L I G. RAFLY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 U N IVER.5ITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2009 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/risendeadnovel01marr
 
 THE RISEN DEAD
 
 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ^ i^obel 
 
 BY 
 
 FLORENCE MARRYAT, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "love's CONKLICT,"' "a SCARLET SIN," ETC., ETC. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON 
 SPENCER BLACKETT 
 
 35, ST. BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C. 
 i8qt 
 
 \AU rigkts reserved]
 
 ^■1 
 
 ^ CONTENTS 
 
 ^ 
 
 »0 
 
 \ 
 
 j CHAPTER I. 
 
 . TOUCH AND GO 
 
 
 PAGE 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^ CHAPTER II. 
 
 
 ^?_^MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 
 
 20 
 
 O 
 in 
 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IN THE COUNTESSES BOUDOIR 38 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 I.£ 
 
 RAWN INTO THE NET'' 52 
 
 CO
 
 vi CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PAGK 
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 72 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 90 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE I08 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? I24 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE COMPANION 1 42 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 1 57 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 1 78
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH I99 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IN THE TOILS 215 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE . . . . .234
 
 A 
 
 \. 
 
 m
 
 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 TOUCH AND GO. 
 
 CROWD of foreigners were warmly 
 discussing some subject of interest in 
 a salle a fumer in the *' Hotel des 
 Papilons" in Homburg, and a young English- 
 man, with a cigar between his lips, was leaning 
 against a pillar and listening to their con- 
 versation. It was a hot night in September, and 
 it was late. The gaming-houses had closed, and 
 dark, thunderous-looking clouds, with a warning 
 of rain, had driven the most reckless spirits 
 indoors. There they had broken up into clusters. 
 Some were playing at cards or dominoes ; a few 
 were talking over their success at the tables ; a 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 2 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 large proportion were smoking, or drinking sul- 
 lenly by themselves, as they pondered over their 
 losses. But by-and-by an old waiter, apparently 
 well known to all present, commenced to move 
 from one table to another, and chatter and 
 whisper with bated breath and uplifted hands, 
 till one idea seemed to animate every man 
 present. 
 
 '^ Cannot you reason with him, Henri ? Will 
 he answer nothing? What does M. Legros 
 say } " 
 
 ** Mais, messieurs," reiterated Henri, " M. Legros 
 is half beside himself. What to do, he knows 
 not. It is inconceivable, but it is certain. Ce 
 pauvre intends to do himself some injury. And 
 in the * Papilons,' too. Such a calamity has never 
 happened in the hotel before ! " 
 
 " I shall not be surprised at anything," ejacu- 
 lated a German, carelessly. " He has been losing 
 heavily for the last fortnight — we have all seen 
 that — and if he prefers a world where there are 
 no landlords nor hotel bills to Homburg, he has 
 a right to please himself.^'
 
 TOUCH AND GO 3 
 
 ^^ But think of the disgrace, monsieur. It 
 will be our ruin ! ^' said Henri, wringing his 
 hands. 
 
 " Bah ! A fig for your disgrace ! He spent 
 his money royally whilst he had it, and doubtless 
 has paid you double for what he has received. 
 Let the poor fellow have his money's worth for 
 once.^* 
 
 " But has M. Legros expostulated with him } ^^ 
 inquired another man. ^^ Has he attempted to 
 force the door ? ^^ 
 
 At this juncture a little fat man with a bald 
 head, on which the beads of perspiration were 
 standing with anxiety and alarm, was seen making 
 his way between the crowd. 
 
 " Via, m'sieur! '^ exclaimed the waiter. ''^Have 
 I expostulated with the gentleman } Have I 
 attempted to force the door ? '' the little man 
 repeated, excitedly. " Messieurs, I give you my 
 solemn word of honour that I have, in reason, 
 done everything. I did not like the look of 
 monsieur when he returned from the tables 
 to-night. It was fixed — stony — immovable. I 
 
 B 2
 
 4 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 have seen that look before. I spoke to him, 
 but received no answer. Then he ascended to 
 his room and locked the door. He will neither 
 speak nor open to us, but he has walked the 
 floor for hours, and now all is still, and I fear 
 the worst ! ^^ 
 
 The men near him burst into a loud peal 
 of derisive laughter. 
 
 " Go to, Legros ! You have been looking at 
 an empty bottle ! What is all this noise about ? 
 A man returns to your hotel tired and weary 
 — a little low into the bargain, perhaps — and 
 requires rest and none of your infernal chatter, 
 and you jump to the conclusion that he is a 
 suicide. We ought to duck you for having tried 
 to make fools of us ! " 
 
 " Gentlemen ! gentlemen ! " cried the hotel- 
 keeper, in real distress, '' this is no laughing 
 matter. Believe me, I know the symptoms of 
 such things better than you do. Monsieur is 
 reckless — not hopeless nor despairing — he has 
 not feeling enough for that — but just indifferent 
 to his life and everything else. I could read
 
 TOUCH AND GO 5 
 
 It in his face. And he will kill himself if 
 nothing is done to prevent it." 
 
 " Break open the door, then, and hand him 
 over to the police ! ^^ suggested another listener. 
 
 M. Legros's face turned livid at the idea. 
 
 " Break open the door ! '^ he ejaculated. 
 " Monsieur cannot consider what he is saying. 
 He might turn the deadly weapon against 
 myself." 
 
 ^^ He has reason," interpolated a Frenchman. 
 " I had a friend once — a brave and honest 
 man — who would interfere between two brawlers 
 and separate them, and they turned the knife 
 against him, and he fell pierced to the heart. 
 He had better have left them alone. It is 
 dangerous to meddle with what does not concern 
 one's self.'^ 
 
 The young Englishman, who had been listen- 
 ing to all this, suddenly threw away the end of 
 his cigar and stepped into their midst. 
 
 "And will you allow the man to die, then, 
 without making an attempt to save his life?" 
 he demanded, with more surprise than anger.
 
 6 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 *' Will you all sit here and discuss his looks, 
 and deeds, and probable intentions, whilst he 
 may be contemplating suicide upstairs ? It is 
 a positive duty for us to do what we can to 
 prevent it/^ 
 
 He spoke fluently and in excellent French, 
 and there was not a man present who did not 
 understand him. And yet not one echoed his 
 sentiments or offered to assist him. 
 
 " It is not our business," said the majority, 
 as they slunk back to their cards or dominoes. 
 
 '^You will do no good by interfering. You 
 had better leave it to M. Legros," replied a chosen 
 few. And the rest looked at him as if he were 
 an impertinent coxcomb, whom they would 
 dearly like to bring to his bearings. 
 
 *' What ! will not one of you respond 1 Are 
 you utterly indifferent to a fellow-creature's life, 
 or are you afraid of the weapon that may be 
 turned against yourselves ? '' continued the young 
 Englishman, in a sarcastic voice. 
 
 At that word, "afraid," dark brows were 
 sternly lowered, and many an oath was muttered
 
 TOUCH AND GO 7 
 
 over the insult; but that was all the notice they 
 took of it, and the young man turned to the 
 hotel-keeper. 
 
 " M. Legros, what is this gentleman, English- 
 man or foreigner ? " 
 
 *^ He is an Englishman, the same as monsieur ; 
 one, too, of high family, who knows lords and 
 princes, and " 
 
 ** Come ! come ! that does not matter now. 
 Lead me to his room.^^ 
 
 '^ Ah ! monsieur must not be too venturesome. 
 He is really dangerous. Henri peeped into his 
 chamber but a little while since — we have means 
 by which, in moments of danger like the present, 
 we can view the interior of a chambre a coucher — 
 and beheld him, with a white, fixed face, sitting 
 at a table with his pistols before him. But when 
 I rapped respectfully at the door, he ordered 
 me away with an oath, and threatened to settle 
 the first person who attempted to enter his room. 
 So what can we do ? " 
 
 " Go to him at once. There is not a moment 
 to be lost. Will you lead the way, monsieur }
 
 8 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 You hesitate. Then tell me the number and I 
 will find it for myself." 
 
 *' And get a bullet through your head for 
 your pains/^ laughed a man, scornfully. 
 
 ^' That is my concern, monsieur, and no one 
 else's." 
 
 " And no loss either, you might have added," 
 replied the man, rudely. 
 
 The blood rose to the fair face of the English- 
 man, but this was no moment to pick a quarrel, 
 so he turned again to the landlord. 
 
 ^' The number, monsieur ? '^ 
 
 " If you are resolute," said Legros, depre- 
 catingly, " Henri will conduct you to the end 
 of the corridor and point out the door. But be 
 careful, monsieur, I entreat of you. The poor 
 gentleman is mad. You had better let me send 
 for the gendarmes to take him away." 
 
 ''You can do that if you think fit, when I 
 have failed in my mission," replied the stranger, 
 as he hurried the old waiter from the salle a 
 fumer. The comments which followed his de- 
 parture were not flattering ones.
 
 TOUCH AND GO 9 
 
 "A pig-headed Anglais/^ said one. 
 
 "A good thing if his brains are blown out," 
 added another. 
 
 " There would be one boaster less in the 
 world ! ^' exclaimed a third man. " Who is he } 
 Where does he come from } He had better wait 
 until the hair has grown upon his chin before 
 he lays down the law for wiser heads than his 
 own.^^ 
 
 " Ah ! messieurs ! " cried Legros, "speak lower, 
 I implore you. Some of his friends may be 
 within hearing. It is a great milord ; a monsieur 
 of the English aristocracy, a son of the Duke 
 Warren. It would be dangerous to affront him. 
 It would ruin my house." 
 
 " It appears to me, M. Legros," said one of 
 his customers, who had not hitherto spoken, 
 "that your house is so easily injured, that the 
 only wonder is that it was not in ruins long 
 ago.- 
 
 Meanwhile, the young Englishman, full of 
 generous warmth and anxiety to save a fellow- 
 creature from destruction, was rushing along the
 
 lo THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 corridor at the top of his speed, towards the fatal 
 bed-chamber. 
 
 " Via, m'sieur, numero vingt-neuf/' said Henri, 
 as he paused at a respectful distance from it, 
 and pointed with his finger. 
 
 " Vingt-neuf/' repeated the young man to 
 make sure, and then, without hesitation, he walked 
 up to the door and rapped loudly against it with 
 his knuckles. 
 
 His interference was rewarded by the sound 
 of a muttered imprecation, and a demand of 
 who was there. 
 
 " A friend and a countryman ! " replied the 
 young man, cheerily, *"' and I bring you good 
 news. Please let me in ! " 
 
 *' I don^t know you, and I want no news,^' 
 was the answer. " I beg you will leave me. 
 I wish to be alone/' 
 
 " Pray open the door/' pleaded the fresh 
 young voice. ^^ I have a particular message 
 for you. Let me come in, if only for five 
 minutes." 
 
 The man inside the chamber seemed to
 
 TOUCH AND GO ii 
 
 hesitate for a few moments, and then he answered 
 gruffly : 
 
 '^ Very well ! for five minutes then, though 
 I don't know what on earth you can want with 
 me/^ 
 
 The old waiter slunk into the background 
 as he heard the key turn in the lock, and saw, 
 to his amazement, the younger man admitted 
 to the room. He lingered on the staircase for 
 a moment, half expecting to hear the fatal pistol- 
 shot, with which he believed the desperate 
 stranger would receive his visitor, but as it did 
 not occur, he slipped back into the salle a fumer 
 to relate his experiences. And as he did so, 
 the two men so suddenly brought face to face 
 were standing looking at each other. 
 
 "And now what the has brought you 
 
 here .'' " demanded the elder. " Do you know that 
 this is an unwarrantable intrusion on my privacy } 
 What right have you, or any one, to thrust 
 your company on me, uninvited ? " 
 
 He was a middle-aged man of about five- 
 and-forty, with gray hair, surmounting a face
 
 12 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 which bore traces of great physical beauty. He 
 was tall, erect, and well-made^ with blue eyes 
 and fair complexion, and a general appearance 
 of vigour that seemed strange in juxtaposition 
 with his prematurely whitened hair. His dress 
 was disordered, his head ruffled, and his whole 
 bearing sullen and defiant ; but the younger 
 man's feelings seemed to go forth at once to 
 him, as though he longed to know and own 
 him as a friend. But the manner in which he 
 had been addressed made him feel diffident. 
 
 "I know — I feel, sir/^ he commenced, '^that 
 this intrusion must seem impudent to you, but 
 I could not help it. Forgive me. There are 
 rumours passing below that you have been a 
 little unfortunate (as we all are at times) at the 
 tables lately, and I have come to offer myself 
 as your friend. Will you let me be so? '^ 
 
 The elder man laughed sardonically. 
 
 " My friend ! How do you propose to be 
 that ? " 
 
 The other got hold of his hand. 
 
 " By begging you to pause and consider before
 
 TOUCH AND GO 13 
 
 you do anything you may afterwards regret. By 
 asking you to be a little calm and patient, and 
 to confide in me and see if it is not possible 
 that I can help you. To remember that your 
 luck may change again as quickly as it seems 
 to have done now, and that the assistance of 
 a friend may enable you to win back all that you 
 have lost. Only be patient, and do nothing rash." 
 
 The elder man wrenched his hand away again, 
 and sank down in a chair, burying his face upon 
 his outstretched arms. The younger one walked 
 deliberately up to the table where the shining 
 revolvers lay ready for their victim, and placed 
 them in the back pocket of his coat. On seeing 
 this, their owner started from his position. 
 
 "What makes you do that.?'' he demanded, 
 furiously. "What right have you to meddle 
 with my property t " 
 
 "The right of a friend and fellow-sinner. 
 Have I not already said I wish to be your friend ? 
 Let us talk quietly over your affairs this evening, 
 and then if you are still convinced you will be 
 better out of the world than in it, you shall
 
 14 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 have your revolvers back again. Isn't that a 
 fair bargain ? You will be able to blow out 
 your brains just as well to-morrow as to-day — 
 indeed, I expect better, for your hand is rather 
 shaky, I perceive, and will be all the steadier 
 for a night's rest/' 
 
 The stranger left his seat and walked up to 
 his side. 
 
 ^^You are rather a remarkable young man," 
 he observed, ^' and rather a plucky one. There 
 are not many people who would dare to interfere 
 with my affairs like this. Who and what are 
 you ? I have at least the right to ask the name 
 of one who constitutes himself my friend whether 
 I will or no." 
 
 " By all means," cried the youth, laughing, 
 for he felt he had gained his end. ^' I am not 
 ashamed of it. My name is Anthony Melstrom, 
 and I am the second son of Lord Culwarren." 
 
 The stranger's white and careworn face became 
 still more pallid. He staggered slightly as he 
 reseated himself, and passed his hand in a 
 puzzled way across his brow.
 
 TOUCH AND GO 15 
 
 " Lord Culwarren ! '' he repeated. " Culwarren 
 of Gardenholme ? '^ 
 
 ^^ The same, sir," said the young man, eagerly ; 
 "but my father is dead (as perhaps you know), 
 and my brother PhiHp has the title. We lost 
 our father ten years ago, and my mother has 
 resided almost completely at Gardenholme since. 
 Did you know my father ? " 
 
 '^ How strange, how very strange/^ murmured 
 his companion, "that his son should lend me a 
 helping hand at such a juncture ! Yes, Mr. 
 Melstrom, I did know Lord Culwarren, but it is 
 now many years ago, indeed before his marriage 
 with your mother, and I have been a wanderer 
 in foreign lands ever since. And so you are 
 actually Culwarren^s son ? " 
 
 '^ Only the second, sir — a younger son of no 
 repute whatever, and still less fortune ; but all 
 I have will be gladly at the disposal of my dear 
 father's friend. And may I ask your name in 
 return .'' ^' 
 
 '^ Oh, certainly," replied the stranger, with 
 some confusion, ^^ though the position you found
 
 l6 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 me in to-night makes me rather ashamed to 
 confess it. I am called Fosbrooke — Oliver Fos- 
 brooke/' 
 
 *' Then, Mr. Fosbrooke, I hope you will shake 
 hands with me and say we shall be friends for 
 my father's sake." 
 
 ^'With all my heart, lad/' replied Fosbrooke, 
 as he grasped the offered hand warmly. '' You've 
 saved my life for the time being, there's no doubt 
 of that, and I suppose I ought to be grateful to 
 you for it; though it would puzzle me (or any 
 man) to say what I have left to live for/' 
 
 '^You must not let our friendship stop here," 
 exclaimed young Melstrom. " You must tell me 
 candidly, Mr. Fosbrooke, what misfortunes have 
 led you to this state of dejection, and let us 
 find the remedy for them. If money can tide 
 the difficulty over, I am sure it can be remedied. 
 Why, if my modest allowance will be of no 
 avail, do you suppose that my brother Culwarren 
 would permit an old friend of our dear father's 
 to " 
 
 '^ Stop — stop, my dear lad," cried Fosbrooke.
 
 TOUCH AND GO 17 
 
 " I can quite understand and appreciate your 
 generous intentions, for I received enough favours 
 from your father in the days gone by, but I cannot 
 avail myself of them. A small loan I may accept 
 at your hands, but my money matters are not 
 so desperate as you may have been led to imagine. 
 My unhappiness — my depression — arises from 
 quite a different cause, and what I was tempted 
 to do to-night — to put an end to thought once 
 and for ever — I have been tempted to do on 
 twenty different occasions, even when my some- 
 what uncertain coffers were piled with gold/^ 
 
 "But you will never attempt it again,'^ said 
 Anthony, earnestly, '^you will promise to try 
 henceforth to look on the brighter side of life — 
 for there is always a brighter side, you know." 
 
