The Lady of Treferne. A novel

Front matter

W, H. SMITH & SON'S SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY, 186, STRAND, LONDON, AND AT THE RAILWAY BOOKSTALLS. NOVELS are issued to and received from Subscribers in SETS tmtg. TERMS. FOR SUBSCRIBERS OBTAINING THEIR BOOKS FROM A COUNTRY BOOKSTALL : 6 Months. » Months. For ONE Volume at a time - - EO 12 O - 1 1 O (Novels in more than Ont Volume are not available for this class of Subscription.) For TWO Volumes „ - - - O 17 6 - 1 11 6 (Novels in more thorn Two Volumes art not available for th is class of Subscription. J For THREE „ „ - - - 1 3 O - 2 2 O For FOUR „ „ ... 180-2 10 0 For SIX „ „ - - - 11SO-830 For TWELVE „ „ - - - 300-SSOr THE LADY OF TREFERNE. & £obcl. BY HARRIET S. HILL. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. gontum : SAMUEL TINSLEY & CO., io, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND. 1879. [All Rights Reserved.'] CONTENTS OF VOL. II. < HAPTEK PAGE I. DENIS COMES OF AGE 1 II.

CAPTAIN STAFFORD - 20 IU. A SECEET VISIT 30 IV. AVORKING AND PLANNING 52 V. ON THE CLIFFS 71 VI. IN DUBLIN 83 VII. IN THE ARBOUR - - - - 94 VIII. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER .... 105 IX. ON THE SCENT - 110 X. THE NIGHT EXPRESS - - - - - 119 XI. RETROSPECTION - - - - - -129 XII. EN ROUTE ------- 137 XIII. A MEETING IN LONDON ----- 146 XTV. 'MADEMOISELLE DOES NOT RECEIVE' - - 157 XV. ' STRANGERS YET ' - 169 XVI. ALMA MATER - - 178 XVII. OWEN GRAYLE'S ADVICE - - - - - 191 XVIII. A FATHER'S FAREWELL CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE XIX. SUSPICION ------- -208 XX. IN THE CHESTNUT AVENUE - 214 XXI. RIVALS 227 XXII. BROUGHT TO BAY - 233 XXIII. THE SILENT HOUSE 239 XXIV. WATCHING ------- 246 XXV. WEDDING BELLS ------ 258 XXVI. THE YACHT ' SYBIL ' -----

Chapter I. Denis Comes Of Age

' Lara. So, Caballeros, once more many thanks 1 You have stood by me bravely in this matter. Pray fill your glasses.' Longfellow's Spanish Student. The night was drawing on. Twelve o'clock had long struck, and the hands of the cuckoo clock in Dr. Grayle's dining-room were fast approaching the smaller hours, when Owen Grayle, who had been sitting up for his friend, threw aside the book he was reading, and went upstairs to his brother's room. ' Guy, are you in bed ? I want to speak to you.' 'Come in,' called out Guy's voice, and Owen, VOL. II. entering, found him lounging in the window seat, with his head out of the window, smoking. 'I am waiting for the boys,' he explained ; ' they have gone out fishing with Peter Rae. Mother does not know they are not come in, or she would be fidgety. They ought to be back now, though.' 'Yes, indeed.

I'd give it them well when they do come in, if I were you.' ' I suppose they are all right,' Guy mused ; ' but I have never known them stop so late before. It is a nasty night, too ; hear how the wind has risen. Has Denis come in V ' No ; I can't make it out. What in the world can he be doing? not gone back to town I suppose, and forgotten to let us know ? He left the Manor at nine : he might have gone by the night-mail.' ' But he would have come back here first, to get his things.' ' He has not been back. I have just spoken to his man Connor. I told him he need not sit up, that I would let him in. What the deuce can he be about ? He is mad enough for anything when he is put out, and he was put out awfully to-night.' ■ What about V ' About Miss Lambert. It is too bad of her to flirt 'with William Cameron as she does.

