: ':-:■■■■';, '■:■?,. ]\^''y-- :'■:•■ ■:■■ ,- Bf 9SSA reea »« 823 CENTRAL CIRCULATION BOOKSTACKS The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its renewal or its return to the library from which it was borrowed on or before the Latest Date stamped below. The Minimum Fee for each Lost Book is $50.00. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. TO RENEW CALL TELEPHONE CENTER, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN JAN 2 \ W* When renewing by phone, write new due date below previous due date. LI 62 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD, VOL. I NEW NOVELS AT ALL LIBRARIES, THE LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS. By Mrs. Forrester, author of •Viva, 1 4 Of the World, Worldly,' &c. 2 vols. MARY FENWICK'S DAUGHTER. By Beatrice Whitby, author of ' The Awakening of Mary Fen wick,' &c 3 voIb. THE FOOL OF DESTINY. By Colin Middleton, author of ' Innes of Blairavon.' 3 vols. THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE. By Mrs. Venn, author of ' Some Married Fellows,' &c 3 vols. SHALLOWS. ByMYRASwAN. 2 vols. LONDON: HURST & BLACKETT, LIMITED. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD BY REGINALD LUCAS Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity for that is thy portion in this life. — Eccksiastes ix, 9. LN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON : HURST AND BLACKETT, LIMITED, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1894. All Rights Reserved. to v.l I ^ I CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CHAPTER I. Sir John Balstoun « Receives ' on a Large Scale II. Jack Balstoun ■ Receives ' in Private III. Father and Son Come in Contact . IV. Jack and his Father both make Speeches V. About Miss Mirabel . ^* VI. Sir John and his Son Come into Collision 119 142 174 206 VII. Miss Mirabel makes a Discovery VIII. An After-Dinner Conversation IX. Jack is Hit Right and Left X. Miss Mirabel Slips and Arthur Catches Her XL Mrs. Dasent Hears of Her Husband XII. Jack Chooses Odd Consolation 1 19 40 63 89 227 244 269 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. CHAPTER I. SIR JOHN BALSTOUX c EECEIYES ' OX A LARGE SCALE. The whole house was in a state of com- motion ; it had been so for a considerable time. From garret to basement, from the topmost regions where the housemaid slept, down to the very cellars which the butler had been visiting so constantly of late, there prevailed general nutter and unrest. It was some weeks now since the VOL. I. B 2 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. first symptoms of approaching disturbance had become noticeable within the walls of Balstoun Castle. There had then set in a diligence in the decking out of bed- rooms, cleaning of plate that usually re- posed in secret strong-rooms, polishing up of mirrors, minute inspection by Mrs. Housekeeper of all effects both great and small, that betokened an outbreak of hos- pitality on a large scale. Not only within doors either : backwards and forwards from house to lodge-gates, and from lodge-gates back to house again, had been running a perpetual stream of carpenters, painters, workers of all sorts ; waggons, carts, and caravans from here, there, and everywhere. Balstoun Castle had never need fear the charge of inhospitality ; for many years past guests had come and gone as regu- larly as the seasons, and in fitting harmony with them. Rather solemn and important HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 6 people in the spring, when there was nothing particular to do; politicians, .archaeologists, distinguished foreigners, and distinguished persons of all sorts, to whom Sir John Balstoun loved to extend a welcome that was a little condescending. He was apt to become uncommonly dig- nified when his house was full of such folks ; he liked to feel that he was letting politicians know the sense of the country — of the people who really mattered, that is ; he enjoyed the reflected wisdom of learned archaeologists when he showed them his possessions, because he had ac- quired a habit of regarding such reflection as setting in the direction immediately opposite to that which the text here would naturally (and truthfully) suggest. With enquiring German or courtly Frenchman he was at once on terms of magnificent blandness ; the honour of the British aris- b 2 4 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. tocracy was at stake. And he had once been known to move his entire establish- ment from London, in order that the bishop, in visiting the Balstoun district, might be entertained with becoming cere- mony. These entertainments took place, we say, in the spring months, as a rule ; after winter had blown itself out, and the coy season had come with many blushes and sweet trepidation ; before Sir John went up to London to pay the visit which he felt to be clue on his part to the great world. After this came the grouse-shoot- ing, and later the pheasants had to be killed, and the house was generally full during thu autumn months. Again at Christmas came a host of relatives to eat their mince-pies and burn the Yule log ; for if there was one thing at which Sir John was greater than another, it was at HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 5 playing the part of patriarch and head of the family when the holly lined the hall and oaken staircase, and the bells rang in the Xew Year across wide wastes of snow. But in all these circumstances there had been no kind of glitter ; no deliberate gaieties. People could look back upon good talks, good port, good shooting, according to their tastes ; but there had been nothing of the brilliant house-party, with its attendant high-pressure existence — in fact, it had not been a l Society ' house. Twenty years ago things had been different : Balstoun Castle, with a voun£ mistress, not long married, had been the scene of gatherings as noteworthy as any to be found out of London. Anxious mothers with unmarried daughters had been glad to stay there; young gentlemen, eager to stand well with the world, had set high value on an invitation from Lady b HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Cornelia Balstoun. But death had rudely interrupted this course of affairs; Sir John had been left a widower, with an heir and an infant daughter. Then had followed an interval of mourning ; after which life had run in this quiet and orderly groove. And now symptoms of a fresh departure had manifested themselves ; hurry and flurry and excitement. The fact was, Sir John Balstoun's son and heir was coming of age : Jack was to become twenty-one ; and be glorified accordingly. Moreover, Agatha was by this time of an age to be emancipated, and in the festivities arranged in her brother's honour, she was to have a share. There was to be a tremendous assem- blage of guests. Mrs. Housekeeper con- fessed she could recollect none to surpass it even in her ladyship's time. It was worth turning the house topsy-turvy and setting HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. 7 the entire establishment working ni°ht and da)' for such company as this. In truth, she was not averse to social resus- citation on any terms. She was growing- old certainly, and disposed to enjoy her ease ; but the love of power ruled in her capacious breast, and it was proud work wielding such authority as hers amongst the little host of subordinates. There were to be the Duke and Duchess of Musselburgh, and the earl, her late ladyship's brother, and My Lord this, and Sir George that, and the Right Honourable Mr. so and so, and Honourable misters and misses beyond memory ; all of which information she would retail to such hon- oured individuals as she chose to admit into her private apartment for a dish of tea or a glass of wine. And she moved to and fro from chamber to chamber, supervis- ing, directing, conferring with Sir John, 8 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. issuing instructions to her staff, second in importance to no human being within knowledgeable distance. She had dan- dled Master John as a baby ; had been more or less commander-in-chief of the nursery after his mother's death ; she loved him as only old servants are accus- tomed to love grown-up children, and she fancied that history recorded very few occasions deserving of greater considera- tion than this of his coming of age. It was really a momentous day, that on which the guests were actually due. Every household contains one entire universe for a given number of people — nothing extraneous matters. To Sir John and his family this was one of the most memorable days since the creation of the world — the old castle re-awakened ; the youth bursting into manhood ; the young girl on the threshold of life ; could HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 9 any combination of circumstances present a more fateful situation ? Wars, revolu- tions, discoveries, triumphs, crashes and calamities ; what were they all ? not of the value of one pin, or one shred of gos- samer to the Balstouns. Everything that was in existence had come there to play its allotted part in relation to their affairs, nothing else was worth considering for five minutes. It is early summer ; the country is fresh and green. The fields are alive with wild flowers, the hedgerows and the woods : the blossoms have scarcely faded; the lilacs scent the air, the thorn trees are white as snow ; the gladness of youth is upon the earth. The hills that lie on the Scottish border sweep the horizon before Balstoun Castle; the afternoon sun shines upon the grey towers, and there is no external air of commotion. 10 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. But let us wait a little : let us listen for wheels ; wheels of many carriages that come to us along the avenue : then let us watch the newcomers alight before the great entrance, and let us follow them into the hall, where Sir John is waiting to receive them. A long, low hall it is, with shining oak floor, panelled oak walls, and a ceil- ing supported by vast beams seamed and furrowed with age. There are two wide chimney corners, and in each of them some logs are blazing cheerfully, for the fire is never left unkindled by hospitable tradition. Light comes through high mullioned windows on each side of the doorway ; old spears, and shields, and axes, weapons of battle and chase cover the walls ; and strange garments of bygone warriors, and hunters drape the stout pillars that stand at intervals. Sir John Balstoun is a man of middle HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 1 1 height, whose figure has not given way under the stress of encroaching years, though his beard is already white. He has devoted many years to perfecting personal graces, and he is not without excuse if he inclines to regard himself as rightful heir to the title, which appertain- ed by self-election to our Prince Regent. He has the unruffled front, the impertur- bable ease which the ill-bred may strive after in vain : one would think it was a daily occurrence for him to receive such an invasion; one would never suppose that he had no wife to rely upon ; he accepts it all calmly, as if nothing could be other- wise than well ordered where he is concerned. He is not supported with equal con- fidence. Jack is inclined to be nervous,. Agatha is timid, Mrs. Dasent, who has arrived early, is shy. They have been 12 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. playing and singing songs in high spirits for some time, but at the approach of visitors the piano is closed. c Now for it,' says Jack. ' Make the tea, Agatha. Mrs. Dasent, don't leave me, I feel frightened.' ' I mustn't be seen,' says Mrs. Dasent, laughing, c I must efface myself.' 