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diff --git a/75340-h/75340-h.htm b/75340-h/75340-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eddba6d --- /dev/null +++ b/75340-h/75340-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2618 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Destiny | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.fullwidth { width: 100% } +.sig1 { text-align: right; margin-right: 4em; } +.sig2 { text-align: right; margin-right: 2em; } +.large { font-size: 150%; } +.small { font-size: 75%; } + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp100 {width: 100%;} +.illowp60 {width: 60%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp60 {width: 100%;} +.illowp92 {width: 92%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp92 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75340 ***</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + + + +<table class="fullwidth"><tr><td class="tdl"><i>GRATIS WITH</i>]</td><td class="tdr">[<i>SOMETHING TO READ.</i></td></tr></table> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="logo" style="max-width: 172.0625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/logo.jpg" alt="SOMETHING TO READ NOVELETTE"> +</figure> + +<table class="fullwidth"><tr><td class="tdl">No. 675.]</td> +<td class="tdc"> +CONTAINS A COMPLETE STORY AND PRESENTED GRATIS EVERY WEEK +WITH THE JOURNAL “SOMETHING TO READ.”<br> +EDITED BY EDWIN J. BRETT. +</td><td class="tdr">[Vol. XXVII.</td></tr></table> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="i0" style="max-width: 178.1875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i0.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption">“IT IS A SORRY TALE FOR YOUNG EARS, MY CHILD,” SAID THE OLD LAWYER, TAKING HER HANDS IN HIS.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1 class="nobreak" id="DESTINY">DESTINY.</h1> +</div> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By G. P. S.</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + + +<p class="center"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a><br> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> +</div> + + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“My dear Miss Standen,—Now that +the arch-enemy of mankind (in +reality he is often a friend) has +deprived you of your—shall I +say foster mother? it is time +for me to say that I hope you will always +regard me as a friend, who has known you +from your earliest childhood. There are some +events in your family history which a promise +to the dead kept me from relating during +Mrs. O’Hara’s lifetime. I will acquaint +you with them fully in a few days. As a +preliminary, Mrs. Gascoigne and myself will +be delighted to have you with us while you +decide about the future. The sooner the +better. Shall we say to-day at your own time? +A house of mourning is not a suitable place for +a young girl who—although she may have +experienced much kindness—is no way +connected with the deceased. Forgive an old +lawyer’s bluntness; you are too sensible, I am +sure, to take offence at my home-truths (which +are always disagreeable). Awaiting you and +your luggage,</p> + +<p> +“Believe me, my dear Miss Standen,</p> +<p class="sig1"> +“Your sincere friend,</p> +<p class="sig2"> +“<span class="smcap">Henry Morton Gascoigne</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>It was impossible not to believe in the +sincerity of the letter, and Muriel Standen +read it a second time with a keen sense of +gratitude for the writer.</p> + +<p>She had believed herself entirely alone in +the world, penniless, and without a home.</p> + +<p>For, after the death of Mrs. O’Hara, she +could no longer stay at the farm.</p> + +<p>Tom was to be married in a few weeks at his +mother’s last request, and although she had +mentioned Muriel’s name, apparently with the +intention of adding something regarding her, +death had intervened.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O’Hara died before the girl could +ascertain any particulars of her early life.</p> + +<p>She answered Mr. Gascoigne’s letter, thankfully +accepting his kind offer, and sent it by +one of the farm-hands.</p> + +<p>Then she packed her two small trunks and +said good-bye to sturdy Tom O’Hara, who said +the farm would miss her sadly.</p> + +<p>“But it is not the place for a lady like you, +Miss Standen. My mother was next door to +being one, as you know, and even she detested +farm life. It was better for you when she was +here. Now you will go among your own +people, I hope. I wish I could tell you who +they are, but my mother kept her knowledge—if +she had any—to herself.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” she said, sadly. “I do not +know where I am going when I leave Mr. +and Mrs. Gascoigne. I expect that I am +quite alone in the world, otherwise my people +could hardly have left me without any sign all +these years.”</p> + +<p>“If it comes to that, Miss Standen,” and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span> +the big fellow strode hastily across the room +to her, “the farm’s a home to you whenever +you like to make use of it. Maggie’s a good +girl, and she would feel honoured by your +staying here.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you Tom most warmly,” giving +him both her hands. “You are a kind hearted +man, and I shall never forget your generosity. +But I intend to go to London to make my living +there.</p> + +<p>“I have made some enquiries, and my +voice ought to do something for me. Mr. +Gascoigne will always have my address, and +he will give me news of you now and then. +Good-bye, I must not keep your horse waiting +any longer.”</p> + +<p>“I am going to drive you myself, Miss +Standen, if you will allow me. It will be the +last time.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“Well, well, my dear, there is no immediate +hurry. You have scarcely been with us two +days. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Gascoigne and +myself would be only too glad if you could +make up your mind to remain with us +altogether, but I suppose you are tired of the +country.”</p> + +<p>“You beggar me of gratitude,” she said, +flushing. “I have not the slightest claim +upon you and you treat me like a daughter—almost.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you were now that my own are so +far away. Well, if you are determined to hear +I must tell you, sit down in that arm-chair +comfortably, and remember that a lawyer does +not like to be interrupted. At the same time +my dear, prepare yourself to hear some sad +news.</p> + +<p>“Twenty years ago, your mother came to +Abbott Mansfield with you, a little child just +able to walk without falling.</p> + +<p>“She rented the cottage, known as the +Laurels, which was then let furnished, and +lived there for four years with a nurse for +you and one other maid servant.</p> + +<p>“She dressed always in widow’s weeds, made +no acquaintances whatever, and refused to see +any people who from kindness or curiosity +called upon her.</p> + +<p>“One day I received a note asking me to go +to the Laurels.</p> + +<p>“I went, and found your mother dying.</p> + +<p>“The doctor said it was general weakness, +want of vitality and nervous power, and had +advised her to go to a warm climate some weeks +before.</p> + +<p>“She told me it was a broken heart, my +dear.”</p> + +<p>Muriel had grown white and her eyes were +dark with suppressed tears.</p> + +<p>“You will find me brutally matter-of-fact. +Do not think me devoid of sympathy. Cry as +much as you like. Shall I go on?” after a few +moments pause.</p> + +<p>“Yes, please.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Standen’s story was a sad one, but unfortunately, +no new thing. She had married +when very young, and, being a lovely attractive +woman, as I saw by the miniature which is in +your possession, had no lack of attention from +her husband’s friends.</p> + +<p>“He was a major in the —th Hussars, a good +officer and beloved by all who knew him. Unfortunately +he trusted too much, and he trusted +Captain Ainslie absolutely.</p> + +<p>“The two were the closest of friends, and +even the marriage of Major Winstanley had not +weakened their friendship.</p> + +<p>“Your father was a very striking-looking +man, Miss Winstanley, I will show you a portrait +of him when I have finished, a thoroughbred +gentleman, nobility and integrity stamped +on every feature; but the captain was handsome +in the style admired by ladies—fair, with +blue eyes, a long moustache, and, no doubt, +golden hair.</p> + +<p>“Your father was passionately attached to +your mother, and up to the time of your birth +they were very happy.</p> + +<p>“He had a strong, stern nature, however, +and in addition to his duties, which, of course, +absorbed a good part of each day, he was fond +of literary pursuits.</p> + +<p>“A man does not care the less for his wife, +Miss Winstanley, because he does not keep up +his honeymoon all his married life. Your +mother did not say that she was neglected; +but Captain Ainslie got into the habit of going +to see her every day, when, nine times out of +ten, she was alone.</p> + +<p>“He was the type of man who is found in +ladies’ drawing-rooms at tea-times. Sometimes +he took her out for drives or rides, the major +trusted him entirely.</p> + +<p>“When you were about a year old, Major +Winstanley was summoned to the death-bed of +his father; as the journey to the North was +long and fatiguing, he did not take his wife, +for she was not strong and from the time of +your birth had always been delicate. Four days +later, when Major Winstanley returned—”</p> + +<p>The old lawyer stopped, the look on the girl’s +face was so piteous to see.</p> + +<p>Her large grey eyes were wide and dark, the +sweet mouth was quivering with feeling.</p> + +<p>He went up to her and took her hands in his +kindly.</p> + +<p>“It is a sorry tale for young ears, my child, +but I promised a dying woman to tell you, and +to hide nothing. Cheer up a little, it ended +better than could have been hoped. Captain +Ainslie had gone off with his friend’s wife. +But Major Winstanley was a modern Don +Quixote; he traced them, followed them, and +found his wife in a Paris hotel, sobbing with +grief for her sin, the consciousness of which +could not be effaced in spite of her companion’s +attempts at consolation.