CHAPTER V.

Et je songeais comme la femme oublie,

Et je sentais un lambeau de ma vie
Qui se déchirait lentement.'

MR. FORDE had come up from Scotland on the tenth of July, intending to surprise Elizabeth by his unexpected appearance in Eaton-place. He had fancied her bright look of rapture as she came into the room and saw him, after having been told only that a gentleman from Hawleigh wished to see her-the look she had given him so many times during the brief happy fortnight that followed their betrothal; those happy days in which they had enjoyed for but too short a space the privileges of plighted lovers, had walked alone together on the dull March afternoon, when the Curate's labours allowed him such a blessed interval, and had talked of the future they were to share-a lowly destiny, but with the light of true love shining upon it.

Thus had he thought of his betrothed during the tedious journey from the North, tedious though he

travelled express for the greater part of the way. He came fresh from the performance of a mournful duty, for only two days ago he had read the funeral service above the remains of his father's brother, the bachelor uncle who had been almost a second father to him. He had not even written to tell Elizabeth of his uncle's death. It would be easier to tell her when they met. He had made all his plans. He meant to stay in London for a few days, while Elizabeth wound up her visit, and then to take her back to Devonshire with him. And then it would be time to think of their wedding-day. He was richer by some four hundred a year since his uncle's death, and he had lately received the offer of a very fair living in the north of England. Since he had surrendered his old heroic idea of his ministry, and had determined that his lines were to be cast in pleasant places, there was really nothing to hinder the realisation of his wishes.

Only when he was rattling along in a cab between Euston-square and Eaton-place did he bethink himself that Elizabeth would, in all probability, be out. It was nearly nine o'clock, and she went out so much, as her letters informed him. He could hardly hope to be so fortunate as to find her at home. And then he reproached himself for this childish foolish

ness of his in wishing to surprise her, instead of telegraphing the announcement of his advent, as a sensible man would have done.

'Do love and folly always go hand in hand?' he wondered.

His forebodings of disappointment were fully realised. 'Not at home,' said Mrs. Chevenix's single-handed indoor servant, a man whose pompous bearing might have impressed strangers with the idea that he had an under-butler and a staff of accomplished footmen for his vassals. 'Not expected home till late this evening.'

Mr. Forde had alighted from his cab, and stood in the stuccoed porch despondent.

'Have you any idea where they're gone?' he asked.

Any idea indeed! Why, the butler was as familiar with his mistress's engagements as that lady herself. They are gone to the hamachure theatricals at the Rancho, Mr. Cinkmarsh's place, at Fulham.' 'Amateur theatricals!' repeated Malcolm hopelessly.

'Yes,' replied the butler, who was of a communicative disposition; 'my missus's niece, Miss Luttrell, hacks the principal character; and my missus's maid, as has seen her rehearsalling, and has gone down to

dress her this evening, says she do hack wonderful, jest like the regular thing, only not so low. It's a pity you didn't buy a ticket, sir, as you're a friend of the fambly.'

Private theatricals, and his wife-elect the centre of observation! He was not strait-laced or puritanical in his ideas, but this performance hardly seemed to him in harmony with the part she had elected to play in the drama of life. But she had been minded to taste the cup of pleasure, and she was evidently drinking its strongest waters. She had told him nothing of these amateur theatricals reticence.

a curious

'Buy a ticket,' he repeated, echoing the friendly butler. Do you mean that tickets have been sold? It is a public business, then?'

'Well, sir, it is and it isn't, as you may say. The performance is for the benefick of a charitable institooshun the hindignant widows, and Mrs. Cinkmarsh have kindly lent her 'ouse for the occasion, and the tickets have been only sold by the committee, so you see it's public from one pint of view, and private from the other.'

'Where could I get a ticket ?' asked the Curate moodily. This public exhibition, this playing at charity, was just the very last thing he could have

desired for his future wife, just the very thing he would have forbidden at any cost had he been afforded the opportunity of forbidding it.

And to keep it hidden from me,' he thought;

a bad beginning for that perfect trust which was to reign between us.'

'I don't know as you could get one anywhere's to-night, sir,' replied the butler thoughtfully, 'unless I was to get it for you. My missus is on the committee, and I know she had a lot of tickets to sell, and kep 'em up to yesterday in a china basket in the drawring-room. If they're there still, I might take the liberty of gettin' one for you; bein' for a charitable purpose, I don't think missus would objeck to my disposin' of one.'

'Get me one, then, like a good fellow.'

'The tickets are a guinea heach,' said the butler doubtfully, thinking this eager gentleman might ask for credit.

Mr. Forde took a handful of loose money from his pocket.

Here are thirty shillings,' he said; 'a guinea for the ticket, and the balance for your trouble.'

The man was gratified by this donation, for in these degenerate days vails are an uncertain quantity. He produced the ticket speedily, instructed Mr. Forde