The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-26
CHAPTER ".

81 trust your foot is resting in comfort.
LuciaP"
81 thank you, Jane. in very tolerable CON-
fort; and we must reach Maybury before
very long now If | do not deceive myself
there are but Two more stages"
Miss Jane and Miss Lucia were the only
inside passengers in the coach. 1t was the
Northern Mail; it was on its way toward
Maybury from Yorkshire, and it had en-
tered ON the third and last day of Its prog
ress.
1t was nearly three months since they
had set out to visit their friends in York
shire by that same Northern Mall" and
the day that would draw to its close before
they reached Maybury was lovely summer
day In the first week IN July. The causes
of this unexpected delay in their return
were twofOd. In the first place their
visit originally proposed to extend over the
brief space OF four weeks, was, at the press
ing instance of their hosts, heightened TO
six. Both ladies had been placidly content
to remain for the heightened stay. Their
hosts were very kind, the place was
very picturesque. and Altogether no enjoy
ments were wanting. Then, 10 the sixth
week, Miss Lucia had had the great mis-
fortune to sprain her ankle very severely
while getting into a carriage, and this had
necessitated a further delay of a fortnight
more before she was fl to undertake jour-
neY. But even this did not disturb them
greatly, except on Miss Lucia's account.
Their news from Maybury. though slight.
was perfectly satisfactory. Everything APP
peared to be going precisely as it should,
from Mr.. Langdon's letters. Marion had
written; Miss Jane had desired her mot to
waste her time" in that exercise. Much
letter-writing was, she said, frequent
snare 10 the young.
Theodore mas not mentioned the child of
late; indeed. he has scarcely alluded to her
in his letters to me-" said Miss Jane to Miss
Lucia as the coach wended its steady way
toward home. That is, / am glad to think.
token that she has observed my words and
given him no annoyance.
''Pm sure she has not; she is a good
child" responded Miss Lucia, warmly. II
am sure she will have fully deserved the silk
dress-pece you have so kindly brought for
her, Jane"
1t was about 8 80 when the coach stopped
at the crossroads where old Peter and the
gig stood in waiting. lie greeted his mis-
tresses with touch to his cap. and helped
them and their possessions into the gig in
silence.
No sooner was she seated, however, than
Miss Jane began to shower upon him ques-
tons concerning the gray stone house and
its welfare especially the welfare of its
master. But to each and all of her ques-
tons old Peter had bat one answer:
"Catched cold o. Thursday. mistress.
Been deaf O. both sides since"
Miss Jane. after his last repetition of
this, had begun turning over in her mind
some remedies, and was Just going 10 pro-
pound them when the gig stopped at the
gray stone house.
She got down. and with Peters help as
sisted Miss Lucia. Ellen stood curtseyng
and opening the door for him, and Miss
Jane caught sight Of white ribbon in the
woman's cap. Frivolous mnxl" she ex-
claimed mentally and inappropriately.
And she resolved that its existence should
be thing of the past before the world was
. dav older
Where is your maSter?" she asked. She
was little surprised that her brother had
not come out 20 meet them, but instantly de-
terminiug that he had probably. in deep
reflection or study. forgotten the time, de-
eded, uuwOnted though the action was, to
60 and announce herself to him. 'IR the
study. suppose" she added. Marion she
did not ask for, knowing we'll that it was
the hour when the girl was engaged In
mental improvement"
She scarcely waited for Ellen's assent;
but, leaving Miss Lucia in the parlor,
walked up the stone passage and knocked
at her brothers door.
The Come in'' was rather uncertain.
But Miss Jane went in, and then, for the
first time in her whole life Miss Jane felt
faint. BY the window, fenced in, as it were.
by his heavy writing table, stood her
brother Beside him, half-hidden by the
window curtain, but with her hand in his.
SAOOl nldiibn duu lllt manu- lDSl WAS not III
his clasped the curtain and wore a gold ring.
SIS il possible that you are annoying Mr..
Langd0n, Marion?" said Miss Jane, in n
tone that was an indescrib bile mixture of
wrath. amaZement and horror.
Mr.. Langdon came forward from behind
the table, still holding MariOn's hand.
"Sbe is not annoying me-" he said. "In
fact. so far from annoying me, she pleases
me so greatly that hope this will not
annoy you, Jane-she is my wife,"
Bot Miss Jane had tainted away.-All the