The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-12-13 00:00:00

CHAPTER XxXII.
IN THE CLOISTERS.

0, Heaven! that such companions thotedst unfold,
And put in every hinest, hand a whip,
To lash the rascals naked through the world.
Thss DESMOND'S preparations were not of so ex-
tensive a nature as to cauge much delay in her
movements, and the day following her receipt of
lXlr. Sartoris's letter saw her beneath the shelter of
his roof, where she soon made herself as thoroughly
at home as though she had been an inmate there
for years, and partially succeeded in overcoming
the antipathy which Eve had conceived against her
by tact and careful observation of that young lady's
foibles.
- For that Eve Trenchard was not altogether fault-
less goes without saying. Warm hearted, affectionate,
and docile she was most certainly, but with a
tincture of wilfulness and feminine vanity that re-
quired to be kept under with a firm though gentle
hand, and so much of romance in her pretty head
as to render her an easy victim to anyone who
Would take the trouble and was suffi iently clever to
minister to her weaknesses instead of striving to
correct them.
And for such a task Laura Desmond was eminently
fitted. An adventuress, whose whole life had been
a series of shifts and contrivances to obtain and keep
influence over those whoen she served, it would have
been strange indeed had her arts failed when they
came to be exercised over a young and inexperienced
girl. At first, indeed, Eve's instinct had supplied
the place of judgment, but the warning was allowed
to pass unheeded, and soon 1 ecame forgotten as
ehe grew more accustomed to her new com-
panion.
In part this was due to the fact that Laura
Desmond put on no semblance of authority.
Against any such, Eve would certainly have
rebelled, and it had been to some extent due to
a fear that she was to be placed under tutelage
that she had protested so strongly against her
guardian's project. She disliked the idea of having
a governess at all, in fact, thinking that now
she was released from school and was actually
grown up she could have no need for further
instruction, save what might be learned from
contact with the world and private study, which
she would prefer to pursue untrammeled; and
although Miss Desmond was introduced to her
Under the guise of a companion she scented an
attempt to deprive her of that freedom of action
she had counted upon enjoying as her own.
mistress.
As time passed, however, witho tt any sign of
encroachment on the part of Miss Desmond, who
read Eve's mind like an open book, and was far
too polite and worldly- wise to allow ny considera-
tions of duty or conscientiousness to interfere with
her very comfortable position in the household,
these feelings upon Eve's part gradually faded away.
She forgot her first impression of misgiving, and
When the time arrived that had been fixed upon
lor her visit to tho north Eve was so far reconciled,
even attached, to her new friend that she hardly
remembered with what a different feeling she had
once regarded her.
Mr. Sartoris saw them depart with a feeling
of much relief, for the responsibility of Eve's
care had been a sore burden upon his mind of late.
He was not at all sorry to be discharged from
it for a time, comforting himself with the assurance
that she would be much better looked after by one
of her own sex, and hoping that her visit might
prove sufficiently pleasurable to induce her to prolong
it.
The journey was accomplished in due course, and
Without incident so far as Eve was concerned,
though something occurred at York which would
have given her food for thought if she had known
its cause. Eeturning to their carriags after a short
stoppage for refreshment Miss Des .! nd suddenly
disappeared from her side. Frightened, bewildered,
Eve looked round for her companion, but could see
her nowhere among the crowd of passengers who
filled the platform, and she was beginning to
conjure up all sort of dreadful visions when her
alarm was brought to an end by Laura's voice close
beside her.
"Did you think I was lost P" enquired that young
lady, as Eve turned to her with a glad cry of relief.
"It was only my bag which I had forgotten and
ran back for to the waiting room."
Eve accepted the explanation without doubt,
though oddly enough it seemed to her that she had
the most vivid recollection of having herself picked
bp the bag at the last moment and placed it in Miss
Desmond's hand as they left the room, but she
allpposed herself mistaken, and speedily forgot the
circumstance.
Her memory was not at fault, however. Miss
Desmond had been in no danger of losing any
of her belongings, but merely invented a reason
--the first which offered itself—to account for her
temporary absence, the true cause of which she did
not care to explain.
Following her on to the platform she was startled
by feeling a hand placed femiliarily upon her hand,
and turning to resent the liberty her eyes fell upon
the most unwelcome sight that could have presented
itself, in the shape of Clarence Woodville.
" Foe she exclaimed.
"Exactly," he replied. "Didn't expect such a
Pleasure, of course. But I have been waiting for
this opportunity. Wo have only a few moments to
Spare. You are going to Edinburgh."
"How do you know ?"
" Easily. I saw your luggage labelled at Euston,
but would not present myself there, as I thought
it would be better to defer that ceremony until we
had had a few words together and settled our
Mutual relations. There's no time for that now,
however. Drop me a line to-morrow, to this
address"— slipping a card into her unwilling hand,
saying when and where you will meet me.
-uon't attempt to refuse. I shall not lose sight of
You tiil I have seen where you go to, and it might
be unpleasant if you took it into your head to defy
Silo. By-bye. Sorry we must part so abruptly,
but I see that young lady you are with looking
about her."
With which he disappeared as suddenly as he
had come, and Laura Desmond hastened to join her
terrified charge.
As has been seen, she made no mention to Eve
of the trifling incident which had detained her,
though it filled her thoughts and cost her many
hours of sleeplessness that nighardespite her fatigue,
and formed the first subject of consideration when
she rose next morning and drew aside
.the curtains
from her window to gaze out upon the heath.
Covered slopes of the hills that rose southward of
the city on the outskirts of which Mrs. Gra me
resided.
It was a lovely sight, and one which at another
time Laura Desmond would have enjoyed to the
full, but now her mind was too fully employed to
leave room for outward objects, however beautiful,
to find an entrance.
"So," she muttered to herself as she proceeded
to make a careful toilette, to which end, having re-
gard to the presumable taste of an elderly and some-
what Puritanical hostess, she selected the very
Plainest dress she possessed. "He has found me
again, when I fancied myself free of him for ever.
What does he want of me, I wonder ? Does he
think to fool me as he has done before? No, no.
lie will find himself mistaken in that case. I am
!lot so easily made a dupe of as he perhaps
I,ll3agines . . But I suppose it will be better
see him, to make sure of what he intends
doing, why he has sought me out. . . Yes—
tars once—l will make an opportunity to-day, if
possible . . . Then if he threatens me, let
him be careful of himself. I don't fancy he will
gain much by such means. But we shall see."
,411 d having finished her half-spoken, half-mental
tu]oquy and dressing at the same time, Laura
esraona wont clown to broalrfast -without airy tracer
bPon her features 3t...the troubled thoughts that
Possessed her mind. She saluted her hostess, whom
She had only seen for a few minutes the previous
saight, it being late when they arrived, with an
assumed air of modest dignity which was sufficiently
Well done to ensure the approval of Mrs. Greene,
w
ho had a large opinion of her own as to the re-
!ct due from inferiors, among whom she naturally
via.,,,sed her young cousin's companion.
',tor greeting of Eve was very different, as a
tatter of course, but Laura Desmond was quite
Content. She felt herself to be in good quarters, and
Wase not going to quarrel with them because she saw
herself treated with less affectionate familiarity than
PaPil, and very soon the three were chatting
ttraicably over their meal.
This finished and cleared away, discussion ensued
tpon what was to follow.
"You must make your plans quite without
reference to me, lassie_ g
a, observedlrs Grme
looking admiringly at the bright yo beside
her. u I told you before you came that
feeble and too old to go about, and I'm afralaln too
it's
but a dull sort 'of life you'll find to be had here:'
"Dull 1" repeated Eve. Ah you fancy that I
alb a regular London-bred young lady, with a head
full of nothing but dress and finery, balls and
arties. But nothing of the sort, Cousin Phemie.
t like to look nice, of course—"
" That you' can't help doing, my dear."
" What ! do you want to spoil me with flattery,"
Bald E
44 ve, holding up her finger in merry rebuke.
I don't mean that —only to be nicely dressed
rbow, and I'm fond of amusement, too, but I
very well without dissipation, 1 can assure
84, and make myself very content with sight-seeing
itreal:iistudngplloareeio.r
t walks as there must he about this
d! Ay, you're right," replied the old lady,
tela,„:"'Y" kindling with enthusiasm, her tongue
ae -lug a little from the stiffaess of the southern
cent to the more homely Scotch, -arel thwhich she
howe3; used except in mom ents of excitement,
Rang er• "There's no' a grarder in the world,
to stirwthhere 7(3 will, nor ane mair full o' memories..
Oneo Idutd. You must see ITolyrood, my bairn.
is its threshold will carry you back
three hundred years. Will you go
,ted the suggestion with delight, and
esmond. who had taken no Dart in the

