady Chichester
would have died under any circumstances, and the
medicine could have had no power to save her.
And if Dr. Jolliffe knew the risk she ran, he ought to
have lemaincd by her bedside himself. Cora wished,
as she pressed both her hands against her burning
head, that he Jiad remained, and prevented such
horrible ideas from keeping possession of her for
the rest of her lifetime. She heard a great deal of
hurrying aboul; and confusion in the house from her
place of concealment, and the sounds of weeping
from, the passages and stairs showed that the news
had spread amongst the servants, but no one in-
quired for her, or attempted to invade her privacy,
and so she remained silent, tearless, and alone for
several hours. At the end of that time a knock
sounded on her door, sounded several times, indeed,
before it attracted her attention, and when she
dragged herself up wearily to answer it, she found
Dr. Jolliffe standing on the threshold. He did not
ask permission to enter her room. He walked
straight in, and closed the door behind him.

" This is a very sad business. Miss Murray," he
commenced with portentous solemnity, "and I must
put a few questions to you on the subject. I was
surprised that you did not meet me downstairs, or
indeed that you had left the bedside of your patient."

" Were you ? " she replied in a husky voice ; " if you
understood what I felt, you would know why it was
impossible for me to remain there."

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220

A SCARLET SIN,

"lit

" Doubtless you must feel it acutely, and especially
as you were left in charge. At wh?t time did it
occur ? "

" I cannot tell you. I can tell you nothing. I
sat there watching, as you desired me, and all of a
sudden she sprang up in the bed and fell back dead.
The shock has nearly killed me."

*' Did you administer the medicine as I told you ?"

"There was no time. She could not swallow.
She spilt it all."

" There was none spilt on the bed."

"No, on the floor. The bottle fell down. She
was gasping for air. I was obliged to support her."

« Did she speak at all .? "

" She called Sir Alan just before she died. They
were the only words she said, except to ask for air.
It was all over in a few minutes."

" I cannot understand your not having sufficient
time to give her the medicine. If she had only
swallowed a few drops, they would have restored the
action of the heart. Of course we cannot always
foresee these things, but I wish you could have got
the medicine down a little quicker. Not that I mean
to intimate that it was any fault of yours, my dear,
only it is an irreparable misfortune. Poor Sir Alan
is nearly out of his mind."

" I hope'' ejaculated Cora, with dry lips, " I hope
he does not consider me guilty of carelessness in the
matter t "

" No, no, certainly not. Everyone knows how
devoted you were to the poor lady. There will be
an inquest of course, and your testimony will be re-

A SCARLET SIN.

221

id especially
time did it

nothing. I
and all of a
1 back dead.

[told you?"
lot swallow.

down. She
upport her."

died. They
ask for air.

ig sufficient
e had only
restored the
tmot always
lid have got
that I mean
rs, my dear,
)or Sir Alan

>s, " I hope
jsness in the

knows how
ere will be
^ will be re-

quired. I wish wc could prevent it, for the sake of
the family, but it is not to be avoided."

" I can say nothing more than I have said to you,"
replied Cora ; " her death was terribly sudden."

The doctor rose to leave the room.

" I think you had better come downstairs now," he
said ; "the house is naturally in great confusion, and
your absence is noticeable. When there is so much
to be done, one can hardly afford to indulge one's
fancy for solitude. Beside, you would wish surely to
take your turn at watching the dead."

Cora shrank from the suggestion, but concluded it
would be wiser to agree to it, and so, with solemn
step and heavy eyes, she followed the doctor down-
stairs.

The chamber, which in so short a space of time
had been the scene of so much mingled joy and
grief, was already strangely altered. Every article
of daily use had been carefully hidden away, and the
furniture covered with white cloths. On the bed,
reclining on a snowy sheet, and surrounded by hot-
house flowers, lay the body of Alice Chichester, and
a smi'e upon her gentle lips, as if she were already
listening, with the proud contempt of spirits risen, to
the sounds of weeping that reached her from below.