4 You shan't do anything of the kind ; if you get out of the way, I will too.' In come the guests, great and small ; a wonderful deal of handshaking goes round ; tea is passed about, and disjointed talking is kept alive for half-an-hour, until, to everybody's relief, the ladies are taken to their rooms, and a little peace is restored. Sir John stands in front of the hall fire- place listening to the men talking, sub- limely free from fussiness. Presently he marches them off to dress, and emerges from his own room later, the best turned HOIST WITH HER OWX PETARD. 13 out man of the lot, despite his grey hairs. Very handsome, too, he looks at the end of his dinner-table in the long oak cham- ber that flanks the castle towards the north. From the windows of this room you get the finest view to be seen here- abouts, but it being now dinner time, the view is shut out, and we must look at the diners instead. There sits Sir John un- derneath his own portrait, painted when he first entered the Guards ; a slim youth, with shaven lip and thick black whiskers, a huge bearskin on a chair at his side, and, in the background, Windsor Castle in a thunderstorm. There is a great array of departed Balstouns upon the walls, and in their presence Sir John is apt to be stately to the verge of pomp. Once indeed he went so far as to publicly reprimand his son for unbecoming levity in this august company. 14 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. The incident arose really from the pres- ence of the third surviving Balstoun, 4 Captain Arthur Balstoun, brother of the present baronet, late Scots Fusilier Guards,' as he is described in the local books of reference. Arthur, it must be known, was always something of a target for other men's humour, and his nephew had not, we regret to say, withstood this general proclivity, regardless of the reverence due to his uncle's age and station. One evening it happened that the baronet was edifying a certain cabinet minister (who was a bit of an antiquarian in his way) with a little local lore and history. Sir John was a man of parts and learning, not untouched with originality* He often took a bold line and stuck to it. Thus he was apt to expound a favourite theory of his own, as to the origin of the family name. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 16 ' Balstoun,' he would say, c I have very little doubt, is only a corruption of boulder stone. You observe our motto, c fortis ac immobilis,' bold and immovable ; the family fought many a battle, and withstood many an assault in old days, and held its own through them all. You see the idea of the rock, that never gives way.' His guest bowed gravely, and said he thought the explanation very plausible and ingenious ; but Jack ventured upon a daring interruption. Uncle Arthur was playing his customary rule, the common ludibrium, as the decanters came round. Jack was not behind the rest, he drank his wine and chaffed his uncle. Seized suddenly with a brilliant notion, he inter- rupted his father. c Father, do you know what Uncle Spriggins says ?' Sir John did not care for this flippant 16 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. manner of alluding to any relative of his ; but lie made no objection at present. Jack pointed to a portrait of Sir John Balstoun, anno 1613, a courtier of King James, who was grand enough in his lace and ruffles, but was chiefly remarkable for a broad shiny head, as hairless as an egg. How he had come to be painted without his wig nobody knew ; but there he was, and Jack, his lineal descendant, had found humour in the thing. c Why, Sprig says that we got the name because that old fellow was as bald as a stone.' Sir John turned back to his guest, after saying quite clearly, ' I think that remark was scarcely worth repeating.' There was no mistaking the tone ; young- Jack blushed and his heart sank. He had spoken in a moment of thoughtlessness ; he was young enough to err in the man- HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 17 ner without revealing" deep-rooted de- pravity : he felt sorry and ashamed. As for Uncle Arthur, his blue eyes moved restlessly and he chattered out his protest. 1 Jack, how can you ! I assure you, John, it's his invention.' He got into a great state of indignation ; just like an angry sheep, as one of the company remarked. Some of them thought it all extremely comic, but Jack found no more merriment in the proceedings : he had vexed his father, and derogated from his own high standard of excellence. He is older now : see him leaning a little towards the lady next him, a splendid young Briton, with shapely head and clear complexion, the fire and eagerness of youth upon his face. Uncle Spriggins is there too ; his light blue eyes rather restless, his mobile lips a little infirm ; but he has fair vol. i. c 18 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. moustache and whiskers, with such an ele- gant curl in them, that he generally passes for a good-looking man. And Agatha is there too, a sweet blue-eyed maiden, as pretty as any of the female ancestors upon the walls ; prettier far, I think, for her manner, even if a little shy, is nevertheless so completely frank and happy, that it surpasses the artistic charms of all the frilled and padded grandmothers put together. Here they sit then, the Balstoun family in their castle, keeping high festival ; a very satisfactory situation in which to take our first view of them. We cannot do bet- ter than leave them there for the present. 19 CHAPTER II. JACK BALSTOUN c RECEIVES ' IN PRIVATE. Jack Balstoux was too much excited to sleep long, and next morning he was down betimes. There was no sign of any of the visitors, from the Duchess of Musselburgh, down to Freddy White of the F.O. : Londoners of many seasons never get excited, and seldom rise early — except per- haps in Ascot week, if they are going to drive from Windsor. None of the distin- guished visitors had appeared; even Agatha was nowhere to be seen. Jack sat upon the terrace in rapt ap- c2 20 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. preciation of his new dignity. He seemed to have been translated, like Bottom ; he scarcely knew himself: it was hard to re- cognise in the young man, welcomed on equal footing by these great personages, the lad who had so recently measured civili- sation by the limited experiences of Eton and Balstoun Castle. He had hitherto looked at life over the domestic paling. He was a man at last : a man amongst men — and women. Sir John Balstoun was not a man to put irksome or unnecessary restrictions upon his son and heir. Throughout life he had been guided by the rules of justice : it was the mainspring of all his actions : and he had considered it ri^ht to Hve his son the means of filling his station in life hand- somely. To tell the truth, Jack had been taken aback upon learning his father's magnificent intentions : generosity had HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. 21 never seemed to him the leading trait in a character which he had been accustomed to revere with a certain amount of awe. He had begun a profusion of thanks, but Sir John pulled him up. ' It is nothing remarkable : I wish you to live properly ; you are a man now, and must take your own part : wherever you are and whatever you do. bear this in mind ; you are the heir of Balstoun.' It was very charming to contemplate this liberty, but it was not the only result of reaching his majority. He was con- fronted with a series of functions — j:>re- sentations, dinners, and other things, all of which entailed speech-making. He was considering the demands of this nature which were han^ino; over him, when some- bocby appeared in the nearest doorway. Jack rose quickly, and moved forward to meet a woman of rather slight build 22 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. who had stepped out on to the pathway. The new-comer was beautiful ; her eyes were soft and brown, and gave her face rather a mournful air ; she was simply dressed, and looked very sweet and pleas- ant. She was not one of the London folks, only Mrs. Dasent, the widow who rented one of Sir John's cottages. Her story is briefly told. Constance Grey had been the daughter of Canon Grey, an aris- tocratic old divine, who had acquired some little eminence in the West of England, and had gone to end his days in cathedral cloisters. He was a widower, with no other child ; he had lost touch with his family, and lived altogether out of the world. To the cathedral town came one day Herbert Dasent ; he met Miss Grey, lingered on, wooed and won her, satisfy- ing the Canon of his excellent character and ample means. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 23 A most charming creature he seemed to be, fascinating indeed, said the ladies of local society ; Miss Grey was much to be envied. In due season they were married ; a very pretty wedding it was, and largely attended ; but it ended in dire mishap. Just as the bridegroom was following his bride into her father's house, a cab drove up in hot haste : somebody wanted to see Mr. Dasent. He stayed a moment, then followed indoors without any signs of con- cern. But ten minutes later he was gone. The house was searched, hue and cry raised. Xo one had seen him leave ; no one could give any information, though everyone had a good deal to say. Silently the guests dispersed, and loudly they chattered when they got outside. Really they were extremely sorry for Constance : she was too good a creature to have ene- mies ; only curiosity was burning hot. 24 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. However, no news came of the lost hus- band until a year or so later, when letters arrived from Australia conveying tidings of his death, numerous messages, and very little explanation of his irregular conduct. It was generally agreed that he was a ticket-of-leave man, or an escaped convict, or a forger, or something he ought not to have been, and that his sin had found him out at a very inconvenient moment. Any- way, he was gone now, and a good job, too. Canon Grey had grown infirm : the following winter carried him off, and Con- stance Dasent was left alone in the world. She was anxious to get away from past associations of so painful a nature, and, going North, she came upon the little dwelling suited both to her taste and income, which she now inhabited. Sir John had, upon her arrival, p>aid her a visit in due form ; it was a compliment HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 25 he considered due to every one of his tenants ; but, behold, contrary to wont, his attentions did not stop here : it soon be- came local gossip that Mrs. Dasent was in high favour at the Castle. Sir John had evidently been pleased to look with favour upon Mrs. Dasent. So much so, indeed, that he had actually determined to include her in his house-party for the coming of a«;e. This is how she came to be here, ami cle la maison, in the crowd of unfamiliar visitors. Jack rose quickly, and went to meet her. This was a fortunate encounter. In the turmoil and crowd of the ensuing days he could hardly hope to see much of Mrs. Dasent, and he knew very well that on the frequency of their meetings would his own happiness depend. He had been, as already remarked, home- 26 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. bred ; had been accustomed to spend all his holidays at home. This arose from no defect in his social qualifications ; he was well enough liked for that matter, and held to be the best of company at all times ; but he had a profound affection for Balstoun, and never left it except under compulsion. He had never been short of man's com- panionship, his own friends and his father's came continually ; but, for his age, he was singularly devoid of women friends. Now a youth of one-and-twenty, thoughtful and serious by nature, has need of female counsel. It is as necessary to him as meat and drink