I don't wonder at Denis being furious. I know I should be.' Guy drew in his head, and looked at his brother. ' Is Derwent fond of her V ' He is mad about her ; couldn't you see that ?' ' Poor fellow !' He continued smoking for a few minutes in silence. All at once he sprang to his feet. ' Come along, Owen ; we must look after him. I didn't know he cared for Miss Lam bert. God help him ! She is just the girl to drive a man who loved her desperate.' He seized Owen by the arm, and hurried him downstairs to the front door. ' Hush ! don't make a noise ; we shall rouse the others.' ' But whatever are you going to do, Guy V ' Go out, and look for him. Owen, it is true that William Cameron and Miss Lambert are 18—2 engaged: he told me so himself. Perhaps Denis knows it, and ' He stopped, for a sound of footsteps ap proaching the house caught his ear. ' It is the boys returned,' Owen said ; ' I hear Charlie's voice.' ' There are more voices than one, and more footsteps too ; don't you hear the trampling on the gravel ?

They are going past the house.' 'No, they are stopping. Some accident, perhaps ; they are coming for the Doctor,' and Owen opened the door gently and looked out. Standing round the doorstep were two or three men, in oilskin coats and sou'westers ; iishermen evidently, just come off the sea, and with them were Charlie and Mark Grayle. Charlie pushed to the front, and then his brothers noticed how pale and frightened he looked. ' Guy,' he said in a whisper, ' here is Mr. Derwent ; he has met with an accident. We found him on the beach ; I don't think he is dead, but I don't know.' Then, for the first time, Guy and Owen perceived that the men were bearing a heavy burden. Guy hastened upstairs to awaken his father, who soon came down. ' Well, what is it, Guy V for Guy had re frained from stating the case before his mother, leaving her to suppose it was an ordinary call. ' Denis Derwent has met with an accident, sir. He was found on the beach, drenched with spray, and quite insensible.

They have taken him to the dining-room ; will you come and see him V ' Bless me, you don't say so!' exclaimed the Doctor, as he hastened down. ' How did it happen V But there was no time to be lost in asking questions ; besides, Guy could tell him no thing. The men who had assisted in carrying Denis to the house were still lingering in the hall. Guy addressed himself to one of them, who was no other than Peter Rae, our old acquaintance, who had been the first to offer to accompany Guy when he attempted the dangerous task of saving P.ita's father. Ever since that fatal night, Peter Rae had mani fested an ardent liking for the Doctor's brave son — a liking which Guy had fully reciprocated ; and this friendship, together with the deep impressions left by that night's dangers, had exercised a good influence over the young man, who, from being known as the wildest, most dare-devil fellow in the hamlet, was be ginning to be quite respected.

Charlie and Mark Grayle liked nothing better than to accompany him in his boat, and, as Peter explained to Guy, they had been with him on this particular evening. The boat was anchored off the creek, when they were all startled by a loud cry proceeding from that direction. Instantly they rowed thither, and commenced searching the beach, shouting out every now and then. But their shouts failed to awaken any response ; and they were about to abandon the search, when Charlie stumbled over the body of Denis Derwent, lying within a foot or two of the advancing tide. That was all any of them could tell him. Denis's accident did not prove to be a serious one. He had a few cuts and bruises, besides the sprained ankle that was his chief hurt ; but the painful excitement of the evening, and the subsequent fatigue and exhaustion had had a far worse effect upon him than the accident itself; and when Dr. Grayle went in to see him in the morning, expecting to find him much restored by the night's rest, he was surprised to find him feverish and restless, and in no way better. ' I can't understand it,' he remarked to his wife, 'a strong young fellow like him ; why if either of our boys had met with a similar accident, they would soon have shaken off the effects.

