A Lady of My Own

Part I

(CONTINUED.) CHA1*TEK PAGE XI. Lost — a Daughter 3 XII. The Sacrifice of Love . . .34 XIII. Sentence of Df.ath 52 XIV. Sir Rupert Wins 78 XV. Siste, Viator 101

Part II

I. In another World 117 II. At the Stella d'Oro M3 III. The Siren . . . . . . .173 IV. The Journey to Caprile .... 203 V. In the Sottoguda Gorge .... 233 VI. Theresa's Tale

PART I.

(CONTINUED.) Then Nature said, 'A lovelier sower On earth was never sown : This child I to myself will take ; She shall be mine, and I will make A lady of my own. Wordsworth. B VOL.

CHAPTER XL LOST

— A DAUGHTER. A thing done is written in the rock, yea, with a pen of iron. Tuppcr. ' What does this mean V repeated Mr. Moore, still pointing to the picture. A cold shiArer passed over Hyacinth as she met the fierce glance of his angry eyes ; but she pulled herself together, aud answered him with every appearance of boldness. ' It means,' she said, 'that I haA'e rescued my mother's portrait from the dust you consigned it to. She has as much right to be hung in this draAving-room as your mother.' ' She is not fit to be mentioned in the same B breath as my mother,' replied her father, savagely, 'and she'll not hang in the same room with her. Back to the dust she shall go. You'll take that portrait down before you or I leave this room.' ' It shall never be taken doAvn by me,' said Hj-acinth, her passion vising again, and sweep ing aAvay all fear. ' Was it not enough to break my mother's heart when she Avas alive ?

Must you insult her memory now she is dead V 'Take care, girl, take care what you say. I'll not havTe you criticising my actions. I stood a good deal from your false-faced mother because unfortunately I had made the mistake of marry ing her, and she avus my Avife, but I'll not stand it again from you.' 'My mother was not false-faced,' answered Hyacinth, in a voice that shook Avith the tumult of her feelings. ' You made a mistake in marrying her, no doubt, because she Avas a lady and you could not understand her, but that Avas not her fault. And you behaved cruelly to her, I knoAv you did.' Mr. Moore rose fvom his chaiv, and taking hold roughly of Hyacinth's arm dragged her out of her seat. ' I'll stand no more nonsense from you,' he said, holding her tender arm in a grip that gave her agony. ' Take that picture doAvn at once, and understand once for all that your mother Avas a false lying jade, Avho deceived her husband and should have been banished from his hearth by rights.' ' It is not true, it is a lie,' said Hyacinth.

Mr. Moore suddenly let go his daughter's arm. ' Take down that picture,' he said, in a voice of repressed fury, at the same time looking at her menacingly. Hyacinth trembled, but made no movement to obey him. ' Take down that picture,' he said once more, and he raised his arm threateningly as if he meant to strike her. ' Take it down, do you hear? Take it down.' Hyacinth stood still, silently defying him. There Avas fear in her blue eyes, but scorn and rebellion could also be read in them. It was evident she did not mean to obey. The threatening arm was raised a little higher. Oh, pause, Matthew Moore, pause before you let it fall. Deep in your young daughter's heart there may be even yet a little flame of love for you. Do not extinguish it for ever Avith that heavy hand. Look at the frail delicate little figure trembling even while it defies you, look at the frightened eyes — do they not touch some tender chord, move some gentle fibre in your being?

Alas, no. The only chord touched was that of memory. Years ago another pair of blue eyes had looked at Mr. Moore much as Hyacinth's looked now, in mingled terror and defiance. The recollection, and the train of thought that accompanied it, only increased his fury. He brought his heavy hand down, striking his daughter across the side of her head, and felling her to earth. She lay there for a moment stunned and motionless, then she struggled to her feet, and, Avith a terrified passionate cry, rushed wildly from the room. Mr. Moore had gained his election this day, but he had lost his daughter. Some faint consciousness of this forced itself upon his under standing, but he was far too angry then to feel even momentary regret for what he had done. AVith his own hands he lifted down the faded picture of the woman who had once been his wife, and then for a moment he stood looking at it, an expression of stern aversion upon his face.

