Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ Such was the astonishing message sent from London by telephone to Her Grace from His Grace. And, in the most mysterious manner, within about half an hour of the receipt by the Duchess of that message, not only the whole of the Castle, but it may almost be said the whole of the town which nestles at the foot of the Castle, and creeps up towards the Castle, had become acquainted with the tenour of that reassuring sentence.
It is strange, and sad to see, how even a very few weeks can alter a human being! ”

“ Then the Duke thrust his hand under the Duchess's arm. "Be careful, my darling! Don't let your kind heart run away with you. There may be exceptions to prove the rule, but an anonymous letter is almost always the work of a despicable human being. If I were you I should not show that letter, even to Mrs. Derbyshire." ”

“ Derbyshire firmly. "I am sure that nothing has ever happened to justify the telling of such a story. I assure you I should have been relieved if we had found out that Mrs. Barcombe was even—well, you know, Duchess?—old-fashioned in her methods as to her stepchildren! But she is, if anything, too kind. By the way, perhaps I ought to tell you that she is much more sensible about the whole thing than is Major Barcombe. But of course the poor woman is a good deal distressed. ”

“ Derbyshire could answer, her daughter took a hand. "I never cared for that woman," cried Bettine Gunston excitedly. "I can't think what Jock Barcombe saw in her. His marriage took all his friends very much by surprise."
And then her mother interposed in a troubled voice, "I'm more surprised than I can say, Duchess. I confess I don't know much of Mrs. Barcombe. She's a reserved woman, and she keeps herself to herself, as the village people say. They're far from well off, and she acts as nurse and governess to the children. ”

“ The Duchess of St. Andrews, who is noted for her kindness of heart, cannot be aware that there now lives on the Duke's property, and in one of the Duke's houses, The Small Manor, Willeyford, a most cruel stepmother named Mrs. Barcombe. She has a little stepdaughter, aged six years old, to whom she is always actively unkind, not to say cruel. She often shuts up the little girl, whose name is Amy, for hours in a dark cupboard. The S.P.C.C. have been warned, but with no result. Major Barcombe goes in fear of his wife, and is not man enough to interfere and save his child from ill-treatment. ”

“ Derbyshire. "Mrs. Barcombe is going away alone for a change to-morrow, and will be away a fortnight."
"It's a comfort to feel that her step-children will be without her for that time at any rate," observed the Duchess.
"Well, Laura, how about your visit to Willeyford?" asked the Duke that same evening.
"I didn't find out anything. But I gather that Major Barcombe's not a nice man. He used to be in love with Bettine."
"That only shows he has poor taste in women——"
"She was there and I could see she doesn't like Mrs. Barcombe. But she still has a kindness for Major Barcombe." ”

“ Derbyshire uncomfortably, "that Major Barcombe thinks they have a right to some kind of monetary compensation. He went up to London the day before yesterday and saw his lawyer. Good solicitors always try to stop any kind of lawsuit, but his lawyer, so my husband says, evidently egged him on, and made him think he could get very heavy damages."
The colour rushed into the Duchess's face. "Oh! Is that why he is going to take proceedings? Well, if our lawyer says something ought to be paid, of course I shall be ready to pay whatever is regarded as fair and just." ”

“ I heard the other day one of those impudent under-housemaids say I was like a witch, and I said to myself, 'I wish I was a witch, for then I could cast an evil spell on that there major!'—He's no officer, let alone no gentleman, but he'll come to a bad end—never you fear—that sort of grab-all generally do. ”

“ I strongly advise that we make inquiries concerning Major Barcombe's life as a widower."
Mr. Sharpe shook his head. He could not but remember that the Duke had consulted him about a former anonymous letter, one which had certainly been written by a jealous woman, and he made up his mind that in this matter his client was simply going by what had happened before. And he was surprised that so shrewd a man should be so influenced. But reluctantly, for his firm was not the sort of firm who ever had occasion to deal with private inquiry agents, Mr. Sharpe did set afoot certain inquiries. ”

“ Derbyshire. She looked very much disturbed and unlike herself.
"Why, of course you can. We'll go into the Red Drawing-room." The Duchess felt full of excitement and curiosity. Mrs. Derbyshire had evidently come to tell her something of a serious nature. And when, a few moments later, she had shown her guest into an empty sitting-room, she exclaimed, "Don't look so worried! Whatever is wrong shall be made right."
"Do you remember, Duchess, that when you came to see me you told us—me and Bettine—of something you'd heard about Mrs. Barcombe?" ”

“ Derbyshire, asking herself, if it were quite convenient, over to Willeyford Rectory for tea on the following afternoon.
There are moments in a human life when a man or woman feels as if he or she is gliding into a backwater, and that nothing very interesting, exciting, or what a certain type of modern person calls "thrilling," will ever come his or her way again! This was now happening to the Duchess. ”

“ Derbyshire quickly. "Bettine found out all about her at the time of the marriage. She has about fifteen hundred a year of her own. But Major Barcombe is an extravagant man, and she has to be careful. Are you quite sure, Duchess, that your information is correct, I mean about Mrs. Barcombe? I know she devotes herself to her step-children; in fact, some time ago she sent their governess away. She's very fond of teaching, I believe."
The Duchess laughed. "I think that's a black mark against her!" she exclaimed. "In any case, it's always a mistake for a mother to play at governess. ”

“ Her husband, whom she dearly loved, seemed certain, now, to play no great part in the public life of his country, a fact which secretly filled her with chagrin, for she had a high opinion of his abilities, and now and again she feared he was what is called "a disappointed man." ”

“ Acting on Mr. Sharpe's advice, the Duchess did not reveal the source of her information. "We will keep that," said the solicitor, "till the very last moment open to us. If the case ever really comes into Court, which I still hope," he concluded with kind eyes looking at Her Grace, "may be avoided, then we will produce the letter." ”

“ Bettine Gunston was pretty, and had become what is now called smart. Even as a girl, she had not been liked in the neighbourhood, and she was seldom at Willeyford.
Illustration: "The Duke read through the letter; then he exclaimed: 'It passes my understanding how a woman of your age can pay the slightest attention to an anonymous letter!'"
Kind, old-fashioned-looking Mrs. ”