New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-16
Sections SERVANT.


four guests, in the courtyard at bgot Cour';
taking tea-somc OF us, am afraid taking II cod
in the shape of whiskcy and Apollinaris water
But then the day hot
Mr.. Se:ton's conduct, James, Mrs. Walton
answered, in sending Fred here in this way.
Il is not that l grudee the man his food and 9cd
Mrs. Lingard. You know that. In a house like
this one or two extra mouths make literally no
difference. But do not understand why he Is
here. Can you think, Mrs. Llnsard, why ME-
Seton has sent him ,?
Seton, a midde-aged bachelor, had been one of
us until day two before thisa guest al the
Court Then he had gone to visit the Feather
stones near Exeter. taking his valet with him.
We had all liked him. There had been no mys-
terry about his movements whatever and conse-
luently our surprise had been great whe9 twenty
note from him. in which he asked Mr.. Walton
to take the man in for week and explained thar
Fred had fallen out with the Featherstoncs but
Ter and found the house uncomfortable. Seine
would have thought the explanation Insufficient
but the Squire was the least suspicious OF men,
and without taking counsel he had wired an
affirmative.
Mrs Lingard. a particular friend of Sefton's,
did not hasten to answer; so | said: II certainly
seems queer to me. Seton has chambers in Lon
don. Why did he not send the man to town.
which is nearer TO Exeter than Worcestshire
Surely it would have been more natural. as well
"Of course it would" Delves Bagot asscntcd
indolently. He was leaning back in his chair.
with his eyes the lawn. which vcrGcs on the
pne open side of the courtyard Or into lodg-
ingS at Exeter. where he might have made some
use of him. Or 10 a hotel-he is rich enough.
Delves added, with sigh. to pay for his board
And it is not, Mrs Walton said rs if Mr.
Seton intimate friend Of ours. though
like him very much. This was his first visit. II
Mr.. Walton did not know his handwriting, |
should he tempted TO think the letter forgery
1T is his letter. safe enough, said the Squire
brusquey:
pavement with the handle of her sunshadc and
looked up. Seton is fool she said airily.
- Fred can do anything with him-tun him round
1 1Frlf H.. Ilt.af
is SO. Lingard, isn't il?
You ought TO know. my dear" said the gen
tleman. pacldly.
We'll he can. she answered. with some show
of temper. :" dare say lie has got Seton under
bis thumb. You have all got weak places. You
men! And YOUR servants know them And mad
much as if she liked it. Mrs Lingard was no favo-
rite with most Of H.. She was well connected.
She had rich husband. But she had also n villa
at Pau, in which she spent half the wear. amt
French polish had long ago hidden any natural
good qualities the woman may have possessed.
Almost the same might be said of her husband.
lazy. over-fed man. rarely without Il French novel
But. said Mr. Walton, impaticntly, "why
should Fred wish TO be here. You do not think
he has come to rob the house. Jane"
ITO kiss the maids, more likely. suggested
some one.
contcmptuously. You were walking with my
maid this morning, my man saw you and
blushed for your taste She has
No more figure than a blackboard7 trium-
phantly.
Pooh, pooh. cried the Squire. still more i'm
patiently; this is all nonsense.
mo James, it is not nonsense " said Mrs Wal
ton, placdy. Il met Mr.. Scfton's servant on
the stairs the sewing-room very late last
night, and he hurried by me in way did not
at ali like, He is good-lookins. man, little
above his ST. nation, and dare say Mr.. Seton has
spoiled him. He will set our servants by tho
ears
Has it occurred TO you asked, that he
may have got into some Slight trouble with the
police? And Mr.. Seton wants him safe out Of
Nothing more likely quoth madame. with an
Well said Mr. Walton. with sudden decision,
" will not have him III the house after Satur-
was inwardly making merry and congratulate
She had reached her ends-I had seen them all
along-when Mr.. Lingard said Here comes The
gentleman in question. And YOU will see ] am
right. 1t is the girls he is after. He has of
them in tow now, the young jackanapcs.7
saw Bagot's face flush all over. He as we'll
as Lingard, was sitting facing the lawn. turned.
and, to be sure, there Fred, sood-looking,
slim young fellow, dressed in tweed suit. which
! suppose he thought he might wear. being in
multi. He was crossing the lawn from the gar
dens with a girl at his side. As ] looked, The
girl-taking from him baskct-lcft him, and
came toward us II itessc-Miss Walton.
Mr.. Lingard, in fine. had made slip "Yon
have made bad shot this time said 10 him
difficulty.
But, with French arincss, he saw no difficulty.
Or he had not the grace 10 apologize. " Miss
Walton, is it? Well, madcmosclc is no doubt
amusing herself"
Bagot got up with such violence that his chair
went over like ninepin. Luckily il was only
wicker one. Come and knock the balls about
he said to me, his head very high.
All right" assented, and, rising more gently
"Coarsc beast he cried as soon as the door
of the billiard-room was closed behind rs. =" |
have q good mind 10 kick him II that be- French
potencss, hang French policncss. say l."
With all my heart" answered, choosing a
And that woman. After Seton left she fol-
lowed me about the place whole day, wanting
to tell my fortune. Pail. it made me sick. She
is old enough to he my mother"
She lattcrs herself" ! said. pausing upon n
cannon. that Master Fred has been sent back 20
keep an eye upon hcr-in Sefton's interest. That
is her reading Of the riddle
Rubbish" retorted BagOt-he was in con-
Trajectory mood. " Seton is as tired Of her MS her
husband is. What earth he ever in her
Alterations cannot imagine.
You do not think that Fred is here on her
account"
"Not he, 1t is some intrigue Of his own with
the maids Or-or oh ! don't know" he con-
Guided fretfully striking his ball the cush-
ion, and grumbling as he sought for it under the
fender.
old friends. liked the boy, liked his boyish ini-
pulsveness and frank bearing and even the OBJ
stinacy and sei-coniidencc that were well enough
in BagOt. Look mere, DclNcs, l Slld, why
do you not speak TO Walton? About Bessie,
mean. You are wretched company at prcsrnt-in
pain yourself, and cause OF pain to others.
~. lie looked at me angriiy: but, seeing me UNI
moved, relented. We'll, | intended to speak 10
him to-day, Brett. And then heard the old boy
talking of the doctor at Ashley who wants 10
marry Mary Young, and-and about fortunc-hunt-
ers generally, you know, slanging them up hill
and down dale. And iunkcd that is the truth
You know, except my pay and the three hundred
year rent for this place, | have absolutely
nothing"
Thanks to old Squire COurtenay.
well, thanks 10 him and one or two others,
Delves said goomly
1t a provcrb in the family that n certain
Squire Courtenay had started the Bagois dOwnhil
by raising money at runous interest in tic 40 His
descendants resented il the that lie had
Drought his enterprise To most lgnominiOus end
His twenty thousand suincas had done any
good, for the old gentleman riding by night u
join the Prince at Derby, had been waylad and
murdered alunm with Lis snrNauf and rnhhcd IL