A Heart-Song of To-day (Disturbed by Fire from the 'Unruly Member'). Annie G. Savigny
story about Trevalyon is a lie direct, Everly," said the
Colonel, hastily.
"Dare say, Haughton."
"The prettiest bit of your news, Sir Tilton, is Cap de Juan," said Vaura, apparently absorbed in the delicacies on her plate; but thinking, "can it be true of the ideal knight of my childhood."
"Poor Lionel, how disgusted he will be," said Lady Esmondet, wearily.
"Still, men do do such things; why not he?" said Mrs. Haughton, daringly; "and after all, as none of us are going to marry him, we need not care."
"One feels for one's friends when maligned, that is all," said Vaura, carelessly.
"Well, supposing it be false," continued Mrs. Haughton, with morbid curiosity, watching the beautiful, expressive face of her rival—"which I don't believe, how could he clear himself?"
"I cannot say, Mrs. Haughton; it would be easier to name an antidote for the sting of the snake than for the tongue of Dame Rumour."
"All I can say is, I believe it," said Mrs. Haughton, aggressively; "he is handsome enough to have induced more than one woman to make a clandestine marriage with him."
"I regret to hear you say so, Kate," said her husband, gravely.
"Mrs. Haughton is to be excused, Eric; she does not know Lionel as we do."
"The animal man is the same everywhere," continued Madame, recklessly.
"The serious trouble I see in it for Capt. Trevalyon," said Lady Esmondet, "is, that did he contemplate matrimony, this scandal afloat would be a barrier to his union."
"If he were not so careless, he could stamp it out at once," said the Colonel, impatiently. But he is careless, and Mrs. Haughton exults as she remembers it, and at the success of her plot; for does not Lady Esmondet admit it would be a bar to his union; she feels a morbid pleasure in noting critically the varied charms of her rival, as an innate feeling tells her Miss Vernon might become; and she thinks: "For you he scorned my love; pride, though you die, will keep you apart; he will come to me yet."
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