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PART II.

CHAPTER V.

EVIL FOREBODINGS AT CARNOCHAN.

"Suspicions that the mind of itself gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished, and put into men's heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings."-BACON.

A BRIDE of twenty may or may not engross the attention of her friends to the full extent of her belief, but it rarely happens that the nuptials of a widow more than double that age excite even the typical nine days' wonder.

Lady Olivia Evelyn, handsome, charming, and gay, was nevertheless beyond her prime even as a fine woman, and the event which united her to the second man of her choice, though duly heralded, chronicled, and congratulated upon, did not perhaps create the full measure of sensation she had anticipated.

In relinquishing the world-according to her idea of such. a renunciation-she fondly believed that the loss was not entirely on one side; in resigning her post as leader of the ton, she was unaware that only in her own eyes had she ever held it; and in mourning over the void which the cessation of her assemblies must have caused, she forgot to remember how scantily they had been attended.

It suited her invariably to put the best face on everything connected with herself.

But the plain truth was, that even in her best days Lady Olivia had never shone forth in her sphere with any prominence, and that such consideration as was shown her, was due to her birth and position rather than to any qualities of the heart or head which could command respect.

As long as she could give parties in Hill Street, and invite guests to Evelyn Towers, she could not be without acquaintance; but when the majority of her only son altered her position with regard to these and other matters, and it was seen that the two were not inseparable-indeed they were seldom together-her status in society suffered.

Of this Evelyn was probably unaware-indeed it is certain that he was so, since otherwise his good-nature would indubitably have led him, even at some sacrifice to himself, to give countenance to his parent. In every respect he was, it is true, cast in another mould; they had no single point in common either as regarded disposition or tastes, and he could not conceal from himself that she possessed but a slight hold on his affections; but had it once occurred to him that by remaining at the Towers whilst she was there, or residing under the same roof when they were in London at the same time, he could have done more than merely afford her pleasure, he would not have refused to give up his own will. In this instance, as in many others, Lady Olivia's own peculiar faculty for being cheerful at the expense of truth, militated against herself.

She would neither hear nor suggest a word to the effect that anything and everything connected with her lot was not flawless. So long as she could laud her darling boy behind his back, she consented to see his face but seldom; and would he but permit her the exultation of announcing that she had a letter from him in her pocket, she cared not that the writing barely covered a single page.

Thus it came to pass that a perfectly good understanding was established between the two, and that although it was patent to the world that Lady Olivia was a mother only in name, and that Evelyn interested himself but slightly in her concerns, and shunned her society, both would with equal readiness have repudiated the idea that they were not on the best of terms; and when, with joyful haste, she despatched to him the tidings of her being about to contract another alliance, she was not mistaken in reckoning on one at least who would read the intelligence with gratification.

He might not put faith in her raptures, nor credit above the half of her statements, but enough remained to interest and to excite his approval.

He was as well pleased as ever he had been in his life,or so, at least, he told himself, oblivious of the fact that the

same phrase had risen to his lips when the puppies of his favourite pointer Jemima proved to be of the right sort, when his old chum Harry Burly was chosen stroke of the Trinity boat, and when repeated efforts enabled him to hit the trick of balancing a fork on the back of his hand, throwing an orange into the air and catching it on the spike.

He might not exert himself vehemently to seek his future step-father's acquaintance, nor was he to be depended upon for being present at the wedding, but he certainly intended to be civil all round, and was-repeatedly-" as well pleased as ever he had been in his life."

This, however, was enough.

His mother felt that she had done the right thing, that her judgment had been manifested, her charms vindicated. It seemed so easy now,-so easy and simple a matter this bringing of suitors to her feet, after things had been settled between her and Mr Newbattle, that she in secret wondered at herself for not having done something in that way before. What had hindered her?

What but her orphan boy. For dear Rupert's sake alone, it must have been, that she had resisted importunity hitherto; and nothing was plainer than that, now when he no longer needed her protecting care, she was free to think for herself. That he had not needed the care for the last seven years, and that he had never had it during the twenty-one previous ones, was immaterial,-nobody could be more charmingly blind than Lady Olivia when necessary, and her orphan son-in consideration of his six feet one inch, and his moustache, he was permitted to be "son" instead of "boy"figured prominently in her announcements of her second marriage.

