, 1898-11-18
CHAPTER VII.

The Christmas of that year was a very
ny one at the Castle. Lord Selwyn de-
clared himself to be greatly in arrears
over hospitality-he had given neither par
ty nor fete worth naming since his Access
sion to the title; all that must be altered
now that he had a lovely wife TO please
and consult.
So that Selwyn Castle became the very
center of gaiety. Large relays OF guests
came from London, and once there, liked
TO remain. There were dinner parties,
fetes, balls, charades and tableaux; the
whole ~neighborhood seemed to be aroused,
and one family We'd with another as to
who should be gayest.
1t was a new world for Lady Violante
"A world she would have enjoyed excess
sively had she been a spectator instead OF
leader. She was very much admired, and
much liked by all the guests. 1hey
thought her graceful and lovely; yet IN
some vague way, she never seemed TO De
the real mistress of the brilliant revels.
If one but ACQUISITION about the charapes,
!, the .tableaux, the music or dresses, she
had a way of raising her shy, sweet eyes
and saying: ~.
Il do not know; pray ask Mrs. Sel"yn
or Miss Leigh"
With kindly encouragement Lady Sci
wyn might in time have taken courage
and lave learned to fulfill all the onerous
duties of her station. AS it was, she grew
more timid and more unfit for them every
day.
Then came another minor trouble-the
incident upon which the strange event of
her life turned. Pauline, the maid who
was engaged at her wedding to attend up
on her. was suddenly obliged to return
home, and Lady Selwyn had to advertise
for another maid.
Theresa Bowden pleased Lady Seiwyn
at first sight. She had a soft, graceful,
pleasant manner, a clear voice, with a
perfectly refined accent. She seemed
anxious, too, and had brought with her
some excellent testimonials. She had
lived with Lady Dunrobin, whose sad
death every one remembered; afterward
with the Countess of S~trathmere, who
had gone abroad.
or you think l should be likely to suit
you, my lady," said the woman, Il will
try so hard to do my duty. l would do
anything almost for a home. l am one
of the very few who are quite alone IN
the world. l have nc relations living, and
few friends" These words afterward
bore fruit. Lady Selwyn engaged her,
and a week afterward Theresa Bowden
was at the Castle.
Then, and for the first time, Beatrice
Leigh saw her. She entered Lady Vio-
lante's room one morning with some mes
sage from Mrs, Selwyn, and saw the maid
engaged over her lady's T~a>anipe. To
send her from the room on some s11ght
pretext was but the work of a minute,
and then Miss Leigh turned to Lady Sci
wyn with a smile that had in it a tinge of
malice.
rs that your new maidT' she asked.
"Yes,' was the reply. "She came yes
.erday, and she seems to understand her
duties pretty we'll"
II should never have engaged her."
said Miss Leigh emphatically. DO you
not perceive anything strange about herr"
No." replied Lady Violante. II thought
her very pleasant and graceful in her
manner.
ssDo YOU not see," cried Beatrice, ''how
much she is like you? Her hair Is of the
same shade. she is of the same height,
the same complexion. 1t Is a grave mis-
take to nave engaged such a person. Only
imagine what remarks people may maker
II did not notice i'll never thought of
it." said Lady Violante, distressed and
dismayed, as she always was when Miss
Leigh found fault. 1T cannot matter,
though"
THAT depends upon TASTE" was the
quiet reply. For my part, l should not
like a maid who might be mistaken for
my sister"
Yet Lady Violante liked Theresa Bow
den. and she remained at Selwyn Castle.
Had she not done SO, this story would
never nave been written.
ITO be continued.l