Hyacinth had been correct in one of her statements : her mother had died of a broken heart. It is possible her husband may have thought himself justified in his harsh treatment of his beautiful young wife. With the story of her sins, or her follies, we have nothing to do. It lies buried with her in the grave. But of one thing we may feel assured : the great Judge of all Avill deal more tenderly with her than her husband did. Mr. Moore did not attempt to reinstate the portrait of his son and daughter, he left that lying where Emma had placed it, but he took a penknife out and deliberately slashed the canvas in his hand from top to bottom. Then he earned it out to Emma. ' Put this back in the attic Miss Moore took it from,' he said, sternly, ' and go to her room afterwards, and tell her I shall not expect her to appear at my table this evening.' Emma moved away at once, Avondering much Avhat had happened, but far too afraid of her master to venture on a single question.

Mr. Moore sent this message to his daughter more to save his dignity than from any real anticipation she Avould appear. He knew well enough that nothing short of ATiolence would induce her to appear before his guests after Avhat had hap pened. It Avas an aAvkwavd predicament fov a host to be in. In an houv ovso the guests would arrive, and there would be no hostess to greet the ladies ov take the head of the tabie. Suddenly he bethought him of Belinda. Yes, Belinda could do it. What a comfovt she Avas in the house. He went up and knocked at the doov of her room, feeling quite grateful to her fov hev oppovtune arrival. Belinda came to the door and opened it. She was attired in a full dressiug-goAvn of pink and white, Avhich suited her better than the violet dress, and hev black hair, which Avas very fine, flowed down over her shoulders, softening her face and making it look almost young.

She gave a dramatic start Avhen she saw Mr. Moore, but possibly she knew her garb was becoming, for she did not retreat. ' I want you to help me, Belinda,' said Mr. Moore, ' my daughter and I have had some words.' ' Just so,' replied Belinda. ' I thought it might not prove a pleasant chat, and so I came away.' ' She has behaved very badly,' Avent on Mr. Moore, ' and I have forbidden her to appear this evening. But there must be a lady to receive my guests, and so I Avant you to act hostess and take the head of my table. AVill you do it for me V Belinda looked quite radiant. The idea of acting hostess in a castle, and presiding at the magnificent table she had peeped at on her way upstairs, pleased her immensely. Still she thought it Avell to demur a little. ' Will it be proper, Alatthew V she said, ' I'm not sure.' ' Of course it is proper.

You've got your brother here, he can sit at your elboAv if you like.' ' Very Avell,' said Belinda, giving in Avith pleased alacrity. ' I'll do it, but take care when you introduce me to say I'm your first cousin, and to mention that William is my brother.' This question settled, Mr. Moore visited his stables and sought out the groom who ac companied Hyacinth on her rides. ' Perkins,' he said, ' I Avant you to watch at the back of the house this evening. Keep near the spot where the hedge is broken down, close to the Mere Court entrance. If the night is dark, take the bull's-eye lantern with you. Have you observed anything lately V ' The young man Avas there regularly last Aveek, sir, but no one else. He has been a bit slack in his attendance this week. 1 think he has got tired of Avaiting for nothing, sir.' ' I don't want your opinions.

Watch carefully this evening, and if anything happens, come to me at once. You understand V ' Quite, sir. I'll come at once.' The dinner-party went off very Avell. No one missed or inquired after the absent daughter of the house after the first five minutes. It was understood even by Douglas that she had a headache and Avas unable to leaATe her room. Belinda Avas in her element and enjoyed herself exceedingly. Arrayed in a gorgeous green silk dress, she stood on the hearthrug and received her cousin's guests with the condescension of a queen. These royal airs wore off a little during the course of dinner ; to maintain such intense dignity Avas an effort, and perhaps even queens relax after unlimited champagne. After the ladies had left the dining-room, Mr. Moore Avhispered something to the butler who went out of the room.

