Lady Gwendolyn

“ One night, just as the earth was beginning to grow green again, and primrose and violets were sweetening the hedgerows, Lady Gwendolyn, only half-conscious still, came stupefied out of her hour of anguish to find a little face nestling against her bosom, and to hear with deep thankfulness that a man child was born into the world, and born to her. ”

“ He had caught sight of a white figure standing in the porch, and fancied he knew that this was Lady Gwendolyn.
She stepped daintily out from under a trellis-work of roses and clematis, and looked from side to side, as if she were in search of some one.
“Does she regret her cruelty just now?” he asked himself, his breath coming short and fast from an intense eagerness of expectancy, while the wild longing within him almost frightened him, as a sign of the terrible empire this passion was gaining. ”

“ To be born to an inheritance of shame; to come into a world which had no welcome for it; to see tears always instead of smiles in the eyes which would have been so fond and proud, but for all this shame. No wonder Lady Gwendolyn threw herself down despairingly on the very floor, feeling in her abasement as if this were the only fitting place for such as she. ”

“ I am afraid I must be dreadfully heavy, after all. Do let me try to walk.”
“Not for the world; you might injure yourself for life,” he replied. “I could have hurried a little more, only that I was afraid of shaking you.”
Of course he could. Lady Gwendolyn knew that as well as he did, and smiled to herself. Surely he deserved that she should play with him a little, when for two long years he had kept her in suspense as to the state of his feelings, and had only betrayed them by accident now. ”

“ Colonel Dacre changed color visibly.
“I thought you had promised me never to think about or mention her again, Gwen? I do solemnly swear over again that no woman living, excepting yourself, can ever say that I have asked her to be my wife. I had a good many foolish fancies as a lad, but none of them went as far as that.”
“Was she one of your foolish fancies?” inquired Lady Gwendolyn hesitatingly. ”

“ Lady Gwendolyn held out her hand to the faithful creature. She was desolate enough to feel thankful even for a humble friend like this; and the best service is that which is dictated by affection as well as by duty.
That afternoon Lady Gwendolyn had a confidential interview with her solicitor, Mr. Large; gave him a power-of-attorney to receive her dividends, and then, accompanied by Phœbe, she left town. ”

“ Finding he did not answer, Lady Gwendolyn repeated: “How do you know that?” as if she were determined to have an answer.
“One can’t always give a reason for the faith that is in one,” he returned evasively. “Anyhow, supposing what you say were true, I could not help Mrs. O’Hara’s feelings.” ”

“ When people lose their appetites they invariably lose their looks.”
“I’ll take my chance of that,” replied Lady Gwendolyn coldly. “Do you want Clémentine?” she added, in a lower voice. “It is really necessary that I should speak to you at once.”
“What, have you got mysteries as well as Colonel Dacre?” she exclaimed, with a levity that would have displeased [Pg 79] Lady Gwendolyn at any time, and absolutely disgusted her now. “I am very unfortunate in my friends.”
“I think you are,” replied Lady Gwendolyn, with involuntary sternness. ”

“ O’Hara came to stay with us in town, and then she gave him such an exalted idea of himself that I could not please or satisfy him afterward.’”
There was a minute’s silence. Lady Gwendolyn was almost ashamed at the warmth she had shown, lest her motives should be misconstrued; and Colonel Dacre was meditating deeply. At last he looked up and said:
“Why do you tell me all this, Lady Gwendolyn? You are not a spiteful woman naturally, and I know you to be incapable of jealousy. ”

“ Lady Gwendolyn was not one of those brides who like [Pg 186] to advertise themselves. To steal quietly through the crowd, unrecognized and unobserved, was all she asked; and she knew her husband’s refined tastes would be offended, as well as her own, by any display. But that he approved of the brown cashmere, and the quiet, but elegant, little hat of the same color, was evident from his eyes as he took a survey of her dainty figure ere he handed her into the carriage.
On their way to the station Colonel Dacre held his wife’s hand ”

“ And, indeed, it would not be for your happiness, my poor child.”
“I am not a child, and you treat me shamefully,” she snapped. “I won’t have a cottage in the country!”
“Then what will you have?” he asked, with admirable [Pg 218] patience, although Lady Gwendolyn knew, by the inflection of his voice, how harassed and weary he was.
“I will have my proper position. A married woman ought to live with her husband.”
“If she can, Mary.” ”

