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=. .> • tolSSiU j CHAPTER XVIII. 1 Peggy Visits Christine. j Mrs Dudvvortk did not see Sie George un her way through London. News had reached him that his mother was not well, and he had gone to the country. From the-re he wrote Constance Lamborough what was passing. Instead of re- turning her the letters she had asked for Sir George had encouraged her to write new ones. True, they were not the same letters as those of former days, there was restraint and conven- tionality in the letters Miss Lamborough wrote now to Sir George Burnstone. Nevertheless, it-flattered, the man's vanity to receive these little letters, andif-he had needed proof to show liim how deep was his hold upon Constance this was forthcoming when a telegram reached him from Miss Lamborough saying that if Lady Burnstone had need of her she would return from the Continent at once. -On the whole Mrs Dudworth was rather glad not to have met Sir George. Until she had Seen Christine, until she had known something of what was passing with the girl, she was, of course, not in a position to advise or to suggest anything. As she travelled down to Hunston she re- alised, however, that the question of a speedy marriage on which Burnstone had been so re- solved had undoubtedly been set aside. It was not curiosity but anxiety which ran in her heart, bat not until she had her arms round Chris tine did &. he realise how IDuchshe had ycarried over the girl, and how much need Christine had of her love and sympathy. Indeed, the coming of Margaret Dudworth was a relief so acute that it almost unnerved Christine, notwithstanding that she knew there would be very much that she would have to explain, much which probably Mrs Dudworth would not understand. My dearest child," the older woman said as she kissed Christine again and again. "Jly dea little Christine, why did you not send for me? You have lost all .the good your travels did you. Thank God Henry is not here to see you as you are looking now I" These words pierced Christine's heart. She -gave a cry and buried her head on Mrs Dud- worth's breast.. Oh! Peggy." she said, 4< I do thank God that he is not hE re It is my one consolation, I my one joy." Mrs Dud worth's apprehension deepened as she listened. Well, now I have come," she said as cheer- fully as she could, let, ue hope, things may be jftade a little better." But Christine clinging to her whispered: ''There is nothing that you can do only loye m.e." And Margaret. Dud-.vorth strained her to her heart auu kissed her again and again. The coming of Mrs Dudworth had provoked a general feeling of pleasure in the house, a Reeling which was not long in being communi- cated to Mrs Dancroft's inaia. From a sheer desire to annoy and to be dis- agreeable the old woman resolved to go down to dinner that night. Mrs Dudworth made a very simple toilette, 6ti! 1 she looked what she was, a weu-born and a handsome, it middles-aged woman. When she went down to the hall just before dinner Mrs Dancroft was there already, sitting in a chair with her back to the fire-place. If she could have had her way she would have cut that portrait of Henry Fielding to ribbons with laiiyes. As it was she never looked at it. but she yet cherished always the intention of having it removed. As Margaret Dudworth glanced at the little bent form in its black garments, as she noticed the ugly mouth, the hard face, the restless burning eyes, her heart sank. What manner of creature was this whom Christine had taken into her home, with whom she was sharing so generously all she had And following naturally cm this train of thought came one which Was more painful. What .-power was lethal; bad brought these people into the.heart\oi Christine's intimate Like George Burnstone at first, Mrs Dud- worth had been half-afraid that the girl had falltminto the hands of schemers, but this went from hep.altogether when she found her- self in the pir^s^nc* of Mrs Da.nei'ftft. For there was purpose written iu clear letters in this old woman's grim face, a. purpose far removed feem mece avavi«iousaess w greed of gain. Dfiiirousocly of helping Christine by such means in her power, Mrs Dudworth did her herself with Mrs Dancroft, very quickly relinquished all attempts Jiieassgt 0ocivgj*ati«ii. It was with relief thatshc turned to greet Aane Dancroft- Here Mrs Dudworth n^st with no difficulty- > Un- doubtedly Anne was common, but she was a creature of. ilesh auii blood, nttt ghoulM-h like her mother, and i^nne Nwas only too ready to 'make friends with ilr» Dudworth. She had heard all about this oharming woman of the world from Mis Conistoa, and had very quickly gathered that Mi's Dudworth was a person of social importance and one whom Mrs Coniston herself was eager to cultivate. Anne had no in- -tehtiou of lettmg