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"That is past thinking of," John said, with a little heightened color. He thought so himself; but neither could the party bear a divided interest, nor had he himself any influence to match that of Lord Lindores.

"You are going to Tinto on Tuesday," | said Lady Lindores, "with the rest? Do you know, Mr. Erskine, my boy has never met his brother-in-law since that evening here, when some words passed. I never could make out what they were. Not enough to make a quarrel of? not enough to disturb Carry

tice, Mr. Erskine. He says you speak | sudden, so unintentional, — the action of very well, and have such a clear head. I one entirely unskilled in the difficult art think," she added with a sigh, "it is you of deception. John's glance followed who ought to be in Parliament, and not hers with a sudden shock and pang of Rintoul." dismay. He had not thought of it before; now in a moment he seemed to see it all. It was an unfortunate moment too; for Edith was slightly leaning forward, looking at her companion with a most amiable and friendly aspect, almost concealing, with the forward stoop of her pretty figure, the rotund absurdity of his. She smiled, yet she was listening to him with all the absorbed attention of a Desdemona; and the little brute had so much to say for himself! The blood all ran away from John's healthful countenance to replenish his heart, which had need of it in this sudden and most unlooked-for shock. Lady Lindores saw the whole, and shared the shock of the discovery, which to her was double, for she perceived in the same moment that she had betrayed herself, and saw what John's sentiments were. Some women divine such feelings from their earliest rise foresee them, indeed, before they come into existence, and are prepared for the emergencies that must follow; but there are some who are always taken by surprise. She, too, became pale with horror and dismay. She ought to have foreseen it - she ought to have guarded against it; but before she had so much as anticipated such a danger, here it was!

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"I do not think so. It was only a— momentary impatience," John said.

"Mr. Erskine, I am going to ask you a great favor. It is if you would keep in Rintoul's company, keep by him; think, in a family how dreadful it would be if any quarrel sprang up. The visit will not last long. If you will keep your eye upon him, keep between him and temptation

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John could not help smiling. The position into which he was being urged, as a sort of governor to Rintoul, was entirely absurd to his own consciousness. "You smile," cried Lady Lindores eagerly; you think what right has this woman to ask so much? I am not even a very old friend."

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"I am laughing at the idea that Rintoul should be under my control; he is more a man of the world than I am."

"Yes," said his mother doubtfully, "that is true. He is dreadfully worldly in some ways; but, Mr. Erskine, I wonder if you will disapprove of me when I say it has been a comfort to me to find him quite boyish and impulsive in others? He is prudent- about Edith for example."

"About Lady Edith?" John said faltering, with a look of intense surprise and anxiety on his face.

There is no doubt that Lady Lindores was herself a most imprudent woman. She gave him a quick, sudden glance, reddened, and then looked as suddenly at the other group: Millefleurs, flowing forth in placid talk, with much eloquent move ment of his plump hands, and Edith listening, with a smile on her face which now and then seemed ready to overflow into laughter. She betrayed herself and all the family scheme by this glance,

so

-

"I mean," she faltered, "that she should meet only the best people, go to the best houses and that sort of thing; even that she should be perfectly dressed; he goes so far as that," she said, with an uneasy laugh.

He

John did not make any reply. bowed his head slightly, that was all. He found himself, indeed, caught in such a whirlpool of strange emotion, that he could not trust his voice, nor even his thoughts, which were rushing headlong on each other's heels like horses broken loose, and were altogether beyond his control.

"But he is himself as impulsive as a boy," cried the unlucky mother, rushing into the original subject with no longer any very clear perception what it was; "and Mr. Torrance's manner, you know, is sometimes-offensive to a sensitive person. He does not mean it," she added hurriedly; "people have such different degrees of perception."

"Yes-people have very different degrees of perception," said John dreamily; he did not mean it as a reproach. It was

the only observation that occurred to him; his mind was in too great a turmoil to be able to form any idea. To think he had never budged from his place at her feet, and that all in a moment this should have happened! He felt as if, like a man in a fairy tale, he had been suddenly carried off from the place in which he was, and was hearing voices and seeing visions from some dull distance, scarcely knowing what they meant.

Meanwhile Millefleurs purled on like the softest little stream, smooth English brooklet, without breaks or boulders. He was never tired of talking, and himself was his genial theme. "I am aware that I am considered egoistical," he said. "I talk of things I am acquainted with. Now, you know most things better than I do-oh yeth! women are much better educated nowadays than men; but my limited experiences are, in their way, original. I love to talk of what I know. Then my life over yonder was such fun. If I were to tell you what my mates called me, you would adopt the name ever after by way of laughing at me; but there was no ridicule in their minds."

"I hope you don't think I would take any such liberty, Lord Millefleurs."

