PROBATION:

A TALE OF THE LANCASHIRE COTTON FAMINE; BY MISS JESSIE FOTIIEItaiLL, Author of "Ilcaley," "Aldyth," "Tho Firs Violin," etc. '■'« ♦__

CHAPTER XIV. TnE TWO RADICALS. Mrs Mallory came into her drawing room twenty minutes before thedinnev hour, and found hor son already there, alone, already dressed, and stretched, in an attitude of extreme laziness, in an armchair by the fire. , ~ There was likeness between the mother and son—strong likeness; and there was also, what most people forgot in comparing relations witii one another, strong unlike ness. Mrs Mallory was an elegant-looking and a young-looking woman. She had an impassive, pale face, with thin lips and a high nose; pale, flaxen hair, without^ grey streak in its glossy abundance ; and the elegant trifle of lace and feathers which she wore upon it made her look still younger and handsomer. She was dressed in pale lavender silk and white lace, and she looked a very handsome propserous person, as she came in, casting a glance at Sebastian—a sharp, keen, calculating glance. Mrs Mal lory loved power, and had loncf exercised it; she did not realise that her son had m-own from a boy into a man since she had known him. She had the lowest possible opinion of the natural penetration of men ; and circumstances had fostered that im pression. There is a great deal in having once lived for a term of years in close inter course with a person very decidedly one's inferior in intellect, as in the case of Mrs -- -- • • .ii -.:,i__„,. _'.rki>»« -•

unceremoniously, though tncy arc suing' hears themselves." "I am not aware that I did treat, them | unceremoniously." " What did you say to them?' she asked, curiosity getting the better of vexation. "I wish you had not been so hasty. A speech of that kind requires both consideration and careful management. I hope you did not commit yourself, They arc such frightful people for taking up one's most innocent remarks and construing them into some thing quite different from what one inten ded"'. '■' '''' ■ Mrs Mallory spoke feelingly, as if from experience. [I "Aye they? Well, I don't know that I committed myself to anything from which ,1 should wish to back out later. Indeed, I am not a fellow who is given to backing out :of Ids promise-but then I make so few, he added thoughtfully. " I simply told them I was afraid there were bad times coming, and that we must stand by each other in thorn. And I said a few words on politics." "My dear boy! how foolish ! Excuse mc, but it was. They arc rabid Radicals, and have a prejudice against you already—one of their horrid, narrow-minded prejudices, and to mention that you were a Conserva tive would certainly not improve the situa tion," Sebastian looked a little surprised. '' How odd it is ! AVhy should I toll them 11 was a Conservative when I am a Radical ? 1 spoke the truth, of course." Not Mrs Transonic herself could have been more horrified at Harold's declaration of his views than was Mrs Mallory at this avowal of her son. She forgot to shade that complexion which was not as the com plexions of other women of six and forty. She laid her screen down, sat bolt upright, without the pretence of any amiability in her expression, and said sharply : "You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" '"I am friily sorry that I cannot oblige you by feeling so." " You have no respect for your father, or your grandfather—for any of your fore fathers," said she sullenly, f- Every man here who can toast of, a grandfather, much

more a man of good old family like yours, ought to be a Conservative out of pure self respect. No I Youhayc no respect for your ancestors, or for yourself " "Mon Dieu! 1 think I have as much res pect for them as they deserve. Do you think ancestors are really of much use '! But at least I havo more respect for their memo ries than to imagine, that thoy would wish mo simply to sit down and hobnob with the first opinions that happened to bo offered to me. Since I have inherited my name and my tendencies of mind from them, I must also have inherited my brains and my rea soning powers from them. I have an in quiring mind, a tiling, my dear mother, which is uot spontaneously generated but developed;" "That is atheism, Sebastian—blasplicmy. I won't allow it."