step'

aCTOS

fOr
Thraoie
Eve
With /ii."°°3l
ha

;han

7liscussi(n. I hough she expressed herself equally
pleased, rin upstairs to make ready for the
expedith it.
Laura's preparations were soon made, and before
leaving her room she also found time to scribble a
few hurried lines to Clarence Woodville, telling hint
where she was going.
" It will, I suppose, be as safe a place to meet
without attracting notice as any," she wrote, "if
you can come at once. But be careful not to speak
to me until I give you a signal. I shall contrive
some way to send this to you."
She did not quite know how she should accomplish
this, but put the letter on which was copied the
address given to her by Mr. Woodville the preceding
day in her pocket, and went down to join Eve,
trusting to the chapter of accidents to furnish her
with some means of getting it delivered.
Any difficulty on this score, however, was speedily
disposed off, for miss Desmond had hardly emerged
from the door with Eve before she diScovered the
figure of Clarence Woodville, who was strolling
carelessly along the road.
That he would keep them in sight Laura enter-
tained no doubt, and she was right, for on glancing
behind her as they entered the palace, she again
saw him, and satisfied now that her msage would
not be required, she began to think how she could
best get rid of her charge for a while.
This, again was a matter of no great difficulty.
A pretence again,
and desire to rest soon dis-
posed of Eve, and no sooner was she alone than
Clarence Woodville joined her.
"Do not let us speak here," she said shortly;
"come outside."

