The midland journal., 1910-09-23
CHAPTER XII.
Continued.

anything IN Inc WlQ6 WOFiu, my
darling. {"
eWell. then, let us leave here to-
morrow and go home. want to be
ct home, dear!"
Gervais hesitated only for mo-
ment; her voice was so sweet and
love laden.
So be it, my own; tomorrow we
will go home; but / am afraid we
shall disappoint the folk a little; re-
member mother told us they were or
ganizing ell sorts of festivities in the
shape of a welcome to us.
They shall have them all; but to
tell the honest truth, Geryais,
sha'n't be sorry to miss the welcome
to ourselves. / would rather steal
quietly into our home.
Enid had moved away to the win
dow, but she heard his impassioned
MY own darling!" and saw him bend
and kiss the lovely, flushed face.
And you consent?" laughed Dor
othy.
Can refuse you anything?"
She clasped her hands.
q am so glad! Do you know, /
will confess to you both, I have been
longing to go for ever SO long; but
you were so happy did not like to
be selfish and tear you away.
Gervais imprisoned her two hands
in his, and pressed his lips to them.
You will give your orders, as soon
as possible, suppose. my lady," he
said, smilingly We can travel with
your maid and one of the other men.
/ shall leave Thompson behind to ar
range everything here"
Dorothy danced over to the other
side of the room and took up Brad
shaw.
We will go early" she declared,
about eleven. Here is lovely train,
Ills, to town, and then we shall get
the express down, after some lunch
con in town"
The earl bent over her chair and
4 kissed her hair.
Splendid he laughed. aOnly we
\ sha'n't go to London at all.
Not go to London! repeated Dor
othy, blankly, and Enid saw her face
fall
Certainly not We are close to
Clapham Junction, and shall get a
train direct through from there. 1t
would be absurd to go to London, my
darling.
u, Oh, yes; absurd altogether.
Gervais pressed his lips to her hair
again; as he was standing behind her
he could not see the expression of
her face.
Dorothy was thinking rapidly.
sWhat excuse can maker" she
mused, impatiently. aIf could only
be in London an hour tomorrow"
She turned over the pages Of the
Bradshaw idly, and she thought over
every possible means that could sue
ceed, finding none She suddenly
looked at Enid, and her heart leaped.
She shut the book hurriedly.
Yes, you are right. she said, turn
ing her head to let her lips meet his
in a kiss. Chaplain will be the best.
oh, ] am SO glad to go!"
The next morning, before Enid was
awake, Dorothy came into her room,
She was in her dressing gown, a long
robe of palest blue silk, and, with her
hair falling on her shoulders, looked
positively lovely. She stood by Ends
bedside.
= want you to go to London for me
to-day" she said, abruptly.
Enid half raised herself on her pill
low and lifted her wonderful eyes
questioningly to the others face.
you mean.r she said, hurriedly
~that am to go back to Mrs. Law
son's?"
mean nothing of the sort. It is
\ out Of the question that you are to
s go back to such place. Gervais and
I were only discussing your future
last night, and as / was appointed
your guardian by my fathers will, We
agree that your proper place is with
me till you are Of age or marry?r
Ends face flushed.
Il prefer to be Independent, she
murmured.
Dorothy smiled coldly.
Perhaps so; only object. AS the
law gives me power over your move
ments, / wish you to live with me
Besides, were I disposed to listen ts
your wishes. Gervais would not per
init me. But did not come to dis
cuss that. have something else te
say.
She stopped, and Enid waited. hel
lips quiyering just little at the
cold. Indifferent tones.
She shrunk in strange, inde
scribable way from taking up hel
abode with the Earl and Countess o.
Derriman, but she saw that it wa.
useless to argue just at present, and
that II she submitted for time she
might probably get her own way and
be allowed to follow her artistic ca
reer.
Dorothy unfolded a strip of paper
want you to go to London by the