the smaBeat chance slip, so she exerted herself now to make a good itn- pression on Mrs Dudworth and she succeeded largely, of course, owing to circumstances,* but not altogether on that account.. Mrs Dudworth was quite sincere when she Was diseussng this girl to Christine later. She is really handsome, you know," she said, and has a certain'attraction of her own. Then she is young, and wants to see life no doubt she is selfish, but after all" that IS so human." And Christine understood thoroughly 'what was lying at the back of these words. She ap • pruciated Margaret Dudworth's delicacy of thought in not speaking of Mrs? Daucroft, in not questioning, and yet paradoxically this very exquisite t^ct probed the wound in her heart. For she knew that this woman Who loved her, this woman who had loved he* father, must have grasp.ed the real signi- ficance of the situation, must have convinced herself that it was power, an inexorable ugly power, which constrained Henry Fielding's daughter to do what she was told. # Mrs Dudworth had resolved not to ask any riuestions. tf 'the child wants me to know, sl^g will tell me," she said to bers«l?. Her eses Q^ke my heart ache I see her looking drea^S wh,a.t I am going to say. I Tgittst try and let her grasp the fact, that I i|#an to femaiii silent till she sp salts. And yet," Sirs Dqdworth mused on uneaaUy,, perhaps it would be "better if f were to go into this matter. Christine is hardly reasonable where her father is concerned. Her love can magnify, can even distort. There must have been many mysteries in the life of a man like Henry. Well as-I knew him, I never really was intimate 'with him- ,< A little later Margaret Dudworth pondered. It is just because she does not "speak I ani afraid f Tf this things did not- touch 'that which she hordpso vital, her father's honour, fr*he would have brought the matter to m^. but I see sow that all the time we were away to- gether, ever since Henry's. cteath m fact, she has been confronted with some trouble greater almost than she c "n bear. And George does not see this He is concerned only with the fear that she has fallen into the hands of unscrupulous people He imagines that she iaL carrier away by sentimental, not hy tragic feelings. Before [ came here I was regretting that th^y \y$rp not jpiarried already, now I am back to my old doubt. The sympathy, the help Christine needs will never be given to her by George Burnstone J This new element in "her life has changed things so entirely that I should almost rejoice to know that the engage- ment was broken. Yet, on this subject, too, Mrs Dudworth rc- solved to hold her peace. As a matter of fact, though she was only down at Hunston for two-op three days, she and Christine were very 'little* together. Anne simply ^suvped Mrs Dudworth. To her great glee Mrs Dudworth proposed going to the Westerham Court garden party, and she offered to chaperone Miss Dancroft. Then purely in a spirit ftf good nature, Mrs Dudworth made the suggestion that when she returned to town, Anne should go with her and stay a week or so in London. When she had accepted Mrs Dudworth's invitation with a warmth that was almost embarrassing, Anne sat down and Wrote the news to her brother. •" I wai n you," her letter said, that you will find mother very set against my going; but this makes no difference to me She hates Mrs "Dudworth. of course, but "Íhó is there, and- what,is there,- thafe mother doesn't- Hate That's what I'd like to know Seems tô me* she has got worse since she came down here than she was before and Bessie doesn't do her any good. I don't know why you let her come, I always did hate Bessie. It mother says anything to you about uae, you can tell her as I've told you already, my life has been made miserable enough all these years. Now I've got the chance to enjoy myself, and I mean to make the most of it." Between Christine and her cousin no expla- nation was given fp" this kindness on Mrs Dud- worth's part to one who might naturally be considered an enemy of Christine's. But the girl did not doubt Margaret Dudworth. She felt that she was doing the best she could in her power. And in this Christine realised the clever tactics of a woman of the world. By associating herself openly with Anne Dancroft at the Westerham Park garden party she had to a great extent silenced gossip, since she de- monstrated to the curious that she knew all that was going on at Hunston, and that there was no cau-:o for mystery." It was Anne herself who put this phase of the situation before Christine. "Your cousin is. a clever woman, and no mistake," sh £ said. Of course, I don't sup- posed it would have rpached your ears, but I have heard tTiat the peopre all round about here have been simply wild with-curiosity about us; and that- all sorts, -of-queer stories have been