White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-07-06
INsTALLMENT NO. 8.
CHAPTER vi.

of that time the council IN the DOu-
doir broke up. Lady Lydiard led the
way back to the drawing room, fol-
lowed by Hardyman, Isabel being left
to look after the dog. Before the door
closed behind him, Hardyman turned
round to reiterate his last medical d.
rections, or, in palmer words, to take
a last look at Isabel.
Plenty of water, Miss Isabel, for
the dog to lap, and little bread or
biscuit if he wants something to eat.
Nothing more, if you please, till l see
him tomorrow"
Thank you, sir. l will take the
greatest care"
At that point Lady Lydiard cut
short the interchange of instructions
and civilities. "Shut the door, if you
please, Mr. Hardyman. l feel the
draught. Many thanks! l am really at
loss to tell you how gratefully feel
your kindness. But for you my poor
little dog might have been dead by
this time"
Hardyman answered, in the quiet,
melancholy monotone which was ha-
bitual with him. Only be careful not
to overfeed him. He will do very we'll
under Miss Isabels care By the bye,
her family name is Miller is it not?
Is she related to the Warwickshire
Millers, of Duxborough House!"
Lady Lydiard looked at him with
an expression Of satirical surprise.
"Mr Hardyman," she said, this
makes the fourth time you have ques-
toned me about Isabel. You seem to
take great interest in my little
companion Don't make any apologies,
pray. You pay Isabel compliment;
and as l am very fond of her, 1 am
naturally gratified when l find her
admired. At the same time," she
added, with one of her abrupt transi-
tons of language, II had my eye on
you and l had my eye on her when
you were talking in the next room
and I don't mean to let you make a
fool of the girl. She is not in your
line of life, and the sooner you know
1t the better. You make me laugh
when you ask IL she Is related to gen.
tlefolks. She is the orphan daughter
of chemist in the country. Her re-
lations haven't penny to bless them
selves with, except an old aunt, who
lives in village on two or three hun
dred a-year. heard Of the girl by ac-
cident When she lost her father and
mother, her aunt offered to take her
Isabel said, No, thank you; will not
be burden on relation who has
only enough for herself. A girl can
earn an honest living If she tries, and
I mean to try'-that's what she said
I admired her independence" her Ia
dyship proceeded, ascending again to
the higher regions of thought and ex-
preston. my nieces marriage, just
at that time, had left me alone in
this great house. I proposed to Isabel
to come to me as companion and
reader for a few weeks. and to decide
for herself whether she liked the life
or not. We have never been separ-
ated since that time. could hardly
be fonder of her If she were my own
daughter, and she returns my affec-
hon with all her heart She has ex-
cellent qualities-prudent, cheerful,
sweet-tempered; with good sense
enough to understand what her place
Is in the world, as distinguished from
her place in my regard I have taken
care, for her own sake, never to leave
that part of the question in any doubt
It would be cruel kindness to deceive
her as to her future position when she
marries. shall take good care that
the man who pays his addresses to
her Is man in her rank of life.
know but too WELL in the case of one
Of my own relatives, what miseries
unequal marriages bring with them.
Excuse me for troubling you at this
length on domestic matters. am very
fond of Isabel, and a girls head is
SO easily turned. Now you know what
her position really Is. you will also
know what limits there must be to
the expression Of your interest in her.
I am sure we understand each other;
and I say no more"
Hardyman listened to this long har-
angue with the immovable gravity
which was part Of his characterize
cept when Isabel had taken him by
surprise. When her ladyship gave him
the opportunity of speaking on his
side he had very little to say, and
that little did not suggest that he had
greatly profited by what he had heard.
His mind had been full of Isabel when
Lady Lydiard began, and 1t remained
just as full of her, in just the same
way, when Lady Lydiard had done.
eyes," he remarked, quietly, Miss
Isabel Is an uncommonly nice girl,
as you say. Very pretty, and such
frank, unaffected manners. I don't
deny that feel an interest in her.
The young ladies one meets in society
are not much to my taste. Miss Isabel
is my TASTE"
Lady Lydiard's face assumed a look
Of blank dismay II am afraid have
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