oung wife he had chosen to be the solace of his declining years. A man of fifty who marries a girl of nineteen is always subject to the ridicule of scandalous lips, the

a gruff old soldier, Captain Copplestone, a man who had never won advancement in the serv

He was very poor; but had never accepted the smallest favour from the hands of his wealthy friend. Sir Oswald was devoutly attached to him, and w

riage. He arrived when the reception-room was crowded with other visitors, and be stood by, looking

rted to their rooms, and t

to grasp those of the captain in a warmer salutation than that of h

would choke me. It has been hard enough for me to keep patience while all those idiots have been babbling their unmeaning compliments; and now that they've gon

a fool, then

of fifty must needs go and marry a girl of ni

ou have seen my wife, yo

l I shall think you; for there'll be so much the mo

her before you judge her too severely, old fr

aw Lady Eversleigh approaching. She was dressed in white - that pure, transparent muslin in which her husband loved best to see her - and one

d, and Honoria held out her hand with

eel as if we were old friends rather than strangers. I have pleasure in bidding we

essure that was something like that of an iron vice. He looked at Lady Eversleigh

ald, presently, when

or your folly. She is a beautiful creature; and if there is any faith t

n's powers of penetration, and this favourable judgment of the wife he adored filled him with gratitude. It was not that the

ourse, Reginald Eversleigh and Victor Carrington lounged in a pleasant little sitting

ng, and talking

rrington," said Reginald; "but it is slow work, v

successfully. A month ago you did not believe in the possibility of a reconciliation between your uncle and yourself; and yet that reconciliation has come about. A fortnight ago you would have laughed at the idea of my be

something may come

tice done to you. That idea of injustice will rankle in your uncle's mind. I

efuse to tell me the

y soon be able to speak more plainly. Do you see t

d his wife," answered Reginald

It is quite an Arcadian picture. I

away his cigar. "If my uncle chooses to make an idiot of himself,

k in his glittering black eyes. "Look at the picture while you may,

do you

of a sudden disgrace. The hour will come when Sir Oswald will mourn his fatal marriage as the one irrevocable mistake of his life; and when, in his despair,

" asked Reginald, gazing at his

out of the fire for the benefit of the monkey had made an agreement beforehand as to how much of the plunder he was to receive for his pains, the n

se I should b

Your uncle's fortune, if you get two-thirds of it, will be worth thirty thousand a year; and for such a fortune you

y thou

y no more about it. The business is a very diff

ve that you can bring about my restoration to my old place in my

have it in black and white. You will give me two promissory notes; one for ten thous

am not likely to get it within that tim

nd if you have not succeeded to the Raynham estates. And now here are stamps. You may as

epared with

business, although

ou sometimes make me shudder, There is

if I were the foul fiend in person," said Carrington, looking at his friend with a s

dsome face, brilliant gray eyes, an aquiline nose, and a profusion of dark, waving hair. She was a woman who knew how to make the most of every charm with which nature had endowed her. She dressed

s brilliant marriage. She had "come out," as the phra

he had triumphed in the power of her beauty; but she had known more than one disappointment of her fairest ho

ing herself earnestly in her glass, she was fain to confes

he said to herself; "what is to

was indeed

the merest pittance for a young lady with Miss Graham's tastes. Her brother was a captain of an expensiv

thy relation, sometimes with another - always admi

none more bitter than that which she had felt when she read the anno

time and opportunity alone were wanting to transform that admiration into a warmer feeling. In plain words, Lydia Graham had hoped with a little good management, to become Lady Eversleigh of Raynham; and

wore her brightest smiles as well as her most elegant dresses. She congratulated the baro

ly, dear Lady Eversleigh," she said; "and we s

rivolous and unmeaning sentimentality. She responded politely to Mis

he had reason to hate this woman, who had caused the disappointment of her dearest hopes, wh

Lydia Graham's smooth manner. That penetrating observer was Victor Carrington. He saw that the fashionable

ea that she might become mistress of this place, eh, Reginald?" h

said Reginald, question

d. I have only used my eyes. But it seems, from your exclamation, th

asiness, for I thought Sir Oswald was a confirmed bachelor. She used to vary her amusements by flirting with me. I was the acknowledged heir in those days, you know, and

man. She has a very beautiful smile; but she is the sort of woman who can smile and

too

herever he finds them. I may be in wan

the knowledge of her husband's love. His noble nature had won the reward such natures should win. He was beloved by his young wife as few men are beloved in the heyday of their youth. He

always ready to devote himself to the amusement of others. Sir Oswald was astonished at the versatility of his nephew's friend. As a linguist, an artist, a musician, Victor alike

