The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-10-17
CHAPTER x.

bcrs Of the Linleys at dinner on their ar
rival The time for this yearly festival
had now come round again; the guests
were in the house, and Mr.. and Mrs. Lin
ley were occupied in making their ar
rangements for the dinner party
Sydney's agitation at the prospect of
meeting the ladies in the drawing room
added a charm of its own to the flush on
her face. Shyly following. instead of
leading her little companion into the room,
she presented such a charming appear
ance of youth and beauty that the ladies
paused in their talk to look at her. Some
few admired Kitty's governess with gen
erous interest; the greater number doubt
ed Mrs. Linley's prudence in engaging a
girl so very pretty and so very young.
When the gentlemen came in from the
dinner table, Sydney was composed
enough to admire the brilliant scene, and
to wonder again, as she had wondered al
ready, what Mr.. Linley would say to her
new dress.
He looked at her with a momentary fer
vor of interest and admiration which
made Sydney gratefully and guiltlessly at
tached to him, tremble with pleasure; he
even stepped forward as if to approach
her, checked himself, and went back again
son whom he never even looked at again,
was the poor girl to whom his approval
was the breath of her life.
Friendly Mrs MacEdwin touched her
arm. my DEAR you are losing your pref
ty color. Are you overcome by the heatf
Shall take you into the next roomy'
Sydney expressed her sincere sense of
the lady's kindness. Her commonplace
excuse was a true excuse-she had head
ache and she asked leave to retire to her
room.
Approaching the door, there she found
herself face to face with Mr.. Linley. He
had just been giving directions to one of
the servants, and was re-entering the
drawing room. She stopped, trembling and
cold; but. in the very intensity of her
wretchedness, she found courage enough
to speak to him.
you seem to avoid me, Mr.. Linley,"
--sshhe-5egan, speaking with an air of formal
respect, and keeping her eyes on the
ground. Il hope" she hesitated, and
desperately looked at him-'I hope l
haven't done anything to offend your
In her knowledge of him, up to that
miserable evening, he constantly spoke to
her with a smile. She had never yet seen
him so serious and so inattentiye as he
was now. His eyes, wandering round the
room, rested on Mrs. Linley-brilliant and
beautiful, and laughing gayly. Why was
he looking at his wife with plain signs of
embarrassment in his faceg Sydney pite-
ously persisted in repeating her innocent
question: 81 hope l haven't done anything
to offend your"
MY dear child it is impossible that you
should offend me; you have misunderstood
and mistaken me- Don't suppose-pray
don't suppose that | am changed or can
ever be changed toward you" He EN-
phasized the kind intention which these
words revealed by giving her his hand.
But the next moment he drew back
There was no Disgusting it, he drew back
as if he wished to get away from her
She noticed that his lips were firmly clos
ed and his eyebrows knitted in a frown
he looked like a man who was forcing
himself to submit to some hard necessity
that he hated or feared.
Sydney left the room in despair. HI
had denied in the plainest and Iindes
terms that he was changed toward her
Was that not enough? 1t was nothing
like enough. The facts were there t.
speak for themselves; he was an altered
man; anxiety, sorrow, remorse-one OF
the other seemed to have got possession o.
him. Judging by Mrs. Linley's gayety OF
manner his wife could not possibly hav,
been taken into his confidence.
What did it mean? Oh, the useless
hopeless question. And yet, again an,
again she asked herself; What did i
mean?
- The dinner partss=eape to an end; tn
neighbors had taken their departure; AM
the ladies at Mount Morven mud retire,
for the night.
On the way 10 her room Mrs. Prest,
knocked at her daughters door. u wan
to speak to you, Catherine" she said g
am the bearer Of good news. Wh,n W
find it necessary to get rid of Miss WEBSTER
field
Mrs. Lnley's indignation expressed ii
self by a look which, for the moment a
least. reduced her mother to science.
do you mean to tell me, mamma, tina
you have said to Herbert what you sal
just now to meT"
Certainly. / mentioned it to Herber
in the course of the evening. He wa
excessively rude. He said. Tell Mr.,
MaeEdwin to mind her own business"
What has Mrs. MacEdwin to do wit
it?" asked Mrs. Linley.
If you will only let me speak, Catl
crime, shall be happy to explain myself
You saw Mrs Mneisdwin talking to m
at the party. That good lady's head
feeble head, as all her friends admit
has been completely turned by Miss Yves
erfeld. If, by any lucky chance, Mis-
Westerfed happens to be disengaged
the future, Mrs. MacEdwin's house
open to her-at her own time and on he
own terms l promised to speak to 70
on the subject and l perform my prom