The morning call., 1893-09-17

Invited him TO tea-wlthOut result, and MS
conduct was freely discussed in his alb
sence.
"Otherwise engaged" said Miss Stow.
with a sniff 'Of course he is; we've just
seen him go into DR.. Hepburn's.
.'Ah, well" Iejnined the hostess. with as
perity. ''If he's gone there he has gone
with his eyes open. l took my opportunity
Yesterday when l met him in the street
and told him what every one but himself
knows"
''You mean about -" and Miss Stow
supplied the hiatus with significant
wave of her hand in the direction of the
Fenborough Park gates, "and what did be
say?"
Gossip. indecdw cried Miss Stow.
Gossip! Why, our housemaid saw the NJ
with her own eyes yesterday evening. The
ViscOunt was riding and she afoot in Lady
Anne's Walk, aud she was saying: Marsh
lands. you're noodle; you'll be late for
dinner"
"She's a terrible old woman. isn't she?
Now. come. DR.. Lang. know often talk
nonsense. but you'll allow Pm uttering
words of wisdom when l say that Lady
Fenborough is terrible old woman"
''She isn't old" said Or. Lang, smiling
she's barely 46:. Shall you call yOursel If
Oiu dJ tihG age
you're begging the question" replies
Joyce severely ''it does.,'t matter what
people call themselves-they are what
other people call them. Besides, | am
really angry with Lady Fenborough 1t
appears thai she has the impeTtlnence to
resent my eXistence-that she has hinted
TO my grandfather that l must be careful
not to come between the wind and her
nobility"
DIR. Lang made no reply; he had come to
DR.. Hepburn's that afternoon with the
qniXOtic intention OF warning Joyce that
the tongue of gossip was busy with what
was, no doubt, an accidental meeting be-
tween herself and her cousin. He had
adroitly led the conversation toward the
subject, and the result of his diplomacy
was this philippe.
"She may be countess" continued
Joyce, vehemently; that doesn't prevent
her being a snob. / saw her take my meas
urement the hrst Sunday in churcn. Oh,
how she surveyed me from the lOf y
height of FenbOrough pew! II she were
as clever as you all think her, she would
act differently toward me. Do you know
she has forbidden Marshlands TO keep up
the friendship we made abroad?"
"Is Lord Marshlands such very dear
friend, then ?" he asked, which was not a.
all what he had meant to say.
Good gracious, mol" was the answer
but why should she keep him away? Put
yourseI If in my place. What would you
say il you were l?'
Il would say nothing" replied Lang,
warily. IL would be as prudent as posi-
Bile"
"Of course you would" cried joyce; cit
seems to me that Fen thorough folks would
breathe prudently if her ladyship wished
it. But thought you were little more
independent"
Zone is all the more independent for
being little prudent" he rejoined signih-
cantiy.
"Ah! l know what you are driving at,'
she said, laughing; "s0me of those old
pusSles have seen me talking TO Marsh
lands in the park. II l had been prudent
they wouldn't have seen me. And you"
she continued, raising her brown eyes
frankly to his, "are you thinking all sorts
order NE never to speak to Marshlands
agaiu ?'
Ii felt strange thrill run through him
FROM her liquid eyes. II shouldn't ure-
sumo 20 give yuu orders of any Sort" he
said; "but should like TO give you little
know, aud L take great interest III you
for the sake of old times. and for -
lie paused, stumbling over words that
seemed TO come unb0den.
You are very kind" she said, and he
thought lie caught sound OF mOckery In
tltI NOtCc. wei, L Slali udN6 SO III dQflCe,
so pray let me have it,"
For answer he held out his hands. and.
taking both hers, stood for IA moment
wondering what had happened to him.
Joyce" came Mrs. Hepburn's voice
from the window; here is tea; DR.. Lang,
Thank you, Mrs. Hepbur5," was the
startled answer. II fear mustn' I've got
such leap of work waiting at home"
JOYCE" said Mrs. Hepburn severely
when they were alone. what have you
been saying to Dr. Lang? lie looks so
seFIous."
''He always looks serious" said Joyce.
Moreover, he has been doing all the say
ing"
Whatever work DR.. Lang had hurried
home to do that evening he neglected
shamefUlly. When he went to bed a mid
night the result of his labors was contained
III a short letter to "A London friend who
wanted change of air. The next morn
ing he told DR.. Hepburn that be was 60
lug TO exchange practices for a month with
doctor at Stepney. ITS Mowbray" he
concluded; you remember Mowbray? ?"
Yes; DR.. Hepburn remembered him; II
was all right. he made no objection, so
Gabriel Lang beat a retreat with flying
cOlOrs.
The East End of London is not a charm
Ing place TO work in in the summer, espe-
clally when man is too busy 10 go
westward for a breath of fresh air. Dr.
Lang, however. was glad to be busy. He
had CONS away from Fenborough deter
mined to work so hard that he should
quite forget how nearly he had allowed
himself to drift along the current of what
lie had taken to be old memories into n
flood of new passion. But among the
many strange things he came across in
Stepney he found no River Of Lethe, and
the further lie removed himself from
Joyce's neighborhOod the more vivldly
her presence was with him. In fact, it is
quite possible that Gabriel Lang would
never have known how deeply he was in
love if he had remained face to face with
the danger of losing his heart During the
first week he thought no more of Joyce
than he could help. During the second he
found that the rustic Of her soft dress
came TO him on the sitting London breeze,
the echo of her voice In the ciatter of the
London streets. the light of her eyes in
the glimmer of the hazy London stars.
During the last fortnight he counted the
days. then the hours, until be should be
back at Fenborough. For a new resolve
had ousted his old one. 81 will have il
out with her." he said to himself. "She
can but say no. Anything is better than
this state Of indecisOn."
Hereached Fenborough By the afternoon