"But you will allow mo to explain my opinions to you, lam sure. That is always bettor, and saves so many misunderstand ings."' " I sec without cxlpanation that you are a renegade to your fathers, and have de graded yourself to the level of these horrid, insolent Radicals; yes, to the level of these grasping, dirty, presuming workpeople. I hate them, Sebastian; I cannot tell you how I hate all Radicals. How can you refuse any of the demands of these odious people now; professing, as you do, their own opinions ?" "I don't know what their opinions may be, lam sure. Probably not at all the same as mine. But I was going to mention that, in my quite early youth, I once road a little sentence which made a deep impression upon my niirid ; it ran thus: " Those who believe that heaven is what earth has been—a mono poly in the hands of a favoured fcw-r-W^,\vuid do well to reconsider their op' v'_;_ I ._on ; if they find it came from their- .pnest or their grand mother, they coii'' ..,a'not do better than reject it.'"

"leal1 i that impiety," said she, hor lips tighl" .cn'ing. " Allow mc to finish," said he courteously. "I read between the lines of that little re mark, and applied tho principle contained in it to a great many other things besides those mentioned in the text; and the result of my I continued use of that principle as a test of I institutions, opinions, and customs has been that I am a Radical."

" It is an odious and impious priuciplo," said Mrs Mallory, with cold and bitter anger in her voice, " and it is a principle to which I will never civo any countenance."

Tlie shock had not been a small one on finding that Sebastian called himself by the name she hated, as the formula of the sum of tho opinions of Thanshope—Radical. But a greater shock was that of finding that though ho seemed-so soft and pliable, spoke so indifferently, smiled so languidly, yet that she could no more bend him, nor i apparently impress him than sho could stem the incoming tide of the ocean. Sebastian liad risen, and was standing by tho mantelpiece. Mrs Mallory glanced at him once, sidewayß, and caught his eye. That was annoying in itself; it vexed and angered her bocauso ho was smiling. "lam sorry you don't like it, mother," he said, quite pleasantly, but not in the i least apologetically ; "and yet, do you know, considering the letters you havo had from mc, and my perfect frankness, as to the society I have most sought and onjoyed, I think you might have been prepared for it, even if I never implicitly stated my convictions."

This was also true. He had a most an noying way of being in the right. "Convictions? Oh, I dislike that talk about convictions. When people want to annoy their best friends, they call their conduct the result of convictions."

"The impertinence of circumstances is certainly very great sometimes," assented Sebastian, leaning against tho mantelpiece, and she, ns she tapped her foot impatiently upon tho floor, would hardly have been ilatterod to find that he was thinking : "I must lot hor roil against it until it begins to ho tiresome—perhaps she may see tho wisdom of stopping before then : I suppose one must make allowances for the disappointment of a woman whose preju dices (or convictions ?) havo beon offended; but it would be wasting words to reason with her about it, and soon, I suppose sho will learn to accept the circumstance and make the best of it."

He had no wWti or intention of being disrespectful. Simply, he had "beaten, his music out" with more difficulty than, anyone knew, save himsolf, and was mildly' surprised to find that the resulting harmony which sounded not ill in hisown ears, should cause his mother such shuddering, should fall •so discordantly upon her perceptions. He had no more idea of interrupting the flow of that harmony, than he • had of sharing his ample estate with all tho paupers in Thanshope. > ■ Fortunately, at this juncture, Hugo came into tho room, his odd, original young face; looking still more peculiar in contrast with liis careful evening dress, and before many words had been exchanged, ''Miss Spenco-, ley "was announced. Sebastian turned,: with the story of Frederick Spenceley and Ids already icon-, ceived contempt for him strong in his mind to confront Frederick Spenceley's sister., His glance softened as it fell upon the giri advancing towards his mother. Had he wandered through all tho cities of Europe, and seen their lovely women, in order to come homo and find in a provincial manufacturing town, a daughter of, the people more beautiful than any of thorn? "■:. " Helena, my love, let me introduce my son, who has arrived sooner than I cxpec-; tdd. Sebastian, Miss Spenceley." 'A profound bow on his part, and a rather careless, not very sophisticated inclination of her beautiful head on hers, was the result, of these phrases of politeness. " My son's friend, Mr yon Birkenau," was then introduced, and, received the same' notice exactly, a notice graceful and even dignified, because she could not help all her movements being graceful and digni fied. ... ■.-,-.. " Like my daughter," Mrs Mallory had said, and as she spoke to Helena Spenceley, hor voico assuredly took a tender: accent, she glanced over the young lady's costly dress and smoothed down a lace ruffle with the affectionate familiarity of a very inti mate friend or much-loved relative.