 '^ I will promise you one thing, my dear boy," 
 replied Fosbrooke, cheerfully, as he rose and 
 regarded himself in the glass, " and that is to 
 arrange my toilet a little, and try and eat some 
 supper. Do you know that I have not tasted 
 any food for eight-and-forty hours t ^' 
 
 '' Let me order them to bring it up here,'' 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 1 8 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 exclaimed Anthony, as he rang the bell. ^^You 
 mustn't go down amongst that ribald; heartless 
 crew, who have been betting on the probability 
 of your death to-night. We will have a cosy 
 meal and a bottle of champagne together, Fos- 
 brooke, and then you shall tell me all about 
 your troubles, and I will tell you about mine." 
 
 " Your troubles } " echoed Fosbrooke, with a 
 derisive laugh, as he regarded the lad's youthful 
 appearance. 
 
 " Yes, indeed ! I dare say you think I cannot 
 possibly have any, because I do not come of age 
 until next month, but you are mistaken. My 
 very presence here, when I would so much rather 
 be at home, is a real misfortune, as you will 
 acknowledge when you have heard my story." 
 
 " Youth, good looks, a pocket full of money, 
 and liberty to travel are not usually considered as 
 misfortunes, my boy." 
 
 ''No, I suppose not. Yet there are greater 
 troubles than age, or poverty, or an ordinary 
 appearance, Fosbrooke." 
 
 ''Why, you're quite a philosopher, Melstrom,
 
 TOUCH AND GO 19 
 
 and if you go on at this rate, you will be making 
 one of me too. I think you have made a new 
 man of me already. I feel quite glad to think 
 I'm going to sit down to supper, with your bright 
 young face opposite to me, instead of lying stark 
 upon my bedroom floor, with my brains blown 
 out over the carpet. Ah, Anthony ! I feel as 
 if I had known you all your life already." 
 
 c 2
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES. 
 
 ONSIEUR LEGROS, who had never 
 expected another order to issue from 
 numero vingt-neuf, unless it were for 
 a coffin, was so astonished when he heard that 
 Henri had been told to carry up the best supper 
 and a couple of bottles of the driest champagne 
 that the " Hotel des Papilons '^ could afford, for 
 the refreshment of the supposed suicide, that he 
 felt bound to accompany the tray in order to 
 satisfy himself that the marvellous account he 
 had received was true. 
 
 '^ I trust/^ he commenced, as he timidly looked 
 in at the bedroom door, ^' that monsieur is served 
 to his satisfaction. If the hour were not so late, 
 and the night so stormy, I should have sent into 
 Homburg for something more recherche ; but as
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 21 
 
 it is" — rubbing his hands deprecatingly " — 
 " monsieur will be good enough to overlook any 
 deficiencies." 
 
 ''Everything seems very nice," replied Fos- 
 brooke, as he glanced at the table. 
 
 " Come in, M. Legros/' exclaimed Anthony 
 Melstrom. " I owe you a thousand thanks for 
 having been terribly mistaken about my friend 
 Mr. Fosbrooke here. If you had not imagined, 
 in consequence of his having a raging attack of 
 toothache and being unable to eat or speak, that 
 he contemplated putting himself out of the world, 
 I should never have found out, perhaps, that we 
 were staying under the same roof" 
 
 '' Mais, milles pardons," commenced M. Legros, 
 in dread of Fosbrooke's anger. 
 
 '' No apologies, monsieur," replied the latter. 
 '' It was a very natural mistake on your part. 
 Truth to tell, I have felt miserable enough for 
 anything the last few days, but this fortunate 
 rencontre with Mr. Melstrom has set me up again, 
 and after discussing your excellent supper I 
 expect to be quite myself"
 
 22 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ^^But he is not a Frenchman, remember/' 
 interposed Anthony. '' and does not blow out his 
 brains for a finger-ache or a decayed tooth/' 
 
 " Mais, le mal aux dents — c'est une douleur 
 terrible," exclaimed M. Legros, sympathetically. 
 
 "But there's nothing for it like a glass of 
 good champagne," said Melstrom, as the first 
 cork flew, and then Legros and the waiter 
 bowed themselves out of the room, and the 
 newly made friends were left alone. 
 
 '^ It's just as well to put those beggars off 
 the right scent/' remarked Melstrom, as he put 
 down his empty glass. "You don't want the 
 whole hotel to be talking of your adventure, 
 Fosbrooke. They've said enough already, I can 
 assure you, and if you take my advice you'll 
 clear out of Homburg as soon as may be." 
 
 'Tm afraid I've made an ass of myself," 
 replied Fosbrooke, reflectively, ''and I wonder 
 if I have been a greater ass still not to carry 
 out my first intention ? When you knocked at 
 my door, Melstrom, and startled me, I had one 
 of my revolvers pointed at my open mouth, a^id
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 23 
 
 I can't think why I didn't pull the trigger 
 instead of answering you. Shall I regret my 
 indecision, I wonder? And shall I only have 
 the trouble of going through it all over again, 
 when the dark mood returns upon me ? " 
 
 '^ I hope not, Fosbrooke. I hope I have 
 been your deus ex machina, and that something 
 more powerful than my own inclination led me 
 to your assistance to-night. But don't talk any 
 more till you have had your supper. Fasting 
 for forty-eight hours is enough to give any man 
 the blues. I believe I should cut my own throat 
 after it." 
 
 He lay back in his chair, laughing as he spoke, 
 and his companion took a long survey of him» 
 He was a handsome stripling, tall, and Saxon in 
 feature and appearance, with gray-blue eyes, 
 that could look very sad when a cloud passed 
 over them, but were usually kind and merry. 
 
 " You^re not a bit like your father, Melstrom," 
 he remarked, presently, as they began their 
 supper. " I suppose you resemble your mother } ^' 
 
 " No, I think not. She is rather dark than
 
 24 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 otherwise — so was my father. Culwarren is the 
 image of him/^ 
 
 " Indeed ! Your mother was considered a 
 great beauty, I believe ? I remember reading the 
 accounts of her marriage. Was she not a Miss 
 Fairley, of Oakham?" 
 
 " Yes, Emily Fairley. There were twin 
 sisters, Emily and Ada. Ada married Sir Allan 
 Osprey, and died shortly after, leaving an only 
 daughter, who has always lived with my mother." 
 
 ^' Is she an orphan, then } " 
 
 ^' Yes. Sir Allan died before his wife. It was 
 the shock, I believe, that killed her. It was a sad 
 business altogether, and my mother felt it very 
 much. But it happened before I can remember." 
 
 ^''Your cousin must be quite like a sister to 
 you, then," said Fosbrooke. 
 
 Anthony flushed to the roots of his fair 
 hair, but answered nothing. His companion 
 regarded him in silence and changed the subject. 
 
 " Tell me,'^ said the young man, after a pause, 
 " how long you knew my father, Fosbrooke, and 
 why you dropped his acquaintance. I have
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 25 
 
 always heard him spoken of as such a true and 
 constant friend. Miss Paget says he was one 
 of the best men that ever Hved/' 
 
 "Miss Paget! Wlio is she?" 
 
 '^ I hardly know how to tell you. I suppose 
 most people would call her my mother's com- 
 panion^ but she is much more like her dearest 
 friend and confidante. She has lived with us 
 ever since I can remember, and has been like 
 a second mother to Lily (that's my cousin) and 
 myself I don't know what we should do without 
 Miss Paget, and Gardenholme would not be itself 
 if she were away." 
 
 '^ You give the lady high praise. Is not Lady 
 Culwarren rather jealous of the influence she has 
 over you ? " 
 
 " Lady Culwarren ! My mother V^ exclaimed 
 Anthony Melstrom, colouring again. "Oh, no! 
 She wouldn't care any way, whatever happened to 
 me. Fosbrooke, that is the trouble of my life. 
 I am nothing to my mother." 
 
 '^My dear fellow, I cannot believe that." 
 
 " It is the truth, though. She adores Cul-
 
 26 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 warren. He is a dear fellow^ and worthy of 
 her affection, but she might spare a scrap or so 
 for me. The reason I am wandering about the 
 Continent alone now is because she won't have 
 me at Gardenholme." 
 
 " Is it possible ? " 
 
 ''Quite so. You see I am, confiding the 
 history of my troubles to you before I have 
 heard yours. Culwarren is a great book-worm, 
 and is never so happy as when in his library. 
 But I love dogs, and horses, and all field sports, 
 and hardly know what to do with myself in a 
 town. Yet, a twelvemonth ago — only because, I 
 think, she saw I was so happy there — my mother 
 ordered me to leave home for a year's travel. 
 She said I was too rough and boorish, and my 
 mind required cultivation, but — but — I think 
 there were other reasons." 
 
 " Won't you confide them to me .?" 
 
 " I don't know why I should not. I have 
 no cause to be ashamed of them. I — I — am 
 fond of my cousin Lily, and I want to marry 
 her — in fact, we are engaged.''
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 27 
 
 ''And Lady Culwarren objects to it ?'' 
 
 '^ Vehemently, though I cannot say why, for 
 the match seems suitable enough. Lily inherits 
 a small fortune from her parents, and I have 
 the younger son's portion on coming of age. 
 It is not much, but it will be sufficient to marry 
 on. Both the Miss Fairleys had handsome 
 settlements. And my mother loves Lily dearly, 
 and yet she sets her face against her engagement 
 to me. Isn't it strange ? '^ 
 
 *• What does the Earl say to it all ? " 
 
 " Oh ! he says nothing. He is a very quiet 
 sort of fellow, and not likely to interfere in any 
 quarrel. We have never discussed the subject 
 together.^' 
 
 "And Miss Osprey ? " 
 
 " Lily would wait for me a dozen years, and 
 marry me against all opposition. I am sure of 
 that,^' replied young Melstrom, confidently. 
 
 " She writes and tells you so ? ^' 
 
 '' No ! that is the worst of it. They won't 
 let her write to me. My mother forbid all 
 correspondence when we parted, and my cousin
 
 28 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 is naturally bound to obey her. But next month, 
 when I shall be of age, I return to Gardenholme, 
 and then no one will be able to come between us/^ 
 
 " Miss Osprey will be of age also ? ^^ inquired 
 Fosbrooke. 
 
 ^'Not for two years, I am sorry to say. She 
 is just nineteen. But if I can only see her, I 
 shall not care, even though my mother should 
 continue to oppose our marriage. But it is 
 hard, isn't it, Fosbrooke, to have one's dearest 
 wishes thwarted for nothing but caprice ? " 
 
 " Do you wish me to tell you the truth ? '^ 
 
 '' Why, surely." 
 
 " Then I should say that your mother was 
 doing the kindest thing in the world for you 
 by preventing your marriage, and especially to 
 the first woman youVe fallen in love with." 
 
 " Don't you beHeve in love, then, and the 
 sacredness of marriage ? " 
 
 " I believe in passion, Melstrom, and a legal 
 tie that oftener turns into chains of iron than 
 fetters of roses for the unfortunate couples it 
 binds together. You have asked me to tell you
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 29 
 
 the reason that brought me down to the desperate 
 condition in which you found me. I can trace 
 it all back to the treachery, the infidelity, the 
 weak faith of a woman /^ 
 
 "A woman ! " echoed Anthony, starting. 
 
 Fosbrooke smiled. 
 
 " Yes, my boy, a woman. I suppose you think 
 because my hair is gray, and I have reached 
 middle age, that my blood must run cold, and 
 I have done with all the weaknesses and tempta- 
 tions of youth. But let that pass. The woman 
 I allude to is not in Homburg — is not, indeed, 
 in this world ; she passed out of it many years 
 ago. Were it not so, I do not think I could 
 trust myself to speak of her — even now. She 
 was very beautiful, Anthony, and she was my 
 wife in the eyes of God and man. But she did 
 not love me enough to have complete faith in 
 me. She married me secretly — there is no need 
 to tell you why — but when those who were in- 
 terested in separating us brought falsehoods to 
 her against my character, and said I had legal 
 ties existing which prevented her being my
 
 30 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 lawful wife, she believed them instead of me, 
 and left me without any clue to her discovery, 
 and died of the broken heart she had brought 
 upon herself. And when she did that, my boy, 
 she broke mine too/' 
 
 '^ She must have loved you very much," said 
 Anthony Melstrom, gently. 
 
 " She did ; but the more I believed in her 
 affection for me, the greater my remorse became. 
 It is remorse that has carved out my life and 
 made me what I am. The remembrance of her 
 want of faith in my honour had no power to 
 quell that, though it has turned me against the 
 whole sex for her sake. There is but one way 
 to live happy or content, Melstrom. Avoid 
 women as you would a pestilence. Abjure love 
 and marriage ; they are only cheats to lure men 
 to their destruction — mirages in the desert of 
 life, which promise satisfaction, but vanish as 
 you approach close to them. Keep to yourself, 
 and if not happy, you can at least be free. Give 
 up your liberty and you become a slave, with- 
 out any compensation.'^
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 31 
 
 '• Fosbrooke, you are a misanthrope ! '^ ex- 
 claimed his companion ; '^ you view the world 
 through the memory of your own disappointment. 
 You don't know what it is to be doubly happy 
 in the presence of one you love." 
 
 "Don't I, my boy.?'' cried Fosbrooke, as he 
 drained another glass of champagne. '^That's all 
 you know about it. Do you think there is no 
 happiness in • this world without making love ? 
 That's a boy's creed. Have you never heard 
 of the land of Bohemia — the world of wit, and 
 language, and song ; where the care is lightest, 
 and the talk is brightest, and we turn the night 
 into the day, or the day into the night, just as 
 it may please our unfettered spirits to do t That 
 is my world, Anthony — the kingdom I have 
 possessed now for over twenty years, in which 
 I shall reign till I die. There are no women 
 there, my friend, or not, at all events, in the 
 set to which I belong ; and if they do enter, it 
 is on sufferance, and we neither love them nor 
 hate them sufficiently to make our hearts ache. 
 That is the place to live and die in— the Land
 
 32 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 of Bohemia. Let us drink to it in a flowing 
 bumper." 
 
 "And yet, beautiful and pleasant as you 
 assert it to be, Fosbrooke, you did not seem to 
 show much reluctance at leaving it just now. 
 How is that ? " demanded Melstrom. 
 
 For a moment Fosbrooke looked puzzled what 
 to reply. 
 
 " Well, you see, my dear Anthony, the glass 
 will fall sometimes, and even in Bohemia does 
 not always point at ' Fair.' Besides, I have none 
 of my bons camarades with me in Homburg, and 
 I must confess that I have been drinking too 
 much lately — all from want of companionship — 
 and playing too high. When I am alone for a 
 few days, old memories come pouring back upon 
 me in such a flood, that I am not always master 
 of myself. And then I have lost confoundedly — 
 been completely cleared out, in fact, and I shall 
 have to raise the wind till my remittances fall 
 due again. So, taking one thing and another 
 into consideration, I thought I might as well
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES ZZ 
 
 not quite clear yet whether I'm obliged to you 
 for spoiling my little game/' 
 
 " Oh yes, you are," exclaimed the younger 
 man; "and you will be still more so to-morrow. 
 Look here, Fosbrooke, I have a proposal to make 
 to you. Let us travel on together. I have more 
 ammunition than I need to carry on the war, 
 and can easily be your banker till your remit- 
 tances arrive. And it will be a real charity to 
 take me in tow. I am lonely like yourself, and 
 very impatient to make the time pass till I can 
 return home^ and I am sure your company will 
 help to do so. Is it a bargain } " 
 
 " My dear fellow, nothing would give me 
 greater pleasure. I am not quite a pauper, 
 Melstrom, and if you will lend me sufficient to 
 get out of Homburg, I shall receive a communica- 
 tion from my bankers in the course of a week. 
 But what will the Countess say ? ^' 
 
 " I don't understand you." 
 
 '^ Will she not be shocked if she hears that 
 you have taken up with a man of my Bohemian 
 procHvities — with a gambler, for I tell you 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 34 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 plainly that I find my greatest excitement at 
 the tables or in the cards — with a disbeliever in 
 love, marriage, women, virtue — all the good 
 old fables, in fact, which have been instilled 
 into our minds with our mother's milk, and 
 which so few of us credit afterwards ? " 
 
 Anthony Melstrom looked serious. 
 
 " Strange to say," he answered, ^' though I 
 have known you so short a time, I do not 
 believe you to be half so bad as you would 
 make yourself out to be. But were it so, I am 
 afraid my mother does not take enough interest 
 in my career to be either shocked or pleased by 
 the company I keep. In fact, she has never 
 asked what it might be, so I consider myself 
 at liberty to choose it for myself And when 
 the month of probation is over, I shall try and 
 induce you to accompany me back to Garden- 
 holme." 
 
 Oliver Fosbrooke started. 
 
 " To Gardenholme ? " he ejaculated. " Oh no ! 
 I could not go with you to Gardenholme.^' 
 
 " Why not } You say you know the place.
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 35 
 
 and must remember how charming the old 
 abbey and the surrounding gardens are.'^ 
 
 Fosbrooke passed his handkerchief across 
 his brow. 
 
 "Yes. I can remember perfectly. Is it 
 much changed from — from five-and-twenty years 
 ago ? " 
 
 " I believe not. My mother always prides 
 herself on keeping it up as it was in the old 
 days. Did you know my grandfather, Fos- 
 brooke } " 
 
 ''No. He had been dead for some years 
 before I became acquainted with your father/' 
 
 " But you must have known my father's 
 sister, Lady Diana Melstrom, who lived with 
 him till she died. Poor Aunt Diana ! I never 
 saw her, of course, but I have heard she was 
 lovely. Our old butler says she was the toast 
 of the county." 
 
