The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-11-21
THAT NIGHT In JUNE

charming day. Outside the sun is beating
heavily on road and house and such lucklcss
beings as must walk abroad. The whole |
earth is bowling before its majesty, going |
humbly, and imploring with faint gasps a |
breath Of air. Inside, the blinds are all |
pulled down as tough to exclude it, and
in the gratis fre--an actual, roaring, mad
d.ning ftre-is burning.
"Charming, is it says grandmamma,
declining to see the geniality Of her visitor.
"Can nature produce a charming day in
this age think it chilly" She is sitting
with her knees well into the fire, and with
tho grim expression that usually greets
her grandson's approach upon lor withcrcd
lips.
"Why not try a foot-warmer and fur
cloak Z" says Mr.. Wilding, furtively wiping
his brow. Z" You don't take half care of
yourself; and really during the present in
clemency--"
May ! ask what has brought you here
to-day 2" interrupts she, with an amount OF
ungraciousness difficult to combat. But he
is accustomed to her incivility, and as Hecuba
is nothing to him, and he is less to Hecuba,
he hardly takes il to heart.
can overpowering desire to see you," he
replies indolently, but with an admirable
assumption of amiubility.
"Pray share your gbes when addressing
mp,o says the OLD lady, tartly. Keep them
for your unfortunate client, If you have any.
Something besides dutiful consideration for
my welfare has brought you here to-day.
What is it Y''
"what an intelligent person you are,
grandmamma," murmurs he languidly, with
| what is meant for enthusiasm, but ends in
sarcasm. Concealment with you is impos-
sible. Another--but, of course, very Sec
ondary-motive has brought mo here this
morning. The fact is have some stalls for
the opera, and thought perhaps Brenda
might like to hear Patti again."
"And to hear her with you alone! Ger
tainly not Nothing of the sort, y says Lady
Molyneux with emphasis. I" If that is your
mission, George, it is unsuccessful. shall
never give my CONSENT
al never dreamt you would" replies the
prudent George, who had dreamt it fondly,
nevertheless. "Josephinc will come with
us. You can scarcely object to trusting her
with her married sister,"
| "Humph, Jose p always say Jose is only
half married, that man makes such fool OF
| her."
"And even if Jose were not in question
| why should she not come with me alone r.
pursues he, his foot on the fender, his eyes
ON the repellent old face, so lined and
scared with age and querulous discomfort
"Surely a cousin may count as brother
any day. ,. .,;n, 60 ,o,n,t a., '
how society may regard it in these indecent
DAYS. but, in my time, one relative was never
mistaken for another. Besides, there are
cousins and cousins"
"And which am 7" asks he with so much
careless indifference as stings her.
"You are your fathers son." replies she,
bitterly. " No one of the blood ever came to
good.'
al can't say you are over civil,' returns
he with an insolent shrug; and then tho
door opens and Brenda herself enters
quickly, and with an unprecedented man
ner of ono who anticipates an empty room.
, Seeing George, she starts perceptibly,
smiles involuntarly, and bushes bcauti-
ully.
Z She is very pretty girl, of middle height
/. with large dark eyes shaded by lengthy
: lashes, n riante mouth, and tho dearest littl,
nose in the world.
"Hai Brenda" says grandmamma, look
ing round-tlle blush and ready smile have
faded by this time, and are secret between
her and her cousin" come here"
The girl having shaken hands with Georg'
o in calm, orthodox fashion, goes up Il
Lady Molyneux's chair, and, standin,
Q behind her, leaned on the top of it. s.
stahuiuB her i"co IN hiu"ch hohi 6'a"o
mamma.
~ have some tickets for tonight. l wan
grandmamma to let you come hear Patti,
repeats Wilding coldly.
Miss MOlyneux Ia preparing to 60 int
ecstacies over this news when she is stoppe'
by vigorous gesture of the hand and a frowI
from her cousin. Changing her role on tn
Z spot, she says indGerontly:
:, 81 have seen Patti so often. 1t is goO'
d of You, George, to think of me: but really
Y "Ehr' says grandmamma, making
!" praiseworthy but utterly hopeless effort 7
N turn her neck SO as to soc the fower-lik
!. you say9 Not care beg, Brenda, yo
M will not try to copy the biaSe airs that dis
g tinguish and render obnoxious the youth {
7" to-day. l think you ought to go. tn
T. tickets are bought, and l object to extrava
gancs. Certainly you should 60, if it wer
not for Disney. IL it that you think h
would objectf" anxiously.
b, ~ was not thinking of Lord Disney,
says the girl proudly.
Wilding il staring very hard at her, an
she lowers her eyes and Pushes hotly--sl
scarcely knows why. Perhaps she fears i
may see the repugnance and detestatiOn an
deep grief that dis6gure the beauty of IN
face.
Even If Brenda is to marry Lord Di
ney," says Wilding calmly, carefully pa
ticular about giving him his formal title, g
do not See"
"If," interrupts the old dame, Gercel.
"if, indeedl"
"Dost thou answer me with ifs ?'' sa,
Wilding in low tone to his cousin, who +
turns his glance with faint, a very fail
smile.
"Of course she will marry him." goes
grandmamma, shrilly. "What throw eve
a doubt upon an engagement that has LAST
since Brenda was fifteen an engagement
admirable so suitable, so splendid with +
gard to settlements 1t is like you, Georg
to disregard its Importance. girl witho
a penny; like father, like son; reckless
reckless |"
"Do yon think he will break this suital
engagement if Brenda goes to the opera wi
her sister," asks Wilding in an impossil
tone.
~ don't know, Pm sure, what he mi
think of 1t, says grandmamma, perplexe
:" You sec Disney in many ways isis
Vn centric"
Gle would be, you know, at his age
mr. says Wilding, slowly.
"What do you mean, deorgef"
6 mean eccentricity generally accompa
les old age" says Wilding obstinately.
Gle is not old. Certainly not old. He
Is, just in his prime"
10 $50 difficult to define that word prime,
70 murmurs he, provokingly. "But Of coul
''' erred. He can't be old. lie is even young
., than you grandmamma
TO- "Perhaps, after all, may as well i
Patti again before the season closes, (" pr
in Brenda, lightly. " As you seem to adv
We my going, grandmamma, ! shall acct
Georges offer"
"Well, be sure you take my latch-key
can't have my servants kept up all night
~. says Lady Molyneux, determined to susti
NV her unamiability TO its dreary end. ala
- past ten is my hour. And as Jose will
with you, you can let yourself in and go
/.