"As you please," he answered, and followed her
out of the gallery into the outer court, where they
paced the cloisters side by side, and commenced their
conversation.

"Why have you followed me ?" was Miss
Desmond's first question. "I told you in my
letter-"

"That you never wished to look aipon me again.
ExaAly," coolly admitted Mr. Woodville. "But,
you see, that arrangement did not suit my book, so
—I am here."

"For what purpose? What do you want with
me?"

"Want! Well, in the first place, Laura, your-
self."

" Really !" and she laughed mockingly. "Pray
don't be 4 any trouble on that score. I am not a
child to credit fair words. What use do you expect
to make of me ?"

"Business-like, as ever, I see," he replied.
" Well, I'll drop sentiment, if you prefer it; but I
cannot answer your questica., at once, as I have :not
quite made up my mind till I know what you are
doing."
"And then ?"
"Possibly something may occur to me."
"What if I refuse to tell you ?"
"In that case-- but why suppose the impos-
sible ?"

" The knowledge can be of very little service
to ycti. I am earning my living in an honest
manner."

"Au, how delightful! By what means may I
ask ?"

"They cannot concern you," Miss Desmond re-
p'.ied. coldly. " When you left me as you did, with
the no wledge of your double treachery to me and
—that other woman, I hoped, I fully expected, that
our paths would never cross again."
"You are too cruet Very possibly, however,
your hopes would have been realised, but that I
have other purposes in view, and am not inclined
to part with you so readily," answered Mr. Wood-
ville, in calmly decided accents. "You see I speak
plainly.":
"In other words," she' said bitterly, "you re-
quii e an a complice to aid you in some fresh scheme
of villainy. What is it ?"
" Misty, impulsive as ever !" he answered, in a
tone of mild reproach. ." Why are you so hard,
Laura? Cannot you believe that my love has led
me to see's. you, Laura'?"
" eve :" she repeated, with fierce emphasis. "No.
I was fool enough to trust in it once, but that is past
and done with for e• or. Go to the woman who
claims you as her husband—over me you have no
power. I defy you The worst you can do is to
expose me and procure my dismissal; but even then
your (rid would not be gained, for I swear I will
never return to you."
"Why - why will you be' so passionate, so
unreasonable, my dear Laura said her per-
se;.utor. " Why, above all things, will you oblige
me to say disagreeable things. As to having no
power over you—well, perhaps you are right in one
sense —but I can at least force you to obey me, or
in the event of your refusal—"
" Well, in that case Fl
"I would rather not use threats; but since you
force me, there is an alternative."
"And that is ?"

"A note—l need not sign it—to Scotland Yard.
The detectives there have got a full description
from France of a certain Mademoiselle Despard."
" You villain !"

"Don't call names, otherwise, Laura Desmond—
by the way, I must say you were very foolish not
to take some other name."
"It did not occur to me,' Miss Desmond sul-
lenly replied; "I thought my own would be
unknown," Ohap 32

" Ah, the best of us are liable to mis'akes. But,
to return to our muttons. Who was your travelling
companion--that charming young lady who came
here with you this morning P What, no answer!
Understand me, once for all,'' and Clarence Wood-
ville's tone is one of serious menace, "I will not
be tritied with. Who and what is she !"

Sullenly enough Miss Desmond gave him the
required informat'on, and little by little he drew
from her all that she had been able to learn respect-
ing Eve's position in the world as an orphan and
the heiress of an ample fortune. Upon what terms
it was to come to her, or the prospect of another
claimant appearing, Laura said nothing, for the all-
sufficient reason that she was quite ignorant of those
particulars, and imagined her pupil's inheritance to
be undisputed.
Clarence Woodville listened ' attentively, and
/laving at last learned all that she had to tell, gave
his unwilling companion permission to leave him.

-
"I shall think of same plan to visit you
soon without exciting remark," he said as they
parted. "And I need hardly tell you that you must
on no account contradict anything I may say or do
to bring it about."
"Suppose I refuse to see you ?"
"I refuse to suppose anything so absurd," he
answered lightly. " Why should you? Surely it
would not be nearly so pleasant to receive a morning
call from a gentleman who holds the warrant to
apprehend Mademoiselle Despard
"Cowardly villain she cried, passionately.
"But you would not dare "
" Oh, for that matter, I would dare anything.
Remember, lam in no actual danger myself. So
pray understand: attempt to escape me, or refuse
to hclp in cqtrrying out whatever plan I may decide
upon—for hoth our benefits, remember—and I put
the police on the vent at once. You know me to
be a irth.n of my word."
And raising his hat with an air of moct courtesy
he left her, wrathful, and full of hatred towards him,
but quite aware 'that she was at his mercy, and must
obey whatwever commands he chose to lay upon
her.

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