A Modern Siren

Chapter I

And every tongue brings in a several tale. Richard 111. The Misses Hogg were giving a work-party, and most of the good people of Knowell were gathered together in their little drawing-room. There were three Miss Hoggs, Marion, Fanny, and Ethel, all under thirty, but so prim as to look old maids be fore their time. They were dressed alike in black trimmed with narrow green silk, and massive gold watch chains stretched across their fronts. The in habitants of Knowell — a very out-of-the-world little place, though it was only twenty-eight miles from London — gave work-parties by turns every week. They usually consisted of tea, conversation, scandal, and the manufacture of garments for the benefit of a mission to Uganda. Pretty Amy Vivian, the clergyman's daughter, was present, contrary to her usual custom.

On this particular occasion she had her reasons for consenting to be bored. The portly form of Miss Canes reposed on a huge arm-chair. She wore her rouge and her white wig arranged in the newest style, as usual. This last was surmounted by a new hat of the latest fashion, a perfect flower garden in its way. She wore pale blue satin, with a sweeping train, and when she stood up looked indeed imposing. Miss Canes imagined herself the leader of fashion in Knowell, though Mrs Bobbyn was of a different opinion. Indeed there was a great rivalry between the two ladies. Miss Roddy, too, was there in her poke bonnet, on her left Miss Coalfreeser. Miss Roddy had al ways been the foil of Miss Canes from the time that they first entered into partnership in house keeping. On the left of Miss Canes sat Miss Mary Coal freeser, with a severe expression and a soldier-like bearing, for her father had been a colonel, and she boasted of a long pedigree.

Amy Vivian sat beside Mrs Partridge, a rich good natured widow, to whom she was devotedly at tached. ' Are you going to Mrs Bobbyn's garden-party ? ' said Miss Coalfreeser to Miss Roddy in a stage whisper. 1 Yes,' replied she. ' Are you going to Mrs Bobbyn's garden-party ? ' was passed round the group ; all said ' Yes ' until the question came to Mrs Partridge, who promptly observed ' Not I.' Miss Canes gave her a look of withering scorn. 'What a pity, dear Mrs Partridge,' said Amy sweetly, ' because Sir Guy Seymour is to be there.' ' Sir Guy Seymour ! ' cried a chorus of voices. ' Yes, didn't you know ? ' returned Amy, with a glance at Miss Canes of ill-concealed triumph. The latter sat up stiffly in her chair without speaking, but Miss Roddy cried eagerly : 'No. Tell us all about it. Why, he's not been to Knowell for eighteen years.

Is he coming to stay? Do tell us!' ' Sir Guy Seymour's coming back to Knowell House a week before Mrs Bobbyn's garden-party.' Amy spoke slowly and deliberately, looking round her eager audience with malicious triumph. ' He's going to settle down for good. He has been in England about two months, and wrote to papa as soon as he arrived in London. Mrs Bobbyn, who used to know him very well, invited him to her garden party, and he accepted.' ' I think he might have sent me word of his in tentions,' said Miss Coalfreeser icily. ' He was an old friend of my father, the colonel, and both his ancestors and mine came over with William the Conqueror.' ' Most people's ancestors seem to have done that,' quoth Amy irreverently. ' My ancestors were Norman knights ! ' cried Miss Coalfreeser wrathfully. ' They might have carried coals all the same,' retorted Amy, with a malicious smile. ' You're too young to understand such matters,' said Miss Coalfreeser, disdainfully. ' Some people grow more foolish as they grow older,' returned Amy pertly.

Miss Coalfreeser looked unutterable things, but her irrepressible antagonist would have continued, had not Miss Canes interposed. ' If people have their little weaknesses about their ancestors,' she said in her deep voice, ' it's not your place to contradict your elders, Amy Vivian.' Amy had a wholesome awe of Miss Canes, and therefore contented herself with glancing defiantly at Miss Coalfreeser. Peace being restored, Miss Marion Hogg inquired whether Sir Guy had not a son and a daughter.' ' Yes,' replied Amy, ' he has a son in the diplo matic service, and a daughter who is to be married in three months. She's coming back with him and going to be married here.' ' A wedding ! ' cried Miss Fanny Hogg. ' How exciting ! ' ' Who's she going to marry ? ' asked Miss Roddy. ' An Italian ; I think his name is Signor di Vasari,' replied Amy. 'How romantic!' said Miss Fanny Hogg, 'I do love Italians ! ' 'Miss Seymour can't be more than nineteen,' said Miss Roddy. ' She was only a year old when her mother died, and she's been dead eighteen years.' She was a beautiful baby ! ' said Mrs Partridge. 'What dress are you going to the garden party in ? ' inquired Amy of Miss Marian Hogg, sotto voce. ' I think we shall go in black cashmere trimmed with green ribbon.