Miss Spenceley remained standing on the hearthrug, talking to Mrs Mallory—it lovely, noble, figure, tall, slim, aud shapely, with the exquisite elasticity of perfect health in every line.

" Splendid !" said Sebastian in his own mind; and splendid expressed her appear ance and her character both. From her great dark, soft eyes, her dusky hair, in its unruly little rings and tendrils, her ripe red lips, set in a delicious curve of'mirth, frankness, and wilfulness, down to her rich dress and sparkling rings, she was all splendid, without being in the least bit vulgar.

"Dear child, what a long time it is since I saw you I" said Mrs Mallory.

"Yes. I have been busy. How nice this fire is, Mrs Mallory. I do believe we have not had one at our house yet. Perhaps it is lighted on your behalf?" she added, turning to Sebastian with a somewhat malicious smile.

'' Mine ?. Not so far as lam aware. What makes you think so ?"

" You have been living in warm countries lately, and Thanshope is not a warm place, but one of those towns whore we have to use

a lot of coals to make up for the want of sunshine !"

"Yes, indeed!" said Mrs Mallory, shiv-

ering. .; ":' " 1 have not had time to miss the sun-, shine, ortocnioy it if there hadhecnlany, since I came, said Sebastian, his glance dwelling almost involuntarily upon her as she stood there, her eyes Hashing back the firelight, and looking herself (ho thought) like some bright living ilamc or some tropi cal flower.. ...

Ho could not understand her. There was nothing vulgar about her ; her voice was pleasant and, though distinctly northern iv its clear accents, was not in the least uneducated in its pronunciation of words ; she _ had case, grace, self-possession of carriage ; apparently she was devoid alto gether of self consciousness ; all of which tilings wore surely signs of good breeding; aud yet she was not in the least like the many well-bred girls he , had met in society up and down the world—in Paris, Vienna, Borlin, and other places. He. wondered what sho could talk about, and whother she talked well.

Dinner wub announced, and he led her into the dining-room. Hugo yon Birkenau was talking -with much animation to Mrs Mallory, as was liis wont, though she did not appear to find him a very interesting companion.

Helena Spenceley, suddenly turning to Sebastian, said :

"I know quito well where you havo been. J,™., I have followed your course .'"'''^..a the greatest interest. fthsJ\hi].V;-.__,_y \ MC & ; >,.ways to tell me whev.^c you went, and sometimes read J'"-^io bits of your letters." •.-,-■

" Did she ? I wish I had known."

"Do you? Why ?" she asked, looking at him with a certain bright attentiveness, and waiting with evident interest for his answer.

Certainly she was not like other girls. Another girl would have known directly that he meant a kind of vague compliment by his aimless phrase ; but she said "Why?" "If I had known, perhaps I might have written rather more carefully considered epistles to my mother," ,he said, and felt that it was aud sounded, a lame reply. "That would have been a pity, for the sake of a person you had never seen and did not know," she said, the smile fading from her face.

Sebastian felt he had made a bad begin ning. It began to be rather dreadful, when she wont on quite seriously. "Do you mean that if you had thought your letters were read aloud you would have made them into set compositoins to please an audience ?" -

"I think it is a matter of no importance whatever. Letter-writing is not my forte. I am too lazy."

"Oh, they were very interesting letters," said Helena naively. "But how can you talk about being, lazy! If only I had had such chances I" She shook her head.

" I should think you had tho chance of doing whatever you pleased," he said smiling. - ■ Helena did not respond to the smile. Her face, intensely expressive, darkened visibly. Her oyos sank. -!

