A Life's Retribution

Front matter

BY ANGUS MACDONALD When he who adores thee has left but the name Of his faults and his sorrows behind, O I say, wilt thou weep, when they darken the fame Of a life that for thee was resigned ! Yes, weep, and however my foes may condemn, Thy tears shall efface their decree ; For Heaven can witness, though guilty to them. I have been but too faithful to thee. ' Pro Patria Mori.'— T. Moore. % o n i> o it REMINGTON & CO., PUBLISHERS HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN 1890 A LL RIGHTS RESERVED TO A. M. M. N. IN TOKEN OF LOVE FOR HER INVARIABLE KINDNESS AND GRATITUDE FOR HER FREQUENT HELP I DEDICATE MY FIRST PRINTED ATTEMPT AT NOVEL WRITING. A. MacD.— CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Dettingen I II. Claude Murray 7 III. A Quiet Evening . . . -15 IV. The Letters 30 V. A Quiet Day 38 VI. Karl Muntz 46 VII. In the Larder. 50 VIII.

London's Opinion . . . -57 IX. Animated Tops 64 X. Pembroke Square .... 69 XI. August 3rd, 1868 .... 76 XII. The Letters Again .... 83 XIII. Insinuations 90 XIV. Dunstan Forbes CONTENTS VIII XV. Claude has an Idea . . .107 XVI. Before the Battle . 113 XVII. The Last of the Letters . 119 XVIII. After the Battle . . . 128 XIX. Dietrich gets an Appointment . 133 XX. The News at Arlingford . . 137 XXI. L'Audace 143 XXII. Marching Orders . . -15° XXIII. ' He Cometh not ' . . . . 157 XXIV. Apparent Candour . . .166 XXV. Struck Down . . 174 XXVI. Certificate of Death . . .178 XXVII. En Route 185 XXVIII. Check 190 XXIX. Checkmate 196 XXX. Leave 205 XXXI. 'I Want to go to Dover' . .212 XXXII. Dietrich's Return . . .218 XXXIII. Reparation

Chapter I

DETTsNGEN He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one : Exceeding; wise, fair-spoken and persuading; ; Lofty and sour to them that loved him not, But to those men that sought him. sweet as Summer. 'King Henry VIII.' — Shakespeare. Dettingen is a small town and the seat of a military college, to enter which it is necessary to pass an examination. It is a fine old place, and quite countryfied with its wide and extensive grounds. In summer time, especially, it looks bright and gay, A and never more so than it did on September i tth, 1864. On that day the weather was simply glorious, and the three cadets who were lounging in front of the college at 12.30 seemed fully to appreciate the beauty of the outlook. These youths were Germans of good old family ; two were Counts, the other a Baron. Count Dietrich von Darmingen had spent his life in England until about two months before my story commences, when he had appeared at Dettingen, passed all the examinations with flying colours, and signed his name in the college books : Dietrich Gustav von Darmingen.

Count Maximilian von Schilpert and Baron Georg von Guren were Dietrich's two Greatest o friends, and certainly Max drove him hard in point of popularity. DETTINGEN 3 These three, then, were enjoying a few moments of leisure between work and lunch. Max von Schilpert was standing, leaning against a tree ; Georg von Guren strolling lazily up and down ; Dietrich von Darmingen lying full length upon the ground. ' I say, Dietrich ! ' exclaimed von Schil pert, abruptly. ' Well ? ' languidly, half raising himself as he spoke. ' How white you look ! ' 'Is that all!' ' No. Or at all events, it wasn't in tended to be. Are you coming with me ? ' No, I am not. Don't think my refusal churlish, but I cannot. To begin with, I am poor. Ach ! so poor. You, who are rich, cannot understand the state of fellows like me, who am poor.

No, Max, it is quite impossible, and please do not ask me again. ' Oh well ! if you won't, I suppose you won't. But I do wish you would ! Per haps your mother expects you home ? ' ' No. I have no mother to expect me.' ' Your father, then ? or your brother ? or sister? ' ' No. I have no relations, and no friends ; ' as he spoke, Dietrich got up, as if weary of the conversation, and walked slowly away. He had not gone far when he was overtaken by a horseman, who checked his steed and accosted him. ' Can you tell me my way to Dettingen, mein Herr ? ' ' This is Dettincren.' ' Ah ! but the military college ? ' DETTINGEN 5 Well ? ' Where is it ? ' rather impatiently. ' In Dettingen.' ' Potz-donnerwetter ! I know that ! ' ' Then why ask ? ' ' I asked my way.' ' Oh yes, I know that. You asked your way to Dettingen.

