Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-23
PART III.


At the end of the week he did go,
and, of course, called ON Mrs. Carstairs
and Bella without delay. Bella did not
lock so attractive as usual he thought
when he first went in, but she bright
ened up Immensely as he recounted the
progress of the plot, and on leaving her
be told himself for the thousandth
time that she was the dearest girl Oh
earth.
1t is difficult TO say how It was, but
after he had been back in town few
days, certain restlessncss began to
make itself felt in Hopetoun.
At first he thought it was his cousins
sympathy. He missed having some
one to talk to about Bella, he said; but
since Bella in propria persona was here,
within half an hours cab drive, that
explanation would not do. No, he did
not know what was the matter with
him exactly. lmpatience, perhaps?
Yes, that must be it. Now that the
( haven of his hopes was drawing near
lie was more inpatient; the suspense
was telling upon his nerves! He would
run down to Deercourt on Saturday,
and ascertain how his uncle's efforts
were getting on.
After he had determined on this step,
he saw how right he had been in at
tributing his disquietude to the last
named cause. lie felt better already,
and found himself looking forward to
Saturday with almost as much eager
ness as IL it had been the capital APP
pointment itself.
He told Kate so when he arrived.
do you think it will be u long af-
reasonable, but now that your father
is really bestirring himself at last, my
present position seems more unendur-
nble than before"
~ can understand that" said the
girl, fully! Papa said something
about Canada the other day. Would
Miss Carstairs mind going out there, do
you thinkw
"Wcll, l hardly know" replied Hope
toun. II wanted something in Eng
land, of course, but we are very anxious
TO marry, and Canada'would be better
than nothing, wouldn't it?"
thought so, and that is why did
not veto it when 1t was mentioned
You had better put it to her, and lei
ME know what she says. If she has
an insupcrable objection to leaving
home, papa must look for something
else"
"I'll let you know at once" Arnold
answered. 81 don't think there vii
he any difficulty about it. II she doesn''
like to leave her mother, why, heI
mother could go out there too
His tone, however, was not so as
sured as his words. He rather dreaded
that Bella would dislike the idea OF
Canada, and the feeling proved pro
phetic a couple of days later. The
young lady declared colony was ou
of the question. Her interests were al
in London, she said; she had been borr
in London, bred in London. or COURSE
she loved Arnold very dearly, and would
make almost any sacrifice for him, bu
she begged that he would not asls-h~,-.-
be an exile for his sake, for she felt tina
that would kill her.
What she said to her mother was no
exactly the same thing, though the OBJ
lection was still there. "It's perfect.
preposterous!" she exclaimed. "Fapcy
he's Lord Drillingham's nephew, ant
, the best the old man can suggest now il
some wretched appointment in Canada
that's not what WANT"
NO" agreed Mrs. Carstairs, mildly
"you want nice little house in May
fair, and proper circle around you.
can't say think much of that sugges
,, ton. You know, Bella, have Away
thought you could do much better to
. yourself than Hopetoun under an.
circumstances. He is very nice, enc
! gentlemanly, and all that, but he ism
; brilliant, and he isn't rich. Heigho!"
"Heigho," echoed her daughter
! "Well, it's too late to consider tina