". No," said she coldly. " You are quite mistaken. Whatever pleasures and enjoy ments I have had in my life have been pro cured for mo by the kindness of Mrs Mallory. She has been so good to me." She looked at him with eyes tragic in the earnestness of their expression. Sebastian glancing down the table, saw that Hugo's eyes were fixed upon her in a perfect trance of admiration. "Then you. have never been abroad?" said he. " I —no ! I have been nowhere except to London once or twice—oh, and to Brighton with Mrs Mallory. I don't want to go any where." " You arc such a Jiome-bird ?" He saw immediately that he had asked an unfortunate question. The blood rushed over her face its she replied, again coldly: " Oh no ! I think all that stuff about 'home sweet home,' and that, is the most: wearisome nonsense imaginable. I hate it. ... . ... ... Did you study the; position of women, at all when you were, abroad?" , ' , ' • I

Sebastian looked at her. Sho was: perfectly grave, serious, and judicial. ,'The " woman question " had hot been forced so far to the front in 1861 as iv 1878, and Sebastian was proportionately surprised to hear that question, from so young, rich,, and beautiful a' woman as' Helena; Spenceley. " I'm afraid I was rather, remiss'in that, respect. But one sees their positibnSvithout studying it, I think."' '.' "And what do ybu think about it? Is it what it ought to be ? But that is a' foolish question. It is not what it ought to be any-] where. It never will be what it ought to be until women themselves rise and refuse any longer to'submit to their own degrada^ tion'. Don't you think so.?"'.-'1 ' ' ". i

" Really, I am afraid I have not thought much at all upon the question." .''','''".; " I suppose thb idea has not yet penetra ted to Franco and Germany. It will have to come, though, sooner or later. Tho German woman for instance—is she in bonds or emancipated ?" "As how'?". '■"■ i

" Is the German woman the slave of the German man, or has she a position of her own?" ' ". " '""• I

A malign spirit took possession of Sebastian. Mrs Mallory and Hugo were both listening to the discussion, Mrs Mallory with a shade of anxiety on her face; Sebastian, after a pause, as if he were profoundly considering the question,^ said: • . :

" I should say that she combined both these conditions—that she was very de cidedly the slave of the German man,'and at the same time had a distinct position of her own."

" Really ! I wish I had brought my note book. Pray explain !" '•■•.■■ -': '•■' "The German woman's thoughts-arc, if I may use such an expression, directed man wards, mann being, you know, her word for husband. Her thoughts then are directed ma?m-wards from her earliest youth—from the time when she begins to go to school."

" Horrrible !"said Helena, her eyes fixed in grave earnest upon his face, so that his gravity was sorely tried, "Horrible! Well?" " ..■ !.r

"I don't know how much or how little true the report may be about her beginning in early youth to prepare her trousseau."

"Disgusting !" " But she hears all around her, and all her life long conversations on the subject of matrimony." " The end and aim of her existence, poor thing !" said Helena with a pitying smile. " Go on ! You have studied the subject almost unconsciously, as every thinking man must."

"If she roaches the age of one-and twenty unmarried, she begins to wonder what the reason can be of such a thing, and her friends, too, begin to speculate about it."

" Naturally!" said Helena, her eyes flashing and her colour rising, whilo Hugo looked prctcrnaturally solemn, except for a gleam in the depth of his eyes, and Mrs Mallory's face Avore a troubled expression. "Naturally, she] is sold, disposed of before

