The Morning herald., 1878-05-24
Geofrey laughed and opened the door "a

| poy, ike your little cottage. Let me
know if Newland Abbey is likely to be in
the market. How do you do, Miss Day
pas dark, handsome girl met them
IN the hall. 'How kind of you to come SO
far to see me !" EE /.
IL expect that is your secret belief" an
swered the girl, laughing and shaking
hands, whilst the crimson in her cheeks
deepened considerably. "You are vain
enough for anything. Of course you came
over the moment you heard I was here. I
have been expecting you all the morning"
She looked up into his pleasant face as she
spoke, with keen, hungry look that he did
not notice, and would not have understood
If he had then, as she read, with wo-
mans instinct, the utter carelessness there,
her pretty mouth took bitter curve as she
added quickly "You have probably forgot
ten my very existence in the three weeks
that have passed since we parted"
They We're almost the very words he had
addressed to Sir Henry, and the latter
glanced at him mischievously.
''He's bad lot, Eva," he said, laughing !;
shut his turn will come some day, and then
mark my words-he'll take the complaint
severely"
They were in the great oak-ceiled dining
room by this time, where Lady Temple and
her other guests were already seated at
luncheon, and Geofrey after shaking hands
with the rest, dropped into seat next to his
hostess, signing:
ooh, the ecstasy of sitting once more at a
decent table among civilized beings Lady
| Temple, you cannot imagine all have suf-
| fered during my weeks of burial"
"It seems to have agreed with you," she
said, smiling "You look different crea-
ture-doesn't he, Eva?'
Miss Dayrell shrugged her shoulders in a
| pretty French manner
"Please don't ask me, Lady Temple" she
answered in pretended whisper, cor shall
have to confess that l have forgotten what
| he did look like Three weeks 1t is too
| long to remember any man"
"By Jove, what cruel remarkr ex-
claimed Captain Lee, who sat next to her.
81 shall take care never on any pretence to
leave your sweet society for more than a
week, Digby, you must go tomorrow with
out me, after all.
"P!ease don't" retorted Eva quickly 81
had better forget you than weary Of you
and Tn afraid it must be one or the other. ="
''Worse and worse Tom! I'm sorry for
you," said Geofrey, rising and walking
round the table to get some more cold beef,
for Lady Temple wisely dispensed with
servants at luncheon. "NTay ever be de-
Tended from falling into the hands of so
cruel fair one, Temple! How are the
birds this year7"
Eva Dayreu crimsoned and pushed aside
her plate
'It is too hot to eat" she said pettishly.
How l hate August! I should like to go
to sleep from the smiddle of July till the
hunting begins. get sick of the perpetual
talk of Where are you going till the first of
September? and, after that birds, birds,
all day and every day. Men are always
thinking of their own amusement.
at is the best thing they can do, since
ladies prize their society so little" remarked
Captain Lee quietly.
Eva bit her lip.
"It depends entirely upon the man." she
said coldly. "Those who bore us when
present we forget quickly when ABSENT
considering your late remark about me,
I feel hurt" said Geofrey, smiling his
sweet smile as he glanced at her. II must
have bored you terribly to be so soon for
gotten"
Miss Dayrell did not reply. All, if he
voice, how weary and dull everything had
seemed since he left town. how true it really
was that she had come thither in search of
him He had never really firted with her,
for he was not firt by nature; but his
careless, pleasant manner had attracted her,
and she had exerted all her great powers OF
pleasing with some success, to keep him
constantly at her side. Size was hand
some. clever girl much sought after in Lon
don, and Geoffrey preferring her to most
he met, was willing captive, buying her
new songs to suit her voice, sending her
bouquets, tickets for operas, concerts and
flower shows, till people coupled them, and
smoke of their union as a settled thing.
Bnt Eva herself knew better. Her woman's
instinct told her that Geoffrey was not the
least in love with her. His voice took no
tenderer tone when they were alone together,
his ewes wore calm, friendly look when
they met hers, and she never Tor momen'
misunderstood him. But still she hoped he
might yet learn to love ber, and never re-
laxed her efforts to please him. She had
thought that the three weeks absence might
have done something for her, and now see
ing his eyes as calm and his manner as cool
and friendly as ever, her heart sank. Did
he care for somebody else? She would
surely have heard some whisper of it by this
time for her fathers estate joined that OF
old Mr. Chetwynd, and his life at home and
in town was open to her She would get
Lady Temple to ask him to stay there, and
then if it were all in vain, she would-ah, |
what? She glanced at the pale, clever face,
with its bright smile and thoughtful eyes,
she drank in the tones of his mellow, we'll |
modulated voice, and knew that she could |
not forget him-could not love him less;
and her heart throbbed with pain and NOR.
tifcation to think that this was the only
man she had ever tried to attract in vain.
Suddenly che aro11sed herself from her rev.