.^- A? vF A"" '\ ^^RINCE FORTUNATUS a Bovel BY WILLIAM BLACK author of " a princess of thule " " macleod of dare " "in far lochaber" etc. ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE 1890 R. ^ WILLIAM BLACK'S NOVELS. LIBRARY EDITION. 20 vols., 12nio, Cloth, $1 25 per vol. Complete Sets, $22 50. I SABINA ZEMBRA. A DAUGHTER OF HETH. A PRINCESS OF THULE. GREEN PASTURES AND PICCA- DILLY. IN FAR LOCHABER. IN SILK ATTIRE. JUDITH SHAKESPEARE. Illus- trated by Abbey. KILMENY. MACLEOD OF DARE. Illustrated. MADCAP VIOLET. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. Ill'd. YOLANDE. SHANDON BELLS. Illustrated. SUNRISE. THAT BEAUTIFUL WRETCH. Il- lustrated. THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF A HOUSE-BOAT. Illu.strated. THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF A PHAETON. THREE FEATHERS. WHITE HEATHER. WHITE WINGS. Illustrated. Illustrated. CHEAP EDITION, IN PAPER COVERS. Sabina Zembra. 4to, 20 cents. — Tl^A77c Heather. 4to, 20 cents. — JudUh Shakespeare. 4to, 20 cents. — Yolande. Illustratod. 4to, 20 cents. — Shandnn Hells. Illustrated. 4to, 20 cents. — That Beautiful Wretch. Illustrated. 4to, 20 cents. — Stinri.ie. 4to, l.") cents. — Macleod of Dare. Il- lustrated. 8vo, 00 cents. Illustrated, 4to, 15 cents. — Green Pastures and Piccadilly. 8vo, 50 cents. — Madcap Violet. Svo, HO ccnls.— Three Feath- ers. Illustrated. 8vo, 50 cents. — A Daughter of Helh. Svo, 35 cents. — An Adventure in Thule. 4to, 10 cents. — A Princess of Thule. Svo, 50 cents. — In Silk Altire. Svo, 35 cents. — Kitmeny. Svo, 3.'i cents. — The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton. Svo, 50 cents. — While Wings. 4to, 20 cents. — The Maid of KHUena, the Marriage of Moira, Fergus, and other stories. Svo, 40 cents. — Tlwn to Sloane Street, to liave a chat and a cup of tea with PRINCE FORTUNATUS, 85 Mrs. Grey and Nina ; but before going he thought he would just have time to scribble a piece of music in an album that Lady Rosamund Bourne had sent him and affix his name thereto. He brought his writing materials to the table and opened the big volume ; and he was glancing over the pages (Lady Rosamund had laid some very distinguished people, mostly artists, under contribution, and there were some interesting sketches) when the house-porter came up and presented a card. Lionel glanced at the name — Mr, Percival Miles — and wondered who the stranger might be ; then he recollected that surely this was the name of a young gentleman who was a devoted admirer of Miss Burgoyne. Miss Burgoyne had, indeed, on one occasion introduced the young man to him ; but he had paid little heed ; most likely he regarded him with the sort of half -humorous contempt with which the professional actor is apt to look upon the moon-struck youths who bring bouquets into the stalls and languish about stage- doors. However, he told the house-porter to ask the gentleman to step up-stairs. But he was hardly prepared for what followed. The young gentleman who now came into the room — he was a pretty boy, of the fair-haired English type, with a little yellow moustache and clear, gray eyes — seemed almost incapable of speech, and his lips were quite pale. " In — in what I have to say to you, Mr. Moore," he said, in a breathless kind of way, " 1 hope there will be no need to mention any lady's name. But you know whom I mean. That — that lady has placed her interests in my hands — she has appealed to me — I am here to demand reparation — in the usual way — " " Reparation — for what ?" Lionel asked, staring at the young man as if he were an escaped lunatic. " Your attentions," said the hapless boy, striving hard to pre- serve a calm demeanor, " your attentions are odious and objec- tionable — she will not submit to them any longer — " " My attentions?" Lionel said. " If you mean Miss Burgoyne, I never paid her any — you must be out of your senses !" " Shuffling will do you no good," said this fierce warrior, who seemed to be always trying to swallow something — perhaps his wrath. " The lady has placed her interests in my hands ; I demand the only reparation that is possible between gentlemen." '* Look here, my young friend," Lionel said, in a very cool 86 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. sort of fashion, " do you want to go on the stage ? Is that a specimen of what you can do ? For it isn't bad, you know — for burlesque." " You won't fight ?" said the young man, getting paler and more breathless than ever. " No, I will not fight — about nothing," Lionel said, with per- ~fect good-humor. " I am not such an ass. If Miss Burgoyne is annoyed because I passed her on Friday without recognizing her, that was simply a mistake for which I have already apolo- gized to her. As for any cock-and-bull story about my having persecuted her with odious attentions, that's all moonshine ; she never put that into your head ; that's your own imagina- tion—" " By heavens, you shall fight !" broke in this infuriate young fool, and the next moment he had snatched up the ink-bottle from the table before him and tossed it into his enemy's face. That is to say, it did not quite reach its aim ; for Lionel had in- stinctively raised his hand, and the missile fell harmlessly on to the table again — not altogether harmlessly, either, for in falling the lid had opened and the ink was now flowing over Lady Rosa- mund's open album. At sight of this mishap, Lionel sprang to his feet, his eyes afire. " I've a mind to take you and knock your idiotic brains against that wall," he said to the panting, white-faced youth. " But I won't. I will teach you a lesson instead. Yes, I will fight. Make what arrangements you please ; I'll be there. Now get out." He held the door open ; the young man said, as he passed, '* You shall hear from me." And then Lionel went back to Lady Rosamund's ill-fated album, and began to sponge it with blotting-paper, while with many a qualm he considered how he was to apologize to her and make some kind of plausible explanation. Fortunately the damage turned out to be less serious than at first sight appeared. The open page, which contained a very charming little sketch in water-color by Mr. Mellord, was of course hopelessly ruined ; but elsewhere the ink had not penetrated very far ; a number of new mounts would soon put that right. Tlicn he thought he would go to Mr. Mellord and lay the whole affair before him, and humbly beg for another sketch (artists always being pro- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 87 vided with sncb things) ; so that, as regarded the album, no great liarm had been done. But as he was sitting in Mrs. Grey's little parlor, at tea, Nina fancied he looked a little preoccupied and was not talking as blithely as usual, and she made bold to ask him if anything were the matter. " Yes," said he, " something is the matter. I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself." And then he added, with a smile, " Nina, I'm going to fight a duel." " A duel, Leo ?" she said, faintly, " Yes ; and what I fear about it is the ridicule that may follow. But don't be alarmed, Nina," he said, cheerfully, " I don't think I'm going to fall on the deadly field of battle ; I can take care of myself. The trouble is that the whole thing is so preposter- ous — so absolutely ridiculous ! The fact is, what the young gen- tleman really wants is a thorough good caning, and there's nobody to give it him. Very well, he must have something else ; and I propose to teach him a wholesome lesson. I'm not going to take the trouble of crossing over to France or Belgium — I dare say that will be the programme — for nothing. Then there's an- other thing, Nina : I am the challenged party ; I ought to have the choice of weapons. Well, now, I am not a very good shot ; but I'm considered a very fair fencer ; and I suppose you would say that I should be magnanimous and choose pistols ? Oh, no ; I'ln not going to do anything of the kind. There might be a very awkwai'd accident with pistols — that is to say, if our blood- thirsty seconds put in more than half a charge of powder. But with swords I fancy I shall be rather master of the situation ; and perhaps a little prod or a scratch, just to show him the color of his own blood, will do him a world of good. It may turn out the other way, no doubt ; I've heard of bad fencers breaking through one's guard just by pure ignorance and accident ; but the betting is against that kind of thing." *' But what is it all about, Leo ?" Nina exclaimed ; she was far more concerned about this mad project than he appeared to be. " Oh, I can't tell you that," said he, lightly, " without telling you the name of the lady- — for of course there is a lady in it — and that is never allowed." Nina sprang to her feet and stretched out her hands towards him. S8 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " I know — I know !" she said, in a breathless sort of way. "Leo, you will not deny it to me — it is Miss Burgoyne ! Ah, do I not know ! — she is a serpent ! — a cat ! — a devil ! — " " Nina," he said, almost angrily, " what are you talking about? Do you suppose Miss Burgoyne would want a duel fought just because I happened to pass her, by accident, without raising my hat ?— it's absurd." " Ah, there is more than that, Leo !" Nina cried, eagerly ; and then she paused, in some hesitation and embarrassment. " Yes, there is more than that," she repeated, as if with an effort, and there was a slight flush in the pretty, pale face. " Why should I not say it to you ? You are too simple, Leo. You do not un- derstand. She wishes to have the reputation to be allied with you — in the theatre — out of the theatre. Then she sees that you drive with me in an open carriage ; she hates me — what more natural ? And she is angry with you — " " Now, Nina," said he, " do you think any woman could be so mad as to want to have a duel fought simply because she saw me driving past in a carriage with Mrs. Grey and you — is it reasonable ?" " Leo, you did not see her last night," Nina said, but still with a little embarrassment, " when she meets me in the corridor — oh, such a furious woman ! — her face white, her eyes burning. As for her insulting me, what may I care ? I am a foreigner, yes ; if one says so, I am not wounded. Perhaps the foreigners have better manners a little ? — but that is not of importance ; no, what I say is, she will be overjoyed to have you fight a duel about her — why, it is glory for her ! — every one will talk — your names will be joined in newspapers — when the people see you on the stage they will say, ' Ah, ah, he is back from fighting the duel ; he must be mad in love with Miss Burgoyne,' A duel — yes, so unusual in England — every one will talk — ah, that will be the sweetest music for Miss Burgoyne's cars in the whole world — prouder than a queen she will be when the public have your name and her name rumored together. And you do not understand it, Leo !" He had been listening in silence, with something of vexation deepening upon his features. " What you say only makes matters worse and worse !" he exclaimed, presently. " If that were true, Nina — just siij){)osing PRINCE FORTUNATUS. S9 that were the true state of the case — why, I should be fighting a duel over a woman I don't care twopence about, and with a young jackass whom I could kick across the street ! That is what I ought to have done ! — why didn't I throw him down- stairs ? But the mischief of it is that the thing is now inevita- ble ; I can't back out ; I declare I never was in such a quandary in my life before !" "And you will go and put yourself in danger, Leo," Nina said, indignantly, " that a deceitful woman has the pride to hear the public talk ! Have you the right to do it ? You say there are sometimes accidents — both with swords as pistols — yes, every one knows it. And you put your life in danger — for what? You care nothing for your friends, then? — you think they will not heed much if — if an accident happens ? You think it is a light matter — nothing — a trifle done to please a boy and a wicked-minded woman ? Leo, I say you have no right to do it ! You should have the spirit, the courage, to say ' no !' You should go to that woman and say, ' You think I will make sport for you ? — no, I will not !' And as for the foolish boy, if he comes near to you, then you take your riding-whip, Leo, and thrash him ! — thrash him — thrasli him !" Nina exclaimed, with her teeth set hard ; indeed, her bosom was heaving so with indignation that Mrs. Grey put her hand gently on the girl's shoulder, and reminded her that Lionel was in sufficient perplex- ity, and wanted wise counsel rather than whirling words. As for Lionel himself, he had to leave those good friends very shortly ; for he was going out to dinner, and he had to get home to dress. And as he was walking along Piccadilly, rumi- nating over this matter, the more he thought of it the less he liked the look of it : not that he had been much influenced by Nina's apprehensions of personal harm, but that he most dis- tinctly feared the absurdity of the whole affair. Indeed, the longer he pondered over it, the more morose and resentful he became that he should ever have been placed in such an awk- ward position ; and when he was going up-stairs to his room, he was saying to himself, with gloomy significance : " Well, if that young fool persists, I'd advise him to look out ; I'm not going over the w^atcr for nothing." 90 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. CHAPTER VI. A DEPARTURE. There was but little sleep for Nina that night. She was sick at heart to think that in return for the unceasing kindness Lionel had shown her since her arrival in England, she should be the means of drawing him into this foolish embroilment. She saw the situation of affairs clearly enough. Miss Burgoyne was an exacting, irritable, jealous woman, who had resented Nina's presence in the theatre almost from the beginning, and who had been driven into a sudden fury by the sight of Lionel (he taking no notice of her either) driving past with this inter- loping foreigner. Moreover, Miss Burgoyne was inordinately vain : to have the popular young baritone fight a duel on her account — to have their names coupled together in common talk — what greater triumph could she desire than that ? But while Miss Burgoyne might be the ostensible cause of the quarrel, Nina knew who was the real cause of it ; and again and again she asked herself why she had ever come to England, thus to bring trouble upon her old ally and companion Leo. And then in that world of visions that lies just outside the realm of sleep — in which great things become small, and small things acquire a fantastic and monstrous importance — she wor- ried and fretted because Lionel had laughingly complained on the previous evening that henceforth there would be no more home- made lemonade for him. Well, now, if she — that is to say, if Nina — were in her humble way to try what she could do in that direction ? It might not be so good as the lemonade that Miss Burgoyne prepared ; but perhaps Lionel would be a little gener- ous and make allowance ? She would not challenge any compari- son. She and Mrs. Grey between them would do their best, and the result would be sent anonymously to his rooms in Piccadilly ; if he chose to accept it — ^wcll, it was a timid little something by way of compensation. Nina forgot for the moment that within PRINCE FORTl'NATUS, 91 the next few days an unlucky sword-thrust might suddenly de- termine Lionel's interest in lemonade, as in all other earthly things; these trivial matters grew large in this distorted land of waking dreams ; nay, she began to think that if she were to leave England altogether, and go away back to Naples, and per- haps accept an engagement in opera at Malta, then matters would be as before at the New Theatre ; and when Lionel and Miss Burgoyne met in the corridor, it would be, " Good-evening, Miss Burgoyne!" and "Good-evening, Mr. Moore!" just as it used to be. There would be no Italian girl interfering, and bringing dissension and trouble. But the next morning, when the actual facts of the case were before her clearer vision, she had better reason for becoming anxious and restless and miserable. As the day wore on, Mrs. Grey could hardly persuade her to run down to the Crystal Pal- ace for the opening of the Handel Festival, though, as the little widow pointed out, Mr. Moore had procured the tickets for them, and they were bound to go. Of course, when once they were in the great transept of the Palace, in the presence of this vast assemblage, and listening to the splendid orchestra and a chorus of between three and four thousand voices dealing wuth the massive and majestic strains of the " Messiah," the spell of the music fell upon Nina and held absolute sway over her. She got into a curious state of exaltation ; she seemed breathless ; sometimes, Mrs. Grey thought, she shivered a little with the strain of emotion. And all the time that Mr. Santley w^as sing- ing " Why do the nations," she held her hand tightly over her heart ; and when he had finished — when the thrilled multitude broke forth into an extraordinary thunder of enthusiasm — Nina murmured to herself, " It is — it is like to take my life-blood away." But when they were in the train again, and on their way up to town, it was evident to her companion that the girl had re- turned to her anxious fears. " Mrs. Grey," she said, suddenly, " I speak to Miss Burgoyne to-night." "Oh, no, don't do that. Miss Nina!" said Mrs. Grey, with much concern, for she knew something of the circumstances of the case. " 1 hope you won't do that ! You might simply make matters worse. Mr. Moore would not have spoken to you 92 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. if he thought you would interfere, depend upon that. And if Miss Burgoyne is vexed or angry, what good would you do ? I hear she has a sharp tongue ; don't you try her temper, my dear," the little woman pleaded. But Nina did not answer these representations ; and she was mostly silent and thoughtful all the way to town. When they reached London, they had some tea at the rail way -station, and she went on at once to the theatre. She was there early ; Miss Burgoyne had not arrived ; so Nina lingered about the corridor, listening to Mile. Girond's pretty chatter, but not hearing very much. At length the prima-donna appeared ; and she would have passed Nina without recognition, had not the latter went for- ward a step, and said, somewhat timidly, " Miss Burgoyne !" " What ?" said Miss Burgoyne, stopping short, and regarding the Italian girl with a by-no-means-friendly stare. " May I have a word with you ?" Nina said, with a little hesi- tation. " Yes ; what is it ?" the other demanded, abruptly. " But — but in private ?" Nina said again. " In your room ?" " Oh, very well, come in !" Miss Burgoyne said, with but scant courtesy ; and she led the way into her sitting-room, and also intimated to her maid that she might retire into the inner apartment. Then she turned to Nina. " What is it you want ?" But the crisis found Nina quite unprepared. She had con- structed no set speech ; she had formulated no demand. For a second or so she stood tongue-tied — tongue-tied and helpless — unable to put her passionate appeal into words ; then, all of a sudden, she said, *' Miss Burgoyne, you will not allow it — this folly ! It is madness that they fight about — about nothing! You will not allow it! — 'what is it to you? — you have enough fame, enough reputation as a prima - donna, as a favorite with the public — what more? Why should you wish more — and at such a dread- ful risk?— " " Oh, I don't know what you're talking about !" said Miss Burgoyne. " What are you talking about ?" " The duel — " said Nina, breathlessly. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 93 " What duel ?" Nina stared at her. " Ah, you do not know, then ?" she exclaimed. " What don't I know ?" Miss Burgoyne said, impatiently. " What are you talking about ! What duel ? Is it something in the evening papers ? Or have you taken leave of your senses ?" Nina paid no heed to these taunts. " You do not know, then," she asked, " that — that Mr. Moore is going to fight a duel — with a young gentleman who is your friend ? No ? — you do not know it ?" It was Miss Burgoyne's turn to stare in amazement. " Mr. Moore ?" she repeated, with her eyes (which were pretty and coquettish enough, though they were not on the same plane) grown wide and wondering. " A friend of mine ? And you come to me — as if I had anything to do with it ? Oh, my goodness !" she suddenly exclaimed, and a curious smile of in- telligence began to dawn upon her face. " Has that young donkey carried the matter so far as that ?" But she was not displeased ; nay, she was rather inclined to laugh. " Well, that would make a stir, wouldn't it ? And how did you find it out ? — who told you ? A duel ? I thought he was talking rather mysteriously yesterday morning — Conrad the Cor- sair kind of thing — glooms and daggers — so it was a duel he was thinking of ? But they are not really going to fight. Miss Ross," continued Miss Burgoyne, who had grown quite friend- ly. " You know people can't give up an engagement at a thea- tre to go and fight a duel : it's only French gentlemen who have no occupation who do that sort of thing. A duel ? — a real, ac- tual duel — do you seriously mean it ?" The prospect seemed to afford her great satisfaction, if not even a cause for merriment. " Miss Burgoyne, you will not permit it !" Nina exclaimed. «• I ?" said the other. " What have I to do with it ? If two men want to fight, why shouldn't they ?" said she, with apparent carelessness. " Ah, but you know well what you have to do with it," Nina said, with some touch of scorn. " Yes, you pretend ; but you know it well. The young man he goes from you yesterday to provoke the duel — you have been talking to him — and yet you 94 PRINCE FORTUUATUS. pretend. You say, why should they not fight ? Then it is nothing to you that one friend or the other friend may be killed ? — that is nothing to you ? — and you know you can pre- vent it if you choose. You do not wish to interfere — it will be amusing to read in the papers ! Oh, very amusing ! And if the one is killed ?" " But you know. Miss Ross, they don't go such lengths nowa- days," said Miss Burgoyne, with great good-humor. " No, no ; it's only honor and glory they go out for ; it's only the name of the thing ; they don't want to kill each other. Besides, if two men mean to fight, how can a woman interfere ? What is she supposed to know of the cause of quarrel? These things are not supposed to be known." " Then," said Nina, whose lips had grown still more indig- nant and scornful, " this is what I say : if anything happens, it is your conscience that will speak to you in after time. You wish them to fight, yes, for your vanity to be pleased ! — you wish it said that they fight about you ! And that is a trionf for you — something in the papers — and you do not care what harm is done if you are talked about ! That is your friend- ship ! — what do you care ? — any one may be sacrificed to your vanity — " " I suppose if they were fighting about you, you wouldn't say a word against it !" observed Miss Burgoyne, coolly. In fact the vehement reproaches that Nina had addressed to her did not seem to have offended her in the least ; for she went on to say, in the best of tempers : " Well, Miss Ross, I have to thank you for bringing me the news. But don't be alarmed ; these dread- ful duels, even when they get into the newspapers, seldom show- much harm done. And in the meantime will you excuse me ? — Jane is grumbling in there, I know. Tell me anything you may hear about it by and by — and meanwhile I am very much obliged to you." So Nina found herself dismissed, neither her piteous appeal nor her indignant protest having had apparently any effect whatever. But Miss Burgoyne, while transforming herself into Grace Mainwaring, had plenty of time to think over this startling po- sition of affairs, and to consider how she could best use it to her own advantage. She had a nimble brain ; and it may liave occurred to her that here was a notable chance for her to dis- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 95 play the splendid macrnaniraity of her disposition — to overwhelm Mr. Lionel Moore with her forgiveness and her generous inter- vention on his behalf. At all events, in the first scene in which these two met on the stage, Harry Thornhill became instantly aware that the merry and mischievous Grace Mainwaring ap- peared bent on being very friendly towards him — even while she looked curiously at him, as if there were something in her mind. Moreover, she seemed in excellent spirits ; there was no perfunctory " drag " in her give-and-take speeches with the ad- venturous young gentleman whom fate had thrown in her way. He was very well pleased to find the scene going so well; he sang his share in the parting duet with unusual verve; she re- sponded with equal animation ; the crowded house gave them an enthusiastic recall. But the public could not tell that, even in the midst of this artistic triumph, the audacious young lover had his own thoughts in his head ; and that he was really say- ing to himself, " What the mischief is she at now ?" He was to learn later on in the evening. Just as he got dressed for the ball-room scene, a message was brought him that Miss Burgoyne would like to see him for a minute or two as soon as he was ready. Forthwith he went to her room, tapped at her door, entered, and found himself the sole occupant ; but the next moment the curtain concealing the dressing-room was opened about five feet from the ground ; and there (the rest of her person being concealed) he beheld the smiling face of Grace Mainwaring, with its sparkling eyes and rouge and patches, to say nothing of the magnificent white wig with its nodding sprays of brilliants. " Just a moment, Mr. Moore," said she, " and I shall be with you directly " — and therewith the vision was gone, and the crim- son curtains came together again. Very shortly thereafter the Squire's Daughter came forth in all the splendor of her white satin and pearls ; and she lost no time in letting him know why he had been summoned. " You are a veiy bloodthirsty man," said she, in accents of grave reproach (though her eyes were not so serious), " and I am ashamed of you that you should think of harming that poor boy ; but I am not going to allow it — " " Why, who told you anything about it ?" he said ; for he could not pretend not to know what she meant. 90 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. "A little bird," she made answer, witli much complacence. " And the idea that you should really want to do such a thing ! — how many voices like yours are there wandering about in comedy-opera that you should consider you have any right to run such a risk ? I don't mean being killed — I mean catching a cold ! I suppose you have got to take your coat and waist- coat off — on Calais sands — with a wind blowing in from the sea ; that is a nice thing for your chest and throat, isn't it ? Well, I'm going to step in and prevent it. I consider you have treated me very badly — pretending you didn't see me, when you were so very particularly engaged ; but never mind ; I never bear malice ; and, as I say, I'm going to step in and prevent this piece of folly." " Very much obliged, I am sure," he said, politely. " When men propose to fight, it is so extremely pleasant to find a woman appear to throw a protecting arm over them !" " Oh, I am not going to be repelled by any of your ferocious sentiments," said she, good-naturedly. " I am a friend of both of you — I hope ; and I won't have anything of the kind — I tell you I won't allow it — " " I'm afraid your intervention has come too late," said he, quietly. " Why ?" she demanded. " Oh, it isn't worth speaking about," said he. " The young gentleman went a little too far — he has got to be taught a les- son, that is all — " " Oh, listen to him ! — listen to his bloodthirstiness !" she ex- claimed, in affected horror ; and then she suddenly altered her tone. " Come, now, Mr. Moore, you're not seriously going to try to harm that poor boy 1 He is a very nice boy, as honest and simple-minded as you could wish. And such a pretty boy, too — no, no, it is quite absurd — " " You arc right there," said he. " It is quite absurd. The whole thing is absurd. But it has gone too far." Here Miss Burgoyne was called. " Will you leave it in my hands ?" she said, leisurely rising from her chair, and tucking up her long train so that she might safely [)ass into the wings. " Certainly not," said he. " You have no right to know any- thing about it. The quarrel was forced upon me ; I had no PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 97 wish to harm your pretty boy, nor Imve I much now — except in trying to keep myself from being harmed. But that is all over now ; and this thing has to be seen through to the end now." He held open the door for her ; and then he accompanied her along the passage and up the steps, until they were both ready for their entrance on the stage. " Men are so obstinate," said she, with an air of vexation ; " so obstinate and foolish. But I don't care ; I'll see if I can't get something done ; I won't allow two dear friends of mine to do anything so stupid if I can help it. Why, the idea ! — get- ting into a quarrel with a harmless young fellow like that ! You ought to have been kind to him for my sake — for he really is such a dear boy — so simple and good-natured — " " But where is Grace?'''' said a voice out there in the wide ball- room ; and as this was Miss Burgoyne's cue, she tripped lightly on to the stage with her smiling answer : " One kiss, jjapa, be- fore the guests arrivey And, as it turned out, there was no fur- ther opportunity of talk that night between Miss Burgoyne and Mr. Lionel Moore. But two days thereafter, and just as Lionel was about to go out for his morning ride, the house-porter brought him a card. It was Mr. Percival Miles who was below. " Ask the gentleman to come up." Here were the preliminaries of battle, then. Lionel had a vague kind of notion that the fire-eating youth ought not to have appeared in person — that he ought to have been represented by a friend ; however, it was not of much consequence. He only hoped that there would be no further altercation or throw- ing of ink-bottles ; otherwise he considered it probable that this interview would terminate in a more English manner than the last. The young gentleman came in, hat in hand. He was appar- ently very calm and dignified. " Mr. Moore," said he, slowly, as if he were repeating words already carefully chosen, " I am about to take an unusual course. I have been asked to do so — I have been constrained to do so — by the one person whose wish in such a matter must be re- spected, I have come to apologize to you for my conduct of the other day." 98 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Oh, very well," said Lionel, but somewhat coldly ; he did not seem well satisfied that this young man should get off so easily, after his unheard-of insolence. Indeed, Lionel was very much in the position of the irate old Scotchwoman whose toes were trodden upon by a man in a crowd. " I beg your pardon," said the culprit. " Begging my paurdon '11 no dae," was the retort, " I'm gaun to gie ye a skelp o' the lug !" " I hope you will accept my apology," the pale-faced young gentleman continued in the same stiif and embarrassed manner. " I don't know whether it is worth while my offering any excuse for what I did — except that it was done under a misapprehen- sion. The — the lady in question seemed annoyed — perhaps I mistook the meaning of certain phrases she used — and certainly I must have been entirely in error in guessing as to what she wished me to do. I take the whole blame on myself. I acted hastily — on the spur of the moment ; and now I am exceeding- ly sorry ; and I ask your pardon." " Oh, very well," Lionel said, though somewhat ungraciously. " But you see you are getting rather the best of this perform- ance. You come here with a ridiculous cock-and-bull story, you threaten and vapor and kick up mock-heroics, you throw a bottle of ink over a book belonging to a friend of mine — and then you are to get off by saying two or three words of apology 1" " What can I do more ?" said the humble penitent. " I have tried to explain. I — I was as ready to fight as you could be ; but — but now I obey the person who has the best right to say what shall be done in such an affair. I have made every apol- ogy and explanation I could ; and 1 ask your pardon." " Oh, very well," Lionel said again. " Will you give me your hand, then ?" Mr. Pcrcival Miles asked ; and he somewhat timidly advanced a step, with out- stretched palm. " That isn't necessary," said Lionel, making no other response. The fair-haired young warrior seemed greatly embarrassed. "I — I was told — " he stammered; but Lionel, who was now inclined to laugh, broke in on his confusion. " Did Miss Burgoyne say you weren't to come away without shaking hands with me — is that it?" he asked, with a smile. " Y — yes," answered the young gentleman, blushing furiously, " Oh, very well, there's no trouble about that," Lionel said. I'RINCE FORTUNATUS. 99 and he gave him his hand for a second ; after which tlie love- lorn youth somewhat hastily withdrew, and no doubt was glad to lose himself in the busy crowd of Piccadilly. That same afternoon Lionel drove down to Sloane Street. He was always glad to go along and have a friendly little chat about musical affairs with the eagerly enthusiastic Nina ; and, as this particular evening w^as exceedingly fine and pleasant, he thought he might induce her to walk in to the theatre by way of Bel- grave Square and the Green Park. But hardly had they left the house when Nina discovered that it was not about professional matters that Lionel wanted to talk to her on this occasion. " Nina," said he, with befitting solemnity, " I have great news for you. I am saved. Yes, my life has been saved. And by whom, think you ? Why, by Miss Burgoyne ! Miss Burgoyne is the protecting goddess who has snatched me away in a cloud just as mv enemy was about to pin me to the earth with his jav- elin." " There is to be no duel, Leo ?" she said, quickly. " There is not," he continued. " Miss Burgoyne has forbid- den it. She has come between me and my deadly foe and held up a protecting hand. I don't know that it is quite a dignified position for me to find myself in, but one must recognize her friendly intentions, anyway. And not only that, Nina, but she sent me a bottle of lemonade yesterday ! Just think of it ! to save your life is something, but to send you lemonade as well — that is almost too much goodness." Poor Nina ! If this careless young man had only looked at the address on the wrapper of the bottle he could easily have guessed whose was the handwriting — especially recognizable in the foreign-looking L and M. That timidly proffered little gift was Nina's humble effort at compensation ; and now he was bringing it forward as a proof of Miss Burgoyne's great good- nature ! And it was Miss Burgoyne who had intervened to pre- vent this absurd duel — Miss Burgoyne, who knew nothing at all about it until Nina told her ! Nina, as they now walked along towards Constitution Hill, was too proud to make any explanation ; only she thought he might have looked at the address on the wrapper. " Seriously," he said to his companion, " seriously, Nina, she has put me under a very great obligation and shown herself very 100 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. magnanimous as well. There is no doubt she was offended with me about something or other ; and she had the generosity to put all that aside the moment she found I was embroiled in this stu- pid affair. And, mind you, I'm very glad to be out of it. It would have looked ridiculous in the papers; and everything gets into the papers nowadays. Of course that young idiot had no right to go and tell her about the duel ; but I suppose he wanted to figure as a hero in her eyes — poor devil ! he seems pretty bad about ber. Well, now that her intervention has got me out of this awkward scrape, how am I to show my gratitude to her ? what do you say, Nina ?" But Nina had nothing to say. " There's one thing I can do for her," he continued. " You know how fond actors and actresses are of titled folks. Well, Miss Burgoyne is going down to Henley Regatta with a lot of other professionals, and I am going too, with another party — Lady Adela Cunyngham has got a house-boat there. Very well, if I can find out where Miss Burgoyne is — and I dare say she will be conspicuous enough, though she's not very tall — I will take Lord Rockminster to pay his respects to her and leave him with her ; won't that do ? They have already been introduced at the theatre ; and if Rockminster doesn't say much, I have no doubt she will chatter enough for both. And Miss Burgoyne will be quite pleased to have a lord all to herself." " Leo," said Nina, gently, " do you not think you yourself have too much liking for — for that fine company ?" " Perhaps I have," said he, with perfect good-humor. " What then ? Are you going to lecture me, too ? Is Saul among the prophets ? Has Maurice Mangan been coaching you as well ?" " Ah, Leo," said she, " I should wish to see you give it all up — yes — all the popularity — and your fine company — and that you go away back to Pandiani — " " Pandiani !" he exclaimed, " Here's romance, indeed ! You want us both to become students again, and to have the old days at Naples back again — " " No, no, no !" she said, shaking her head. " It is the future I think of. I wish to hear you in grand opera or in oratorio — I wish to see you a great artist — that is something noble, some- thing ambitious, something to work for day and night. Ah, Leo, when I hear Mr. Santlcy sing ' Why do the iialioas' — when PRINCK FORTUNATUS. 101 I see the thousands and thousands of people sitting entranced, then I say to myself, ' There is something grand and noble to speak to all these people — to lift them above themselves, to give them this pure emotion, surely that is a great thing — it is high, like religion — it is a purification — it is — ' " But here she stopped, with a little gesture of despair. '< No, no, Leo, I cannot tell you — I have not enough English." " It's all very well," said he, " for you to talk about Santley ; but where will you get another voice like his ?" " Leo, you can sing finer music than * The Starry Night,' " she said. " You have the capacity. Ah, but you enjoy too much ; you are petted and spoiled, yes ; you have not a great ambition — " " I'll tell you what I seem to have, though, Nina," said he. " I seem to have a faculty of impressing my friends with the notion that I could do something tremendous if only I tried ; whereas I know that this belief of theirs is only a delusion." "But you do not try, Leo," said this persistent counsellor. " No ; life is too pleasant for you ; you have not enthusiasm ; why, your talk is always persiflage — it is the talk of the fashion- able world. And you an artist !" However, at this moment Lionel suddenly discovered that this leisurely stroll was likely to make them late in getting to the theatre ; so that perforce they had to leave these peaceful glades of the Green Park and get into Piccadilly, where they jumped into a hansom-cab and were rapidly whirled away eastward. But if Lionel was to be reproached for his lack of ambition, that was a charge which could not be brought against certain of those fashionable friends of his at whom Nina (in unconscious collusion with Maurice Mangan) seemed inclined to look askance. At the very height of the London season Lady Adela Cunyng- ham and her sisters. Lady Sybil and Lady Rosamund Bourne, had taken the town by storm ; and it seemed probable that, be- fore they departed for Scotland, they would leave quite a trail of glory behind them in the social firmament. The afternoon production of " The Chaplet," in the gardens of Sir Hugh's house on Campden Hill, had been a most notable festivity, doubtless ; but then it was a combination affair ; for Miss Georgie Lestrange had shared in the honors of the occasion ; moreover, they had professional assistance given them by Mr. Lionel Moore. It was when the three sisters attacked their own particular pur- 102 PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. suits that their individual genius shone, and marked success had attended their separate efforts. His royal highness, the commander-in-chief, it is true, had not as yet invited the colonels of the British army to recommend Lady Sybil's " Soldiers' March- ing Song " to the band-masters of the various regiments, but, in default of that, this composition was performed nightly, as the concluding ceremony, at the international exhibition then open in London ; and as the piece was played by the combined bands of the Royal Marines, with the drums of the 1st Battalion Gren- adier Guards, the Highland Pipers of the 2d Battalion Scots Guards, and the drums of the 2d Battalion Grenadier Guards, the resultant noise was surely sufBcient to satisfy the hungriest vanity of any composer, professional or amateur, who ever lived. Then not only had Lady Rosamund exhibited a large picture at the Lansdowne Gallery (a decorative work this was, represent- ing the manumission of a slave, with the legend underneath, " Hunc hominem liberum esse volo "), but also the proprietors of an illustrated weekly newspaper had published in their summer number, as a colored supplement, what she had ventured to call "An All-the-year-round Valentine." She had taken the follow- ing rhyme (or perhaps some one had found it for her) — " In these fair violets of the veins, The verdure of the spring remains ; Ripe cheriies on thy lips display The lustre of the summer day ; If I for autumn were to seek, I'd view the apples on thy cheek ; There's nought could give me paiu in thee, But winter in thy heart to see." — and she had drawn four pretty little landscapes, which, when reproduced on one sheet by chromo-lithography, looked very neat and elegant, while the fair artist was much gratified to ob- serve her name figuring on the placards at rail way -stations or on the boards in front of stationers' shops, as she drove along Ken- sington High Street. But, of course, the crowning achievement of the gifted family was Lady Adela Cunyngliam's novel. If it was not quite the success of the season, as far as the outer world was concerned, it certainly was the most-talked-of book among Lady Adda's own set. Every character in it was identified as somebody or PRINCE FORTUNATUS. IQ3 another ; and although Lady Adela, as a true artist, maintained that she did not draw individuals, but types, she could not stem the tide of this harmless curiosity, and had to submit to the half-humorous inquiries and flattering insinuations of her friends. As for the outer world, if it remained indifferent, that only showed its lack of gratitude ; for here, there, and everywhere, among the evening and weekly papers (the morning papers were, perhaps, too busy with politics at the time), attention was drawn to Lady Arthur Castletown's charming and witty romance of modern life. Alp called to Alp, and deep to deep, throughout Satan's invisi- ble world ; " Kathleen's Sweethearts " was dragged in (apparently with ten men pushing behind) for casual allusion in "Our Weekly Note-book ;" Lady Arthur's smart sayings were quoted in the gos- sip attached to this or that monthly magazine ; the correspondent of a country journal would hasten to say that it was not neces- sary to inform his readers that Lady Arthur Castletown was, in reality. Lady Adela Cunyngham, the wife of the well-known breeder of polled cattle. Sir Hugh Cunyngham of the Braes. In the midst of all this Lionel went to his friend Maurice Mangan. " Look here, Maurice," said he, " that book can't be as bad as you tried to make out." " It is the most insensate trash that was ever put between boards," was the prompt reply. " But how can that be ? Look at what the papers say !" " The papers — what papers ? That isn't what the papers say — that is what the small band of log-rollers say, calling indus- triously to one another, like frogs in a pond. Didn't I tell you what would happen if you got hold of Octavius Quirk, or any one of them ? How many dinners did your swell friends ex- pend on Quirk ?" " Oh, I don't know. He is pretty often at the house." " He is pretty often at the house, is he ?" Mangan repeated. " I hope they won't ask him to Scotland," Lionel said, rue- fully. " I can't bear the fellow ; it's just as you say, he's al- w'ays in a whirlwind of insistence — about nothing; and he doesn't grin through a horse-collar, he roars and guffaws through it. But then, you see, he has been very kind about this book ; and, of course, a new author, like Lady Adela, is grateful. I admit what you say is right enougli — perhaps the family are a little anxious for notoriety ; but so are a good many other peo- 104 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. pie ; and there's no great harm in writing or painting or com- posing music as well as you can. Mind, I think there's a little professional jealousy about you, Maurice," continued this sage Mentor, " You don't like a woman of fashion to come into your literary circles. But why shouldn't she ? I'm sure I don't object when any one of them tries to produce a little dramatic or musical piece ; on the contrary, I would rather help. And look at Mellord — the busiest painter of the day — look at the trouble he takes in advising Lady Rosamund ; she has the free entree into his studio, no matter who is sitting to him, I think, for amateurs, the work of all the three sisters is very creditable to them ; and I don't see why they shouldn't like to have the appreciation of the public, just as other people like it," " My dear fellow," Mangan said, but with obvious indiflfer- ence, " do you think I resent the fact of your friend Lady Ar- thur or Lady Adela writing a foolish novel ? Far from it. You asked my opinion of it, and I told you ; if you don't see for yourself that the book is absolute trash — but harmless trash, as I think — then you are in a happy condition of mind, for you must be easily pleased. Come, let's talk of something worth talking about. Have you been down, to Winstead lately ?" " No — never since that Sunday." " Do you know, your people were awfully good to me," this long, lank, lazy-looking man went on — but now he seemed more interested than when talking about Lady Adela's novel. " 1 never spent a more delightful evening — never. I wonder they did not tarn me out, though ; for I stayed and stayed, and never noticed how late it was getting. Missed the last train, of course, and walked all the way up to London ; not a bit sorry, either, for the night was cool, and there was plenty of starlight ; I'd walk twice as far to spend another such evening. I — I'm thinking of going down there next Sunday," he added, with a little hesitation. " Why not ?" Lionel said, cordially enough. " You see," Mangan continued, still rather hesitatingly, " the fact is — I'm rather in the way of getting illustrated papers — and — and summer numbers — and children's books — I mean, when I want them, I can get them — for lots of these things come to the newspaper offices, and they're not much use to anybody; so I thought I would just make up a parcel and send it down to Miss Frances, don't you understand, for licr sick children — " PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 105 " I dare say you went and spent a lot of money," Lionel said, witli a laugh. " And she was good enough to write back that it was just what she wanted ; for several of the children — most of them, I should say — couldn't read, but they liked looking at pictures. And then she was kind enough to add that if I went down next Sunday, she would take me to see how the things had been dis- tributed — the pictures hung up on walls, and so forth — and — and that's why I think I may go down." " Oh, yes, certainly," Lionel said, though he did not under- stand why any such excuse was necessary. *' Couldn't you come down, too, Linn ?" Mangan suggested. " Oh, no, I couldn't, I'm so busy," was the immediate reply. " I'm going to Scotland the first or second week in August. The doctor advises me to give my voice a long rest ; and the Cunyng- hams have asked me to their place in Ross-shire. Besides, I don't care about singing in London when there's nobody but country cousins, and none too many of them. Of course I'll have to go down and bid the old folks good-bye before starting for Scotland, and Francie, too.' Mind you tell that wicked Francie that I am very angry with her for not having come up to see ' The Squire's Daughter.' " " Linn," said his friend, after a second, " why don't you take the old people over to Aix or some such place for a month ? They're so awfully proud of you ; and you might take Miss Frances as well ; she seems to work so hard — she deserves a rest. Wouldn't that be as sensible as going to Scotland ?" " My good chap, I would do that in a moment — I should be delighted," said he — for he was really a most generously dis- posed young man, especially as regarded money ; time was of greater consideration with him. " But it's no use thinking of such a thing. The old folks are much too content with home ; they won't travel. And Francie — she wouldn't come away from those precious babes. Well, I'm off. Mind you scold Francie for me !" " Perhaps," said Mangan, as he accompanied his friend to the door. So it was that on a certain evening in August, Lionel Moore drove up to Euston Station and secured a sleeping-berth in the train going north ; and no doubt the consciousness that after a 5* 10(5 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. long spell of hard work be was entering upon a well-earned holi- day was a very welcome and comfortable tbing. If only be bad been a little more reflective, be migbt bave set to work (bere in tbe railway-carriage, as be lit bis cigar, and proceeded to fix up bis reading-lamp) and gone on to consider bow entirely satis- factory all bis circumstances were at tbis moment. Prince For- tunatus, indeed ! Was ever any one more bappily situated ? Here be was, young, full of bealtb and bigb spirits, excellent- tempered, and sufficiently good-looking ; be bad acquired a lib- eral measure of fame and popularity ; be bad many friends ; be bad ample means, for be did not know tbe difference between a backer and a layer, nor yet tbe difference between a broker and a jobber — in fact, gambling, eitber in stocks or on tbe turf, bad never even occurred to bim as a tbing wortb tbinking about. But tbere was sometbing furtber tban all tbis for wbicb be ougbt to bave been profoundly grateful. As tbe long train tbundered away into tbe nigbt, tbere was no dull misery of farewell weigb- ing beavily upon bim ; tbere were no longing fancies wandering wistfully back to a certain bouse, a certain figure, a pair of too- eloquent eyes. He dragged no lengtbening cbain witb bim on tbis journey nortb. For, notwithstanding bis pleasant compan- ionship with Nina, and her constant sympathy with him and her interest in bis professional career ; notwithstanding the affec- tionate regard of bis cousin Francie, which was none the less sincere that it remained unspoken and only to be guessed at; notwithstanding tbe somewhat jealous favor which tbe prima- donna of tbe New Theatre seemed inclined to bestow on him ; notwithstanding tbe pert coquetries and fascinations of Miss Georgie Lestrange, to say nothing of the blandishments and pettings showered upon him by crowds of ladies of exalted rank, tbis fortunate young man (so far at least as he was himself aware) was going away to Scotland quite heart-whole. CHAPTER Vn. IN ST RAT II AIV RON. It was still early in the afternoon when Lionel found himself driving along a loftily-winding road overlooking the wide and PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 107 fertile valley of the Aivron. Right down below him, and visible through the birch-trees, was the river itself, of a brilliant, clear- shining blue, save where in some more distant sweeps it shone a silver-white ; on the other side of the broad strath rose a range of hill fringed along its base with wood, but terminating in the west in far altitudes of bare rock and heather ; while now and again he could catch a glimpse of some still more distant peak or shoulder, no doubt belonging to the remote and mountainous region of Assynt. And there, in the middle of the plain, stood the shooting-lodge for which he was bound — a long, rambling building or series of buildings, with all sorts of kennels and out- houses and deer-houses attached ; and as he was regarding this goal and aim of his journey, and wondering how he was going to get across the swift-flowing stream, behold ! a white flutter- ing of handkerchiefs just outside the porch. It was a signal to him, he knew ; and he returned it more than once — until, in- deed, he discovered that his driver was leaving the road and about to take the horses down a rudely cut track on the hillside. " I say, isn't there a bridge anywhere ?" he asked ; for he was not used to such exploits. " Aw, no, there's no brudge," the old Highland driv^er said, coolly, as he jammed down the brake. " But we'll do ferry well at the ford ; the water is not so high the now." , " And when the water is high, what do they do then ?" Lionel asked, as he regarded with some concern the almost vertical pole and the straining harness. " Aw, well, there uss a boat ; and if there's a spate on the ruvver they can come and go ; but not with the heavy things. Ay, I hef seen tons of coal waiting for them at Invershin for near a fortnight when there wass a heavy spate on the ruvver. The leddies are so particular nowadays ; peat will not do for them for the cooking ; naw, they must hef coal." But now the horses were entering the stream, and the old man's loquacity ceased. The animals, however, seemed quite accustomed to this performance ; without any hesitation they adventured into the rapid current, and splashed their way for- ward, getting such footing as was possible among the big, loose stones and shingle. Indeed, the passage was effected with very little trouble, if with a good deal of jolting and bumping; and 108 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. thereafter there was a pleasant trot along some sufficiently smooth greensward up to the door of the lodge. Yes, here were the three tall and handsome sisters, looking very picturesque in their simple Northern attire ; and here was Miss Georgie Lestrange conspicuous in a Tam o' Shanter of bright blue ; and no sooner had the young man descended from the wagonette than they surrounded him, laughing and questioning, and giving him the heartiest of welcomes. How could he an- swer them all at once ? When the poor man was taken into the dining-room, and set down to his solitary luncheon, they were all for waitinof on him and talking to him at the same time. " It is so awfully kind of you to come," Lady Adela said, with one of her most gracious smiles. " Now «we shall hear about something else than dogs and guns and grouse." " Oh, Mr. Moore," cried Lady Rosamund (who was the young- est, and had a bit of a temper, and was allowed to interfere when she liked), " do you know a masque called ' Alfred ' ? You do ? how delightful ! Well, then, you remember the visions of the future kings and queens that pass before Alfred when he is in the Isle of Athelney ; how can I get that done in the open air ? What kind of gauze do you use in the theatre ? Could you get me a bit ? And would painted shades do instead of living per- sons ? — you see we have so few people to come and go on up here." " And, Mr. Moore," cried Lady Sybil, " how are we to man- age about an accompaniment? A single violin is no use out in the open. Would it be too dreadful if we had a harmonium concealed somewhere ? We could get one from Inverness ; and you know a harmonium would do very well for the music that introduces the visions." " Mr. Moore," put in Miss Georgie Lestrange, with a com- plaining air, " fancy their having given me another of Kitty Olive's characters; isn't it too bad? Why, I'll go on and on until I identify myself with her altogether ; and then, you know, Kitty Olive wasn't — I'm afraid she wasn't quite — " " Oh, Mrs. Olive was all right ; she was a great friend of Dr. Johnson," Lionel made answer, to reassure the young lady. " But I wish you girls would leave off cliattering, and let Mr. Moore get something to eat," the young matron said, impatient- ly ; and she herself was so kind as to go and fetch the claret jug from the side-table and fill his glass. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 109 However, there was peace in store for him. When he had finished with this late hinch, Lady Adcla begged him to excuse them if they left him to shift for himself ; they were busy dress- making, she said. Would she send for one of the keepers, who would show him one or two of the nearest pools, so that he might try for a salmon ? The gentlemen had all gone down the strath, to test some new rifle, she thought ; this was out of con- sideration for her, for she could not bear shooting close to the house ; would he walk in that direction, and see what they were doing ? " Don't you trouble," he said, instantly. " You leave me to myself. I like to wander about and find out my surroundings. I shall go down to the river, to begin with ; I saw some pictu- resque bits higher up when we were coming along." " You'll almost certainly find Honnor Cunyngham there," said Miss Lestrange. " I suppose she has gone storking, as usual." "Stalking?'' said he, in some amazement. " No, no — storking, as I call it. She haunts the side of the river like a crane or a heron," said the red-haired damsel. " I think she would rather land a salmon than go to heaven." " Georgie," said the young matron, severely, " you are not likely ever to do either ; so you needn't be spiteful. Come away and get to work. Mr. Moore, we dine at eight ; and, if you are anywhere up or down the strath, you'll hear the bell over the stables rung at seven, and then at half-past." So they went off and left him ; and he was not displeased ; he passed out by the front door, lit a cigar, and strolled down tow- ards the banks of the Aivron. It was a bright and sweet-aired afternoon ; he was glad to be at the end of his journey ; and this was a very charming, if somewhat lonely, stretch of country in which he now found himself. The wide river, the steep hill- side beyond hanging in foliage, the valley narrowing in among rocks and then leading away up to those far solitudes of moor- land and heather, broken only here and there by a single pine — all these features of the landscape seemed so clear and fine in color; there was no intervening haze; everything was vivid and singularly distinct, and yet aerial and harmonious and retiring of hue. But of course it was the stream — with its glancing lights, its living change and motion, its murmuring, varying voice — that was the chief attraction ; and he wandered on by 110 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. the side of it, noting here and there the long, rippling shallows where the sun struck golden on the sand beneath, watching the oily swirls of the deep black-brown pools as if at any mo- ment he expected to see a salmon leap into the air, and not even uninterested in the calm eddies on the other side, where the smooth water mirrored the yellow-green bank and the bushes and the overhanging birch-trees. He sat down for a while, listening absently to this continuous, soothing murmur, perhaps thinking of the roar of the great city he had left. He was quite content to be alone ; he did not even want Maurice Mangan to be discoursing to him — in those seasons of calm in which questions, long unanswered, perhaps never to be an- swered, will arise. Then he rose and went on again, for, from the high-road along which he had driven, he had caught a glimpse of a wilder part of the glen, where the river seemed to come tumbling down a rocky chasm, with some huge boulders in mid-channel ; and even now he could hear the distant, muffled roar of the waters. But all of a sudden he stopped. Away along there, and keep- ing guard (like a stork, as Miss Georgie Lestrange had suggested) above the pool that lay on this side of the double waterfall, was a young lady, her back turned towards him. So far as he could make out, she wasn't doing anything ; a long fishing-rod, with the butt on the ground, she held idly in her right hand ; while with her left hand she occasionally shaded her face across tow- ards the west — probably, as he imagined, she was waiting for some of those smooth-sailing clouds to come and obscure the too-fierce light of the sun. He knew who she was ; this must be Honnor Cunyngham, Lady Adela's sister-in-law ; and of course he did not wish to intrude on the young lady's privacy ; he would try to pass by behind her unobserved, though here the strath narrowed until it was almost a defile. He was soon relieved from all anxiety. Sharper eyes than his own had perceived him. The young lady wheeled round ; glanced at him for a second ; turned again ; and then a thin, tall, old man, who had hitherto been invisible to him, rose from his concealment among the rocks close to her and came along the river bank. He was a very handsome old man, this super- annuated keeper, with his keen, aquiline nose, his clear, gray eyes, and frosted hair, PRINCE FORTUNATCS. HI " Miss Ilonnor says will you hcf a cast, sir ? There's some clouds will be over soon." " Oh, no, thank you, I could not dream of interrupting her," Lionel said ; and then it occurred to him that he ought to go and thank the young lady herself for this frank invitation. " I — I'll go along and tell her so." As he walked towards her he kept his eye, somewhat furtive- ly, on her, though now she had turned her back again ; and all he could make out was that she had a very elegant figure ; that she was tall — though not so tall as her three sisters-in-law ; and that her abundant brown hair was short and curly and kept close to her head, almost like a boy's. Were not her shoulders a trifle square-set for a woman? — but perhaps that appearance was owing to her costume, for she wore a Norfolk jacket of gray homespun that looked as if it could afford a good defence against the weather. She was entirely in gray, in fact ; for her short-skirted dress was of the same material ; and so also was the Tam o' Shanter, adorned with salmon flies, that she wore on her shapely head of golden-brown curls. Oh, yes, she looked sufficiently picturesque, standing there against the glow of the western skies, with the long salmon-rod in her right hand ; but he was hardly prepared for what followed. The moment that she heard him draw near, she wheeled round and regarded him for a second — regarded him with a glance that rather bewildered him by reason of its transparent honesty and directness. The clear hazel eyes seemed to read him through and through, and yet not to be aware of their own boldness ; and he did not know w'hy he was so glad to hear that she had a soft and girlish voice, as she said, " You are Mr. Moore. I am Lady Adela's sister — of course you know. Won't you take my rod ? There will be some shadow very soon, I think." " Oh, certainly not — certainly not," said he. " But I should be delighted if you would let me stay and look on ; it would interest me quite as much — every bit as much." " Oh, stay by all means," said she, turning to look at the western sky. " But I wish you would take my rod. What are they all about to let you come wandering out alone, on the first day of your arrival ?" " Oh, that's quite right," said he, cheerfully. " Lady Adela and the young ladies are all busy dressmaking." 112 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. "Ye may be getting ready, Miss Ilonnor," old Robert inter- posed, " There'll be a cloud over the sun directly." Thus admonished, the tall young fisher-maiden stepped down by the side of a rock overhanging this wide, black-swirling pool, and proceeded to get her tackle in order. " You know I'll give you my rod whenever you like to take a turn," said she, addressing Lionel even as she was getting the fly on to the water. " But we can't afford to waste a moment of shadow. I have done nothing all day on account of the sun- light." And now the welcome shade was over, and, after a preliminary cast or two to get the line out, she was sending her fly well across, and letting it drift quietly down the stream, to be re- covered by a series of small and gentle jerks. Lionel was sup- posed to be looking on at the fishing ; but, when he dared, he was stealing covert glances at her ; for this was one of the most striking faces he had seen for many a day. There was a curi- ously pronounced personality about her features, refined as they were ; her lips were proud — and perhaps a little firmer than usual just now, when she was wielding a seventeen-foot rod ; her clear hazel eyes were absolutely fearless ; and her broadly marked and somewhat square eyebrows appeared to lend strength rather than gentleness to the intellectual forehead. Then the stateliness of her neck and the set of her head ; she seemed to recall to him some proud warrior-maiden out of Scandinavian mythology — though she was dressed in simple homespun and had for her only henchman this quiet old Robert, who, crouch- ing down under a birch-tree, was watching every cast made by his mistress with the intensest interest. And at last Lionel was startled to hear the old man call out, but in an undertone — " IIo !" Ilonnor Cunyngham began coolly to pull in her line through the rings. " What is it ?" Lionel asked, in wonder. " I rose a fish then, but he came short," she said, quietly. " We'll give him a rest. A pretty good one, wasn't he, Robert ?" " Ay, he wass that, Miss Ilonnor, a good fish. And ye did not touch him ?" " Not at all ; he'll come again sure enough." And then she turned to Lionel ; and he was pleased to ob- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 113 serve, as she went on to speak to him about her sisters-in-law and their various pursuits, that, proud as those Hps were, a sort of grave good-humor seemed to be their habitual expression, and also that those transparently honest, hazel eyes had a very attractive sunniness in them when she was amused. " The dressmaking," she said. " Of course you know what that is about. They arc preparing another of those out-of-door performances. Oh, yes, they are very much in earnest," she went on, with a smile that lightened and sweetened the pro- nounced character of her face. "And you are to be entertained this time. They are not go- ing to ask you to do anything. Last time, at Campdcn Hill, you took a principal part, didn't you? — but this time you are merely to be a guest — a spectator," " And which are you to be. Miss Cunyngham ?" he made bold to ask. " I ? Oh, they never ask me to join in those things," she said, pleasantly enough. " The sacred fire has not descended on me. They say that I regard their performances as mere childish amusement ; but I don't really ; it isn't for a Philistine like myself to express disdain about anything. But then, you see, if I were to try to join in with my clever sisters, and per- haps when they were most in earnest, I might laugh ; and en- thusiasts couldn't be expected to like that, could they ?" She spoke very honestly and fairly, he thought, and without showing anything like scorn of what she did not sympathize with ; and yet somehow he felt glad that he was not expected to take a part in this new masque. " From what I remember of it," said he, " I suppose it will be mostly a pageant — there is plenty of patriotic sentiment in it, but hardly any action, as far as I recollect. Of course, I know it chiefly because the poet Thomson wrote it, or partly wrote it, and because he put ' Rule Britannia ' into it. Isn't it odd," he added, with a touch of adroit flattery (as he considered), " that the two chief national songs of England, ' Ye Mariners of England ' and ' Rule Britannia ' should both have been written by Scotchmen ?" She paid no heed to this compliment ; indeed he might have known that the old Scotch families (many of them of Norman origin, by the way) have so intermarried with English families 114 PKINCE FORTUNATUS. that they have very little distinct nationality, though they may be proud enough of their name. This young lady was no more Scotch than himself. " I will try him again now," said she, with a glance at the water, and forthwith she set to work with rod and line, begin- ning a few yards farther up the stream, and gradually working down to Avhere she had risen the fish. As she came near the spot, Lionel could see that she was covering every inch of water with the greatest care, and also that at the end of each cast she let the fly hang for a time in the current. He became quite anxious himself. Was she not quite close to the fish now ? Or had he caught too clear a glimpse of the fly on the previous occasion, and gone away ? Yes, she must be almost over him now ; and yet there was no sign. Or past him ? Or he might have turned and gone a yard or two farther down ? Then, as this eagerly interested spectator was intently watching the swirls of the deep pool, there was a sudden wave on the surface, she struck up her rod slightly, and the next moment away went her line tearing through the water, while the reel screamed out its joyous note of recognition. Old Robert jumped to his feet. At the same instant the fish made another appalling rush, far away on the opposite side of the river, and at the end of it flashed into the air — a swift gleam of purple-blue and silver that revealed his splendid size. Lionel was quite breathless with excitement. He dared not speak to her, for fear of dis- tracting her attention. But she was apparently quite calm ; and old Robert looked on without any great solicitude, as if he knew that his young mistress needed neither advice nor assistance. Meanwhile the salmon had come back into the middle of the stream, where it lay deep, only giving evidence of its existence by a series of vicious tugs. "I don't like that tugging, Robert," she said. "He knows too much. He has pulled himself free from a fly before." " Ay, ay, I'm afraid of that too," old Robert said, with his keen eyes fixed on every movcmetit of the straining line. Then the fish lay still and sulked ; and she took the oppor- tunity of moving a little bit up-stream and reeling in a yard or two. " Would you like to take the rod now, Mr. Moore ?" slie said, generously. PRINCK FORTUNATUS. 115 *' Oh, certainly not," he exclaimed. " I would not for worlds you should lose the salmon — and do you think I could take the responsibility V He ceased speaking, for he saw that her attention had once more been drawn to the salmon, which was now calmly and steadily making up-stream. Ho watclied the slow progress of the line ; and then, to his horror, he perceived that the iish was lieading for the other side of a large gray rock that stood in mid-channel. If he should persist in boring his way up that farther current, would not he inevitably cut the line on the rock ? AVhat could she do ? Still nearer and nearer to the big boulder went that white line, steadily cutting through the brown water ; and still she said not a word, though Lionel fancied she was now putting on a heavier strain. At last the line was almost touching the stone ; and there the salmon lay motionless. He was within half a 5'ard of certain freedom, if only he had known ; for the water was far too deep to allow of old Robert wading in and get- ting the line over the rock. But just as Lionel, far more excited than the fisher-maiden herself, was wondering what was going to happen next, the whole situation of affairs was reversed in a twinkling ; the salmon suddenly turned and dashed away down- stream until it was right at the end of the pool, and there, in deep water on the other side, it resumed its determined tugging, so that the pliant top of the rod was shaken as if by a human hand. " That is what frightens me," she said to Lionel. " I don't like that at all." But what could he do to help her ? Eager wishes were of no avail ; and yet he felt as if the crowning joy of his life would be to see that splendid big fish safely out there on the bank. All his faculties seemed to be absorbed in the contemplation of that momentous struggle. The past and the future were alike cut off from him — he had forgotten all about the theatre and its trumpery applause — ^he had no thought but for the unseen creature underneath the water, that was dashing its head from side to side, and then boring down, and then sailing away over to the opposite shallows, exhausting every manoeuvre to regain its liberty. He could not speak to her ; what was anything he could say as compared with the tremendous importance of the next movement on the part of the fish ? But she was calm enough. 116 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " He doesn't tire himself mucli, Robert," she said. " He keeps all his strength for that tugging." But just as she spoke the salmon began to come into mid- stream again, and she stepped a yard or two back, reeling in the line swiftly. Once or twice she looked at the top of the rod : there was a faint strain on, nothing more. Then her enemy seemed inclined to yield a little ; she reeled in still more quick- ly ; knot after knot of the casting-line gradually rose from the surface ; at last they caught sight of a dull, bronze gleam — the sunlight striking through the brown water on the side of the fish. But he had no intention of giving in yet; he had only come up to look about him. Presently he headed up-stream again — quietly and steadily ; then there was another savage shaking of his head and tugging ; then a sharp run and plunge ; aud again he lay deep, jerking to get this unholy thing out of his jaw. Lionel began to wonder that any one should volun- tarily and for the sake of amusement undergo this frightful anxiety. He knew that if he had possession of the rod, his hands would be trembling ; his breath would be coming short and quick ; that a lifetime of hope and fear would be crowded into every minute. And yet here was this girl watching coolly and critically the motion of the line, and showing not the slight- est trace of excitement on her finely cut, impressive features. But he noticed that her lips were firm ; perhaps she was nerving herself not to betray any concern. " I think I am getting the better of him, Robert," said she, presently, as the fish began to steer a little in her direction. " I would step back a bit, Miss Honnor," the keen-visagcd old gillie said ; but he did not step back ; on the contrary, he crouched down by the side of a big boulder, close to the water, and again he tried liis gaff, to make sure that the steel clip was firmly fixed in the handle. Yes, there was no doubt that the salmon was beaten. He kept coming nearer and nearer to the land, led by the gentle, continuous strain of the pliant top, though ever and anon he would vainly try to head away again into deep water. It was a beautiful thing to look at : this huge, gleaming creature taken captive by an almost invisible line, and gradually yielding to inevitable fate. Joy was in Lionel's heart. If he had wondered that any one, for the sake of amusement, should choose to un- I PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 117 dergo such agonies of anxiety, he wondered no more. Uere was the fierce delight of triumph. The struggle of force against skill was about over ; there was no more tugging now ; there were no more frantic rushes or bewildering leaps in the air. Slowly, slowly the great fish was being led in to shore. Twice had old Robert warily stretched out his gaflf, only to find that the prize was not yet within his reach. And then, just as the young lady with the firm-set lips said, ' Now, Robert !' and just as the gaff was cautiously extended for the third time, the salmon gave a final lurch forward, and the next instant — before Lionel could' tell what had happened — the fly was dangling helplessly in the air, and the fish was gone. ^^ Au Yeear said Robert, in an undertone, to himself ; while Lionel, as soon as he perceived the extent of the catastrophe, felt as though some black horror had fallen over the world. He could not say a word ; he seemed yearning to have the fish for one second again where he had lately seen it — and then wouldn't he have gladly jumped into the stream, gaff in hand, to secure the splendid trophy ! But now — now there was noth- ing but emptiness and a lifeless waste of hurrying water. And as regards the young lady ? Well, she smiled — in a dis- concerted way, to be sure ; and then she said, with apparent res- ignation, " I almost expected it. I never do hope to get a tiigging salmon ; all the way through I was saying to myself we shouldn't land him. However, there's no use fretting over lost fish. We did our best, Robert, didn't we ?" " Indeed you could not hef done better. Miss Honnor," said the old gillie. " There wass no mistake that you made at ahl." " Very well," said she, cheerfully ; and she looked in a kind- ly way towards the old man. " I did everything right ; and as for you, no one will tell me that the best gillie in Ross-shire did anything wrong ; so we have nothing to reproach ourselves with, Robert, have we ?" " But it is such a dreadful misfortune !" exclaimed Lionel, who could hardly understand this equanimity. " Another couple of seconds, and you must have had him." " Well, now, Robert," said she, briskly, " shall we go up and try the tail of the Long Pool ? Or go down to the Stones ?" " We'll chist go up to the tail of the Long Pool, Miss Honnor," 118 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. said he ; and he took the rod from her, picked up her water- proof, and set out ; while Lionel, without waiting for any fur- ther invitation, accompanied her. And as they walked along, picking their way among boulders and bracken and heather, he was asking her whether the heart- breaking accidents and bitter disappointments of salmon-fishing were not greater than its rewards ; as to which she lightly made answer : " You must come and try. None of the gentlemen here are very eager anglers; I suppose they get enough of salmon-fishing in the spring. Now if you care about it at all, one rod is al- ways enough for two people, and we could arrange it this way — that you should take the pools where wading is necessary. They'll get a pair of waders for you at the lodge. At present old Robert does all the wading that is wanted ; but of course I don't care much about playing a fish that has been hooked by somebody else. Now, you would take the wading pools." " Oh, thank you," said he, " but I'm afraid I should show my- self such a duffer. I used to be a pretty fair trout-fisher when I was a lad," he went on to say ; and then it suddenly occurred to him that the offer of her companionship ought not to be re- ceived in this hesitating fashion. " But I shall be delighted to try my hand, if you will let me ; and of course you must see that I don't disturb the best pools." So they passed up through the narrow gorge, where the heavy volume of water was dashing down in tawny masses between the rocks, and got into the open country again, where the strath broadened out in a wide expanse of moorland. Here the river ran smooth between low banks, bordered now and again by a fringe of birch, and there was a greater quiet prevailing, the farther and farther they got away from the tumbling torrents below. But when they reached the Long Pool no fishing was possible ; the afternoon sun struck full on the calm surface of the water ; there was not a breath of wind to stir the smooth- mirrored blue and white ; they could do nothing but choose out a heathery knoll on the bank, and sit down and wait patient- ly for a passing cloud. " I suppose," said she, clasping her fingers together in her lap — " T suppose you are all eagerness about to-morrow morning?" "Oil, I am not going shooting to-morrow," said lie. 1 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 119 " What !" she exclaimed. " To be on a grouse-moor on the Twelfth, and not go out ?" " It is because it is the Twelfth ; I don't want to spoil sport," said he, modestly. " And I don't want to make a fool of my- self either. If I could shoot well enough, and if there were a place for me, I should be glad to go out with them ; but my shooting is, like my fishing, a relic of boyhood's days ; and I should not like to make an exhibition of myself before a lot of crack shots." " That is only false pride, said she, in her curiously direct, straightforward way. " Why should you be ashamed to admit that there are certain things you can't do as well as you can do certain other things ? There is no particular virtue in having been brought up to the use of a gun or rod. Take your own case. You are at home on the stage. There you know every- thing — you are the master, the proficient. But take the crack shots and put them on the stage, and ask them to do the sim- plest thing — then it is their turn to be helpless, not to say ridic- ulous." " Perhaps," said he, rather tentatively, " you mean that we should all of us keep to our own walks in life ?" " I'm sure I don't mean anything of the kind," said she, with much frankness. " I only mean that if you are not a first-rate shot, you need not be ashamed of it ; you should remember there are other things you can do well. And really you must go out to-morrow morning. My brother was talking about it at breakfast ; and I believe the proposal is that you go with him and Captain Waveney. If any little mistake is made. Captain Waveney is the man to retrieve it — at least so I've heard them say." " At all events," said he, " if I go with them at all, it will not be under false pretences. I shall warn them, to begin with, that I am a bad shot ; then I can't be found out. And they must put me in a position where I can't do much harm." "I dare say you shoot very well," she said, with a smile. " Gentlemen always talk like that on the evening before the Twelfth, if they have come to a strange moor." But now she had risen again, for a breath of wind was stir- ring along the strath, while some higher air-currents were slowly bringing certain fleecy clouds across from the west. As soon 130 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. as the welcome shade had stolen over the river, she began to cast ; and on this smooth water he could see more clearly what an excellent line this was that she sent out. Not a long line — perhaps twenty-three or twenty-four yards — but thrown most ad- mirably, the fly lighting on the surface like a snowflake. More- over, he was now a little bit behind her, so that he could with impunity regard the appearance of this newly-found companion — her lithe and agile form, the proud set of her neck and head, the beautiful close masses of her curly, golden-brown hair, and the fine contour of her sun-tanned cheek. Then the vigorous exercise in which she was engaged revealed all the suppleness and harmonious proportions of her figure ; for here was no pretty wrist-work of trout-fishing, but the wielding of a double- handed salmon-rod ; and she had taught herself the gillies' method of casting — that is to say, she made the backward cast by throwing both arms right up in the air, so that, as she paused to let the line straighten out behind, her one hand was on a level with her forehead, and the other more than a foot above that. Lionel thought that before he tried casting in the pres- ence of Miss Honnor Cunyngham, he should like to get a few quiet lessons from old Robert. However, all this expenditure of skill proved to be of no avail. She could not move a fin ; nor had Robert any better luck, when, they having come to a shallow reach, she allowed the old man, who was encased in waders, to get into the water and fish along the opposite bank. When he came ashore again, his young mistress said, " Dame Fortune hasn't forgiven us for letting that first one go." And old Robert, who had probably never heard of Dame For- tune (or may have considered the phrase a polite and young- lady-like form of swearing), merely made answer, " Ay, Miss Ilonnor, we'll go and try the Small Pool, now." The Small Pool lies between the Long Pool and the Rock Pool ; it is a circular, deep, black hole, in which the waters col- lect before dashing and roaring down between the great gray boulders ; and to fish it you must get out on certain knife-like ledges that seem to ofl[cr anything but a secure foothold. How- ever, Miss Ilonnor did not think twice about it ; and, indeed, as she made her way out on those narrow slips of rock, Lionel per- ceived that her boots, whic-h were laced in front like men's PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 121 boots, if they were small enough as regarded that portion covering the foot, were provided with most sensibly wide soles, which again were studded with nails. And there, bal- ancing herself as best she might, she got out a short line, and began industriously to cover every inch of the surging and whirling water. A most likely -looking place, Lionel thought to himself, as he sat and looked on. But here also they were doomed to disappointment. It is true she hooked a small sea- trout — and was heartily glad when it shook itself free, thereby saving her time and trouble. All the rest of her labor was ex- pended for nothing ; so finally she had to reel up and make her way ashore, where she suiTendered her rod to the old gillie. Then they passed down through the narrow defile again and came in view of the wide path — now all saflfron-tinted in the evening sunlight — with the lodge and its straggling dependen- cies in the midst of the plain. Perhaps it was this sight of the house that recalled to her what they had been talking of some time before ; for, as they walked along the river-bank, she was again urging him to go out on the following morning ; and not only that, but she declared he must have one or two days' deer- stalking while he was in the North. If he missed, then he missed ; why should he care what foresters and gillies thought of him ? Of course he was very grateful to her for all her kind patronage ; but he could not help thinking it rather odd to find a woman lending courage to a man — counselling him to be independent and to have no fear of ridicule. " I recollect," he said to her, " once hearing Lord Rockminster say that until a man has gone deer-stalking he can have no idea what extremes of misery a human being is capable of endurinor." '* Lord Rockminster is incurably lazy," she said. " I think if you found yourself riding along this strath some night about eight or nine o'clock, knowing that away up among the hills you had left a stag of ten or twelve points to be sent for and brought down the next morning — then I think you wouldn't be reflect- ing on the discomforts you had gone through, or, if you did, it would be with pride. Why," said she, " you surely didn't come to the Highlands to play at private theatricals ?" " I get enough of the theatre in the South," he said, " as yon may well imagine." But here was a bend of the river sheltered from the welterino- G * 133 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. sun by a steep and wooded bill ; and Miss Cunyngbam, at old Robert's suggestion, began work again. It was really most in- teresting to watcb tbis graceful casting ; Lionel, sitting down on the heather and smoking a cigarette, seemed to want no other occupation ; be forgot what the object of throwing a fly was, the tbrowing of the fly seemed to be enough in itself. lie bad grown to think that all these oily sweeps of brown water, touched here and there by dark, olive-green reflections, were useful only as showing where the fly dropped ; there was no fish watching the slow jerking of the " Bishop " across the current ; the one salmon that haunted the Rock Pool had put in an appearance and gone away long ago. But suddenly there was a short, sharp scream of the reel ; then silence. " What is it, Robert ?" she said — apparently holding on to something. " Another sea-trout ?" " Oh, no, Miss Hon nor, I am not thinking that — " Tbe words were hardly out of his mouth when it became abundantly clear that the unknown creature in tbe deeps had not the least intention of concealing his identity. A sudden rush down-stream, followed by a wild splashing and thrashing on the surface, was only the first of a series of performances that left Miss Honnor not one single moment of breathing-space. Either she was following him rapidly down the river, or follow- ing him up again, or reeling in swiftly as he came sailing tow- ards her, or again she could only stand in breathless suspense as he flung himself into the air and then beat and churned the water, shaking tbe line this way and that. " Oh, you wicked little wretch !" she cried, at a particularly vicious flourish out of the water ; but this was the kind of fish she liked; this was a fish tliat fought fair — a gentlemanly fisli, without the thought of a sulk in bim — a very Prince Rupert even among grilse ; tbis was no malevolent, undei'liand, deep- boring tugger. Indeed, these brilliant dashes and runs and summersaults soon began to tell. The gallant little grilse was ])lainly getting the worst of it. He allowed himself to be led ; but, whenever she stepped back on the baiik and tried to induce liim to corae in, at the first appearance of sliallow water he would instantly sheer oflE again with all the strength that was left in him. Fortunately he seemed inclined to head up-stream ; and she liuniored bim in tbat, for there the water was deeper under PRINCE FORXrNATUS. 