</p> + +<p>“Her husband went up to her and said very +quietly, ‘Marion, come home dear.’ To +Captain Ainslie he uttered one reproach, +‘What had I done to you to merit this?’ But +his heart was broken. He took his wife home, +and to the day of his death, which occurred a +month afterwards, he showed her nothing but +love and kindness.</p> + +<p>“When she was left a widow, Mrs. Winstanley +found that a bank, in which most of +her husband’s money was deposited, had failed—misfortunes +never come singly—and so she +was reduced to poverty. She thereupon sold +her furniture, and came to Abbott Mansfield +with her child, changing her name to that of +Standen, for she wished to be forgotten by all +who had formerly known her. As both she +and her husband had few relations, and these +but distant ones, her object was attained. She +lived quite alone.</p> + +<p>“When she knew that her days were numbered, +she sent for me and told me all the +painful story, making me take it down in +writing, to be handed to my executors in case +of my death before you became of age.</p> + +<p>“By her wish I was to be her child’s +guardian, to place her in the care of some +trustworthy person, and, on her twenty-first +birthday to acquaint her with the facts; also +to hand over to her the sum of one thousand +pounds, which was all that Mrs. Winstanley +had to leave. The interest of this has been +paid to Mrs. O’Hara for her care of you.</p> + +<p>“I need not tell you, my dear, that no other +person has the slightest idea of your identity—or +of this story. Here is the paper with +your mother’s signature.”</p> + +<p>He handed her the document, which she +took with trembling hands, looking at the +shaking writing “Marion Orme Winstanley” +with dim eyes.</p> + +<p>“There is nothing to prevent you from +burning that here in my library, if you choose. +In this box are your certificates of birth and +baptism, with your mother’s marriage papers, +so that your identity can easily be established +with my help. What do you say, my dear?”</p> + +<p>“I will take your advice in everything,” +Muriel said, faintly. “You have been so +kind——”</p> + +<p>“Pish! my dear. Had it not been for the +expense of having three sons and two +daughters to educate, Mrs. Gascoigne and I +would have taken you in here. They are all +out in the world now, and there is nothing to +prevent your making this your home, if you +would like it.”</p> + +<p>“There is no question of liking, dear Mr. +Gascoigne; I could not be such a burden to +you. I have thought of using my voice——”</p> + +<p>“As a singer? You will require at least a +year’s more training. Although Mr. Oateson +has given you invaluable help, he has not been +in London for years, and the competition is so +great that you would stand little chance at +present, free as your voice is; and then, it will +be very uphill work, my child.”</p> + +<p>The old lawyer watched the girl as she +looked into the fire, her pale, delicately-cut +profile standing out against the dark marble +background of the mantel-piece.</p> + +<p>“As a child, you played with the boys, and +with them you were a general favourite. You +liked them all?”</p> + +<p>“Ah! how could I help it?” she said, impulsively. +“And Kitty and Madge were so +sweet with me; they were my only friends, for +I felt instinctively that Mrs. Erskine did not +wish me to go to the Rectory, and so I kept +aloof from Ethel and Dick.”</p> + +<p>“If they were not so scattered about the +world, Kitty and Madge would have had you +to visit them; but India and Canada are so +far off. Reginald is coming here for a few +weeks before he goes to Melbourne to join his +brother. You know that Robert is married +out there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I hope he is as happy as Henry is +with his wife.”</p> + +<p>“I believe they are much attached to one +another. Two years ago, when Reginald came +back from Oxford, he told me of something +which may, or may not, be news to you.”</p> + +<p>“To me?” the girl repeated, meeting old Mr. +Gascoigne’s keen scrutiny with amazement.</p> + +<p>“Yes; he told me that, subject to my approval, +he would, when he was in a suitable +position, ask you to be his wife. Have you +never suspected this?”</p> + +<p>She stood up, staring in silent astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Never. I—can hardly believe it. Reginald! +We have seen so little of each other—he has +been so much away at his uncle’s.”</p> + +<p>“That is the very reason why he was struck +so much with your beauty and fascination, my +dear; the others, growing up with you, had +become accustomed to both. Well—is Reginald’s +feeling for you reciprocated?”</p> + +<p>The girl went up to him, and laid one hand—a +little timidly—on his arm.</p> + +<p>“Do I understand that—you would sanction +it, knowing—who I am?”</p> + +<p>“With the greatest pleasure, my child,” +returned the old lawyer, smiling. “Your +father was a major in a crack regiment, and the +daughter of such a man as Major Winstanley +is a prize for any man. Tut—tut! my dear,” as +she stammered out her mother’s name, “we +are none of us perfect. If she sinned, poor +woman, she expiated her sin.”</p> + +<p>She stooped and kissed his hand, then drew +herself upright, and brushed the tears from +her eyes.</p> + +<p>“You are the noblest man I have ever +known. I shall never forget your generosity—your +goodness to one who would be treated +with scorn and contumely by all who knew +her story. With all my heart I thank you and +Reginald. Please tell him and that I +appreciate the honour he does me to the +uttermost, but dear Mr. Gascoigne—I—” she +flushed scarlet, and raised her face appealingly +to his; “I—have never thought of him in that +way, only as a friend. And now that I know +who I am,” gathering strength as she went on, +“I shall never marry. You will understand +me, will you not? I must go right away—to +London, and earn my own living where no one +knows me. Mary Allen, who used to be at the +farm, is married respectably to an ex-butler, +and they let lodgings near Russell Square. I +can go there, can I not? Please do not be +angry with me, Mr. Gascoigne.”</p> + +<p>“I am not angry, my dear. Think it all over +at your leisure, there is no hurry whatever for +a few days. Reginald will not be here for a +fortnight. Your money is so well invested +that it has increased to fifteen hundred pounds, +but that only means about seventy pounds a +year, and the lessons will be a consideration. +That, my dear, will be my affair; as your +guardian I insist upon it, and you will not +refuse me. And what about that paper?”</p> + +<p>“I will burn it,” said Muriel, putting it into +the fire when she had again thanked him. +“And when I am successful you will let me +pay off my debt, please?” smiling sadly. “If +I am a failure——”</p> + +<p>“Never despair—you have youth, beauty, +and talent; and you have a home here whenever +you like to come. By the bye, here is your +father’s portrait. His face is a very fine one.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + +<p>She took it eagerly, and after a long scrutiny +kissed it passionately again and again.</p> + +<p>“Captain Ainslie must have been a traitor of +the deepest dye to wrong such a friend as my +father—and he escaped scot-free,” she said, in +tones of concentrated scorn and contempt. +“No doubt he is living in happiness and +luxury, reckless of the misery he caused.”</p> + +<p>“He may have really loved your mother. +For five years he led a wandering life. Of +course he left the regiment, loathed by everyone +in it. Then he married, and settled down +in the West Indies. I ascertained this myself; +but I do not know now whether he is living +or dead.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> +</div> + + +<p>A railway train is sometimes the scene of +much misery in those who travel by its carriages; +sometimes of much mirth, most often of +the assumed indifference adopted by English +people as a rule, and which, despite the contempt +with which it is spoken of by dwellers +on the Continent, is also the theme of admiration +to chatterers.</p> + +<p>Two people occupying a first class carriage, +of congenial sympathies, can often while away +the tedium of several hours. If their sympathies +are opposed, they will of course entertain +mutual distrust and dislike.</p> + +<p>When they are of opposite sexes, and +experienced enough to judge of character +impartially, friendships are often formed +which endure for a lifetime.</p> + +<p>“I owe you many thanks for the pleasure +you have permitted me to enjoy. I looked forward +to a wearisome journey only, but you +have accepted my society, and made me your +debtor as well.”</p> + +<p>“I could not help myself, you see,” smiling.</p> + +<p>“But you might have frozen me up in the +true British style, and then I should have had +to wait in helpless misery for the first stopping-place. +You looked very annoyed when I got +in at Swindon.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry; but the guard was fee’d to let +me be alone if possible. Perhaps the desire of +wanting to hide yourself, to get away even +from one’s best friends, is happily strange to +you.”</p> + +<p>He was silent for a little, not looking at +her.</p> + +<p>Had anyone told Muriel that she would be +holding a conversation with a perfect stranger +less than an hour after she had started, she +would have repudiated the imputation with +scorn.</p> + +<p>Her nature was a very proud and reticent +one, she was not given to sudden confidences.</p> + +<p>But there was in her as in all natural +women—a hidden spring of impulse, and on +meeting a nature sympathetic with her own, +she almost unconsciously broke down her +guard, with the result that she and her +companion were talking as naturally as if +they had known each other for years.</p> + +<p>“May I hope that you will forgive my presumption +in expressing sympathy? You are +so young to experience suffering.”</p> + +<p>“I am twenty-one in years, but I feel quite +old,” she said, quietly. “I am going to London +to make my fortune—or to fail.”</p> + +<p>“You have resolution enough to succeed, +but a woman has many difficulties to encounter. +And you aren’t of the calibre to be a +governess.”</p> + +<p>“Never.” She shuddered a little. “I +possess no certificates.”