Part 39 (1/2)
Richard Carstares had plenty to occupy hiements had to be made, a house acquired for Lavinia, Wyncha its rightful owner Once she had made up her mind to face the inevitable, Lavinia quite enjoyed all the preparations The new house in Great Jerhtway set to work to buy very expensive furniture for it, and to superintend all the alterations In her present penitent mood she would even have accompanied her husband to Wyncham on Monday, to stand by him on the fateful Friday; but this he would not allow, insisting that she remain in town until his return So she fluttered contentedly from Grosvenor Square to Jermyn Street, very busy and quite happy
Carstares was to travel to Wyncha in co as far as Andover His lordshi+p had lately embroiled himself in a quarrel over a lady when deep in his cups, and owing to the subsequent duel at Barn El nature of his debts, he deeo into seclusion for a spell Tracy disappeared from town in the middle of the week, whither no one knew, but it was universally believed that he had gone to Scotland on a visit
Monday at length dawned fair and proently drying her wet eyelashes with his own handkerchief, Richard set out with his brother-in-law in the big travelling chaise soon after noon Andrew had quite recovered his hitherto rather dampened spirits, and produced a dice-box from one pocket and a pack of cards frouile the tedium of the journey
CHAPTER XXV
HIS GRACE OF ANDOVER CAPTURES THE QUEEN
DIANA stood in the old oak porch, riding-whip in hand, and the folds of her voluown over her ar her with secret pride
Diana's eyes seeic She knew that the girl was, to use her own expression, ”iously for that Mr Carr” Not all that she could do to entertain Diana entirely chased away the haunting sadness in her face; for a tihter died away and she was silent Many times had Miss Betty shaken her fist at the absent John
Presently Diana gave a tiny sigh, and looked down at her aunt, s
”You would be surprised how excellently well Harper es the horses,” she said
”He is quite a Godsend So reed Miss Betty ”Only think, h GrandisonI saw the letter Sir Hugh writ your Papaa reant epistle, I assure you, roo his hat, stood awaiting hishis glossy neck
”We are going towards Ashley to-day, aunt,” she said ”I arow in profusion not far frooing too far- I doubt it will rain before long and you will catch your death of cold!”
Diana laughed at her
”Oh, no, aunt! Why, the sky is al, I proain”
She gave her foot to the grooh came out to watch her start
”Really, my dear, I e since we have been out together”
”Why, Papa, will you not accoerly ”I should so like it!”
It struck her aunt that Harper awaited the answer to this question rather anxiously She watched hih had refused she could not see any change in his expression, and concluded that she must have been mistaken
So with a wave of her hand, Diana rode away, the groo at a respectful distance Yet somehow Miss Betty was uneasy A presentiment of evil seemed to touch her, and when the riders had disappeared round a bend in the road she felt an insane desire to run after theave herself a little shake, saying that she was a fond old woman, over-anxious about Diana Nevertheless, she laid a detaining hand on her brother's aro indoors
”Wait, Horace! Youyou will ride with Di more frequently, will you not?”
He looked surprised
”You are uneasy, Betty?”
”Ohuneasy! Well, yesa little I do not like her to go alone with a groom, and we do not know this hest references froh Grandison, who, I am sure, would never recommend anyone untrustworthy Why, you saw the letter yourself!”
”Yes, yes Doubtless I am very stupid But you will ride with her after to-day, will you not?”
”Certainly I will accohter when I can spare the tinity, and with that she had to be content
Diana rode leisurely along the lane, beside great trees and hedges that were a blaze of riotous colour Autuold and flae interled, and touches of copper here and there where soorgeous to be real; the trees, h in patches, so that the dusty road beneath was reenness, and where there was a gap a vista of fields presented itself And then they ca the other side of the little strea the lane in a ditch Diana drew up and addressed her coo no further” She changed the reins to her right hand anddown
”The place I spoke of is but a short way on,his seat
She paused
”But ill these not suffice?”
”Well, miss, if you like But those others were a deal finer It seeet so the road
”'Tis not far?”
”No, miss; but another quarter of a mile, and then down the track by the wood”
Still she hesitated
”I do not want to be late,” she deht as hoe ht come back by way of Chorly Fields”
”Round by the et past it there is a clear stretch of turf alallop? Very well! But let us hurry on”
She touched the cob with her heel, and they trotted on briskly out of the leafy canopy along the road with blue sky above and pasture land around After a little while the wood ca down the track at right angles to the road Harper was at Diana's heels, drawing nearer Half unconsciously she quickened her pace There was not a soul in sight