Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-14
terested in any one at Maltas The Goth had gone

Miss Wentworth's old admirer and the young
lady-reported to have treated him very badly
perfectly understood the alMsion.
''Oh, are theyl" she said feiGning great inter-
est In the matter. Then the sea has put
further distance between England and your
friend, Captain Cotton7"
my friend! was he not, yours also3 have
heard him talk SO very much about you"
Greatly! tave your; wonder now If ought
to feel flattered by what you tell me-"
And the eyes Of the two speakers measured
swords 80 openly that Mrs. Rodney, who alone
had been listening to them fastened to throw
herself into the breach.
"Oh come" she said, "never mind now what
anybody else said of anybody, let US talk of
something more general. Stanhope what are
you saying to Carrier When the party is small
the conversation should go round the table,"
by all means, my dear. was asking Carrie
what could be Giles reason for not giving the
old dun cow Thorley's Food tor Cattle;' now
them"
But this arrangement not beinr satisfactory
Mrs. Rodney said they were not talking about
anything at all, $50 now let us start something
fresh"
Decidedly" said her husband. Where
upon q dead silence was maintained by
every one. and when that at length was
broken. conversation was only Kept up
spasmodically.
Captain Curzon deprived "of the endowment
Of his dinner" each dish Of which was made
bitter by the consciousness that Miss Wentworth
was watching him, felt in horribly bad tenn
per; his host was disposed to contonnd the fell
low for not being as usual 'good company"
Soon after the ladies left the table the two gen.
tlemen joined them.
THAT'S right, Hatty," said Mr.. Rodney. see
thing, do"
Miss Wentworth had q charming voice. which
she was dying to make heard, and, though she
feigned reluctance she was anything but sorry
that Stanhope had asked her.
"Hatty. beg Of you be careful what you
sing" said Mrs. Rodney. in a whisper. or
late Hatty's songs had been descriptive of the
most narrowing agony. 81 would not for the
world have you sing one of those dreadfully
pathetic things"
'whyl" said Miss Wentworth audibly Mrs.
Rodney frowned omlnously, and then with her
eyes intimated the heart-broken Curzon.
ooh, I understand" and, while seeming to
search her memory Hatty played rather STIR
ring prelude. and then burst into a popular
Il say, Hatty," Mr.. Rodney was laughing
heartily, "what on earth made you sing that?
didn't Idn think you could do anything but pile
'.surely this style must be much better suited
to Miss Wenworth;'' said Captain Curzon; ma
liciously.
1T feel duly grateful for such a fattering
opinion" said the young lady, "quite un-
by me, for chose the song out of re-
to to whom path0s is objection
IF stay here any longer shall say something
rude to that girl" though Captain Curzon,
rising hastily. Fanny" he said aloud, "the
moon is shining gloriously; are you afraid to
venture on turn in The garden with me2"
ct was just what was wishing to do;" and
with look intended to annihate Hatty, Mrs.
Rodney and her cousin stepped out through the
window.
Does not every one know how events
always happen-that the thing you most wish to
avoid is almost certain to take placer
The next morning there lay Mrs. Rodney
distracted with neuralgia utterly unable to
lift her head from the pilfow-the result of that
moonlight ramble last night; her husband off
to the meet, not expected back until tomorrow;
and Carre-who really might have had some
grain Of sympathy in the misunderstanding to
put off her visit to a sick relation because she
had written to- say she would come by an early
train. Oh. well, what might not happen it
was impossible to sayI The bare idea Of Monty
Curzon and that Hatty Wentworth having to sit
else with them-reduced poor Mrs. Rodney to
utter despair. 81 can't help it." she mOaned
"Davis, you must 60 down and tell Captain
Curzon that just at present I am not able to
raise my head from the pillow, and ask Miss
Wentworth If she will oblige me by having her
breakfast in her own room"
"But. ma'am." began Davis.
"DoD't talk to me, can't listen, 60 and give
the message as tell you"
Davis, who had but intended to explain that
Miss wentworth was already down stairs, went
of rather huffiy. OF course. If her lady wouldn't
listen. there was nothing left but for her to
obey, and she. therefore, went straight into the
morning room, at the far end Of which-divided
by the greatest space possib1e-two persons
were standing.
breakfast In my own room! Why?"
II can't tell, Miss, I'm sure that was the
message given to me, and if you please, sir,
Mrs Rodney is very IL, not able to raise her
head I rom ON, the pillow, she told me to say"
"she went by the early train, Miss, to see
Lady Maudsley. Master drove her SO far as
Hatherley, or she wouldn't have started 80
SOON"
''Then isn't Mr.. Rodney here?"
mo, sir, he has gone hunting to-day:
Groves took the horses over on Monday"
Davis disappeared-tw0 faces were left star
Ing blankly at one another.
''Breakfast is on the table, II you please"
saba voice at the open door; II won't ring the
bell because Of disturbing mistress"
"Really don't know what | am expected TO
do" said Miss Wentworth. who did not choose
to remember that this was the first morning she
had ever been down so early.
Mistress did not know that you'd be up vet,
Miss, the butler at once grasped the situation
-"Davis is gone to tell her now" and he stood
waiting while Captain Curzon assumed an ex-
pectant air that Miss Wentworth would lead SO
that he might follow.
Coffee or tea do you taker' Miss Wentworth
was seated behind the urn, the servant had left
them together.
"Thenks. Tea, if may trouble you"
'NfIlk9"
"A little"
"Sugare"
"Not any"
"What may l give your" It was CAPTAIN
Curzon's turn to make the offer.
"A piece Of dry toast"
"NOthing morei"
''Yes, small piece of butter"
And then silence, except for the ticking of
the clock and the purring of the big cat curled
up in front of the fire.
Five minutes passed; long enough, they both
thought, to seem an hour.
Vexed ss she was, Hatty felt an irresistible
desire to laugh-the effort to control herself
was almost painful. Captain Curzon, who was
so seated that he could get a perfect view Of
her face In an opposite glass, was saying to
himself, There iseno denying that this girl is
remarkably good-looking." Suddenly she
turned round. struck with the certainty that he
was watching her. Yes, she had caught his
eyes fixed In that direction; but. equal to the
emergency, Captain Curzon, although inwardly
vexed, showed no sign Of chagrin. II was
thinking" he said, contem platively, show very
different face looks in glass to the same face
reflected in an urn" And Hatty, turning her