</p> + +<p>“Had you a dozen, your face and air would +debar you,” he said, with quiet courtesy. +“May one ask which of the professions you +are wishing to enter? I know a great many +people, and perhaps you may allow me the +pleasure of being of some service to you.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you very much, but I am thinking +of the stage.”</p> + +<p>He started, and looked at her for a moment +or two, at which she laughed, and drew farther +into her corner.</p> + +<p>“Your offer of introduction had better be +withdrawn. You did not expect to hear +that.”</p> + +<p>“You are right. I did not expect to hear +that,” he repeated.</p> + +<p>“You think that it is a pity I have chosen +this—career?”</p> + +<p>“It is fraught with many dangers, particularly +for one gently born and brought up with +luxury.”</p> + +<p>“My father and my mother were; but I lost +them both in earliest childhood, and all my life +has been passed in a farmhouse amid middle-class +poverty.”</p> + +<p>“But your friends? Pardon me if I am impertinent; +I do not mean to be.”</p> + +<p>“I know that you do not,” she said, simply. +“My mother had changed her name, so that +no one knew me. The lawyer of the place +was appointed my guardian; he and his wife +were very kind to me, even when—” She +paused, then went on again. “I was a great +deal with them and their family, in fact, we +grew up together. They are all in the world +now, most of them married. The girls live +abroad, too far for me to visit them.”</p> + +<p>“Have you made up your mind to become +an actress?”</p> + +<p>“It is the only thing I am fit for. I can +sing a little; the organist at Idleminster +Cathedral was a good musician, and he trained +my voice. I used to sing the solo in the +anthems and oratorios on special occasions—hidden +behind a screen, of course. And I have +had lessons in elocution and declamation from +an actor. He knew Shakespeare and most of +the French and English dramatists by heart. I +used to listen to him for hours.”</p> + +<p>“What was his name?”</p> + +<p>“Gray Leighton.”</p> + +<p>He started violently with excitement.</p> + +<p>“Gray Leighton. You knew him well. I +have been trying to find him for four years. +You are fortunate to have had lessons from +one of the most gifted actors of the day. Did +you know his history?”</p> + +<p>“No. He was crippled, and could not stand +for more than a few minutes at a time. He +came to Idleminster about four years ago, and +lived very quietly, making no friends nor ever +reciting in public. I got to know him through +his little boy. The child was very lovely. I +used to play with him, teach him music, and +take him out. His father would always trust +Bertie with me.”</p> + +<p>Watching her lovely face, with its look of +sweet girl-woman’s sympathy in the deep clear +eyes, the man thought it was matter for small +wonder that a father had trusted her with his +only child.</p> + +<p>“Different versions of his story will reach +your ears in London, so it is as well that you +should know the truth. Leighton’s professional +name was Lyon Fenton. His mother was an +Italian, and he inherited her southern nature. +As an actor, it is hardly too extravagant to +say that he took the world by storm. Paris, +Florence, Milan, and Vienna idolised him. He +was five-and-thirty when he came to London, +and there his slight foreign accent was the +only impediment to his success. His Romeo, +Othello, Shylock, and Hamlet were the constant +theme among critics, who almost to a +man praised him. But he did not like London +and left it after the second year for Italy. On +the eve of his marriage with a beautiful young +actress who played Juliette to his Romeo, his +<i>fiancée</i> eloped with his best friend.”</p> + +<p>Muriel was listening with breathless attention, +her eyes full of indignation at his last +sentence.</p> + +<p>“What horrible treachery!”</p> + +<p>“Unfortunately no new thing. The girl +was duped into believing some base fabrications +about Fenton, and impetuously went off +with the man who considered nothing so long +as he attained his object. Fenton followed +them, and a duel was fought, in which he was +unfortunately wounded in the hip. His +adversary escaped, for Fenton generously fired +in the air rather than injure the man who had +married the girl he himself loved.</p> + +<p>“Here you have the man’s character—erratic, +quixotic, impetuous, but noble to the +core.</p> + +<p>“When the girl discovered her husband’s +treachery she poisoned him and herself, leaving +a letter for Fenton, entreating his forgiveness. +The child Bertie is theirs.”</p> + +<p>Muriel drew a long breath, unconscious that +tears were trembling on her eyelashes.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she said with feeling, “what a +tragedy, and all occasioned by a man’s perfidy. +The world has lost a great actor, whose +whole life is spoiled. Then Mr. Leighton is not +Bertie’s father?”</p> + +<p>“He has never married; the man’s +nature is not one to change. He must +be about five-and-forty now. I knew all +this, as I was a personal friend of Fenton, +for whom I had the greatest admiration. +But when his injury necessitated his leaving +the stage, he disappeared, and none of his +former friends nor acquaintances ever heard +of him. Knowing his sensitive nature, I +understood, and did not try to find his whereabouts. +From time to time he sent me tidings, +but it is quite four years since I heard anything.”</p> + +<p>“How strange it is that we should both +know him,” Muriel said, reflectively.</p> + +<p>“Very. I can understand your desire for +the dramatic profession if you have been under +the spell of Leighton’s influence. He gave you +lessons, you said?”</p> + +<p>“Three times a week for the last two years +and a half. I thought it wisest to prepare +myself as much as possible; but I did not like +to tell Mr. Gascoigne, the lawyer, that I was +thinking of the stage. He knows that I can +sing a little, and that I am wanting to come +out by-and-bye.”</p> + +<p>“It is but a step from the vocal to the +dramatic stage,” he said, smiling a little. +Then, very gravely: “I have lived so many +years longer in the world than you, that you +will possibly permit me to give you my opinion. +For one absolutely alone in the world, as you +are, of gentle birth, you will be cruelly exposed +to fearful dangers, from which it will be +next to impossible to escape.”</p> + +<p>“But I am not so very young,” she said wistfully +“and the Gascoignes will never lose sight +of me, I think. I am going to live in Bloomsbury, +with a very respectable woman and her +husband who let lodgings, and I should pay +her to accompany me to the theatre. She +used to be one of the maids at the farm.</p> + +<p>“What other can I do? I have about £70 a +year of my own, which will just keep me from +starving; barely that in London, but I detest +the country. I cannot be a governess, nor +serve in a shop. Mr. Leighton has given me +two letters of introduction to the managers of +the ‘Coliseum,’ and ‘Opera Comique.’”</p> + +<p>“So, then he has a very high opinion of your +powers or you would not have obtained those +introductions.”</p> + +<p>“To the two best theatres, owning the most +critical of managers? But I would rather be +condemned by them than praised by the inferior +ones. Mr. Gascoigne has promised to +come up and see me in three or four weeks, and +I am to go down there for Easter. I suppose +he thinks that I shall fail.”</p> + +<p>They were nearing Charing Cross by this, +and Muriel looked out at the densely packed +houses.</p> + +<p>“Is this your first visit to town?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she said, wondering whether he would +tell her what his name was, or whether they +would never meet again.</p> + +<p>“In a very short time we shall have arrived,” +he said quickly. “You will permit me to say +that I hope we shall meet as friends? Here +is my card. Please do not look at it now—I +have a reason,” meeting her look of inquiry +with a smile as he handed her the little slip of +cardboard to her. “If you will grant me permission +I will send you seats for the ‘Coliseum’ +to-morrow, as I—know the manager, Mr. Harbury, +and so it is nothing. You will like to +see <i>Hamlet</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Very much indeed. I have the greatest +longing to see Francis Keene, and to compare +him with Mr. Leighton.”</p> + +<p>“He will not bear the comparison,” her +companion smiled. “You would not, I +suppose, entertain the idea of acting as secretary +to a literary man?” he said presently. +“And possibly writing his wife’s letters as +well? I have a friend who is wanting a lady +in that capacity, and I think you would suit +him admirably, that is, if I am not too impertinent?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! no; you are very kind to think of +me. How you must dislike the stage,” laughing +a little, “to endeavour to persuade even a +stranger to leave it alone.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> + +<p>He turned to her and held out his hand.</p> + +<p>“It is because I no longer think of you as a +stranger, Miss——”</p> + +<p>“Winstanley,” putting her hand into his.</p> + +<p>“Thank you. I will give you the address of +my friend, so that if you should care to see +him you might write in a day or two; in any +case, he would be a good person for you to +know. May I mention your name? His wife +gives ‘At Homes’ every Saturday, and you +would meet many professionals there. Here is +the address.”</p> + +<p>“Meanwhile I am not to know of whom I +am to think as a true friend.”</p> + +<p>“Until the day after to-morrow,” smiling; +“that is if you think your landlady will +accompany you to the theatre. I imagine you +see that you have no one else at present, +though that will not be for long.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Armstrong will look rather strange—”</p> + +<p>“She will not be noticed much in a box. +Here we are. What a pleasant journey it has +been. Shall I get you a +cab?”</p> + +<p>And as Muriel found +herself driving to Charlotte +Street in a hansom +she thought that if all her +days in London were only +half as pleasant as this +had proved, she would +never have cause to regret +leaving Abbot Mansfield.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The “Coliseum” was +crowded as usual.</p> + +<p>Nine months in the +year the cultivated and +impassioned acting of +Francis Keene drew rapt +admiration from packed +audiences, who listened to +every syllable that fell +from his firm mouth.