This is Dettingen.' ' But I wish to go to the military college. The way there ! ' he spoke in a tone of command, and half raised his whip. ' That is no good with me,' said Dietrich, calmly, noticing the gesture. ' The military college, you will find somewhere there,' with a comprehensive wave of his hand, which took in North, South, East and West, the former being the true locality of the building. The stranger hissed an abusive monosyllable as he rode on. He presently came upon Max and Georg, who were still where Dietrich had left them. From them he gained more correct information, and that evening was introduced to the cadets as a new companion, Don Silvestre de Ulloa, a Portugese. After this it was Silvestre's business to ' cut out ' Dietrich.

Chapter II Claude Murray

Her manners had not that repose Which stamps the caste of Vere de Vere. ' Lady Clara Vere de Vere.' — Lord Tennyson. Arlingford, Moray, N.B. September 10th, 1864. Dear Miss Forbes, — I am deputed to write and thank you very much indeed for your kindness to Hilary, during her brief stay in London. Deeply as we are in debted to you for past favours, we hope for yet more in the future, and I can assure you that you would by no means find a brief sojourn here, at this time, at all dull. In plainer language, will you come and stay here ? Hoping that I shall prove suc cessful, I remain, yours very sincerely. Claude de C. Murray. ' Who on earth is " Claude de C. Murray"?' demanded pretty Miss Forbes, when she had read the above somewhat peculiar document. ' " Brevity " is evi dently considered " the soul of wit " at Arlingford,' she continued, reading over the last two or three sentences again. ' And why not ? ' enquired her cousin Hamilton, who was sitting with her, having come in to pay a brief call and stayed more than half the afternoon. ' No, but listen, Jack,' and she read out the part that had particularly amused her.

CLAUDE MURRAY 9 He laughed. ' Certainly it is terse,' he said, ' but it is also to the point. That you must acknowledge.' ' I do acknowledge it. I do. But it really is the oddest invitation I have ever received.' ' What sort of a fist ? ' was his next query ; and, on her handing him the note, for letter it can scarcely be called, he added, ' Rather pretty, and exceedingly legible. But who is it ? ' ' Apparently a brother of Hilary's. You remember Hilary, don't you?' ' Oh, yes. But why should the brother write to you ? ' ' That I can't say.' ' Oh come, Cecil, this is nonsense ! You must know the chap, or he wouldn't write to you,' Hamilton argued, watching his cousin's face as he spoke. ' I wonder what " de C." stands for,' she said, pensively, not regarding his last remark. 'Oh, "de Costermonger," I expect!' 'Shall I go, Jack?' 'As you please, Cecil.' ' Then I must write to this Mr Claude de C. Murray.' ' Naturally.

That in any case.' 'Jack, are you going to Scotland this year ? ' ' Yes. Ted Murray, Lord Moray's youngest son, asked me up.' ' I wonder if he's any relation of this Claude.' ' I shouldn't be a bit surprised.' Cecil crossed over to the writing table, at which she seated herself. ' Advise me what to say to him, Jack.' CLAUDE MURRAY 11 ' Oh, I don't know. Just say you'll go, and with me.' ' When are you going ? ' ' On — sr — -what's to-day ? ' ' Thursday, the 12th.' ' Next Monday I go. What's that ? ' 'The 16th. Thanks.' A pause fol lowed this remark, broken only by the scratching of the girl's pen, and the ticking of the clock. ' There ! ' she exclaimed presently. ' Poor old Jack ! it's slow work for you to sit and watch me writing letters.' Jack made no direct reply. ' How late it's getting ! ' he said. ' I must be going.

Shall I post that for you ? ' ' Please. There 'tis, and don't forget it.' ' Oh, you may trust me. Good-bye, Cecil.' ' Good-bye, Jack.' Let us now take a little flight into Scot land, and I will introduce you to Claude de C. Murray at the moment of receiving Cecil Forbes' letter. ' Oh Stee ! ' Claude exclaimed. ' Listen a moment ! That Forbes girl has ad dressed her letter to " Claude de C. Murray, Esquire'' ! Do you hear? " Es quire " ! Isn't it absurd ? And she begins, " Dear Mr Murray " ! I never was so amused before ! ' ' Weren't you ? Well, isa young woman called "Claude" wrote to me, and didn't say she was a young woman, I should con clude she was a young man. Shouldn't you, Ted ?' ' Certainly, I should. Who's been find ing Claude out ? ' ' Nobody has,' Claude answered, and CLAUDE MURRAY 13 handed him Cecil's letter. ' Oh, what date does she say ?