Nothing could be more radiant than was the widow's description of her prospects.

As a matter of fact, she was sincerely pleased: she would have once more a house and establishment of her own; she would regain all her former consideration in the eyes of the world; and she would be relieved from the haunting apprehension that any day might see her transformed into a dowager. Added to this, her future husband was undoubtedly an agreeable peaceable gentleman, with whom it would be easy to live. He was himself a widower, elderly and somewhat old-fashioned; it was not unflattering that he seemed already half terrified at his audacity in contemplating a union with

so august a lady, and altogether amazed at his success. He was certain to be manageable.

Since he had a family, it was a great point that it consisted entirely of daughters. No daughters could make themselves as disagreeable as could sons. They would probably be pretty and amiable, and she would have the satisfaction of marrying them off soon. Or, if not, girls were always useful in a house: how often had she wished for some herself, when there were things to be done, notes to be written, and guests to be attended to. One poor head and pair of hands could not accomplish everything; and a sweet, pretty daughter, especially now that she saw so little of her sonbut here she would pull up short, even when

speaking to herself.

To other auditors it naturally followed that such honest self-congratulation took the form of inflated panegyric upon every person and circumstance connected with her new alliance.

"I am indeed only too fortunate, my kind Lady Julia; I have nothing, nothing in the world to wish for. As for the children, whom some-including dear, prudent, Lady Anne -imagined I might fancy a drawback, why, I expect to find in them my greatest treasures! To their companionship and society, I can assure you both, I am looking forward as much as to anything else in the bright prospect now opening before me."

The ladies to whom so much was confided listened discreetly. If they glanced at each other now and then, if there followed an expressive silence after the eloquent peroration, it is possible each knew what the other was thinking of, and that they were reflecting inwardly that, however bright might be the prospect before their old friend, the other side of the picture-namely, that turned towards the family of her bridegroom-was more shady.

That Lady Olivia should behold no dark spots on her side, by having recourse to the simple expedient of daubing the blemishes over, was all very well, but they "humphed to themselves as they thought of the poor girls. Yesundoubtedly they were, or would be soon, "poor girls."

The two finely-mannered aristocrats who sat up and gave ear, were, you see, up to all the tricks and turns of their ancient ally; they knew that so long as neither forbearance, nor generosity, nor sweetness of temper was needed, and so

long as a flow of words and a certain indolent hilarity met every exigency of the case, she might pass muster excellently well; but they also knew that directly the smooth current of her days was interrupted by any obstruction,—that were she to be called upon to give up a pleasure, or exert herself to perform a duty, her amiability was no more to be depended upon than that of any other uniformly selfish person. Her code was a short one.

What was considered proper in the circle in which she had been brought up, what was done by them, and said by them, was all she wished to know. Their opinions alone were founded in truth, reason, and justice-or if not, in the fashionable substitutes for such, that did as well, or better. So far as her experience went and on this experience she prided herself well-born and well-bred people were of one stamp all the world over; and the idea of making allowance for peculiarities indigenous to different soils, would have seemed preposterous in her eyes.

Nobody could open her eyes better than Lady Olivia when surprise was to be exhibited; it was her sole argument; she detested representations, and could not understand reason.

Had a hint been offered that she might find in her dear Mr Newbattle's dear daughters, characters already moulded, and wills formed which she might strive in vain to alter, the width to which her round blue orbs would have extended would have been alarming. Such a thing could not possibly be. No; her settlement could no more be inadequate, nor her jewellery disappointing, than could she find herself deceived in her sweetest children-her Alice, Kate, Bertha, and Marjorie,—all their names quite pat, tripping off her tongue in accents that were nothing short of caressing.

Alice, Kate, Bertha, and Marjorie were, it may as well be confessed at once, likely to give such fond anticipations a deadly shock.

The elder two had been permitted to bring themselves up after the usual fashion agreeable to young ladies who have only an absent-minded indulgent father at their head-that is to say, they had learned as little or as much as they chose, under a governess who was aware that she was in their power, for better, for worse; and they had virtually emancipated themselves from all rules, even while nominally remaining in the schoolroom.