The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25
CHAPTER TX.
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CHAPTER TX
Mrs. Peters looked frightened.
II begin to wish, sir. that hadn't
INDUCED YOU" she said obviously, as
she watched his slowing face.
''Why7''
IL think you're getting more es-
cited than It's good for you 10 be, for
one thing. sir; and for another
well, for another2'
I'll hope you'll remember your prom
ise,'' said tho fousekeeper, IN solemn
tone.
But Devcrill was as gay rs schools
boy on his way home for the holidays.
what! WHAT After all your coii-
CALCULATIONS on my being q gentleman.
and prince and all that, are you go
ing to doubt me already Are you go
ing back upon your word Mrs Peters Y.
She was silent But her face looReu
more aquiline than ever.
Come" said he, speak out what
are you afraid Off"
"Well. SIR, I'm afraid you'll say some
thing to your uncle.
He tried to raise himself, and sue
ceeded Just enough to be able to look
her straight i'll the facc Ills tons
had quite changed.
"yo,, may trust me-" said he grave
", ITO do nothing of the Kind. you've
done nothing wrong, as you Know. B'it
whether II were right or wrong does nor
matter. MY uncle will hear nothing about
1t from me-
She looked relieved at once.
..Well. SIR Tn in difficult position"
she said, in n sort of coaNing tone You
see, on the one hand / don't like to DO
anything that Sir Wilfrod would disap.
prove Of; yet, on the other, couldn't
bear not to let you have your way, when
you'd promised what YOU did. It's very
hard. for one placed ne Lam, to do the
right thing always, and so feel,
you have done absolutely the right
thing this time" said ,Deverlll. you may.
Il rest assured OF that. Nothing could have
been more discreet than the interview
between your. niece-your niece, Mrs
Peters, and myself. She never opened
her lips, for one thing"
.'She promised me she wouldn't" put
in the housek eeper, much relieved. Fs3 r
Deverill chuckled
What odd creatures you women are "
said he. "As long as YOU can get round
your consciences by some little evasion
OF that sort, you are satisfied. You had
doubts about letting youranlece come TO
see me-, eh2 So you satisfied yourself
by letting her come in the dark, and by
Is making her promise to keep her mouth
shut Then thinks you to yourself, III
any one asks me IL I let her see him or
speak to him., say NO. says T. And
the devil Is cheated -
Fl Mrs. Peters was shocked ls
II hope, sir, have never had any
dealing with persons OF that sort" said
she primly
'well, I hope not, too" said Deverlll
slyly. .
He was feeling much comforted on
the whole but he was puzzled by Mrs.
Peters's attitude in the matter. He knew
the old lady had a keen eye to the main
chance, and he was surprised that She
should have rsked anything so daring
as this Incident
Sir Wifred was not very old. man
vet, and she certainly did not expect
as much from the nephew ms she had
a right to do from the uncle; 1t seemed
strange, therefore. to the young man that
she should have incurred the risk Of Sir
Nilfreds dispeasuIe by allowing this
visit TO himself.
As soon as he was about again, Dcverll,
who was rather doubtful as to the re-
ception he would meet with at the hands
Of his uncle who had never once been
10 see him during his illness, went straight
10 Chelsea, to the house where he had
had his molnentous interview with
Claudia.
But the girls We're gone The house
was only a lodging house, and the &C.
cupants were all strangers to him.
but to wait till 1t should be the girls
pleasure to communicate with him, or to
trust to chance to throw him in their
a way.
In the meantime he kept away from
Lowndes Square, until one day, the third
or fourth of his convalescenco. he re-
reved rather curt note from his uncle
asking him why he had not been to see
him
For answer Deverill presented himself
at Sir Wdlfred's house that very after
noon, and was received indeed, but with
out warmth.
He on his size did ,Not attempt to ap-
pear overjoytd 1T the meeting.
You've grown very independent" said
his uncle sharply. after n few very for
NAL words about his Illness.
Deverll hesitated.
'lf you mean that I haven't called
BEFORE" said he at last. II couldn't
suppose you were very anxious to see
me. when you were denied to me the
last time came. and when you never
came to see me while was laid up"
'I sent my houEekeeper," said Sir
Wilfred. in rather shamefaced tone.
'She. being a woman. would thought,
be moro welcome visitor than should
be-"
II was very glad to have her." an
swered Deverill truly enough.
There was dead silence, and his
uncle looked at him keenly.
Its long time. quite a long time
since we met" said he presently.
Yes" said Deveril.
Not. think. since that unfortunate
night OF our visit to the fiat Of those
dubious persons. the Browns"
Dever bowed his head. and thought
It wiser to say nothing.
II hope you've given them up?" said
his uncle shortly
They've given me up, sir" said
Deverill
His uncle still kept him under the
same keen observation as he went on:
"Ah! They're the sort OF people who
know what they're about"
Yes"
Each wanted tho other to talk. There
was another silence.
And of course. marriage into such n
family Is out OF the question:"
Again Deveri said nothing He no.
tced however, that, strong as had been