Phantom Fortune

himself face to face with some midnight robber, whose presence had caused that wild cry of alarm. But in the corridor all was silent as the grave. No open door suggested the entrance of

ion from which the sound came. It came from Lady Maulevrier's room. The door was ajar, and he could see the faint lig

s hesitation. He pushed open the door without compunction,

cted, the lips drawn down and distorted, the delicate hand, half hidden by the deep Valenciennes ruffle, clutched the coverlet with convulsive force. Sigh after sigh burst from the agitated breast. John Hammond gazed upon the sleeper in an agony of apprehension, uncertain what to do. Was this

as familiar with her ladyship's habits, her own maid if that person could be unearthed easily. He knew that the servants slept

or and looked round him in

and it yielded to his hand, revealing a lamp-lit passage, narrow, old-fashioned, and low. He thought it likely that Lady Maulevrier's maid might occupy a room in this half-d

hat scream?'

I suppose. Nightmare. She

ow, when I went into her room to see what was wrong. I was almos

t the first time I have been awakened by a shriek like that. It is a kind of nightm

way, and looked in. 'Yes, she is sleeping as quietly as

t to have her maid near her at night

It is nothing but a dream,'

you would not have got up and dressed,' sa

njoy more of her ladyship's confidence than any one else in the

a light sleeper, and that scream woke me instantly. If her ladyship's ma

be a very f

ship's habits better than any one in the house. I know that she had a great deal of trouble in her early li

ed shriek from her just now, her recolle

ton in every house,' answe

ier had said under the yew tr

, sir,' sai

ulevrier may be left safely - that the

only a bad dream.

nd heard him draw the bolts of the swing door, th

nge, that nocturnal disturbance of a mind which seemed so tranquil in the day. Or was that tranquillity only a mask which her ladyship wore

icked woman's influence upon the governor - a much more likely story than that of any traffic in British interests or British honour, which would have been almost impossible for a man in Lord Maulevrier's position. If the scandal was of a darker kind - a guilty wife - the mysterious disappearance of a husband - the horror of the thing may have made a deeper impression on Lady Maulevrier than even her nearest and dearest dream

Albeit the house was an ideal house, set in a landscape of infinite beauty, the monotony must be none the less oppressive for a mind burden

intellect should not have better known how

dyship's health next morning, and

s Globe. Lord Denyer, the son of one of her oldest friends, has been making a great speech at Liverpoo

ier, looking up from his breakfast. 'I'm sure

onservative, Mr. Ha

have known that ever so

his tone, which wa

stupid about politics. I take so little interest in them. I am always hearing that we are being badly governed -

young birds have been drowned, or that the grouse-disease has decimated the fathers and mothers,

said Hammond. 'Cain and Abel were the first

s would shoot all the birds if he dawdled any longer. Mary was in deep despondency at the idea of his departure, yet she laughed and talked with the rest. And perhaps Lesbi

y pocket, Molly,' said Maul

re going away,' sighed Mary. 'Oh, dear, ho

e some fox-hunting, perhaps, b

ng face crimsoned, and Maulevrier began to laugh in a pr

lly's fox-hunting, by-th

hand before his lips

l mad for the sport, and off we go, over the hills and far away, picking up a fresh field as we go. The ploughman leaves his plough, and the shepherd leaves his flock, and the farmer leaves his thrashing, to follow us; in every field we cross we get fresh blood, while those who join us at the start fall off by degrees. Well, it happened one day late in October, when there were lo

said Hammond

n hill - shouting when the others shouted - never losing sight of the waving sterns - winding and doubling, and still going upward and upward, till she stood, panting and puffing like a young grampus, on the top of Seat Sandal, still all among the butcher boys and the farmer's men, and the guides and the red-cheeked squireens, her frock to

ndly glance, which betokened sympathy rather than scorn. She sat silent and very red, with

fate would have it, her ladyship, who so seldom goes out, must needs have been taking afternoon tea at the Vicarage upon that particular

ed Mary, looking very angry. 'Grandmothe

hen she has abandoned all endeavour in that direction, and has given you over to your own de

only know that I am very happy when you are a

monstrated Fr?ulein Müller, who, up to this point, ha

' said Mary. 'I only mean that my life is empty when Maulevrier

and the villagers, and your pony, and Maulevr

, making it very obvious that there was no warmth of affect

more. Never till his coming had she felt her deficiencies; but in his presence she writhed under the sense of her unworthiness, and had an almost agonising consciousness of all those faults which her grandmother had told her about so often with not the slightest effect. In those days she had not cared what Lady Maulevrier or

humiliation to her how. Lesbia was looking her loveliest this morning, in a gown that was all lace and soft Madras muslin, flowing, cloud-like; while Mary's tailor gown, with its trim tight bodice, horn buttons, and kilted skirt, seemed to cry aloud that it had been made for a Tomboy. And this tailor gown was a costume to which Mary ha

ou can have some pretty morning gowns if you like;' and the order

e morning, in the new frock, feeling very

s,' said Fr?ulein Müller. 'I

ced about on the lawn, feeling sylph-like, and quite in love with her own elegance, when a sudden uplifti