Well, he had better not leave his room to-day.' So Denis passed the whole of the morning and afternoon upstairs, not even expressing a desire to come down. He had his own man servant to attend to him, and declined all other ministrations courteously and gratefully, but decidedly. Owen went in once, but found him lying with closed blinds, and his face turned to the wall ; not asleep, but appearing to be so. ' Poor fellow, he is dreadfully cut up,' he reported to Guy ; ' he won't talk about last night at all, or even say how the accident happened. I expect he was trying to scale the wall to your eyrie.' THE LAD Y OF TREFERNE. ' More likely trying to make the descent,' Guy answered. Dinner-time came, and with it the Doctor, who had been out all day. ' I say, father,' Owen addressed him, 'you must not keep poor Derwent cooped up there all day ; he'll go melancholy mad.

What a bother that sprained ankle is ; but mightn't he come down and lie on the drawing-room sofa, then the girls could talk to him and amuse him .' The Doctor looked up. ' Does he want to come down ?' ' He hasn't said so, but of course he does. Why he has never kept in bed a day in his life — for illness I mean.' A loud ring at the outer bell, which set Bruno and the other dogs barking together, made the Doctor start up. ' Some one for me, I suppose ; they always come at dinner-time.' But no, it was not for him. ' A gentleman to see Mr. Derwent,' the ser vant announced. Owen took the card. ' Why it is Captain Stafford, one of Denis's guardians. Show him in, I must tell Der went.' He was going out, when his father called to him. ' Stop a minute, Owen ; don't be in a hurry, see what it is first.

If there is anything the matter, come and tell me before you go up to Denis.' In a minute or two Owen returned. ' I was too late ; Captain Stafford is already with Denis. He saw Connor as he was cross ing the hall, and he took him straight up stairs to his master.' 'Oh, well, never mind.' Dinner was over, and the cloth removed, but still the stranger did not take his departure. ' I wonder if there is anything the matter,' Mrs'. Grayle said at last ; ' Denis had a tele gram yesterday. Owen, hadn't you better go and see V Owen rose slowly. ' Oh, it is all right, mother ; still, I will go if you like.' He ran upstairs and knocked at his friend's door ; no answer, but loud angry voices came from within ; without more ado he pushed open the door. Captain Stafford was stand ing with his back to him, and did not imme diately notice the opening of the door, so Owen had a moment's time to observe him.

He was not tall, but stalwart, and well pro portioned ; and his bronzed countenance was heightened just then by an angry flush, as half haughtily, half impatiently, he stood facing Denis, who had risen from his sofa, and was speaking quickly and passionately. Owen glanced from one to the other ; both faces were flushed and angry, but Denis in particular seemed to have lost all control over himself. Uncertain whether to advance or retire, Owen stood irresolute, when the stranger, perceiving him, turned round ; then Denis became aware of his presence, and called to him to come in. He advanced with an apology, but Denis cut him short. ' Welcome, most welcome, fratello mio. You are come just in time, or Captain Stafford and I, with our true Hibernian natures, must shortly have broken each other's heads, by way of settling our differences.

But first let me make you acquainted. Captain Stafford, this is my friend Owen Grayle, at whose father's house I am so pleasantly idling away my time as to be indifferent (as you justly charge me with being) to business and every thing else that concerns my interests. Owen, my guardian, Captain Stafford.' The two thus introduced bowed and shook hands. Then Denis burst forth again : ' Owen, congratulate me. This is the memorable day of my coming of age. Captain Stafford has come to apprise me that I am my own master henceforth, and the way he takes to help me to realise the fact is by fling ing out at me right and left for having squandered my own money. You stare ! Didn't you know I was in the hands of the Jews, and on the high-road to beggary . Not much good in coming of age, for they will only be down upon me.

