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I SIR TOM. |

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I SIR TOM. | By rtIRS. OLIPHANT. AUthor of" The Chronicles of Carlingford," The latest Heiross in England," "He that Will liot when He May," &c., &c. CHAPTER XVIL FOREWAKNKD. .t\1CY u; j nuL seu her visitors till the hour of ,ner, She had expected them to appear in the j, rn°°n at the mystic tmie of tea which calls an "glish household together, but, when it. was re- lented to her that afternoon tea was not the institution in Italy, her surprise d; and, though her expectations were still Warmly excitod by this delay, she bore it becoming patience. There was no doubt, owever, that the arrival had mado a great com- otion in the'house; and Lucy perceived, without the least understanding it, a. peculiarity in the ks which various of the people round her cast ^°n herself during the course of the day. Her maid was one of those people, and Mrs.Fresh- ater. the housekeeper, who explained in a. semi- ^Pologetic tone all the preparations she had made the comfort of the guests, was another. And, Ilhrn8, though he was always so dignified, kept, LUcy could not help feeling, an eye upon her. He Was almost compassionately attentive to his young ^stress. There was a certain pathos in the way In whid, he handed her the potatoes at luúch. He Reused a little more claret upon her with fatherly 4nxiety, and an air that seemed to say, "It will do Lucy was conscious of all this addi- ||0'>al attention without realising the causs of it. ut it found it s culmination iu Lady Randolph, in j*hona a slightly injured and aggrieved air towards 1 Tom was made u.ore apparent by the extreme erness of her aspect to Lucy, for whom she could not do too much. "Williams is quite right In giving you B little moro wine. You take nothing," she said," and I am sure you want sup- ?01'" your long drive, too, my dear; and w cold it has been this morning!" "y ° ratb e\ It Was cold; but wo did not mind, we for 'ed Jock and I. Poor Madame di ti-Popul°; she must have felt it travelling all y ^ravo, Lucy, tliat is right! You have tackled j'r,aweat last, and got tiirough wilh it boauti- J'»" said Sir Tom with a laugh. was p'!>as?d to bo praised. X hopo I an't forget. she said, "it is so long; and oh, [ h0,>1' I do hopo she can talk English, tor you know y French —* f "I should think she could talk English! said v*ay Randolph, with a little scorn. And what was a?ry extraordinary w;>.s that Williams showed a but suppressed consciousness, putting his P*-tight a,« if to keep in what, he knew about the f0*Her- And I don't think you noed be so sorry R, l^dy, Lucy," said tiie dowager. I know s e didn't mean to travel by night. It arose from •He mistake or other in Tom's letter, liut she v, n°t mind that, you may be sure, now that she iU; rrlade out het, point." Ð; Whnt. point i"' said Sir Tom, with some heat. t Lady Randolph mads no reply, and he did not is 68S ^'ie <?uest'on- They were both owaro that if ^•time. better to hold one's tongue. And the Nous thing to all those well-in formed persons *S t'»t Lucy took no notice of all their hintsand She was in the greatest spirits, not IlI1 J: Interøted about her unknown visitors and l¡i XIOUS to secure their comfort, but in reality j I6 gay than she had been for some time past. ta< this arrival was a god-send to Lucy. The bP *'a(^ disappeared entirely from her husband's v-° *'• Instead of making any inquiries. about her s^t to Farafield, or resuming the agitating dis- rf'f8'011 vv'l'c'1 t'^d ended in what was really a ,1 on her part to do what he wished, he was 1 °f a desire to conciliate and please her. The f. '^r which had brorght so stern a look to his and occasioned her an anxiety and pain far t ,reo severe than anythmg that had occurred be- in her married life, seemed to have dropped of his mind altogether. Instead of that oppo- [O disapproval, mingled with an angry r 18PlClon which had buen in his mannerand looks, sh Was now on t'le vatch to propitiate Lucy; to o\v a gratitude for which she knew no reason, n<l a pride in her which was still less compre- ensible. What did it all mean—the compassion "'J one side, the satisfaction on the other? But Lucy scarcely asked herself the question. Ia her tehf at having no new discussion with her hus- band, and at his apparent forgetfulness of all dis- pleasure and of any question between them. her heart rose with all the glee of a child's. It seemed to her she had