The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-11-28
CHAPTER XI.

After long sleepless night OF toss
ing to and fro, Vixen rose with the
first stir of life in the old house and
made herself ready To face the bleak
hard world. Her meditations of the
eight had brought no new light To her
mind. 1t was very clear to her that
she must go away-ss fas as possible
from her old home. Her Punishment
was necessary for everybody's sake.
For the sake of Rorie, who must be-
have like a man of honor, and keep his
engagement with Lady Mabel, and
shut his old playfellow out of his
seart; for the sake OF Mrs. Carmichael.
who could never be happy while there
was discord in her home; and last of
all for Violet herself, who felt that JOY
and peace had fed from the Abbey
House forever, and that it would be
better to be anywhere, in the coolest,
strangest region of this wide earth,
strange faces, then here among friends
who were but friends in name, and
among scenes that were haunted with
the ghosts of dead joys
She went around the gardens and
strawberries in the early morning, look
Ing sadly at everything. as if she were
bidding the trees and flowers a long
farewell She wandered in and out
among the groups CT wild growing
shrubs. rising one above another to
the height of forest trees, and then
she went out by the old five-barreG
gate which Titm1use used to jump so
merrily, and rambled in the planta-
ton till the sun was high and the
pines began to breathe forth their in
cense as the day-god warmed them
into life.
A message came from the captain
while she was standing before her
glass tying a crimson ribbon under the
collar of her white morning dress.
Would she please TO go to Captain
Carmichael in the study? She went
without an instant's delay, walked
quietly into the room and stood before
him silently as he sat at his desk
writing.
Good morning, Miss Tempest" he
said. looking up at her with his bland
est air. sit down, if you please.
want to have a chat with you"
Vixen seated herself in her fathers
looking round the room absently,
dreamily, quite disregarding the cap
tain. The dear ole room was full of
sadly sweet associations.
Your mother informs me that you
wish ito leave the Abbey House." he
began, land she has empowered me
TO arrange a suitable home for you
elsewhere. / entirely concur in your
opinion that your absence from Hamp-
shire for the next year or so will be
advantageous to yourself and others.
You and Mr.. Vawdrey have contrived
TO get yourselves unpleasaltly talked
about in the neighborhood. Any fur
Their scandal may possibly be prevented
by your departure"
"'Haye you arranged with my mother
for my leaving homer" inquired Vixen.
Eyes, il is all settled"
Then / will write at once to Miss
McCroke. / know she will leave the
people she is with to travel with me- .
Miss McCroke has nothing to do
with the question. Your roaming about
the world with a euperannuated gov
ernness would be preposterous. / am
going to take you to Jersey by this
evenings boat. / have an aunt living
there who will be happy TO take charge
OF you She is a maiden lady, a
woman of superior cultivation, who
devotes herself wholly TO intellectual
pursuits. Her refining influence will
be valuable to you. The island is
lovely. the climate delicious. You could
not be better off than you will be at
Les Tcurelles."
Il am not going to Jersey; am not
going to your intellectual aunt" said
Vixen, resolutely.
Il beg your pardon, You are going.
and Immediately. Your mother and
have settled the matter between us.
You have expressed a wish to leave
home, and you will be pleased to g.
where we think proper"
Vixen felt herself conquered. She
had stated her wish, and it was grant
ed, not in the mode and manner she
had desired, but perhaps she ought to
be grateful for release from a home
that had become loathsome to her. and
rot take objection to details in the
scheme of her exile.
Il suppose / may take my dog with
me?" she asked, after long pause,
during which she had wavered be-
tween submission and revolt, land my
maid?"
Il see no objection to your taking
your dog, though i doubt whether my
aunt will care TO have a dog of that
size prowling about her house. He
can have a kennel somewhere, i dare
say You must learn to do without a
maid. Feminine helplessness is going
out of fashion, and one would expect
ar amazon ike you to be independent
of lady's maids and m:iliners."
why don't you state the case in
plain English?' crier Vixen, scorn-
fully. IF / took Phoebe with me she
would cost money There would be her
wages and maintenance to be provid-
ed. If ] leave her behind you can dis
miss her You have fancy for dis
missing old servants"
Had you not better see to the pack
ing of your trunks?" asked Captain
Carmichael, ignoring the shaft.
What is to become of my horse?'
Il think you must resign yourself to
leave him to fate and me- replied the
captain, cooliy. MY aunt may submit
to the infiiction of your dog, but that
she should tolerate a young lady
roaming about the island on thor
susabred horse would be rather too