I quite forgot to notice.' 'September 12th,' Ted replied. ' No, goose ! I didn't mean that date.' ' Oh ! Tuesday the 17th, she says she'll arrive. She's coming with that Hamilton Forbes I asked up.' ' How very exciting. — I say, Stee ! ' and Claude turned again to her other brother. ' Well ? ' ' When do Bob and Lady Elgin return ? ' ' To-morrow. But why do you always call that unfortunate young woman, " Lady Elgin " ? ' Stee enquired. ' Don't know. It suits me to, I suppose.' ' You know it don't suit her, that you should.' ' I never call her " Lady Elgin " to her face, do I ? Or at all events, very seldom.' ' You do sometimes, and she don't like it.' ' Poor thing ! Have you ever heard her complain ? ' ' She has said to me that she doesn't like it. You see, Claude, you're the only one who never would treat her as a sister, and I know you like her.

Indeed, you couldn't help it, if you tried to.' Claude laughed. ' That's your opinion,' she replied, ' but you see, unfortunately, yours and mine don't always coincide. I must go and see about a room for her lady ship,' and did so. Ted smiled, and returned to his book. Stee growled, and looked somewhat angry.

Chapter III

A quiet evening 'Tis the sunset of life gives me mystical lore. And coming events cast their shadow before. ' Lochiel's Warning.' — Campbell. We defy augury. ' Hamlet.' — Shakespeare. James Murray, Earl of Moray, married an exceedingly pretty girl from the west coast of Inverness-shire. The Countess was delicate, and her husband passionately fond of her. Their family consisted of three sons and two daughters, in giving birth to the last of whom the mother died. The elder girl, Claude, was at that time about four years old, and was thenceforward under the care of servants and governesses. The Earl, frantic at the loss of his wife, secluded himself from his children, and lived ' not wisely, but too well. ' The result was that, in a few years, he was a confirmed martyr to gout. Lady Claude, in this atmosphere, grew up wilful and dictatorial.

She bullied her sister Hilary and consorted chiefly with the two brothers nearest her own age, Stephen and Ted. Each year, as his father's health and his sister's temper grew worse. Viscount Elgin found his home more distasteful. He was a good-humoured fellow, but Claude and Stephen were alike fast becoming unbear able. He took to spending nearly all his time in London, and there he fell in love with the fashionable and agreeable Marjorie Davenant, whom he married in December 1863. The following April he took his wife to Scotland to introduce her to his family. Most of them took to her at once, for she was a pleasant girl and anxious to be liked ; Claude, alone, showed a decided aversion to her society. Educated in the manner I have described above, her rough and ready nature was grated upon by Lady Elgin's dainty London manners.

Having lived all her life on the wild sea-coast, and being accustomed to brave all weathers, she could not understand why this English girl should object to wetting her feet, or catch a violent cold in a long walk through the driving rain, and she disliked her accordingly. ' We don't want any molly coddles here,' she remarked, rudely enough. B The Elgins did not stay long, for her ladyship did not find Arlingford life at all delightful, and had no wish to miss the London season. So they went south again after Easter, with the intention of return ing to Scotland in the autumn. When they did come back, they found Claude somewhat more disposed to be amiable to her sister-in-law and accept the inevitable ; for the girl had had time to think it over and perceive how unkind it was to her brother to behave so rudely to his wife. ' But nothing shall make me call her " Marjorie"!' This was the state of affairs when Cecil Forbes arrived.

She found Stephen and Ted sitting in the hall awaiting her appearance and talking to Lady Elgin. Ted advanced. ' Are you Miss Forbes?' ' I am.' ' I'm Ted Murray. How d'ye do, Jack?' turning to perceive Hamilton, who had followed his cousin. ' Quite well, thanks But I didn't expect to find you here.' ' Why not ? ' ' Because I didn't know you resided here.' ' Didn't you know Moray?' I was a Murray of ' Yes, but I was not aware that Lord Moray lived here. I was only going to shed Cecil and move on.' ' Where to ? ' ' I didn't quite know.' Ted laughed a great deal at this, and then turned to find that Lady Elgin had introduced herself to Cecil, and was apologising for the absence of her sisters-in-law, the Murray girls. Hardly had she done so, however, when Claude entered the hall, followed by Hilary who flew to Cecil and embraced her rapturously. ' Oh Cecil ! how delightful it is to see you again ! ' she exclaimed. ' How jolly of you to come !