surmounted the difficulties of her Position by an intervention which was provi- dential. It even occurred to her innocent mind to make reflections as to the advantage of doing what ■Was right in the face of all difficulties. God, she Raid to herwH*, evidently protecting her. It' was known in Heaven whntan effort i t had cost her to do her duty, to fulfil htr father's will; and now venly succour was coming, and the dIfficulties j^ere di-Mppenring out of her way. Lucj- would ftove been ready in any case, with the most unbesi- j h hng readiness, to receive and do any kindness to 101' husband's friend. No idea of joalousy had l'I1e across her unsuspicious soul. She had taken as a matter of course that this unknown lady lr,uld have the best that the Hall could offer her, *:nd that, her old allinnce with Sir Tom should hrow open his doors and his wife's heart. Perhaps wag because Lucy's warm and simple-minded ^•"chment to her husband had little in it of the naracler of passion that.it was thus entirely with- ut IIny impulse of jealousy. And what was so atui>ii in common cireutnsfances bocapie still so in tiie exhilaration and rebound of her ROUBLED heart. Sir Tom was PO kind to her in ^parting from hie opposition, in letting her have et" WHY without a word. It #as certain that Lucy ^ould not have relinquished her duty for any oppo- P°8>tinn he would have made; but with what a bleed- heart, she would have done it,, and how hateful have been the nrcossity which separated her r°m his good-will and assistance! Now die felt that terrible danger was over. Probably he would ■^teven ask her what sli8 had been about. He ould not give it his approval, which would have Pen most sweet of all; but if he did not inter- p,-e( if |)0 permitted it to be done without opposi- 'on, without even demanding of his wife Rn -cc.ount of her action, how much that, would be; j^d how cordially, with what a genuine impulse tltQ heart, would she set herself to carry out his IRhe8-he who had been so generous, so kind to cr I This was how it was that her gaiety, the eUse and happiness of her look, startled them all rnuch. That she should have been amiable to lno new comers was comprehensible. She was so j^iable by nature, and so ignorant and unsus- Pjcioug; but that their coming should give her Pleasure, this was the thing that confounded the In such circumstances they could not jjnderstond how every other subject should not pavo given way to the master emotion—nay, that Jnstinct should not have informed Lucy that here elements coming together that would be QIturbing to her peace. Even Sir Tom felt this. JW-h a deepened tenderness for his pure-minded h'tle wife, and pride in her unconsciousness. Was ere another woman in England who would have uoon. so entirely gonerous, so unaware even of the Possibility of evil? He admired her for it, and ^[onderud; if it. was a liHlo silly (which he had a of undisclosed suspicion that it was), yet what a heavenly silliness! There was nobody else who J*[ould have been so magnanimous, so confident in 18 perfect honour and truth. The only other element that could have added to Lucy's satisfaction was alo present. Little Tom Jvas better than usual. Notwithstanding the cold, he had been able to go out, and was all the brighter for it, not chilled and-coughing as he sometimes ":1\8. His mother had found him careering about Ins nursery in wild glce,and flinging his toy!; aonut In perfectly boyish, almost mannish, altogether Wtckefi. indifference to the danger of destroying them. It was this that, brought her downstairs t'ndilmt to the luncheon table, where Lady Ran- rOlph and Williams were so anxious to be good to Lucy was quite astonished by that solicitude hich she felt tube so unnecessary. She was dia- POed to laugh at the care they took of her, feeling So her own mind more triumphant, more happy, and fortunate than she had ever been before. As for Joek, he took no notico at all of tho inci- dent of the dav. He perceived wilhsatisfaetion- a Point on w hich.for < he mr-menl, he was unusually °hservant—that Sir Tom showed no intention uf Questioning them as to their morning's expedition ?r opposing Lucy. This being the case, what jt to the boy who went or came ? A couple of •adies were quite indifferent, to him. Ho did not expect anything or fear anything. A couple of would have interested him much more. The c9nvers.ition about this floated over his head. He did not take the trouble to pay any at.tention to it. ■As for Williams's