y forgetful of her frock. She soon succeeded in restoring order, but the Madras muslin, the Breton lace had perished in the conflict. She left the kennel panting, and in rags and tatters, some of the muslin and

by shame and confusion, and marched s

s all my own fault, of course. I ought not to have gone near them in that stupid m

evrier, with crushing placidity. 'We have tried the experiment of dressing you like Lesbia, and you see it

e by the local tailor. Sometimes Maulevrier ordered her a gown or a coat from his own man in Conduit Street, and then she felt herself smart and fashionable. And even the local tailor contrived to make her gowns prettily, having a great appreciation of her straig

s to give on this last day, and his lieutenant had to receive and register his orders. Lesbia went to the g

liest trees grew there in perfection, sheltered by the mighty wall of the mountain, fed by the mists from the lake. Larch and mountain ash, and Lawsonian cyprus - deodara and magnolia, arbutus, and silver broom, acacia and lilac, flourished here in that rich beauty which m

wed the two ladie

d, looking at Lesbia. 'Will you think m

swered Lesbia, without a vestige of emot

to make myself useful

ke. What do you

ads, those songs which you sing so exquisitely, or rather some you do not sing, and which will be fresher to you. My German is

lly,' said Fr?ulein. 'I wo

was quite a gentleman, and spoke admirably, I think I learned more f

ammond is,' said Fr?ulein, when he

miss him,' said Lesbia, again

een passed in safety, and that her pupil was unscathed. She had kept a close watch on the two, as i

ook in his hand and established himself comf

in; sometimes the verses were bitter and cynical; sometimes full of tenderest simplicity, telling of childhood, and youth and purity; sometimes dark with hidden meanings, grim, awful, cold w

, in the pauses of the lecture. She was quite carried away by her delight in the poet, and was so entirely uplifted to the ideal world that, when a footman came with a message from Lady Maulevrier requesting her presence, she tripped gaily o

ked hack two minutes afterwards she woul

side his book and drew nearer Lesbia, who sat looking downward, with her eyes upo

minute alone together again while I am here. Will you come for a little w

spoken to her of love. Nor until now had Mr. Hammond ever addressed her by her Christian name without the cerem

rmed the outer boundary of Lady Maulevrier's domain. Beyond the fir trees rose the grassy slope of the hill, on the brow of which sheep were feeding. Deep down in the hollow below the lawn

the pine wood, not a cloud in the dazzling blue sky above; and for a little time they too

u in every hour of this happy, happy time that you and I have spent together. I love you as I never hoped to love, fervently, completely, believing that the perfection of earthly bliss will be

ghtened look. She was very pale, and there was infinite distress in the

ause. 'I am not my own mistress. My grandmother has brought me up, devoted herself

ter. Her ladyship means you to make a great alliances - coronets, not hearts, are the counters for her game; but, Lesbia, would you, in the bloom and freshness of youth - you with the pulses of youth throbbing at your heart - lend yourself to the calculations of age which has lived its life and forgotten the very meaning of love? Would you s

said Lesbia. 'Surely you forget how s

you is a dead, dull blank as compared with

know who and

own right arm to hew my pathway through the wood of life to the temple of fortune; but trust me, only trust me,

ame formed for strength and activity, a face instinct with mental power, dark eyes that glowed with the fire of intellect and passion. The sunlight gave an almo

be destined for success, born to be a conque

sked her. 'No, dearest; Heaven meant me to succeed; and with you to fight for

y grandmother. If s

darling, that if you will be my wife - with your brother's consent - which I am sure of before I ask for it, within one year

e a child? I know hardly anything of the world, but I do know the woman who has reared and educ

sts. Besides, we should not always be poor.

ave to begin fro

rom the beginning, as Adam and

t. It seems to have been all trouble and weariness, and toil and de

you do not love me. Love never calculates so nicely; love never fears the future; and yet you do love me, Lesbia,' he said, trying to fold her in his arms; but a

ight to say th

answering love in another? Lesbia, call me an insolent coxcomb if you like, but I know you love me, and that you and I may be utterly happy together. Oh, wh

cried Lesbia. 'Lady Maulevrier would ca

gainst my love? And I tell you that her anger would

you don't

uld be well with us before we had been marrie

ossibilities, even from your

man born to conquer; he was handsome, intellectual, powerful in all mental and physical gifts. A man of men. But he was, by his own admission, a very obscure and insignificant person, and he had no money. Life with him meant a long fight with adverse circumstances; life for his wife must mean patience, submission, long waiting upon destiny, and perhaps

sake - trustful for my sake? God will be

h; ingratitude in me would be doubly base. I will speak to her. I will tel

her, "I love him, and be he rich or poor, I will share his fate;" tell her boldly, bravely, nobly, as a true woman should; and if she be adamant still, proclaim your right to disobey her worldly wisdom rather than the voice of your own h

in the impossible,' answered

st then there was a rustling among the pine bran

stening?' she exclai

tful. Do not be a dumb idol. Say that you love me, or do not love me. If you can look me in th

and yet she could not sacrifice all things for her love. She lifted the h

breathe, time to

ly, without a shadow of reserve, remembering t

wil

hills, and return in time for afternoon tea. I shal

on his breast, and the soft eyes looked up at him in confiding fondness. He bent and kissed her once only, but a kiss