Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-02-25

the matter, my dear aunt! You seem to be
suffering under some uneasness.n
II am suffering under your conversation"
h.r ladyship answered, sharply. Money is
a sore subject with me just now,n she went
on, with her eyes on her nephew, watching
the effect of what she said. II have spent
Eve hundred pounds this morning with
scrape of my pen. And only week since I
yielded to temptation, and made an addition
to my picture gallery" She looked, as she
said those words, towards an archway at the
farther end of the room, closed by curtains
of purple velvet Il really tremble when I
think of what that one picture cost me before
Icould call it mine. A landscape by Hobbema;
and the National Gallery bidding against me-
Never mindr' she concluded, consoling her.
self, as usual with considerations that were
beneath her. ''Hobbema will sell at my
death for a bigger price than l gave for him
that's one comfortI" She looked again at
Felix; a smile of mischevous satisfaction
began to show itself in her foce. Anything
wrong with your watch chain.' she asked.
Felix. absently playing with his watch
,hain, started as If his aunt had suddenly
awakened him. While Lady Lydiard had
been speaking his vivacity had subsided little
by little, and had left him looking so serious
and so old that his most intimate friend
would hardly have known him again. Reused
by the sudden question that had been put to
him, he seemed to be casting about in his
mind in search of the first excuse for his
silence that might turn up. 81 was wonder
ing, f." he began, 'why miss something when
| look round this beautiful room; something
familiar, you know, that | fully expected to
find here"
''Tommie?" suggested Lady Lydiard, still
watching her nephew as maliciously as ever.
''That's it!n cried Felix seizing his excuse,
and rallying his spirits. ''Why don't l hear
Tommie snarling behind mel Why don't L
feel Tommie's teeth in my trousers.'
The smile vanished from Lady Lydiard's
face; the tone taken by her nephew in speak
ing of her dog was disrespectful in the ex-
treme. She showed him plainly that she dis
approved of it. Felix went on, nevertheless
impenetrable to reDroOf of the silent sort.
'Dear little Tommie So delightfully."- fat,
and such an Internal temper | don't know
whether hate him or love him. Where is
heg'
iii in bed" answered her ladyship, with
gravity which startled even Felix himself.
81 wish to speak to you about Tommie. You
know everybody. Do you know of a good
dog doctor? The person have employed so
far doesn't at al satisfy me-"
Professional person!1 inquired Felix.
eyes"
'All humbugs, my dear aunt. The worse
the dog gets the bigger the bill grows, don't
you see! ! have got the man for you-a gen
tleman. Knows more about horses and dogs
than all the veterinary surgeons put together.
We met in the boat yesterday crossing the
channel You know him by name, of course.
Lord Rotherfelds youngest son, Alfred
Hardyman."
''The owner of the stud farm! The man
who has bred the famous racehorses" cried
Lady Lydiard. ''My dear Felix, how can 1
presume to trouble such great parsonage
about my dogI'
Felix burst into his genial laugh. ''Never
was modesty more wofully out of place" he
rejoined. "Hardyman is dying to be pre-
sented to your ladyship. He had heard, like
everybody, of the magnificent decorations OF
this house, and he is longing to see them. his
chambers are close by, in Pail Mall If he is
at home we will have him here in five min
utes. Perhaps had better see the dog first!"
Lady Lydiard shook her head. Isabel
says he had better not be disturbed" she an
swered 'Isabel understands him better than
anybody"
Felix lifted his lively eyebrows with a
mixed expression of curiosity and surprise.
''Who is IsabeIr'
Lady Lydiard was vexed with herself for
carelessly mentioning Isabers name in her
nephew's presence. Felix was not the sort of
person whom she was desirous of admitting
to her confidence in domestic matters. lisa
bel is an addition to my household since you
were here last,' she answered, shortly.
young and pretty?' inquired Felix "Ahl
you look serious, and you don't answer
me. Young and pretty, evidently. Which
may 1 see first, the addition to your
household or the addition to your picture
gallery? You look at the picture gallery
am answered again. He rose to approach
the archway, and stopped at his first step
forward. "a sweet girl is dread
full responsibility, aunt" he resumed, with
an ironical assumption OF gravity. do you
know, 1 shouldn't be surprised if Isabel, in
the long run, cost you more than Hobbema.
Who is this at the doorF'
The person at the door was Robert Moody,
returned from the bank. MIR. Felix Sweet
sir, being near sighted, was obliged to fit his
eyeglass in position before he could recog-
nize the prime minister of Lady Lydiard's
household
"Ahl our worthy Moody. How well he
wears! Not a gray hair on his head-and
look at mine What dye do you use,
Moody? If he had my open disposition he
would tell. AS it is, he looks unutterable
things and holds his tongue. Ah! if could
only have held my tongue-when l was in
the diplomatic service, you know-what
position might have occupied by this time!
Don't let me interrupt you, Moody, if you
have anything to say to Lady Lydiard."
Having acknowledged Nh. Sweetsir's lively
greeting by formal bow, and grave look
of wonder which respectfully repelled that
vivacious gentleman's flow of humor, Moody
turned towards his mistress.
ssHave you got the bank notes" asked her
ladyship.
Moody laid the bank note on the table.
"Am in the wayY' inquired Felix.
ssNo.n said his aunt. 81 have a letter to
write: it won't occupy me for more than a
few minutes You can stay here, or go and
look at the Hobbema, which you please"
Felix made a second sauntering attempt
to reach the picture gallery. Arrived with
in few steps of the entrance, he stopped
again, attracted by an open cabinet of ltal-
ian workmanship filed with rare old china
Being nothing if not a cultivated amateur,
Mr.. Sweetsir paused to pay his passing trib-
ute of admiration before the contents of the
cabinet ''Charmingl charmingl" he said to
himself, with his head twisted appreciatively
a little on one side. Lady Lydiard and
Moody left him in undisturbed enjoyment of
the china, and went on with the business of
the bank note
.sOught we to take the number of the note,
in case of accidents" asked her latlyship.
Moody produced slip of paper from his
S.T took tha ,,uuhar ,,,u