Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-01-22
p XI.
ONE OF THE EXILES RETURNS.

ing on her part. She uld mol ike ffoSt
and snow: she did not much like Lady
BeIvoir as Il near neighbor. and she did
not at all like the prospect of renewing
acquaintance with a certain unsatisfac-
tory cousin of Lady Belvoir's on his re-
turn from foreign parts. 1t was true
that no great harm had apparently been
done, that D~orothy's spirits and health
remained excellent and that Mr.. Thor
old might quite possibly have aban-
doned his expressed intention of visit
ing Westmoreland; still n would fain
avoid all a~voidable risks.
But Mrs. Leslie's means were limited,
and a season in London costs money,
and it is no easy matter to find a winter
tenant for IL country house in Westmore-
Land. In Westmoreland. therefore, this
anxious mother continued to reside; nor
was her anxiety, which many trifes had
contributed to keep alive, at all dimin-
islled when, in the beginning of the new
year, Lady Belyoir returned home.
Lady Belvoir had been away, paying
visit after visit, for along time past: but
now-so Mrs. Leslie learntfrom Dorothy
she meant to give herself a few weeks
of rest and quiet before proceeding to
London.
II suppose that means that she is
going to fill her house with people," was
Mrs. Lcslie's comment.
But Dorothy said: "Oh. no; I don't
think so. She told me that she was
only expecting L or two of her rela-
tons"
And Mrs. Leslie felt a delicacy about
inquiring whether any of the name
of Thorold was included among these.
The fact is that no mention had been
made of the absent politician between
the mother and daughter since the day
when he had taken leave of them.
Now it IN to pass o III a bitter JAN
uary afternoon. when the ground was
covered with freshly fallen snow and the
sky was of a dull slate color, and ragged,
dirty looking clouds We're drifting along
the slopes Of the hills, that Miss Leslie,
trudgiug bYiskly homeward from the
vicarage. wa oyertaken by a pedestrian
who must have deserted her from afar
and caught her up with difficulty, for
he was so short Of breath that he could
do no more than gasp out, How do you
do. Miss Leslie as he removed his hat.
Close inspection might have revealed
the fact that, in addition to his physical
exertions, he was affected by mental
agitation. which is always a bad thing
for the respiratory organs; but Dorothy
did not inspect him very closely. She
only turned her head for q moment and
said, without any appearance of sur
prise:
"'OI. how do you do, Mr.. Thorold?
You are staying with Lady Belvoir, l
suppose"
1t is most discUncerting to be received
in that matter of fact way by a person
for whose sake you have just arrived at
express speed from the other side Of the
world. and Percy WAS proportionately
disconnected. He could not help saying
in a slightly injured voice:
Il vas i'll California only three weeks
ago. But perhaps" he added, somewhat
more cheerfully, '',Sybil told you that /
was coming here
II believe she did, answered Dorothy
eomposedly. Besides, when we last
saw You you yourself said that you
might perhaps be in our parts in the
course of the winter" And then, as a
pause ensued which he seemed to find
some difficulty in breaking, she re.
sumed: 1T isn't a very good time of the
year to see Westmoreland: l should
think that in weather like this you must
wish yourself, back in California"
81 have Only n wish as regards Cali,
fornia," he answered with needless EN-.
phasis. land that is a most devout one
that / may never see it again. Or Japan
either. or India, or the Sandwich Islands,
or any other of the abominable wilder.
nesses through which l have been wan.
dering for six weary months"
Dorothy raised her eyebrows in sur
prise.
Il never heard those countries de
scribed as wildernesses before" she re
marked. ..W'lIaFa pity that you should
have travelled such a long way and MOI
enjoyed yourielf.'
''Oh, as far as that goes, / didn't an
ticipate enjoyment" answered Percy.
He was novr walking beside her, for i
was impossible TO stand still in such
temperature. Il was on my way to cal
upon YOU he said presently.
Dorothy cot.ld do no less than beg hin
to carry out lbs intention, and this sh1
did, though without any great cordially
of manner
Eyes" he went on rather neryously
81 was obliged to coIne today because.
unfortunately. l am very much pressed
fer time. My cousin tells me that she
.ro,Nr a.. -. -, .ng,, an.,4Js,.-f. 90
that / felt l nastri't miss a chance of see
ing you" He added-for somehow Oil
other there seemed to be no possibility
of leading up to his point by degrees
@Didn't you think it very odd of me t.
rush off rouni the world at a moment's
notice.
''We1l," she replied consideringly, az
dare say / might have thought it odd il
yon hadn't explained to me that every
body did that sort of thing nowadays
and that you were expected to do what
everybody else did"
did / say that2 ! don't remember
what I said, but / had to say something
and / couldn't tell you my real reason
then, as, thank heaven! lean now. Any
how you must have seen that was no
starting ON this journey of my own FREE
will. And, Mss Leslie. I think-T an
sure-you must have seen something
more than that. / think you must hav,
known very well that what made ms
hate leaving England so was that tina
implied leaving yeu."
Ii was now Dorothy's turn TO lool
perturted and embarrassed. She hat
not been prepared for soprompt a declar
alton as this, non did she know how {,
reply to it. AZ she had a strict regar'
for truth she decided upon the safe plan
of making no reply at all, and Percy re
snmed:
OF course yon knew it; You eeuldn'
help knowing it'll made no secret of m,
love for yon. ItwotI!d have been bette
IL / had said less until / was sure of beinI
able to say more; but the truth is / neve
for one naoaieII supposed that my MOTT
would be closet at the eleventh hour. .