He was absent about tAvo minutes. ' She is in her room, sir ; the door is locked on the inside,' he whispered to his master Avheu he returned. Mr. Moore nodded and his brow cleared as he passed the wine round, helping himself liber ally from time to time. Meantime what was Hyacinth doing ? Sick -with the blow she had received, and half-choked -with passion, she rushed up to her room after leaving her father's presence. Her first instinct was to lock the door ; then she threw herself on her bed and burst into an agony of sobbing. The sobs half rent her frame, but not a tear es caped her eyes, the relief of tears was denied her. At length her sobs ceased from sheer ex haustion, and she lay still and silent upon her bed. Emma came to her door and entreated to be allowed to come in to her dearie, but Hyacinth made no sound in reply.

At last in despair the grieved faithful old servant had to go aAvay. For a long hour Hyacinth lay there, misery and passion raging in her heart. 'Hoav could he, how could he?' she cried aloud. ' To strike me, to strike his daughter ! Oh, it hurts me, it hurts me, my head aches so, what shall I do ? I can never meet him again. I cannot go on living under his roof, I cannot. To strike me, when I am so small aud Aveak and so lonely. I must go away, I must leave my home. What is there to leave ? Nothing. He hates me, and I have been most miserable here, most miserable. I Avill go aAvay, I will steal from this house to-night.' Suddenly she remembered the young champion who loved her, and she resolved to go to him. He would settle her future for her. She would go to him to-night. He Avould be there beneath the trysting-tree : had he not said he Avould be there every night ?

Had he not asked her to come to him if ever her father Aveve A'iolent to her again ? She had promised him she would, and to-night she Avould fulfil her promise. It Avould be a daring thing to do. The girl shivered as she lay dry-eyed in the darkness, and all kinds of possible terrors besieged her mind. She arose, leaned out of the window, and examined the night. The skies were dark and cloudy, and through the trees below there passed at intervals that peculiar shiver Avhich heralds the approach of rain. It might begin to pour at any moment, and the wood looked unusually davk and eerie. In any corner spies might be hidden, her father might meet her on the very threshold; perhaps, it Avas possible, her champion might not be there. She had failed to meet him so many nights, perhaps by this time he had grown weary of waiting for her and had ceased to come.

She drew out her watch and peered at it by the fading light. Ten minutes to nine. If he did come he would be there in ten minutes. There Avas not much time to lose. AVhat should she do ? Risk it or stay — stay to meet her father in the morning. Just then a footstep sounded outside the room, and a hand quietly tried the handle of her door. A scovnful smile passed over Hyacinth's face. ' Come to see if I am safe,' she muttered, ' and now he will go back to his Avine and enjoy him self with his friends.' At the thought of the gay scene beloAV, the girl's sense of loneliness and wrong increased until it greAV unbearable. She made up her mind suddenly. She would go, and at once, before her father had time to pay her a second visit. AVith nervous haste she flung her cloak over her light morning dress, and put on a dark hat.

Then she went to her dressing-case and took from it all the money she possessed and the ornaments which had once been her mother's. These she made into a little parcel which she put into her pocket. Then ATery softly she un locked the door, crept along the corridoi-, and down the back stairs. She reached the side door unnoticed, and, closing it gently behind her, paused for a moment on the strip of sward that separated the house from the Avood. To the left of the door Avas the unshuttered window of the housekeeper's room. Hyacinth crept up and peeped in through the latticed panes. She dared not go in and tell Emma what she was about to do, but she felt she could not go away Avithout taking one Jast fareAvell look at her kind old friend. The lamp was lighted and streamed brilliantly over the room, illumining the tall figure and Avorn familiar features of the housekeeper as she bent over the table busily engaged in preparing some coffee.