and raiment : indeed the absence of it produces a strange uneasi- ness of mind which is grievous to be borne. Jack had no mother : he had a sister certainly, than whom none sweeter or kinder could be found, but a sister will not do in all emergencies. Thus it came HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 27 about that lie was more and more drawn towards the little house where Mrs. Dasent dwelt. Mrs. Dasent was so young that he was but little her junior. Her life had been spent in seclusion greater even than his own, until the days of her tribulation had begun ; and these had been so sudden and so soon ended, that only a small part of her gentleness had worn off. She was not without traces of past suffering ; but they bore resemblance rather to quiet peaceful- ness and desire for sympathy and affection than to any hardness or bitterness of re- sentment. It was not very remarkable, then, that an intimacy should have speed- ily ripened between them. There existed all the requisite elements, and no hind- rances. Indeed, Sir John had displayed so much kindness towards the lady that, if one had considered, it would have seemed 28 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. that he was aiding and abetting his son. And it had come to this, that Jack was entirely in love with the young widow. She was practically the only woman he had ever known ; consequently he might truthfully aver that she was the only one he had ever loved. He had never told her this : he had been quite happy enough hitherto ; had been content to keep his secret. Now he was a man, and it be- hoved him to speak out bravely. He blushed a little, despite his twenty- one years, as he took her hand. c Good morning, Mr. Jack ; many happy returns of the day,' she said. Then she went on, rather shyly, C I want to give you this now. You are going to have such a number of grand presents, that I am afraid my poor little offering could scarcely dare to show itself amongst them. You men HOIST WITH UER OWN PETARD. 29 are so difficult : you don't want purses and pocket-books worked for you beyond a cer- tain number, and I really didn't know what to make for you. But I've done this : it's not very good, I am afraid, but you know that I give it with my best wishes, don't you ?' She took from its paper cover a water- colour drawing of the Castle. It was not really very good, for she was an untaught artist, but she had a natural deftness as well as good taste, and the picture was entirely pleasing. But what Jack liked best was the evident care bestowed upon the framing. It was neatly and prettily done in a piece of fancy-work, and on the top were embroidered the Balstoun arms in coloured silks. c It is charming, Mrs. Dasent, quite charming,' Jack protested. ' I can only 30 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. think of something very rude by way of thanking you ; something I remember about " A graciousness in giving that doth make The sinall'st gift greatest." Not that yours is the smallest gift : nobody could think of anything that would please me more : but it is the gra- ciousness I like most of all. Dear friend, I know well enough you wish me well : you must believe how much I like to have your good wishes. You must have taken endless trouble over this,' he added, looking at the picture, with unfeigned delight. Mrs. Dasent was not a little nattered at the success of her effort. At the same time, she felt a sharp thrill of sadness. Her experience of men had not been very fortunate, she had little reason for believ- ing in the kindness of the world ; and HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 31 here was the one individual whom she had learnt to trust and cling to, about to go through changes. She felt that this might be the last time they could ever meet so : contact with others, new experi- ences, and wider range of life must surely chill some of the honest fervour which had throbbed in Jack's young veins. He could never become base, but he must inevitably grow to be more like other people. She had never understood until this moment how unhappy it was going to make her. Their friendship had been so pleasant, and now things must be different: he would go away constantly and make new friends. He would soon grow out of his present surroundings, and her quiet existence would be all the poorer for the loss of his companionship. So she thought : but she deceived her- self. True enough, Jack's presence had 32 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. made her life happy again, too true indeed. Such cutting regrets do not attend the interruption of common friendships. Mrs. Dasent had been loyal to the house of Balstoun, and in very gratitude for their kindness to her, she had been incapable of intriguing to marry into it. She had not thought of marrying Jack — not delib- erately, at all events — but she had per- mitted herself to love him all the same. She was far too generous to be a schemer ; it was not in her nature to cast a snare for the young heir. Had anyone charged her with such a design, she might have repudiated it with perfect faith. She may have actually persuaded herself that it was an alliance which she could not accept, even if it were offered in the impetuosity of youth. Nevertheless, 1 How is it under our control, To love or not to love ?' HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 33 And how many people are there with sufficient mental discipline to resist the foremost human temptation ? Mrs. Dasent could not help herself. ' So I am of age, you see,' Jack said ? presently. c I often said I should never grow up ; but somehow I have managed it. I used to think I should always be young.' ' I thought so once,' said Mrs. Dasent. 1 I daresay we all do, but it can't be done. Some people change suddenly in a day, as I did. Some take a whole lifetime over it, like my father ; he never really left off being a child. I wish you could be slow about it too, but people seem to get quick- ly old in the world you will live in. It seems to me they shrivel up.' 4 You don't think I am capable of that, do you?' demanded Jack. c I don't know. I suppose men must VOL. I. d 34 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. take life as they find it ; and women too, for that matter.' 1 Mrs. Dasent, you mustn't say that. What have I done that you should think me likely to be so easily spoilt.' 4 Ah, it's not of you I'm thinking ill : it's of everybody else. Little enough I know of the world,' she went on, smiling ; ; but little good either.' c Then I'll not be of the world,' cried Jack. 1 That would never do,' said Mrs. Das- ent. ' I am sad to think that things wont always be as they are now, that much I have said ; but however little one likes to lose one's friends, yet one doesn't wish them to shirk what lies before them. No, Mr. Jack, don't suppose I'm inventing grievances : I am only saying I wish no harm may ever come to you.' I don't think she quite knew what she HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 35 was saying; out of the fulness of her heart she spoke, and her heart was heavily charged. • But yon are saying it in a very curious manner. I should have thought you had some confidence in me, and yet you ap- pear to think I shall become either a fool or a brute.' 1 You know I don't mean that.' she said, reproachfully. 1 Of course you don't, bnt you must not have a suspicion. Shall I make you a promise?' c Xo, you must not bind yourself with any vows. One cannot tell what is going to happen.' c I don't care, I vow all the same that I at least will never care for any other things or people than those I care for now ; I will never alter. Do you believe that?' 36 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Mrs. Dasent said nothing, she was think- ing how impossible such an undertaking must be. It was a natural thing to say, and worthy of Jack ; he would bear as crucial a trial as anyone, but his brave resolution would facie away presently; he could not always be to her as he had been. He continued: 1 Do you know how I will make sure of myself? There is only one way; by ask- ing you to marry me. I made up my mind long ago, that as soon as I was old enough to be married, I would ask you to be my wife. You are all that I love in the world ; there is nothing I wish for be- yond you and my home. Now do you understand that I do not mean to go adrift in the world. My dear, my dear, you must be my wife ; I could never live without you now.' HOIST WITH HER OWX PETAED. 37 Mrs. Dasent was swept away by a sud- den reaction. 1 Jack, what am I to say? I ought not to listen to you. I am older than you ; my life is already broken. Your friends would consider it a dreadful marriage for you.' c If you care for me truly, nothing shall hinder us,' Jack protested. 1 It is because I do love you that I hesi- tate. You don't know all your offer means to me ; but for your sake I ought to resist. For your sake I must try and say no.' c That is because you are noble and un- selfish, but don't let a Quixotic idea ruin all our happiness.' He pleaded fervently, and now that the situation was upon her, she was off her guard. She realised all the difficulties 38 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. and impediments that must inevitably con- front them ; she knew very well the world would be indignant, and she felt that they would not lack justification. She foresaw all this, yet she hesitated for a moment only. Then her great love conquered all other feelings, and she surrendered her- self to her lover. The sound of the breakfast gong inter- rupted their interesting confidences, and not without trepidation they prepared to go indoors. Suddenly Mrs. Dasent laughed. c I came out here to give you my small present,' she said ; ' I little thought what you would give me in return.' ' You cannot pretend now that you have given me less than the others ; you have given me yourself.' c Don't talk as if I had begged you to accept me,' she answered, smiling. ' Let us go in.' HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. 30 ( I wish these people would go,' said Jack, c they are in the way. Let me see you as often as possible; I must see you by-and-by. After breakfast I shall tell my father ; and then I must see you at once. Will you be in the little library?' Mrs. Dasent had an involuntary mis- giving at the mention of Sir John, but she assented. c I think I have employed my birthday pretty well, so far,' said Jack, as they went towards the house. 