significant looks or Lady Ran- dolph's anxieties, Jock was totally unconscious of their existence. He did n^.t pay any attention, "ben the party was not interesting he had plenty other thoughts to retire into, and the coining of &ew people, except in so far as it might be a bore did not affect him at all. Lucy went out dutifully for a drive with Lady "andolph after luncheon. It was still very bright though it was cold, and, after a little demur as to Jhe propriety ot' going out when it was possible *"ii' guests might come downstairs, Lucy took her Place beside the fur-enveloped dowager with her ^9* water footstool and mountain of wrappings. Ti'ey talked about ordinary matters for a little, ahout the landscape and the improvements, and ahout little Tom, whose improvement was the most important of all. Hut it was not possible to f^ntinue long upon indifferent matters in face of ^•'e remarkable event which had disturbed the la'uily calm. hope," said Lucy, "that Madame di Formo- f opulo (she was very careful about all the sylla- bles) may not be more active than you think and corne down while we are away." 0h, there is not the least fear," said Lady Ran- olph, somewhat scornfully. She was always a handle-light beauty. She is not very fond of the eye of day." She is a beauty, then ?" said Lucy. I am very fflad. There are so few. You know I have always .>Pn—-rather disappointed. There are so «iany prettv people, but to bo beautiful is quite different." That is because you are so unsophisticated, J'r1:V dear. You don't understand that beauties in s >fiety mean a fashion, and not much more. I have lIeelt a quantity of beauties in my d ;y. How they caine to be so. nobodv knew. but there they were, £ ud we all bowed down to them. This woman, however, was very pretty, there was no doubt about it," said Lady Randolph, with ungracious candour. I don't know what she may be now. She was beautiful enough to turn any man's head when she was 5roung—or even a woman's—who ought, to have known better." Do you think, then, Aunt Randolph, that women don't admire pretty people ?" It is be feared that. Lucy asked for the sake of making conversation, which it is sometimes necessary to do. I think that men and women see differently— as they always do," said Lady Randolph. She was rather fond of discriminating between the ideas of the sexes, as many ladies of reasonable Ago are. There is a gentleman's beauty, you know, and there is a kind of beauty that women love. I could point out the difference to you if the specimens were before us, but it is a little diffi- cult to describe. I rather think we admire expres- sion, you know. What men caro for is the flesh and blood. We like people that are good—that is to say, who have the air of b iing good, for the reality doesn't by any moans follow. Perhaps, I am taking too much credit to ourselves," said tho old lady, "but that is the best distinction I can hit upon. We like the interesting kind—the pen- sive kind—what was the fashion when I was young. Your great, fat, golden-haired, red and white women are gentlemen's beauties. They don't commend themselves to us." And is Madame di Formo-Populo," said Lucy, in her usual elaborate way. "of that kind?" "01\. my dear, she is just a witch," Lady Ran- dolph said. hIt does not matter who it is. she can bring them to her feet if she pleases!" Then she seemed to think she had gone too far, and stopped herself. I mean when she was young. She is young no longer, and L dare say all that has coino to an end." It must be and to grow old when one is like that," said Lucy, with a look of sympathetic regret. Oh, you are a great doal too charitable. Lucv," said the old lady, and then she stopped short, put- ting a sudden restraint upon herself, as if it were possible that she might h ive said too much. Then after a while she resumed, "As you are in such a heavenly frame of mind, mv dear, and disposed to think so of her, there is just one word of advice I will give you Don't allow yourself to get intimate with this lady. She is quite out. of your way. If she liked, she could turn you round her little finger. Hut it is to bo hoped she will not Jilee; and, in any case, you must remember that I have warned you. let her, my dear, make a calspaw of you." to A cats paw of me!" Lucv was amused by these words—not offended, as so many might have heen-r-bocau- e she felt herself little likely to be so dominated; a fact that the much older and more experienced woman by her side was