Never mind, I can pay my debts, loans and interest, and have a trifle left to treat my friends all round — that is more than every beggar can say. Come, let us drown our cares in good red wine ; let us have another college sup per. Oh, this isn't college ; well, it's all the same. Fill a bumper, Owen, and drink my health. What, there is no wine here !" taking up an empty water carafe from the table and turning it upside down ; ' but we can soon fill it. Connor, here, bring wine — no, brandy. Lambert prefers spirits, so do I — you don't, Stafford ; well, chacun a son gout. Owen, my dear fellow, sit down ; why do you stand there staring ? Call Guy, call all my friends ; we'll have a jolly night of it.' He started up, his cheeks burning, his eyes bright and wild, but the effort to walk made him faint and giddy ; he became suddenly pale, and fell back again upon the sofa. ' Ah, my foot ; I had forgotten it.' Captain Stafford laid hold of his arm. ' My dear Denis.' But Denis shook him off. ' It is nothing — a mere strain ; still, enough to keep me a prisoner, but it will be all right to-morrow.

Gentlemen, I think you will have to drink my health on another occasion. Owen ! Why, where has he gone ?' Owen had rushed downstairs again and into the dining-room. ' Denis is raving — gone right off his head, I do believe. They have been having a row. Do come upstairs, father — mother — one of vou.' Mrs. Grayle rose, and the Doctor too. When they reached their guest's room he had partially recovered from his excitement, and was lying back, looking very pale and tired. Captain Stafford, utterly perplexed, was standing by, and Connor also, who had been summoned. Captain Stafford came forward. ' I must beg your pardon,' he said, looking from the Doctor to Mrs. Grayle. ' I am afraid my coming here has been ill-timed. I had no idea Denis was ill. I came on business.' ' Is anything the matter ?' Mrs. Grayle asked.

He hesitated, and Doctor Grayle said : ' I will join you downstairs in a few minutes, if you will wait for me. My dear,' to his wife, 'get Captain Stafford to take some thing after his journey. I am sure he must require it.' But the captain was too much excited to care for anything, though he followed Mrs. Grayle down. She took him into the drawing room, and explained to him all she knew about Denis's mishap. He seemed perplexed. ' It is all strange together, Mrs. Grayle,' he said ; and then he seemed so vexed about his own share in increasing Denis's illness, and her and the Doctor's trouble, that, with her kind, womanly heart, she was obliged to turn to and console him. Mary Grayle, coming in soon afterwards, found her mother talking familiarly with the bearded stranger, whose sudden coming had caused such a commotion.

The sailor regarded her very earnestly. ' Is she the magnet that keeps Denis lingering on here ?' he said to himself; and again, later in the evening, when he chanced to notice her pretty head, with its smoothly parted hair, bent over her work, as she sat in the window-seat, ' Well, a fellow might do worse, much worse ; I, for one, shall not oppose him, if he cares for her.' What particular business had brought Cap tain Stafford down the young Grayles could not find out, though they were very curious. Dr. Grayle, after a short stay in the sickroom, had come down, and taking the stranger apart, was talking to him very gravely and professionally. They sat together in the dark wainscoted dining-room, speaking low ; the younger members of the family had been ex cluded, even Owen, very much to his disgust.

He and Guy had retired to the garden, and were pacing up and down one of the gravel walks smoking. At a little distance, the girls, under the wide-spreading mulberry-tree, were working and chatting, and listening to Charlie and Mark, who were giving them an account of the previous evening's proceedings, and of their discovery of Denis. ' I tell you, Mary, I made sure he was dead, and so did Peter Rae,' Charlie was saying. ' Wasn't it a curious thing how he came to be there ?' ' Very curious,' Mary answered. ' Perhaps he will tell us all about it when he gets better.' Mark laughed. ' Not he ; he is as close as a hermit. He won't speak ; I heard Owen telling Guy so.' In fact Owen was at that very moment descanting upon his friend's strange silence. ' There is some secret or other, depend upon it, Guy.

I suppose he didn't mean to drown himself V Guy recoiled. ' How can you talk so ? No man in his senses would attempt a thing like that.' ' But I doubt whether Derwent was in his senses — he wasn't half an hour ago ; you should have heard him.' ' Poor fellow!' ' Yes, he has been most unlucky lately; and now Miss Lambert has given him his conge, that is "the unkindest cut of all." Captain Stafford's coming when he did was most unfortunate, for Denis was just in the humour to take offence at anything, and I fancy his guardian rated him soundly. They were skirmishing finely when I interrupted them.' ' What about ?' ' That J could not catch, but I think it was something about money matters. I fancy Denis has got himself into some bother or other. He is rather a fast fellow — fond of betting and racing.