</p> + +<p>As lessee, stage-manager, +and principal actor, +he had his hands full, +and his genius for staging +a play from Shakespeare +downwards was known +throughout Europe.</p> + +<p>Critics could find no +flaw in this, though they +occasionally differed about +his rendering of a part.</p> + +<p>His tall, well-proportioned +figure moved easily +on the stage, and the +clearly-cut features and +musical, perfectly-trained +voice were especially fitted +for picturesque <i>rôles</i>, although +Keene was too +true an actor to adhere +to them.</p> + +<p>His Shylock was as fine +as his Romeo, and King +Lear as Benedict, Othello +as Iago.</p> + +<p>Down in rural little +Abbot Mansfield his name +of course was known, but +as he was particularly +averse to being interviewed and would not +allow his photographs to be exhibited in any +shop or photographer’s window, his face was +totally unfamiliar to Muriel Winstanley.</p> + +<p>Even Gray Leighton had no portrait +amongst his large collection of celebrated +members of the profession.</p> + +<p>Her delight at being about to witness the +finest play of the greatest dramatist the +world has ever produced, and of seeing the +great actor in his favourite part—many pronouncing +him to be absolutely unrivalled in +it—was so intense that she was strung up to +the greatest pitch of excitement.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Armstrong had been with her husband +in the pit she told Muriel, and in her own +language, “he looked that beautiful, miss, but +so sad as made me quite miserable, I did want +him to ’ave ’ad the poor young lady all comf’table +at the end, and she so pretty, but it +goes contrary all through.”</p> + +<p>Muriel’s black evening gown would not +attract much, if any, attention she hoped in +their box on the second tier, and Mrs. Armstrong +was, as she expressed it frequently, +that flustered at being for the first time +in such an exalted position, that she kept +well backward from observation in the intervals +between the acts.</p> + +<p>It was a grand performance.</p> + +<p>Keene’s theory was that <i>Hamlet</i> was a man +about thirty years of age.</p> + +<p>His eccentricity and madness merely assumed +of course, and in the scene with Ophelia, his</p> + +<p class="center"> +“Get thee to a nunnery, go,”<br> +</p> + +<p>was uttered with regretful longing rather than +peremptory harshness, great love for her was +revealed beneath the stern language, and his +last wild embrace was full of a man’s passionate +agony in parting from all that made life +worth living to him.</p> + +<p>The girl sat as one entranced, drinking in +every word, not letting a single gesture escape +her keen scrutiny.</p> + +<p>Her eyes flashed responsively, her breath +came in gasps, she was deaf and blind to her +surroundings.</p> + +<p>Once or twice Keene himself glanced up at +the beautiful sympathetic face, and his own +eyes glowed with quiet triumph.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> +</div> + + +<p>“My dear, Mr. Keene was perfectly right to +advise you as he did. A man of the world’s +advice may always be taken in matters of this +sort; and a girl who lives alone is always open +to criticism, you know, even if she have no +relations.”</p> + +<p>“I am singularly fortunate in my friends,” +the girl said, with a bright smile. “Mr. Gascoigne +says I was born under a lucky star.”</p> + +<p>“In meeting Mr. Keene you were undoubtedly,” +Mrs. Carroll said, with a swift +look at the tall, graceful figure bending over +the escretoire; “but if you knew how many +failures Mr. Carroll and I have had in trying +to get a lady secretary, you would say that we +were the lucky people. There seemed to be no +chance of finding what we wanted. If a girl +were clever, she was vulgar or self-assertive; +if lady-like, utterly stupid, or worse still,”—laughing—“weak +and incapable of holding an +opinion. Perhaps the most objectionable type +was the girl of the period—masculine, irrepressible, +and in fact——”</p> + +<p>“Full of bounce,” added Mr. Carroll, +laughing and looking up from the <i>Times</i>; +“like Miss Morton, who dictated to me instead +of taking down my ideas. I assure you, Miss +Winstanley, that she argued about every +chapter in ‘Young Calderon’s Career,’ until I +suggested that she should write a novel herself +and leave me to my own little sphere.”</p> + +<p>“I wish that I knew shorthand,” Muriel +said, presently, getting paper and pens ready; +“it would be so much quicker for you.”</p> + +<p>“But it entails re-writing into longhand, +whereas you get my MSS. +all ready for the printers. +No, I prefer this way; you +are the quickest longhand +writer I have ever known. +I am only afraid that just +when you get into my +ways and ‘fads’ you will +blossom into a Mrs. Siddons, +and I shall be in +misery again.”</p> + +<p>The girl laughed.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Keene is too severe +a critic, and since he has +so very kindly undertaken +to bring me out, he will +not let me do anything in +a hurry. It will be months +yet, I expect.”</p> + +<p>“Humph! I hope it +will,” muttered the novelist. +“My dear,” to his +wife, “have you any letters +for Miss Winstanley +this morning, because the +sooner I can begin the +better.”</p> + +<p>“Only a few more invitations +for my ‘At Home’ +on the 25th,” said Mrs. +Carroll; “here is the list. +And a line to Lady Hetherington +to say that I expect +her and all her party. +I wish she were more +æsthetic in her tastes—her +friends are so often +objectionable; but it cannot +be helped.”</p> + +<p>Muriel wrote the letter +and the invitations rapidly +in her clear, somewhat +eccentric, handwriting, +then handed them to Mrs. +Carroll, who passed into +the adjoining room, which +was only separated by +gracefully-draped curtains, +for the novelist and +his wife were original +enough to care for one +another after ten years of +married life, and Mr. Carroll liked to have his +dainty little wife always in view whilst he was +dictating, and even composing.</p> + +<p>Her morning-room and his library were thus +in juxtaposition, and as he walked up and +down, with his notes or MSS. in his hand, +smoking an eternal cigarette or cigar, he would +catch a gleam of her golden hair, as she sat +surrounded by a pretty mass of crewel silks +and broideries.</p> + +<p>Muriel got an hour or more before ten +o’clock a.m. for study, and after two o’clock +she was free, Mrs. Carroll only asking her to +accompany her in her drives and calls as a +friendly request, to be refused or accepted at +will.</p> + +<p>She would drive her down to the “Coliseum” +when Mr. Keene had wished her to witness a +rehearsal; and in the evenings there were +always stalls or a box for one of the theatres, +for Muriel was to see and hear everything by +way of gaining experience.</p> + +<p>She herself did not know what Mr. Keene<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span> +had informed the Carrolls, who were his +greatest friends.</p> + +<p>That Gray Leighton had so carefully trained +her in voice, gesture, manner, expression, +having the most responsive ground to work +upon, she was so well drilled in Shakespeare, +Sheridan, Molière, Racine—in fact, in the +brilliant actor’s splendid <i>repertoire</i>—that +personal experience was the one thing lacking +to develop her splendid powers.</p> + +<p>She knew now that Keene and Leighton had +been friends united by the closest sympathy.</p> + +<p>The older man lacked the younger’s sustaining +power, which at five-and-twenty—his age +when Leighton left England—was not at its +full zenith of course.</p> + +<p>Leighton had at once perceived his young +rival’s strength, and knew that his own fame +would never be so lasting.</p> + +<p>The critics had condemned a too great enthusiasm +in him, alleging that his excitable +nature led him to expend himself too soon in +a play; that, in consequence, his <i>finale</i> was apt +to be lacking in the interest felt by his +audience in the early part of the evening.</p> + +<p>Keene had felt the greatest admiration, however, +for him, and +he had spoken to +Muriel as he had +thought from the +first, his own modesty +underrating +his own capabilities.</p> + +<p>As a manager +he knew that he +himself had no +living equal.</p> + +<p>Sparing no pains, +care, nor expense, +he searched the +world’s most remote +corners for +unique talent and +<i>objets d’art</i>, so +that he never incurred +the mortification +of reading +that his productions +were +“one-act plays.”</p> + +<p>All the minor +<i>rôles</i> were as carefully +rehearsed as +his own, and the +actors in his cast, +even the very servants, +received the +most tempting +offers and larger +salaries than were +usually paid—by +outside men as inducement +to leave +the “Coliseum.”</p> + +<p>“Are you ready, +Miss Winstanley?” +asked the +novelist, as Mrs. +Carroll left the +room. “I don’t mind if you stop me twenty +times; but for Heaven’s sake don’t go on too +fast and get muddled. I have only notes here, +you know. Where did we leave off?”</p> + +<p>“The twins want to go to the theatre—the +Gaiety,” said Muriel, in tones of suppressed +laughter, as she read what she had written. +“‘Let’s pit it to-night,’ whispered Henry. +‘Ma’s in the humour to fork out, as the +lodgers have paid up.’”</p> + +<p>“Got that? All right then,” and Mr. Carroll +began striding up and down, puffing out +smoke, and looking at his notes.</p> + +<p>“‘How much are you worth?’ asked +Henrietta. ‘I’m stumped.’</p> + +<p>“‘Two bob. But I shall make her give us +five, and we can go on the top of a ’bus. You +go and eat some sandwiches, and I’ll tackle +her now. She can have a flirtation with the +major all the evening.’</p> + +<p>“‘Poor wretch, I pity him!’ said Henrietta. +‘Ma will talk about her poor husband until +he’ll wish himself out of it. I do want to see +the serpentine dance. It’s lovely.’</p> + +<p>“‘You’ll be trying to do it with a table-cloth, +to-morrow,’ sneered Henry. ‘You’re +mad on dancing.’</p> + +<p>“‘I’d rather be mad on dancing than on +lodgers,’ Henrietta answered, epigrammatically, +bouncing out of the room. ‘You get the +cash,’ she called as a parting shot.”</p> + +<p>“What are you laughing at!” Mr. Carroll +asked, in surprise. “Do you find it amusing? +It is very vulgar, of course; but I assure you, +no exaggeration.”