What a grand, majestic and beautiful thing is
Death ! Who, looking on the calm, impenetrable
features, and the sealed lips, and the folded hands of
the dead, whose work is done, but must feel their
infinite superiority to the grimacing, chattering, rest-
less crowd of living. What peace ! What sublime
indifference to all the ills of mortality are there!

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Who can see them thus, and not long to follow
them, aye by a thousand deaths, sooner than remain
in this heartless, ephemeral life alone. Death has
no terrors except for the survivors, who cannot rend
their bonds at will and also be at rest.

But as Cora Murray approached the form of Alice
Chichester, she shuddered convulsively. Would the
pale corpse rise up to denounce her ? No, it lay
there still and smiling, as though both blessing and
forgiveness breathed from its marble lips.

The companion glanced at it hurriedly, and passed
through to ihe next room, where Miss Chichester
and Jane Wood were holding watch and ward over
the infant heir. The baronet's sister looked up with
hollow eyes, as Miss Murray appeared, but she was
too much broken down to find aiay fault.

" Since you are come," she said, in a low voice
which was strangely unlike her own, "you had better
remain here whilst Mrs. Wood has a few minutes to
herself, for my brother sorely needs the comfort of
my prese'i'-e. Dr. Jolliffe assures me we shall have a
proper nurse and a foster mother for this poor little
orphan this evening, but, until they arrive, we must
all take our share in watching the only treasure left
to us."

Jane Wood quitted the room as soon as Miss
Chichester gave her leave, and Miss Murray having
taken her seat by the cradle in silence, the baronet's
sister passed into the death chamber. But what was
Cora's astonishment to hear the hard, stern, and
apparently unemotional woman abandon herself,

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A SCARLET SIN'.

243

to follow
an remain
)cath has
nnot rend

1 of Alice
Vould the
^o, it lay
ssing and

nd passed
'hichester
I'ard over
J up with
t she was

ow voice
lad better
linutes to
omfort of
all have a
)Oor little
we must
asure left

as Miss
y having
baronet's
what was
fern, and

herself,

when there, to a grief which she had not believed her
capable of feeling.

'* Alice, Alice," she sobbed, as she fell on her knees
by the bedside, " why have you left us ? You
were all that made life bearable to me. I know that
I was undemonstrative to you, my darling — it is my
nature to be so more than my fault, and I fancied
your soft, sweet disposition wanted bracing — but I
loved you, / loved you, Alice, and I pray God you
may know it now. Oh, why didn't He take me in-
stead of you ? My life is so unsociable, it would
have been missed by no one; but you, my dear,
gentle sister, who have borne with all my tempers for
so many years, oh, it is too cruel. It will break my
heart."

Then a deeper voice, though so full of pain as to
be almost unrecognizable, mingled with Miss Chi-
chester's, and Cora knew that Sir Alan had entered
the room.

" Anna," he said hoarsely, " don't give way here.
It seems almost sacrilegious. You might disturb her
rest. Come with me, my dear sister. I want all
your strength to keep me from breaking down."

" O Alan, I cannot help it. You do not under-
stand my feelings. I have loved her, Heaven knows,
but I have never shewn it, and perhaps she did not
believe that it existed. But you, you were her idol.
She never had any doubt of you."

"I know it, I know it," he answered hurriedly;
"but, Anna, do you believe that she knows every-
thing now ? "

"Of course she does! How can you doubt it?
Dear angel t " replied Miss Chichester.

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224

A SCARLET SIN,

" Then forgive me, Alice, forgive me, " he cried,
"if I have ever done or said anything to hurt your
tender soul ! I have been mad at times, my darh'ng,
but I have loved you only, through it all. O ! my
wife in heaven ! I will live the rest of my life for
you, as I would have done had you remained with
me on earth, and when we meet again you shall tell
me with your own dear lips that I have been faith-
ful."

He fell on his knees beside his sister, and, regard-
less of all but themselves, they mingled their tears
and prayers together.

And Cora Murray sat in the next room with the
door ajai , and listened to it alL

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CHAPTER XXIV.

FOILED WITH HER OWN WEAPONS.

