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


hand in marriage" said Miss Pink. "Isabel's
mother you may not be aware of it, was the
daughter of an English clergyman"
''And Isabeps father was chemist in q
country town." added Lady Lydiard.
"Isabers father" rejoined Miss Pink, twas
attached in most responsible capacity
to the II eful and honorable profession of
medicine. Isabel is, in the strictest sense of
the word young gentlewoman. If you
contradict that for a single instant. LADY
Lydiard, you will oblige me to leave the
room"
Those last words produced a result which
Miss Pink had not anticipated-the reused
Lady Lydiard to assert herself. As usual
in such cases. she rose superior to her
own eccentricity Confronting Miss Pink,
she now spoke and looked with the gracious
courtesy and the unpresuming self-confidence
of the order to viii h she belonged.
''For Isabers own sake, and for the quiet
ing OF my conscience she answered II will
say one word more, NJ IS Pink, before I re-
lieve you of my presence. Considering my
age and my opportunities, l may claim to-
know quite as much as you do of the laws
and customs which regulate society in our
lime. Without consssi 1your riece's soei-{
position, and without "a slightest intention
which Mr.. Hardyman inherits makes it SIM :.
ply impossible for him even to think Of
marrying Isabel. You will do well not to-
give him any opportunities of meeting with
her alone. And you will do better still see-
ing that he is so near neighbor of yours il
you permit Isabel to return to my protec-
ton, for time, at least I will wait to hear
from you when you have thought the matter
over at your leisure. In the meantime, if L
have ina lvertently offended you, ask your
pardon-and wish you COOL evening"
She bowed and walked to the door. Miss
Pink, as resolute ever in maintaining her
pretensions, made an effort to match the
great lady on her own ground.
Before you go, Lady Lydiard I beg to-
apologize if have spoken too warmly on my
side," she said. "Permit me to send for your
carriage"
'Thank you. Miss Pink. Ny carriage is
only at the village inn I shall enjoy little
walk in the cool evening air. Mr.. Troy, L
have no doubt, will give me his arm." She
bowed once more, and quietly left the room.
Reaching the little back garden of the villa
through an open door at the farther end Of
the hail. Lady Lydiard found Tommie rolling
luxuriouily on Miss Pink's fower-beds, and
Isabel and Mr.. Troy in close consultation on
the gravel walk. She spoke to the lawyer
first
They are batting the horses at the inn,"
she said. II want your arm, Mr.. Troy, as
far as the village. and in return, l will take
you back to London with me. / have to ask
your advice about one two little matters
and this is a good opportunity"
with the greatest pleasure, Lady Lydiard..
suppose must say good-by to Miss Pinkg'
"a word of advice to you, Mr. Troy. Take
care how you ruffie Miss Pinks sense of her
own Importance. Another word for your
private ear-Miss Pink is foolr'
On the lawyers withdrawal, Lady Lydiardl
put her arm fondly round Isabers waist
what were you and Mr.. Troy so busy in,
talking aboutg' she asked
''We were talking, my lady, about tracing.
the person who stole the money! Isabel an
swered, rather sadly sit seems far more
difficult matter than 1 supposed it to be. l,
try not to lose patience and hope but it is a,
little hard to feel that the appearances are
against me, and to wait day after day in vain
for the discovery that is to set me right"
"You are dear, good child" said Lady
Lydiard, land you are more precious to me-
than ever. Don't despair, Isabel With Mr.
Troy's means of inquiring and with my
means of paying, the discovery of the thief
Cdu LOu 10 AluSh 4OuSSl ucldytu Ii yOu
don't return to me soon, I shall come back
and see you again. Your aunt hates the
sight of me; but don't care two straws for
that remarked her ladyship, showing the
undignifed side of her character once more
Listen to me, Isabel 1 have no wish to,
lower your aunt in your estimation, but l.
feel far more confidence in your good.
sense than in hers. Mr.. Hardyman's bus.
ness has taken him to France for the
present. 1t is at least possible that,
you may meet with him on his re-.
turn. If you do, keep him at distance, my
dear-politely, of course. There! there! you
needn't turn red; 1 am not blaming you. l.
am only giving you little good advice. In
your position you cannot possibly be too,
careful. Here is Mr.. Troy You must come
to the gate with us, Isabel, or we shall never
get Tommie away from you. l am only his;
second favorite; you have the first place in
his affections. God bless and prosper you.
my child! wish to heaven you were going.
back to London with me! Well, Mr.. Troy,
how have you done with Miss Pink? Have,
you offended that terrible gentlewoman'
hateful wordD, or has it been all the other
way, and has she given you a kiss at
partingg'
Mr.. Troy smiled mvsteriously and changed
the subject. His brief parting interview with
the lady of the house was not of a nature to
be rashly related. Miss Pink had not only
positively assured him that her visitor was
the most ill bred woman she had ever met
with, but had further accused Lady Lydiard
of shaking her confidence in the aristocracy
of her nativ country For the first time in
my life,n said Miss Pink, 81 feel that some.
thing is to be said for the republican point of
view and am not indisposed to admit that
the constitution of the United States has its
advantages"
CHAPTER XII
The conference between Lady Lydiard and
Mr.. Troy on the way back to London, led to
some practical results.
Hearing from her legal adviser that the
inquiry after the missing money was for the
moment at a standstll Lady Lydiard made
one of those bold suggestions with which she
was accustomed to startle her friends in cases
of emergency. She had heard favorable re-
ports of the extraordinary ingenuity of the
French police, and she now proposed sending
to Paris for assistance, after first consulting
her nephew, Mr.. Felix Sweetsir. ''Felix
knows Paris as well as he knows London, she
remarked. "He is an idle man, and it is quite
likely that he will relieve us of all trouble by
taking the matter into his own hands. In
any case. he is sure to know who are the
right people to address in our present neces-
SHY. What do you says"
Mr.. Troy, in reply, expressed his doubts as
to the wisdom of employing foreigners in
delicate investigation which required an &C
curate knowledge of English customs and
English character. Waving this objection,
he approved of the idea of consulting her
ladyship's nephew. 'Mr Sweetsir is MN
of the world" he said. "In putting the case
before him, we are sure to have it presented
to us from new point of view" Acting on
tuis favorable expression of opinion, Lady
Lydiard wrote to her nephew. On the day
after the visit to Miss Pink the proposed
council of three was held at Lady Lydiard's
house.
Felix, never punctual in keeping an ap-
pointment, was even later than usual on this
occasion He made his apologies with his
hand pressed on his forehead, and his voice
expressive of the languor and discourage
ment of suffering man
'The beastly English climate is telling on
my nerves." said Mr. Sweetsir; ''the horrid
weight of the atmosphere, after the exhilar-
ating air of Paris; the intolerable dirt and
dizziness of Lon Ion, you know. l was in bed,
NV dear amt when I received vour letter