Sword and shield., 1885-02-28

"Do You think he wouldl" she asked,
hopeful once more.
II think he generally does what you
and the Mistress ask him. he answered
her
..Yes, he does"-with sigh not of un-
happiness this time.
And you will try not to worry about it
any morel'
"Yes. I'll try; only. Berthe, last night
you said You were angry, and yon SAID at
terwards that hurt you; but"
Now. If Bertram Lord Culyelton was
ANYTHING. he was truthful; and, as he
could not conscientiously say he had been
neither angry nor panied. and as he did
not wish to hear anything more on the
subject. he deemed it wiser to stop his
small tender-hearted fomcee'$ self accusa-
tions first by kissing her. and then by lift
| ing her on TO her feet
"Coukln't you take me for drive" he
asked. "lon know have not been here
for five years. and | want to look about a
little"
I'VE might have the Norwich cart and
the cob" she answered.
"1hen. if you will 90 aud get Il hat on,
] will order it." he SAID: ';ud don't be
long"
So they went for long drive, during
which he petted her and made so much
of her that she almost forge such a per-
son rs Hermone Cave Fox lived, until as
they were returning rapidly through
the village, being rather late for lunch
they passed strange lady dressed i'll
delicate crcam-color from head to foot. to
whom Culverton raised his hat Dolly
sank back. white and trembling; and Cul-
vertm laughed.
There's your bug bear. my pet. Not
50 formidable. after all. is shef
.-She is the most beautiful woman | cy-
er saw in my life, said Dolly, with quiy-
ering lips.
'EYou are neither more nor less than
little fool, Polly" said Lord Culyerton
teasingly.
perhaps am. returned Dolly hambly,
'.but ! can't help il indeed"
However. after lunch. when Dolly went
with her father to Drane Ella station to
meet Jasper. Culvelton took the Mistress
into his confidence.
"Mother." he began. .'elo yon consider
that Dolly is very nervous"
MOT 1T AL" returned Mrs. Nugent
promptly. she never knew what fear
was"
but She seems to have an absolutely
unconquerable apprehension Of these pco-
pie who have taken the Villa. She talks
Of Il feeling Of coming i'll and al that; ; and,
indeed. cannot reason her ont of il. We
passed Miss Cave-Fox ii the yillnge this
morning. aud | was afraid Dolly would
burst into tears before her"
We'll it is rather strange. is il not, Cul-
verton. that they should have fixed upon
Deane Ella rs a dwelling Place" ~hr said
gravcly.
oh. l know what they've come for
he answered, rcddcliAg Il little. ..Bnt
then. You know mother. | don't wish Dolly
to be worried about it. SIZE seems %
thoroughly impressed with tire fact that
we Culverton's are tnlucky in our mar
riages. and the story II her auiii'- loyc for
my father, has taken such q hold upoH her
that a very little attention to me on Miss
FoN's part viii, l am afraid. make Dolly
very restless and unhappy. ! suggested
this morning that we should he married
at once-m a week or 50: but she was un-
willing todo that-afraid OF being laughed
at. l fancy. So l have promised her that
if She is at all uneasy III regard 20 these
peoples behavior. ] viii go to the Lodge
and stay there until The end Of Septem
ber"
"You are u good boy. *e1tie." said Mrs.
Nugent with tears in her eyes
Cnlverton possessed himself of her hand
and went ON With his STORY, IT tie point of
which he was iu~t arriving.
But you know. moth dear. i;'s very
hard upon me to have to go to lonely
house in the Highlands for some two
months. Now don't yen honestly think it
isf
We'll. yes; il is-vr'} bard ~fe a.
mitted
Then don't You think You might pcr-
snade the Squire to lfins Dolly ur there
for a few weeks am ,n'e yon col!d if
you tried
I'll might bc managed, She answered.
smiling at the roundabout way IN which
lie had reached his point. III 10 the hest
! can for you. Bertie; only take care Of
my darling Your father was very much
in love with Dolly's aunt
but he was Sin years Younger than |
am and have the result Of his love
match before me. | wonder how many
times he wished for his first love back
again? Beside that have seen Her 7
mione constantly during the past three /
years. l have not seen Dolly fol. five"
II 10 not doubt you for Ii moment. cried T
Mrs. Nugent hastily y-.nd for momet I
lou must not think that
Thank you. said Culvel.ton gratefully. T
In the excitement of .Iaspcr'5 return the T
new comers were almost forgotten; and T
50 three days passed. nntil sunday once I
more came round. 1t happened that Mrs. T
Nugent. keeping in mind that Mrs and
Miss Cave Fox had come TO Dean Lila for
the sole purpose Of securing that splendid
4
if It was possible for them 10 do So, had
not been outside her own gardens on foot,
in order that She might put eff the evil
lay Of NE ting them as long as possible.
In furtherance Of the same project, she
to the Squire that, since the
morning was 50 fine. she should really
ike to drive over to Allathorpe to hear
Mr.. Paget preach-she could trust Dolly.
,he knew. to keep ont Of their way And
80. just at half past trr--indeed after the
oells had ceased Ginning Dolly with Cul-
rerton and Jasper, went up the narrow
path AMI entered the editice
" the little door which led into the chan
;el.
Now, although the church at Dean Ella
vas so compete that it possessed 4 chancel
With carved oak stalls at either side.which
: somewhat unusual in u little country
'ilage. there was not a surpliced choir
therefore the row Of stalls ON either side
lie chanccl were occupied, the one by lhe
iouse people. the other by those from the
'icarage.
Dolly in a white dress. ane WIN rtre
'hlte bonnet upon her golden hair, walked
\ first, and took the third seat from the
ongregation one She usually occu-
led; Jasper followed her and CulveIton
anne last
Miss Cave Fox.watrhing the whole par
from the front pew with keen black
yes, saw Culycrton whisper something to
asner who half laughed, and, passing
'oliy, seated himself in the end stall,