123 the bank. Even then he fought splendidly to the last. As soon as he got to recognize that an enemy was waiting for him — an enemy armed with some white, shining^iiffng that he more than once warily slipped out of — he would make struggle after struggle to keep away — until at last there was a sudden, swift, decisive stroke of the steel clip, and Robert had his glittering prize safely ashore. '* What o'clock is it, Mr. Moore ?" said Miss Honnor — but she seemed pleased with the result of this brisk encounter. He looked at his watch. " Half-past seven," he said. " Yes ; I thought I heard the first bell ; we must make haste home. Not but that my sisters are very good to me," she con- tinued, as she took the fly that Robert handed her and stuck it in her Tarn o' Shanter ; " if I happen to have got hold of a fish, I am allowed to come in to dinner anyhow. And then, you know, there is no great ceremony at this bungalow of a place ; it's dif- ferent at the Braes, if Lady Adela happens to have a large house- party — then I have to behave like other folk. What do you say, Robert — seven pounds? Well, he made a good fight of it. And I'm glad not to be going home empty-handed." So Lionel picked up her waterproof and put it over his arm ; she shouldered her fishing-rod, after having reeled in the line ; the handsome old gillie brought up the rear with the gaff and the slung grilse ; and thus equipped the three of them set out for the lodge — across the wide valley that was now all russet and golden under the warm light still lingering in the evening skies. CHAPTER YHL THE TWELFTH. When Lionel went down early next morning, he found Lady Adcla's father in sole possession ; and was not long in discover- ing that the old earl was in a towering rage. " Good-morning !" said this tall, pale, stooping-shouldered old gentleman, whose quite hairless face was surmounted by a brown wig. " Well, what do you think of last night's performance ? What do you think of it ? Did you ever know of any such gross 124 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. outrage on common decency ? Why, God bless ray soul and body, I never heard of such a thing !" Lionel knew quite well what he meant. The fact was that a Free Church minister whom Sir Hugh Cunyngham had met somewhere had called at Aivron Lodge ; as the custom of that part of the country is, he was invited to stay to dinner ; he sat late, told many stories, and drank a good deal of whiskey, until it was not judged prudent to let him try to get his pony across the ford, even if hospitality had not demanded that he should be offered a room for the night ; and then, when every one was thinking of getting away to bed, the worthy man must needs insist on having family worship, to which the servants had also to be summoned. It was the inordinate length of this service at such a time of night that had driven old Lord Fareborough to the verge of madness. " Look at me !" he said to Lionel, in tones of deep and bitter indignation, " Look at me — a skeleton — a wreck of a human being, who can only get along by the most careful nursing of his nervous system. My heart is affected ; I have serious doubts about the state of my lungs ; it is only through the most as- siduous nursing of my nerves that I exist at all. And what is more maddening than enforced restraint — imprisonment — no chance of leaving the room, with all those strange servants at the door ; why, God bless my soul, I call it an outrage ! I yield to no one in respect for the cloth, whether it is worn by a Pres- byterian, or a Catholic, or one of my own church ; but I say that no one has a right to thrust religious services down my throat ! What the devil did Cunyngham mean by asking him to stay to dinner at all ?" " As I understand it," said Lionel, with a becoming diffidence, " it was some suggestion of Captain Waveney's, He said the Free Church ministers were particular friends of the crofters — and of course the good-will of the crofters is of importance to a shooting-tenant — " " The good-will of the crofters !" the bewiggcd old nobleman broke in, impatiently. " Are you aware, sir, that the Strathaivron Branch of the Land League met last week and passed a resolu- tion declaring salmon to be ground-game? What are you to do with pco})le like that? How are you to reason with them? Wliat is the use of pacifying them ? Tliey arc in (ho hands of PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 125 violent and malevolent revolutionaries — it is war they want — it is 1789 they want — it is plunder and robbery and confiscation they want — and the right of every man to live idle at the cost of the state ! Why, God bless my soul ! the idea that you are to try to pacify these ignorant savages — " But here Lionel, who began to fancy that he had discovered another Octavius Quirk, was afforded relief ; for the minister himself appeared ; and at the very sight of him Lord Fare- borough indignantly quitted the room. The minister, who was a rather irascible -looking little man with a weather -reddened face and rusty whiskers, inquired of Lionel whether it was pos- sible to procure a glass of milk ; but when Lionel rang the bell and had some brought for him, the minister observed that milk by itself was a dangerous thing in the morning ; whereupon the butler had to be sent for, who produced the spirit-decanter ; and then, and finally, the minister, boldly discarding the milk alto- gether, poured out for himself a good solid dram, and drank it off with much evident satisfaction. Now the ladies began to make their appearance, some of them going along to the gun-room to hear what the head keeper had to say, others of them trooping out by the front door to guess at the weather. Among the latter was Miss Honnor Cunyng- ham ; and Lionel, who had followed her, went up to her. " A beautiful morning, isn't it ?" he said. " I'm afraid it's too beautiful," said she, in reply. " Look up there." And she was right. This was far too picturesque and vivid a morning to portend well for a shooting-day. Down at the farther end of the strath, the skies were banked up with dark and heavy clouds ; the lake-like sweep of the river was of a sombre and livid blue ; and between the indigo stream and the purple skies, a long neck of land, catching the sunlight, burned the most brilliant gold. And even as they stood and looked, a faint gray veil gradually interposed between them and the dis- tant landscape ; a rainbow slowly formed, spanning the broad valley ; and then behind the fairy curtain of the shower they could see the yellow river-banks, and the birch woods, and the farther-stretching hills all vaguely and spectrally shining in the sun. " But this is a very peculiar glen," said she. " It often 12G PRINCE FORTUNATUS. threatens like that when it means nothing. You may get a per- fectly dry, still day after all. And, Mr. Moore, may I ask you if what you said about your shooting yesterday afternoon was entirely true or only a bit of modesty ?" " If it comes to that," he said, " I never shot a grouse in my life — no, nor ever shot at one." " Because," she continued, with a certain hesitation which was indeed far removed from her usual manner, " because you — you seem rather sensitive to criticism — to other people's opinion — and if you wouldn't think it impertinent of me to offer you some hints — well, for what they are worth — " " But I should be immensely grateful !" he answered at once. " Well," she said, in an undertone, so that no one should overhear, " you know, on the Twelfth, with such still weather as we have had for the last week or two, the birds are never wild ; you needn't be in the least anxious ; you won't be called upon for snap-shots at all ; you can afford to take plenty of time and get well on to the birds before you fire. You see, you will be in the middle ; you will take any bird that gets up in front of you ; my brother and Captain Waveney will take the outside ones and the awkward cross-shots. And if a covey gets up all at once, they won't expect you to pick out the old cock first ; they'll do all that ; in fact, you must put yourself at your case, and not be anxious, and everything will be right." " llonnor !" called Lady Adela. " Come away at once — break- fast is in." So that Lionel had no proper opportunity of thank- ing the young lady for her friendly counsel and the interest she took in his small affairs. Breakfast was a merry meal ; for, as soon as the things had been brought in, the servants were allowed to leave ; and while Lady Adela poured out the tea and coffee, the gentlemen carved for themselves at the sideboard or handed round the dishes at tabic. The Rev. Mr. MacNachtcn, the little Free Church minis- ter, was especially vivacious and humorous, abounding with face- tious anecdotes and jests and personal reminiscences ; until, ob- serving that breakfast was over, he composed his countenance and proceeded to return thanks. The grace (in spite of Lord Farciborough's nervous qualms) was comparatively a short one ; and at tlie end of it they all rose and were for going tlieir sev- eral ways. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 127 But this was not to the minister's mind. " Your leddyship," said he, addressing his hostess in impres- sive tones, " it would be ill done of us to be assembled on such an occasion without endeavoring to make profitable use of it. I propose to say a few words in season, if ye will have the kind- ness to call in the servants." Lady Adela glanced towards her husband with some appre- hension on her face (for she knew the importance attached to the morning of the Twelfth) ; but whatever Sir Ilugh may have thought, he made no sign. Accordingly there was nothing for it but that she should ring the bell and summon the whole household ;"and in a few minutes the door of the room was sur- rounded by a group of Highland women-servants and gillies, the English servants rather hanging back in the hall. The break- fast-party had resumed their seats ; but the minister remained standing ; and presently, when perfect silence had been secured, he lifted up his voice in prayer. Well, it was a sufficiently earnest prayer, and it was listened to with profound attention by the smart-looking lasses and tall and swarthy gillies clustering about the door ; but to the Eng- lish part of his audience its chief features were its curiously ex- hortatory and argumentative character and also its intej-miuable length. As the minister went on and on, the frown of imj^a- tience on Lord Fareborough's face deepened and deepened ; he fretted and fumed and fidgeted ; but, of course, he could not bring disgrace on his son-in-law's house by rising and leaving the room. Nor did it convey much consolation to the sports- men to hear the heavy tramp of the head keeper just outside the windows ; for they knew that Roderick must be making use of the most frightful language over this unheard-of delay. But at last this tremendous oration — for it was far more of an oration than a prayer — came to an end ; and the congrega- tion drew a long breath and were about to seize their newly found liberty when the minister quietly remarked : "We will now sing the Hundred and Twenty-First Psalm." " God bless my soul !" exclaimed Lord Fareborough, aloud ; and Lady Adela flushed quickly ; for it was not seemly of her father to give way to such anger before those keen-eyed and keen-eared Highland servants. However, the Rev. Mr. MacXachtcn took no heed. He began 128 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. to sing, in a slow and raucons fashion, and to the melancholy tune of "Ballerma," " ' I to the hills will lift mine eyes, From whence doth come mine aid ;' " and presently there came from the door a curious nasal wail, men and women singing in unison, and seemingly afraid to trust their voices. As for the people in the room no one tried to join in this part of the service — no one except Honnor Cunyng- ham, who appeared to know the words of the Psalm and the music equally well, for she accompanied the minister through- out, singing boldly and simply and without shyness, her clear voice making marked contrast with his raven notes. Nor was this all ; for, when the Psalm was finished, the minister said, " My friends, when it hath pleased the Lord that we should meet together, we should commune one with another, to the perfecting of ourselves for that greater assemblage to which I hope we are all bound." And then, without further preface, he proceeded to exhort them to well-doing in all the duties of life — as masters and mistresses, as servants, as parents, as children, as brothers, as fellow-Christians ; while at the end of each ram- bling and emphatic passage there came in a verse from Eccle- siastes : '* Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear God, and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty of man." Alas ! there was no conclusion to this matter. The little, vio- lent-faced minister warmed to his work, insomuch that several times he used a Gaelic phrase the better to impress those patient listeners at the door, while he paid less and less attention to the congregation in the room. Lidecd, the hopeless resignation that had at first settled down on some of their faces had given place to a most obvious resentment ; but what did that matter to Mr. MacNachten, who was not looking their way ? Again and again Sir Hugh Cunyngham forlornly pulled out his watch, but the hint was not taken. Lord Farcboroiigh was beside himself with unrest; he drummed his fingers on the table-cloth; he crossed one leg, and then the other; while more than once he made a noise between his tongue and his teeth, which fortunately could not be heard far amid the rolling periods of the sermon, ('ap- tain Wavcney, who was master of the ceremonies in all that PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 129 concerned the shooting — even as he was Sir Hugh's right-hand man in the matter of cattle-breeding at the Braes — on several occasions, when a momentary pause occurred, jumped to his feet as if on the assumption that the discourse was finished ; but this ruse was quite ineffectual, for the preacher took no notice of him. And meanwhile the huge figure of Roderick Munro could be seen marching up and down outside the win- dows, while a pair of wrathful eyes glared in from time to time ; and Lady Adela, noticing these baleful glances, began to hope that the irate head keeper would not secretly instruct a gillie to go and throw the minister into the river as he was crossing the ford on his way home. " May God forgive the scoundrel !" cried Lord Fareborough, when, the long sermon at length being over and the small crowd allowed to disperse, he was free to hasten along to the gun-room to get his boots. " And I am expected to shoot after having my nerves tortured like this ! Who are going with me ? Rock- minster and Lestrange ? Well, they must understand that I will not be hurried and flurried — I say I will not be hurried and flur- ried. I don't want to fall down dead — my heart won't recover this morning's work for months to come ? God bless my soul, who asked that insolent scoundrel to stay the night ? And what's that, Waveney — the ladies coming out to lunch ? The ladies coming out to lunch on the Twelfth — and the day half over ; they must be out of their senses !" " That is the arrangement," Captain Waveney said, with rather a rueful laugh, as he, too, was lacing up his boots. " Lady Rosa- mund is going to take a sketch of the luncheon-party." " Let her take a sketch of the devil !" said this very angry and inconsiderate papa. " Why can't she do it some other day ? — why the Twelfth ? Good heavens ! is everything conspiring to vex and annoy me so that I sha'n't be able to hit a haystack?" " Sir Hugh never says ' no' to anything that Lady Rosamund asks," observed Captain Waveney, with much good-humor. " Sir Hugh be " And here Lord Fareborough expressed a wish about his son-in-law and host that was probably only a figure of speech. " W^ell, I don't know about that," the other replied, compla- cently, as he went to the couch and removed the cloth laid over the guns to protect them from the fine peat-dust (for a huge peat- 6* 130 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. fire burned continuously in this great gun-room, for the drying of garments brought home wet from the shooting or fishing). " I don't know about that ; but at present the arrangement is that we lunch at the top of the Bad Step ; and I believe that Miss Cunyngham is coming back from the Junction Pool, so that Lady Rosamund may have her sketch complete," Indeed, this untoward incident of the minister's misplaced zeal seemed to throw a certain gloom over the small party to which Lionel soon found himself attached, as it moved away from the house. The tall, brown-bearded head keeper was in a sullen rage, though he could only reveal his wrath in sharp little sen- tences of discontent. Sir Hugh had also been put out at losing the best part of the morning ; and Captain Waveney, who was a dapper little man, full of brisk spirits, did not care to talk to silent persons. As for Lionel, he was certainly very nervous and anxious ; but none the less resolved to remember and act upon Honnor Cunyngham's advice. The tail of the procession was brought up by a gillie leading, or rather holding in, two brace of remarkably handsome Gordon setters, and another gillie in charge of a patient-eyed pony with a couple of panniers slung over its back. However, the busy work of the day soon banished these idle regrets. When they had climbed a bit of the hillside, and passed through a gate in a rude stone wall, they stopped for a second to put cartridges in their guns ; the keeper had two of the dogs uncoupled ; while the gillie, putting a strap on the coupling of the other two, led them away to a convenient knoll, where he lay down, the gillie with the pony following his example. And scarcely had the two dogs begun to work this open bit of moor- land when one of them suddenly ceased its wide ranging — sud- denly as if it had been turned to stone ; and then slowly, slowly it began to draw forward, its companion, a younger dog, backing beautifully and looking on with startled, watchful eyes. It was an anxious moment for the famous young baritone of the New Theatre ; for the dog was right in front of him ; and as the three guns, in line, stealthily moved forward, he made sure that this bird was going to get up just before him. Despite all his resolve to be perfectly cool and calm, his heart was beating quickly ; and again and again he was repeating to himself Ilonnor Cunyngham's counsel, and wondering whether he would disgrace himself at PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 131 the very outset, when some bewildering brown thing sprang from the ground, there was a terrific whir, a crack from Captain Waveney's gun — and away along there the grouse came tumbling down into the heather. Almost at the same moment there was another appalling whir on his right — followed by a bang from Sir Plugh's gun — and another bird fell headlong. After the briefest pause for reloading, the setter, that had obediently dropped at the first shot, was encouraged to go forward, the guns warily following. But it turned out that this had been an outlying brace of birds ; the dogs were soon ranging freely again ; Roderick picked up the slain grouse, and the whole party went on. " Sorry you didn't get the first shot, Mr. Moore," said Sir Hugh, who was a short, thick-set man, with a fresh-colored face, iron-gray hair, and keen, light-blue eyes. " I wish the birds would all rise to you two," Lionel said. " Then I shouldn't have to pitch into myself for missing," " Oh, you'll soon get into the way of it," Sir Hugh said, good- naturedly. " There's never much doing along this face." " I'll bet Bruce is on to something," Captain Waveney ex- claimed, suddenly. In fact, only one of the ranging setters was now in sight; and Roderick had quickly run up to the top of a heathery knoll, to have them both in view. At the same mo- ment they saw him hold up his arm to warn the inattentive Venus. " How, Venus ! How, Venus !" he called, in a low voice ; and immediately the dog, observing that its companion was drawing on to a point, became rigid. The guns were on the scene directly ; and they were just in time ; for, with a simultaneous rattle of wings that seemed to fill the air, a small covey of birds sprang from the heather and ap- peared to vanish into space. At least Lionel saw nothing of the others ; his attention was concentrated on one that seemed to be flying away in a straight line from Mm ; and after paus- ing for half a second (during which he was calling on him- self to be cool) he pulled the trigger. To his inexpressible satisfaction the bird stopped in mid-air and came down with a thump on the heather, where it gave but one flutter and then lay still. He turned to see what his companions had done, with their brisk fusillade. But he could not make out. They were 133 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. still watching the setter, that was again being encouraged to go on, lest a stray bird or two might still be in hiding. However, the quest was fruitless. The whole of the small covey had risen simultaneously. So Roderick picked up the dead birds and put them on a conspicuous stone, at the same time signalling to the gillie with the pony, who was slowly coming up. Then the shooting-party went forward again. " How many birds rose then ?" Lionel asked of his host. '' Five." " And you got them all ?" he said, judging by what he had seen the head keeper pick up. " Oh, yes, we got them all. They spread out like a fan. Waveney got one brace and I another. I suppose," he added, with a smile, " you were too intent on your own bird to notice ?" " Yes, I was," he said, honestly ; but he was none the less elated, for he knew that a good beginning would give him con- fidence. And it did. They were soon at a part of the moor where the fun grew fast and furious; and, keeping as close as he could to certainties, or what looked like certainties, he was doing fairly well. As for the other two, he could only judge of their prowess by the birds the keeper picked up ; for he kept strictly to his own business and rarely adventured on a second shot. But it was clear that both Sir Hugh and Captain Waveney were highly pleased with the way things were going. There were plenty of birds ; they lay well ; the dogs were working beauti- fully ; and the bag was mounting up at a rate that promised to atone for the delay of the morning. In fact, they were now dis- posed to regard that episode as rather a comical affair. " I say, Waveney," Sir Hugh remarked, as they paused for a moment to have a sip of cold tea, for the day was hot, " you'd better confess it ; you put up the old minister to give us that frightfully long service this morning. It was a joke on Lord Fareborough — now, wasn't it?" " It may have been ; but I had nothing to do with it, any- way," was the answer. " Not I. Too serious a joke. I thought his lordship was going to have a fit of apoplexy when he came into the gun-room." " My good follow, don't talk like that !" the other exclaimed. ** If you mention apoplexy to liim, he'll add that on to the hun- PRIKCE FORTUNATUS. 133 dred and twenty diseases and dangers that threaten his life every moment. Apoplexy ! What has he got already ? — gout, asth- ma, heart disease, his lungs giving way, his liver in a frightful condition, his nervous system gone to bits — and yet, all the same, the old hypocrite is going to try for a stag before he leaves. I suppose he'll want Roderick to carry him as soon as he quits the pony ! Well, come along, Mr. Moore ; we've done pretty well so far, I think." But it was not Lionel who needed any incitement to go for- ward ; he was far more eager than any of his companions, now that he had been acquitting himself none so ill. Moreover, he had youth on his side and a sound chest, while nature had not given him a pair of well-formed calves for nothing ; so that he faced the steep hillsides or got over the rough ground with com- parative ease, rejoicing the while in the unwonted freedom of knickerbockers. It was Sir Hugh, with his bulky habit of body, who got blown now and again ; as for Captain Waveney, he was a pretty tough subject and wiry. So they fought bravely on, to atone for the inhuman detention of the morning ; and by the time it was necessary to make for the appointed luncheon ren- dezvous they had the wherewithal to give a very excellent account of themselves. Now, several times during the morning they had come in view of the Aivron, winding far below them through the wide strath, or narrowing to a thread as it rose towards the high horizon-line in the west ; and always, when there was a momentary chance, Lionel's eye had sought these distant sweeps and bends for some glimpse of the lonely angler-maiden, and sought in vain. The long valley seemed empty ; and some little feeling of shyness prevented his asking his companions to point out the Junction Pool, whither, as he understood, she had been bound in the morning. And as they now approached the appointed place of meeting, he was quite disturbed by the fancy that she might have strayed away into unknown regions ^md be absent from this general picnic ; and the moment they came in sight of the group of people who were strolling about, or looking on while the servants spread out the table-cloth on the heather and brought forth the various viands, one swift glance told him she was not present. Here was a disappointment ! He wanted to tell her how he had got on, under her kind instruction — this was his 134 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. own explanation of the pang her absence caused him ; but pres- ently he had found another ; for Lady Rosamund was grouping the people for her sketch ; and what would the sketch be with- out Honnor Cunyngham in it ? He made bold to say so. " Oh, you can't depend on Honnor," Lady Adela said. " She may have risen a fish, or may have got hold of one. But if you want to know whether she is likely to turn up, you might go out to that point, Mr. Moore, and then you'll be able to see whether she is coming anywhere near the Bad Step." Willingly enough he went down through the scattered birch- trees to a projecting point overlooking the river from a very considerable height ; and there, right below him, he discovered what it was they called the Bad Step. The precipice on which he stood going sheer down into the Aivron, the path along the stream left the banks some distance off, came up to where he stood, and then descended again by a deep gorge probably cut by water-power through the slaty rock. And even as he was regarding this twilit chasm it suddenly appeared to him that there were two figures away down there, crossing the burn at the foot ; and then one of them, in gray — unmistakably the fisher-maiden herself — began the ascent. How she managed to obtain a footing he could not make out ; for the path was no path, but merely a zig-zag track on the surface of the loose shingle — shingle so loose that he could see it yield to her every step, while the debris rolled away down to the bed of the burn. But still she fought her way upward, and at last she stood face to face with him, smiling, but a little breathless. " That's a frightful place to come up," said he. " Oh, it's nothing, when you know it," she said, lightly. " Tell me, how did you get on this morning ?" " Thanks to you, I think I did pretty well," said he. " I'm awfully glad of that," said she ; and the soft, clear hazel eyes repeated her words in their own transparent way. " I remembered all your instructions," he continued (and he was in no hurry that Miss Cunyngham should go on to the luncheon-party ; while old Robert stood patiently by). " And I was very fortunate in getting easy shots. Then when I did miss, either Sir Hugh or Captain Wavcney was sure to get the bird ; I never saw such smart shooting." " What have yfi done ?" PRINCE FORTUNATUS. I35 " Altogether ?" " Yes." " I don't know. The panniers are being emptied, to make a show for Lady Rosamund's sketch. I fancy there are close on sixty brace of grouse, with some blue hares and a snipe and a wild duck." " What has Lord Fareborough's party done ?" " I don't know ; they have just shown up — so you needn't hurry on unless you are hungry." " But I am — very hungry," said she, with a laugh. " I have been hard at work all the morning." " Oh, in that case," he said, eagerly, " by all means come along, and I'll get you something at once. You and I needn't wait for the emptying of the other panniers. Oh, yes, that will do first-rate ; I'm a duflfer at shooting, you know, Miss Cunyng- ham, but I'm a splendid forager at a picnic. Let me carry the gaff for you." " Oh, no, thank you," she said, " I merely use it as a walking- stick coming up the Bad Step." "And there," he exclaimed, as they went on through the birch-wood, " look at the selfishness of men ! You ask all about my shooting ; but I never asked what luck you had with your fishing." " Well, I've had rather bad luck," she said, simply. " I lost a fish in the Geinig Pool, after having him on for about five min- utes, and I rose another in the Horse-Shoe Pool and couldn't get him to come again all I could do. But I mean to call upon him in the afternoon." A sudden inspiration flashed into his brain. " I should like to come and see you try for him," he said, quickly. " 1 suppose they wouldn't mind my sending home my gun ?" " Mr. Moore !" she said, with her eyes downcast. " They'd think you were mad to leave a shooting-party on the Twelfth. You can see a salmon caught, or catch one yourself, any time," He felt a little bit snubbed, he hardly knew why ; but of course she knew what was right in all such things ; and so he humbly acquiesced. Indeed, he could not contest the point, for now they had come upon the picnic -party, where luncheon was in full swinfj. Lord Fareborouo^h had declared on his ar- 136 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. rival that he would not wait for the completion of his daughter's sketch ; his nervous system was not to be tried in any such fashion ; luncheon must be proceeded with at once, and Lady Rosamund could make her drawing when the gentlemen were smoking afterwards. Lady Adela wanted to wait for Mr. Moore, but she, too, was overruled by the impatient hypochondriac. So Lionel set to work to form a seat for Miss Ilonnor, out of some bracken that the gillies had cut and brought along ; and also he exclusively looked after her — to Miss Georgie Lestrange's cha- grin ; for Lord Rockminster was too lazy to attend to any one but himself, and what girl likes being waited on by her brother when other young men are about ? And now the burly and broad-shouldered host of all these people called on them to unanimously forgive the minister for the injury he had unintentionally done them in the morning. " It wasn't the good man's fault at all ; it was Waveney's," Sir Hugh continued, as he got hold of a spoon and delved it into a pigeon-pie. " I assure you it was a practical joke that Cap- tain Waveney played upon the whole of you. He gave the min- ister a little hint — and the thing was done." Lord Fareborough glared at the culprit as if he expected to see the heavens fall upon him ; but Lady Adela observed, with a touch of dignity, " I hope I know Captain Waveney well enough not to be- lieve that he would turn any religious service into a practical joke." " I hope so, too. Lady Adela," the dapper little captain in- stantly replied, though without any great embarrassment. " That's hardly my line of country. But there's another thing: Sir Hugh may ask you to believe anything, but he won't make you believe that I could trifle with such a sacred subject as the morning of the Twelftli." " Faith, you're right there, Waveney," Sir Hugh said, with a laugh. " Well, we've done our best to make up for the loss of time. And now, Rose, if you want to have your sketch, fire away ! I'm going to light a pipe ; but, mind, we sha'n't stop here very long. You'd better put in us men at once; and then you can draw in the ladies and the game and the luncheon at your leisure." " And if you want me, Rose," Ilonnor Cunyngham said, PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 137 " please put me in at once, too ; for I'm going away back to the Horseshoe Pool." " My dear child," Lady Adela protested, " you'll break your neck some day going down that Bad Step. I really think Hugh should have a windlass at the top and let people down by a rope. Now look alive, Rose, and get your sketch begun ; I can see the gentlemen are all impatient to be off. And mind you have Mr. Moore rolling up a cigarette : it won't be natural otherwise." She was right about one thing, anyway ; the sportsmen were undoubtedly impatient to be off; and it is to be feared that Lady Rosamund's sketch suffered by the restlessness of her models. Indeed, after a very little while. Lord Fareborough in- dignantly rose, and declared he never had known a Twelfth of xVu- gust so shamelessly sacrificed. He, for one, would have no more of it. He called to the under-keeper to bring along the gillies and the dogs ; whereupon Lady Rosamund, who had a temper not quite in consonance with the calm and statuesque beauty of her features, closed her sketch-book and threw it aside, saying she would make the drawing some other day when she found the gentlemen a little more considerate. And soon Lionel and his two companions were at their brisk occupation again ; though ever and anon his thoughts would go wandering away to the Horseshoe Pool, and his fancy was picturing the fisher-maiden on the summit of a great gray boul- der, while a fifteen-pounder raced and chased in the black deeps below. Sometimes he tried to get a glimpse of the upper stretches of the river ; but this was a dangerous trick when all his attention was demanded by the work on hand. In any case his scrutiny of those far regions was unavailing ; for the Horse- shoe Pool is on the Geinig, a tributary of the Aivron, and not visible from the hill-slopes along which they were now shooting. The bag mounted up steadily ; for the afternoon, despite the threats of the morning, remained fine and clear and still ; the birds lay close, and the two outside guns were skilful perform- ers. As for Lionel, he had now acquired a certain confidence ; he took no shame that he reserved for himself the easy shots ; the nasty ones he could safely leave to his companions. At last, as they came in sight of a lovely little tarn lying under a distant hillock, and could descry two small dots floating on the smooth surface of the water, Sir Hugh said to his head keeper, 138 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " See here, Roderick, are those duck or mergansers ?" The keeper took a long look before he made reply. " I'm not sure. Sir Hugh, but I am thinking they are mer- gansers, for I was seeing two or three lately." " Very well, call in the dogs. I'm going to sit down and have a pipe. I suppose you'll do the same, Mr. Moore — thougli I must say this for you that you can walk. You have the ad- vantage of youth, and you haven't as much to carry as I have. Well, I propose we have a few minutes' rest ; and we will oc- cupy ourselves in watching Waveney stalk those mergansers. There's a job for you, Waveney. They are the most detestable birds alive to have near a forest or a salmon-stream." " Why, what harm can they do to the salmon ?" Lionel asked, as he saw Captain Waveney at once change the cartridges in his gun for No. 4's and set off down the hillside. " They snap up the parr, of course," said his heavy-shouldered host, as he drew out a wooden pipe and a pouch of black Caven- dish," but that isn't the worst: they disturb the pools most abominably — swimming about under water they frighten the salmon out of their senses. But when you get them about a deer-forest they are a still more intolerable nuisance ; you are never safe; just as you are getting up to the stag, creeping along the course of a burn, perhaps, bang ! goes one of those brutes like a sky-rocket, and the whole herd are instantly on the alert. Oh, that's a job old Waveney likes well enough ; and it will give the dogs a rest as well as ourselves." By this time the stalker had got out of sight. He was mak- ing a considerable detour, so as to get round by the back of the hillock unobserved ; and when he came into view again, he was on the other side of the valley. The mergansers, if they were mergansers, were still swimming about unsuspectingly, though sometimes at a considerable distance a})art. " Does Miss Cunyngham shoot as well as fish ?" Lionel ven- tured to ask. " She has tried it," her brother said, as he called up Roderick and gave him a dram out of his capacious flask. " And I think she might shoot very well, but slie doesn't care about it. It is too violent, she says. The sudden bang disturbs the charm of the scenery — something of that kind — I'm not up in these things ; but she's an odd kind of girl. Tremendously fond of I PRINCE FORTUNATDS. I39 quietude and solitude ; we've found her in the most unexpected places — and there are some lonely places about these hills. I tell her she shouldn't go on these long- excursions without tak- ing old Robert with her ; supposing she were to sprain her ankle, she might have to remain there all night and half the next day before we could find her. Sooner or later I know she'll startle some solitary shepherd out of his senses : he'll come back to his hut swearing that he has seen a Gray Lady where no mor- tal woman could be. Hullo, there's Waveney again — he'll soon be on them." They could see him stealing across the top of the hillock, and then making his way down behind certain rocks that served as a screen between him and the birds. Then he disappeared again. " Why doesn't he fire ?" Lionel asked, presently. " He must be quite close to them." " Not so close as you imagine," was the answer. " Probably he is waiting until they come nearer together." The next moment there stepped boldly forth the slight, brown figure ; the birds instantly rose from the water and, with swift, straight flight, made down the valley ; but they had not got many yards wlien there were two white puffs of smoke, both birds almost simultaneously came tumbling to the ground, and then followed the double report of a gun. " Waveney has got his eye in to-day for certain," Sir Hugh said. " But what's the use of his bringing the birds along ? they're no good to anybody." " I thought perhaps they might be of some use for salmon- flies," Captain Waveney explained, as he came up. " Aren't they, Roderick ?" The keeper regarded the two birds contemptuously, and shook his head. " Well, Waveney, we will give you five minutes' grace, if you like," Sir Hugh said. " Sit down and have a pipe." But this slim and wiry warrior had not even taken the gun from his shoulder. " No,-no," said he, " if you are ready, I am. I can get plenty of smoking done in the South." So they began again ; but the afternoon was now on the wane and the beats were leading them homewards. Only two small 140 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. incidents tLat befell the novice need mentioning. The first hap- pened in this wise : the dogs were ranging widely over what ap- peared to be rather a barren beat, when suddenly one of them came to a dead point a considerable distance on. Of course Captain Waveney and Sir Hugh hurried forward ; but Lionel could not, for he had got into trouble with a badly jammed car- tridge. Just as he heard the first shot fired, he managed to get the empty case extracted and to replace it with a full one ; and then he was about to hasten forward when he saw the covey rise — a large covey it was — while Captain Waveney got a right and left, and Sir Hugh fired his remaining barrel, for he had not had time to reload. At the same instant Lionel found that one of the birds had doubled back and was coming right over his head ; up went his gun ; he blazed away ; and down rolled the grouse some dozen yards behind him. " Well done !" Sir Hugh called out. " A capital shot !" " A ghastly fluke, Sir Hugh T' Lionel called out, in return. " I simply fired in the air." " And a very good way of firing, too !" was the naive rejoin- der. But his next achievement was hardly so creditable. They were skirting the edge of a birch-wood that clothed the side of a steep precipice overlooking the Aivron, where there were some patches of bracken among the heather, when the setter in front of him — a young dog — began to draw rather falteringly on to something. " Ware rabbit, Hector !" the keeper said, in an undertone. But meanwhile the older dog, that was backing in front of Captain Waveney, whether it was impatient of this uncertainty on the part of its younger companion, or whether it was jealous, managed, unobserved, to steal forward a foot or two, until sud- denly it stopped rigid. " Good dog, L-is, good dog !" Captain Waveney said (for he had overlooked that little bit of stealthy advance), and he shift- ed his gun from his right hand to liis left, and stooped down and patted the animal's neck — though all the time he was look- ing well ahead. Then all at once there was a terrific whir of wings ; Waveney quickly put his gun to his shoulder — paused — took it down again ; at the same moment Lionel, finding a bird within his PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 141 proper field, as he considered — though it was going away at a prodigious speed — took steady aim and fired. That distant ob- ject dropped — there was not a flutter. Of course the keeper and Sir Hugh were still watching the young dog; but when this doubtful scent came to nothing, Sir Hugh turned to Lionel. " That was a long shot of yours, Mr. Moore," said he. " And very excusable." " Excusable ?" said Lionel, wondering what he had done this time. " Of course you knew that was a blackcock ?" the other said. " A blackcock ?" he repeated. " Didn't you hear Roderick call out ? Didn't you see Wave- ney put up his gun and then take it down ?" " Neither the one nor the other ; I only saw a bird before me — and fired." " Oh, well, there's no great harm done ; if a man has no worse sin on his conscience than shooting a blackcock on the Twelfth, he should sleep sound o' nights. Waveney is fastidious. I dare say, if the bird had come my way, I should not have resist- ed the temptation." Lionel considered that Sir Hugh was an exceedingly consider- ate and good-natured person ; and in fact when they picked up the dead bird, and when he was regarding its handsome plumage, it cannot fairly be said that he was very sorry for his venial mis- take. Only he considered he was bound in honor to make con- fession to Miss Cunyngham. Alas ! he was to see little of Miss Cunyngham that night. As soon as dinner w^as over — and Sir Hugh and his satellite had left the dining-room to enter up the game-book, write labels for special friends, and generally finish up the business of the day — Lady Adela proposed a game of Dumb Crambo ; and in this she was heartily backed up by the Lestranges, for Miss Georgie seemed to think that the mantle of Kitty Clive had descended upon her shoulders, while her brother evidently regarded him- self as a facetious person. Speedily it appeared, however, that there was to be a permanent and stationary audience. Lord Fareborough — especially after dinner, when his nervous system was still in dark deliberation as to what it meant to do with him — was too awful a personage to be approached ; Honnor Cun- 143 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. yngham good-liuinoredly said that she was too stupid to join in ; and Lord Rockminster declared that if that was her excuse, it apphed much more obviously to himself. Accordingly, the re- maining members of the house-party had to form the entertain- ers ; and never had Lionel entered into any pastime with so lit- tle zest. These people could not act a bit, and yet he had to coach them ; and then he and they had to go into the drawing- room and perform their antics before that calm-browed young lady (who nevertheless regarded the proceedings with the most friendly interest) and her companion, the stolid young lord. He could not help acknowledging to himself that Miss Honnor Cunyngham and Lord Rockminster formed a remarkably hand- some couple as they sat together there on a couch at right angles with the fireplace ; but the distinguished appearance of the au- dience did not console him for the consciousness that the per- formers were making themselves absurd. He was impatient, ashamed, of the whole affair. Dark and sullen thoughts went flashing through his brain of saving up every penny he could get hold of and going away into some savage wilderness in Ross or Sutherland,' to be seen of actors and amateurs no more. His gun and his rod would be his sole companions; his library would consist of St. John, Colquhoun, " Stonehcnge," and Fran- cis (not of Assisi) ; by moor and stream he would earn his own subsistence ; and theatres and fashionable life and the fantastic aspirations and ambitions of les Precieuses Ridicules would be banished from him forever. But fortunately a nine-o'clock din- ner had driven this foolish entertainment late, so that it did not last long ; the ladies were unanimously willing to retire ; the gen- tlemen thereupon trooped off to the gun-room to have a smoke and a glass of whiskey and soda water ; and very soon there- after the deep-breathing calm of the whole household told that the labors of the Twelfth were over. CHAPTER LX. VENATOR IMMEMOR. And wliy was it, when, in course of time, it became practi- cable to arrange a deer-stalking expedition for liiiii, why was it PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 143 that he voluntarily chose to encounter what Lord Rockrainster had called the very extremes of fatigue and human misery ? He knew that he was about to undergo tortures of anxiety and pri- vation ; and, what was worse, he knew he was going to miss. He had saturated his mind with gillies' stories of capital shots who had completely lost their nerve on first catching sight of a stag. The " buck-ague " was already upon him. Not for him was there waiting away in these wilds some Muckle Uart of Ben More to gain a deathless fame from his rifle-bullet. He was about to half-kill himself with the labors of a long and arduous expedition, and at the end of it he foresaw himself re- turning home defeated, dejected, in the deepest throes of morti- fication and chagrin. And look what he was giving up. Here was a whole house- ful of charming women all ready to pet him and make much of him ; and in their society he would be at home, dealing with things with which he was familiar. Lady Sybil would be grate- ful to him if he helped her with the music she was arranging for " Alfred : a Masque ;" he could be of abundant service, too, to Lady Rosamund, who was now making individual studies for her large drawing of " Luncheon on the Twelfth ;" though per- haps he could not lend much aid to Lady Adela, who was un- derstood to be getting on very well with her new novel. But, at all events, he would be in his own element ; he would be among things that he understood ; he would be no trembling ignoramus adventuring forth into the unknown. And yet when, early in the morning, the old and sturdy pony was brought round to the door, and when the brown-bearded Roderick had shoul- dered the rifle and was ready to set forth, Lionel had little thought of surrendering his chance to any one else. " I call this very shabby treatment," his burly and good-hu- mored host said, as he stood at the open door. " When a man goes stalking, if there's a pretty girl in the house, she ought to make her appearance and give him a little present for good luck. It's an understood thing ; it's an old custom ; and yet there isn't one of those lazy creatures down yet." " This is the best I can do for you, old fellow," Percy Le- strange said, at the same moment. " I can't give you the flask, for my sister Georgie gave it to me ; but I will lend it to you for the day ; and it's filled with an excellent mixture of cura^oa 144 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. and brandy. You'll want some comfort ; and I don't expect they'll let you smoke. What do you think of my crest?" He handed the silver flask to Lionel, who found engraved on the side of it a merry and ingenious device, consisting of two briar-root pipes, crossed, and surrounded by a heraldic garter bearing the legend " Dulce est de-siji-ere in loco .^" Was this Miss Georgie's little joke ? Anyhow, he pocketed the flask with much gratitude ; he guessed he might have need of it, if all tales were true. " I hope you'll get a presentable head," Sir Hugh said. " The stags themselves are not in very good condition yet ; but the horns are all right — the velvet's off." " It doesn't much matter," Lionel made answer, contentedly. " I know beforehand I am going to miss. Well, good-bye, for the present ! Go ahead, Maggie !" But at the same moment there was a glimmer of a gray dress in the twilight of the hall ; and the next moment Honnor Cun- yngham appeared on the doorstep, the morning light shining on her smiling face. " Mr. Moore," she said, coming forward without any kind of embarrassment, " there's an old custom — didn't my brother tell you ? — you must take a little gift from some one in the house, just as you are going away, for good luck. You haven't yet ? Here it is, then." " It is exceedingly kind of you," said he ; " and I wish I could make the omen come true ; but I have no such hope. I know I am going to miss." " You are going to kill a stag !" said she, confidently. " That is what you are going to do. Well, good-bye, and good-luck !" So the little party of three — Lionel, Roderick, and the attend- ant gillie — straightway left the lodge and began to make for the head of the strath. And it was not altogether about deer that Lionel was now thinking. The tiny, thin packet he held in his hand seemed to burn there. What was it Ilonnor Cunyng- ham had brought down-stairs for him ? However trivial it might be, surely it was something he could keep. She had given it to him for good luck ; but her wishes were not confined to this one day ? Then, when he had got some distance from the house, so that his curiosity could not be observed, he threw the reins on Maggie's neck, and proceeded to open this sinall packet covered PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 145 with white paper. What did he find there? — why, only a six- pence — a briglit new sixpence — not to be compared in value with the dozens on dozens of presents which were lavished upon him by his fair admirers in London — courteous little attentions which, it must be confessed, he had grown to regard with a somewhat callous indifference. Only a small, bright coin this was ; and yet he carefully wrapped np the precious talisman again in its bit of tissue paper ; and as carefully he put it away in a waistcoat pocket, where it would be safe, even among the rough-and-tumble experiences that lay before him. The day seemed all the hap- pier, all the more hopeful, that he knew this little token of friend- ly sympathy was in his possession. Ought not a lucky sixpence to have a hole bored in it ? He could wear it in secret, even if she might not care to see it hanging at his watch-chain ; and who could tell what subtle influence it might not bring to bear on his fortunes, wholly apart from the stalking of stags? He grew quite cheerful ; he forgot his nervousness ; he was talking gayly to the somewhat taciturn Roderick, who, nevertheless, no doubt much preferred to find his pupil in this confident mood. Their course at first lay along the nearer bank of the Aivron ; but when they had got away up the strath towards the neigh- borhood of the Bad Step — which was, of course, impassable for the pony — Lionel had to separate from his companions and ford the river, following up the other side. Fortunately there was not much water in the stream ; old Maggie knew her way well enough ; and with nothing more than an occasional stumble among the slippery boulders and loose stones they reached the opposite bank in safety. About a mile farther up the return crossing had to be made ; but this second ford was shallow and easy ; and thenceforward the united party went on together. At last they struck the Geinig ; and here a rude track took them away from the valley of the Aivron altogether, mto a solitary land of moor and rock. It was a still and rather louring morning ; but yet he did not perceive any gloom in it at all ; nay, there was rather a tender and wistful beauty up in this lonely wilderness he was entering. The heavy masses of cloud hung low and brooding over the pur- ple hills ; the heavens seemed to be in close communion with the murmuring streams in these otherwise voiceless solitudes ; the long undulations were not darkly stained, they only lay un- 146 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. der a soft, transparent shadow. Even among the grays and pur- ple-grays of the sky there was here and there a mild sheen of silver ; and now and again a pale radiance would begin to tell upon an uprising slope, until something almost like sunlight shone there, glorifying the lichened rocks and the crimson lieather. This was one of the days that Honnor Cunyngham loved ; and he, too, had got to appreciate their sombre beauty, the brooding calm, the gracious silence, when he went with her on her fishing expeditions into the wilds. And here was her favorite Geinig — sometimes with tawny masses boiling down between the boulders, sometimes sweeping in a black-brown current round a sudden curve, and sometimes racing over sil- ver-gray shallows ; but always with this continuous murmur that seemed to offer a kind of companionship where there was no other sound or sign of life. And would she be up here later on ? he asked himself, with a curious kind of interest. Would she have a thought for the small party that had passed in the early morning and disappeared into the remote and secret fast- nesses among those lonely hills ? Might she linger on in the evening, in the hope of finding them coming home again — per- chance with joyful news ? For, after all, this lucky sixpence had buoyed up his spirits ; he was not so entirely certain he would miss, if anything like a fair chance presented itself ; and he knew that if that chance did offer, he would bring all that was iu him to bear on the controlling of his nerves — he would not breathe — his life would be concentrated on the small cleft of the rifle — if his heart cracked in twain the instant after the trigger was pulled. But these vague and anxious speculations were soon to be dis- carded for the immediate interests of the moment. They were getting near to the ground — after a sufficiently rough journey of close on eight miles; and now, as they came to tlie bed of a little burn, Lionel was bidden to descend from his venerable steed ; the saddle was taken off ; and old Maggie was hobbled, and left to occupy herself with the fresli, sweet grass growing near to the stream. " Now look here, Roderick," Lionel said, " I'm entirely in your hands, and mind you don't spare me. Since I'm in for it, I mean to see it through." " When it is after a stag we are, there is no sparing of any PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 147 one," said Roderick, significantly, as he took ont his telescope. " And you will think of this, sir, that if we are crahling along, and come on the deer without expecting it, and if they see you, then you will lie still like a stone. Many's the time they will chist stand and look at you, if you do not move ; and then slowly, slowly you will put your head down in the heather again, and wait till I tell you what to do. But if you go. out of sight quick — ay, so will they." At first, as it appeared to Lionel, they went forward with a dangerous fearlessness, the keeper merely using his natural eye- sight to search the slopes and corries ; but presently he began to go more warily ; again and again he paused, to watch the mo- tion of the white rags of cloud clinging to the hillsides ; and occasionally, as they got up into the higher country, he would lie down with his back on a convenient mound, cross one knee over the other, and, with this rest for his telescope, proceed to scrutinize, inch by inch, the vast prospect before him. There was no more talking now. There w^as a kind of stealthiness in their progress, even when they walked erect ; but it soon ap- peared to Lionel that Roderick, who went first, seemed to be keeping a series of natural eminences between them and a cer- tain distant tract of this silent and lonely land. It was only a guess ; but it accounted for all kinds of circuitous little turns ; anyhow, there was nothing for him but to follow blindly whither he was led. Of course he kept his eyes open ; but there was no sign of life anywhere in this barren wilderness ; there was noth- ing but th6 empty undulations of heath and thick grass, with sometimes a little tarn coming in sight, and always the farther hills forming a sort of solitary amphitheatre along the horizon. Suddenly Roderick stopped short, and quietly put out his hand to arrest the progress of his companions. Involuntarily they stooped ; and he not only did likewise, but presently he was on his back on the heather, with the telescope balanced as before. After a long and earnest scrutiny, he offered the glass to Lionel. " They're there," he said, " but in an ahfu' bad place for us," Eagerly Lionel got hold of the telescope and tried to balance it as the keeper had done ; but either his hand was trembling, or the wind had a purchase on the long tube, or he was unaccus- tom.ed to its use ; at all events he could make out nothing but nebulous and uncertain patches of color. 148 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Tell me where they are," he said, quickly, as he put aside the glass. " I have good eyes." " Do you see the gray scar on the hillside yonder ? — then right below that the rocks — and then the open place — can you see them now ? Ay, and there's not a single hind with them — " "They're all stags?" exclaimed Lionel, breathlessly. "Every one," said Roderick. "And when there's no hinds with them, it is easier to get at them, for they're not near so wary as the hinds ; but that is a bad place where they are feeding the now — a terrible bad place. I'm thinking it is no use to try to get near them there ; but they will keep feeding on and on until they get over the ridge ; and what we will do now is we will chist go aweh down wind, and get round to them from anither airt." It was little that Lionel knew what was involved in this ap- parently simple scheme. At first everything was easy enough ; for, when they had fallen back out of sight of the deer, they merely set forth upon a long walk down wind, going erect, with- out any trouble. It is true that Lionel in time began to think that the keeper, instead of having the deer in mind, was bent on a pilgrimage into Cromarty or Sutherland, or perhaps towards the shores of the Atlantic ; but this interminable tramp was a mere trifle compared with their labors when they began to go up wind again. For now there was nothing but stooping and crawl- ing and slouching behind hillocks, up peat-hags, and through marshy swamps; while the heat produced by all this painful toil was liable to a sudden chill whenever a halt was called to enable Roderick to writhe his prostrate figure up to the top of some slight eminence, where, raising his head inch by inch, he once more informed himself of the whereabouts of the deer. There seemed to be no end to this snake-like squirming along the ground and creeping behind rocks and hillocks ; in fact, they were now in a quite different tract of country from that in which they had first caught sight of the stags — a much more wild and sombre landscape was this, with precipitous black crags over- hanging a sullen and solitary loch that had not a bush or a tree along its lifeless shores. As for Lionel, he fought along without repining. His arms were soaking wet up to the elbows ; his legs were in a like condition from the knee downward. Then he was damp with perspiration; while ever and anon, when he PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 149 had to lie prone in the moist grass, or crouch like a frog behind a rock, the cold wind from the hills sent a shiver down his spine or seemed to strike like an icy dagger through his chest. But he took it all as part of the day's work. There was in his possession a little silver token that afforded him much content. He would acquit himself like a man — if he could ; at any rate, he would not grumble. After what seemed ages of this inconceivable torture, Lionel was immensely relieved to find the keeper, after a careful sur- vey from the top of a mound to which he had crawled, motion with his hand to him to come up to his side. This he did with the greatest circumspection, scarcely raising his head above the grass and heather ; and then, when he had joined Roderick, he began to peer through the waving stalks and twigs just before his eyes. Suddenly his gaze was arrested by certain brown tips — tips that were moving; were these the stags' horns, he asked himself, in a kind of bewilderment of fear ? There could be no doubt of it. The beasts were now lying down — he could not see their bodies — but clearly enough he could make out their branching antlers, as they lazily moved their heads, or perhaps turned to flick a fly away. " They're too far off, aren't they ?" Lionel whispered — and, despite all his sworn resolves to keep calm, he felt his heart go- ing as if it would choke him. " They're lying down now," Roderick said, with professional coolness, " and they're right out in the open ; it is no use at all trying to get near them until they get up in the afternoon anA begin to feed again, and then maybe they will feed over the shoulder yonder. No use at all," said he ; but just at this mo- ment his quick eye caught sight of something else that had just appeared on the edge of one of the lower slopes, and the expres- sion of his face instantly changed — into something like alarm. " Bless me, look at that now !" Lionel slowly and cautiously turned his head ; and then, quite clearly, he could see a small company of seven or eight stags that had come along from quite a different direction. They paused at the crest of the slope, looking all about them. " Was ever anything so mischievous ?" Roderick exclaimed, in smothered vexation. " If they come over this way they will get our wind ; and then it is good-bye to all of them. And we 150 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. cannot get away neither — well, well, was there ever the like now ? There is only the one chance — mebbe they will go along to the others, and keep with them till they begin feeding in the after- noon. Indeed, now, it is a terrible peety if we are to miss such a chance — and not a hind anywhere to be on the watch !" Happily, however, Roderick's immediate fears were soon dis- pelled. The new-comers slowly descended the slope ; then they bore up the valley again ; and after walking about awhile, they followed the example of the rest of the herd and lay down on the heather. " Ay, ay, that is better now," Roderick said, with much satis- faction. " That is ferry well now. And since there is nothing to be done till the whole of them get up to feed in the after- noon, we will chist creep aweh into a peat-hag and wait there, and you can have your lunch, sir." So there was another crawling performance down from this exposed height; and eventually the small party managed to hide themselves in a black and moist peat-hag, where their ex- tremely frugal repast was produced. " But look here, Roderick," Lionel said, " it's only twelve o'clock now ; do you mean to say we have to stop in this wet hole till two or three in the afternoon ?" "Ay, chist that," the keeper said, coolly. "They will begin to feed about three ; and until they go over the ridge, it is no use at all trying to get near them." " And what are we to do all the time ?" " Chist wait," Roderick said, with much simplicity ; and then he and the gillie withdrew a little way down the peat-hag, so that they might have their luncheon and a cautious whispering in Gaelic by themselves. It was tantalizing in the last degree. The breathless con- sciousness that the deer were close by made him all the more impatient for the half-dreaded opportunity of having a shot at one of them. He wished it was well over. If he were going to miss, he wanted to have his agony of mortification encountered and done with, instead of enduring this maddening delay. The peat-hag became a prison ; and a very uncomfortable prison, too. His sandwiches were soon disposed of ; thereafter — what? He dared not smoke ; he had no book with him ; the keeper and the gillie, having withdrawn themselves, were exchanging confi- PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 161 dences in their native tongue. His clothes were wet and cold and clammy ; Percy Lestrange's flask appeared to afford him no comfort whatever. And of course the longer he brooded over the chances of hit or miss, the more appalling became the re- sponsibility, llow much depended on that fifteentli part of a second ! He was half inclined to say, " Ilere, Roderick, I can bear this anxiety no longer. Let us get as near the deer as we can ; sight the rifle for a long distance, you whistle the stags on to their legs — and I'll blaze into the thick of them. Anything to get the shot over and done with !" Indeed, this intolerable waiting was about as bad a thing as could have happened to his nerves ; but it did not last quite as long as the keeper had anticipated ; for about two o'clock Rod- erick ascertained that the stags were up again and feeding. This was good news — anything was good news, in fact, that broke in upon this sickening suspense ; had Lionel been in- formed that the deer had taken alarm and disappeared at full gallop, he would have said " Amen !" and set out for home with a light heart. But, by and by, when it was discovered that the stags had gone over the ridge — one of them remained on the crest for a long time, staring right across the valley, so that the stalkers dared not move hand or foot — when this last sentinel had also withdrawn, the slouching and skulking devices of the morning had to be resumed. Not a word was spoken ; but Lionel knew that the fateful moment was approaching. Then, when they began to ascend the ridge over which the stags had disappeared, their progress culminated in a laborious crawl, Rod- erick going first, with the rifle in one hand, Lionel dragging him- self after, Jthe gillie coming on as best he might. It was slow work now. The keeper went forward inch by inch, as if at any moment he expected to find a stag staring down upon him. And at last he lay quite still ; then, with the slightest movement of his disengaged hand, he beckoned Lionel to come up beside him. Now was the time for all his desperate and summoned calm- ness. He shut his lips firm, breathing only by his nose ; he gradually pushed his way through the tall, withered grass ; and at last, when he was almost side by side with Roderick, he peered forward. They were startlingly near, those brown and dun beasts with the branchino- antlers ! — he almost shrank back 153 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. — and yet he gazed and gazed with a strange fascination. The stags, wliich were not more than fifty or sixty yards off, were quite unconscious of any danger; they were quietly feeding; sometimes one of them would cease and raise his head and look lazily around. Just at this moment, too, a pale sunlight began to shine over the plateau on which they stood ; and a very pretty picture it lit up — the silver-gray rocks, the wide heath, and those slim and elegant creatures grouped here and there as chance di- rected. Every single feature of the scene (as he discovered long thereafter) was burned into Lionel's brain ; yet he was not aware of it at the time ; his whole attention, as he imagined, was directed towards keeping himself cool and restrained and ready to obey Roderick's mute directions. The rifle was stealthily given to him, and as stealthily pushed through the grass. With his fore-finger the keeper indicated the stag at which Lionel was to fire ; it was rather lighter in color than the others, and was standing a little way apart. Lionel took time to consider, as he thought ; in reality it was to still the quick pulsation of his heart ; and as he did so the stag, unfortunately for him, moved, so that, instead of offering him an easy broadside shot, it almost faced him, with its head down. Still, at any moment it might afford a fairer mark ; and so, with the utmost caution, and with liis lips still shut tight, he slowly raised himself some- what, and got the rifle into his hands. Yes, the stag had again moved ; its shoulder was exposed ; his eyes inquired of Roder- ick if now was the time ; and the keeper nodded assent. The awful crisis had arrived ; and he seemed to blind him- self and deaden himself to all things in this mortal world except the little notch in the rifle, the shining sight, and that fawn-col- ored object over there. He took a long breath ; he steadied and steadied the slightly trembling barrel until it appeared per- fectly motionless ; and then — he fired ! Alas ! at the very moment that he pulled the trigger — wlien it was too late for him to change his purpose — the stag threw up its head to flick at its side with its horns, and thus quite altered its position ; he knew he ought not to fire-;-but it was too late — too late — and in the very act of i)ulling tlic trigger he felt that he had missed. Roderick sprang to his feet ; for the deer, notwithstanding that they could not have discerned where the danger lay, with one i ha. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 153 consent bounded forward and made for a rocky defile on the farther side of the plateau. " Come on, sir ! Come on, sir !" the keeper called to Lionel. " You've hit hira. Come along, sir !" " I haven't hit hira — I missed — missed clean !" was the hope- less answer. " I tell ye ye've hit him !" the keeper exclaimed. " Run, sir, run ! — if he's only wounded he may need the other barrel. God bless me, did ye not hear the thud when the ball struck V Thus admonished Lionel unwittingly, but nevertheless as quickly as he could, followed the keeper ; and he could show a nimble pair of heels when he chose, even when he was hampered with this heavy rifle. Not that he had any heart in the chase. The stag had swerved aside just as he fired ; he knew he must have missed. At the same time any one who goes out with a professional stalker must be content to become as clay in the hands of the potter ; so Lionel did as he was bid ; and though he could not overtake Roderick, he was not far behind him when they both reached the pass down which the deer had fled. And there the splendid animals were still in view — bounding up a stony hillside some distance off, in straggling twos and threes, and going at a prodigious speed. But where was the light-colored stag ? Certainly not among those brown beasts whose scrambling up that steep face was sending a shower of stones and debris down into the silent glen below. " I'm thinking he's no far aweh," Roderick said, eagerly scan- ning all the ground in front of them. " We'll chist go forrit, sir ; and you'll be ready to shoot, for, if he's only wounded, he may be up and off again when he sees us." " But do you really think 1 hit hira ?" Lionel said, anxiously enough. " I sah him struck," the keeper said, emphatically. " But he never dropped — no, not once on his knees even. He was off with the best of them ; and that's what meks me think he was well hit, and that he's no far aweh." So they went forward on the track of the herd, slowly, and searching every dip and hollow. For Lionel it was a period of agonizing uncertainty. One moment he would buoy himself up with the assurance that the keeper must know ; the rest he con- vinced himself that he had missed the stag clean. Now he 7* 154 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. would be wondering whether this wide, undulating plain really contained the slain monarch of the mists ; again he pictured to himself that light-colored, fleet-footed creature far away in ad- vance of all his companions, making for some distant sanctuary among the mountains. " Here he is, sir !" Roderick cried, with a quick little chuckle ; and the words sent a thrill through Lionel such as he had never experienced in his life before. " No — he's quite dead," the keeper continued, seeing that the younger man was making ready te raise his rifle again, " I was thinking he was well hit — and no far aweh." At the same moment Lionel had eagerly run forward. With what joy and pride — with what a curious sense of elation — with what a disposition of good-will towards all the world — he now beheld this splendid beast lying in the deep peat-hag that had hitherto hidden it from view. The stag's last effort had been to clear this gully ; but it had only managed to strike the opposite bank with its forefeet when the death-wound did its work, and then the hapless animal had rolled back with its final groan into the position in which they now found it. In a second, Roderick was down in the peat-hag beside it, hold- ing up its head by one of the horns, and examining the bullet- mark. " Well, sir," said he, with a humorous smile that did not often lighten up his visage, " if this is what you will be calling the missing of a stag, it is a ferry good way to miss it; for I never sah a better shot in my life." " It's a fluke, then, Roderick ; I declare to you I was certain I had missed," said he — though he hardly knew what he was saying ; a kind of bewilderment of joy possessed him — he could not keep his eyes off the dead stag — and now, if he had only chanced to notice it, his hand was certainly trembling. Prob- ably Roderick did not know what a fluke was ; in any case his response was : " Well, sir, I'm chist going to drink your good health ; ay, and more good luck to you, sir ; and it's ferry glad I am that you hef got your first stag !" and therewith he pulled out his small zinc flask. " Oh, but you mustn't draw on your own supplies !" Lionel exclaimed, in the fulness of his pride and gratitude. " See, here PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 155 is a flask filled with famous stuff. You take it — you and Alec ; I don't want any more to-day." " Do not be so sure of that," the keeper said, shrewdly, and he modestly declined to take Percy Lestrange's decorated tlask. " It's a long walk from home we are ; far longer than you think ; and mebbe there will be some showers before we get back home." " I don't care if there's thunder and lightning all the way !" Lionel cried, gayly. " But I'll tell you what, Roderick, I wish you'd lend rae your pipe. Have you plenty of tobacco ? A cigarette is too feeble a thing to smoke by the side of a dead stag. And — and on my way south I mean to stop at Inverness, and I'll send you as much tobacco as will last you right through the winter ; for you see I'm very proud of my first stag — and, of course, it was all owing to your skill in stalking." Roderick handed the young man his pipe and pouch. " Indeed, you could not do better, sir, than sit down and hef a smoke, while me and Alec are gralloching the beast. Then we'll drag him to a safe place, and cover him up with heather, and send for him the morn's morning." " Couldn't you put him on the pony and take him down with us ? I can walk," Lionel suggested ; for had he not some dim vision in his mind of a triumphal procession down the strath, towards the dusk of the evening, with perhaps a group of fair spectators awaiting him at the door of the lodge ? " Well, sir," the keeper made answer, as he drew out his gral- loching knife, " you see, there's few things more diflBcult than to strap a deer on the back of a powny when there's no proper deer-saddle. No, sir, we'll just leave him in a safe place for the night and send for him in the morning." " And do you call that a good head to get stuJBfed^ Roderick ?" the young man asked, still gazing on his splendid prize. " Aw, well, I hef seen better heads, and I hef seen worse heads," the keeper said, evasively. " But the velvet is off the horns whatever." This was tremendously strong tobacco that Roderick had handed him, and yet, as it seemed to him, he had never smelt a sweeter fragrance perfuming the soft mountain air. Nor did these appear grim and awful solitudes any longer; they were friendly solitudes, rather ; as he sat and peacefully and joyously smoked, he studied ev^ery feature of them — each rock and 156 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. swamp and barren slope, every hill and corrie and misty moun- tain-top ; and he knew that while life remained to him he would never forget this memorable scene — with the slain stag in the foreground. No, nor how could he ever forget that wan glare of sunlight that had come along the plateau where the deer were quietly feeding ? — he seemed to see again each individual blade of grass close to his face, as well as the noble quarry that had held him breathless. And then he took out the bright little coin ; surely Ilonnor Cunyngham could not object to his wear- ing it, seeing that it had proved itself such a potent charm ? He rejoiced that he had not been frightened off his expedition by tales of its monotonous sufferings and dire fatigues. This was something better than arranging an out-of-door performance for a parcel of amateurs ! Stiff and sore he was, his clothes were mostly soaked and caked with mire, and he did not know what he had not done to his shins and knees and elbows ; but he did not mind all that ; Honnor Cunyngham was right — as he rode down Strathaivron that evening towards the lodge, it would not be of fatigues and privations he would be thinking ! it would be of the lordly stag left away up there in the hills, to be sent for and brought down in triumph the next day. By the time they had got the stag conveyed to a place of concealment, and carefully covered over with heather, the after- noon was well advanced ; then they set out for the little corrie in which the pony had been left. But Lionel was now to dis- cover that they had come much farther into these wilds than he had imagined ; indeed, when they at length came upon the stolid and unconcerned Maggie, he did not in the least regret that it was a riding-saddle, not a deer-saddle, they had brought with them in the morning. He had offered to walk these remaining eight miles in order to have the proud satisfaction of taking the stag home with tliem ; now he was just as well content that it was he, and not the slain deer, that Maggie was to carry down to Strathaivron. So he lit another cigarette, got into the sad- dle, and with a light heart set forth upon the long and tedious jog-jog down towards the region of comparative civilization. Yet it was hardly so tedious, after all. He was mentally going over again and again every point and incident of the day's thrill- ing experiences ; and now it seemed as if it were a long time since he had been squirming through the heather, with all his PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 157 limbs aching, and his heart ready to burst. He recalled that beautiful picture of the stags feeding on the lonely plateau ; he wondered now that he was able to steady the rifle-barrel until it ceased to be tremulous; he asked himself whether he had not in reality pulled the trigger just before the stag swerved its head aside. And what would have been his feelings now, supposing he had missed ? Riding home in silence and dejection — trying to account for the incomprehensible blunder — fearing to think of what he would have to say to the people at the lodge. And he was not at all sorry to reflect that, as soon as the little party got back home. Miss Honnor Cunyngham should see for herself that he, a mere singer out of comedy-opera, was not afraid to face the hardships that had proved too much for Lord Rock- minster — yes, and that he had faced them to some purpose. Very friendly sounded the voice of the Geinig, when it first struck upon his ear ; they were getting into a recognizable neigh- borhood now ; here were familiar features — not a waste of the awful and unknown. But it was too much to expect that Miss Cunyngham should still be lingering by any of those pools ; the evening was closing in ; she must have set out for home long ago, fishing her way down as she went. They passed a shep- herd's solitary cottage ; the old man came out to hear the news — which was told him in Gaelic. They reached the banks of the Aivron, and trudged along under the tall cliffs and through the scattered birch and hazel. Then came the fording of the river — the tramp along the other side — the return ford — and the small home-going party was reunited again. They skirted the glassy sweeps of the Long Pool, the darker swirls of the Small Pool, and the saffron-tinted masses of foam hurling down between the borders of the Rock Pool ; and then at last they came in view of the spacious valley, and far away in the midst of it Strathaivron Lodge. Had they been coming back with bad news this might have been rather a melancholy sight, perhaps — the long, wide strath with the wan shades of twilight stealing over the meadows and the woods and the winding river ; but now (to Lionel at least) it was nothing but beautiful. If the glen itself looked ghostly and hfeless and colorless, there were warmer hues overhead ; for a pale salmon-flush still suffused the sky ; and where that half-crimson glow, just over the dark, heather-stained hill, faded 158 PRINCE FORTUNATUS, into an exquisite transparent lilac, tliere hung a full moon — a moon of the lightest and clearest gold, with its mysterious con- tinents appearing as faint gray films. The prevailing peace seemed to grow more profound with the coming of the night. But this was not a night to be feared — this was a night to be welcomed — a night with that fair golden moon hanging high in the heavens, the mistress and guardian of the silent vale. When Lionel rode up to the door of the lodge, he found all the gentlemen of the house congregated there and dressed for dinner. Sir Hugh held up his hand. " No, not one word !" he cried. " Not necessary. I can always tell. It is written in every line of your face." " It isn't a hind, is it ?" inquired Lord Rockminster, doubt- fully. " A hind of ten points !" Lionel said, with a laugh, as he pushed his way through. " Well, I must see if I can have a hot bath to soften my bones." " My good fellow, it's waiting for you," his host said. " I told Jeffreys the moment I saw you coming down the strath. We'll put back dinner a bit ; but be as quick as you can," At the same moment there appeared a white-draped figure on the landing above, leaning over the balustrade. " What have you done, Mr. Moore ?" called down the well- known voice of Honnor Cunyngham. " I've got a stag," he said, looking up with a good deal of satisfaction — or gratitude, perhaps ? — in his eyes. " How many points ?" " Ten." " Well done ! Didn't I tell you you would get a stag ?" " It's all owing to the lucky sixpence you gave me," he said ; and she laughed, as she turned away to go to her room. After a welcome bath he dressed as quickly as he could for dinner — dressed so quickly, indeed, that he thought he was en- titled to glance at the outside of the pile of letters awaiting him there on the mantelpiece. He had a large correspondence, from all kinds of people ; and when he was in a hurry this brief scru- tiny of the address was all he allowed himself ; he usually could tell if there was anything of unusual importance. On tlie pres- ent occasion the only handwriting that arrested him for a second was Nina's; and some sort of half-understood compunction PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 15y made him open her letter. Well, it was not a letter ; it was merely a little printed form, such as is put about the stalls and boxes of a theatre when an announcement has to be made. This announcement read as follows : " Notice : In consequence of the sudden indisposition of Miss Burooyne, the part of 'Grace Muinwaiing' will be sustained this evening by Miss An- ton ia Ross " — while above these printed words Nina had written, in a rather trembling hand : " xih, Leo, if you were only here to-night /" Ap- parently she had scribbled this brief message before the per- formance ; perhaps haste or nervousness might account for the uncertain writing. So Nina was to have her great opportunity after all, he said to himself, as he went joyfully down-stairs to join the brilliant assemblage in the drawing-room. Poor Nina! — he had of late almost forgotten her existence. CHAPTER X. AIVRON AND GEINIG. HoNNOR CuNYNGHAM was quitc as proud as Lionel himself that he had killed a stag ; for in a measure he was her pupil ; at all events it was at her instigation that he was devoting him- self to these athletic sports and pastimes, and so far withdraw- ing himself from the trivialities and affectations of the serious little band of amateurs. Not that Miss Cunyngham ever exhib- ited any disdain for those pursuits of her gifted sisters-in-law ; no ; she listened to Lady Sybil's music, and regarded Lady Rosa- mund's canvases, and even read the last MS. chapter of Lady Adela's new novel (for that great work was now in progress) with a grave good-humor and even with a kind of benevolence ; and it was only when one or the other of them, with unconscious simplicity, named herself in conjunction with some master of the art she was professing — wondering how he could do sucli and such a thing in such and such a fashion when she found another method infinitely preferable — it was only at such mo- ments that occasionally Ilonnor Cunyngham's clear hazel eyes would meet Lionel's, and the question they obviously asked was " Is not that extraordinary ?" They did not ask " Is not that ab-r XGO PRINCE FORTUNATUS. surd ?" or " How can any one be so innocently and inordinately vain ?" they only expressed a friendly surprise, with perhaps the smallest trace of demure amusement. On the other hand, if Miss Cunyngham rather intimated to this young guest and stranger that, being at a shooting-lodge in the Highlands, he ought to devote himself to the healthful and vigorous recreations of the place, instead of dawdling away his time in drawing-room frivolities, it was not that she herself should take possession of him as her comrade on her salmon- fishing excursions. He soon discovered that he was not to have any great encouragement in this direction. She was always very kind to him, no doubt ; and she had certainly proposed that, if he cared to go with her, he could take the wading portions of the pools ; but beyond that she extended to him very little com- panionship, except what he made bold to claim. And the fact is, he was rather piqued by the curious isolation in which this young lady appeared to hold herself. She seemed so entirely content with herself, so wholly indifferent to the little atten- tions and flatteries of ordinary life, always good-natured when in the society of any one, she was just as satisfied to be left alone. Now, Lionel Moore had not been used to this kind of treatment. Women had been only too ready to smile when he approached ; perhaps, indeed, familiar success had rendered him callous ; at all events, he had managed to get along so far with- out encountering any violent experience of heart-aching desire and disappointment and despair. But this young lady, with the clear, fine, intellectual face, the proud lips, the calm, observant eyes, puzzled him — almost vexed him. Nina, for example, was a far more sympathetic companion ; either she was enthusiasti- cally happy, talkative, vivacious, gay as a lark, or she was wilfully sullen and offended, to be coaxed round again and petted, like a spoiled child, until the natural sunshine of her humor came through those wayward clouds. But Miss Cunyngham, while always friendly and pleasant, remained (as he thought) strangely remote, imperturbable, calm. She did not seem to care about his society at all. Perhaps she would rather have him go up the hill? — though the birds were getting very wild now for a novice. In any case, she could not refuse to let him accompany lier on the morning after his deer-stalking expedition ; for all the story had to be told her. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 161 " I suppose you are very stiff," she said, cheerfully, as they left the lodge — he walking heavily in waders and brogues — old Robert coming up behind with rod and gaff. " But I should imagine you do not ask for much sympathy. Shall I tell you what you are thinking of at this moment? You have a vague fear that the foxes may have got at that precious animal during the night ; and you are anxious to see it safely down here at the lodge ; and you want to have the head sent at once to Mr. Mac- leay's in Inverness, so that it mayn't get mixed up with the lot of others which will be coming in when the driving in the big forests begins. Isn't that about it ?" " You are a witch," said he, " or else you have been deer- stalking yourself. But, you know. Miss Honnor, it's all very well to go on an expedition like that of yesterday once in a way — as a piece of bravado, almost ; and no doubt you are very proud when you see the dead stag lying on the heather before you ; but I am not sure I should ever care for it as a continuous occupation, even if I were likely to have the chance. The excite- ment is too furious, too violent. But look at a day by the side of a salmon river !" continued this adroit young man. " There is absolute rest and peace — except when you are engaged in fighting a salmon ; and, for my own part, that is not necessary to my enjoyment at all. No ; I would rather see you fish ; then I know that everything is going right — that every pool is being properly cast over — that Robert is satisfied. And in the mean- time I can sit and drink in all the beauty of the scenery — the quietude — the loneliness ; that is a real change for me, after the busy life of London. I have got to be great friends with this river ; I seem to have known it all my life ; when we were com- ing home last evening, after being away in those awful solitudes, the sound of the Geinig was the most welcome thing I ever heard, I think." " It is to the Geinig we are going now," said his companion, who appeared quite to ignore the insidious appeal conveyed in these touching sentiments. " I promised to leave all the Aivron pools to Mr. Lestrange. But we may take the Junction Pool, for he won't have time to come beyond the Bad Step ; and, by the way, Mr. Moore, if you feel stiff after yesterday, going up and down the Bad Step won't do you any harm." Well^ the ascent of this Bad Step (whether so named from the 162 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. French or the Gaelic nobody seemed to know) was not so diffi- cult, after all, for it was gradual ; and a brief breathing-space on the summit showed them the far-stretching landscape terminat- ing in the wild mountains of Assynt ; but the sheer descent into the gloomy chasm on the other side was rather an awkward thing for any one encased in waders. However, Lionel managed some- how or another to slide and scramble down this zig-zag track on the face of the loose debris ; they reached the bottom in safety and crossed the burn ; they followed a more secure pathway cut along the precipitous slope overlooking the Aivron ; then they got down once more to the river-side, and found themselves walking over velvet-soft turf, in a wood of thinly scattered birch and hazel. But when they emerged from this wood, passed along by some meadows, and reached the Junction Pool (so called from the Geinig and Aivron meeting here), they found that the sun was much too bright ; so they contentedly seated themselves on the bank to wait for a cloud, while old Robert proceeded to consult his fly-book. Neither of them seemed in a very talkative mood ; indeed, when you are in front of a Highland river, with its swift- glancing lights, its changing glooms and gleams, its continual murmur and prattle, what need is there of any talk ? Talk only distracts the attention. And this part of the stream was espe- cially beautiful. They could hardly quarrel with the sunlight when, underneath the clear water, it sent interlacing lines of gold chasina: one another across the brown sand and shingle of the shallows ; and if the cloudless sky overhead compelled this un- willing idleness, it also touched each of those dancing ripples with a gleam of most brilliant blue. Farther out those scattered blue gleams became concentrated until they formed glassy sweeps of intensest azure where the deep pools were ; and these again gave way to the broken water under the opposite bank, where the swift-running current reflected the golden-green of the over- hanging bushes and weeds. Where was the call for any speech between these two? When, at length, Robert admonished the young man to get ready, because a cloud was coming over, and this part of the Aivron had to be waded, Lionel got up with no great good-will ; that silent companionship, in the gracious still- ness and soothing murmur of the stream, seemed to him to be more profitable to the soul than the lashing of a wide pool with a seventeen-foot rod. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 163 But he buckled to his task like a man ; and as he could wade a good distance in, there was no need for him to attempt a long line. Surreptitiously, on many occasions, he had been getting lessons from old Robert ; and now, if his casting was not pro- fessional in its length, it was at least clean. Moreover, by this time he had learned that the expectant moment in salmon-fishing is not when the fly lights away over at the other side and be- gins to sweep round in a semicircle, but when it drags in the current before it is withdrawn ; and he was in no haste in recov- ering. " Why, Mr. Moore, you are casting beautifully," Miss Honnor Cunyngham called to him ; and the words were sweet music to his ears, for it may be frankly admitted that this somewhat sen- sitive novice was playing to the gallery. His diligent and care- ful thrashing, however, was of no avail. He could not stir any- thing ; and as in time the deepening water drove him ashore, he willingly surrendered his rod to his fair companion, who could now fish from the bank. Then he sat down to watch — and to dream. He could see that she was getting out more and more line, and throwing beau- tifully ; but he had persuaded himself (or thought he had per- suaded himself) into the belief that the singular and constant charm of this river had no association with her, or wath the quiet hours these two had passed there together. It was the stream talking to him that had fascinated him as he sat idly and listened. He had grown familiar with every cadence of that mysterious voice — now a whispering and laughing as the water chased over the sunny shallows — then a harsher note where the current, fret- ting and chafing, as it were, was broken by multitudes of stones — again a low murmur as the black river swept, dark and sullen, through a contracted channel — finally a fiercer tumult as this once-placid Aivron, increasing in pace and volume every moment, flung itself, lion-like, over the masses of rocks — its tawny mane upheaved to the daylight — and then fell, crashing and plunging, into a mighty chasm, the birchwoods around reverberating with its angry roar. Far away is the lonely sea. This friendly river may laugh or brawl as it will, but there is peace for it at last ; its varying voices must eventually disappear in the dull, slow tumult of the distant world. And yet it seemed to him to com- plain as it went by — to appeal to him ; and yet why to him, if 164 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. he, too, was summoned away from this still solitude and sucked into a murmuring ocean still more awful than the sea ? " Well done. Miss Ilonnor !" old Robert called out. Suddenly startled from his idle reverie, Lionel beheld the line being swiftly taken across to the other side of the river, sending up a little spurt of spray as it cleft the current. " A good one this time, Robert, isn't it ?" she cried. " Ay, I'm thinking that's a good fish," old Robert made an- swer, as he rose from the bank and came down to her side. " And there's a fair field and no favor," she continued. " Plen- ty of room for him — and he doesn't seem inclined to tug." No, this was not a " jiggering " fish ; but he was a pretty lively customer, for all that, as they were soon to find out. For, after having rested for a minute or so, he made a wild rush up- stream, still on the other side, that took a dangerous length of line out and kept her running after him, and winding up when possible as well as she was able. Farther and farther he went, until she had arrived at the junction of the Geinig and the Aiv- ron, she being on the Geinig shore, and the fish making up the other stream. Here was a pleasant predicament ! " Mr. Moore," she called out, " take the rod and wade in ! — I daren't give him more line — quick, quick, please !" Her entreaty was quite pathetic in its earnestness ; but old Robert was less excited, " If Mr. Moore was not here you would be in the watter your- self. Miss Ilonnor," the old man said, with a smile. However, before the rod could be given into Lionel's hands the salmon had changed his tactics. He came dashing across to the nearer side of the Aivron, so that the nose of land sepa- rating the two rivers threatened to come between the fish and his captor ; there he lay still. " Robert," she cried, in despair, " if he goes another yard up- stream he will have the line on that bush ! What is to be done?'* Almost at the same moment the fish began to move again — slowly this time — and with agonized anxiety they saw the line, despite all her efforts to keep it off, being quietly drawn into the small hazel-bush. But Robert knew that bush and its ways. "■ Take the rod in, sir, as far as you can go," he said to Lionel ; and then he himself ran round to a shallow ford of the Geinig, crossed over, went along the bank, and proceeded to get the line PRINCE KORTUNATUS. 165 cautiously off tlie twigs and leaves. As soon as he had accoin- plislied that he stealthily withdrew, stooped down, and crept along the Aivron bank until he was a little ahead of the fish, which, indeed, was almost underneath his feet ; then he sud- denly raised himself to his full height and threw up both arms. That was enough for the salmon. Away to the other side he rushed, leading down-stream ; and Lionel had now his work cut out for him, for he was standing in deep water, on a shelving bank of loose shingle, and he had to follow somehow, reeling in as best he might. But ever, as he struggled after that obdurate, unseen creature, he made for shallower water ; and at length he reached dry land, and was glad to give the rod into Miss llon- nor's hands again — the fish, which had never once shown him- self, being now almost opposite her and in mid-channel. Well, they had a good deal of trouble with this salmon, for he did not exhaust himself with any further rushes, nor did he disport himself in the air ; he simply lay low in the water, in a pretty strong current, and awaited events. But here in the open Miss Honnor had regained her confidence and usual composure ; and in the end the continuous pressure of the green-heart top was too much for him ; he began to yield — fiercely fighting now and again to get away, to be sure ; but the climax was a sud- den flash of Robert's steel clip, and a lieavy-shouldered fifteen- pounder was out on the stones. Old Robert, smiling grimly at the success of his young mistress, but saying nothing, had to " wet " the fish all by himself ; for Miss Honnor's drink was water ; and as for Lionel, his throat was too valuable and sensi- tive a possession to be treated to raw spirits at that time of the morning. Then, that ceremony being over, they deposited the salmon in a hole in the bank, to be picked up on their home- ward journey, and forthwith set out again, up the valley of the Geinig. Their surroundings were now becoming more wild and lonely — this, in fact, being the route by which Lionel had travelled the day before when he was after the deer. Down in the glen, it is true, everything was pretty enough — the silver-gray rocks, the rushing brown water, the banks hanging with birches ; but far away on those upland heights there was nothing but the monotonous deep purple of the heather, broken here and there, perhaps, by a dark-green pine ; and beyond those heights again 166 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. rose the rounded tops and shoulders of the distant cloud-stained hills. It was after Miss Honnor had industriously but unsuc- cessfully fished the Horseshoe and the Cormorant Pool that she chanced to be regarding that mountainous line along the sky ; and she then perceived that one of those far shoulders was gradually changing from a sombre blue into a soft and pearly gray. " Do you see the veil that has come over the high peak yon- der ?" she asked of her companion. " There is rain falling there ; and most likely we shall have a shower or two here by and by ; and, as you have no waterproof, we may as well push on to a place of shelter where we can have our lunch. I know a pretty little dell up there, just above the Geinig Pool ; and it will be quite a new sensation for me to have any one with me, for ordinarily I have my lunch there in solitary state, and I sit and stare, and sit and stare, until I believe I know every stone in the burn and every spear of grass on the opposite bank. Even as she spoke there was a slight pattering here in the sunlight, and diamonds began to glitter on the brackan. Then came a cold stirring of wind ; there was a sensation of darkness overhead — of impending gloom — of hushed expectancy ; finally, just as they reached the little glade, descended into it, crossed the burn, and took refuge beneath some overhanging birch trees, the heavy rattle of the deluge was heard all around them, and they were glad enough to be under this canopy of trembling leaves. It was only a sharp shower, after all. That universal whir grew fainter ; the air became warmer ; a kind of watery glow began to show itself in the sky ; presently, as they ven- tured to look up through the dripping, pendulous branches, there was a glimpse of heavenly blue above them ; behold, the rain was over and gone ! Then carefully did the handsome old gillie spread out her waterproof on the sloping bank for Miss Honnor to sit on ; he brought forth tlic little parcels neatly tied up in white paper, likewise a bottle of milk and two silver drinking-cups ; when he had seen that she was all properly cared for, he handed to Lionel the game-bag which had held the luncheon, so that that might serve as the other seat, if he chose; and then. the old man withdrew a few yards down the little hollow, to be within call if he were wanted. PRINCE FORTUNATIS. 167 And what had Lionel to say for himself, now that he had been admitted into this secret haunt of the river-maiden ? Well, if the truth must be told, he was considerably embarrassed. For one thing, he was mortally afraid that she might suddenly bethink herself of Paul and Virginia, and be annoyed by a situ- ation which was certainly none of his contriving. What was still worse, she might be amused ! He could not get it out of his head that there was something dangerously, almost ludi- crously, conventional in the whole position ; it seemed to sug- gest some foolish, old-fashioned, sentimental picture. The soli- tary dell, and the two figures ; why, he felt as if blue ribbons were beginning to sprout at his knees ; and he feared to turn to his companion lest he should find her with a crook and a kirtle. He did not ask himself why wretched reminiscences of theatrical tradition should thrust themselves upon him here in the lonely wilds of -Ross-shire ; what he dreaded was that some such idea might occur to her and provoke her resentment — what was still more ghastly, it might make her laugh ! Honnor Cunyngham, for her part, was quietly and contented- ly munching her sandwiches of salmon and vinegared lettuce- leaf ; and no such idle town-fancies were troubling her. Prob- ably she was thinking that the hot sunlight after the shower made everything intensely vivid — the silver-stemmed birches in this picturesque little dell rising gracefully into the keen blue of the sky ; the diamond - starred bracken and grass shining after the wet ; the clear, tea-brown water at her feet glancing in the sun ; the green and bronze stones and pebbles showing clear at the bottom of the pellucid brook as it chased and danced on its way down to the Geinig. And whatever else she may have been thinking of, she was almost certainly conscious that vine- gared lettuce-leaf in a sandwich was a vast improvement. " Do you come here often ?" he said, at length. " It is my favorite nook," she made answer. " I confess that I feel horribly like an interloper," be re- marked, hesitatingly. " I feel as if I — as if I had no right to be here — as if I were invading a sacred retreat — " and there he stopped ; for he would have liked to add, " the sacred retreat of a sylvan goddess or a nymph of the stream," but that he somehow felt that fantastic imagery of that kind would hardly be appropriate. 168 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " You had more need of the shelter than I," said this extreme- ly matter-of-fact young person, " for you had no waterproof, and I had. Come, if you have finished, shall we go up to the Top Pool ? — I want you to have a cast over that, for it is an ex- perience ; and, though the sun is out, it won't much matter ; there is always such a boiling and surging in that caldron." Old Robert, whose head was just visible above the bracken, was thereupon called to pack up the remains of the simple feast, and then they set forth again — skirting, but not troubling the Geinig Pool, for the sun was too strong. A beautiful pool was this Geinig Pool — the water coming tumbling down over the boulders in masses of chestnut hue and white, then sailing away in a rapid sweep of purplish blue, and then breaking over shallows (whose every ripple was a flashing diamond point) as it went whirling into the rocky channel beyond. The sun lay hot on the steep banks, where not a leaf of the birch-trees stirred now, and on the lichened rocks, and on the long strand of lilac-gray pebbles ; altogether a beautiful pool this was, set deep in its cup among the hills, but for their present purposes useless. The Top Pool, which they presently reached, was altogether a different sort of place ; for here the waters plunged into a roaring caldron with a din that stunned the ears ; and now it was that Lionel discovered Miss Ilonnor's intention — he was to have the amusement of throwing a fly over this maelstrom from the side of the sheer bank, while the only foothold afforded him was the stump of an out-projecting pine. Well, he was not go- ing to refuse — and ask a young lady to take his place. lie dug his feet into the soft herbage about the roots of the tree ; old Robert handed him the rod ; he got out some line ; and then began to try how he could get a fly down into that raging vor- tex, while keeping clear of the branches over his head. His first impression was that he might as well attempt to throw a fly to the moon, but presently things began to look more hope- ful, and he found at length that, when the fly did get just be- yond the downward rush of the fall, it was swept by the current into certain glassy deeps, where he could work it pretty well. Hard as he labored, however, that jerking little gray shrimp (for that was what the fly looked like in the water) could not stir anything. He worked away until even the indefatigable Robert PRINOK FORTUNATUS. 169 said he had done enough ; then he reeled up ; and perhaps he was not sorry to regain the top of this sheer precipice, where there was but that single fir-stump and a few loose branches of birch between him and the seething and surging whirlpool below. He was more fortunate in the Geinig Pool, which Miss Cun- yngham also compelled him to take, good-naturedly remarking that she had her hsh already, and that he must have its fellow to carry home in the evening. There were some welcome clouds about now, and the rock from which he had to cast over the Geinig Pool afforded him a much better foothold than the fir- roots. At first things did not seem favorable, for he went over all the deep, smooth water without moving a fin ; in fact, he had fished almost right to the end of the pool, when, in the Very act of recovering his line, he got hold of something. And very soon he found that he had got hold of a very lively some- thing ; for the cantrips which this small salmon played were most extraordinary. For a second or two he seemed inclined to go right down the stony channel (which would have instantly settled the matter, as there was no possible means of following him), but the next moment he had dashed right up through the middle of the pool, tearing the water as he went, and frighten- ing the luckless fisherman half out of his wits with this danger- ously slackening line. That, however, was soon righted ; and now the salmon lay in an eddy just below the fall. Would he attempt to breast that bulk of water in a mad effort to be free of this hateful thing that had got hold of him ? — then good-bye to him forever ! But no — that was not his fancy ; he suddenly sprang into the air — and again sprang — and then savagely beat the surface with body and tail ; after which fearsome perform- ance he swerved round and came right in under the rock on which Lionel was standing, where they could see him lying per- fectly still in the deep, clear water. He neither tugged nor bored ; that olive-green thing (for so he appeared in these depths) lay perfectly motionless — no doubt planning further devilment and only waiting to recover his strength. Meanwhile Lionel had scrambled a bit higher up the rock, so as to get the rod at a safer angle. " He's a lively fellow, that one !" old Robert said, with a grin. " Ay, sir, and ve hooked him ferrv well, too." 170 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " I should say I did !" Lionel exclaimed. " I had no idea there was a fish there — I never saw him coming — 1 was draw'ing the line out of the water, and all at once thought I had struck on a log. He's well hooked, I should think ; but I didn't hook him — he hooked himself." " He's not a ferry big one, but he's a salmon whatever," old Robert said ; and then he suddenly called out, " Mind, sir ! — let him go ! — let him go !" For away went that little wretch again, tearing over to the other side, where he lashed and better lashed the surface ; and then, getting tired of that exercise, he somewhat sullenly came sailing into mid-streum, where there was a smooth, dark current, bounded on the side next the fisherman by some brown shelves of rock only a few inches under water. And what must this demon of a fish do but begin boring into the stream, so that every moment the line was Toeing drawn nearer and nearer to the knife-like edge. " Here, Robert, what am I to do now ?" Lionel cried, in dis- may. " Another couple of inches, and it's all over ! How are we to get him out of that hole ?" " Mebbe he'll no go raich deeper," Robert observed, calmly, but with his gray eyes keenly watching. " If I lose this fish," Lionel said, between his teeth, " I'll throw myself into the pool after him !" "You'd better not," said Miss Cunyngham, placidly, "for if Robert has to gaff you, you'll find it a very painful experi- ence." But now the line was slackening a little ; the fisherman reeled in quickly; the salmon made his appearance — undoubtedly yielding ; and then, coming over the shallow rocks in obedience to the pressure of the rod, he once more sailed into the black, clear pool just below them. Cautiously old Robert crept down. When he was close to the water, he bared his right arm and grasped the gaff by the handle ; then he waited and watched, for the salmon was still too deep. Lionel, meanwhile, had got back a bit on the rock, so that any sudden rush might not snap the top of his rod in two ; then he also waited and watched, but somewhat increasing the pressure on the fish. Miss Hon- nor was probably as interested as cither of thorn, but she only said. " Cautiously old Robert crept doirn. W/ifii he wan do»e to the tcater, he bared hia rif/hf arm and r/raxped the gaff bu the handle." PRINCE FORTLNATUS. 171 " I think he is well-hooked, and you'll get him, but don't bear too hardly on him for all that." The conclusion of the fight proved to be aperies of rapid and cautious skirmishes between the salmon and old Robert ; for, as soon as the former discovered that danger awaited hira at the foot of the rock, he made every possible effort to break away, and then, getting more and more exhausted, allowed himself to be led in again. And then at last, on his sailing in almost on his side, so dead beat was he, a firm stroke of the gaff caught him behind the shoulder, and the next moment he was in mid-air, the next again on the bare rock. Now when you have slain a stag one day, it is not so much of a triumph to kill a salmon the next; nevertheless Lionel was as heartily glad to see that fish ashore as he would have been deeply mortified had it escaped. For was not Honnor Cunyng- ham looking on ? Xay, she was kind enough to say to him, " You played that fish very well, Mr. Moore." " I have been watching you so often," said he, modestly, " that I must have learned something. And now you must take all the pools on the way home. I won't touch the rod again unless when wading is absolutely necessary. You see, I have no right to this salmon at all; I consider you have made me a present of him." " We must try and get another somehow, between us, before getting back to the lodge," said she ; and this unconscious coupling of themselves as companions sounded pleasant to his ears. Moreover, as old Robert had now the fish to carry, Lionel, as usual, made bold to claim Miss Honnor's waterproof, which he slung over his arm ; and that also was a privilege he greatly en- joyed. Indeed, his satisfaction as they now proceeded to walk along to the Horseshoe Pool was but natural in the circum- stances. This charming companionship secured all to himself — the capture of the salmon — the tribute that had been paid to his skill — the magnetic waterproof hanging over his arm — the pros- pect of a long ramble home on this beautiful afternoon : all these things combined were surely sutficient to put any young man in an excellent humor. And there was something more in store for him. " Do you know," he was saying, as they walked along to- 173 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. gether, " that I have grown quite used to the solitariness of this neighborhood ? I don't find it strange, or melancholy, or op- pressive any longer. I suppose when I get back to a crowded city, the roar of it will be absolutely bewildering ; indeed, I am looking forward with a good deal of interest to seeing some- thing of the world again at Kilfearn — which can't be a very big place either." " Oh, are you going to the opening of the Kilfearn Town Hall ?" she asked. " Yes," said he, with a little surprise, " I thought everybody was going. Aren't you ? I understood the whole world — of Ross-shire — was to be there, and that I was to make a sudden plunge into a perfect whirlpool of human life." " It will amuse you," she said, with a quiet smile. " You will see all the county families there, staring at one another's guests ; and you will hear a lot of songs, like ' My Pretty Jane ' and ' Ever of Thee,' sung by bashful young ladies. At the opening of the proceedings my brother Hugh will make a speech ; he is their chairman, and I know precisely what he will say. Hugh always speaks to the point. It will be something like this : ' Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to see you here to-night. "We still want £180, We mean to give two more concerts to clear the debt right off. You must all come and bring your friends. I will not longer stand in the way of the performers who have kindly volunteered their services." " And that is a most admirable speech," her companion ex- claimed. " It says everything that is wanted and nothing more ; I call it a model speech !" " Mr. Moore," she said, suddenly looking up, " are you going to sing at the concert ?" " I believe so," he answered. " What are you going to sing?" " Oh, I don't know yet. Whatever I am asked for. Lady Adcla is arranging the programme." And then he added, rather breathlessly, " Is there anything you would care to have me sing ?" " Well, to tell you the truth," said she, quite frankly, " I hard- ly intended going. But if I thought there was a chance of hear- ing you sing some such song as ' The Bonnie Earl o' Moray,' I would go." PKINCE FOBTUNATU8. 173 " ' The Bonnie Earl o' Moray V " be said, eagerl}'. " The song that Miss Lestrange sang the other night ?" "The song that Miss Lestrange made a fool of the other night," she said, contemptuously. " But if you were to sing it, you would make it very fine and impressive. I should like to hear you sing that in a large hall." " Oh, but certainly I will sing it !" he said, quickly, for he was only too rejoiced- that she should prefer this small request, as showing that she did take some little interest in him and what he could do. " I will make a stipulation that I sing it, if I sing anything. Miss Lestrange won't mind, I know." "I almost think you should go under an assumed name," Miss Ilonnor said, presently, with a bit of a laugh. " I dare say the people wouldn't recognise you in ordinary dress. And then, when the amateur vocalists had been going on with their Pretty-Janes and Meet-Me-by-Moon lights, when you gave them * The Bonnie Earl o' Moray,' as you would sing it, I should think amazement would be on most faces. But I dare say Lady Adela has had it announced in the Inverness Courier that you are to sing, for they want to make a grand success of the con- cert, to help to clear off the debt ; and of course all the people from the shooting-lodges will be coming, for it isn't every au- tumn they have a chance of hearing Mr. Lionel Moore in Ross- shire." Really, she was becoming quite complaisant 1 — this proud, unapproachable fisher-maiden, who seemed to live, remote and isolated, in a world all of her own. And so she was coming to this amateur concert, merely to hear him sing ? Be sure the first thing he did that evening, on entering the drawing-room after dinner, was to go up to Miss Georgie Lestrange with a humble little speech, asking her whether she would object to his borrowing that particular ballad from her repertory. The smiling and gracious young damsel instantly replied that, on the contrary, she would be delighted to play the accompani- ment for him. Would he look at the music now ? He did look at it ; found it simple enough ; imagined that the refrain verse might be made rather effective. Would he try it over now ? Yes, if she would be so kind. She forthwith went to the piano, he following ; and at once there was silence in the long, low- ccilinged drawing-room. Of course this was but a trial, and i74 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. the room had not been constructed with a view to any acoustic requirements; nevertheless, the fine and penetrating timbre of his trained voice told all the same ; indeed, it is probable there was a lump in the throat of more than one of those young ladies when he sang the pathetic refrain, with its proud and sonorous finish — " Ling may his lady-love Look fi-ae the Castle Doune, Ere she see the Earl o' Moray Come sounding through the toun." Simple as the air was, it haunted the ear even of this profes- sional vocalist all the evening ; but perhaps that was because he was looking forward to a coming occasion on which he would have to sing the ballad ; and well he knew that however numer- ous his audience might be — though he might be standing before all the Rosses and Frasers, the Gordons and Munroes, the Mac- kays and Mackenzies of the county — well he knew that he would be singing — that he intended to sing — to an audience of one only. And which would she like to have emphasized the more — the pathetic and hopeless outlook of the lady in the tower, or the proud state and ceremony of the earl himself as he used to " come sounding through the toun " ? Well, he would practise a little, and ascertain what he could do with it — on some occasion when he found himself alone away up in the hills, with a silence around him unbroken save for the hushed whisper of the birch- leaves and the distant, low murmur of the Geinig falls. CHAPTER XI. THE PHANTOM STAG. But if he were so anxious about how he should sing (for his audience of one only) that old Scotch ballad, he was not acting very wisely, or else he had a sublime confidence in the sound- ness of his chest ; for on his host's ofEering him another day's stalking, he cheerfully accepted the same ; and that notwith- standing they had now fallen upon a period of extremely rough, cold, and wet weather. Was this another piece of bravado, then — undertaken to produce a favorable impression in a cer- PRINCE FORTUNATl'S. 175 tain quarter — or had the hunter's hunger really got hold of him ? On the evening before the appointed raid, even tlie foresters looked glum ; the western hills were ominous and angry, and the wind that came howling down the strath seemed to foretell a storm. But he was not to be daunted ; he said he would give up only when Roderick assured him that the expedition was quite impracticable and useless. " I hear you are going after the deer to-morrow," said tlie pretty Miss Georgie Lestrange to him, in the drawing-room after dinner, while Lady Sybil was performing her famous fantasia " The Voices of the Moonlight," to which nobody listened but her own admiring self. " And I was told all about that custom of making the stalker a little present on his setting out, for good- luck. It was Ilonnor Cunyngham who did that for you last time, and I think it should be my turn to-morrow morning." " Oh, thank you !" said he ; but " Thank you for nothing !" he said in his heart ; for why should any frivolous trinket — even when presented by this very charming and complaisant young damsel — be allowed to interfere with the prerogative of Miss Cunyngham's sacred talisman ? " I say," continued the bright-eyed, ruddy-haired lass, " what do you and Honnor Cunyngham talk about all day long, when you are away on those fishing excursions ? Don't you bore each other to death ? Oh, I know she's rather learned, though she doesn't bestow much of her knowledge upon us. Well, I'm not going to say anything against Honnor, for she's so awfully good-natured, you know ; she allows her sisters-in-law to experi- ment on her as an audience, and she has always something friendly and nice to say, though I can guess what she thinks of it all. Now, what do you two talk about all day long?" " Well, there's the fishing," said he, " for one thing." " Oh, don't tell me !" exclaimed this impertinent young hussy (while " The Voices of the Moonlight" moaned and mourned their mysterious regrets and despairs at the far end of the drawing- room). " Don't tell me ! Honnor Cunyngham is far too good- looking for you to go talking salmon to her all day long. Very handsome I call her ; don't you ? She's so distinguished, some- how — so different from any one else. Of course you don't no- tice it up here so much, where she prides herself on roughing it — you never met her in London ? — in London you should see 176 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. her come into a drawing-room — her walk and manner are simply splendid. She'll never marry," continued this garrulous little person, with the coquettish pince-nez perched on her not too Grecian nose, " I'm sure she won't. She despises men — all of them except her brother, Sir Hugh. Lord Rockminster admires her tremendously, but he's too lazy to say so, I suppose. How has she taken such a fancy to you ?" '' I was not aware she had," Lionel discreetly made answer, though the question had startled him, and not with pain. " Oh, yes, she has. Did she think you were lone and unpro- tected, being persecuted by the rest of us ? I am quite certain she wouldn't allow my brother Percy to go fishing a whole day with her; most likely Lord Rockminster wouldn't care to take the trouble. I wonder if she hasn't a bit of a temper ? Lady Rosamund is awful sometimes ; but she doesn't show that to you — catch her J But Honnor Cunyngham — well, the only time I ever went with her on one of her storking expeditions, the water was low, and she thrashed away for hours, and saw noth- ing. At last a stot happened to come wandering along ; and she said, quite savagely, ' I'm going to hook something !' You don't know what a stot is ? — it's a young bullock. So she deliberate- ly walked to within twenty yards or so of the animal, threw the line so that it just dropped across its neck, and the fly caught in the thick hair. You should have seen the gay performance that followed ! The beast shook its head and shook its head — for it could feel the line, if it couldn't feel the fly ; and then, getting alarmed, it started off up the hill, with the reel squealing just as if a salmon were on, and Honnor running after him as hard as she could over the bracken and heather. If it were rage made her hook the stot, she was laughing now — laughing so that when the beast stopped she could hardly reel in the line. And old Robert — I thought he would have had a fit. ' Will I gaff liim now. Miss Honnor?' he cried, as he came running along. Hut the stot didn't mean to be gaffed. Off it set again ; and Honnor after it, until at last it caught the line in a birch-bush and broke it ; then, just as if nothing had happened, it began to graze, as usual. You should have seen the game that began then — old Robert and Honnor trying to get hold of the stot, so as to take the casting-line and the fly from its mane — it isn't a mane, but you know — and the stot trying to butt them whenever they PRINCE FORTUNATUS. I77 came near. The end of it was that the beast shook off the fly for itself, and old Robert found it ; but I wonder whether it were real rage that made Ilonnor Cunyngham hook the stot — " "Of course not !" he said. " It was a mere piece of fun." " It isn't fun when Lady Rosamund comes down-stairs in a bad temper — after you gentlemen have left," remarked Miss Gcorgie, significantly ; and then she prattled away in this careful under- tone. " What horrid stuff that fantasia is; don't you think so? A mixture of Wagner, and Chopin, and ' Home, Sweet Home.' Lady Adela has put you in her novel. Oh, yes, she has ; she showed me the last pages this morning. You remember the young married English lady who is a great poetess ? — well, she is rescued from drowning in the Bay of Syracuse by a young Greek sailor, and you are the Greek sailor. You'll be flattered by her description of you. You are entirely Greek and god- like — what is that bust ? — Alcibiades ? — no, no, he was a general, wasn't he ? — Alcinous, is it ? — or Antinous ? — never mind, the bust you see so often in Florence and Rome — well, you're de- scribed as being like that ; and the young English lady becomes your patron, and you're to be educated, and brought to London. But whether her husband is to be killed off, to make way for you, or whether she is going to hand you over to one of her sisters, I don't know yet. It must be rather nice to look at your- self in a novel, and see what other people think of you and what fate they ordain for you. Lady Adela has got all the criticisms of her last novel — all the nice ones, I mean — cut out and pasted on pages and bound in scarlet morocco. I told her she should have all the unpleasant ones cut out and bound in green — envy and jealousy, don't you see ? — but she pretends not to have seen any besides those she has kept. The book is in her own room ; I suppose she reads it over every night, before going to bed. And really, after so much praise, it is extraordinary that she is to have no money for the book — no, quite the reverse, I believe. She was looking forward to making Sir Hugh a very handsome present — all out of her own earnings, don't you know — and she wrote to the publishers ; but, instead of Sir Hugh getting a present, he will have to give her a check to cover the deficit, poor man ! Disappointing, isn't it ? — quite horrid, I call it ; and every one thought the novel such a success — your friend, Mr. Quirk, was most enthusiastic — and we made sure that the public 178 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. would be equally impressed. It isn't the loss of the money tliat Lady Adela frets about ; it is the publishers telling her that so few copies have been sold ; and we made sure, from all that was said in the papers — especially those that Mr. Quirk was kind enough to send — that the book was going to be read everywhere. Mind you don't say anything of the young Greek sailor until Lady Adela herself shows you the MS. ; and of course you mustn't recognize your own portrait, for that is merely a guess of mine. Oh, thank you, thank you !" The last words were a murmur of gratitude to Lady Sybil Bourne for her kindness in playing this piece of her own com- position ; and thereafter Miss Georgie's engaging and instruc- tive monologue was not resumed, for the evening was now about to be wound up by a round or two of poker, and at poker Miss Georgie was ^n eager adept. All that night it poured a deluge, and the morning beheld the Aivron in roaring spate, the familiar landmarks of the banks having mostly disappeared and also many of the mi'd-channel rocks ; while the blue-black current that came whirling down the strath seemed to bring with it the dull, constant thunder of the distant falls. The western hills looked wild and stormy ; there was half a gale of wind tearing along the valley ; and, if the tor- rents of the night had mitigated, there were still flying showers of rain that promised to make of the expedition anything but a pleasure excursion. " Tell me if it is any use at all !" Lionel insisted, for it must be confessed that the keepers looked very doubtful. " Well, sir, said the bushy-bearded Roderick, " the deer will be down from the hills — oh, yes — but they'll be restless and mov- ing about — " " Do you expect I shall have a chance at one — that's all I want to know," was the next demand. " Oh, yes, there may be that ; but you'll get ahfu wet, sir — " " I'm going," said he, definitely ; whereupon the pony was straightway brought up to the door. And here was Miss Georgie Lestrange, in a charming morn- ing costume, which the male pen may not adequately describe, and she held a small packet in her hands. " I told Honnor Cunyngham it was my turn," she said, with a kind of bashful smile, as she handed the little present to him. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. I79 "and she only laughed — I wonder if she thinks she can com- mand all the luck in Koss-shire ; has she got a monopoly of it ? Well, Mr. Moore, they all say you'll get fearfully wet ; and that is a silk handkerchief you must put round your neck ; what would the English public say if you went back from the High- lands with a hoarse throat !" " I'm not thinking of the English public just at present," said he, cheerfully. " I'm thinking of the stag that is wandering about somewhere up in the hills ; and I am certain your good ■wishes will get me a shot at him. How kind of you to get up so early ! — good-bye !" This, it must be admitted, was a most hypocritical speech ; for although, as he rode away, he made a pretence of tying the pale pink neckerchief round his throat, it was on the influence of Miss Cunyngham's lucky sixpence — the pierced coin was secretly at- tached to his watch-chain — that he relied. In fact, before he had gone far from the lodge, he removed that babyish protection against the rain and stuck it in his pocket ; he was not going to throw out a red flag to warn the deer. After all, the morning was not quite so dismal as had been threatened ; for now and again, as they went away up the strath, there was a break in the heavy skies ; and then the river shone a deep and brilliant purple-blue — save where it came hurling in ale-hued masses over the rocks, or rushed in surging white foam through the stony channels. Sometimes a swift glimmer of sun- light smote down on the swinging current ; but these flashes were brief, for the louring clouds were still being driven over from the west, and no one could tell what the day would bring forth. "What will Miss Honnor do in a spate like that?" Lionel inquired of the head keeper. " Will she go out at all ?" "Oh, ay. Miss Honnor will go out," Roderick made answer; " but she will only be able to fish the tail-ends o' the pools — ay, and it will not be easy to put a fly over the water, unless the wind goes down a bit." " But do you mean she will go out on a day like this ?" he demanded again — as he looked at the wild skies and the thun- dering river. " Oh, ay, if there's a chance at ahl Miss Honnor will be out," said Roderick, and he added, with a demure smile, " even if the chentlemen will be for staying at home." 180 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. However, Lionel had soon to consider his own attitude towards this swollen stream, when it became necessary to ford it on the hither side of the Bad Step. To tell the truth, when he regarded that racing current, he did not like the look of it at all. " I don't see how we are to get across," he said, with some hesitation. " Maggie knaws the weh," Roderick made answer, with a bit of a laugh. "Yes, that's all very well," said the mounted huntsman. " I dare say she knows the way ; but if she gets knocked over in the middle of the current, what is to become of me, or of her either ?" " She'll manage it, sir," said the keeper, confidently, " never fear." Lionel was just on the point of saying, " Well, you come yourself and ride her across, and I'll go over the Bad Step on foot," but he did not like to show the white feather; so, some- what apprehensively, he turned the old pony's head to the river- bank. And very soon he found that old Maggie knew much better what she was about than he did ; for, as soon as she felt the weight of the water, she did not attempt to go straight across ; she deliberately turned her head down-stream, put her buttocks against the force of the current, and thus sideways, and very cautiously, and with many a thrilling stumble and catching up again, she proceeded to ford this whirling Aivron. Never once did she expose herself broadside ; her hind-legs were really doing most of the fight ; and right gratefully did Lionel clap the neck of this wise beast when he found himself on solid land. The ford farther up was much less dangerous ; and so once again the reunited party held on its way. Then here was the Geinig — no longer the pretty and pict- uresque river that he knew, but a boiling and surging torrent sweeping in red wrath down its narrow and rocky channel. The farther heights, too, that now came into view, had lost their wonted pale and ethereal hues: there were no soft cloud-stains on the purple slopes of heather — a darkness dwelt over the land. As he gradually got up into that wilder country, the gloom grew more intense, the desolation more awful. The roar of the Geinig was lost now in this dreadful silence, lie seemed to have left behind him all human sympathies and associations — to liave for- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 181 saken his kindred and his kind — to have entered a strange world peopled only with dark phantoms and moving shadows and ghosts. A voiceless solitude, too, save for the moaning of the wind that came sweeping in bitter blasts down from the rainy hills. He did not recognize the features of this melancholy landscape ; they had all changed since his last visit ; nay, they were changing under his very eyes, as this or that far mountain- top receded behind a veil of gray, or a shadow of greater dark- ness advanced witli stealthy tread along one of those lonely glens. There was something threatening in the aspect of both earth and sky ; something louring, conspiring, as if some dread fate were awaiting this intruding stranger ; at times he fancied he could hear low-murmuring voices, the tirst mutterings of dis- tant thunder. What if some red bolt of lightning were sudden- ly to sever this blackness in twain and reveal its hidden and awful secrets ? But no ; there was no such friendly or aveng- ing glare ; the brooding skies lay over the sombre valleys, and the gloomy phantasmagoria slowly changed and changed in that unearthly twilight, as the mists and the wind and the rain trans- formed the solid hills and the straths into intermingling vapors and visions. A spectral world, unreal, and yet terrible ; appar- ently voiceless and tenantless ; and yet somehow suggesting that there were eyes w-atchiug, and vaguely moving and menacing shapes passing hither and thither before him in the gloom. During these last few days he had been assuring himself that he would enter upon this second stalking expedition without any great tremor. It was only on the first occasion, when every- thing was strange and unknown to him, that he was naturally nervous. Even the keepers had declared that the shooting of the first stag was everything ; that thereafter he would have confidence ; that he would take the whole matter as coolly as themselves. And yet, when they now began to proceed more warily (old Maggie having been hobbled some way back) and when every corrie and slope and plateau had to be searched with the glass, he found himself growing not a little anxious at the thought of drawing the trigger ; insomuch, indeed, that those sombre fancies of the imagination went out of his head altogether and gave place to the apprehension that on such a day it would be difficult to make a good shot. Their initial difficulty, however, was to find any trace of the " beasts." The 182 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. wild weather had most likely driven them away from their usual haunts into some place of shelter, the smaller companies joining the main herd ; at all events, up to lunch-time the stalkers had seen nothing. It was during this brief rest — in a deep peat- hag, down which trickled a little stream of rain-water — that Lionel discovered two things : first, that he was wet to the skin, and, second, that the wind in these altitudes was of an Arctic keenness. So long as he had been kept going, he had not paid much attention ; but now this bitter blast seemed to pierce him to the very marrow ; and he began to think that these were very pleasant conditions for a professional singer to be in — for a pro- fessional singer whose very existence depended on his voice. " Here goes for congestion of the lungs," he philosophically observed to himself, as he shiveringly munched his wet sand- wiches. Presently Roderick came along the peat-hag, " Would you like to wait here, sir, for a while ?" said he, in his accustomed undertone. " I'm thinking Alec and me will go aweh up to the top of Meall-Breac and hef a look round there ; and if we are seeing nothing, we will come back this weh and go down the Corrie-nam-Miseag — " " And I am to wait here for you ?" Lionel exclaimed. " Not if I know it ! By the time you come back, Roderick, you would find me a frozen corpse. I've got to keep moving somehow, and I may as well go on with you. I suppose I cannot have a cigar- ette before setting out ?" " Aw, naw, sir !" Roderick pleaded. " In this weather, you cannot say where the deer may be — you may happen on them at any moment — and there will be plenty of time for you to smok on the weh hom." " Very well," Lionel said ; and he got up and tried to shake his blood into freer circulation ; then he set out with his two companions for the summit of Meall-Breac. This steep ascent was fatiguing enough ; but, at all events, it restored some warmth to his body. He did not go quite to the top ; he sat down on a lichened stone, while Roderick pro- ceeded to crawl, inch by inch, until his head and glass were just over the crest of a certain knoll. A long scrutiny followed ; then the forester slowly disappeared — the gillie following in his serpent -like track; and I/ionel sat on in apathetic patience. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 183 slowly getting; chilled again. He asked himself what Nina would say to hiiu if she knew of these escapades. He held his back to the wind until he was frozen that way ; then he turned his face to the chill blast, folding his arms across his chest. He took a sip from Percy Lestrange's flask ; but that was more for employment than anything else, for he discovered there was no real warmth to be got that way. He thought Roderick was never coming back from the top of the hill. He would have started off down the ascent again, but that they might miss him ; besides, he might do something fatally wrong. So he sat on this cold stone and shivered, and began to think of Kensal Green. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him ; he turned and found the two men coming towards him. " Not a sign of anything, sir," was Roderick's report. " It's awfu' dark and difficult to see, and the clouds are down all along Glen Bhoideach. We'll just step along by the Corrie- nam-Miseag. They very often stop for a while in the corrie when they're crossing over to Achuadruim." Lionel was not sorry to be again in motion, and yet very soon he found that motion was not an unmixed joy ; for these two fellows, who were now going down wind along the route they had come, and therefore walking fearlessly, took enormous- ly long strides and held straight on, no matter what sort of ground they were covering. For the sake of his country, he fought hard to keep up with them ; he would not have them say they could outwalk an Englishman — and an Englishman considerably younger than either of them ; but the way those two went over this rough and broken land was most extraor- dinary. And it seemed so easy ; they did not appear to be putting forth any exertion ; in spite of all he could do, he be- gan to lag a little ; and so he thought he would mitigate their ardor by engaging them in a little conversation. " Roderick," said he, " do you think this neighborhood was ever inhabited ?" " Inhabited ?" said Roderick, turning in surprise. " Oh, ay, it was inhabited ahlways — by foxes and eagles." *' Xot by human beings ?" " Well, they would be ferry clever that could get a living out of land like this," Roderick said, simply. 184 PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. • " But they say in the House of Commons that the deer-forests are depriving a large portion of the population of a means of subsistence," Lionel observed — rather breathlessly, for these long strides were fearful. " Ay, do they say that now ?" Roderick made answer, with much simplicity. " In the House of Commons ? I'm thinking there is some foolish men in the House of Commons. Mebbe they would not like themselves to come here and try to get their living out of rocks and peat-hags." " But don't you think there may have been people in these parts before the ancient forests rotted down into peat?" Lionel again inquired. " I do not know about that," Roderick said, discreetly ; per- haps he knew that his opinions about prehistoric man were not of great value. But what Lionel discovered was that talking in no wise inter- fered with the tremendous pace of tbe forester ; and he was just on the point of begging for a respite from this intolerable ex- ertion when a change in their direction caused both Roderick and the gillie to proceed more circumspectly : they were now coming in view of the Corrie-nam-Miseag, and they had to ap- proach with care, slinking along through hollows and behind mounds and rocks. By this time, it must be confessed, Lionel was thoroughly dead-beat : he was wet through, icily cold, and miserable to the verge of despair. The afternoon was well advanced ; they had seen no sign of a stag anywhere ; the gloomy evening threatened to bring darkness on prematurely ; and but for very shame's sake, he would have entreated them to abandon this fruitless enterprise, and set out for the far-off region of warmth and rea- sonable comfort and dry clothes. And yet when Roderick, hav- ing crawled up to the top of a small height, suddenly and eager- ly signalled for Lionel to follow him, all this hopeless lassitude was instantly forgotten, llis heart began to burn, if his limbs were deadly cold ; and quickly he was on the ground, too, mov- ing himself up alongside the keeper. The glass was given him, but his trembling fingers could not hold it straight ; he put it down, and by and by his natural eyes showed him what he thought were some slightly moving objects. " There's two of them — two stags," Roderick whis[»ercd, " and PKINCE FORTUNATUS. 185 we can get at them easily if there's no more wandering about that I cannot see, Mcbbc the others are over that hull. There's one of them is a fine big beast, but he has only the one horn ; the other one, his head is not ferry good. But a stag is a stag whatever ; and the evening is wearing on. Now come aweh with me, sir." What Roderick meant by getting at them easily Lionel was now to find out ; he thought he would never have done with this agonizing stooping and crawling and wading through burns. Long before they had got to the neighborhood of the deer, he wished heartily that the night would come suddenly down, or the stags take the alarm and make off — anything, so that he might be released from this unspeakable toil and suffering. And yet he held on, in a sort of blind, despairing fashion ; the idea in his head being that if nature gave way he would simplj' lie down and fall asleep in the heather — whether to wake again or not he hardly cared. But by and by he was to have his reward. Roderick was making for a certain cluster of rocks ; and when these were reached, Lionel found, to his inexpressible joy, not only that he was allowed to stand upright, but that the stalk bad been accomplished. By peering over one of the boulders, he could see both stags quietly feeding at something like seven- ty yards' distance. It was going to be an easy shot in every way ; himself in ample concealment ; a rock on which to rest his rifle ; the deer without thought of danger. He would take his time and calm down his nerves. " Which one ?" he whispered to Roderick. " The one with the one horn is a fine beast," the keeper whis- pered in return ; " and the other one, his head is worth nothing at all." With extremest caution Lionel put the muzzle over the ledge of the rock, and pushed it quietly forward. He made sure of his footing. He got hold of the barrel with his left hand, and of the stock with his right ; he fixed the rifle firmly against ?\is shoulder, and took slow and steady aim. He was not so ner- vous this time ; indeed, everything was in his favor : the stag standing broadside on and hardly moving, and this rock offer- ing so convenient a rest. He held his breath for a moment — concentrated all his attention on the long, smooth barrel — and fired. 186 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " You've got him, sir !" exclaimed Roderick, in an eager whis- per, and still keeping his head down ; but seeing that the other stag had caught sight of the rifle-smoke and was off at the top of his speed, he rose from his place of concealment and jumped on to the rock that had been hiding him. " Ay, ay, sir, he'll no go far," he cried to Lionel, who was scrambling up to the same place. " There, he's down again on his knees. Come aweh, sir ; we'll go after him. Give me the rifle." Lionel had just time to get a glimpse of the wounded stag, which was stumbling pitifully along — far behind its now disap- pearing companion — when he had to descend from the rock in order to follow Roderick, All three ran quickly down the hill and rounded into the hollow where they had last seen the stag, following up his track, and looking out everywhere for his pros- trate body. But the farther they went, the more amazed be- came Roderick and the gillie ; there was no sign of the beast that both of them declared could not have run a couple of hun- dred yards. The track of him disappeared in the bed of a burn and could not be recovered, search as they would ; so they pro- ceeded to explore every adjacent hollow and peat-hag, in the certainty that within a very few minutes they nmst find the lost quarry. The few minutes lengthened out and out ; half-hours went by ; and yet there was no sign. They went away down the burn ; they went away up the burn ; they made wider casts, and narrowed in, like so many retrievers ; and all to no purpose. And meanwhile darkness and the night were com- ing on. " He's lying dead somewhere, as sure as anything can be," Roderick said, looking entirely puzzled and crestfallen ; " and we'll hef to bring up a terrier in the morning and search for him. I never sah the like o' that in my life. When he fell where he stood I made sure he was feenished ; then he was up again and ran a little weh, and again he went down on his knees — " " It was then I saw him," Lionel exclaimed, " and I expected him to drop the next moment. Why, he must be about here, Roderick, he couldn't vanish into the air — he wasn't a ghost — for I heard the thud of the bullet when it struck him — " "Ay, and me too," Roderick said, "but we will do no good .^:.e - ^-.-^ ^* ^'^^' ^^ "' There, he'n flown again on his knees. Come nweh, sii- ; we'll fjo after htm.' " PKINOE FORTUNATUS. 187 now, for it is getting so dark ; and you hcf to cross the two fords, sir — " " Tlie fords !" said Lionel. " By Jove ! I forgot tlicm, I suy, we must hurry on. I suppose you are sure to tind him in the morning?" " We will bring up a terrier whatever," Roderick said, doubt- fully ; for he seemed to have been entirely disconcerted by the disappearance of the phantom stag. " Ay, I hef known them rin a long weh after being wounded — miles and miles they will go — but this wan wass so hard hit, I thought he would drop directly. The teiBe tek him — I could hef given him the other barrel myself !" And still they seemed loath to leave the ground, notwithstand- ing the gathering darkness. They kept wandering about, exam- ining and searching ; until it was quite obvious that even if the stag were lying within easy distance of them they could hardly distinguish it ; so finally they withdrew, beaten and baffled, and made away down to the lower country, where the old pony Mag- gie was probably wondering at their unusual length of absence. That was a sombre ride home. It was now raining heavily ; and all the night seemed to be filled with a murmuring of streams and a moaning of winds among the invisible hills. Roderick walked by the pony's head ; and Lionel could just make him out, and no more, so pitch dark it was. Of course he had no idea of the route he was taking or of the nature of the ground they were getting over ; but he could guess from Maggie's cau- tious steps when they were going over rough places, or he could hear the splash of her feet when they were crossing a swamp. Not a word was uttered ; no doubt all the forester's attention was bent on making out a path ; while as for Lionel, he was too wet and cold and miserable to think of talking to anybody. If he had certainly known that somewhere or other he had left up there a stag, which they could bring down in the morning, that would have consoled him somewhat ; but it was just as likely as not that all this privation and fatigue had been endured for nothing. As they trudged along through the gloomy night, the rain fell more heavily than ever, and the bitter wind seemed to search out every bone in his body. And. then when at length they came within sound of the Geinig, that was no longer a friendly voice welcoming them ISS PRINCE KORTUNATUS. back to more familiar regions ; it was an angry and threatening roar ; he could see nothing ; he could only imagine the wild torrent hurling along through this black desolation. " Look here, Roderick," he said, " mind you keep away from that river. If we should stumble down one of the steep banks, we should never be heard of again." " Oh, ay, we're a long distance from the ruwer ; and it is as well to keep aweh ; for if we were to get into the Geinig to- night, we would be tekken down like straws." And how welcome was the small red ray that told of the shepherd's cottage just below the juncture of the Geinig and Aivron ! It was a cheerful beacon ; it spoke of human asso- ciation and companionship ; the moan of the hurrying Aivron seemed to have less of boding in it now. It is true they still had the two fords to encounter, and another long and weary tramp, before they got back to the lodge ; but here at least was some assurance that they were out of those storm-haunted soli- tudes where the night was now holding high revel. That ray of light streaming from the solitary little window seemed to Lionel a blessed thing; it served to dissipate the horrors of this murmuring and threatening blackness all around him ; it cheered and warmed his heart ; it was a joyful assurance that they were on the right way for home. When they reached the cottage, they knocked at the door ; and presently there was a delightful, ruddy glow in the midst of the dark. Would the gentleman not come in and warm himself at the fire and get his clothes dried ? No : Lionel said that getting wet through once was bet- ter than getting wet through twice ; he would go on as he was. But might he have a glass of milk ? The shepherd disappeared, and returned with a tumbler of milk and a piece of oatcake; and never in his life had the famous baritone from the far city of London tasted anything sweeter, for he was half-dead with liungcr. Greatly refreshed by this opportune bit and sup, the tired and "droukit" rider cheerfully resumed his way; and it was with a stout heart that, after a certain time, he found Rod- crick cautiously leading the pony down to the water's edge. And then a sudden thought struck him. " Look here, Roderick," said he, " I suppose I can get across this ford safely enough ; but how on earth am I to know when I get to the next one ? 1 can't see a yard in front of the pony's head." PRINCE FORTUNATUS. Igg " I'm coming with ye, sir," was the simple answer ; and at the same moment there was a general splashing which told him that both Maggie and the tall keeper were in the rushing stream. " Well, I suppose you can't be wetter than you are," he said. "Indeed, that's true," Roderick answered, with much com- posure. Now this first ford, though a ticklish thing in the pitch dark- ness, they managed successfully enough ; but the next one proved a terrible business. Roderick went by the pony's head, with his hand on the bridle ; but whether he helped Maggie, or whether Maggie helped him, it would be hard to say. Lionel could only guess what a mighty floundering there was going on ; but Rod- erick kept encouraging his four-footed companion to hold up ; and more than once, when they attained a safe footing, he called a halt to let the faithful Maggie recover her breath. *' Take your feet out o' the stirrups, sir," he said, when tEey were about half-way across ; " there's some nasty sharp ledges the other side, and if she loses her footing you'll chist slip oflE before she goes over; and it will not tek ye above the waist whatever, so that you can get ashore by yourself." AVhen they did reach those ledges, Maggie seemed to under- stand the awkwardness of the situation quite as well as he ; she went forward only an inch or two at a time ; and if her hind- feet occasionally skated a little, her fore -feet remained firm where she had planted them. As for Lionel, he was, of course, quite helpless ; he did not seek to interfere in any way ; he was metely ready to slip off the saddle if Maggie rolled over. But presently a sudden red flash revealed to him that they were near land (this was Alec striking a vesuvian to give them a friendly lead) ; there was some further cautious sliding and stumbling forward ; then the uplifting of Maggie's neck and shoulders told him she had gained solid ground and was going up the bank. Never w^as soft and sure footfall more welcome. The arrival of this belated and bedrenched little party at the lodge created no little surprise ; for it had been concluded that, having been led away by a long stalk, or perhaps following a wounded deer into unexpected regions, and finding themselves overtaken by the dark, they had struck across country for the Aivron-Bridge Inn, to pass the night there. However, Sir Hugh bustled about to have his guest properly looked after ; and when 190 PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. Lionel had got into dry clothes and swallowed some bit of warmed-up dinner, he went into the drawing-room, where they were all of them playing poker — all of them, that is to say, ex- cept Lord Fareborough, who, in a big easy-chair by the fire, was nursing his five -and -twenty ailments, and no doubt inwardly cursing those people for the chatter they were keeping up. They stopped their game when Lionel entered, to hear the news ; and when he had told his heartrending tale. Lady Adela's brother lazily called to her : " I say, Addie, there's a chance for you to try that terrier of yours. If he's as intelligent as you say, send him out with the gillies to-morrow, and see if he can find the stag for them." " Why, of course," Lady Adela instantly responded. " Mr. Moore, I have just become possessed of the wisest little terrier in the whole world, I do believe. He only arrived this evening ; but he and I have been friends for a long time ; I bought him only yesterday from a shepherd down the strath. Oh, I must show you the letter that came with the dog. Georgie, dear, would you mind running into my room and bringing me a letter you will find on the dressing-table ?" Miss Georgie was absent only a couple of seconds ; when she returned she handed Lionel the following epistle, which was written on a rather shabby sheet of paper. Its contents, how- ever, were of independent value : " ALTNASHiEr.ACn. Tuesday moarning. " Lady Addela Cunningham, — " HoNNERD Lady, — I am seiidiii you the terrier b}' my sin Jeames that was takking the milk from Bragla to your ladysliip's house the last year wlicn he was btitten by the red dog and your hidyship so kind as to glv him five shul- lins the terrier's name is Donacha bit lie will soon answer to his English name that is Duncan Honnerd Lady you must be kind to him for lie will be a little shy the first time he is awa from home and because he will not under- stand your languish as he was taught Gealic he got plenty of Blood on the foxes he can warry wan with himself alone let me no how you will be please with him and if he is behaved and obadiont I will be glad to have the news "from your ladyship's humble servant " Magnus Ross, Altnashielach." "A wee terrier that can worry a fox all by himself must be a gallant little beast, mustn't he?" said Lady Adela, who seemed quite proud of her new acquisition. " And I know he will find that stag for you, Mr. Moore, if he is to be found ; for Donacha, or Duncan, is the Avisest little creature you ever saw. I wish I PRINCE KOHTUNATUS. 191 could talk Gaelic, just to make him feel at home the first few days," Then she turned to her companions. " Who began this round — Mr. Lestrange ? Very well, when it comes to Sybil, I propose we let you gentlemen go ofiE to your cigars in the gun- room ; for poor Mr. Moore, I know, hasn't been allowed to smoke all day ; and I am sure he must be far too tired to think of play- ing poker. How many do you want. Rose ?" When this round of poker was finished, the gentlemen did not seem to resent being dismissed to the so-called gun-room, where, round the great blazing peat fire, and with cigars and pipes and whiskey-and-soda to console them in their banish- ment, Lionel was called upon to give them more minute details regarding his day's adventures. And very various were the opinions expressed as to the chances of that stag being found. Some ominous stories were told of the extraordinary distances deer were known to have run even when mortally wounded ; and there were possibilities suggested of his having fallen into a rapid watercourse and been carried down to the rushing river ; while Sir Hugh ventured to hint that, if he were not found on the morrow, the probability was that some shepherd, in his re- mote and lonely shieling just outside the forest, would be feast- ing on venison for a considerable time to come. Lionel cared less now ; heat and food had thawed him into a passive frame of mind ; he was tired, worn out, and sleepy ; and very glad was he when he was allowed to go to bed. As a matter of fact, that magic one-horned stag was not found on the next day ; no, nor any following day ; nor has it ever been heard of since in those parts. And if it vanished from the earth through some evil enchantment, be sure that Lionel — who had picked up some of the superstitions of the neighborhood, and who had profited on a former occasion by the possession of a lucky sixpence — be sure he attributed his cruel ill-fortune, solely and wholly, to that wretched red rag that had been given him by Miss Georgie Lestrange. 193 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. CHAPTER XII. A GLOBE OF GOLD-FISH. What, then, was the secret charm and fascination exercised over him by this extremely independent, not to say unapproach- able, fisher-maiden; why should he be so anxious to win her approval ; why should he desire to be continually with her — even when all her attention was given to her salmon-line, and she appar- ently taking no notice of him whatever ? She was handsome, no doubt, and fine-featured and pleasant to look upon ; she was good- humored, and friendly in lier own way ; and she had the educa- tion and manners and tact and gentleness of one of her birth and breeding; but there were lots of other women similarly graced and gifted who were only too eager to welcome him and pet him and make much of him, and towards whom he found himself absolutely indifferent. "Was he falling in love? Had he been asked the question, he would honestly have answered that he was about the last person in the world to form a roman- tic attachment. There was no kind of sentimental wistfulness in his nature ; his imagination had no poetical trick of investing the face and form of any passably good-looking girl with a halo of rainbow-hues ; even as a lad his dreams had concerned them- selves more with the possibility of his becoming a great musi- cian than with his sharing his fame and glory with a radiant bride. But, above all, the rhodomontade of simulated passion that he heard in the theatre, and the extravagance of action necessary for stage effect, would of themselves have tended to render him sceptical and callous. He saw too much of how it was done. Did ever any man in his senses swear by the eternal stars in talking to a woman ; and did ever any man in his senses kneel at a woman's feet ? In former times they may have done so, when fustian and attitudinizing were not fustian and atti- tudinizing, but common habit and practice ; but in our own day did the love-making of the stage, with all its frantic gestures PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 193 and wild appeals, represent anything belonging to actual life ? Of course, if the question had been pushed home, he would have had to admit that love as a violent passion does veritably exist, or otherwise there would not be so many young men blowing out their brains, and young women drowning them- selves, out of disappointment ; but probably he would have pointed out that in these cases the coroner's jury invariably and charitably certify that the victim is insane. No ; romance had never been much in his way, except the sham romance which he had assumed along with a painted face and a stage costume, and of which he knew the just and accu- rate value. He had never had time to fall seriously in love, he used to say to Maurice Mangan. And now, in this long spell of idleness in the North, amid these gracious surroundings, if he had had to confess that he found a singular fascination in the society of Honnor Cunyngham, why, he would have discovered a dozen reasons and excuses rather than admit that poetical sen- timent had anything to do with it. For one thing, she was dif- ferent from any woman he had ever met before ; and that of itself piqued his curiosity. You had to speak the downright truth to her — when she looked at you with those clear hazel eyes ; little make-believes of flattery were of no use at all. Her very tranquillity and isolation were a sort of challenge ; her al- most masculine independence was like to drive a man to say, " I am as peremptory as she proud-minded." Nevertheless, she was no curst Katherine ; her temper was of the serenest ; she was almost too bland and placid, Lionel thought — it showed she cared too little about you to be either exacting and petulant, or, on the other hand, solicitous to please. There came into these silent and reverie-haunted solitudes a letter from the distant and turbulent world without; and of a sudden Jjionel felt himself transported back into the theatre again, in the midst of all its struggles and hopes and anxieties, its jealousies and triumphs, its ceaseless clamor and unrest. The letter was from Nina. " My dear Friend Leo, — I have waited now some time that I send you the critiques of my new part, but the great morning newspapers have taken no notice of poor Nina, it is only some of the weekly papers that have observed the change in the part, and you will see that they are very kind to me. Ah, but one — I do not send it — I could not send it to you, Leo — it has made me crv much and much that any one should have such malignity, such meau- 9 194 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. ness, such lying. I forget all the other ones ; that one stabs my heart; but Mr. Carey he laughs and says to me You are foolish ; you do not know why that is said of you ? He is a great ally of Miss Burgoyne, he does not like to see you take her place and be well received by the public. Perhaps it is true ; but, Leo, you do not like to be told that you make the part stupid, that there is no life in it, that you are a machine, that you sing out of tune. I have asked Mr. Lehmann, I have asked Mr. Carey, and said to them If it is true, let me go ; I will not make ridicule of your theatre. But they are so kind to me; and Mrs. Grey also; she says that I have not as much cheek as Miss Burgoyne, but that Grace Mainwaring should remember that slie is a gentlewoman, and it is not necessary to make her a laugh- ing waitress, althougli she is in comedy-opera. I cannot please every one, Leo ; but if you were here I should not care so much for the briccone, who lies, who lies, who hides in the dark, like a thief. You know whether I sing out of tune, Leo. You know whether I am so stupid, so very stupid. Yes, I may not have cheek ; I wish not to have cheek ; even to commend myself to a critic. Ah, well, it is no use to be angry ; every night I have a recep- tion that you would like to hear, Leo, for you have no jealousy ; and my heart says those people are not under bad influence ; they are honest in say- ing they are pleased; to them. I sing not out of tune, and am not so very stupid. If I lie awake at night, and cry much, it is then I say to myself that I am stupid ; and the next morning I laugh, when Mrs. Grey says some kind thing to me. " Will you be surprised, most excellent Signor, if you have a visit from Miss Burgoyne? Yes, it is possible. The doctor says she has strained lier voice by too long work — but it was a little reedij of its own nature, do you not think, Leo? — and says she must have entire rest, and that she must go to the Isle of White ; but she said every one was going to Scotland, and why not she, and her two friends, her travelling companions. Then slic comes to mc and ask your address. I answer — Why to me ? There is Mr. Lehmann ; and at the stage-door they will know his address, for letters to go. So, you see, you will not be alone in the high-lands, when you have such a chatrniuff visitor with you, and she will talk to you, not from behind a fan, as on the stage, but all the day, and you will have great comfort and satisfaction. Yes, I see her arrive at the castle. She rings at the gate ; your noble friends come out, and ask who she is ; they discover, and drive away such a person as a poor can- tatrice. But you hear, you come flying out, you rescue her from scorn — ah, it is pitiable, they all weep, they say to you that you are honorable and just, that they did wrong to despise your charming friend. Perliaps they ask her to dine ; and she sitigs to them after ; and Leo says to himself. Poor thing ; no; her voice is not so reedy. The denouement? — but I am not come to it yet ; I have not arranged what will arrive then. "What is the time of your return, Leo? And you know what will be then? You will find on the stage another Grace Mainwaring, who will sing always out of tune, and be so stupid that you will have fury and will com- plain to the Manager. Ah, there is now no one to speak with you from bc- liind a fan — only a dull heavy stupid. Misera me ! What shall I do? All the poetry departed from Harry Tliornliiirs singing — there is no more fascination PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. 195 for him — lie looks up to the window — he sings 'The starry night brings me no rest' — and he says ' Bother to that stupid Italian girl ! — why am I to sing to her?' Poor Leo, he will be disconsolate; but not for long. No; Miss Bur- goyne will be coming back ; and then he will have some one for to talk with from behind the fan. " Now, Leo, if you can read any more, I must attend to what you call beesness. When Miss Burgoyne returns, I do not go back to be under-study to Miss Girond — no — Mr. Lehmann has said he is. pleased with me, and I am to take the part of Miss Considinc, who goes into the provincial company. You know it is almost the same consequence as Grace Mainwaring towards the public, and I am, oh, very proud of such an advancement ; and I have writ- ten to Pandiani, and to Uarmela and Andrea, and Mrs. Grey is kinder than ever, and I take lessons always and always, when she has a half-hour from the house-governing. I am letter perfect — is it what they say? — in this part as in the other; my bad English does not appear on the stage; I practise and practise always. I am to share in Miss Girond's room, and that will be good, for she is friendly to me, though sometimes a little saucy in her amuse- ment. Already I hear that the theatre-attendant people are coming back — and you ' — when is your return ? You had benevolence to the poor chorus- singer, Signor Leo ; and now she is prima-doinia do you think she will forget you ? No, no ! To-day I was going up Regent Street, and in a window be- hold ! a portrait of Mr. Lionel Moore and a portrait of Miss Antonia Ross side by side ! I laughed — I said, Leo did not look to this a short time ago. It is the same fotografer ; I have had several requests ; but only to that one I went, for it is the best one of you he has taken that is seen anywhere. Of course I have to dress as like Miss Burgoyne as possible, which is a pity to me, for it is not too graceful, as I think I could do ; but I complain nothing, since Mr. Lehmann gave me the great advancement ; and if you will look at the critiques you will see they say I have not a bad appearance in the part. As for the briccone — pah ! — when I talk like this to you, Leo, I despise him — he is nothing to me — I would not pay twopence that he should praise'me. " Will you write to me, Leo, and say when you return ? Have you so much beesness that you have only sent me one letter ? Adieu ! " Your true friend, Nina." Well, this prattling letter from Nina caused him some reflec- tion and some uneasy qualms. He did not so much mind the prospect of having, on his return, to transform his old friend and comrade into his stage-sweetheart, and to make passionate love to her every evening before an audience. That might be a little embarrassing at first ; but the feeling would soon wear ofE ; such circumstances were common and well understood in the theatre, where stage-lovers cease their cooing the moment they withdraw into the wings. But this other possibility of finding Miss Burgoyne and her friends in the immediate neigh- borhood of Strathaivron Lodge ? Of course there was no reason 196 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. why she shouldn't travel through Ross-shire just as well as any one else. She knew his address. If she came anywhere round this way — say to Kilfearn — he must needs go to call on her. Then both Lady Adela Cunyngham and Lord Rockminster had heen introduced to Miss Burgoyne in the New Theatre ; if he told them, as he ought, on whom he was going to call, might they not want to accompany him and renew the acquaintance ? Lady Adela and her sisters considered themselves the naturally appointed patrons of all professional folk whose names figured in the papers ; was it not highly probable that Miss Burgoyne and her friends, whosoever these might be, would receive an in- vitation to Strathaivron Lodge ? And then ? — why, then might there not be rather too close a resemblance to a band of poor players being entertained by the great people at what Nina im- agined to be a castle ? A solitary guest was all very well ; had Miss Burgoyne preceded or succeeded him, he could not have objected ; but a group of strolling players, as it were ? — might it not look as if they had been summoned to amuse the noble company ? And fancy Miss Burgoyne coming in as a spy upon his mute, and at present quite indefinite, relations with Miss Honnor Cunyngham ! — Miss Burgoyne, who was a remarkably sharp-eyed young woman, and had a clever and merry tongue withal, when she was disposed to be humorous. Then he bethought him of what Honnor Cunyngham, with her firm independence of character, her proud self-reliance, would have said to all these timorous fancies. He knew per- fectly well what she would say. She would say, " Well, but even if Miss Burgoyne were to appear at Strathaivron Lodge, how could that affect you ? You are yourself ; you are apart from her; her visit will be Lady Adela's doing, not yours. And if people choose to regard you as one of a band of strolling players, how can that harm you ? Why should you care ? The opinion that is of value to you is your own opinion ; be right with yourself ; and leave others to think what they please. Whoever could so entirely misjudge your position must be a fool ; why should you pause for a moment to consider the opin- ion of a fool or any number of fools? 