her reasoning powers are developed, It is very deplorable. .Well ?" ; "But very generally sheds married at or before that agcMndtthenj~—" | " And then ?". echoed Helena, waving away the butler's offer of wine, and leaning eagerly towards Sebastian. v !',A_d then— what is her life afterwards, .Mr ,Mallory?' Tell mc that." « m \ | "Alongcourse of bondage! to Husband,; children, domestic affairs, and social exac tions'" "Hideous I" murmured Helena. "'What a sad sad fate,! Did _ you not burn with indignation every time you witnessed ! "Ah! yoli did;v I know, or-Vou could not have described it so graphically. And now you will consider" the subject, I don't doubt, and you.will see.it in its true light. But you-said the German women- had also a distinct position of their own. How do you account for that ?" - " They have. The very fact of their bon dage gives them a; Sort of distinguishing rank. They have hpen accustomed to it for so long, that now they glory in it. If j you were to .attempt to inspire them jivith your enlightened notions, : they would probably, scoff at you,; you would appear as dark to them as they to'you."' . V Helena looked at him with such intense earnestness and expressiveness that Sebas tian began to feel/.omewha't' embarrassed., „,, ', '*' -vV'iiat'au odcl girl she Vi *lVi!s,_;_,. Ie "And how, in heaven's name, shall I get fa out of this mess that I have got into ? I js can't let her go without offering some ex planation." " You grieve me," said Helena, in a sor er rowful voice. " I had ho idea it was so bad s. as that." "1;

Here Mrs Mallory rose, ,in dignified though perplexed silence, and they all went into the drawing room. ',■'.'.

Arrived there, Sebastian, as in duty hound, asked Helena to play. ','''. '

"I don't play at all," said she "I can't waste my time upon'practising." " Waste your time upon music 1" he asked,' wondering whether that; were one of the strong-minded female ideas'too. '■ "Iliave not the power of interpreting music ; it would be vanity and vexation. So I never try. I can just accompany my self in one or two little songs ; that is all." "Then you will gratify us by singing one of the said little songs, I am sure." Helena went to the piano, sat down, and began to play an introduction. Sebastian looked at Hugo, 'with ever so slight a shrug, and they waited. It was'" Kathleen Mavour neen." But the faces of the two' critics clianged gradually from"'ah expression of painful doubt and suspense 'to.pleased sur prise, pleasure, and-a,broad smile of de light. A pure, strong, fresh, sweet soprano voice rang pnt. , There was rio attempt at airs and graces; the severest simplicity and the most unaffected, tenderness sounded in every one of the true clear ribtes., Mrs Mallory watched her son, covertly, .but intently, and saw that .Helena's. music had power to move. liim. ffhe languor dis appeared from his expression; his head was raised, and his lips parted. Song and song stress engrossed his attention. . ' Mrs Mallory's countenance, gradually: cleared. .... '■' ",,' . . ~.."' ..''"': '

As Helena fin_hed, both Hugo and Sebas tian sprang forward, . With thanks, and en treaties for something else. . She paused a moment,' and then sang :— Since first I s aw your face, I resolved II To honour and renown ye : If now Ibe disdained. I wish, . ' My heart had never known ye!

What! I that loved, and you that liked, Shall web?gin to wrangle?a ,i"*»i-i >'■ No, no, no, my heart is fast, r;.i v-h-.-i And c moot disentangle,, ~, ~ The nun whose beams most glorious are, . Rejecteth no beholder: "•""," , ~ And your sweet beauty, past compare, - Vakes mv poor eyes the bolder. ■ ..

WhHre beauty moves; and-wic delights. And ties of kindness bind me,; f, ■-~ . There, oh I there, where'er I go, ? ~;.., I leave my heart behind me. .. " ■

■ It is a sweet,', tender,.quaint old song, and' sang-it almost perfectly.:, She rose.j when she had finished, and looking nt Hugo,' asked him if he did .not. play.', •> ani-ni inn; J • "Yes," saidtlieboy flushing:;, "but after yourvoice—" ■•■'; ::!>; .:\ in'ir/r ,-i oluini j "Don't refuse,' Hugo," put jri :Sebas-j

'•■' And Hugo seated- himself >and began to play Germanmusic—deep,.strange,,aud ex-, pressive, conamore.:'. .>.'■■! -■-../ ;■;; is I all | " But he isamnsician—he:mustbb-I" said Helena^ • turning; with -wide.open:eyes," to Sebastian.. .-,- • vino .-hi to !,bU -in,, ,-iin --i j

