, 1871-05-11
ways get your own way though"
20, Herbert, afler twelve year T.

%, Herbert, afier twelve years |"
He could only laugh and kiss her again.
The truth was, that no woman ever
loved her own way less than Lady Clav-
ering and an aversion Of many years
standing on her husbands part was max
ing difficult time Of the closely coming
Christmas. She wos a very charming wo
man; she was still young, being, in fact,
not within six months OF thirty. She had
married Immediately on coming out--the
great match of the season-a widower
aged thirty four, with boy of ten years
old. This boy was now returning from
Italy, not intending, however, TO spend
Christmas at home; but tn, ir two lovely
little girls were TO come back, bring with
them Lady Clavrring's mother-in VIII Sc
house at St. Eeonard's they had been
staying-the next day.
Lord Clavering enjoyed nothing more
than a season of occasional loneliness with,
this very charming wife. They always
became, for the time, young lovers again,
Ouly this winter he had been disappOint.-
ed in his expectation of honeymoon har-
mony; for she had fought Mr.. Huntly's
battle unasked and unassisted, and eniire-
ly, as it seemed, at the suggestion of her
own strong common sense aud real good
feeling.
"Now, if Richard Huutly should re>
fuse TO come p
"He has a right to refuse. And he can
if lie pl, ,ases. l have no anxiety about
that" she said.
1t will feel awkward, though
" Not at all; the only possible awk-
wardness has been avoided. 1t would
have been. to say the least, awkward to
have made Richard Huntly suffer for his
father. 1t is no crime to br ones fathers
son. But suspect that discourtesy or
an unkin6ness, if persevered in and per-
petually repeated, might become some
sort of crime; and that possibility 1 do
wish 10 avoid"
You would shit the crime to Rich
ards shoulders p
"oh no ! He has right to 60 as he
plsoses. II he does net wish to increase
his acquaintance, he can say so"
" Perhaps he will say that, as l dis
liked his father, he refuses to visit me-"
HE may say so, He has his right, aud
cap feel as he likes and say what he
pie sses. / think that he can say so with.
out any harm; but feel that it would
have been harm il We had perpetuated the
estrangment. Herbert, what had you
said to him p
"Re;d L."
She read, and laughed. "Oh how like
man Oh, what u new way of keeping
Christmas !" Then she read aloud in a
voice trembling with amusement:
"SIR Your father and l were first
cousins, as l suppose you know. Once
we were friends; We got not to be friends.
Ihave for twelve years written to him at
this season TO say, that though l never
desired to see him again, bore him no
malice, and wished well to him. Once
Tor all, take the liberty of wishing you
all possible happiness and success, with
which my Christmas communications Will
naturally cease. If Lady Mary~is with
you, as 1 accidentally heard she was, pray
do ne the favor of presenting my compli-
ments to her"
Your ObediHsnt servant,
CLAvERING.
"Why, l call it a very good letter.
said his lordsbiS testify.
Only mine is better -
''Then put on your hat, and come with
me to the yillage-we will post it our
selves" =
As they were. walking to the village,
Lady Clavering resumed the subject.
''Still, Herbert, never can see how you
are injured" She had an instinct that
it was good for her husband to talk over
the matter. Besides, her own mind was
full of the e,sub;ect, and TO talk of anything
else just then would have been difficult.
''How could any man been more grossly
injured in such matter?"
"Well, but tell me again, dearest; you
know / have always failed to understand"
''Huntly aud were friends and cousins,
very dear friends. think he was six or
seven years my senior. He was an only
son; so was l. He married early, being
a rich man, ard TO be richer; but was a
poor man, and then never thinking of
riches nor expecting rank. Twas a'youth,
lieutenant; and married poor Clara
She was the prettiest little thing. OF
course my father was angry, or disap>
pointed. He too, you know, was in the
army, and he had a good appointment !;
but we had not three hundred year be>
yOnd our earnings between US, Then