Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-02-06
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
About half-past two the next day they
start for Anadale. Not Violet, or Cap
tain Rodney, who have elected to 90 on
d mission of their own, nor Nicholas,
who has gone up to London.
But before they reach the hall door
Godfrey feels it his duty to bestow up
on them a word or two of warning.
Now, look here" he says, Impress
lively; Il hope nobody is going to in
dulge in SO much as covert smile to-
day. lie glances severely at Molly,
who is already wreathed in smiles.
because the HSthetic won't have it.
She wouldn't hear Of it at any price.
We must all be intenSel If YOU don't
understand what that means. Mona,
YOU had better learn at once. You are
10 be silent, wrapt. lifted far above all
the vulgar cOmm1nplaCeS of life. You
may, if you like, go into rapture over
a colorless pebble, or shed tears of joy
above siclly lily; but avoid ordinary
admiration"
The only time I shed tears" says
Mr.. Darling, irrelevantlv, ''fOr many
years, was when | heard OF the old
chaps death. And they were drops of
rich content. Do you know | think I'M
consciously he impregnated her with
her present notions: because he was as
like an ancient BritOn himself before
he died as if he had posed for it."
lie was very eccentric, but quite
correct" says Lady Rodney, reprov-
ingly.
lie was a man who never took off his
hat" begins Godfrey.
but Why?o asks Mona, in amaze
ment. Didn't he wear cce?"
g, UuV n0 olwoyo uv.iuu II, anu no
never put one on like ordinary mOrtals,
he always donned it. You can't think
what difference il makeS.o
What silly boy you are, GeOff,"
says his wife, saughing.
Thank you, darling" replies he,
mcckly.
But what is Lady LiIias like? did
not notice her the other night" says
Mona.
she has got one nose and two eyes,
Just like every one else" says Molly.
That is rather disappointing, is it not?
And she attitudiniZes u good deal.
Sometimes she recliueS full length upon
the grass. with her bony elbow well
squared and her chin buried in her
palm. Sometimes she stands beside a
Sun-dial, with her head TO one side, and
a carefully educated and very much
superannuated peacock beside her. But
| dare say she will do the greyhound
pose to-day. In summer she goes
abroad with a huge wooden fan with
which she kills the humble bee as it
floats by her. And she gowns herself
In cOlOrS that make ones teeth on edge.
/ am sure it is her lifelong regret that
she must clothe herself at all, as she has
dreams OF SdVage&akedness and lib
eral use of the fa (ing woad."
"ATy dear OIiveT'" protests Lady Rod
ney. mildly.
III she presses refreshments on you.
Mona. say No. thank YOU without hes
ITadon, says GeOHrey, WITH GuAruus
haste, seeing they are near their Jour
ney's end. Because if YOU don't she
will compel You to partake of metheg-
lin and unleayened bread, which means
sudden death. Forewarned is fore
armed. Molly and have done what we
can for YOU
is she by herself? Is there nobody
living with herr" asks Mona, somewhat
ncvOUsly.
.'Weu. practically speaking, no. But
/ DJIeye she has 4 sister somewhere"
AT this point the house comes in
view, and conversation languisheS. The
women give Il small touch TO their furs
and laceS, the men indulge in a final
yaWn that is to last them until the
gates of Anadale close behind them
again.
y terrace runs along one side of the
house, which is exposed to view from
the avenue. And here, with a gaunt
but handsome greyhound beside her,
stands Il girl tall and slim, vet beauti-
fully nodded. Her eyes are gray, yet
might at certain moments be termed
blue. Her mouth is large. but not I'M
pleasing. Her hair is quite dark, and
drawn back into a loose and artistic
coil behind. She is clad in an impOSSi-
bic gown of sage green. that clings
closely TO her slight figure. nay, almost
desperately, as though afraid to lose
her.
One hand is resting lightly with a
family theatrical touch upon the head
Of the lean greyhound, the other is
raised to her forehead as though to
shield her eyes from the bright sun.
Altogether she is a picture. which. if
slightly suggestive Of artiiiciality. is yet
very nearly perfection. Mona is there
fore agreeably surprised. and, being-aS
all her nation iS-SuScPptible to out
ward beauty, feels drawn towards this
odd young woman in sickIy green, with
her canine friend beside her.
Lady Lilias, slowly descending the
steps with the hound Egbert behind
her, advances to meet Lady Rodney.
She greetS them all with n solemn cor
dlalIty that ImpreSSeS everybody | ut No
ma, who is gazing dTeamily into the
gray eyes of her hostess and wondering
vaguely If her lips have ever smiled.
Her hostess in return is gazing at her.
lnTh1nS silent adm Of l,.ay. Of
loneliness.
You will come first and see Philip
PAP she says, in a slow, peculiar tone
that sounds as if it had been dug up
and IS quite an antique in its own way.
1t sayors of dust and feudal DAYS. Every
one says he or she viii be delighted.
and all try to look as if the entire hope
of their existence is conferred in the
thought that they shall soon lay longing
eyes on Philippa,-whOSe name is in re-
atty Anne, but who has been re-christ-
ened by her enterpriSing sister. Anne
Is all very well for everyday life. or for
Blue-beard'S SiSter-in-law; butsPhilippa
Is art to the very highest description. So
Philinna she Is. poor soul. whether she
likes II or uuJ.
She has sprained her ankle. and is
now lying on a couch in a small draw
mg-rOom as the Rodneys are uShered in.
She Is rather glad to see them, as life
with an intense sister is at times trv-
ing, and the ritualistic curate is from
home. So she smiles upon them. and
manages to look as amiable as plain
people ever can look.
The draWlng-rOOm is very much the
same as the ordinary run of drawing
rooms. at which Mona feels distinct dis
until, glancing at Lady
lllIaS, she notices a Shudder of disgust
run through her frame.
I really cannot help it. =" she explains
to Mona, IN her usual slow voice. lit all
OtfeuGs me SO. But Philippa must be
humored. All these glaring colors and
hdeous pieces of furniture take nv
breath away. And the light. By
and by YOU must come to some of nv
rooms; but first, if YOU are not tired. T
should like you to lock at nv garden:
that Is. II you can endure the cold. :
They don't want to endure the cold;
but what can they saw PoliteneSs for
bids secession of any kind. and. after Il
few words with the sanity Philippa.
they follow their guide in all meekness
halls and corridors out into the
garden she most affects.
And truly it Is q very desirable gar
den. and well worth a visit. 1t is like a
thought from another age.
w-tTees-gr0wn till they form high
waIls-are cut and shaped ia priIa and