•'Most certainlyiluhis. ml fbelieve: he ,has it in him to make a-great-name as a compo-j ser.''::' i'J .'■>■'■ ii'-Jtiil to M/1-iw.j to aa I ■ " HowdelightfiiLito 'have.a >;talent.!: ia gonius, that; i give's pleasure ito [youjselfiahd everyone else!. :'ls_ba>vCry,greatfrien4;o| -yours I'M," •' -! mi alirti-i ;■; in hh.iu a iuo?i! " Yes, he is my ward.. -- Ii ■ have been, 'his guardian now; for. four years.?-!.;; -..-i|;.'.-v.j j "Ah, if he. can'compose,'he. has <hi life before him-^a career;!!! Sighed Helena; -a-udj her- eyes: looked •drbamingly l and i longingly beforeher." : ■!,!■•:! is- ---.'v.-,':.-u sill k**bilv/" j • Sebastian felt strangely attracted) to' thij girl,-butas yethofelbhe:knewher'toO!little to know whether, he; should even'like her] The- explanation _o had to make Would serve to bring out some fresh <point in; her charac^ ter. .••;!■'..lTil ,--..!:;,-' ■> ':■■; \ Mrs. Mallory was .knitting .fleecy-whit^ wool, hy thefirc-'si'dei'aud sebmed able to , give >up Helena's society on thisn occasion; Hugo's fingers wandered on in- 'one., melody after i aUother—melbdies like / ,those which •Adrienne Blisset's fingers;:-most :readily wove.-.. nit il-ji v) anaw mul j ■ Helena herself gave. Sebastian the oppor j tunity he wished tor., ;i i>w; »hofiM " j "About tlie , German.women, and, their position?'' -. -~-i-■•-;', -i->llo ■■■■~ d ■'■ i He laughed a little.-,: mi*. JmirJi:•»«.•. I " I-had no idea you were :.so much, ill earnest," said he. i "Ttwas piijokc."•'•> :>:•< I " Ajoke?','- : .•-'. uifi »i»bt-.hl m, i \U\ : She turned to him in amaze. - n ,ifj vi j : "In this way. t What I.said was ; quite true—-that isithe positiou.of-,the: German women : but4-but—l thought jyou,would see it—isn't it the position of all civilised women ?.. Are I not - Englishwomen,-, ini-the same case . 11 am sure I think so;; iLdou't see, how any woman that marries, can lexpeet anything else.?' . I-, :_it| ihi'« tih-b' n,li ; The colour; rushed in i aiigryl/floodiover her cheek and, brow, and,throat, as slip realised that he liad been politely: making merriment of the subject, and that tlie very point of the joke lay in- hprdiaving taken' it aU as solemn, thoughtful: earnest. • i : j "You were making fun of mo, and of tlie, cause: that was very polite of .you!" she said, her eyes flashing upon him ;in anger. .... ■.- :■■■■.■.. .-...' • >_-v ; "lam Very sorry," he said-with a 'pro voking smile. I " I was only describing the position of women in general in a picturesque manner. It depends upon the feelings of the arguer as to the. colouring he gives to his descriptions." ,_ " I see," said Helena, "you are just like any other selfish unthinking man—not in earnest. But I am 1 I think, that cause is worthy the devotion of a woman's life); and it is what I intend to devote my lifeto." :.-, J '1 Don't." said Sebastian in voluntarily. But Helena had been roused to ieal

anger. "Compliments and pretty-phrases are all we ever get from men on that subject," she said. " All my life I have been sure it ivas

