Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-12-21
CHAPTER X.


was more like Beatrice Leigh. The Lady
Violante was sweet. gentle and OF most
loving disposition. She WAS gifted with
q refined mind. Il cultivated and poetical
taste; but there was no mistaking the fact
she was not, and never would be.
woman of the world"
They were sitting alone in the pretty
breakfast room of Thornleigh House,
room gay with rose-colored chintzes, and
stands of fragrant flowers. They had
been brea akfa sting together, for neither
Mrs. SeIwyn nor Miss Leigh were down.
The windows were open, and through
them came q soft, western wind, perfum-
ed with the breath of mignonette.
II never can do it, Vivian" she cried.
81 am only just twenty. and l never even
arranged a dancing party in all my life.
What shall do?''
His face grew dark with anger.
"Violante," he asked. do you intend al
ways TO remain a child? When do you
purpose to assume the duties that belong
TO you as my wifeT'
do not be angry" she said piteously;
II will do my best: but, indeed, l have
no notion. no idea even how to begin
''It is nonsense" said Lord Vivian;
you are young, graceful, clever, quick to
learn, apt TO initiate. Why can you not
learn to fulfill your duties!-they seem to
me simple enough"
Perhaps after all, it had been a terrible
mistake; and If SO, there was now no
remedy. So he looked blankly into the
beautiful, sorrowful face, a dreadful con-
vlction dawning upon him that he had
made a foolish mistake.
DO not look SO, VIVIAN" said Lady Sci
vyn; Il will do my best. Mrs. Selwyn
will help me-"
THAT 10 the very thing" said Lord Wv
ian: II want you to learn self-reliance.
You will not always have my mother and
Miss Leigh to help you. Miss Leigh will
marry some day, then what will you do?'
Il am heartily glad of it, replied Vio
Isnte abruptly; and that answer did moi
quite please Lord Vivian. He had not the
faintest idea that his wife was in the
least degree jealous of Beatrice. Such a
thought had never occurred to him. He
imagined her slightly envious, perhaps, Of
Miss Leigh's social qualities: but that
Violante should be jealous Of her never
occurred to him.
well, you will do the best you can
= violante." he said. as he rose TO leave the
room. You must come to me. il you find
yourself IN difliculties
When he had gone she cried to herself
In q passion of despair. 1t was such
scenes as these she had foreseen when
Lord Vivian first asked her to be his wife.
and now her fears were all verified. She
was not equal to her duties-never would
be, and her husband was disappointed IN
her.
The evening of the ball came. Thanks
TO vigilant and well-trained servants, ev-
srything was In perfect order: and Lady
VIolante, as she looked round the mag
niicent suite of rooms, felt her heart light
ened of heavy load. Carriage after car
riage drove up to the hall door: one group
after another of fair guests entered: ev-
erything seemed promising and fair.
Lady Violante went creditably through
the reception of her guests: even the ter
rible duchess did not awe her. But as
the evening wore on, she grew physically
fatigued and exhausted. The difficulty
of inventins civil speeches to so many
people overtaxed her strength. Lord Wv
ian had wished, too, that she should dance
with his most honored guest. Lord Ions
dale. :.
She did wonders. She found partners
for those who had none, she made W
capital auartettes for the whist ia BILE, she
taiked-timidly, it Is true-to the ladies
and, but from q malicious remark she
overheard from the duchess, the chances
are that she would have gone through the
evening successfully.
Her Grace of RoXminster was talking
busily to Lady Seftone-and the two to
eether could get through more gossip and
scandal than any other two women in
England. Lady Violante saw them sit,
ting apart, talking in a low voice. and the
idea unluckily occurred to her that she
ought to 70 up to them and see II they
required amusement In any livelier shape
She went to the back Of Lady Seftone' s
chair. and was in time to hear the duchess
say:
"Ah, poor Lord Vivian! he must have
had a great taste for what Lord Byron
would call bread and butter. when he
married an Uniformed girl like that"
"She was q mere nobody" rejOined
LADY Seftone; ''ths daughter Of some
country attorney. No one can imagine
what he married her for. She has but
q washed out kind of beauty, after all.
Poor Lady Violante! She did not know
that was the common language of the
fashionable world; she did not know that
envy has no pity, no liking: that elderly
beautIes who have lost all their own
charms have no occupation better than
decrying the charms Of others. A woman
OF the world overhearing such a converse,
tion would have smiled to herself. and
felt that she was beautiful enough to ex-
cite envy. To Lady Violante the words
brought a sharp. keen pain. They haunt"
ed her: she could not forget them.
CHAPTER XI.
Sunny Florence wore its gayest aspect.
The blue waves of the Arno rolled be-
tween banks of odorous flowers. One
bright morning In August Lady Vlolante
stood looking. with q far-of glance, over
the Arno to the hills beyond. Near her