'To thine own self be true ;' and let that suftice." For he had come to know pretty accurately, during those fre- quent if intcrmittont talks and chats along ihc Aivron l)anks, PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 197 how Miss Honnor would regard most things. The wild weath- er had been succeeded by a period of calm ; the river had dwin- dled and dwindled, until it seemed merely to creep along its channel ; where a rushing brown current had come down there now appeared long banks of stones, lilac and silver-gray and pur- ple, basking in the sun ; while half-way across the stream in many places the yellow sand and shingle shone through the laz- ily rippling shallows. Consequently there was little fishing to be done, Honnor Cunyngham went out all the same, for she loved the river-side in all weathers ; and as often as he discreet- ly might, Lionel accompanied her; but as they had frequently to wait for half -hours together until a cloud should come over, he had ample opportunity of learning her views and opinions on a great variety of subjects. For she spoke freely and frankly and simply in this enforced idleness ; and, from just a little touch here and there, Lionel began to think that she must have a good deal more of womanly tenderness and sympathy than he had given her credit for. Certainly she was always most con- siderate towards himself ; she seemed to understand that he was a little sensitive on the score of his out-of-door performances ; and w^hile she made light of his occasional blunders, she would quietly hint to him that he in turn ought to exercise a generous judgment when those people at the Lodge ventured to enter a province in which he was a past master. " We are all amateurs in something or another, Mr. Moore," she would say. " And the professionals should not treat us ■with scorn." "I wonder in what you show yourself an amateur," said he, bethinking himself how she seemed to keep aloof from the music, art, and literature of her accomplished sisters-in-law. " Everything you do you do thoroughly well." She laughed. " You have never seen me try to do anything but cast a line," said she, " and if I can manage that, the credit rests with old Robert." But the consideration that she invariably extended to her brother's guest was about to show itself in a very marked man- ner ; and the incident arose in this wise. One morning, the weather being much too bright and clear for the shallower pools of the Aivron, they thought they would take luncheon with 198 PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. them, and stroll up to the Geinig, where, in the afternoon, the deeper pools might give them a chance, especially if a few clouds were to come over. Accordingly the three of them went away along the valley, passed over the Bad Step, meandered through the long birch wood, and finally arrived at the little dell above the Geinig Pool, which was Miss Honnor's favorite retreat. They had left somewhat late ; the sun was shining from a cloud- less sky ; luncheon would pass the useless time ; so Robert got the small parcels and the drinking-cups out of the bag, and ar- ranged them on the warm turf. It was a modest little banquet, but in the happiest circumstances ; for the birch branches above them afforded them a picturesque shelter ; and the burn at their feet, attenuated as it was, and merely threading its way down through the stones, flashed diamonds here and there in the light. And then she was so kind as to thank him again for singing " The Bonnie Earl o' Moray " — which had considerably astounded the people assembled at the opening of the Kilfearn Public Hall, OT, at least, such of them as did not know that a great singer was among the guests at Strathaivron Lodge. " I was rather sorry for them who had to follow you," she said; "they must have felt it was hardly fair. It was like Donald Dinnie at the Highland Games : when he has thrown the hammer or tossed the caber, the spectator hardly takes notice of the next competitor. By the way, I suppose you will be go- ing to the Northern meeting at the end of this month ?" " I am sorry I cannot stay so long, though Lady Adela was good enough to ask me," he made answer. " I must go south very soon now." " Oh, indeed ?" she said. " That is a pity. It is worth while being in Inverness then ; you see all the different families and tlieir guests ; and the balls are picturesque — with the kilt and tartan. It is really the wind-up of the season ; the parties break up after that. We come back here and remain until about the middle of October; then we go on to the Braes — worse luck for me. I like the rough-and-tumble of this place; the absence of ceremony ; tlie freedom and the solitude. It will be very different at the Braes." " Why shouldn't you stop on here, then ?" he naturally asked. " All by myself ?" she said. " Well, I shouldn't mind the loneliness — you sec, old Robert is left hero, and Roderick, too, PRINCE FORTUNATUS, 199 and one or two of the girls to keep fires on ; but 1 should liave nothing to do but read ; the tishiug is useless long before that time. And so you are going away quite soon ?" " Yes," said he, and he paused for a second — for there was some wild wish in his heart that she would have just one word of regret. " I must go," he continued, seeing that she did not speak. " I am wanted. And I have had a long holiday — a long and delightful holiday ; and I'm sure, when I look back over it, I can't thank you sufficiently for all your kindness to me." " Thank me, Mr. Moore ?" she said, with obvious surprise. " Oh, yes, indeed," he said, warmly. " If it was only a word now and again, it was always encouragement. I should never have ventured out after the deer if it had not been for you ; probably I should never have taken up a gun at all. Then all those delightful days by the river; haven't I to thank you for them ? It seems rather hard that I should be so much indebted to you — " " I am sure you are not at all," she said. " — without a chance of ever being able to show my grati- tude ; repayment, of course, is out of the question, for we could never meet again in similar circumstances — in reversed circum- stances, rather — I mean, you have had it all your own way in your — your toleration, shall I say ? — or your commiseration, of a hopeless duffer. Oh, I know what I'm talking about. Most people in your position would have said, ' Well, let him go and make a fool of himself !' and most people in my position would have said, ' No, I'm not going to make a fool of myself.' " *' I don't quite understand," she said, simply, " why you should care so much for the opinion of other people." *' I suppose there is no chance of my ever seeing you in Lon- don, Miss Honnor," he continued, rather breathlessly. " If — if I might presume on the acquaintanceship formed up here, I should like — w^ell, I should like to show you I had not forgotten your kindness. Do you ever come to London ? — I think Miss Lestrange said you sometimes did." " Why, I am in London a great part of every year !" she said. " And this winter I shall be next door to it ; for my mother goes to Brighton in November; and she will want me to be with her." " To Brighton !" he said, quickly and eagerly. " Then, of 200 PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. course, you would be in London sometimes. Would you — would you care to come behind the scenes of a theatre ? — or be present at a dress rehearsal, or something of that kind ? No, I'm afraid not — I'm afraid that wouldn't interest you — " " Oh, but it would," she said, pleasantly enough. " It would interest me very much." And perhaps he would have gone on to assure her how de- lighted he would be to have the opportunity of showing her, in the great capital, that he had not forgotten her kindness and help in these Northern wilds, but that Miss Honnor, seeing that their frugal meal was over, called for Robert. The handsome old fisherman appeared at once ; but she instantly perceived by his face that something was wrong. " This is ferry strange, Miss Honnor," said he, " that the fly -book is not in the bag. And I could not have dropped it out. I was not thinking of looking for it when we started, for I knew I had put it there — " " Oh, I know, Robert," she said at once. " Mr. Lcstrange asked me this morning for some small Durham Rangers ; and I told him to go and take them out of the book. So he has taken the book out of the bag and stupidly forgot to put it back." " Then I will go aweh down to the Lodge and get it," Robert suggested. " Is it worth while ?" she said. " There is a fly on the casting- line ; and there won't be much fishing this afternoon." " I am not so sure," old Robert made answer. " There might be some clouds ; and it is safer to hef the book whatever." " Very well," said she. " And in that case I will take Mr. Moore over to the other side of the Geinig Pool, and ask him to creep out on the middle rock, and perhaps he will see some- thing. Will there be any gold-fish in the globe, Robert ?" Old Robert grinned. "Oh, yes. Miss Honnor, the fish will be there, but there is little chance of your getting one out." " At any rate, Mr. Moore will be pleased to see a globe of gold- fish in the middle of a Highland moor," she said ; and, when Robert had picked up the luncheon things, they all set off down the Geinig valley together. l»iit when they reached a certain wooden foot-bridge across the stream, Robert held on his way, making for the Lodge, while PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 201 Lionel, well content and asking no questions, followed the young lady. She led the way across the bridge and along the opposite bank until they reached the Geinig Pool, where they scrambled down to the side of the river just above the falls. Here she showed him how to step from one boulder to another, until he found himself on a huge gray rock right in the middle ; and forthwith she directed him to crawl out to the edge of the rock, and just put his head over, and see what he could see. As for crawling, he considered himself quite an adept at that now ; in an instant he was down on hands and knees, making his way out to the end of the rock. And certainly what he beheld when he cautiously peered over the edge was worth all the trouble. Here, in an almost circular pool, apparently of great depth, the surface of the water was as smooth as glass ; for the bulk of the stream tumbled in and tumbled out again along the southern side, leaving this dark hole in an eddy ; and the sunlight, strik- ing down into the translucent depths, revealed to him certain slowly moving forms which he recognized at once as salmon. They were not like salmon in color, to be sure ; through the dun water their purplish-blue backs showed a dull olive-green ; but salmon they undoubtedly were, and of a good size, too. Of course he was immensely excited by such a novel sight. With intensest curiosity he watched them making their slow circles of the pool, exactly like gold-fish in a globe. They seemed to be about four or five feet under the surface. Was it not possible to snatch at one of them with a long gaff ? Or was it not pos- sible, on the other hand, to tempt one of them with a fly ! He slowly withdrew his head. " That is most extraordinary," he called to his companion, who was standing a few yards farther back. " Miss Honnor, won't you put a fly over them ?" " What is the use," said she. " They will look at it, but they won't take it ; and I don't think it is well they should know too much about the patterns that Mr. Watson dresses. They know quite enough already. Some of the old hands, I do believe, are familiar with every fly made in Inverness." " Won't you try ?" he pleaded. " Well, if you would like to see them look at a fly, I'll put it over them," she said, good-naturedly, " but, you know, it is most demoralizing." 9* 20:i PRINCE FORTUNATIS. So she, also, had to creep out to the edge of the rock ; and then she cautiously put out the rod and the short line she had previously prepared. She threw the fly to the opposite side of the pool, let it sink an inch or two, and then quietly jerked it across until it came jn the way of the slow-circling salmon. To her it was merely an amusement, but to Lionel it was a breath- less excitement, to watch one after another of those big fish, in passing, come up to look at this beautiful, gleaming, shrimp-like object and then sink down again and go on its round. They would not come within two feet of this tempting lure. She tried them in all parts of the pool, sinking the fly well into the plung- ing fall, and letting it be carried right to the other side before she dragged it across the clear open. "Won't one of you take it?" she said. "It's as pretty a fly as ever was dressed, though they do call it the Dirty Yellow." But all of a sudden the circumstances were changed in a most startling manner. A swift, half-seen creature came darting up from out of the plunging torrent, shot into the clear water, snatched at the small object that was floating there, and down went fly and rod until the top was almost touching the surface. The reel had caught in her dress, somehow. But in another second all that was altered — she had got the reel free — she was up on her feet — the line was singing out — the rod raised, with the pliant top yielding to every movement of the fish — and Lionel, quite bewildered by the rapidity of the whole occurrence, won- dering what he could do to assist her. Miss Honnor, however, was quite competent to look after herself. "Who could have expected that?" she said, as the salmon went away down into the deep pool, and deliberately sulked there. " I wasn't fishing, I was only playing ; and he very nearly broke me at the first plunge. Really, it all happened so quickly that I could not see what size he was ; could you, Mr, Moore V " Not I !" he answered. " The creature came out of the rough water like a flash of lightning — I only saw the splash his tail made as he went down again. But what are you going to do, Miss llonnor ? Shall I run down the strath and tell old Robert to hurry back ?" " Not at all ! — we'll manage him by ourselves," she replied, confidently. " Here, you take him, and I'll gaff him for you." " I will do nothing of the kind," said he, distinctly. " You PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 203 have given me too many of your fish. You have been far too generous all the way through. No ; I will gaff him for you — but you must tell me how — for I never tried before." " Oh, it is simple enough," she said. " You've seen old Rob- ert gaff plenty of fish. Only mind you don't strike across the casting-line. Get behind the casting-line — about half-way down the fish — get well over him — and then a sharp, bold stroke will fetch him out." Accordingly, armed with the gaff, Lionel made his way down to the lowest ridge of the rock, so that he found himself just over the black-brown pool. And, indeed, his services were called upon much sooner than he had expected ; for the salmon, grown tired of sulking, now began to swim slowly round and round, some- times coming up so that they could just catch a glimmer of him, and again disappearing. But the fortunate thing for them was that there were no shallows to frighten the fish ; he knew noth- ing of his danger as he happened to come sailing round Lionel's way ; and he was gradually coming nearer and nearer to the sur- face, until they could watch his every motion as he made his slow rounds. Once or twice Lionel tried to get the gaff over him, and had to withdraw it ; but at last Miss Honnor called out, " This next time, Mr. Moore, as he comes round to you, I will lift him a bit ; be ready !" But what was this amazing thing that happened all in one wild second ? Lionel struck at the fish, pinned him securely, dragged him out of the water, and then, to his horror, found that the un- expected weight of this fighting and struggling creature was prov- ing too much for him — he was overbalanced — he could not re- cover himself — down they all went together — himself, the gaff, and the salmon — into the still, deep pool ! As for him, that was nothing ; he could swim a little ; a few strokes took him to the other side, where he clambered on to the rocks ; he managed to recover his cap ; and then, with the deepest mortification in his soul, he made his way back to rejoin his companion. "What apology could he offer for his unheard-of bungling and stupidity ? Would she not look on him as an unendurable ass ? Why had he chosen so insecure a foothold and made such a furious plunge at the fish ? Over-eagerness, no doubt — And then the next moment he noticed that her rod was still curved ! 204 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " We'll get liim yet, Mr. Moore !" she called to liim, in the most goocl-huraored fashion. " Come out on to the rock, and you'll see the strangest-looking salmon you ever saw in your life." x\nd, indeed, that was an odd sight — the big fish slowly sailing round and round the pool, with the gaff still attached and the handle floating parallel with its side. " It will take some time, though," said she. " I think you'd better go away home and get dry clothes on. I'll manage him by myself." " I dare say you would manage him better by yourself than with any help of mine," he said, in his bitter chagrin and self- contempt. " I made sure I had lost you the salmon." " And what then ?" she said, with some surprise. " I assure you it wasn't the salmon I was thinking of when I saw you in the water — but the moment you struck out I knew you were safe." He did not speak any more ; he was too humiliated and vexed. It is true that when, at length, the salmon, entirely dead beat, suffered himself to be led in to the side of the rock, Lionel man- aged to seize the handle of the gaff, and this time, making sure of his foothold, got the fish on land ; but this final success in no way atoned for his having so desperately made a fool of himself. In silence he affixed the bit of string she gave him to the head and tail of this very pretty twelve-pounder; and m silence they set out, he carrying the salmon and she the rod over her shoulder. " It will be a surprise for old Robert when we meet him," she said, cheerfully. " But he will wonder how you came to be so drenched." " Yes," said he, " it will be a pretty story of tomfoolery for them all to hear. I should like to make a comic drawing of it, if I could. It would have done capitally for John Leech, among the exploits of Mr. Eriggs." She glanced at him curiously. She knew what lie was think- ing of — of the tale that would be told among the keepers and the gillies of his having soused himself into the Geinig Pool in trying to gaff a fish. And might not the story find its way from the kennels into the gun-room, and thence into the draw- ing-room ? There was no doubt he was thoroughly ashamed and crest- fallen, and angry with himself; and though slie talked and chat- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 205 ted just as usual, he was quite taciturn all the way down the side of the Geinig. They reached the Junction Pool. " Come now, Mr. Moore," she said, with the utmost good- nature, "you make too much of that little mistake. You are far too afraid of ridicule. But I am going to put it all right for you." What was liis astonishment and consternation to see her, after she had laid her rod on the shingle, deliberately walk a yard or two into the shallow water, and then throw herself down into it for a second, while she held out her hand to him. " Pull me out, Mr. Moore !" she said. " Good heavens. Miss Honnor !" he exclaimed — but instantly he caught her hand, and she rose to her feet and began to shake the water from her as best she might. " What do you mean ?" " You've pulled me out of the river," said she, laughing, as she shook her dripping sleeves and kicked her skirts ; and then she went on, coolly, to explain. " I know you are rather sensitive to ridicule, and you don't like to think of those people telling the story against you as to how you fell into the Geinig Pool. Very well ; there needn't be any such story. If any one asks you how you came to be so wet, you can say I got into the wa- ter, and you pulled me out. It will sound quite heroic." " So I am to have the credit of having saved your life ?" he said. " You needn't put it that way," she answered, as she took up the fishing-rod and resumed her homeward walk. " All kinds of accidents are continually happening to pooiile who go salmon- fishing, and no one takes any notice of them. My maid is quite used to getting my things dried — whether they're soaked througb with rain or with river-water doesn't much matter to her. And old Robert can take your clothes to the fire in the gun-room long before the gentlemen come back from the hill. So, you see, there will probably be no questions asked ; but, if there should be, you have what is quite enough of an explanation." " Well, Miss Honnor," said he, " I never heard of sucli a friendly act in all my life — such a gratuitous sacrifice ; here you have risked getting your death of cold in order to save my child- ish vanity from being wounded. Really, I don't know how to thank you — though I wish all the same you had not put me un- der such a tremendous obligation. But don't ima2:ine that I am 206 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. going to claim — that I am going to steal — the credit of having saved your life — I am not quite so mean — no, if I am asked, I will tell the whole truth — " " And make two people ridiculous, instead of one ?" she said, with a smile. " No, you can't do that." However, as it turned out, this Quixotic act of consideration was allowed to remain a dark secret between these two. With the brisk walking and the warm, sunlit air around them, their clothes were already drying ; and when old Robert met them, in the dusky chasm at the foot of the Bad Step, he was far too much engaged with the fish to notice their limp and damp gar- ments ; while again, as they resumed their march, he, carrying the fish, lagged in the rear, and thus they escaped his keen eyes. Indeed, by the time they reached the Lodge, and as Miss Honnor was about to enter, Lionel said to her that he felt quite warm and comfortable, and proposed to go for a further walk down the strath before dinner ; but she peremptorily forbade this and ordered him off to his own room to get a change of clothes. It is not to be imagined that an incident of this kind could do aught but sink deep into the mind of any young man, and especially into the mind of a young man who had particular reasons for wanting to know how this young lady was affected towards him. She herself had made light of the matter ; it had been merely a sudden impulse, born of her own abundant good- nature ; probably she would have done as much for Percy Le- strange. But ivould she have done as much for Percy Lestrange? Lionel kept asking hiniself. He was vain enough to think she would not. Who had been her protege all this time ? To whom had she given unobtrusive little hints when she thought these might be useful? In whose exploits and triumphs and failures had she shown an exceptional interest and sympathy ? Whom liad she permitted to go fishing with her on those long days when the world seemed to belong to the two of them ? Whom had she admitted into the little dell above the Geinig Pool which was her chosen and solitary retreat? And he could not but re- flect that while there were plenty of women who were eager to present him with silver cigarette-cases, blue and white flower- jars, and things of that kind, there was not one of them, as he believed, who would dip her little finger in a bottle of ink for liis sake. More than that, which of them would herself have PRIN'CE FORTUNATIS. 207 dared ridicule in order to save him from ridicule ? And in what light should he regard this suddenly prompted action on her part, which seemed to him so bewildering at the time, but which she appeared to look on as only a sort of half-humorous freak of friendship ? These speculations only came back to the original question, or series of questions, that had already puzzled him. Why should he set such store by her opinion ? — why be so anxious to please her ? — why be so proud to think that he had won some small share of favorable regard ? It was not his ordinary atti- tude towards women, who troubled him rather, and interfered with his many interests and the calls of his professional duties. Falling in love ? — that could hardly be it ; he felt no desire what- ever to go down on his knees before her and swear by the eter- nal stars. Besides, she was so far away from him — living in such a different sphere — among occupations and surroundings and traditions entirely apart from his. Falling in love ? — with the isolated, the unapproachable fisher-maiden, the glance of whose calm hazel eyes would be death to any kind of theatrical sentiment ? It was all a confusion and a perplexity to him ; but at least he was glad to know that he would sit at the same table with her that night at dinner, and, thereafter, perchance, have some opportunity of talking to her in the drawing-room, where a certain incident, known to themselves alone, would serve as a sort of secret tie. And he was cheered to remember that, al- though he was leaving this still and beautiful neighborhood (where so many strange dreams and fancies and new and wel- come experiences had befallen him), he was not bidding good- bye to all of these friends forever. Miss Ilonnor Cunyngham would be in Brighton in November ; and Brighton was not so far away from the great city and the dull, continuous, thunder- ous roar that would then be all around him. CHAPTER XIII. A NEW EXPERIENCE. Was it possible in the nature of things that Prince Fortunatus should find his spirits dashed with gloom — he whose existence OQS PRINCE FORTUNATIS. had hitherto been a long series of golden moments, each brighter and more welcome than the other ? Even if he had to leave this still and beautiful valley where he had found so much gracious companionship and so many pleasant pursuits, look what was be- fore him ; he was returning to be greeted with the applause of enthusiastic audiences, to be sought after and courted and petted in private circles, to find himself talked about in the newspa- pers, and his portraits exhibited in every other shop-window — in short, to enjoy all the little flatteries and attentions and triumphs attaching to a wide and not ill-deserved popularity. And yet as he sat at this farewell luncheon on the day of his departure, he was the only silent one among these friends of his, who were all chattering around him. " I'm sure I envy you, Mr. Moore," said his charming hostess, " going away back to the very centre of the intellectual world. It will be such a change for you to find yourself in the very midst of everything — hearing about all that is going on — the new books, the new plays, the new pictures. I suppose that in October there are plenty of pleasant people back in town ; and perhaps the dinner-parties are all the more enjoyable when you know that the number of nice people is limited. One really does get tired of this mental stagnation." " I wish, Mr. Moore," said Lady Rosamund, rather spitefully (considering that her brother was present), " you would take Rockminster with you. He won't go on the hill, and he's no use in the drawing-room. I am certain at this minute he would rather be walking down St. James Street to his club." " I don't wonder at it !" cried Mis§ Georgie Lestrange, coming gallantly to the apathetic young man's rescue. " Look how he's situated. There's Sir Hugh and my brother away all day ; Lord Fareborough has never come out of his room since the morning he tried deer-stalking ; and what can Lord Rockminster find to amuse him in a pack of girls ? Oh, I know what he thinks of us," she continued, very placidly. " I remember, if he chooses to forget. Don't you recollect. Rose, the night we were con- structing an ideal kingdom by drawing up a list of all the jjeople we should have banished ? Every one had his or her turn at saying who should be expelled — people who come late to dinner, people who fence with spiked wire, people who talk in theatres, people who say ' like he does,' and so forth ; and when some- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 309 body suggested 'all young women who wear red veils,' Lord Rockminster immediately added, ' and all young women who don't wear red veils.' Now you needn't deny it." " Excuse me, I'm sure I never said anything of the kind ; but it's not of the least consequence," Lord Rockminster observed, with perfect composure. " Anything to please you poor dears. You understand well enough why I linger on here — just to give you young creatures a chance of sharpening your wits on me. You wouldn't know what to do without me." " Rockminster is going to give the world a volume of poems," said Lady Rosamund, who seemed to be rather ill-tempered and scornful this morning. " Nobody could stare at the clouds and hills as he does without being a poet. When he does burst into speech it will be something awful." " Have you your flask filled ?" said that much-bepestered young man, calmly turning to Lionel. " Oh, yes, thanks." " When you get to Invershin," his lordship continued, thought- fully, '' you can telegraph to the Station Hotel at Inverness what you want for dinner. No soup ; I make it a rule never to take soup in a big hotel ; a friendly manager once warned me in con- fidence. You'll be glad to have a bit of white fish after so much grilse and sea-trout." " Oh, I'll take ray chance," Lionel said ; it was not dinner that was occupying his thoughts. There was a sound of horses' hoofs and carriage wheels ; the wagonette was being brought round to the front door. " I consider it very shabby of Honnor not to have stayed to say good-bye," Lady Adela said to her departing guest. " She might have given up one morning's fishing, I think, especially as you have been such an assiduous attendant — carrying her things for her, and keeping her company on those long ex- cursions — " " Oh, don't be afraid," said Miss Georgie, with a bit of a cov- ert laugh. " Honnor won't forsake her friend like that. I'll bet you she won't be far from the Horse's Drink when Mr. Moore has to cross the stream." " If I were you," Lord Rockminster finally said, in a confi- dential undertone, as they all rose from the table, " I would telegraph about dinner." 210 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. How Lionel hated the sight of this open door, and the wag- onette, and the portmanteau up beside the coachman ! " Good-bye, Mr. Moore," said the pleasant-mannered young matron to him, as she took his hand for a moment. " I'm afraid it has been awfully dull for you — " " Lady Adela !" he said. " But the next time you come we shall try to be less monoto- nously bucolic. Perhaps by then the phonograph will be able to bring us a whole musical evening from London, whenever we want it — a whole performance of an operetta — " " Offenbach in a Highland valley !" he exclaimed. " No," she said, very quietly and graciously ; " but perhaps something by the composer of ' The Squire's Daughter ' — and there might be in it an air as delightful as that of ' The Starry Night.' Oh, Mr. Moore, don't let them produce any other piece at the New Theatre until we all get back to London again ! Well, good-bye — it's so kind of you to have taken pity on us in this wilderness — " " If you knew how sorry I am to go, Lady Adela !" he said. " And will you say good-bye for me to Miss Cunyngham ?" " You needn't bother to leave a message," said Miss Georgie, with significant eyes. " You'll find she won't be far away from the Horse's Drink." And as it chanced, Miss Georgie's forecast (whether inspired by a saucy impertinence or not) proved' correct. Lionel, having bade farewell to all these friends, got into the wagonette ; and away the carriage went — quietly, at first, over the soft turf and stones — to the river. Of course he looked out. Yes, there was Miss Ilonnor — fishing the Whirl Pool — with old Robert sitting on the shingle watching her. Would she notice ? — or would he get down and walk along to her and claim the good-bye she had forgotten ? The next moment he was reassured. She caught sight of the approaching wagonette ; she carefully placed her rod on the shingle, and then came walking along tlic river-bank, towards the ford, at which the horses had now arrived. Even at a distance he could not but admire the grace and ease and dignity of her carriage — the harmonious movement of a perfectly formed figure ; and as she drew nearer he kept asking himself (as if the question were necessary) whether he would be able to take away a keen mentul jilioiograph of those fine features 55 g? i5 — ,-^ ^^^^z:^--?^''^^,:;. a, PRINCE FORTUNATUS. o^i — the clear and placid forehead, the stronglj' marked eyebrows, the calm, self-reliant eyes, the proud and yet not unsympathetic lines of the mouth. She came nearer ; a smile lit up her face ; and there was a kind of radiance there, he thought. He had leaped down from the wagonette ; he went forward to meet her ; her hand was outstretched. *' I am sorry you are going," she said, frankly. " And I am far more sorry to have to go," said he, and he held her hand a little longer than there was any occasion for, until she gently withdrew it. " There are so many things I should like to say to you, Miss Ilonnor ; hut somehow they al- ways escape you just when they're wanted ; and I've told you so often before that I am not likely to forget your kindness to me up here — " " Surely it is the other way about !" she said, pleasantly. "You have come and cheered up my lonely hours — and been so patient — never grumbled — never looked away up the hill as if you would have given your life to be after the grouse ; and in the drawing-room of an evening you've always sung when I asked you — when I was inconsiderate enough to ask you — " " My goodness ! Miss Honnor," he said, " if I had known you looked on it in that light, I should have sung for you constantly, whether you asked or not." " Well, it's all over now," said she, " and I hope you are tak- ing away with you a pleasant memory of Strathaivron." " I have spent the happiest days of my life here," he said ; and then he hesitated — was about to speak — hesitated again — and finally blurted out, "Is there anything I can do for you in London, Miss Honnor?" " No, thanks," she said. " By the way, you'll have an hour or two in Inverness. You might go in to Mr. Watson's and ask him to send me out a few more flics — if you have plenty of time, that is." "I shall be delighted," said he, as if she had conferred the greatest favor on him. " Well, good-bye — I mustn't keep you late for the train." " But we shall meet in the South ?" " I hope so," she said, in a very amiable and friendly fashion ; and she stood waiting there until he had got into the wagonette, and until the horses had splashed their way across the ford ; 213 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. then she waved her hand to him, and, with a parting smile, turned down the stream again, to rejoin Robert and pick np her rod. Nor was this quite the last he was to see of those good friends. "When the horses had strenuously hauled the carriage up that steep hillside and got into the level highway, he turned to look back at the Lodge, set in the midst of the wide strath, and be- hold ! there was a fluttering of white handkerchiefs there. Lady Adela and her sisters and Miss Georgie still lingering in the porch. Again and again he made response. Then, as he drove on, he caught another glance of Miss Honnor, who, far below him, was industriously fishing the Whirl Pool ; when she heard the sound of the wheels, she looked up and waved her hand to him as he went by. Finally there came the crack of a gun across the wide strath ; it was a signal from the shooting-party — away on a distant hillside-;— and he could just make out that they, also, were sending him a telegraphic good-bye. At each open- ing through the birch-wood skirting the road he answered these farewells, until Strathaivron Lodge was no longer in sight ; and then he settled liimself in his seat and resigned himself to the long journey. This was not a pleasant drive. He was depressed with a vague aching and emptiness of the heart that he could not well account for. A schoolboy returning to his tasks after a long holiday would not be quite so profoundly miserable — so reckless, dissatisfied, and ill at ease. But perhaps it was the loss of one of those pleasant companions that was troubling him ? Which one, then (he made pretence of asking himself), was he sorriest to part from ? Lady Adela, who was always so bright and talk- ative and cheerful, so charming a hostess, so considerate and gjntle a friend? Or the mystic-eyed Lady Sybil, who many an evening had led him away into the wonder-land of Chopin, for she was an accomplished pianist, if her own compositions were but feeble echoes of the masters ? Or the more quick- spirited Lady Rosamund, the imperious and petulant beauty, who, in a way most unwonted with her, had bestowed upon him exceptional favor ? Or that atrocious little flirt. Miss Georgie Lestrange, with her saucy smiles and speeches, her malicious laugh, and demure, significant eyes? — it was hardly to be won- dered at if she made an impression on any young man, for the PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 213 minx had an abundance of good looks, despite her ruddy hair and pert nose. As for Miss Honnor Cunyngham — oh, no ! — she was too far away — she lived remote, isolated, apart — she neither gave nor demanded sympathy or society — she was suffi- cient unto herself alone. But why ask whether it were this one or that? Soon he would be forgotten by them all. He would be swallowed up in the great city — swept away in the current of its feverish activities — his voice hardly heard above the general din ; while they would still be pursuing their various pastimes in this little world of solitude and quiet, or moving on to entertain their friends with the more pompous festivities of the Braes. It was odd that he should be carrying away with him the seeds of homesickness for a place in which his stay had been counted by weeks. So anxious, indeed, was he to assure him- self that his relations with that beautiful valley and its inmates were not entirely severed that, the moment he reached Inverness, instead of going into the Station Hotel and ordering his dinner like a reasonable being, he must needs go straightway off to Mr. Watson's shop. " I suppose," said he, with a little hesitation — for he did not know whether to mention Miss Cunyngham's name or not — he was afraid he might betray some quite uncalled-for embarrass- ment — " I suppose you know the flies they use on the Aivron this time of year." Mr. Watson knew well enough; who better? " I mean on the Strathaivron Lodge stretch of the water ?" Lionel continued. " Oh, yes ; I am often sending flies to Miss Cunyngham," was the answer. " Oh, Miss Cunyngham ?" said Lionel. " It is for her I want some flies." " Very well, sir, I will make up a small packet, and send it to her ; Miss Cunyngham has an account with me — " " No, no, that isn't what I mea;i at all," Lionel interposed, hastily. " I want to make Miss Cunyngham a little present. The fact is, I was using her book," he observed, with some im- portance (as if it could in the least concern a worthy tackle- maker in Inverness to know who had gone fishing with Miss Cunyngham), "and I whipped off a good number, so I want to make amends, don't you see ?" 214 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Very well, sir ; how many will I put up ?" " All you've got," was the prompt reply. Mr, Watson stared. " Oh, yes," Lionel said. " Miss Cunynghara may as well have a good stock at once. You know the proper kinds — Blue Doc- tors, Childerses, Jock Scotts, Dirty Yellows, Bishops, Bees — that's about it, isn't it? — and put in plenty of various sizes. Then don't make a parcel of them ; put them into those japanned boxes with the cork in them — never mind how many ; and if you can't tell me at once how much it will all come to, I will leave you my London address, and you'll send the bill to me. Now if you will be so kind as to give me a sheet of paper and an envelope, I will write a note to accompany the packet," Mr, Watson probably thought that this young man was daft, but it was not his business to say so ; he took down his erratic customer's address and said that all his instructions would be attended to forthwith. Next Lionel went to a tobacconist's shop, and (for he was a most lavish young man) he ordered a prodigious quantity of " twist," which he had made up into two parcels, the smaller one for Roderick, the larger to be divided equally among the other keepers and gillies. The two parcels he had put into a wooden case, which, again, was filled up with boxes of vesuvians, three or four dozen or so ; and it is to be imagined that when that small hamper was opened at Strathaivron there was many a chuckle of gratification over the division of the splendid spoil. Finally — for human nature is but human nature after all ; he had been thinking of others so far, and he was now entitled to consider himself a little — he thought he would go along to Mr. Macleay's. When he arrived at the shop, he glanced in at the windows; but among the wild-cats, ptarmigan, black game, mal- lards, and what not, there was nothing to arrest his attention ; it was a stag's head he had in his mind. He went inside, and his first sensation was one of absolute bewilderment. This crowded museum of birds, beasts, and fish — skarts, goosanders, sand-grouse, terns, eagles, ospreys, squirrels, foxes, big-snouted trout, harts, hinds, bucks, does, owls, kestrels, falcons, merlins, and every variety of the common gull shot by the all-pervading Cockney — staring, stuflFed, silent, they were a confusion to the eyes, and nowhere could he find his own, his particular, his pre- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 215 cious stag. Alas! when Mr. Macleay was so kind as to take him behind into the workshop — which resembled a huge shambles, almost — and when, from among the vast number of heads and horns lying and hanging everywhere around, the Strathaivron head was at last produced, Lionel was horribly shocked and dis- appointed. Was this, then, his trophy that he hoped to have hung up for the admiration of his friends and his own ecstatic contemplation — this twisted, shapeless, sightless lump of hide and hair, with a great jaw of discolored teeth gleaming from under its flabby folds? It is true that here were the identical horns, for had he not gone lovingly over every tine of them ? — but was this rag of a thing all that was left of the splendid stag he had beheld lying on the heather? However, Mr. Macleay speedily reassured him. He w^as shown the v^arious processes and stages of the taxidermist's art, the amorphous mass of skin and hair gradually taking shape and substance until it stood forth in all its glory of flaming eye and proud nostril and branch- ing antlers; and he was highly pleased to be told that this head he had got in Strathaivron was a fairly good one, as stags now go in the Xorth. So, all his shopping being done, he set off again for the Station Hotel, where he got what he wanted in the shape of dinner, followed by a long and meditative smoke in the billiard-room, with visions appearing among the curls of blue vapor. What the Highland Railway manages to do with the trains which it despatches from Inverness at 10 p.m. and reproduces the next morning at Perth about 7, it is impossible for the mind of man to imagine ; but it is not of much consequence so long as you are snugly ensconced in a sleeping-berth ; and Lionel passed the night in profound oblivion. With the new day, however, these unavailing and torturing regrets began again ; for now he felt himself more completely than before shut off from the friends he had left ; and Strathaivron and all its asso- ciations and pursuits had grown distant like a dream. He was lucky enough, on this southward journey, to get a compartment to himself ; and here was an excellent opportunity for him to have practised his vocalises; but it was not of vocalises, nor of anything connected with the theatre, that he was thinking. He was much franker with himself now. He no longer tried to conceal from himself the cause of this vague unrest, this useless 216 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. looking back and longing, this curious downhearted sense of solitariness. A new experience, truly, and a bewildering one ! In- deed, he was ashamed of his own folly. For what was it that he wanted ? A mere continuance of that friendly alliance and com- panionship which he had enjoyed all this time ? Was he indulg- ing a sort of sentimental misery simply because he could not walk down to the Aivron's banks and talk to Miss Honnor and watch the sun tracing threads of gold among her tightly braided hair ? If that were all, he might get out at the next station, make his way back to the beloved strath, and be sure that Hon- nor Cunyngham would welcome him just as of old, and allow him to carry her waterproof or ask him to have a cast over the Junction Pool. He had no reason to fear any break in this friendship that had been formed. When he should see her in Brighton, she would be to him as she had been yesterday, when they said good-bye by the side of the river. And were not these the only possible relations between them ; and ought he not to be proud and content that he could look forward to an enduring continuance of them ? Yes ; but some man would be coming along and marrying her; and where would he be then? What would become of this alliance, this friendly understanding — perhaps, even, some little interest on her part in his affairs — what would become of all these relations, then ? It was the vv'ay of the world. Their paths would be divided — he would hear vaguely of her — per- haps see her name in the papers as being at a drawing-room or something of the kind. She would have forgotten all those long, still days by the Aivron and the Geinig ; no echo would remain in her memory of " The Bonnie Earl o' Moray," as he had sung it for her, with all the passionate pathos of which he was capable ; she would be a stranger — moving afar — one heard of only — a remembrance — and no more. So the impalpable fut- ure was interwoven with those dreams and not too happy fore- casts, as the train thundered on its way, along tlie wooded banks of the Allan Water and towards the winding Links of Forth. But there was an alternative that would recur again and again to liis fancy, though in rather a confused and breathless way. What if, in the very despair of losing her altogether, at the very moment of parting with her, he had made bold to claim this proud-spirited maiden all for himself ? Might not some such PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 217 sudden and audacious proposal have been the very thing to ap- peal to her — the very thing to capture her? A challenge — a demand that she should submit — that she should come down from those serene heights of independence and yield herself a willing and gracious helpmeet and companion for life to this daring suitor ; might not that have secured for him this won- drous prize ? K she had any regard for him at all, she might have been startled into confession. A couple of words — there by the side of the Aivron — might have been enough. No the- atrical professions nor mock homage, no kneeling at her feet or swearing by eternal stars ; but a look into her eyes — a clasp of the hand — a single question? Something he had indeed meant to say to her, as they stood face to face there for the last time — something, he hardly knew what ; and yet his hesitation had been but natural ; he might have been hurried into saying too much ; he dared not offend. Nay, even as he held her hand, he was unaware of the true state of his feeling towards her ; it was this separation — this ever-increasing distance be- tween them — that had enabled him to understand. And then ao-ain his mood chauged into one of bitter self- reproach and self-contempt. What miserable folly was this cry- ing for the moon — this picturing of a marriage between the daughter of an ancient and wealthy house — one, too, who was unmistakably proud of her lineage — and a singer in comic opera ! Not for nothing had he heard of the twin brothers Cunyngham who fell on Flodden Field. It is true that at the present time he and she mingled in the same society ; for he was the pet and plaything of the hour in the fashionable world ; but he was not entirely blinded by that favor ; he did not wholly mistake his position. And even supposing — a wild conjecture ! — that she entertained an exceptional regard for him — that she could be induced to think of marrying him — would she be content that her husband remained on the stage and painted his face every evening and postured before the footlights ? On the other hand, apart from the stage, what was he ? — a mere nobody, not too- well instructed, having no particular gifts of wit or conversation, without even a well-filled purse — the meanest of qualifications — to recommend him. No doubt they might make a very pretty bargain between them ; he might go to her and say, " Let there be a sacrifice on both sides. I give up the thea- 10 218 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. tre — I give up the applause, the popularity, the opportunities of making pleasant friendships — all the agreeable things of a stage- life ; and you on your part give up your pride of birth, and, it may be, something of your place in society. It is a surrender on both sides. Let our motto be, ' All for love, and the world well lost.' " Yes, a very pretty bargain ; but as he considered that he was now wandering into the region of romance — a re- gion which he unhesitatingly scorned as having no relation with the facts of the world — he withdrew from that futile and use- less and idle speculation, and took to thinking of Miss Honnor Cunyngham as she actually was, and wondering over which of the Aivron pools the proud-featured tisher-maiden would be casting at this moment. And here, again, as the hours crept by, was something of a more practical nature to remind him of the now far-distant strath. In order to save him from the hurry of a twenty-min- utes' railway-station dinner. Lady Adela had ordered a luncheon- basket to be packed for him, and her skill and forethought in this direction were unequalled, as many a little shooting-party had joyfully discovered. When Lionel leisurely began to ex- plore the contents of the basket, he was proud to think that it was under her own immediate supervision that these things had been put together for him. There was some kind of sentimental interest attaching to the chicken and tongue and galantine, to the salad and biscuits and cake and what not ; and he knew that it was no servant who had thought of filling a small tin canister with peaches and grapes, even as he knew that only Lady Adela was aware of his preference for the particular dry Sillery of which a half-bottle here lay in its covering of straw. As he took out the things and placed them on the seat beside him, he could have imagined that a pair of very gentle hands had arranged that repast for him. Then from this much too sumptuous banquet his mind wandered away back to the simple fare that old Robert used to bring forth from the fishing-bag, when Miss Uonnor had taken her place among the bracken. Again he was with her in that little dell away among the soli- tudes of the hills, with the murmur of the Geinig coming up to them from the chasm below. The sunlight fiashed on the rip- pling burn at their feet ; the leaves of the birches trembled, and no more than trembled, in the still air; the deep, clear blue of PKINCE FOKTUNATUS, 219 the sky overhead told them to be in no hurry — they would have to wait till the afternoon for clouds. In the perfect silence (for the humming of the bees in the heather was hardly a sound at all) he could hear every soft modulation of her voice — though, to be sure, it was not lovers' talk that passed between them. " Mr, Moore, won't you have the rest of this soda-water ?" or, " Yes, one of those brown biscuits, thank you," or, " Please, Mr. Moore, will you crush those bits of paper together and bury them in a hole ? Nothing is so horrid as to come upon traces of a pic-nic on a hillside or along a river." Already those long days of constant companionship seemed to be becoming remote. It was the black night-journey between Inverness and Perth that had severed that shining time from the dull and commonplace hours he had now entered upon. He looked out of the window as the train thundered along — Preston — Wigan — Warrington — everywhere squalor, hurry, and noise, with a smoke -laden sky lowering over the sad and dismal country, diflEerent, indeed, from that other world he knew of, with its crimson slopes of heather, its laughing waters, its lonely solitudes in their noonday hush, the fair azure of the heavens becoming paler and paler towards the horizon until it touched the distant peaks and shoulders of Assynt. " Muss aus dem Thai jetzt scheiden, wo alles Lust und Klang ;" but at least the memory of it would remain with him — a gracious possession. The long afternoon wore on ; Crewe, Stafford, Lichfield, Tam- worth went by, as things in a dream, for his thoughts were far away. Sometimes, it is true, he would rebel against this mor- bid, restless, useless regret that had got hold of him ; and he would valiantly attack the newspapers, of which he had an am- ple supply ; but somehow or another the gray columns would fade away, and in their place would come a picture of Strath- aivron Lodge, and the valley, and the river, and of an upturned face smiling a last farewell to him as the wagonette rolled on. Was it really only yesterday that he had seen her — talked with her — taken her hand ? A yesterday that seemed years away ! A vision already growing pale. AYell, London came at last, and all the hurry and bustle of Euston Station ; and when he had got his things put on the top of a hansom, and given his address to the driver, there was an end of dreams. No more dreams were possible in this great 220 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. vortex of a city into whicli lie was now plunged — a turbulent, bewildering, vast black hole it seemed, and yet all afire with its blaze of windows and lamps. In Strathaivron the night was a gentle thing — it came stealing over the landscape as soft as sleep ; it brought silence with it and a weight to tired eyes ; it bade the woods be still ; and to the lonely and darkened peaks of the hills it unveiled its canopy of trembling stars. But here there was no night — there was yellow fire, there were black phantoms unceasingly hurrying hither and thither, and a dull and constant roar more continuous than that of any sea. Tot- tenham Court Road after Strathaivron ! But here at least was actuality ; the time for sentimental sorrows, for dumb and hope- less regrets, was over and gone. And who was the first to greet him on his return to London — who but Nina ? — not in person, truly, but by a very graceful little message. The moment he went into his sitting-room his eye fell on the tiny nosegaj^ Jyi"g on the table ; and when he took the card from the accompanying envelope, he knew whose handwriting he would find there. " Welcome home — -from Nina /" — that was all ; but it was enough to make him rather remorse- ful. Too much had he neglected his old comrade and ally ; he had scarcely ever written to her ; she had been but little in his thoughts. Poor Nina ! — It was a shame he should treat so faith- ful a friend so ill ; he might have remembered her a little more had not his head been stuffed with foolish fancies. Well, as soon as he had changed his clothes and swallowed a bit of food he would jump into a hansom and go along to the New Theatre ; he would be too late to judge of Nina's Grace Mainwaring as a whole, but he would have a little chat with her in the wings. He was later in getting there than he had expected ; indeed, as he made his way to the side of the stage, he discovered that his locum tenens had just been recalled and was singing for the second time the well-known serenade, " The Starry Night" — and very well he sang it, too, confound him ! Lionel said to him- self. And here was Nina, standing on a small platform at the top of a short ladder, and waiting until the passionate appeal of her sweetheart (in the garden without) should be finished. She did not know of the presence of the new-comer. Lionel might have pulled her skirts, it is true, to apprise her of his be- ing there; but that would not have been decorous; besides, he PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 221 dared not distract her attention from the business of the stage. As soon as the last verse of the serenade had been sung, with its recurring refrain — " Appear, my sweet, and shame the skies, That have no splendor That have no splendor hke thine eyes " — Nina — that is, Grace Mainwaring — carefully opened the case- ment at which she was supposed to be standing. A flood of moonlight — lime-light, rather — fell on her ; but Lionel could not see how she looked the part, because her back was towards him. Very timidly Grace Mainwaring glanced this way and that, to make sure that no one could observe her ; she took a rose from her hair, kissed it, and dropped it to her enraptured lover be- low. It was the end of the act. She had to come down quick- ly from the platform for the recall that resounded through the theatre ; she did not chance to notice Lionel ; she was led on and across the stage by Harry Thornhill, she bowing repeated- ly and gracefully, he reserving his acknowledgment until he had handed her off. The reception both of them got was most gratifying ; there could be no doubt of the sincerity of the ap- plause of this crowded house. " It seems to me I am not wanted here any more," Lionel said to himself. " Even Nina won't take any notice of the stranger." The next moment Nina, who was coming across the stage, caught sight of him, and with a little cry of delight she ran towards him — yes, ran ; for what cared she about carpenters and scene-shifters? — and caught both his hands in hers. " Ah, Leo !" she cried, with glad-shining eyes. " Oh, so brown you are ! — a hunter ! — you are from the forests ! And to- day you arrive — and already at the theatre — did you hear the duet — no ? Ah, it is good to see you again, after so long ! — I could laugh and cry together, it is such a joy to see you — and see you looking so well — " " I say, Nina," he said, " that fellow Doyle sings tremendous- ly well — he's ever so much improved — they'll be wanting him to take my place altogether and sending me off into the country." "You, Leo!" she said, with a merry laugh, and still she re- garded him with those delighted, welcoming eyes. " Ah, yes, it is likely ! Ah, you will see what reception they will give you on Monday. Yes, it is in all the papers already — everywhere I 322 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. see it; but come — Miss Girond and I, we have Miss Burgoyne's room for the present — you can wait for a few minutes, then I come out to talk to you." Lionel (feeling very much like a stranger in this place) fol- lowed her into Miss Burgoyne's room, where he found Mile. Girond only too ready to throw away the French novel she was reading. Nina had to disappear into the dressing-room ; but this small boy-officer in the gay uniform, with his or her pretty gesticulation and charm of broken English, was quite willing to entertain Mr. Moore, though at times she would forget all about him and walk across to the full-length mirror and twist her small moustache. She chatted to him now and again ; she re- turned to the mirror to touch her eyebrows and adjust her sash ; she walked about or flicked the dust from her shining Welling- tons with a silk handkerchief; agam she contemplated herself in the glass, and lightly sang, " En debordant de Saiiit-Malo Nos longs avirons battaient I'eau !" Then she was called away for the beginning of the last act ; and Nina, having made the change necessary for her next appear- ance, came out from the dressing-room and sat down. " Oh, you are wicked, Leo," she said, as she contentedly crossed her hands in her lap and looked at the young man with those friendly eyes, " that you stayed away so long. I wished to sing the duet with you — but no — you begin Monday — and Miss Burgoyne comes back Monday — " " Does she ? I thought she was ordered a long rest." Nina laughed. " She sees in the papers that you come back — it is to be a great occasion — she says to herself, ' Will he sing with that Ital- ian girl ? No ! Let my throat be well or ill, I am going back ;' and she is coming, Leo. Never mind ; I am to have the part of Clara; is it not an advancement? And everything is so much more comfortable now ; Miss Girond has taken a room with Mrs. Grey ; then we go home always together, and she has the use of the piano — " " Miss lloss, please !" called a voice at the door. " All right !" she called in reply. "The chorus is on, miss." "All right!" PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 223 " Ah," she continued, " it is so good to see you back, Leo ; yes, yes ; London was a stranger city when you were away — there was no one. And it is all you I have to thank, Leo, for my introduction here and my good-fortune — " " Oh, nonsense, Nina !" he said, " What else could 1 have done ? It isn't you who ought to thank me — it's Lehmann ; I consider him precious lucky to have got a substitute for Miss Burgoyne so easily. So Miss Burgoyne is coming back on Monday ?" " Yes," said Nina, as she went to the door. " Shall I see you again, Leo, to-night ?" ." Oh, I'm coming to hear you sing ' Now to the dance,' " he said, as he followed her out into the corridor and ascended with her into the wings. This was a busy act for Nina ; and the next time he had an opportunity of talking with her was after she had dressed her- self in her bridal robes and was come up ready to go on the stage. Nina looked a little self-conscious when she first encoun- tered him in this attire ; perhaps she was afraid of his contrast- ing her appearance with that of Miss Burgoyne. If he did, it was certainly not to Nina's disadvantage. No ; Nina was much more distinguished-looking and refined than the pert little doll- like bride represented by Miss Burgoyne ; she wore the gor- geous costume of flowered white satin with ease and grace ; and her portentous white wig, with its feathered brilliants and strings of pearls, seemed to add a greater depth and softness and mild lustre to her dark, expressive eyes. For an instant, as she came up to him, those beautiful, liquid eyes were turned to the ground. *' I did not choose anything, Leo," she said, modestly ; " I have had to copy Miss Burgoyne." " Well, there's a difference somehow, Nina," said he, '* and I think Miss Burgoyne had better begin and copy you. For a swift instant she raised her eyes ; she was more than pleased. But she said nothing — indeed, she had now to go on the stage. And if he had contrasted her appearance favorably with that of Miss Burgoyne, he was now inclined to give a simi- lar verdict with regard to her acting. It certainly wanted the self-confidence of long experience and also the emphasis and exaggeration of comedy-opera; it was not nearly impudent 324 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. enough for the upper gallery ; but it was graceful and natural to a degree that surprised him. As for her voice, that was in- comparably better than Miss Burgoyne's ; it was a fresh, sym- pathetic, finely modulated voice that had been uninjured by ex- cessive training or excessive work. Lionel was quite proud of his protegee ; unseen, here in the wings, he could applaud as loudly as any ; if Nina did not hear, she must have been deaf. And when she came ofi at the end of the act — or, rather, imme- diately after the recall, which was as enthusiastic as the soul of actor or actress could desire — there was no stint to his praise ; and Nina's heartfelt pleasure on hearing this warm commenda- tion shone through all her stage make-up. He asked if he should wait to act as escort to Miss Girond and herself ; but Nina said no ; Miss Girond and she went home every night by themselves in a four-wheeled cab ; she knew he must be tired after his long journey ; and he must go away and get to bed at once. So Lionel shook hands with her and left the theatre, and walked carelessly and absently home to his lodgings in Picca- dilly. Well, he was glad to find his old friend and comrade, Nina, getting on so well and so proud of her success and looking so charming in her new part ; and he guessed that she must have written to the grumbling old Pandiani, and sent photographs of herself as Grace Mainwaring to Andrea and Carmela and her other Neapolitan friends. But it was not of Nina that he thought long, as he lay in the easy-chair and smoked, and lis- tened to the heavy murmur of the streets without. He had not got used to London yet. The theatre seemed to him a. great, glaring thing ; the lime-light an impertinent sham ; even the ap- plause of the delighted audience somehow brutal and offensive. There was no repose, no reticence, no self-respect and modesty about the whole affair ; it was all too violent ; a fanfaronade ; a coarse and ostentatious make-believe, that seemed a kind of in- sult to a quiet mind. He turned away from it altogether. His fancies had fled to the North again ; the long railway journey was annihilated ; again he was driving out to the still and beautiful valley, where those kind friends were standing at the door of the lodge, fluttering a white welcome to him. He goes down the steep hillside ; he crosses the stream at the Horse's Drink ; he reaches the hall-door and is shaking hands with this one PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 325 and that. And if the tall, proud maiden with the fine forehead and the clear, cahn hazel eyes is not among this group, be sure she will be here in the evening to add her greeting to the rest. Oh, to think of that next morning — the sweet air blowing down from the hills — the silver lights among the purple clouds — the Aivron swinging along its gravelly bed, a deep, clear bronze where the sunlight strikes the shallows ! Farther and farther into the solitudes these two idly wander — away from human ken — until the dogs in the kennels are no longer heard, nor is there even a black-cock crowing in the woods ; nothing but the hum of the bees, and the whisper of the birch branches, and the hushed, low thunder of the Geinig falls. He could almost hear it now ; or was not the continuous murmur that dazed and dinned his ears a sadly different sound — the muffled roar of cabs and car- riages along Piccadilly, bearing home this teeming population from the blare and glare of the crowded theatres ? A different sound indeed ! He had come into another world ; and the Aivron and Geinig, far away, were alone with the darkness and the stars. CHAPTER XIV. A MAGNANIMOUS RIVAL. That Monday night at the New Theatre was a great occasion ; for, although there were a few people (themselves not of much account, perhaps) who went about saying there was no one in London, an enormous house welcomed back to the stage those well-known favorites. Miss Burgoyne and Mr. Lionel Moore. And what had become of the Aivron and the Geinig now ? — their distant murmurs were easily drowned in the roar of enthusiasm with which the vast audience — a mass of orange-hued faces they seemed across the footlights — greeted the prima-donna and the popular young baritone. Nina was here also, in her subordi- nate part. And all that Miss Burgoyne could do, on the stage and off the stage, to attract his attention, did not hinder Lionel from watching, with the most affectionate interest, the manner in which his protegee, his old comrade Nina, was acquitting her- self. Clara was perhaps a little bit too eager and anxious ; she anticipated her cues ; her parted lips seemed to repeat what was 10* 226 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. being said to her ; lights and shadows of expression chased each other over the mobile features and brightened or darkened her eloquent eyes ; and in her passages with Grace Mainwaring she was most effusive, though that other young lady maintained a much more matter-of-fact demeanor. " Capital, Nina ! Very well done !" Lionel exclaimed (to him- self) in the wings. " You're on the right track. It is easier to tone down than to brace up. Don't be afraid — keep it going — you'll grow business-like soon enough." Here Clara had to come tripping off the stage, and Lionel had to go on ; he had no opportunity of speaking to her until the end of the act, when they chanced to meet in the long glazed corridor. " You're a bit nervous to-night, Nina," he said, in a kindly way. " But so as to be bad?" she said, quickly and anxiously. " It was very well done indeed — it was splendid — but you al- most take too much pains. Most girls with a voice like yours would merely sing a part like that and think the management was getting enough. I suppose you don't know yourself that you keep repeating what the other person is saying to you — as if he weren't getting on fast enough — " Nina paused for a second. " Yes, I understand — I understand what you mean," she said, rather slowly ; then she continued, in her usual way, " But to- night, Leo, I am anxious — oh, there are so many things ! — this is the first time I act with Miss l>urgoyne ;^ and I wish them not to say I am a stick — for your sake, Leo — you brought me here — I must do what I can." " Oh, Nina, you don't half value yourself !" he said. " You think far too little of yourself. You're a most wonderful creat- ure to find in a theatre. I consider that Lehmann is under a deep obligation to me for giving him the chance of engaging you. By the way, have you heard what he means to do on Sun- day week ?" " No— not at all !" " Saturday week is the 400th night," he continued; "and to celebrate it, Lehmann is going to give the principal members of the company, and a few friends, I suppose, a dinner at the Star and Garter at Richmond. Haven't you heard ? — but of course PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 227 he'll send you a card of invitation. The worst of it is that it is no use driving down at this time of the year ; I suppose we shall have to get there just as we please, and meet in the room ; but I don't know how all the proper escorts are to be arranged. I was thinking, Nina, I could take you and Miss Girond down, if you will let me." There was a bright, quick look of pleasure in Nina's eyes — but only for an instant. " No, no, Leo," she said, with lowered lashes. " That is not right. Miss Burgoyne and you are the two principal people in the theatre — you are on the stage equals — off the stage also you are her friend — you must take her to Richmond, Leo." " Miss Burgoyne V But here the door of Miss Burgoyne's room was suddenly opened, and the voice of the young lady herself was heard, in unmistakably angry tones : " Oh, bother your headache ! I suppose it was your headache made you split my blue jacket in two, and I suppose it was your headache made you smash my brooch last night — I wonder what some women were born for !" And therewithal the charming Grace Main waring made her appearance ; and not a word — hard- ly a look — did the indignant small lady choose to bestow on either Lionel or Nina as she brushed by them on her way up to the wings. Yes, here he was in the theatre again, with all its trivial dis- tractions and interests, and also its larger excitements and am- bitions and rewards, not the least of which was the curious fascination he found in holding a great audience hushed and enthralled, listening breathlessly to every far-reaching, passion- ate note. Then his reappearance on the stage brought him a renewal of all the friendly little attentions and hospitalities that had been interrupted by his leaving for Scotland ; for if certain of his fashionable acquaintance were still away at their country houses, there were plenty of others who had returned to town. Club life had begun again, too. But most of all, at this time, Lionel was disposed to enjoy that quiet and gentle companion- ship with Nina, which was so simple and frank and unreserved. He could talk to her freely, on all subjects save one — and that he was trying to put away from himself in these altered circum- stances. He and she had a community of interests ; there was 228 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. never any lack of conversation — whether he were down in Sloane Street, drinking tea and trying over new music with lier, or walk- ing in with Miss Girond and her to the theatre through the now almost leafless Green Park. Sometimes, when she was grown petulant and fractious, he had to scold her into good-humor; sometimes she had seriously to remonstrate with him ; but it was all given and taken in good part. He was never embar- rassed or anxious in her society ; he was happy and content and careless, as she appeared to be also. He did not trouble to invent any excuse for calling upon her ; he went down to Sloane Street just whenever he had a spare half-hour or hour ; and if the morning was bright, or even passable (for it was November now, and even a tolerable sort of day was welcome), and if Miss Girond did not wish to go out or had some other engagement, Nina and he would set off for a stroll by themselves, up into Kensington Gardens, it might be, or along Piccadilly, or through the busy crowds of Oxford Street; while they looked at the shops and the passers-by, and talked about the theatre and the people in it or about old days in Naples. There was no harm ; and they thought no harm. Sometimes he could hear her hum to herself a fragment of one of the old familiar canzoni — " Anto- uiella Antonia !" or " Voca, voca ncas' a mano" — so light-hearted was she ; and occasionally they said a word to each other in Ne- apolitanese — but this was seldom, for Nina considered the prac- tice to be most reprehensible. What she had chiefly to take him to task for, however, was his incurable and inordinate ex- travagance — wherever she was concerned especially. "Leo, you think it is a compliment?" she said to him, ear- nestly. " No, not at all ; I am sorry. Why should you buy for me this, that, whatever strikes your eye, and no matter the price ? I have everything I desire. Why to me? — why, if you must give, why not to your cousin you tell me of, who is so kind to the sick children in boarding them in the country ? There, now, is something worthy, something good, something to be praised — " "Oh, preach away, Nina!" he answered, with a laugh. "But Pve contributed to Francie's funds until she won't take anything more from me — not at present. But why do you always talk about saving and saving? You are an artist, Nina, and you put such value on money !" PRINCE FORTUWATUS. 229 " But an artist grows old, Leo," sLe said. " Perliaps you have been saving a little yourself, Nina?" he said, at a venture. " Oh, yes, I have, Leo, a little," she answered, rather shame- facedly. " What for ?" he made bold to ask. " Oh, how do I know ?" she said, with downcast eyes. " Many things might happen : is it not safer ? No, Leo, you must not say 1 love money for itself ; it is not fair to me ; but — but if a dear friend is ill — if a doctor says to him, ' Suspend all work and go away to Capri, to Algeria, to Eg — Egippo ' — is it right ? — and perhaps he has been indiscreet — he has been too generous to all his companions — he is in need — then you say, ' Here, take mine — it is between friends.' Then you are proud to have money, are you not ?" " I'm afraid, Nina, that's what they call a parable," said he, darkly. " But I am sure of this, that if that person were to be taken ill, and were so very poor, and were to go to Nina for help, I don't think he would have to fear any refusal. And then, as you say, Nina, you would be proud to have the money — just as I know you would be ready to give it." It was rarely that Nina blushed, but now her pretty, pale face fairly burned with conscious pleasure; and he hardly dared to look, yet he fancied there was something of moisture in the long, dark lashes, while she did not speak for some seconds. Per- haps he had been too bold in interpreting her parable. Yes, there was no doubt that this spoiled favorite of the pub- lic, who lived amid the excitements, the flatteries, the gratifica- tions of the moment, with hardly a thought of the future, was dreadfully extravagant, though it was rarely on himself that he lavished his reckless expenditure. Nina's protests were of no avail ; whenever he saw anything pretty or odd or interesting, that he thought would please her, it w^as purchased there and then, to be given to her on the first opportunity. One day he was going through Vigo Street, and noticed in a shop-window a pair of old-fashioned, silver-gilt loving-cups — those that inter- clasp ; and forthwith he went in and bought them : " I'll take those ; how much are they " being his way of bargaining. In the afternoon he carried them down to Sloaue Street. " Here, Nina, I've brought you a little present ; and I'll have 230 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. to show you Low to use it, or you would never guess what it is for." When he unrolled his pretty gift out of the pink tissue paper, Nina threw up her hands in despair. " Oh, it is too much of a folly !" she exclaimed. " Why do you do it, Leo ? What is the use of old silver to me ?" " Well, it's nice to look at," said he. " And it will help to furnish your house when you get married, Nina." " Ah, Leo," said she, " if you would only think about your- self ! It is always to-day, to-morrow, with you : never the com- ing years — " " Yes, I know all about that," he interposed. " Now I'm go- ing to show you how these are used. They're loving-cups, you know, Nina — " " Loving-cups ?" she repeated, rather timidly. " Yes ; and I will show you how the ceremony is performed. Now, will you get me some lemonade, Nina, and a little of the vermouth that I sent to Mrs, Grey ?" She went and got these things for him ; and when she re- turned he poured into one of the tiny goblets about a teaspoon- ful of the vermouth, filling it up with the lemonade ; then he put the other cup on the top of this one, so that they formed a con- tinuous vessel ; he shook the contents ; then he separated the cups, leaving about half the liquid in each, and one of them he handed to Nina, retaining the other. " We drink at the same time, Nina — with any kind of wishes you like." She glanced towards him — and then shyly lowered her eyes — as she raised the small cup to her lips. What were her wishes? Perhaps he did not care to know ; perhaps she would not have cared to tell. " You see, it is a simple ceremony, Nina," he said, as he put the little goblet on the table again. " But at the same time it is very confidential. I mean, you wouldn't ask everybody to go through it with you — it would hardly, for example, be quite circumspect for you to ask any young man you didn't know very well — " " Leo !" The sound of her voice startled him ; there were tears of in- dignation in it ; he looked up and found she had grown sud- denly pale. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 231 " You," she said, with quivering lips, " you and I, Leo — we have drunk together out of these — and you think 1 allow any one else — any one living in the world — to drink out of them after that ? — I would rather have them dashed to pieces and thrown into the sea !" Her vehemence surprised him — and might have set any other person thinking ; but he was used to Nina's proud and way- ward moods ; so he merely went on to tell her that there was nothing, after all, so very solemn in the ceremony of drinking from a loving-cup ; and then he asked her whether she ought not to call Miss Girond, for it was about time they were going down to the theatre. Of course the forthcoming dinner that Mr. Lehmann was about to give at the Star and Garter created quite a stir behind the scenes, where the routine of life is much more monotonous than the people imagine who sit in the stalls and regard the antics of the merry folk on the stage. There w^ere all kinds of rumors and speculations as to who was going with whom, as to the number and quality of the visitors, and as to the possibility of the manager presenting each of his lady-guests with a little souvenir in honor of the occasion. So when Lionel was sum- moned to Miss Burgoyne's room one evening, he was not sur- prised to find her begin to talk of the following Sunday. " Will you make yourself some tea, Mr. Moore ?" she said, from the inner room. " There's some cake on the top of the piano. Then you can bring a chair to the curtain, and I'll talk to you — for I'm not quite finished yet." He drew a chair to the little opening in the curtain, w^here he could hear what she had to say, and answer, without any indis- creet prying. " I am at your service, Miss Grace," said he, lightly. " How are you going down to Richmond on Sunday ?" she asked at once. " By train, I suppose." There was a moment's silence — perhaps she was waiting for him to ask a similar question. " Lord Denysfort is going to drive down," said the voice in the inner room. " Lord Denysfort !" he said, contemptuously. " What she is the attraction now ? I don't like that kind of thing ; it gets the 332 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. theatre a bad name. If I were Lehmaun, I wouldn't Lave a single stranger allowed in the wings." " Not unless they were your own friends," said the unseen young lady, complacently. " Now I know you're scowling. But I believe you are quite wrong. Lord Denysfort is simply a business acquaintance of Mr. Lehmann's — there are money mat- ters between them, and that kind of thing ; and when he was asked to be present at the dinner, it was quite natural that he should offer to drive some of us down. You have no particular detestation of lords, have you ? What has become of the tall, handsome young man you brought to us at Henley — the lazy man — and didn't he come to the theatre one night ?" "Lord Rockminster? — he is in Scotland still, I believe." "Somebody ought to put fireworks in his coat-tail pockets; but he's awfully good-looking — he's just frightfully handsome. He quite fluttered me." " I say, Miss Burgoyne," Lionel interposed, quickly, " there's a sister-in-law of his coming to town shortly, on her Avay to Brighton — a Miss Cunyngham — and I should like to have her mother and herself come behind for a little while, some night they were at the theatre — it is interesting to those people, you know — " " You are the one who would have no strangers in the wings !" said the voice. " And I want you to be civil to them — " "Tea and cake? All right. But you haven't told me how you are going down to Richmond." " Yes, I have. I'm going down by train, most likely." " Oh, by train. I suppose I ought to accept Lord Denysfort's invitation." " What's the good of driving at this time of year ?" he asked. " It will be pitch dark." "There will be a full moon, they say." " You won't see it because of the fog. In fact, the whole thing is a mistake. The dinner should have been given in Lon- don." "Oh, I think it will be groat fun dining at a half-dosertcd hotel — it will be ghostly — and I'm going out on the terrace, if it is as black as midnight." ♦'And what arc you going to do with your gallant warrior — PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 233 with the furious fire-eater who wanted to bring my humble ca- reer to a premature end ?" *' I don't know who you mean," said the voice, but with no great decision. " You don't remember saving my life, then ?" he asked. " Uave you forgotten the duel that was to have been fought before I went to Scotland, and how you stepped in to protect me ? If it hadn't been for you, I might have fallen on the gory field of battle — " " It's all very well for you to mock," said she, " but there's nothing that young man wouldn't do for my sake ; and I don't see anything to laugh at in true esteem and affection. They're too rare nowadays. I know one or two gentlemen who might be improved by a little more devotion and — and chivalry. But it's all persiflage nowadays. Everything is connu — " "Behind the scenes, perhaps ; but it's different when you im- port the fresh, the ingenuous element from the outer world," said he (but what interest had he in the discussion ? — he did not wear his heart on his sleeve for Miss Burgoyne to peck at). " Aren't you going to take Mr. Miles down with you ?" " Poor Percy !" said the now mufiled voice (perhaps she had a pin in her teeth, or perhaps she was still further touching-up her lips), " I suppose he would come if he were invited ; but he doesn't know any of them." " Why don't you ask Lehman n for an invitation for him ?" *' What do you mean, Mr. Moore ?" demanded the voice — sharply enough now. " Oh, nothing." " I consider you are very impertinent. Why should I ask for an invitation for Mr. Miles ? What would that imply ? Do you suppose I particularly wish him to be there ?" " Oh, I didn't mean to offend," Lionel said, quite humbly. " Only — you see — the other night you showed me that ingeni- ous dodge of covering the ring you wear with a bit of white india-rubber — and — and I thought it might be an engagement ring — worn on that finger — " " Then you're quite wrong, Mr. Clever," said the voice. " That ring was given me by a very dear friend, a very, very dear friend — I won't tell you whether a he or a she — and it fits that finger ; but all the same I don't want the public to think I am engaged. So there — for your wonderful guessing !" 234 PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. " I'm sure I beg your pardon," said he ; "1 didn't mean to be inquisitive." But at this moment the intervening curtains were thrown open, and here was Grace Mainwaring, in full panoply of white satin and pearls and powdered hair. She was followed by her maid. She went to the long mirror in this larger room, and be- gan to put the finishing touches to the set of her costume and also to her make-up. Then she told Jane to go and get the inner room tidied ; and when the maid had disappeared she turned to the young baritone. " Mr. Moore," said she, rather pointedly, " you are not very communicative." " In what way ?" " I understand you are going to take Miss Ross and Miss Gi- rond down to Richmond on Sunday ; I don't see myself why you should conceal it." " I never thought of concealing it !" he exclaimed, with a lit- tle surprise. " Why should a trifling arrangement like that be concealed — or mentioned either ?" Miss Burgoyne regarded herself in the mirror again, and touched her white wig here and there and the black beauty- spots on her cheek and chin. " I have been told," she remarked, rather scornfully, " that gentlemen are fond of the society of chorus-girls — I suppose they enjoy a certain freedom there that they don't meet elsewhere." " Neither Miss Ross nor Miss Girond is a chorus-girl," he said — though he wasn't going to lose his temper over nothing. " They have both sung in the chorus," she retorted, snap- pishly. " That is neither here nor there," he said. " Why, what does it matter how we go down, when we shall all meet there on a common footing? It was an obviously simple arrangement — Sloane Street is on my way, whether I go by road or rail — " " Oh, pray don't make any apology to me — / am not interest- ed in the question," she observed, in a most lofty manner, as she still afEectcd to be examining her dress in the mirror. " I wasn't making any apology to anybody," he said, bluntly, " Or explanation," she continued, in the same tone. " You seem to have a strange fancy for foreigners, Mr. Moore ; and I PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 235 suppose they are glad to be allowed to practice talking with any one who can speak decent English." " Nina — I mean Miss Ross — is an old friend of mine," he said, just beginning to chafe a little. " It is a very small piece of courtesy that I should offer to see her safely down to Rich- mond, when she is a stranger, with hardly any other acquaint- ance in London — " " But pray don't make any excuse to me — what have / to do with it ?" Miss Burgoyne said, sweetly. And then, as she gath- ered up her long train and swung it over her arm, she added, '* Will you kindly open the door for me, Mr. Moore ?" And therewith she passed out and along the corridor and up into the wings — he attending her, for he also was wanted in this scene. Well, Miss Burgoyne might drive down to Richmond with Lord Dcnysf ort or with any one else ; he was not going to forsake Nina. On the afternoon appointed, just as it was dark, he called at the house in Sloane Street, and found the two young ladies ready, with nothing but their bonnets to put on. Both of them, he thought, were very prettily dressed ; but Nina's costume had a somewhat severe grace, and, indeed, rather comported with Nina's demeanor towards this little French chatterbox, whom she seemed to regard with a kind of grave and young-matronly consideration and forbearance. When they had got into the brougham which was waiting outside for them and had started away for Putney Bridge, it was Mile. Girond who was merry and excited and talkative ; Nina only listened, in good-humored amusement. Mile. Girond had never been to Richmond, but she had heard of it; she knew all about the beautiful view and the terrace overlooking the river, and she was promising herself the romance and charm of a stroll in the moonlight. " I don't see much sign of that full moon as yet," Lionel said to her, peering through the window of the brougham, " but I suppose the glare of the gas-lamps would hide it in any case. However, there's a good deal of fog always along the Thames at this time of year ; don't be disappointed. Miss Girond, if you have to remain in-doors. Indeed, it is far too cold to go wan- dering about among statues in the moonlight." " And if in the dark, they will be all the more mysterieuz, do you not think?" said Mile. Girond, eagerly. "And there will 336 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. be surprises — perhaps a laugh, perhaps a shriek — if you run against some one." " Oh, no, I am not going to allow anything of that kind," said he. " I have to look after you young ladies, and you must con- duct yourselves with the strictest decorum." " Yes, for Nina," Mile. Girond cried, gayly. " That is for Nina — for me, no ! I will have some amusement, or I will run away. Who gave you control of me, monsieur? I thank you, but I do not wish it." " Estelle !" said Nina, in tones of grave reproach. " Ah !" said the wilful young lady, and she put out the tips of her fingers as though she would shake away from her these too-serious companions. " You have become English, Nina. Very well. If I have no more gay companion, I go out and seek a statue — I beckon to him — I defy him — ah ! he freezes me — he nods his head — it is the Commendatore !" And then she sang, in portentous bass notes — " Don Giovanni, a cenar teco M' invitasti — h son venuto !" Lionel let down the window. *' Do you see that. Miss Girond ?" Far away, above the blue mists and the jet-black trees (for they were out in the country by this time), hung a small, opaque disk of dingy orange. *' It is the moon, Leo !" cried Nina. " Ah, but so dull !" " That is the fog lying over the low country," he said ; " it may be clearer when we get to the top of the hill. It is to be hoped so, at all events. Fancy a theatrical company going out to a rustic festivity and not provided with a better moon than that !" Ilowever, when they finally reached the Star and Garter, they had forgotten about the moon and the aspect of the night ; for here were the wide steps and the portico all ablaze with a friendly yellow glow ; and just inside stood Mr. Lehmann, with the most shining shirt-front ever beheld, receiving his guests as they arrived. Here, too, was Lord Denysfort, a feeble-look- ing young man, with huge ears and no chin to speak of, who, however, had shown some sense in engaging a professional whip to drive the four-in-hand down through the fog. Of course there was a good deal of bustle and hurry and confusion — PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 237 friends anxious about the non-arrival of other friends and so forth — in the midst of which Lionel said to his two compan- ions, " Dinner will be a long time yet. The ladies who have driven down will be making themselves beautiful for another quarter of an hour. Suppose we go out on the balcony, and see whether any of Miss Girond's statues are visible." They agreed to this, for they had not taken off their cloaks ; so he led them along the hall and round by a smaller passage to a door which he opened ; they got outside, and found them- selves in the hushed, still night. Below them, on the wide ter- race, they could make out the wan, gray, plaster pillars and pedi- ments and statues among the jet-black shrubs ; but beyond that all was chaos ; the river and the wooded valley were shrouded in a dense mist, pierced only here and there by a small orange ray — some distant window or lamp. They wandered down the wide steps ; they crossed to the parapet ; they gazed into that great unknown gulf, in which they could descry nothing but one or two spectral black trees, their topmost branches coming up into the clearer air. Then they walked along to the southern end of the terrace ; and here they came in sight of the moon — a far-distant world on fire it seemed to be, especially when the som- bre golden radiance touched a passing tag of cloud and changed it into lurid smoke. All the side of the vast building looking tow- ards them was dark — save for one window that burned red. *' Is that where we dine ?" asked Nina, as they returned. " Oh, no," Lionel answered. " Our room is at the end of the passage by which we came out — I suppose the shutters are closed. I fancy that is the coffee-room." " I am going to have a peep in," Mile. Girond said, as they ascended the steps again ; and when they had reached the bal- cony she went along to the window, leaving her companions behind, for they did not share in this childish curiosity. But the next moment little Capitaine Crepin came back, in a great state of excitement. " Come, come, come !" she said, breathlessly. " Ah, the poor young gentleman — all alone ! — my heart feels for him — Mr. Moore, it is piteous." " Well, what have you discovered now ?" said Lionel, indif- ferently, for he was getting hungry. 