New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-08
CHAPTER II.
AN EPISODE.
Sigh for the hapless hour
That knit two hearts In one;
And only gave love power
To die whom TWAS begun.

Il
In almost any other household it would hardly
have been dlgnifed by such a name at all, but
at Carnouste Castle 1t was talked Of with bated
breath for months on end. and even I'm its de-
cadence II was found to have still flavor Of
lis own in the annals Of the household.
This Is the outline briefly skc;ched:
Il was the custom ~ Lord and Lady earn 'uste
To sally forth at long intervals and pay stately
family visit At the mansion OF some noble rela-
t!on or friend II would be no mean house which
was thus distinguished. When invited. their
three daughters would accompany them. also
suitable attendants: special conveyances would BE-
ordered. the august path made smooth-in snort
the whole thing would be done in style. Prc7a-
ratons on an adequate scale would have been
previously made in every department. and dress
would be considered II consequence.
on such occasions Lady Carn1ustle was cling
inely dependent on her own party. and pTpudcr
~ them and more affec,ionatr toward them than
when at home i gratihel her more than she
would have allowed t. any one Il have Nina
admired.
Accordingly. when once upon time. n certain
polite young gentleman and fellow guest NJ the
house - A county magnate appeared to be- fiat
teringly anxious - listen t. every word MIS-
Nina said. and 70 make his own words agreeable
own way complaccn'. She made no remark.
she never mentioned Mr.. E;hcriige's name. but
she felt ,ha, she and hers were appreciated. and
was no, inscnsible y the honor.
The visit was paid and the party returned -
their own domain.
Lady Carnousile was IN mood that f0r her
was quite frollcsome on tho following day. when
Louisa and Joanna. athrs: - talk over the dissi-
patton. and enjoying - n hundred times NOR" in
the retrospect than In the reality. drew up their
chairs and eagerly began q hahhle - this one
and that ono. of wha' had been sail AMI done.
AMI hinici AMI hushrl Gp
They u,'le guessed how careful everybody had
been in their pres"uce. poor things T. seemed '0
thorn that they hal been quilt" dangerously
worldly anil frivolous and needed 20 talk matters
over al round before ;helr IDEAS which bad go
altogether confused ma unh!nsel. could %"
properly PAT into order again. Joanna. IN pay
ucu,ar was brmful = excitement over a COM
muuiratlon she hai ~ make.
Il could not 500 you before by yourself. mamma
/ mean with only Louie. have told Louie
ahou, Il. and We both fccl you ought @ know
You were 700 tired with your Journey last nigh:
FOR You 10 De- worried but :: YOU ar" equal - Il
now
Her mother protested sh. was equal toi'.
II Was Just before ~- came away proceeded
the narrator with suppressed un.r 70. ana Co.,
lax clufi .uely round as shoe spoke, Mr.. Eth
riIc. WIS taking 20 Nina on 'h- D.. rst"p. ana
Lady Anslie- mamma. / ih.ak -he i@ a dreadful
woman what 81 yuu think sh" slli' Even b.
she hal noticed That hr was a l!ttle.t N'i- irnf
b." vas rather struck hy Nina .tufy. -h. uIsnt
never - have spoken about a.. ought shr.'
"Dll she indeed speak = 10 So" exclaimed
Lady Carnousf... the color rising iu hor checks
was sh" rally So indicate; ] should not
have thought n ~ Lady Alusi-."
began by looking. in what supp~,-" would bc
considered an arch manner az Nina and Mr.
Ethcrige, ana then she took nDd OBJ; my arm
and p!nched IT -pinched u quite harl and
whispered in the most horribly significant way.
"Tcll Your dear mother that he Is everything that
IS eligible. and that she may safely encourage
Lady Carnousflc started from her cushions and
stared almost wildly a. the speaker.
she dld indeed" reiterated Joanna solcmnly
Those were her very words: and when Il sup
pose | showed that ! hardly knew what She
meant shc-shc pointed"
"Pontei?" almost whispered Lady Carnoustie
pointed with her finger, Pokcd a. AZ them,
No one was there, but still II vast was
abominabie"
Il should think so. indeed Il can hardly
credit #. That woman-a iady-an old friend.
under who's" roof We were actually staying. could
have behaved in such n manner. could have made
use Of such language. | could not-no. / could
not-hayc believed It possible. What was the
term she applied to us. Joanna? Encourage did
she say"
"She spoke Of us-of your father ana meas
II we were in the habit " Encouraging suliors
for our daughters? What have We done that
Lady Ainslic should dare-that she should pre-
sumc-that such an imputation. such gross ac-
cusation"--
Il don't think she saw It In that light, you
know. mamma"
I'm what light You are not defending her.
Joanna?' Indications Of change of temporal
ture were visible and audible Joanna FASTENED
to cXculpatc herself.
NO indeed mamma. How could defend
Lady Anslic? | thought 1t was disgusting.
canno, tell you how shocked was. felt myself
growing hot and cold. and shc--she laughed at
me. and seemed to think the whole thing was
a good joke. Mamma. | do assure you that II !
could have moved | should have run away; but
Il was all over quickly, ! had no time 10
collect my thoughts; and have been quite mis-
cradle ever since. ! have seemed To see Lady
Ainsc's laughing face when she pointed her
finger at Nina; 1t has quite haunted me. ana
the poor prim lips trcmbled conspicuous.y as
they spoke.
"Wcn. well. my dear" Lady Camoustlc waved
an acouittal with her head you could not be
expected to know what 10 say under such cir
You have not been accustomed u
such coarse language. must consult your ,
father about it, Lady CarnoustIc always made .
great capital out Of consulting her husband when
being interpreted only meant that she designed
To- chew the cud Of n difficult problem In ms
meek hclring-"I must consider what steps we .
can take 10 prevent any recurrence Of such a 7
scene" she proceeded. Poor little Nina lAttIr J.
did she guess she was being made me subject P
that such an Interpretation was being put upon /
her innocent chatter | did notice that MI /
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he seemed rather "a
pleasing young man. | saw he admired Nina -ol F.
course: who could help doing so? And she /
seemed to be willing that he should talk To hef /
and sit by her and this. suppose. IL what Lazy P
AInslie meant by encouraging" Well" after Il ,
nsuse 'well: there Is one thing certain; he can /
not possibly come to the house now. And II ne D
should appear as | believe he talked OF doing
IN order to walk with your father 10 view the ,
archaeological remains. Nina must not appear D.
She must stay upstairs.
The resolution had been carried out In its en- P
tirety. The young man. VINO had beeh huh's'y
IMMERSED by the soft blue eyes and rosy Hips or .
the youthful Scottish lasse. then in her twenty
first year had developed sudden desire 10 IN
spcct come island curOsities within SNORT as .
,ance Of Carnoustle Castle. and had, by Judlclous
working not only extracted from l.ord Car l
noustie promise OF being his escort thither out
L H.