, 1884-02-07
WoMAN's MISTAKE.


was devoted to her, and that ali the men of
her acquaintance admired her, and there
is quite sufficient reason for the enmity felt
toward her by all women less fascinating-or,
as they would have said, less clever.
In truth, Mrs. Valery was the most limo
cent little woman In the world, and it was
very easy for her to walk in the path Of yir-
tue, as she had the exceptional advantage of
being in love with her husband. But, Of
course, her female friends could not be en-
lected to believe that, though the men had
all found it out long ago, and admired her
all the more for it. She accepted their
admiration with an ease and grace all
her own; she had been a great deal
abroad, and possibly this CAV her manners
b%rilliancy and gayety. Half her girlhood
had been spent with relations in st. Peters
burg, and she spoke Russian as II she were
herself a Slav. From that gay city perhaps
she had brought her love Of social life, and
the vivacity which delighted her male ( riends.
All these things were enough TO make the
ladies of her acquaintance quite convinced
that she was Improper" and only needed to
be found out. W.
Lady Lynx lived just opposite Mrs. Valery
in Winton place. This was one reason why
she was tacitly elected as detectiye-in chief
to spy upon Mrs. Valery. But there was a
much stronger reason in the lady's willing
ness to fill that post. The husband, Sir
George Lynx, was a confirmed globe ~trotter,
a lover of almost any and but England, and
he seldom returned to the wife OF his bosom.
In his absence men treated her with but chilly
politeness, though she painted and pow
dered, and dressed to perfection. Yet
Mrs Yalery, though her husband was a stay
at-home, had a constant train of admirers.
Lady Lynx was convinced that there was
more in this than met the eye; she devoted
herself to Mrs Valery, became her most init
mate friend, and resolved that some day she
would outwit and expose her.
On n certain afternoon, when the season
was at its height, Lady Lynx came into Mira
Valery's drawing-room.
"Sir George is coming home today" she
said.
Mrs. Valery looked up with an air of in.
terest.
-IndeedH she said; II shall be glad to make
his acquaintance"
81 don't know at what time,n said Lady
Lynx, "or l would go and meet him. But l
must sit at home and watch from my window
for the wandering knights return
VIII he come to Charing Crosr' asked
Mrs. Valery.
"Yes," said Lady Lynx. 1Whyl" r.
ooh, nothing, said Mrs. Valery, carelessly,
Aonly that L have to go and meet a friend
there this afternoon. must start soon" she
added, looking at her watch.
"You nave to meet a friend theref' said
Lady Lynx. a.at ~
Yes" said Mrs. Valery; then with a laugh,
COR rather, l should say, a stranger. 1t
seems absurd, but l AVE to meet a gentle
man whom l have never seen.D
at docs seem absurd, indeed said Lady
Lynx, echoing the laugh mechanically. Her
thoughts went ranging back over Sir
Georges frequent absences; had Mrs. Valery
been abroad when he was awayi Yes; a
hundred times. Doubtless they met in many
a continental resort, and were old acquiant-
ances. t| 40 lE
at is absurd, yet true" said Mrs. Valery,
indiferently. you know l have a great
many old friends in st. Petersburg. Well,
one Of these writes me that a certain Russian
gentleman will arrive in London this after
noon, and will be utterly lost unless l take
pity on him and go to meet him He believes
that no one In England speaks anything but
English. To a certain extent he is right; but
will find 1t difficult to get along with the cab
men and porters at Charing Gross; they
don't generally speak French. So l must go,
and ut least send him to an hotel where he
will be understood"
s''What a queer thing to ask you to dor said
Lady Lynx, looking at Mrs. Valery with an
expression which said as plainly as possible,
Do you think Pm an absolute fooli "And
are you really going to meet him in the sta
ton and shake hands with all the men in the
train on CHANGER she asked.
mo, not quite that" said Mrs. Valery,
with another laugh. "He will go to the
Charing Cross hotel for tonight. l will
ask for him there, bring him home to dinner
If he looks nice; in any case give him some
little information about this Wilderness of a
London. Mr.. Valery has found me some
addresses for him; one or two hotels where
the people are French. It's a pity Frank
cant go with me-"
at is, indeedT' said lady Lynx, dryly.
II really must run awayl" said Mrs. Val
cry, again consulting her watch; "pm very
sorry TO seem rude"
"Ohl not at all, " said Lady lynx, rising to
go. Her mind was working busily. Why
had Sir George said that he should be home
some time in the evening, probably to din
nerf He had mentiond Charing Cross. 1t
is absurd to suppose that he did not know
what train he should come by. The thing
seemed more ridiculous the more she thought
of It. OF course he knew when ne would al
rive-but he did not want her to. That
seemed clear.
She walked up to the top of Winton place,
took n hanson, and told the man to drive to
the Chnring Cross hotel. Arrived there, she
entered, and said she expected a gentleman
10 meet her in a few moments, adding that
she would like to wait in the coffee-room.
Her heart beat high with excitement as she
went in. Was she about to discover some
thingl Was the amateur detective about to
be rewarded by a great SUGGEST She gloried
in the thought Of how instantly she had seen
through Mrs. Valery's absurd story, which
she concluded had been told her in case by
any mischance she should come to meet her
own husband. sos,
No one was in the coffee-room. 1t was an
hour at which meals were not wanted. SO
much the better, thought Lady Lynx. She
went to m armchair in an obscure corner of
the room and established herself there, pro-
vidfng herself with a newspaper with which
to screen her face. She was nov prepared to
wait for what time might bring forth.
Meantime Mrs. Valery had put on her bon
net and driven down to the same place in her
little brougham. A very short time later
after Lady Lynx had settled herself in the
coffee-room Mrs. Valery walked into the
hotel and inquired whether a count of an
unp~ronounoeable name had arrived. After
considerable consultation and much
mental effort the waiter informed her
that a foreign gentleman whose name was
like a sneeze certainly had come to the hotel,
taken a room and gone TO n. But he had not
said that he expected a lady to see him, for
the very good reason that he could speak no
language but his own, which no one in the
hotel understood.
40, nonsensel He speaks French" said Mrs.
Valery, with a laugh. However, he expects
me to in~terTset for him. l will write him a
line on this card, II you will take il up to him.
l will wait in the coffse-room, and when he
comes down show him in there"