The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-13
CHARTER V-continued.

:
She had to meet his eyes; he waited, in
sisted upon it. And when she shyly
glanced up and met the full, good-nu-
mored, rather mischievous look in his, she
suddenly found the corners of her own
mouth relaxing, and grew bold enough to
ask, straightforwardly:
Are you a very dreadful person, Lord
,Catherington?'
Desperate said he promptly, Haven't
you found that out yet?"
Again the sob came up into her throat
well. no. hadn't she said, in lit
tie whisper
+ "Odd that said he, settling himself in
his chair and evidently enjoying her
pretty confusion. IT should have thought
a person of discernment, such as take
you to be. would have found out in the
twinkling Of an eye that man like me,
who doesn't care two strawS for anybody 8
opinion and who likes other people to be
equally independent, was, from the view
of the average respectable Briton, about
as dreadful a person as you're likely to
meet"
us that all they mean by dreadful
! that you're independents
He looked at her, and laughed.
ITS not quite all" said he, candidiy:
But it's the head and front of
my offending. But it 8 true that.
some years ago, when I was
younger, some escapades of mine on
the other side of the herring pond got re-
ported on this side, and exaggerated and
passed from one newspaper to another,
growing as they went until they had as
sumed the proportions Of a very fair
reputation for ill-doing. And as, since my
coming into the title, have studiously re-
| Trained from fulfilling my social duties,
have been seen little at the clubs, and still
F.! less anywhere else, have refused to lay
foundation stones or to bless the parish
pump, or to engage in any other OF the
duties supposed to belong to my station
and position, I am counted as unregen-
crate, and worse than that, uninteresting
as have not been known to commit any
fresh follies to take the place in peoples
memories of the old ones, which have lost
their freshness and their piquancy."
Beatrice listened, wondering whether il
was all true, and showing considerable
quiet amusement at the recital.
II don't think you believe a word Of
what I'm telling you," said he, good
humoredy. ....
And then she took courage to smile out
right.
Never mind" said she And then, thu
smile suddenly leaving her face. she ad
ded: You have told me as much of the
truth as I've any right to expect"
| "Oh, don't say that. I should like vol
to think me truthful, for truth is mas
culine virtue" She looked up quickly
; well, at least" he went on, mischievous
ly, cts not feminine one"
She looked down, and grew red again
Nanny no cyl" observed Ermyn, sud
denly, from the floor
The grown-up people had both forgot
ten her, and both started.
I'm not crying, Ermyn." said Beatrice
; Lord Catherington stopped down an
lifted the child onto his knee.
"Would you believe it, young woman
I'd forgotten you were there!" said he
: Your governess is such an interestin
person that she makes me neglect m
duties as a father. suppose, Mrs
Froyle, you're rather surprised that
: make such a fuss about a girl, when mos
, men in my position would feel a secre
l resentment at her not being a boy?'
well, have thought Of that said sh
l timidy. AT least, my husband was muc
disappointed not to have a boy"
Ah, yes; yours was a girl too''
, Beatrice looked down guilty., but, a
usual, she got no time to take advantag
3 OF this opening for confession. Lor
: Catherington went on: ~
) ''He shouldn't have let you see that Il
was disappointed. But, I beg your pal
8 don; have no right to say anything. N
e doubt, whatever he did, was right in yor
= eyes. You were happily married,
course" ..a
Beatrice hesitated Indeed, the trut
is that Latimer Froyle had not been
4 very good husband, and had been incline
! to visit upon his unfortunate wife the dis
. pleasure his mother expressed at his ma,
t riage.
e "The circumstances prevented its beir
j very happy" said she at last Its n,
t very nice to feel that one has brougl
. misfortune upon the man one loves"
Perhaps Lord Catherington was shreW
: enough to guess at the truth, for he sait
;. well, at any rate, you can idealize hi
. now. And presently, in looking back, tn
a time will appear to you happier than
:, really was. I won't distress you by re
. ferring to it again" a. .....-.
. For she wished to protest, to explain
: feeling as If she had brought blame upc
- Latimer's memory. But Lord Gathering
:, ton waved the subject away, and thel
:, was silence for some minutes.
At last he raised his head suddenl
= when he had been stroking the child
= fair hair without making any remar
=. and turned towards one of the long wiz
=. =. dows.
~ do you hear anything?" asked he. al
ruptly.
For he perceived that Beatrice also WE
II sitting in a listening attitude.