That was his horse that came to grief at the St. Leger — he and Mr. Lambert had backed him heavily.' 'It is a pity he takes to that kind of thing.' ' Yes, it is ; but it is all Mr. Lambert's fault. Denis didn't want Captain Stafford to know anything about that affair, but I suspect it has got to his ears ; didn't you see how stern he looked V ' I didn't notice.' ' He isn't a bad-looking fellow, is he, if he did not hide the best part of his face with that great brown beard and moustache V Owen only wore a neat, trim little mous tache himself, and professed to dislike an abundance of hair. They had sauntered up to where the girls were sitting. Guy threw himself down beside Rita, who made room for him on the bench, smiling upon him with her soft dark eyes. ' What are you two talking about V she asked. ' Who is it that is not a bad-looking fellow— Captain Stafford ?

Why, I think he has a good face, has he not, Mary ?' Mary laughed. ' What do you mean by a good face, Rita good looking V VOL. II. ' No, not exactly ; I mean kind, pleasant — a face to be trusted.' * I thought he looked very cross and angry when I saw him, and he has done a deal of mischief by his coming. Made Mr. Derwent worse then he would have been.' She was sitting with her back to the house, and did not notice that her father and the gentleman in question had come out, and were standing quite close to her. A strange ex pression came over Captain Stafford's face. ' You are quite right, Miss Grayle,' he answered, ' I am afraid my coming has done more harm than good ;' then half contritely, ' but I hope you will forgive me, and believe that I intended no harm to Denis.' Mary grew crimson. ' 1 forgive ?' she faltered out, then catching her brother's laughing glances, she became still more confused.

Her blush confirmed the sailor in his sup position. Instantly he settled in his own mind that there was something between her and his ward. As soon as he had passed on Owen burst out laughing. ' Well, that is a good joke, Mary ; he thinks you are epris of Denis.' 'Owen!' Her tone of rebuke and annoyance i_used Guy ; he turned round angrily. ' I don't think it is a subject for joking,' he said sharply ; ' don't mind him, Molly ;' but Mary had risen from her seat and walked indoors. 19—2

Chapter II. Captain Stafford

' He hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks.' Much Ado about Nothing. What had taken place in Denis's room ? This was the question which all the Grayles were asking — all, that is, with the exception of the Doctor, who, during that half-hour's chat with Captain Stafford in the dining-room, had been taken into his confidence. It appeared that on this day Denis came of age, and Captain Stafford had got leave of absence to come to town and meet his ward and Mr. Lambert on business; but on repairing to the place appointed, neither Denis nor Mr. Lnmbert were there ; but instead he found two or three betting men (to whom Denis owed money) inquiring for him and pressing for payment. The guardian, surprised and annoyed, found (on pursuing his inquiries) that his wTard had not only given notes of hand for enormous sums, but that one man actually held a mortgage on a portion of his landed estate, then he began to suspect that Denis was keeping away purposely, and started off with out delay to seek him and rate him for his misdoings.

It was in no very pleasant temper that he arrived at the Priory ; he had been hurried and worried all day, and was naturally inclined to vent himself upon Denis who was the cause of it all ; so after sending in his name by Dr. Grayle's servant, he was too impatient to await an answering message, but made Connor (whom he caught sight of crossing the hall) take him upstairs imme diately, and so quite unannounced presented himself before his ward, whom he found dressed and lying on a sofa with his eyes closed, in a state between sleeping and waking. He totally discredited the story of his illness, putting it down in his own mind that the lad had been running wild, and was simply turning day into night to make up for having previously reversed the order. Young gentlemen's valets were (according to the out-spoken sailor's experience) more often than not accustomed to cover their master's little excesses by speaking of the after-effects as indisposition. ' Indisposed, is he V he made answer to the servant ; then to himself, ' I dare say he is indisposed to see me.

