Capricious Caroline

d managed to get together a few interest

was not open, but enough was seen

ired ev

f envy," she

t man of yours, Harper, is a perfect treasure. He is a sort of Monte Cristo-nothing seems difficult or impossible to him. I believe if I were to call him

nguid and pensive. Rupert Haverford asked he

ernoon," she explained. "I wondered if you would come there by any chance. You must p

e of honour. Mrs. Brenton a

e was brought in; "please smoke, all of you. A

nded to him, Haverford's man

ak to you, s

; the request was unusual; t

ll come to you

as general, and there was a movement from the dining-room,

s waiting

, Harper?" he asked

er, but she wouldn't be sent away. Says she must see you. She came quite a hour ago. I put her in your study. She's come from Mrs. Baynhurst, I

rooms lit up for Mrs. Brenton to see, and then went along the bro

s standing by the fire. She

ore, and recognized her

oughts flew at o

asked. "Have you news fr

iger looked a

with a thin, colourless face, a

looked, indeed, as if she had scarcel

," she said, "but I'm in great trouble, and as I've no one to wh

of way. The voice was rathe

if I can," he said coldly; and t

ay. "A letter came from Paris this morning by a midday post, but as I have been out all day I

ford look

interfere in anything wh

o this matter with you," he said. "I have nothin

ed him sharply,

and as you are her son, I con

he wheel

er days, when every one who approached him had a soft word

pense with your services she has, no doubt, the very best reason for doing so. You must apply to her.

you want to go back to your guests; to your dinner!" She

m to the door, but before she could get t

a glimpse of her face; it wore an expr

ng her eyes to keep back her agitation. Young a

said Rupert quickly, "but tell me exactly

. When she did, that sharp, almost

ain...." She bit her lip again, "if I am not good enough for her as a secretary she is quite right to get some one else; but she ought to have prepared me, not dismiss me in this way. I did not go to her of my own accord. She took

s orders?" asked Hav

gton is to be shut up immediately. In fact"-the girl gave a shrug of her thin shoulders-"this is already done. I find that some one has been good enough to pack my few

and there was something of contemp

"for our life together has been so miserably uncomfortable that I dare say she is glad to have such a good opportunity of getting rid of me. You see," she smiled faintly, "I cannot possibly annoy her when she is so far away. She knows, of course, that I should have not merely required, but demanded, an explanation if she had dismissed me herself, but she hopes, no doubt, that I shall accept

ford had time to speak

uestions if this had not happened, but to-night I feel so ... so lost, so bewildered to know what to do: to understand...." She cleared her throat and looked pleadingly at Rupert Haverford. "As you belong to M

lace, and was standing there loo

of the greatest discomf

e her secretary, but she has had a number of secretaries, and in this, as in other things, she acts for herself absolutely. She has never spoken to me about you." Here he paused. "If

For an instant her eyes closed, and in that spell of sil

r, the hopeless, pathetic endurance of those who have to keep a brave front to the world whilst they are literally

er eyes almo

he said in that sharp, proud way; then more prou

rs, this appears to me to be a matter which requires investigation. As you have just said yourself, she acts with no conventional basis, doubtless she does no

he gaze of her dark eyes had gone beyond h

or me to do, I determined to have a little holiday. I borrowed a few shillings from the parlourmaid, and I went down into the country. There was no fog there. It was cold, but it was fresh and beautiful. I walked ever so far. It was silly, but I lost my way. I did not expect to be very warmly welcomed, for I believe I was kept out of charity for a great number of ye

really must leave you for a little while, but I will come back again. Won't

she had masses of dark hair. But he scarcely realized what her appearance was, her story had surprised and troub

e scattered ab

paused to give Harper orders to take

everything that sh

t the girl who had come so unexpectedly w

ford made his wa

waiting for him a

and even then I am sure I shall always find something fresh to adm

o home. All my tastes are for small and simple things. This is so

hange all that," Agnes Bren

ew Woolgar, the work of one of the greatest

an effort, for all the time his thoughts were busy with the girl whom he had left in the study below. Naturally it was not a great astonishment to him to hear that his mother should be careless and indifferent to the welfare of others. The woman who could turn her back as she had d

r?" Mrs. Brenton asked, after a li

hotographs, but those are in my bedroom, and there is a sketch of h

t room?" Mrs.