going mund. but now that I have been taken out by Mrs .Dudworth^ and people see we arc friends, it knocks thesfe queer stories on the Utad. And that is what you want, isn't,it ? You don't want anybody to know the reason of our being here. I must say I think you ou^ht to be very grateful to Dudworth." An- other time Anne said People think 1-ve be- long to one another. I don't deceive them, in fact, when Mrs Coniston asked me straight out if we were cousins-you and I, I just nodded my head, because," said Anne shrewdly, "that makes things easier for people to understand." When yhe had gone down to Hunston Mrs Dudworth had not settled in her raind how long her visit was to be. After she had been theirothree days she felt impelled to go away. A barrier had risen between herself and Chris- tine, and though both would have repudiated the idea hotly, the fact remained that they shunned the society of one another, rather than sought it. It was, indeed, painful in the extreme to Mrs Dudworth to find herself in this old house, where she-Had spent such happv days, penned about by gloom, by a. mental suffering which seemed vmillumined by hope. If she could have liftedt-he burden from Christine, if she could have had the consolation of feeling that she could, by a'single act, transplant the girl from this blighting atmosphere, there was nothing that she would not have done, but each hour that passed showed her more surely that Christine was af.Jaid of what she was going to do. I must go away now," Mrs Dudworth said to herself, restlessly, and I must think the whole thing out. Something must be done, but it must be done with every consideration, done vary carefully, so tenderly, in fact, that Christine will hardly know there are others working with her. If I stay on here I know that I shall have to break this silence, and I dread what I should have to hear. By taking this girl away, perhaps I may help her a little, for the old womiyi keeps in her room so much that Christine corud have the house to herself praciically for a time, and solitude would pro- bably be helpful to her. At any rate I'll make the experiment. Who knows if I am kind to this girl I may do more for Christine than seems apparent at the moment." CHAPTER XIX. Anne Dancroft in London. Sir George wa»- back in London when Mrs Dudworth arrived. The season was now in full awing, and he 'I was as usual very greatly in request, despite the fact that he was now an engaged man. The absence of his fiancee provoked some curi- osity and some disappointment, for most people were eager to see this very rich girl who was to Le Lady Biirnstone. So much had been written about Henry Fielding's wealth at the time of h^s deaththat CLrl^ljpc was, all un- known to herself, a person of the greatest im- portance. and one whose movements were fol- lowed with interest'. It was sinugiarly agreeable to Sir George to pose as the future master of rnillion", and cer- tainly since his last visit to Hunston his mind had been considerably less vexed. Christine's attitude had been so different, she had been so natural, and she had given evidence of submis- sion, all of which tended to gratify himself, he knew very surely that he had never absolutely won this girl's heart. That she could love, and love in an extraorilinary fashion, her devotion to her father alofte proved, but whether, she would ever care for George Burnstone very deeply, the future alone could prove. "Sty dearest child," said the older woman to Cbaistine. She had been assuredly flattered by his atten- tions, attracted by him, and now that she was lonely and very sad his affection was neces- sary to her, but love in the real meaning of the ord, love such as Sir George was convinced Christine could feel, was not as yet forth. coming. He saw Mrs Dud worth on her return from Hunston at the opera. 'She was in a box, and she had a. good-lookiixg girl with her, a girl ex- ceedingly well dressed whom We vaguely recog- nised. When Sir George made l'tis way to the box he stared a little hardly at Anne Dancroft, and as Mrs Dudworth introduced them he knitted his brows. When the girl was: speaking to some i other person he said it in an undertone to Mrs D tid, orth Funny, Peggy you are always breaking out in fresh places One never knows what you are going to do. Why on oarth have you brought this girl to town n To please myself, my dear George," said ,e Mcs Dudworth, quietly, and to please Miss Bancroft. I am rather lonely at times, and I am very fond of having a girl as a companion." I You would have done better to have brought Christine," the man -said a little angrily. Christine would not come, you know that. She is a long way off from this kind of thing," .Mrs Dudworth waved her hand to indicate the .opera audits gay throng pt people. TUe.loxtg'-r she stays in her present "groove the farther Aw, ay she Will, be," 6aid Burnstone, then Ue added-Peggy, I am bitterly disap- pointed. I hoped all sorts of things when you went down- I khow that you had a good deal of power over Christine. 