Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-19
CHAPTER yL.


haved dogln when sound Of small objects
overthrow in the hall, and scuIrying of
furious claws across the oil cloth, announced
that Tommie had invaded the house As
the servant appeared, introducing Lady
Lydiard, the dog ran in. He made one fran
tic leap at Isabel, which would certainly
have knocked her down but for the chair
that happened to be standing behind her.
Received on her lap, the faithful crea ure
half smothered her with his caresses. He
barked, he shrieked, in his joy at seeing her
again. He jumped off her lap and tore
round and round the room at the top of his
speed, and every time he passed Miss Pink he
showed the whole range OF his teeth, and
snarled ferociously at her ankles. Having
at last exhausted his superfuous energy, he
leaped back again on Isarels lap, with his
tongue quivering Ia his open mouth, his
tail wagging softly, and bis eye on Miss
Pink, inquiring how she 70 dog in her
drawing room.
81 hope my dog has not disturbed you,
na'am!" said Lady Lydiard, advancing from
THO mat at the doorway, on which she had
pa ientIy waited until the raptures of Tom
mic sub ided in, o repose
Miss PINK, trembling with terror and in
indignation, acknowledged LAZY Lydiards
pOlltS ulQullJ ny Il CcItlllOuiOuS OOW. duU an
answer which administered by implication
a dignifed reproof. Your ladyship's dog
does not appear % be very well trained
animal" the ex-schoolmistress remarked.
well trained?' Lady Lydard repeated,
as if the expression were perfectly unintel-
igible to her; Il don't think you have had
much experience of dogs, ma'am Shs
turned to lsaoel and embraced her tenderly
''Give me a kiss, my dear. You don't know
how wretched l have been since you left
me-" She looked back again at Miss Pink
''You are not, perhaps, aware, ma am, that
my dog is devotedly attached to your niece.
A dogs love has been considered by many
great men Whose names at the moment
escape mel as the most touching and disin-
terested of all earthly affections" She
looked the other way, and discovered the
lawyer. How do you do, Mr.. Troya It's a
pleasant surprise to find you here The
house was so dull without isabel that really
couldn't put off seeing her any longer
When you are more used to Tommie, Miss
Pink you will understand and admire him
You understand and admire him, Isabel,
don't you? My child, you are not looking
well. 1 shall take you back with me when
the horses have had their rest. We shall
never be happy away from each other"
Having expressed her sentiments, distrib-
uted her greetings, and defended her dog
all, as it were in one breath-Lady Lydiard
sat down by Isabel's side, and opened large
green fan that hung at her girdle. You
have no idea, Miss Pink, how fat people
suffer in hot weather." said the old lady,
using her fan vigorously.
Miss Pink's eyes dropped modestly to the
ground-"fat" was UGH a coarse word to use,
if lady must speak of her superfuous flesh!
MAY I offer some refreshments Miss
Pink asked, mincingly. "A cup of teal"
Lady Lydiard shook her head.
"A glass of water?'
Lady Lydiard declined this last hospitable
proposal with an exclamation of disgust.
'Have you got any beer?" she inquired
II beg your Iadyship's pardon, said Miss
Pink, doubling the evidence of her own ears.
"Did you say-beer"
Lady Lydiard gesticulated vehmently with
her fan. eyes, to be sure! Beer! beer!"
Miss Pink rose, with countenance express
sive of genteel diseust, and rang the bell.
II think you have beer downstairs. SusanT'
she said. when tt .raaid O. cared at the door.
Eyes, miss
"a glass of beer for Lady Lydiard," said
Miss Pink under protest
Bring it in Jug shouted her ladyship,
as the maid left the ROOM ~ like to froth it
up for myself she continued, addressing
Miss Pink Isabel sometimes does it for me,
when she is at home; don't you. my deara'
Miss Pink had been waiting her opportu-
nifty to assert her own claim to the possession
of her own niece from the time when Lady
Lydiard had coolly declared her intention of
taking Isabel back with her. The opportu-
nifty now presented itself
"Your ladvship will pardon me-" she said,
eff remark that my niece's home is under
my humble roof. I am pronerly sensible, l
hope, of your kindness to Isabel; but while
she remains the object of disgraceful sus-
picion, she remains with me-"
Lady Lydiard closed her fan with an angry
snap.
You are completely mistaken, Miss Pink
You may not mean it but you speak most
unlustly If you say that your niece Is an OBJ
ject OF suspicion to me or to anybody in my
house
Mr.. Troy. quietly listening up to this point,
now interposed to stop the discussion before
it could degenerate into quarrel. His keen
observation, aided by his accurate knowl-
edge of his clients character, had plainly re-
vealed to him what was passing in Lady
Lydiard's mind She had entered the house,
feeling perhaps unconsci6usly) jealousy OF
Miss Pink as her predecessor in Isabel's affec-
lions, and as the natural protectress OF the
girl under existing circumstances. Miss
Pink's reception of her dog had additionally
1rritated the old lady. She had taken mall
cious pleasure in shocking the school mis-
tress' sense of propriety, and she was now
only too ready to proceed to further e1-
tremities on the delicate question Of Isabers
justification for leaving her house. For
lsabel's own sake, therefore-to say nothing
OF other reasons-it was urgently desirable
to keep the peace between the two ladies.
With this excellent object in view, Mr.. Troy
seized his opportunity of striking into the
conversation for the first time.
Pardon me, Lady Lydiard" he said,
'you are speaking of a subject which has
been already sufficiently discussed between
Miss Pink and myself think we shall do
better not to dwell uselesSly on mast events.
but to direct our attention to the future.
We are all equally satisfied of the complete
rectitude of Miss Isabel's conduct, and we
are all equally interested in the vindication
of her good name"
Whether these temperate words would of
themselves have exercised the pacifying in
fuence at which Mr. Troy aimed may be
doubtful But, as he ceased speaking,
powerful auxiliary appeared in the shape of
the beer Lady Lvdiard seized on the jug.
and filed the tumbler for herself with an
unsteady hand Miss Pink, trembling for
the integrity of her carpet, and scandalized
at seeing peeress drinking beer like wash
erwoman. forgot the sharp answer that was
ju t rising to her lips when the lawyer inter-
fered 'Smalli" said Lady Lydiard, setting
down the empty tumbler and referring to
the quality of the beer. "But very pleasant
and refreshing What's the servants namea
Susans Well, Susan, was dying of thirst,
and you have saved my life. You can leave
the Jug; dare say l shall empty it before
60"
Mr. Troy, wa itching Miss Pink's face, saw
that it was time to change the subject again.
Ibid you notice the old village, Lady Lyd-
lard, on your way herep he asked 1.-THE
artists consider it one of the most picturesque
places in England"
II no iced that it was very dirty village
Lady Lydiard answered, still bent on making
herself disagreeable to Miss Pink 1.-THE art
lists may say what they please; see nothing
to admire in rotten cottages and bad drain
age and ignorant people. I suppose the
neighborhood has its advantages It looks
dull enough, to my mind"
Isabel had hitherto modestly restricted her
exertions to keeping Tommie quiet on her
Oh