When did you arrive ? Have you been here long? Have you been talking to Ted and Stee ? Have you been to any theatres lately?' she con tinued with great rapidity. Cecil laughed. ' My dear Hilary,' she answered, ' one question at a time is enough. I can't possibly answer all those at once ; ' then she turned to Claude and said, somew7hat hesitatingly, ' I am afraid you did not expect me so early, Miss Murray.' Claude smiled and replied, ' I am de lighted to see you so soon, and ought to have been down to receive you. I must apologise for apparent rudeness, but it was the train's fault.' ' It is no matter,' said Cecil hastily. ' Lady Elgin was very kind to me.' ' Perhaps you would like to come up stairs,' suggested Claude, moving towards the staircase, and Cecil at once followed her. Cecil lost no time, once they were alone, in ascertaining from Claude by what title she was to address the different members of the family, and reinforced by this infor mation, she went gaily downstairs.

In consequence of his father's confinement to his room, Lord Elgin took her in to dinner ; whilst Claude sat at the head of the table, in the place of her dead mother. A LLFE'S RETRIBUTION 22 ' What shall we do to-morrow ? ' was Claude's first remark, when they were all seated. ' You'd better take an excursion,' Elgin answered. ' Forbes, would you like to go to the hill?' Hamilton hesitated, and Claude said, quickly, ' You'd rather come with us, wouldn't you, Mr Forbes ? ' ' I think I'd rather — er — ' began Hamilton. ' Stalk another day ? ' suggested the Vis count. ' All right, then we'll all go an ex cursion together. Where will you go, Claude ? ' ' Where would the company like ? ' ' Let's go by water,' said Lady Elgin ; ' one gets plenty of land elsewhere.' ' Certainly,' answered her hostess. ' Are you agreeable, Miss Forbes ? ' ' What a question to ask ! ' cried Ted. 'As if Miss Forbes were ever anything else!' Claude coloured slightly as she replied, ' I meant no incivility, and I hope Miss P'orbes won't take what I said as such.' Of course not,' cried Cecil, hastily.

I was only in fun,' grunted Ted. ' Well,' said Claude, ' if we are to boat, where shall we boat to ? ' ' Anywhere,' answered Cecil, to whom she had addressed this, ' anywhere so far as I am concerned, as I know nothing of the surrounding country.' Claude turned towards her sister-in-law, but Lady Elgin looked the other way. Then there was a pause for a moment or two ; after which Claude turned to Stephen, who was sitting one side of her, and said, ' Ask her where she would like to go.' ' Ask who ? ' he enquired, looking very innocent. 'You know quite well.' 'I say,' cried Stephen, 'somebody ex plain this for me. Claude turns suddenly to me and says : — " ask her where she would like to qo " — who does she mean ? ' ' Ask her,' suggested Ted ' I have,' Stephen replied, 'and she says I know.' ' How very annoying ! ' laughed Elgin. ' Who did you mean, Claude ? ' asked her sister-in-law, looking up. ' You — of course.

Where would you like to go ? — Stee knew quite well I meant J you. ' Why didn't you ask me at once, direct ? ' Lady Elgin answered. ' Why should we go anywhere in particular ? Why not just dawdle about on the water ? ' ' Very well,' said Claude, smiling, ' I do not wish to go to any special place, myself. I only wanted to know what you and Miss Forbes would like.' The rest of dinner was occupied in dis cussing to-morrow's excursion, and the sport the people of Moray had been having that year. ' How shall we amuse ourselves this evening ? ' asked Claude, as she and the other ladies entered the drawing-room. ' Would anyone like a fire ? ' No one wished for a fire. All agreed that it was too warm to think of such a thing. ' Is it still very warm in London, Miss Forbes ? ' enquired Lady Elgin. 'Pretty fair,' she answered; 'but it is ever so much nicer up here.

