Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-10
CHAPTER XIX.-Continued.

| tlon OF his right to claim her services So
and Sallie could not but nod as she re-
| called with a strange, new pang the
| promise she had made in Genoa, and the
| lengthy document she had signed in the
! Hotel de Paris.
This is Mr.. Jasper Slyne. Janet" said
| she, and
Her ladyship's future" Siyne was
| about TO explain the Importance OF his
| position there when Capt. Dove inter-
posed.
'Slyne!' he called across the hall. If
| there's nothing to drink in the house
| whoever goes down to the inn for our
baggage had better bring up
But Slyne had already got Mrs. M MS
sock out into the corridor
I'll send something in at once. Try to
keep him quiet for little he said to
I Salie. and she, having carefully closed
| the door, went back toward the hreplace
| to pacify the old man.
A few minutes later pink-complexi0n-
| ed, en-haired maid came tripping de-
murely in, with great silver Salver. on
| which was set such an array of de-
| canters that Capt. Dove at once became
most amiable again.
And will l bring tea for your lady
| ship now said the maid, in her quaint
Highland accent. 1T was the other gen
tlenan that told ME to bring this first
W
her and asked her name.
1T is Mairi. my lady the girl answer
ed. with a shy. gratitied smile, and was
very soon back with a beautiful service
of Sevres and steamng urn.
Mr.. Joblng virtuOusly declined Capt.
Doves cordial invitation to help himself
to decanter and asked Sallie for a cup
of weak tea. At which the old man was
still cackling discordantly when Slyne
came in again a few minutes later
That's an obstinate old baggage! said
he. obviously incensed. You must tell
her Sal-Lady JOsceline. that she's to at
tend to my orders without any more
back talk.
Capt. Dove turned in his armchair be-
fore the fire.
THAT woman's my adopted daughters
housekeeper now. Mister Slyne." said he,
frOwning darkly. And I'll trouble you
not to interfere in what's no concern OF
yours. You're only visitor here, you
know"
Slyne darted black glance at him. but
did not answer him otherwise. Il told
her to get your mothers rooms ready
for YOU he mentioned to Sallie. And
Ambrizette will be there by the time
you'll want her.
That fellow Carthew has gone off to
the inn." he remarked to Mr.. Jobling: Il
expect he'll be busy by now wiring Boider
& Bolder the news"
That won't do him any good Mr..
Jobling returned. And, even il he had
more they could do for him until the
Hilary sittings come on-very nearly a
fortnight yet AS it is, he hasn't leg
left TO stand on. You heard what old
Gaunt said to her ladyshp.''
There's fear of anything getting
into the newspapers prematurely. is
there" asked Slyne.
Il told Spettigrew to keep everything
quiet the lawyer answered, compliment
ly. And. besides they're all full to
overlooking about the election that's COM
ing on
Il wonder if any one ever wades
through all the lurid twaddle they print
at such tines" said Slyne, apparently
pleased. And they two maintained des-
ultOry conversation, to which Sallle only
listened when it now and then Veered
back to matters which might affect Car
thew or herself. until a sonOrous gong
began to sound in the corridor
AS it's increasing thunder suddenly dis
turbed the cloistral quiet, Capt. Dove.
comfortably settled in his armchair be-
side the fire. with black clay pipe,
started up in alarm and spilled the con-
tents of the glass In his hand.
What the devil are they about out
there" he calculated irascibly. TN
blow a hole through that Internal tom
tom if they don't drop it.
Time to dress for dinner. Slyne eX-
planned, with a tolerant smile, and, ris-
ing, rang the bell. tOur rooms will be
ready by now. l expect. But there's no
Waistcoat."
Damn nonsense," snorted Capt Dove.
and, reaching for decanter, was llber-
| ally refillng his glass when the girl Mairi
answered the bell
Show her ladyship to her own rooms"
| Slyne directed And Sallie followed the
| demure. faxen-haired maid very eagerly.
| On her way to the west wing she could
| not but notice the change which had
come over the place. \ pleasant atmOs-
| nh of seemed q -
| wade the vast building. There We're men
as we'll as women servants busy every
| where. Light and warmth and life had
| put to flight the darkness and desolation
| which had come down with the dusk on
| its emptiness. She gave herself up for
| the moment to delicious, childish SEN
| sation of snugness and safety there And
! when she at length reached the open door
| OF the splendid suite which Mrs. M Kis-
| sock had told her had once been her
| mothers, she felt that she could not.
| after all. grudge the price she must pay
| by and by for her glimpse of home.
| AmbriZette with rolling eyes and open
| mouth, had everything III readiness for
her III her dressing room, for the hideous
| dwarf was. indeed. a very efficient femme
| de Chambre. Within half an hour Sallie
| had had her bath and was dressed again
in the same frock that she had worn at
| the Savoy. She patted the dumb black
| creature on the head before turning away
| from the glass, and paused OH the thresh-
|
| room with eyes which had grown unac-
countably dim.
She found Mari in the main hall, de-
| murely flirting with one of the footmen
| whom Mrs. M'Kissock had conjured up
| and Mair showed her into d luxurious
| drawing room, where Slyne was standing
hands in pockets, before a cavernOuS
| marble-faced fireplace, in which veri-
| table bonfire of logs was cheerily crack
| ing.
His eyes lighted up as she entered
frame innumerable pictures Of her as she
| crossed the slippery, age-blackened floor
| toward the big bearskin rug which made
| an oasis before the fire. He held out his
| hands to her. dumbly. And just at that
| moment Mr.. Joblng appeared in the door
| way, trumpeting into his handkerchief
Capt. Dove arrived shortly after him.
| under convoy of a scared housemaid
| who. il seemed had found him astray in
| some far corner of the castle. and whom
! no had impressed into his service as
| guide The GongS resounded again, just
| in time to drown his added denunciatio ton
| of the oak floor, on which he had all but
| come to grief as soon as he set foot on it
| room were pulled apart and a resonant
| voice annoUced tremendously that dinner
| was served. Slyne offered Sallie an arm
| a second or two in advance of the slower
| .Jobling, and she laid a light hand on
| his sleeve, led her into the banquet hall.
| Il told them we'd dine here tonight. al