40 CHAPTER III. FATHER AND SON COME IN CONTACT. They found a number of people collected, and preparing to range themselves at the round tables set out in the great dining- room. At Jack's appearance they broke into a chorus of congratulations. The old Duke of Musselburgh made quite a pretty speech, — c Hope you'll live many years, and be a credit to your country ; 'm sure I do.' It was embarrassing to be so over- whelmed with kindness ; they were all cordial. Agatha was tenderly affectionate, HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 41 and even old Spriggins gave his nephew such a firm grip of the hand that the latter repented for a moment of the habitual levity with which he treated him. Sir John was a proud man ; it was worth something to be able to present such a son on such an occasion. Altogether there was a considerable stir and flutter, in the midst of which Mrs. Dasent's arrival escaped notice. She felt very guilty and self- conscious in such a formidable crowd, and longed to keep at Jack's side ; but caution prevailed, and she meekly went and found a seat in another part of the room. The company were elaborately dressed ; the gowns of the ladies, the neckties of the men, as carefully chosen and put on as though their day was to be spent in the West-End of London, instead of near ihe Scottish border. A great feast was spread; a dozen hot dishes, dozens of 42 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. plates of rolls and dishes of jam. The Duchess invaded all and sundry with great freedom ; so did his Grace her husband ; but Lady Elizabeth Portobello (daughter of the above) had some difficulty in sur- mounting one piece of dry toast. Freddy White of the F. 0. finished a whole dish of kidneys, and brought upon Professor Flap, who sat beside him, a serious attack of pain by persuading that learned man to partake freely of muffins. As a rule, the company ate rather under protest — their London palates were not used to such good living before noon — and Clarence Prigg (who went everywhere and sang divinely) found himself so much upset by yesterday's fatiguing journey that he broke his fast upon several cups of tea which his servant purveyed at intervals to his bed-room. The party breakfasting at Sir John's HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 43 table seemed disposed to sit and talk. Freddy White, having no wish to stay in- doors, and little scrapie about escaping from that which he disliked, rose as soon as he had eaten his fill, and passed out on to the terrace to smoke a cigarette. Cap- tain Arthur Balstoun, who was equally incapable of giving or resisting a lead, followed him. c Devilish nice, I call this, Spriggins/ said Freddy, leaning back in his chair and stretching his legs to their full extent. 4 Give me a jolly day, a good chair, lots of cigarettes, and nothing to do, and I'm the most contented chap going.' Arthur Balstoun was one of those men who must needs take everything in earnest. c Oh, do you feel contented when you have nothing to do ? I should have thought you liked being busy. Aren't you kept pretty close at the Foreign Office?' 44 HOIST WITH HER OWN TETARD. c Sometimes I don't get to bed till two or three in the morning.' 1 Really ? 1 suppose that's when des- patches have been coming in ?' 1 Yes ; or else when I've been going out.' The Captain looked puzzled, but only- said, ' Oh, I see.' The Professor joined them, and he felt shy of prosecuting enquiries in such august company. The eminent historian chose a seat, and scanned the prospect before him with much satisfaction. c There is a good deal of ceremonial going on indoors,' he said, c so I thought I'd slip out quietly.' c Good gracious, not speeches already !' exclaimed Freddy White. 1 Mercifully not,' replied the Professor ; ' but they are laying their tributes before the heir, and I thought mine could wait. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 45 An edition of my humble contributions to history might not create enthusiasm along- side so much splendour.' ' I tell you what, Professor, we mustn't go up together, or we shall clash ; I've given him a book of the name of " Hand- ley Cross," and certain others like it. Perhaps you have never read them '?' ' Xot carefully,' replied Mr. Flap, 'but I have reason to believe they are of a more entertaining nature than my own volumes.' 'That's according to taste. Don't you smoke ?' The Professor did not. l You are right of course,' said Freddy, putting back his cigarette box into his pocket, ' You don't mind my smoking V c On the contrary, I envy you ; I believe I lose a great pleasure and a valuable sedative ; but I was never able to smoke with comfort.' 46 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 1 Do you mean it made you ill ?' asked Arthur Balstoun. ' Invariably,' said the Professor. c You should begin by small degrees,' went on the Captain, earnestly. ' I know many people who were ill at first, but they got over it in time like that.' c Some men train their stomachs ; some their brains. Professor Flap has had as much success with the latter as your friends with the former, Spriggins. Isn't that about it?' asked Freddy. 1 Well, really, I never considered it in that way,' said the Captain. Somebody called him, and away he bustled into the house. 1 That man will kill himself in time,' said Freddy White. l He fusses to such an extent that he's bound to wear himself out before long. It's a shame to chaff HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 47 him though : he's such a good-hearted creature. He has given Jack a horse and a beautiful old cup ; not bad presents, are they? Besides, he's a wonderfully affec- tionate chap. To tell the truth, Professor, I'm inclined to like Spriggins better than his brother; the baronet makes a better show, but I don't know that he's as good a man at heart.' ' Sir John is my very good host,' said Mr. Flap. 1 And he's my very good cousin ; but that doesn't matter. He says he thinks I'm flippant : I say I think he's rather a tartar, so we're quits. He always reminds me of a circus-master, he's so infernally correct, and he's so fond of cracking his whip. I don't think I really would change places with Jack at this moment ; would you ?' 48 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. c Such a transformation is so extremely improbable, that I had not considered it,' answered the Professor, good-humouredly r ' but I shouldn't be disposed to pity him very deeply.' One would incline to agree with the Pro- fessor. Jack was at this moment taking possession of a splendid array of gifts ; jewellery, plate, books. His own portrait was there too, but it had not yet been formally made over to him ; a deputation of tenants was to perform that ceremony at noon. The Captain had come upon a silver tankard by some chance, on which appeared the Balstoun arms ; this he had bought, and caused to be finely polished up and mounted. It was extremely hand- some, and a noble gift. c It's awfully good of you, Uncle Arthur,' said Jack. ' I wish I could bring the Monarch in here too, and show people what HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 49 a brick you are. He has given me a horse as well,' he explained to the Duchess ; c the nicest horse you ever saw.' Her Grace had given a set of pearl studs on behalf of the family ; Sir John's gift had been a wonderful dressing-baa' ; his mother's brother had contributed a library writing-set; there was a presentation clock 7 a presentation barometer from bodies of neighbours ; pins, cigarette-cases, sticks and whips, from his friends ; clearly he was an enviable young man. And then that little present he had received in the garden before breakfast, with the little scene that followed : when these are borne in mind, there remains no doubt that he was very lucky indeed. There is, however, a per contra side to all accounts ; and, upon the balance-sheet of Jack's score with Fortune, there stood a big entry respecting an interview owing VOL. I. k 50 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. to Sir John. He was bent upon unfold- ing his aspirations in the matter of love to his father without delay. So eager was he, indeed, that he found some difficulty in attending to the crowd of nattering friends that beset him. He wished them gone ; and yet, when he presently found himself free, a certain feeling that the ordeal would bear postponing made him hesitate. He lingered about the hall, pre- tending that he could not get away just yet ; that he was not a bit afraid really. Perhaps Sir John was not to be found at present. As a matter of fact he was in his own room, and Jack knew it- Sir John was in his study. He was apparently in very earnest cogitation ; for he paced to and fro, sat down, got up again, as if his mind was active, but undecided. He was preparing to take a great step, and debating whether the right moment HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 51 had arrived. For some time lie had been contemplating re-marriage ; that was the truth of the matter. c I am getting on in years now,' he thought ; c my son will be less with me as he grows older ; my daughter is at the age when a mother is most desirable. I should like to feel that there is somebody to take care of her, and subsequently of me. We want somebody, all of us.' So far the reasoning was sound; it might almost be made to appear as if he were doing an unselfish act for the good of his house and family : but the personal ele- ment might be lurking underneath. This train of thought had been running in his mind some little time, ever since Mrs. Dasent had come to live near the castle, in fact ; and, whether it was that her ar- rival had suggested the idea of getting married, or the idea of getting married e2 LIBRARY IIMIWCDCITV ne HMMnio 52 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. had suggested her, it behoves us not to testify. Only the fact remains that the two had somehow become closely inter- woven in the baronet's mind. He contem- plated making Mrs. Dasent his wife. He had not approached her on the sub- ject. It has been said that his attentions to her had been remarked ; his manner had been perfection : but the suggestion of a flirtation was preposterous when one con- siders the character of the man. More- over, he considered it due to his son that he should be first apprised ; that was his view of what was just and right. He would speak to Jack when the matter was ripe for settlement, and why not now ? c The marriage,' meditated Sir John, as he looked at himself in the glass, ' may surprise people a little. Not that I care what they say. If I choose to ask a lady to be my wife, and she does me the hon- HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAHD. 53 our to accept my offer, she need fear no remark that I am aware of from Society. It will not be necessary for her to look for favours from anybody. At the same time, it would be nice to arrange things while these people are in the house, so that the position might be understood, and they might make friends with her.' This was the project which weighed upon the Baronet's mind ; and whilst his son was postponing on his part an inevit- able interview by dawdling in the hall, the father, alone in his room, was trying to persuade himself that an interview of a strangely similar nature was for himself desirable. He decided in the affirmative, and was on the point of ringing the bell to send Jack a message, when the door opened, and his son stood upon the threshold. Perhaps, for the first time in his life, Sir 54 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. John felt shy ; absolutely shy, like a blushing school-girl ; his intense pride touched his most sensitive nerves, but it kept him at the same time from yielding one inch in his resolve. c Come in, Jack; I was going to send after you, I wanted to see you.' Jack came in, and a preliminary skir- mish began : neither man was in a hurry to come to close quarters. ' I wanted to speak to you,' began the son ; then he broke down. He could not at the moment find the right words. Fortunately, his eye fell upon a list of the guests for the tenants' dinner that was lying on the table, and he seized upon it. 'I wanted to ask you,' he began; it seemed an easy way of letting himself down, and accounting for his visit. ' I wanted to ask you whether you would HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. 55 include old Rawbones. Of course he's no longer a tenant of yours, but his family were for many years ; and so was he until he got broke by misfortunes.' 1 All I know is, he let down my farm in a shocking manner,' said Sir John, drily. 1 But remember what he had to put up with; his son died of consumption, and he was often ill. He must have spent a fortune on doctors.' ' He spent very little on me or my land/ said Sir John. c I'm sorry for the man, but I think I've done what's fair by him.' c Certainly you have. Of course he's no claim on you at all, but he's a good old fellow, and I thought that perhaps you might make an exception in his favour.' c I don't think there is any occasion for it,' said Sir John, and there the matter rested. 