238 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Come and see — come and see ! All alone — no one to say a word — " Lionel and Nina followed their eager guide along the dark balcony, until they had got near the brilliant red window. They looked in. The room was bright with crimson-shaded lamps, and its solitary occupant they made out clearly enough ; it was Mr. Percival Miles — in evening dress, standing before the fire- place, gazing into the coals, his hands in his pockets, " Ah," said Nina, as she quickly drew back, " that is the young gentleman who sometimes waits for Miss Burgoyne, is it not, Leo ? And he is all by himself. It is hard," " You think it is hard, Nina ?" Lionel said, turning to her, as the three spies simultaneously withdrew, *' Oh, yes, yes !" Nina exclaimed, " Well, you see," continued Lionel, as he opened the glass door to let his campanions re-enter the hotel, " an outsider who comes skylarking after an actress, and finds her surrounded by her professional friends and her professional interests, has to undergo a good deal of tribulation. That poor fellow has come down here to dine all by himself, merely to be near her. But, mind you, it was that same fellow who wanted to kill me." " He, kill you !" Nina said, scornfully. " You allowed him to live — yes ?" " But I don't bear any malice. No, I don't. I'm going to make that boy just the very happiest young man there is in the kingdom of Great Britain this evening." " Ah, I know, I know !" exclaimed Nina, delightedly. " Oh, no, you don't know. You don't know anything about it. What you and Miss Girond have got to do now is to go into the cloak-room and leave your things, and afterwards I'll meet you in the dining-room," " Yes, but you arc going to Mr, Lehmann !" said Nina, with a laugh, " I do not know? — yes, I do know. Ah, that is gen- erous of you, Leo — that is noble," " Noble? — trash !" he said; and he hurried these young peo- ple along to the disrobiiig-room and left thein there. Then he went to the manager, who was still in the hall. " I say," he began, without more ado, " there's a young friend of mine in this hotel whom 1 wish you'd invite to dine with us." PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 239 The manager looked rather startled — then hesitated — then stroked his waxed moustache. " I — I presume a gentleman friend ?" " Yes, of course," said Lionel, angrily. " It's a Percival Miles — why, you must have heard of Sir Barrington Miles, and this is his eldest son, though he's quite a young fellow — " " Oh, very well ; oh, yes, certainly !" said Mr. Lehmann, ap- parently very much relieved. " Will you ask him ?" " Well, no, I can't exactly," Lionel said. " But I will send him a formal note in your name — ' Mr. Lehmann presents his compliments' — may I?" " All right ; but dinner will be served almost directly. Would you mind telling the waiters to lay another cover ?" About five minutes thereafter, when the company had swarmed into the dining-room — most of them chatting and laughing, but the more business-like looking for their allotted places at table — Mr. Percival Miles put in an appearance, very shy and perhaps a little bewildered, for he knew not to whom he owed this invi- tation. Lionel had got a seat for him between Mile. Girond and Mr. Carey, the musical conductor ; if he could, and if he had dared, he would have placed him next Miss Burgoyne ; but Miss Burgoyne was at the head of the table, between Lord Denysfort and Mr. Lehmann — besides, that fiery young lady might have taken sudden cause of offence. As it was, the young gentleman could gaze upon her from afar ; and she had bowed to him — with some surprise clearly showing in her face — just as their eyes had met on his coming into the room. Lionel was next to Nina ; he had arranged that. It was a protracted banquet, and a merry one withal ; there was a perfect Babel of noise ; and the excellent old custom of drinking healths with distant friends was freely adopted. Miss Girond did her best to amuse the good-looking boy whom she had been instrumental in rescuing from his solitary dinner in the coffee-room ; but he did not respond as he ought to have done ; from time to time he glanced wistfully towards the head of the table, where Miss Burgoyne was gayly chatting with Lord Denysfort. As for Nina, Nina was very quiet, but very much interested, as her dark, expressive eyes eloquently showed. "It is so beautiful, Leo," she said. " Every one looks so well ; is it the light reflected from the table ?" And then she 240 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. Raid, in a lower tone, " Do you see Miss Burgoyne, Leo ? She is acting all the time. She is acting to the whole table." " That Albanian jacket of hers is gorgeous enough, anyway," Lionel responded ; he was not much interested apparently in the question of Miss Burgoyne's behavior. 'V\Tien dinner had been some little time over, the women-folk went away and got WTaps and shawls, and the whole company passed outside, the men lighting their cigars at the top of the steps. The heavens overhead were now perfectly clear ; the moonlight shone full on the long terrace, with its parapets and pedestals and plaster figures, while all the world below was shut away in a dense fog. Indeed, as the various groups idly walked about or stood and talked — their shadows sharply cut as out of ebony on the white stone — the whole scene was most extraordinary ; for it appeared as though these people were the sole occupants of some region in cloud-land — a clear-shining region raised high above the forgotten earth. " Lehmann is lucky," Lionel said to Nina. " I thought his moonlight effect was going to be a failure." Miss Girond came up, in an eager and excited fashion. " Nina !" " What is it, Estelle ?" " Monsieur of the pretty face," she said, in a whisper, " oh, so sad he was all dinner ! — regarding Miss Burgoyne, and she coquetting, oh, frightful, frightful ! — but it is all right now — he was at the door when we come out — he takes her hand — 'How you do. Miss Burgoyne?' — 'Oh, how you do, Mr. Miles ?' — and he leads her away before she can go to any one else. And there — away down there — do you see them ? He has compensation, do you think ?" She drew Nina a little aside, and sang into her ear — " — Cc soir, as-tu vn La fillc k notro inattre, D'un air r6solu Guettant k sa fenetre? Eh bicn ! qu'cn (lis tu ? — Je dis que j'ai tout vu, Mais jc n'ai rien cru ; Je I'aiine, jo raiino, Je raime quand nieme !" and then she broke into a malicious laucfh. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 241 " What are you two conspiring about now ?" Lionel asked — from the bench on which he had carelessly seated himself, the better to enjoy his cigar. " You must know the consequence of doing a good action, Leo," Nina said to him. " Do you see the black bushes — yon- der — and the two figures ? Estelle says it is Miss Burgoyne and the young gentleman who would have been all alone but that you intercede. Is he not owing a great deal to you ?" " Well, Nina, if there is any gratitude in woman's bosom, Miss Burgoyne ought to be indebted to me too. She has got her pretty dear. I dare say he would have managed to procure a little interview with her, in some surreptitious way, in any case — I dare say that was his intention in coming down ; but now that he is one of the party, one of the guests, she can talk to him before every one. And since I have been the means of bringing the pair of turtle-doves together, I hope they're happy." "Ah, Leo, you do not understand," Nina said to him — for Miss Girond was now talking to Mr. Carey, who had come up. " I don't understand what ?" " You do not understand Miss Burgoyne," said Nina. " AYhat don't I understand about her, then ?" Nina shook her head. " Why should I say ? You will not believe. Perhaps slie is grateful to you for bringing in that young man — yes, perhaps — but if she would rather have yourself to go and talk with her and be her companion before all those people ? Oh, you do not believe ? No, you are too modest — as she is vain and jealous. All during the dinner she was playing coquette, openly, for every one to see ; Estelle says it was to pique the young man who came from the other room ; no, Leo, it was not — it was meant for you !" " Oh, nonsense, Nina ! — I wasn't thinking anything about her !" " Does she think that, Leo ?" Nina said to him, gently. " Ah, you do not know that woman. She is clever ; she is cunning ; she wishes to have the fame of being associated with you — even in a photograph for the shop-windows ; and you are so blind ! The duel ? — yes, she would have liked that, too, for the news- papers to speak about it, and the public to talk, and her name and yours together ; but then she says, ' No, he will owe more 11 3i2 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. to rae if I interfere and get an apology for him.' It is one way or the other way — anything to win your attention — that you should care for her — and that you should show it to the world—" " Nina, Nina," said he, " you want to make me outrageously vain. Do you imagine she had a single thought for me when she had Lord Denysfort to carry on with — he hasn't much in his head, poor devil ! but a title goes a long way in the theatrical world — and when she could practise on the susceptibilities of her humble adorer who was further down the table? Oh, I fancy Miss Burgoyne had enough to occupy herself with this evening without thinking of me. She was quite busy." , " Ah, you do not understand, Leo," Nina said. " But some day you may understand — if Miss Burgoyne still finds you in- different, and becomes angry. But before that, she will try much — " " Nina !" " You will see, Leo !" Nina said ; and that was all she could say just then, for Mr. Lehmaun came up to take the general vote as to whether they would rather have tea out there in the moonlight or return to the dining-room. But any doubt as to the manner in which Miss Burgoyne re- garded his intercession on behalf of Mr. Percival Miles was removed, and that in a most summary fashion, by the young lady' herself. As they were about to leave the hotel, the men were standing about in the hall, chatting at haphazard or light- ing a fresh cigar, while they waited for the women-folk to get ready. Lionel saw Miss Burgoyne coming along the corridor, and was glad of the chance of saying good-night to her before she got on to the front of Lord Denysfort's drag. But it was not good-night that Miss Burgoyne had in her mind. " Mr. Moore," she said, when she came up, and she spoke in a low, clear, incisive voice that considerably startled him. " I am told it was through you that that boy was invited to the din- ner to-night." He looked at her in amazement. "Well, what then?" he exclaimed. "What was the objec- tion? I tliought he was a friend of yours. That boy ?-^— that boy is a sufficiently important person, surely — heir to the Pet- mansworth estates — why, I should have thought — " ^b '^ :^ PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 243 She interrupted him. " I consider it a gross piece of impertinence," she said, haughtily. " I suppose you thought you were conferring a fa- vor on me! How dared you assume that any one — that any one — wished him to be present in that room ?" She turned proudly away from him, without waiting for his reply. " Lord Denysfort, here I am," said she ; and the chinless young man with the large ears gave her his arm and conducted her down the steps. Lionel looked after her — bewildered. CHAPTER XV. " LET THE STRUCKEN DEER GO WEEP." But if Lionel regarded this constant association with Xina — this unreserved discussion of all their private affairs — even the sort of authority and guidance he exercised over her at times — as so simple and natural a thing that it was unnecessary to pause and ask whither it might tend, what about Xina herself ? She was quite alone in England ; she had more regard for the future than he had ; what if certain wistful hopes, concealed al- most from herself, had sprung up amid all this intimate and frankly affectionate companionship ? One morning she and Estelle were walking in to Regent Street, to examine proofs of certain photographs that had been taken of them both (for Clara figured in the shop-windows now, as well as Capitaine Crepin). Nina was very merry and viva- cious on this sufficiently bright forenoon ; and to please Estelle she was talking French — her French being fluent enough, if it was not quite perfect as to accent. They were passing along Piccadilly, when she stopped at a certain shop. " Come, I show you something," she said. Estelle followed her in. The moment the shopman saw who it was he did not wait to be questioned. " It is quite ready, miss ; I was just about to send it down." He brought forward the double loving-cup that Lionel had given to Nina; and as the young lady took it into her hands she glanced at the rim. Yes; the inscription was quite right : 244 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " From Leo to Nina " — that was the simple legend she had had engraved. " Here is the cup I spoke of, Estelle ; is it not beautiful ? And then I would not trouble Lionel to have the inscription made — I told him I would have it done myself and asked him what the words should be — behold it !" The cup was duly admired and handed back to be sent down to Sloane Street ; then Estelle and she left the shop together. " Oh, yes, it is very beautiful," said the former, continuing to speak in her native tongue, " and a very distinguished pres- ent ; but there is something still more piquant that he will be buying for you ere long — can you not guess, Nina ? — no ? — not a wedding-i'ing ?" The audacity of the question somewhat disconcerted Nina ; but she met it with no sham denial, no affected protest. " He has not spoken to me, Estelle," Nina said, gravely and simply. " And sometimes I ask myself if it is not better we should remain as we are — we are such good friends and com- panions. We are happy ; we have plenty to occupy ourselves with ; why undertake more serious cares ? Perhaps that is all that Lionel thinks of it ; and, if it is so, I am content. And then sometimes, Estelle, I ask myself if it would not be better for him to marry — when he has made his choice, that is to say ; and I picture him and his young wife living very happily in a quite small establishment — perhaps two or three rooms only, in one of those large buildings in Victoria Street — and every- thing very pretty around them, with their music and their occu- pations and the visits of friends. Would not that be for him a life far more satisfactory than liis present distractions — the gaye- ties and amusements — the invitations of strangers ?" " Yes, yes, yes !" her companion cried, with instant assent. " Ah, Nina, I can see you the most charming young house-mis- tress — I can see you receive your guests when they come for afternoon music — you wear a tea-gown of brocade the color of wall-flower, with cream-colored lace — you speak French, Eng- lish, Italian as it is necessary for this one and that — your musical reunions are known everywhere. Will madame permit the poor Estelle to be present? — Estelle, wlio will not dare to sing before those celebrated ones, but who will applaud, applaud — in herself a prodigious claque! And now, behold! Miss Pinrgoyne ar- PKINCE FORTUNATUS. 345 rives — Miss Burgoyne in grand state — and nevertheless you are her dear Nina, her charming friend, although in her heart she hates you for having carried off the handsome Lionel — " " Estelle," said Nina, gently, " you let your tongue run avpay. When I picture to myself Lionel in the future, I leave the space beside him empty. Who is to fill it? — perhaps he has never given a thought to that. Perhaps it will always be empty ; per- haps one of his fashionable friends will suddenly appear there, who knows ? He does not seem ever to look forward ; if I re- monstrate about his expenditure, he laughs. And why should he give me things of value ? I am not covetous. If he wishes to express kindness, is not a word better than any silver cup ? If he wishes to be remembered when he is absent, would not the smallest message sent in a letter be of more value than a bracelet with sapphires — " " Oh, Nina," her companion exclaimed, laughing, " what a thing to say ! — that you would rather have a scrap of writing from Lionel Moore than a bracelet with sapphires — " " No, Estelle, I did not," Nina protested, rather indignantly ; " I was talking of the value of presents generally, and of their use or uselessness." " And yet you seemed very proud of that loving-cup, Nina, and of the inscription on it," Estelle said, demurely ; and there the subject ended, for they were now approaching the photog- rapher's. It was a Saturday night that Honnor Cunyngham and her mother — who had come up from Brighton for a few days — had been induced to fix for their visit to the New Theatre ; and as the evening drew near, Lionel became more and more anxious, so that he almost regretted having persuaded them. All his other troubles and worries he could at once carry to Nina, whose cheerful common-sense and abundant courage made light of them and lent him heart ; but this one he had to ponder over by himself ; he did not care to tell Nina with what concern he looked forward to the impressions that Miss Cunyngham might form of himself and his surroundings when brought immediate- ly into contact with them. And yet he was not altogether silent. " You see how it is, Nina," he said, in tones of deep vexation. " That fellow Collier has been allowed to gag and gag until the 346 PRINCE KORTUNATUS. whole piece is filled with his music-hall tomfoolery, and the music has been made quite subsidiary. I wonder Lehmann doesn't get a lot of acrobats and conjurors, and let Miss Bur- goyne and you and me stop at home. " The Squire's Daugh- ter" is really a very pretty piece, with some delightful melody running through it ; but that fellow has vulgarized it into the lowest burlesque." " What does it matter to you, Leo ?" Nina said. " What he does is separate from you. He cannot vulgarize your singing." " But he makes all that clowning of his so important — it has become so big a feature of the piece that any friends of yours coming to see the little opera might very naturally say, ' Oh, is this the kind of thing he figures in ? This is an intellectual en- tertainment, truly !' " " But you do not join in it, Leo !" Nina protested. " In the most gagging scene of all, I've got to stand and look on the whole time !" he said. " Oh, no, Leo," Nina said, with mock sympathy, " you can listen to Miss Burgoyne as she talks to you from behind her fan." " Those two ladies I told you of," he continued, *' who are coming on Saturday night — I wonder what they will think of all that low-comedy stuff. I begin to wish I hadn't asked them to come behind, but I thought it might be a sort of induce- ment. Miss Cunyngham was very kind to me when I was in the Highlands, and this was all I could think of ; but I don't think she has much of the frivolous curiosity of her sisters-in- law ; and I am not sure that her mother and she would even care much for the honor of having tea in Miss Burgoyne's room. No, I wish I hadn't asked them." " Do you value their opinion so highly, then, Leo ?" Nina asked, gently. " Oh, yes," he said, with some hesitation — " that is, I shouldn't like them to form any unfavorable impression — to go away with any scornful feeling towards comic opera, and towards the people engaged in it ; I should like thera to think well of the piece. I suppose I couldn't bribe Collier to leave out the half of his gag, or the whole of it, for that particular night- Did you sec what one of the papers said about the 400th per- fornjance ? — that the fate of "The Squire's Daughter" had for PKINCE FORTUNATUS. 247 some time been doubtful, but that it had been saved by the in- creased prominence given to the part played by Mr. Fred Col- lier ! — a compliment to the public taste ! — the piece saved by lugging in a lot of music-hall bufioonery !" " But, Leo," Nina said, " your friends who are coming on Saturday night will not think you responsible for all that." " People are apt to judge of you by your associates, Nina," he said, absently ; he was clearly looking forward to this visit with some compunction, not to say alarm. Then he went to Miss Burgoyne. Miss Burgoyne had forgiven him for having introduced Percival Miles to the Richmond din- ner-party ; indeed, she was generally as ready to forgive as she was quick to take offence. " I wish you would do me a very great favor," he said. " What is it ?" asked Grace Mainwaring, who was standing in front of the tall mirror, adjusting the shining stars and crescents that adorned her powdered hair. " I suppose you could wear a little nosegay with that dress," he said, " of natural flowers, done up with a bit of white satin ribbon, perhaps, and a silver tube and cord, or something of that kind?" _ " Flowers ?" she repeated. " Oh, yes, I could wear them — if any one were polite enough to give me them." " I shall be delighted to send you some every evening for a month, if you'll only do this for me on Saturday," said he. " It is on Saturday night those two ladies are coming to the thea- tre ; and you were good enough to promise to ask them to your room and offer them some tea. The younger of the two — that is, Miss Cunyngham — has never been behind the scenes of a theatre before, and I think she will be very pleased to be introduced to Miss Grace Mainwaring; and don't you think it would be rather nice of Miss Grace Mainwaring to take those flowers from her dress and present them to the young lady, as a souvenir of her visit ?" She wheeled round, and looked at him with a curious scru- tiny. " Well, this is something new !" she said, as she turned to the mirror again. " I thought it was the fortunate Harry Thornhill who received all kinds of compliments and attentions from his lady adorers ; I wasn't aware he ever returned them. But do 248 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. you think it is quite fair, Mr, Moore ? If this is some girl who has a love-sick fancy for Harry Thornhill, don't you think you should drop Harry Thornhill and play David Garrick, to cure the poor thing ?" " Considering that Miss Cunyngham has never seen Harry Thornhill," he was beginning, when she interrupted him : " Oh, only heard him sing in private ? Quite enough, I sup- pose, to put nonsense into a silly school-girl's head." " When you see this young lady," he observed, " I don't think you will say she looks like a silly school-girl. She's nearly as tall as I am, for one thing." " 1 hate giraffes," said Miss Burgoyne, tartly. " Do you put a string round her neck when you go out walking with her ?" He was just on the point of saying something about green- room manners, but thought better of it. " Now, Miss Burgoyne," he said to her, " on Saturday night you are going to put on your most winning way — you can do it when you like — and you are going to captivate and fascinate those two people until they'll go away home with the conviction that you are the most charming and delightful creature that ever lived. You can do it easily enough if you like — no one better. You are going to be very nice to them, and you'll send them away just in love with Grace Mainwaring." Miss Burgoyne altered her tone a little. " If I give your giraffe friend those flowers, I suppose you expect me to tell lies as well ?" she asked, with some approach to good-humor. " About what ?" " Oh, about being delighted to make her acquaintance, and that kind of thing." " I have no doubt you will be as pleased to make her acquaint- ance as she will be to make yours," said he, " and a few civil words never do any harm." Here Miss Burgoyne was called. She went to the little side- table and sipped some of her homc-brcvved lemonade ; then he opened the door for her, and together they went up into tlie wings. " Tall, is she ?" continued Miss Burgoyne, as they were look- ing on at Mr. Fred Collier's buffooneries out there on the stage. *' Is she as silent and stupid as her brother ?" PRINCE B'ORTUNATUS. i^9 "Her brother?" " Lord Rockminster." " Oh, Lord Rockminster isn't her brother. You've got them mixed up," said Lioneh " Miss Cunyngham's brotlier, Sir Hugh, married a sister of Lord Rockminster — the Lady Adela Cuuyngham who came to your room one night — don't you re- member ?" " You seem to have the whole peerage and baronetage at your fingers' ends," said she, sullenly ; and the next moment she was on the stage, smiling and gracious, and receiving her father's guests with that charming manner which the heroine of the operetta could assume when she chose. Even with Miss Burgoyne's grudgingly promised assistance, Lionel still remained unaccountably perturbed about that visit of Lady Cunyngham and her daughter ; and when on the Satur- day evening he first became aware — through the confused glare of the footlights — that the two ladies had come into the box he had secured for them, it seemed to him as though he were re- sponsible for every single feature of the performance. As for himself, he was at his best, and he knew it ; he sang, ' The starry night brings me no rest' with such a verve that the en- thusiasm of the audience was unbounded ; even Miss Burgoyne — Miss Grace Mainwaring, that is, who was perched up on a bit of scaffolding in order to throw a rose to her lover — listened with a new interest, instead of being busy with her ribbons and the set of her hair ; and when she opened the casement in answer to his impassioned appeal, she kissed the crimson-cotton blossom thrice ere she dropped it to her enraptured swain below. This was all very well ; but when the comic man took possession of the stage, Lionel — instead of going off to his dressing-room to glance at an evening paper or have a chat with some ac- quaintance — remained in the wings, looking on with an inde- scribable loathing. This hideous farcicality seemed more vulgar than ever ; what would Honnor Cunyngham think of his associ- ates ? He felt as if he were an accomplice in foisting this wretched music-hall stuff on the public. And the mother — the tall lady with the proud, fine features and the grave and placid voice — what Avould she think of the new acquaintance whom her daughter had introduced to her ? Had it been Lady Adela or her sisters, he would not have cared one jot. They were U* 250 PRINCE FORTUNATUS, proud to be in alliance with professional people ; they flattered themselves that they rather belonged to the set — actors, authors, artists, musicians, those busy and eager amateurs considered to be, like themselves, of imagination all compact. But that he should have asked Honnor Cunyngham to come and look on at the antics of this gaping and grinning fool ; that she should know he had to consort with such folk; that she should con- sider him an aider and abettor in putting this kind of entertain- ment before the public — this galled him to the quick. The mur- mur of the Aivron and the Geinig seemed dinning in his ears. If only he could have thrown aside these senseless trappings — if he were an under-keeper now, or a water-bailiff, or even a gillie looking after the dogs and the ponies, he could have met the gaze of those clear hazel eyes without shame. But here he was the coadjutor of this grimacing clown ; and she was sitting in her box there — and thinking. " What is it, Leo ?" said Nina, coming up to him rather tim- idly. " You are annoyed." " I have made a mistake, that is all," he said, rather impa- tiently. " I shouldn't have persuaded those two ladies to come to the theatre ; I forgot what kind of thing we played in ; I might as well have asked them to go to a penny gaff. Collier is worse than ever to-night." " And you better, Leo," said Nina, who had always comfort- ing words for him. " Did you not hear how enthusiastic the audience were ? And if this is the young lady you told me of — who was so friendly in Scotland that she did not fear ridicule for herself in order to save you from the possibility of ridicule — surely she will be so well-wishing to you that she will un- derstand you have nothing to do with the foolishness on the stage." " If you are thinking of that salmon-fishing incident," he said, rather hastily, " of course you mustn't imagine there was any fear of her encountering any ridicule. Oh, certainly not. It was no new thing for her to get wet when she was out fishing — " " At all events, it was a friendly act to you," said Nina, on whom that occurrence seemed to have made some impression. " And if she is so generous, so benevolent towards you, do you think slic will not see you are not rcsponsil)lc for the comic lousiness ?" PRINCE FORTUNATU8. 251 It was at the end of the penultimate act tliat an attendant brought round Miss Cunyngham and her mother — the latter a handsome and distinguished-looking elderly lady, with white hair done up a la Marie Antoinette — behind the scenes ; and Nina, hanging some way back, could see them being presented to Miss Burgoyne, Nina was a little breathless and bewildered. She had heard a good deal about the fisher-maiden in the far North, of her hardy out-of-door life, and her rough and service- able costume ; and perhaps she had formed some mental picture of her — very different from the actual appearance of this tall young Englishwoman, whose clear, calm eyes, strongly marked eyebrows, and proud, refined features were so striking. Here was no simple maiden in a suit of serge, but a young woman of commanding presence, whose long cloak of tan-colored velvet, with its hanging sleeves showing a flash of crimson, seemed to Nina to have a sort of royal magnificence about it. And yet her manner appeared to be very simple and gentle ; she smiled as she talked to Miss Burgoyne ; and the last that Nina saw of her — as they all left together in the direction of the corridor, Lionel obsequiously attending them — was that the tall young lady walked with a most gracious carriage. Nina made sure that they had all disappeared before she, too, went down the steps ; then she made her way to her own room, to get ready for the final act. Miss Girond, of course, was also here ; but Nina had no word for Estelle ; she seemed preoccupied about something. Never had Harry Thornhill dressed so quickly ; and when, in his gay costume of flowered silk and ruffles, tied wig and buckled shoes, he tapped at Miss Burgoyne's door and entered, he found that this young lady was still in the curtained apartment, though she had sent out Jane to see that her two visitors were being looked after. Lionel, too, helped himself to some tea ; and it was with a singular feeling of relief that he discovered, as he presently did, that both Lady Cunyngham and her daughter were quite charmed with the piece, so far as they had seen it. They ap- peared to put the farcicality altogether aside, and to have been much impressed by the character of the music. " What a pretty girl that Miss Ross is !" said the younger of the two ladies, incidentally. " But she is not English, is she ?" I thought I could detect a trace of foreign accent here and there." " No, she is Italian," Lionel made answer. " Her name is 252 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. really Rossi — Antoiiia Rossi — but ber intimate friends call ber Nina." " AVbat a beautiful voice sbe bas !" Miss Honnor continued. " So fresb and pure and sweet. I tbink sbe bas a far more beau- tiful voice tban — " He quickly beld up bis band, and tbe bint was taken. " And sbe puts sucb life into ber part — sbe seems to be really ligbt-bearted and merry," resumed Miss Honnor, wbo appeared to bave been mucb taken by Nina's manner on tbe stage. " Do you know, Mr. Moore, I could not belp to-nigbt tbinking more tban once of " Tbe Cbaplet " and my sisters and tbeir amateur friends. Tbe difference between an amateur performance and a performance of trained artists is so marvellous ; it doesn't seem to me to be one of degree at all ; at an amateur perform- ance, however clever it may be, I am conscious all tbe time tbat tbe people are assuming sometbing quite foreign to tbemselves, wbereas on tbe stage tbe people seem to be tbe actual cbaracters tbey profess to be. I forget tbey are actors and actresses — " " You must be a good audience. Miss Cunyngbam," said be (it used to be " Miss Honnor " in Stratbaivron, but tbat was some time ago — then be was not decked out and painted for exbibi- tion on tbe stage). " Ob, I like to believe," sbe said. " I don't wisb to criticise. I wholly and deligbtfuUy give myself up to tbe illusion. Mother and I go so seldom to tbe theatre that we are under no tempta- tion to begin and ask bow this or tbat is done, or to make any comparisons ; we surrender ourselves to the story, and believe the people to be real people all we can. As for mother, if it weren't a dreadful secret — " But here the curtains were thrown wide, and out came Miss Burgoyne, obviously conscious of ber magnificent costume, pro- fuse in ber apologies for not appearing sooner. Sometbing bad gone wrong, and tbe mishap bad kept her late ; indeed, sbe had just time to go through the formality of taking a cup of tea with ber guests when she was called and bad to get ready to go. " However, I need not say good-bye just yet," sbe said to them, as she tucked up ber voluminous train. " Wouldn't you like to look on for a little while from the wings? You could have the prompter's chair. Lady Cunyngbam, so that you could PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 258 see the audience or tlie stage, just as you chose, if Miss Cun- yngham wouldn't mind standing about among the gasmen." " If you are sure we shall not be in the way," said the elder lady, who had, perhaps, a little more curiosity than her daughter. " Oh, Mr. Moore will show you," said Miss Burgoyne, making no scruple about preceding her visitors along the corridor and up the steps, for she had not too much time. The prompter's office, now that this piece had been running- over four hundred nights, was practically a sinecure, so tliat there was no trouble about getting Lady Cunyugham installed in the little corner, whence, through a small aperture, she could regard the dusky-hued audience or turn her attention to the stage just as she pleased. Miss Honnor stood close by her, when she was allowed — keeping out of sight of the opposite boxes as much as she could, though she observed that the workmen about lier did not care much whether they were visible or not, and that they talked or called to one another with a fine indifference tow- ards what was going forward on the stage. At present a minuet was being danced, and very pretty it was ; she could not help noticing how cleverly Miss Burgoyne managed her train. As for her mother, the old lady seemed intensely interested and yet conscious all the time that she herself, in this strange posi- tion, was an interloper ; again and again she rose and offered to resign her place to the rather shabby-looking elderly man who was the rightful occupant ; but he just as often begged her to remain — he seemed mostly interested in the management of the gas-handles just over his head. And now came in the comic interlude which Lionel had feared most of all — the squire's faithful henchman going through all the phases of getting drunk in double-quick stage-time ; and, while those stupidities were going forward, Lionel and Miss Burgoyne were supposed to retire up the stage somewhat and look on. Well, they took up their positions — Grace Mainwaring being seated. " Your giraffe is rather handsome," she said, behind her fan. " I believe she is considered to be one of the best-looking women in England," said he, somewhat stiffly. " Oh, really ! Well, of course, tastes differ," Miss Grace Main- waring said. " I don't think a woman should have blacking- brushes instead of eyebrows. But it's a matter of taste." 354 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Yes," said be, " and comic opera is the sort of place where one's taste becomes so refined. Wbat do you tbink of this gag now ? Is tbis wbat the public like — wben tbey come to bear music ?" *' You're very fastidious — you want everything to be super- fine — but you may depend on it that it keeps the piece going with the pit and gallery." His answer to that was one of this young lady's strangest ex- periences of the stage : Lionel Moore bad suddenly left her, and, indeed, quitted tbis scene, in which be was supposed to be a chief figure. He walked down the wings until be found him- self close to Miss Honnor Cunyngbam. " Miss Cunyngbam," he said. She turned — her eyes somewhat bewildered by the glare of light on the stage. " Come back, please," be said. " I don't want you to see tbis scene — it has nothing to do with the operetta — and it is dull and stupid and tedious beyond description." She followed him two or three steps, wondering. " You say you like the music," he continued, here in the twilight of the wings, " and the little story is really rather pretty and idyllic ; but they tvill go and introduce a lot of music-hall stuff to please the groundlings. I should prefer you not to see it. Won't you rather wait a little, and talk about something? — it isn't often you and I meet. Did you get many salmon after I left Stratbaivron ?" " Ob, no," said she, still rather surprised. " Towards the end of the season the red fish are really not worth landing." " It seems a long time since then," he said. " I find myself sitting up at night and thinking over all those experiences — making pictures of them — and the hours go by in a most aston- ishing fashion. Here in London, among the November fogs, it seems so strange to tbink of those splendid days and the long, clear twilights. I suppose it is all so well known to you, you do not trouble to recall it ; but I do — it is like a dream — only that I see everything so distinctly — I seem almost to be able to touch each leaf of the bushes in the little dell where we used to have luncheon; do you remember?" " Above the Geinig Pool ? — oh, yes !" she said, smiling. " And the Junr-tion Pool," he continued, with a curious eager- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 255 ness, as if he were claiming licr sympathy, her interest, on ac- count of that old companionship — " I can make the clearest vis- ion of it as I sit up all by myself at night — you remember the little bush on the opposite side that you used sometimes to catch your fly on, and the shelf of shingle going suddenly down into the brown water — I always thought that was a dangerous place. And how well you used to tish the Rock Pool ! Old Robert used to be so proud of you ! Once, at the tail of the Rock Pool, you wound up, and said to him, ' Well, I can't do any better than that, Robert ;' and then he said, ' No man ever fished that pool better — oh, I beg your pardon, Miss Honnor ; no one at all ever fished that pool better.' I suppose Strathaivron is nothing to you — you must be so familiar with it — but to me it is a sort of wonderland, to dream of when I am all by myself at night^ — " Alas ! it was at this very moment that Nina came up from her room ; Clara, the innkeeper's daughter, had to go on immedi- ately after the ball-room scene w^as over. And Nina, as she came by, caught sight of these two, and for a moment she stood still, her eyes staring. The two figures were in a sort of twi- light — a twilight as compared with the glare of the stage beyond them, but there were lights here quite sufficient to illumine their features ; it was no imagination on Nina's part — she saw with a startling clearness that Lionel was regarding this tall, English-looking girl with a look she had never seen him direct towards any woman before — a timid, wistful, half-beseeching look that needed no words to explain its meaning. For a sec-" ond Nina stood there, paralyzed — not daring to breathe — not able to move. Yet was it altogether a revelation to her, or only a sudden and overwhelming confirmation of certain half-friofht- ened misgivings which had visited her from time to time, and which she had striven hard to banish ? The next moment Nina had passed on silently, like a ghost, and had disappeared in the dusk behind some scenery. " When shall you be back in Strathaivron, Miss Honnor ?" he asked. " In the spring, I suppose, for the salmon-fishing," she made answer. " You will be up there in the clear April days, by the side of that beautiful river, and I shall be playing the mountebank here, anions: the London eras and fosf." 256 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. But at this moment the orchestra began the slow music that intimated the resumption of the minuet, and this recalled him to his senses ; he had hurriedly to take leave of her, and then he went and rejoined Miss Burgoyne, who merely said, " Well, that's a pretty trick !" as she gave him her hand for the dance. A still stranger thing, however, happened in the next scene, where the gay young officer, the French prisoner of war, makes love to the innkeeper's daughter. Estelle noticed with great surprise that not only did Nina deliver the English maiden's retorts without any of the saucy spirit that the situation de- manded, but also that she was quite confused about the words, stammering and hesitating, and getting through them in the most perfunctory manner. At last, when the little Capitaine Crepin says, " Bewitching maid, say you will fly with me !" Clara's reply is, " You forget I am to be married to-morrow — see, here comes my betrothed ;" but Nina only got as far as "mar- ried to-morrow " — then she paused — hesitated — she put her hand to her head as if everything had gone from her brain — and at the same moment Estelle, with the most admirable presence of mind, continued, " See, here comes your betrothed," thus giv- ing the lover his cue. The dialogue now remained with Es- telle and this liusband-elect, so that Nina had time to recover ; and in the trio that closes the scene she sang her part well enough. Directly they had left the stage, Estelle ran to her friend. " Nina, what was the matter ?" she exclaimed. " My head — " said Nina, pressing her hand against her fore- head and talking rather faintly — " I do not know — my head is giddy, Estelle — oli, I wish it was all over ! — I wish I was home !" " You have very little more to do now, Nina !" Estelle said quickly to her, in French. " Come, you must have courage, Nina — I will run and get you my smelling-salts, and it will pass away — oh, you must make an effort, Nina — would you let Miss Burgoyne see you break down — no, no, indeed ! You will be all right, Nina, I assure you — and I will tell tlie prompter to be on the watch for you — oh, I wouldn't give way — before Miss Burgoyne — if I were you, no, not for a hundred pounds !" Therewith the kind-liearted little French officer sped away to her own room, and 1)r<)nglit back tlie Rmclling-salts and was most PRIN'CE FOKTUNATUS, v>57 eagerly solicitous that Nina should conquer this passing attack of hysteria, as she deemed it. And, indeed, Nina managed to get through the rest of her part without any serious breakdown, to Estelle's exceeding joy. As they went home together in the four-wheeled cab, Nina did not utter a word. Once or twice Estelle fancied she heard a slight sob ; but she merely said to herself, " Ah, it has come back, that trembling of the nerves ? But I will make her take some wine at supper, and she will go to bed and sleep well ; to-morrow she will have forgotten all about it." And Estelle was most kind and considerate when they got down to Sloane Street. She helped Nma off with her things ; she stirred up the fire ; she put a bottle of white wine on the table, where supper was already laid ; she drew in Nina's chair for her. Then Mrs. Grey came up, to see that her children, as she called them, were all right ; and she was easily induced to stay for a little while, for a retired actress is always eager to hear news of the theatre ; so she and Miss Girond fell to talk- ing between themselves. Nina sat silent ; her eyes seemed heavy and tired ; she only pretended to touch the food and wine be- fore her. " Very well, then, Nina," her friend said, when Mrs. Grey had gone, " if you will have nothing to eat or to drink, you must go to bed and see what a sound night's rest will do for you. I am going to sit up a little while to read, but I shall not disturb you." "Good-night, then, Estelle," said Nina, rather languidly ; "you have been so kind to me !" They kissed each other ; then Nina opened the folding-doors, and disappeared into her own room, while Estelle took up her book. It was " Les Vacances do Camille " she had got hold of ; but she did not turn the pages quickly ; there was something else in her mind. She was thinking of Nina. She was troubled about her, in a vague kind of way. She had never seen Nina look like that before, and she was puzzled and a little con- cerned. Suddenly, in this hushed stillness, she heard, or fancied she heard, a slight sound that startled her ; it came from the adjoin- ing room. Stealthily she arose and approached the door; she put her ear close and listened ; yes, she had not been mistaken 258 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. — Nina was sobbing bitterly. Estelle did not hesitate a mo- ment ; she boldly opened the door and went in ; and the first thing she beheld was Nina, just as she had left the other room, now lying prone on the bed, her face buried in the pillow, while ih. vain she tried to control the violence of her grief. " Nina !" she cried, in alarm. Nina sprang up — she thrust out both trembling hands, as if wildly seeking for help, and Estelle was not slow to seize them. " Nina, what is it ?" she exclaimed, frightened by the haggard face and streaming eyes. " Estelle ! — Estelle !" said Nina, in a low voice that simply tore the heart of this faithful friend of hers. " It is nothing ! It is only that my life is broken — my life is broken — and I have no mother — Poverina ! — she would have said to me — " Her sobs choked her speech ; she withdrew her trembling hands ; she threw herself again on the bed, face downward, and burst into a wild fit of weeping, Estelle knew not what to do ; she was terrified. " Nina, what has happened ?" she cried again. " It is nothing ! — it is nothing ! — it is nothing !" she said, be- tween her passionate sobs. " I have made a mistake ; I am punished — O God, can you not kill me! — I do not wish to live—" " Nina!" said Estelle, and the girl bent down and put her cheek close to her friend's, and she tenderly placed both her hands on the masses of beautiful blue-black hair. " Nina — tell me !" In time the violent sobbing ceased, or partially ceased ; Nina rose, but she clung to Estelle's hand and kissed it passionately. " You have been so kind, so affectionate to me, Estelle I To- morrow you will know — perhaps. I will leave you a letter. I am going away. If you forget me — well, that is right ; if you do not forget me, do not think bad of — of poor Nina !" " I don't know what you mean, Nina," said Estelle, who was herself whimpering by this time ; " but I won't let you go away. No, I will not. You do not know what you sa}'. It is madness — to-morrow morning you will reflect — to-morrow morning you will tell me, and rely on me as a friend." " Yes, to-morrow morning all will be right, Estelle," Nina said, again kissing the hand that she clung to. " Pardon me that I PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 259 have kept you up — and disturbed you. Go away to your bed, Estelle — to-morrow morning all will be right !" Very reluctantly Estelle was at length persuaded to leave ; and as she left she turned ofE the gas in the sitting-room. A few minutes thereafter Nina, still dressed as she had come home from the theatre, entered the room, re-lit the gas, and noiselessly proceeded to clear a portion of the table, on which she placed writing materials. Then she went into her bedroom and fetched a little drawer in which she kept her valuables ; and the first thing she did was to take out an old-fashioned gold ring she had brought with her from Naples. She put the ring in an en- velope, and (while her eyelids were still heavy with tears, and her cheeks wan and worn) she wrote outside — '■'■For Estelle.'''' CHAPTER XVI. AN AWAKENING. London is a dreary -looking city on a Sunday morning, espe- cially on a Sunday morning in November ; people seem to know how tedious the hours are going to be, and lie in bed as long as they decently can ; the teeming and swarming capital of the world looks as if it had suddenly grown lifeless. When Lionel got up, there was a sort of yellow darkness in the air ; hardly a single human being was visible in the Green Park over the way ; a solitary saunterer, hands deep in the pockets of his overcoat, who wandered idly along the neglected pavement, had the ap- pearance of having been out all night, and of not knowing what to do with himself, now that what passed for daylight had come. All of a sudden there flashed into the braiu of this young man standing by the French window a yearning to get away from this dark and dismal town — there came before him a vision of clear air, of wind-swept waves, with an after-church promenade of fashionable folk in which he might recognize the welcome face of many a friend. He looked at his watch ; there was yet time ; he would hurry through his breakfast and catch the 10.45 to Brighton. But was there nothing else prompting this unpremeditated resolve to get awav down to Victoria station ? Not some secret 360 PKINCE FORTUNATUS. hope tliat be might perchance descry Lady Cunyngham and her daughter among the crowd swarming on to the long platform ? They had not definitely told him at the theatre that they were returning the next morning; but was it not just possible — or, rather, extremely probable ? And surely he might presume on their mutual acquaintance so far as to get into the same railway- carriage and have some casual chatting with them on the way down? He had been as attentive as possible to them on the previous evening ; and they had seemed pleased. And he had tried to arouse in Miss Honnor's mind some recollection of the closer relationship which had existed between her and him in the solitudes of far Strathaivron. When he did arrive at Victoria station he found the people pouring in in shoals ; for now was the very height of the Brigh- ton season ; besides which there were plenty of Londoners glad to escape, if only for a day, from the perpetual fog and gloom. And yet, curiously enough, although the carriages were being rapidly filled, he took no trouble about securing a seat. After he had gone down the whole length of the train, he turned, and kept watching the new arrivals as they came through the dis- tant gate. The time for departure was imminent ; but he did not seem anxious about getting to Brighton. And at last his patience, or his obstinacy, was rewarded ; he saw two figures — away along there — that he instantly recognized; even at a greater distance he could have told that one of these was Hon- nor Cunyngham, for who else in all England walked like that? The two ladies were unattended by either man or maid ; and as they came along they seemed rather concerned at the crowded condition of the train. Lionel walked quickly forward to meet them. There was no time for the expression of surprise on their part — only for the briefest greeting. " I must try to get you scats," said he, " but the train ap- pears to be very full, and the guards are at their wits' end. I say !" he called to a porter. " Look here ; this train is crammed, and the people are pouring in yet; what are they going to do?" " There's a relief train, sir," said the porter, indicating a long row of empty carriages just across the platform. " You arc sure those are going ?" " Yes, sir." " Then we can get in now ?" PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 261 The man looked doubtful ; but Lionel soon settled that mat- ter by taking the two ladies along to a Pullman car, where the conductor at once allowed them to pass. It is true that as soon as the public outside perceived that these empty carriages were also going, they took possession without more ado ; but in the meantime Lionel and his two companions had had their choice of places, so that they were seated together when the train started, " It was most fortunate we met you," Lady Cunyngham said, bending very friendly eyes on the young man. " I do so hate a crowded train ; it happens so seldom in travelling in England that one is not used to it. Are you going down to Brighton for any time, Mr. Moore ?" " Mother," said Ilonnor Cunyngham, almost reproachfully, " you forget what Mr. Moore's engagements are." " Yes," said he, with a smile, " it is rather a cruel question. My glimpses of the sea and sky are few and far between. The heavens that I usually find over my head are made of canvas ; and the country scenes I wander through are run on wheels." " But don't you think," said Miss Honnor to him (and it seemed so cheerful to be away from the London gloom and out here in the clearer air ; to find himself sitting so near this young lady, able to regard her dress, listening to her voice, sometimes venturing to meet the straightforward glance of her calm eyes — all this was a wondrous and marvellous thing) — " don't you think you enjoy getting away from tow^n all the more 'keenly ? I shall never forget you in Strathaivron ; yoa were never bored like some of the other gentlemen." " Each and every day was one to be marked by a white stone," he said, with an earnestness hardly befitting rail way -carriage conversation. " The wet ones, too ?" she asked, pleasantly. " Wet or dry, what was the difference ?" he made bold to say. " What did I care about the rain if I could go down to the Aiv- ron or away up to the Geinig with you and old Robert ?" " You certainly were very brave about it," she said, in the most friendly way ; " you never once grumbled when the sand- wiches got damp — not once." And so the three of them kept gayly and carelessly talking and chatting together, as the long train thundered away to the south ; while ever and anon thev could turn their eves to that 262 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. changing phantasmflgoria of the outer world that went whirling by the windows. It was rather a wild-looking day, sometimes brightening with a wan glare of sunlight, but more often dark- ening until the country looked like a French landscape, in its sombre tones of gray and black and green. Yet, nevertheless, there was a sort of picturesqueness in the brooding sky, the russet woods, the purple hedges, and the new-ploughed furrows ; while now and again a distant mansion, set on a height, shone a fair yellow above its terraced lawn. Scattered rooks swept down the wind and settled in a field. The moorhens had for- saken the rulfled water of the ponds and sought shelter among the withered sedge. Puffs of white steam from the engine flew across and were lost in the leafless trees. Embankments sud- denly showed themselves high in the air, and as suddenly dipped again ; then there were long stretches of coppice, with red bracken, and a sprinkling of gold on the oaks. To Lionel the time went by all too quickly ; befoi'c he had said the half of what he wanted to say, behold ! here they were at Preston Park. " You are at least remaining over until to-morrow ?" Lady Cunyngham asked him. " AVell, no," said he, " I did not think of coming down until this morning, and so I had made no arrangements. I should think it hardly likely there would be a vacant bedroom at the Orleans Club at this time of year — no, in any case, I must get back by the 8.40 to-night." "And in the meantime," she"^ asked again, "have you any engagement ?" " None. I dare say I shall have a stroll along the sea-front, and then drop in for lunch at the Orleans." " You might as well come down now and lunch with us," said she, simply. Lionel's face brightened up amazingly ; he had been looking forward to saying good-bye at the station with anything but joy. " I should be delighted — if I am not in the way," was his prompt answer. " Oh, Ilonnor and I are entirely by ourselves at present," said this elderly lady with the silver-white hair. " We are expecting Lady Adela and her sisters this week, however; and perhaps my son will come down later on." " Are thov back from Scotland ?" PKINCE FORTUNATUS. 263 " They arrive tomorrow, I believe." " And Lady Adela's novel V " Ob, I don't know anything about that," said she, with a good-humored smile. " Surely she can't have written another novel already !" When they got into the station, a footman was awaiting them, but they had no bags or baggage of any description ; they walked a little way along the platform and entered the carriage ; pres- ently they were driving away down to the sea-front. What Honnor Cunyngham thought of the arrangement, it is impossi- ble to say, but the invitation was none of her giving ; no doubt it was merely a little compliment in acknowledgment of Mr. Moore's kindness of the preceding night. However, when the barouche pulled up in front of a house in Adelaide Crescent, Mr. Moore had his own proposal to make. " It seems so pleasant down there," said he, looking towards the wide stretches of greensward and the promenade along the sea-wall, where the people, just come out of church, were stroll- ing to and fro ; " every one appears to be out — don't you think we should have a little walk before going in ?" Honnor Cunyngham said nothing ; it was her mother who at once and good-naturedly assented ; and when they had descended from the carriage they forthwith made their way down to mix in this idle throng. It was quite a bright and pleasant morning here — a stiflE southwesterly breeze blowing — a considerably heavy sea thundering in and springing with jets of white spray into the air — the sunlight shining along the yellow houses of Bruns- wick Terrace, where there were cheerful bits of green here and there in the balconies. Then the crowd was rather more gayly dressed than an English crowd usually is ; for women allow them- selves a little more latitude in the way of color during the Brighton season, and on such a morning there was ample ex- cuse for a display of sunshades. And was it merely a wish to breathe the fresh-blowing wind and to listen to the hissing with- drawal and recurrent roar of the waA-es that had induced Lionel to ask his two companions to join in this slow march up and down ? Young men have their little vanities and weaknesses, like other folk. Rumor had on more than one occasion coupled his name with that of some fair damsel ; what if he were to say now, " Well, if you will talk, here is one worth talking: about." 264 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. He was conscious on this sliining morning that Miss Cunyng- ham — the more beautiful daughter of a beautiful mother — was looking superb ; he remembered what Miss Georgie had said about Honnor's proud and graceful carriage. He knew a good many of the people in this slow-moving assemblage ; and he was not sorry they should see him talking to this tall and hand- some young Englishwoman — who also appeared to have a nu- merous acquaintanceship. " Why, you seem to know everybody, Mr. Moore ?" she said to him, with a smile. " You would think all London was here this morning — it's really astonishing !" he made answer. Occasionally they stopped to have a chat with more particu- lar friends ; and then Lionel would remain a little bit aside ; though once or twice Lady Cunyngham chose to introduce him, and that pleased him, he hardly knew why. But at last she said, " Well, I think we must be getting home. Properly speaking we Lave no right to be in the prayer-book brigade at all, for we have not been to church this morning." Not unlikely the squire of these two ladies was rather loath to leave this gay assemblage ; but he was speedily consoled, for, to his inexpressible joy, he found, when they got in-doors, that there was no one else coming to lunch — these three were to be quite by themselves. And of what did they not talk during this careless, protracted, idling meal ? Curiously enough, it was Nina, not Miss Burgoyne, who appeared to have chiefly impressed the two visitors on the preceding evening ; and when Lady Cunyngham discovered that she was an old companion and fel- low-student of Lionel's, she was much interested, and would have him tell her all about his experiences in Naples. And again Miss Honnor recurred to the difference between amateur and professional acting, tliat seemed to have struck lier so for- cibly the previous night. " Really, Mr. Moore," said she, " you must have an astonish- ing amount of good-nature and tolerance. If I had complete command of any art, and saw a band of amateurs attempting something in it and not even conscious of their own amateur- ishness, I don't know whether I should be more inclined to I.'iiigh or to 1;c angry. T used to bo amused, up there in Strath- PRINCE FOHTUNATUS. 365 aivron, with the confidence Georgie Lcstrange showed in sing- ing a duct with you — " " Ah, but Miss Lestrange sings very well," said he. " And, you know, if Lady Adela and her sisters perform a piece like "The Chaplet" — well, that is a Watteau-like sort of thing — Sevres china — force or passion of any kind isn't wanted — it's all artificial, and confessedly so. And then, when the profes- sional actor finds himself acting with amateurs, I dare say he modifies himself a little — " " Becomes an amateur, in short," she said. " In a measure. Otherwise he would be a regular bull in a china shop. And surely, w^hen you get a number of people in a remote place like Strathaivron, the efforts of amateurs to amuse them should be encouraged and approved. I thought it was very unselfish of them — very kind — though they generally suc- ceeded in sending Lord Fareborough to bed. By the way. Miss Cunyngham, did Lord Fareborough ever get a stag ?" For it was observable that this young man, whenever he got the chance, was anxious to lead away the conversation from the theatre and all things pertaining thereunto, and would rather talk about Strathaivron and salmon-fishing and Miss Ilonnor's plans with regard to the coming year. " Oh, no," she said, " he never went out but that once, and then he nearly killed himself, according to his own account. We never quite knew what happened ; there w'as some dark mystery that Roderick wouldn't explain ; and, you know, Lord Fareborough himself is rather short-tempered. He ought not to have gone out — a man who has imagined himself into that hypochondriacal state. However, it has given him an excuse for thinking himself a greater invalid than ever ; and he has got it into his head now that we all of us persuaded him to try a day's stalking — a conspiracy, as it were, to murder him. There was some accident at one of the fords, I believe. He came home early. I never heard of his having fired at a stag at all." And then she added, with a smile, " Mr. Moore, w hat made you send me such a lot of salmon-flies ?" " Oh, well," he said, " I thought you ought to have a good stock." How could he tell her of his vague hope that the Jock Scotts and Blue Doctors might serve for a long time to recall him to her memory ? 12 266 PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. " I suppose you liave got tlie stag's head by now ?" she asked. " Oh, yes, indeed ; and tremendously proud of it I am," he responded, eagerly. " You know I should never have gone deer- stalking but for you. I made sure I was going to make a fool of myself — " " I remember you were rather sensitive, or anxious not to miss, perhaps," she said, in a very gentle way. " I thought of it again last night, when I saw you so completely master in your own sphere — so much at home — with everything at your command — " " Oh, yes, very much at home," he answered her, with just a touch of bitterness. " Perhaps it is easy to be at home — in har- lequinade — though you may not quite like it." And then once more he refused to talk of the theatre. " I am going to send old Robert some tobacco at Christmas," said he. " I heard of what you did already in that way," she said, smil- ing. " Do you know that you may spoil a place by your extrav- agance ? I should think all the keepers and gillies in Strathaiv- ron were blessing your name at this very moment." " And you go up in the spring, you said ?" " Yes. That is the real fishing-time. My brother Hugh and I have it all to ourselves then ; Lady Adela and the rest of them prefer London." And then it was almost in his heart to cry out to her, " May not I, too, go up there, if but for a single week — for six clear- shining days in the springtime ?" Ben More, Suilven, Canisp — oh, to see them once again ! — and the windy skies, and Geinig thundering down its rocky chasm, and Aivron singing its morn- ing song along the golden gravel of its shoals ! what did he want with any theatre ? — with the harlequinade in which he was losing his life? Could he not escape? Euston station was not so far away — and Invershin ? It seemed to him as though he had al- ready shaken himself free — that a gladder pulsation filled his veins — that he was breathing a sweeter air. The white April days shone all around him ; the silver and purple clouds went flying overhead ; here he was by the deep, brown pools again, with the gray rocks and the overhanging birch-woods and the long shal- lows filling all the world with that soft, continuous murmur. As for his singing? — oh, yes, he could sing — he could sing, if needs were, PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. 267 "0 lang may his lady-lovo Look frae the Castle Doune, Ere she see the Earl o' Moray Come sounding through the toun" — but there is no gaslight here — there are no painted faces — he has not to look on at the antics of a clown, with shame and con- fusion in his heart — The wild fancy was suddenly snapped in twain ; Lady Cun- yngham rose ; the two younger people did likewise. " Now, I know you gentlemen like a cigar or cigarette after luncheon," she said to Lionel, " and we are going to leave you quite by yourself — you will find us in the drawing-room when you please." Of course he would not hear of such a proposal ; he opened the door for them, and followed them up-stairs ; what were ci- gars or cigarettes to him when he had such a chance of listening to Honnor Cunyngham's low, modulated voice, or watching for a smile in the calmly observant hazel eyes ? Indeed, in the draw- ing-room, as Miss Honnor showed him a large collection of As- siout ware which had been sent her by an English officer in Egypt (by what right or title, Lionel swiftly asked himself, had any English officer made bold to send Miss Cunyngham a ham- perf ul of these red-clay idiotcies ?), this solitary guest had again and again to remind himself that he must not outstay his wel- come. And yet they seemed to find a great deal to talk about ; and the elder of the two ladies was exceedingly kind to him ; and there was a singular fascination in his finding himself en- tirely enfamille with them. But alas ! Even if he or they had chosen to forget, the early dusk of the November afternoon was a sufficient warning ; the windows told him he had to go. And go he did at last. lie bade them good-bye ; with some friendly words still dwelling in his ears he made his way down the dim stairs and had the door opened for him ; then he found himself in this now empty and hopeless town of Brighton, that seemed given over to the low, multitudinous murmur of that wide waste of waves. He did not go along to the Orleans Club ; his heart and brain were too busy to permit of his meeting chance acquaintances. He walked away towards Shoreham till a smart shower made him turn. When he got back to the town the lamps were lit, 268 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. throwing long, golden reflections on the wet asphalt, but the rain had ceased ; so he continued to pace absently along through this blue twilight, hardly noticing the occasional dark figures that passed. What was the reason, then, of this vague unrest — this unknown longing — this dissatisfaction and almost despair ? Had he not been more fortunate than he could have hoped for ? He had met Miss Honnor and her mother in the morning, and had been with them all the way down ; they had been most kind to him ; he had spent the best part of the day with them ; they had parted excellent friends ; looking back, he could not recall a single word he would have liked unsaid. Then a happy fancy struck him : the moment he got up to town he would go and seek out Maurice Mangan. There was a wholesome quality in Mangan's saturnine contempt for the non-essential things of life ; Mangan's clear penetration, his covert sympathy, his scorn or mock-melancholy, would help him to get rid of these vapors. When Lionel returned to town a little after ten o'clock that night he walked along to Mangan's rooms in Victoria Street, and found his friend sitting in front of the fire alone. " Glad you've looked in, Linn." "Well, you don't seem to be busy, old chap ; who over saw you before without a book or a pipe ?" " I've been musing, and dreaming dreams, and wishing I was a poet," said this tall, thin, languid-looking man, whose abnor- mally keen gray eyes were now grown a little absent. "It's only a fancy, you know — perhaps something could be made of it by a fellow who could rhyme — " " But what is it ?" Lionel interposed. " Well," said the other, still idly staring into the fire before him, " I think I would call it ' The Cry of the Violets ' — the vio- lets that are sold in bunches at the head of the Haymarket at midnight. Don't you fancy there might be something in it — if you think of where they come from — the woods and copses, children playing, and all that — and of what they've come to — the gas-glare and drunken laughter and jeers. I would make them tell their own story — I would make them cry to Heaven for swift death and oblivion before the last degradation of being pinned on to the flaunting dress." And then again he said : "No, I don't suppose there's any thing in it; but I'll tell you what made iiic think of it. This iiioi-ning, as we were coining PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 2«9 back from Winstead church — yoit know how extraordinarily mild it has been of late, and the lane going down to the church is very well sheltered — I found a couple of violets in at the roots of the hedge — within a few inches of each other, indeed — and I gave them to Miss Francie, and she put them in her prayer-book and carried thera home. I thought the violets would not object to that, if they only knew." "So you went down to Winstead this morning?" «Yes." " And how are the old people ?" " Oh, very well." " And Francie ?" "Very busy — and very happy, I think. If she doesn't de- serve to be, who does ?" he continued, rousing himself somewhat from his absent manner. " I suppose, now, there is no abso- lutely faultless woman ; and yet I sometimes think it would puz- zle the most fastidious critic of human nature to point out any one particular in which Miss Francie could be finer than she is ; I think it would. It is not my business to find fault ; I don't want to find fault ; but I have often thought over Miss Francie — her occupations, her theories, her personal disposition, even her dress — and I've wondered where the improvement was to be suggested. You see, she might be a very good woman, and yet have no sense of humor ; she might be very charitable, and also a little vainglorious about it ; she might have very exalted ideas of duty, and be a trifle hard on those who did not come up to her standards ; but in Miss Francie's case these qualifications haven't to be put in at all. She always seems to me to be doing the right thing, and just in the right way — with a kind of fine touch that has no namby-pambiness about it. Oh, she can be firm, too ; she can scold them well enough, those children — when she doesn't laugh and pat them on the shoulder the minute after." " This is, indeed, something, as coming from you, Maurice !" Lionel exclaimed. " Has it been left for you to discover an ab- solutely perfect human being?" " It isn't for you to find fault with her, anyway," the other said, rather sharply. " She's fond enough of you." " Who said I was finding fault with her ? — not likely I am going to find fault with Francie !" Lionel replied, with sufficient 270 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. good-humor. " Well, now ttat you have discovered an abso- lutely faultless creature, you might come to the help of another who is only too conscious that he has plenty of faults, and who is so dissatisfied with himself and his surroundings that he is about sick of life altogether." Notwithstanding the light tone in which he introduced the subject, Mangan looked up quickly, and regarded the younger man with those penetrating gray eyes. " Where have you been to-day, Linn ?" " Brighton." "Among the dukes and duchesses again? Ah, you needn't be angry — I respect as much as anybody those whom God has placed over us — I haven't forgotten my catechism — I can order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters. But tell me what the matter is. You sick of life ? — I w onder what the gay world of London would think of that !" And therewithal Lionel, in a somewhat rambling and incoher- ent fashion, told his friend of a good many things that had hap- pened to him of late — of his vague aspirations and dissatisfac- tions — of Miss Cunyngham's visit to the theatre, and his disgust over the music-hall clowning — of his going down to Brighton that day, and his wish to stand on some other footing with those friends of his — winding up by asking, to Mangan's surprise, how long it would take to study for the bar and get called, and wheth- er his training — the confidence acquired on the stage — might not help in addressing a jury. " So the idol has got tired of being worshipped," Mangan said, at last. " It is an odd thing. I wonder how many thousands of people there are in London — not merely shop-girls — who con- sider you the most fortunate person alive — in whose imagina- tion you loom larger than any saint or soldier, any priest or statesman, of our own time. And I wonder what they would say if they knew you were thinking of voluntarily abdicating so proud and enviable a position. Well, well ! — and the reason for this sacrifice ? Of course, you know it is a not uncommon thing for women to give up their carriages and lu^xuries and fine liv- ing, and go into a retreat, where they have to sweep out cells, and even keep strict silence for a week at a time, which, I sup- pose, is a more difficult business. The reason in their case is clear enough ; they are driven to all that by their spiritual needs; PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 271 they want to have their souls washed clean by penance and self- denial. But you," he continued, in no unfriendly mood, hut with his usual uncompromising sincerity, " whence comes your renunciation ? It is simply that a woman has turned your head. You want to find yourself on the same plane with her ; you want to be socially her equal ; and to do that you think you should throw off those theatrical trappings. You see, my dear Linn, if I have remembered my catechism, you have not ; you have forgotten that you must learn and labor truly to get your own living, and do your duty in that state of life unto which it has pleased God to call you. You want to change your state of life ; you want to become a barrister. What would happen ? The chances are entirely against your being able to earn your own living — at least for years ; but what is far more certain is that your fash- ionable friends — whose positions and occupations you admire — would care nothing more about you. You are interesting to them now because you are a favorite of the public, because you play the chief part at the Xew Theatre. What would you be as a briefless barrister ? Who would provide you with salmon-fish- ing and deer-stalking then ? If you aspired to marry one of those dames of high degree, what would be your claims and qualifications ? You say you w* ould almost rather be a gillie in charge of dogs and ponies. A gillie in charge of dogs and po- nies doesn't enjoy many conversations with his young mistress ; and if he made bold to demand any closer alliance Pauline would pretty soon have that Claude kicked off the premises — and serve him right. If you had come to me and said, ' I am too well off ; I am being spoiled and petted to death ; the sim- plicity and dignity of life is being wholly lost in all this fash- ionable flattery, this public notoriety and applause ; and to re-, cover myself a little — as a kind of purification — I am going to put aside my trappings ; I will go and work as a hod-carrier for three months or six months ; I will live on the plainest fare ; I will bear patiently the cursing the master of the gang will undoubtedly hurl at me ; I will sleep on a straw mattress ' — then I could have understood that. But what is it you re- nounce ? — and why ? You think you would recommend your- self better to your swell friends if you dropped the theatre alto- gether — " " Don't you want to hire a hall ?" said Lionel, gloomily. 372 PRINCE FORTUNATUS, " Oh, nobody likes being preached at less than I do myself," Mangan said, with perfect equanimity, " but you see I think I ought to tell you, when you ask me, how I regard the situation. And, mind you, there is something very heroic — very impracti- cably heroic, but magnanimous all the same — in your idea that you might abandon all the popularity and position you have won as a mere matter of sentiment. Of course you won't do it. You couldn't bring yourself to become a mere nobody — as would happen if you went into chambers and began reading up law- books. And you wouldn't be any nearer to salmon-fishing and deer-forests that way, or to the people who possess these by birth and inheritance. The trouble with you, Linn, my boy, as with most of us, is that you weren't born in the purple. It is quite true that if you were called to the bar you could properly claim the title of esquire, and you would find yourself not fur- ther down than the hundred and fiftieth or hundred and sixtieth section in the tables of precedence ; but if you went with this qualification to those fine friends of yours, they would admit its validity, and let you know at the same time you were no longer interesting to them. Harry Thornhill, of the New Theatre, has a free passport everywhere ; Mr. Lionel Moore, of the Middle Temple, wouldn't be wanted anywhere." " You are very worldly-wise to-night, Maurice." " I don't want to see you make a sacrifice that wouldn't bring you what you expect to gain by it," Mangan said. " But, as I say, you won't make any such sacrifice. You have had your brain turned by a pretty pair of eyes — perhaps by an elegant figure — and you have been troubled and dissatisfied and dream- ing dreams." " If that is your conclusion and summing-up of the whole matter," Lionel said, with studied indifference, " perhaps you will offer me a drink, and I'll have a cigarette, and we can talk about something on which we are likely to agree." "I'm sure I beg your pardon," Mangan said, with a laugh; and he went and brought forth what modest stores he had, and he was quite willing that the conversation should flow into an- other channel. And little did Lionel know that at this very moment there was something awaiting him at his own rooms that would (far more effectually than any reasoning and plain speaking) banish from PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 273 his mind, for the moment at least, all those restless aspirations and vague regrets. When eventually he arrived in Piccadilly and went up-stairs, he was not expecting any letters, this being Sunday ; and as there was on the table only a small parcel, he would probably have left that unheeded till the morning (no doubt it was a pair of worked slippers, or a couple of ivory- backed brushes, or something of the kind) but that in passing he happened to glance at the note on the top of it, and he ob- served that the handwriting was foreign. He took it up care- lessly and opened it ; his carelessness soon vanished. The mes- sage was from Mile. Girond, and it was in French : " Dear Mr. Moore, — To-day Mrs. Grey and I have called twice at your apartments, but iu vain, and now I leave this letter for you. It is frightful, what has happened. Nina has gone, no one knows where ; we can hear nothing of her. This morning when I came down to her room she was gone ; there was a letter for me, one for Mr. Lehmann, one for Miss Constance, ask- ing her to be ready to sing to-morrow night, another for Mrs. Grey, with money for the apartments until the end of the month, and also there was this little packet for you. In her letter to me she asks me to see them all delivered. During the night she must have made these arrangements ; in the morning she is gone! I am in despair; I know not what to do. Will you have the goodness to come down to-morrow as soon as possible ? "ESTELLE." And then mechanically he drew a chair to the table, and sat down and pulled the small package towards him ; perhaps the contents might help to explain this extraordinary thing that had occurred. But the moment that he took the lid off the pa.ste- board box he was more bewildered than ever ; for the first glimpse told him that Nina had returned to him all the little presents he had made to her in careless moments. " Nina !" he said, under his voice, in a tone of indignant re- proach. Yes, here was every one of them, from the enclasped loving- cup to the chance trinkets he had purchased for her just as they happened to attract his eye. He took them all out ; there was no letter, no message of any kind. And then he asked himself, almost angrily, what sort of mad freak was this. Had the way- ward and petulant Nina — forgetting all the suave and gracious demeanor she had been teaching herself since she came to Eng- land — had she run away in a fit of temper, breaking her engage- ment at the theatre, and causing alarm and anxiety to her friends, 12* 274 PRINCE FORTUNATU8. all about nothing? For he and she had not quarrelled in any way whatsoever, as far as he knew. One fancy, at least, never occurred to him — or, if it occurred to hiui, it was dismissed in a moment — that Nina might have had a secret lover ; that she had honestly wished to return these presents before making an elopement. It was quite possible that Nicolo Ciana, if he had heard of Nina's success in Eugland, might have pursued her, and sought to marry so very eligible a helpmeet ; but if the young man with the greasy hair and the sham jewelry and the falsetto voice had really come to England, Lionel knew who would have been the first to bid him return to his native shores and his zuccherclU. Had not Nina indignantly denied that he had ever dared to address her as " Nenna raia," or that his per- petual " Antoniella, Antonia," in any way referred to her? No ; Lionel did not think that Nicolo Ciana had much to do with Nina's disappearance. And then, as he regarded this little box of useless jewelry, another wild guess flashed through his brain, leaving him some- what breathless, almost frightened. Was it possible that Nina had mistaken these gifts for love-gifts, had discovered her mis- take, and, in a fit of wounded pride, had flung them back and fled forever from this England that had deceived her ? He was not vain enough to think there could be anything more serious, that Nina might be breaking her heart over what had happened to her ; but it was quite enough if he had unconsciously led her to believe that he was paying her attentions. He looked at that loving-cup with some pricking of conscience ; he had to confess that such a gift was capable of misconstruction. It had never occurred to him that she might regard it as some kind of mute declaration — as a pledge of aSection between him and her that necessitated no clearer understanding. He had seen the two tiny goblets in a window ; he had been taken by the pretty silver- gilt ornamentation ; he had been interested in the old-fashioned custom ; and he had lightly imagined that Nina would be pleased — that was all. And now that he thought of it, he had to con- fess that he had been indiscreet. It is true he had given Nina those presents from time to time in a careless and haphazard fashion that ought not to have been misunderstood — only, as he had to remind himself, Nina must have perceived that he did not give similar presents to Miss Burgoyne, or Estelle Girond, PRINCE FORTUNATUS, 275 or anybody else in the theatre. And was Nina now thinking that he had treated her badly ? — Nina, who had been always his sympathizing friend, his gentle adviser, and kind companion. Was there any one in the world that he less wished to harm ? ne supposed she must have been angry when she returned these jewels and gew-gaws ; clearly she was too proud to send him any other message. And now she would be away somewhere, where he could not get hold of her to pet her into a reconcilia- tion again ; no doubt there was some hurt feeling of injury in her heart — perhaps she was even crying. " Poor Nina 1" he said to himself, little dreaming of the true state of afEairs. " I hope it isn't so ; but if it is so, here have I, through mere thoughtlessness, wounded her pride, and, what is more, interfered with her professional career. I suppose she'll go right away back to old Pandiani ; and they'll be precious glad to get her now at Malta, after her success in England. Perhaps some day we shall hear of her coming over here again, as a famous star in grand opera ; that will be her revenge. But I never thought Nina would want to be revenged on me." And yet he was uneasy ; there was something in all this he did not understand. He began to long for the coming of the next day, that he might go away down to Sloane Street and hear what Miss Girond had to tell him. Why, for example, he asked himself, had Nina taken this step so abruptly — so entirely with- out warning? How and when had she made the discovery that she had mistaken the intention of those friendly little acts of kind- ness and his constant association with her? Then he tried to remember on what terms he had last parted from her. It was at the theatre, as he patiently summoned up each circumstance. It was at the theatre, on the preceding night. She had come to him in the wings, observing that he looked rather vexed, and she had given him comforting and cheerful words, as was her wont. Surely there was no anger in her mind against him then. But thereafter? Well, he had seen no more of Nina. When Miss Cunyngham had come behind the scenes, he had forgotten all about Nina. And then suddenly he remembered that he must have been standing close by the prompter's box, absorbed in talking to Miss Cunyngham, when Nina would have to come up to go on the stage. Had she passed them ? Had she suspected ? Had she, in her proud and petted way, resented 276 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. this intimacy, and resolved to throw back to him the harmless little gifts he had bestowed on her? Poor Nina! she had al- ways been so wilful — so easily pleased, so easily offended — but of late he had rather forgotten that, for she had been bearing herself with what she regarded as an English manner; and in- deed their friendship had been so constant and unvarying, so kind and considerate on both sides, that there had been no op- portunity for the half-vexed, half-laughing quarrels of earlier days. He would seek out this spoiled child (he said to himself) and scold her into being good again. And yet, even as he tried to persuade himself that all would still be well, he could not help recalling the fierce vehemence with which Nina had repudi- ated the suggestion that perhaps she might let some one else drink out of this hapless loving-cup that now lay before him. *' I would rather have it dashed to pieces and thrown into the sea !" she had said, with pale face and quivering lips and eyes bordering on tears. He remembered that he had been a little surprised at the time — not thinking what it all might mean. CHAPTER XVH. When he went down to Sloane Street in the morning, he found Estclle eagerly awaiting him. She received him in Nina's small parlor ; Mrs. Grey had just gone out. A glance round the room did not show him any difference, except that a row of photo- graphs (of himself, mostly, in various costumes) had disappeared from the mantelshelf. " Well, what is all this about ?" he said, somewhat abruptly. " Ah, do not blame me too quick !" Estclle said, with tears springing to her clear blue eyes. " Perhaps I am to blame — perhaps when I see her in such trouble on Saturday night, I should entreat her to tell me why ; but I said, ' To-night I will not worry her more ; to-morrow morning I will talk to her ; we will go for a long walk together ; Nina will tell me all her sor- row.' Then the morning comes, and she is gone away ; what can I do ? Twice I go to your apartment — " "Oh, I am not blaming you at all, Miss Girond," he said, at PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 277 once and quite gently. " If anybody is to blame, I suppose it's myself, for I appear to have quarrelled with Nina without know- ing it. Of course you understood that that packet you left yes- terday contained the various little presents I have given her from time to time — worthless bits of things — but all the same her sending them back shows that Nina has some ground of offence. I'm very sorry ; if I could only get hold of her I would try to reason with her ; but she was always sensitive and proud and impulsive like that. And then to run away because of some fancied slight — " Estelle interrupted him with a little gesture of impatience, almost of despair. " Ah, you are wrong, you are wrong," she said. " It is far more serious than that. It is no little quarrel. It is a pain that stabs to the heart — that kills. You will see Nina never again to make up a little quarrel. She has taken her grief away with her. I myself, when I first saw her troubled at the theatre, I also made a mistake — I thought she was hysteric — " "At the theatre?" said he, with some sudden recalling of his own surmise. " You did not regard her, perhaps, towards the end of her part, on Saturday night ?" said Estelle. " I thought once she would fall on the stage. On the way home I think she was cry- ing — I did not look. Then she is in this room — oh, so silent and miserable — as one in despair, until I persuade her to go to sleep until the morning, when she would tell me her sorrow. Then I was reading ; I heard something ; I went to the door there — it was Nina crying, oh, so bitterly ; and when I ran to her, she was wild with her grief. * My life is broken, Estelle, ray life is broken !' she said — " But here Estelle herself began to sob, and could not get on with her story at all ; she rose from her chair and began to pace up and down. " I cannot tell you — it was terrible — " And terrible it was for him, too, to have this revelation made to him. Now he knew it was no little quarrel that had sent Nina away ; it was something far more tragic than that ; it was the sudden blighting of a life's hopes. "Estelle," said he, quite forgetting, "you spoke of a letter she had left for you ; will you show it to me ?" 