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then I have other duties. Fortune has been hard upon me," he added, raising pathetically the eyes, which were like beads, yet which languished and became sentimental as they turned upwards. It was when he spoke of Jack and Tim that Edith had looked at him so prettily, bending forward, touched by his tale; but now she laughed without concealment, with a frank outburst of mirth in which the little hero joined with great good humor, notwithstanding the pathos in his eyes.

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This pair were on the happiest terms, fully understanding each other; but it was very different with the others, between whom conversation had wholly ceased. Lady Lindores now drew her shawl round her, and complained that it was getting chilly. "That is the worst of Scotland," she said "you can never trust the finest day. A sharp wind will come round a corner all in a moment and spoil your pleasure." This was most unprovoked slander of the northern skies, which were beaming down upon her at the moment with the utmost brightness, and promising hours of sunshine; but after such a speech there was nothing to be done but to go down hill again to the house, where the carriage was waiting. It would be no liberty; it would be John, who lingered behind to pull himself an honor. I wish you would do it. They together after his downfall, found, to his called me Tommy over there. Now, my great surprise, that Edith lingered too. respectable name is Julian. Imagine But it seemed to him that he was incapawhat a downfall. I knew you would laugh; ble of saying anything to her. To point but they meant no harm. I acknowledge the contrast between himself and Millemyself that it was very appropriate. fleurs by a distracted silence, that, of When a man has the misfortune to be course, was the very thing to do to take plump and not very tall I am aware away any shadow of a chance he might that is a pretty way of putting it; but still have! But he had no chance. What then, you don't expect me to describe my possibility was there that an obscure personal appearance in the coarsest terms country gentleman, who had never done it is so natural to call him Tommy. I anything to distinguish himself, should was the nurse when any of them were ill. be able to stand for a moment against the You have no notion how grateful they son of a rich duke, a marquis, a millionwere, these rough fellows. They used to aire, and a kind of little hero to boot, curse me, you know that was their way who had been very independent and origof being civil -and ask where I had got inal, and made himself a certain reputasuch soft hands." Here Millefleurs pro- tion, though it was one of which some duced those articles, and looked at them people might be afraid? There was only with a certain tenderness. "I was alone thing in which he was Millefleurs's ways rather vain of my hands," he said, superior, but that was the meanest and with the most childlike naïveté, "but poorest of all. John felt inclined to burst never so much as when Jack and Tim out into savage and brutal laughter at d—d them, in terms which I couldn't those soft curves and flowing outlines, as repeat in a lady's presence, and asked me the little man, talking continuously, as he where the something I had learned to had talked to Edith, walked on in front touch a fellow like that? It occurred to with her mother. The impulse made him me after that I might have studied sur-more and more ashamed of himself, and gery, and been of some use that way; yet he was so mean as to indulge it, feelbut I was too old," he said, a soft little ing himself a cad, and nothing else. sigh agitating his plump bosom - "and Edith laughed too, softly, under her

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breath. But she said quickly, "We| "My dear fellow," said Millefleurs, “I
should not laugh at him, Mr. Erskine. don't want to appear to teach you, who are
He is a very good little man. He has a man of much more intelligence than I.
done more than all of us put together. But that ith a mithtake, I must say it.
They called him Tommy in America," You can always talk best on the subject
said the traitress, with another suppressed you know best. Don't you find it a great
laugh. John was for a moment softened difference coming here after knocking
by the "we" with which she began, and about the world? Yes, I feel it; but so-
the gibe with which she ended. But his ciety is quite fresh to me, as fresh as
ill-humor and jealous rage were too much | California while it lasts. Then I have had
for him.
my eyes opened as to my duties. My
father and mother are as kind as possible.
A friend of mine tells me, and I am partly
convinced, that to keep them comfortable
is my chief business. You are of that
opinion too? there is much to be said for
it. It belongs to civilization; but so long
as civilization lasts, perhaps -
And so
I am going to marry and range myself,"
Millefeurs said, with his air of ineffable
self-satisfaction, turning up the palms of
his fat, pink-tinged hands.

"Really!" John cried, with faint derision, feeling as if this innocent exclamation were an oath. "And the lady?" he added, with a still more fierce laugh.

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Millefleurs gave his arm a little squeeze. "Not settled yet," he said. "not settled yet. I have seen a great many. There are so many pretty persons in society. If any one of them would ask me, I have no doubt I should be perfectly happy; but choice is always disagreeable. In America also," he added, with some pathos, "there are many very pretty persons; and they like a title. The field is very wide. Let us take an easier subject. Is Beaufort coming to you?

