Father Stafford. Anthony Hope

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      "Do you really suppose that deceives me? Of course I am not afraid of your falling in love with Claudia; but it's very bad taste to have anything at all like flirtation with her."

      "Quite right; it is. It shall not occur again. Isn't that enough?"

      Kate, in spite of her confidence, was not anxious to drive Eugene with too tight a rein, so, with a nearer approach to graciousness she allowed it to appear that it was enough.

      "Then come along," he said, passing his arm around her waist, and running her briskly along the terrace to a seat at the end, where he deposited her.

      "Really, Eugene, one would think you were a schoolboy. Suppose any one had seen us!"

      "Some one did," said Eugene composedly, lighting his cigar.

      "Who?"

      "Haddington. He was sitting on the step of the sun-dial, smoking."

      "How annoying! What's he doing there?"

      "If you ask me, I expect he's waiting on the chance of Lady Claudia coming out."

      "I should think it very unlikely," said Kate, with an impatient tap of her foot; "and I wish you wouldn't do such things."

      Eugene smiled; and having thus, as he conceived, partly avenged himself, devoted the next ten minutes to orthodox love-making, with the warmth of which Kate had no reason to be discontent. On the expiration of that time he pleaded his obligations as a host, and they returned to the house, Kate much mollified, Eugene with the peaceful but fatigued air that tells of duty done.

      Before going to bed, Stafford and Eugene managed to get a few words together. Leaving the other men, except the Bishop, who was already at rest, in the billiard-room, they strolled out together on to the terrace.

      "Well, old man, how are you getting on?" asked Eugene.

      "Capitally! stronger every day in body and happier in mind. I grumbled a great deal when I first broke down, but now I'm not sure a rest isn't good for me. You can stop and have a look where you are going to."

      "And you think you can stand it?"

      "Stand what, my dear fellow?"

      "Why, the life you lead—a life studiously emptied of everything that makes life pleasant."

      "Ah! you are like Lady Claudia!" said Stafford, smiling. "I can tell you, though, what I can hardly tell her. There are some men who can make no terms with the body. Does that sound very mediæval? I mean men who, unless they are to yield utterly to pleasure, must have no dealings with it."

      "You boycott pleasure for fear of being too fond of it?"

      "Yes; I don't lay down that rule for everybody. For me it is the right and only one."

      "You think it right for a good many people, though?"

      "Well, you know, the many-headed beast is strong."

      "For me?"

      "Wait till I get at you from the pulpit."

      "No; tell me now."

      "Honestly?"

      "Of course! I take that for granted."

      "Well, then, old fellow," said he, laying a hand on Eugene's arm, with a slight gesture of caress not unusual with him, "in candor and without unkindness, yes!"

      "I could never do it," said Eugene.

      "Perhaps not—or, at least, not yet."

      "Too late or too early, is it?"

      "It may be so, but I will not say so."

      "You know I think you're all wrong?"

      "I know."

      "You will fail."

      "God forbid! but if he pleases—"

      "After all, what are meat, wine, and—and so on for?"

      "That argument is beneath you, Eugene."

      "So it is. I beg your pardon. I might as well ask what the hangman is for if nobody is to be hanged. However, I'm determined that you shall enjoy yourself for a week here, whether you like it or not."

      Stafford smiled gently and bade him good-night. A moment later Bob Territon emerged from the open windows of the billiard-room.

      "Of all dull dogs, Haddington's the worst; however, I've won five pound of him! Hist! Is the Father here?"

      "I am glad to say he is not."

      "Oh! Have you squared it with Miss Kate? I saw something was up."

      "Miss Bernard's heart, Bob, and mine again beat as one."

      "What was it particularly about?"

      "An immaterial matter."

      "I say, did you see the Father and Claudia?"

      "No. What do you mean?"

      "Gammon! I tell you what, Eugene, if Claudia really puts her back into it, I wouldn't give much for that vow of celibacy."

      "Bob," said Eugene, "you don't know Stafford; and your expression about your sister is—well, shall I say lacking in refinement?"

      "Haddington didn't like it."

      "Damn Haddington, and you too!" said Eugene impatiently, walking away.

      Bob looked after him with a chuckle, and exclaimed enigmatically to the silent air, "Six to four, t. and o."

CHAPTER III.

       Table of Contents

Father Stafford changes his Habits, and Mr. Haddington his Views.

       Table of Contents

      For sheer placid enjoyment and pleasantness of living, there is nothing like a sojourn in a well-appointed country house, peopled by well-assorted guests. The guests at Millstead Manor were not perhaps particularly well-assorted; but nevertheless the hours passed by in a round of quiet delights, and the long summer days seemed in no wise tedious. The Bishop and Mrs. Bartlett had reluctantly gone to open the bazaar, and Miss Chambers went with them, but otherwise the party was unchanged; for Morewood, who had come originally only for two days, had begged leave to stay, received it on condition of showing due respect to everybody's prejudices, telegraphed for his materials, and was fitfully busy making sketches, not of Lady Claudia, to her undisguised annoyance, but of Stafford, with whose face he had been wonderfully struck. Stafford himself was the only one of СКАЧАТЬ