378 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. She took it from her pocket and handed it to him. There was no sign of haste or agitation in these pages ; Nina's small and accurate handwriting was as neat and precise as ever ; she even seemed to have been careful of her English, as she was leaving this her last message, in the dead watches of the night : " Dear Estelle" [Nina wrote], — "Forgive me for the trouble I cause you ; but I know you will do what I ask, for the sake of our friendship of past days. I leave a letter for Mr. Lehmann, and one for Miss Constance, and a packet for Mr. Moore ; will you please have them all sent as soon as pos- sible? I hope Mr. Lehmann will forgive me for any embarrassment, but Miss Constance is quite perfect in the part, and if she gets the letter to-day it will be the longer notice. I enclose a ring for you, Estelle ; if you wear it, you will sometimes think of Nina. For it is true what I said to you when you came into my room to-night — I go away in the morning. I have made a terrible mistake, an illusion, a folly, and, now that my eyes are opened, I will try to bear the consequences as I can ; but I could not go on the stage as well; it would be too bad a punishment; I could not, Estelle. I must go, and forget — it is so easy to say forget! I go away without feeling injured towards any one ; it was my own fault, no one was in fault but me. And if I have done wrong to any one, or appear ungrateful, I am sorry; I did not wish it. Again I ask you to say to Mr. Lehmann, wbo has been so kind to me in the theatre, that I hope he will forgive me the trouble I cause ; but I could not go on with my part just now. " Shall I ever see you again, Estelle ? It is sad, but I think not ; it is not so easy to forget as to write it. Perhaps some day I send you a line — no, perhaps some day I send you a message ; but you will not know where I am ; and if you are my friend you will not seek to know. Adieu, Estelle ! I hope you will always be happy, as you are good ; but even in your happiest days you will sometimes give a thought to poor Nina." He sat there looking at the letter, long after he had finished reading it ; there was nothing of the petulance of a spoiled child in this simple, this heartbroken farewell. And Nina herself was in every phrase of it — in her anxiety not to be a trouble to any one — her gratitude for very small kindnesses — her wish to live in the gentle remembrance of her friends. " But why did no one stop her ? — why did no one remon- strate ?" he asked, in a sort of stupefaction. " Who could, then ?" said Mile, (xirond, returning to her seat and clasping her hands in front of her. '* As soon as the house- maid appears in the morning, Nina asks her to come into the room ; the money is put into an envelope for Mrs. Grey ; the not great luggage is taken quiet down the stair, so that no one is PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 279 disturbed. Everything is arranged ; you know Nina was always so — so business-like — " " Yes, but the fool of a housemaid should have ealled Mrs. Grey !" he exclaimed. " But why, Mr. Moore ?" Estcllc continued. " She only thought that Nina was so considerate — no one to be awakened — and then a cab is called, and Nina goes away — " "And of course the housemaid didn't hear what direction was given to the cabman !" " No ; it is a misfortune," said Estelle, with a sigh. '* It is a misfortune, but she is not so much in fault. She did not con- jecture — she thought Nina was going to catch an early train — that she did not wish to disturb any one. All was in order ; all natural, simple; no one can blame her. And so poor Nina dis- appears — " " Yes, disappears into the world of London, or into the larger world, without friends, without money — had she any money. Miss Girond ?" " Oh, yes, yes !" Estelle exclaimed. " You did not know ? Ah, she was so particular ; always exact in her economies, and sometimes I laughed at her ; but always she said perhaps some day she would have to play the part of the — the — benevolent fairy to some poor one, and she must save up — " " Had she a bank account ?" Estelle nodded her head. " Then she could not have got the money yesterday, if she wished to withdraw it ; she must have been in London this morning !" " Perhaps," said Estelle. " But then ! Look at the letter. She says if I am her friend, I will not seek to know where she is." " But that does not apply to me," he retorted — while his brain was filled with all kinds of wild guesses as to whither Nina had fled. " You are not her friend ?" Estelle said, quietly. " If I could only see her for three minutes !" he said, in his despair, as he rose and went to the window. " Why should she go away from her friends if she is in trouble ? Besides our- selves and the people in the theatre, she knows no one in this country. If she goes away back to her acquaintances in Italy, 280 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. she will not say a word ; she will have no sympathy, no distrac- tion of any kind ; and all the success she has gained here will be as good as lost. It is like Nina to say she blames no one ; but her sending me back those bits of jewelry tells me who is to blame — " Estelle hesitated. " Can I say ?" she said, in rather low tones, and her eyes were cast down. " Is it not breaking confidence ? But Nina was speaking of you — she took me into the shop in Piccadilly to show me the beautiful gold cup — and when I said to her, ' It is another present soon — it is a wedding-ring soon he will give you-' " *' Then it is you who have been putting those fancies into her head !" he said, turning to her. " I ? Not I !" answered Estelle, with a quick indignation. " It is you ! Ah, perhaps you did not think — perhaps you are accustomed to have every ones — to have every one — give hom- age to the great singer — you amuse the time — ^what do you care ? I put such things into her head ? No ! — not at all ! But you ! You give her a wishing-cup — what is the wish ? You come here often — you are very kind to her — oh, yes, very kind, and Nina is grateful for kindness — you sing with her — what do you call them ? — songs of love. Ah, yes, the chansons amour- euses are very beautiful — very charming — but sometimes they break hearts." " I tell you I had no idea of anything of the kind," he said — for to be rated by the little boy-officer was a new experience. " But I am going to try to find Nina — whatever you may choose to do." " I respect her wish," said Mile. Girond, somewhat stiffly. However, the next moment she had changed her mood. " Mr. Moore, if you were to find her, what then ?" she asked, rather timidly. " I should bring her back to her friends," he answered, sim- ply enough. " And then ?" " I should want to see her as happy and contented as she used to be — the Nina we used to know. I should want to get her back to the theatre, where she was succeeding so well. She liked her work ; she was interested in it ; and you know she PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 281 was becoming quite a favorite with the public. Corae, Miss Girond," he said, " you needn't be angry with me ; that won't do any good. I see now I have been very thoughtless and care- less ; I ought not to have given her that loving-cup ; I ouglit not to have given her any of those trinkets, I suppose. But it never occurred to me at the time ; I fancied she would be pleased at the moment, that was all." " And you did not reflect, then," said Estelle, regarding him for a second, " what it was that may have brought Nina to Eng- land at the beginning ? — no ? — what made her wish to play at the New Theatre ? Ah, a man is so blind !" " Brought Nina to England ?" he repeated, rather bewildered. " But these are only my conjectures," she said, quickly. " No, I have no secrets to tell. I ask myself what brings Nina to England, to the New Theatre, to the companionship with her old friend — I ask myself that, and I see. But you — perhaps it is not your fault that you are blind ; you have so many ladies seeking for favor you have no time to think of this one or that, or you are grown indifferent, it may be. Poor Nina ! she that was always so proud, too ; it is herself that has struck herself ; a deep wound to her pride ; that is why she goes away, and she will never come back. No, Mr. Moore, she will never come back. I asked you what you would do if you were to find her — it is useless. She will never come back ; she is too proud." Estelle looked at her watch. " Soon I must go in to the theatre. There was a note from Mr. Lehmann this morning ; he wishes me to go over some parts with Miss Constance, to make sure." " What hour have you to be there ?" he said, taking up his hat, " Half-past eleven." " I will walk in with you, if you like," he said ; ** there will be time. And I want to see that Lehmann isn't put to any in- convenience ; for, you know, I introduced Nina to the New Theatre." On their way into town Estelle was thoughtful and silent ; while Lionel kept looking far ahead, as if he expected to descry Nina coming round some street-corner or in some passing cab. But at last his companion said to him, " You had no quarrel, then, with Nina, on the Saturday night ?" 283 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " None. On the contrary, the last time she spoke to me was in the most kindly wa}"," he said. " Then why does she resolve to send you back those pres- ents ?'' Estelle asked. " Why is it she knows all at once that her life is broken ? You have no conjecture at all ?" " Well," said he, with a little hesitation, " it is a difficult thing to speak of. If Nina were looking forward as you think — if she mistook the intention of those trinkets I gave her — well, you know, there was a young lady and her mother, two friends of mine, who came to the theatre on Saturday night, and I dare say Nina passed while I was talking to the young lady in the wings — and — and Nina may have imagined some- thing. I can only guess — it is possible — " " Now I know," said Estelle, rather sadly. " Poor Nina ! And still you think she would come back if you could find her ? Her pride makes her fly from you ; and you think you would persuade her? Never, never! She will not come back — she would drown herself first." " Oh, don't talk like that !" he said, with frowning brows ; and both relapsed into silence and their own thoughts. Mr. Lehmann did not seem much put about by this defection on the part of one of his principal singers. " It is a pity," he said to Lionel. " She had a fresh voice ; she was improving in her stage-business ; and the public liked her. What on earth made her go ofi like this ?" " She left no explanation with me," Lionel said, honestly enough. " But in her letter to Miss Girond she hopes you won't be put to any inconvenience. By the way, if Miss Ross owes you any forfeit, I'll settle that up with you." " No, there's no forfeit in her agreement ; it wasn't considered necessary," the manager made answer. " Of course I am as- suming that it's all fair and square ; that she hasn't gone off to take a better engagement — " " You needn't be afraid of that," Lionel said, briefly ; and, as Miss Constance here made her appearance, he withdrew from the empty stage, and presently had left the building. lie thought he would walk up to the Restaurant Gianuzzi in Rupert Street, and make inquiries there. But he was not very hopeful. B^or one thing, if Nina were desirous of concealment or of getting free away, she would not go to a place where, as he PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 283 knew, she had lodged before ; for another, he had disapproved of her living there all by herself, and Nina never forgot even his least expression of opinion. When he asked at the restau- rant if a young lady had called there on the previous day to en- gage a room, he was answered that they had no young-lady visi- tor of any kind in the house ; he was hardly disappointed. But as he walked along and up Regent Street (here were the well-remembered shops that Nina and he used to glance into as they passed idly on, talking sometimes, sometimes silent, but very well content in each other's society) he began to ask him- self whether in truth he ought to seek out Nina and try to inter- cept her flight, even if that were yet possible. Estelle's ques- tions were significant. "What would he do, supposing he could induce Nina to come back ? At present, he vaguely wished to restore the old situation — to have Nina again among her friends, happy in her work at the theatre, ready to go out for a stroll with him if the morning were fine. He wanted his old comrade, who was always so wise and prudent and cheerful, whom he could always please by sending her down a new song, a new waltz, an Italian illustrated journal, or some similar little token of remembrance. But if Estelle's theory were the true one, that Nina was gone forever, never to return ; her place was vacant now, never to be refilled ; and somewhere or other — perhaps hid- den in London, perhaps on her way back to her native land — there was a woman, proud, silent, and tearless, her heart quivering from the blow that he had unintentionally dealt. How could he face that Nina ? What humble explanations and apologies could he offer? To ask her to come back would of itself be an insult. Her wrongs were her defence ; she was sacred from intrusion, from expostulation and entreaty. At the theatre that evening he let the public fare as it liked, so far as his part in the performance was concerned. He got through his duties mechanically. The stage lacked interest ; the wings were empty ; the long, glazed corridor conveyed a mute reproach. As for the new Clara, Miss Constance did fair- ly well ; she had not much of a voice, but she was as bold as brass, and her " cheek " seemed to be approved by the audience. At one point Estelle came up to him. " Is it not a change for no Nina to be in the theatre ? But there is one that is glad — oh, very glad ! Miss Burgovne re- 384 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. joices !" — and Estelle, as she passed on, made use of a phrase in French, which, perhaps fortunately, he did not understand. After the performance, he went up to the Garden Club — he did not care to go home to his own rooms and sit thinking. And the first person he saw after he passed into the long coffee- room was Octavius Quirk, who was seated all by himself devour- ing a Gargantuan supper. "This is luck," Lionel said to himself. "Maurice's Jabber- wock will begin with his blatherskite nonsense — it will be something to pass the time." But on the contrary, as it turned out, the short, fat man with the unwholesome complexion was not at this moment in the hu- mor for frothy and windy invective about nothing ; perhaps the abundant supper had mollified him ; he was quite suave. " Ah, Moore," said he, " haven't seen you since you came back from Scotland. It was awfully kind of Lady Adela to send me a haunch of venison." " It would serve you for one meal, I suppose," Lionel thought ; he did not say so. " I dine with them to-morrow night," continued Mr. Quirk, complacently. " Oh, indeed," said Lionel ; Lady Adela seemed rather in a hurry, immediately on her return to town, to secure her tame critic. " Very good dinners they give you up there at Campden Hill," Mr. Quirk resumed, as he took out a big cigar from his case. " Excellent — excellent — and the people very well chosen, too, if it weren't for that loathsome brute, Quincey Hooper. Why do they tolerate a fellow like that — the meanest lick-spittle and boot-blacker to any Englishman who has got a handle to his name, while all the time he is writing in his wretched Philadel- phia rag every girding thing he can think of against England. Comparison, comparison, continually — and far more venomous than the foolish, feeble sort of stuff which is only Anglophobia and water ; and yet Hooper hasn't the courage to speak out either — it's a morbid envy of England that is afraid to declare itself openly and can only deal in hints and innuendoes. What can Lady Adela see in a fellow like that? Of course lie writes puf- fing paragraphs about her and sends them to her ; but what good arc they to lier, coming from America? She wants to be PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 285 recognized as a clever woman by her own set. She appeals to the dii majorum gentium ; what does she care for the verdict of Washington or Philadelphia or New York ?" Well, Lionel had no opinion to express on this point ; on a previous occasion he had wondered why these two augurs had not been content to agree, seeing that the wide Atlantic rolled between their respective spheres of operation. " I have been favored," resumed Mr. Quirk, more blandly, " with a sight of some portions of Lady Adela's new novel." " Already ?" " Oh, it isn't nearly finished yet ; but she has had the earlier chapters set up in type, so that she could submit them to — to her particular friends, in fact. You haven't seen them ?" asked Mr. Quirk, lifting his heavy and boiled-gooseberry eyes and look- ing at Lionel. " Oh, no," was the answer. " My judgment is of no use to her ; she is aware of that. I hope you were pleased with what you saw of it. Her last novel was not quite so successful as they had hoped, was it ?" " My dear fellow !" Mr. Quirk exclaimed, in astonishment (for he could not have the power of the log-rollers called in question). " Not successful ? Most successful ! — most successful ! I don't know that it produced so much money^but what is that to people in their sphere ?" " Perhaps not much," said Lionel, timidly (for what did he know about such esoteric matters ?). " I suppose the money they might get from a novel would be of little consideration — but it would show that the book had been read." " And what, again, do they care for vulgar popularity ? — the approbation of the common herd — of the bovine-headed multi- tude ? No, no, it is the verdict of the polished world they seek — it is fame — eclat — it is recognition from their peers. It may be only un succes (Testime — all the more honorable ! And I must say Lady Adela is a very clever woman ; the pains she takes to get * Kathleen's Sweethearts ' mentioned even now are wonderful. Indeed, I propose to give her an additional hint or two to-mor- row. Of course you know is doomed ?" asked Mr. Quirk, naming a famous statesman who was then very seriously ill. " Really ?" " Oh, yes. Gout at the heart ; hopeless complications ; he 286 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. can't possibly last another ten days. Very well," continued Mr. Quirk, with much satisfaction, as if Providence were working hand in hand with him, " I mean to advise Lady Adela to send him a copy of ' Kathleen's Sweethearts.' Now do you under- stand ? No ? Why, man, if there's any luck, when he dies and all the memoirs come out in the newspapers, it will be mentioned that the last book the deceased statesman tried to read was Lady Adela Cunyngham's well-known novel. Do you see? Good business ? Then there's another thing she must absolutely do with her new book. These woman-suffrage people are splendid howlers and spouters ; let her go in for woman-suffrage thick and thin — and she'll get quoted on a hundred dozen of plat- forms. That's the way to do it, you know ! Bless you, the publishers' advertisements are no good at all nowadays !" Lionel was not paying very much heed ; perhaps that was why he rather indifferently asked Mr. Quirk whether he himself was in favor of extending the suffrage to women, " I ?" cried Mr. Quirk, with a boisterous horse-laugh. " What do I care about it ? Let them suffer away as much as ever they like !" " Yes, they're used to that, aren't they ?" said Lionel. " What I want to do is to put Lady Adela up to a dodge or two for getting her book talked about ; that's the important and immediate point, and I think I can be of some service to her," said Mr. Quirk ; and then he added, more pompously, " I think she is willing to place herself entirely in my hands." Happily at this moment there came into the room two or three young gentlemen, intent upon supper and subsequent cards, who took possession of the farther end of the table ; and Lionel was glad to get up and join the new-comers, for he felt he could not cat in the immediate neighborhood of this ill- favored person. He had his poached eggs and a pint of hock in the company of these new friends ; and, after having for some time listened to their ingenuous talk — which was chiefly a lau- dation of Miss Nellie Farren — he lit a cigarette and set out for home. So it was Octavius Quirk who was now established as Lady Adela's favorite ? It was he who was shown the first sheets of the new novel ; it was he who was asked to dinner immediately on the return of the family from Scotland ; it was he who was PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 287 to be Lady Adela's chief counsellor throughout the next appeal to the British public ? And perhaps he advised Lady Sybil, also, about the best way to get her musical compositions talked of ; and might not one expect to find, in some minor exhibition, a portrait of Octavius Quirk, Esq., by Lady Rosamund Bourne ? It seemed a gruesome kind of thing to think of these three beautiful women paying court to that lank-haired, puffy, bilious- looking baboon. He wondered what Miss Georgie Lestrange thought of it ; Miss Georgie had humorous eyes that could say a good deal. And Lord Rockminster — how did Lord Rockmin- ster manage to tolerate this uncouth creature ? — was his good- natured devotion to his three accomplished sisters equal even to that ? Lionel did not proceed to ask himself why he had grown sud- denly jealous of a man whom he himself had introduced to Lady Adela Cunyngham. Yet the reason was not far to seek. Before his visit to Scotland, it would have mattered little to him if any one of his lady friends — or any half dozen of them, for the matter of that — had ^.ppeared inclined to put some other favorite in his place ; for he had an abundant acquaintance in the fashionable world ; and, indeed, had grown somewhat cal- lous to their polite attentions. But Lady Adela and her two sisters were relations of Honnor Cunyngham ; they were going down to Brighton this very week ; he was anxious (though hard- ly knowing why) to stand well in their opinion and be of impor- tance in their eyes. As he now walked home he thought he would go and call on Lady Adela the following afternoon ; if she were going down to that house in Adelaide Crescent, there would be plenty of talk among the women-folk ; his name might be mentioned. Next morning there was no further word of Nina. When he had got his fencing over, he went along to Sloane Street, but hardly with any expectation of news. No, Estelle had nothing to tell him ; Nina had gone away — and wished to remain undis- covered. " Poor Nina !" said Estelle, with a sigh. Somewhat early in the afternoon he went up to Campden Hill. Lady Adela was at home. He noticed that the man-ser- vant who ushered him into the drawing-room was very slow and circumspect about it, as if he wished to give ample warning to PRINCE FORTUNATUS. those within ; and, indeed, just as he had come into the hall, he had fancied he heard a faint shriek, which startled him not a lit- tle. When he now entered the room he found Miss Georgie Le- strange standing in the middle of the floor, while Lady Adela was seated at a small writing-table a little way oflE. They both greeted him in the most friendly fashion ; and then Miss Georgie (a little embarrassed, as he imagined) went towards the French window and looked out into the wintry garden. " You have come most opportunely, Mr. Moore," said Lady Adela, in her pleasant way. " I'm sure you'll be able to tell us : how high would a woman naturally throw her arms on coming suddenly on a dead body ?" He was somewhat staggered. " I — I'm sure I don't know." " You see, Georgie has been so awfully kind to me this morn- ing," Lady Adela continued. " I have arrived at some very dramatic scenes in my new story, and she has been good enough to act as my model ; I want to have everything as vivid as pos- sible ; and why shouldn't a writer have a model as well as a painter? I hope to have all the attitudes strictly correct — to describe even the tone of her shriek when she comes upon the dead body of her brother. Imagination first, then actuality of detail ; Rose tells me that Mr. Mcllord, after he has finished a portrait, won't put in a blade of grass or a roseleaf without hav- ing it before him. If there's to be a crust of bread on the table, he must have the crust of bread." " Yes, but Mr. Moore," said Miss Georgie, coming suddenly back from the window — and she was blushing furiously, up to the roots of her pretty golden-red hair, and covertly laughing at the same time, " my difficulty is that I try to do ray best as the woman who unexpectedly sees her dead brother before her ; but I've got nothing to come and go on. I never saw a dead body in my life ; and it would hardly do to try it with a real dead body — " " Georgie, don't be horrid !" Lady Adela said, severely. •' Here is Mr. Moore, who can tell you how high the hands should be held, and whether they should be clenched or open." " Well, Lady Adela," he said, in his confusion (for he was in mortal terror lest she should ask him to get up and posture be- fore her), " the fact is that on the stage there arc so many ways PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 289 of expressing fear or dismay that no two people would probably adopt the same gestures. Would you have her hands above her head ? Wouldn't it be more natural for her to have them about the height of her shoulders — the elbows drawn tight- ly back — her palms uplifted as if to shut away the terrible sight?—" " Yes, yes !" said Lady Adela, eagerly ; and she quickly scrib- bled some notes on the paper before her. " The very thing ! — the very thing !" " But don't you think," he ventured to say, " that that would look rather mechanical — rather stagey, in fact ? I know noth- ing about writing ; but I should think you would want to deal mostly with the expression of the woman's face — " " I want to have it all 1" the anxious authoress exclaimed. " I want to have attitudes — gestures — everything ; to make the pict- ure vivid. I must have the actual tone of her shriek — " " Which Mr. Moore heard as he came in," Miss Georgie said, as a kind of challenge. *' Yes, I thought I heard a slight cry," he admitted, gravely. "Thank you so much, Mr. Moore," said Lady Adela, with her most charming smile, as she began to fold up her notes. " The little piece of realism you have suggested will come in admi- rably ; and I think I've done enough for to-day — thanks to Georgie here, who has just been an angel of patience." Tea followed, and some idle talk, during which Lionel learned that Lady Adela and her sisters were going down to Brighton the following day. He incidentally mentioned Octavius Quirk's name ; whereupon his hostess, who was a sharp and a shrewd woman when she was not dabbling in literature, instantly and graciously explained to him that she had been corresponding a good deal with Octavius Quirk of late, over her new work. She informed him, further, that Octavius Quirk was coming to dine there that evening — what a pity it was that Mr. Moore was engaged every evening at the theatre ! When Lionel left, she had persuaded him that he was just as much a favorite as ever ; he could very well understand that she had cultivated Octavius Quirk's acquaintance only in his capacity as a kind of pseudo- literary person. Day after day of this lonely week passed ; Lionel, all unknown to himself, was marching onward to his fate. On the Saturday 13 390 PEINCE FORTUNATUS. there were two performances of *' The Squire's Daughter ;" at night he felt very tired — which was unusual with him ; that, or some other palpable excuse, was sufficient to take him down to Victoria station on the Sunday morning. He had forgotten, or put aside, all Maurice Mangan's cool-blooded presentation of his case ; undefined longings were in his brain ; the future was to be quite different from the past — and somehow Honnor Cun- yngham was the central figure in these mirage-like visions. He had formed no definite plans; he had prepared no persuasive appeal ; the only and immediate thing he knew was that he wished to be in the same place with her, breathing the same air with her, with the chance of catching a distant glimpse of her, even if he were himself to remain unseen. Would she be out walking along the sea-front after church ? Surely so, when she had Lady Adela and her sisters as her guests. And if not, he would call in the afternoon ; how well he remembered the rather dusky drawing-room and its curious scent of sweet-briar or some similar perfume. A hushed half-hour there would be something to be treasured up and conned over again and again in subse- quent recollection. Would she be sitting near the window, half- shadowed by the curtains? Or standing in front of the fire, perhaps, absently gazing into it, her tall and elegant figure out- lined by the crimson flames ? When he arrived at Brighton he walked rapidly away down to the King's Road, and there he moderated his pace, keeping his eyes alert. The people were beginning to come out from the various churches ; and many of them, before going in-doors, joined that slow promenade up and down the greensward far- ther west. But, look where he might, there was no sign of Lady Cunyngham and her daughter, nor of Lady Adela and her two sisters. They would have been easily distinguishable, he thought. That they were in Brighton, he had no doubt ; but apparently they were nowhere in this throng ; so, rather down- hearted, he retraced his steps to the Orleans Club, where he passed an hour or two with such acquaintances as he met there. He was more fortunate in the afternoon. When he went along to Adelaide Crescent, Lady Cunyngham and her daughter were both at home ; and it was with a sense of joyous relief — and yet with a touch of disquietude too — that he found himself ascending the soft-carpeted stairs. When he was shown into PRINCE FORTUNATCS. 291 the drawing-room, he found only one occupant there — it was Ilonnor Cunyngham herself, who was standing by a big port- folio set on a brass stand, and apparently engaged in arranging some large photographs. She turned and greeted him very pleasantly and without any surprise ; she went to two low set- tles coming out at right angles from the fireplace and sat down, while he took a scat opposite her ; if he was rather nervous and bewildered, at finding himself thus suddenly face to face with her and alone with her, she was quite calm and self-possessed. " Mother has just gone up-stairs ; she will be here presently," Miss Ilonnor said. " But what a pity my sisters did not know you were coming down. After church they all went off to visit an old lady, a great friend of theirs, who can't get out-of-doors nowadays ; and so I suppose they stayed on so as to keep her company. However, I have no doubt they will be here before long. What a pleasant thing it must be for you," she added, " to be able to run down to Brighton for a day after a week's hard work at the theatre." " Yes," he answered, in a half-bitter kind, of fashion. " It is a pleasant thing to get away from the theatre — -anywhere. I think I am becoming rather sick of the theatre and all its asso- ciations." ' " Really, Mr. Moore," she said, with a smile, " it is surprising to hear you say so — you of all men." " What comes of it ? You play the fool before a lot of idle people, until — until — your nature is subdued to what it works in, I suppose. What service do you do to any human being ? — of what use are you in the world ?" " Surely you confer a benefit on the public when you provide them with innocent amusement," she ventured, to say — she had not considered this subject much, if at all. " But what comes of it ? They laugh for an hour or two and go home. It is all gone — like a breath of wind — " " But isn't mere distraction a useful and wholesome thing ?" she remonstrated again. " I know a great philosopher who is exceedingly fond of billiards, and very eager about the game too ; but he doesn't expect to gain any moral enlightenment from three balls and a bit of stick. Distraction, amusement, is necessary to human beings ; we can't always be thinking of the problems of life." 292 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " They talk of the divine power of song !" he continned. *' Well, what I want to do is this. I can sing a little ; and I want to know that this gift I have from Nature hasn't been en- tirely thrown away — scattered to the winds and lost. Here in Brighton they are always getting up morning or afternoon con- certs for charitable purposes ; and I wish, Miss Honnor, when you happen to be interested in any of these, you would let me know ; I should be delighted to run down and volunteer ray services. I should be just delighted. It would be something saved. If I were struck down by an illness, and had to lie think- ing, I could say to myself that I had done this little scrap of good — not much for a man to do, but I suppose all that could be expected from a singer." She could not understand this strange disparagement of him- self and his profession ; and she may have been vaguely afraid of the drift of these confidences ; at all events, when she had thanked him for his generous offer, she rose and went to the portfolio. " There are some things here that I think will interest you, Mr. Moore," she said. " They only arrived last night, and I was just putting them away when you came in." He went to the portfolio ; she took out two or three large photographs and handed them to him ; the first glance showed him what they were — pictures of the Aivron and the Geinig val- leys, with the rocks and pools and overhanging woods he knew so well. He regarded them for an instant or two. "Do you know what first made me long to get away from the theatre ?" he said, in a low voice. " It was those places there. It was Strathaivron — and you." " I, Mr. Moore ?" And now he had to go on ; he had taken his fate in his hands ; there was some kind of despairing recklessness in his brain ; his breath came and went quickly and painfully as he spoke. " Well, I must tell you now, whatever comes of it. I must tell you the truth — you may think it madness — I cannot help that. What I want to do is to give up the theatre altogether. I want to let all that go, with a past never to bo regretted — never to be recalled. I want to make for myself a new future — if you will share it with me." " Mr. Moore !" PaiNCE FORTUNATUS. 2ttJ Their eyes met ; hers frightened, his eagerly and tremblingly expectant. " There, now you know the truth. Will you say but one word ? Honnor — may I hope ?" lie sought to take her hand, but she shrank back a step — not iu anger, but apparently quite stupefied. " Oh, no, no, Mr. Moore," she said, piteously. " What have I done ? How could I imagine you were thinking of any such thing ? And — and on my account — that you should dream of making such a sacrifice — ^giving up your reputation and your position — " Where was his acting now ? — where the passionate appeal he would have made on the stage ? He stood stock-still — his eyes bent earnestly on hers — and he spoke slowly : " It is no sacrifice. It is nothing. I wish for another life — but with you — with you. Have you one word of hope to give me V He saw his answer already. " I cannot — I cannot," she said, with downcast eyes, and ob- viously in such deep distress that his heart smote him. " It is enough," said he. " I — I was a fool to deceive myself with such imaginings — that are far beyond me. You will for- give me. Miss Honnor ; I did not wish to cause you any paiu ; why, what harm is done except that I have been too presumptu- ous and too frank — and you will forget that. Tell me you for- give me !" He held out his hand ; she took it for a moment ; and for an- other moment he held hers in a firm grasp. " If I could tell you," he said, in a low voice, " what I thought of you — what every one thinks of you — you might perhaps un- derstand why I have dared to speak." She withdrew her hand quickly ; her mother was at the door. When Lady Cunyngham came into the room, her daughter was apparently turning over those photographs and engravings. Lionel went forward to the elder lady to pay his respects ; there w-as a brief conversation, introduced by Miss Honnor, about Mr, Moore's generous proposal to sing at any charitable concert they might be interested in ; and then, as soon as he could, Lionel said good-bye, left the house, and passed into the outer world — where the dusk of the December afternoon was coming down over the far wastes of sea. 294 PKINCK FORTUNATUS. CHAPTER XVIII. AN INVOCATION. All his vague, wild, impracticable hopes and schemes had sud- denly received their death-blow ; but there was nothing worse than that; he himself (as he imagined) had been dealt no des- perate wound. For one thing, flattered and petted as this young man had been, he was neither unreasoning nor vain ; that a wom- an should have refused to marry him did not seem to him a monstrous thing ; she was surely within her right in saying no ; while, on the other hand, he was neither going to die of chagrin nor yet to plan a melodramatic revenge. But the truth was that he had never been passionately in love with Honnor Cun- yngham. Passionate love he did not much believe in ; he as- sociated it with lime-light and crowded audiences and the odor of gas. Indeed, it might almost be said that he had been in love not so much with Honnor Cunyngham as with the condi- tion of life which she represented. He had grown restless and dissatisfied with his present state ; he had been imagining for himself another sort of existence — but always with her as the central figure of those fancied realms ; he had been dreaming dreams — of which she had invariably formed part. And now he had been awakened (somewhat abruptly, perhaps, but that may have been his own fault) ; and there was nothing for it but to summon his common-sense to his aid, and to assure himself that Honnor Cunyngham, at least, was not to blame. And yet sometimes, in spite of himself, as he smoked a final cigarette at midnight in those rooms in Piccadilly, a trace of bitterness would come into his reveries. " I have been taught my place, that's all," he would say to himself. " Maurice was right — I had forgotten my catechism. I wanted to play the gardener's son, or Mordaunt to Lady Mabel ; and I can't write poetry, and Fm not in the House of Commons. I suppose my liead was a little bewildered by the kindness and PRINCE FOHXrNATUS. ^95 condescension of those excellent people. They are glad to wel- come you into their rooms — you are a sort of curiosity — you sing for them — they're very civil for an hour or two — but you must remember to leave before the footmen proceed to shut the hall-door. Well, what's to be done ? Am I to rush away to the wars, and come back a field-marshal ? Am I to make myself so obnoxious in Parliament that the noble earl will give me his daughter in order to shut my mouth ? Oh, no ; they simplify matters nowadays ; ' as you were ' is the word of command ; go back to the theatre ; paint your face and put on your finery ; play the fool along with the rest of the comic people, and we'll come and look at you from the stalls ; an^ if you will marry, why, then, keep in your own sphere, and marry Kate Burgoyne !" For now — when he was peevish and discontented and rest- less, or even sick at heart, he hardly knew why — there was no Nina to solace and soothe him with her gentle companionship, her wise counsel, her bright and cheerful and wayward good- humor. Apparently he had as many friends and acquaintances as before, and yet he was haunted by a curious sense of soli- tude. Of a morning he would go out for a stroll along the familiar thoroughfares — Bond Street, Conduit Street, Regent Street, where he knew all the shops at which Nina used to lin- ger for a moment, to glance at a picture or a bonnet — and these seemed altogether different now. He could not have imagined he should have missed Nina so much. Instead of dining in his rooms at five o'clock and thereafter walking down to Sloane Street to have a cup of tea with Nina and Mile. Girond before they all three set out for the theatre, he spent most of his after- noons at the Garden Club, where there was a good deal of the game of poker being played by young gentlemen in the up- stairs rooms. And sometimes he returned thither after the per- formance, seeking anew the distraction of card-playing and bet- ting, until he became notorious as the fiercest plunger in the place. Nobody could " bluff " Lionel Moore ; he would " call " his opponent if he himself had nothing better than a pair of twos ; and many a solid handful of sovereigns he had to pay for that privilege of gazing. Day after day went by, and still there was no word of Nina ; at times he was visited by sudden sharp misgivings that terri- fied him. The heading of a paragraph in a newspaper would 396 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. startle his eyes ; and then he would breathe again when he found that this poor wretch who had grown weary of the world was unknown to him. Every evening, when Mile. Girond came into the theatre, she was met by the same anxious, wondering ques- tion ; and her reply was invariably the same. " Don't you think it very strange ?" he asked of Estelle. " Nina said she would write to you or send you a message — I suppose as soon as all her plans were made. I hope nothing has happened to her," he added, as a kind of timid expression of his own darker self-questionings. "Something — something terrible?" said Estelle, " Ah, no. We should hear. No; Nina will make sure we cannot reach her — that she is not to be seen by you or me — then perhaps I have a message. Oh, she is very proud ; she will make sure ; the pain in her heart, she will hide it and hide it — until some time goes, and she can hold up her head, with a brave face. Poor Nina ! — she will suffer — for she will not speak, no, not to any one." " But look here. Miss Girond," he exclaimed, "if she has gone back to her friends in Italy, that's all right ; but if she is in this country, without any occupation, her money will soon be ex- hausted — she can't have had so very much. What will become of her then ? Don't you think I should put an advertisement in the papers — not in my name, but in yours — your initials — beg- ging her at least to let you know where she is ?" Estelle shook her head. " No, it is useless. Perhaps I understand Nina a little better than you, though you know her longer. She is gentle and af- fectionate and very grateful to her friends ; but under that there is firmness — oh, yes. She has firmness of mind, although she is so loving ; when she has decided to go away and remain, you will not draw her back, no, not at alll She will remain where she wishes to be ; perhaps she decides never to sec any of us again. Well, well, it is pitiable, but for us to interfere, that is useless." " Oh, I am not so sure of that," he said. " As you say, I have known Nina longer than you have ; if I could only learn where she is, 1 an^ quite sure that I could persuade her to come back." " Very well — try !" said Estelle, throwing out both hands. " 1 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. ^7 say uo — that she will not say where she is. And your London papers, how will they find her? Perhaps she is in a small Eng- lish village — perhaps in I*aris — perhaps in Naples — perhaps in Malta. For me, no. She said, ' If you are my friend, you will not seek to discover where I have gone.' I am her friend ; I obey her wish. When she thinks it is right, she will send me a message. Until then, I wait." But if Nina had gone away — depriving him of her pleasant companionship, her quick sympathy, her grave and almost ma- tron-like remonstrances — there was another quite ready to take her place. Miss Burgoyne did not at all appear to regret the disappearance from the theatre of Antonia Rossi. She was kinder to this young man than ever ; she showered her experi- enced blandishments upon him, even when she rallied him about his gloomy looks or listless demeanor. All the time he was not on the stage, and not engaged in dressing, he usually spent in her sitting-room ; there were cigarettes and lemonade awaiting him ; and when she herself could not appear, at all events she could carry on a sort of conversation with him from the inner sanctuary ; and often she would come out and finish her make- up before the large mirror while she talked to him. " They tell me you gamble," she said to him on one occasion, in her blunt way. " Not much," he said. " What good do you get out of it ?" she asked again. " Oh, well, it is a sort of distraction. It keeps people from thinking. " And what have you to think about?" continued Grace Main- waring, regarding herself in the glass. " What dreadful crimes have you to forget ? You want to drown remorse, do you ? I dare say you ought ; but I don't believe it all the same. You men don't care what you do, and poor girls' hearts get broken. But gambling ! Well, I imagine most men have one vice or an- other, but gambling has always seemed to me the stupidest thing one could take to. Drink kills you, but I suppose you get some fun out of it. What fun do you get out of gam- bling? Too serious, isn't it? And then the waste of money. The fact is, you want somebody to take care of you. Master Lionel ; and a fine job she'll have of it, whoever undertakes it !" 298 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. '* Why should it be a she," he asked, " assuming that 1 am incapable of managing my own affairs ?" " Because it is the way of the world," she answered, prompt- ly. "And you, of all people, need somebody to look after you. Why should you have to take to gambling, at your time of life ? You're not shamming ennui, are you, to imitate your swell ac- quaintances ? Ennui ! I could cure their ennui for them, if they'd only come to me/" she added, somewhat scornfully. " A cure for ennui f he said. " That would be valuable ; what is it?" " I'd tell them to light a wax match and put it up their nos- tril and hold it there till it went out," she answered, with some sharpness. " It would make them jump, anyway, wouldn't it ?" he said, listlessly. " It would give them something to claim their very earnest attention for at least a fortnight," Miss Burgoyne observed, with decision ; and then she had to ask him to open the door, for it was time for her to get up to the wings. Christmas was now close at hand, and one evening when Harry Thornhill, attired in his laced coat and ruffles, silken stockings and buckled shoes, went as usual into Miss Burgoyne's room, he perceived that she had, somewhere or other, obtained a piece of mistletoe, which she had placed on the top of the piano. As soon as Grace Mainwaring knew he was there, she came forth from the dressing-room and went to the big mirror, kicking out her resplendent train of flounced white satin behind her, and proceeding to judge of the general effect of her powder and patches and heavily -pencilled eyebrows. " Where are you going for Christmas ?" she asked. " Into the country," he answered. " That's no good," said the brilliant-eyed white little bride, still contemplating herself in the glass, and giving a finishing touch here and there. " The country's too horrid at this time of year. We are going to Brighton, some friends and I, a rather biggish party ; and a whole heap of rooms have been taken at a hotcF. That will be fun, I promise you. A dance in the evening. You'd better come ; I can get you an invita- tion." " Thanks, I couldn't very well. I am going to play the good PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 299 boy, and pass one night under the parental roof. It isn't often I get the chance." " I wish you would tell me where to hang up that piece of mistletoe," she said, presently. " I know where I should like to hang it up," he made answer, with a sort of lazy impertinence. " Where ?" " Just over your head." " Why ?" " You would see." She made a little grimace. " Oh, no, I shouldn't see anything of the kind," she retorted, confidently. " I should see nothing of the kind. You haven't acquired the right, young gentleman. On the stage Harry Thornhill may claim his privileges — or make believe ; but off the stage he must keep his distance." That significant phrase about his not having acquired the right was almost a challenge. And why should he not say, " Well, give me the right !" What did it matter ? It was of little con- cern what happened to him. As he lay back in his chair and looked at her, he guessed what she would do. He imagined the pretty little performance. " Well, give me the right, then !" Miss Burgoyne turns round from the mirror. " Lionel, what do you mean ?" " You know what I mean : let us be engaged lovers off the stage as well as on." She hangs down her head. He goes to her and kisses her — without any mistletoe ; she murmurs some doubt and hesitation, in her maiden shyness ; he laughingly re- assures her ; it is all over, in half a dozen seconds. And then ? Why, then he has secured for himself a sufiiciently good-natured life-companion ; it will be convenient in many ways, especially when they are engaged at the same theatre ; he will marry in his own sphere, and everybody be satisfied. If he has to give up his bachelor ways and .habits, she will probably look after a little establishment as well as another ; where there is no frantic passion on either side, there will be no frantic jeal- ousy ; and, after all, what is better than peace and quiet and content ? Was he too indolent, then, to accept this future that seemed to be offered to him ? 300 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Isn't it rather odd to go to a Brigliton hotel for Christmas ?" he said, at random. " It's the swagger thing to do, don't you know ?" said Miss Burgoyne, whose phraseology sometimes made him wince. " It's the latest fad among people who have no formal family ties. I can imagine it will be the jolliest thing possible. Instead of the big family gathering, where half the relations hate the sight of the other half, you have all nice people, picked friends and acquaintances ; and you go away down to a place where you can have your choice of rooms, where you have every freedom and no responsibility, where you can have everything you want and no trouble in getting it. Instead of foggy London, the sea ; and at night, instead of Sir Roger de Coverley with a lot of hob- bledehoys, you have a charming little dance, on a good floor, with capital partners. Come, Master Lionel, change your mind ; and you and I will go down together on Christmas morning in the Pullman. Most of the others are there already ; it's only one or two poor professionals who will have to go down on Christmas-day." But Lionel shook his head. "Duty — duty," he murmured. " Duty !" said she, contemptuously. " Duty is a thing you owe to other people, which no one ever thinks of paying to you." And therewith this profound moralist and epigrammatist tucked up her white satin train and waited for him to open the door, so that she might make her way to the stage, he humbly following. On the Christmas morning the display of parcels, packets, and envelopes, large and small, spread out on the side-table in his sitting-room was simply portentous ; for the fashionable world of London had had no intimation yet that their favorite singer was ill-disposed towards them, and had even at times formed sullen resolutions of withdrawing altogether from their brilliant rooms. As he quite indifferently turned the packages and let- ters over, trying to guess at the name of the sender by the ad- dress, he said to himself, " They toss you those things out of their bounty as they fling a shilling to a crossing-sweeper because it is Christmas-day." liiit here was one that he opened, recognizing the handwriting of his cousin Francie ; and Francie had sent him a very pretty PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. 301 pair of blue velvet slippers, with his initials worked by herself in thread of gold. That was all right, for he had got for Miss Francie a little present tliat he was about to take down with him — a hand-bag in green lizard-skin that might be useful to her when she was going on her numerous errands. It was different with the next packet he opened (also recognizing the writing), for this was a paper-weight — an oblong slab of crystal set in silver, with a photograph of the sender showing through, and the in- scription at the foot, " To Lionel Moore, from his sincere friend, K. B." And he had never thought of getting anything for Miss Burgoyne ! Well, it was too late now ; he would have to atone for his neglect of her when he returned to town. Meanwhile he recollected that just about now she would be getting down to Victoria station en route to Brighton ; and, indeed, had it not been for the duty he owed the old people, he would have been well content to be going with her. The last time he had been in a Pullman car on the way to Brighton it was with other friends — or acquaintances ; he knew his place now, and was re- signed. So he continued opening these parcels and envelopes carelessly and somewhat ungratefully, merely glancing at the various messages, until it was time to bethink him of setting forth. But first of all, when the cab had been summoned and his portmanteau put on the top, he told the man to drive to a cer- tain number in Sloane Street ; he thought he would call for a minute on Mrs. Grey and Miss Girond and wish them a pleas- ant Christmas. Estelle, when she made her appearance, knew better what had brought him hither. " Ah, it is so kind of you to send me the pretty work-case — thank you, thank you very much ; and Mrs. Grey is so proud of the beautiful lamp — she will tell you in a moment when she comes in. And if there is something we might have liked bet- ter — pardon, it is no disfavor to the pretty presents, not at all — it is what you would like, too, I am sure — it is a message from Nina. Yes, I expected it a little — I was awake hour after hour this morning — when the postman came I ran down the stairs — no ! no word of any kind." He stood silent for a minute. " I confess I had some kind of fancy she might wish to send you just a line or a card — any sort of reminder of her existence 303 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. — on Cbristraas-day ; for she knows the English custom," he said, rather absently. " And there is nothing — nothing of any kind, you say. Well, I have written to Pandiani." " Ah, the viaestro ? — yes ?" " You see, I knew it was no use writing to her friends," he continued, " foi*, if she were with them, she would tell them not to answer. But it is different with Pandiani. If she has got any musical engagement in Naples, or if she has gone to Malta, he would know. It seems hard that at Christmas-time we should he unable to send a message to Nina." " Perhaps she is sure that we think of her," Estelle said, rather sadly. " I did not know till she was gone that I loved her so much and would miss her so much ; because sometimes — some- times she reproved me — and we had little disagreements — but all the same she was so kind — and always it was for your opin- ion I was corrected — it was what you would think if I did this or that. Ah, well, Nina will take her own time before she al- lows us to know. Perhaps she is not very happy." Nor had Mrs. Grey any more helpful counsel or conjecture to offer ; so, i-ather downheartedly, he got into the hansom again and set out for Victoria station, where he was to meet Maurice Mangan. Maurice he found in charge of a bewildering number of vari- ously sized packages, which seemed to cause him some anxiety, for there was no sort of proper cohesion among them. " Toys for Francie's children, I'll bet," said Lionel. " Well, how otherwise could I show my gratitude ?" Mangan said. " You know it's awfully good of your people, Linn, to ask a poor, solitary devil like mc to join their Christmas family party. It's almost too much — " " I should think they were precious glad to get you !" Lionel made answer, as he and his friend took their scats in one of the carriages. " And I've got a little present for Miss Francie herself," con- tinued Mangan, opening his bag, and taking therefrom a small packet. He carefully undid the tissue-paper wrappers, until he could show his companion what they contained ; it was a copy of " Aurora Leigh," bound in white vellum, and on the cover were stamped two tiny violets, green -stemmed and purple- blossomed. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 303 '* ' Aurora Leigh,' " said Lionel — not daring, however, to take the dainty vohimc in his hands. "That will just suit Miss Sa- vonarola. And what are the two violets, Maurice — what do they mean ?" "Oh, that was merely a little device of my own," Mangan said, evasively. " You don't mean to say that these are your handiwork ?" Lionel asked, looking a little closer. " Oh, no. I merely drew them, and the binder had them stamped m color for me." " And what did that cost ?" " I don't know yet." " And don't care — so long as it's for Francie. And yet you are always lecturing me on my extravagance !" " Oh, well, it's Christmas-time," Mangan said ; " and I con- fess I like Christmas and all its ways. I do. I seem to feel the general excitement throughout the country tingling in me too ; I like to see the children eagerly delighted, and the houses decorated with evergreens, and the old folk pleased and happy with the enthusiasm of the youngsters. If I've got to drink an extra glass of port, I'm there ; if it's Sir Roger de Coverley, I'm there ; I'll do anything to add to the general Schwdrmerei. What the modern litterateur thinks it fine to write about Christmas being all sham sentiment is simply insufferable bosh. Christ- mas isn't in the least bit played out — though the magazinist may be, or may pretend to be. I think it's a grand thing to have a season for sending good wishes, for recollection of ab- sent friends, for letting the young folk kick up their heels. I say, Linn, I hope there's going to be some sunlight down there. I am longing to see a holly-tree in the open air — the green leaves and scarlet berries glittering in the sunlight. Oh, I can tell you an autumn session of Parliament is a sickening thing — when the interminable speeches and wranglings drag on and on until you think they're going to tumble over into Christmas-day itself. There's fog in your brain as well as in your throat, and you seem to forget there ever was an outer world ; you get listless and resigned, and think you've lived all your life in darkness. Well, just a glimmer of sunshine, that's all I bargain for — just a faint glimmer — and a sight of the two holly-trees by the gate of the doctor's house." 304 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. What intoxication had got into the head of this man ? Whither had fled his accustomed indifference and indolence, his sardonic self-criticism? He was like a school-boy off for the holidays. He kept looking out of the window — with persistent hope of the gray sky clearing. He was impatient of the delay at the vari- ous stations. And when at length they got out and found the doctor's trap awaiting them, and proceeded to get up the long and gradual incline that leads to Winstead village, he observed that the fat old pony, if he were lent for a fortnight to a butcher, would find it necessary to improve his pace. "WTien they reached the doctor's house and entered, they found that only the old lady was at home ; the doctor had gone to visit a patient ; Miss Francie was, as usual, away among her young convalescents. " It has been a busy time for Francie," Mrs. Moore said. " She has been making so many different things for them. And I don't like to hear her sewing-machine going so late at night." " Then why do you let her do it ?" Lionel said, in his im- petuous way. " Why don't you get in somebody to help her ? Look here, Fll pay for that. You call in a seamstress to do all that sewing, and I'll give her a sovereign a week. Why should Francie have her eyes ruined ?" " Lionel is like the British government, Mrs. Moore," Mangan said, with a smile. " He thinks he can get over every difficulty by pulling out his purse. But perhaps Miss Francie might pre- fer carrying out her charitable work herself." So Maurice Mangan was arrogating to himself, was he, the right of guessing Francie's preferences?" " Well, mother, tell me where I am likely to find her. I am going to pull her out of those fevcr-dcns and refuges for crip- ples. Why, she ought to know that's all exploded now. Slum- ming, as a fad, had its day, but it's quite gone out now — " " Do you think it is because it is fashionable, or was fashion- able, that Miss Francie takes an interest in those poor children ?" Maurice asked, gently. Lionel was nearly telling him to mind his own business ; why should he step in to defend Cousin Francie ? " She said she was going across the common to old Widow Jackson's," his mother answered him, "and you may find her cither there or on the way to the village." PHINCE FORTUNATUS. 305 " Widow Jackson's ?" he repeated, in doubt. " Oh, I know it," Mangan said, cheerfully. And again Lionel was somewhat astonished. How had Maurice Mangan acquired this particular knowledge of Francie's surroundings ? Perhaj)s his attendance at the House of Commons had not been so unin- termittent as he had intimated ? There were still further surprises in store for Master Lionel. When at length they encountered Miss Francie — how pretty she looked as she came along the pathway through the gorse, in her simple costume of dark gray, with a brown velvet hat and brown tan gloves ! — it was in vain that he tried to dissuade her from giving up the rest of the afternoon to her small proteges. In the most natural way in the world she turned to Maurice Man- gan — and her eyes sought his in a curiously straightforward, confiding fashion that caused Lionel to wonder. " On Christmas-day, of all the days of the year !" she said, as if appealing to Maurice. " Surely, surely, I must give up Christ- mas-day to them ! Oh, do you know, Mr. Mangan, there never was a happier present than you thought of for the little blind boy who got his leg broken — you remember ? He learned al- most directly how to do the puzzle ; and he gets the ring off so quickly that no one can see how it is done ; and he laughs with delight when he finds that any neighbor coming in can only growl and grumble — and fail. I'm going there just now ; won't you come ? And mind you be very angi-y when you can't get the ring off ; you may use any language you like about your clumsiness — poor little chap, he has heard plenty of that in his time." Maurice needed no second invitation ; this was what he had come for ; he had found the sunlight to lighten up the Christ- mas-day withal ; his face, that was almost beautiful in its fine intellectuality, showed that whenever she spoke to him. Lionel, of course, went with them. And again it was Maurice Mangan whom Miss Francie ad- dressed, as they walked along to the village. " Do you know, in all this blessed place, I can't find a copy of Mrs. Hemans's poems ; and I wanted you to read ' The Arab to his Horse ' — is that the title ? — at my school-treat to-morrow. They would all understand that. Well, we must get something else ; for we're to make a show of being educational and in- 306 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. structive before the romping begins. I think the ' Highland Schottische' is the best of any for children who haven't learned dancing ; they can all jump about somehow — and the music is inspiriting. The vicar's daughters are coming to hammer at the piano. Oh, Mr. Mangan," she continued, still appealing to him, " do youthink you could tell them a thrilling folk-story ? — wouldn't that be better ?" " Don't you want me to do something, Francie ?" said Lionel, perhaps a little hurt. " Do you mean — " " The only thing I'm fit for — I'll sing them a song, if you like. 'My Pretty Jane' — no, that would hardly do — 'The Death of Nelson' or 'Rule Britannia' — " " Wouldn't there be rather a risk, Lionel ? If you were to miss your train — and disappoint a great audience in London ?" she said, gently. " Oh, I'll take my chance of that ; I'm used to it," he said, " I'll have Dick and the pony waiting outside. Oh, yes, I'll sing something for them." " It will be very kind of you," she said. And again, as they went to this or that cottage, to see that the small convalescent folk were afforded every possible means of holding high holiday (how fortunate they were as compared with thousands of similar unfortunates, shivering away the hope- less hours in dingy courts and alleys, gin clutching at every penny that might have got food for their empty stomachs or rags for their poor shrunken limbs !), it was to Maurice Mangan that Francie chiefly talked, and, indeed, he seemed to know all about those patient little sufferers, and the time they had been down here, and when they might have to be sent back to Lon- don to make way for their successors. There was also a ques- tion as to which of their toys they might be permitted to cai'ry off with them. " Oh, I wouldn't deprive them of one," Mangan said, distinct- ly. " I've brought down a heap more this morning." " Again — again ?" she said, almost reproachfully ; but the gentle gray eyes looked pleased, notwithstanding. Well, that Christmas evening was spent in the doctor's house with much quiet enjoyment; for the old people were proud to have their only son with them for so long a time ; and Francio PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 307 seemed glad to have the various labors of the day over ; and Maurice Mangan, with quite unwonted zest, kept the talk flow- ing free. Next morning was chiefly devoted to preparations for the big entertainment to be given in the school-room ; and in due course Lionel redeemed his promise by singing no fewer than four songs — at the shyly proffered request of the vicar's pretty daughters ; thereafter, leaving Maurice to conduct the gay proceedings to a close, he got out and jumped into the trap and was driven off to the station. He arrived at the New The- atre in plenty of time ; the odor of consumed gas was almost a shock to him, well as he was used to it, after the clear air of Winstead. And did he grudge or envy the obvious interest and confi- dence that appeared to have sprung up between his cousin and his friend ? Not one bit. Maurice had always had a higher appreciation of Francie and her aims and ideals than he himself had, much as he liked her ; and it was but natural she should turn to the quarter from which she could derive most sympathy and practical help. And if Maurice's long-proclaimed admira- tion for Miss Savonarola should lead to a still closer bond be- tween those two — what then ? It was not jealousy that had hold of Lionel Moore's heart just at this time ; it was rather a curious unrest that seemed to in- crease as day by day went by without bringing any word of Nina. Had she vouchsafed the smallest message, to say she was safe and well, to give him some notion of her where- abouts, it might have been different ; but he knew not which way to turn, north, south, east, or west ; at this season of kindly remembrance he could summon up no sort of picture of Nina and her surroundings. If only he had known, he kept repeating to himself. He had been so wrapped up in his idle di'eams and visions that, all unwittingly, he had spurned and crushed this true heart beating close to his side. And as for making amends, what amends could now be made ? He only wanted to know that Nina was alive — and could forgive. As he sat by himself in the still watches of the night, plunged in silent reverie, strange fancies began to fill his brain. He re- called stories in which he had read of persons separated by great distances communicating with each other by some species of spiritual telegraphy ; and a conviction took possession of 308 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. him that now, if ever — now as the old year was about to go out and the new year come in — he could call to Nina across the un- known void that lay between them, and that she would hear and perchance respond. Surely, on New-Year's Eve, Nina would be thinking of her friends in London ; and, if their earnest and anxious thoughts could but meet her half-way, might there not be some sudden understanding, some recognition, some glad as- surance that all was well ? This wild fancy so grew upon him that when the last day of the year arrived it had become a fixed belief ; and yet it was with a haunting sense of dread — a dread of he knew not what — that he looked forward to the stroke of twelve. He got through his performance that night as if he were in a dream, and hurried home ; it was not far from midnight when he arrived. He only glanced at the outside of the letters await- ing him ,♦ there was no one from her ; not in that way was Nina to communicate with him, if her hopes for the future, her for- giveness for what lay in the past, were to reach him at all. He drew a chair to the table and sat down, leaving the letters un- heeded. The slow minutes passed ; his thoughts went wandering over the world, seeking for what they could not find. And how was he to call to Nina across the black gulf of the night, whereso- ever she might be ? Suddenly there leaped into his recollection an old German ballad he used to sing. It was that of the three comrades who were wont to drink together, until one died, and an- other died, and nevertheless the solitary survivor kept the accus- tomed tryst, and still, sitting there alone, he had the three glasses filled, and stiU he sang aloud, " Aus voller Brust.''^ There came an evening; as he filled the cups, a tear fell into his own ; yet bravely he called to his ghostly companions, " I drink to you, my brothers — but why are you so mute and still ?" And be- hold ! the glasses clinked together ; and the wine was slowly drunk out of all the three. '■'^ Fiducit ! du wackerer Zecher P'' — it was the loyal comrade's last draught. And now Lionel, hard- ly knowing what he was doing — for there were such wild de- sires and longings in his brain — went to a small cabinet hard by and l)rought forth the loving-cup he had given to Nina. They two were the last who had drunk out of it. And if now, if once again, on tliis last night of all the nights of the year, he were to PKINCE FORTUNATUS. 309 repeat his challenge, would she not know ? He cared not in what form she might appear — Nina could not be other than gentle — silent she might be, but surely her eyes would shine with kind- ness and forgiveness. He was not aware of it, but his fingers were trembling as he took the cup in twain, and put the two tiny goblets on the table and filled them with wine. Nay, in a sort of half-dazed fashion he went and opened the door and left it wide — might there not be some shadowy footfall on the empty stair ? He returned to the table and sat down ; it was almost twelve ; he was shivering a little — the night was cold. All around him the silence appeared to grow more profound ; there was only the ticking of a clock. As minute after minute passed, the suspense became almost unendurable ; something seemed to be choking him ; and yet his eyes would furtively and nervously wander from the small goblets before him to the open door, as if he expected some vision to present itself there, from whatsoever distant shore it might come. The clock behind him struck a silver note, and instantly this vain fantasy vanished ; what was the use of regarding the two wine-filled cups when he knew that Nina was far and far away ? He sprang to his feet and went to the window, and gazed out into the black and formless chaos beyond. " Nina !" he called, " Nina ! — Nina !" as if he would pierce the hollow distance with this passionate cry. Alas ! how could Nina answer ? At this moment, over all the length and breadth of England, innumerable belfries had suddenly awakened from their sleep, and ten thousand bells were clanging their iron tongues, welcoming in the new-found year. Down in the valleys, where white mists lay along the slumbering rivers ; far up on lonely moorlands, under the clear stars ; out on the sea-coasts, where the small red points of the windows were face-to-face with the slow-moaning, inarticulate main ; everywhere, over all the land, arose this clamor of joy- bells ; and how could Nina respond to his appeal ? If she had heard, if she had tried to answer, her piteous cry was swallowed up and lost; heart could not speak to heart, whatever message they might wish to send, through this universal, far-pulsating jangle and tumult. But perhaps she had not heard at all ? Perhaps there was 310 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. something more impassable between her and him than even the wide, dark seas and the night ? He turned away from the window. He went back to the chair ; he threw his arms on the table before him — and hid his face. CHAPTER XIX. ENTRAPPED. There were two young gentlemen standing with their backs to the fire in the supper-room of the Garden Club. They were rather good-looking young men, very carefully shaven and shorn, gray-eyed, fair-moustached ; and, indeed, they were so extremely like each other that it might have been hard to distinguish be- tween them but that one chewed a toothpick and the other a cigarette. Both were in evening dress, and both still wore the overcoat' and crush-hat in which they had come into the club. They could talk freely, without risk of being overheard ; for the members along there at the supper-table were all listening, with much laughter, to a professional entertainer, who, unlike the proverbial clown released from the pantomime, was never so merry and amusing as when diverting a select little circle of friends with his own marvellous adventures. " It's about time for Lionel Moore to make his appearance," said one of the two companions, glancing at the clock, " I would rather have anybody else, if it comes to that," said the other, peevishly. " Moore spoils the game all to bits. You never know where to have hira — " " Yes, that's just where he finds his salvation," continued he of the toothpick. " Mind you, that wild play has its advantages. He gets caught now and again, but he catches you at times. You make sure he is blufling, you raise him and raise him, then you call him — and find he has three aces ! And I will say this for Moore — he's a capital loser. He doesn't seem to mind los- ing a bit, so long as you keep on. You would think he was a millionaire ; only a millionaire would have an eye on every chip, I suppose. What salary do they give him at the New Theatre ?" " Fifty pounds a week, I've heard say ; but people tell such ^^ PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. 