The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-01
MRS. LANCASTER'S RIVAL.
~ THE AUTHOR OF "A FRENCH HEIREss
INNER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER II.
DICK.

II should be sorry to have such tenn
per like General Hawkes." said Dick,
looking contentedly round at his aunt,
who had established her spoilt boy in the
pleasantest place by the prettiest win
dow in her drawing-room. From his
low chair Dick could look over the green
slopes and trees which made the upper
side of the Combe. The Penyr was shut
out of sight by a rocky bank opposite,
running parallel with that ON which the
houses were built; but there was long
expanse of the Mora to be seen, glowing
wish deeper and more brilliant colors as
the sunset approached. All the water
was alive with ships and boats; old men-
of-war laid up, steamers gliding swiftly
by; the houses and spires Of the distant
Morebay on the shore shone like gold.
and the hills beyond stood out faint and
clear against the southeastern horizon.
Miss Northcote,s long, old-fashioned
room, with its two south windows, was
in shadow. She herself sat away from
the window, for she cared more to look
at Dick Just now than at the view, and
he was in the fullest light as he sat with
his head thrown back and his arm on the
sill, quite in his right place and quite
happy. She supposed he was not hand
some; he had never been that; his face
was too square, his nose was far from be-
ing classical. But nobody could help
liking the thick, brown, wavy hair that
clustered over his low, broad forehead,
or those good, pleasant eyes of his, or
could deny that the beard and sunbrown
and general manliness of his looks made
up for the disappointment that his nose
and mouth had formerly been to his
friends. Miss Northcote belonged to a
handsome family, who thought them
selves to be entitled to be critical, and
she was very glad indeed to be able to
be able to approve of Dicks appearance,
now that he was come back to her. On
the whole, he was very much altered for
the better. His slow, heavy manner
was partly gone, and he had been talking
in tbe incest way about his grandfather
and grandmother, who had tied within
few months of each other, not long af-
ter he went out. There was pause, and
then Dick began about General Hawkes.
temper.
"fs it 50 badw said Miss Northcote.
"Horrid, I'm sure. A regular old
Turk. Never mind; you shall 60 and
call there with me, for that poor girls
sake. / promised her that you would
He might have behaved rather different
ly, after ten years. However, l forgive
him."
"Explain to me about the girl" said
Miss Northcote. "Did you make friends
with her in the train? She looked
wretched, poor thing. Who was that
formidable person with herw
"a governess from the school. She is
going back almost directly-a good rid.
ance. Well, we all got in at Padding
ton. I jumped in at the last moment
and she looked daggers at me; she
thought they were going to have the car
riage all to themselves. l thought the
girl seemed very unhappy, so, Of course
/ did what civil things l could, without
pushing. The governess kept awake as
long as she could; but it was very hot
and at Last she dropped of, and after we
left Bristol the girl and talked great
deal, at.intervals. We found out that
we weregoing to the same place, and she
was charmed to find how we'll / knew
Pensand Castle, and all the places and
beople about here. She has been al
school all this time-horribly strict
and she thinks being at General Hawkes.
may be better than that, though she doe'
not like him at all. l am sorry for her,
said Dick, in the heartiest manner. "Sht
Is little lame-perhaps you noticed il
and her hands have no flesh on them al
all, and you saw how pale and sallov
and skinny her face was, with those big
speaking eyes that somehow make ones
heart ache with their sadness"
Miss Northcote felt as if she hardly
knew her nephew we'll enough to laugh
at him. 50 she controlled her amusement
and said sympathizingly:
"Poor thing! how very sad!" r
y. $50 I thought" said Dick. "I tried
| to comfort her, you know. I told her the
\ General was sure to be good to her, and
/. I talked to her about you. / told hel
! YOU were an angel, aunt Kate, SO you
must keep up the character. You'll &c
and see her, will you not? Never mind
the General"
"But the General himself invited me-
said Miss Northcote, smiling. $50
think should have gone, even If you
had not been in the question at all"
20, very well, that's all right. If you
take her in hand l shall not mind SC
much. Poor little thingP' said Dick
thoughtfully. "She is So young, and SC
weak, he can help pitying her."
aHow old is she? Did she tell your
"No. Fifteen or sixteen suppose
"Nfneteen at least, I.shouEd say"
"You don't mean it! Why, my part
ner's wife. Mrs. Herbert, isonly one-and
twenty, and she certainly locks ten year
older than Miss Ashley. Nineteen! Ii
1t possible%
"Of course / have no more means o.
knowing than you have. You found
out her name, it seems"
II heard it," said Dick.
= uo,.,o L., !.