"My life has been one of laborious industry; and the cultivation of music has been almost the only relaxation I have allo

tor Carrington's brilliant playing set off the magnificent singing of Honoria. With him as her accompanyist, she sang as she could not sing without h

even more superbly than usual, Lydia Graham happened to b

her to have that accomplished Mr. Carrington to accompany her - though some people prefer to play their own accomp

t understand you, m

Lady Eversleigh to have a cousin

cou

is he not? Or, I beg your pardon, perhaps he is h

h some displeasure in his tone. "And Mr. Carrington is neither

exclaimed

eed"; and after having uttered it, the young lady

ned away in confusion. "You seem surprised," he said, haughtily, "and yet I do not see anyt

. "Of course not. It was very absurd of me to appear surprised, if I did really appear so; but I was not aware of it. You see, it was scarcely strange if I thought La

s old friends. Neither my wife nor I have known the gentleman more than a fortnight. He happens to be a very accomplished musician, and is good enough to make h

should have mistaken them for old friends; but then dear Lady Eversleigh is of Italian extraction, and there is al

t at this moment, in compliance with t

till sitting, turning over the leaves of some music, and at t

ight, Honoria," he said; "

Eversleigh was about to sing in compliance with the entrea

friends really wish for another song, I am quite ready to sing one.

ng gave him greater pleasure than to

but I do not wish you to tire yourself by singing all the even

cold decision of manner. There was something almost severe

in obeying you," she said, gently

ind was disturbed - his thoughts confused. He passed through one of the open windows, and went out upon the terrace. There all was calm and tranquil; but the tranquil loveliness of the scene had no soothing influence on Sir Oswald. His brain was on fire. An intense affection can scarcely exist without a lurking tendency

ich he had left Lydia Graham, he hear

not to perceive it. I thought they were cousins until to-night. Imagine my surprise when I found that they were not even distantly related;

ch his ears. He did not for a moment suspect that Lydia Graham had recognized his approaching figure on

? How should he fathom the black depths of wickedness

ired by fury against himself - by passionate envy of his wife. To him her words seemed only the careless sland

tongues are already busy with her fair fame. Already! We have not been married two months, and already evil tongues drop the poison of doubt into my ear. It seems too cruel! But I will watch her with this man. Her ignorance of the world

the force of any absorbing passion. Blindly, unquestionably, as he had abandoned himself to his love for Ho

feverish. The next day he set himself

to the mistress of the castle. It was not that he talked to her, or usurped more of her society than his position warrante

on had procured her a paper-knife before she could suffer inconvenience or delay. If she went to the piano, he was at the instrument before her, ready to adjust her chair, to arrange her music. In another man these attentions might have appeared very common-place, but so quiet of foot, s

anner? Was she aware of his devotion? Did she encourage this silent and steal

One person had, he knew, been scandalized by the surgeon's devotion to Lady Eversleigh; and had

manly and accomplished surgeon, whom an impulse of kindness had prompted

said Sir Oswald to Reginald, with a pitiable attempt at indifferenc

d constrained; "Victor Carrington generally entertains the most profound contempt for the fair sex. He is devoted to the science of chemistry, you know

her very m

aid when first he became acquainted with

y, has he?" asked the baronet, whose suspicio

of him, is it not? For, of course, my dear uncle, you cannot feel otherwise than proud when you see your beautif

the quick; but he tried to conceal his pain, and pa

ered Honoria's anxious questions as to the cause of his gloom with a harshness that terrified her. She saw that her husband was changed, and knew not whence the change arose. And this vagrant's nature was a proud one. Her own manner ch

e to oppose himself to the foul plot which was being concocted under his eyes. Whatever the schemer ba

proud to sue for an explanation of that mysterious change which had banished all happiness and peace from her breast. More than once she had asked the cause of her husband's gloom of manner; more than once she had been coldly, almost rudely, repulsed.

he first hour of her elevation to her new position. But the struggle was a painful one, and left its traces on her beautiful face. S

ool that I am, she never loved me! She saw in me a dupe ready to lift her from obscurity into the place she longed to occupy; and now that place

ession of the baronet's heart, and for awhi

aynham without delay - this very moment - or if I could clear the castle of all this frivolous, selfish, heartless gang - what happiness it would be! But I can do neither. I have invited these peo

ying themselves in different parts of the castle and grounds; and while Lady Eversleigh sp

that person was his old and tried friend, Captain Copplestone. But the jealous doubts which racked his brain were not to be revealed, even

et's secret from him in some unguarded moment; but within the last week the Captain had been confined to his own ap

ay, the Captain received some new evidence of her thoughtful care. It pleased her to do this - apart from her natural inclination to be kind to the suffering and friendless; for the soldier was her

female, had especially set their hearts. This much-talked-of entertainment was a pic-nic, to take place at a celebrated spot, whose picturesqu