"He is Marquis of Millefleurs, and he will be Duke of Lavender," he said, with an energy which was savage, trampling down the tough heather under his feet. Edith turned and looked at him with astonished eyes. It was a revelation to her also, though for the first moment she scarcely knew of what. "Do you think it is for that reason we like him, Mr. Erskine? How strange!" she said, and turned her eyes away with a proud movement of her head, full of indignation and scorn. John felt himself the pettiness and petulance of which he had been guilty; but he was very unhappy, and it seemed to him impossible to say or do anything by which he might get himself pardoned. So he walked along moodily by her side, saying nothing, while Lord Millefleurs held forth just a few steps in advance. Edith bent forward to hear what he was saying, in the continued silence of her companion, and this was a renewed draught of wormwood and gall to John, though it was his own fault. It was with relief that he put the ladies into their carriage, and saw them drive away, though this relief was changed into angry impatience when he found that Millefleurs lingered with the intention of walking, and evidently calculated upon his com- "He is enigmatical," said Millefleurs. pany. The little marquis, indeed, took" He is the queerest fellow. What is the his arm with friendly ease, and turned connection between him and the family him with gentle compulsion towards the here?" avenue. "You are going to walk with me," he said. "An excellent thing in Scotland is that it is never too warm to walk, even for me. Come and talk a little. I have been telling tales about myself. I have not heard anything of you. The first is such an easy subject. One has one's little experiences, which are different from any one else's; and wherever there are kind women, you find your audience, don't you know?"

"No, I don't know," said John abrupt ly. "It never occurs to me to talk about myself. I can't see what interest anybody can have in things that happen to me. Besides, few things do happen for that matter," he added, in an undertone.

"His answer is very enigmatical," said John. "I do not know whether he means to come or not."

This question took John entirely by surprise. It was so sudden, both in form and meaning. He had expected his companion, before he paused, to go on for at least five minutes more. He hesitated iu spite of himself.

"There is no connection that I know of between him and the family here."

"Oh yes, yes, there is," said Millefleurs, with gentle pertinacity; "think a minute. Erskine, my dear fellow, forgive me, but you must have Beaufort here. If he is not near me, he will lose the confidence of my papa who will think Beaufort is neglecting his precious son. I speak to you with perfect freedom. Beaufort and I understand each other. I am in no need

for he was sick at heart and irritable in the discovery which he had made, "that Beaufort's mission is to be accomplished, and the duke to fulfil his hopes?"

of a governor, but he is in want of a protégé. Don't you see? By this arrangement everything is made comfortable. Beaufort understands me. He knows that control is a mistake in my case. He Millefleurs laughed a soft, rich laugh, found me and brought me home, because not loud. "My dear fellow," he said, I was already on my way: he keeps me "that is when I marry, don't you know? from harm for what you call harm has That is my occupation now in the world. no attraction for me, don't you know. It When I have a wife the other will be off is only my curiosity that has to be kept duty. I am much interested in my occuin check, and at present I have plenty to pation at present. It brings so many specOccupy that; but my father does not un-imens of humanity under one's eyes. So derstand all this. Minds of that genera- different - for women are just as different tion are a little limited, don't you know? as men, though you don't think so per They don't see so clearly as one would haps. It might make a man vain," he wish them to see. If Beaufort is long said, turning out his pink-tinged palm, away from me, he will think I am in dan- "to see how many fair creatures will take ger, - that I may bolt again. Also, it will notice of him; but then one remembers interfere with Beaufort's prospects, which that it was not always so, and that takes the duke is to take charge of one down again. In California I was liked, I am proud to say, but not admired. It was, perhaps, more amusing. But I must not be ungrateful; for life everywhere is very entertaining. And here are fresh fields and pastures new," said the little man. "When you have a pursuit, every new place is doubly interesting. does not matter whether you are hunting or botanizing or-a pursuit gives in. terest to all things. Now is the time for the country and rural character. I sometimes think it is that which will suit me best."

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"But this seems to me rather not quite straightforward on Beaufort's part," said John. At this little Millefleurs shrugged his plump shoulders. "It is permitted to humor our elders," he said. "It pleases them and it does no one any harm. Beaufort, don't you know, is not a fellow to walk alone. He is clever and all that; but he will never do anything by himself. Between him and me it suits very well. So, to save the duke's feelings and to help Beaufort on, you must stretch a point and have him here. It will be thought he is watching over me at a little distance like the sweet little cherub, don't you know, in the song. What objection have they got to seeing him here?"

"None that I know of," said John steadily, turning his face to the other side to escape the scrutiny of those small, black, bead-like eyes.

"Oh come, come, come!" said little Millefleurs, remonstrating yet coaxing, patting him lightly on the arm, "one sees it must have been one of the daughters. It will do no harm to tell me. Am I such an ignorant? These things are happening every day. Is it this one here.

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"What are you thinking of?" cried John angrily. 'Lady Edith was only a

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"Then I suppose you are on a tour of inspection, and one of our country young ladies may have the honor of pleasing you," said John, somewhat fiercely. His companion, looking up in his face with deprecating looks, patted his arm as a kind of protest.

