The Press., 1893-06-08
BEYOND THE CITY.
CHAPTER VI.

D6TUdtCuCS AIOAA oypoy AAA4S AAesA OOCA invited to tennis by Mrs. Westmacott, and the lawn was gay in the evening with the blazers of the young men and the bright dresses of the girls. To the older people sitting round in their wicker work garden chairs the darting, stoop- ing, springing white figures, the sweeI of skirts and twinkle of canvas shoes, the click of the rackets and sharp whiz of the balls, with the continual fifteen love, fifteen alll' of the marker, made uI 8 merry and exhilarating scene. To sec their sons and daughters so flushed and healthy and happy gave them also re aected glow, and it was hard to say who had most pleasure from the game, those who played or those who watched.
 Mrs. Westmacott had just finished s set when she caught 8 glimpse of Clara Walker sitting alone at the farther end of the ground. She ran down the court cleared the net to the amazement of the visitors and seated herself beside her Clara's reserved and refined nature shrank somewhat from the boisteroui frankness and strange manners of the widow, and yet her feminine instinct told her that beneath all her peculiari ties there lay much that was good and noble. She smiled up at her. therefore and nodded greeting. .-
 "Why aren't you playing then? Don't for goodness sake, begin to be languid and young ladyish! When you give uI active sports, you give up youth"
 T have played a set. Mrs. Westma' cott." -.-
 That's right, my dear" She tapped her upon the arm with her tennis racket. T like you, my dear, and am going to call you Clara You are not as aggres- sive as should wish. Clara, but still like you very much. Self sacrifice is all very well. you know, but we have had rather too much of it on our side and should like to see little on the other. What do you think of my nephew Charles?"
 The question was so sudden and unex- pected that Clara gave quite jump in her chair ''I-I-I hardly ever have thought of your nephew Charles"
 No? Oh, you must think him well over, for want to speak to you about him."
 ITO me? But why?'
 Ut seemed to me most delicate. You see, Clara, the matter stands in this way. It is quite possible that I may soon find myself in completely new sphere of life, which will involve fresh duties and make it impossible for me to keep up a household which Charles can share" Clara stared Did this mean that she was about to marry again? What else could it point to?
 Therefore Charles must have house. hold of his own. That is obvious. Now, I don't approve of bachelor establish ments Do you9'
 Really, Mrs. Westmacott, l have never thought of the matter"
 ever a girl who never thought of the natter think that 8 young man of six and twenty ought to be married"
 Clara felt very uncomfortable. The awful thought had come upon her that this embassadress had come to her as a proxy with proposal of marriage. But how could that be? She had not spoken more than three or four times with her nephew and knew nothing more of him than he had told her on the evening be. fore. It was impossible then. And yet what could his aunt mean by this dis, cussion of his private affairs?
 Do you not think yourself" :" she per sisted, "that a young man of six and twenty is better marriedY
 Il should think that he is old enough to decide for himself"
 ''Yes, yes He has done so But Charles is just little shy, just little slow in expressing himself. I thought that would pave the way for him. Two women can arrange these things so much better. Men sometimes have difficulty in making themselves clear"
 Il really hardly follow you, Mrs. West, macott," cried Clara in despair.
 "He has no profession, but he has nice tastes He reads Browning every night And he is most amazingly strong. When he was younger, we used to put on the gloves together, but cannot persuade him to now, for he says he cannot play light enough. I should allow him e5OO which should be enough at first"
 My dear Mrs. Westmacott," cried Clara, Il assure you that have not the least idea what it is that you are talk. ing of."
 Do you think your sister Ida would have my nephew Charles?"
 Her sister Idal Quite little thrill ot relief and of pleasure ran through her at the thought. Ida and Charles Westma. colt! She had never thought of it. And yet they had been good deal together. They had played tennis. They had shared the tandem tricycle.. Again came the thrill of joy, and close at it's heels the cold questionings of conscience. Why this joy? What was the real source of it? Was it that deep down, some. where pushed back in the black recesses of the soul, there was the thought turk. ing that if Charles prospered in his woo ing then Harold Denver would still be free? How mean, how unmaidenly. how unsisterly the thought! She crushed ii down and thrust it aside, but still il would push up it's wicked little head She crimsoned with shame at her OWL 5aseness as she turned once more to hel companion.
 ''I really do not know," she said.
 "She is not engaged?"
 "Not that know of."
 "You speak hesitatingly."
 Because 1 am not sure. But he may ask. She cannot but be hattered."
 Quite so. I tell him that it is tn, most practical compliment which mar can pay to woman. He is 8 little shy but when he sets himself to do it he vii do it. He is very much in love with her l assure you. These little lively people always do attract the slow and heavy ones, which is natures device for tn, neutralizing of bores. But they are al going in. I think if you will allow mt that will just take the opportunity tt tell.him that, as far as you know, there is no positive obstacle in the way"
 ''As far as know" Clara repeated a. the widow moved away to where tho players were grouped round the net ol