Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15


often than before And Miss
Crunden. he Is not falling into any bad
habits, is he?"
Then Lizzie. blushly holly under the
sense of vicarious shame. felt compelled
to touch upon the final events of Cham
payne day.
You know what 7 said. when you said
about his-his doing-what you said.
forget the word
"Pegging." said Lady Vincent solemnly.
1T is a slang word
"Well-after. that he did peg once. But
he has never pegged since then. And,
Lady Vincent 1 don't think-I feel sure
that The has made up his mind not to peg
again.
''Oh. Miss Crunden, do show him your
horror of that dreadful habit"
II did show it," said Lizzie, blushing
more holly still
It, was curious how completely Lady
Vincent now seemed to count on Lizzie
as her ally. From the moment of her dis
covery that Lizzie held such right
views" on the all-important subject of
Jack she confided in Lizzie absolutely.
She was the kiHdest. but certainly not the
wisest. of women: and on one Of her visits
she made a naive confession. Miss
Crunden, you are so different from what
had been led to suppose. 1t only shows
how careful one should be in forming an
opinion about people that one really does
not know. I very much regret that in
your case I formed a most erroneous
opinion"
1t now seemed quite natural to turn to.
Lizzie. as right-viewed person. for news
and for assistance: Indeed. as Lady
Vincent had always thought, it was the
natural, duty Of any one privileged to
enjoy the society of Jack to- take the
strongest interest in his welfare. She
spoke of him to Lizzie without the least
reserve-as to another matron full of
years: almost as If Lizzie had been a
relative Of the family, some old aunt of
Jack, lost sight of for a long time but
now again brought back to the family
circle.
my dear boy will want some holiday.
Miss Crunden. have you thought of that?
If he works all through the year his
health must fail. Mr.. Crundsn can
scarcely refuse some holiday"
mo, my father will give him holiday
no holiday himself this year.
"Ah, but your father has worked all
his life. and is therefore Injured to 1t.
But with Jack that is not SO. Do, Miss
holiday for him. Make him take little
rest before the autumn. -
And, Miss Crunden. could you, manage
this for us? Prevail upon him to spend
his holidays with us at Bournemouth. We
are going to Bournemouth in order to be
near my husbands poor old cousin You
know. Miss Vincent Is dreadfully infirm-
lamentably afflicted. / really do not be-
leve that there Is the smallest chance OF
poor. dear Harriet recognizing us or even
knowing that we are In the neighborhood;
but my. husband feels that If. poor dear.
she did dimly understand that we had
come on purpose she would take 1t as
kindness. But it will be so wretchedly
dull for hinl-whereas. II he had Jack as
a companion we should all be happy. He
is such a wonderful companion. You find
that, don't your.
And. Miss Crunden. his father will say
nothing to upset Jack. I do not pretend
/ that my husband is yet reconciled to
to admire it. You see. 1t goes on. That
is what surprises my husband and has
won his admiration"
1t was at the end Of this visit that
Lady Vincent for the first time spoke in
almost a friendly manner of Lizzie's
father.
You have seen what this horrible COM
pany are doing at Hill House. What
does Mr.. Crunden think of that? They
are pulling down our old home; they are
cutting down the dear cd trees-it is far
wore .: than what your father is doing
"Good-bye Miss Crunden. Tell Jack his
place is laid at dinner every night. Short
just as pleased to see him as we are
- shall walk up Hin Rise and
look at our old home. 1t is a painful
sight-but it is cowardly to avoid it. The
world, Miss Crunden, IS always changing;
and suppose 1t Is foolish to wish to keep
things as they were forever.
"Since this horrid company has come.
one can understand that perhaps what
your father is doing is only natural. Your
father, seeing the opportunity to make
to refrain-from consideration for other
peoples feelings. If it had not been your
father I suppose 1t would be some one
else. For your sake. now. l Will wish
your father continued success. He has
been famously successful so far. hasn't
he?"
~'He is getting on very well. think"
Lizzie. standing at the door of cere-
mony. watched Lady Vincent walk slowly
up Hill Rise The world had indeed
changed to bring her the great Lady
Vincent as a friendly. garrulously con-
fdential visitor. Once such visits would
have made her heart beat fast with pride
and nope. and filled her brain with
her quite calm and self-possessed. But
from them there had come. one most
comfortable feeling, together with q sense
of grateful respect for the visitors nus
band. Sir John had kept his word. Sir
John had proved himself great gentle
| man; not even to his faithful wife had
he betrayed the secret of old Crunden' 8
mad proposal. Lizzie. talking to Lady
Vincent. was quite sure OF this; and her
respectful gratitude to Sir John grew
Mrs Price, for her part, derived no
| comfort from my lady's calls.
"What'd she come here again for? Miss
Lizzie. if I were you. I wouldn't en-
| courage her coming. She couldn't take
| care of him when she had him In her
| charge and now as we're looking AFTER
him, she wants for tt unsettle him again
| ard take him away from US"
When Mrs. Price employed the mas.
culine pronoun without previous nomiha-
tive one could always know that nominal
| tive understood was Mr.. Jack.
There could be no question that Crun-
den had been successful with the two
| rows of cottages built by himself. The
| finishing had been somewhat slow, but
they were practically done now-fences
being fixed, last coat of paint going on to
doors and garden gates, tenants waiting
to come in and dry the plaster. They
were really commodious cottages: suita-
BILE abodes for small clerks. wives of su-
perior servants. good working couples
who could take ledger to help pay the
rent of 10 shillings a week-which was
certa My not too high. These cottages
were the safest part of Crunden's scheme
Such property Is always saleable, and,
althou, h no offers had yet been procured.
Crunden was confident that he would
have nc difficulty in selling Thee Is
always. in any town, good demand
for cottages-until, of course. you put
up too many cottages, and over-supply
Kills demand.
| Nov the time had come to name these
attrac tive little boxes of bricks. and
| Crunden, in jovial Spirits. had invited his
| assistants to advise upon the choice of
rames.
| "Xou mean said lack, "a name for