56 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAKD. Jack knew very well that when his father assumed this judicial manner he was not to be further questioned. Now Sir John advanced a step in the negotiation. c I wanted to see you about a matter of considerable importance to both of us,' he said. Jack was aware that his coming of age might involve certain estate business, and began to wonder what form this was to take. c You see, Jack, I am getting on in years. I didn't marry very young, and now that you have grown up I find myself becoming an old man.' 1 Not so very old, father ; you mustn't talk like that, yet awhile.' 1 I am getting towards the sear, the yellow leaf all the same, and I feel it is time to think about setting my house in order, in every sense of the word. You HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 57 are now twenty-one ; Agatha is eighteen, and I must not forget that the days of childhood are passed. 'Whatever you may do, there is no doubt that Agatha will be getting married some day, and leaving me. Hitherto she has been very fortunate in her bringing up ; I am sure Miss Mirabel has been invaluable to us.' This unfortunate remark seemed to act like a spell or an incantation. He was getting on admirably, and quite enjoying his diplomatic skill in exposition, when a knock at the door broke the thread of his discourse. 'Come in,' he exclaimed, sharply; the door opened, and Jack muttered, 'Talk of the devil,' for Miss Mirabel appeared. She was a strikingly handsome creature ; tall, with a superb figure. Her nose was rather large, but her mouth was perfect : her eyes were capable of other uses be- 58 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. yond those of vision one would think; and her hair, which was dressed quaintly over a broad forehead, was wonderfully soft and wavy. She evinced a becoming modesty in finding that she had interrupted their conversation, but gave no sign of awkward embarrassment. 1 I am very sorry to disturb you, Sir John, but I am afraid there are one or two things about which I must trouble you. Please don't go, Mr. Jack,' she added, c I have nothing in the shape of a secret to disclose,' and she smiled in the manner of a person who is grateful, and humble, and anxious to please, and altogether amiable. Sir John rose and offered the governess- manager a chair with great courtesy : and she forthwith entered upon a number of domestic concerns. She certainly appear- ed to be a valuable member of the house- HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 59 hold. Having finished off Agatha's education, she had continued to devote herself to the duties of duenna, as well as to those of house-manager, and an admir- able manager she had proved herself to be. 1 I have seen Mercer, and Dawdle, and Trencher,' she said ; c I think everything is arranged as you wish it.' c I am under great obigations to you r Miss Mirabel,' said the Baronet, taking in his hand some memoranda. She smiled and looked down modestly. 1 Am not I under far greater obligations to you, Sir John ? I have no other object than to do as you desire : darling Agatha must not be burdened with household cares already.' c She will learn : you will teach her,' said Sir John, examining his papers; he did not seem to be thinking of what he 60 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. said, and he did not notice how she glanced at him as he spoke. c I shall do my best, Sir John,' she said. He was looking at a table arrangement for the day's banquet : Miss Mirabel had been allotting the places. : This seems excellent,' he said; ' wait a moment, though ; I don't see Mrs. Dasent's name at our table, you've forgotten her.' He spoke indifferently, but he felt a little secret excitement, and was ashamed of being such a humbug. As it happened, his son was on the verge of blushing from a similar consciousness. ' I was afraid there would be no room,' said Miss Mirabel. ' Darling Agatha must be there, of course, and that fills the table. I thought Mrs. Dasent wouldn't mind sit- ting next to Mr. Tracer where I am, here,' and she pointed to the plan. HOIST WITH HEK OWN PETARD. 61 Sir John was annoyed. 1 I hardly like that/ he said. ' I should like all my guests to be together. Surely there is room for another next to Arthur there, opposite me.' he added, laying his finger on the page. Miss Mirabel smiled at him sweetly. ' If you don't think it would make a crowd. it might certainly be so.* And so it was arranged. There were several things t ttled, and Miss Mirabel's visit was prolonged. She had been there over a quarter-of-an- hour. and was preparing to go. when the butler came and announced that the depu- tation of tenants had arrived to ] Jack's portrait. It was extremely inconvenient : both father and son were angry now at finding their disclosures left unmade ; but it could not be helped. There was nothing 62 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. for it but to go to the hall, where the visitors were assembled ; and there, with a good deal of hand-shaking and speech- making, the deed was done to the satisfac- tion of all persons concerned — especially of him who was the tenants' spokesman, and mightily enjoyed his own importance. 63 CHAPTER IV. JACK AND HIS FATHER BOTH MAKE SPEECHES. Jack was aware that, according to their agreement, Mrs. Dasent would be waiting for him in the little library — a small book- room opening out of the great library, which was not unknown to fame in the world of bookmen. As soon as the depu- tation had retired, he made off in an oppo- site direction, and, after a considerable detour, descended upon the library by a secret passage. He paused at the thres- hold, fearful lest some visitor of literary habits might be spending his morning amongst books. Happily, the attractions of 64 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. the gardens and the sunshine had been sufficient to take them all out-of-doors. Even the Professor had no mind for study- on such a day as this, and was devoting the entire strength of his intellect to win- ning a game of halma against pretty Mrs. Joyce on the terrace. Jack crossed the room quickly, and let himself into the smaller chamber. Mrs. Dasent looked up from the book she was pretending to read, and, finding that it was no chance intruder, put it unceremo- niously aside and started from her chair. i I have seen my father, Con,' Jack began. Mrs. Dasent looked inquiringly at him, and he added, c But I hadn't a chance of telling him.' Mrs. Dasent's face fell. 4 It wasn't my fault, dear. I was waiting to begin till he had finished what he was saying, when Miss Mirabel came in. She had a lot of things to talk about, and, by HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 65 the time we were rid of her, the tenants came to give me the picture. It was a horrid nuisance, but never mind ; I'll catch him some time to-day. Besides, what does it matter ? It makes no dif- ference to us, does it ?' Mrs. Dasent's hand was on his shoulder, but her eyes were turned to the ground. 1 I hope not,' she said, presently. ' I am afraid I am always rather distrustful ; that's why I should be happier if it were done. I wish Miss Mirabel hadn't come in. I am rather afraid of her, Jack ; I'm sure she hates me.' 1 My dear, what nonsense. She's a sort of presiding deity here, and hasn't a bad word for anybody. You mustn't be pre- judiced against Miss Mirabel.' 1 Perhaps I am wrong : only I can't help thinking she's more likely to bring me bad luck than good.' VOL. I. F 66 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 1 But she always talks of you kindly enough ; I never heard her say a word against you.' c No ; she is friendly enough when she comes to see me, but I always feel inclined to devote myself to my patron saint when she crosses my threshold.' ' You mustn't talk like that ; we'll have no bad omens. You'll have to acknow- ledge you are wrong this evening, when I tell you what father says. He'll settle your fears fast enough.' ' Ah, dear Jack, don't think I'm cross — only the issue is so great. I never thought to be so happy in this world ; it seems much too good to be true. I can't believe it will all run smoothly.' c The course of true love seldom does ; but I don't see why ours shouldn't. You mustn't look so sad though ; come, I'll have it out with him directly. At least, HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 67 not exactly directly,' he added. c Let's stay here a little ; we sha'n't get many chances of being alone With the house so full.' The temptation was great, and they stayed on regardless of time and all other things and people. Goodness knows it was happiness sufficient to make up for lost time and opportunities in a general way, but as it happened it cost Jack his promised interview. Lunch-time took them by surprise, and afterwards no chance of speaking to his father privately offered itself. And the day passed cheer- fully and pleasantly, but re infectd. At seven o'clock the dinner was given in the great dining-room ; one table under the portrait of the bald-headed ancestor, many others ranged down the room. At the former sat Sir John with his son and all his house-party ; and at the others sat n full muster the Balstoun tenantry. f2 68 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Some of the London guests grumbled a good deal at having to dine so early, and considered the whole thing a bore ; but. they had come there prepared for a cer- tain amount of inconvenience, and behaved with tolerable grace. Lady Elizabeth Portobello and Clarence Prigg, who sat together, were perhaps the least contented. 8 What horrible creatures they are,' said the young lady, passing a scornful gaze round the room, c they are so fat and ugly.' The elegant Clarence (whose father had sold candles and soap in Bristol,) mur- mured something about 8 blood always telling in the long run, and low breedings being indelible.' 8 I wonder why one submits to these ordeals,' continued the young lady. 8 They like it.' answered Clarence, with an air of superb condescension towards the diners. HOIST WITH IJER OWN PETARD. 