The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-05-14
GARRETT SYLVESTE1ss
CHAPTER III.
OF

CttAPlER LII.
Hereward finds breakfast laid in the library
when he comes down the next morning. The
heavy curtains are drawn back now from the
large window which occupies the whole of
the upper end of the room, and the wide
snowy landscape without looks like picture
framed i'll their dark-green folds. The little
Doctor, whom Hcreward fancies acts rs
major-domo at kingscourt generally, occu-
pies the rug with the morning paper in his
hand. But Hereward is long time finding
out things which girl in his position would
have mustered in few hours. Nobody tells
him anything and he will not ask in fact,
just ct this period, he does not trouble his
head about any ones affairs but his own.
He stands in the window looking out,
while they wait-he knows not for what or
whom. The Doctor, with his little red face
and bald head shining almost as brightly rs
his spectacles, holds the newspaper spread
aloft in his fat hands and scans its columns
for whatever items may possess for him most
interest. great many letters lie on the
breakfast-table, but not one among them
bears Hereward's name. His correspondence
is not large.
He stands in the window in his favorite at
titude, with his hands in his pockets, a not
too pleasing expression on his dark face.
The ice IS being broken again on the lake for
the swans, and the water beneath shows inky
black through the apertures Tho snow is
thawing slightly under the direct rays of the
sun, and drips from the heavily laden cedar
just outside the window A peacock stands
close to the glass; waiting for his breakfast
perhaps. He has left broad-arrow impress
sions of his feet all over the snow on the win
dow-sill, which is, in fact, the first of r long
flight of stone steps leading down, with oc-
casional breaks of terrace, to the edge of the
lake. The tufted brown woods, with their
lace-ike ENHANCEMENT of bare branches ris-
ing against the sky, look almost warm, trans
figured by the sunshine. The ice throws
back the light from its steely surface as daz-
zlingly as water itself. The snow glitters
like silver on the bays and laurels and Chill
pines scattered about the lawn.
81 wish these good people would come
down. I'm as hungry as n hound ~ exclaims
the little Doctor at last, giving the fire
vigorous poke, which sends o shower of
sparks cracking up the chimney. The wood
fires at Kingscourt are splendid-wood is one
of the few things of which there is still plenty
about the place.
Hereward is hungry too, but not sociablc
enough to make the admission. But the en-
trance of Lord Heriot at this moment renders
an answer unnecessary. The Viscount looks
older by daylight there arc lines on his
smooth face which show that it is not alto
gether that of o boy-the Psernge gives his
age as three and-twenty. He wears u suit of
brown this morning-he affects brown cloth
ing-and fox's tooth as q breast-pin.
''No sign of thaw!' he exclaims Grossly,
taking up position before the fire. "Ihe
horses will eat their heads off. l do hate
snow"
Two ladies enter the room while he is
speaking, and Hereward frowns ut this unex-
pected and undesired addition to the party.
The first who enters is tall slim girl of
perhaps two-and-twenty the second is Frau
lein Schauffenhoff. The girl is dressed in
gown of dark blue serge, made long and
plain as riding habit, and wears great
bunch of violets in her belt. Her very fair
hair curls closely all over her head, and
down almost to the faint eyebrows, which lie
in - straight line above her large, cold, blue
eyes. The slightly acquiline nose, the small
mouth with its naughty curve are identical
with those of the Gainsborough in the next
room. Hereward, glancing at her from his
retreat i'll the window, recognizes in mo-
ment his apparition of the night before.
Breakfast lasts an intolerably long time,
Hereward thinks, accustomed to scratch meals
Mt College. Beyond the first chill bow when
she came into the room, Lady Gladys takes
no notice of him whatever-inores him as
utterly as though he were not present. Her
brothers tutor is person of small siSniii-
canoe in her eyes, much smaller than the
peacock, and infinitely smaller than the
long-haired Russian terrier who occupies
chair beside her at the breakfast-table She
is for the most part occupied with her letters,
carelessly reading through half-a-dozen
crested epistles. She does not talk, nor does
Lord Heriot, much; but the German gov
erness and the Doctor more than make up
for any silence on their part. Perhaps they
think it incumbent upon them to keep up the
conversation. The Fraulein presides at the
urn, and the Doctor carves the cold sirloin
vigorously. Hereward finds himself called
upon to do nothing but eat his breakfast,
which he does.
''What beastly weather." Lord Heriot re-
marks, while the servant is changing his
plate ''By the way, I've asked Cartwright
over to luncheon. 1 told him we would try
the ice on the lake to-day, if it didn't thaw.
suppose it will bear?"
81 should think so. It looks substantial
enough where they have broken it. 1t looks
as slippery as glass too"
$50 much the better. / wonder whether
the fellow can skate. He thinks he can do
everything under the sun. Do you skate :"
Lord Heriot turns to Hereward.
81 have not had skate on since was in
Russia"
Shave you been in Russia, Mr.. Hereward ?"
asked the Fraulein with interest
''Yes, on engineering business, two years
ago."