The Ordway new era., 1909-04-23

When ! reached Sir Peters mouse
about noon. the same tall and insolsnt
footman that l had seen on my first
visit opened the door for me. LADY
Hawkshaw. wearing the same black
velvet gown and the identical feath
ers. received me, and sitting with her
were Daphne Carmichael and the
glorious. the beautiful, the enchanting
Lady Arabella Stormont.
II | had fallen madly In love with
her when | was but u. and had only
seven and siNpence. one may imagine
where | found myself when ! was near
II. and had f2.000 In n bag in my
hands. Lady Hawkshaw's greeting
was stitf. but far from unkind: and
she introduced me 10 the young ladies,
who curtsied most beautifully to me.
and. | may say. looked at me not un'
kindly
rs that your prize-money in that
bag. Rlchard?" asked Lady Hawk
shaw, Immediately.
| replied II was.
"Jeames." she said. go and make
my compliments to Sir Peter, and say
to him that II he has nothing better TO
do. would be glad TO see him at once.
And order the coach"
James departed.
| sat in adoring silence. oblivious OF
Daphne. but gazing at Lady Arabella
until she exclaimed, pettishly:
La, Have | got cross-eye or
crooked nose. Mr.. Richard. that you
can't take your eyes on me?'
You have neither" | replied. gal
lantly. And my name is not Mr.. Rich
ard. but Mr.. Glyn. at your ladyship's
service"
"Arabella," said Lady Hawkshaw
in a voice of thunder. be more par
ticular in your address to young gen
tlemen."
"Oh. yes. ma'am!" pertly replied
Lady Arabella. But such very young
gentlemen. like Mr. Glyn, or Mr. Thin.
or whatever his name may be. are al
ways difficult to please in the way OF
address. II you are familiar. they are
affronted: and II you are reserved.
they think you are making game Of
them
BY this speech | discovered that al
though Lady Hawkshaw might rule
her world. terrorize Sir Peter. and
make the lords OF the admiralty her
humble seryitors. she had one rebel in
the camp. and that was Lady Arabella
Stormont. | saw that her remarks dis
pleased Lady Hawkshaw. but she en-
dured them in silence. Who. though,
would not endure anything from that
cherub mouth and those dazzling
eyes?
Sir Peter now appeared and greeted
me.
Sir Peter" said Lady Hawkshaw in
her usual authoritative manner. you
will go in the coach with me to the
bank. with Richard Glyn. to deposit
his money. You will be ready in ten
minutes. when the coach will be at
the door"
81 will go with you, madam" replied
Sir Peter: but | shall order my horse.
and ride a-horseback. because I do not
like riding in that damned stuffy
coach. And besides. when you and
your feathers get in. there is no room
for me-
You ride a.horseback!" sniffed
Lady Hawkshaw. Even the grooms
and stable boys laugh at you. You are
always talking some sea nonsense
about keeping the horses head to the
wind, and yawing and luffing and
bowsing at the bowline. and what not:
and, besides, l am afraid to trust you
since Brown Jane threw you in the
park"
II ended by Sir Peters going in the
coach, where the little man lay back
in the corner, nearly smothered by
Lady Hawkshaw's voluminous robe,
and pishing and pshawing the whole
way
But l was quite happy-albeit I was
the victim of Lady Hawkshaw in hav-
ing my money kept for me-for on the
seat beside me was Lady Arabella,
who chose to go with us. She made
much game Of me, but had the spirit
to answer her back. After placing the
money, We took an airing in the park,
and then returned to dinner at five
o'clock. | neither knew nor cared
what became of Daphne; for was I not
with the adored Lady Arabella?
That night Lady Hawkshaw was at
home, and I had my first experience of
a London rout. The card tables were
set on the lower floor, for although
Lady Hawkshaw hated cards, yet 1t
was commonly said that no one could
entertain company in London without
them.
CTo BE coNTINUED)