Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-04-03
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
"Nfothcr. mothcr:' cried two young peo.
pie. bursting open the door of the pretty
dining room OF Bridgeacld Rcctory. where
the grown-up part Of the family were lin.
gering over late breakfast.
'Gcntly, gently. chill lrcn." said the dig.
nified lady at the head of the table. Don't
disturb papa"
"But we really have something to shy,
mother" said the elder girl. "and Frau
lcin said you ought TO know. Uncle Al
wyn IL come home, and Mrs. Egremont.
| And please. IRE we 10 call her Aunt Eyre.
mont. or Aunt Alwyn. or whnt"
The desired sensation was produced.
| Canon Egremont put down his newspaper.
The two elder sisters looked from one to
| the other In unmitigatcd establishment.
Mark briefly made answer to the final
| question. "Aunt Alice"
"Wcll," said Mrs. Egremont, "this has
come very suddenly upon us. 1t would
have been more for her own dignity II
she had held out little before coming
SO casily TO terms. after the way in which
she has been treated"
"Whcn you see her. mother, you will
understand" said Mark.
"Shall we have TO be intimate with
hery" asked May.
II desire that she should be treated rs
n relation" said the canon decidedly.
"Thcrc Is nothing against her character"
and. as his wife was about TO interrupt.
nothing but an indiscrction 10 which
she was almost driven many years ago.
She was cruelty treated. and for one am
heartily sorry for having let myself be
guided by Others"
Mrs. William EgremOnt felt somewhat
compliment. for she knew he meant Lady
lie Lyonnnis. and there certainly had been
no love lost between her and her step.
chllrcn's grandmother: but she was a
sensible woman, and fOrcbOrc to speak.
Blanche cried out that II WIS a perfect
romance. md May gravcly said, "But II
she n lady"
"a perfect lady," said Mark. "Aunt
Margaret snys no."
"VVhat did you tell me. Mnrk?" asked
Mrs. Egremont. "Shc has been living
with M aunt, keeping II school at Nickel.
thwaytc."
"NDt quite" said Mark. "Shc has been
acting as daily govsrncss. She seemed
to be on friendly terms with the clerical
folk. came across the name ut a school
feast. or something Of the kind. which
came on IN the Eirknlly's party. ! won.
der what my uncle thinks Of his daugh.
ter"
"what! Yon don't mean to say there
Is n ,laughtcry" cried May.
Even 50. And exactly like you, too,
Miss May"
"rhcn you are cut out. Markw
"You are cut out. ! think. May. You'll
have TO give her all your Miss Egremon,
cards."
GLOW old Ia shc:" asked Blanche.
"AbOut n year younger than you"
Il think It II very interesting" Saij
Blanche. "llOw wonderful II must all b,
10 her! will go up with you, Mark, III
soon M ! can get ready"
"fOu Ind better wait till later In the
day. Blanche" said the mother. She
knew the meeting was Inevitable. but she
preferred having It under her own eye
IL she could not rcconnoitcr.
She was u just and sensible woman
who felt rcparntiOn due 10 the newly dis
covered slstcr-in.law. and that harmony
or ut least the appearance Of II. must b,
preserved: hut she was also exclusive nnt
fastidiOuS by nature. and did not lOol
forward 10 the ncc'lful intercourse with
much satisfaction either on her own &C
count or that of her family.
She told Mark to say that she slouk
come 10 scc Mrs. Egrcmont after lunch
con, since he was determined to go n
once. md, moreover, to drag his father
with him.
Alice knew Canon EgrcmOnt Mt once
and thought eighteen years had made lit
tie change. us. ut Nuttic's call to her, sh,
looked from the window and saw tn,
handsome. digniticd, gray-hnircd, close
shavcn, rosy face. and the clerical garl
unchanged In favor Of long coats and higl
wAistcOats.
With crimson cheeks aud a tlrobbin,
heart. Alice was only just ut the foot o
the stairs when tho newcomers had mud,
their way In, and the kind canon. ignoring
all that was past. held out his hands, say
ing. "Well. my dear, ! am glad to see 20,
here" kissing Mrs. Egrcm0nt on cacl
cheek. "And 10 this IL your daughter
How do you do. my dcar-Ursula? Ism
that your nancy" Aud Ursula had agar
to submit to kiss. very much more saw
DRY aud kindly than her fathers. though
very stubby.
As to Mark. he only kissed his nunt
and shook hands with her. while bis faith
or ran on with IN unusual loQuacity tina
was proof of nervousness In him.
Mrs. Egrelnont-Jane. I mean--will b.
here after luncheon. She thought 20,
would like TO get settled first. How 4
Alwyn? ~ he down YETI"
II Will see," IN trembling voice.
"Oh. no, never mind, Alwyn hates (,
be disturbed till he has made himself ~
In the morning. My call IL on you, yol
know. Where are you sitting?"
II don't quite know. IN the drawing
roQw, ! suppose"
y Pie canoI, Knowing the house much bet
ter than she did, opened door into I
third drawing room she had not yet seen
a pretty little room, fitted up with Autet
silk, like tent, somewhat faded, but no
much the worse for that, and opening Init
: a conservatory, which seemed to have lit
tie In It but some veteran orange trees
Nuttic, however, exclaimed with pleasure
at the incest room she had seen, and Mari
began unfastening the glass door that le,
; into II. Meantime Alice, with burning
; cheeks and liquid eyes, .neryed hey voic
to say, "Oh, sir-Mr. EgreMontLplea
forgive me! know now how wrong
was"
Nonsense. my dear. By-gones are by
. cones. You were far more sinned agains
than shining. and have much to fOrgiv
! me. There, my dear. We will soy no NOR
about It. nor think of II. either. ! OIL
only too thankful that poor Alwyn SHOULD
have some one to look after him."
. (To he contlnued.)
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