When the nervous shock engendered by the first
knowledge of her crime had somewhat abated, and
she had argued herself into the belief that it was
unintentional, and she had been simply the instru-
ment used by Fate for the accomplishment of her
designs, Cora Murray began to consider her best
line of action for the future. She saw scarcely any-
thing of the baronet during the sad times that
followed his wife's death, for he shut himself up all
day in his study, and refused admittance even to his
sister. That was only natural. It was more than
natural, it was decorous and right. Glebe Royal
was truly turned into a house of mourning, and each
day seemed to bring a sadder experience than the
last to increase the general gloom. First, there was
a visit from Dr. Norman, who brought the foster-
mother for Sir Alan's heir in his train, and held a
consultation with Dr. JoUiffe as to the cause of the
unexpected demise of Lady Chichester, of which the
verdict was syncope from failure of the action of the
heart. This, however, was not sufficient to prevent
the horrors of an inquest, always a difficult thing to
avoid in the country, where the officials of the law
have less work and more time than in London, and
are generally pig-headed enough to thrust their noses

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226

A SCARLET Sm,

wherever they are least required. And then came
the undertakers with their solemn, soul-sickening
burdens, and the ceremony, which, perhaps, gives the
greatest pain of all to the survivors, was gone
through, and the scent of the new pine and the
varnished oak permeated the passages and corridors
of Glebe Royal, and made the passers-by shudder
as they inhaled them. But still Alice Chichester,
though more sunken and drawn each day, lay smiling
in her coffin, while her sturdy little son sucked and
squalled and grew lusty under the care of his foster-
mother. And Cora Murray with nothing to do, and
no one to associate with, sat in her room and
wondered what would become of her. She con-
cluded that, under any circumstances, she would have
to leave Glebe Royal, at all events for a while. The
question was, how to leave such an impression behind
her as would ensure her being in due time sought
out again, and reinstated on her throne of light.
Sir Alan's grief would not last long. The more
violent it was at first, the more chance there
was of his speedy recovery, and with recovery
would come the need of comfort, and the need
of comfort would turn his thoughts to her. She
recalled over and over again all that had occurred
between them, and every word that they ex-
changed during that morning ride which imme-
diately preceded the doctor's decision regarding
Lady Chichester. The poor man had not had a
chance since. His mind had been so preoccupied at
first by the idea of the coming heir, and latterly by
the death of his wife, that no one, in reason, could

A SCARLET SJN.

227

hen came
sickening
gives the
v^as gone

and the
corridors

shudder
hich ester,
ysmih'ng
eked and
lis foster-
D do, and
)om and
5he con-
Duld have
ile. The
>n behind
e sought

of light,
'he more
ce there
recovery
:he need
er. She
occurred
hey ex-
:h imme-
egarding
Dt had a
cupied at
tterly by
on, could

have expected him to give a thought in any other
direction. Miss Murray knew what men arc, no
one in the world better, and her knowledge included
the truth, that when a man has lost what he most
prized — either by death, or deceit, or dishonor — ilten
is the moment for the woman whom he esteems or
admires to go in and win. No heart, as a rule, so
easily caught as that in the rebound. And had not
Sir Alan confessed to her, even since that time, that
he had really meant what he said, and that his
consideration for his wife, and his fears for the safety
of her expected infant, were the only reasons that
made him appear reticent or cold. Yes, she had no
doubt in her own mind that, when all the mournful
influences of the occasion were somewhat weakened,
and the baronet realized the discomforts of his
widowed existence, he would renew, on a firmer
basis, the courtship that had been so rudely inter-
rupted.

