The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-07
I'm ENGAGEMENT.
Copyright. 1896. by Sir Robert Peell
PART Ill.


turned back towards the house to-
gether.
swell, will help you," she said;
s'but mind, whether papa consents or
not, nobody is TO knowl 1t is 10 be
a strictly private engagement while
it lasts. Papa. you and nobody else
must hear of it,"
''Oh, of course not" he said, CRATE
fully. II am immensely obliged to you,
Kate; you are doing me an enormous
service that / shall never forget
''When shall speak TO him?' asked
the girl.
lie hesitated, considering
1T is for you to decide" she re-
minded him. II have promised compli-
ance, and l will play my part TO him
properly--you can depend on me--but
the plan of action is yours; you direct
the affair, remember!"
"Yes," he said "Well, / should speak
to him as soon as 60, think. / sup
pose it would be better for me 10 go
first, wouldn't it? If he is indignant,
nnd-well, if he absolutely refuses to
entertain my pretensions, would rath-
er hear of it by letter-it would be less
awkward"
"And it will give him time to think it
over" observed Miss Drillingham.
'.Yes, / fancy you had better go first.
will confess my wild alteration after
your departure"
lie looked at her anxiously.
you'll throw little warmth into
1t?" he questioned. "Your tone doesn't
sound ardent just now"
.'Oh, this is between ourselves. To
papa j shall be as sentimental as you
can desire. Well, look here; go back to
town tonight and will write To you to-
morrow"
"You will pile 1t up?"
II will pile il up, as you call it, earn
estly. Don't have any misgivings about
me. If the plan fails, it will not be
through any fault of mine, i assure
you"
You're a brick!" he said. 81 shall
be on tenter-hooks till hear from you.
And let me thank you in Bella's name
as well as my own. You are being
quite a benevolent fairy, Kate; it is
splendid of you"
He was in truth confident of success.
in imagination he already saw him
self walking up the nave of ST. Georges,
Hanover square, with Miss Carstairs
in AeHlbridal dress; and on the journey
up to Euston he decided where they
would live, and if they should have
n fiat or house, and many other de-
4ails xxhich 1yere premature
The morrow passed without any let
ter reaching him from his fellow-con-
spirator, but on the next day but one
he received two notes which brought
his heart up into his throat.
The first was from Miss Kate an
nouncing that her father had taken
the news ''fairly WE'LL" the other was
from Lord Drillingham himself asking
him to go down TO Deercourt again.
Hopetoun positively trembled with
suspense. Neither epistle vouchsafed
any precise information, and it was
impossible to determine what the term
r.fairly well' might signify. He de-
rived the most encouragement ffom his
mncle's invitation Though even that
might be only a courteous preliminary
TO snub), and after flying visit TO
Hampstead he took his courage in both
hands and bought another railway
ticket.
Lord DrilIingham was in the library
when he arrived, and Arnold, disap-
pointed in his expectation of having a
word with Kitty first, entered with
trepidation.
"Good morning, sir" he said, this Is
sery kind of you. j won't affect TO be
ignorant that my cousin has tod you
of our love for each other, and thank
sou for your letter"
Drillingham waved a white hand to-
wards an armchair.
'I.et US chat" he said. "Kate has
surprised me very much. Ihad no idea
of this, none at all! Yes. l am sur
prised, and, you won't mind my say
Ing, Arnold, that L am not exactly over
ioyed ?"
sANaturalN," said his nephew; "no.
a .couId not hope for you TO be over.
.joyed." His fairness was delicious.
'As man of the world you see it
Kate might have married anybody
] say anybody adyisedly. IlInow that
Lady Damcr will resent this attach
,nent of hers bitterly. II is not wha.
we looked for--no, no." He paused,
and delcately fiiclSed Oft the ash from
ghis cigar. AT the same time" he con.
tinued, while Hopetoun gazed at him
lielplessly. at the same time Kate is
a girl of remarkably strong sense. She
resembles the Drillinghams in both
.ways-her intellect, and in her beauty;
j am not disposed TO thwart Kate"
"You are very good, said Hopetoun.
II like you, tool am very fond of
you, my boy, as think you know, am
endeavoring 20 serve you oflicially-l
want 10 see you make your way in the
world"
"Then you do not refuse? IL may
hope2"
what ] propose Is this. Take few
months, both OF you, 20 make certain
you have not mistaken your own
minds. In the meantime the matter
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