69 Perhaps they did ; anyhow they were getting through their dinner with great apparent relish. ' He seems a nice boy,' Lady Elizabeth went on, eyeing Jack, who looked as handsome as a prince, seated in the place of honour, his head erect, his whole air animated and proud. c Raw,' said Prigg, c very raw. He's not much manners yet, but he'll learn, I daresay.' That meant he will learn to drop his frank, courageous spirit, and acquire the exquisite self-control of me, Clarence Prigg. A monkey arrayed in stolen finery considers himself a noble creature, and comprehendeth not that others of higher degree regard him as a vulgar upstart and a sham. The Duke of Musselburgh had agreat deal to say about land legislation and agricul- 70 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. tural depression ; and her Grace was rather a good hand at preaching domestic econ- omy ; so they both found the company an interesting object for discourse. Freddy White was trying to persuade Professor Flap that the Romans were a slovenly lot, who sprawled about their dining-rooms in- stead of sitting up at the table properly ; and became so strong in support of old- fashioned English dishes, as to press the historian to dine with him one evening off tripe at a restaurant (with which he was acquainted) near Charing Cross. The toast of the evening was proposed by a stout north-countryman, who had been a tenant of Sir John's many a long year ; descendant of a line of tenants. He made a kind manly speech ; loyal as became one who belonged in such wise to the family. Then Jack rose to make his acknowledg- ment ; and as he stood there, could any HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 71 more enviable role be imagined ? Young, handsome, full of promise, heir to every- thing around him, he stands before them the idol of the moment. And why ? Warriors, -workers, discoverers, receive such acclamations sometimes when they have accomplished a great thing for their country's good. What had Jack Balstoun done ? Nothing, so far as we are aware, except that he had been born his father's heir. Yet this homage was not forced, was not fulsome. At that moment he was as much a true object of adulation as the worthiest warrior or discoverer of them all. We may cant and lecture to our heart's content about inherent equality and the worthlessness of rank, but we are wrong. People are born great, after all ; and if a man haj^pens to be a king or a duke, or a baronet of Balstoun Castle, he is per se a very much greater person than 72 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. I am, perhaps, who come into this world a respectable member of the middle-class without any particular ability or wealth, or any spirit of enterprise within me wherewith to make myself known amongst men. I say I envy Jack Balstoun with all my heart. If for nothing else, I envy him the glances of the beautiful women sitting round him. Agatha, his sister, is betwixt tears and laughter, so full of love and pleasure is she. The Duchess beams upon him ; even Lady Elizabeth gets excited, and has neither eyes nor ears now for Clarence Prigg. And from across the table he meets the steady gaze of Con- stance Dasent; and he forgets all else than that she is listening, and his heart bounds within him, and he speaks out bravely. He is not nervous now, he feels himself the master. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. t 6 Then somebody proposes the health of the family, and Uncle Arthur makes a stupid blunder by drinking his own health in a mixture of port and claret, for he is excited and acts heedlessly. Jack cries out to him, ' Sit down, Spriggins, they're talking about you, 1 and the gallant Captain blushes, and subsides into his seat, till Freddy White persuades him that he must stand up whilst Sir John returns thanks ; and then Spriggins blushes redder than ever, and looks very sheepish ; which angers Sir John, who hates people making themselves (or him) ridiculous, but greatly entertains everybody else. The banquet ended, a move was made to the terrace which flanked the main en- trance on either side, where (at the insti- gation of Miss Mirabel) Mr. Tracer had arranged a splendid scene. Forty men stood in a semi-circle with blazing torches 74 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. bright enough to illuminate the gravel space between the house and the great avenue of beeches. And on to this space a moment later broke a gallant cavalcade ; several score of stalwart yeoman mounted on stout horses. In the centre of the terrace stood Jack Balstoun, bare-headed; at his right hand, his father ; and ranged on either side, the numerous guests. The tenantry who filled up the whole open space wheeled round their horses to face this company. There was silence, then Jack's voice rang out — L Gentlemen, to each one of you, my thanks : may we for many years to come be able to meet and part as we do to-day. I wish you good-night, and most heartily God-speed.' Every man in the troop raised his whip on high, and lifting his hat, gave a mighty HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. ( 5 cheer that went rolling and echoing far away amongst the dark hills ; then they turned and galloped off down the avenue, still cheering lustily ; and their shouts lon^ continued to reach the castle walls as the riders separated, and went in knots of two and three, or alone to their neigh- bouring homes. They had all gone now ; the torches were extinguished : the excitement began to die out and spirits to flag as the sparkle goes out of champagne. Xobody seemed to know exactly what to do next ; they were standing awkwardly about, and not comfortably disposed for quiet conversa- tion. Arthur Balstoun, who was in a state of fidgets quite sufficient to upset the general peace, made desperate efforts to provide amusements. 'Are you fond of games, Lady Eliza- beth ?' he said. ' I saw such a good game 76 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. played at Mumtulloch when I was there ; I never laughed so much in my life. Shall we play it now ?' Asked to explain nature and form of said game, finds difficulty in recollecting how it begins, but declares it to be vastly entertaining. Further pressed as to rules and procedure, admits entire lapse of memory, but still maintains it to be of a mirth-provoking character. Captain Bal- stoun stands down. The next suggestion conies from Freddy White, who wants them all to tie on to one another with lengths of string, and pretend to ascend the Jungfrau. c It will be quite exciting in the dark ; I'll be your guide,' says he. This is intelligible, at all events, but does not seem to meet the case. Clarence Prigg is the man ; he says nothing, but, passing through the open window, goes to HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 77 the piano, and the difficulty is solved. Some who like good music sit clown to listen ; others who prefer a quiet talk dis- play a centrifugal tendency two and two. Music sets them all at ease ; they can rest or entertain themselves according to their several ideas of pleasure. Clarence Prigg was the sort of person whom no one seemed to know intimately, though evervone knew him very well. Very few people took the trouble to abuse him ; fewer still praised him. One might affect to consider him a poor creature, but his musical talent was undeniable, and as Freddy "White expressed it, 4 if only that chap would stick to the music-stool, he'd be a gem.' The Duchess was not disposed to make a favourite of him, but when he had suno- bis first son£, even she was enthusiastic. c What a clear little song,' she exclaimed. 78 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 4 What's it called ? who is it by ? Elizabeth, you must get that ; I call it charming.' 1 It's sweet,' said Lady Elizabeth ; c I never heard it before.' Clarence Prigg was gratified. c It's one of mine, Duchess,' he said. 1 I'm glad you think it's pretty. I'll sing it again, shall I ?' And he sang : ' Where first the primrose tufts are pale, 'Neath April's sun, I found her ; Light sounds were floating on the gale, Fresh life was springing round her. ' So fair a maid must be divine, 'Twas meet I should adore her ; As pilgrim kneels beneath his shrine, I bowed the knee before her. 1 Then passed unseen ; to learn her name No longer I delayed there : But straight into my heart she came, And ever since has stayed there.' c I think I must call it, " To the Un- known Goddess," ' he said : ' a scriptural title.' Sir John Balstoun was by no means a HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 79 worshipper of Clarence Prigg, but he found himself humming with some em- phasis the last few bars : ' But straight into my heart she came, And ever since has stayed there.' Mrs. Dasent was sitting close to where he stood. Jack was at her side, happy in such silent companionship, seeing that there was no hope of any other. She, too, felt she must have him there. She wanted to be near him continually ; besides, in this gathering she felt especial need of his protection. In the midst of it she was lonely. There seemed to exist a free- masonry amongst these London people, in which she had no part. It was an intan- gible something in their manner towards one another, an ease and intimacy; always something to say, scarcely ever anything worth saying. Their talk was of food and daily habits, of likes and dislikes, and 80 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. things which any mortal ought to be capable of discussing; and yet when it came to running her ideas alongside those of Lady Elizabeth Portobello, there seemed to be a hitch somewhere. They were not yet on the same plane, and no amount of effort will avail to make two uncongenial minds good company for one another. It was not so with them all. With the Duchess, for instance, she felt intimate at once ; it was easy enough and pleasant enough to talk with her, even in the midst of interminable names. That seemed to her the staple of all their talk — names, names, names. They were all strange to her, and she felt shy in consequence. What, again she wondered, could be the affinity of ideas between Professor Flap and pretty Mrs. Joyce, with whom he was always playing halma. Surely they could not have much in common, a learned pro- HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 81 fessorand a popular young married woman of society; and yet they were never tired of one another's company. She had over- heard them a few minutes ago. Mrs. Joyce had attacked the Professor on his antipathy to music. ' Why do you not like it?' she demand- ed, indignantly. l What can you find to say ill of it.' L Nothing,' replied Mr. Flap, ' because I can make nothing of it.' c Do you mean to say you can see no difference between one tune and another?' The Professor reflected a little. 1 I think some tunes are louder than others,' he admitted. Then Clarence Prigg began again. 1 This,' he said, ' is rather quaint : I don't know whether you will care for it. I got the idea from a Swiss peasant whom I heard singing ; it is a curious air, and I VOL. i. G 82 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. fitted some words to it just as they oc- €iirred to me. You are familiar with the poet's habit of stringing words together without exact method, suggested by the sights and sounds of the moment ; a sun- set sky, a church tower in the distance, some light clouds, and the cold breeze coming up : Browning did it.' With which modest prologue he sang to a peculiar air that must have taxed his skill as a pianist — ' Black as a raven's wing, Tapering high t'ards heaven, Though doomed at his birth, No man upon earth But finds for his sin some leaven. ' Deadly as serpent's sting, Light as a wafted feather, No sin is so foul That body and soul Lose pardon and hope together. ' Storm-cloud and rain in Spring, Sun when the old year's ending, Though hearts have got old And love has grown cold No sorrow is past all mending.' HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 83 There was a great deal of applause at the finish of this. c Now, Professor,' said Mrs. Joyce, ' you surely see some difference between that song and the one before.' 