The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-02-04
by wili<ie Collins.
Of
BEFORE THE STORY.

The doctors could do no more for the
Downger Lady Berrick.
When the medical advisers OF the
lady, who has reached seventy years Of
age, recommend the mild climate Of
the south of France, they mean in plain
language that they have arrived ct the
end of their resources. Her ladyshir
gave the mild climate fair trial, and
then decided las she herself expressed
III to Idle at home" Travelling slow
ly, she had reached Paris at the date
when I last heard Of her. 1t was then
the beginning Of November. A week
later I met with her nephew, Lewis Ro-
mayne, at the club.
"What brings you to London at this
time Of year2" asked.
1.-The fatality that pursuss me-" he
answered, grimly. 81 am one Of the
unluckiest mon living"
He was thirty years old; he was not
married ho was the enviable possessor
Of the fine old country seat called
vange Abbey he had no poor relations
and he was one of the handsomest men
In England. When I add that am
myself retired army officer, with q
wretohsd income, disagreeable wife,
four ugly ohildron and burden OF
fifty years on my back, no ono will be
surprised to hear that answered Ro-
mayne with bitter sincerity, in these
words:
81 wish to heaven I could change
places with you'll"
" wish to heaven you could " he
BURT out, with equal sincerity on his
side. Read that"
He handed me- letter addressed to
him by the travelling medical attendant
Of Lady Derrick. After resting in Paris
the patient had continued her home
ward journey as far as Boulogne. In
her suffering condition she was liable
to sudden fits of caprice. An insur-
mountable horror OF tho Channel pas.
sage had got possession of her; sha
positively refused to be taken ON board
the steamboat. In this difficulty the
lady who occupied the post OF her
companion" had ventured ON sug-
gestion. Would Lady Berriok consent
to make the Channel passage if her
nephew came to Boulogne expressly to
accompany her on the voyage The
reply had been so Immediately favorable
that the doctor lost no time in COM
municating with Mr.. Lewis Romayne.
This was the substance OF the letter.
1t was needless to ask any more ques.
tions. Romayne was plainly on his way
to Boulogne. I gave him some useful
information.
"Try the oysters. said, sat the res
taurant on the pier"
He never even thanked me. Ho was
thinking entirely of himself.
"Just look at my position" he said.
~ detest Boulogne I cordially share
my aunts horror Of the Channel pas
sage; I had looked forward to some
months of happy retirement in the
country among my books, and what
happens to me? I am brought to Lon
don in the season Of fogs, to travel by
the tidal train at seven tomorrow morn
ing-and all for woman with whom !
have no sympathies in common. If am
not an unlucky man, who is?"
he spoke In tone OF vehement irri-
tation which seemed to me, under the
circumstances, to be simply absurd.
But my nervous system is no. the irri-
table system-sorely tried by night
study and strong tea-of my friend Ro-
mayns. "It's only matter Of two days, "
remarked by way of roconciling him
to his situation.
How do know that ?" he retorted.
In two days the weather may be
stormy. In two days she may be too ill
to be moved. Unfortunately, 1 am her
leir ; and I am told must submit to
any whim that seizes her. Tn rich
enough already; I don't want her
money. Besides, I dislike all travelling
and especially travelling slono. You
are an idle man. II you were a good
friend, you would offer to go with me-
He added, with the delicacy which was
one Of the redeeming points in his way
ward character, '"Of course, as my
guest"
i had known him long enough not Ia
take offense at his reminding me, in thii
oonsiderate way, that I was a poor
man. The proposed change of scene
tempted me. What did care for the
Channel passage2 Besides. there was
the irresistible attraction Of getting
away from homo. The end of 1t wal
that I accepted Romayne's invitation.