Sir Alan paid several visits daily to the chamber
which held his wife's remains, and in doing so he
had to pass through the corridor outside Cora
Murray's room, that very corridor where he had first
kissed her, and told her that he loved her. The
spot did not hold very pleasant memories for hfm,
especially at this period, and they were not made
better by the fact that, on more than one occasion, as
he was bent on his melancholy duty, he was met by
the young lady herself, wandering about in an aim-
less manner, and apparently wrapped in a mournful
reverie. He had hurried past her as quickly as he
could. He was ashamed of his blistered face and

■ #1

''V

228

A SCARLET SIN,

swollen eyes, still more of the familiarities that had
passed between them in that very place. His curt
"Good-morning, Miss Murray," or "Good-evening,
Miss Murray," had no more feeling in it than the
salutation he extended to the nurse, but Cora chose
to believe it had. Once she approached him silently
with a beautiful wreath of white flowers and ferns
which she had gathered from the hot-houses, and
woven herself, and placed it in his hand. Her dark
eyes fixed themselves plaintively on his face as she
did so, as though she would have said, " Do not forget
that I love you."

But Sir Alan's eyes never travelled higher than
the wreath of flowers. He knew that she intended
him to lay it on his dead wife's coffin, and with a
murmured "Thank you," he passed on and disap-
peared. Cora Murray bit her lips with vexation,
but she was not to be baulked of her prey in that
fashion. She watched until she heard him traverse
the corridor one afternoon in the dusk of the March
gloaming, and waited for him on his return. It was
so dark that he stumbled up against her, and apolo-
gized for his awkward deed. But she caught his
hand within her own.

" Sir Alan," she whispered, " Jo you not know
that I am grieving with you } Each sigh you heave
finds its echo in my heart."

He raised his bloodshot eyes then for a moment
and regarded her. But there was no gleam of
sympathy in them in return for hers. " Thank you,"
he said, quietly, "you are very kind, but no one can
help me. My burden is one that I must bear alone."

^i SCARLET SIN,

229

And with that he almost wrenched his fingers from
her grasp, and went swiftly down the corridor to his
own room.

"It is too soon," said Cora to herself; ''all the
ghastly paraphernalia of death is round him still,
and the man's mind is unhinged. I daresay he is
even morbid enough to regard our little flirtation as
a crime for which Heaven has revenged itself by
taking away his poor, useless wife. But he will get
over that idea very soon, and be able to rejoice in
his liberty. Meanwhile, I n.ust keep quiet, and make
no more attempts to sympathize with him. He is
not ready for it. I think it will be actually more
politic for me to take the initiative, and leave Glebe
Royal as soon as ever the funeral is over. Yes, that
is it. I will write him a melancholy letter to say
that I am no use to anyone now sJie is gone, and
that I had better leave on Thursday.'

Accordingly, when the long, sad procession that
had accompanied Lady Chichester to the grave had
turned out of the gates of Glebe Royal, and she had
watched the forlorn widower, half dazed with grief,
get into his carriage, accompanied by his friends, and
drive after it, Cora Murray sat down to her desk
and indited him the following epistle :

"My Dear Sir Alan, — Now that my beloved friend
and patron has left us, 1 feel that I have no further claim
upon the goodness you have uniformly extended to me,
and that the sooner I leave you the better. My work is
over. If I succeeded (in ever so small a degree) in ])leasing
her and you by the way in which I performed it, I am
more than satisfied. But unfortunately, it behooves me
to get another situatioii as soon as 1 can. May I leave

2;o

J SC.1M/.f:T SrAr

Glebe Royal on Thursday ? You know I can have no pos-
sible wish to hurry my departure, but I am an orphan — my
only guardian on the other side of the Atlantic — and 1
must seek a home (alas ! what home can I ever find that
will compare with if/iis) without delay. And may I hope
that when you think of the dear angel who has left us, you
may sometimes also remember (and not unkindly) the
poor companion who tried to make her last days happy
and easy to her. May God bless you and your dear baby,
and may he live to console you for your loss.
Believe me, dear Sir Alan,

" Yours truly,

" Cora Murray."