This is his room, isn't it, Connor?' he questioned aloud. ' Very well, you can go down, I'll announce myself,' and he stalked in. ' Well, sir, and what is the meaning of this V The room was so darkened by the closed blinds that for the moment Denis did not recognise him ; when he did, he started into a sitting position. ' Captain Stafford ! why, what has brought you down ?' ' You need scarcely ask ; have you forgotten your appointment with Mr. Lambert and myself?' ' Not very likely.' ' Then why didn't you keep it V ' Don't you see I am on the sick-list ?' ' I see you are skulking.' ' Well, be it so if you will.' He turned away. Captain Stafford walked to the window and looked out. ' What are you stopping down here for ?' he asked abruptly. ' That is my business ; I shall stay as long as I please.' ' That you are quite at liberty to do — you are your own master now, thank goodness !

I am glad to be quit of my charge ; only listen here, I'll give you a piece of advice which it will be to your own interest to follow : you had better give up all this betting and ex travagance, or you'll soon find yourself a beggar.' Denis made a wry face. ' Am I my own master ? It seems to me you are taking me to task as if I were one of your under-officers ; but did you really come all this way to tell me this ?' ' I came to you because you wouldn't come to me. Several little things connected with you and your estates have come to my know ledge, that I do not quite understand. I must have them explained. In one or two respects you are at fault ; in others, I am afraid, it is Mr. Lambert or I. We have not kept a strict enough hand over you and your interests.' Denis laughed. ' Don't reproach yourself on that score, Stafford.

I never found you at fault yet ; I only wish I might for once, and then perhaps you wouldn't be so hard upon me. Well, what is the row V Captain Stafford frowned. ' This is the row, as you call it. Your affairs are at sixes and sevens, and how they came to be so is more than I can make out. You have been borrowing money upon your estates at exorbitant interest. Now, why have you done this ? Only to squander it upon horses and horse-racing. I know all about that St, Leger business ; you were a, fool to back the horse to that extent. The consequence is that you are besieged with duns, who hold your I 0 U's to an enormous amount. What are you going to do ?' ' Pay them, of course ; I can do it now I am my own master.' ' And about this mortgage — what pressing necessity was it that induced you to burden your estate so ?' ' That is my secret ' You refuse to tell me ?' ' I do most certainly.' ' Well, you are of age now, and I am glad to be quit of my trust ; but let me remind you, my honour is concerned in going to the bottom of this.

Here have I been writing up to the Admiralt}r for leave of absence (which I should not have done for another month or so) on purpose to discharge my duty to you ; and when I get leave, what follows ? Instead of you and Mr. Lambert meeting me in a business-like manner, you ignore my summons ; and Lambert writes a paltry excuse that he is off" to the Continent on important business, and must defer the settling of this for a week or two. Now, Denis, what am I to infer from this ?' ' Whatever you please, I suppose,' Denis answered doggedly. t ' Your conduct is most inexplicable. Into what thieves' dens have you been decoyed to squander so much money, I want to know ? You young reprobate, I wish I had known of this sooner ! I'd have had you on board my ship, and taught you better, I'll be bound.

What was Lambert doing that he didn't look after you ? It was he who had confided to him your personal guardianship.' Denis did not reply, but a dark flush mounted to his cheek. ' Confound Lambert !' he muttered between his teeth. The captain heard him, and turned round again. ' Does he know anything of this ?' he asked, with sudden suspicion ; but Denis still con tinued silent. ' I'll be bound he does,' he continued. ' 'Twould be of a piece with most of his other doings. Perhaps it was he put you up to it. Haven't I warned you, Denis, against lending an ear to him where money matters were con cerned ? But I'll tell you what it is — I shall ferret this out to the bottom. A pretty cha racter your guardians will get, if it is known you have come into impoverished estates, without anything being known as to the why or the wherefore !' Denis roused up. ' It will be all right.