Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-05-28
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
II was on q wild, windy day In March
that Dulcic LevcsQue first saw The Films.
The gentlemen were out riding, Mrs.
Hnrdinge had gone to see friend and
had not returned, and Esther herself
drove the pony carriage to the station for
Dulcic.
At sight Of Esther she gave smile Of
relief, and stood back to allow q gentle.
man behind her to get out. He paused to
help her and her wraps on TO the platform,
then with how he turned and walked
out Of the station.
Tears Of delight were In Esther Dur.
rants eyes as she held out both hands In
welcome TO her favorite.
1T II good to see you again." she said,
looking down into the small face that dim.
pied and flushed all over at the warmth
OF her welcome. "What q cold journey
you must have had, and''-with a long,
critical glance--"how well you are look.
ingy'
Dulcie laughed. and lifted her shoulders
daintily.
ut was drcadfuliy cold, and oh"-with a
little moan Of distress--"I am half fam.
ished, ETY."
"Poor girl! I'll drive you home as fast
a. can"
The gentleman who had been Dulcie's
travelling companion stood on the side
path, talking 70 n smart groom In livery.
lie stepped back 70 make way for the
girls as they came down, and then Esther
Durrant saw his face clearly for the first
time. She did not know him; he was a
stranger to her. He was talking TO q
groom Of Lord Harvey's, 80 perhaps he
was q visitor at Abbeylands. They were
always having visitors there since Lord
Harvcy's return.
"What handsome FACET she thought,
a. she just lifted her eyes to II In pass.
Ing.
They were going briskly along between
the bare hedges, and past little patches OF
wooded land, and tiny ponds that looked
dark aud sullen In the cold March light
Here and there the huge black arms OF q
mill whirled round to the lash OF the high
wind, u grOtcsque blot against the sky
The trees were leaAess. the fields bare
and little heaps Of dust and leaves went
wheeling and tossing along the dry, rough
road. This dust troubled Dulcie horribly
~ u1uuc ucV cucc~s t'"Se w" "cS VIZ
smart.
"Seew Esther said, after pause, draw
Ing up her ponies by the side Of the hedge
'-That Is Abbeylands"
She rose little and pointed with hel
whip scrOss the fields to o house tina
stoed on a slight eminence fronting thu
south, with the red CLINT Of the Marcel
sunshine on all its wind0ws-a huge, ir
regular block of buildings, turret-shapet
as to the center, branching out into long
lifty, stone-fr0nted wings, and with tina
halo Of old days about It 30 dear to Eng
lish hearts.
"The Harveys have lived there for ages
A fine place, Is It notT
Dulcie was using her eyes industrious
~, and she, too, thought 1t "a tine place.
"No wonder Lord Harvey Ia proud.
Dulcie answered. II should he proud
too, II owned home like that. ! onl'
wish did"
"You ambitious wee creature" Esthe
said, turning to smile on the small fgur
beside her, mutlled from chin to toes in
travelling ulster of pearl-gray friezt
"YOu don't suppose that You would b
a shade happier In a big house like tina
than you might be In u small one"
Dulcie leaned back and smoothed tn
hair out Of her eyes. 1t was a trick sh
had, and there was something quaint an
childish In the action. Soft, curling ring
of hair they were that crept from unde
the brim OF her plush hat and lay lOyingl
on the round, wide, white temples.
"You don't understand" she said; "yo
are 30 different from me, and from ever
one else, ! think"
They passed a few more barren feldi
then drove through bit Of rough, thol
oughly Kentish lane, with high banks o
either side. where snowdrops, pale an
golden primroses, were hiding, and pref
emily came to the wide, low gates Of Th
Elms.
"What a funny housew Dulcie criet
springing down, and shivering little VI
der all her wraps, for the sunshine ha
died out by then, and the wind was risin
keener and stronger. 1T seems all viii
dows. And oh. Etty, what splendid Of
elmw E&
''That IL quite famous tree, Dulcie;
must introduce you to II presently. d