Evening star., 1901-05-11
CHAPTER XVII.
River Scenes and Bric-a-Brac,

tance, prolific of pleasure. Others, such as
1ver and Miss s., might meet Mr.. Gains
borough he took timid rambles, they
could eXtort little beyond a dazed civility,
but none of them could compete with Nina
Zatriska. To her alone the doors of Blent
were open: she held eclusive right of ac-
cess to its hidden mistress. The fact
caused unmeasured indignation. the reason
excited unreSting curiosity. This state of
things ought to have made Nina very
happy. What more could woman want?
One thing only, but that's necessity
somebody to talk to about it. She had
nobody. jamie showed desire to discuss
Blent, or anything or anybody connected
| Herewith The major, for instance. was
one of the enemy. The gossips of Blent-
| mouth We're beneath her lordly notice. She
was bubbling over with undscussed impress
sions. And now even Mr.. Neeld had gone
off a visit to town.
Cecily had acquiesced in all the lawyers
did, had signed papers at request, had al
lowed herself to be invested with the prop
erty, saluted with the title, enthroned in
the fullest manner. So far, then, she had
acceI ted her cousins sacrifice and the
transformation of her life. Yet
through and in spite of all this, she. MAIN
tanned, even to the extreme of punctilious-
ness. the air of being a visitor at Blent
She made no changes in the order of the
household; when Mila-always busy in her
friends intereSt-suggeSted arrangements
of furniture or of curiOS. Cecilys manner
implied that she was prepared to take no
SuCn llDeTIleS III dnOtTer man S mousse 1t
would have been all very well-bred If Har-
ry had put his house at her disposal for
fortnight. Seeing that the place was her
own and that she had accepted it as being
her own Nina declared that her conduct
was little less than an absurdty. This
assertion was limited to Mina's own mind; :;
1t had not been made to the offender her
self. The fear she had felt of Harry
threatened to spread to his successor: she
did not feel equal to a remonstrance But
she grew gradually into state of ex-
treme irritation and impatience. This pro-
visional, this ostentatiously provisional at
tltGde could not be maintained permanent
ly. Something must happen one way or
the other. Now what was it to be? She
could not pretend to guess. These Iris
trans were odd folk. The strain made
ceedingly short with Major DupIay.
The outbreak came, and in a fashion as
Tristramesque as Nina could desire, for all
that the harbinger of it was frightened
little Mr.. Giansborough was more fright
ened still. He came up the hill one even
Ing about o'clock praying Minas imme-
diate presence at Blent Something had
happened he explained as they walked
down. Cecily had had a letter-from some
body in London. No. not Harry. She
must see Nina at once. That was all he
knew. except that his daughter was per-
turbed and excited His manner protested
against the whole thing with mild de-
spair.
Quick. quick cried the Imp, almost
making him run to keep up with her i'm
patient strides.
Cecily was in her room-the room that
had been Addie Tristram's.
You've moved in here was Mina's first
exclamation.
Yes: the housekeeper said + must. so
I did. But" She glanced UP for a mo-
ment at Adde'S picture and broke off
Then she held up a letter which she had
In her hands. DO you know anything of
Lord Southend?" she asked.
I've heard Mr.. Iver and Mr. Neeld speak
of him. that's ALL"
He writes to say he knew Lady iris
tram and-and Harry. and hopes he'll
That's very friendly" Nina thought
but did not add. that it was rather unim-
portant.
w Yes: but it's more than that Don't
her friend. impatient at her want Of COM
prehension 1T makes 1t possible to do
something. I can begin now
Begin What?' Nina was enjoying her
own bewilderment keenly. Gainsborough
mad not come upstairs, and the two young
women were alone in the room.
r. how long did you think could stand it?
you know Lady Tristram. I've slept In
this room two nights and"
You haven't seen ghost?"
Ghost! Oh, don't be silly I've laid here
awake, looking at that picture. And It's
looked at meat least, 1t seemed to, What
are you doing here? That's what it's been
I'm not mad. That's what 1 was saving
myself But the picture seemed to say it.
Ihen go into the long gallery. It's no
better there" Her hands were flung out
despairingly.
Well. murmured Nina.
-, Settled down! What was there to do?
On on, you know I hadn't! ! can't bear it.
Nina, and 1 won't. Isn't it hard? I should
have loved 1t all so. II it had been really
mine. II it had come to me properly And
now-its worse than nothing!'' She sat
back in her chair with her face set In a
desperate unhappiness.
1T Is yours; it did come to you property"
Nina protested. Her sympathy tended al
ways toward the persons she was with. her
appeal. She thought more of Cecily now
than of Harry. who was somewhere
vaguely someWhers-in London:
fend cr1ea Yo Ceeiy So shgry
lied-yes. lied for him. Why did you do
all that If you think it's properly mine? |
How can l face that picture and say it's |
did did love it so!'
We'll. I don't see what you're. to do. |
You can't give 1t back to Mr.. Tristram. |
to him. and I'm sure he wouldn't take it. |
Why, he couldn't. Cecily!''
Cecily rose and walked restlessly to the |
window.
NO, no, no, Sue SdiO, Iretlully. Sno |
turned abruptly around to Nina. Lord |
Southend says he'd be glad to make my |
acquaintance and have a talk"
ASK him down here. then"
ASK him here? I'm not going to ask |
people to stay here"'
Il think that's rather absurd" Nina had |
needed to summon up courage for this re-
mark.
And he says-there. look at his letter.
He says he's seen Harry and hopes to be |
able to do something for him. What does
he mean by that?" She came back to-
ward Nina. There must be something |
possible II he says that
He can't mean anything about-about
Blent. He means"
81 must find out what he means. I must |
see him. The letter came when was Just |
desperate. Father and sitting down here
together day after day. AS ifSI-as If
She paused and struggled for self-control.
There! I'm going to be quite calm ana |
reasonable about it," she ended.
Nina had her doubts about that and
would have been sorry not to have them. 1
The interest that had threatened to van
ish from her life with Addie Tristram's /
death and Harry's departure was revived
Sha lnnlinp q oOito tod til