The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-06-03

| almost equalled what they had just before
however, in the ultimate result, that where
their member had not been returned, their
presents were; and, deeply diegusted. both
| hobbled away-tbe squire TO console himself
with his money bags, aud Lord - to forget
| his ohagrin ip the excitement OF the gambling
rooms of Paris.
Although the doctor had eschewcd society
for a month. he by 10 means contemplated
turning anchorite altogether. Fortunately he
possessed a friend in Mr.. Frederic Donovan, q
nephew of the parish priest, who had lately
qualified for the medical profession, and who
had lately come to stay with his uncle till he
could hear of practice likely to suit him. He
was gay, sprightly young fellow, and kept
the doctor well acq quainted with the events of
the day and as soon as the latter heard that
the coronet the squire, the whskers and the
matchless bow had been scattered to the four
winds, he accepted the invitation7of mutual
friend, and when Maude least expected him,
advanced to hand her to dinner.
She was muoh pleased for not only had his
sudden and protracted ab-epce astonished her.
bat she very much regretted it from an inter-
ested motive The very day after her return
from Mrs. Wetherby's. Mr.. Colquhoun had
again presented himself at the Glebe House
she had at last cosxed her uncle to see him in
stead, and inform him that until Miss Neville
attained her majority all business would be
transacted, as usual, through himself. But
though Maude thus extricated herself from
present dilemma, she knew that che had in no
way obviated future difficulty, She herself
had thoroughly resolved on Colqnhouns dis
missai bat as she couid se6 that such q course
would entirely derange all the plans her uncle
was 70 rming for the future, 9 Thousand difficult
ties seemed TO rise before her. 1t was no easy
matter certainly to contemp plate the sudden
and unexpected dismissal of man who had
served her family for twenty years and with
an anxiety almost bordering on nervousness,
Maude had looked day after day for the one
hand hat she believed could assist her in her
trouble.
AS in Maude's transparent nature every emo
tion rs it rose to the surface, became visible at
once, the doctor read the pleasure with which
she met him in an instant. All his misgivings
were gone in a moment her ordeal had left
her as simple az it had found her; and when,
during dinner, amid the hum of conversation,
she asked bis advice on the subject of Colqu-
houn, his delight at the confidence reposed in
nim knew no bounds. He promised to draw
her out u paper containing the various acts of
injustice committed by Co!quhoun during his
administration of her affairs, aud advised her
to show it to her uucle, telling him whence she
had procured it, aud to insist that Colquhoun
should explain each charge brought against
him. Like the touch of q fairys wand in the
old story, his words seemed to resolve every
dIficulty at once; and when Maude rose to
follow the hostess to the drswing-room, she
tripped up the broad grand staircase with
heart as light as O feather.
When the gentlemen Joined the ladies, some
little time afterwards, Maude was asked to
sing; and as the doctor turned over the pages
while she sang, it was only natural that he
should conduct her to her seat when the song
was ended, and that, having conducted her
thither, he would seat hin sslf beside her.
Now both Mande and the doctor had travelled
and seen a great deal of society; both were
well read, seSti possessed of unusual conversa-
tional powers. There must have been, more
over, many an OBJ ject OF equal interest to them
both lurking 10 the signs of the times Aud
yet, with worldwide range of subjects be-
fore them, they chose that of the old times at
Neville Court, and thence easily diverged from
Lady Neville herself TO the subject of her reli-
glon. 1t was n strange one to discuss in such
u scene, where twenty voices were babbiiug of
the opera, the stage, the latest fashions and
the last new novel Yet never was voice more
earnest than the doctor's whose theme was th @
rights of the Holy See, nor face more serious
tnHn Aaudes as she listened to him with the
deepest attention. 1t was not till Nj. Neville's
carriage was announced than the conversation
ended, aud even then, as they drove slowly
home up aud down the steep mountain road,
when her uucle aud Fanny thought her asleep
in her corner, Maude was silently retracing the
bnrnlng and enthnsiastlc words she had just
heard.
At last home was reacbed and after two
loving good-nights, Maude retired to her room.
Her first proceeding on arriving there was to
diyes5 herself of her evening toilette and
throw on a dressing gown her second, to open
a handsome cabinet and take ont her mothers
books. She had placed them there on her re-
tura from Neville Court, intending to make
them her daily study; but dismayed at the
Impression already made on her mind in spite
of herself, by the doctors words, the morning
after the tenants feast, she had feared to open
them again. ibis period of dIstrust had been
succeeded by one of distrac ion, equally unpro-
ptious to search after truth and had not
her attention been a second time llled to the
suhject, much as the acquisition of the books
had pleased her, they would probably have
remained locked in the cabinet to her dying
day. But it was not to be 80 for not only did
Maude take them from their hiding place that
night but laying them reverently on tue table
sue knelt down beside it, and buryiug her face
in her HANDS, prayed long aud ferVently. AID
what was her prayer A simple, childrke
petition TO the Way, the Truth and the Lite"
for grace to seek HIM for Himself alone, and
not TO snffer one thought of her mothers mem q
ory-dear as that memory Das-to influence
her in her search. Then seating herself Maude
quietly opened one of the books, and set her
self with ell the energy of her character 10
endeavor to solve Pilates great question.
Nearly two hours passed before she lay down
to rest; and even then hers WAS no peaceful
slumber; for dream after dream, each more
distorted than the last, passed befoce her mind,
wesrying and perplexipg it. at length she
grew calmer, and fancied that she was passing
along bright, pleasant road, with the sun
shining in a coudless sky above her, the green
trees arching over her hoad and bright Il JWers