</p> + +<p>“It is very wonderful to me,” Muriel said, +taking a fresh sheet of paper, “that you can +philosophise so deeply when you please, and +then put in a chapter like this—the variety +is unique.”</p> + +<p>“The publishers tell me that it is what the +public like. Life is not all beer and skittles, +you know, and yet if it were, we should very +soon tire of them. There were two little +brutes who talked just like that in a place +where I stayed once in my young days. +‘Chapter thirty-four. The howl of the pessimist +is one of the signs of the times, one that +cannot be checked too strongly, for it is the +outcome of a discontent fatal to any great +achievement, and as false as it is hurtful.’”</p> + +<p>A dissertation on pessimism followed, and +quotations from so many classical authors of +olden and modern time as showed that the +author knew his subject thoroughly, and was +a man of no mean understanding.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Mrs. Carroll’s “At Home” promised to be a +very brilliant affair.</p> + +<p>There were two ambassadors coming, the +latest social “lion,” and the most brilliant +members of the legal, literary and dramatic +professions.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carroll had asked Muriel to go with +her to Madame Irène’s about ten days beforehand, +for she said she always felt more comfortable +if she put on her gown before a friend +whose judgment she could rely upon.</p> + +<p>All innocently Muriel assented, and expressed +genuine admiration when the dainty +little woman had herself arrayed in soft, thick +brocade of the colours of almond blossom +and delicate green leaves, with some real old +lace on the bodice.</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t make me look too old? My husband +likes handsome materials,” she said, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“<i>Mais</i>, madame is <i>superbe</i>,” the Frenchwoman +said, clasping her hands.</p> + +<p>“It suits you perfectly, Mrs. Carroll. Everyone +wears brocade now, and you will never +look old,” Muriel said, smiling.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carroll gave a sigh of relief, and +then turned to inspect some white silks that +were hanging over chairs.</p> + +<p>“Do you like this, Muriel?” she said, touching +one of the thickest.</p> + +<p>“It would suit mademoiselle,” said Madame +Irène, looking at the delicate complexion and +the waves of deep gold hair.</p> + +<p>Muriel shook her head.</p> + +<p>“I am in mourning—”</p> + +<p>“But you will look sweet in white,” said +Mrs. Carroll. “You must have a new gown +too. Madame, can you make one in time?”</p> + +<p>And, in spite of the girl’s look of entreaty, +the little woman carried her point, laughingly +telling her as they drove home that +she had arranged it beforehand with her husband.</p> + +<p>“We wanted you to look your best, and +white is so becoming for girls. Old married +people can do anything, you know,” she +added, with a bewitching little smile that +went to Muriel’s heart as she tried to thank +her.</p> + +<p>Very lovely she +looked on the +night in the long +straight folds of +the perfectly-fitting +gown, with +some white moss-rose +buds fastened +at her breast.</p> + +<p>They had been +sent to her anonymously, +and she +thought it was +merely another +of Mrs. Carroll’s +many kindnesses.</p> + +<p>She could not +resist the pleasure +of wearing them, +although she discovered +her mistake +when she +made her appearance +in the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>As soon as the +rooms began filling, +music, songs, +and recitations +succeeded each +other, there being +so many professionals +present +that there was no +danger of <i>ennui</i>.</p> + +<p>Muriel played +and sang, Signor +Losti, the great +master, taking a +great fancy to her +voice, and, finding +that she knew +Gray Leighton, +striking up a friendship on the spot.</p> + +<p>Mr. Keene came on from the “Coliseum,” and, +heedless of fatigue, took his part amongst the +performers with the winning courtesy so often +seen in great <i>artistes</i>.</p> + +<p>He said little to Muriel, seeing that she was +surrounded by a circle of admirers, until late +in the evening, when Mrs. Carroll approached +him and asked with a smile if he would give +them one more delight.</p> + +<p>He smiled and went up to Muriel.</p> + +<p>“Miss Winstanley, are you tired?”</p> + +<p>“No,” she smiled, rising instantly, wondering +a little at his question.</p> + +<p>“I want you to recite with me.”</p> + +<p>“I?” starting back and turning white; +“Mr. Keene—you are cruel!”</p> + +<p>“No,” he returned kindly, “I am quite sure +that you can if you will. You will not be +nervous?”</p> + +<p>“Horribly—I—perhaps by myself I could, +but with the greatest actor of the day, it would +be such a terrible ordeal—”</p> + +<p>“No worse than with Gray Leighton. Come +and rehearse with me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> + +<p>Trembling, she placed her one hand on his arm +and he led her through the conservatory, +across the hall, into the library.</p> + +<p>“Do not be so frightened, child. You are +positively shaking,” he said, putting one hand +on her shoulder. “Imagine that you are in +Leighton’s library in Idleminster and that I am +he. You know Beatrice’s lines in <i>Much Ado</i>? +Yes, I am sure of your memory. Take me up +in the Church Scene, Act IV. <i>Exeunt</i> Friar, +Hero and Leonato. Beatrice and Benedict are +alone.”</p> + +<p>He went back a few steps to give her +time to pull herself together, then approached +her with:</p> + +<p>“‘Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this +while?’”</p> + +<p>For one instant only she hesitated, the +remembrance of the scene with its dawning of +passion under cover of the exquisite badinage +sending a flood of colour to her face.</p> + +<p>Then she gave her answer—</p> + +<p>“‘Yea, and I will weep awhile longer,’” +with trembling excitement, giving the sound +of indignant tears in the rich but wondrously +sweet tone, trained to perfection by Gray +Leighton’s sensitive ear.</p> + +<p>The scene went on to its end without a +break.</p> + +<p>Keene, knowing the passionate nature +of the girl woman, letting himself reveal the +great love of Benedict despite the laughing +nature, and the torrent of light jest that rolls +from his lips.</p> + +<p>She rose to it, keeping well under control +even when with the confession of her love +almost unconsciously forced from her:</p> + +<p>“‘I love you with so much of my heart, that +none is left to protest.’”</p> + +<p>He caught her to his heart, kissing her hair +as he murmured passionately—“Come, bid me +do anything for thee.”</p> + +<p>She paled, but laughed as he released her, +with sweetest witchery pelting him with taunts +until he protests:</p> + +<p>“‘By this hand, Claudio shall render me a +dear account,’” and the scene ends.</p> + +<p>She stood perfectly still, then swayed a +moment, falling on a chair as he went +forward.</p> + +<p>Seeing the severe tension to which her nerves +were pitched, he left her again, quietly looking +over some books, but watching her covertly, +knowing she would not faint now.</p> + +<p>And in a few minutes she drew a deep breath +and got to her feet again, going to him, her +eyes asking the question her lips could not +utter.</p> + +<p>He took her hands in his, pressing them with +a strong close grasp.</p> + +<p>“I am satisfied. You are worthy of Gray +Leighton’s tutelage. I will prove my words +soon. Meanwhile—hush, child, do not give +way now,” her features were quivering as she +read the enthusiasm in the strong, intellectual +face looking down at her so kindly. With a +great effort she forced down her emotion and +murmured, brokenly, “How can I thank +you?”</p> + +<p>“By coming back with me and going +through it again before Mrs. Carroll’s guests. +You can—<i>will</i> you? You can trust yourself?”</p> + +<p>“Can I, Mr. Keene? For God’s sake think—<i>can</i> +I?” she asked, looking at him with all +the anxious longing of a great soul in her +beautiful eyes.</p> + +<p>He gave her his arm with a reassuring little +nod, and they entered the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>Keene took his hostess aside and explained +in a few words. Then, turning to Muriel, led +her to the centre of the room, and simply +announced the scene.</p> + +<p>She did not hesitate now.</p> + +<p>Clear as a bell her laughter rang out, her +gestures full of quaint witchery, void of +ordinary theatrical assumption, her manner +that of a perfectly-bred lady as she alternately +yielded and taunted Benedict.</p> + +<p>There was a storm of applause as they +finished, from every one of either sex.</p> + +<p>Again and again Keene was pressed to give +an encore, but he knew that the girl had been +taxed to the uttermost for that night, and he +let her go.</p> + +<p>Old Losti went up to him and muttered a +few significant words—</p> + +<p>“My friend, do you know what Scott +Roberts has just said to me? Mr. Keene will +do well to transplant that diamond to the +‘Coliseum.’”</p> + +<p>The actor’s eyes flashed, but he said curtly—</p> + +<p>“I say nothing, for I do not know myself. +Miss Winstanley is only an <i>amateur</i> at +present.”</p> + +<p>Later on when the guests had all departed +Carroll, who had been enjoying a cigar, strolled +up to Keene, who was making his <i>adieux</i> to +Muriel and his hostess.</p> + +<p>“Do not hurry, Keene, have a cigar in the +library, the ladies will not object to two +smokers, and they can stand umpires.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” laughed the other, as he looked +for Mrs. Carroll’s permission before lighting +up.</p> + +<p>“You know the misery I have endured for +the last year with inefficient secretaries,” said +the novelist, with mock indignation; “my +hair nearly turned white with worry. You +introduce a pearl beyond price to me, and when +I begin to breathe freely—it’s perfectly +monstrous, Keene. You are going to turn her +into a Ristori, and leave me to my misery +again.”</p> + +<p>“My dear fellow,” the other rejoined, laughing; +“can I or any other man make a Ristori +out of a nonentity? Miss Winstanley’s inner +consciousness told her long ago in what +direction her talent lay, and Gray Leighton +confirmed her. I have done nothing but test +my friend’s pupil—and I find what I expected.”