New-York tribune., 1889-10-20
/ II.

TEL me how much you know about the Field
ings," he said TO Hugh next evening az soon as
he decently could. g feel rather interested in
them somehow. Miss Fielding, for instance: have
you ever had much conversation with her ?'
I've hardly ever spoken to her since she came
out said Hugh. met them in the country
last autumn. and saw something of them because
were staying in the same house But Miss
Fielding seemed a mere child then, and seldom
opened her lips
SUN if you were staying in the same house."
said Kemp rather irrtated at this bald statement,
"you must occasionally have had opportunities OF
judging what she was like. Had you never the
curiosity to address word to herr"
Oh, yes, of course ! have spoken to her. /
only meant to say that our acquaintance with one
another is very slight She always seemed very
much in awe Of her mother and her governcss; but
of course it was not supposed 60 b. the thing for
her to speak much TO young men while she was IN
that transition period"
Did you think her interestingly asked Kemp
don't know that thought So" replied his
friend. with considering air; " but she may be,
o" Did YOU like her 2, persisted the other rather
sharply; for il had occasionally struck him that
the young man wore his imperturbabilitY as q
kind of useful mask to conceal all his emotions.
o6 mpeh looked up in SO some soi5 5lnrprde nd Ko Yes
just rs wise as ne had been before. 81 liked
her he remarked after pause, better than any
girl have met since ] came back TO England And
| can't help pitving her for being tied to that
awful old mother of hers am sure she is made
miserable from morning to night-in fact, she
almost admitted rs much TO me-: though Of course
she could not tell me that that WAS IN" reason
" She never looks particularly cheerful" admit
TED Hugh. He became silent for some minutes
after this remark, and Kemp thought that the mat
ter had passed our of his head: but presently he
looked up and said meditatively: "If you feel
attracted, Kemp, il would be an act of Christian
charity TO 90 in and rescue Der from that brute
Lord George FELTON,. Everyone knows that LADY,
Fielding has been doing al She can 10 bring ON
the match and they say that he shows no obiec-
ton"
81" And the girl herself?7 asked Kemp
Hugh was silent for moment; then said in
the heSitatlng tone OF n man who always speaks
courteously of ladies, :" don't know much about
Miss Fielding, but wouldn't YOU imagine that she
would do what She was told 10 do ~
Then what's the use Of my taking any step
in the mattcr?' said Kemp, n Iittle nettled
You might tel her 10 marry you," said Hugh
" If you are emphatic enough, I dare say, since
she must yield to some one, that she will yield
Upon my word !" exclaimed Kemp, consider
ing how little you know OF her. you seem very
confident about predicting what she will do under
given circumstances
Not cODfd MT replied his friend. d" I did
not mean 20 mal,n any lmpertinent suggestions
Very likely she would refuse
In spite Of some inward irritation at this way
Of stating the case, the idea Of rcscuing the poor
child from an unhappy marriage was not diSpleas.
ing 10 Kemp When he thought IL over il seemed
natural enough that the dread Of such an event
should make Miss Fielding pale and timid. And
somehow be lanced that il he could remove her
into an atmosphere OF tenderness and indulgence
it would not be very difficult to win her love