 "What did she die of.^ " demanded Fosbrooke, 
 as he stooped to recover his serviette. 
 
 " I am not quite sure. I believe it was from 
 a fall from her horse, or some dreadful accident, 
 
 D 2
 
 36 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 but my mother never cared to speak of it. 
 Indeed, I hardly think she knows herself. And 
 Aunt Diana was such a favourite sister of my 
 father's that he could never bear to mention 
 her name. Although she was such a beauty, 
 we have not a single likeness of her. He 
 smashed them all after her death, and destroyed 
 every memento of her. It seems a great pity ! " 
 
 '^ Does — does this Miss Paget you spoke 
 of remember your poor aunt ? " asked Fos- 
 brooke. 
 
 "Oh no! How should she? She only 
 
 came to live with us a few years before my 
 
 father's death — when I was about five, I 
 
 think. She never knew any of the family 
 
 >±)efore that.'' 
 
 "Well, I am not sure whether I should like 
 to see Gardenholme again or not, Melstrom. It 
 would contain many sweet and bitter memories 
 for me, for I esteemed your father highly. But 
 for your sake I am sure I should like to be 
 introduced to Miss Lily Osprey.'' 
 
 "You shall be introduced to her when she
 
 MUTUAL CONFIDENCES 37 
 
 is my wife, if not before," replied the lad, 
 proudly. 
 
 "Don't shout till you're out of the wood, 
 Anthony. A year is a long time to a girl of 
 nineteen. You may find a rival in the field." 
 " Never ! She is as true as steel." 
 '^ Others have said that before you. But 
 come, my friend, the supper is finished, and it is 
 early morning. We had better go to bed. To- 
 morrow, since you wish it, we will journey on 
 together, and I will try what I can do to make 
 your exile pleasanter to you. Good night ! 
 I suppose I ought to thank you again for what 
 you have done for me, or saved me from, and 
 I do thank you for the generous impulse that 
 prompted the deed. That, and a certain look 
 in your eyes that brings back the remembrance 
 of happier days to me, have made me your friend 
 for life, Anthony. I am not a good man — I do 
 not profess to be — but you need never fear for 
 me. I will cut off my right hand before I abuse 
 the trust and confidence you have shown in me 
 to-night.''
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IN THE countess's BOUDOIR. 
 
 EW people with unbiassed minds 
 would have been found ready to 
 endorse Anthony Melstrom's generous 
 estimate of his elder brother's character, for 
 to the majority Lord Cul warren was an effete, 
 weak-minded, and intensely conceited young 
 man. Having no occasion to work for his 
 living, and being strongly desirous to court 
 popularity, he tried to pose as a genius, and spent 
 his time in writing bad novels and worse poetry, 
 which no one read but tuft-hunters, and for 
 the appearance of which he largely indemnified 
 his publishers. Still, he and his mother con- 
 tinued to believe that his non-success was 
 caused solely by the envy and malice of less
 
 IN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 39 
 
 favoured writers, and that the day must dawn 
 when his brilliant talents, combined with his 
 high station, would make the world fall down 
 and worship him. They formed of themselves 
 a little mutual admiration society, of which 
 each member was always ready to put the 
 other in a good temper, despite of all discourage- 
 ments from without. So the young Earl wrote, 
 and Lady Culwarren admired, and chose to 
 believe that every one viewed them in the 
 same light they did themselves. 
 
 About a month after the occurrence related 
 in the last chapter, the Countess was seated 
 in her boudoir awaiting the arrival of her son. 
 She kept a suite of apartments for her own 
 use in the left wing of the house, which was 
 shut off by baize doors from the rest of the 
 establishment. Here, in a gorgeously furnished 
 apartment, the walls, and tables, and etageres 
 of which were covered with paintings, marble 
 statuettes, rare china, and ivory carvings, it was 
 her ladyship's pleasure to take her breakfast 
 and receive such of her intimates as desired an
 
 40 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 audience of her, before she appeared en grande 
 toilette at the luncheon-table. Culwarren was 
 naturally the most frequent and the most 
 favoured guest who ever knocked at the boudoir 
 door. Indeed, he usually spent all his mornings 
 there, composing his literary rubbish under the 
 supervision of his mother, who was about as 
 competent to advise as he was to write. But 
 a sincere, though selfish affection existed 
 between the Countess and her son, and the 
 readiness with which she called out " Entrez " in 
 answer to his summons, showed the satisfaction 
 she felt at his arrival. It would fain have 
 astonished any one who had been told that the 
 Earl of Culwarren resembled his once beautiful 
 mother, to have seen them together for the 
 first time. He was a tall, slender young man, 
 with brown eyes, and dark, crisp hair, which 
 he wore rather long, in imitation of Tennyson 
 and Swinburne, whilst she had a head of 
 bright golden locks. But she had become in- 
 oculated with the prevailing fashion of dyeing 
 lier hair and painting her face, which, as she
 
 IN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 41 
 
 was now in her fifty-second year, made her 
 age only more apparent. But she had been a 
 toasted beauty, and she could not forget it, 
 and so she attempted to hide the ravages of 
 Time by Art, and fondly hoped that no one 
 but her maid was in the secret. Attired in a 
 peach-coloured robe de chambre, trimmed with 
 costly lace, and with a fanciful cap upon her 
 head, Lady Culwarren looked like a large and 
 handsome doll, freshly turned out of the maker's 
 hands, before any of its curls had been ruffled, 
 or the rosy hue of its lips kissed away. She 
 saluted her son, though, very affectionately, 
 and discovered at the first glance that some- 
 thing had disturbed him. 
 
 " Why, my dear Culwarren, what is the 
 matter } " she exclaimed, as she held his hand. 
 ''Nothing unpleasant appeared in the papers 
 about * An Aristocratic Secret,^ I hope ? 
 Because, if so, you must certainly not let Toad- 
 eater have your next novel. I gave him carte 
 blanche to buy up the critics, in order that you 
 should have favourable reviews."
 
 42 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ''No, mother, it's not that. There hasn't 
 been time for the book to be reviewed yet." 
 
 "Nonsense, dear boy! It has been out more 
 than a week, and naturally the critics would 
 read a novel from your pen sooner than they 
 would those of the dozens of common authors 
 who make a living by literature." 
 
 " Perhaps so. Still, I have seen nothing of 
 it/' 
 
 " What makes you look so gloomy, then ? 
 You have had something on your mind for 
 weeks past. Come ! what is the use of beating 
 about the bush in this way } Tell me all about 
 it. I may be able to help you." 
 
 The young Earl threw himself into a chair 
 and leaned his head thoughtfully upon his hand. 
 
 "You have remarked it then, mother .!*" he 
 said, with a melodramatic air. 
 
 " How could I fail to remark it, Culwarren } 
 Whom do I ever trouble my head about, except 
 it is yourself.? You know that you are my 
 chief care — that you occupy my undivided heart, 
 and always have done so — with the exception.
 
 IN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 43 
 
 of course, of that afYection which was due to 
 your late lamented father." 
 
 " You have forgotten my brother Melstrom," 
 said the Earl. At the mention of that name 
 the alteration in Lady Culwarren's voice and 
 manner was painfully apparent. From having 
 been earnest and affectionate it became hard 
 and cold, as though the very subject were 
 distasteful to her. She could not forgive the 
 younger son, perhaps, for being so much hand- 
 somer, brighter^ and a greater favourite with 
 the world than his elder brother. 
 
 " Anthony ! '^ she ejaculated, indifferently. 
 *' Oh, yes ! he is well enough, poor fellow, and 
 his father made an absurd fuss over him. But 
 you are my own child, Culwarren — a Fairley 
 no less in feature than in mind. You take after 
 my family, and you have always held the first 
 place in my affections." 
 
 '^ And you are very fond of Lily also, mother, 
 are you not .^ I fancy you would find it almost 
 as hard to part with her as with myself" 
 
 '* Well, naturally, Culwarren, You have often
 
 44 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 heard me speak of the strong attachment that 
 existed between my dead sister and myself^ 
 and her child has been Hke a real daughter to 
 me. But why look so conscious ? Have you 
 really come this morning to make a confession 
 to me?" 
 
 " What sort of a confession ? ^^ asked the 
 Earl, with a conceited smile. 
 
 " One that I have been expecting to hear 
 for a long time — that you have come to the 
 conclusion that since Lily has spent so much 
 of her life with us, it would be a pity for her 
 ever to seek another home." 
 
 " Don't laugh at me, mother, for Tm very 
 much in earnest. Tm over head and ears in 
 love with her, and I want to marry her. There ! 
 now the murder^s out." 
 
 ''Well?'' 
 
 '^ Weill You are not surprised, nor vexed, 
 nor startled by my announcement t For this is 
 no light fancy on my part, mother, to be taken 
 up to-day and put down to-morrow. I want 
 to make Lilian Osprey the Countess of Culwarren.
 
 IN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 45 
 
 You are sure you will like to see her sitting in 
 your seat?" 
 
 Lady Culwarren rose with dignity, and cross- 
 ing the room, imprinted a kiss upon the fore- 
 head of her son. It was not an ardent kiss — 
 as mothers' kisses go — but then she had just 
 been made up_, and had her paint and powder 
 to think of But the embrace was worth more 
 than it appeared, only there are circumstances 
 under which one cannot afford to be too 
 affectionate. 
 
 " My darling boy, it is just what I have 
 been secretly longing for. Lily is a sweet, 
 affectionate, docile girl, who will make you a 
 charming wife and me an excellent daughter. 
 I congratulate you both with all my heart." 
 
 " Yes ! But what about Anthony } " 
 
 "What about Anthony .? I do not understand 
 you, Culwarren." 
 
 " Why, you know there were love passages 
 between him and Lily before he left home — that 
 they even considered themselves engaged to 
 each other."
 
 46 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Nonsense ! nonsense ! ^^ exclaimed the 
 Countess, '^ there was nothing of the sort. I 
 utterly forbade them to think of such a thing. 
 Anthony may have disobeyed me — he has 
 always been of an intractable and rebellious 
 nature — but I have implicit faith in my niece, 
 and I can vouch for her never having written 
 to him, or hardly spoken of him, since their 
 separation/' 
 
 " Still, she may not have forgotten him, 
 mother, and somehow I don't think she has. If 
 I formally offer her my hand, she may not see fit 
 to accept if 
 
 Lady Culwarren laughed incredulously. 
 
 " With your coronet in it ! What an absurd 
 idea ! Really, Culwarren, you are ridiculously 
 modest. Do you mean to tell me that if you, 
 with your title, and your wealth, and your genius 
 and good looks, were to ask Lily Osprey to be 
 your wife, she would refuse you ? You must 
 think very little of yourself, or very little of her, 
 to entertain such an idea. You put me out of 
 all patience by even supposing it."
 
 JN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 47 
 
 But the Earl shook his head, and was silent. 
 
 "Why, Culwarren, what in the name of 
 wonder do you expect ? You cannot really 
 suppose that Lily is secretly fretting after that 
 scapegrace brother of yours ? He must have had 
 twenty other love affairs by this time." 
 
 "Perhaps, mother. I may be altogether 
 wrong, but I don't think she favours my suit. 
 To tell you the truth, I have approached the 
 subject with her several times lately, and she 
 has always repulsed me. This morning we met 
 in the corridor, and she looked so lovely in her 
 simple muslin dress, I felt as if I could not 
 restrain my feelings any longer ; but directly 
 she found out to what my words were leading, 
 she ran away and joined Miss Paget, and has 
 refused to leave her side since." 
 
 "All modesty, my dear son, and maidenly 
 bashfulness. You young fellows who knock 
 about the world and come in contact with so 
 many women unworthy of the name, cannot 
 understand the feelings of alarm that assail an 
 innocent girl when first she is made love to.
 
 48 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Perhaps, also, Lily is uncertain of my approbation, 
 and dutiful enough to wish to ascertain it before 
 giving you encouragement/' 
 
 '^Do you really think so, mother ?'' 
 
 " I really do. As for that other business, you 
 need not waste a thought upon it. It never 
 amounted to anything, and has been forgotten 
 long ago. Besides, such a marriage would be 
 impossible. Lily is entirely under my control, 
 and neither of them has sufficient money to 
 maintain a suitable position. I would never give 
 my consent to it. Anthony will have nothing 
 until my death, except a paltry three hundred a 
 year which he inherits on coming of age." 
 
 " Why, mother, he is twenty-one to-day, is he 
 not ? By George ! I had quite forgotten it ! " 
 
 '' So had I, my dear ; but the birthdays of 
 younger sons are of no consequence. By the 
 way, though, it reminds me that I saw a letter 
 in his handwriting amongst that pile. Read it 
 to me, Culwarren. I dare say, as usual, it will 
 contain nothing to amuse or interest us ; but as 
 it has come, it may as well be opened."
 
 IN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 49 
 
 She lay back in her chair and commenced 
 to sip her cup of chocolate^ as the Earl rose 
 and selected his brother's letter from the rest. 
 But as he glanced at its contents, he grew pale 
 with excitement. 
 
 " Mother," he exclaimed, ^' he has returned 
 to England. Anthony wrote this letter from 
 London last night, to request a carriage may 
 be sent for him and his friend, Mr. Fosbrooke, 
 to the ' Culwarren Arms ' at Dearham to-day. He 
 says he is determined to spend his twenty-first 
 birthday at home. I guess the reason of this 
 unexpected return. I know why he is coming back 
 the very moment he is his own master, and no 
 longer under your control. He means to take 
 Lily from me. He will assert the rights of their 
 previous engagement to ask her to become his 
 wife, and from the moment he re-enters the 
 Abbey, my chances are gone for ever.'' And 
 Culwarren began to pace up and down the room 
 like a caged panther. But the Countess would 
 not allow there was any cause for her son's 
 alarm. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 so THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " You are talking like a child, Cuhvarren/' 
 she said, somewhat impatiently, " and will spoil 
 everything if you are not careful. I have already 
 told you to leave this matter to me. Say nothing 
 of Anthony's expected return downstairs. It will 
 be quite time enough to announce the news when 
 I appear at the luncheon-table." 
 
 ^' But Anthony desires the carriage shall go 
 for them at twelve." 
 
 " I can't help that. He should have shown 
 a little more consideration than to take us so 
 completely unawares. I shall tell him it v^as not 
 convenient. And who is this friend, Mr. Fos- 
 brooke, of whom his last letters have been so 
 full t Why should he foist him off on Garden- 
 holme as well as himself.? He knows how I 
 hate strangers. But Anthony was always selfish 
 and inconsiderate from a child. I pity the woman 
 who marries him. The carriage will not start 
 for them till three, however — I am not going 
 to have my servants disturbed at their dinner — • 
 and by that time, Culwarren, Lily Osprey shall be 
 your affianced wife."
 
 IN THE COUNTESS'S BOUDOIR 51 
 
 " Mother ! is it possible ? '' 
 
 " It is more than possible — it is certain. As 
 soon as you have left me, I shall send for Lily 
 and speak to her myself. She cannot refuse me. 
 I have brought her up from an infant, and been 
 both father and mother to her. She is more 
 daring than I take her for if she presumes to 
 question my right to settle her choice of a 
 husband. If she has foolishly cherished any idea 
 of allegiance to your brother, she shall at once 
 dismiss it." 
 
 " But supposing she finds that impossible } 
 Supposing her heart is so seriously involved that 
 she refuses to give Anthony up ? The idea that 
 any other man may possess her drives me mad. 
 If that should come to pass, I believe '■' 
 
 " It Jiever shall come to pass, Culwarren. Trust 
 me to prevent it. And now go, in order that I 
 may send my maid to find Lily at once. Depend 
 that all shall be right when we meet again." 
 
 The Earl kissed his mother's blooming cheek 
 with filial discretion, and left her to carry out his 
 matrimonial designs. 
 
 E 2
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "DRAWN INTO THE NET." 
 
 HEN Lady Culwarren^s maid went in 
 search of Miss Osprey, she found 
 her in the music-room, with her 
 head upon Miss Paget^s shoulder, listening with 
 languid, closed eyes to the glorious melodies of 
 Mozart. The music- room at Gardenholme was 
 an institution. Both the Earl and his mother 
 sang well, and Miss Paget was an excellent 
 musician. Lady Culwarren, therefore, had had 
 every inducement since her husband's death to 
 keep up the apartment in the style in which 
 he had loved to see it. It was a saloon, or 
 wide corridor, connecting the rooms on the 
 lower floor, and was closed at either end by 
 folding doors. The floor was composed of 
 tesselated wood, the walls of oak panelling, and
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET' 53 
 
 the dome-shaped ceiling was painted with a 
 representation of the apotheosis of Saint Cecilia, 
 the patroness of melody. In the centre of the 
 room, opposite the high, carved-wood mantel- 
 piece, there was a chamber organ, the use of 
 which was known only to Miss Paget. On a 
 raised platform at one end stood a grand 
 pianoforte and a harp in its leathern cover, and 
 at the other a bookcase containing a complete 
 library of music by ancient and modern com- 
 posers. About the room were cases of violins, 
 guitars, flutes, and concertinas — of every instru- 
 ment, in fact, which Lord Cuhvarren had thought 
 fit to take up for a few months, or weeks, or 
 days, as the fancy seized upon or deserted him. 
 Lately, however, he had come to the conclusion 
 that a mandoline was the fittest medium for a 
 poet's fantasies, and so the others had been left 
 in peace. A few couches ranged round the 
 walls, and a table with writing materials for 
 copying or composing music, completed the 
 furniture of the room, which was the favourite 
 retreat of Miss Paget and Lily Osprey, wl:o was
 
 54 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ardently attached to her. As they sat together 
 at the organ now, they formed a charming 
 contrast. Lily was really lovely. The brothers' 
 contest for her possession became no marvel 
 when one saw her perfectly formed figure, 
 rounded as that of a child, and yet supple as 
 an Eastern houri's — her long, almond-shaped 
 eyes dark as night, her blue-black hair without 
 any gloss upon it, her delicate complexion, and 
 curved lips tinged like the rose-leaf She was, 
 in fact, too pretty to be very strong-minded 
 or reliable, and under her aunt's arbitrary 
 control was as plastic as warm wax in the 
 hands of a moulder. Miss Paget, on the contrary, 
 was a woman of great character and deter- 
 mination. Her pale features, chiselled like 
 those of a statue, must have been very hand- 
 some in her younger days, and her hair was 
 soft and abundant ; but she aUvays hid it away 
 beneath a mob-cap, and dressed in grave colours, 
 and a style that made her look much older 
 than she was. But she was a thorough gentle- 
 woman and one of great accomplishments, and
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'' 55 
 
 it was evident from the free and unembarrassed 
 manner in which caresses passed between her 
 and the ladies of the establishment that she 
 was not looked on as an ordinary companion at 
 Gardenholme. Indeed, she was more like a 
 dear friend to Lady Culwarren than a depen- 
 dent, being a distant connection of the late 
 Earl, and having been especially recommended 
 by him to the care and consideration of his 
 Countess. As Lily Osprey heard the message 
 sent to her by Lady Culwarren, she jumped 
 up from her caressing position, almost with a 
 look of alarm. 
 