</p> + +<p>“She is too good to be kept back,” Mrs. +Carroll said, kissing Muriel, who was flushing +and trying to escape. “Much as I regret it in +one way, for we shall be the losers, it would be +unfair to attempt to dissuade her. And you +know, Colin, that Mr. Keene told us from the +first——” she stopped, laughing. “The +mischief is out; forgive me for my indiscretion.”</p> + +<p>Muriel had turned quickly to the actor, her +eyes sparkling.</p> + +<p>“Ah! please tell me, Mr. Keene. Did you +think—before—that I——</p> + +<p>“Could act?” enjoying her confusion +quietly. “Yes, Miss Winstanley, after I had +spoken to you for half-an-hour I felt convinced +that you had a great talent for the stage; and +the more I knew you, the stronger grew my +impression. To-night you have given us all +proof, and I am sure,” with a smile at the +Carrolls, “that no one of your friends would +wish to rob the histrionic profession of one of +its future stars. Having had the advantage of +two or three years of such excellent training, +there need not be such long delay as is +necessary with a complete novice. Experience +is requisite, after which I hope you will have a +brilliant career.”</p> + +<p>“Abominable!” cried Carroll. “If you were +not beyond criticism, Keene, I would get Scott +Roberts and Alex. Fraser to slate your next +production. But you stand on such a deuced +high pedestal that no one can touch you.”</p> + +<p>They all laughed as the actor rose to go, +Carroll putting his arm around his shoulders as +they left the room.</p> + +<p>The two had been close friends for years.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> +</div> + + +<p>True to his promise, Mr. Gascoigne came up +to town and saw Muriel.</p> + +<p>She had of course told him of her good fortune +in meeting with the Carrolls, and when +he saw the genuine affection they both felt for +her, and heard from the novelist how delighted +he was with his new secretary, he strongly +advised her to give up the idea of using her +voice in any way as a professional.</p> + +<p>She smiled, but Mrs. Carroll told him of her +triumph with Mr. Keene, and of his sanguine +prognostications for her future, and the old +lawyer raised his eyebrows.</p> + +<p>“I have seen Francis Keene in most of his +best <i>rôles</i>. He is not the sort of man to take +a sudden fancy I should say. He is considered +one of the most relentless of managers and +sternest of critics; if he asked you to act with +him, Muriel, your future is evidently decided, +and you are to be congratulated.”</p> + +<p>“We hope to keep her with us for as long as +she likes to stay. My husband is so happy +with her secretarial work that he dreads the +time when she will not have the leisure,” +Mrs. Carroll said, looking at Muriel affectionately.</p> + +<p>“Well, it is of no use for me to remind you +of your promised visit to us at Easter,” Mr. +Gascoigne said, when leaving. “As things are +it would only make a break, I suppose. You +know you have only to come, child, when you +like. Let me have a wire or a letter when your +first appearance is arranged, and I will run up +to applaud you. Mrs. Gascoigne sends her +dearest love; she is, as you know, too much of +an invalid to travel. Reginald wanted to see +you very badly, but I thought I would come +alone this time. You can let him have a +message if—the wish should ever prove reciprocal,” +he added, laughing grimly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I shall not do anything for a very long +time yet,” the girl said, shaking her head, +leaving the last sentence unanswered. “As +you say, Mr. Keene is far too particular to +recommend me anywhere until I am pretty +certain not to disgrace his introduction.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>About a fortnight after Mrs. Carroll’s “At +Home,” Muriel was sitting alone in the +drawing-room one afternoon, playing some of +her favourite Chopin’s <i>nocturnes</i>.</p> + +<p>It had been a wet day, and Mrs. Carroll, who +detested rain, had gone to her room to nurse a +headache.</p> + +<p>The servant announced Mr. Keene, and +Muriel got up quickly.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Carroll is out, and Mrs. Carroll is in +her room, but I will go to her——”</p> + +<p>“I came to see you, Miss Winstanley,” he +said, quietly. “Miss D’Orsay broke down +after acting last night, and the doctor says she +must go abroad at once, as her chest is very +delicate. Her understudy, Miss Cameron, is +in great trouble, for her mother is dying. I +gave her permission to go down to Bath yesterday, +and I shall be sorry to have to wire to +her for to-night.”</p> + +<p>“To-night?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Miss D’Orsay is too ill. Besides, she +cannot speak above a whisper. Will you take +her place with me?”</p> + +<p>The girl looked at him with wide open +startled eyes.</p> + +<p>“<i>You ask me to act in the ‘Coliseum’?</i>” she +gasped. “Merciful Heaven! Am I dreaming?”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp60" id="i1" style="max-width: 101.8125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i1.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption">“YOU ASK ME TO ACT IN THE ‘COLISEUM’?” SHE GASPED.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“No. Listen. I intend to put on ‘Much +Ado About Nothing’ in a fortnight, and after +you went through that scene with me, I +meant you to be my Beatrice. Ophelia is not +a difficult part except for the mad scene. +Your voice is so exceptionally fine that the +songs will be a great feature. If you know +the old music you know mine. Nothing is +new. Will you do it? You are word perfect, +of course? Gray Leighton was so wrapped up +in ‘Hamlet,’ that you must have often rehearsed +with him.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I am word perfect,” said Muriel, +slowly. “I have done it many times, and I +know the music; but——”</p> + +<p>She raised her eyes piteously to his face.</p> + +<p>“Will you do it as a favour to me?”</p> + +<p>“Can I face the audience, Mr. Keene? That +is my only fear.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, or I would not ask you. I do not +count a failure at the ‘Coliseum,’” he said, +smiling. “Will you come back with me and +rehearse at once? I have all the people there, +and we have over three hours. You shall dine +at the theatre.”</p> + +<p>“Then you were sure of me?” she said, +smiling in spite of herself, and the colour crept +back to her face.</p> + +<p>“I felt I might rely upon your sympathy and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> +help,” he returned, taking her hands and +pressing them closely. “You see that I am in +a difficulty, and I am selfish enough to come to +you.”</p> + +<p>“How you put things,” the girl said, flushing. +“I will do my best. I shall never dare +to look straight in front of me, and if I die for +it I will get through my part somehow.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. Then there is no time to be +lost. Will you let Mrs. Carroll know and put +your hat on? You shall have some tea after +the first rehearsal.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Carroll entered at that moment, and as +Muriel passed him, she struck a sudden attitude, +crying laughingly:</p> + +<p>“Behold Ophelia of the Coliseum Theatre!” +and left the astonished novelist to receive explanation +from Keene.</p> + +<p>In less than a few minutes she was back +again in a picturesque big feathered hat and +cloak, with some thick, fluffy furs round her +throat.</p> + +<p>The actor’s brougham was waiting, and Mr. +Carroll put her in, promising to be at the +theatre with his wife as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>Keene had remembered every detail.</p> + +<p>A dressmaker was in attendance to make +alterations in the dresses.</p> + +<p>Every employée was ordered to go into the +auditorium.</p> + +<p>All the cast had been requested to attend for +extra rehearsal before Muriel had been +electrified by being asked to take the part.</p> + +<p>There was hardly any hitch.</p> + +<p>She was not only letter-perfect, but every +gesture even to stage business had been carefully +drilled in her; and her own rare receptivity +and lightning-like perception saved her +from many errors.</p> + +<p>She had acted before in the little theatre at +Idleminster, but the difference from that to +the big, stately grandeur of the ‘Coliseum’ was +appalling.</p> + +<p>But Keene never took his eyes off her.</p> + +<p>Before going on he told her that she was to +turn to him for every direction without fear.</p> + +<p>“No matter how slight your doubt, let me +know.”</p> + +<p>And she obeyed him to the letter.</p> + +<p>So much so that after the first rehearsal of +Ophelia’s part, he directed her to play to the +house.</p> + +<p>Carroll had come down with about a dozen +friends hastily collected, and these, with the +employées, made a good appearance in the +stalls.</p> + +<p>With a few directions, which were given in +an undertone, under cover of mere conversation, +the girl went through a second time.</p> + +<p>“Let yourself go,” said Keene. “Don’t be +afraid.”</p> + +<p>“You have acted before?” said Rivers to her, +who played Laertes. “But I have never had +the pleasure of seeing you. I fancied that—from +something Mr. Keene said—you were a +novice; but I see my error. As he approves +of course there can be no doubt of your success. +He is well pleased I know.”</p> + +<p>“This is my first appearance in London,” +she said, quietly. “I have taken parts in a +little country theatre.”</p> + +<p>He stared at her for a little.</p> + +<p>“Then you have genius, Miss Winstanley,” +he said, with courteous respect, and Keene +approached.</p> + +<p>“You have done better than I hoped. It is +needless to give you more fatigue. Go and +rest until seven. Will you dine here?” to the +Carrolls and two eminent critics who had +come down out of kindness and friendship for +Keene. “It will save you the trouble of going +back, and it is past six already.”</p> + +<p>They at once accepted, and a very merry +party it was.</p> + +<p>Keene took care that Muriel had a good +dinner in spite of her protestations that she +was too excited to eat, and some very especial +Mumm was produced to wish her success.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>11.30 p.m.</p> + +<p>It was over.