The Hoyden

the seringas from the shrubbery beyond, mingled with all the lesser but more delicate delights of the garden bene

s in revolt, leans back against the cushions of her lounging chair, her

e will marry

about it. I tell you he must marry her. It has come to the very las

ands abroad, as if in eloquent des

t laughing. She can al

ry," says she; "you have an only

Lady Rylton, with a click of he

mensions could settle itself comfortably between her eyes. Still, as a frown, it is worth a good deal! It has cowed a good many people in its day, and had,

ie"-she is Lady Rylton's niece, but Lady Rylton objects to bei

says Lady Rylton w

nce again unfurling the huge black

th a gaze that never wavers. The two poses are in their way perfect

preserved that at forty-six she might easily be called thirty-five. If it were not for her one child, the present Sir Maurice Rylton, this fallacy might have been carrie

hands and feet are as tiny now as when years ago they called all London town to look at them on her presenta

ladylike sort of way destroys the one it fastens upon. Yet she is a dainty creature; fragile, fair, and pretty, ev

elf round her shapely head, and adds another lustre to the exquisite purity of her skin. Her eyes have a good deal of red in them, too, mixed with a warm brown-wonderful eyes that hold you when they catch you, and are difficult to forget. So

r mouth is curious, large and full, but not easily to be understood. Her eyes may speak, but her mouth is a sphinx. Yet it is a lovely mouth, and the little teeth behind it shine like pearls. For the rest, she is a widow. She married very badly; went abroad with her husba

ands she now gaily, s

and fastens them behind her hea

e that I have been blind to the fact that you

suggests Mrs.

ard, her soft curved ch

says Lady Rylton, fanning herself petu

back in her chair, and laughs aloud

her is lighting the splendid masses of her red hair, a

little stiffly; "even to mention su

oes on again. "After all, why shouldn't I be immoral?" says she. Once again she flings her arms above her head so th

laughing. "I always say you are the one creature who amuses me," cries she, leaning back, and giving full play to her mirth. "I nev

as reached a truth in spite of he

extreme hatred in it. It is gone, however, as soon as

y. "I dare say a perpetual riddle is

read you." She could as easily have read a page of Sanscrit. "It is your originality I like. I have never, in spite

e looks swe

a home!"

graciously. "But to return to Maurice. I shal

ural

, as a matter of course," with a shrug of her dainty shoulders, "lets the near

ly teeth. "And this girl? She has been here a week

and herself. "It was the most providential thing," she says; "I was staying at the Warburtons' last month, and one day when driving their abominable ponies along the road, suddenly the little beasts took f

Warbu

nies; don't

a re

r exquisite little hands-"how inadequate these would be to deal with the Warburton ponies.

Miss B

s-they were almost powerless from the strain, but that girl! her wrists seemed made of iron

e of iron. Her people

or buttons

t. Two hundred thousand pounds, the Warburtons told me afterwards; even allowing for exa

riddle?" asks

e inquiries. It appeared that she lived with her uncle. Her father had died early, when she was quite young. Her mother was dead too; this last was a great comfort. And the uncle had kept her in secl

id you ask

xclusive-so that when I did arrive, I was received with open arms. I was charming to the old uncle, a frosty sort of person, but not objectionable in any way, and I at once asked the niece to pay me a visit. They were flattered, the uncle especially so; I expect he had been wanting to get into Society-and as for

on. Fancy her saying she would be glad to

s little sarcasm has been lost upon her. "And now, how to use her? M

e i

is not what I would have chosen for him, I admit that; but

ngs," says Mrs. Be

to the point? He is so very difficult. Y

I

hers always; she moves towards the window. There is no hur

s Lady Rylton peevishly.

no inf

ou will marry him yourself, that perhaps his uncle will die and leave him once more a rich man-the

her beautiful figure is drawn

Let him marry-let him marry--" She pauses as if choking, but goes on again:

e-n

, as if desirous of letting Lady Rylton hear the opi