Capricious Caroline

Caroline Graniger from his mother, Rupert Haverford, of course, never expected t

im whilst he was in the north, and Caroline's little epistle

nto between Mrs. Lancing and Caroline Graniger. The girl's own argument to herself in favour of what she had done was a very

second was that, as he had put himself out in a certain measure to make arrangements for Miss Gr

n independent attitude, and had taken herself and

and Rupert Haverford was very much behind the times in his views concerning the

. As usual, he found much to occupy him when h

Camilla Lancing lived. Not that he expected to be able to put her out of his thoughts altogether, for even in the dull, prosaic, unlovely surroundings of the factory, remembrance of this woman

had crept in

ul distinctness Camilla floating round that

to her than the floor on which she danced, but that d

as he had winced and grown hot the other night, when, like some graceful white leaf borne on

he had refused to dance because he co

umsy; suddenly she had s

could look foolish in the eyes of this woman Rupert Haverford discovered that he was v

hand or his power, and he laughed once to himself a little bitterly, as he recalled how he had gone round and round this subject of late, th

milla had shown him that he mad

t he had grown critical and rese

right, never have sought to analyze what went to form her brilliant personality. He would have given her unquestioning devotion, seeing i

ade him doubtful, and he was so imbued with that weighty sense of responsibility that he never took a step in any direc

life in these days, who charmed him momentarily and pressed upon h

that his marriage was a matter of importance and hope t

ticular woman who held him; even now, when she had left him smarting and uncom

t people were kind about Camilla. There had been nothing

r so surely. He longed to give her protection, to build up barriers betw

was only one way in

future of such a marriage; hope became deliberate intention. And still th

, white-robed figure, only to feel that the soft, filmy draperies slipped

almost yielded to the temptation to put hims

dropped out of his heart, som

to hold her in his arms as that other man had held her. He

ack to-morrow

lunged into a mass of business, confronted with difficult

d a quantity of new plant, the old factories were in process of being replaced by new buildings that, when fini

chance, Rupert Haverford had left nothing undone that could milita

contrary, he was most unpopular. It was a fact known to every one but himself that these people, who occupied the first thought in

, and of late certain cases of incendiarism had occurred, culminating in a dastardly attempt to burn down the fine building

at this destruction of his property, this spirit of unrest

of bad feeling against himself he refused to believe it. The inj

y wanted comradeship. He had wanted to sh

to these people, and his father befor

agers. "My father gave his life working among these

n shrugged h

he said. "These sort of folk

ford said

is almost passionate intentions for helping the people among whom he

disappointment, to the humiliation of feeling that these people made a mockery of him and his generous intentions. Once he

Well, there should be no more quixotic weakness, no more sentiment. He had bared his heart to these people, stretched out

nstrumental in trying to burn down his property

e said to his head-manager the d

need of a little spell of relief, of fresh in

for Christmas,"

g places, where the chauffeur found the hours pass pretty

n enough speed to satisfy a certain rest

is mother. Mrs. Baynhurst had not written herse

nd added that if Rupert had any business he wished to discuss it woul

ush across the other day. If she will do these sort of stupid things, she is bound to suffer for it. She is a good bit

ibbled a few words to his mother, saying that he would

shirking me if she does not want me,"

appointments that would occupy him nearly the whole of the next day.

oor when it was opened, and the two children p

ty and Baby ran to him and flung themselves upon

ground, smiling faintly, yet co

he children that he could not for th

d his hat and gave her a smile; then he stretch

ncing?" she asked. "She is

see her. Poor mummy! she is so white, and her eyes l

tter not go in,"

im towards the door. Betty gav

stn't jump about, or scream on the stairs. Bab

rm barrier Baby felt that she might hurl recrimination on

ought to go in," Haver

unlocked the door

. She spoke stiffly; she did not feel quite at her eas

ke care of us; he's a very us-a-ful man. We'l

the stairs Caroli

greeable, and he did not look

back in a chair; a book lay open upon her knees. It

d was very languid, and

ed all the morning, and if Dennis could have had her way s

a start as the door open

nervous sort of way. "Who is it? Why have you left them?

