The times., 1901-05-05
Th8 Lady Of Lynn.
BY WALTER BESANT
Copyrighted by Bean)
Copyrighted 1900 by Sir Walter Bcsant.)
BY SIR WALTER BESANT

q
was 30 softening influence of love visible
in those eyes-only resolution and pur-
pose. His eyes were as cold as his fore
head and as hard as his lips. Poor Molly
is it not. my lord she asked. "a mere
passing fancy? You will be tired of me
in month. You will regret that you GiC
not choose, rather, among the fine ladies
who speak your language and follow youI
manners
Molly. [ am man who does not en-
. courage idle fancies and passing loves
You Will find no change in me. As L am
now SO l shall be always"
She shivered. The prospect made hei
feel cold,
Then. my lord" she said. II have moth
ing more "a say. / shall not do justice tc
your rank, nor shall bring to your house
the dignity which YOU deserve. Such as
/ am, take me, If YOU will; or let me go
/ if You Will
Can you doubt. Molly? l will take
YOU He hesitated: he took her hand
I again; he stopped and kissed her fore
head There was no passion in his kiss.
no tenderness in his touch. no emotion in
his voice. Such as he was then such he
was closed. Molly seemed to hear again
the voice of her mother murmuring, But
only thou. O Godr -
Her lover drew the captains armchair
and placed il at the open window, which
looked out into the garden, then filed
! with flowers, fragrant and beautiful and
neiodious with the humming of many
I bees
Sir down Molly and let us talk
| he did not sit down: he stood before
her; he walked about the room; he played
WITH. the gold tassels of his sword.
| must be married at once"
| Il am your lOTdship's servant"
| As soon as possible. Are you ready?'
Ready? / suppose could be ready in
! a month or six weeks
| why, what is there TO do?'
i have to get things-dresses house
linen. all kinds of things
My dear you are not going to marry
a cit. Everything that you want you can
| buy. There are plenty of shops. You
want nothing but what YOU have-your
wardrobe, your fine things and your COM
mon things and your Jewels. You must
not forget your jewels"
Il thOnght that brides were always pro-
| vided with things for the house but if
| your lordship has already the linen and
| the napeTy--'
Good gracious. How should I know
| what l have? The thing is that you will
need nothing"
Where will you take me?''
i think, first of all to my house in
| Worcestershire. 1t is not fully furnished
! The late poSsessoF, my cousin whom I
succeeded. was, unfortunately. a gambler.
| He had to cut down his woods and sell
| them. He even had to sell his furniture
and pictures. But | can soon put the
! house in order fit for your reception" 1t
was he himself and not his predecessor
who had sold these things If it is not
so fine a first you would wish, we can
soon make IL worthy of YOU
] have often wondered what he intended
to do with his bride If things had gone
differently. / am now of opinion that he
intended 10 take her TO this great country
house, which, as | have understood stands
In a secluded part of the country, with no
near neighbors and no town within reach
and that he intended TO leave her there
while he himself went up 10 london to
resume the old gaming and raking which
he desired 50 much, although they had
been his ruin Fate, however, prevented
this design.
If you desire my happiness, my
lord
What else is there in the world that
should desire 2'
You will take me 10 that country place
and live there. / fear the world of fash
ion, and have no wish to live in London.
! have learned from the Lady Anastasia
how the great ladies pass their time"
Everything shall be as you wish Molly
everything. believe me-.
lie then. by way OF Illustrating this as
surance, proposed d thing which he him
self wished.
We must be married immediately.
Molly, because am called away by af-
fairs Of Importance to Gloucestershire.
ought TO leave this place not later than
saturday. The day was Thursday.
Saturday? We must be married on Sat
urday?"
Sooner than Saturday Tomorrow.
Ihat will give us tin<s enough TO make
what little preparations may be neces-
sary.
Tomorrow: But we cannot be married
so soon"
Everything is prepared. ! have the IL
cense We can be married tomorrow"
Oh il was all she could say
There is another thing. Your guardian
would IKE TO make public ceremony of
the wedding. He would hang the town
with. hags and ring the bells and summon
the band OF marrow-bones and c!eavers
while all tho word looked on"
Yes He Is 50 proud of the marriage
that ne would like TO celebrate it,"
a Ff.N1n
! should like to be married with no one
10 look on and no one 20 know anything
about it until it was all over"
W by. then. Molly-then we are agreed
was IN great fear that you would not
think with me My dear. if there is one /
Thing which 1 abhoT il is the public cere-
IhOny ana the private feasting and merri- /
ment with which wedding is accompa- /
MED. We do not want the town to be all /
agog- Ne do not want TO set all tongues /
"aSsiAS, nor GO NE want TO be show |
TO last three DAYS afterWard -
can we be private, then2"
ttftalhly. can arrange everything !
Now Molly, my plan is this We will he |
married privately in St Nicholas Church !
at IN the morning. before the company I
are out of their beds. No one will see ms /
After the marriage you will come back I
mere j VIII return with you, and we will |
then inform the captain and your mother /
OF the joyful news. Believe me. when |
they come 10 think it over, they will be /
preparation for a wedding feast"
But 1 cannot deceive the captain"
There Is no deception. He has agreed |
TO the match; he knows that you have
agreed There II one consideration. Molly
winch makes a private marriage neces-
sary. l could not consent TO public we'd
llnS or 70 wedding feast. because nv !
rank torbids II would be impossible for
me TO invite any person Of my own posi- |
ton 10 such a feast, and it would be i'm
possible Tor me 10 sit down with those
persons-worthy, no doubt and honest
"hom the captain would certainly wish to
This was certainly reasonable and GER
fanny true. Rank must be respected and /
a noble earl cannot sit down to feast with !
intrclants. shippers, mates. parsons and
,s,Then it shall be as your lordship
plca5cS.&
BE at the church at G." he said. "I win
provide everything and see that every
hing Is ready for you Do not be recng-
liZed as You pass along the street You |
can wear domino with the pink silk
,iGak which you wore the other night at
ne assembly. Then l shall recognize YOU
No one else. Molly, need be considered
are You sure that you understand"
IS. she sighed: II understand
lhen. Molly He bowed low and |
without Offering 20 kiss her. this wonder
uI rover left his mistress and was carried
a"me in his chair
CHAPTER X.
THE SOCIETY AGAIN
The society continued To meet but
irreguiarly' during this period of excite
nent when everybody was busy makins,
money out Of the company or Joining
III ihe afnuSemcnts or looking on The ,