ibly, and then he s

u another time. I hav

gestion that here was a woman who could possibl

s young creature could be turned outside to find some lodging for herself at this late hour of the night. He knew Mr

that his mother's secretar

y, from what she tells me, my mother intends staying in Paris for some time. I have no news from her of any sort, so I know nothing of her plans; but the girl has come to me for adv

coming up for a day or two, and there is a bed in his dressing-room. We never go to an hotel," she explained, "we have always gone to these rooms. Practically we keep them on during th

ou to such an extent. I am almost sorry I mentioned this. No doubt if we leave the matter to Harper he

nton immediately. She felt a woman's sympathy for the prob

ind my way to your study, I will g

y to admire the almost priceless tapestry which line

ne Graniger was sitting in the chair, looking thoroughly tired out. She tur

you a little while? Mr. Haverford is 'on duty,' you know. I must introduce myself

w, she hardly knew how to respond to it. She took Mrs. Brenton's han

she cannot be more than seventeen or eighteen. Fancy sending a child

made the situatio

rself just now," Mrs. Brenton chattered on, "and as you don't seem to know where to go, I have suggested that you should come home with me, at

sence of this womanly sympathy she lost her self-reliance a little; she almost felt

ptly the next moment; "it is a pity to give

es Brenton. "I should have some soup and a little

was put for her, and as the soup was

pon her with great importance. Mrs. Brenton talked on

soul! She makes my heart ache, and she is only a type after all, one of thousands who have to go out and fight the world when they have only just left their cradle, as it w

go to my rooms. I will give you a little note to take with you." She sat down at Haverford's writing-table and scribbled a

a fire," she w

," she said, "then you will find everything all right.

so cosy, and that must be his father." She advanced and looked up at a po

raniger said, "only," she added, "his is a much

did man," said Mrs. Brenton warmly, "there is

n that his mother has no right to be a woman

ton shook

f course I know of her. As Octavia Have

n," said Caroline Graniger,

to bed. You look so tired. Ask my maid to give you anything you want. I won't disturb you when I com

ge outside, and to his care Mrs

you?" she asked, and Caroline Grani

tried to say some words of gratitude

I am only too glad that I

of the big rooms when Mrs.

nished admiring yet? It is all very beautiful and wonderful, and everything has cost a mint of money, of course ... b

the piano, and began to play softly. Ca

d from Agnes Brenton's arm. "This will make a heavenly ballroom," she said. She paused, looking about her, tappi

a waltz.... I am dying to dan

yes that could be so dreamy, so full of sadness at times, but which

"I cannot dance

m lightly on the

ance; you! ... What can you do?" With one of her bird-like movements she turne

ord stood looking after her with his

ul anger, and of course he was mortified. Ca

so calmly; he was neither young nor handsome, but he made no sort

ed Rupert Haverford; now, as he saw Camilla held ever so lightly

rn, so angry that C

ooking at us now as if he would like to annihilate us both, and all be

all the same," answered the

aid impatiently. "Isn't this a splendid floor?" she said the next

across to where R

ealize that she is their mother, or that she has gone through more dark experiences as Ned Lancing's wife than happily one woman in a hundred is called upon to endure." Mrs. Brenton was silent a mom

rse warmly thanked her, but now he scarcely he

; then she was swept away from him swiftly-far, far away. Her small white feet appeared scarcely

him at one moment,

r lips would take the pensive expression t

lla came slowly towards the

, restlessly, "Is it time to go, Agnes? I am sure it is. You

pt all the men hovering about her, and adroitly

r, dull person?" she queried listlessly as Mrs. Brenton and she

ning, or rather to see somebody else."

hey don't seem to meet very often. I am sure I am not surpris

oke with some irritation. "I

I do like him sometimes, but then again I dislike him more often. Y

silent a moment

a, I wa

ou suppose I can hear everybody saying this? Well, of course, it would be a splendid thing. I am not denying that; but oh! Agnes, he depresses me so horribly. When he talks to me I

uppose!" said Ag

s up in the clouds contemplating the road to Heaven. My dear Agnes, there is no getti

t is your opinion of the man, I sh

ughts with you? Oh, here we are at your lodgings already! Look here, Agnes, you must let me help you with

on kissed

believe you are what you are not?"

n fault; you are so anxious to make me a saint, and all the

r mistress, and there were some letter

ened the n

d promised to ride with him the foll

course, lending M

eep a wink, Dennis. You had better give me some br

seems just the same, and yet now and then he looks at me in rather an odd w

to the fire for a long time, t

the money now." She got up, and stood looking into the fire once again "

, she swallowed it, and then got into bed; where she lay staring at the shadows on the walls and ceiling made