311 lies. Even fifty pounds a week won't hold out if lie goes on like that. What I maintain is that it isn't good poker. For one thing, I object to ' straddling ' altogether ; it's simply a stupid way of raising the stakes ; of course, the straddler has the advantage of coming in last, but then look at the disadvan- tage of having to bet first. No, I don't object to betting before the draw ; that's sensible ; there's some skill and judgment in that ; but straddling is simply stupid. You ought to make it easy for every one to come in ; that's the proper game ; frighten them out afterwards if you can." And then he added, gloom- ily, " That fellow Moore is a regular bull in a china-shop." " I suspect he has been raking over a few of your chips, Bertie," his companion said, with a placid grin. Just as he was speaking, Lionel entered the room, and, hav- ing ordered some supper, took a seat at the table. One of those young gentlemen, throwing away his toothpick, came and sat down opposite him. " Big house to-night, as usual?" he asked, " Full," was the answer. " I dare say when the archangel blows his trump, " The Squire's Daughter " will still be adver- tised in the bills all over the town. I don't see why it should stop before then." "It would be a sudden change for the company, wouldn't it?" the young man on the other side of the table said. " Fancy, now, a iTusic-hall singer — no disrespect to you, Moore — I mean a music-hall comic — fancy his finding himself all at once in heaven ; don't you think he'd feel deuced awkward ? He wouldn't be quite at home, would he ? — want to get back to Mr. Chairman and the chorus in the gallery, eh, what? — 'pon my soul, it would make a capital picture if you could get a fellow with plenty of imagination to do it — quite tragic, don't you know — you'd have the poor devil's face just full of misery — not knowing where to go or what to do — " " The British public would be inclined to rise and rend that painter," said Lionel, carelessly ; this young man was useful as a poker-player, but otherwise not interesting. Two or three members now came in ; and by the time Lionel had finished his frugal supper there was a chosen band of five ready to go up-stairs and set to work with the cards. There was some ordering of lemon-squashes and further cigarettes ; 313 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. new packs were brought by tlie waiter ; the players took their places ; and the game was opened. With a sixpenny " ante " and a ten-shilling " limit," the amusement could have been kept mild enough by any one who preferred it should remain so. But the usual thing happened. Now and again a fierce fight would ensue between two good hands, and that seemed to arouse a spirit of general emulation and eagerness ; the play grew more bold ; bets apart from the game were laid by individual players between themselves. The putting up of the " ante " be- came a mere farce, for every one came in as a matter of course, even if he had to draw five cards ; and already the piles of chips on the table had undergone serious diminution or augmentation — in the latter case there was a glimmer of gold among the bits of ivory. There was no visible excitement, however ; perhaps a player caught blufiing might smile a little — that was all. Lionel had been pretty fortunate, considering his wild style of play ; but then his very recklessness stood him in good stead when he chanced to have a fair hand — his reputation for bluff- ing leading on his opponents. And then an extraordinary bit of luck had befallen him. On this occasion the first hand dealt him contained three queens, a seven, and a five. To make the other players imagine he had either two pairs or was drawing to a flush, he threw away only one of the two useless cards — the five, as it chanced ; but his satisfaction (which he bravely endeavored to conceal) may be imagined when he found that the single card dealt him in its place was a seven — he therefore had a full hand ! When it came to his turn, instead of beginning cautiously, as an ordinary player would have done, he boldly raised the bet ten shillings. But that frightened nobody. His game was known ; they imagined he had either two pairs or had failed to fill his flush and was merely bluffing. When, however, there was anoth- er raise of ten shillings from the opposite side of the table, that was a very diiferent matter ; one by one the others dropped out, leaving these two in. And then it went on : "Well, I'll just see your ten shillings and raise you another ten." " And another ten." " And another ten." " And another ten." Of course, universal attention was now concentrated on this PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 313 duel. Probably four out of five of the players were of opinion that Lionel Moore was bluffing ; that, at least, was certainly the opinion of his antagonist, who kept raising and raising without a qualm. At length both of thoni had to borrow money to go on with ; but still the duel continued, and still the pile of gold and chips in the middle of the table grew and increased. " And another ten." " And another ten." Not a word of encouragement or dissuasion was uttered by any one of the onlookers ; they sat silent and amused, wonder- ing which of the two was about to be smitten under the fifth rib. And at last it was Lionel's opponent who gave in. " On this occasion," said he, depositing his half-sovereign, " I will simply gaze ; what have you got ?" " Well, I have got a full hand," Lionel answered, putting down his hand on the table. "That is good enough," the other said, stolidly. "Take away the money." After this dire combat, the game fell flat a little ; but interest was soon revived by a round of Jack-pots ; and here again Lionel was in good luck. Indeed, when the players rose from the table about three o'clock, he might have come away a winner of close on £40 had not some reckless person called out something about whiskey poker. Now whiskey poker is the very stupid- est form of gambling that the mind of man has ever conceived, though at the end of the evening some folk hunger after it as a kind of final fillip. Each person puts down a certain sum — it may be a sovereign, it may be five sovereigns ; poker hands are dealt out, the cards being displayed face upwards on the table ; there is no drawing ; whoever has the best hand simply annexes the pool. It looks like a game, but it is not a game ; it is mere- ly cutting the cards ; but, as the stakes can be doubled or trebled each round, the jaded appetite for gambling finds here a potent and fiery stimulant just as the party breaks up. Lionel was not anxious to get away with the money he had won. It was he wdio proposed to increase the stakes to £10 from each player — which the rest of them, to their credit be it said, refused to do. In the end, when they went to get their hats and coats before issuing into the morning air, some one happened to ask Lionel how he had come off on the whole night ; and he replied that 14 314 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. he did not think he had either won or lost anything to speak of. He hardly knew. Certainly he did not seem to care. The dawn was not yet. The gas-lamps shone in the murky thoroughfares as he set out for Piccadilly — alone. The others all went away in hansoms ; he preferred to walk. And even when he reached his rooms, he did not go to bed at once; he sat up thinking, a prey to a strange sort of restlessness that had of late taken possession of him. For this young man's gay and happy butterfly-life was entirely gone. The tragic disappearance of Nina, followed by the sudden shattering of all his visionary hopes in connection with Honnor Cunyngham, had left him in a troubled, anxious, morbid state that he himself, perhaps, could not well have accounted for. Then the sense of solitariness that he had experienced when he found that Nina had so unex- pectedly vanished from his ken had been intensified since he had taken to declining invitations from his fashionable friends, and spending his nights in the aimless distraction of gambling at the Garden Club. Was there a touch of hurt pride in his withdrawal from the society of those who in former days used to be called " the great " ? At least he discovered this, that if he did wish to withdraw from their society, nothing in the world was easier. They did not importune him. He was free to go his own way. Perhaps this also wounded him ; perhaps it was to revenge himself that he sought to increase his popularity with the crowd ; at night he sang with a sort of bravado to bring down the house ; in the day-time it comforted him to perceive from a distance in that or the other window a goodly display of his photographs, which he had learned to recognize from afar. But in whatever direction these wayward moods drew him or tossed him, there was ever this all-2:)ervading disquiet, and a haunting regret that almost savored of remorse, and a sick im- patience of the slow-passing and lonely hours. He had given up all hopes of hearing from Nina now or of gaining any news of her. Pandiani had nothing to tell him. The Signorina Antonia Rossi had not written to any of her Nea- politan friends, so far as could be ascertained, since the previous December ; certainly she liad not presented herself here in Naples to seek any engagement. The old maestro, in praying liis illustrious and celebrated correspondent to accept his respect- ful submissions, likewise begged of him, should anything be PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 3I5 learned with regard to the Signorina Rossi, to communicate further. There was no hope in that quarter. But one morning Estelle made a new suggestion. " There is something I have recalled ; yes, it is perhaps of not great importance ; yet perhaps again," she said. " One day Nina and I, we were speaking of this thing and the other, and she said it was right and proper that a young lady should have a dot — what is the English ? — no matter. She said the young lady should bring something towards the — the management; and she asked how she or I could do that. Then comes her plan. She was thinking of it before she arrives in England, It was to go to America — to be engaged for concerts — oh, thev pay large, large salaries, if you have a good voice — and Nina would take engagements for all the big cities, until she got over to San Francisco, and from there to Australia — a great tour — a long time — but at the end, then she has the little fortune, and she is independent, whatever happens. Marriage ? — well, per- haps not, but she is independent. Yes, it was Nina's plan to go away on that long tour ; but she comes to England — she is engaged at the New Theatre — she practises her little economies — but not so as it would be in America, and now, now if she wishes to go away for a long, long time, is it not America ? She goes on the long voyage ; she forgets — what she wishes to for- get. Her singing, it is constant occupation ; she must work ; and they welcome a good voice there — she will have friends. Do you consider it not possible ? Yes, it is possible — for that is to go entirely away, and there is no danger of any one inter- fering." " It's just frightful to think of," he said, " if wdiat you imag- ine is correct. Fancy her crossing the Atlantic all by herself — landing in New York unknown to any human being there — " " Ah, but do you fear for Nina ?" Estelle cried. " No, no — she has courage — she has self-reliance, even in despair — she will have made preparations for all. Everywhere she has her pass- port — in her voice. ' I am Miss Ross, from the New Theatre, London,' she says. ' How do we know that you are Miss Ross ?' ' Give me a sheet of music, then.' Perhapa it is in a theatre or a concert-room. Nina sings. ' Thank you, mademoiselle, it is enough ; what are the terms you wish for an engagement ?' Then it is finished, and Nina has all her plans made for her by 316 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. the management ; and she goes from one town to the other, far away perhaps ; perhaps she has not much time to think of Eng- land. So much the better ; poor Nina !" And for a while he took an eager interest in the American newspapers. Such of them as he could get hold of he read diligently — particularly the columns in which concerts and musi- cal entertainments were announced or reported. But there was no mention of Miss Ross, or of any new singer whom he could identify with her. Gradually he lost all hope in that direction also. He did not forget Nina. He could not ; but he grew to think that — whether she were in America, or in Australia, or in whatever far land she might be — she had gone away forever. Her abrupt disappearance was no momentary withdrawal ; she had sundered their familiar association, their close comradeship, that was never to be resumed ; according to the old and sad re- frain, it was " Adieu for evermore, my dear, and adieu for ever- more !" Well, for him there were still crowded houses, with their dull thunders of applause ; and there were cards and bet- ting to send the one feverish hour flying after the other ; and there were the lonely walks through the London streets in the daytime — when the hours did not fly so quickly. He had care- fully put away those trinkets that Nina had returned to him ; he would fain have forgotten their existence. And then there was Miss Burgoyne. Miss Burgoyne could be very brisk and cheerful when she chose ; and she now seemed bent on showing Mr. Lionel Moore the sunnier side of her char- acter. In truth, she was most assiduously kind to the young man, even when she scolded him about the life he was leading. Her room and its mild refreshments were always at his disposal. She begged for his photograph, and, having got it, she told him to write something very nice and pretty at the foot of it; why should formalities be used between people so intimately and con- stantly associated ? On more than one occasion she substituted a real rose (which was not nearly so eflEective, however) for the millinery blossom which Grace Mainwaring had to drop from the balcony to her lover below ; and of course Lionel had to treas- ure the flower and keep it in water, until the hot and gassy atmosphere of his dressing-room killed it. Once or twice she called him Lionel, by way of pretty inadvertence. There came an afternoon when the fog that had lain all dav PRINCE FORTUNATCS. 3I7 over London deepened and deepened until in the evening the streets were become almost impassable. The various members of the company, setting out iu good time, managed to reach the theatre — though there were breathless accounts of adventures and escapes as this one or that hurried through the wings and down into the dressing-room corridor ; but tlie public, not being paid to come forth on such a night, for the most part preferred the snugness and safety of their own homes, so that the house was but half filled, and the faces of the scant audience were more dusky than ever — were almost invisible — beyond the blaze of the footlights. And as the performance proceeded, Miss Burgoyne professed to become more and more alarmed. Dread- ful reports came in from without. All traffic was suspended. It was scarcely possible to cross a street. Even the policemen, familiar witli the thoroughfares, hardly dared leave the pave- ment to escort a bewildered traveller to the other side. When Lionel, having dressed for the last act, went into Miss Burgoyne's room, he found her (apparently) very much per- turbed. " Have you heard ? It's worse than ever !" slie called to him from the inner apartment. " So they say." " Whatever am I to do ?" she exclaimed, her anxiety proving too much for her grammar. *' Well, I think you couldn't do better than stop where you are," Harry Thornhill made answer, carelessly. " Stop where I am ? It's impossible ! My brother Jim would go frantic. He would make sure I was run over or drowned or something, and be off to the police-stations." " Oh, no, he wouldn't ; he wouldn't stir out on such a night, if he had any sense." " Not if he thought his sister was lost ? That's all you know. There are some people who do have a little affection in their nature," said Miss Burgoyne, as she drew aside the curtain and came forth, and went to the tall glass. " But surely I can get a four-wheeled cab, Mr. Moore ? I will give the man a sovereign to take me safe home. And even then it will be dreadful. I get so frightened in a bad fog — absolutely terrified — and espe- cially at night. Supposing the man were to lose his way ? Or he miffht be drunk ? I wish I had asked Jim to come down for 318 PRINCE FORXrNATUS. me. There's Miss Constance's mother never misses a single night ; I wonder who she thinks is going to run away with that puny-faced creature !" " Oh, if you are at all afraid to make the venture alone, I will go with you," said he. " I don't suppose I can see farther in a fog than any one else ; but if you are nervous about being alone, you'd better let me accompany you." "Will you?" she said, suddenly wheeling round, and bestow- ing upon him a glance of obvious gratitude. " That is indeed kind of you ! Now I don't care for all the fogs in Christen- dom. But really and truly," she added — " really and truly you must tell me if I am taking you away from any other engagement." " Not at all," he said, idly, *' I had thought of going up to the Garden Club for some supper, but it isn't the sort of night for anybody to be wandering about. When I've left you in the Edgeware Road, I can find my way to my rooms easily. Once in Park Lane, I could go blindfold." And very proud and pleased was Miss Burgoyne to accept his escort — that is to say, when he had, with an immense amount of trouble, brought a four-wheeled cab, accompanied by two link- boys with blazing torches, up to the stage-door. And when they had started off on their unknown journey through this thick chaos, she did not minimize the fears she otherwise should have suffered ; this was thanking him by implication. As for the route chosen by the cabman, or rather by the link- boys, neither he nor she had the faintest idea what it was. Out- side they could see nothing but the gold and crimson of the torches flaring through the densely yellow fog; while the grat- ing of the wheels against the curb told them that their driver was keeping as close as he could to the pavement. Then they would find themselves leaving that guidance, and blindly adven- turing out into the open thoroughfare to avoid some obstacle — some spectral wain or omnibus got hopelessly stranded ; while there were mufl3ed cries and calls here, there, and everywhere. They went at a snail's pace, of course. Once, at a corner, the near wheels got on the pavement ; the cab tilted over ; Miss Burgoyne shrieked aloud and clung to her companion ; then there was a heavy bump, and the venerable vehicle resumed its slow progress. Suddenly they beheld a cluster of dim, nebu- lous, [)hantom lights high up in air. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. ^19 " This mast be Oxford Circus, surely," Lionel said. He put his head out of the window and called to the cab- man. " Where are we now, cabby ?" " Blessed if I know, sir !" was the husky answer, coming from under the heavy folds of a cravat. " Boy," he called again, " where arc we ? Is this Oxford Circus ?" " No, no, sir," responded the sharp voice of the London gamin. " We ain't 'alf way up Regent Street yet !" He shut the window. "At this rate, goodness only knows when you'll ever get home," he said to her. " You should have stopped at the the- atre." " Oh, I don't mind," said she, cheerfully. "It's an adventure. It's something to be talked of afterwards. I shouldn't wonder if the theatrical papers got hold of it — just the kind of para- graph to go the round — Harry Thornhill and Grace Mainwaring lost in a fog together. No, I don't mind. I'm very well off. But fancy some of those poor girls about the theatre, who must be trying to get home on foot. No four-wheeled cabs for them ; no companion to keep up their spirits. I sha'n't forget your kindness, Mr. Moore." Indeed, Lionel was much more anxious than she was. He would rather have done without that paragraph in the newspa- pers. All his senses were on the rack ; and yet he could make out absolutely nothing of his whereabouts in this formless void of a world, with its opaque atmosphere, its distant calls, inqui- ries, warnings, its murky lamp-lights that only became visible when they were over one's head. Miss Burgoyne seemed to be well content, to be amused even. She liked to see her name in the newspapers. There would be a pretty little paragraph to get quoted in gossippy columns, even if she and her more anx- ious fellow-adventurer did not reach home till breakfast-time. The link-boys certainly deserved the very substantial reward that Lionel bestowed on them ; for when, after what seemed in- terminable hours — with all kinds of stoppages and inquiries in this Egyptian darkness — the cab came to a final halt, and when Miss Burgoyne had been piloted across the pavement, she de- clared that here, indubitably, was her own door. Indeed, at this 320 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. very moment it was opened, and there was a glimmer of a can- dle in the passage. " No, Mr. Moore," she said, distinctly, when Lionel came back after paying the cabman, " you are not going off like that, cer- tainly not. You must be starving ; you must come up-stairs and have something to eat and drink. " Jim," she said, addressing her brother, who was standing there, candle in hand, " have you left any supper for us ?" " I haven't touched a thing yet," said he. " I've been wait- ing for you I don't know how long." " There's a truly heroic brother !" exclaimed the young lady, as she pulled Lionel into the little lobby and shut the door. " What's enough for two is enough for three. Come along, Mr. Moore ; and now you've got safely into a house, I think you'd much better have Jim's room for the night — or the morning, rather ; I'm sure Jim won't mind taking the sofa." "I? Not I !" said her brother, blowing out the candle as they entered the lamp-lit room. It was a pretty room, and, with its blazing fire, looked very warm and snug after the cold, raw night without. Miss Bur- goyne threw off her cloak and hat, and set to work to supjile- ment the supper that \vas already laid on the central table. Iler brother Jim — who was a dawdling, good-natured-looking lad of about fifteen, clad in a marvellous costume of cricketing trou- sers, a "blazer" of overpowering blue and yellow stripes, and an Egyptian fez set far back on his forehead — helped her to ex- plore the contents of the cupboard ; and very soon the three of them were seated at a comfortable and most welcome little banquet. Indeed, the charming little feast was almost sumptu- ous ; insomuch that Lionel w^is inclined to ask himself whether Miss Burgoyne, who was an astute young lady, had not foreseen the possibility of this small supper-party before leaving home in the afternoon. The oysters, for example : did Miss Burgoyne order a dozen oysters for herself alone every evening ? — for her ])rother declared that he never touched, and would not touch, any such thing. Lionel observed that his own photograph, which he had recently given her, had been accorded the place of honor on the mantel-shelf ; another portrait of him, which she had bought, stood on the piano. But why these trivial sus- picions, when she was so kind and ho8])itable and considerate ? PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 321 She pressed things on him ; she herself filled up his glass ; she was as merry as possible, and talkative and good-lmniorod. " Just to think we've known each other so long, and you've never been in my house before !" she said. " That's a portrait of my younger sister you're looking at — isn't she pretty ? It's a pastel — Miss Corkran's. Of course she is not allowed to sit up for me ; only Jim does that ; he keeps me company at sup- per-time, for I couldn't sit down all by myself, could I, in the middle of the night ? Ob, yes, you must have some more. I know gentlemen are afraid of champagne in a house looked after by a woman ; but that's all right ; that was sent me as a Christmas present by Mr. Lehmann." " It is excellent," Lionel assured her, " but I must keep my head clear if I am to find my way into Park Lane ; after that, it will be easy enough getting home." " But there's Jim's room," she exclaimed. " Oh, no, thank you," he said ; " I shall get down there with- out any trouble." And then she went to a cabinet that formed part of a book- case, and returned with a cigar-box in her hand. " I am not so sure of these," she said. " They are some I got when papa was last in town, and he seemed to think them tolerable." " Oh, but I sha'n't smoke, thanks ; no, no, I couldn't think of it !" he protested. " You'll soon be coming down again to breakfast." " To please me, Mr. Moore," she said, somewhat authorita- tively. " I assure you there's nothing in the world I like so much as the smell of cigars." What was she going to say next? But he took a cigar and lit it, and again she filled up his glass, which he had not emp- tied ; and they set to talking about the Royal Academy of Music, while she nibbled Lychee nuts, and her brother Jim subsided into a French novel. Miss Burgoyne was a sharp and shrewd observer; she had had a sufliciently varied career, and had come through some amusing experiences. She talked well, but on this evening, or morning, rather, always on the good-natured side ; if she described the foibles of any one with whom she had come in contact, it was with a laugh. Lionel was inclined to for- get that outer world of thick, cold fog, so warm and pleasant was the bright and pretty room, so easily the time seemed to pass. 14* 332 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. However, he had to tear himself away in the end. She in- sisted on his having a muffler of Jim's to wrap round his throat ; both she and her brother went down-stairs to see him out ; and then, with a hasty good-bye, he plunged into the dark. He had some difficulty in crossing to the top of Park Lane, for there were wagons come in from the country waiting for the daylight to give them some chance of moving on ; but eventually he found himself iu the well-known thoroughfare, and thereafter had not much trouble in getting down to his rooms in Piccadilly. This time he went to bed without sitting up in front of the fire in aimless reverie. This was not the last he was to hear of that adventure. Two days afterwards the foreshadowed paragraph appeared in an even- ing paper ; and from thence it was copied into all the weekly periodicals that deal more or less directly with theatrical affairs. It was headed " ' The Squire's Daughter ' in Wednesday Night's Fog," and gave a minute and somewhat highly colored account of Miss Burgoyne's experiences on the night in question ; while the fact of her having been escorted by ]\Ii-. Lionel Moore was pointed to as another instance of the way in which professional people were always ready to help one another. That this ac- count emanated in the first place from Miss Burgoyne herself, there could be no doubt whatever ; for there were certain inci- dents — as, for example, the cab wheels getting up on the pave- ment and the near upsetting of the vehicle — which were only known to herself and her companion ; but Lionel did not in his own mind accuse her of having directly instigated its publica- tion. He thought it was more likely one of the advertising tricks of Mr. Lehmann, who was always trying to keep the chief members of his company well before the public. It was the first time, certainly, that he, Lionel, had had his name coupled (unprofessionally) with that of Miss Burgoyne in the columns of a newspaper ; but was that of any consequence ? People might think what they liked. He had grown a little reckless and careless of late. But a much more important event was now about to happen which the tlieatrical papers would have been glad to get for their weekly gossi[), had the persons chiefly concerned thought fit. Just at this time there was being formed in London, under dis- tinguished patronage, a loan-collection of arms and embroideries PRINCE FORTUNATl'S. 323 of the Middle Ages, and there was to be a Private View on the Saturday preceding the opening of the exhibition to the public. Among others, Miss Burgoync received a couple of cards of in- vitation, whereupon she came to Lionel, told him that her brother Jim was going to see some football match on that day, explained that she was very anxious to have a look at the precious needle- work, and virtually asked him to take her to the show. Lionel hung back ; the crowd at this Private View was sure to include a number of fashionable folk ; there might be one or two peo- ple there whom he would rather not meet. But Miss Burgoync was gently persuasive, not to say pertinacious ; he could not well refuse ; finally it was arranged he should call for her about half-past one o'clock on the Saturday, so that they might have a look round before the crush began in the afternoon. Trust an actress to know how to dress for any possible occa- sion ! When he called for her, he found her attired in a most charming costume ; though, to be sure, when she was at last ready to go, he may have thought her furs a trifle too magnifi- cent for her height. They drove in a hansom to Bond Street. There were few people in the rooms, certainly no one whom he knew ; she could study those gorgeous treasures of em- broidery from Italy and the East, he could examine the swords and daggers and coats of mail, as they pleased. And when they had lightly glanced round the rooms, he was for getting away again ; but she was bent on remaining until the world should arrive, and declared that she had not half exhausted the interest of the various cases. As it chanced, the first persons he saw whom he knew were Miss Georgie Lestrange and her brother ; and Miss Georgie, not perceiving that any one was with him (for Miss Burgoync was at the moment feasting her eyes on some rich-hued Persian stuffs), came up to him. " Why, Mr. Moore, you have quite disappeared of late," the ruddy-haired damsel said, quite reproachfully. " Where have you been ? What have you been doing ?" " Don't you ever read the newspapers, Miss Lestrange ?" he said, " I have been advertised as being on view every night at the New Theatre." " Oh, I don't mean that. Lady Adela says you have quite forsaken her." 324 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Is Lady Adela to be here tills afternoon ?" lie asked, in an ofiE-hand way. " Ob, certainly," replied Miss Georgie. " Sbe is going every- wbere just now, in order to put everytbing into ber new novel. It is to be a perfectly complete picture of London life as we see it around us." " Tbat is, tbe London between Bond Street and Campden Hill?" " Ob, well, all London is too big for one canvas. You must cut it into sections. I dare say sbe will take up Wbitecbapel in ber next book." Miss Burgoyne turned from tbe glass case to seek ber com- panion, and seemed a little surprised to find bim talking to tliese two strangers. It was tbe swiftest glance ; but Miss Georgie divined tbe situation in an instant. " Good-bye for tbe present," sbe said, and sbe and ber brotber passed on. And now be was more anxious tban ever to get away. If Lady Adela and ber sisters were coming to tbis exbibition, was it not bigbly probable tbat Honnor Cunyngbam migbt be of tbe party ? lie did not wisb to meet any one of tliem ; especially did he not care to meet tbem wbile he was acting as escort to Miss Burgoyne. There were reasons which be could hardly define ; be only knew tbat the clicking of the turnstile on the stair was an alarming sound, and tbat he regarded each new group of visitors, as they came into tbe room, with a furtive ap- prehension. " Ob, very well," Miss Burgoyne said, at length, " let us go." And on tbe staircase sbe again said: "What is it? Are you afraid of meeting the mamma of some girl you've jilted ? Or some man to whom you owe money for cards ? Ab, Master Lionel, when are you going to reform and lead a steady and respectable life ?" He breathed more freely when be was outside ; here, in tbe crowd, if be met any one to whom he did not wish to speak, he could be engaged with bis companion and pass on without recog- nition, lie proposed to Miss Burgoyne that they should walk home, by way of Piccadilly and Park Lane, and tbat young lady cbo(!rfuily assented. It was quite a [)lcasant afternoon, for London in midwintci'. Tbe setting sun sliotic witb a dull-cop- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 305 per lustre along the fronts of the tall huildings, and over the trees of the Green Park hung clouds that were glorified by the intervening red-hued mists. The air was crisp and cold — what a blessing it was to be able to breathe ! Lionel was silent and absorbed ; he only said, " Yes ?" " Real- ly !" " Indeed !" in answer to the vivacious chatter of his com- panion, who was in the most animated spirits. His brows were drawn down ; his look was more sombre than it ought to have been, considering who was with him. Perhaps* he was thinking of the crowded rooms they had recently left, and of the friends who might now be arriving there, from whom lie had voluntarily isolated himself. Had they, had any one of them, counselled him to keep within his own sphere ? Well, he had taken that advice ; here he was — walking with Miss Burgoyne ! All of a sudden that young lady stopped and turned to the window of a jeweller's shop ; and of course he followed. No wonder her eyes had been attracted ; here were all kinds of beautiful things and splendors — tiaras, coronets, necklaces, pen- dants, bracelets, earrings, bangles, brooches — set with all manner of precious stones, the clear, radiant diamond, the purple ame- thyst, the sea-green emerald, the mystic opal, the blue-black sap- phire, the clouded pearl. Her raptured vision wandered from tray to tray, but it was a comparatively trifling article that finally claimed her attention — a tiny finger-ring set with small rubies and brilliants. " Oh, do look at this !" she said to her companion. " Did you ever see such a love of a ring ? — what a perfect engagement- ring it would make !" Then what mad, half-sullen, half-petulant, and wholly reckless impulse sprang into his brain ! " Well, will you wear that as an engagement-ring, if I give it to you ?" he asked. She looked up, startled, amused, but not displeased. " Why, really — really — that is a question to ask !" she ex- claimed. " Come along in and see if it fits your finger — come along !" and therewith Miss Burgoyne, a little bewildered and still in- clined to laugh, found herself at the jeweller's counter. Was it a joke ? Oh, certainly not. Lionel was quite serious and mat- ter of fact. The tray was produced. The ring was taken out. 336 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. For a moment she hesitated as to which finger to try it on, but overcame that shyness and placed it on the third finger of her left hand and said it fitted admirably. "Just keep it where it is, then," he said; and then he added a word or two to the jeweller, whom he knew ; and he and his companion left the shop. *' Oh, Lionel, what an idea !" said Miss Burgoyne, with her eyes bent modestly on the pavement. " If I had fancied you knew that man, do you think I would ever have entered the place ? What must he think ? What would any one think ? — an engagement in the middle of the streets of London !" *' Plenty of witnesses to the ceremony, that's all," said he, lightly. Nay, was there not a curious sense of possession, now that he walked alongside this little, bright person in the magnificent furs ? He had acquired something by this simple transaction ; he would be less lonely now ; he would mate with his kind. But he did not choose to look far into the future. Here he was walking along Piccadilly, with a cheerful and smiling and prettily costumed young lady by his side who had just been so kind as to accept an engagement-ring from him, and what more could he want? " Lionel," she said, still with modestly downcast eyes, " this mustn't be known to any human being — no, not to a single hu- man being — not yet, I mean, I will get a strip of white india- rubber to cover the ring, so that no one shall be able to see it on the stage." Perhaps he recalled the fact that recently she had been wear- ing another ring similarly concealed from the public gaze ; or perhaps he had forgotten that little circumstance. What did it matter ? Did anything matter ? He only knew he had pledged himself to marry Kate Burgoyne — enough. CHAPTER XX. IN DIRER STRAITS. Now, when a young man, in whatever wayward mood of pet- ulance or defiance or wounded self-love, chooses to j)lay tricks PRINCE FORTUNATU8. 327 with liis own fate, he is pretty sure to discover that sooner or later he has himself to reckon with — his other and saner self that will arise and refuse to be silenced. And this awakening came almost directly to Lionel Moore. Even as he went down to the theatre that same evening, he began to wonder whether Miss Burgoyne would really be wearing the ring he had given her. Or would she not rather consider the whole affair a joke ? — not a very clever joke, indeed, but at least something to be put on one side and forgotten. She had been inclined to laugh at the idea of two people becoming engaged to each other in the middle of the London streets, A life-pledge offered and accepted in front of a window in Piccadilly ! — why, such was the way of comic opera, not of the actual world. Jests of that kind were all very well in the theatre, but they were best confined to the stage. And would not Miss Burgoyne under- stand that on a momentary impulse he had yielded to a fit of half-sullen recklessness, and would she not be quite ready and willing to release him ? But when, according to custom, he went into her room that evening, he soon became aware that Miss Burgoyne did not at all treat this matter as a jest. " See !" she said to him, with a becoming shyness — and she showed him how cleverly she had covered her engagement-ring with a little band of flesh-tinted india-rubber, *' No one will be able to see it ; and I sha'n't have to take it off at all. Why, I could play Galatea, and not a human being would notice that the statue was wearing a ring !" She seemed very proud and pleased and happy, though she spoke in an imdertone, for Jane was within earshot. As for him, he did not say anything. Of course he was bound to stand by what he had done and suffer the consequences, whatever they might be. When he left the room and went up-stairs into the wings, it was in a vague sort of stupefaction ; but here were the immediate exigencies of the stage, and perhaps it was better not to look too far ahead. But it was with just a little sense of shame that he found, when the piece was over, and they were ready to leave the the- atre, that Miss Burgoyne expected him to accompany her on her way home. If only he had had sufficient courage, he might have said to her, 328 PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. " Look here ; we are engaged to be married, and I'm not go- ing to back out ; I will fulfil my promise whenever you please. But for goodness' sake don't expect me to play the lover — off the stage as well as on. Sweethearting is a silly sort of busi- ness ; don't we have enough every evening before the footlights ? Let us conduct ourselves as rational human creatures — when we're not paid to make fools of ourselves. What good will it do if I drive home with you in this hansom? Do you expect me to put my arm round your waist ? No, thanks ; there isn't much novelty in that kind of thing for Grace Mainwaring and Harry Thornhill." And when eventually they did arrive in Edgeware Road, she could not induce him to enter the house and have some bit of supper with herself and her brother Jim. " What are you going to do to-morrow, then ?" she asked. " Will you call for me in the morning and go to church with me?" " I don't think I shall stir out to-morrow," he said, " I feel rather out of sorts ; and I fancy I may try what a day in bed will do." " How can you expect to be well if you sit up all night play- ing cards ?" she demanded, with reason on her side. " How- ever, there's to be no more of that now. So you won't come in — not for a quarter of an hour ?" She rang the bell. •' Oh, Lionel, by the way, do you think Jim should know ?" she asked, with her eyes cast down in maiden modesty. " Just as you like," he answered. " Why, you don't seem to take any interest !" she exclaimed, with a pout. "I wonder what l^crcy Miles will say when ho hears of it. Oh, my goodness, I'm afraid to think !" " What he will say won't matter very much," Lionel remarked, indifferently. " Poor boy ! I'm sorry for him," she said, apparently with a little compunction, perhaps even regret. The door was opened by her brother. , " Sure you won't come in?" she finally asked. " Well, I shall be at home all to-morrow afternoon, if you happen to be up in this direction. Good-night !" " Good-night," said he, taking her outstretched hand for a PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 329 second ; then he turned and walked away. There had not been much love-making — so far. But he did not go straight to his lodgings. He wandered away aimlessly through the dark streets. He felt sick at heart — not especially because of this imbroglio into which he had walked with open eyes, for that did not seem to matter much, one way or the other. But everything appeared to have gone wrong with him since Nina had left ; and the worst of it was that he was gradually ceasing to care how things went, right or wrong. At this moment, for example, he ought to have been thinking of the situation he had created for himself, and resolv- ing either to get out of it before more harm was done, or to loyally fulfil his contract by cultivating what affection for Miss Burgoyne was possible in the circumstances. But he was not thinking of Miss Burgoyne at all. He was thinking of Nina. He was thinking how hard it was that whenever his fancy went in search of her — away to Malta, to Australia, to the United States, as it might be — he could not hope to find a Nina whom he could recognize. For she would be quite changed now. His imagination could not picture to himself a Nina grown grave and sad-eyed, perhaps furtively hiding her sorrow, fear- ing to encounter her friends. The Nina whom he had always known was a light-hearted and laughing companion, eagerly talkative, a smile on her parted lips, affection, kindliness ever present in her shining, soft, dark eyes. Sometimes silent, too ; sometimes, again, singing a fragment of one of the old familiar folk-songs of her youth. What was that one with the refrain, " lo te voglio bene assaje, e tu non pienz' a me " ? — " La notta tutte dormeno, E io che biio dormire ! Pensanno a Neuna mia Mine sent' ascevoli. Li quarte d' ora sonano A uno, a doje e tre . . . Io te voglio bene assaje, E4u non pienz' a me !" — Look, now, at this beautiful morning — the wide bay all of silver and azure — Vesuvius sending its column of dusky smoke into the cloudless sky — the little steamer churning up the clear water as it starts away from the quay. Ah, we have escaped 330 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. from you, good Maestro Pandiani ; there shall be no grumblings and incessant repetitions to-day ; no, nor odors of onions com- ing up the narrow and dirty stairs ; here is the open world, all shining, and the sweet air blowing by, and Battista trying to sell his useless canes, and the minstrels playing " Santa Lucia " most sentimentally, as though they had never played it before. Whither, then, Nina? To Castellamare or Sorrento, with their pink and yellow houses, their terraces and gardens, their vine- smothered bowers, or rather to the filmy island out yonder, that seems to move and tremble in the heat ? A couple of words in their own tongue suffice to silence the importunate coral-girls ; we climb the never-ending steps; behold, a cool and gracious balcony, with windows looking far out over the quivering plain of the sea. Then the soup, and the boiled corn, and the caccia- cavallo — you Neapolitan girl ! — and nothing will serve you but that orris-scented stuff that you fondly believe to be honest wine. You 'will permit a cigarette ? Then shall we descend to the beach again, and get into a boat, and lie down, and find ourselves shot into the Blue Grotto — find ourselves floating be- tween heaven and earth in a hollow-sounding globe of azure flame ? . . . Dreams — dreams ! " lo te voglio bene assaje, e tu non pienz' a me /" During the first period of Miss Burgoyne's engagement to Lionel Moore, all went well. Jane, her dresser, had quite a won- derful time of it ; her assiduous and arduous ministrations were received with the greatest good-nature ; now she was never told, if she hurt her mistress in lacing up a dress, that she de- served to have her face slapped. Miss Burgoyne was amiability itself towards the whole Company, so far as she had any rela- tions with them ; and at her little receptions in the evening she was all brightness and merriment, even when she had to join in the conversation from behind the heavy portiere. Whether this small coterie in the theatre guessed at the true state of affairs, it is hard to say ; but at least Miss Burgoyne did not trouble herself much about concealment. She called her aflianccd lover " Lionel," no matter who chanced to be present ; and she would ask him to help her to hand the tea, just as if he already be- longed to her. Moreover, she told him that Mr. Percival Miles had some suspicion of what had happened. "Not that 1 would admit anything definite," said the young PRINCE FORTUNATCS. 331 lady. " There will be time enough for that. And I did not want a scene. But I'm sorry. It docs seem a pity that so much devotion should meet with no requital." " Devotion !" said Lionel. " Oh, of course you don't know what devotion is. Your fashionable friends have taught you what good form is ; you are blase, indifferent ; it's not women, it's cards, that interest you. You have no fresh feeling left," continued this ingenue of the greenroom. " You have been so spoiled — " " I see he's up at the Garden Club," said Lionel, to change the subject. " Who ?" " The young gentleman you were just speaking of." " Percy Miles ? What does he want with an all-night club ?" " I'm sure I don't know." " Ah, well, I suppose he is not likely to get in," she said, turning to the tall mirror. " Percy is very nice — just the nicest boy I know — but I'm afraid he is not particularly clever. He has written some verses in one or two magazines — of course you can't expect me to criticise them severely, considering who was the * only begetter ' of them — " " Oh, that has nothing to do with it," Lionel interrupted again. " He is sure to get in. There's no qualification at the Garden, so long as you're all right socially. There are plenty such as he In the club already." " But why does he want to get in ?" she said, wheeling round. " Why should he want to sit up all night playing cards ? Now tell me honestly, Lionel, it isn't your doing ! You didn't ask him to join, did you ? You can't be treasuring up any feeling of vengeance — " " Oh, nonsense ; I had nothing to do with it. I saw his name in the candidates' book quite by accident. And the election is by committee — he'll get in all right. What does he want with' it? — oh, I don't know. Perhaps he has been disappointed in love and seeks for a little consolation in card-playing." "Yes, you always sneer at love — because you don't know anything about it," she said, snappishly. " Or perhaps you are an extinct volcano. I suppose you have sighed your heart out like a furnace — and for a foreigner, I'll be bound !" Nay, it was hardly to be wondered at that Miss Burgoyne should 332 PRINCE FORTUNATCS. be indignant with so lukewarm and reluctant a lover, who received her coy advances with coldness, and was only decently civil to her when they talked of wholly indifferent matters. The mis- chief of it was that, in casting about for some key to the odd situation, she took it into her head to become jealous of Nina ; and many were the bitter things she managed to say about for- eigners generally, and about Italians in particular, and Italian singers, and so forth. Of course Miss Ross was never openly mentioned, but Lionel understood well enough at whom these covert innuendoes were hurled ; and sometimes his eyes burned with a fire far other than that which should be in a lover's eyes when contemplating his mistress. Indeed, it was a dangerous amusement for Miss Burgoyne to indulge in. It was easy to wound ; it might be less easy to efface the memory of those wounds. And then there was a kind of devilish ingenuity about her occult taunts. For example, she dared not say that doubt- less Miss Nina Ross had gone away back to Naples, and had taken up with a sweetheart, with whom she was now walking about; but she described the sort of young maa calculated to capture the fancy of an Italian girl. " The seedy swell of Naples or Rome — he is irresistible to the Italian girl," she said, on one occasion. " You know him ; his shirt open at the neck down almost to his chest — his trousers tight at the knee and enormously wide at the foot — a poncho- looking kind of cloak, with a greasy Astrachan collar — a tall French hat, rather shabby — a face the color of paste — an odor of cigarettes and garlic — dirty hands — and a cane. I suppose the theatre is too expensive, so he goes to the public gardens, and strolls up and down, and takes off his hat with a sweep to people he pretends to recognize ; or perhaps he sits in front of a cafe^ with a glass of cheap brandy before him, an evening journal in his hands, and a toothpick in his mouth." "You seem to have made his very particular acquaintance," said he, with a touch of scorn. " Did he give you his arm when you were walking together in the public gardens?" " Give me his arm ?" she exclaimed. " I would not allow such a creature to come within twenty yards of me ! I prefer people who use soap." " What a pity it is they can't invent soap for purifying the mind !" he said, venomously ; and he went out, and spoke no more to her during the rest of that evening. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 333 Matters went from bad to worse ; for Miss Burgoyne, finding nothing else that could account for his habitual depression of spirits, his occasional irritability and obvious indifEerence tow- ards herself, made bold to assume that he was secretly, even if unconsciously, fretting over Nina's absence ; and her jealousy grew more and more angry and vindictive, until it carried her beyond all bounds. For now she began to say disparaging or malicious things about Miss Ross, and that without subterfuge. At last there came a climax. She had sent for him (for he did not invariably go into her room before the beginning of the last act, as once he had done), and, as she was still in the inner apartment, he took a chair, and stretched out his legs, and flicked a spot or two of dust from his silver-buckled shoes. " What hour did you get home this morning ?" she called to him, in rather a saucy tone. " I don't know exactly." " And don't care. You are leading a pretty life," she went on, rather indiscreetly, for Jane was with her. " Distraction ! Distraction from what ? You sit up all night ; you eat supper at all hours of the morning ; you get dyspepsia and indigestion ; and of course you become low-spirited — then there must be dis- traction. If you would lead a wholesome life you wouldn't need any distraction." " Oh, don't worry !" he said, impatiently. " What's come over that Italian friend of yours — that Miss Ross ?" » I don't know." " You've never heard anything of her ?" " No — nothing." '* Don't you call that rather cool on her part ? You introduce her to this theatre, you get her an engagement, you befriend her in every way, and all of a sudden she bolts, without a thank you !" " I presume Miss Ross is the best judge of her own actions," said he, stiffly. " Oh, you needn't be so touchy !" said Grace Thornhill, as she came forth in all the splendor of her bridal array, and at once proceeded to the mirror. " But I can quite understand your not liking having been treated in that fashion. People often 334 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. are deceived in their friends, aren't they ? And there's nothing so horrid as ingratitude. Certainly she ought to have been grate- ful to you, considering the fuss you made about her — the whole company remarked it !" He did not answer ; he did not even look her way ; but there was an angry cloud gathering on his brows. " No ; very ungrateful, I call it," she continued, in the same dangerously supercilious tone. " You take up some creature you know nothing about and befriend her, and even make a spectacle of yourself through the way you run after her, and all at once she says, ' Good-bye ; I've had enough of you ' — and that's all the explanation you have !" " Oh, leave Miss Ross alone, will you ?" he said, in accents that might have warned her. Perhaps she was unheeding ; perhaps she was stung into re- tort ; at all events, she turned and faced him. " Leave her alone ?" she said, with a flash of defiance in her look. " It is you who ought to leave her alone ! She has cheat- ed you — why should you show temper ? Why should you sulk with every one, simply because an Italian organ-grinder has shown you what she thinks of you ? Oh, I suppose the heav- ens must fall, because you've lost your pretty plaything — that made a laughing-stock of you ? You don't even know where she is — I can tell you ! — wandering along in front of the pave- ment at Brighton, in a green petticoat and a yellow handkerchief on her head, and singing to a concertina! That's about it, I should think ; and very likely the seedy swell is waiting for her in their lodgings — waiting for her to bring the money home !" Lionel rose ; he said not a word ; but the pallor of his face and the fire in his eyes were terrible to see. Plainly enough she saw them ; but she was only half-terrified ; she seemed aroused to a sort of whirlwind of passion. " Oh, say it !" she cried. " Why don't you say it? Do you think I don't see it in your eyes ? ' / hate you /' — that's what you want to say ; and you haven't the courage — you're a man, and you haven't the courage !" That look did not depart from his face ; but he stood in silence for a second, as if considering whether he should speak. His self-control infuriated her all the more. " Do you think I care ?" she exclaimed, with panting breath. PRINCE F0BTUNATU8. 335 " Do you think I care whether you hate me or not — whether you go sighing all day after your painted Italian doll ? And do you imagine I want to wear this thing — that it is for this I will put up with every kind of insult and neglect? Not I !" She pulled the bit of india-rubber from her finger ; she dragged off the engagement-ring and dashed it on the floor in front of liis feet — while her eyes sparkled with rage, and the cherry -paste hardly concealed the whiteness of her lips. " Take it — and give it to the organ-grinder !" she called, in the madness of her rage. He did not even look whither the ring had rolled. Without a single word he quite calmly turned and opened the door and passed outside. Nay, he was so considerate as to leave the door open for her ; for he knew she would be wanted on the stage directly. He himself went up into the wings — in his gay cos- tume of satin and silk and powdered wig and ruffles. Had the audience only known, during the last act of this com- edy, what fierce passions were agitating the breasts of the two chief performers in this pretty play, they might have looked on with added interest. How could they tell that the gallant and dashing Harry ThoTnhill was in his secret heart filled with an- ger and disdain whenever he came near his charming sweet- heart? how could they divine that the coquettish Grace Main- warino- was not thinking of her wiles and graces at all, but was on the road to a most piteous repentance ? The one was saying to himself, " Very well, let the vixen go to the devil ; a happy riddance !" and the other was saying, " Oh, dear me, what have I done ? — why did he put me in such a passion ?" But the pub- lic in the stalls were all unknowing. They looked on and laughed, or looked on and sat solemn and stolid^ as happened to be their nature ; and then they slightly clapped their pale-gloved hands, and rose and donned their cloaks and coats. They had forgotten what the piece was about by the time they reached their brough- ams. Later on, at the stage-door, whither a four-wheeler had been brought for her. Miss Burgoyne lingered. Presently Lionel came along. He would have passed her, but she intercepted him ; and in the dusk outside she thrust forth her hand. " Will you forgive me, Lionel ? I ask your forgiveness," she said, in an undertone that was suggestive of tears. " I dou't 336 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. know wliat made me say such things — I didn't mean them — I'm very sorry. See," she continued, and in the dull lamp-light she showed him her ungloved hand, with the engagement-ring in its former place — " I have put on the ring again. Of course, you are hurt and offended ; but you are more forgiving than a woman — a man should be. I will never say a word against her again ; I should have remembered how you were companions before she came to England ; and I can understand your affec- tion for her, and your — your regret about her going away. Now will you be generous ? — will you forgive me V " Oh, yes, that's all right," he said — as he was bound to say. "But that's not enough. Will you come now and have some supper with Jim and me, and we'll talk about everything — except that one thing ?" " No, thanks, I can't ; I have an engagement," he made answer. She hesitated for a moment. Then she offered him her hand again. " Well, at all events, bygones are to be bygones," she said. " And to-morrow I'm going to begin to knit a woollen vest for you, that you can slip on before you come out. Good-night, dearest !" " Good-night," he said ; and he opened the door of the cab for her and told the cabman her address ; then — rather slowly and absently — he set out for the Garden Club. The first person he beheld at the Garden Club was Octavius Quirk — of course at the supper-table. " Going to Lady Adela's on the 3d ?" said the bilious-looking Quirk, in a gay manner. " I should want to be asked first," was Lionel's simple re- joinder. " Ah !" said the other, complacently. " I heard you had not been much there lately. A charming house — most interesting — ■ quite delightful to see people of their station so eagerly devoted to the arts. Music, painting, literature — all the elegancies of life — and all touched with a light and graceful hand. You should read some of Lady Adela's descriptions in her new book — not seen it ? — no ? — ah, well, it will bo out before long for the gen- eral world to read. As I was saying, her descriptions of places abroad are simply cliarmiiig — channing. There's wlierc the i)rac- tised traveller comes in ; no heavy and laborious work ; the strik- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 337 ing peculiarities hit off with the most delicate appreciation ; the fine fieur of difference noted everywhere. Your bourgeois goes and rams his bull's head against everything he meets ; he's in wonderment and ecstacy almost before he lands ; he stares with astonishment at a fisherwoman on Calais pier and weeps maudlin tears over the masonry of the Sainte Chapelle. Then Lady Ade- la's style — marvellous, marvellous. I give you my word as an expert ! Full of distinction ; choice ; fastidious ; penetrated everywhere by a certain je ne sais quoi of dexterity and apti- tude ; each word charged with color, as a critic might say. You have not seen any of the sheets ?" continued Mr. Quirk, with his mouth full of steak and olives. " Dear me ! You haven't quar- relled with Lady Adela, have you ? I did hear there was some little disappointment that you did not get Lady Sybil's ' Soldiers' Marching Song' introduced at the New Theatre ; but I dare say the composer wouldn't have his operetta interfered with. Even you are not all-powerful. However, Lady Adela is unreasonable if she has taken offence : I will see that it is put right." " I wouldn't trouble you — thanks !" said Lionel, rather coldly ; and then, having eaten a biscuit and drank a glass of claret and water, he went up-stairs to the card-room. There were two tables occupied — one party plaving whist, the other poker ; to the latter Lionel idly made his way. " Coming in, Moore ?" "Oh, yes, I'll come in. What are you playing?" " Usual thing : sixpenny ante and iive-shilling limit." " Let's have it a shilling ante and a sovereign limit," he pro- posed, as they made room for him at the table, and to this they agreed, and the game began. At first Lionel could get no hands at all, but he never went out ; sometimes he drew four cards to an ace or a queen, some- times he took the whole five ; while his losses, if steady, were not material. Occasionally he bluffed, and got a small pot ; but it was risky, as he was distinctly in a run of bad luck. At last he was dealt nine, ten, knave, queen, ace, in different suits. This looked better. " How many ?" asked the dealer. " I will take one card, if you please," he said, throwing away the ace. He glanced at the card, as he put it intu his hand : it was a 15 338 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. king; he had a straight. Then he watched what the others were taking. The player on his left also asked for one — a doubtful intimation. His next neighbor asked for two — prob- ably he had three of a kind. The dealer threw up his cards. The age had already taken three—no doubt he had started with the common or garden pair. It was Lionel's turn to bet. " Well," said he, " I will just go five shilHngs on this little lot," " I will see your five shillings and go a sovereign better," said his neighbor, " That's twenty-five shillings for me to come in," said lie who had taken two cards, " Well, I'll raise you another sov- ereign." The age went out. " Two sovereigns against me," said Lionel, " Very well, then, I'll just raise you another," " And another," This frightened the third player, who incontinently retired. There were now left in only Lionel and his antagonist, and each had drawn but one card. Now the guessing came in. Had the player been drawing to two pairs, or to fill a flush or a straight ; had he got a full hand ; or was he left with his two pairs ; or, again, had he failed to fill, and was he betting on a perfectly worthless lot ? At all events the two combatants kept hammer- ing away at each other, until there was a goodly pile of gold on the table, and the interest of the silent onlookers was propor- tionately increased. Were both bluffing and each afraid to call the other ? Or was it that cruel and horrible combination — a full hand betting against four of a kind ? " I call you," said Lionel's enemy, at length, as he put down the last sovereign he had on the table. " A straight," was Lionel's answer, as he showed his cards, " Not good enough, my boy," said tbe other, as he calmly ranged a flush of diamonds before him, *' Take away the money, Johnny," said Lionel, as if it were a matter of no moment. " Or wait a second ; I'll go you double or quits." But here there was an almost general protest. *' r)|i what's the use of that, Moore? Tt was the duke who PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 339 brought that nonsense in, and it ought to be stopped ; it spoils the game. Stick to the legitimate thing. When you once be- gin that stupidity, there's no stopping it." However, the player whom Lionel had challenged had no mind to deny him. " For the whole pot, or for what you put in ?" he asked. " Either — whichever you like," Lionel said, carelessly. " We'll say the whole pot, then : cither I give you what's on the table, or you double it," the lucky young gentleman made answer, as he proceeded to count the sovereigns and chips — there was £28 in all. " Will you call to me ? Very well. What do you say this is ?" — spinning a sovereign. " I say it's a head," Lionel replied. " You've made a mistake, then — very sorry," said the other, as he raked in his own money. " I owe you twenty-eight pounds, Johnny," Lionel said, with- out more ado; and he took out his note-book and jotted it down. Then they went on again. Now the game of poker is played in calm ; happy is he who can preserve a perfectly expressionless face through all its vicis- situdes. But the game of whiskey-poker (which is no game) is played amid vacuous excitement and strong language and deris- ive laughter — especially towards four in the morning. The whole of this little party seemed ready to go ; in fact, they had all risen and were standing round the table ; but nevertheless they remained, while successive hands w^ere dealt, face upwai'ds. At first only a sovereign each was staked, then two, then three, then four, then five — and there a line was drawn. But in stak- ing five sovereigns every time, with four to one against you, a considerable amount of money can be lost ; and Lionel had been in ill-luck all the sitting. He did not, however, seem to mind his losses, so long as the fierce spirit of gambling could be kept up ; and it was with no desperate effort at recovering his money that he was always for increasing the stakes. He would have sat down at the table and gone on indefinitely with this frantic plunging, but that his companions declared they must go direct- ly ; at last three of them solemnly swore they would have only one round more. There were then left in only Lionel and the young fellow who had won his £28 early in the evening. " Johnny, T'll go you once for twenty pounds," Lionel said. 340 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. *' Done with you." " I say, you fellows," protested one of the bystanders, " you'll smash up this club — you'll have the police shutting it up as a gambling-hell. Besides, you're breaking the rules ; you'll have the committee expelling you." *' AVhat rules ?" Lionel's opponent asked, wheeling round. " The amount of the stakes, for one thing ; and playing after three o'clock, for another," was the answer. " I'll bet you ten pounds there's no limit as to time in the rules of this club — I mean as regards card-playing," the young man said, boldly. " I take you." The bell was rung ; a waiter was sent to fetch a List of Mem- bers ; and then he who had accepted the bet read out these solemn words : " Rule XIX. No higher stakes than guinea points shall ever be played for, nor shall any card or billiard playing be permit- ted in the club after 3 a.m." " There's your confounded money ; what a fool of a club to let you stay here all night if you like, and to stop card-playing at three !" He turned to Lionel. " Well, Moore, what did you say : twenty pounds ? I'll just make it thirty, if you like, and see if I can't get back that ten." " Right with you, Johnny." The young man dealt the two hands : he found he had a pair of fours, Lionel nothing but a king. The winner took over the loser's I. O. IT. for the £30, and then said, " Well, now, I'll go you double or quits." " Oh, certainly," said Lionel, " if you like. But I don't think you should. You are the winner ; stick to what you've got." " Oh, I'll give you a chance to get it all back," the young man said ; and this time Lionel dealt the cards. And again the latter lost — having to substitute an I. 0. U. for £00 for its pre- decessor. " Well, now, I'll give you one more chance," the winner said, with a laugh. " I'm banged if you shall, Johnny !" said one of the bystand- ers ; and he had the courage to intervene and snatch up the cards. " Cunie away tu your beds, boys, and stop (hat nou- PRINCE FORTDNATUS. 34I sense ! You've lost enough, Moore ; and this fellow would go on till Doomsday." But that insatiate young man was not to be beaten, after all. When they were separating in the street below he drew Lionel aside. " Look here, old man, why should we be deprived of our final little flutter ? I want to give you a chance of getting back the whole thing." " Not at all, my good fellow," Lionel said, with a smile. " Why don't you keep the money and rest content ? Do you think I grudge it to you ?" " Come — an absolutely last double or quits," said the other, and he pulled out a coin from his pocket and put it between his two palms. " Heads or tails ? — and then go home happy !" " Well, since you challenge me, I'll go this once more, and this once more only. I call a tail." The upper hand was removed : in the dull lamp-light the dusky gold coin was examined. " It's a head," said Lionel, " so that's all right, and it's you who are to go home happy. I'll settle up with you to-morrow evening. Do you want this hansom? — I don't: I think I'd rather walk. Good-night, Johnny." It was a long price to pay for a few hours of distraction and f orgetfulness ; still, he had had these ; and the loss of the money, jxr se, did not affect him nmch. He walked away home. When he reached his rooms, there were some letters for him lying on the table ; he took them and looked at them ; he noticed one handwriting that used to be rather more familiar. This letter he opened first. AiTRON Lodge, Campden Hill, Feb. 23. " My dear Mr. Moore, — It is really quite shocking tlie way you have neg- lected us of late, and I, at least, cannot imagine any reason. Perhaps we have both been in fault. My sisters and I iiavc all been very busy, in our several ways ; and then it is awkward you should have only the one Sunday evening free. But there, let bygones be bygones, and come and dine with us on Sunday, Marcli 3, at 8. Forgive the short notice ; I've had some trouble in trying to secure one or two people whom I dou't know very well, and I couldn't fix earlier. The fact is, I want it to be an intellectual little dinner; and who could represent music and the drama so fitly as yourself? I want only people with brains at it — perhaps you wouldn't include Rockminster in that category, but I must have him to help me, as my husband is away in Scotland looking after his beasts. Now do be good-uatured, dear Mr. Moore, and say you will coma 342 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. "And I am going to try your goodness another way. You remember Fpeaking to me about a friend of yours who was connected with newspaper?, and who knew some of the London correspondents of tlie provincial journals ? Could you oblige me with his address and the correct spelling of his name ? I presume he would not consider it out of the way if I wrote to him as being a friend of yours, and enclosed a card of invitation. I want to have all the talents — that is, all of them I can get to come and honor the house of a mere novice and beginner. I did not catch either your friend's surname or his Christian name. Ever yours sincerely, Adela Cdnyngham." He tossed the letter on to the table. " I wonder," he said to himself, " how much of that is meant for me, and how much for Maurice Mangan and newspaper para- graphs." But it was high time to get to bed ; and that he did without any serious fretting over his losses at the Garden Club. These had amounted, on the whole gamble, to nearly £170; which might have made him pause. For did he not owe responsibili- ties elsewhere ? If he went on at this rate (he ought to have been asking himself) whence was likely to come the money for the plenishing of a certain small household — an elegant little es- tablishment towards which Miss Kate Burgoyne was no doubt now looking forward with pleased and expectant eyes. CHAPTER XXI. IN A DEN OF LIONS, AND THEREAFTER. When Maurice Mangan, according to appointment, called at Lionel's rooms on the evening of Lady Adela Cunyngham's din- ner-party, he was surprised to find his friend seated in front of the fire, wrapped up in a dressing-gown. *' Linn, what's the matter with you ?" he exclaimed, looking at him. " Are you ill ? What have you been doing to yourseif ?" " Oh, nothing," was the answer. " 1 have been rather wor- ried and out of sorts lately, that is all. And I can't go to that dinner to-night, Maurice. Will you make my excuses for me, like a good fellow ? Tell Lady Adela I'm awfully sorry — '* " I'm sure I sha'n't do anything of the sort," Mangan said, promptly. " Do you think I am going to leave you here all by yourself? You know why I accepted the invitation : mere curi- PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 343 osity ; I wanted to see you among those people — I wanted to describe to Miss Francic bow you looked wben you were being adored — " " My dear chap, you would have seen nothing of the sort," Lionel said. " To-night there is to be a shining galaxy of genius, and each particular star will be eager to absorb all the adoration that is going. Authors, actors, painters, musicians — that kind of people ; kid-gloved Bohemia." " Come, Linn ; rouse yourself, man," his friend protested. " You'll do no good moping here by the fire. There's still time for you to dress ; I came early in case you might want to walk up to Campden Hill. And you shouldn't disappoint your friends, if this is to be so great an occasion." " I suppose you're right," Lionel said, and he rose wearily, " though I would twenty times rather go to bed. You can SikI a book for yourself, Maurice ; I sha'n't keep you many minutes," and with that he disappeared into his dressing-room. A four-wheeler carried them up to Campden Hill ; a welcome glow of light shone forth on the carriage-drive and the dark bushes. As they entered and crossed the wide hall, they were preceded by a young lady whose name was at the same mo- ment announced at the door of the drawing-room — " Miss Ga- brielle Grey." " Oh, really," said Mangan to his companion, as they were leaving their coats and hats. " I always thought ' Gabrielle Grey ' was the pseudonym of an elderly clergyman's widow, or somebody of that kind." " But who is Miss Gabriel Grey ?" "You mean to say you have never even heard of her? Oh, she writes novels — very popular, too, and very deservedly so, for that kind of thing — excellent in tone, highly moral, and stuffed full of High-Church sentiment ; and I can tell you this, Linn, my boy, that for a lady novelist to have plenty of High- Church sentiment at her command is about equivalent to hold- ing four of a kind at poker — and that's an illustration you'll understand. Now come and introduce me to my hostess, and tell me who all the people are." Lady Adela received both Lionel and his friend in the most kindly manner. " What a charming photograph that is of you in evening 344 PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. dress," she said to Lionel. "Really, I've had to lock away my copy of it ; girls are such thieves nowadays ; they think noth- ing of picking up what pleases them and popping it in their pockets." And therewith Lady Adela turned to Mr. (^uirk, with whom she had been talking ; and the new-comers passed on, and found themselves in a corner from whence they could sur- vey the room. The first glance revealed to Lionel that, if all the talents were there, the " quality " was conspicuously absent. " I know hardly anybody here," he said, in an undertone, to Mangan. " Oh, I know some of them," was the answer, also in an under- tone. " Rather small lions — I think she might have done bet- ter with proper guidance. But perhaps this is only a beginning. Isn't your friend Quirk a picture ? Who is the remarkably handsome girl just beyond ?" " That's Lady Adela's sister. Lady Sybil." " The composer ? I see ; that's why she's talking to that por- tentous old ass, Schweinkopf, the musical critic. Then there's Miss Gabrielle Grey — poor thing ! she's not very pretty — '1 was not good enough for man, and so am given to ' — publishers. By Jove, there's Ichabod — standing by the door ; don't you know him ? — Egerton — but they call him Ichabod at the Garrick. Now, what could our hostess expect to get out of Ichabod ? He has nothing left to him but biting his nails like the senile Pope or Pagan in the * Pilgrim's Progress.' " " What does he do ?" " lie is a reviewer, et prcetcrea nihil. Some twenty years ago he wrote two or three novels, but people wouldn't look at them, and so he became morose about the public taste and modern literature. In fact, there has been no English literature — for twenty years ; this is his wail and moan whenever an editor allows him to lift up his voice. It was feeble on the part of your friend to ask Ichabod ; she won't get anything out of him. I can sec a reason for most of the others — those whom I know ; but Ichabod is hopeless." Mangan suddenly ceased these careless comments ; liis atten- tion was arrested by the entrance of a tall young lady who came in very quietly — without being announced even, "1 say, who's that?" he exclaimed, under his breath. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 345 And Lionel had been startled too ; for he had convinced him- self ere he came that Ilonnor Cunyngham was certain to be in Scotland. But there she was, as distinguished-looking, as self- possessed as ever ; her glance direct and simj)le and calm, though she seemed to hesitate for a moment as if seeking for some one whom she might know in the crowd. From the fact of her not having been announced, Lionel guessed that she was staying in the house ; perhaps, indeed, she had been in the drawing-room before, lie hardly knew what to do. lie forgot to answer his friend's question. If dinner were to be happily announced now, would it not save her from some em- barrassment if he and she could go in their separate ways without meeting? and thereafter he could leave without return- ing to the drawing-room. Yet, if she were staying in the house, she must have known that he was coming ?" All this swift consideration was the work of a single second ; the next second Miss Honnor's eyes had fallen upon the young man ; and immediately and in the most natural way in the world she came across the room to him. It is true that there was a slight touch of color visible on the gracious forehead when she offered him her hand ; but there was no other sign of self-con- sciousness ; and she said, quite quietly and simply, " It is some time since we have met, Mr. Moore ; but, of course, I notice your name in the papers frequently." " I hardly expected to see you here to-night," he said, in reply. " I thought you would be off to Scotland for the salmon-fishing." " I go to-morrow night," she made answer. At the same moment Lord Rockminster came up, holding a bit of folded paper furtively in his hand ; the faithful brother looked perplexed, for he had to remember the names of these various strangers ; but here at least were two whom he did know. " Mr. Moore, will you take Miss Cunyngham in to dinner ?" he murmured, as he went by ; so that Lionel found there would have been no escape for him in any case. But now that the first little awkwardness of their meeting was over, there was nothing else. Miss Cunyngham spoke to him quite pleasantly and naturall}^- -though she did not meet his eyes much. Mean- time dinner was announced, and Lord Rockminster led the way with a trim little elderly lady whom Lionel afterwards discov- ered to be (for she told him as much) the London correspond- 15* 346 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. cnt of a famous Parisian journal devoted to fashions and the beau monde. And here he was, seated side by side with Honnor Cunyng- hani, talking to her, listening to her, and with no sort of pertur- bation whatever. He began to ask himself whether he had ever been in love with her — whether he had not rather been in love with her way of life and its surroundings. He was thinking not so much of her as her departure on the morrow, and the scenes that lay beyond. Why had he not £10,000 a year — £5000 — nay, £1000 a year — and freedom ? Why could he not warm his soul with the consciousness that the salmon-rods were all packed and waiting in the hall ; that new casting-lines had been put in the fly-book ; that only the short drive up to Euston and a single black night lay between him and all the wide won- der of the world that would open out thereafter ? Forth from the darkness into a whiter light — a larger day — a sweeter air ; for now we are among the russet beech-hedges, the deep-green pines, the purple hills touched here and there with snow ; and the far-stretching landscape is shining in the morning sun ; and the peewits are wheeling hither and thither in the blue. Then we are thundering through rocky chasms and watching the roaring brown torrent beneath ; or panting or struggling away up the lonely altitudes of Drumouchter ; and again merrily rac- ing and chasing down into the spacious valley of the Spey. And what for the end? — the long, still strath after leaving Invershin — the penetration into the more secret solitudes — the peaks of Coulmore and Suilvcn in the west — and here the Aivron mak- ing a murmuring music over its golden gravel ! There is a smell of peat in the air ; there are children's voices about the keepers' cottages ; and here is the handsome old Robert, rejoiced that the year has opened again and Miss Honnor come back ! " Well, Robert, you must come in and have a dram, and I will show you the tackle I've brought with me." " I am not wish- ing for a dram, Miss Honnor, so much as I am glad to see you back again, ay, and looking so well !" " Mr. Moore," she said (and she startled him out of his reverie), " do you ever give a little dinner-party at your rooms?" " Well, seldom," he said. " You sec, I have only the one evening in the week; and I have generally some engagement or otiior." PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 347 " 1 should like to send you a salmon, if it would be of any use to you," she went on to say. " Thank you very much ; I would rather see you hook and land it than have the compliment of its being sent to me twenty times over. I was thinking this very minute of the Aivron, and your getting down to the ford the day after to-morrow, and old Robert being there to welcome you. I envy him — and you. Are you to be all by yourself at the lodge ?" " For the present, yes," Miss Honnor said. " My brother and Captain Waveney come at the beginning of April. Of course it is rather hazardous going just now ; the river might be frozen over for a fortnight at a time ; but that seldom happens. And in ordinarily mild weather it is very beautiful up there — the most beautiful time of the year, I think ; the birch-woods are all of the clearest lilac, and the brackens turned to deep crim- son ; then the bent grass on the higher hills — what they call deer's hair — is a mass of gold. And I don't in the least mind being alone in the evening — in fact, I enjoy it. It is a splendid time for reading. There is not a sound. Caroline comes in from time to time to pile on more peats and sweep the hearth ; then she goes out again ; and you sit in an easy-chair with your back to the lamp ; and if you've got an interesting book, what more company do you want? Then it's very early to bed in Strathaivron ; and I've got a room that looks both ways — across the strath and down ; and sometimes there is moonlight making the windows blue ; or if there isn't, you can lie and look at the soft red light thrown out by the peat, until the silence is too much for you, and you are asleep before you have had time to think of it. Now tell me about yourself," she suddenly said. " I hope the constant work and the long and depressing winter have not told on you. It must have been very unpleasant get- ting home so late at night during the fogs." He would rather she had continued talking about the far Aivron and the Geinig; he did not care to come back to the theatre and Kate Burgoyne. " One gets used to everything, I suppose," he said. " But still it must be gratifying to you to be in so successful a piece — to be aware of the delight you are giving, evening after evening, to so many people," Miss Honnor reminded him. " By the way, how is the pretty Italian girl — the young lady you said you had known in Naples ?" 