When Miss Murray read over this letter, she
thought it sounded very well, and could not be
improved. So she folded and addressed it, and sent
it down to Sir Alan's study to await his return.
She quite believed that he would answer it by a
request that she would postpone her departure till
he had time to speak to her concerning her prospects,
and she would not have been in the least surprised if
she had received a summons to his study to dis-
cuss them then and there. But the mourners
returned from the funeral, and the evening wore on,
and no news reached her from the baronet. Cora
had no confidants at this period, nor even associates.
Miss Chichester and Jane Wood, who had always
agreed in regarding her as an unholy thing, had
hardly spoken to her since the day of Lady Chi-
chester's death. The old servant seemed to have
disappeared altogether since the advent of the nurses,
and Miss Chichester continually hovered about her
brother. Mrs, Markham was still in bed, and a very

A SCARLET sin;

231

fractious patient into the bargain, and the under-
housemaid, who was appointed to look after Miss
Murray's rooms and meals in the existing disorgan-
ization of the household, was a new servant, who
seemed to know nothing of what was going on down-
stairs. Cora heard a good deal of commotion and
noise in the household on the evening of the funeral,
but to all her inquiries on the subject the girl could
only tell her that some of Sir Alan's friends were
going to stay at Glebe Royal for the night, ?nd the
confusion was caused by their luggage going up-
stairs. Such a very natural solution that Cora did not
trouble herself to ask any more questions about it.
She sat up so late that evening in anticipation of the
baronet's reply to her letter that she was very weary
when she went to bed, and slept soundly on the
following morning. Lucy, the under-housemaid,
brought her breakfast on a tray to her bedside, with
a mouth open with astonishment.

" Lor, Miss, and you've slept through it all. Well,
I never! I thought they made enough noise to
wake the dead. Do you know that it's past eleven
o'clock?"

" Who made a noise? What are you talking
about ? " said Cora, sitting up and yawning.

"Why, Miss Chichester and Sir Alan, Miss.
They've gone off with the baby and nurses and old
Mrs. Wood to the station. They was packing the
boxes and getting ready all yesterday evening,
though / never knew ^.t till off they goes at nine
o'clock."

" But where have they gone ? " exclaimed Cora,
now thoroughly roused and awake.

232

A SCARLET SIN,

" I can't tell you, Miss, but I heard Mr. Stevens,
the butler, say it was to some foreign place, and
they're not coming back again neither, and the worst
of it is, all the under-servants are to be dismissed
with a month's wages."

Miss Murray sprang out of bed.

"Impossible!'' she cried, " you must be mistaken.
A place like Glebe Royal cannot be kept without a
proper staff of servants. And who is going to pay
all your wages, pray ? "

" O, there's a gentleman staying here still, one of
the master's friends, and we're all ordered to go to
him in the study this afternoon to sign for our wages,
Miss."

"It is incredible,'* said Cora, "I never heard of
such a thing. Go down and ask Mr. Stevens if Sir
Alan left any letter for me. He never would have
quitted Glebe Royal without an explanation of some
sort."

Lucy trotted downstairs with the message, and
was back in two minutes with the answer.

" Mr. Stevens says, please Miss, will you speak to
the gentleman in the study about it, and he will give
you all the information you want on the subject."

Cora dressed herself with unwonted activity after
this. She would not stay to take her breakfast, but,
having finished her toilet, ran down to the study and
knocked excitedly at the door. Her heart was burn-
ing to know the reason that no intelligLtice had
reached her of this sudden exodus from Glebe Royal.
As soon as she received permission to enter, she
burst into the study, but she was quite unprepared

A SCARLET SIN.

233

for the sight that met her there. Dressed in deep
mourning, and seated at a writing-table, surrounded
by loose papers and account books, was her old
friend and admirer, Henry Fauntleroy.

For the first moment, Cora Murray was so taken
aback that she entirely forgot the errand on which she
had come,

"You here ! " she exclaimed. "Why, I didn't know
you were in England, When did you return from
Gibraltar ? "

" I landed last week," he answered quietly, and in
her amazement she did not observe that he did not
offer her his hand, " but I did not reach Glebe Royal
till yesterday. Will you not be seated. Miss Murray ?
Sir Alan Chichester has delegated to me the duty of
settling all claims upon him."

This remark recalled to her the reason for which
she was there.

" But where has Sir Alan gone ? " she inquired,
"and why was I not informed of his intention to
leave Glebe Royal "i I consider that his departure
without any warning is most insulting to me ; more
than that, it is cruel."

