Wentworth's arm "Let me go," she whispered. "One day Lady Wentworth will know me better, but, till that day comes, I cannot force myself upon her." Lord Wentworth clasped her in his arms. "Ah, Florence, Florence! I can let you go, if you promise one day to return ——” "As my promised bride!" cried Lord Glenorme, seizing her hand as he spoke. "Never!" murmured Florence, in a low voice. "Let us be friends, nothing more." Lord Wentworth no longer opposed our heroine's departure, but he insisted upon her remaining until the following day. He promised to escort her to the neighbouring railway station, and to send her, under charge of a confidential servant, to Dr. Leicester's house, whither she intended to repair until she could communicate with her father. Florence assented, rather ungraciously if the truth must be confessed. " Will you excuse me at dinner, dear Lord Wentworth?" she asked in a tone, half-caressing, half-defiant. He smiled. "My dear child, you must not deprive us of your society the last evening. I am much mistaken," he added, with a sly glance, "if Lady Wentworth favours us with her presence this evening. Her ladyship will dine in her own apartments." Lord Wentworth was accustomed to occasional storms in the matrimonial horizon; he generally allowed them to exhaust their violence unchecked, perhaps, unheeded. As soon as Miss Dudley had left the room, Lord Glenorme briefly related what had passed in the picturegallery. He suppressed one important point: the reason which Florence had assigned for her rejection of his suit. Lord Wentworth, not unnaturally, concluded that the opposition of his wife was the real, sole cause, which had prompted Miss Dudley's refusal. He folded his arms, and paced rapidly up and down the stately library, more annoyed at what had taken place than he cared to avow. Suddenly he stopped,-" Glenorme, take my advice. Do not press your suit with Florence until I have seen her father, and placed the affair on a right footing. You have my entire approval, my warmest wishes for your success." Lord Glenorme seized his father's hand and wrung it with an energy which the Earl could have excused. "Gently, gently, my good fellow! Now, mark my words. Florence Dudley is not free from the pride of her race; she will never forgive the affront your mother has put upon her, unless your father can wipe it out. Leave your cause in my hands; the next move must be made by me." Lord Glenorme expressed his gratitude with energetic volubility; then seizing his hat, regardless of wind and rain, he rushed out and plunged into the wildest recesses of the park. Lady Wentworth declared that she should remain in her own apartments until Miss Dudley left the castle; she prohibited her daughters and their governess from holding any unnecessary intercourse with that young lady. This arbitrary mandate was received with a burst of indignant dismay. Geraldine only expressed neither surprise nor sorrow. Cecilia burst into tears, and, regardless of her mother's prohibition, exclaimed passionately, "I cannot give Florence Dudley up! I love her as if she were my sister!" "Mamma would not desire you to give her up without a reason, I presume," said Geraldine, coldly; "we must submit to her decision." Cecilia's eyes flashed. "What reason can she assign? I left Florence alone in the picture-gallery: two hours after دو "Much mischief may be done in two hours," said Mrs. Herbert, who had been listening to the foregoing dialogue. "Lord Glenorme proposed to Miss Dudley after you left her. She had the effrontery to encourage his addresses, although she was well aware that neither Lord nor Lady Wentworth would sanction such a mésalliance. I have this on the very best authority." "Your own fertile imagination, madam," said a voice, which made her start, "Lord Glenorme's addresses have my full and entire approbation. I regret deeply that they have been rejected by Miss Dudley." Lord Wentworth bowed profoundly, and held the door open. Mrs. Gerald Herbert passed out, regretted by none, despised by all. She left the castle never to return. Cecilia muttered in gleeful malice as the door closed upon the discomfited manœuvrer, Amid her hurried preparations for departure, Florence found time to express her gratitude to all who had shown her kindness. She was a universal favourite with all save the lady of the castle, and her sudden exit excited considerable surprise. The cause was hinted at in the housekeeper's room and in the servants' hall. Mademoiselle Hortense pronounced miladi to be in a very bad temper. "Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, qu'elle est vive! C'est une assez bonne femme, mais elle a de la tête "Milord a chassé Madame Herbert," interposed Félicie. "Ca ira!" muttered Hortense, who had good reasons for disliking that lady. Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, delivered her dictum, 66 66 My own opinion is, that my Lord Glenorme has jilted my Lady Elizabeth Beauclerk for Miss Florence." Altogether a mistake, ma'am," said my lord's gentleman, drawing himself up, with an air of injured dignity. "We are incapable of trifling with the affections of any young woman." Here the arch-hypocrite threw a tender glance in the direction of Félicie. "Miss Florence is a monstrous fine girl, butwinked in a peculiarly knowing style. "he "Poor as Job," suggested Mrs. Green, complacently arranging the folds of her goodly silk dress as she spoke. He shook his head dolefully. "La! now!" "You don't say so!" "O Gimini!” Mais, enfin, qu'est ce que c'est?" cried the female chorus. "Mr. Dudley's over head and ears in debt, lying pardoo, Mam'selle Félicie" (the young lady tossed her head contemptuously), "in an old castle belonging to my lord ›› "C'est dommage. Elle est charmante! what you call a sharmer!” My lord's gentleman bowed with lofty courtesy. Mrs. Green sighed. "Things is strangely ordered," she said, sententiously. "My Lady Geraldine pines, pretty creature, as the day draws near. Mark my words, she is not long for this world." "Good gracious! she is the very image of the picture," cried a nymph who had not yet spoken. "My "I beg you will in no wise mention the picture, Miss Lucy," said Mrs. Green, drawing herself up. lady has strictly forbidden the subject. Picture, indeed! next we shall have the ghost!" Why not, ma'am?” The daring offender was silenced by a wrathful glance from Mrs. Green's eyes; she held her tongue, and joined no more in the gossip of her compeers. CHAPTER XXII. Is all the counsel that we two have shared, Midsummer Night's Dream. THE last evening of Miss Dudley's visit at Wentworth Castle threatened to pass off drearily enough. No exertion on the part of Lord Wentworth could raise the spirits of the little party. Lord Glenorme appeared to find a difficulty in opening his lips; Florence, nervous and tearful, started and changed colour every time the door opened. Lady Geraldine did not appear; she dined tête-à-tête with her mother. Lady Cecilia's eyes were red with weeping. As a last resource, Lord Wentworth sent his compliments to Mademoiselle Despréaux, and requested her to accompany her pupils to the drawing-room. Mademoiselle dared not refuse, but she foresaw compliance with his lordship's request would expose her to the wrath of Lady Wentworth. There was no help for it, however; therefore she accepted the invitation as cheerfully as she could. As for the little girls, they were wild with delight, and entered the room with such sunny smiles, that their presence well-nigh dissipated the gloom which had settled upon the circle. Evelyn stole up to Florence, and gently taking her hand, whispered, "You will soon return, Miss Dudley, and marry Glenorme? I will be your bridesmaid." |