Lady Rose's Daughter

d just closed Lady Henry's door behind him

ssage for her dressmaker, certain directions for the tradesmen, etc., etc.--as though for the mere purpose of putting the woman who had dared to be her rival in her right place before Sir Wilfrid Bury. And at the end, as she was departing, Mademoiselle Le Bret

think of it without

o himself. "Upon my word, I must find some means

th the social power of Mademoiselle Le Breton. Through the obscurity and difficulty of circumstance, how marked was the conscience of race in her, and, as he also thought, of h

does she stay

stion of Lady Henry, who

where else. I give her a foothold. She'll not risk it for a few sour speeches on my part. I may say what I like to her--and I intend to say what I like! Besides, you watch her, and see whet

employ her as you do?"

e put his foot down. He told his wife he didn't want an intriguing foreigner to live with them. No; for the present we are chained to each other. I can't get rid of her, and she doesn't want to get rid of me. Of course, thin

. "She earns her money, any way," he thought. "Those things will take her a hard afternoon's work. But, bless my soul!"--he paused in his wa

a hansom to drive him to Grosvenor Square. He alighted at the great red-brick mansion of the Crowboroughs, and asked for the Duchess

, as the man handed him over to the f

rid. Her grace told me to say 'not at home' this

lfrid

urrounding her did not immediately perceive the footman nor himse

cuit wherewith she directed the movements of her partner, a small black spitz, of a slim and silky elegance, who, straining on his hind legs, his eager attention fixed upon the biscuit, followed every movement of his small mistress; while she, her large blue eyes now solemn,

ront of her. She herself, with her cloud of fair hair, the delicate pink and white of her skin, the laughing lips and small white hands that rose and fell with the baby steps, seemed little more than a child. Her pale blue

pride were now alive with pleasure. Jacob Delafield, also, from behind, grinned applause or shouted to the babe, "Brava, Tottie; wel

Wil

child dropped on the floor, defending herself and the biscuit as best she could against the wild snatches of the

pping short and holding up a de

s high time she went to her nurse. Sit here, Sir Wilfrid. Jul

" said Mademois

shoulder towards the dog, the baby made a wild spring into Mademoiselle Julie's arms, tucking up her feet instantly, with a shriek of delight

ess had just occurred to him in some bewilderment. He sat down beside his hostess, while she made him some tea. But no sooner had the

lora has been co

in his hand. He glanced first at th

ess, eagerly. "This is Julie's headquarters;

his white silk hand

of truce," he sai

ley with you," said the Duchess

e drew

t Flora been

w nearly gray, carefully parted in the middle above his benevolent brow, he might have

frid, at last, looking up. "I'm the new-c

r chin on her hand. "Jacob an

the other, quickly reminded himself that they had

moiselle Le Breton does business. An hour and a half ago"--he looked at his watch--"I stood by while

s clapped

ll be back. Julie will go home with everything done, and I shall have ha

s?" said Sir Wilfr

per's room, eating sweet biscuit. T

s--this division of labor?"

has Aunt Flora been telling you? We were certain she would take you into council--she has dropped various hints of it. I suppose s

ly presented his cu

en allowed two questions so far. But if things are

nd rather annoyed. Jacob Delafiel

to tell you all we know," he

eady--but flame it was. Sir Wilfrid remembered him as a lazy, rather somnolent y

you give me the history o

from one to

ld exchanged glances. Then th

ided in us. There is nothin

's expressi

hess, bending forwa

and mother," said S

Jacob Delafield rose, took a turn acros

s grown very difficult, and we did not know--Evelyn and I--wh

t's all right. The fact of Madem

, cutting her out, imposing upon her, and nonsense of that kind! How would she have kept up that salon alone, I should like to know--a blind old woman who can't write a note for herself or recognize a face? First of all she throws everything upon Julie, is proud of her cleverness, puts her forward in every way, tells most unnecessary falsehoods about her--Julie has felt that very much--and then when Julie has a great success, when people begin to come to Bruton Street, for her sake as well as Lady Henry's, then Lady Henry turns against her, compla

, hesitating, "that Lady Henry wan

gave an an

Julie and Mademoiselle Julie's frie

y was kind to her, to begin with, that she gave her great chances, and that she's getting old and infirm

too, are devoted to Mademois

ouldn't they be? When the butler had a child very ill, it was Mademoisel

grapes?" threw

n. Then when the younger footman wanted to emigrate to the States, it was Mademoiselle Julie who found a situation for him, who got Mr. Montresor to write to some American friends, and f

nodding gently, his eyes on the ca

older man, half in annoy

complain of in that?"

his word intrigue that Lady Henry uses? Has mademoiselle

ng gets no rest and no amusement. And last summer there was an explosion, because Julie, who was supposed to be in Paris for her holiday with a school-friend, really spent a week of it with the Buncombes, Lady Henry's married niece, who has a place in Kent. The Buncombes knew her at Lady Henry's parties, of course. Then they met her

rriedly, "I always thought frank

be done? Lady Henry really must behave better, or Julie can't and sha'n't stay with he

ry find another lady of Mademoiselle Le Breton's sort to help her with her house and her salon? For the last two years the Wednesday evenings have been the most br

d Sir Wilfrid. "Every

elafield, slowly. "It

, as undergraduate--from an habitual carelessness and idleness by an act or a tale of injustice or oppression. Had the Duchess presse

Breton will allow me a word with her by-and-by. I think I have still some influence with Lady Henry. But, dear

recite--her French is too beautiful! And then she has such inventiveness, such a head! Everything goes if she takes it in hand. But if I say anything to

rtable apparently for the second time, "I reall

give it up," said the Duches

y raised his hand in a gesture of warning. Mademois

unning towards her. "Jacob is making himself so disagreea

. The contrast between her restless prettiness, the profusion of her dress and hair, and

, Julie looked smili

"Of course I don't want to keep anything

al line. He turned aside and began t

mind, but we have been discussing things a little with Si

herself up. Her manner was quiet, but all her movements were somehow charged with a peculiar a

ir Wilfrid began to mu

of the trustees of her property. That has led to her consulting me on a good many matters. And evidently, from what she says and w

mocking habitual to his sleek and well-groomed visage

t. But, I fear they can

. Then Sir Wilfri

to Bruton Street immediate

tain

er furs, which, as Sir Wilfrid, who was curious in such things; happened to notice, were of great beauty, and made her farewells. Did her hand linger in Jacob Delafi

CRIED SIR WILFRID,

lamp-lit dark of Grosvenor Square, Ju

ther," she said, abruptly.

id only knew that while perfectly steady, it seemed to brin

"I knew her well, from the time when she wa

beside him

huskily, "you will hear patiently what I have t

ried Sir Wilfrid,