1 Yes, it seemed to me a little longer.' Mrs. Dasent felt envious of this light manner of talk, of which she was con- sciously incapable. Even when Arthur Balstoun began to urge Mr. Flap to go through a long course of concerts, with a view to acquiring a better notion of music, his interference seemed more amusing than anything else. It escaped the stiff- ness and formality of made-up conver- sation. Mrs. Dasent turned this over in her mind. She was not so much desirous of being initiated into these mysteries as of being quit of them. If only they were alone — she and Jack, and his own people g 2 84 PIOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. — how much nicer it would be. Then she found herself being spoken to by Sir John ; he said a word or two, and presently marched her off to a seat in the window, where, he explained, they might converse more comfortably. Miss Mirabel, at this juncture, rose and moved gracefully away from the circle round the piano. Captain Balstoun espied her, and followed with alacrity. Doubt- less he was a good-hearted fellow, as Freddy White had said, and was unwil- ling that the governess should feel ne- glected. Outside the room he came up with her : she turned on him at once, and said, with considerable composure, 1 Captain Balstoun, will you be very good? I have lost some keys between here and the boat-house ; I daren't go to bed till they are found. If you could help me I should be so grateful ; I daresay you HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 85 will see them in the moonlight. I was going to look for them myself. If you really don't mind going, I can stay here. 1 Arthur professed himself delighted, and Miss Mirabel declared her gratitude in a manner that must have been agreeable to any chivalrous gentleman. Away went the Captain to prowl about with his eyes intent upon the ground. Oddly enough, away went Miss Mirabel, not back into the room where Clarence Prigg was playing, but on to the terrace. Here she passed, silent as a shadow, to a seat beside the window occupied by Sir John and Mrs. Dasent, and sat herself down — to think, no doubt. That must have been the reason ; else she could not have been so oblivious of the sound of voices that reached her ear. 1 I am very proud of him,' Sir John was saying. c Indeed you may be.' answered Mrs. 86 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Dasent. c Nobody would want excuses for that ; all his friends must be proud of him.' c Including you ? I hope you are inter- ested in him too ?' ; Oh, yes, Sir John.' ' My dear lady, you must let us consider you one of our most intimate friends : is it not so ?' 1 You are much too kind to me.' c It is a kindness that is selfish : we should be glad to think you were going to remain always with us, and of us.' Could Mrs. Dasent believe her ears : surely Jack must have said more than he himself remembered to his father. This sounded nothing less than direct encour- agement to her alliance with his son. She was speechless and amazed. Sir John went on, in a low, earnest voice — 1 Agatha is so fond of you, and she is HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 87 now at an age when a strong sympathy would be everything to her ; you could be an invaluable friend to Agatha.' c I wish I might ; it would make me so happy.' c And me. It would be a supremely hap- py day for me, and for Balstoun, upon which you consented to become its future mistress. It is a matter upon which my heart has been fixed of late ; the hope has been very dear to me. May I believe that I am not to be disappointed?' ' Sir John, you make me so happy that I cannot thank you as I should like to thank you. Indeed I will try to give you no cause to repent.' She was a good deal agitated, and Sir John felt that it was risking a scene to say more. He murmured something else gently, and then they moved towards a group near them. They had come to a 88 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAED. most happy understanding, thought Sir John ; to-morrow he would have it all settled. At all events, they had arrived at an extremely happy misunderstanding, for both he and Mrs. Dasent were, accord- ing to their relative tempers and views, in a seventh heaven of delight. 89 CHAPTER V. ABOUT MISS MIRABEL. Arthur Balstoun returned from a fruit- less search. He had paced up and down the garden-path until he had nearly worn holes in the heels of his thin socks. He had looked and looked until the blue eyes were ready to fall out of his head ; still there was no sign of the missing keys. Reluctantly he gave up the search as the hour grew late, and went to report his ill-success to Miss Mirabel. 1 1 am very sorry,' he said ; ; I looked everywhere, but I can't find them.' 90 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Miss Mirabel was back in the music- room now, talking unconcernedly to some- body. She looked up at Arthur. c Find them? whom?' she said, absently. ' Oh, I beg your pardon — I was wrong all the time ; I found the keys in the hall. How good of you to look ; and you had the trouble for nothing.' Never mind me,' answered Arthur, cheerfully. c It's all right, you know, as long as they are found.' She gave him her hand quite affection- ately when she took her candlestick and went upstairs ; and Arthur considered himself amply rewarded for his wild-goose chase. One of the greatest of all novelists- affects a certain modesty at the idea of intruding into a lady's bed-room. Not daring to assume the manner of that great man, I make no scruple of accompanying HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 91 Miss Mirabel into her chamber, for the express purpose of learning her thoughts. She gives a strange exclamation as she closes the door, half a groan, half an angry cry ; then she goes with quick step to the window, and, throwing it open, leans there, chin upon hand. Miss Mirabel, who has appeared hitherto but fitfully, must now have a chapter to herself. Let it be understood then that she is a woman who has been playing a bold game with her life, and has this even- ing discovered that she is held fast in check. Her thoughts go back to a date not far remote when she first came into the circle of the Balstoun influence, and the story runs somehow as follows : In the city of Sydney, New South AVales r a spirit of enterprise (much to be com- mended) has prompted the construction of a great and imposing building in the 92 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. nature of a town-hall. Herein occur colonial gatherings of much significance, when the fathers of the Australian Com- monwealth, or Republic, or Kingdom (ac- cording as Fate intends) meet, as has been their wont hitherto, to do honour to their own institutions, and to Queen Victoria's servant, their Governor. When not given up to political and public functions, it is used as a concert-hall; and thus it hap- pened that upon a certain day a notice was posted outside the building to an- nounce that the celebrated Miss Mirabel would that night sing in a ballad concert. It was near the close of the year, and the day was hot and sultry. Sydney wore a forlorn appearance. The ragged horses in the rattling old cabs looked more dismal and dejected than usual. The drivers, with well-protected heads, sprawled on their boxes and looked as if they really could HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 93 not be bothered to take up fares. The streams of wires overhead glittered in the blaze, and the pavement was nearly red- hot. Blinds were down in the windows, and there was not much sign of life. Here and there a dog moved leisurely about as if he was rather enjoying himself; and from one or two shops came the notes of a piano, in evidence that the young citizennesses of Sydney are not without elegant accomplishments. Two men came presently upon the scene. They were unlike the other foot-passengers in this respect, that they seemed to have no business on hand. It would be foolish to suppose that the}' were on pleasure bent ; but they clearly were not busy, like the heated persons who occasionally passed them. One of them, the younger, was a man of thirty or thereabouts, gentlemanlike and 94 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. apparently a resident, for he frequently exchanged a c good day' with some one or another. The other was a fair man with light blue eyes and restless hands, who was giving himself a great deal of trouble about making the most of his opportunities of seeing Sydney. ' Whew ! it's hot in these streets, isn't it, Spriggins?' exclaimed the former, pushing back his hat. 'What ever induces people to come to Australia when they can stay in England, I don't know.' c But surely you could have stayed there if you had liked.' c I suppose I could.' ' But you said just now ' c For goodness sake don't argue in this heat. It will be cooler in the Domain : let's go and sit there and look at the ships.' It was the Governor's aide-de-camp who HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 95 spoke. He had come into Sydney from the country where his Excellency was spend- ing the hot season, and had met Captain Balstoun, his old brother officer in the club. The gallant captain had recently retired from the service of Her Majesty, and was indulging in a little foreign travel. Being on terms of friendship with the Governor of Xew South Wales, he was about to become his Excellency's guest. The aide-de-camp stood on the edge of the pavement and looked up and down the street. c This is a blooming fine town,' he said. c It's a regular hobbledehoy : it must have been fun a century ago when people were living on kangaroos which they caught in the streets, and it may be a good place a century hence when things have toned down a little : at present it's betwixt and between.' 96 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. c I suppose you'll hardly stay here to see that,' said Captain Balstoun. He al- ways tried to keep up his end of a conversation. The aide-de-camp regarded him a moment. 'No, Spriggins, I expect not,' he said; and crossed the road. By so doing he was brought face to face with the advertisement of the concert in which the celebrated Miss Mirabel was announced to sing. ' Oh, look here, Spriggins,' he said, 1 let's go and hear this lady to-night. They say she is tip-top, and a pretty woman to boot.' Captain Balstoun con- sented, and, entering the building, the aide-de-camp bought two tickets. They dined at the Union Club that night, and they dined well. Arthur Balstoun had spent the last three weeks on board HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 97 ship, and it was no small luxury to find himself sitting in a cool corner of the club dining-room, without Chinamen to wait on him, with a friend for a companion, and a change of diet in the matter of food. He talked prodigiously and drank copious draughts of cool champagne ; for the Cap- tain, if fidgetty, was no shirker of reason- able pleasures. The aide-de-camp was glad enough to see him. He had always been of opinion that Spriggins was an ass ; but a good ass at that ; and he was full of news about things that were of interest — things he wanted to hear about. They were good company then to one another, and, oblivious of time and concert, they cheered their souls to the full with sroocl wine, and afterwards betook themselves to cigars. There were comfortable chairs in the garden, and it was a blessed sensa- tion to compose their well-fed persons VOL. I. H 98 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. amongst the cushions, and smoke sweet tobacco. The smell of the hot town was tempered by cool sea-breezes, and all things were convenient for repose. But the aide-de-camp was energetic, and he was fond of music. ' Come,' he said, presently, ' we can finish our cigars on the way, let us go and hear Miss Mirabel sing.' Then occurred the only known instance of Arthur Balstoun opposing another man's suggestion. ' It's very jolly here, don't you think we had better stay?' 1 Spriggins, haven't you a soul for music ?' c Oh, yes, as a rule ; but this is delightful.' 1 Nor an eye for beauty. Don't you want to see the lovely Mirabel.' The Captain was in revolt. c I don't be- lieve she's a bit good-looking,' he declared. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 99 4 How the deuce do you know ?' 1 They never are, these people who get touted.' 