“ And so on, until Lady Gwendolyn could scarcely wonder that Sir Lawrence had tried to escape from such an impracticable, violent person, and began to pity him a little in her heart.
He waited until the torrent of words had subsided, and then he said, with as much firmness as gentleness:
“You know it is very wrong to excite yourself in this [Pg 219] way, Mary. I never deny you anything it is right you should have, and you must try and be a little more reasonable.” ”

“ But she conquered this weakness, and knelt down at the keyhole again, just in time to see Sir Lawrence bend over the woman and kiss her tenderly.
Then he drew a chair to her side, and Lady Gwendolyn heard him say, in a coaxing voice:
“You will be glad to get away from here, Mary, dear, will you not? I have taken a pretty cottage for you in the country, where you will be able to have a garden, and grow plenty of flowers and fruit. You will like that, I am sure?”
“I want to be with my husband,” she answered, in a voice of stern resentment. “What right have you to send me out of the way?” ”

“ Her arguments failing to convince, Lady Gwendolyn took refuge in a pout. This is a woman’s last refuge when she finds her position is weak, and is a sure index of faltering resolution.
“You are very unreasonable, Lawrence, and abominably arbitrary. Because you want a thing it must needs be done.” ”

“ Pauline laughed—the hollow, artificial laugh that always grated upon Lady Gwendolyn’s nerves.
“Don’t be so very absurd! No woman, with a grain of sense, makes a confidant of her husband. Besides, Reggie is quite coming round, Gwen; he is, indeed!”
“Very kind of him, I am sure,” replied her sister-in-law, with a bitter smile. “Do you know, I feel quite grateful.”
Lady Teignmouth walked along at her side, and lowered her voice to say:
“I dare say you do feel annoyed about it all ”

“ She did not, therefore, either see or hear any one approach, until a warm, strong hand touched hers diffidently; and she lifted her head to let these tender words thrill through and through her:
“My darling! love has become my master; and I cannot live without you, as I told you before, so I have come to claim you for my very own!”
[Pg 102]
CHAPTER IX. ALL FOR LOVE.
Lady Gwendolyn was too much overcome at this sudden apparition. She could not speak for a moment; and, taking her silence for encouragement, Lawrence Dacre knelt down beside her, and lifted the hand he still held to his lips. ”

“ If he had only carried her into Bates’ house, nothing could possibly have been said—only that people always think of these brilliant expedients when it is too late to carry them into effect, and as it had not suggested itself to Lady Gwendolyn she could hardly blame him for his forgetfulness. ”

“ May I go now and ask the Bishop, then tell the girls?”
“Certainly,” and there was an expression of greater pleasure on the lady’s face than on that of Gwendolyn’s even.
Winifred executed what she called a “war dance” as Gwen disappeared, crying:
“That’s what I call a wholesale burying of the hatchet! That ‘Honorable’ young woman is distinguishing [Pg 223] herself. Don’t you think so, Miss Muriel?”
“I am pleased. I am very pleased. Gwendolyn has surely dropped her foolishness and I’m proud of her. It’s so much safer for anyone to be normal, without fads or fancies—”
“Oh! ”

“ Belmont’s death, unfalteringly asseverating that the unfortunate man had come to Turoy on Lady Gwendolyn’s account.
“They had a meeting in the wood the very night of his death, as some of the people hereabout can testify; and, of course, his sudden and mysterious fate has caused a great sensation. No one could suspect Gwendolyn of [Pg 94] anything but an imprudence, as you say; but it’s the sort of imprudence that ruins a woman’s reputation, I am afraid. My own opinion is that Colonel Dacre followed Mr. ”

“ Upon this arbor, bouncing along with an occasional chirp of contentment, and with the air of one who has assumed the lead, went the Bird.
Gwendolyn's father walked in silence, his look fixed far ahead. Trotting at his side, she glanced up at him now and then. She did not have to dread the coming of Jane, or Miss Royle, or Thomas. Yet she felt concern—on the score of keeping beside him; of having ready a remark, gay or entertaining, should he show signs of being bored. ”