Hyacinth began to realise that she was cold and hungry, and a spasm passed over her face as she saw a little cup and saucer and plate placed before her favourite chair. They were Avaiting for her. Emma had placed them there and was Avaiting and longing for her dearie to come. For the first time Hyacinth began also to realise that she Avas leaving her home. She had been unhappy in it, but it was her home, and inside that room was her oldest friend whom she Avas leaving Avithout a word. AVell she knew Emma would grieve after her to her dying day, and at this thought the fountain of her tears Avas loosened, and big drops rolled doAvn her cheeks and fell on to the windoAv-sill. Oh, if Emma could only have known that her dearie stood in the dark on the sward outside taking leave of her Avith tears raining doAvn her cheeks, and choking sobs in her throat, she Avould have floAvn to her like an eagle to its young, she Avould have entreated her, and brought her back into her home, and much that Avas sad might have been averted.

But it Avas not to be. Hyacinth took her last look and turned away and entered the Avood. How the leaves crackled as she trod upon them, how the tAvigs snapped as she bent them back out of her way, what ghostly rustlings came from every part of the dark Avood, what weird shadows lurked on either side the path.vay I Fear gave wings to her feet, aud she rushed rather than Avalked to the trysting-place. There was no one there, the spot was dark and deso late as the night. She stood still and listened intently ; not a sound was to be heard save the shiArer of the wind in the trees. She raised her voice and gave the little call that was the signal for the loArer, but he came not. The girl shiA-eved like the evening Avind in the disap pointment of hev heart. Her lover's patience must have failed him, and he had deserted her. ' What shall I do ?' she moaned to herself.

Then suddenly a Avarm strong hand clasped hers in the darkness, and she kneAv her lover was near. AVith a wild revulsion of feeling she turned to him and flung her arms round his neck, clinging to him like a child seeking pro tection of her mother. Leverton put his arms round her with a strong comforting clasp. ' What is it, darling ?' he said, very low. VOL. II. C « AVhisper to me, I fear we are watched.' ' Leverton,' she Avhispered, ' I have left my home, you must take me away. I cau never go back there. My father hates me, he is cruel to me, he struck me to the ground this evening.' ' The scoundrel !' exclaimed Leverton, for getting his caution, and speaking loudly. ' You shall come away with me noAv, this instant, Hyacinth. The coward ! To strike a little, Aveak, defenceless girl like you.

Come away.' But instead of coming Hyacinth only clung to him closer than ever. ' There is some one near,' she Avhispered, half paralysed Avith terror. ' I hear a footstep.' As she spoke, to add to her terror, an awful shining eye glared at her in the darkness of the Avood. From it streamed a long ray of blinding light which lit up the trees in front of them for a second and then A-anished. The wood seemed darker than ever, the lovers scarcely dared to breathe. In a moment the awful mysterious eye appeared again, this time right in front of them. The long ray fell upon them, bathing then, iu dazzling light, and clearly revealing their faces and their attitudes, as they stood clasped in each other's arms. The light lasted only a second, but it Avas enough. The lovers felt they were betrayed, and listening in the darkness they clearly heard the sound of a man's footsteps hurrying in the direction of Hyacinth's home. ' The spy !' exclaimed the terrified girl. 'I'd like to crack his skull for him, the mean Paul Pry,' cried Leverton, angrily. ' Come, Hyacinth, we have not a second to lose.

That man will be reporting us in two minutes, and your father will be in full hue and cry after us the instant after. Come, darling.' He drew her to the hedge and lifted her bodily over. Another moment and they had crossed the road, and, avoiding the drive, were flying through the shrubberies of Mere Court. ' I'll take you round by the back,' said Lever ton, ' and we'll go in through the stables. Don't tremble so, darling. Persis will Avelcome you warmly, and my father will be as indignant as I am when he hears how shamefully you have been treated.' c They had reached a square courtyard by this time. It was surrounded on all sides by the stables, and opposite them was a flight of stone steps Avhich led doAvn to the back entrance of Mere Court. Hyacinth greAV more and more nervous, and felt as if she could not face the Shipley family. 'Let me sit down somewhere for a minute before you take me in,' she said, imploringly. ' I feel rather faint.' It was true, the poor little girl could scarcely stand.

