Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-08
MY LADY'S MONEY
BY w1LKIE COLLINS.
n EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG GIRL
PART THE SECOND
THE DISCOV
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XVI
THE DIS GOV RY
CHAPTER XVI.

Paving bis court % the X-schoOlmistreSs
on the next day, Hardyman made such excel
lent use of his opportunities that the visit to
the stud farm took place on the day after.
His own carriage was placed at the disposal
of Isabel and her aunt, and his own sister
was present to confer special distinction on
the reception of Miss Pink.
In a country like England, which annually
suspends the sitting of its legislature i'll honor
of a horse race, it is only natural and proper
that the comfort of the horses should be the
first object of consideration at a stud farm.
Nine-tenths of the land at Hardyman'S farm
were devoted, i'll one way or another, to the
noble quadruped with the low forehead and
the long nose Poor humanity was satisfied
with second rate and third rate accommoda-
ton. The ornamental grounds. very poorly
laid out, were also very limited III EXTENT
and as for the dwelling house, it was literally
a cottage. A parlor and a kitchen, a smok-
ing room, a bedroom and a spare chamber
for friend, all scantily furnished, sufficed
for the modest wants of the owner of the
property If you wished to feast your eyes
on luxury you went to the stables
The stud farm being described, the intro
duction of Hardymans sister follows in due
course.
The Hon. Lavinia Hardyman was as all
persons in society know, married rather late
in life to Gen. Drumblade 1t is saying
great deal, but it is not saying too much to
describe Mrs. Drumblade as the most. mis-
chievOus woman Of her age in all England.
Scandal was the breath of her life: to place
people in false positions, to divulge secrets
and destroy characters, to undermine friend.
ships and aggravate enmities-these were the
sources Of enjoyment from which this dam
gerOus woman drew the inexhaustible fund
Of good spirits that made her brilliant
light in the social sphere. She was one of
the privileged sinners of modern society.
The worst mischief that she could work was
ascribed 10 her 'exuberant vitality" She
had that ready familiarity of manner which
Is lin her class SO rarely discovered to be
insolence in disguise Her power of easy
self-assertion found people ready to accept
her on her own terms wherever she went.
She was one of those big, overpowering
women, with blunt manners, voluble tongues
and google eyes, who carry everything be-
fore them. The highest society modestly
considered itself in danger of being dull in
the absence of Mrs. Drumblade. Even
Hardyman himself-who saw as little of her
as possible whose frankly straightforward
nature recoiled by instinct from contact
with his sister-could think of no filter per-
son to make Miss Pink's reception agreeable
to her while be was devoting his own atten-
tions to her niece. Mrs. Drumblade accepted
the position thus offered with the most ami
able readiness In her own private mind sRe
placed an Interpretation on her brothers
motives which did him the grossest injustice.
She believed that Hardyman's designs on
Isabel contemplated the most profiigate re-
suit. To assist this purpose, while the girls
nearest relative was supposed to be taking
care of her, was Mrs. Drumblades idea of
fun Her worst enemy admitted that the
Honorable Lavinia had redeeming qualities,
and owned that keen sense of humor was
one of her merits.
Was Miss Pink a likely person to resist the
destinations of Mrs Drumblade. Alas for
the ex-schoolmistress! Before she had been
five minutes at the farm Hardymans sister
had fished for her, caught her, landed her
Poor Miss Pink
Mrs Drumblade could assume a grave
dignity of manner when the occasion called
for it. She was grave, she was dignifed,
when Hardyman performed the ceremonies
of Introduction. She would not say she was
charmed 70 meet Miss Pink-the ordinary
slang of society was not for Miss Pinll's ears
she would say she felt this introduction as
a privilege. 1t was so seldom one met with
persons of trained intellect in society. Mrs.
Drumblade was already informed of Miss
Plnk's earlier triumphs in the instruction of
youth. Mrs Drumblade had not been
blessed with children herself; but she had
nephewS and nieces, and she was anxious
about their education, especially the nieces.
What a sweet, modest girl Miss Isabel was
The fondest wish she could form for her
nieces would be that they should resemble
Miss Isabel when they grew up. The ques-
ton was as TO the best method of education.
She would own that she had selfish motives
in becoming acquainted with Miss Pink.
They were at the farm, no doubt, to see
Alfred's horses. Mrs. Drumblade did not I'M
derstand horses; her interest was in the
question Of education. She might even
confess that she had accepted Alfred's in
Vitation in the hope of hearing Miss
Pink's views There would be opportIini-
ties, she trusted, for little instructive con-
versation on that subject. 1t was, perhaps,
ridiculous to talk, at her age of feeling as If
ste We're Miss Pink's pupil and yet it ex.
actly expressed the nature of the aspiration
which was then in hsr mind. IN these terms
feeling her way with the utmost nicely, Mrs.
Drumblade wound the net of iattery round
and round Miss Pink, until her hold on that
innocent lady was, in every sense OF the
word, secure Before half the horses had been
passed under review Hardyman and Isabel
were out of sight, and Mrs. Drumblade and
Df,,l- Ia H.. Sat. Of