quite unaware of. *• Buto" she said, "Tom would not have invited her. Aunt Randolph, if he had thought her likely to do that—-indeed, how could he have been such great friends with her if she I had not bntn nice as well as pretty? You forget there must always be that in her t'av.mr to nits." Oh, Tom cried Lady Randolph, with indig- nation. My dear Lucv," she added, after a pause, with subdued exasperation, men are just tho most unaccountable creatures! Knowing him as do, I should havu thought she was the very last person— Hut how can we tell I dare say the idea amueed him-Tom will do anything that amuses him—or tickled his vanity, or something- of that sort. I confess it is as you say, very, very difficult to account for it. But he has done it. He wants to show off a little to he", I suppose; n~ •. elso he There is realiy no telling, Lycy. It is the last thing in tho world I could have supposed him likely to do; and you may be quite sure, my dear." she added with emphasis, "she never would have been invited at all if he had thought I would have been here whon she came." Lucy did not make any answer for some time. Her face, which had kept its gaiety and radiance, grewgrive. and, when they had driven back to- wards the Hall for about ten minutes in silence, she said quietly, You do not mean it, I am sure; but do you know, Aunt Randolph, you aro trying to make me think very badly of my husband; and no one has ever done that before." Oh, your husband is just like other people's husbands, Lucy," cried the elder hdy, impatiently. Then, however, she subdued herself, with an anxious look at her companion. "My dear, you know how fond I am of Tom, and I know he is fond of you; he would not do anything to harm you for the world. I suppose it is because ho has such a prodigious confidence in you that, he thinks it does not matter. And I don't suppose it does matter. The only thing is, don't be over-intimate with her, Lucy; don't let her fix upon you when you go to town, and talk about young Ladv Randolph as her dearest friend. She is quite capable of doing it. And as for Tom— well, he is just a man when all is said." Lucy did not ask any more questions. That she wnsgreatly perplexed there is no doubt, and her first fervour of affectionate interest in Tom's friend was slightly damped, or &t least changed. But she wa.s more curious than ever; and there was in her mind the natural opposition of youth to 1110 warnings addressed to her. Lucy knew very well that she herself was not one to be twisted round anybody's little finger. She was not afraid of being subjugnted; and she had a prejudice in favour of her husband which neither Lady Ran- dolph nor any other witness could impair. The drive homo was more silent than the outset. Natu- rally, the cold increased as the afternoon went en, and the dowager shrunk into her furs, and declared that, she was too much chilled to talk. Oh, how pleasant a cup of tea will be," she said. Lucy longed for her part to get down from the carriage anu walk home quickly through tho vil- Lucy longed for her part to get down from the carriage and walk home quickly through tho vil- lage, to see all the cottage tires burning, anu quicken the blood in her veins, which is a better way than fur for keeping one's-selt warm. When they got fn, it was exciting to think that pnrhaps tho stranger would come down to her, though that, as has b*en already said, was a hope in which Lucy they got fn, it was exciting to think that pnrhaps the stranger would come down to her, though that. as has b*en alre:1.dy said, was a hope in which Lucy was disappointed. Everything was prepared for her appearance, however; a special chair near the fire, shaded by a little screen, and with a little table placed closo to it to hold the cup of tea. The room was all in a ruddy blaze of firelight, the atmosphere delightful after the cold air outside, and all the party a little quiet, thinking that every sound that was heard must be the stranger. "She must have been very tired," Lucy said sym- pathetically. "I daresay,"said Lady Randolph, "she thinks a. dinner dress will make a better effect." Lucy looked towards her husband almost with indignation, with eyes that asked why he did not defend his friend. Hut to be sure Sir Tom could not judge of their expression in the firelight, and instead of defending her he only laughed. One ganeral understands another's tacticu," he said. I

CHAPTER XVIII.

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