Evening star., 1901-04-20
synopsis of Preceding Chapters

Ndclaid" wife Of Sir Randolph Edge of Bent Hail.
elorrd with Capt Fitzhubert. Sir Ranforh
did In Russia presumably in time for Lady
Edge and Fitlhubcrt to marry and SO make
their son Harry legitimate They learn later
however that the date of Sir Randoph's death
has been given incorrectly and Harry Is not
the richfful h"ir They keep the matter secret
and eventually Mrs. Fitzhubert succeeds to the
harnuy Of Tri>tram of Blent and resides with
Harry at Brnt Hall. Unknown to Lady Trist-
ram Madam Zabriska and Mr.. Jenkinson Neeld
are also IN possession Of the secret. and Madam
Zabriska with her uncle. Maj Duplay, come
TO reside At Nerrirn Lodge near Blent Hall
Harry learns from hs mother that he is not
th.. rf-Itrui heir to Rlent but they determine
to hold the title at any cost. t" further his
cause he decides to marry jamie lVer, heiress
of Fairhame. hut finds two rivals in Bob Broad
ley and Mai. Duplay. The latter learns of his
unfortunate birth from Muna Zabris&a. He in
forms him that he intends to tell Iver and they
quarrel Harry winning in Il brisk tussle. Neeld
becomes the guest of Iyer at Farholme. Mtnna
Zabriska meets Neeld and they form compact
To protect Harry's interests and maintain Sc
crecy. Lady Trstram dies after extracting
from her son a promise that Ceeily Ciainsbor-
Orsh rightful hciress Of Rleut, shall Ire Invited
to the funeral. Ccciy and her father 10
RIent and Harry fails to receive them Later
he comes suddenly upon Cecily in the garden
and realizes that she is u Tristram the image
Of his mother.
''CPCliy tIdffSDOrOuRn, S4lu Sne with a
distant manner. inclined to be offended
that their meeting should be by accident.
Yes I was sure. The moment 1 thought
/ was sure" He took no heed of her man
ner. engrossed in some preoccupation of
his own. AT first 1 was startled He
smiled now. as he offered her his hand
Then he recoIlected. You must forgive
me for being out 1 have been hard at
work all day. and the craving for the even
ing was me. l went out without think
ing"
They said you were engaged on pressing
business"
They lied for me- 1 forgot to leave any
message. I'm not generally discourteous-"
His apology disarmed her and made her
resentment seem petty.
How could You think of us at such
time? It's good of you to have us at ALL"
My mother wanted you to come" He
added no welcome of his own. You never
saw her, did you?' he asked moment
later.
CeciIy shook her head. She was rather
confused by the steady gaze of his eyes.
Did Cousin Harry always stare at people
as hard as that? Yet it was not exactly
stare; it was too thoughtful. too rumina-
tive, too unconscious for that.
Lets walk back together. You've had
a look at the place already, perhaps?"
Its very beautiful
YES" he assented. absently, as they be-
gan to walk.
II she did not stare. still she used her
eyes CuriOusIy studying his face. with it's
suggestion of strength, and that somehow
rather inconsistent hint of sensitiveness.
He was gloomy. That was just now only
proper. She saw something that puzzled
her. Nina Zabriska could have told her
what it was. but she herself did not sue
ceed in identifying Harry's watching look,
She was merely puzzled at certain shade
or expression in the eyes. She had not
seen it at the first moment, but it was
there now, as he turned to her from time
to time while they sauntered along
That's Merrion. our dower-house. But
It's let now TO a funny little woman, Nine
Zabriska. She's very much interested in
you"
"She hears of most things. She's as sharp
as a needle. l like her though
He said no more till they were back in
the garden. Then he proposed that they
should sit down on the seat by the river.
"My mother used to sit here often,' he
said. ''She always loved to the go
down from the garden She didn't read or
DO anything-she just sat watching.
'Thinking?" Cecily suggested.
We'll. hardly. Letting thoughts happen
II they wanted to. perhaps. She was al
ways rather-rather passive about things,
you know. They took hold of her-well. as
I say. If they wanted to-" He turned to her
quickly as he asked, Are you at all like
that?
81 believe I'm only just beginning to find
out that I'm anything or like anything.
And. anyhow. I'm quite different from what
was yesterday.
From yesterday"
yes Just by coming here. think
That's what ] mean. Things do take
This place does apparently" she an
swered. laughing, she leaned back on the
seat, throwing her arm behind her and
rfroFr I,ar I,ell tt
looking at her again with marked and all
most startled intensity,
Tell me about yourself" he asked or
rather cOmmdnded-so brusque and direct
was the request.
She told him about the small house and
Dthe small life She had led in it. even about
the furniture and the bric-a-brac confess
Ing to her occasional clearances and the
deception she had to practice on her father
about them; He was very silent but he
was good listener. Soon he began to
% smoke. and did not ask leave. This might
be rudeness but seemed rather a cousinly
sort of rudeness and was readily forgiven.
And suddeny | come to all this!" she
nurmured. Then with a start she added.
. But I'm forgetting your mothers death
~and what You must feel, and chattering
about myself
Il asked you to talk about yourself Is
1t such great change to come here?''
lmnensei To come here even for a day,
Immense She waved her hand moment
and found him following 1t with his eyes
as 1t moved.
- You don't look he said slowly 'as If
1t was any change all ALL
What do you mean?" she asked. inter-
ested in what he seemed to suggest
You fit in,' he murmured. looking on
at the hoUse-at the window of Addie
Tristram's room-''and you're very poor?''
he asked
Yes. And you-,"
''Oh. I'm not rich as such things go.
Lie estate has fallen in value very much
you know. But He broke off frown-
nins a little, Still, were comfortable
L should think So You'd always have
II TO look at, anyhow. What did YOU think
i should be Iike?'' ',''>
Anything in the world but what VOL,
are 'o1
The tone was at once too sincere and
too absent for compliment Cecily knew
herself not to be plain; but he was re-
>DSerrfng to something else than that.
In fact. hardly thought of you as an
individual at all. You were the Gains
boroughs."
And you didn't like the Gainsboroughs?"