It was so good of you to ask me,' she continued, turning to Claude. ' Not at all,' replied she, smiling. ' You were very kind to Hilary, when she was in London, and — "one good turn deserves another," you know.' ' Quite true,' remarked Lady Elgin ; ' and when am I to have your photograph ? I gave you mine last year.' Claude looked out of the window for a moment ere she replied, ' Very J soon. The gentlemen now joined them, and Elgin asked if they were to have any music ; but all cried off, so it was determined to clear the table, and play a round game. After some discussion, they decided on ' animal grab ' ; a game which differs from ordinary ' grab,' in that each person represents an animal ; and, instead of saying ' grab,' has to make the noise of the animal selected by the person whose card is like his own. ' You ought to be a duck, Marjorie,' said Ted to Lady Elgin. ' And you — a goose,' she answered, promptly.

They played until only Elgin and Hamilton had any cards left, and these two agreed that it was no fun going on any longer. Ted now began showing some card-tricks, and Lady Elgin proposed to tell Claude's fortune ; an offer which the latter instantly declined, but the Viscountess insisted, so she had to yield. ' You are dark, aren't you ? ' Lady Elgin began, when Claude had thoroughly shuffled the cards, and cut three times with her left hand. ' Spades, I think. You will be un fortunate. A fair young man will make love to you. But you will not marry him. Two dark young men will take a journey. ■ — Will you cut and shuffle again, please ? — Yes, you will meet these two dark men. One of them will be in love with you. There is trouble coming. It is for you. — Again, please,' handing back the cards, ' and only cut twice this time. — Yes, there is sorrow for you ; but there is also joy.

You will, on the whole, have a very hard time.' 'How do you do it ?' exclaimed Cecil, leaning across the table. ' Draw nine cards, please,' was all Lady Elgin said. ' H'm — yes — all I told you just now, will certainly come true ' ; then she laid down the cards, and Claude, turning towards Cecil, said, ' Are you not tired after your long journey, Miss Forbes?' Cecil thought she was rather, and the ladies then retired.

Chapter IV

T4E LETTERS How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Makes ill deeds done. ' King John.' — Shakespeare. Silvestre de Ulloa and Dietrich von Darmingen continued to be at daggers drawn, and nothing could make them friendly, though both Max von Schilpert and Georg von Guren tried their utmost. It was a pity, Max said, that the two cleverest fellows at Dettingen should never agree. Dietrich's argument was : that Silvestre did not like him, and he had no time to go out of his way to con ciliate him. Silvestre said that Dietrich was an impertinent young jackanapes. Silvestre was a youth of good old Portugese family, and as proud as the devil. He was by no means so popular as Dietrich, but he soon set himself steadily to undermine the latter's influence. He, at first, found this rather difficult, as the Germans were prejudiced against his nation ; but he strove hard, and soon was very well liked.

Dietrich was a quiet, reserved youth ; and more admired for the beauty of his person, acuteness of his understanding, and activity of limb, than beloved for any special affability. He was head of the college, though by no means the eldest there. He was always ready to help at study, though the state of his health pre vented his joining much in athletic sports. This Silvestre very soon found out, and herein it was that he resolved to oust von Darmingen. He affected a great interest in games which he heartily disliked ; he took any little roughnesses like a lamb, even when his hot Portugese blood boiled within him. At work, the cadets still preferred Dietrich's aid ; but at play, they all now turned to de Ulloa. ' Max,' von Darmingen said one day, as they were strolling up and down the grounds together. ' Max, I don't like that fellow, de Ulloa ! ' ' I am not surprised to hear it, Dietrich.

I don't think anybody does like him much.' ' Oh, yes, they do though. He's always ready for a game, as you know I can't be.' ' You work too hard, Dietrich.' ' Psha ! that isn't what I meant. I referred to my health.' ' To be sure, that is not good.' ' If he beats me in work too, Max, I shall murder either him or myself ! ' ' Nonsense, my dear Dietrich, nonsense. In the first place, he won't beat you ; in the second, you wouldn't be such a fool as to let your temper get so much the better of you.' ' Then you can't know much about my temper, Max ! — But seriously, von Schilpert. my health is giving way.' ' Himmel, Dietrich ! Don't say that ! ' ' Why not ? when it's the case.' c Here the bugle sounded, and they had to go in. What Dietrich said of his health was but too true, it was yielding under the per petual strain he kept upon it.