It was hours since she had eaten any thing, and intense emotion had taken a good deal out of her. A light gleamed from the saddle-room, and Leverton led her in there. A comfortable five glowed in the grate, and before it in an avm-chaiv sat Joe, reading a lettev. He jumped up much amazed when his young mastev entered thus accompanied, but his amazement quickly changed to constevnation, fov no soonev had Hyacinth been placed in his chair than she fainted dead aAvay on Leverton's shoulder. The two men looked at each other helplessly. ' Beg pardon, sir,' said Joe at last, ' but is this here an elopement V ' AVell, I suppose it is,' answered Leverton, ' and what's to be done noAv ? AA7e were seen escaping, and I expect old Moore after us every minute. We must carry her into the house, Joe.' ' You'll be caught at once, if you do, sir, and she'll be taken off helpless,' said Joe, who gener ally had his wits about him in an emergency. ' Best bring her round here, sir, and then, if you'll take my advice, you'll make the elope ment complete, aud catch the eleA^en o'clock express to London.

I'll run and fetch some brandy and water.' He ran off quickly, across the yard and down the steps into the house. He had a romantic soul had Joe, and he was pleased beyond mea sure to be able to help thus at an elopement. In a marvellously short time he returned, bringing a bottle of brandy, a glass full of water, a plate of biscuits, and a fan. ' I stole 'em all,' he said, with a grin. Leverton sprinkled a little water over Hyacinth's face, and moistened her lips with the brandy, whilst Joe stood on the other side fan ning her vigorously, and at the same time making the peculiar hissing sound which usual ly accompanied his actions when he was groom ing a horse. These simple remedies proved efficacious. ' She's coming to,' cried Joe, hissing louder than ever in his excitement. In a moment or two Hyacinth opened her eyes and sat up.

Joe poured a strong dose of brandy into the glass of water, and this Lever ton persuaded her to drink. ' You'd best eat a few biscuits, miss,' said Joe, sympathetically, ' you'll want all your strength if you carries this elopement out, and maybe the brandy will get into your head without food.' Hyacinth meekly began the biscuits. She found out then that she was hungry, and ate a good many. To the relief of the Iavo men, the colour began gradually to come back into her cheeks. ' Aud now, darling, let me take you into the house,' said Leverton. Hyacinth hung her head and did not move. A vision rose before her of the stately Aunt Amelia, looking at her with cold, astonished eyes ; of the admiral, erect and proud, asking for and receiving explanations ; of her father, knocking at the door and demanding his daughter. ' Is there really nothing else that can be done?' she asked, looking up with entreating eyes. ' There's the eleven o'clock express to toAvn from Fernhill Junction,' said Joe, excitedly. ' I'll drive you there in plenty of time, or you could Avalk it, and step off more quiet.

It's a bare three mile.' ' Let us do that,' said Hyacinth, eagerly Levevton flushed up, the idea pleased him, — then he looked at his lady-love and his heavt smote him. She looked such a child as she spoke, so small and delicate and young, that he could not make up his mind to carry her away from every friend, thus, in the dead of night. It seemed like taking an unfair advantage of her. He glanced out through the opeu door of the saddle-room ; the rain had beguu to fall, a thick, fine drizzle. Then he looked back at Hyacinth, Avho Avas white aud trembling again. She was not fit for a long journey, and when they got to London what were they to do ? There Avas a dim idea in his mind that the laAv would make it impossible for them to marry until one of them at least should be of age. This he rather aAvkwardly tried to explain to Hyacinth. ' There's the spicial license,' observed Joe. ' Mac and Avife is man and wife.