 "Oh, Miss Paget, what can Aunt Emily 
 want with me?" 
 
 '' How can / tell, Lily ? A book fetched, per- 
 haps, or a note written. Don't keep her waiting.^' 
 
 "But I went in and kissed her the first thing 
 this morning. I wonder if Culwarren is with her?" 
 
 '^ What difference can that make to you } 
 Your aunt would not have sent for you if she 
 did not require you. Really, Lily, I think you 
 are growing lazier every day."
 
 56 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " I hate to be called away in the midst of 
 your music/' said the girl, still lingering. 
 
 '' Then go and do her ladyship's bidding 
 without further delay, and you will be the 
 sooner able to return to it. I will wait for 
 you here/' 
 
 Miss Osprey left the room, but very slowly. 
 Her instincts warned her of what was coming, 
 and she felt as nervous of the approaching 
 interview as the little bird does that flutters 
 nearer and nearer to the serpent's sinuous body 
 and glittering, cruel eyes. There was something 
 not unlike the subtlety of the serpent, too, in 
 the fawning way in which Lady Culwarren 
 received the poor little bird. For she had a 
 strong suspicion that Lily did retain some 
 romantic memory of her younger cousin, and 
 her intention was to surround the girl, as it 
 were, with so vivid a picture of all she owed 
 to her love and protection, as to leave her no 
 means of escape when asked to make some 
 return for all she had received. So the Countess 
 embraced her niece on meeting with more tha
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'' S7 
 
 her usual tenderness, and drew her down to 
 sit beside her on a little couch by the window. 
 
 ''My dearest girl," she commenced, "I have 
 scarcely seen you this morning, and you cannot 
 think how I miss the sight of your sweet face. 
 It is very selfish of me, perhaps ; but I am 
 jealous of your company being so much monopo- 
 lised by strangers." 
 
 " I have been sitting with Miss Paget, Aunt 
 Emily, in the music-room." 
 
 " It is all the same thing, my child. You 
 were not /iere. And you know how much I 
 love yoil, Lily.'' 
 
 " I know how good you have always been to me." 
 
 ''That is a very cold way of expressing it, 
 my dear. Others have been good to you, I 
 dare say — Miss Paget, for example — but I have 
 cared for you for my beloved sister's sake, and 
 loved you only second to your cousin Cul- 
 warren. Have you ever felt the want of a 
 mother, Lily?'' 
 
 " Never, dear Aunt Emily," cried the girl, 
 warmly. " I have often said how much luckier
 
 58 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 I am than other girls_, for I have had two 
 mothers — yourself and Miss Paget — to bring me 
 up between you^ and from the affection you 
 have lavished on me, I have never had an 
 opportunity to regret my own. Indeed — indeed, 
 I am not ungrateful/' 
 
 "I am sure you are not, my love. It is 
 quite true, Lily, that but for me you would 
 never have had a home. Your poor parents 
 were sadly imprudent, and left you, poor little 
 orphan, with scarcely a halfpenny in the world. 
 You will have a very small annual allowance, 
 love, on attaining your majority, but it is a 
 trifle compared to what I have spent on your 
 education alone. But I took you to my bosom 
 gladly and thankfully for my dear sister's sake, 
 and if I have ever failed in my duty to you 
 tell me of the error, and it shall be rectified." 
 
 " Oh ! dear Aunt Emily, how can you speak 
 so to me, who owe everything I possess to your 
 goodness and bounty ? '^ 
 
 '^ I ask nothing in return, my darling, ex- 
 cept to see you and my dear Culvvarren happy.
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET' 59 
 
 We have been talking so much of you this 
 morning." 
 
 " Of me. Aunt Emily ? '' 
 
 The child's cheek paled at once. She knew 
 her instincts had not led her wrong. 
 
 "Yes, of you. Why not? Do we not both 
 love you dearly ? Who, indeed, have we to 
 care for or to love, if not yourself, my Lily ? '^ 
 
 '^ Dear Aunt Emily, I can say no more 
 than I have done already. I owe my home 
 and all I possess to you, and I would lay down 
 my life to prove my gratitude.^' 
 
 The Countess laughed immoderately at Lily's 
 enthusiasm, and patted her delicately tinted cheek. 
 
 " Oh ! we don't ask quite such a sacrifice 
 from you as that, my love. But you are happy 
 with us, are you not ? " 
 
 Lily hesitated a moment before she replied : 
 '•' Yes, aunt, I am happy." 
 
 "You love Gardenholme, I am sure, and 
 your many pleasures here. You would be sorry 
 to lose the society of dear Miss Paget or the 
 affection of Culwarren and myself?"
 
 6o THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "Very, very sorry. Have I not already told 
 you that I am happy? " 
 
 " I am rejoiced to hear it. I wish both my 
 beloved children could say the same thing. 
 But Cuhvarren is not happy, Lily." 
 
 " Culwarren not happy } Why } " demanded 
 the girl, trembling for the answer she felt she 
 should receive. 
 
 ^^ Can you ask me that question, dear ? 
 You are a woman, and must have a woman's 
 instincts. Are your eyes not opened .'* Is it 
 possible you are still blind to the great love 
 my boy bears for you ? " 
 
 " Oh, aunt, pray don't say so ! Pray don't go 
 on/' cried her niece, with clasped hands and a look 
 of the utmost distress. Lady Culwarren saw that 
 it was no mock modesty that dictated this appeal 
 to her, but she continued without mercy, though 
 with a considerable access of dignity. 
 
 "Why should I not say so? You do not 
 mean to tell me, Lily, that you would dare to 
 trifle with his happiness and mine ; that after 
 all the years of tender solicitude I have spent
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'' 6i 
 
 upon you, you would break away from us like 
 a stranger. Is it too much in return to ask 
 you to listen to what I have to say ? '' 
 
 ^' Go on, dear aunt," replied the girl, in a 
 stifled voice. 
 
 " Culwarren loves you/' continued the Countess, 
 in a stiffer and prouder tone, "and he wishes to 
 make you his v/ife. There is hardly a family in 
 England from which he might not choose a 
 Countess as fancy dictated to him; but he 
 prefers to confer that honour upon you, and I, 
 too, am anxious to call you in reality what you 
 have so long been from adoption — my daughter. 
 I can hardly believe, then, that you intend to 
 fly in my face and disappoint all our hopes by 
 a rude rejection of his offer." 
 
 " Oh, no ! " said Lily, who was shaking like 
 an aspen-leaf, '' I would not be ungrateful to 
 you or him for all the world ; but, still, if I 
 cannot — that is to say, it would be so unfair " 
 
 " What would be unfair } " demanded the 
 Countess, with chilling precision. *' Do you 
 mean to say you do not love your cousin ? "
 
 62 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Of course I love him, but not in that way." 
 
 ''Not in zv/iat way?" 
 
 Lily blushed violently^ but remained silent. 
 
 " What can you know of the different ways 
 of love? Who has presumed to speak to you 
 on such a subject?''^ 
 
 " No one, Aunt Emily. Only I thought '"' 
 
 "You must not think ; your duty is to obey. 
 Come, Lily, tell me that you will make my dear 
 Culwarren happy, and you will never hear another 
 reproachful word from me.''' 
 
 " But can I make him happy t '^ asked Lily, 
 sadly. 
 
 " Of course you can, and me also. I have 
 planned a marriage between you for years past, 
 and am delighted my beloved son sees it in the 
 same light as I do. But you are still silent. You 
 really intend, then, to give me trouble in this 
 matter .? " 
 
 " No, no ! I will do anything you wish. You 
 have a right to command my actions." 
 
 "Then I may tell Culwarren that it is a settled 
 thing ? "
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'' 63 
 
 ''How can I say 'No' in the face of all of 
 which you have reminded me ? '^ replied the girl, 
 with the tears upon her face. 
 
 Lady Culwarren kissed them off. 
 
 " There, there ! I will ask no more at present. 
 Dry your eyes, dear child, and let me salute the 
 future Countess of Culwarren. You have said 
 quite enough, my darling, and I feel sure you 
 will never go back from your word. Come, Lily, 
 don't be a little goose. The prospect of marriage 
 is always startling at first to an unsophisticated 
 girl, but you will learn to look back on this day 
 as the happiest of your life.'' 
 
 The girl rose from her seat and sobbed for a 
 i^\N minutes in Lady Culwarren's arms, then, 
 drying her eyes, she gave her one or two hasty 
 kisses and quickly left the apartment. Her first 
 impulse was to seek Miss Paget and tell her of the 
 terrible misfortune which had befallen her. It 
 is true that, notwithstanding the affection that 
 existed between them, the reserved and staid 
 demeanour of Lady Culwarren's companion, as 
 well as the superiority of her age, had prevented,
 
 64 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 hitherto, any very warm confidences passing 
 between her and Miss Osprey ; but all that Lily 
 remembered at this moment was that Miss Paget 
 was the only person to whom she could tell her 
 perplexity, and that if she did not tell it to 
 some one her heart would break. She did not 
 expect to hear Miss Paget blame the action of 
 her employer nor the presumption of the Earl. 
 That would have been in direct opposition to the 
 perfect respect with which she acquiesced in every 
 decision arrived at by the house of Culwarren. 
 But she did think that she would have bidden 
 her be true to the higher nature she had sedulously 
 striven to cultivate in her, and to bravely resist all 
 counsel in such a case but that of her own heart. 
 She found the companion still seated at the organ, 
 and walking straight up to her, she laid her head 
 down on her bosom and burst into a flood of tears. 
 " What on earth is the matter, Lily ? " ex- 
 claimed Miss Paget, as she removed her hands 
 from the keys, and regarded her young friend 
 with surprise. "What has occasioned this distress? 
 Has some clumsy servant trodden on your precious
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'' 65 
 
 Bijou again, or does the moulting canary still 
 refuse his food ? " 
 
 It was a peculiarity of Miss Paget that though 
 apparently formed by nature to be all that was 
 soft, and womanly, and refined, she invariably 
 professed to believe that the most violent emotion 
 might spring from the meanest causes. She ridi- 
 culed, in fact, all feeling, affirmed there were no 
 misfortunes in this world worthy the tears of a 
 reasonable being, and that we had but to bring 
 a powerful will to bear upon our determination 
 not to suffer to make all circumstances alike in- 
 different to us. She had little sympathy, then, 
 as may be supposed, for weakness of any sort, and 
 evinced the profoundest contempt for those hapless 
 mortals who permit themselves to be crushed by 
 the troubles which accompany all earthly careers. 
 
 "Don't laugh at me, Miss Paget," sobbed Lily. 
 '' It is nothing. I shall be myself again presently." 
 
 "If it be nothing, I sincerely hope you will. 
 Right or wrong, people generally fancy they have 
 something to weep and wail for. Few will confess 
 to doing it for pleasure." 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 66 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ^' Of course there is a reason. You might 
 guess that, Miss Paget/^ 
 
 '' I can guess more ! I guess the reason itself. 
 Your aunt has caused these tears by urging you 
 to take a step that appears distasteful to you." 
 
 Lily looked up in astonishment. 
 
 '' How could you know before I told you ? '^ 
 
 '' By studying your character, Lily. Do you 
 think we have lived so short a time together 
 that I have had no opportunity of reading your 
 mind, and thoughts, and wishes .-* Why, for twelve 
 long years we have dwelt under the same roof.'' 
 
 '^ I know it, Miss Paget, and I have heard 
 that my late uncle, for the sake of some dead 
 memories, regarded you as a no less sacred 
 charge to him than myself.^' 
 
 At the mention of Lord Cul warren's goodness 
 to her, the corners of the companion's mouth 
 worked visibly, but she exercised the strong will 
 she was so fond of recommending to others 
 upon the muscles of her face, and after a 
 moment's struggle it had settled down into its 
 usual placid, though rather weary expression.
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'' 67 
 
 '^You are right, Lily. He was a true friend 
 to me. May God bless him for it ! And in 
 return I have tried to do my duty to those he 
 left behind him. I am not very demonstrative 
 in my affection, but you must have seen I 
 care for you." 
 
 *' Indeed, I hope so. Your kindness to me. 
 Miss Paget, and to — to — my cousin Anthony " 
 
 " Your cousin Anthony ? Why do you par- 
 ticularise him } Why not include Culwarren ? 
 I have watched you all grow up together from 
 children. What preference have I shown be- 
 tween the three .? " 
 
 At this question Lily became confused. 
 
 "Oh, I don't know. Only I thought — I 
 have always fancied you liked Anthony best." 
 
 " Your fancy is the reflection of your own 
 mind, my dear ; though I confess I have 
 always taken a strong interest in Anthony's 
 character — partly, perhaps, because nobody else 
 seemed to do so. It is wild and fitful enough 
 to make an anxious study for any one who is 
 concerned in his future career — far too wild and 
 
 F 2
 
 68 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 fitful for a husband. Lily, Cuhvarren will bring 
 far more peace into your domestic life." 
 
 " Oh, Miss Paget ! do you, then, know " 
 
 " That her ladyship sent for you this morn- 
 ing to make you an offer of Culwarren's hand, 
 and that you shrink from accepting it because 
 of some foolish fancy in the past. Yes, Lily, 
 I have guessed so far. I have seen in what 
 direction the hopes of Lady Cuhvarren and her 
 son were tending for the last twelve months, and 
 felt sure of the issue to which they must arrive." 
 
 ** And what do you advise me to do ? " cried 
 the girl, with trembling eagerness. 
 
 "Never to look further than to-day," replied 
 Miss Paget, vehemently ; '^ never to remember 
 that yesterday has been, or to-morrow must 
 inevitably be. That is a folly into which your 
 heart may tempt you ; but if you wish to battle 
 successfully with the world, Lily, you must 
 ignore the very existence of a heart." 
 
 She pushed the girl's clinging arms away 
 from her as she spoke, and rose to her full 
 height. Her face was blanched with the force
 
 '' DRAWN INTO THE NET" 69 
 
 of her feeling, though her lips were pressed 
 tightly together to prevent the expression of it. 
 
 "Oh, Miss Paget/' cried Lily, "you frighten me! 
 I have never heard you speak like this before." 
 
 But the companion did not seem to hear that 
 she was spoken to. She had passed away from 
 the scene in which she stood, to a world peopled 
 by her own fancy, or remembrance. 
 
 " I repeat it/' she exclaimed, as she paced up 
 and down the room. " You are a woman, and 
 your heart can never lead you to any happiness. 
 On the contrary, it may plunge you into irretriev- 
 able error — may even persuade you to place your 
 faith in such a lie as Love '^ 
 
 "Miss Paget— Miss Paget!'' 
 
 **To believe that it exists,'"' continued the 
 companion, vehemently; ''that the fables we 
 hear of its delights, its purity, its trust, are not 
 huge frauds invented to tempt weak fools to 
 their destruction — to believe that man is not 
 the natural enemy of woman, and the thing 
 which he calls Love, the commonest weapon 
 with which he strikes her to the ground."
 
 JO THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Lily burst into a fresh flood of tears. Miss 
 Paget seemed to wake as from a dream. In a 
 moment she was herself again. 
 
 "Forgive me, Lily. I am afraid I have 
 forgotten my part of monitor. What was it 
 you asked of me ? My counsel ; it is this. Do 
 as your aunt wishes — marry Culwarren. Please 
 the world ; take all the satisfaction that rank 
 and wealth can offer you, and be happy." 
 
 " How can I be happy upon such terms as 
 these } There is no happiness left in the world 
 for me. Oh, Anthony! " 
 
 "Anthony! It is as I suspected, then, Lily; 
 and that old folly is standing in the light of your 
 future prospects.'^ 
 
 " Oh, have I no pride, no self-respect,'' ex- 
 claimed the girl, as she dashed away her tears, 
 "that I should let my heart be read like an 
 open book .? He must have forgotten me. Our 
 love was but a childish folly — the natural affection 
 of a boy and girl brought up together. It is best for- 
 gotten — blotted from my memory. And yet ■" 
 
 " And yet you want to hug this false sentiment
 
 ''DRAWN INTO THE NET'* 71 
 
 to your bosom, instead of thankfully casting it 
 away to make room for the real life that is opening 
 before you. Lily, I am ashamed of you. Think 
 of all you owe your aunt and cousin — of the 
 happiness you will bestow on them. And think 
 of me, too, dear child. I take the greatest interest 
 in your welfare, and would not have you cast 
 out upon the world to meet temptations which 
 might prove too strong for you. Once married 
 to Culwarren, I shall feel that you are safe." 
 