Then,

"Don't be brutal, Erskine," he said with his little lisp; "such things are never said." John would have liked to take him in his teeth and shake him as a dog does, so angry was he and furious. But little Millefleurs meant no harm. He drew his old schoolfellow along with him, as long as John's civility held out. to see him strolling along with his little hat pushed on the top of his little round head, and all the curves of his person repeating the lines of that circle! John "Ah! then it was the other one," Mille- stopped to look after him with a laugh fleurs said seriously; "that suits me which he could scarcely restrain so long better. It would have been a trifle ridic-as Millefleurs was within hearing. ulous Beaufort might keep in the back ground if there is any reason for it; but we must really think of the duke. He will be in a state of mind, don't you know, and so will my mother. They will think I have bolted again."

child."

"And when is it," said John satirically,

It

was an angry laugh, though there was nothing in the young man to give occasion for it. There was nothing really in him that was contemptible, for to_be plump is not an offence by any code. But John watched him with the fiercest derision going along the country road with

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with astonishment, and a comical sort of
indignation, that his mother had come
over to his way of thinking. He could
not believe it to be possible at first, and
afterwards this inconsistent young man
had felt disgusted with the new accom-
plice whom he had in his heart believed
incapable of any such conversion. But
such being the case, there was no need
to ménager her susceptibilities.
" Or
driven to it," he repeated with emphasis.
"I shall not stand by, I promise you, and
see my sister planté là

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"You have used these words before, Rintoul. They disgust me, and they offend me," said his mother. "I will not be a party to anything of the kind. Those who do such things dishonor the girloh, far more than anything else can do. She does not care at all for him. Most likely she would refuse him summarily."

“And you would let her refuse a dukedom ?" cried Rintoul.

"Refuse a man whom she does not care for. What could I do? I should even like now, after all that has happened, that it should come to something; but if she found that she could not marry him, how could I interfere?"

his cane held in two fingers, his hat curling in the brim, his locks curling the other way. And this was the man whom even Lady Lindores - even she, a woman so superior to worldly motives-condescended to scheme about. And Edith? was it possible that she, too- even she? Everything seemed to have turned to bitterness in John's soul. Tinto before him in the distance, with its flaunting flag, gave emphasis to the discovery he had made. For mere money, nothing else, one had been sacrificed. The other, was she to be sacrificed, too? Was there nothing but wealth to be thought of all the world over, even by the best people, by women with every tender grace and gift? When he thought of the part in the drama allotted to himself to entertain Beaufort, who was the keeper of Millefleurs, in order that Millefleurs might be at liberty to follow his present pursuit, John burst into a laugh not much more melodious than that of Torrance. Beaufort and he could condole with each other. They could communicate, each to each, their several disappointments. But to bring to the neighborhood this man whom Carry dared not see, whom with such tragic misery in her face she had implored John to keep at "Jove! but I should interfere," cried a distance and that it should be her Rintoul, pacing up and down the room. parents who were bringing him in cold "How could you help interfering? Would blood in order to advance their schemes you suffer me to throw away all my prosfor her sister- was it possible that any-pects?" Here he paused, with a curious, thing so base or cruel could be? half-threatening, half-deprecating look. Perhaps his mother would be one who would suffer him to sacrifice his prospects. Perhaps she would sympathize with him even in that wrong-doing. She was capable of it. He looked at her with mingled disdain.and admiration. She was a woman who was capable of applauding him for throwing himself away. What folly! and yet perhaps it was good to have a mother like that. But not for Edith, whose case was of an altogether different complexion from his own. made a pause, and then he added in a slightly louder tone, being excited: "But he must not be allowed to dangle on for ever. When a fellow follows a girl into the country he must mean something. You may take my word for that."

CHAPTER XXIV.

"THE thing is that he must be brought to the point. I said so in town. He dangled after her all the season, and he's dangled after her down here. The little beggar knows better than that. He knows that sharp people would never stand it. He is trusting to your country simplicity. When a man does not come to the point of his own accord, he must be led to it- or driven to it, for that matter," said Rintoul. He was out of humor, poor fellow. He had gone astray in his own person. His disapproval of his mother and of everybody belonging to him was nothing in comparison with his disapproval of himself. This put him out in every way; instead of making him tolerant of the others who were no worse than himself, it made him rampant in his wisdom. If it was so that he could not persuade or force himself into the right way, then was it more and more necessary to persuade or force other people. He took a high tone with Lady Lindores, all the more because he had discovered

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At this moment the handle of the door gave a slight clink; a soft step was audible. "Pardon me for disturbing you, dearest lady," said the mellifluous voice of Millefleurs. The little marquis had a foot which made no sound on the carpet. He was daintily attired, and all his movements were noiseless. He came upon these startled conspirators like a ghost.

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