348 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " She lias left the New Theatre," he said, not lifting his eyes. " Oh, really. Then I'm sure that must have been unfortunate for the operetta ; for she had such a beautiful voice — she sang so exquisitely — and besides that there was so much refinement and grace in everything she did. I remember mother was so particularly struck with her ; we have often spoken of her since ; her manner on the stage was so charming — so gentle and grace- ful — it had a curious fascination that was irresistible. And I confess I was delighted with the little touch of foreign accent ; perhaps if she had not been so very pretty, one would have been less ready to be pleased with everything. And where is she now, Mr. Moore ?" " I'm sure I don't know," Lionel said, rather unwillingly ; he would rather not have been questioned. " And is that how friendships in the theatre are kept up ?" Miss Honnor said, reproachfully. '^ But it is all very well for us idle folk to talk. I suppose you are all far too busy to give much time to correspondence." " No, we have not much time for letter-writing," he said, absently. Indeed, it was well for him that he had this companion who could talk to him in her quiet, low tones; for he was out of spirits and inclined to be silent ; and certainly he had no wish to join in the frothy discussion which Octavius Quirk had started at the upper end of the table. Mr. Mellord, the famous Acade- mician, had taken in Lady Adela to dinner ; but she had placed Mr. Quirk on her left hand ; and from this position of autliority he was roaring away like any sucking-dove and cliallenging everybody to dispute his windy platitudes. Lord Rockminster, down at the other end, mute and in safety, was looking on at this motley little assemblage, and probably wondering what his three gifted sisters would do next. It was hard that he had no Miss Gcorgie Lestrange to amuse him ; perhaps Miss Georgic had been considered ineligible for admission into this intellec- tual coterie. Poor man ! — and to think he might have been dining in solitary comfort at his club, at a quiet little table, with two candles, and a Sunday paper propped up by the water-bot- tle ! But he betrayed no impatience ; he sat and looked and meditated. However, when dinner was over and the ladies had left the PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 349 room, lie liad to go and take his sister's place, so that he found himself in the thick of the babble. Mr. Quirk was no longer goring spiders' webs ; he was now attacking a solid and sub- stantial subject — nothing less than the condition of the British army ; and a pretty poor opinion he seemed to have of it. As it chanced, the only person who had seen service was Lord Rock- minster (at Knightsbridge), but he did not choose to open his mouth, so that Mr. Quirk had it all his way — except when Mau- rice Mangan thought it worth while to give him a cuff or a kick, just by way of reminding him that he was mortal. Ichabod, in silence, stuck to the port wine. Quincey Hooper, the American journalist, drew in a chair by the side of Lord Rockminster and humbly fawned. And meanwhile Quirk, head downward, so to speak, charged rank and file, and sent them flying ; arose again and swept the heads off officers ; and was just about to annihi- late the volunteers when Mangan mterrupted him. " Oh, you expect too much," he said, in his slow and half- contemptuous fashion. " The British soldier is not over well- educated, I admit ; but you needn't try him by an impossible standard. I dare say you are thinking of ancient days when a Roman general could address his troops in Latin and make quite sure of being understood ; but you can't expect Tommy Atkins to be so learned. And our generals, as you say, may chiefly distinguish theiuseh'es at reviews ; but the reviews they seem to me to be too fond of are those published monthly. As for the volunteers — " " You will have a joke about them, too, I suppose," Quirk retorted. " An excellent subject for a joke — the safety of the country ! A capital subject for a merry jest ; Nero fiddling with Rome in flames — " " I beg your pardon ; Nero never did anything of the kind," Mangan observed, with a perfectly diabolical inconsequence, " for violins weren't invented in those da^^s." This was too much for Mr. Quirk ; he would not resume ar- gument with such a trifler ; nor, indeed, was there any oppor- tunity ; for Lord Rockminster now suggested they should go into the drawing-room — and Ichabod had to leave that decanter of port. Now, if Maurice Mangan had come to this house to see how Lionel was feted and caressed by "the great" — in order that he 350 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. might carry the tale down to Winstead to please the old folk and Miss Francie — he was doomed to disappointment. There were very few of "the great" present, to begin with ; and those who were paid no particular attention to Lionel Moore. It was Octavius Quirk who appeared to be the hero of the evening, so far as the attention devoted to him by Lady Adela and her im- mediate little circle was concerned. But Maurice himself was not wholly left neglected. When tea was brought in, his host- ess came over to where he was standing. " Won't you sit down, Mr. Mangan ? — I want to talk to you about something of very great importance — importance to me, that is, for you know how vain young authors are. You have heard of my new book ? — yes, I thought Mr. Moore must have told you. Well, it's all ready, except the title-page. I am not quite settled about the title yet ; and you literary gentlemen are so quick and clever with suggestions — I am sure you will give me good advice. And I've had a number of different titles printed, to see how they look in type ; what do you think of this one ? At present it seems to be the favorite ; it was Mr. Quirk's suggestion — " She showed him a slip with " North and South " printed on it in large letters. "I don't like it at all," Mangan said, frankly. "People will think the book has something to do with the American civil war. However, don't take my opinion at all. My connection with liter- ature is almost infinitesimal — I'm merely a newspaper hack, you know." " What you say about the title is quite right ; and I am so much obliged to you, Mr. Mangan," Lady Adela said, with al- most pathetic emphasis. " The American war, of course ; I never thought of that !" "What is Ichabod's choice? — I beg your pardon, I mean have you shown the titles to Mr. Egerton ?" " I'm afraid he doesn't approve of any of them," said Lady Adela, sadly turning over the slips. " No, I suppose not ; good titles went out with good fiction — wfien he ceased to write novels a nun)bcr of years ago. May I look at the others ?" She handed him the slips. " Well, now, there is one that in my poor opinion would be rather effective — ' Lotus and Lily ' — a pretty sound — " PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 35X "Yes — perhaps," said Lady Adela, doubtfully, "but tlien, you sec, it has not much couucction with the book. Tlie worst of it is that all tlie novel is printed — all but the three title-pages. Otherwise I might have called my heroine Lily — " " But I fear you could not have called your hero Lotus," said Mangan, gravely. " Not very well. However, it is no use specu- lating on that now, as you say. What is the next one ? — ' Trans- formation.' Of course you know that Hawthorne wrote a book under that title, Lady Adela ?" " Yes," said she, cheerfully. " But there's no copyright in America ; so why shouldn't I take the title if it suits ?" He hesitated ; there seemed to be some ethical point here ; but he fell back on base expediency. " It is a mistake for two authors to use the same title — I'm sure it is," said he. " Look at the confusion. The review- ers might pass over your novel, thinking it was only a new edition of Hawthorne's book." " Yes, that's quite true," said Lady Adela, thoughtfully. " AVell, here is one," he continued. " ' Sicily and South Ken- sington ;' that's odd ; that's new ; that might take the popular fancy." " Do you know, that is a favorite of my own," Lady Adela said, with a slight eagerness, " for it really describes the book. You understand, Mr. Mangan, all the first part is about the South of Italy ; and then I come to London and try to describe every- thing that is just going on round about us. I have put every- thing in ; so that really — though I shouldn't praise myself — but it isn't praise at all, Mr. Mangan, it is merely telling you what I have aimed at — and really any one taking up my poor little book some hundred years hence might very fairly assume that it was a correct picture of all that was going on in the reign of Queen Victoria. I do not say that it is well done ; not at all ; that would be self-praise ; but I do think it may have some little his- torical value. Modern life is so busy, so hurried, and so com- plex that it is difficult to form any impression of it as a whole ; I take up book after book, written by living authors with whom I shouldn't dream of comparing myself, and yet I see how small a circle their characters work in. You would think the world consisted of only eight or ten people, and that there was hardly room for them to move. They never get away from one another ; 352 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. tbey clou't mix in the crowd ; there is no crowd. But here in my poor way I am trying to show what a panorama London is ; al- ways changing ; occupations, desires, struggles following one an- other in breathless rapidity ; in short, I want to show modern life as it is, not as it is dreamed of by clever authors who live in a study. Now that is my excuse, Mr. Mangan, for being such a dreadful bore ; and I am so much obliged to you for your kind advice about the title ; it is so easy for clever people to be kind — just a word, and it's done. Thank you," said she, as he took her cup from her and placed it on the table ; and then, be- fore she left him, she ventured to say, with a charming modesty, " I'm sure you will forgive me, Mr. Mangan, but if I were to send you a copy of the book, might I hope that you would find ten minutes to glance over it ?" " I am certain I shall read it with very great interest," said he ; and that was strictly true, for this Lady Adela Cunyng- ham completely puzzled him ; she seemed so extraordinary a combination of a clever woman of the world and an awful fool. And Lionel ? Well, he had got introduced to Miss Gabriellc Grey, whom he found to be a very quiet, shy, pensive sort of creature, not posing as a distinguished person at all. He dared not talk to her of her books, for he did not even know the names of them ; but he let her understand that he knew she was an authoress, and it seemed to please her to know that her fame had penetrated into the mysterious regions behind the foot- lights. She began to question him, in a timid sort of way, about his experiences — whether stage-fright was difficult to get over — whether he thought that the immediate and enthusiastic approbation of the public was a beneficial stimulant — whether the continuous excitement of the emotional nature tended to render it callous, or, on the other hand, more sensitive and sym- pathetic — and so forth. Was she dimly looking forward to the conquest of a new domain, where the young ladies of the rec- tory and the vicarage might be induced fearfully to follow her ? ]^>ut Lionel did not linger long in that drawing-room. He got Maurice Mangan away as soon as he could ; they slipped out un- observed — especially as there were plenty of new-comers now arriving. When they had passed down through the back gar- den to the gate, the one lit a cigarette, and the other a pipe ; PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 353 and together they wended their way towards Kensington Road and Piccadilly. " Why," said Mangan, " I shall have quite a favoralile rei)ort to carry down to Winstcad. I did not see you treated with any of that unwholesome adulation I have heard so niucli of !" " I am almost a stranger in the house now," Lionel said, briefly. " Why ?" " Oh, various circumstances, of late." " They did not even ask you to sing," his friend said, in ac- cents of some surprise. " They dared not. Didn't you see that most of the people were strangers ? How could Lady Adela be sure that she was not wounding somebody's susceptibilities by having operatic music on a Sunday evening ? She knew nothing at all about half those people ; they were merely names to her, that she had collected round her in order that she might count herself in among the arts." " That ill-conditioned brute Quirk seemed to me to be domi- nating the whole thing," said Mangan, rather testily. " It's an awful price to pay for a few puffs. I wonder a woman like that can bear him to come near her, but she pets the baboon as if he were a King Charles spaniel. Linnie, my boy, you're no longer first favorite. I can see that ; self-interest has proved too strong ; the flattering little review, the complimentary little notice, has ousted you. It isn't you who are privileged to meet my Lady Morgan in the street — 'And then to gammon her, in the Examiner, With a paragraph short and sweet.' Well, now, tell me about that very striking-looking girl, or wom- an, rather, whom you took in to dinner. I asked you who she was when she came into the room." " That was Miss Honnor Cunyngham." " Not the salmon-fishing young lady I have heard you speak of?" " Yes." " Why, she didn't look like that," said Mangan, thoughtfully. " Not the least. She has got a splendid foreliead — powerful and clear — and almost too much character about the square brows 354 PRINCE FORTUNATCS. and the calm eyes. I sliould have taken her to be a strongly intellectual woman, of the finer and more reticent type. AVell, well, a salmon-fishei !" " AVhy shouldn't she be both ?" "Why, indeed?" said Maurice, absently ; and therewith he relapsed (as was frequently his wont) into silence, and in silence the two friends pursued their way eastwards to Lionel's rooms. But when they had arrived at their destination, when soda- water had been produced and opened, and when Mangan was lying back in an easy-chair, regarding his friend, he resumed the conversation. " I should have thought going to see those people to-night would have brightened you up a little," he began, " but you seem thoroughly out of sorts, Linn. What is the matter? Overwork or worry ? I should not think overwork ; I've never seen your theatre-business prove too much for you. Worry ? What about, then ?" " There may be different things," Lionel said, evasively, as he brought over the spirit case. " I haven't been sleeping well of late — lying awake even if I don't go to bed till three or four ; and I get a singing in my ears sometimes that is bothersome. Oh, never mind me ; I'm all right." " But I'm going to mind you, for you are not all right. Is it money ?" " No, no." " What, then ? There is something seriously worrying you." " Oh, there are several things," Lionel exclaimed, forced at last into confession. " I can't think what has become of Nina Ross, that's one thing; if I only knew she was safe and well, I don't think I should mind the other things. No, not a bit. But there was something about her going away that I can't explain to you, only I — I was responsible in a sort of way ; and Nina and I were always such good friends and companions. Well, it's no use talking about that. Then there's another little de- tail," he added, with an air of indifference : *' I'm engaged to be married." Mangan stared at liim. " Engaged to be married ?" he repeated, as if he had not heard aright. " To whom ?" " Miss Burgoyne." PRINCE FORTUNATUS. :]55 " Miss Burgoyne — of the New Theatre ?" " The same." " Are you out of your senses, Linn !" Maurice cried, angrily. " No, I don't think so," he said, and he went to tlie mantel- piece for a cigarette. "How did it come about?" demanded Maurice, again. " Oh, I don't know. It isn't of much consequence, is it ?" Lionel answered, carelessly. Then Maurice instantly reflected that, if this thing were real- ly done, it was not for him to protest. " Of course I say nothing against the young lady — certainly not. I thought she was very pleasant the night I was introduced to her, and nice-looking too. But I had no idea you were taken in that quarter, Linn ; none — hence the surprise. I used to think you were in the happy position which Landor declared im- possible. What were the lines ? I haven't seen them for twenty years, but they were something like this : ' Fair maiden, when I looii on tliee, I wish that I were young and free ; But both at once, ah, who could be ?' I thought you were ' both at once ' — and very well content. But supposing you have given up your freedom, why should that vex and trouble you ? The engagement time is said to be the hap- piest period of a man's life ; what is wrong in your case ?" Lionel took a turn or two up and down the room. " Well, I will tell you the truth, Maurice," he blurted out, at last. " 1 got engaged to her in a fit of restlessness or caprice, or some such ridiculous nonsense, and I don't regret it ; I mean, I am willing to stand by it ; but that is not enough for her, and I can look forward to nothing but a perpetual series of differ- ences and quarrels. She expects me to play Harry Thornhill off the stage, I suppose." Mangan looked at him for some time. "Even between friends," he said, slowly, "there are some things it is difficult to talk about with safety. Of course you know what an outsider would say : that you had got into a devil of a mess ; that you had blundered into an engagement with a woman whom you find you don't want to marry." " Well, is there anything uncommon in that ?" Lionel de- 356 PRINCE FORTUNATUS, manded. " Is that an unusual experience in human life ? But I don't admit as much, in my case. I am quite willing to marry her, so long as she keeps her temper, and doesn't expect me to play the fool, I dare say we shall get on well enough, like other people, after the fateful deed is done. In the meantime," he added, with a forced laugh — " in the meantime, I find myself now and again wishing I was a sailor brave and bold, careering round the Cape of Good Hope in a gale of wind, and with no loftier aspiration in my mind than a pint of rum and a well-filled pipe." " Faith, I think that's just where you ought to be," said Man- gan, dryly, " instead of in this town of London, at the present moment. I declare you've quite bewildered me. If you had told me you were engaged to that tall salmon-fishing girl — you used to talk about her a good deal, you know — or to that fasci- natmg young Italian creature — and I've seen before now how easily the gentle friend and companion can be transformed into a sweetheart — I should have been ready with all kinds of pretty speeches and good wishes. But Miss Burgoyne of the New Theatre ? Linn, my boy, I've discovered what's the matter with you, and I can prescribe an absolutely certain cure." " What is it ?" " The cure ? You have partly suggested it yourself. You must go at once and take your passage in a sailing ship for Australia. You can stay there for a time and examine the col- ony ; of course you'll write a book about it, like everybody else. Then you make your way to San Francisco, and accept a three- months' engagement there. You come on to New York, and accept a three-months' engagement there. And when you re- turn to England you will find that all your troubles have van- ished, and that you are once again the Linn Moore we all of us used to know." A wild fancy flashed through Lionel's brain ; what if in these far wanderings he were suddenly to encounter Nina? In vain — in vain ; Nina had become for him but a shadow, a ghost, with no voice to call to him from any sphere. " You would have me run away ? — I don't sec how I can do that," he said, quietly ; and then he abruptly changed the subject. "What did you think of Lady Adela?" " Well, to tell you the truth, I've been wondering whether she PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 357 were at the same time a smart and clever woman and an abject fool, or whether she were simply smart and clever and thou«:fht me an abject fool. It must be either one or the other. She played the literary ingenue very well — a little too openly, per- haps. I'm curious about her book — " " Oh, don't judge of her by her book !" Lionel exclaimed. " That isn't fair. Her book you may very likely consider fool- ish — not at all. I suppose her head is a little bit turned by the things that Quirk and those fellows have been writing about her; but that's only natural. And if she showed her hand a little too freely in trying to interest you in her novel, you must remember how eager she is to succeed. You'll do what you can for her book — won't you, Maurice ?" Maurice Mangan, on his way home that night, had other things to think of than Lady Adela's poor little book. Ue saw clearly enough the embroilment into which Lionel had landed himself ; but he could not see so clearly how he was to get out of it. One question he forgot to ask : what had induced that mood of petulance or recklessness, or both combined, in which Lionel had wilfully and madly pledged all his future life ? However, the thing was done ; here was his friend going for- ward to a mariage de cbnvenance (where there was very little con- venances to be sure) with a sort of careless indifference, if not of bravado ; while his bride, on the other hand, might surely be pardoned if she resented, and indignantly resented, his attitude towards her. "What kind of prospect was this for two young people ? Maurice thought that on the very first opportunity he would go away down to Winstead and talk the matter over with Francie ; who than she more capable of advising in aught con- cerning Lionel's welfare ? Notwithstanding his intercession with Maurice on behalf of Lady Adela's forthcoming novel, Lionel did not seem disposed to resume the friendly relations with the people up at Campden Hill which had formerly existed. He did not even call after the dinner-party. If Mr. Octavius Quirk were for the moment installed as chief favorite, he had no wish to interfere with him ; there were plenty of other houses open, if one chose to go. But the fact is, Lionel now spent many afternoons and nearly every evening at the Garden Club ; whist before din- ner, poker after supper, being the established rule. More- 358 PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. over, a new element had been introduced, as far as he was concerned. Mr. Percival Miles had been elected a member of the club, and had forthwith presented himself in the card-room, where he at once distinguished himself by his bold and intrepid play. The curious thing was that, while openly professing a kind of cold acquaintanceship, it was invariably against Lionel Moore that he made his most determined stand ; with the other players he might play an ordinarily discreet and cautious game ; but when Moore could be challenged, this pale-faced young man never failed promptly to seize the opportunity. And the worst of it was that he had extraordinary luck, both in the run of the cards and in his manoeuvres. " What is that young whipper-snapper up to ?" Lionel said to himself, after a particularly bad night (and morning) as he sat staring into the dead ashes of his fireplace. " He wanted to take my life — until my good angel interfered and saved me. Now does he want to break me financially ? By Jove ! they're coming near to doing it among them. I shall have to go to Moss to-morrow for another £250. Well, what does it matter? The luck must turn some time. If it doesn't ? — if it doesn't ? — then there may come the trip before the mast, as the final pan- acea, according to Maurice. Australia? — thepe would be free- dom there, and perhaps forgetfulness." As he was passing into his bedroom he chanced to observe a package that was lying on a chair, and for a second he glanced at the handwriting of the address. It was Miss Burgoyne's. Wliat could she want with him now? He cut the string, and opened the parcel; behold, here was the brown -and -scarlet woollen vest that she had knitted for him with her own fair hands. Why these impatiently down-drawn brows? A true lover would have passionately kissed this tender token of affec- tion, and bethought him of all the hours and half-hours and quarters of an hour during which she had been employed in her pretty task, no doubt thinking of him all the time. Alas ! the love-gift was almost angrily thrown on to the chair again — and he went into his own room. PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 359 CHAPTER XX 11. PRIUS DEMENTAT. When Maurice Mangan left tlie train at Winstead, and climbed out of the deep chalk cutting in which the station is buried, and emerged upon the open downs, he found himself in a very different world from thai he had left. Far away behind him lay the great city (even now the dusky dome of St. Paul's was visible across the level swathes of landscape), with its miry ways and teeming population and continuous thunder of traf- fic ; while here were the windy skies of a wild March morning and swaying trees and cawing rooks and air that was sweet in the nostrils and soft to the throat. As he light-heartedly strode away across the undulations of blossoming gorse, fragments of song from his favorite poets chased one another through his brain ; and somehow they were all connected with the glad opening out of the year — " And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils " — " Along the grass sweet airs are blown, our way this day in spring" — "And in the gloaming o' the wood, the throssil whistled sweet " — Mangan could sing no more than a crow ; but he felt as if he were sing- ing ; there was a kind of music in the long stride, the quick pulse, the deep inhalations of the delicious air. For all was going to be well now ; he was about to consult Francie as to Lionel's sad estate. He did not stay to ask himself whether it were likely that a quiet and gentle girl, living in this secluded neighborhood, could be of much help in such a matter ; it was enough that he was going to talk it all over with Miss Francie ; things would be clearer then. Now, as you go up from Winstead Station to Winstead Vil- lage, there is a strip of coppice that runs parallel with one part of the highway ; and through this prolonged dingle a pathway meanders, which he who is not in a hurry may prefer to the road. Of course Mangan chose this plcasantcr way, though he 360 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. had to moderate his pace now because of the hriars ; and right glad was he to notice the various symptoms of the new-born life of the world — the pale anemones stirred by the warm, moist breeze, the delicate blossoms of the little wood-sorrel, the budded ra- ceme of the wild hyacinth ; while loud and clear a blackbird sang froVn a neighboring bough. He did not expect to meet any one; he certainly did not expect to meet Miss Francie Wright, who would doubtless be away at her cottages. But all of a sudden he was startled by the apparition of a rabbit that came running towards him, and then, seeing him, bolted off at right angles ; and as this caused him to look up from his bot- ani zings, here, unmistakably, was Miss Francie, coming along through the glade. Her pale complexion showed a little color 'as she drew near ; but there was not much embarrassment in thfc calm, kind eyes. " This is indeed a stroke of good-fortune," he said, " for I came down for the very purpose of having a talk with you all by yourself — about Lionel. But I did not imagine I should meet you here." " I am going down to the station," she said. " I expect a par- cel by the train you must have come by ; and I want it at once." " May I go with you and carry it for you ?" he said, promptly ; and of course she could not refuse so civil an offer. The awkward part of the arrangement was that they had to go along through this straggling strip of wood in single file, mak- ing a really confidential chat almost an impossibility ; whereupon he proposed, and she agreed, that they should get out into the highway ; and thereafter they went on to the station by the or- dinary road. But this task he had undertaken proved to be a great deal more difficult and delicate than lie had anticipated. To have a talk with Francie — that seemed simple enough ; it was less sim- ple, as he discovered, to have to tell Lionel's cousin that the young man had gone and engaged himself to be married. Li- deed, he beat about the bush for a considerable time. " You see," he said, " a young fellow at his time of life, es- pecially if he has been petted a good deal, is very apt to be wayward and restless, and likely to get into trouble through the mere impulsiveness, the recklessness of youth—" "Mr. Maiigan," Miss Fr.-nn'ic said, with a smile in the quiet PKINCE FORTUNATUS. 3(;i gray eyes, " wliy do you always talk of Linn as if he were so much younger than you ? There is no great diflference. You always speak as if you were quite middle-aged." " I am worse than middle-aged — I am resigned, and read Marcus Aurelius," he said. " I suppose I have taken life too easily. Youth is the time for fighting ; there is no fight left in me at all ; I accept what happens. Oh, by the way, when my book on Comte comes out, I may have to buckle on my armor again ; I suppose there wall be strife and war and deadly thrusts ; unless, indeed, the Positivists may not consider me worth an- swering. However, that is of no consequence ; it's about Linn I have come down ; and really. Miss Francie, I fear he is in a bad way, and that he is taking a worse way to get out of it." " I am very sorry to hear that," she said, gravely. " And then he's such a good fellow," Mangan continued. " If he were selfish or cruel or grasping, one might think that a few buffets from the world might rather be of service to him ; but as it is I don't understand at all how he has got himself into such a position — or been entrapped into it ; you see, I don't know Miss Burgoyne very well — " " Miss Burgoyne ?" she repeated, doubtfully. " Miss Burgoyne of the New Theatre." Then Mangan watched his companion, timidly and furtively — which was a strange thing for him, for ordinarily his deep-set gray eyes were singularly intense and sincere. " Perhaps I ought to tell you at once," he said, slowly, " that — that — the fact is, Lionel is engaged to be married to Miss Bur- goyne." " Lionel — engaged to be married ?" she said, quickly, and she looked up. He met her eyes and read them ; surely there was nothing there otlier than a certain pleased curiosity ; she had forgotten that this engagement might be the cause of her cous- in's trouble ; she only seemed to think it odd that Linn was about to be married. *' Yes ; and now I am afraid he regrets his rashness, and is in terrible trouble over it — or perhaps that is only one of several things. Well, I had made other forecasts for^im," Mangan went on to say, with a little hesitation. " I could have imagined another future for him. Indeed, at one time, I thought that if ever he looked out for a wife it would be — a little nearer home — " IG 362 PRINCE FORTUNATCS. Her eyes were swiftly downcast ; but the next instant she had bravely raised them and was regarding him. " Do you mean me, Mr. Mangan ?" she asked. He did not answer ; he left her to understand. Miss Francie shook her head, and there was a slight smile on her lips, " No, no," she said. '' That was never possible at any time. Where was your clear sight, Mr. Mangan ? Of course I am very fond of Linn ; I have been so all my life ; and there's nothing I wouldn't do to save him trouble or pain. But even a stupid country girl may form her ideal — and in my case Lionel nev- er came anywhere near to that. I know he is good and gen- erous and manly — he is quite wonderful, considering what he has come through ; but on the other hand — well — oh, well, I'm not going to say anything against Linn — I will not." " I am sure you will not," said Mangan, quietly ; and here they reached the station. The parcel had not arrived ; there was nothing for it but to retrace their steps; and on their way across the common they returned to Lionel and his wretched plight. " Surely," said Miss Francie, with a touch of indignation in her voice — " surely, if Miss Burgoyne learns that be is fretting over this engagement, she will release him at once. No woman could be so shameless as to keep him to an unwilling bar- gain—" " I am not so sure about that," Mangan made answer. " She may think she has affection for two, and that all will be well. It is a good match for her. His position in his profession and in society will be advantageous to her. Then she may be vain of her conquest — so many different motives may come in. But the chief point is that Linn doesn't want to be released from this engagement; he declares he will abide by it — if only she doesn't expect him to be very affectionate. It is an extraordi- nary imbroglio altogether; I am beginning to believe that all the time he has been in love with that Italian girl whom he knew in Naples, and who was in the New Theatre for a while, and that now he has made the discovery, when it is too late, he doesn't care what happens to him. She has gone away ; he has no idea where she is ; here he is engaged to Miss Burgoyne, and quite willing to marry her ; and in the meantime he plays cards heavily to escape from thinking. In fact, he is not taking the PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 3(}3 least care of himself, and you would be surprised at the change in his appearance already. It isn't like Linn Moore to talk of going to bed when he ought to be setting out for a dinner-party ; and the worst of it is, he won't pay any heed to what you say to him. But something must be done ; Linn is too good a fel- low to be allowed to go to the mischief without some kind of protest or interference." '* If you like," said Miss Francie, slowly, *' I will go to Miss Burgoyne. She is a woman ; she could not but listen. She cannot want to bring misery on them both." " No," said he, with a little show of authority. " Whatever we may try — not that. I have heard that Miss Burgoyne has a bit of a temper." " I am not afraid," said his companion, simply. " No, no. If that were the only way, I should propose to go to Miss Burgoyne myself," he said. " But, you see, the awk- ward thing is that neither you nor I have any right to appeal to her, so long as Linn is willing to fulfil the engagement. We don't know her ; we could not remonstrate as a friend of her own might. If we were to interfere on his behalf, she would imme- diately turn to him ; and he is determined not to back out." " Then what is to be done, Mr. Mangan ?" she exclaimed, in despair. " I — I don't quite see at present," he answered her. " I thought I would talk it over with you. Miss Francie. I thought there might be something in that ; that the way might seem clearer. But I see no way at all, unless you were to go to him yourself. lie would listen to you. Or he might even listen to me, if I represented to him that you were distressed at the condition of affairs. At present he doesn't appear to care what happens to him." They had crossed the common ; they had come to the foot of the wood ; and they did not go on to the highway, for Miss Francie suggested that the sylvan path was the more interest- ing. And so they passed in among the trees, making their way through the straggling undergrowth, while the soft March wind blew.pioist and sweet all around them, and the blackbirds and thrushes tilled the world with their silver melody, and in the more distant woods the ringdoves crooned. Maurice Mangan followed her — in silence. Perhaps he was thinking of Lionel ; Stii PRINCE FORTUNATUS. perhaps he was thinking of the confession she had made in cross- ing the common ; at all events, he did not address her ; and when she stooped to gather some hyacinths and anemones he merely waited for her. But as they drew near to the farther end of the coppice the path became clearer, and now he walked by her side. " Miss Francie," he said (and it was his eyes that were cast down now), " you were speaking of the ideals that girls in the country may form for themselves — and girls everywhere, I dare say ; but don't you think it rather hard ?" " What is ?" " Why, that you should raise up an impossible standard, and that poor common human beings, with all their imperfections and disqualifications, are sent to the right about." " Oh, no," Miss Francie said, cheerfully. " You don't under- stand at all. A girl does not form her ideal out of her own head. She is not clever enough to do that ; or, rather, she is not stupid enough to try to do that. She takes her ideal from some one she knows — from the finest type of character she has met ; so that it is not an impossible standard, for one person, at least, has attained to it." " And, for the sake of that one, she discards all those unfort- unates who, by their age or appearance or lack of position or lack of distinction, cannot hope to come near," he said, rather absently. " Isn't that hard ? It makes all sorts of things so hopeless, so impossible. You put your one chosen friend on this pedestal ; and then all the others, who might wish to win your regard, they know what the result of comparison would be, and they go away home and hide their heads." " I don't see, Mr. Mangan," she said, in a somewhat low voice, and yet a little proudly too, " why you should fear comparison with any one — no, not with any one ; or imagiue that anything could — could displace you in the regard of your friends." He hesitated again — anxious, eager, and yet afraid. At last he said, rather sadly, " I wish I knew something of your ideals, and how far away beyond liuman possibility they arc." "()l), 1 can tell yuii," she said, ])]uckiiig np heart of grace, for here was an easy way out of an embarrassing position. " My ideal woman is Sister Alexandra, of the East London Hospital. "And when she stooped to gather some hyaeinths and anemones he merely waited for 1ier" PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 3tj5 She was down here last Sunday — sweeter, more angelic than ever. That is the noblest type of woman I know. And I was so glad she enjoyed her rare holiday ; and when she went away in the evening we had her just loaded with flowers for her ward." " And the ideal man ?" " Oh," said Miss Francie, hurriedly, " I hardly know about that. Of course, when I — when I spoke of Linn a little while ago, I did not wish to say anything against him — certainly not — no one admires his better qualities more than I do — but — but there may be other qualities — " They were come to the wooden gate opening on to the high- way ; he paused ere he lifted the latch. " Francie," said he, " do you think that some day you might be induced to put aside all your high standards and ideals, and — and — in short, accept a battered old journalist, without money, position, distinction, without any graces, except this, that grat- itude might add something to his affection for you ?" Tears sprang into her eyes, and yet there was a smile there, too ; she was not wholly frightened — perhaps she had known all along. "Ah, and you don't understand yet, Maurice !" she said, and she frankly gave him her hand, and her eyes were kind even through her tears. " You don't understand what I have been saying to you, that a girl's ideal is one particular person — her ideal is the man or woman whom she admires and loves the most. Can you not guess ?" " Francie, you will be my wife ?" he said to her, drawing her closer to him, his hands clasped round her head. She did not answer. She was silent for a second or two. And then she said, with averted eyes, " You spoke of gratitude, Maurice. I know who has the most reason to be grateful — and who will try the hardest to show it." So that betrothal was completed ; and when they passed out from the coppice into the whiter air, behold ! the wild March skies had parted somewhat, and there was a shinnner of silver sunlight along the broad highway between the hedges. It was an auspicious omen — or, at least, their full hearts may have thought so ; and then, again, there was a wedding chorus all around them from the birds — from the bright-eyed robin perched on the crimson bramble-spray ; from the speckled thrush on the 366 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. swaying elm ; from the lark far-hovering over a field of young corn. But in their own happiness they had thought of others ; Francie soon came back to Lionel again and his grievous mis- fortunes ; and she was listening with meekness to this tall, clear- eyed man, who could now claim a certain gentle authority over her. They were a long time before they got to the doctor's house. That same evening Miss Kate Burgoyne invited Lionel to come to her room for a cup of tea when he had dressed for the last act ; and accordingly, when he was ready, he strolled along the corridor, rapped with his knuckles, and entered. It turned out that the prima-donna had other visitors : a young lady whom he had never seen before and Mr. Percival Miles. The young gen- tleman, in faultless evening dress, seemed a little surprised at the easy manner in which Lionel had lounged into the place ; and perhaps Lionel was also a little surprised — for this was Mr. Miles's first appearance m the room ; but each man merely nod- ded to the other, in a formal-acquaintance style, as they were in the habit of doing at the Garden Club. At the same moment Miss Burgoyne opened a portion of the curtain, so that she could address her guests. " Mr. Moore, let me introduce you to my friend, Miss Ingram. Mr. Miles I think you know." And Lionel was glad enough to turn to the young lady and enter into conversation with her, for the pale young man with the slight yellow moustache was defiantly silent, and had even something fierce about his demeanor. It was no business of Lionel's to provoke a quarrel with this truculent fire-eater, espe- cially in Miss Burgoyne's room. To quarrel about Kate Bur- goyne ? — the irony of events could go no further than that. And of course, as the most immediate topic, they spoke of the gale that had been blowing across London all the afternoon and evening ; for the southerly winds that had prevailed in the morning had freshened up and increased in violence until a veritable hurricane was now raging, threatening roofs, chimneys, and lamp-posts, to say nothing of the whirled and driven and bewildered foot-passengers. " I hear there has been a bad accident in Oxford Street," Lionel said to the young lady. " Some scaffolding has fallen — a lot of people hurt. I'm afraid there will be a sad talc to tell PRINCE FOUTUNATUS. 3G7 from the sea ; even now, while we are secure in this big build- ing, thinking only of amusement, I suppose there is many a ship laboring in the gale, or going headlong on to the rocks. Have you far to get home ?" he asked. " Oh, I am going home with Miss Burgoyne," the young lady answered. But here Miss Burgoyne herself appeared, coming forth in the full splendor of Grace Mainwaring's bridal attire and with all her radiant witcheries of make-up, and the poor lad sitting there, who had never before been so near this vision of delight, seemed quite entranced by its (strictly speaking) superhuman loveliness. He could not take his eyes away from her. lie did not think of joining in the conversation. He watched her at the mirror ; he watched her making tea ; he watched her munch- ing a tiny piece of bread and butter (which was imprudent on her part, after the care she had bestowed on her lips) ; and al- ways he was silent and spellbound. Miss Burgoyne, on the other hand, was talkative enough. " Isn't it an awful night !" she exclaimed. " I thought the cab I came down in would be blown over. And they say it's getting worse and worse. I hear there has been a dreadful accident ; some of the men were telling Jane about it ; have you heard, Mr. Moore ? — something about a scaffold. I suppose this theatre is safe enough ; I don't feel any shaking. But I tnow I shall be so nervous going home to-night — I dread it al- ready — " " Miss Ingram says she is going home with you," Lionel pointed out, carelessly. " But that is worse !" the prima-donna cried. " Two women are worse than one — they make each other nervous ; no, what you want is a man's bluntness of perception — his indifference — and the sense of security you get from his being there. Two frightened women ; how are they going to keep each other's courage up ?" It was clearly an invitation ; almost a challenge. Lionel only said, "Why, what have you to fear! The blowing over of a cab is about the last thing likely to happen. If you were walking along the pavement, you might be struck by a falling slate ; but you are out in the middle of the road. If you go home in a 368 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. four-wheeled cab, you will be as safe as you are at this minute in this room." She turned away from him ; at the same moment the pale young gentleman said, rather breathlessly, " Miss Burgoyne, if you would permit me to accompany you and Miss Ingram home, I should esteem it a great honor — and — and pleasure." She whipped round in an instant. " Oh, thank you, Percy — Mr. Miles, I mean," she added, in pretty confusion. " That will be so kind of you. We shall be delighted, I'm sure — very kind of you indeed." No more was said at the moment, for Miss Burgoyne had been called ; and Lionel, as he wended his way to the wings, could only ask himself, " What is she up to now ? She calls me Mr. Moore before her friends, and him Percy, and she contrives to put him into the position of rescuing two distressed damsels. Well, what does it matter ? I suppose women are like that." But Mr. Percival Miles's accompanying those two young ladies through the storm did matter to him, in another way, and seri- ously. When, the performance being over, he got into evening dress and drove along in a hansom to the Garden Club, he found there two or three of the young gentlemen who were in the habit of lounging about the supper-room, glancing at illustrated papers or chewing toothpicks, until the time for poker had arrived. " Johnny," he said to one of them, " somehow I feel awfully down in the mouth to-night." " That's unusual with you, then," was the cheerful reply. " For you are the pluckiest loser I ever saw. But I must say your luck of late has been just something frightful." " Well, I'm down altogether — in luck, in finances, and spirits ; and I'm going to pull myself up a peg. Come and keep mc company. I'm going to order a magnum of Pcrrier Jouet of '74, and I only want a glass or two ; you must help me out, or some of those other fellows." " That's a pretty piece of extravagance !" the other exclaimed. " A magnum — to get a couple of glasses out of it ; like an otter taking a single bite from a salmon's shoulder. Never mind, old chap ; I'm in. I hate champagne at this time of night ; but I don't want you to kill yourself." PRINCE FORTUNATUS. :^g As they sat at supper, with this big bottle before them, Lionel said, " It will be a bad thing for me if young Miles doesn't show up to-night." " I should have thoug-ht it would have been an excellent thinof for you if Miles had never entered this club," his companion ob- served. " That's true," said Lionel, rather gloomily. " But my only chance now is to get some of ray property back, and I can only get it back from him. You fellows are no use to me — not if I were winning all along the line." " Look here, Moore," said the young man, in a more serious tone, " you may say it's none of my business ; but the way you and that fellow Miles have been going on is perfectly awful. If the committee should hear about it, there will be a row, and no mistake !" " My dear boy," Lionel protested, as he pushed the unneces- sary bottle to his neighbor, " the committee have nothing to do with understandings that are settled outside the club. You don't see Miles or me handing checks for £200 or £300 across the table. How can the committee expel you for holding up three fingers or nodding your head ?" " Well, then, you'll excuse me saying it, but he's a young ass, to gamble in that fashion," Johnny remarked, bluntly. " What fun does he get out of it ? And it's quite a new thing with him — that's the odd business. I know a man who was at Mor- ton with him ; and certainly Miles got into a devil of a scrape — which cut short his career there ; but it had nothing to do with gambling. He never was that way inclined at all ; it's a new development, since he joined this club. Well, I suppose he can do what he likes. The heir to a baronetcy and such a place as Petmansworth can get just as much as he wants from the Jews." " My good man, he doesn't need to go to the Jews," said Lionel, with grim irony. " ^\^lere does he get all that money from ? Do you think his father is fool enough to encourage him in such extravagance ? I should hope not ! At the same time I wish I had a father tarred with something of that same brush." " Where does he get all the money from ? So far he has got 16* 370 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. it from me," Lionel said, with a bit of a shrug. " He doesn't need to go to his father, or to the Jews either, when he can plunder me. And such a run of luck as he has had is simply astounding — " " It isn't luck at all," the other interrupted. " It's your play. You play too bold a game — too bold when you know he is go- ing to play a bolder. Twice running he caught you last night bluffing on no hand at all ; and I don't know what fabulous stakes were up — with your nods and signs. It's no use your trying to bluff that fellow. He won't be bluffed." " The thing is as broad as it's long, man," Lionel said, impa- tiently. " If he is determined to see me every time, he must be caught when I have a good hand — it stands to reason. The only thing is that my luck has been so confoundedly bad of late." " Yes ; and when the luck's against you, you go betting on no hands at all — with Miles waiting for you !" his companion exclaimed. "All right; every man must play the game his own way. You don't seem to have found it profitable so far." " Profitable !" Lionel said, with a dark look in his eyes. " I can tell you I am in a tight corner, and I reckoned on to-night to settle it one way or the other — not with you fellows, I can't get anything worth while out of you, but with Miles. And now he's gone away home with — " He stopped in time ; ladies' names are not mentioned in clubs — at least, not in such clubs as the Garden. " The odd thing is," continued Johnny, as he lit a cigarette, and definitely refused to have any more of the wine, " the ex- tremely odd thing is that he doesn't seem to care to win from the rest of us. He lets us share our modest little pots as if they weren't worth looking at. It's you he goes for, invariably." " And he's gone for me to some purpose," Lionel said, mo- rosely. " I'm just about broke — broke five or six times over, if it comes to that — and by that pennyworth of yellow ribbon !" "You needn't call him names," said Johnny, as be lay back in his chair, "Upon my soul I think Miles is somebody in dis- guise — a priest — an Inquisitor — somebody with a mission — to punish the sin of gambling. What does he care about the game ? Nothing — I'll swear it! lie's only watching for you. He's an avenger. He has been sent by some superior power — " "Then it must have been by the devil," said Lionel, with a PRINCE FOUTUKATUS. 371 sombre expression, " for he has got the devil's own hick at his back. Wait till I get four of a kind when he is betting on a full hand — and then you'll see his corpse laid out !" This was all he could say just then ; for here was the young man himself, who must have come back from the Edgeware Road in a remark- ably swift hansom. Almost directly there was an adjournment to the card-room ; and the players took their places. " I propose we have in the joker,"* Lionel called aloud, as the cards were dealt for deal. " I don't see the fun of it," objected the young man who had been Lionel's companion at the supper-table. " You never know where you are when the joker is in. What do you say. Miles ?" " Oh, have it in by all means," Percival Miles said, with his eyes fixed on the table. And perhaps it was that Lionel w-as anxious and nervous (for much depended on the results of this night's play), but he seemed to feel that the pale young man who sat opposite him appeared to be even more cold and implacable in manner than was usual with him. He began to have superstitious fears — like most gamblers. That was an uncanny suggestion his recent compan- ion had put into his head — that here was an avenger — a deputed instrument — an agent to inflict an awarded punishment. At the same time he tried to laugh at the notion. Punishment — from this stripling of a boy ! It was a ludicrous idea, to be sure. When Lionel had in former days accepted his challenge to fight, it was with some kind of impatient resolve to teach him a whole- some lesson and brush him aside. And he had regarded his running after Miss Burgoyne with a sort of good-natured tolera- tion and contempt ; there were always those young fools in the wake of actresses. But that he, Lionel, should be afraid of this young idiot ? What was there to be afraid of ? He was no swashbuckler — this pallid youth with the thin lips, who concen- trated all his attention on the cards, and had no word or jest for his neighbors. How could there be anything baleful in the ex- * Tlie joker is a fifty-third card, of any kind of device, which is added to the pack ; the player to whom it is dealt can make it any card he chooses. For example, if the other four cards he holds are two queens and two sevens, he can make the joker card a third queen, and thus secure for himself a full hand. 373 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. pression of eyes that were curiously expressionless? It was a pretty face (Lionel had at one time thought), but now it seemed capable of a good deal of relentless determination. Lionel had heard of people shivering when brought into contact with the repellent atmosphere that appeared to surround a particular per- son ; but what was there deadly about this young man ? " The game at first was not very exciting, though now and again the joker played a merry trick, appearing in some unex- pected place, and laying many a good hand low. Indeed, it al- most seemed as if Lionel had resolved to recoup himself by steady play ; and so far there had been no duel between him and young Miles. That was not distant, however. On this oc- casion Lionel, who was seated on the left of the dealer — in other words, he being age — when the cards were dealt found himself with two pairs in his hand, aces and queens. It was a pretty show. When the time came for him to declare his intention, he said, " Well, I'm just going to make this another ten shillings to come in." That frightened no one ; they all came in ; what caused them to halt and reflect was that, on Lionel being subsequently asked how many cards he wished to have, he said, " None, thank you." Not a syllable was uttered ; there were surmises too occult for words. The player on Lionel's left bet an humble two shillings. The next player simply came in. So did the third — who was Mr. Percival Miles. Likewise the dealer ; in fact, they were all prepared to pay that modest sum to inspect the age's hand. But Lionel wanted a higher price for that privilege. " Vm coming in with the little two shillings," said he, " and I will raise you a sovereign." That promptly sent out the player on his left; his neigh- bor also retired. Not so the pallid young man with the thin lips. " And one better," he said, d(!})ositing another sovereign. The dealer incontinently fled. There only remained Lionel and his enemy ; and the position of affairs was this — that while Lionel had taken no additional cards, and was presumably in possession of a straight or a flush (unless he was blnfling), Miles liad taken one card, and most likely had got two pairs (unless PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 373 lie was finessing). Two pairs against two pairs, tlien? But Lionel had aces and queens. "And five better," Lionel said, watcliing his enemy. " And five better," said the younger man, stolidly. And now the onlookers altered their surmises. No one but a lunatic would challenge a player who had declined to take sup- plementary cards unless he himself had an exceptionally strong hand, or unless he was morally certain that his opponent was bluffing. Had Miles " filled," then, with his one card ; and was a straight being played against a straight, or a flush against a flush ? Or had the stolid young man started with fours ? The subdued excitement with which this duel was now being regard- ed was enthralling ; they forgot to protest against the wild rais- ing of the bets ; and when Lionel and his implacable foe, having exhausted all their money, had recourse of nods — merely mark- ing their indebtedness to the pool on a bit of paper lying beside them— the others could only guess at the amount that w^as being played for. It was Lionel who gave in ; clearly that insatiate bloodsucker was not to be shaken oS. " I call you." " Three nines," was the answer, and Miles laid down on the table a pair of nines and the joker. The other two were worth- less ; clearly, he had taken the one card as a blind. " That is good enough — take away the money," Lionel said, calmly ; and the younger man, with quite as expressionless a face, raked over the pile of gold, bank-notes, and counters. There was a general sense of relief ; that strain had been too intense. " Very magnificent, you know," said the player who was next to Lionel, as he placed his ante on the table, " but it isn't poker. I think if you fix a limit you should stick to it. Have your private bets if you like ; but let us have a limit that allows every- body to see the fun." " Oh, certainly, I agree to that," Lionel said, at once. " We will keep to the sovereign limit ; and Mr. Miles and I will under- stand well enougli what we are betting when we happen to play against each other." Thereafter the game went more quietly, though Lionel was clearly playing with absolute carelessness ; no doubt his com- panions understood that he could not hope to retrieve his losses 374 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. in this moderate play. He seemed tired, too, and dispirited ; frequently lie threw up his cards without drawing — which was unusual with him. " Have a drink, old man, to wake you up ?" his neighbor said to him, about half-past two. " No, thanks," he answered, listlessly looking on at the cards. " A cigarette, then ?" " No, thanks. I think I must give up smoking altogether — my throat isn't quite right." But an extraordinary stroke of good-luck aroused him. On looking at his cards he found he had been dealt four aces and a ten. Surely the hour of his revenge had sounded at last; for with such a hand he could easily frighten the others out, while he knew that Percival Miles would remain in, if he had anything at all. Accordingly, when it came to his turn he raised before the draw — raised the pool a sovereign; and this caused two of the players to retire, leaving himself, Miles, and the dealer. He took one card — to his astonishment and concealed delight he found it was the joker. Five aces ! — surely on such a hand he might bet his furniture, his clothes, his last cigarette. Five aces ! — it was nothing but brute force ; all that was wanted was to pile on the money ; he could well afford to be reckless this time. He saw that Miles also asked for one card, and that the dealer helped himself to two ; but what they took was a matter of su- preme indifference to him. It was Percival Milcs's turn to bet. *' I will bet a sovereign," said he. " And I'll stay in with you," remarked the dealer, depositing the golden coin. " One better," said Lionel. " And one better," said Miles. Here the dealer retired, so that these two were left in as be- fore — well, not as before, for Lionel had five aces in his liand ! And now they made no pretence of kcc])ing to the limit that liud been imposed ; their bets were registered on the bit of paper which each had by him ; and pertinaciously did these two gladi- ators hack and slash at each other. Lionel was quite reckless. His enemy had taken one card. Very well. Supposing he had "filled" a flush or a straight, so much the better. Supposing he also liad got fours — that, too, was excellent well ; for he PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 375 could have nothing higher than four kings. Strictly speaking, there was only oue hand that could beat Lionel's — a straight flush ; but then a straight flush is an uncommonly rare thing ; and, besides, the appearance of five aces in one's hand seems to convey a sense of quite unlimited power. That five aces are no better than four aces does not strike the possessor of them ; he regards the goodly show — and strives to conceal his elation. But even the onlookers, intensely interested as they were in this fell combat, began to grow afraid when they guessed at the sum that was now in the imaginary pool. The story might get about the club ; the committee might shut up the card-room ; there might be a talk of expulsion. As for Lionel, he kept say- ing to himself, " Well, this is a safe thing ; and I could go on all night ; but I won't take a brutal advantage. As soon as I think I have got back about what this young fellow has already taken from me since he came into the club, I will stop, I don't want to break him. I don't want to send him to the money- lenders," As for the pale young man across the table, his demeanor was that of a perfect poker-player. The only thing that could be noticed was a slight contraction of his pupils, as if he were concentrating his eyes on the things immediately around him and trying to leave his face quite inscrutable. There was no eagerness in his betting — nor was there any affected resignation ; it was entirely mechanical ; like clock-work came the raised and raised bet, " I call you," said Lionel, at last, amid a breathless silence. Without a word Percival Miles laid his cards on the table, arranging them in sequence ; they were five, six, seven, eight, and nine of clubs — not an imposing hand, certainly, but Lionel knew his doom was sealed. He rose from his chair, with a brief laugh that did not sound very natural, " I think I know when I've had enough," he said, " Good- night 1" And " Good-night !" came from one and all of them — though there was an ominous pause until the door was shut be- hind him. He went down below, to the supper-room, which was all de- serted now ; he drew in a chair to a small writing-table and took a sheet of note-paper. On it he scrawled, with rather a feverish hand : 376 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " As I understand it, I owe you £800 on this evening, with £300 from yesterday — £1100 in all I will try to let you have it to-morrow. L. M." — and that he put in an envelope, which he addressed to " Percival Miles, Esq.," and sent up-stairs by one of the servants. Then he went and got his coat and hat, and left. It was raining hard, and there was a blustering wind, but he called no hansom ; the wet and cold seemed grateful to him, for he was hot and excited. And then, somewhat blindly, and bare-throated, he passed through the streaming thorough- fares — caring little how long it took him to reach Piccadilly. CHAPTER XXIII. A MEMORABLE DAY. "... But do you know, dear Maurice, that you propose marrying a beg- gar ; and, more than that, a most unabashed beggar, as you will be saying to yourself presently ? The fact is, immediately after you left this afternoon, the post brought me a letter from Sister Alexandra, who tells me that two of her small children, suffering from hip-disease, must be sent home, for the doctors say they arc getting no better, and the beds in the ward are wanted. They are not fit to be sent home, she writes; then all tlie country holiday money collected last summer has been spent, and what is she to do? Well, I have told her to send them on to me, and I shall take my chance of find- ing the £5 that will be necessary. The fact is, I happen to know one of the poor little things — Grace Wilson her name is, the dearest little mite. But the truth is, dear Maurice, I haven't a penny ; for I have overdrawn the small allowance that comes to me quarterly, and spent it all. Now don't be vexed that I ask you, so soon, for a little help; a sovereign will do, if Linn will give another; and Linn has always been very good to me in this way, though for some time back I have been ashamed to take anything from him. The doctor grumbles, but gives me five shillings whenever I ask him ; Auntie will give me the same; and the rest I can get from our friends and acquaint- ances about here. Don't be impatient with me, dear Maurice; and some day I will take you down to Whitechnpel and show you the very prettiest sight in the whole world — and that is Sister Alexandra with her fifty children. . . ." Maurice Mangan read this passage as he was driving in a hansom along Pall Mall, on his way to call on Lionel. The pre- vious portion of the letter, which more intimately concerned herself and himself, he had read several times over before com- ing out, studying every phrase of it as if it were an individual treasure, and trying to listen for the sound of her voice in every PRINCE FORTUNATUS. 377 sentence. And as for this more practical matter, why, although he was rather a poor man, he thought he was not going to allow Frances to wander about in search of grudging shillings and half-crowns so long as he himself could come to her aid ; so at the foot of St. James Street he stopped the hansom, went into the telegraph-oflice, and sent off the following message : " Five pounds will reach you to-morrow morning. You cannot refuse my first gift in our new relationship. — Maurice." And thereafter he went on to Piccadilly — feeling richer, indeed, rather than poorer. When he rang the bell at Lionel's lodgings, it was with no very clear idea of the message or counsel he was bringing with him ; but the news he now received put all these things out of his head. The house-porter appeared, looking somewhat con- cerned. " Yes, sir, Mr. Moore is up-stairs ; but Fm afraid he's very unwell." " What is the matter ?" Maurice asked, instantly. " He must have got wet coming home last night, sir ; and he has caught a bad cold. Fve just been for Dr. Whitsen, and he will be here at twelve." " But Dr. Whitsen is a throat doctor." " Yes, sir ; but it is always his throat Mr. Moore is most anx- ious about ; and when he found himself husky this morning, he would take nothing but a raw egg beaten up and a little port- wine negus ; and now he won't speak — he w ill only write on a piece of paper. He is saving himself for the theatre to-night, sir, I think that is it ; but would you like to go up and see him ?" " Oh, yes, I will go up and see him," Mangan said ; and with- out more ado he ascended the stairs and made his way into Lionel's bedroom. He found his friend under a perfect mountain of clothes that had been heaped upon him ; and certainly he was not shivering now — on the contrary, his face was flushed and hot, and his eyes singularly bright and restless. As soon as Lionel saw who this new-comer was, he made a sign that a block of paper and a pen- cil lying on the table should be brought to him ; and, turning slightly, he put the paper on the pillow and wrote : " Fm nursing my voice — hope to be all right by night — arc you busy to-day, Maurice ?" 378 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. '* No ; there is no House on Saturday," Maurice made answer. " I wish you would stay by me," Lionel wrote, with rather a shaky hand. " I'm in dreadful trouble. I undertook to pay Percival Miles £1100 and Lord Rockrainster £300 to-day with- out fail ; and I haven't a farthing, and don't know where to send or Avhat to do." " Oh, never mind about money !" Maui'ice said, almost impa- tiently, for there was something about the young man's appear- ance he did not at all like. " Why should you worry about that ? The important business is for you to get well." " I tell you I must pay Rockminster to-day," the trembling pencil scrawled. " He was the only one of them who stood my friend. I tell you I must pay him — if I have to get up and go out and seek for the money myself." " Nonsense !" Mangan exclaimed. " What do people care about a day or two, when they hear you are ill ? However, you needn't worry, Linn. As for that other sum you mention, well, that is beyond me — I couldn't lay my hands on it at once ; but as for the three hundred pounds, I will lend you that — so set your mind at rest on that point." " And you'll give it into Lord Rockminster's own hands — this day r " Surely it will be quite the same if I send the check by a com- missionaire ; he must get it sooner or later." The earnest, restless eyes looked strangely supplicating. " Into his own hands, Maurice !" "Very well, very well," Mangan had just time to say, for here was the doctor. Dr. Whitsen examined his patient with the customary profes- sional calm and reticence ; asked a few questions, which Lionel answered with such husky voice as was left him ; and then he said, " Yes, you have caught a severe chill, and your system is feverish generally ; the throat is distinctly congested — " *' But to-night, doctor — the theatre — to-night !" Lionel broke in, excitedly. "Surely by eight o'clock — " " Oh, quite impossible ; not to be thought of," the doctor re- sponded, with decision. " Why can't you do something to tide me over, for the one night?" the young man said, with appealing and almost pathetic PRINCE FOUTUNATUS. 379 eyes. " I've never disappointed the public once before — never once ; and if I could only get over to-uight, there's the long rest to-morrow and Monday." "Come, come," said the doctor, soothingly, "you must not excite yourself about a mere trifle. You know it is no uncom- mon thing, and the public don't resent it ; they would be most unreasonable if they did. Singers are but mortal like them- selves. No, no, you must put that out of your mind altogether." Lionel turned to Maurice. " Maurice," he said, in that husky voice, and yet with a curi- ous, subdued eagerness, " telegraph to Lehmann at once — at once. Doyle is all right ; he has sung the part often enough. And will you send a note to Doyle ; he can go into my dressing- room and take any of my things he wants ; Lingard has the keys. And a telegram to mother, in case she should see some- thing in the newspapers ; tell her there is nothing the matter — only a trifling cold — " " Really, Mr. Moore," said the doctor, interposing, " you must have a little care ; you must calm yourself. I am sure your friend will attend to all these matters for you, but in the mean- time you must exercise the greatest self-control, or you may do your throat some serious injury. Why should you be disturbed by so common an incident in professional life ? Your substitute will do well enough, and the public will greet you with all the greater favor on your return." " It never happened before," the young man said, in lower tones. " I never had to give in before." " Now tell me," Dr. Whitsen continued. " Dr. Ballardyce is your usual medical attendant, is he not ?" " I know him very well ; he is an old friend of mine, but I've never had occasion to trouble him much," was the answer, given with some greater care and reserve. " I will call on him as I go by, and if possible we will come down together in the afternoon," the doctor said ; and then Maurice fetched him writing materials from the other room, and he sat down at the little table. Before he went, he gave some general directions ; then the two friends were left alone. Lionel took up the pencil again, and turned to the block of paper. " The £300, Maurice," his trembling fingers scrawled, show- 380 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. ing how his mind was still torturing itself with those obliga- tions. *' Oh, that's all right," Maurice answered, lightly. " You give me Lord Rockminster's address, and I'll take the check to him myself as soon as the doctors have been here in the afternoon. Don't you worry about that, Linn, or about anything ; for you know you mustn't increase that feverishness, or we shall have you a right-down, bona-fide patient on our hands; and then when will you get back to the theatre again ? 1 am going out now to telegraph to Lehmann. But I don't think I need alarm the Win- stead people ; you see, they don't read the Sunday papers ; and, indeed, if I send a note now to Francie, she will get it the first thing in the morning. Linn," he continued, after a moment's hesitation, *' are you too much upset by your own affairs to listen to a bit of news ? I came with the intention of telling you, but perhaps I'd better wait until you get over these present troubles." Lionel looked at him, with those bright, restless eyes, for a second or two, as if to gather something from his expression ; and then he wrote : " Is it about Francie ?" Maurice nodded ; it was enough. Lionel stretched out his hot hand and took that of his companion. " I am glad," he said, in a low voice. And then, after a mo- ment or two's thinking, he turned to his writing again : " Well, it is hard, Maurice. I have been looking forward to this for many a day, and have been wondering how I should congratulate you both. And I get the news now — when I'm ruined. I haven't enough money even to buy a wedding-present for Francie !" " Do you think she will mind that ?" Mangan said, cheerfully. " But I'm going to send her your good wishes, Linn — now, when I write. And look here, if she should come up to see you, or your father and mother — for it is quite possible the doctors may insist on your giving your voice a rest for a considerable while — well, if they sliould come up from Winstead, mind you say nothing about your monetary troubles. They needn't be men- tioned to anybody, nor need they worry you ; I dare say I shall be able to get something more done ; it will be all right. Only, if the Winstead people should come up, don't you say anything to them about these monetary affairs, or connect me with them ; PRINCE FOKTUNATUS. 381 for it miglit put mc into an awkward position — you under- stand ?" And the last words Lionel wrote on the block of paper he- fore Mangan went out to execute his various commissions were these : " You are a good friend, Maurice." When the doctors arrived in the afternoon, Mangan had come back. They found Lionel complaining of acute headache and a burning thirst ; his skin hot and dry ; pulse full and quick ; also, he seemed drowsy and heavy, though his eyes retained their restless brightness. There could be no doubt, as they privately informed Maurice, he was in the first stages of a violent fever ; and the best thing that could be done was to get in a profes- sional nurse at once. Yes, Mr. Mangan might comnmnicate with his friends ; his father, being himself a doctor, would judge whether it were worth while coming up just then ; but, of course, it would be inadvisable to have a lot of relations crowding the sick-room. Obviously, the immediate cause of the fever was the chill caught on the previous night, but there might have been predisposing causes ; and everything calculated to excite the mind unduly was to be kept away from him. As for the throat, there were no dangerous symptoms as yet ; the simple congestion would probably disappear, when the fever abated, with a return to health ; but the people at the theatre might as well know that it would be a long time before Mr. Moore could return to his duties. Dr. Ballardyce would see at once about having a professional nurse sent ; meanwhile, quiet, rest, and the absence of mental disturbance were the great things. And so the two augurs departed. The moment that Mangan returned to Lionel's room, the lat- ter glanced at him quickly and furtively. " Are they gone, Maurice ?" he whispered. « Yes." *' And the check — for Lord Rockminstcr ?" " There it is, already drawn out," was the answer, as the slip of lilac paper was unfolded ; " but I can't take it to him until the nurse comes — certainly not." " She may be an hour, Maurice," Lionel said, restlessly. " I don't want anybody to wait on me. If you think it necessary, call up Mrs. Jenkins, and she can sit in the next room ; the bell 382 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. here is enough. Oh, my head ! — my head !" — and he turned away, wearily. Maurice saw well enough that he would never rest until this money was paid, so he called up the house-porter's wife and gave her some instructions, and forthwith set ofiE for the ad- dress in Palace Gardens Terrace which Lionel had given him. When he arrived there, he was informed that his lordship was not at home. He pressed his inquiries; he said his business was of the utmost importance ; and at last he elicited, after con- siderable waiting, that, though no one in the house could say whither Lord Rockminster had gone, it was understood that he was dining at the Universities Club that evening. With this information Mangan returned to Piccadilly. He found the nurse already arrived and installed. He pacified Lionel with the news ; for, if he went along to the Universities Club at half -past eight, he must surely be able to place the money in Lord Rock- minster's own hands. " Maurice, you're awfully kind," his friend murmured. "And you've had nothing to eat all day. Tell Mrs. Jenkins to get you something — " " Oh, that's all right," Mangan said, carelessly. " I'll just scribble a line to Francie, to tell her what the doctors have said ; and I'll take that down to the post myself. Then I'll get something to eat and come back here ; and at half-past eight I'm going along to Pall Mall, where I'm certain to catch Lord Rockminster — so that it's all quite right and straight, you see." But, as it chanced, when he went along to the Universities that evening, he found he had missed his man — by only a minute or two. He was surprised and troubled; he knew how Lionel would fret. The hall-porter did not know whither Lord Rock- minster liad gone ; that is to say, he almost certainly did know, but it was not his business to tell. Luckily, at this same mo- ment, there was a young fellow leaving the club, and, as he was lighting his cigar, he heard Maurice's inquiries — and perhaps was rather struck by his appearance, which was certainly not that of a sheriffs officer. " T think T can tell you where they have gone, sir," said the young man, good-naturedly. " Some of them had an early din- ner to-night, to go up to the billiard handicap at the I'alm-Tree ; I'KINCE FOHTUNATUS. 383 I fancy Lord Rockminster was of the party, and that you will find him there." This information proved correct. Mangan went up to the Pahn-Tree Club in St. James Street and sent in his card. Almost directly he was invited to step up-stairs to the billiard- room. Just as he entered the door, he saw Lord Rockminster leave the raised bench where he had been seated by the side of a very artificial-looking palm-tree stem, and the next moment the two men were face to face. " How do you do, Mr. Mangan ?" Lord Rockminster said, in his usual impassive way. " You remember I had the pleasure of meeting you at my sister's. What is the matter with your friend Mr. Moore ? — I see by the evening paper he is not to ap- pear to-night." " He is far from well — a chill followed by a fever," Mangan answered. " I have just come from him, with a message for you." " Oh, really," said the young nobleman. " Ah, I dare say I know ; but I assure you it is quite unnecessary. Tell him not to mind. When a fellow's ill, why should he be troubled ?" Maurice had taken out his pocket-book, and was searching for the lilac slip. " But here is the check, Lord Rockminster ; and nothing would do him but that I must give it into your own hands." " Oh, really." Lord Rockminster took the check, and happened to glance at it. " Ah, I see this is drawn out by yourself, Mr. Mangan," he said. " I presume — eh — that you have lent Mr. Moore the money ?" Maurice hesitated, but there was no prevarication handy. " If you ask the question, it is so. However, I suppose it is all the same." " All the same ? — yes," Lord Rockminster said, slowly ; " with only this difference, that before he owed me the money, and now he owes it to you. I don't see any necessity for that ar- rangement. I haven't asked him for it ; I sha'n't ask him for it until he is quite ready and able to pay ; why, therefore, should he borrow from you ? Take back your check, ^fi-. Mangan ; T understand what you were willing to do for your friend ; I as- sure you it is quite uncalled for." 384 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. But Maurice refused. He explained all the circumstances of the case — Lionel's feverish condition, bis fretting about the debt, the necessity for keeping his mind pacified, and so on ; and at last Lord Eockminster said, " Very well ; you can tell him you have given me the check. At the same time you can't compel me to pay it into my bank- ers' ; and I don't see why I should take three hundred pounds of your money when you don't owe me any. When Mr. Moore gets perfectly well again, you can tell him he still owes me three hundred pounds — and he can take his own time about paying it." And with that Maurice took his leave. Lord Rockminster going down the stair with him and out to the hall-door, where he bade him good-bye. When he returned to Piccadilly, he said to the nurse, " I suppose you can sleep at a moment's notice ?" " Pretty well, sir," she answered, with a demure professional smile. " Then you'd better find out this room that Mrs. Jenkins has got for you, and lie down for a few hours. I sha'n't be leaving until after midnight — perhaps one or two o'clock. Then, when I go, you can have this sofa here ; and I shall be back early in the morning, to give you another rest." " Thank you, sir." He went into the adjoining room. ** Headache any better, Linn, my boy ?" he asked, stooping over the bed. There was no answer for a second or two ; then the eyes were opened, showing a drowsy, pained expression. " Did you see him, Maurice ?" " Oh, yes, that's all settled," Mangan said, cheerfully. " I can't say there is much of the grasping creditor about your friend. I could hardly persuade him to take the check at all, after I had hunted him from place to place. What made you so desperately punctilious, Linn ? You don't imagine he would have talked about it to any women-folk, even supposing you had not paid up ? Is that it ? No, no, you can't imagine he would do anything of that kind ; I should call him a thoroughly good fellow, if one might be so familiar with his betters. How- ever, I don't want you to say anything ; you mustn't speak ; I'm going to talk to you." He drew in a chair to the bedside and PRINCE F0RTUNATU8. 31^5 sat down. " Now I wish you to understand. You've got a mortal bad cold, which may develop into a fever ; and you have a slightly congested throat ; altogether you must consider your- self an invalid, old man ; and it may be some time before you can get back to the theatre. Now the first thing for you is peace of mind ; you're not to worry about anything ; you've got to dismiss every possible care and vexation." " It's all you know, Maurice," the sick man said, with a wearied sigh. " Oh, I know more than you think. We'll just take one thing at a time. About this eleven hundred pounds for example. You are aware I am not, strictly speaking, a Cra?sus, yet I have made my little economies, and they are tied up in one or two fairly safe things. Well, now — Oh, be quiet, Linn, and let me have it out ! Something happened to me yesterday that more than ever convinced me of the worthlessness of riches. You know the coppice that goes up from Winstead station. At the farther end there is a gate.* At that gate yesterday I heard a dozen words — twenty or thirty, perhaps — that were of more value to me than Pactolus in full flood or all the money heaped up in Aladdin's cave. And now I am so puffed up with joy and pride that I am going still further to despise my wealth — my hoards and vast accumulations ; and on Monday, if I can, I am going to get you that eleven hundred pounds, just as sure as ever was — " " Maurice — you have to think of Francie," Lionel said, in his husky, low voice. And here Mangan paused for a second or two. " Well," said he, more thoughtfully, " what happened yester- day certainly involves responsibilities ; but these haven't been assumed yet ; and the nearest duty is the one to be considered. I don't know whether I shall tell Francie ; I may, or I may not ; but I am certain that if I do she will approve — certain as that I am alive." " I won't rob Francie," said Lionel, with a little moan of weari- ness or pain. " You can't rob her of what she hasn't got," Mangan said, promptly. " I know this, that if Francie knew you were in these straits and worrying about it, she would instantly come up and offer you her own little money — which is not a very large fortune, as I understand ; and I also know that you would refuse it." 17 386 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " A dose of prussic acid first," Lionel murmured, to him- self. "Prussic acid ! — Bosh!" said Maurice. "What is the use of talking rubbish ! Well, I'm not going to let you talk at all. I'm going to read you the news out of the evening papers until you go to sleep." When Dr. Ballardyce called next morning, he found that the fever had gained apace ; all the symptoms were aggravated — the temperature, in especial, had seriously increased. The sick man lay drowsily indifferent, now and again moaning slightly ; but sometimes he would waken up, and then there was a curiously anxious and restless look in his eyes. The nurse said she was afraid he had not been asleep at all, though occasionally he had appeared to be asleep. When the doctor left again, she was sent to bed, and Maurice Mangan took her place in the sitting- room. That was an extraordinary Sunday, long to be remembered. Anything more hopelessly "dismal than the outlook from those Piccadilly windows it was impossible to imagine. The gale of Friday had blown itself out in rain ; and that had been followed by stagnant weather and a continuous drizzle ; so that the trees in the Green Park opposite looked like black phantoms in the vague gray mist ; while everything seemed wet and clammy and cold. Maurice paced up and down the room, his feet shod in noiseless slippers ; or he gazed out on that melancholy spectacle until he thought of suicide ; or again he would go into the ad- joining apartment, to see how his friend was getting on or whether he wanted anything. But as the day wore on, matters became a little brisker; for there were numerous callers, and some of them waited to have a special message sent down to them ; while others, knowing Mangan, and learning that he was in charge of the invalid, came up to have a word with himself. Baskets of flowers began to arrive, too ; and these, of course, must have come from private conservatories. No one was al- lowed to enter the sick-room ; but Maurice carried thither the news of all this kindly remembrance and sympathy, as some- thing that might be grateful to his patient. " You've got a tremendous number of friends, Linn, and no mistake," he said. " Munv a great statesman or poet might envy you." PRINCE FORTUNATCS. 387 " I suppose it is in the papers ?" Lionel asked, without raising his head. " In one or two of the late editions last evening, and in most of to-day's papers ; but to-morrow it will be all over the coun- try. I have had several London correspondents here this after- noon." " All over the country ?" Lionel repeated, absently, and then he lay still for a second or two. " No use — no use !" he moaned, in so low a voice that Mangan could hardly hear. And then again he looked up wearily. " Come here, Maurice. I want to — to ask you something. If — if I were to die — do you think — they would put it in any of the papers abroad ?" " Nonsense — what are you talking about ?" Maurice exclaimed, in a simulated anger. " Talking of dying — because you've got a feverish cold ; that's not Uke you, Linn ! You're not going to frighten your people when they come up from Winstead, by talking like that ?" " Don't let them come up," was all he said, and shut his eyes again. Among the callers that afternoon who, learning that Mr. Man- gan was up-stairs, came personally to make inquiries, was Miss Burgoyne, who was accompanied by her brother. " What is the matter ?" she said, briefly, to Maurice. " One never can trust what is in the newspapers." He told her. " Serious ?" " That depends," he said, in a low voice, as they stood to- gether at the window. " I hope not. But I suppose the fever will have to run its course." " It will be some time before he can be back at the theatre ?" " It will be a very long time. There is some slight conges- tion of the throat as well. "When he pulls through with the fever, he will most likely be sent abroad, for rest to his throat." She considered for a second or two ; then she said, with a matter-of-fact air : " They needn't make a fuss about that. His throat will be all right. It is only repeated congestions that seriously affect the membrane ; and he has been exceptionally lucky — or excep- tionally strong, perhaps. Who is his doctor?" 388 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Dr. Ballardyce." " Don't know him." " Then there's Dr. Whitsen." " Oh, thafs all right — he'll do. It's the voice that's the im- portant thing ; the general system must take its chance. Well, tell him I'm very sorry. I suppose there's nothing one can send him ?" " Thank you, I don't think there is anything. Look at the flowers and grapes and things there — already — and this is Sun- day." She glanced at those gifts with open disdain. " Very easy for rich folks to show their sympathy by sending an order to their head-gardener !" " I will tell him that you called, and left kind messages for him." " Yes, tell him that. And tell him Doyle does very well — fairly well — though he's as nervous as a pantomime-girl hoisted in a transformation-scene. If I were you," continued this ex- tremely practical young lady, " I wouldn't tell any of the news- paper men that it may be a considerable time before Mr. Moore is back. Nobody likes to lose touch of the public more than he can help, you know ; and if they're always expecting you back, that's something. Good-bye !" Maurice accompanied her down-stairs and to the door ; then he returned to the sitting-room and to his private meditations. For this brief interview had been of the keenest interest to him ; he had studied every expression of her face, listened to every intonation of her voice ; almost forced, in spite of himself, to admire her magnificent nerve. But now, of course, in recalling all these things, he was thinking of Francie ; as a man invaria- bly does when he places the one woman of the world on a ped- estal, that all the rest of her sex may be compared with her ; and even his extorted admiration of the prima-donna's coolness and self-possession and business-like tact did not prevent his rejoicing at the thought that Francie and Miss Bnrgoyne were poles asunder. That evening Maurice was startled. He had gone very quietly into the sick-room, just to sec how his patient was getting on, and found him breathing heavily and also restlessly muttering to himself. Perhaps even the slight noise of his entrance had PEINCE FORTUNATDS. 389 attracted the notice of one abnormally sensitive ; at all events, Lionel opened bis eyes, wbich were no longer drowsy, but eager and excited, and said, " Maurice, have you not sent for Nina yet ?" " For Nina?" " Oh, yes, yes," Lionel went on, as quickly as his laboring breath would allow. " llow can I go abroad without saying good-bye to Nina? Tell Jenkins to go down to Sloane Street at once — at once, Maurice — before she leaves for the theatre. I have been waiting for her all day — I heard the people coming up — one after another — but not Nina. And I cannot go with- out saying good-bye. I want to tell her something. She must make friends with Miss Burgoyne, now she has got into the theatre. Lehmann will give her a better part by and by — oh, yes, I'll see to that for Nina — and I must write to Pandiani, to tell him of her success — " " Oh, but that's all settled, Linn," his friend broke in, per- ceiving the situation at once. " Now you just keep quiet, and it will be all perfectly arranged — perfectly. Of course I know you are glad your old friend and companion has got a place in the theatre." " Yes, she was my friend — she was my friend once," he said, and he looked appealingly at Maurice ; " but — but I sometimes think — sometimes it is my head — that there is something wrong. Can you tell me, Maurice ? There is something — I don't know what — but it troubles me — I cannot tell what it is. When she was here to-day, she would not speak to me. She came and looked. She stood by the door there. She had on the black dress and the crimson bonnet — but she had forgotten her music. I thought, perhaps, she was going down to the theatre — but why wouldn't she speak to me, Maurice ? She did not look angry — she looked like — like — oh, just like Nina — and I could not ask her why she would not say anything — my throat was so bad — " " Yes, I know that, Linn," Maurice said, gently, " and that is why you mustn't talk any more now. You must lie still and rest, so that you may take your place in the theatre again — " " But haven't they told you I am never going to the theatre again ?" he said, eagerly. " Oh, no ; as soon as I can I am going away abroad — I am going away all over the world — to find some 390 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. one. Yon said she was my friend and my good comrade — do you think I could let her be away in some distant place, and all alone ? I could not rest in my grave ! It may be Malta, or Cairo, or Australia, or San Francisco ; but that is what I am set on. I have thought of it so long that — that I think my head has got tired, and my heart a little bit broken, as they say, only I never believed in that. Never mind, Maurice, I am going away to find Nina — ah, that will be a surprise some day — a surprise just as when she first came here — into the room — in the black dress and the crimson bonnet — la cianciosella, she was going away again ! — she was always so proud and easily offended — always the cianciosella /" He turned a little, and moaned, and lay still ; and Maurice, fearing that his presence would only add to this delirious excite- ment, was about to slip from the room, when his sick friend called him back. " Maurice, don't forget this now ! When she comes again, you must stand by her at the door there, and tell her not to be frightened : I am not so very ill. Tell Nina not to be fright- ened. She used not to be frightened. Ask her to remember the afternoons when I had the broken ankle — she and Sabetta Debernardi used to come nearly every day — and Sabetta brought her zither — and Nina and I played dominoes. Maurice, you never heard Nina sing to herself — just to herself, not thinking — and sometimes Sabetta would play a harcarola — oh, there was one that Nina used to sing sometimes — '■Da la parte de Castelo — ziraremo mio tesoro — mio tesorof — la passara el Bucintoro — ^;fr condur el Dose in mar'' — I heard it last night again — but — but all stringed instruments — and the sound of wind and waves — it was so strange and terrible — when I was listening for Nina's voice. I think it was at Capri — along the shores — but it was night-time — and I could not hear Nina because of the wind and the waves. Oh, it was terrible, Maurice ! The sea was roaring all round the shores — and it was so black — only I thought if the water were about to come up and drown me, it might — it might take me away somewhere — I don't know where — perhaps to the place where Nina's ship went down in the dark. Why did she go away, Maurice ? — why did she go away from us all ? — the poor cianciosella f" These rambling, wearied, broken utterances were suddenly PKINCE FORTUNATUS, ^91 arrested : there was a tapping at the outer door — and Lionel turned frightened, anxious eyes on his friend. " I'll go and see who it is," Mangan said, quietly. " Mean- while you must lie perfectly quiet and still, Linn, and be sure that everything will come right." In the next room, at the open door, he found the reporter of a daily newspaper which was in the habit of devoting a column every Monday morning to music and musicians. lie was bidden to enter. He said he wished to have the last authentic news of the condition of the popular young baritone, for of course there would be some talk, especially in "the profession," about Mr. Moore's non-appearance on the preceding night. " Well," said Maurice, in an undertone, " don't publish any- thing alarming, you know, for he has friends and relatives who are naturally anxious. The fever has increased somewhat ; that is the usual thing ; a nervous fever must run its course. And to-night he has been slightly delirious — " " Oh, delirious ?" said the reporter, with a quick look. " Slightly — slightly — just wandering a little in his feverish- ness. I wouldn't make much of it. The public don't care for medical details. When the crisis of the fever comes, there will be something more definite to mention." " If all goes well, when do you expect he will be able to re- turn to the New Theatre ?" " That," said Maurice, remembering Miss Burgoyne's hint, " it is quite impossible to say." *' Thanks," said the reporter. " Good-night." And there- with Maugan returned to the sick-room. He found that Lionel had forgotten all about having been startled into silence by the tapping at the outer door. Uis heated brain was busy with other bewildering possibilities now. " Maurice — Maurice !" he said, eagerly. " It is near the time — quick, quick ! — get me the box — behind the music — on the piano — " " Look here, Linn," said his friend, with some affectation of asperity, " you must really calm yourself and be silent, or I shall have to go and sit in the other room. You are straining your throat every time you speak, and exciting yourself as well." 392 PRINCE FORTUNATUS. " Ah, and it is my last chance !" Lionel said, piteously, and with burning eyes. " If you only knew, Maurice, you would not refuse !" " Well, tell me quietly what you want," Mangan said. " The box — on the top of the piano," Lionel made answer, in a low voice, but his eyes were tremblingly anxious. " Quick, Maurice !" Mangan went and without any difficulty found the box that held Nina's trinkets, and returned with it. " Open it !" Lionel said, clearly striving to conceal his excite- ment. " Yes, yes — put those other things aside — yes, that is it — the two cups — take them separate ; it isn't twelve yet, is it ? No, no ; there will be time ; now put them on the table by the window there — yes, that is it — now pour some wine into them — never mind what, Maurice, only be quick !" Well, he could not refuse this apjDeal ; he thought that most likely the yielding to these incoherent wishes would prove the best means of pacifying the fevered mind ; so he went into the next room and brought back some wine, and half filled the two tiny goblets. " Now, wait, Maurice," Lionel said, slowly, and in a still lower voice, though his eyes were afire. " Wait and watch — closely, closely — don't breathe or speak. It is near twelve. Watch ! Do not take your eyes off them ; and at twelve o'clock, when you see one of the cups move, then you must seize it — seize it, and seize Nina's hand ! — and hold her fast ! Oh, I can tell you she will not leave us any more — not when I have spoken to her and told her how cruel it was of her to go away. I do not know where she is now ; but at twelve, all of a sudden, there will be a kind of trembling of the air — that is Nina — for she has been here before ; how long to twelve now, Maurice ?" he asked, eagerly. " oil, it is a long time till twelve yet," his friend said. " I think, if I were you, I would try to sleep for an hour or two ; and I'll go into the other room so as not to disturb you." " No, no, Maurice," Lionel said, with panting vehemence. " You must not stir ! It is quite near, I tell you — it is close on twelve — watch the cups, Maurice, and be ready to spring up and seize her hand and hold her fast. Quite near twelve — surely I liear somethinc: — it is somethin