, 1898-11-18
VI.

AbE kidhb IL 1Dtn - -"
tie, awaiting the bride. Lord Vivian had
written to say that he should be at home
on the evening of the ninth of November.
He requested, too, that there should be no
public welcome, mo gathering Of the
clans; that only a few of the upper SER
wants should be told of his return, for
his wife, he said, was timid, and unused
10 all demonstration.
"A new kind of Lady Selwyn.' said
Beatrice Leigh, with curling lips. You
have had all kinds of heroines-brave
women, warlike women, who have held
the Castle against a siege; diplomatic
women who have played the role of EN-
bassadress; women with a mission, who
have been the life of the Tories. A timid
Lady Selwyn will be a novelty in the
family annals"
"We must make the best of it, said
Mrs. Selwyn, plaintiyely. ITO tell the
truth, Beatrice, | do really begin to feel
nervous as the time draws near. l hope
she will not be very much amiss. Vivian
seems as infatuated as ever"
LET us hope his infatuation may last"
said Beatrice. cit will be sorry days for
Vivian when it wears away, and he I'M
derstands the reality"
Beatrice Leigh had made her resolve;
she had whispered no VOW of vengeance
to herself; she had not ranted like a ira
gedy queen; she had not, ever to her own
self, whispered the word revenge"
None the less skillfully had she made
her plans. Nothing kills love like ridi-
cule, and she said to herself that under
the guise of friendly liking she would be
merciless to Vivian's wife; she would new
er spare her: she would lay traps to draw
out and expose her ignorance, her want of
sayoir viyre; she had resolved to make
Vivian writhe again under the infection,
while all the time she preserved the friend
lest face and the kindliest smiles.
''Then we shall see what comes" she
said to herself; "he will soon tire of his
gauche village love, a girl who had moth
ing but a pretty face. Then the law is
kind, and there will be ways and means
of getting rid of her, were she twenty
times Lady Selwyn."
So deeply was Miss Leigh engrossed in
her thoughts that she did not hear the
arrival of the carriage, or anything else,
until the door opened, n Mrs. Selwyn
uttered a faint cry of establishment. Then
Beatrice Leigh raised her eyes, and they
rested on a vision SO radiant in youth,
and beauty, and grace, that her face grew
pale Win jealous envy dS BIC sdHCu'
Lord Vivian entered first, he led
by the hand, as one leads a shrinking,
frightened cIild, a beautiful girl, a girl
whose move5hGSts were soft and harmo-
Nous whose figure was ali craze ana
gymmetry-even the travelling costume of
velvet and fur could not conceal it-whose
face, In its bright, shy, dimpled beauty,
was wondrous to behold.
Lord Vivian led her proudly to his
mother.
"Mother," he said, in his grave, chival-
rous fashion, ''the happiest hour of my
life is this, in which l bring to you my
wife,"
Mrs. Selwyn's face flushed; then a
voice. clear and soft as the sweetest mu-
sic, said:
my own mother has been in heaven so
long, | hardly remember her; will you let
me give you the love l should have given
herr
And before she could answer, two ten
der arms were clasped round her neck,
sweet, warm lips touched her face, leav-
ing her at q loss what to say or do.
She had intended to be very stately; to
show Lady Selwyn that dignity was be-
fore ease, but the loving touch of those
sweet lips disarmed her. Nature will
speak occasionally; when she does so, no
one can be deaf to her voice. So all Mrs.
.Selwyn's grand resolves ended in her say
ing, "You are welcome home, my daugh-
ter"
Then her voice faltered, and she kissed
the sweet face with tears in her eyes.
Beatrice" said Vivian, 'let me intro
duce you to my wife"
Miss Leigh executed a stately courtesy
that would nave lone honor to Marie An
toinette for it's imperial grace. Again it
was wasted dignity. Violante went up to
her softly and very shyly.
II am so glad to see you,' she said
earnestly. II hope you will like me. Wv
ian has talked so much of you"
"Violante is a true child of nature" said
Lord Selwyn laughingly; 'she hopes you
will like her, Beatrice, and she is not
ashamed to say so"
Do as she would, Miss Leigh could not
repress the sarcastic smile that curled her
beautiful lips.
Lady Selwyn does me infinite honor"
she said.
Then Vivian laughed again.
What q society speech, Beatrice" he
said; you will brighten my little wife"
Violante looked from one to the other
with some trepidation.
IL hope / have not said anything
wrong" she stammered, her face blush
Ing crimson. Truly it seems so natural
when one comes to live with fresh people,
to ask for liking"
Natural! Yes" said Miss Leigh; that
is what amused me. This is such an arti-
fetal world"
And for the first time Lord Vivian look
81 % hic u-tqa on1 ~nnpAorod Whofhar tha
natural, simple manner that he had al
ways thought so charming, was, after all,
a defect.
Now said Mrs. Selwyn, Il am sure
you must require both rest and refresh.
ment, Lady Selwyn."
The girl looked up at her with a sudden,
half-wistful glance.
"Do not call me Lady Selwyn," she said
Uuickly: "my name is Violante."