" I don't think Sir Alan meant to be either insult-
ing or cruel, Miss Murray," replied Captain Fauntle-
roy in measured tonej. " He has suffered a terrible
loss, the greatest bereavement that can befall a man,
and his nerves are totally unstrung by the shock.
The doctors recommended an immediate change^ and
so he determined to shut up Glebe Royal for some
time and live abroad. Under the circumstances, it
is very natural. But he has deputed me to deal most

334

.1 SC.IA'A/iT S/AT,

^■i

liberally w ith all claims upon him. He wishes you
to receive, nut only your full salary, but a cheque for
a hundred pounds, which he desires you will accept
as a present from him."

*• I refuse to take it," she exclaimed passionately,
" Sir Alan owes me a great deal more than he can
ever pay l)y money, and I will havj justice from him
if nothing else."

" He also left this !?l;ter for you in my charge.
Perhaps it will explain wliat you desire to know/'
said Fauntleroy, handing her a sealed envelope.

Cora tore it open in a fury, read the few lines it con-
tained, and then, throwing it on the ground, stamped
upon it vehemently.

"And it i> for a man like f/iis that I have cursed
myself! " she exclaimed, with clenched hands and
teeth. "O, I hate him ! 7//^?/^/^/;;// "

" Hozi/ have you cursed )'ourself?" demanded
Captain Fauntleroy quickly. The quesion made
her aware of the danger she had run.

"Did I say so?" she asked, with a sickly smile.
"O, I was raving. The ingratitude of one's friends
is so hard to bear, it makes one's senses reel. You
say Sir Alan left a cheque for ine. Where is it .^"

'* I thought you declined to accept the favor, Miss
Murray."

" O Fauntleroy, don't be so hard on me," she
exclaimed, going on another tack, and bursting into
tears. " What on earth am I to do ? Think of
my position. An unfortunate girl, without home,
or money or friends, forced to become a de-
pendant in order to earn my own living, how can I

A SCARLET S/AT.

235

afford to refuse the help extended to mc ? And it
has been hardly earned too. I have toiled day and
night in the service of these Chicht.n.^ I was
her ladyship's best friend. She has often said so.
She "

" Stop" cried Henry Fauntleroy in a voice of au-
thority. " Stop, and do not presume to take /ter
name upon your lips."

" What do you mean ? " said Cora, with a face that
had suddenly grown the color of ashes.

** I mean t/iis, that you should never have come to
Glebe Royal, that you were not fit to fasten Alice's
shoestring, and you know that I am right. I was
afraid of it when I first heard that you were here,
but your refutations, and my own weakness, made
me credit for a while that you spoke the truth.
When I was able to argue the matter more calmly
with myself, I resolved to be convinced of it, once
and for ever, and I advertised for Paul Rodney."

"Coward ! " she exclaimed, loudly, "and you said
you /ovcd me ! "

" God forgive me for it," he answered ; " I said
what I believed, Lotta, but I know now that love is
too pure a term to apply to any feeling that a man
may have for j'ou. That advertisement brought me
into communication again wita Rodney, and he sent
me a packet of your letters to Masham. Now, do
you understand what I mean ? "

" Give me my money and let me go," she said with
white lips. "There's not a man amongst you all that
is worth a second thought from me. I wish I had
never seen your face, nor that of your friend, and

•3«

A SCAKLET SIN,

when I pass out of these doors you may take your
oath I shall never entei them again."

" I sincerely trust you never will," replied Captain
Fauntleroy gravely, ''for your absence is the only
price of my silence. Please to understand that. God
forgive you, Lotta, if you have added to the load on
your conscience by your residence at Glebe Royal,
for He knows it was heavy enough before." He
handed her the money due to her and the liberal
cheque which Sir Alan had left behind, u^ he spoke,
and watched her sign a receipt with fingt.s that
almost trembled too violently to trace the letters of
her name. But having accomplished it, Cora Mur-
ray threw the pen down, as though it had been a
gauntlet to defy him to injure her further, and with
a look that, if eyes could slay, would have killed him
on the spot, she dashed out of the room.

