The Morning herald., 1878-05-25
come and dine with us Ills evening ~ 90

come and dine with us ILLS evening ~ '.ov.
"Shall II" he asked himself aloud, glanc-
ing at his watch. There is just time.
Yes I had better Man was not formed to
live alone, and it won't do to go wandering
up to the cottage every evening"
Just then Mrs Williams entered the room,
and with Difference in her tone beyond
anything he had yet heard from the good
woman, asked him if he would ''please to
want any dinner"
"No, thank YOU, Mrs. Williams" he an
swered in an distracted tone am going to
dine at the Abbey. At what time did Lady
Temple calf" J.
"About four o'clock, sir; and her ladyship
seemed quite vexed like to find you cut
She asked if you was likely to be on tho
sands, and told her as You had been out
riding since eleven o'clock. Her ladyship
is very sweet lady and always speaks SO
gracious like; but there was young lady
with her-a dark, haughty-looking young
creature-and she stared at me and at the
house, and says: How can he have lived in
such place all these weeks? How bad for
himl Tell him to come and dine at the
Abbey tonight So Lady Temple she just
wrote that on card and handed it to me-"
A cloud passed over Gooffrey's pleasant
face, He was annoyed at Eva Dayrells bad
taste in hurting the feelings of his good
landlady by such speech, and annoyed to
find that it was she, in reality, who had
asked him to dine Mt the Abbey.
81 won't 60" he thought; Eyes, L will,
though, and show her as pllinly as I can
that have no feeling for her beyond the
merest friendship. Not that I believe Tom
is right for a moment; but it is as well to
be careful, and should be sorry to mislead
any girl
Mrs. Williams still fingered, busting a
chair with her apron, and putting the few
books on the table pc intully tidy.
"You know her | lyship, sir, and Sir
Enry?" she asked at last as Geoffrey still
stood silent
'Know them2 Oh, yes-have known
them we'll for years! Will you bring me up
some hot water, please? l must shave
again, I'm afraid
eyes, sir, certingly," and the stout land
lady hurried off with celerity acquired
from Geoffrey's calm manner of speaking of
such "grand folk" The Prince of Wales
was very little, if at all, superior, in the
minds of these worthy people to Sir Henry
l6upl0, WuOb6 ldullly uul loL SChouAAo0
owned almost all the country round.
1t was but little past seven when Godfrey
entered the drawing-room at Newland Alb
hey. Eva Dayrell, looking her best. as all
blooming brunettes do, in white muslin
dress, was alone in the room, and glanced
up with sparkling eyes as his name was an
nounced.
II am glad you are come" she said, ex-
tending her hand. II was Mortified when
saw your poky little abode-enough to drive
q man into any folly, or send him melan-
choly mad. ;"
She drew aside her dress as she spoke, to
make room for him on the sofa, but he re-
mained standing.
II don't think it will do either for me-
he answered carelessly Il am very happy
there, though I feel inclined to push tho
ceiling up now and then but one can't ex-
pect luxury at such secluded spot as Sand
beach.
"Of course not" she answered. Tapping
the leaves of the book she held between her
fingers and thumb, and speaking quickly.
81 suppose you are just going back to town
now-otherwise you had better come and
stay here I am quite sure the Temples
would be delighted to have you"
81 Lave not thought much about it, he
yaid, strollng toward the window 81 came
down here not to think, and l like to drift
Oh from day to day. When I do go, pro-
badly I shall be off without half an hours
preparation. like to act on the spur OF The
moment"
She looked up at him as he stood erect in
the fading light, his tall, well-made figure
standing out black against the yellow sky,
and did lot alAwer. A change had come
over him. The warm manner, the bright
planco straight into her eyes, the ringing
tones were gone. He spoke carelessly'o al
most reluctantly. What did it all meanf
"Have you seen the pretty dncognaa to-
day?" she asked suddenly 49,
'No. Why do you ask?" he said, wheel,
ing round and facing her, so that he could
see her face distinctly, whilst his own was IN
the dark,
"Oh, don't know! wanted to see her
myself, to Judge as to her extraordinary
prettiness, but she was not to be found;
We drove very slowly past her cottage, but
in vain"
"Prettiness does not apply to her face IN
the least She is beautitul-qulte beautl-
ful-but not pretty" -
aIndeed 1 like pretty women myself
suppose she has large features, and Is on
big scale altogether-high nose, ct cetera'
ct cetera."