</p> + +<p>The theatre was just empty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Keene’s room was crowded, and Muriel’s +name was in everyone’s mouth.</p> + +<p>She was a success.</p> + +<p>Three times had she been called before the +curtain, trembling so that Keene had grasped +her hand tightly, and the last time almost +carried her to Mrs. Carroll who was awaiting +her in the dressing-room.</p> + +<p>“Her fortune’s made!” said Scott Roberts, +as he and Alex. Fraser went to greet her when +Mrs. Carroll brought her to the green-room.</p> + +<p>“As usual, Keene’s on his feet. I did not +see her bit of Beatrice the other night——”</p> + +<p>“I did,” nodded Fraser. “She was delightful. +But anything like her acting to-night +has never been heard of. All in a minute, +you know. Marvellous I call it. And never +hesitated for a word.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad you are pleased,” Muriel said, +simply, but flushing with pleasure at the tone +of genuine praise. “I was so horribly +frightened and nervous when I heard someone +say the house was packed that I thought I +should have made an idiot of myself.”</p> + +<p>“You positively looked at the audience,” +said Carroll. “Bang into the boxes too. My +dear child, to talk of nervousness after that! +You are a fraud!”</p> + +<p>“That was only when Mr. Keene was on the +stage with me. I did not feel so afraid then.”</p> + +<p>“Your mad scene was quite novel. May one +ask whether your rendering was entirely +original, Miss Winstanley?” asked Alex. +Fraser.</p> + +<p>But Keene came up, and laughingly pushed +him aside.</p> + +<p>“Go home and write your ‘copy’ Fraser. +She has had enough of it for one night, and I +will not have her interviewed. When you +have seen her as ‘Beatrice’ on my stage you +shall hear who trained her.”</p> + +<p>And by-and-bye the Carrolls took her home.</p> + +<p>For one minute, as they were waiting for the +brougham and the attention of the Carrolls +was taken by some friends, Muriel turned to +the actor, who was standing close behind her.</p> + +<p>“You have not criticized me,” she said, wistfully. +“Mr. Keene was I even half what you +expected? Shall I ever be good enough?”</p> + +<p>He leaned down to her, speaking in her ear.</p> + +<p>“I will answer your question to-morrow. I +cannot thank you to-night.”</p> + +<p>Then aloud:</p> + +<p>“Will you be round at five o’clock to-morrow, +Miss Winstanley, please? I should like you to +go through one or two scenes with me—a full +rehearsal will not be necessary.”</p> + +<p>“I will not fail,” she said, giving him her +hand.</p> + +<p>As they were driven away, Mrs. Carroll took +her in her arms and kissed her.</p> + +<p>“You were simply wonderful, my dear. +Everyone was electrified, and even after the +other night I could hardly believe my eyes. +We shall lose you now.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it,” said her husband. “She +must live somewhere, and why not with us? +And she can still help me in the mornings, eh, +my dear?”</p> + +<p>“How good you are to me,” she returned, +gratefully. “Of course I will, Mr. Carroll. But +when Miss D’Orsay gets well I shall have to +wait perhaps a long time——”</p> + +<p>The novelist laughed.</p> + +<p>“You made a hit, my dear; your singing +alone was worth hearing. Keene was pleased, +though he said nothing; he seldom does. +Think of it. You have made your <i>début</i> on the +stage of the ‘Coliseum,’ acting with the greatest +man of the time, not as a super either but as +leading lady. I shall put you into my next +novel, and everyone will say how far-fetched +is the plot.”</p> + +<p>The next day Mrs. Carroll drove her down to +the theatre, saying she would return in time to +take her back to dinner.</p> + +<p>As Muriel went to the green-room, Keene +came out of his own and led her in, merely +greeting her in his usual courteous way.</p> + +<p>The room was empty, and the girl looked +round a little wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“Am I to rehearse here instead of on the +stage?”</p> + +<p>He did not answer for a moment.</p> + +<p>She threw aside her wraps and stood waiting +until he approached her quite closely.</p> + +<p>“I have heard from Miss D’Orsay that it is +uncertain whether she will ever be strong +enough to return to the stage,” he said distinctly, +but in low tones. “Will you accept +the position of leading lady, Miss Winstanley?”</p> + +<p>She drew back a few steps, staring at him +in bewilderment, her deep eyes looking almost +dazed.</p> + +<p>Then they flashed, and she ran towards him +with outstretched hands.</p> + +<p>“Ah, you cannot mean it, you cannot,” she +gasped, breathing convulsively.</p> + +<p>He took her hands in both his own, and +drew her towards him very gently, looking +into her eyes with such intensity that she felt +he was reading her very soul.</p> + +<p>Her colour came and went with each breath.</p> + +<p>She was powerless to resist the strong +magnetic influence felt by all who knew +Francis Keene.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I mean it. I offer you the post for +life if you will accept it. I want you to play +Beatrice to my Benedict for all time. I have +loved you from the time of our first meeting. +Am I too presumptuous, or do you care a little +for me? When I saw my roses in your breast, +when you yielded to my caress that was inevitable +then, I fancied that my touch had +power to thrill you. Muriel—”</p> + +<p>Her eyes sank beneath his, and he held her +close to his heart, stooping until his lips rested +on hers.</p> + +<p>For a moment she rested so, then, with a +sudden shudder, she drew herself away.</p> + +<p>“You do not know who I am,” she whispered +hoarsely. “My mother—was—guilty of +a great sin.”</p> + +<p>“Do not tell me, my child,” he interrupted. +“I love you. Whoever or whatever were your +people and their doings is nothing to me.”</p> + +<p>“I can never marry,” she said, clasping her +hands to her heart, and speaking with passionate +strength, “for if ever I meet a man +named Philip Ainslie I will kill him. He merits +death. If he has any descendants I will tell +them of their father’s iniquity.”</p> + +<p>Keene started violently, and looked at her +with amazement in his face.</p> + +<p>Then he went slowly to her, and put his +hands on her shoulders.</p> + +<p>“My darling, what phantasy is this? Philip +Ainslie was my father. I am his eldest son, +Francis Ainslie. How has my father wronged +you?”</p> + +<p>He never forgot the horror and misery that +his words brought into her features, nor the +pathos with which she recoiled, shuddering in +every limb.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear God! You, <i>Francis Ainslie</i>——”</p> + +<p>“Keene is my theatrical name. What is it, +my child? What is the sin?” he asked, very +tenderly. “Come to me and tell me.”</p> + +<p>But she shrank from him, pressing her +hands to her eyes as though to shut him out +from her sight.</p> + +<p>“You—you—” she moaned. “I cannot tell +you—I cannot——”</p> + +<p>With two steps he caught her in his arms, +crushing her resistance with unconscious +strength, pressing passionate kisses on her +pale, quivering lips.</p> + +<p>“You love me—you cannot deny that. I +will yield you to no other, listen to no reason +that can separate you from me. By this kiss I +swear that you shall be my wife. Now tell +me,” releasing her, “what was the wrong done +by my father? What did he do. Tell me, +Muriel.”</p> + +<p>White as death, she met his look and +answered faintly—</p> + +<p>“He betrayed my mother and murdered my +father.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p>Then, before he could prevent, slipped to the +ground.</p> + +<p>For the first time in her life, she had +fainted.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp92" id="i2" style="max-width: 125.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i2.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption">FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE SHE HAD FAINTED.</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>He raised her to a chair, and fetched brandy +himself, but it was some minutes before she +opened her eyes.</p> + +<p>As soon as she was fully sensible he made +her drink some brandy mixed with water, fairly +pouring it down her throat.</p> + +<p>Then he spoke to her, firmly holding her +hands in a strong grasp.</p> + +<p>And by degrees, with her face hidden on his +shoulder, she told him the story of Ainslie’s +treachery, her mother’s weakness, and of her +father’s nobility, though it cost him his life.</p> + +<p>As she finished she drew away from him and +spoke very quietly—</p> + +<p>“You see that I could never be your wife. +I could not marry the son of my father’s murderer. +Do not seek to persuade me.”</p> + +<p>“Listen to me, my darling. My father was +not a good man. He married at one-and-twenty +my mother, a beautiful girl of seventeen, +and in two years he deserted her after +breaking her heart with his cruelty. She died +when I was little more than six years old, but +after nearly thirty years I can see her lovely +face still, with its look of eternal unhappiness. +I was educated at a monastery in Florence +until I was eighteen, and I never saw my +father’s face nor knew that he existed; he +had made no sign nor troubled himself to +know if I were living or dead. My mother’s +father had settled some money upon me, +which made me independent. When I came +to England and went to Oxford I found that +my father was living—that he had re-married. +But though I sought him out, he betrayed +such little interest in me that I left him, declaring +that he would never see me again +unless he summoned me.</p> + +<p>“I carried out my own career without his aid. +His life was a very unhappy one, his second +wife was a woman who was my mother’s +opposite entirely—strong, domineering, extravagant. +He died two years ago, before I +could go to him, of a painful disease.</p> + +<p>“You see, my darling, that I knew nothing +of his sin against your father—it must have +been committed whilst I was in Florence. I +will not press you now—you will require all +your strength to act to-night. In a week from +to-day I will hear your decision.”</p> + +<p>And as she got up wearily he took her in his +arms and kissed her quietly with a strength +and mastery that were irresistible.