women alone who must work their own emancipation ; and after what you haWsaid to-nightil am dbubly'sureof itA OE^r it fa horable to think.that a woman is not even allowed to have a. serious thought upon her own Condition; or,if she says she has"-'to a man he laughs at f her 1 There is one conso lation—the laugh dishonours him, not her." ■■'.: m 1, . \ ■;-.' w p "But, mydear Miss Spenceley, do let hie explain. Do you think you really have had AnJ ..e.?P_ e,rJ? nce .in such things? Many most accomplished- women think -quite differently; the nicest girl I ever knew-1 mean the cleverest and best-informed young lady I-ever-knew—thought very different. iy-" -. . . ■ . ..,, .;., ,; " Perhaps that' was 'one reason 'why you 'thought her so nice. lam sure she had not ibeen' brought up. in. the school of adversity ,-and experience.'-' ■■' ;" '■■<ii«n'i'a -?J! ■ .".Pardon mo ; ! She had been ; brought up ,in that school alone, and in no other.. =1 ] fancy she had attended more of its classes than you." ~....,,. j "I don't see how you cani know•'what school I have attended,!'-, said: Helena the same sudden, cold, sharp look comin" into her eyes and Over her face!'" "And1 I do not think much of any woman who is in different upon that subject." ',"I did not say she Waisindifferent," said Sebastian ; and Helena, looking at him saw that he was in imagination,' in some very different place from his mother's draw ing-room ) perhaps, thinking of the "nicest II ever knew." ' — "DWFv think," said he,-.-breaking the angry silent]"o' 1 on her'part had supervened, " that felW, o'^""^ -' your ends: would be for meny,Rsiaefi to work together and " /""''.": ' . " I don't believe in men'sT-P *n tuat matter. They are too thoro^y'-a?4 natu_ rally selfish, ever to give re/ iel P ™ UCu a cause." .- ..,., .. /■, nc ,',,;•. "Without help you can/" -otking," he said composedly. . /, '.[.-/".",,-'-,",. "Can we not?" sle re&d, setting her lips. / /-;-•• ■■■-'- ----;-• ■ "I don't think that „_/_umb^roF.woitie_ agitating, and ra'akigl speeches," win answer the" purpose, rife sort of help I meant is Ju'cn' asftpoild/be_-^ive_f by,' fßr instance, >: husband and I wife -practically shewing how mt/chthey had the Eubject at heart, py working together, arid' giyiiig in their lives a specimen :of their" doctrines.' It is not a question that will ever be settled by puhlic meetings and petitions?; It. must ' grow i and evolve as all. social conditions evolve—gradually.":•; '.' . .". .■::.:':.,/ .'■ .J :' " Husband aud wife'!" said'Helena,'with a sneer -a shier so hitter and uniriistakeable as to startle iiim,■■". " Thai is a relation I have put entiely out of my calculations in this matter..; £ don't believein,tbe existence of husbands -\iip will give up and help their wives. I hate' been..able to study the subject remalcably.well—-!' ,\ :-r IT J. (" Mr Spencuey sits upon Mrs Spenceley, and the redouitable Frederick sits ; upon them all,-'I;thotghtSebastian. '"' ,' -;., -• : " And the'wo^'e'n 'wbp Tvish/to 'improve .their \ condition iiust'piit all' such foolish ideas aside, and hel, as I do, that'they can never be tempted into accepting any such delusory fancies." " You feel that!!" he said, smiling. "Yes, I do -So the bottom of my heart." . , Helena spoke -viitlx emphasis; her eyes .flashing, iherc_eel flushing. ShewasH'ery handsome; she wis more, splendidly beau tiful ; " but how Bntrailied, how unreason able, " thought Sebastian. [ i '■' How different this heat and pre/adice from the calm, well balanced judgmejt,,the clear,, philosophical mind of that oflifer girl, scarcely older than herself. This.rajing, against the weakness and selfishness ( of men was very short sighted and ra'tler vulgar, was it hot'" All he said,-howeve^ was—„•.,.■ jvi ! : .