The Morning herald., 1878-05-29
FETTERED,YE7 FREE
BARR EFT SYLVESTER.
AuTHoR OF "cLouDs AND SUNSHINE" 9as-
TELLI's ERROR" ETC.

1nen, as the dOg-cart drove past her, she
looked up at it and turned round
"This is q lucky chance" Godfrey said,
irving to speak quietly, as he took her hand
in his. .f was dreading meeting you among
them all, especially before the sharp eyes Of
Miss Eva Dayrell."
sIt was no chance" she returned, smiling
up at him as they walked on. 81 came to
meet you for the same reason. Miss Day
rell has put SO many questions to me, and
made SO many pointed remarks about you
and our great friendship, that I preferred
meeting you away from her keen scrutiny.
think yq- irave been flirting with her, Mr..
Chetwyndaelp
"Not that know Of, he answered, laugh
ing. ''But why do you call me Mr.. Chet-
wynd'? There is no harm in your calling
me 'Geoffrey' when we are alone together,
and should like it so much"
She shook her head, and her face clouded.
Il would rather not Besides, it would
be foolish. might be overheard, or
might let the name slip out by accident
when others were present"
''You are right and am wrong" he an
swered shortly. And then they walked on
in silence for some minutes. ri am so
sorry to hear of poor little Cecil's illness"
lie said presently II came more for his
sake than for the shooting, in reality.
What a faithful little heart it is'
"It is 60 good of you" she exclaimed
eagerly. His love for you is so very great,
at times am almost jealous am terribly
anxious about him sometimes; he is still so
weak" rH.a
"He will get stronger as the winter comes
on. At any rate, l am glad you have be-
come friend of Lady Temples. You see
was right about her.
"You were indeed. Oh, she is such a
sweet kind woman-1 cannot tell you how
kind And Sir Henry is hardly less so. |
have never met with such goodness before"
''Thank you, he said shortly.
''Oh, you are so different" she answered,
laughing gaily.
Then they were at the hall-door. III
In the hall they were met by Eva Day
re]l. who flushed crimson as her eyes fell OH
them.
How do you do, Mr.. Chetwynd? Yon
are earlier than we expected" she said cold
ly. 'How kind Of Mrs. Elton to come and
meet youw
"Not very, considering Mr. Chetwynd has
come chiefly to hnmor my little son, re-
piled Mrs. Elton very quietly, though her
color deepened. "Mr, Cheswyad, as soon
rs you have seen Sir Henry and Lady Ten.
plo, will you come up to Cecil2 lie will be
eager to see You.
Directly, arsaid Geofrrey; and then he
followed Eva into the library, where Lady
Temple sat.
She greeted him as kindly and pleasantly
as usual, and after few moments conver-
sation he left the room to go and see Cecil.
Eva Dayrell stood by the fire, her face
flushed aud Ls,1tsny'es glittering. As the DOR
closed new W.; 7aa;ttfeoffrey, she turned round,
exclalnfact ongrily:
"Really, Adelaide, think you are too
charitable You believe in everybody l
am sure this Mrs. Elton is q sly, scleming
widow. She is doing her very best to en-
trap Mr.. Chetyynd, and am surprised to
find he is. 1Iots ia simpleton as most men
are whey N' g zee is concerned, "ie
has act, OUR Het him, ard came
walking m With him just now in the most
laretaced manner Of all things, hate q
Bcheming widoww
"Indeed, Eva, you are mistaken" Lady
temple said gently. "poor Mrs: ilson Is
not widow OF all. Her husband is alive,
and Mr.. Chetwynd knows him. lie has
been very kind to her and her child, but it
is out Of the goodness of his heart, for he
knows her to be q married woman"
Eva Dayrell drew long breath, and
stood silent for some minutes, trying to re-
alize the actual stale Of the case. 1t was
delightful to her to hear that, at any rate,
he could not marry this woman; but a Sc
cret conviction still lurked in her heart that
there was more than mere kindness in Geot-
Il frey's feelings for her, and she meant to
watch them carefully still.
From time to time, Lady Temple glanced
at the varying face before her, and her wo-
mans instinct told her good deal that was
Z passing in her friends mind. She knew
now why Eva had refused Captain Lee, and
she felt sure that it was in vain-that Geof-
frey did not care for her, except as mere
friend.
"Do not repeat this, Eva," she said pre-
sently. "Mrs. Elton told me in confidence,
because she would not remain in my house
for an hour under false pretences I tell
you only that you may not misunderstood
$her."
II do not think misunderstood her,"
replied Eva quietly. perhaps, on the con-
trary, understand her better than she un-
derstands herself; and think the less she
sees of Mr., Chetwynd the better"
please do not say so, began Lady lem
pie but Eva stopped and kissed her.
"No, will not say so, nor anything else,
10 yex you; but you are friend OF Mr.
Chetwynds, and had better watch, for MS
Rake, that you do not throw him too much
n her way. Now we had better go and
Press for dinner"
They went upstairs together, and paused
4 or moment at the open door of the dress
ng-room appropriated to little Cecils use.
Teotfrey was seated on low chair, the
2hld on his knee, leaning against his
}houlder, hiS little pale face upturned with
oear pr,zek of happiness, while he drank
tnel Prty of some hunting adventure