 She advanced to where the girl stood, and 
 folding her arms around her_, pressed her cold lips 
 to her forehead. 
 
 " There are so many dangers in this world/' she 
 repeated, murmuringly ; " so many which you have 
 never dreamt of; and I would have you safely shel- 
 tered, my darling, from them all. Say that you will 
 marry Lord Culwarren, Lily, and forget the other." 
 
 " I will marry Culwarren,^' replied the girl, 
 in a faltering voice. '* It seems my duty to do 
 so ; but I shall never, never forget, Miss Paget, 
 till I am dead and buried." 
 
 " God help you ! " murmured the companion.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN. 
 
 ^AD the proprietors of Gardenholme been 
 stirring at four o'clock on that par- 
 ticular August morning, they would 
 have found a trespasser on their premises in the 
 person of Oliver Fosbrooke, who had arrived at 
 the " Culwarren Arms " the night before, and 
 slipped out of the house without giving young 
 Melstrom any notice of his intentions. But the 
 shutters of the Abbey were still closed, and not 
 a soul was to be seen anywhere, for Lady Cul- 
 warren's servants brought their London habits into 
 the country with them, and saw no necessity for 
 rising early in the service of a mistress who never 
 made her own appearance before noon. So that 
 when Mr. Fosbrooke came walking quietly along 
 the edge of the grass, looking around him appa-
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 73 
 
 rently with the greatest interest, no gardener nor 
 servant of any sort attempted to bar his progress 
 or to ask his business at that hour of the morning 
 in Lord Culwarren's grounds. Not but what he 
 looked a gentleman from head to foot, and far 
 brighter and, perhaps, a shade less reckless than 
 when Anthony Melstrom first met him in the 
 " Hotel des Papilons " — still, he was attired with 
 a carelessness seldom seen amongst his class in 
 this country, and servants are apt to judge a 
 man by his clothes. He wore a velveteen shooting 
 coat of a peculiar shade of golden brown ; round 
 his throat was knotted a silk handkerchief of 
 the brightest crimson, and the legs of his trousers, 
 which he had turned up with an evident view 
 to avoiding contact with the dew-laden grass, 
 displayed a pair of fawn-coloured boots, with pearl 
 buttons, which were very un-English in their style 
 and manufacture. As he trod the paths of the 
 Abbey grounds, his blue eyes looked very sad 
 and thoughtful. He seemed to recognise each 
 stick and stone of the place, but he stepped 
 carefull/, as though anxious to be neither seen
 
 74 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 nor heard by the inhabitants. The scene which 
 surrounded him was a lovely one, for the sun 
 never shone upon a fairer English residence 
 than Gardenholme, which was situated in the 
 very heart of smiling Surrey. The grounds 
 were extensive, and a large portion of them 
 were left, at Lord Culwarren^s request, to flourish 
 according to the laws of Nature. He had heard 
 of the late Lord Lytton's garden at Kneb- 
 worth, and hoped, perhaps, by imitating his 
 favourite haunts, to become inspired by some of 
 that great author's poetic fancies, or to catch 
 the art of writing in the most elegant English 
 that has ever been transcribed for the benefit of 
 novel-readers. Certainly, though it might be diffi- 
 cult to compete with that romantic retreat which, 
 it was said, irresistibly reminded the spectator 
 of the famous garden of the Emperor Hadrian 
 at Tivoli, where he endeavoured to perpetuate 
 his recollections of classic Greece, Gardenholme 
 was as beautiful a specimen of a pleasure ground 
 — assisted by art to look more natural than 
 nature — as could possibly be found. The little
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 75 
 
 lake that intersected it, winding sinuously be- 
 tween the verdant swards which lay immediately 
 beneath the terrace, was fringed with unpruned 
 bushes that dipped their feathery boughs into 
 the water — whilst from the grass reared a myriad 
 of blossom beads — of golden cowslips, and delicate 
 harebells, and fragrant woodruffe, which no spades 
 nor scythes were ever permitted to uproot or mow 
 down. 
 
 Here Lord Culwarren was used to pace when 
 in the agonies of composition, trying to make 
 his eye in a fine frenzy roll, whilst he knit his 
 brows, and thrust his fingers through his hair, 
 and trampled the innocent flowerets underfoot 
 for nothing. But Oliver Fosbrooke knew naught 
 of the present Earl or his poetic ravings — all his 
 thoughts were occupied with the past, before 
 the genius of the family had been dreamt of. 
 
 " Here is the very spot where I first saw 
 her," he said, inwardly, as he halted for a 
 moment before the old Norman porch. 
 
 *' How well I remember it ! The meet of 
 the hounds was held here in her brother's reign,
 
 ^d THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 and she was allowed to join it for the first time. 
 By Jove ! what a beautiful creature she was ! 
 I can see her graceful figure now as she sprang 
 into the saddle, and the golden curls she flung 
 back so carelessly over her dark blue riding- 
 habit. I know I lost my heart to her then and 
 there — fool that I was ! — and I suppose that is 
 the reason I have never felt it beating since. 
 If I were as susceptible now as I was then, I 
 should surely feel a little sentimental over the 
 memories of three-and-twenty years ago. But 
 I can't. Perhaps IVe suffered too much. 
 Perhaps I've sinned too much. Perhaps IVe 
 tried to drown recollection when it became 
 a misery to me, until I've stamped out 
 all the softness of my nature. But anyway, 
 it's the truth. The remembrance of her beauty 
 and my passion has lost its power over me. I 
 can even contemplate her grave without a sigh. 
 And yet there is something terrible in thinking 
 of all that loveliness mouldering in corruption. 
 Poor Diana ! It was a mistake from beginning 
 to end. . The less said about it the better."
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 77 
 
 Fosbrooke left the porch suddenly as the 
 last thought passed through his mind, and did 
 not once glance backwards as he strode round 
 the corner. But here the sight of a small oriel 
 window, shaded by a dark red blind, seemed to 
 make him flinch as though something had struck 
 him in the face. 
 
 He stopped short, drew his hand quickly 
 across his eyes, as though to convince himself 
 he was awake, and then stared at the casement 
 in mute astonishment. 
 
 "Surely this room lay at the other side of 
 the Abbey } '^ he said, confusedly. " How can 
 I have made such an error.? I never intended 
 to have come here. I — I — would rather have 
 not seen it again." 
 
 He took out a silk handkerchief and drew 
 it once or twice lightly across his brow. 
 
 " Have I been a fool," he asked himself, " to 
 come back to Gardenholme at all .? It seemed 
 so easy to forget when far away. But every 
 inanimate object stirs a fresh remembrance in 
 me. My dear injured friend, my almost brother,
 
 78 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Culwarren, and she, too, poor girl! I wonder 
 if their spirits are about me now ? Wellj well ! 
 I have yielded to an impulse I could not resist, 
 and it is too late to draw back again. But it 
 is as well I have prepared myself for the effect 
 the old place might have on me. I shall be 
 my own master now, whatever happens, and 
 du reste, if memories are still vivid, they shall 
 not " prove too strong for me. Hitherto I have 
 stamped them doum, henceforward I will stamp 
 them oiitr 
 
 Here a slight movement of the red blind, 
 caused probably by the morning breeze finding 
 its way into the half-opened casement, made 
 Fosbrooke start. He feared it might be followed 
 by the appearance of some one whom his foot- 
 steps had aroused from sleep. 
 
 " It will not do for me to be caught skulk- 
 ing about Gardjnholme as though I had some 
 evil design upon the plate-chest. I am known to 
 no one here, and might have some difficulty in 
 accounting for my presence. I had better find 
 my way back to Dearham as quickly as I can.
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 79 
 
 I don't want even Anthony to guess where my 
 morning stroll has led me." 
 
 He did not loiter another moment, but 
 walked rapidly through the wet grass, scaring 
 the blackbirds and thrushes at their morning 
 meal, until he had gained the outskirts of the 
 grounds that immediately surrounded the Abbey. 
 
 '' How lovely it all is ! " thought Fosbrooke, 
 as he turned to survey the scene he had passed 
 through; '''the place is hardly changed since 1 
 last saw it. Foliage a little thicker in the 
 shrubberies, perhaps, and the gardens not kept 
 up quite so carefully as they were in my friend's 
 time. But if all I hear of Lord Culwarren be 
 true, he is no more fit to manage an estate than 
 his silly mother. My young friend Anthony, 
 who appears to be a swan's it^g in a duck's 
 nest, would have made the more creditable earl 
 of the two. He has the old blood in him — I 
 can read it in each sparkle of his eye, each 
 generous impulse of his warm heart and 
 thoughtless brain. He reminds me, too, at 
 times, painfully of her. He is a son of whom
 
 8o THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 his father would have been proud — whereas his 
 brother, from all accounts, appears to be un- 
 worthy of the name. That is generally the 
 way in this world. Well, I will go back to 
 Anthony and be the first to congratulate the 
 boy on coming of age." 
 
 He turned his steps in the direction of the 
 shrubbery that skirted the park, until at a 
 certain point he found the palings low enough 
 to permit of his vaulting over them into the 
 high-road. It was evidently not the first time 
 in his life that Oliver Fosbrooke had left the 
 grounds of Gardenholme without a blast of 
 trumpets to herald his departure. Once on the 
 road to Dearham, which lay about five miles 
 distant, all Fosbrooke's usual debonair manner 
 returned to him, and with a cigar in his mouth 
 and his hands in his pockets, he swung along 
 at a rapid pace, untroubled, to all outward 
 appearance, by any deeper thoughts than a desire 
 for his breakfast, to which a keen appetite en- 
 gendered by the fresh morning air largely con- 
 tributed. As he reached the porch of the
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 81 
 
 *"' Cuhvarren Arms," where they had slept the 
 night before, Anthony Melstrom, in a light 
 summer suit of gray, with a rose in his button- 
 hole, and love and expectation glowing in his 
 face, came out to greet him. 
 
 " Hullo, Anthony," exclaimed Fosbrooke, as 
 they met each other. ''A thousand happy re- 
 turns of the day to you. But what on earth 
 do you mean by being up at this time of the 
 morning? It^s not yet seven o'clock. Has the 
 thought of your manhood's honours kept you 
 waking ? " 
 
 " Might I put the same question to yoii^ mon 
 cher ? ^' replied Melstrom, with a look of un- 
 mistakable affection, as he clasped the hand of 
 his friend. ^^ These are not the hours that we 
 used to keep at Baden or Homburg — eh, 
 Fosbrooke ? " 
 
 "Not exactly, my boy; but neither did we 
 go to roost at ten ! I think it must have been 
 the unusually primitive hour at which I retired 
 to rest last night that roused me so early. Any- 
 way, I could sleep no longer, so I thought I 
 
 VOL. T. G
 
 82 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 might as well take the advantage of being in 
 this fine country air to have a stroll." 
 
 " / have scarcely slept at all/^ said Anthony, 
 sadly. " The excitement of being so near my 
 home, and yet knowing nothing of what awaits 
 me there — whether any one will care to see me 
 again — if my presence will even be welcome — 
 has kept me awake. Ah ! Fosbrooke, it is 
 hard when a man's own mother takes no interest 
 in him.^^ 
 
 " Humph ! Perhaps so, dear boy. But as 
 you pass through life you will find so many 
 women willing to undertake her duties, that you 
 will cease to think so much about it. Come, 
 now ! You mustn't look so gloomy on your 
 twenty-first birthday." 
 
 " Don't mention it, Fosbrooke. I assure you 
 it is no matter of congratulation to me." 
 
 " What ! Not to become your own master ? " 
 
 "What good will that do me ? " 
 
 '' Does it not leave you free to woo the 
 pretty cousin about whom you have raved to 
 me at intervals during the last month ? "
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 83 
 
 " To woo is not to win, Fosbrooke. I am 
 perfectly aware that it was on Lily Osprey's 
 account that my mother despatched me so 
 summarily from home a year ago, and that she 
 has thrown so many obstacles in the way of 
 my returning now. What her precise object is 
 I cannot tell, but I feel quite sure that she will 
 never give her consent to my marrying my cousin." 
 
 '^Nonsense, man! Don't be so chicken- 
 hearted. Marry without her consent, then. 
 You've as good a right to the girl as any one 
 else. But I guess what you suspect ! That 
 Lady Culwarren is reserving her niece to be- 
 come the future Countess " 
 
 " That is just it, Fosbrooke/^ exclaimed 
 Anthony, eagerly ; " and what chance do you 
 suppose that a younger son will have against 
 the title and estates of Culwarren? And after 
 a whole year's separation and silence, too \ 
 Lily is but just nineteen, and very yielding in 
 disposition. My mother could frighten her into 
 anything — even into disbelieving that I ever 
 loved her." 
 
 G 2
 
 84 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Well, if she has, let her go to Jericho/^ 
 cried Fosbrooke, wrathfuily ; " a woman of that 
 stamp isn't worth fretting after. If she can 
 prefer that long-haired Culvvarren, with his 
 absurd aesthetics and self-conceit, to you, and 
 just because he can find her a title, the girl 
 isn't worth your consideration. But until I see 
 it for myself, I won't believe she can have 
 such bad taste." 
 
 " i\h, Fosbrooke, you always think too well 
 of me. I never had so kind and generous a 
 friend in my life before.'' 
 
 '' Don't make too sure of that, my boy. I 
 may prove yet to be the worst you ever had." 
 
 " What, you ! who have been more like a 
 father than anything else to me ? " 
 
 Oliver Fosbrooke laughed satirically. 
 
 " Rather a harum-scarum kind of father, I'm 
 afraid, young man. What about the places and 
 the people I've introduced you to since our 
 first meeting in the ' Papilons,' when you pulled 
 me by one leg out of the grave } But I must 
 say one thing — it is not easy to corrupt you.
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 85 
 
 Evil seems to run off your mind, like water 
 from a duck's back — more shame to me lor 
 having tried to imbue you with it ! " 
 
 " You never did try. I took to it as naturally 
 as to mother's milk," replied the young man, 
 laughing. "Well, notwithstanding my anxiety 
 and my fears, Fosbrooke, they were happy, 
 merry days, and I shall often look back upon 
 them with regret, and wish they could come 
 over again." 
 
 " And what am I to do without you, 
 Anthony ? " said his friend, ruefully. " I have 
 not had the courage to think of it yet. I'm 
 afraid it will be a case of revolvers over again 
 when I haven't the benefit of your youth and 
 freshness to keep my pecker up." 
 
 Anthony looked grave. 
 
 " Surely," he said, " we shall never quite part 
 again, Fosbrooke. I don't feel as if I could bear 
 
 " I don't see any alternative, my boy. I have 
 accompanied you to the outskirts of your home, 
 as it were, trusting to see you warmly welcomed
 
 86 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 there, and rewarded with the hand of your pretty 
 cousin. But if that comes to pass, there will be 
 no further room for me, and all I shall have to do 
 will be to say good-bye and go." 
 
 " No, no/' cried Anthony, warmly ; " if ever 
 I marry Lily, you must come and live with us. 
 Promise me, Fosbrooke.'' 
 
 " I don't think domestic happiness and caudle 
 are much in my line, Anthony, nor that, should 
 they come to pass, you will need a witness to 
 them. But promise me, in your turn, that if 
 ever you need a friend or wish to take up a 
 wandering life again, you will think of the man 
 you saved, and come back to share my ramblings." 
 
 '' I will, Fosbrooke, I will!' replied the lad, in 
 a broken voice. 
 
 **And novv, how soon do you intend to put 
 your fate to the touch with regard to Miss 
 Osprey ? " 
 
 ^' I wrote to my mother from London yesterday 
 to say that I should arrive home to-day, and 
 bring you with me. The Abbey is sure to be 
 full of guests — it always is — so one more can
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 87 
 
 make no difference ; and I asked her to send 
 the carriage over for us about noon." 
 
 " It was a strange conceit of yours sleeping 
 in this poky little place, Melstrom, instead of 
 going straight to Gardenholme/' 
 
 *^ Do you think so ? You don't know my 
 mother. She is as particular about her children 
 keeping up the strictest etiquette with her as if 
 we were strangers. At least, she has always 
 been so with me/' 
 
 *' I wonder you venture to take me there with 
 you at all, Anthony. It will be rather like intro- 
 ducing a bear into a lady's drawing-room." 
 
 " Oh, it will be all right now that I have 
 formally asked her permission. Besides, what- 
 ever her faults may be, my mother is not inhos- 
 pitable, and it would be strange if she could not 
 accord a welcome to one who was my dear father's 
 friend." 
 
 But as the morning wore on, and no message 
 arrived from Gardenholme, nor signs of a carriage 
 to fetch them away, Anthony Melstrom became 
 fidgety and anxious. He sat in a window of
 
 88 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 the " Culwarren Arms," that commanded a view 
 of the roadj his fair face flushing more and more 
 with annoyance as the time passed away and 
 brought no intelligence. At last he left his seat 
 and approached Fosbrooke, who was calmly 
 smoking whilst he perused a newspaper in the 
 porch. 
 
 " Fosbrooke, there must be some mistake. I 
 am sure Culwarren would have ridden over as 
 soon as he could after breakfast, if only to bid 
 me welcome. My letter can never have reached 
 them. They forgot to post it, probably, at the 
 hotel. Would you mind my walking over to 
 Gardenholme by myself and sending back the 
 arriage for you } " 
 
 *' By no means, my dear boy, if the plan 
 approves itself to you. I think myself there must 
 be some error about it — on your birthday, too. 
 And if only to ease your mind and allay some 
 of the anxiety which I can see is consuming you, 
 you had better walk over and learn the truth.''' 
 