" Poor Lotta," thought Fauntleroy compassionate-
ly, as he gazed after her, "she is a moral suicide.
She has destroyed her own life as effectually as
though she had drawn a knife across her throat.
But she is too dangerous for all that. Under present
circumstances I would never have trusted her to
continue her acquaintance with Alan."

At that moment he observed the baronet's letter
lying on the floor, where Cora had stamped upon
and left it.

" I wonder what he can have said to put her in
such a rage," he thought, as he stooped mechanically
and picked it up, and smoothed it out and read it :

* Cora, — I cannot answer your letter, nor can I see you.
My conscience is too full of remorse, and the very words
that have passed between us doubles the a^ony of nyr loss.

A SCARLET S/AT.

I beg of you to forget them, or to remember them only .s
ihc ravings of an unholy dream, for they will never be
renewed. J wish yuii well in life, but I will not meet you
again. My friend Captain Fauntleroy will tell you all the
rest.

"A. C."

Henry Fauntleroy turned the brief scrawl over
and over in his hands, before he fully understood it,

*' Is it possible /" he said at last. *' Poor Alan too,
and just as this terrible calamity was hanging over
his head. No wonder he feels crushed to the very
earth under the remembrance of his infidelity. But
dear Alice never knew of it, that is one comfort,
and if she knows of it now, she is better able to make
allowances for human weakness, and to gauge the
depth of the repentance hat succeeds it. Well, we
have both been scorched, and we have both escaped
the flame. Thank Heaven for it. Please God, I may
live to see the day when Alan's happiness shall be
renewed, when the smiles of his child, and perhaps
the love of some good woman, may bring the sun-
shine into his life once more ; but whether his future
be solitary or otherwise, I shall never cease to be
grateful that he has had the moral strength to put
away from him the serpent charms of Cora Murray."

THE END.

3urdock

Blood^

THE KEY TO HEALTH unlocks
all the clogged secretions of the Stomach, Liven
kBowels and Blood, carrying off all humors and
iimpuri ties from the entire system, correcting Acid-
ity, and curing Biliousness, Dyspepsia, Sick Head-
ache, Constipation, Rheumatism, Dropsy, Dry
.Skin, Dizziness, Jaundice, Heartburn, Nervous
land General Debility. Salt Rhenm, Erysipelas,
IScrofula, etc. It purifies and eradicates from the
Blood all poisonous humors, from a common
. Pimple to the worst Scrofulous Sore.

V'.'.;

^.0^ ':^'%,

MlWi GiVfif

^n Invaluable food

rou

Invalids & Convalescents

BECAU8K

£asily Digested by the

WEAKEST STOMACH.

-o — (y \f—o- o— -o-

Useful in domestic economy
foriuiikingdoliciousljoot' ro i,
enriching Gravies niul Soups.

Bloob^

Bitters

THE KEY TO HEALTH unlocks
all the clogged secretions of the Stomach, Liver,
iBowels and Blood, carrying ott" all humors and
finipurities from the entire system, correcting AciiU
ity, and curing Biliousness, Dysy)epsia, Sick Head-
ache, Constipation, Rheumatism, Dropsy, Dry
Skin, Dizziness, Jaundice, Heartburn, Nervoua
kand General Debility, Salt Rheum, Erysipelas,
'Scrofula, etc. It purifies and er*)dicatep from the
Blood all poisonous humors, from a common
Pimple to the worst Scrofulous Sore.

GREAT

'Aable food

o~o •*>— rt— 0-— o- <•- -<h

onvalesceiits

vusE : —
jtetl by the

STOMACH.

lestic economy
}ioii:<l>oot' To I,
ies niul Soiijis.

iTH unlocks
omaoh, Liver,
humors and
rrectingAciil-
ia,Sick Head-
Dropsy, Hiy
urn, Nervoua
1, Erysipelas,
f.itep from the
u a coumion

"A LIFE SENTENCE."

By Adeline Sergeant,

Author of "The Luck of the House," &c., &c.
398 Pages, Paper Cover, 30 Cents.