“ It was a slender, girlish figure, and it came hurrying forward along the circular way with never a glance to right or left. Gwendolyn could see that whoever the traveler was, her dress was plain and scant. Nor were there ornaments shining in her pretty hair, which was unbound. She was shod in dainty, high-heeled slippers. And now she walked as fast as she could; again she broke into a run; but taking no note of the ruts and rough places, continually stumbled.
"She's watching what's in her hand," said the Man-Who-Makes-Faces. ”

“ She freed herself gently from the clinging arms and followed the two. "Miss Royle, will you take Gwendolyn?"
As the governess promptly advanced, with a half-bow, and a set smile that was like a grimace, Gwendolyn raised a face tense with earnestness. Until half an hour before, her whole concern had been for herself. But now! To fail to grow up, to have her long-cherished hopes come short of fulfillment—that was one thing. To know that her mother and father had real and serious troubles of their own, that was another!
"Oh, moth-er! Don't you go!" ”

“ The Man-Who-Makes-Faces seated himself on the stool at one of the tables and began working industriously.
But Gwendolyn could only stand and stare about her, so amazed that she was dumb. For in front of the little old gentleman, and spread handily, were ears and eyes, noses and mouths, cheeks and chins and foreheads. And upon the bill-board, pendant, were toupees and side-burns and mustaches, puffs, transformations and goatees—and one coronet braid (a red one) glossy and thick and handsome! ”

“ It was Jane once more, the grin replaced by a dark look. "I'll have you know this child is in my charge." Again she tried to seize Gwendolyn.
The Man-Who-Makes-Faces stood his ground resolutely—and swung the curved knife up to check any advance.
"She doesn't need you," he declared "She's seven, and she's grown-up." And to Gwendolyn, "Tell her so! Don't be afraid! Tell her!"
Gwendolyn promptly opened her mouth. But try as she would, she could not speak. Her lips seemed dry. Her tongue refused to move. She could only swallow! ”

“ With all her heart Gwendolyn envied them—envied their freedom, and the fact that they were indisputably grown-up. And she decided that, later on, when she was as big and strong, she would be a laundry-maid and run about on just such level roofs, joyously hanging up wash. ”

“ Oh, you bet, them that's naughty always pays the piper."
Gwendolyn got to her feet. "I won't pay the piper," she retorted. "I'm going to give all my money to the hand-organ man—all of it. I like him," tauntingly. "But I hate—you."
"We hate a sneak," observed Miss Royle, blandly.
The little figure went rigid. "And I hate you," she cried shrilly. Then buried her face in her hands.
"Gwen-do-lyn'!" It was a solemn and horrified warning.
Gwendolyn turned and walked slowly toward the window-seat. Her breast was heaving.
"Come back and sit in this chair," bade the governess. ”

“ And in that same moment, the four who were holding the rope felt it begin to writhe and twist in their grasp!—like a live thing. And its black length took on a scaly look, glittering in that pink glow as if it were covered with small ebon paillettes. It grew cold and clammy. At its thicker end Gwendolyn saw that the Piper was supporting a head—a head with small, fiery eyes and a tongue flame-like in its color and swift darting. Next, "Hiss-s-s-s-s!" And with one hideous contortion, the huge black body wrung itself free and coiled. ”

“ Things began to move fast. Norris came down to dinner, and we all sat together in the dining-room with the new count. It was the last despairing effort of mama to grasp the persimmon. She had boosted her daughter within easy reach of said persimmon, but Gwendolyn refused to pull it down. Her attitude was polite but firm.
“It doesn't look good to me,” she seemed to be saying.
The count told thrilling tales of royal friends and palaces, and they all rang like good metal, for this count was a real aristocrat. Still, “No, thanks” was in the voice and manner of Gwendolyn. ”

“ It was Gwendolyn's father, murmuring to himself.
"The bee!"
Now the Bird came bouncing to Gwendolyn's side. "You've read that bees are busy little things, haven't you?" he asked. "Well, this particular so-cial hon-ey-gath-er-ing in-sect—"
"That's the very one!" she declared excitedly.
"—Is no exception."
"We must get it away from her," declared Gwendolyn. "Oh, how tired her poor feet must be!" (As she said it, she was conscious of the burning ache of her own feet; and yet the tears that swam in her eyes were tears of sympathy, not of pain.) "Puffy! Won't you eat it?" ”