1. expected you to have urged her to do the things she ought to o. do." Then Margaret Dudworth spoke out— "George," she said there is only one power which can .Itft that girl out of her present life, put colour and light into her eyes, and the joyr of life into her heart, and that 'power is not mine to give, nor, I am sadly afraid, is it yours." What do you mean ?" the young man aSked impatiently, 4nd she ailswered- I mean that if Christine really loved you, if yon were really the one creature in the world to her, you would not need me to help you, she would turn to you naturally, she would cling to you, she would tremble at the thought of losing you." Sir George's face flushed. "Thanks he said, in a disagreeable tone. ,4 Now, I know Votff view; I know jowt exactly what to expect." He got up to leave her, but Mrs Dudworth put her hand on his arm. "George, we will not quarrel that would !be so foolish but sometimes I feel I must fepeak the truth, and believe me, it is not only for Chris'tine's Sake that I worry about the future. I am fond of you I don't want you to be miserable." < "You are awfully considerate," said Sir George, with a supercilious smile but I believe I can take care of my future." He removed his arm from her hold, and left the box withqut exchanging a word with Anne Dancroft, who chose to construe this into a slight.. • t) "I am sure I wish any woman joy of him," she said. ""Mrs Coniston was raving about him theothw-day• She said any amount-of women were madly jealous of Christine Field- ing. Well, IxfOri t- £ nvy her. I think she is worth "something better than that." George is a type of man," said Mrs Dud- worth, which ydu will meet very frequently now that you have come into the world. He does not wear his heart on his sleeve, .and he has been brought up to think of himself before anybody else. The majority of men are made selfish by education." Well, I daresay be is very good-looking and all that," Anne answered, and I suppose his education is all right; but I don't like him. He is cold and stuck up. I suppose he'll say all sorts of nasty things about me." Mrs Dudworth laughed. Oh, no, my dear, you are with me that will protect you in any case, although so far there is nothing to be said about you one way or another. It lies in your hands to make friends." I And to this Anne Dancroft nodded her bead, and then she said-- Anyhow, I am enjoying myself. It is all so wonderful to me. I never thought life ^ould I be so beautiful. And she spoke with so much honesty, so much real enthusiasm, that Mrs Dudworth felt pleased with hér. She did not despair of shaping Anne. I The girl was so willing to take hints, so anxious indeed make herself what she I Called w't,hé rea.1 thing," and then she was ambitious, Thwel'orik the future, as far sh<>; was cobcwtohL was hopeful enough. In a-ny caSe it was really pleasant to watch this young creature enjoy herself, to see her nature expand, and the bitterness which now and then had marred it drop away. It was while Anne was in town that Sir George went down again to Hunston. He called to give Mrs Dudworth pei-sonal news of Christine. A glance at him showed her that he was in good spirits. Well," he said, as lie. entered Mrs Dud- worth's charming drawing room and found her arranging some flowers. Well, it is all settled. We are to be married very quietly in either August or September. [ did my best to make it a little earlier, but Christine begged for a little longer time and I gave in. We shall go abroad, and I shall keep her abroad till Christmas, and then we shall go down to my mother, and alter a Hying visit to Monte Carlo in the ea"ly spring, we shall start things going here. I am in treaty now for a house which I think would suit us admirably. They want rather a big price, but Christine can give a big price." Mrs Dudworth paused a moment or two ancLfchen she said ""ilnd— and of course you will sell Henry's town house." Oh of course," said Sir George. Chris- tine is leaving all these matters in my hands," he added. Fortunately, they are very clever hands," Mrs Dudworth remarked with a smile. Sir George set himself on the end of the sofa. Wei)- Peggy," he said, aren't you going to congratulate, me." Certainly, George, you know by this time that I am sincerely, affectionately interested in you." And you are very fond .of Christine," the young man said, therefore you must be pleased now that everything is definitely settled." Mrs Dudworth hid up a bunch of ross, and lookd at thru, admiringly and sniffed them ap- preciatively, then, at; she put them down, she asked How is Christine, how is she