The Glenwood post., 1909-05-08
CHAPTER v,-continued.

Nfy infatuation for Lady Arabella
continued; but can not say she ever
showed me the least mark of favor
But that she did to no one except
Overton. and | soon knew what every
body in the town knew. that she was
desperately smitten with him, and
would have bestowed herself and her
fortune upon him at any moment, If he
would but accept it. AS for Giles Ver-
non, she showed him what no other
woman ever did-a GOODNESS at first,
that deepened into something like ac-
tive hatred. She knew he stood be-
tween Overton and the heirship to the
Vernon estates, and that was enough
to make her dislike him. She often re
marked upon his want of good looks,
and she was the only woman l ever
knew to do it. Yet Giles was unde-
niably hard-featured. and, except
good figure, had nothing in his person
to recommend him. had thought that
pride would have kept Giles from pay
ing court to person so inimical to
him; but pride was the excuse he gave
for still pursuing her. He declared he
had never, no, never, been fiouted by
woman, and that Lady Arabella
should yet come at his call. This |
believed at the time to be mere brava-
do. He was enchanted by her, that
was the truth, and could no more
leave her than the moth can leave the
candle.
I saw much of Daphne in those days,
chiefly because could see so little of
Lady Arabella, who led life of sin
gular independence, little restrained
by the authority of Lady Hawkshaw,
and none at all by Sir Peter. Daphne
vas fond Of books, and commonly went
about with one under her arm. I, too,
was inclined to be bookish; and so
there was something in common be-
tween us. She was keener of wit than
any one in that house; and l soon
learned to take delight in her conver
sation, in Lady Arabellas absence.
My love for the Lady Arabella was,
admit, the fond fancy of boy; while
Giles Vernon's was the mad infatua-
tion of a man.
Giles was much with us at that time;
and l acknowledge l had great benefit
from the spending of his prize-money
or, rather, l should say, much enjoy
ment. He laid it out right royalty,
asked the price of nothing, and, for the
time he was in London, footed it with
the best of them. His lineage and his
heirship to Sir Thomas Vernon gave
him entrance anywhere; and his wit
and courage made his place secure.
ChDrf1y, of VIZ ar-rira Cir q
Vernon also arrived at his house in
Grosvenor Square. We were bound to
meet him, for Giles went much into
gay society, as | did, in the train of
Lady Hawkshaw. The first time this
occurred was a drum at her grace of
Auchester's where all of London was
assembled. Even Overton. who was
rarely seen in drawing rooms, was
there. Giles, of course, was there:
he? grace had fallen in love with him.
as women usually did, the first time
she met him.
1t was a great house for play; and
when we arrived. we found the whole
suite of splendid apartments on the
lower floor prepared for cards.
There was the usual crush and
clamor of a fine London party; and |,
being young and unsophisticated, en-
joyed it. as did Daphne. Names were
bawled out at the head of the stairs.
but could not be distinguished over the
roar of voices. | happened to be near
the door, with Giles. Lady Arabella
being near by, when | heard the name
of Sir Thomas Vernon shouted out, as
he entered.
He was man of middle size, and
was between 40 and so years of age.
He might once have been handsome; !;
but the ravages of an evil nature and
a broken constitution were plainly
visible in his countenance. / observed
that, as he stooS, glancing about him
before making his devoirs to the duch-
ess OF Auchester, no one spoke to him.
or seemed disposed to recognize him.