The law can't touch that.' The Aroice of the tempter overcame Levevton's scvuples. ' We'll risk it,' he said, snatching hold of Hyacinth's hand eagerly. ' Joe, you shall drive us ; get the dog-cart ready. I must leave you for a moment, Hyacinth, to get some wraps for you and some money.' ' 1 dou't want Avraps, and I have plenty of money,' cried Hyacinth. 'Please don't leave me, Leverton.' But the idea of using Hyacinth's money for the elopement was distasteful to Leverton. He left her and ran into the house. He kept his money iu a desk in the library, so he turned his steps thither and burst into the room, imagining it would be empty as it generally was at this hour. Then he fell back against the wall staggering Avith consternation, for in the middle of the room stood the admiral and Persis, and facing him was Mr. Moore. ' Leverton,' said the admiral, in a voice that Avas strangely unlike his oavu, 'a charge has been made against you.

This man says that every evening you steal like a thief into his premises to meet his daughter clandestinely, and that to-night you have run away with her. Explain to him please that you have not been guilty of such underhand proceedings, and that you have nothing to do with him or his daughter.' Leverton recovered his courage and stood upright. ' 1 have a great deal to do with Mr. Moore's daughter,' he said, boldly. 'I am engaged to her, and I mean to marry her, ay, aud soon too.' The admiral turned deadly white and put his hand up to his collar as if something were choking him. ' You fool,' said Mr. Moore, violently address ing Leverton ; ' you can't marry her without my consent, and that you'll never get. You see,' he went on, turning to the admiral, ' I was right. This sneaking cur has been stealing into my house and making love to my daughter on the sly.

Do you call that proper conduct for a gentle man's son V —Where have you hidden her, sir ? Tell me at once, or I'll thrash you where you stand.' ' She is safe in my keeping, where you Avill not get at her,' replied Leverton, coolly, ' and to-morrow morning I mean to marry her with out troubling you for your consent. A father who can strike his defenceless daughter has for feited all claim to consideration.' 'Leverton,' said the admiral — 'Restore ' here his A'oice suddenly broke and failed him. His face greAV ashy pale, and he tore at his collar and beat the air with his hands as if he were suffocating. ' I am dying,' he said, gasp ingly ; then he staggered, clutched at the table to support himself, and fell with a crash upon the floor. Leverton, horror struck, spvang for ward to go to him. 'No, you don't,' said Mr. Moore, seizing his arms in a grip like a vice, ' you don't go near him until you have told me where you have hidden my daughter.' Leverton struggled violently, but Mr. Moore was a singularly powerful man, and the boy was like a reed in his grasp. ' Oh, Leverton, Leverton 1 He is dead,' wailed Persis, hanging over her father ; ' the shock has killed him.' Again Leverton struggled, but he could not free himself.

Mr. Moore held him back ruth lessly with arms that were like encircling bands of iron. ' Tell me where you have hidden my daugh ter,' he said, setting his teeth grimly. • Oh, Leverton, tell him, let him go ; oh, come to me, come to father,' cried Persis, wild with grief and despair, and trying vainly to lift the prostrate body of her father iu her arms. Leverton made one more desperate effort to free himself. It was of no avail. ' Oh, heaven ! there's no help for it ! She's in the saddle-room,' he shouted, wildly ; ' let me go, mau, to my father, for God's sake.' The next instant he was free. He rushed to his father's side, and Mr. Moore Avith a hoarse exultant laugh left the room. He felt he had fully avenged past insults uoav. ' Show me the Avay to the stables,' he said, authoritatively, to a servant who was crossing the hall.

The surprised servant opened a door at the side of the hall, and led him through a network of passages to a flight of steps leading up into a courtyard. ' The stables lie there, sir,' he said, pointing upwards. ' Thank you,' said Mr. Moore, ' that will do,' and he Avalked up the steps into the courtyard. The light from the saddle-room caught his eye instantly. He crossed the yard and went and stood silently in the doonvay. Hyacinth had heard the approaching footsteps,"and was sitting up in her chair, an eager look of expectation upon her face. She thought it was Leverton returning. Her expression changed into one of absolute horror when she saw, instead of Lever ton's slight figure, the massive form and red angry countenance of her father. She sank back in her chair and a feeling of utter despair came over her.