Loveirs Canadian Copyright Series? No. 12.

The plot in this novel is intense and well sustained. The story opens
by introducing Andrew Westwood as a prisoner accused of murder, he
being sentenced to death, although he protested his innocence. The
victim of the murder was Sydney Vane, a wealthy landlord, while his
supposed murderer was an acknowledged poacher, Vane left a wife
and child, the former dying a few months after her husband's murder.
Among the inmates of the Vane household was Miss Lepel, a distant
relative of Sydney Vane's, her position being that of a governess.
V ane fell in love with her, and on the night he was murdered he intended
to abandon wife and child, and flee to India with his paramour. Hubert
Lepel heard of the intrigue, and meeting the couple together spoke rather
plainly to Vane, the interview closing with a duel, in which Vane was
killed, Lepel using the poacher's gun, which he unfortunately found
near the spot where the duel took place. We^twood's sentence was
commuted to life imprisonment. He left a daughter which Hubert sent
to school, but she ran away fiom it in a year or two, made her way to
London, and meeting Hubert, who had developed into a successful
dramatist, asked his assistance under the name of Cynthia West. He
found that she had a rare voice, paid for her musical education, and in a
few years she captivated by her singing and beauty the fashion of Lon-
don. Hubert and Cynthia fall in love with each other, and after many
vicissitudes brought on by a quasi-engagement with the daughter of the
murdered Vane, Hubert admits he was the murderer. Cynthia's father
escapes from prison, returns to London, meets her, is arrested, whereupon
ITuberi admits his guilt and is sent to prison for two years. Some time
after his relecse he marries Cynthia, and the bride and groom leave for
America, wheie her father had "struck ile." There are other plots
equally strong, introducing numerous characters, the whole making a
book that cannot be laid aside until it is read through. — Alail, Toronto

JEZEBEL'S FRIENDS

By DCRA RUSSELL,

AUTHOR OF

^^ Footprints in ike Snow" **The Track of the Storm j' Etc.

In "Jezebel's Friends'' — we have presented to us a
fresh and vivid picture of modern life. The opening chap-
ters introduce to us a couple of sisters, both attractive and
winsome — but both in deep trouble. What that trouble is
the Reader will burn to discover. The first scene in this
clever and thrilling Novel finds us on the sea drenched
sands, watching the struggles of a woman in the teeth of a
hurricane and storm of lightning and rain, to find a spot
near the waves, where she may bury beyond the ken of her
kind something concealed in a long narrow box. The
darkness aids her, but her presence is revealed by the
lightning to a watcher on 'he cliffs — the one person above
all others whom she wished to avoid. He sets himself to
fathom her secret, with what su( cess the fuller develop-
ments of the plot must reveal. Suffice it to say that from
the very first chapter the Reader's 4literest is enlisted, his
sympathies aroused, and his curiosity keenly excited.

"COMEDY OF A COUNTRY HOUSE."

By Julian Sturgis,

Author of "Thraldom," "John Maidment," <&c., &c.
209 Pages, Faxier Cover, 30 Cents.

Lovelies Canadian Copyright Series. No. 13,

Julian Sturgis. — The name of this distinguished young writer was
comparatively unknown a few years ago, but now he is famous through-
out the land as one of the l)est writers of fiction America has ever"
produced. — Times^ Port Hope.

As "Thraldom," "John Maidment," and other novels by the samt
author have had successful runs, there is no doubt but that the latesj
production is equally as acceptable. — Mail^ Toronto.

i,f

ENDS

the Storm,'' Etc.

presented to us a
Ihe opening chap-
both attractive and
/hat that trouble is
e first scene in this

the sea drenched
an in the teeth of a
rain, to find a spot
yond the ken of her ,

narrow box. The

is revealed by the

le one person above

He sets himself to

the fuller develop-
:e it to say that from
erest is enlisted, his
:eenly excited.

lY HOUSE."

[S,

DMENT," &C.,&C.

O Conts.

t Series. No. 13.

iguished young writer was
now he is famous through-
fiction America has ever

i other novels by the same
o doubt but that the latest
roronto.

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