-, , ;"lamgladyou feel so independent,- It must give you a.sense of nupenority."; ~ " I never, think about,such tilings,, I call it vanity to be always wondering whether pou are superior toother people." ; • , -.:';■ i She-rose and went across the room to .talk O Mrs Mallory.:: Very soon she n was dis sussing the merits pf a new knitting-paittern, ustas if no^ucli thing" as women s rights iad ever been heard of; i ;_si --■ -.::..' ■When:she.had :gone, .and, Hugo had.re ared: after fefrcntly, expressing his opinion •hat-she was the loveliest, most fascinating, chonste lierrli^hstß riprsph' lie had ever seen, _rs .Mallory" introduced her .intended re aarks,upqn her favourite... Did not Sebas ian think , lovely ? : Yes;' she': cer ;ainly, was. aif .exquisitely .beautiful; girl, iiid,intelligent,, too?' Undoubtedly.;','.but here was a certain sameness about'her abi natipn. She seetaedforaVe ajgbbd deal ipon one subject.'1' '"'" ''.','"' ,"";".,'_''_;\" ' ''* If you '.'only kneW 'her suribun'dihgs, Sebastian, yoii would'not Be surprised, T as itife'.ypu. 'Sucli'a'htbthefr!- With lief;high !_)irit, ahd'rather''si;rained idea's''hs"tt|>vhat s'hbhourahle'ahd "gentlemanly,'it :ftiust be i bitter cross to her ;to' have' that brother idnstantly disgracing himself in one way or mother.'-''-'- o; ■ ' •'■■ -'■ -■' " '•'' "■ 3 j w*JY_l.J_ldt:_f-tr_tf;i,'a -ml c<w ma i!_«. " And^herfatherand mother too-— "■'*.:■.. " Ha ,1 what about them ?" 'J'MBer-inothet is !ii mere cipher-^-a-r Jiand iome, helpless, yplgarwpman; kind-hearted, mt absolutely ''weak in intellect; and the ather is a hard coarse man, who bullies hat unfortunate 'woiriari in a disgraceful nanneivi Heisproudof -his.daughter, but n-a tyrannical despotic, way. .fortunately orherfl may say lit without-boasting), ;he hinks. me the best.friend sheicpuld.haye, ihd places no restraint on her visits to me. )thervvisd, she, has" not a i congenial compa don." " The benefit must have been' immense to ler," he said.., " I,wondered, after all I,had ieard of her' family, how she'" came to' be iven so—well-behaved." ; l¥ iShepughttomarryspon;! Shewouhlsaon :alm down if slie liad a kind husband,'wliom he loved," Sebastian remarked" dryly that she had orei y bly.,exp i ressed-,hcr, ( detonnination. to es liewany siich relationship. ■-.--' Mrs Malloryshook her head; smilihgwith ;entlepity. .»..--, :.-".---iA . i' fSo she may. say, but her father has. very ifferent Views for her. ■ She would-be1 very elpless, cast- upon the world, with her eauty.her hasty disposition, and.herlarge j'rtUne." ■ ,'''.,''' ".'.';'-;"-,:,' "Has she a fortune, theh?,' said 'Se,has iatf, with provoking indifference. -1 >iwoU ''^ehastjan, that-young,-wami.hea^ted ;irl; -\vlth! all her enthusiasm: and 'crdtehets, eady to" fall into' the' hands of any ladven urer; mil have at least a hundred thousand bunds."_,,', ."•' J'!:,'.'!'. '! t '■/ Mrs Malloryspoke with solemn, impres ive manner and tones. She was watching .er son, who seemed to view the matter nth a seriousiiess that promised-well, for ie stood j' his hands folded behind him, his yes fixed upon the carpet, profoundly grave ill, looking up/with a.sudden, humorous mile, hesaid : :' • "Ma foi \ The adventurer who wonher, nd hefhuridred thousand pounds, and her ran tic ideas on women's rights, and the xecrations of all the other adventurers who iad hied and failed to win her—and her amiiy, who must be most delightfnl peo le,; lam sure—that adventurer would hawe riven the very hardest.bargain that could ,'ell be imagined., I pity him, whoever he iay- be. ...... ... Good night, mother, Tou must excuse me; I have several things odo to-night. T have_my business'to learn, ou know.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 24, 1881

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