told him you were not well. I

from her knees and fell to the floor. She had turned su

es, I will see him! He may cheer me up. I feel half dead this afternoon. I am sure I must look an

iger, with a little laugh; "you are looking very pale

tried

ll, don't forget what I told you, keep both the child

ack with all safety, and then she turned

om him this morning," said Camilla, she laughed faintly; "it was very kind of him; he saw that I was upset last night when I lost so much money at bridge, and he wrote to ask if he could be of any assistance. Thi

taking care of the

r that Mrs. Lancing had confided the contents of her letter to Sir Samuel Broxbourne

with Caroline as yet. Indeed, up to the present the girl was absolutely ignorant (although she and Camilla had been

the doorstep; they parted with

yed till we come i

looking object that once had been a chocolate drop, and before Caroline could intervene she had pressed this upo

nly person with whom Babsy shared the things she was eating. She is so fond of eating, dear little soul. Just like me. Pull up that chair and be sociab

ual pretty, light-hearted m

y the fire and looked down at her. Strangely en

hat a fine hand he had. Though it was brown, and had been trained to such hard work, there was a charm about it. A ha

something pleasant about the l

denly; and there was a litt

ng her he put a

en doing with you

ed to misun

ings that I know you want to denounce from the housetop. I came home very late last night," she said, after a little pause. "I played cards, and I lost a lot!...

to see a doctor," s

impatiently

emist has sent in a neat little white packet, and an equally neat little bill, then everything must be all right! Shakespeare was a man, but

a strange discovery. She found she coul

vidence that had sen

a friend of yours. You know my only reason for existence just now is that I may be of some service to other peopl

I have something to say to you-what is it?" She wrinkled her b

to him that her face had grown more delicat

e really in trouble, that care should

I have a bone to pick with you. I hear that you are not pleased because Mis

answered; "but, in reality, I did feel a little annoyed. I was not sure that it would be

turned to Caroline just as little ducklings turn to water; and as for myself, except for Agnes Brenton, I think this girl is the nearest approach to what I call a real woman I have eve

ion of Caroline Graniger

felt that heart-beat sound aga

anding as you stand there. I assure you I am not well enough to be awed to-d

, and answered, she really

come and see me," she sai

lunch," he said; "I c

it ver

ded hi

w." Then he smiled. "Now I will sit down,

ere picking at the lace on h

e. Now that was very sweet of you, Mr. Haverford. Some instinct must have

rown face col

" he said, "I felt in need o

ething happened? O

the first ti

the story of what had happened, or, rather, the story of what he had discovered up north, and Camilla lis

s. "I was so fond of those people. I counted so surely on their faith in me, in their real affection. Money is a very destructive thing, Mrs. Lancing! I will stake my

not speak

believe I can give you sympathy, Mr. Haverford. I am sure

n one broad palm and closing his other tenderly over it. He felt the nervous thril

to wait upon me, please, Mr. Haverford. I d

, and they were alone, without any further interruption,

u my trouble, won't

a sudden irresponsible movement she put her ha

ly, but almost immediately Cam

want to cry ... tears are useless at all times, but they are worse than useless now. I believe," she said, as she dried her eyes hurriedly, "that it w

d away from him, st

and put her hands against her trembling lips. "He thinks to force my hand, you see," she said, hoarsely; "he knows I have nothing, that there is no one to give me anything but himself, he knows that if I am content to starve myself I cannot let the children starve, and that is why he says the children are to belong to him. Oh!" she turned again, flinging out her hands with a little gesture of despair, "I am not going to

abbed her eyes with her wet handkerchief, and Rupert Hav

, and so irritating to Camilla, became

ith me, and now I have bored you," she said. "Oth

he found

cerns you is dear to me, so dear that I tremble at the thought that I am still outside your life." He left the fire and went nearer to her. "I came here to-day," he said, "because I found that I could not go through another twenty-four hours without seei

round, her face was blurred with tear

he said, "I know what you are going t

and his brows met

be your wife," she said, she spoke with her teeth half closed; "but I don't want any false pretences, I don't want you to imagine things about me that do not exist. I am full of faults, I am

" said Ruper

t he almost touched her. She

tears were running down her cheeks, "I know one thing about you. I know that you are true, and that if you give your word it will be your bond." Her

t, a wonderful relief. It was as though some gnawing pain that had fretted int

y, and her heart leapt in her throat, she tried to free herself, but those strong arms held her tightly

o herself, "He will

this love; she had barter

ge burned her, yet it ha

, he would have come a little later, but he came no

as! When he kissed her brow and hair a

so generous! He had given her back her children. For that she could have knelt at his fee