 '^ I don't feel as if I could wait another 
 moment,^' cried the lad, with beaming eyes; "it
 
 THE ABBEY GARDEN 89 
 
 is cruel to be so near and yet not able to see her 
 or speak to her. But I expect I shall run half the 
 way, Fosbrooke, and if I don't meet the carriage 
 on the road, I will despatch it when I get there. 
 Good-bye, and come on as soon as ever it arrives." 
 And with a nod and a laugh he set off to walk 
 to Gardenholme.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER. 
 
 )T was a grand sight (in her own esti- 
 mation) to see the Countess of Cul- 
 warren, in all the majesty of lace and 
 satin, paint and powder, sail into her drawing- 
 room at one o'clock in the afternoon. She never 
 made her appearance before that hour^ or she 
 might have missed some of her exacted homage. 
 For a queen could not have made a more royal 
 progress in the precincts of her palace than she 
 did, and every courtier in Gardenholme knew 
 what was expected of him. The ladies must 
 cut short their flirtations or lay aside their 
 needlework, the men put down their newspapers 
 or throw away their cigars, and each one be 
 prepared to welcome their hostess downstairs.
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 91 
 
 There were several guests at the Abbey, as 
 Anthony had anticipated, and as her ladyship's 
 advent was heralded by a tall footman in powder, 
 who threw open the door and stood sentry over 
 it, a flutter of expectation ran through the 
 assembly, which changed to a simultaneous buzz 
 of admiration and delight as the Countess, robed 
 in a flowing train of dark blue silk, the golden 
 curls upon her head dexterously draped by a 
 fichu of point lace, and her wrists and fingers 
 laden with jewellery, passed over the threshold, 
 wreathed in smiles. 
 
 *^ Dear Lady Culwarren, how charming you 
 look ! Just as if you had risen from a bed of 
 roses,^' lisped an antiquated old maid, who was 
 privileged by reason of her exalted rank to peck 
 at the blooming cheek presented to her. 
 
 ''The Graces must surely have presided at this 
 toilette," murmured a poet, a contemporaneous 
 genius and ardent admirer of the Earl, as he 
 bent over her hand. 
 
 ''Oh, Lady Culwarren, the Earl has much to 
 answer for,^' cried a lady novelist; " I can neither
 
 92 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 eat, sleep, nor rest under the excitement of these 
 fascinating volumes/^ 
 
 '^ Marvellous writing for so young a man/' 
 quoth an ignoramus. 
 
 ^^ But then Lord Culwarren is so accom- 
 plished," sighed a pensive young lady, as she 
 gazed at his photograph. 
 
 " He does not compose badly for his age/' 
 rephed the Countess, with a self-satisfied air; 
 ''indeed, Toadeater thinks all the world of him ; 
 but he is young yet, and, doubtless, by-and-by " 
 
 '^ By-and-by ! '^ reiterated the authoress. '* I 
 cannot permit your lad37ship to utter such 
 treason, when every one agrees that the Earl's 
 works are already overflowing with genius. If 
 they are to go on improving, it will be hard 
 indeed on us poor literary professionals, who 
 have to make a living by our labour. What 
 do you say. Miss Osprey ? " 
 
 '^ I — 1 am hardly a judge," replied Lily, 
 blushing violently. " I have read so few romances 
 
 and '' 
 
 Lady Culwarren drew her niece closely to her.
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 93 
 
 " You must not ask Miss Osprey's opinion, 
 Mrs. Hutterley. There are more reasons than 
 one why my little Lily is not a fit person to 
 sit in judgment on her cousin's writings. It 
 would come rather too near home, darling, 
 would it not ? Something like reviewing your- 
 self, eh ? " 
 
 Lily blushed scarlet, and raised an imploring 
 glance to Lidy Culwarren's countenance. 
 
 '* Oh, Aunt Emily, pray don't ! " 
 
 ^' Pray don't what, my love ? Tell our 
 precious little secret to the company? Oh, you 
 need not be afraid of my discretion, though I 
 do not suppose it will be a secret long. Where 
 is our dear Culwarren ? " 
 
 " I do not know 1 " replied the girl, in a 
 low voice. 
 
 " Or you will not tell — which } You have 
 a grown-up daughter, I believe, Mrs. Hutterley. 
 Do you find her half so shy over her love affairs 
 as I do this little monkey ? Ah, dear Miss 
 Paget, I have been wanting you all the morning. 
 You are really too much of a recluse, and when
 
 94 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 you know that none of us can get on without 
 you " 
 
 By this time it had become patent to all 
 the guests at Gardenholme, that either an engage- 
 ment had been ratified between Lord Culwarren 
 and his pretty cousin, or that his mother was 
 very anxious it should come to pass. But the 
 announcement had been made in such an un- 
 certain manner, that they hardly knew whether 
 they were expected to offer their congratulations 
 or not, and were much relieved when Miss Paget 
 came to the rescue by changing the subject. 
 
 '* You are very good to say so, Lady Cul- 
 warren. You were asking for the Earl just now. 
 He is strolling in the grounds with Mr. Ashfold, 
 who arrived about half an hour ago, and desires 
 to see you on some particular business. They 
 promised to be back by luncheon-time." 
 
 The Countess elevated her eyebrows, as if 
 she were not pleased at the intelligence. 
 
 " Mr. Ashfold .? What on earth can he want 
 to see me for ? " 
 
 " That I cannot tell your ladyship. He was
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 95 
 
 announced whilst Miss Osprey was in your 
 boudoir, and all he told me was that he had 
 come considerably out of his way to call at 
 Gardenholme to-day, and could not possibly 
 leave without an interview." 
 
 " Tiresome old man ! I call him the raven. 
 His advent is invariably the forerunner of un- 
 pleasant news. It makes me quite nervous to 
 hear of his arrival. Gardenholme is threatened 
 with an invasion to-day. My graceless son, 
 Anthony Melstrom, and his friend, Mr. Fosbrooke, 
 are also to be with us this evening." 
 
 The involuntary start with which her niece 
 received this unexpected news did not escape the 
 Countess, who turned sharply to her, saying : 
 
 " Do try and get out of that schoolgirl fashion 
 of jumping at every trivial thing you hear, Lily. 
 It is neither ladylike nor dignified, and, in the 
 position you are about to fill, you will have 
 to accustom yourself to receive the best or the 
 worst news with the calmness becoming your 
 station. Please remember this, and don^t annoy 
 me with such silly tricks again. '^
 
 96 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "Mr. Melstrom is in England, then?" inter- 
 posed Miss Paget, with the view of distracting 
 general attention from the unfortunate Lily. 
 
 ^' He is, I am sorry to say, for I do not 
 anticipate much pleasure from his return. I 
 received a letter this morning to say that he 
 and his friend Mr. Fosbrooke — though who on 
 earth this Mr. Fosbrooke is, except some travel- 
 ling companion whom Anthony has accidentally 
 picked up, I cannot say — are at the ' Culwarren 
 Arms' at Dearham, and wish a carriage sent 
 over for them at noon. By the way, I have 
 quite forgotten to give any order about that 
 carriage, and it is now past one. See to it for 
 me, Miss Paget, if you please. Tell them to 
 start at three. I cannot have my servants^ 
 arrangements disturbed for the sake of a 
 thoughtless boy and a man of whom I know 
 nothing." 
 
 " Is not Mr. Fosbrooke the gentleman with 
 whom Mr. Melstrom has been travelling in 
 Italy for the last month?" asked her companion. 
 
 " He may be. I have a bad memory for
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 97 
 
 trifles. Anyway, Anthony intends to bring him 
 here, which is excessively annoying, as, if there 
 is anything I dislike more than another, it is 
 being taken by surprise. Why couldn't Anthony 
 have given me longer notice ? But he was 
 always selfish and inconsiderate from a child.^' 
 
 At this moment Lord Culwarren and Mr. 
 Ashfold entered the room together. Lily seized 
 the opportunity to creep close to Miss Paget's 
 side and take her hand. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Paget ! " she whispered, with a 
 gasp of fear, " what shall I do ? " 
 
 ^' Do ! " replied the companion, with a frown ; 
 " behave as the future Countess of Culwarren 
 should behave.^^ 
 
 At which stern rebuke the girl shrank within 
 herself again and was silent. 
 
 "Good morning, Mr. Ashfold," commenced 
 the Countess, airily. " I am charmed to see 
 you, of course, but I warn you to be very careful 
 what you say to me, for I have had a good 
 deal to worry me to-day, and Tm in a very bad 
 temper." 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 98 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "Exactly so. I mean, I thought your lady- 
 ship never indulged in anything so unbecoming," 
 replied the lawyer, in an uncertain manner. 
 
 Mr. Ashfold was a little, gray-headed Scots- 
 man, shrewd as a weasel^ and able to see through 
 the affectations of a fine lady with any one, 
 but kind-hearted with it all, and excessively 
 nervous directly he found himself beyond the 
 precincts of his dusty office in Chancery Lane. 
 It was this nervous feeling that made him bhnk 
 like an owl in daylight when in society, and 
 call out, ^' Exactly so ! ^^ whenever he wanted 
 time to think what he should say next. 
 
 " Exactly/' he continued, rubbing his hands 
 together, and making a kind of half bow, half 
 nod to the assembled company. '^ Hope I see 
 your ladyship well 1 " 
 
 ^^ Much the same as usual, thank you." 
 
 " Exactly so ! And Miss Osprey and Miss 
 Paget, too, I trust I find them both in their 
 usual health? Have I disturbed your ladyship 
 too early?'' 
 
 ^^You always disturb me too early, Mr.
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 99 
 
 Ashfold, when you come on business. I hate 
 the very word. It always gives me palpitation of 
 the heart/' 
 
 "You don't say so ! '' exclaimed Mr. Ashfold. 
 " Palpitation of the heart. How strange ! 
 Delicate and sensitive organ, I am told. Pm 
 not sure I have one myself.^' 
 
 " The world affirms that lawyers never have/' 
 said Lord Culwarren, affectedly. 
 
 " And the zvorld is so sure to be right/' 
 retorted Miss Paget. She spoke so seldom that 
 her mere speaking was remarkable, but the 
 sarcasm she threw into her words was more 
 remarkable still. 
 
 The lawyer turned at the sound and regarded 
 her fixedly, but she met his gaze as steadily as it 
 was given. 
 
 "Exactly so/' he said, as he looked away 
 again ; "a heart is a luxury we cannot afford " 
 
 " And would not know how to use if you 
 had it/' replied Culwarren, trying to be witty. 
 
 " Then we are better without it, my lord/' 
 said his opponent, smartly. ^^ Personal property 
 
 H 2
 
 ICO THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 which you cannot invest is unremunerative, and; 
 so far, useless." 
 
 Lady Culwarren did not Hke the general 
 laugh which was raised by this repartee at the 
 expense of her son. 
 
 "You are not the only unexpected visitor w^e 
 have to-day, Mr. Ashfold/^ she said to him. " I 
 have just heard that Mr. Melstrom will be here 
 this evening." 
 
 "Ah, indeed! On the 15th of August, 
 too. Very odd. Exactly so.^^ 
 
 " His twenty-first birthday. I do not suppose 
 that your visit is connected with his coming 
 of age, Mr. Ashfold,'' continued the Countess, 
 giggling. "Anthony's vast estates and heavy 
 income will hardly require so much attention as 
 is involved in a special visit from London, before 
 they are made over to their rightful owner.^^ 
 
 "Well, no, not exactly/' returned the 
 lawyer ; " nor did I leave town entirely on your 
 account. I was called to this neighbourhood 
 last evening on urgent business connected with 
 Sir Hugh Loftus. Flesh is weak, and his is
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER loi 
 
 failing. No manner of doubt about it. Failing 
 fast." 
 
 '^Miss Paget/' whispered Lily, at this juncture, 
 '^ I have such a dreadful headache. Do you think 
 Aunt Emily will excuse my appearing at luncheon?" 
 
 But the companion did not appear to be 
 listening to her. She was intent upon hearing 
 the conversation passing between Lady Culwarren 
 and the lawyer, and all the answer Lily received 
 was a prolonged, *' Hush ! " 
 
 '^ I suppose I ought to say I am sorry to hear 
 it, Mr. Ashfold," her ladyship replied ; " but we 
 know literally nothing of Sir Hugh. The estates 
 lie a dozen miles apart, and he has lived the life 
 of a hermit for years." 
 
 Lord Culwarren, not being interested in the 
 health of Sir Hugh Loftus, had found his way 
 round to his cousin Lily's side by this time, and 
 was regarding her with a look of pleading in his 
 eyes that almost brought the tears into her own. 
 
 " Has my mother spoken to you yet ? " he 
 whispered. 
 
 ^' Yes — that is to say, why should she not
 
 I02 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Speak to me, Culwarren ? " said the girl, doubling 
 like a hunted hare in the hope of evading her 
 pursuers. 
 
 ^^ I mean, has she told you of the great 
 desire of my heart, Lily ? ^^ he continued, in 
 the same tone. 
 
 ^^Oh, please do not speak of it now; some 
 one will overhear us. Miss Paget, tell Cul- 
 warren this is neither the time nor place to 
 discuss such a subject.^^ 
 
 But Lily might as well have appealed to 
 the sofa on which she sat for sympathy or 
 protection. Miss Paget was standing still as 
 a statue, but with every sense riveted on the 
 words proceeding from the lawyer's mouth. 
 
 "Exactly so. Like a hermit, and for years 
 past. Odd, isn't it, but doubtless he has his 
 reasons. Sir Hugh is a very disappointed man, 
 my lady. A fine property and plenty of money, 
 but no one to inherit it. The elder son drank 
 himself to death, the younger is — nobody knows 
 where.''' 
 
 '^Ah, that younger son, Arthur Loftus. Is
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 103 
 
 that not his name ? Now, what is the truth 
 about him, Mr. Ashfold ? You ought to know, 
 since you are in everybody's secrets. There are 
 so many romantic stories afloat about him/' 
 
 ^^ Exactly so, and some of them true. He 
 was a fine fellow many years ago. Sad story 
 — very sad/' 
 
 ^' I have heard the late Earl speak of him, 
 but only once, I think, and that before our 
 marriage. I fancy they were very intimate at 
 one time, but from my husband's manner the 
 subject seemed a painful one to him." 
 
 ''Very likely, my lady. Mr. Arthur Loftus 
 had more enemies than friends in the county, 
 if all that one hears is correct. He began life 
 with a failure, too. He committed the unpardon- 
 able sin — made a mesalliance. When a mere 
 boy he was entrapped into marriage with a — 
 with a — with ^— young personl^ said the little 
 lawyer, finishing up rapidly and with a depre- 
 catory look at the company. The Countess 
 laughed, and tapped him on the shoulder with 
 her Spanish fan.
 
 I04 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "There, there, Mr. Ashfold, you need not 
 explain. We understand perfectly, and you are 
 shocking the ladies.^' 
 
 " Exactly so. But after that he fell into various 
 scrapes, and then — he disappeared. A thousand 
 pities. A fine property. Sir Hugh sinking — 
 elder brother dead — and yet he has disappeared. 
 Exactly so." 
 
 At that moment luncheon was announced. 
 
 " It's a terrible story, Mr. Ashfold, but we 
 mustn't let it spoil our luncheon. Give me your 
 arm to the dining-room, and let us lay in a 
 little stock of strength before entering on the 
 discussion of that formidable business. Cul- 
 warren, are you taking care of our dear Lily } 
 But I need scarcely have put the question. Ah, 
 Mr. Ashfold, I expect we shall have to draw 
 largely on your services before long, to take 
 rather a heavy responsibility in the shape of 
 drawing up the marriage settlements for the 
 future Countess of Cuhvarren."" 
 
 " Indeed, my lady ! Is his lordship, then, think- 
 ing of taking the irretrievable plunge so early ? "
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 105 
 
 " Hush ! Not so loud. It is a secret, for 
 the present at all events, but I have no doubt 
 that it will be public property before long." 
 
 "Exactly so. Odd, isn't it? People will 
 marry. Never did it myself, but find other people 
 do. Exactly so." 
 
 In another minute the whole company were 
 seated round the luncheon-table, busily engaged 
 in discussing the meal set before them. Lord 
 Culwarren had secured a seat next Lily Osprey, 
 and was trying hard to extract some answer 
 from her to his impassioned whispers. The guests 
 were making their private comments on the 
 evident distinction made by the Countess between 
 her two sons. Miss Paget was pretending to 
 do the honours of the table, but with all her 
 thoughts evidently far away, and Lady Culwarren 
 was animadverting to Mr. Ashfold on the ini- 
 quities of the Honourable Anthony Melstrom, 
 when the door was thrown open by the powdered 
 flunkey, and the gentleman in question was loudly 
 announced. The intelligence had a varied effect 
 upon the assembly. The visitors looked eagerly
 
 io6 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 expectant to see the younger son of whom they 
 had heard such different accounts. Lord Cul- 
 warren started anxiously from his seat, and his 
 mother's brow became dark and lowering. But 
 nothing seemed to influence the behaviour of 
 the joyous Anthony, who burst into the room 
 with the impetuosity of a liberated schoolboy, 
 and going straight up to the Countess, saluted 
 her warmly on the cheek. 
 