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Neither by word nor look did Muriel feel +that the man with whom she acted night after +night remembered aught of their conversation +concerning her mother’s and his father’s sin, +nor of the love that he had shown to her.</p> + +<p>Whatever his genius evinced to the audience—and +with Ophelia there is but little of +the tender passion to be shown—Muriel knew +that he was keeping his word to the letter, +and, woman-like, she experienced just a little +pique that it was so.</p> + +<p>His courtesy was always the same, but +whether they were alone or not, his manner +showed no more warmth than was requisite for +a close friend.</p> + +<p>It had been a Monday when she first acted +at the “Coliseum”; the week would be up on +Tuesday.</p> + +<p>Muriel grew white and embarrassed, dreading +to meet his look, yet looking forward each day +to the evening.</p> + +<p>On the Saturday when the Carrolls came to +fetch her, the novelist turned to Keene.</p> + +<p>“Will you drive down to Windsor with us +to-morrow? Roberts is coming, and Sir +Randal and Lady Trevelyan.”</p> + +<p>“I should have been delighted,” the actor +said, cordially; “but I have to go down into +the country—to see a friend who is ill. I have +been wanting to go all the week, but Sunday +is my only day, you see.”</p> + +<p>And on Monday when Muriel arrived at the +theatre, her dresser brought her a note from +Keene.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My</span> dear child,—You will find an old friend +in the green room, who is anxious to see you. +Can you go now? You had better dress first, +however.</p> + +<p class="sig2"> +“Yours, <span class="smcap">F. Keene</span>.”<br> +</p> +</div> + +<p>“Who can it be?” she said to herself, telling +her dresser to be very quick.</p> + +<p>And in ten minutes she was ready and +hastening to the green room.</p> + +<p>Keene was there, leaning over someone lying +on a sofa.</p> + +<p>He turned to greet her, and then Muriel +gave a little cry and ran forward to kneel by +the couch.</p> + +<p>“You!” she said. “Oh! Mr. Leighton, this +is so delightful. I never dared to hope that +you would come to London.”</p> + +<p>The picturesque-looking man, sadly worn +and wasted physically, lying back on the +cushions, gave a warm smile, and took her +hands in his.</p> + +<p>“When your letter reached me, child, telling +of your success, I felt tempted to try to get to +town; but—you know my weakness and +dislike to being seen.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she said softly, “I know; and,” with +a quick flush, “Mr. Keene managed it, I am +sure.”</p> + +<p>“He found me out through you, child, of +course. And yesterday, Francis,” to the actor +who had left them alone, “I wonder if you +realised what it was to me to see you? It was +like old times—”</p> + +<p>Keene came back and went round to the +other side from Muriel, leaning forward and +putting one hand caressingly on Leighton’s +shoulder.</p> + +<p>When he spoke, Muriel knew that he was +putting stern control over himself, not letting +the emotion he felt be detected by the swift, +restless eyes that now and then lit up with all +the fire and intellect of a great actor’s enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>It was no light thing, the meeting of the +two men, separated by nearly ten years’ +absence.</p> + +<p>They had parted with Leighton in the full +zenith of his career, Keene the rising young +actor of five-and-twenty, even then considered +by old playgoers to be far in advance of all +others.</p> + +<p>The one had been cut down in the prime of +his manhood, his life’s happiness seared by one +of the basest treacheries ever perpetrated by a +friend. His enthusiasm damped, his sensitive +nature shrinking beneath the blow, he could +not endure the former publicity that had +attached to his lightest action, preferring to +live in an obscure country town, away from +the torment of the world’s pity.</p> + +<p>“You have reached so high a pinnacle that +the critics cannot influence, yet you will not +disdain my congratulations, Francis. You +were always greater far than I, and to your +own power you add that of unrivalled management——”</p> + +<p>Keene laughingly put his hand over the +speaker’s mouth.</p> + +<p>“Opinions differ, my dear Lyon. I would +give a very great deal to have the old days +revived. You worked wonders with your +pupil here. I had little or nothing to add to +your training, given at such disadvantage.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to witness the performance +to-night from the front, if it can be managed. +Can you put me somewhere out of sight?” +Fenton asked; “if not——”</p> + +<p>“Your chair will be placed in the stage +box,” Keene answered, softly; “no one shall +bother you. Colin Carroll—you remember +him?”</p> + +<p>“The writer? Yes; a very amusing +fellow.”</p> + +<p>“He has married since you knew him—a +charming little woman. I thought of asking +them to take care of you; here they are.”</p> + +<p>“And Mr. Gascoigne!” cried Muriel. “Mr. +Keene, you are inimitable.”</p> + +<p>“That is true,” laughed Fenton. “There is +the call-boy, Francis.”</p> + +<p>The Carrolls came up, and the invalid’s +chair was wheeled to the stage box.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gascoigne went off to his stall, for +Keene would not run the risk of wearying +Fenton by too many faces and conversation at +first.</p> + +<p>The performance went off more brilliantly +than ever.</p> + +<p>Muriel, conscious of the white, worn face +watching hers and Keene’s every movement, +listening to every word, and of her old friend +straight in front of her in the stalls, was in a +fever of excitement.</p> + +<p>Her eyes flashed and sparkled; in the mad +scene she surpassed herself, her voice filling +every corner of the vast theatre like the chime +of silver bells, low but clear.</p> + +<p>Keene was superb, and the audience +thundered such applause that he was bound to +appear after each act again and again, Muriel +also being called for with him.</p> + +<p>“You will be a great actress, my dear,” Lyon +Fenton said to her afterwards. “Although +you have had every possible advantage in +going on with Keene, still an educated +audience would not tolerate mediocrity even +under such auspices. You have sympathy, you +are <i>en rapport</i> with your part and with the +people, and you are very beautiful. Go on +working hard—Keene will never let you rest; +and he is the greatest man of the time. You +like him?”</p> + +<p>She coloured hotly under the swift, searching +scrutiny.</p> + +<p>“My dear, you will not be offended with +me—”</p> + +<p>She knelt down by the chair.</p> + +<p>They were alone; and the tears trembled on +her eyelids.</p> + +<p>“You know that I can never repay a tenth +part of your goodness to me,” she said, with +deepest feeling. “All my life, Mr. Fenton, I +shall pray that—even yet—you may be happy. +Without your training I could have done +nothing, and your introduction—”</p> + +<p>“No, no. That was all overshadowed by +your meeting with Keene in the train. He +loved you at first sight—I know all about it, +my child. And yet there is a cloud between +you. He is very attractive to women—surely +you are not insensible to his affection and +admiration? Tell me what is the matter. I +am old enough to be your father, and, moreover, +I have one foot in the grave and the +other hovering on the brink. I believe that +you do care for him with all your strength,” he +added, putting one hand on her arm, gently, +and lifting her face.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she said, suddenly, “I do, Mr. +Fenton. How could I help it? He was so +kind, so thoughtful, so generous; and, when +I found that he knew you so well, it was not +like speaking to a stranger.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“And so, sweetheart, you will not visit my +father’s sin upon me? I hoped that Fenton +would persuade you. Indeed,” laughing, and +turning her face up to his, “I am strongly of +opinion that he is first with you. I have got +his promise that he will live with us; so +that his last years will be happier than the +past ten have been. And the child loves you. +Are you pleased, my darling?”</p> + +<p>She put her arms round his neck, and, for +the first time, laid her mouth on his with a +long passionate kiss.</p> + +<p>If he had doubted the strength of her love +before, he never did after that.</p> + +<p>“You are perfect, Francis. Quite perfect,” +she said, gravely. “If you do not commit +something mortal I shall be afraid of you.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p>NOTICE.—The next Complete Novelette Story, to be Given Away with No. 676 of “<span class="smcap">Something to Read</span>” Journal, will be entitled:</p> + +<p class="center large">AT THE ALTAR RAILS.</p> + + +<p class="center small">Printed by <span class="smcap">A. Bradley</span>, at the London and County Works, Drury Lane, W.C.; and Published for the Proprietor, <span class="smcap">Edwin J. Brett</span>, + at 173, Fleet Street, E.C.—Feb. 13, 1894.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="transnote"> +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber’s Notes:</h2> +</div> + + +<p>This story was published as a separate eight-page booklet distributed as +a give-away with the journal <i>Something to Read</i>.</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Illustrations have been moved nearer the appropriate points in the text.</p> + +<p>Table of contents has been added and placed into the public domain by +the transcriber. +</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75340 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75340-h/images/cover.jpg b/75340-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9971c3f --- /dev/null +++ b/75340-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75340-h/images/i0.jpg b/75340-h/images/i0.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c63a42b --- /dev/null +++ b/75340-h/images/i0.jpg diff --git a/75340-h/images/i1.jpg b/75340-h/images/i1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16b9e0a --- /dev/null +++ b/75340-h/images/i1.jpg diff --git a/75340-h/images/i2.jpg b/75340-h/images/i2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..374d360 --- /dev/null +++ b/75340-h/images/i2.jpg diff --git a/75340-h/images/logo.jpg b/75340-h/images/logo.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63a6011 --- /dev/null +++ b/75340-h/images/logo.jpg |