He worked all day and all night, had constitutional headaches, and a harassed manner. His dark blue eyes were often so bloodshot from over-use, that it was impossible to tell what colour they really were. By the time de Ulloa had been at Dettingen a year, he had quite ousted Dietrich in point of popularity, though he could not reach him in brainwork ; and, in the autumn of 1865, Dietrich was suddenly summoned to enter a cavalry regiment, and left Dettingen in so great a hurry that he had not time to do all he could have wished before going. In 1866 war broke out with Austria, and both Dietrich and Silvestre served under Prince Frederick Charles. It is unneces sary for me to enter into the details of the campaign, which must be well known to all readers of modern history. It was July 2nd, 1866, the eve of the great battle of Sadowa or Koniggriitz, and Dietrich was sitting in his tent, pondering on the state of affairs, when the door opened and de Ulloa entered.

Dietrich rose, and saluted him stiffly. ' Herr von Darmingen,' said the Portu gese, ' I have come hither on no ordinary errand. I suppose you know that it is believed the Austrians will attack to-morrow. After the battle it is possible: that you and I may not meet again. You left certain letters with Muntz at Dettingen to be destroyed, I have got those letters ! — Now, Herr Hauptmann, I hold you ! — Do I not ? ' ' Not at all,' Dietrich answered, striving to keep calm. ' I left no letters with Muntz at Dettingen. Had I had any to destroy, I should have done it myself, and not left it to a servant.' ' Will you kindly look at the writing ? ' requested Silvestre, with a cynical smile. Dietrich did so, but made no observation. ' Herr von Darmingen will perhaps kindly bear in mind, that Silvestre de Ulloa stands ready to show7 these letters, and to prove that they are those of Herr von Darmingen.' Herr von Darmingen said that he would endeavour to remember, and in the meantime requested Silvestre de Ulloa to remove himself and his letters elsewhere.

Next day witnessed the battle. Dietrich was among those who under the orders of General Stuhnaple, began the conflict at 10 a.m. He fought, like all his comrades, with the greatest courage and tenacity, and was specially mentioned by Prince Frederick Charles to the King.

Chapter V

A QUIET DAY Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, Honest water, which ne'er left a man i' the mire. ' Timon of Athens. — Shakespeare. Cecil Forbes soon began to discover what sort of people the Murrays of Moray were. The Earl was suffering from a bad attack of gout, so did not appear in public ; the Countess had been dead some years, and Lady Claude, the eldest daughter of the house, filled the mother's place, whilst Lord Elgin represented his father. The morning of the excursion broke beautiful and cloudless, to the great delight of the wculd-be pic-nicers. 'This is heavenly!' said Lady Elgin. ' Don't you think so, Claude ?' ' Certainly,' she answered. ' It's one of the finest days we've had this summer.' ' It will be wasted on the water,' growled Stephen. ' Then go to the hill,' returned his sister, shortly. ' Indeed, and I'd rather be there than with you, any day of the week,' snarled he. ' Oh come !' cried Lady Elgin. ' That's nonsense, Stephen — and you know it is.' ' Of course it is,' chimed in her husband.

A L1EES RETRIBUTION 40 • But let's have some breakfast, and then 7 get away. 'How about father?' enquired Ted, as they entered the dining-room. ' Oh,' said Claude, ' he'll be all right. I was in his room this morning, and offered to stop at home with him, but he said he'd got a lot of letters to write, and should be rather glad to get rid of us all for the day.' They all laughed. ' Very rude of him,' remarked Lady Elgin. ' I am quite insulted ! Do you think I may go and see him, Claude ?' ' I should think he'd be delighted to see you. ' Any one would,' remarked Ted. ' In that case,' went on Lady Elgin, ignoring Ted, ' I'll go up after breakfast.' ' Ten o'clock mind, Marjorie,' said Elgin. ' Oh, I won't forg;et.' ' How nice Lady Elgin is,' said Cecil to Ted, when she came down ready at ten o'clock, to find y7oung Murray alone in the hall. ' Isn't she !' he answered enthusiastically. ' Oh, we all love her, though Claude will insist on calling her " Lady Elgin " instead of " Marjorie." 'But why does she?' Cecil asked. 'It seems so odd.' ' Oh, / don't know,' replied Ted, with a shrug of his shoulders. ' Hullo !' as Claude appeared. 'What is it?' ' You're so early.' ' That all ! — Well, I've outstripped Lady Elgin at all events.' At this remark Ted and Cecil exchanged glances.