The midland journal., 1910-09-23


while shade fell over the brilliancy
of her face. 1t almost seemed as
though she hated to hear KnebweIl
Hall mentioned.
aCan / do anything for you?v Enid
asked, as she was moving away.
! @No," answered Lady Derriman,
1aconically. II take no interest in
that horrid old place
Enid could not help the exclama-
tion of surprise and depreciation that
escaped her lips.
"Oh, Dorothy, how could you say
so? Such lovely house. and those
magnificent grounds!
what an enthusiast you are! AL
most as bad as Gervais!
who is taking my name in. vain?"
inquired the earl, coming out, looking
marvelously handsome in his riding
attire. Il
We are discussing ancestral pos
sessions. Dorothy laughed, just turn
ing to him. Enid's sentiments would
touch you. She worships house be-
cause it is old, because lots of disa-
greeable people have lived and died
in it, and because the most objection
able part of ones existence, namely,
childhood, was passed in its pre-
cincts
(, @Then, indeed, do agree heartily
with Miss Leslie!'
Dorothy gathered her habit afresh
in her hand, and beat the cloth i'm
patiently with her small whip.
Pedigree is a thing never had
the smallest sympathy with, nor do
value the ancient belongings simply
because they are ancient; and to
prove that am speaking facts, may
inform you both that it is my SOW
ereign will that Knebwell Hall shall
be handed over to the care. of stran-
gers without any unnecessary delay"
.You are going to sell it?' said
Enid in low. surprised tones.
Shades of the dead and gone
Knebwells, what heresy!" answered
Dorothy. in mock dismay. Then she
added, laughingly: aNo, Mistress
Enid. am only going to let it, that's
all. You may breathe again. Here
come the horses. Let's be OF, Ger
'vais; we must be home early, as Mr..
lBroughton arrives to luncheon"
Gervais, with a grave look on his
face. went up to her mount, examined
everything carefully. then put her up
as easily as though she had been a
featherweight. not woman.
Gervais said very little as they rode
q N hnd SSlI
ZION to herself at first. At last he
seemed to rouse himself.
You were not in earnest Just now.
pf course. my darling?" he said, with
i b smile.
Dorothy looked at him.
In earnest; what about?"
About Knebwell.
She knitted her brows for an in
ttant.
II Yes, am, she replied, quietly.
Quite in earnest. And what is more.
have already put the matter into
Che hands of several agents. /"
Gervais was silent for awhile.
+ Il wish you had consulted me first,
dear.
l. 0AA 4AOb ztAAAA IlClC was ally uGe
cessity." she observed coldly. She
was compelled to speak like this, 9TH
erwise he might have seen how
idgety and nervous she was.
Surely there can be no doubt on
that subject. MY wife should always
come to me for advice and aid
| But, Gervais, darling, you are abb
surd. What aid or advice could
possibly want in this particular
case?"
What is your reason, darling?r he
asked, gently.
@The place takes an enormous
amount OF keeping up, and to leave it
llsmpty with whole host of servants
as its only inhabitants is preposter-
bus"
J But you are 2 rich young lady,
remember. You have no need to
raise an income like this. Dorothy
bit her lip and said nothing. "Be-
sides, my darling, can not help say
ing don't like the idea. You know
i am head of the county, and as such
challenge criticism. All the world
knows that you brought me large
fortune. Now what will they think
when they learn that have permitted
you to let Knebwell? Why, they will
lsay. of course, that your money is be-
ing taken for the Derriman estates,
and that you are compelled to raise
more on your own. / have pride,
Dorothy, and my pride rebels against
this!"
you are a dear. stupid old thing!"
she cried. seeing that to continue this
discussion in its present form was
little short of madness.
+ another thing" went on Gervais,
taking no notice of her affectionate
Tudeness; Il was going to breach it,
20 you at Weir Cottage. but somehow
1T went completely out of my
thoughts. Would it not be a kind