Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-17
CHAPTER XVIII.

1t seemed to lady Mary Blandon and
to Savernake that the Duke of Leices-
ter must have had a fatiguing journey,
when ne reappeared at the shooting
lodge late the following Afternoon.
He looked older, and had dark cir
Giles under his eyes, such as the other
Maurice had worn after long night
at cards.
He deigned to explain that he had
''been to see Anne" which explana
tion naturally obviated all necessity
for further questioning. Lady Mary
had suspected his destination from the
hrst, and had confided her suspicious
to Savernake, both being pleased at
their fulfllment. And so, when the
young man of many moods announced
a sudden distaste for Scotland and a
desire for the sweet shady side of
Pail Mall, the old man and the old
woman of many schemes looked wise.
"Has Anne an idea of running up to
London for a little last shopping or
trying on of gowns, by any chance?"
Lady Mary slyly ventured.
Perhaps" returned Maynard, quiet
ly.
1t is really remarkable how quietly a
man can speak when he knows that the
spring of his life is broken. His lips
were white, and he pressed them tight,
ly together when his answer had been
given; but that symptom was easily
attributable to fatigue. The fact was,
that he had said goodbye to Anne;
and if all went well with his plans the
best thing for his own peace of mind,
or what was left of it, would be never
to look upon her face again. 1t was
little hard, therefore, to answer light
Jest as to meeting her in town precise
ly in the same spirit with which it was
started.
There was nothing to keep them in
Scotland if they did not wish to stay.
IA few engagements to cancel on &C
count of sudden business urgently call
ing them Londonwards-that was all.
Lady Mary would fain have taken
things easily, and have fingered over
the fitting for few days, but she was
growing accustomed to giving the will
full young man his way; and while he
deferred to her in affairs of vital i'm
portance, it was rather amusing to the
hard woman to find herself yielding in
smaller matters.
Maynard returned to Scotland one
evening and they left for England on
the next, proceeding straight to Cleve-
landsquire. The Duke had been tact
turn during the journey down from the
North, but the following morning at
breakfast he astonished Lady Mary.
Iwant you to do something for me-"
he said, suddenly, as though speaking
out from the depths of brown study.
will you ask Randall and Blandon
Palgrave UP here from the Moated
Grange to dinner and to sleep to-mor-
row night?'
Her naughty features were instantly
overspread with a flush of indignant
surprise This was going a little too
far, even for Maurice.
my dear boy" she protested, con-
trolling the words that sprang first to
her lips. you must be dreaming. l
ask those men under our roof, after all
that has passed? / would as soon cut
off my own hand. But. of course, you
didn't mean it?''
Il did and do" he returned, with I'M
usual gravity; but then he had been
grave of late. II ask it as a great
favour to me, and thought you would
understand that | had a special rea-
son.
enough for that she hastily answered.
~ think you would say there was, if
you knew mine
''Why then'-still haughtily-"do
you continue to keep me in ignorance
of it?"
Only because the time hasn't come
to tell it yet. Can't you trust me?"
She eyed him in puzzled silence. II