The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-12
CHAPTER III.

II was beautiful day, which was SO
much in favor of Mrs. Frank Armour
in relation To her husbands people.
General Armour and his wife had come
down from London by the latest train
possible that their suspense at Liver
pool might be- short. They said little
to each other, but when they did speak
il was of things very different from the
skeleton which they expected to put
into the family cupboard presently.
Each was trying TO spare the other. 1t
was very touching. They naturally
looked upon the matter I'm its most un-
promising light because an Indian was
an Indian, and this unknown savage
from Fort Charles was in violent con-
trast to such desirable persons as Lady
Agnes Martling. Not that the Armours
were jealous for nrre money and title,
but the thing itselfwas altogether apro-
pos, as Mrs. Armour had more naive
ly than correctly put it. The general,
whose knowledge Of character and the
oircu istances of life was considerable,
had worked out the thing with much
nccuyacy. He had declared to Richard
tn their quiet talk upon the subject that
Irank must have been anything but So
Der when he did it, He had previously
called il policy OF retaliation, so that
how he was very near the truth. When
they arrived at the dock at Liverpool,
the Aphrodite was just making into the
harbor.
"Egad," said General Armour to
himself, "Sevastopol was easier than
this. for fighting know and being pep
Sered know by Jews. Greeks, infidels
and heretics, but to take savage 10 my
arms and do for her what her godfathers
and godmothers never did is worse than
the devils dance at Delhi"
What Mrs. Armour, who was not
quite so definite as her husband, thought
it would be hard 10 tell. bus probably
grief for and indignation at her SON
were uppermost in her mind. She had
caite determined upon her course. None
could carry better that high neutral look
Of social superiority than she.
Please heaven, she said 10 herself, no
one should see that her equanimity was
shaken. They had brought one servant
with them, who had been gravely and
yet conventionally informed that his
young masters wife, an Indian chief
tainess, was expected. There are few fam
lily troubles but find their way to serv-
ants hall with an uncomfortable speed
for, whether or not stone walls have
ears certainly menservants and maid
servants have eyes that serve for ears
and ears that do more than their bound
On duty. Boulter, the footman, knew
his business When informed of the
coming of Mrs. Francis Armour, the
Indian chieftainess, his face was abso-
lutely expressionless. His "Yessir" was
as mechanical as usual. On the dock he
was marble-indiiferent When the pas
sengers began to land, he showed no ex-
citemcnt. He was decorously alert
When the crucial moment came, he was
imperturbable. Boultor was an>excel-
lent servant. So said Edward Lambert
10 himself after the event; so likewise
said Mrs. Townley TO herself when the
thing was over; so declared General
Armour many a time after and onco
very emphatlcally just before he raised
Boulter's wages
AS the boat neared Liverpool Lambert
and Mrs. Townley had grown very nerv.
ous. The truth regarding the Indian
wife had become known among the pas
sengers, and most were very curious
some in well bred fashion, some in
trusively. vulgarly. Mackenzie, Lali's
companion, like Boulter, was express
sionless in face. She had her duty to do.
paid for literally. aud she would do it,
Lali might have had more presentable
and dignified attendant, but not one
more worthy. ltwas noticeable that the
captain OF the ship and all the officers
had been markedly courteous to Mrs
Armour throughout the voyage but. to
their crcdit not ostentatiously so
Whom the yesscl WINS brought 20 anchor
and the passengers wCre being put upon
the tender, the captain came and made
his respectful adious, as though Lali
were n lady Of title in her own rieht
and not an Indian girl married TO a
man acting under the influence Of bran
dy aud malice General Armour and
Mrs. Armour woro always grateful 10
Edward Lambert and Mrs. Townley for
the part they played in this desperate
little comedy. They stood still and
watchful as the passengers came ashore
one by one. They saw they were the
center Of unusual interest, but General
Armour was used 10 barring himself
with grim kind Of indifference in pub
lie. and his wife was calm, and so some
what disappointed those who probably