 " My dear Anthony/' she exclaimed, with 
 more surprise than pleasure, "is this x^dXXy youV^ 
 
 " My dear mother,'' he echoed, " it really 
 is. I suppose you received my letter this morning, 
 and it is all right, but I could not wait a moment 
 longer to see you all again. Ah, Culwarren, 
 my dear fellow," he continued, shaking hands 
 vehemently with his brother, "how are you? 
 Still determined to be a genius, eh ? I saw the 
 advertisement of something or other, with your 
 name attached to it, in the paper to-day. And, 
 Miss Paget, you have not quite forgotten your 
 troublesome charge, I hope, for I have never 
 forgotten you ! "
 
 THE FAMILY LAWYER 107 
 
 And then he arrived at Lily, and his joyous 
 voice fell at once to a tender undertone^ as he 
 looked at the lovely, blushing face, and the dark 
 eyes swimming with tears, that dare not look 
 at him again. 
 
 "And this is my cousin Lily," he said, as 
 he took her hand in his. He appeared to have 
 had a long sentence on his tongue with which 
 to greet her, but the words died away as if by 
 magic, and he could only hold her hand and 
 be silent.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 HIS action, so evident to all the com- 
 pany, nettled Lady Culwarren in the 
 extreme. 
 
 *' Anthony,^^ she called, sharply, '^you forget 
 that I have not introduced you to my guests.^' 
 
 At that she ran over the names of all present 
 rapidly, ending with the announcement, " My son, 
 Mr. Melstrom." 
 
 '^And now come and sit by me/' she con- 
 tinued, *^and explain why you have taken us 
 all by surprise in this way. If you had had a 
 little patience, the carriage would have fetched you. 
 It was ordered to start directly after luncheon." 
 
 '' But, my dear mother, you forget that to a 
 man in my position the minutes drag like hours. 
 How could I sit down to exercise patience (with
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 109 
 
 which I was never overstocked) when my heart 
 was longing to see you all again ? Why, I have 
 been looking out for that carriage ever since 
 breakfast, and so I resolved to walk over and 
 send it back for my friend Fosbrooke/^ And 
 again his eyes travelled in the direction of Lily's 
 figure and settled there. 
 
 "You have not spoken to Mr. Ashfold/^ re- 
 commenced the Countess ; ^' surely you must 
 remember him/^ 
 
 " Really, I am afraid I do not. Stay, though, 
 I am wronging myself; I do remember. You were 
 my dear father's legal adviser, were you not.^" said 
 Anthony, as he tendered his hand to Ashfold. 
 
 " Your father t Exactly so," replied the soli- 
 citor, in a vague manner; ^' and you are twenty- 
 one to-day, sir. A fine -grown young man of 
 his age, my lady." 
 
 " Oh, yes ! Mr. Melstrom was always big^^ 
 remarked Lady Culwarren, as though his quali- 
 fications began and ended with the circumstance. 
 Yet she could not help glancing enviously — almost 
 spitefully, indeed — at his improved looks, and
 
 no THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 stature, and bearing. His brother, the Earl, 
 presented a sorry figure when seated next to 
 him, and so, with one accord, appeared to think 
 the guests of Gardenholme. Many a furtive 
 look of admiration was cast in the direction of 
 the handsome young fellow, who had no eyes 
 for any one but his cousin Lily, and whose wander- 
 ing attention had constantly to be recalled to 
 what his mother or Ashfold said to him. It was 
 gall and wormwood to her to perceive the interest 
 excited by her despised younger son, and she 
 wished in her heart of hearts that he had not 
 appeared at so inauspicious a moment. 
 
 " And so you are all going on in the same 
 old grooves, I suppose "> " exclaimed Anthony, 
 lightly, when Lily's crimson cheeks had warned 
 him not to look her way any longer, ^' and with 
 no changes except in the names of the days of 
 the week. I'm afraid the routine of an English 
 country life will appear rather monotonous to me 
 after the stirring scenes in which I have mixed 
 abroad." 
 
 " Excuse me, Anthony,'' said Lady Culwarren,
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE in 
 
 in her coldest tone, "but we are likely to see 
 important changes here before long." 
 
 " Indeed ! I am glad of it for your sake, 
 though I should be sorry to see any radical 
 alteration in the appearance of my dear old home. 
 That, at all events, can never be improved. By 
 the way, my dear mother, I am most anxious to 
 present my friend Fosbrooke to you. He knew 
 my father in his bachelor days, and I am sure you 
 will all like him exceedingly.'^ 
 
 " Any friend of yours will of course be welcome, 
 Anthony,^' replied the Countess, with careless 
 indifference. 
 
 "I knew you would say that, mother, and 
 wanted him to walk over with me this morning 
 in consequence, but he refused to come without an 
 invitation from yourself; so may I trouble you 
 to write a little note to him, to go with the carriage 
 to Dearham } " 
 
 " Certainly. Miss Paget, be good enough to 
 write to Mr. Fosbrooke in my name, and invite 
 him to stay at Gardenholme." 
 
 '^You will find him the most delightful
 
 112 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 companion that it is possible to have/' continued 
 Anthony^ enthusiastically. " Though I have only 
 known him for a month, I regard him as my best 
 friend. He knows everything, and has been 
 everywhere. He hunts, shoots, sings, plays 
 billiards, tennis, and cards ; can stalk or walk 
 or ride ; in fact, there is nothing he cannot do. 
 And to crown it all, under an assumed cynicism, 
 he possesses the warmest heart alive." 
 
 "An Admirable Crichton," said Miss Paget, 
 with something like a sneer. 
 
 " Ah, Miss Paget ! I recognise that tone of 
 old. You were always a disbeliever in the virtues 
 of our poor sex. Has time made no difference 
 in your opinions? Won^t you make a little 
 concession in favour of my friend t " 
 
 " Opinions that can be altered by time are not 
 usually worth much to begin with, Mr. Melstrom.^^ 
 
 " How dare you call me ' Mr. Melstrom ' ? I — 
 who w^as once your little ' Tony,' and whom you 
 kissed at parting. Oh, Miss Paget, if that is one of 
 the changes time will effect, I shall^ begin to run 
 down its merits at once."
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 113 
 
 The companion smiled faintly at his rally, 
 but she did not answer it, and Lady Culwarren, 
 perceiving the meal was concluded, gave the 
 signal for dispersion by rising from the table. 
 
 "Come, Culwarren," exclaimed young Melstrom, 
 as he linked his arm in that of his brother, " show 
 me the new conservatory and the billiard-room, 
 of which I have heard so much, before Fosbrooke 
 arrives, for after that contingency takes place 
 I shall not receive much attention from anybody. 
 Come, Lily, I have seen nothing of you yet ! 
 I cannot spare you on the first day of my return." 
 
 He extended his hand to his cousin as he 
 spoke, and she glanced towards her aunt and 
 coloured painfully. 
 
 " Stay, Anthony/^ exclaimed Lady Culwarren ; 
 '''you cannot have everything your own way 
 without even consulting the wishes of others. 
 / may require the attendance of my niece during 
 our afternoon drive."'^ 
 
 " Has your ladyship forgotten the object of 
 my visit } My business is of the utmost import- 
 ance and cannot wait," observed the solicitor, who 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 114 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 was standing by. The Countess knit her brows 
 with vexation. 
 
 " How annoying ! What am I to do } I 
 cannot have Lily running all over the place with 
 that wild boy/^ she murmured to Miss Paget. 
 
 " Lord Culwarren will be with them/^ replied 
 the companion. 
 
 " Of course ! Thanks for the reminder. Lily, 
 my dear, you can go with your cousins since they 
 desire it. And, Culwarren, bring her back to me 
 in half an hour's time. I have some business with 
 Mr. Ashfold which will detain me until then," 
 said the Countess, significantly. But Anthony 
 saw nothing but Lily's blushing face, and drew 
 her triumphantly from the room. 
 
 "Wild and boisterous as ever/^ sighed Lady Cul- 
 warren, as the door closed upon them. ** Anthony 
 never had any manners, and he never will have any. 
 His foreign travel has not improved him a bit ! " 
 
 "Are you not a little hard on him?^' asked 
 Miss Paget. "You should make some allowance 
 for his youth. Experience and the world are sure 
 to tame him by-and-by."
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 115 
 
 ^'Meanwhile, we are to be inconvenienced by 
 his want of politeness. What can my guests have 
 thought of the bearishness of my younger son ? 
 He has scarcely spoken a word to any of them." 
 
 " Remember he has only just returned home." 
 
 "I am not likely to forget it, Miss Paget. I 
 only wish he had stayed away for another six 
 months. And what induced him to bring his 
 cosmopolitan friend to Gardenholme ? He knows 
 how conservative I am, and how I detest anything 
 that approaches Bohemianism." 
 
 "That reminds me I must write the note 
 you desired me to send with the carriage for 
 Mr. Fosbrooke.'' 
 
 " Please be quick about it, then, for I want you 
 to attend me in the library, where I am about to 
 talk business with Mr. Ashfold." 
 
 "May I suggest," interposed the lawyer, "that 
 my business with your ladyship is strictly private 
 and confidential, and that I hoped, in consequence, 
 to have seen you by yourself ? ^' 
 
 The Countess raised her painted eyebrows in 
 surprise at his audacity. 
 
 I 2
 
 ii6 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 '' I have no secrets from Miss Paget, Mr. 
 Ashfold, and I prefer that she should be present 
 at our interview." 
 
 The little man reddened to his ears at this 
 rebuke, but merely shrugged his shoulders as he 
 replied : 
 
 '^Certainly — most certainly, since your lady- 
 ship wishes it, and very natural you should wish 
 it, toO; perhaps. Still, you will not forget that I 
 suggested a strictly private interview.''' 
 
 " I don't wish for any of your suggestions," 
 said Lady Culwarren, curtly. " Come, Miss Paget." 
 
 Miss Paget, who had hastily scribbled the note 
 of invitation at a side table, and given it into 
 the charge of a servant, was not at all surprised 
 at the Countess's decision, for ever since the 
 death of her husband. Lady Culwarren had almost 
 entirely depended on her companion for guidance 
 in her business and household matters, which 
 Miss Paget, being not only a lady by birth and 
 education, but a far more intellectual woman 
 than her employer, was well fitted to bestow. 
 And the Countess had gone even farther than
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 117 
 
 that; she had made Miss Paget an intimate 
 friend and counsellor, and would have felt lost 
 had she not been always at her elbow, to give 
 her good advice and help her put it into execution. 
 
 ''And now, Mr. Ashfold/' exclaimed Lady 
 Culwarren, as, having gained the library, she 
 sank down on a sofa and made her companion 
 take a seat beside her, "I am ready to hear the 
 reason of your unexpected visit to us to-day." 
 
 The solicitor looked from one lady to the 
 other with a jerky motion of the head like an 
 inquisitive crow. 
 
 '^ Exactly so, and I am perfectly aware that 
 your ladyship holds Miss Paget in the highest 
 esteem and closest friendship. Still, if I may 
 venture to repeat what I said just now, without 
 offending you, this is a matter of a very private 
 and confidential nature indeed." 
 
 The Countess drew herself up in an offended 
 manner. 
 
 "No, Mr. Ashfold, you m'd.y not repeat it. I 
 cannot conceive it possible that you have any- 
 thing to say to me but what Miss Paget is quite
 
 ii8 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 welcome to hear. She knows all about our 
 property, investments, and estates, and before 
 Culwarren came of age was my most valued 
 adviser, and if there is anything further for her 
 to learn, I am quite willing she should hear it." 
 
 " It must be as your ladyship wishes, of course, 
 but you seem to forget there may be family 
 secrets which have nothing whatever to do with 
 property or estates. Do not blame me, therefore, 
 if in the course of our conversation I should make 
 disclosures which you would rather have kept to 
 yourself/^ 
 
 '^ Gracious ' heavens^ Mr. Ashfold, you make 
 me feel quite nervous ! What awful story are you 
 about to disclose, and to whom does it refer ? ^^ 
 
 *' Exactly so. I was sure that was the first 
 question you would put to me. But we mustn^t 
 go too fast; we must take our time about it." 
 
 '^I am sure you needn't be afraid of using 
 too much expedition, Mr. Ashfold. You are 
 always terribly slow, and you don't seem inclined 
 to hurry yourself on this occasion.'^ 
 
 ^^ Exactly so. Mine is a slow profession, my
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 119 
 
 lady. But my intelligence must be preceded by 
 a little explanation. The instructions, then, upon 
 which I am now acting I have had by me for 
 a long time — indeed, ever since the late EarFs 
 death, ten years ago. Amongst his papers I found 
 a sealed packet addressed to me, and marked 
 Private^ and not to be opened till the 15th of 
 August in the present year — that is to-day.^^ 
 
 '^ How very strange ! '^ remarked the Countess. 
 '^ Miss Paget, I know you were in the confidence 
 of my late husband. Did he at any time mention 
 such a packet to you ? " 
 
 " Never, Lady Culwarren.-'^ 
 
 '^ Nor to me. It seems curious, if he had any 
 private directions to leave behind, that he did not 
 address them to me — his wife." 
 
 " Exactly so. But pardon me, my lady, the 
 packet was to be kept unopened for ten years, 
 and do you think, under the circumstances, that 
 you would have had the patience to carry out 
 his lordship's directions > " 
 
 " Ah, well ! there's no saying. It would have 
 been a trying position. But let us hear what you
 
 I20 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 found when you did open it. No second family, 
 I hope, or anything unpleasant of that sort." 
 
 ^' No, indeed ! Pray do not alarm yourself. 
 Yesterday, the 14th, I was summoned, as I have 
 told you, to Sir Hugh Loftus, and brought the 
 packet with me, guessing that it must relate to 
 this estate, and I might have to come here at 
 once. When I awoke this morning, the 15th of 
 August, I opened the packet.'^ 
 
 *' Now you are getting prosy," cried Lady 
 Culwarren. ^^ We all know that it is the isth 
 of August. Why need you be so precise } " 
 
 *^ Mine is a precise profession, my lady.'^ 
 
 " Well, well^ do make haste now. What does 
 the packet contain ? " 
 
 " It contains certain information, Lady Cul- 
 warren, with respect to a young gentleman known 
 in society as the Honourable Anthony Melstrom.^' 
 
 At these words both of the ladies looked con- 
 siderably alarmed, though from different causes. 
 The Countess started violently, and changed 
 colour even through her rouge. She feared the 
 news might affect the interests of her beloved
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 121 
 
 son Culwarren. But Miss Paget grew paler than 
 her wont; for she loved the reckless younger 
 son better than any of the family, and she 
 dreaded to see him stripped, perhaps, of the 
 small possession he could call his own. 
 
 ^^ To Anthony ? '' exclaimed Lady Culwarren, 
 when she had somewhat recovered herself. 
 '• What of him ? Surely it can be nothing to 
 the detriment of the Earl ? " 
 
 *' To the detriment of the Earl ! " repeated 
 Mr. Ashfold. ^^Very natural alarm. Exactly so. 
 Oh, no, there is nothing here that can possibly 
 affect the interests of Lord Culwarren." 
 
 " Neither can I imagine that any intelligence 
 deferred until his twenty-first birthday can have 
 any power to injure the Honourable Anthony 
 Melstrom/' interposed Miss Paget, in her hard 
 and constrained voice. 
 
 The little solicitor, who was fumbling in his 
 black bag for the document in question, turned 
 and regarded her with the same keen, searching 
 gaze he had bestowed on her in the drawing- 
 room. But Miss Paget, who had drawn closer
 
 122 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 to the Countess and taken her hand, as though 
 to support her under any coming struggle, did 
 not appear to notice his scrutiny. 
 
 " Exactly so. A little patience and you shall 
 know all. Lady Culwarren and Miss Paget, 
 you are both women of the world. You have 
 probably heard and seen strange things in your 
 time^ and will not be overmuch startled at any 
 intelligence. Still, the information contained in 
 this packet, and which I am instructed to impart 
 to you, my lady, is sufficient to startle any one. 
 It is that the Honourable Anthony Melstrom 
 (so-called) is not your son'^ 
 
 "Anthony not my son!" repeated the Countess, 
 incredulously. " Mr. Ashfold ! You must be 
 dreaming.'^ 
 
 ^^ I never dream, my lady. I haven't the 
 time. But I knew you would accuse me of some- 
 thing of the sort." 
 
 ^' Not my son ! " said Lady Culwarren again, 
 in a mystified voice. *^ It is impossible ! '^ 
 
 '^Mr. Ashfold," interposed Miss Paget, with 
 much agitation, ^' pray think of what you are
 
 STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 123 
 
 saying ! Think of the awful injury your assertion 
 entails upon him." 
 
 ^'l can't help that, madam. I did not write 
 this paper, nor did I know anything before to-day 
 of the antecedents of the gentleman in question." 
 
 " Not my son ! " reiterated the Countess, but 
 without any apparent feeling except disbelief. 
 "You are a bold man, Mr. Ashfold, to tell a 
 mother to her face that the child she brought 
 into the world is not her own." 
 
 "There must be some terrible mistake/' said 
 her companion. 
 
 ^^ Exactly so. Just what I should have said 
 myself, perhaps, but I cannot deny the truth of 
 his lordship's written testimony." 
 