1 She's not touted. You'll swear you know she's ugly next, I suppose.' ' I shouldn't be surprised,' said Sprig- gins, vaguely. The aide-de-camp being more or less in the position of host, had a little reluctance in insisting, but he did insist. Arthur Balstoun had to go, and by this narrow chance he took the step which led to such a long series of complications. The hall was well filled, and the concert in mid-way when they arrived. Arriving so late, they were the objects of consider- able attention, and Captain Balstoun felt shy. A stout man was singing c Tom Bowling' lustily, like unto the howling of an angry tempest. c This will make an effective set-off for h2 100 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Miss Mirabel,' said the aide-de-camp, but Arthur Balston remained indifferent, he was casting furtive glances round the audience, studying Sydney types. c Tom Bowling ' reached his appointed end, and was sung to his watery death ; the stage was left empty for a moment, and then from the side staircase appeared Miss Mirabel. She came forward to the piano, acknowledging with a graceful bow the applause which welcomed her. Good gracious ! Arthur Balstoun started as if he had been pinched. His indifference was gone, his interest in the types of Sydney vanished. He was ravished by this vision of delight. He had never beheld a creature so beautiful ; his blue eyes almost left his head, and his fingers twitched and wrestled with the arms of his seat. He listened open-mouthed to the sin sing of the siren. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 101 c "Well, what do you think of her ?' asked the aide-de-camp. ' Xot a bad singer.' c She's magnificent,' gasped Arthur Balstoun ; ' did you say you knew her.' 'No, I didn't; why?' 1 Don't you think we could get intro- duced to her.' The aide-de-camp gave quite a shout of laughter. 4 Spriggins, you are as wicked as even j'ou can be.' 4 Don't be an ass, Joe, don't talk non- sense ; I think she's the best looking woman I ever saw.' 1 Well, can't you be content with looking at her, then.' 4 1 must know her, I must be intro- duced to her,' declared the Captain, stout- ly. ' You must know the manager or someone, don't you.' 4 Well, what then?' 102 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. c You can go and see him, and take me with you, can't you?' 4 II n'y a pire eau que l'eau qui dort,' said the aide-de-camp. c We'll go after this song, if you like ; there's an interval. I know the manager, as you call him.' The aide-de-camp was on friendly terms with all sorts and conditions of men, in- cluding all the great lights of the theatrical world, who liked to stand well at Govern- ment House. The individual who was responsible for the present performance was a florid and voluble man of fifty: he re- ceived the aide-de-camp with effusiveness, and declared himself honoured by be- coming acquainted with Captain Balstoun. 4 But it's too bad of you,' he went on, addressing the former, ' to pay for your seat. You know you are always welcome where I'm in charge. Next time you feel disposed to pay us a visit, Captain Bal- HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 103 stoun, I beg you'll let me have the pleasure of putting a seat at your disposal.' Arthur Balstoun was much obliged. He said he hoped to bestow that pleasure — and to enjoy it. The aide-de-camp went then to the point, for time was passing. c Miss Mirabel has a splendid voice.' 4 Ah, I believe you,' said the impressario, proudly. c You never heard a finer in the old country, I'll be bound.' 'Xo. Is she English?' c Certainly ; but I believe she has only sung in the provinces at present.' ' I never saw her before : she's decidedly an acquisition. She looks charming.' ' And she is so. Come and let me intro- duce you to her. I should like you to know her.' He led the way into a side room where the lady was waiting her next turn to .104 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. sing, and in due form the two gentlemen were presented. The aide-de-camp talked to the invpressariO) and meanwhile watched in a convenient glass the antics of Captain Balstoun, who stood behind him in a great state of nervous agitation. The steady gaze of Miss Mirabel's grey eyes kept the Captain at a high pitch of excitement. ; I hope I shall hear you sing often while I am here.' He panted rather than spoke, twisting his yellow moustache. ' It will be very good of you to come. Do you stay here long?' c Yes, I hope so : that is, I go away to-morrow.' Miss Mirabel laughed, and he hastened to explain, c I mean I am going up country to-morrow to stay a week or two ; but I shall come back again.' c I go on to Melbourne at the end of the month.' HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 105 '* Then I shall hope to see you there. I shall go there.' Miss Mirabel apparently had no objec- tion to raise, and the Captain was vastly pleased with his success. She was the most charming creature he had ever seen. He felt a strong inclination to invent a reason for remaining in Sydney instead of going to stay with the Governor. He refrained, however. Xext morning, after spending a restless night, he com- posed his feelings as well as he could, and submitted to be taken off into the hills. Here for the space of a fortnight he smothered his infatuation more or less successfully, but gave his host and hostess the impression that insanity was really developing within him. It was rather a relief to them when he left the house, though it was impossible not to feel sorry on his account : he really seemed unfit in 106 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. such an excitable state to travel about alone. This was the opinion of his Excel- lency's wife ; but the aide-de-camp re- assured her. He had known Spriggins many years ; he would never come to any serious harm. So the Captain went to Melbourne. It is not necessary to enter upon a full de- scription of his proceedings there, because they have no particular bearing on our story, beyond this, that his passion for Miss Mirabel increased and was multiplied. He attended every concert at which she performed; presented her with gorgeous bouquets ; fluttered round her with restless assiduity. She treated him with consider- able kindness, and the Captain had no reason to consider himself snubbed ; but r try as he would, he could elicit no invita- tion to visit her. He could not even make out where she lived, beyond vaguely HOIST WITH HER OWX PETARD. 107 ■understanding the neighbourhood, — with whom she kept house, with mother, sister, or nobody at all; this he could not learn. There was never an allusion to 'we' and 1 our,' and from the general tenor of her talk it was to be presumed that she stood alone in the world. She seemed to have a number of ac- quaintances with whom she was on good terms ; and not a few admirers, whom she kept at arm's length. Arthur was occa- sionally vexed by the presence of one or another rival. Such as they were, she treated them with the same friendly un- concern as she showed towards him. On one occasion an obtrusive gallant, who had been refreshing himself to excess, wished to bestow some attentions upon her as she was leaving a concert-hall. Arthur arrived at the right moment, and relieved her of her embarrassment. It was a point in 108 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETAKD. his favour ; but, though she was evidently grateful and appreciative, she unbent but little, and admitted him no further into her confidence, whatever may have been his advance in favour. He remained nothing better than a hanger-on. She seemed to prefer entire independence ; she showed no need of human sympathy. At all events, the Captain consoled him- self with the persuasion that she was not married. He could not muster up suffi- cient courage to prosecute his attentions further than she encouraged them : he had to be content with broken interviews in public places, and persuade himself that no man could look for more. Once or twice they met in the botanical gardens. This was indeed joy for Spriggins. They sat then in one of the wooden pavilions more or less alone, and the lady permitted her admirer to confide to her much of his HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 109 personal history, giving but little of her own in exchange. It was not the height of season in Mel- bourne, and Miss Mirabel's engagements were proportionately modified. Before long she would be going elsewhere : in a short time Arthur Balstoun must be sail- ing for Europe. He told her all his plans; in which ship his passage was taken ; his sorrow at the prospect of leave-taking ; many things sentimental and personal. One afternoon they were sitting thus, in the splendid gardens which redeem Melbourne from utter ugliness. The grass was burnt to ashes, but the prospect still was fair. Arthur Balstoun was like a depressed canary bird ; all the twitter and chirp was gone out of him. The day of parting drew nigh, and his devoted soul was vexed. Miss Mirabel was herself un- moved ; clearly not glad that he was going r 110 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. apparently not particularly sorry. She was an enigma to the Captain — irresistible, impenetrable, unapproachable. Presently she said, with as little em- phasis as possible, c I am thinking of going to England again to try my fortune.' Arthur Balstoun started. L That's what I've begged you to do. It's what you ought to do. Come at once : come on our ship.' ' That's what I thought of doing.' Arthur leapt to his feet; his delight was unbounded, and ought to have made an im- pression on Miss Mirabel ; but it did not. c Let me go at once,' said he, ' and get you a berth. You ought to lose no time.' c I have already taken one,' answered Miss Mirabel, complacently. c AVhy didn't you tell me this before?' demanded Arthur. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. Ill c I didn't know you would care to hear it,' she said, naively. Of course Arthur broke into a perfect babble of protest, and left the gardens pre- sently, the happiest man in the southern hemisphere. Miss Mirabel's last performance took place two nights before the date of sailing. The hall was well filled, and her reception was most flattering. She seemed ]}leased ; Arthur Balstoun beamed from his stall, and everything was as charming as possible. After the performance Arthur hung about, more suo, to take an affectionate farewell of his charmer, and see her safely into the tramcar by which she elected to go home. She never .allowed him to ac- company her, and it was not in his nature, under these circumstances, to follow her. On this occasion he felt a desperate desire to throw himself at her feet. His 112 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. passion had been inflamed by the brilli- ancy of her success ; at the moment he positively worshipped her. He was in the mood to plunge blindly, and waited with impatience for her appearance. She came just as a tram-car with green light and loud-ringing bell approached. c That is my tram,' she said, as com- placently as if they had been out for a walk ; there was not a symptom of triumph in voice or face. Arthur pressed near to her, and whis- pered, 4 I've got such a lot to say to you ; may I come part of the way ?' The tram-car had stopped ; she paid no attention to his remark. c Good-night, Captain Balstoun ; thank you,' she said, in her usual formula. She stepped on board, and was carried away into the darkness. Poor Arthur was HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD. 113 left raging with disappointment. He put a cigar into his mouth, but forgot to light it ; then he started off, walking so rapidly and heedlessly that he far overshot his proper turning, and ended by making a midnight excursion of great length. This cooled him : he returned to the club, drank a glass of iced water, and went to bed in a more temperate frame of mind. 1 After all,' he thought, as he went to sleep, ' there are six weeks coming, dating from to-morrow as it's now past midnight, when she can't get out of my way very well.' Hitherto he had never seriously con- templated making Miss Mirabel an offer of marriage : it was far beyond the reach of his audacity to present to his brother, Sir John, a professional singer for a sister-in- law. He lived in strict awe of the Baronet, and to risk his disapproval was an un- VOL. I. I 114 HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD.