Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-24


brook, and also sought the gay metropolis.
Her ladyship felt very dull and miserable
when the young baronct took his depar-
ture.
She longed also to go to town, and soon
made her husband acquainted with her
wishes. He was so satisfied with his coun-
try homo and the sports ho there enjoyed,
that he combatted the resolution but in
the end she gained her point. Caldecott
was shut up, and the servants sent to town,
to house which his lordship's agent had
taken for them, in fashionable part of the
West End. 1t was in Wilton Crescent, and
they were not far from Hans Place, whore
the ST. Aubyns resided.
Her ladyship did not much care about
them, because she fancied that Sir Charles
Evander paid the lovely Lily too much at
tention; but she was obliged TO keep on
friendly terms with them, because they
were invited everywhere, and she would
meet them at all good houses.
Sir Charles was soon made aware of Lady
Carisbrook's presence in town, and he
laughed in his sleeve, for he knew enough
of women and their characters to under
stand that as he had gone away from her,
she had followed him.
The gentlemen whom Lady Carisbrook
met, and to whom she talked about Sir
Charles, did not give Evander the best pos
sible character. There were two friends of
his, Captain Navasour and Mr.. Frederic
Mordaunt, the latter of whom was con-
stantly at the st. Aubyn's, and at all places
where he thought he should meet Lily, and
this conduct of his was not at all surpris-
ing, for he loved her passionatcly, though
she had not in any marked measure en-
couraged the preference which he exhibit
cd for her.
Mr. Mordaunt had taken a strong dislike
to Sir Charles Evander ever since he first
met him at Hans Place. The attitude
which the latter assumed toward Lily con-
WINGED the jealous mind of the lover that
he was in love with her, and that she did
not object to his admiration. Mordaunts
affection for her was so sincere that If he
could not win her himself, he wished to see
her married to one who would insure her
happiness and this he felt certain Sir
Charles would not do. lie could say moth
ing to either Lily or her mother, because
they would accuse him of an interested
motive in villiiying man he had treated
as his friend.
To Lady Carsbrook, however, he was
not so reticent. He told her his opinion of
the baronet, though there was no tinge of
acrimony or malice in what he said. He
spoke his mind freely, with the air of one
who was fearless of the consequences and
knew that he was uttering the truth. Lady
Carisbrock had invited this confidence on
the part of Mr.. Mordaunt and Captain Va
vasour, but when she had gained it she
was dspleased with them for running
down one whom she liked, and on one oc-
casion said, with some asperity:
"If Sir Charles Evander is such as YOU
describe him to be, wonder that you as
sociate with him."
"For my part" replied Mr.. Mordaunt,
81 can answer that / have for some time
ceased to do so. | am coldly civil when
ever we meet, and he must know that do
not class him among the number Of my
friends"
"That must be q great deprivation for
Sir Charles, Mr.. MOrdaunt," said her la
dyship. "But i hope to meet you in n
more iorgiving humor at Mrs. st. Aubyn's
reception tomorrow evening. l shall be
glad to see YOU both there, as l have so few
friends in town. Carisbrook leaves Lon
don for n week tomorrow morning, to see
after his poor dogs and horses, about whom
he irets so much.'
The party given by Mrs. st. Aubyn, to
which her ladyship had alluded, was mere
ly q reception. Visitors dropped in as they
liked. went from group TO group, chatting
first with one, then with another, and took
their departure when it pleased them with
| out any ceremony.
Lady Carsbrook made her appearance
! about ten o'clock, superbly dressed, and
almost the first person she met on entering,
| after having spoken to her amiable hostess,
was Sir Charles Evander, whom she
thought had never looked handsomer.
"This is kind of YOU" he exclaimed.
HtTc Is ITO one WOTln SpcdhllS TO mere,
and l was getting awfully bored. May |
| inquire where Carisbrook is?"
Ibid you not know that he had left
| town. she replied, showing her pearly
! teeth and Tutoring her fan. ~ am quite
alone. / do not know what l shall do with
! myself"
81 am acquainted with married women,"
answered Sir Charles, twirling his mus
tache, "who would not consider such an
occurrence calamity. They would be
glad of a little relief from the presence of
| their lord and master"
THAT is charming" said Lady Carts
brook, eagerly. "You will tell me what
those ladies did, will You not? Please do
take compassion upon and tell me-"
"With the greatest pleasure" replied Sir
Charles Evander. ~ must premise, how
ever that my ladies were not of the senti-
mental order. They did not look upon hus-
bands generally as an unqualified good, and
they enjoyed their freedom by such innO-
cent little amusements as giving dinner
parties to an intimate friend or friends.
have had such an invitation myself; box
at the theatre has diversified The proceed
ings."
"Excellent," exclaimed Lady CarSbrook,
81 am sure that l cannot do better than fol-
low such a capital example. Will you ia
vor me with your company at my house to
dinner tomorrow at Z, Sir Charles?"
81 shall be most happy" he said.
Lily st. Aubyn came up and they were
separated; but Lady Carisbrook had made
the engagement, calculating upon her hus-
bands absence, without meaning any harm,
though she ought to have known that il was
wrong to do anything which she could not
tell his lordship.
The greater part of the day was passed by
her in buying flowers in CoVent garden and
making preparations for charming little
dinner, such as would at once display her
taste and the resources of her establish
ment.
In the afternoon she went to her bedroom
TO lay down and rest for an hour. She was
tired. 1t had been quite late when she left
Mrs. st. Aubyn's, and not used to such
hours, she found it difficult TO recover from
the fatigue which they occasionod.
To her surprise she was disturbed, as she
was about TO close her eyes for refreshing
sleep, by knocking at the door.
at is only /, Emily" said a voice which
she recognized instantly.
GOOD gracious, my husband! What
brings him back? can he suspectP she be-
gan, when her speculations were cut short
by the entrance of Lord Carisbrook, who
derby, and cried:
"Ilere l am again, dearest, sooner thar
you expected. All, what is this? You dc
not seem so pleased to see me as / though
you would be-"
"You frightened me. | was half asleep
Mrs. st. Aubyn's last night till late" sht
answered, rubbing her eyes, and sitting OF
the edge of the bed wrapped as she was il
the capacious folds OF pink dressing-gown
but what brought you away from Calde
colt in such hurry2'
"a relative of mine-who made q fortune
in India, became eccentric and lived in Lon
don under another name-is dead, dice
yesterday in fact, and his solicitor has writ
ten to me to say that he has left me the
greater portion of his wealth."
"There is nothing very interesting abou
that" her ladyship said, 1--WE have as mucl
money as we want already. Is that all tina
has brought you up in such a hurry Pa
for me | would not have gone across tn,
street for such news
You have very strange IDEAS" reptile,
Lord Carisbrook, with q tone of disappoint
ment. You were sorry at seeing me, ant
now don't care for the legacy"
II do like people to be exact and consis
tent Your return has DESTROYED NV pro
ects of independence for week. / wa
going out to dinner tonight, and"
"What is to prevent your" interruptet
/ -. a. l.