looking 7" She says she is quite well, but she looks, well Sir George asked with a return to his old irritability, how do you expect she would look living in such a miserable atmosphere ? I called on Dr Brathmore before I came away and asked him to take her in hand." That was right," Mrs Dudworth said, but she sighed. She was forced to question him although she felt that his answers would be unsatisfactory. Does—does she still seem very unhappy she inquired. "Very answered Sir George, but I am not expecting any change you know", my dear Peggy, till after our marriage then she will be completely uprooted, she will have all sorts of other things to think about; and I tell you frankly, I don't intend to let her sit down and weep and mourn she will have had a full year for tears, that is quite long enough." Yes, too long by many months, according to the world's idea." The question she longed to put faltered on Mrs Dudworth's lips. She jg^roached the subject indirectly. Did you nave the pleasure of meeting Mrs Dancroft she He shook hi, head with a faint smile. Not this time it appears she keeps her rOQID. I advised Christine to get rid of her as s0on-asshe could." And what did she say ?" There was real eagerness in Margaret Dud- worth's voice now. Oh she saw that I was right she told me that she would discuss the matter with Miss Dancroft when she returned. I think I con- vinced her that ii these people have some claim on her father's estate there is no real necessity that she should be bothered with them about her aI' the time. He got up as he spoke. You'll run down soon again, won't you ?" he said and look here. Peggy, vou might try and interest her in clothes. It is time, for instance, that she should have something new, she is wearing the shabbiest black gown, really she is losing her looks. Of course that will all come back again." He had strolled to the window and looked out. A hansom had pulled up, and a man was alighting from it. "Yon entertain, in the morning ?" Sir George asked. Some one has just arrived. I thought I wal; the privileged person, Peggy." It is no one for me," answered Mrs Dud- worth, I expect it will be Anne's brother, she wrote and asked him to call, I know." "Oh said Sir George, and his face clouded, then he said And how is the experiment working I like Anne," Mrs Dudworth said in her decided manner. She Jacks a good deal of what the world calls manner and form, but she is sincere, frank, and truthful." Oh delightful," said Sir Gieorge. And has she told you anything about her mother, and why they should establish themselves IIJ¡ Hunston ?" No." said Mr$s Dudworth, she has told me nothing, neither have I asked any ques- tions. It is Christine who ought to give you this information." WMI, to tell you the truth, I shirked the matter. At first I regarded it seriously, but now I have convinced myself that it is only one of Christine's follies. Possibly in the long, lpng ago this old woman, or her husband, or some one belonging to her. must have lent Henry Fielding money, he began with the pro- verbial half-crown, didn't he and this, of course, would constitute in Christine's opinion, a life-long obligation. Good-bye, Peggy. When the house is bought you must come and give you ideas as to decorating it; your ideas are worth having." He kissed her and went awjiy as he spoke. On the staircase he came face to face with James Dancroft. Sir George stared at the other man in the most disagreeable"manner possible, and Dancroft looked back at him with just as much arrogance. Sir George noticed at that moment that there was a change in the other man's ap- pearance. He resented the improvement, the rough labourer had disappeared. James Dancroft not only looked handsome, but had what society calls a smart air. The two men passed one another with a sense of mutual dislike and contempt. It angered Sir George to realise that it was Chris- tine's money that had worked such a trans- formation. This shall be the first thing I shall take in hand," he said to himself as he passed out of the house. The Dancrofts have had enough, and I mean to keep a strict hand over all the charity claims. If. Peggy hadn't come on the scene and taken this girl up, I should have gone into the matter now, but it is better to ,let everything stand over till we are married." He spent a busy day. There was a yacht on the market which he coveted, a certain hunt- ing stable to be arranged for. Burnstone had never been poor, but he had certainly never been rich life had a very pleasant aspect for him. He grew tenderer in his thoughts for Christine, but he also grew more a.nd more re- solved. She must belong to me completely. I must be master. I will share with no one living or dead," he said to himself decisively. (To be continued.)

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