Don't you think it'll look very nice ? ' said Marian, complacently. ' Lovely,' returned Amy, with the ghost of a mocking smile flitting about her lips. 'You always have black and green, don't you ? ' 'Always,' replied Miss Marian. 'We think they suit us better than any other colours. I suppose Mrs Stanhope and Lilith and Ida will be at Mrs Bobbyn's.* ' They're sure to be,' said Amy shortly. ' Lilith always dresses beautifully,' said Miss Fanny with a sigh ; ' I don't know how she manages it.' ' I don't think she cares for anything but dress,' remarked Amy. ' She does nothing in the parish.' 'It's every girl's duty to dress well,' said Miss Canes. 'But not above her means,' said Miss Coalfreeser. ' Oh, no ! ' admitted Amy, virtuously, glancing at her pretty simple dress in the tall mirror. ' I think Lilith Stanhope's a nice, thoroughly, good girl,' said Miss Roddy, warmly ; ' and, as you're not in the habit of doing it yourself, Amy Vivian, perhaps you don't know that she regularly teaches in the Sunday school.

As for Mrs Stanhope, a more kind, unselfish woman doesn't live, and Ida is the same. If there were more people like them, the world would be a better place.' ' That it would ! ' cried worthy Mrs Partridge. 'I think both Mrs and Miss Stanhope are very affable, and Miss Ida is a sweet, pretty young lady.' 'I quite agree with you,' said the three Miss Hoggs together. Miss Canes gave a nod of her august head, such as Jupiter himself could not have surpassed, and Amy felt herself in the minority. The door now opened and Mary Ann entered with the tea tray. After her stalked Captain Hogg, the worthy father of Marian, Ethel and Fanny. He was a tall, choleric old gentleman, greatly addicted to swearing, I grieve to say, which caused his con versation to sound very old-fashioned in the modern ears of those who heard him, for of course nobody ever swears in these days.

When his wife died, some ten years ago, Miss Canes had set her white wig, Mrs Bobbyn her fashionable hat, Miss Roddy her poke bonnet, and Miss Coalfreeser her helmet like headgear, at the captain, but without success. Probably it flattered his vanity, but he would have none of them, in spite of ' his three dear girls left motherless,' which of course was the only consideration which induced these ladies to set their capital adornments at him. Hogg had refused them one and all, and ten years had almost healed the old feud, though the captain was still pitied and looked down upon. The old gentleman entered the room with a smile on his round cheerful face. ' I'm glad to see you,' he said heartily, shaking them by the hand one by one. When the captain had served them all with tea and cake, he sat down, and said with a malicious twinkle in his eye, and an air of mock solemnity : ' Do you know what I've seen this afternoon ? ' ' No,' they said in chorus. 'A woeful sight,' quoth the captain, in tragic tones : ' Miss Stanhope — on — a — bicycle ! ' ' What ! ' shrieked the female circle of philistines. ' How very improper ! ' chorused Miss Coalfreeser. ' Lilith Stanhope's always doing something to shock people.

I think that bicycles for girls are very fast,' said Amy, who for the last six months had vainly petitioned her father for one. 'There are worse things than bicycles, Amy Vivian,' quoth Sir Oracle, with awful severity, 'and I see no reason why a girl shouldn't ride one. I know of several duchesses who do.' 'I quite agree with you, Miss Canes,' said the captain, ' and, by Jove, Miss Stanhope looked un commonly well.' 'I'm glad my father, the colonel, didn't live to see this day,' groaned Miss Coalfreeser. ' The sight of a woman on a bicycle would have been his death.' ' Yes, indeed ! ' sighed the three Miss Hoggs, who had sat quite pale since their father announced the awful intelligence. 'My view is that it doesn't stop at bicycles,' said Miss Roddy. 'If it did there'd be no great objection, but no one knows what it may lead to.' ' No, indeed ! ' ejaculated the three Miss Hoggs.

Miss Coalfreeser rose stiffly. ' I think I must be going,' she remarked. ' I shall call on Mrs Standis sure but her that she hope, and require an explanation of Lilith's graceful behaviour.' ' It's no use doing that,' said Amy. ' I'm she doesn't cycle with Mrs Stanhope's consent, Lilith cares nothing for that ; she always has own way.' ' I'll see if I can appeal to the feelings of misguided girl,' said Miss Coalfreeser, and stalked from the room with a military stride. The other guests soon followed her example.

Chapter II

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities ; all is vanity — Ecclesiastes. That evening Amy and her father sat on the balcony overlooking the garden. The moon's rays shot through the dark trees and fell upon Amy's charming face. The Reverend Horatio Vivian was con tentedly smoking in the shadow, and turned to look at his daughter from time to time with paternal satisfaction. From his face anyone would have re cognised him as a clergyman, he wore such an expression of benevolence ; and the charity which only those of his profession extend to all men, beamed from his light blue eyes. Withal there was upon his countenance a look of gentle but profound melancholy, which rendered him interesting to the female part of his congregation. ' Papa,' said Amy, with a sweet smile, gazing pensively at the stars, ' I want you to do me a favour.' ' What is it, my child ? ' responded her father. ' You know we're going to Mrs Bobbyn's garden party ? ' ' Yes,' returned her father, with a pious sigh, ' my conscience smites me, but it's for your sake, my child.' 1 You're always sacrificing yourself for me,' said Amy demurely. ' And yet you ask more ? ' he rejoined with gentle reproach. ' I want you to give me some money for a new dress.' 'All is vanity,' returned the clergyman piously, casting up his eyes to heaven, and sipping the excellent Bordeaux which stood on a little table at his elbow. ' Gold and jewels and fine raiment, what are they but vanity?

" The plumes of pride and wings of vanity." as one of the poets says.' Amy tapped her little foot impatiently on the stone balcony. 'But Sir Guy Seymour is to be there,' she began. ' Put not your trust in princes,' drawled the worthy divine softly. ' I don't see what that has to do with it,' cried Amy. 'I've hardly asked you for anything this year, and I gave up the bicycle because it was too expensive, and now you grudge me a new dress. Why, I shall be as badly dressed as those dreadful, stupid little Hoggs ! ' ' You shouldn't speak evil of anyone,' said the excellent Vivian, smoking reflectively. Amy bit her lip to conceal her irritation. She went over to her father and laid her pretty hand upon his arm. 'I shouldn't like to disgrace you, papa,' she said, ' though I don't want to be extravagant.

I know we're very poor, and I economise in all sorts of ways. I shouldn't like your daughter to look worse dressed than that conceited Lilith Stanhope, whom some people admire, I know, but for my part I never could see where the beauty came in.' Her father rose, put down his cigar (he con sidered a pipe to be sensual indulgence), with a gentle sigh, and stepped through the open French window into the library. Amy made no attempt B to follow him. She averted her face, and her eyes sparkled. ' The farce is nearly over,' she said to herself. The excellent man returned in a few moments. ' Lay not up for yourself treasures upon the earth, my child,' he murmured in his balmy tones. ' It's for the good of the Church, papa,' said Amy, with a slight accent of mockery which she could not help introducing into her voice. ' What would Sir Guy think of our Church if the clergyman's daughter were dressed like a pauper ? ' 1 True, my child,' said the reverend man, casting up his eyes to heaven. ' I'm content to make any sacrifices for the Church,' and he stretched forth his hand with a five-pound note.

It was a great sum for Amy, and her eyes danced as she took it. Her father benignly placed his hand upon her head. ' I still regret spending so much upon outward adornment,' he said with a pious sigh, ' and I hope that you'll choose the better part and give it to the poor.' ' I shall certainly give it to the poor,' returned Amy, with a mocking laugh. The worthy clergyman turned up his eyes (which were considered very beautiful and filled with tender melancholy by the three Miss Hoggs) in pious gratitude, finished his glass and went into the house, no doubt to his theological studies. 'So the farce is ended,' said Amy, with a yawn. She leant over the rails of the balcony, and looked at the moon, as it silvered the lofty tree tops. In the distance she could see the turrets of Knowell House, and the waving trees of the park. 'Lilith sha'n't have it,' she said half aloud, '1 will.

I know there's something about her that attracts people, but I'm much prettier than she is.' She started at having given a half utterance to thoughts which had before seemed more or less vague, but, when exposed, made her feel ashamed and guilty. She laughed at herself a moment after wards, and remained dreaming (though her chateaux en Espagne were worldly, and perchance practical enough) in the luminous night, until her father mildly announced that he was about to extinguish the lamp and retire to bed. CHAPTER IU And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare — Ezekiel. The long expected day of Mrs Bobbyn's garden party had come at last. Sir Guy had arrived quietly without any demonstration the week before, with his daughter Adelaide, a girl of nineteen. Scarcely anyone but Vivian had seen him, and the most intense excitement prevailed.

On Sunday the whole population of Knowell went to the little church which stood in Sir Guy's deer park. For years the Reverend Horatio had not enjoyed so large an audience ; he preached twenty minutes longer than usual on the strength of it, but the sole occupant of the square curtained pew belonging to the Seymour family, was a tall, fair young beauty, faultlessly dressed, with an amiable expression and an air distingue. I must avow that the greater part of the congregation were disappointed, and felt that their virtue had not been adequately rewarded, especially when Adelaide Sey mour walked tranquilly back to Knowell House without looking at anyone, before either Mrs Bobbyn, Mrs Partridge, Miss Coalfreeser, or Miss Canes had an opportunity of making themselves known. How ever, the captain, young Lamkyn, the curate, an ardent suitor of Amy, and Joy the philosopher, expressed great admiration of the baronet's daughter.

The first to arrive were Vivian and his daughter Amy, radiant and charming in the prettiest of toilettes, followed humbly by the devoted Lamkyn. Then came the little Miss Hoggs in black and green, tiny square-toed boots, and large hats trimmed with black ribbon and green feathers. The tall captain brought up the rear, and now the guests began to pour in thick and fast. There was a breathless pause as the stately, hand some Sir Guy Seymour entered with his beautiful daughter. Mrs Bobbyn stepped forward to welcome him with a flush upon her face. ' How do you do ? ' she said, holding out her hand. ' I'm very glad to see you after so many years.' ' They have left no trace upon you,' said Sir Guy, smiling. ' This is my daughter, Adelaide, Mrs Bobbyn.' ' I'm delighted to meet one of my father's old friends,' said Adelaide, in her calm, high-bred tones. ' It makes me really feel like coming home.' Here Mrs Bobbyn introduced her twin sons Leo pold and Montague with Cornelian pride.

The Rev erend Horatio approached with his lovely daughter. 'How are you, Sir Guy? I'm indeed happy to see you, Miss Seymour,' he said, meekly. ' I don't think you've seen my daughter Amy.' Sir Guy looked at her pretty piquant face and smiled. ' Are you really going to live here now ? ' asked Amy. 1 Yes,' replied Sir Guy. ' I'm too old to care for travelling any longer, and I want to settle down among the friends of my youth.' Amy laughed, a pretty, mocking laugh. 'I really believe you're fishing for a compliment,' she said. ' No, indeed ! ' said Sir Guy, gravely, and a slight shade passed over his face. ' It has grieved me for years to see Knowell House empty,' observed Amy. ' When I was a child I used to invent all sorts of stories about it. I suppose it's haunted ? ' ' So I believe,' said Sir Guy, with a smile. ' Old houses generally are.' ' How exciting ! ' exclaimed Amy. ' I should love to see a ghost ! ' Under a flowering arch which overshadowed the pathway now came three women.

All eyes were turned upon the third, a girl of about three-and twenty. Her features were not feminine enough to be called beautiful, not sufficiently regular to be handsome, but they were assuredly [striking. Her eyes were splendid, and her cheeks glowed with rich colour. Her figure was superb, her height almost colossal, and she bore herself as one conquering and to conquer. She entirely eclipsed her companions, though indeed her sister was very pretty, and wore an expression sweet, without being insipid, that the other altogether lacked. Their mother was a small woman with a careworn face, but an expression of strong will. Mrs Bobbyn advanced to meet them, arriving before her two sons who hung back, half abashed. ' I'm glad to see you, Mrs Stanhope,' she said, ' and you, Miss Stanhope, and Ida also.

I should scarcely have known you, Ida, you look so grown up. When are you going to bring her out, Mrs Stanhope ? ' ' This winter, if all be well,' replied she. ' She is eighteen, so I think it's quite time.' ' Who is that young lady ? ' Sir Guy inquired of his companion. * Which one ? ' said Amy, indifferently, though she felt by no means unconcerned. 'The very tall one,' said Sir Guy, who could not keep his eyes from Lilith's face. ' Miss Stanhope, a horrid girl ? ' cried Amy spitefully. ' She rides a bicycle, and does all sorts of things to shock people.' The baronet looked at her gravely, but said nothing. Amy began to feel somewhat uncomfort able. Young Lamkyn, the curate, timidly drew near. He was a thin underfed little man with a stoop and a gentle lisp. ' I'm tho glad to thee you,' he said, in his squeak ing treble. ' How nith this ith !

I do like garden parties, do you ? Will you come and have an ith ? I'm tho fond of them, and they look tho delicious. I hope it's not wrong to be fond of ithes ? ' said the meek little curate hastily. ' I wath just going to have one when I thought of you.' Amy would gladly have thrust a dagger into him, for Sir Guy moved away. ' Curates are never allowed to eat ices,' she said, savagely. 'Allow me to introduce Sir Guy Seymour to Mrs Stanhope — Miss Stanhope — Miss Ida Stanhope,' said Mrs Bobbyn. Sir Guy bowed to Mrs Stanhope, and then stood face to face with Lilith. The girl was exultant, for it was a meeting to which she had looked forward with ardent desire. A band was playing at one side of the lawn, and her heart seemed to beat in time to the joyous music. For a moment she looked at Sir Guy calmly from head to foot.

He was of stately height, his features were strikingly handsome and his forehead was noble and lofty, yet he had the air of one who had passed through trial and sorrow. ' This is a beautiful garden, isn't it ? ' said Sir Guy, after looking at her also. ' Shall we walk round ? ' It was the last day of August, and the trim well kept garden blazed with flowers. Sir Guy and Lilith walked together under the waving trees, whose shadows trembled on the lawn. Amy and her devoted swain followed them at some distance, the former biting her lip to conceal her rage. She knew that she had made a faux pas with the baronet, and deliberated how she might remedy the evil. ' I should think you feel it strange to be in England,' observed Lilith smiling. ' It is, after living abroad for so many years,' replied Sir Guy, 'but there is a time of life when one grows weary of travelling and when one begins to long for peace.

I've always loved the home of my childhood, and so I made up my mind to spend the rest of my life in it. I thought that the re membrance of me and my family would almost entirely have died out, but I find so many kind friends ready to welcome me that I feel ashamed when I've done nothing to deserve their goodness.' ' Ever since I can remember,' said Lilith, with a glowing cheek, 'I've heard Sir Guy Seymour spoken of with reverence.' The baronet bent his head and sighed, but did not speak. ' This is a very small out-of-the-world place,' remarked Lilith, ' though it is so near London, but there are a great many amusing people, quite char acters. I'm afraid I'm rather fond of shocking the old maids by cycling and things like that. Many of them never go to town from year's end to year's end, and such a thing as a bicycle had never entered into their wildest dreams until I had one.' 1 Anything that you do will become you,' murmured Sir Guy still looking at her. ' I used to love Knowell when I was a young man,' he said after a pause. ' It is such a pretty place, especially the wooded parts of it, a poetical place I used to think.

Are you fond of poetry ? ' ' No,' replied she, ' I think it's silly. I suppose I'm not sentimental enough. I believe it's a fault of girls of the present day ; they can't sit down and weep over a basil pot, like Keats's Isabella.' When she uttered even the simplest word, Lilith spoke as one having authority, and this to her hearers gave an undue weight even to common places, and that though her manner was often brusque and her voice sometimes harsh. From her earliest childhood this young person's word had been law. ' I quite agree with you, women have nobler voca tions now,' said Sir Guy, feelingly. ' Look what noble work women are doing from the highest to the lowest in every part of this country, in the prison, in the hospital, and even in the lowest and most wretched haunts of ignorance and vice.' ' If women have a mission, I think that's it,' said Lilith, ' after their homes, of course.' 1 After their homes,' Sir Guy repeated reflectively.

They left the lawn and entered a shaded walk. Lilith looked at the pale handsome face beside her. Guy Seymour interested her apart from his rank. Lilith's experience was naturally limited, she de spised mankind as represented by the male society of Knowell. Here was a man whom she could respect, and one unlike any she had met before. ' Do you approve of all the employments for women that there are in the present day ? ' asked Lilith. ' It grieves me to see any woman obliged to work for her living,' said Sir Guy ; ' I don't think it ought to be, though I can't tell you how much I honour a woman who supports either herself or those dear to her.' ' But, I suppose, you own that women are equal in intellect to men,' said Lilith. ' Most certainly,' returned the baronet. ' Then, why shouldn't they work as well as men ? ' she said. ' There are some employments in which I can't bear to see a woman,' said Sir Guy ; ' apart from the fact that I believe there's something wrong in the social condition of the people when women are obliged to work.' ' That's a very daring opinion for modern times,' replied Lilith, ' and I don't know that I agree with you.' ' I'm afraid I'm behind the times,' said the baronet, with a smile.

They had reached the bottom of the garden, where there was a rustic seat overshadowed with honey suckle. Lilith seated herself thereon, and Sir Guy sat down beside her. Mrs Bobbyn was looking for him in despair, as there were several old friends who wished to make themselves known to him, and several persons whom she desired to introduce. Of these Adelaide was now the graceful and admired centre, but Sir Guy had eyes only for Lilith. Amy had followed them in despair, until at last a thought struck her, and she went to Miss Canes, who was holding forth to a select circle. ' Didn't you know Sir Guy Seymour before he left Knowell,' she said almost humbly. ' Yes,' returned Miss Canes, pompously. ' He's here to-day,' remarked Amy, ' sitting at the bottom of the garden. I'm sure he'd like to see you, and I'll show you the way, if you like.' Miss Canes swept across the lawn and down the shaded walk with elephantine grace, and confronted Sir Guy and Lilith. ' I think we used to another in former years, authoritative tone. be acquainted with one Sir Guy,' she said, in an The baronet, awaking in which he seemed to and said with a bow : — from the dream or trance have been plunged, rose 'Indeed, it is a delightful surprise to me to see you again.

Allow me to offer you my seat.' Miss Canes sat down with her usual elegance and began flirting her fan. Lilith rose and walked from the shadow to the sunlit lawn. ' Isn't it a lovely "afternoon ? ' said Amy, following her with a smile of malicious triumph, ' neither too hot nor too cold for most people's taste, though you and Sir Guy seem to have found it so, as you went into such a shady part of the garden. Miss Canes must have found it warm rtoo, though I really don't wonder, but how tiresome of her to go and take your seat ! ' ' She didn't take my seat,' said Lilith brusquely, ' I left it. I've no doubt you would have liked it yourself.' The two young Bobbyns came up at the moment, blushing like roses. ' Will you come and have some refreshments ? ' said Leopold in his fashionable drawl. 'Thank you,' said Lilith condescendingly.

It gratified her to receive their worship with queenly dignity. Refreshments were served in a large pavilion on dainty little ivory tables, decorated with sweet flowers. Miss Roddy and Miss Coalfreeser were eating ices with much enjoyment. The philosopher was seated at another table with Ida — even philosophers can sometimes enjoy trifle and ices. Lilith placed herself at the next table with a ' Heavenly Twin ' on each side of her. Soon after Sir Guy lead Miss Canes to the banqueting house — I believe it was the sixth time she had been there. She moved among the tables like a colossus, over turning one or two of them, and seated herself upon an ivory chair. ' I'll have a peach,' she said. Sir Guy then renewed his acquaintance with Miss Roddy who presented Miss Coalfreeser. The latter immediately inquired if he remembered her late father, the colonel, and began an account of his death and burial.