Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-03-11
MY LADY'N MONEY
By WILKIE COLLINS.
~ Episode IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG GIRL
PART THE FIRST.
THE DISAPPE ARASCE
By WILKIE COLLINS.
THE DISAPPEAR A y c z
CONTINUED
CHAPTER VI.


For quarter of an hour the drawing room
remained empty. At the end of that time
the council in the boudor broke up. Lady
Lydard led the way back to the drawing
room, followed by Hardyman, Isabel being
left to look after the dog Before the door
closed behind him Hardyman turned round
to reiterate his last medical directions, or in
palmer words to take last look at Isabel
Plenty of water, Miss Isabel, for the dog
to lap, and little bread or biscuit if he
wants something to eat. Nothing more, if
you please, till see him tomorrow"
THANK you, sir. | will take the greatest
care"
At that point Lady Lydiard cut short the
interchange of instructions and civilities.
shut the door, if you please, Mr.. Hardy
man, feel the draught. Many thanksl |
am really at a loss to tell you how CRATE
fully / feel your kindness. But for you my
poor little dog might have been dead by this
time
Hardyman answered, in the quiet melan-
choly monotone which was habitual
with him, Your ladyship need feel no
further anxiety about the dog. Only be
careful not to overfeed him. He will do
very well under Miss Isabers care BY the
by. her family name is Miller, is it not Is
She related to the Warwickshire Millers, of
Duxborough Housep
Lady Lydiard looked at him with an ex-
preston of satirical surprise. "Mr. Hardy
man." she said, ''this makes the fourth time
you have questioned me about Isabel. You
seem to take great interest in my little
companion. Don't make any apologies,
pray. You pay Isabel a compliment; and as
] am very fond of her, | am naturally graft
fed when find her admired. At the same
time, F" she added, with one of her abrupt tran
sitions of language, Il had my eye on you and
/ had my eye on her when you were talking
in the next room, and | don't mean to let YOU
make fool of the girl She is not in your
line of life, and the sooner you know it the
better. You make me laugh when you ask
if she is related to gentlefolkS. She is the
orphan daughter of a chemist in the country.
Her relations haven't a PENNY to bless them
selves with, except an old aunt, who lives in
a village on two or three hundred year. |
heard of the girl by accident. When she
lost her father and mother, her aunt
offered to take her. Isabel said: No, thank
you; will not be a burden ON relation who
has only enough for herself. A girl can earn
an honest living If she tries, and | mean to
try'-that's what she said. / admired her in
dependence, her ladyship proceeded, ascend
ing again to the higher regions of thought
and expression. 'My niece'S marriage, just
at that time, had left me alone in this great
house. proposed to Isabel to come to me as
companion and reader for a few weeks.
and TO decide for herself whether she liked
the life or not. We have never been separat-
ed since that time l could hardly be fonder
of her if she were my own daughter and she
returns my affection with all her heart She
has excellent qualities-prudent cheerful,
sweet-tempered; with good sense enough to
understand what her place is in the world, as
distinguished from her place in my regard
| have taken care, for her own sake never to
leave that part of the question in any doubt
1t would be cruel kindness to deceive her as
to her future position when she marries. |
shall take good care that the man who paws
his addresses to her is man in her rank of
life. / know but too well, in the case of one
of my own relatives, what miseries UNEQUAL
marriages bring with them. Excuse me for
troubling you at this length on domestic
matters i am very fond of Isabel, and
girls head is so easily turned. Now you
know what her position really is, you will
also know what limits there must be to the ex-
preston of your interest in her | am sure
we understand each other; and | say no
more"
Hardyman listened to this long harangue
with the immovable gravity which was part
of his character-except when Isabel had
taken him by surprise. When her ladyship
gave him the opportunity of speaking on his
side he had very little to say, and that little
did not suggest that he had greatly profited
by what he had heard His mind had been
full of Isabel when Lady Lydard began, and
it remained just as full of her, i'll just the
same way when Lady Lydiard had done
Yes, lie remarked, quietly, Miss Isabel
Is an uncommonly nice girl. a. you say
manners l don't deny that feel an in
terest in her. The Young ladies one meets in
society are not much to my taste Miss Isabel
is my taste"
Lady Lydiard's face assumed a look OF
blank dismay. 81 am afraid | have failed TO
convey nay exact meaning to you" she said
Hardyman gravely declared that he under
stood her perfectly. Perfectly" be repeated,
with his impenetrable obstinacy. 'i our
ladyship exactly expresses my opinion of Miss
Isabel Prudent and cheerful and sweet
tempered. as you say--all the qualities in a
woman that l admire With good looks, too
of course with good looks She will be
perfect treasure (as you remarked just now
TO the man who marries her. l may claim
to know something about it. / have twice
narrowly escaped being married myself; ana
though can't evactlv ayplaiu II I'm all the