 '^ Oh, go on ! Go on, and let us hear all," 
 cried Lady Culwarren, with feverish anxiety. 
 " No, Miss Paget, thank you, I need no support. 
 I am very much astonished, I confess, and very 
 incredulous, but I do not feel at all ill. Pray do 
 not keep me any longer in suspense, Mr. Ashfold, 
 but let me know at once all that my late husband 
 says upon the subject."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY ? 
 
 |0U must bear in mind^ my lady," 
 continued the solicitor, ''that I was 
 not the late Earl's legal adviser at 
 the time of his marriage with yourself, and was 
 therefore unacquainted with a certain family 
 history — a very sad history, indeed, that occurred 
 just before that event/^ 
 
 " I understand what you allude to, Mr. Ashfold 
 — that disgraceful affair concerning his sister, 
 Lady Diana Melstrom, and which threatened at 
 one time to put a stop to our marriage. The 
 Fairleys have always been most circumspect in 
 their behaviour, and my people didn't think it at 
 all nice that I should become connected with a 
 person of that sort. Miss Paget, the news about 
 this foolish boy has positively affected you more
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? 125 
 
 than it has me. You have turned quite pale. 
 Now I must insist upon your resuming your seat 
 and keeping yourself quiet. It would be a pretty 
 ending to this matter if you made yourself ill. 
 Nowj Mr. Ashfold, it seems that this unfortunate 
 lady fell in love with some man, whose name Lord 
 Culwarren has purposely refrained from stating, 
 and I have no means by which to ascertain.^^ 
 
 " If his lordship /^;^(?j"^/;/ refrained from stating 
 it^ I should think you had no right to try and 
 ascertain," said the companion, slowly. 
 
 '^ Exactly so. Just what I should have said 
 myself. Whoever he was, however, he seems to 
 have been a wild, harum-scarum fellow, and pro- 
 bably of inferior birth to her ladyship. Anyway, 
 Lord Culwarren would not hear of the connection, 
 and Lady Diana, who was a self-willed and 
 thoughtless girl, took the law into her own hands 
 and eloped with this nameless admirer." 
 
 " Shameless creature!" exclaimed the Countess, 
 emphatically ; /^ so inconsiderate for all related to 
 her. I have no patience with such women. They 
 should be condemned to penal servitude for life.'^
 
 126 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "Exactly so. Perhaps they get it/^ said 
 Mr. Ashfold. 
 
 "But what has Lady Diana's escapade to do 
 with Anthony?" continued Lady Culwarren. 
 "We hoped that the world had forgotten all 
 about that long ago. She ran away with her 
 lover — married him — and died — and there was an 
 end of her story .^^ 
 
 " I am coming to it fast, my lady. Lady 
 Diana died, but have you ever heard in Avhat 
 manner ? She believed that the man she married 
 was at least an honourable one, but she was 
 mistaken. Her union with him was an empty 
 ceremony, for shortly afterwards she found he was 
 already married to some intriguing adventuress, 
 and returning home, threw herself, broken-hearted, 
 on her brother's mercy .■'' 
 
 " I have heard all this — at least, in outline. 
 But she was the late Earl's favourite sister, and he 
 was very unwilling to talk about her. He said 
 the best thing we could all do was to forget the 
 poor girl had ever existed. He would never even 
 tell me where she was buried. Miss Paget, please
 
 JVHO IS ANTHONY? tiT 
 
 don't fidget with those windows. There is quite 
 enough air in the room already .'' 
 
 ''Perhaps Miss Paget feels faint/' remarked 
 Mr. Ashfold, as he went to her assistance. 
 
 "Not at all, thank you,'' replied the com- 
 panion ; " I only thought the weather very op- 
 pressive. But if Lady Culwarren does not wish 
 this window opened, I will take a seat by the 
 further one." 
 
 " One would never imagine/' observed her lady- 
 ship, fretfully, " that we had met to discuss a sub- 
 ject of vital importance to me and to my children, 
 by the absurd way in which you two people are 
 keeping me in suspense, whilst you decide whether 
 to raise a window-sash or keep it down." 
 
 '' Pardon me, my lady," replied Mr. Ashfold, 
 hastily, ''but I feared the heat of the day was 
 becoming too much for Miss Paget. To resume 
 business, then, on the 15th of August, twenty-one 
 years ago, you had a son born." 
 
 "Of course I had — my son, Anthony Mel- 
 strom. Every one who was about me at the time 
 knows the fact as well as myself."
 
 128 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Exactly so. At least, you think they 
 do. You may remember that you were very 
 ill with fever on that occasion, and delirious 
 for weeks." 
 
 '' I know I was. But what of that ? '' 
 
 '^Your life was despaired of, my lady, and 
 your child died." 
 
 '' My child died ! Why, Anthony is that child. 
 You must be raving, Mr. Ashfold." 
 
 '^Exactly so. I mean, quite the contrary. 
 When they began to entertain hopes of your re- 
 covery, the doctors feared you might have a 
 relapse if informed of your infant's death, and 
 they advised that another child of about the same 
 age should be substituted for yours." 
 
 '^Oh, this is incredible," cried the Countess; 
 "his lordship must have been out of his mind 
 when he invented such a fable." 
 
 '^ These papers, Lady Culwarren, bear no im- 
 press of a wandering mind. The story is told 
 in a plain, straightforward manner, and the state- 
 ment is regularty signed and witnessed. No 
 unprejudiced reader could doubt its entire truth."
 
 JV/IO IS ANTHONY? 129 
 
 " Somebody else^s child was substituted for my 
 dead son, and I was never informed of it ? If this 
 be true, I have been made the subject of a gross 
 and unpardonable fraud." 
 
 " It was done to help your recovery, my lady. 
 Whether his lordship acted wisely in concealing 
 the fact from you altogether, it is not my business 
 to determine. I have done my duty in announcing 
 it to you now/' 
 
 " But will you be good enough to tell me, then, 
 whose son I have been bringing up in place of the 
 Honourable Mr. Melstrom, Mr. Ashfold ? '' 
 
 ^^ Ah, Lady Culwarren, whose son ? That's 
 the puzzle. My instructions on this point are not 
 so accurate as I could wish them to be. I have 
 my surmises, of course. My profession does not 
 prohibit me from surmising ; but there is no cer- 
 tainty. Only since the late Earl has thought fit 
 to provide for this young man by his will, and to 
 desire that he shall continue to bear the family 
 name, I think we shall not be far wrong in 
 concluding that Mr. Anthony Melstrom is some 
 connection of his own." 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 130 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 *^And I am determined to find out who he 
 may be/' exclaimed the Countess^ angrily ; " I 
 have never taken to that boy from his very infancy, 
 and the want of affection I have felt for him 
 should have warned me he was not my own flesh 
 and blood. But I decline any longer to be made 
 responsible, even for friendship, towards a young 
 man who may have sprung from the lowest of the 
 low.^' 
 
 "Your ladyship will, I trust, do nothing 
 rashly,^' interposed the lawyer. ^^ Whoever the 
 lad may be, the late Earl evidently regarded him 
 as an especial /rt^/t^/." 
 
 "And he had his own reasons for doing so, 
 doubtless," retorted the Countess, shrilly; "and 
 these reasons I shall not rest until I have dis- 
 covered. Miss Paget, you were not with us at 
 the time of Anthony^s birth, but you may have 
 heard my husband mention this dishonourable 
 transaction. Did he ever tell you that the boy 
 was not viy son, or hint at his real parentage 
 before you ? " 
 
 ^^ Never ! Indeedj'^ replied Miss Paget^ em-
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? 131 
 
 phatically, " this intelligence is as startling and as 
 incredible to me as to yourself, Lady Culwarren, 
 and I find it quite impossible to believe it. Mr. 
 Melstrom not your son ! Why, he bears the 
 Christian name of the late Earl, and always 
 appeared to be his favourite of the two ! Besides, 
 is he not supposed to be the image of his late 
 grandfather ? Several of the family have remarked 
 the likeness to me/' 
 
 " Of course he is," replied Lady Culwarren, 
 bitterly, for the admiration conferred upon the 
 younger son had ever been an annoyance to her. 
 " He is exactly like the portraits of the old Lord 
 Culwarren, who was hated for his vices by the 
 entire county. It is said that it was his harshness 
 and ill-temper that drove Lady Diana to take 
 the fatal step she did. But Mr. Melstrom is not 
 a bit like me, and for that reason I am resolved 
 to search this matter to the bottom. I will have 
 none of the late EarPs indiscretions foisted on 
 Culwarren and myself for affection or patronage. 
 Ring the bell, Miss Paget, if you please, and 
 summon Mrs. Matthews." 
 
 K 2
 
 132 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Exactly so," acquiesced Mr. Ashfold, who 
 was sorry for the awkward turn the Countess's 
 suspicions had taken; '^but who is Mrs. Matthews ? 
 We must not bruit this little matter abroad more 
 than is absolutely necessary^ Lady Culwarren." 
 
 ^^ I believe I know les convenances as well 
 as most people, Mr. Ashfold/' replied her lady- 
 ship, stiffly, " and am as little likely to transgress 
 them. Mrs. Matthews' position in Gardenholme 
 at present is a sinecure, but she was nurse to my 
 late husband, and has been in the family ever 
 since. If any person living is acquainted with 
 the parentage of Anthony Melstrom, that person 
 will be Mrs. Matthews. Please send for her at 
 once." And then the three sat very silent and 
 uncomfortable, awaiting the advent of the servant 
 in their midst. She was a domestic of the old 
 stamp — the stamp that is worn out, effaced, almost 
 forgotten. Summoned from her snug sitting-room 
 on the ground-floor of the Abbey, she made a pro- 
 found obeisance as she entered the library. She 
 was an old woman of perhaps seventy summers, 
 but she was as upright as a dart, and had piercing
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? 133 
 
 eyes like an eagle. She wore a black stuff 
 dress and a large black silk apron, and had a 
 white muslin kerchief quaintly pinned across her 
 bosom. Her high, well-starched cap with its 
 bow of black ribbon formed a subject of ridicule 
 for all the fine ladies'-maids who visited Garden- 
 holme ; but Mrs. Matthews regarded the servants 
 of the present day with ill-disguised contempt, 
 and retained the same fashion in dress in which 
 she had dandled the late Earl of Culwarren fifty 
 years before. She advanced to the table at which 
 the Countess and the lawyer were seated, and 
 though Lady Culwarren requested the old woman 
 more than once to take a chair, she remained 
 standing throughout the interview, and would have 
 dropped from fatigue sooner than commit the 
 sacrilege of sitting down in the presence of 
 her superiors. 
 
 ^* Mr. Ashfold has come down to Gardenholme 
 to-day to convey some very strange intelligence 
 to me, Mrs. Matthews,^^ commenced the Countess. 
 
 " Indeed, my lady 1 " 
 
 " Something which you must know more about
 
 1 34 THE RISEN DEA D 
 
 than anybody else living, and I have sent for 
 you, in order that you may enlighten us." 
 
 Miss Paget vacated her seat by the window, 
 and drawing nearer to the table, looked up in 
 the old servant's face with the greatest anxiety. 
 She was not singular in taking an interest in 
 Anthony Melstrom's fortunes. Every one who 
 knew him loved the lad — except the woman who 
 had hitherto believed herself to be his mother. 
 
 " If there is any information I can give your 
 ladyship/' commenced Mrs. Matthews, deferen- 
 tially. 
 
 "Shall I break the news to her?" demanded 
 Ashfold. 
 
 " I prefer to do it myself,^^ said Lady Cul- 
 warren, quickly. " Mrs. Matthews, you knew my 
 husband from infancy, and have lived with me 
 ever since my marriage. Answer me truly. 
 Whose child is Anthony Melstrom } " 
 
 At this sudden and unexpected attack, the 
 old servant's presence of mind seemed entirely 
 to desert her. She clasped her palsied hands 
 together and could scarcely articulate from alarm.
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? 135 
 
 " Whose child, my lady ? ^' she reiteratedj after 
 a pause. " Why, your child, surely. Didn't you 
 bring him into the world this very day twenty-one 
 years ago, God bless him } Dear, dear, whose 
 child should he be but yours } " 
 
 " That's just what I want you to tell me, Mrs. 
 Matthews. Of course, I thought until to-day 
 that he was, as you say, my son; but Mr. 
 Ashfold informs me that your master left a paper 
 behind him to certify that he is 7wL" 
 
 ''Exactly so," asserted the solicitor. ''A 
 perfectly legal document, Mrs. Matthews, signed 
 sealed, and witnessed, to say that the Countess's 
 son died shortly after his birth, and this boy was 
 substituted in his place. This news has naturally 
 much upset her ladyship, and so, if you know 
 anything about the affair, you can do no harm 
 by telling it, as the secret is out, and no mistake. 
 Exactly so." 
 
 Mrs. Matthews turned her gaze alternately 
 from the Countess to the lawyer, and from the 
 lawyer to the companion, with a face of the 
 deepest distress.
 
 136 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Don't let the news upset you like this/' 
 said Miss Paget, kindly, as she laid one hand 
 on the old woman's shaking frame. ^' We know 
 you must feel it — everybody will feel it — Mr. 
 Melstrom is such a general favourite. But the 
 Earl has provided for him in his will, and it is 
 only right that the truth should be made known 
 at last. The error has been in withholding it 
 so long." 
 
 " And my dear master has left a paper to say 
 that blessed boy is not his own ? '^ exclaimed Mrs. 
 Matthews, incredulously. 
 
 '^Oh, no, Matthews. You quite mistake,'' 
 interrupted the Countess, in a sarcastic voice ; 
 '^ the document only affirms that Anthony Mel- 
 strom is not my son." 
 
 The old servant was sharp enough to perceive 
 the implied alternative. 
 
 " Humbly begging your pardon, my lady/' 
 she said, " I knew my lord long before you did. I 
 dandled him as an infant in my arms, and you're 
 doing him a wrong by your suspicion. He was 
 good and true from first to last. If he brought
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? 137 
 
 another person's child into this house and passed 
 it off as yours, it was to save your life and reason, 
 and not for any base purpose of his own. You 
 may take my word for that." 
 
 ''Come, then, Mrs. Matthews, you do know 
 something about this business, that is very evident, 
 and I must beg you to tell me what it is/^ replied 
 Lady Culwarren. '' I will not be deceived any 
 longer, you may depend upon that, and the more 
 you can convince me that your words are true, 
 the better it will be for Mr. Melstrom." 
 
 Miss Paget pressed the old woman's hand, 
 " Have courage, Matthews,'' she whispered, '^''and 
 tell all you know." 
 
 The servant looked in her anxious face com- 
 passionately. 
 
 " If I dared," she began, and then suddenly 
 turned to Mr. Ashfold. 
 
 '' Mayn't I know what's in the paper, sir > " 
 
 '^ Certainly," replied Ashfold, and he reiterated 
 what he had confided to Lady Culwarren. 
 
 " Well, then, my lady," said the woman, " it's 
 no use holding my tongue any longer. What the
 
 138 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Earl says there is true. Mr. Anthony is not your 
 son/' 
 
 " But whose son is he ? " 
 
 *^ That's more than I can tell you, my lady. 
 I remember your terrible illness well. Day and 
 night I watched with the Earl by your bedside, 
 and I thought he would have gone mad as well as 
 yourself, for he was bowed down with terrible 
 grief and shame the while. It was weeks before 
 the fever bettered and you came to yourself again, 
 and all that time you had been raving about your 
 baby, and saying you had killed it, and would be 
 had up for murder. So the doctor said, whatever 
 we did afterwards, we imist get an infant for you 
 to fondle when you first recovered your senses.'* 
 
 ** I have heard all that/' rejoined the Countess, 
 coldly, '^and the unpardonable trick that was 
 played on me. You are certain that my child 
 
 " Oh, yes, my lady; pretty dear! that it did, for 
 I put it in its coffin with my own hands, and his 
 lordship was terribly cut up about it too. And if 
 you was to make search in the family vault, you'd
 
 WHO IS ANTHONY? 139 
 
 find the little coffin without ever a name on, for it 
 didn't live to be baptized. And that's Gospel 
 truth/' 
 
 "But, Mrs. Matthews, I must have more. 
 Where did Anthony come from } '^ 
 
 " I can't tell you, my lady." 
 
 "Whose child is he.?'' 
 
 " I can't tell you that either, my lady. If my 
 master had known it himself, wouldn't he have 
 written it down .? " 
 
 "That's nonsense. He 7/mst have known it. 
 Who brought the child to Gardenholme ? " 
 
 "The medical gentleman, my lady, whom his 
 lordship deputed to fetch it." 
 
 " And you mean me to believe, Matthews, that 
 you never even asked whose baby it was — nor any 
 of the other servants } You all saw a strange 
 infant brought and put in the place of my poor 
 dead child, and you had not even the curiosity to 
 inquire who were its parents, nor where it came 
 from } I don't believe it. The virtue of discretion 
 is too rare." 
 
 " But pardon me, my lady, none of the other
 
 I40 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 servants knew anything of the matter. As soon 
 as it was evident that his own poor dear baby 
 must die^ his lordship made his arrangements 
 accordingly/^ 
 
 '^ He went out and found the Honourable 
 Anthony Melstrom under a hedge, I suppose/' 
 sneered the Countess. ^' I repeat that I have been 
 shamefully duped and deceived/^ 
 
 '^ I cannot tell your ladyship where he found 
 him. It was no part of my duty to pry into my 
 master's secrets. All I know is that he brought 
 him home and laid him in my arms^ and told me 
 to treat him as if he were his son. And Fm sure 
 if your own dear baby had lived, my lady, he 
 couldn't have grown into a finer, handsomer, nor 
 more loving young gentleman than Mr. Anthony.''^ 
 
 '^ Hush ! Pray do not treat me to any of this 
 nonsense. If his lordship wished me to treat the 
 young man with any consideration, he should have 
 kept this disgraceful secret to himself. Well, 
 Mr. Ashfold, we seem no nearer the solution of the 
 mystery. This old woman cannot, or will not, 
 give us the least clue to the parentage of
 
 IVHO IS ANTHONY r 141 
 
 Mr. Melstrom, and so the only conclusion that 
 I can arrive at is, that my husband palmed off on 
 my protection some base-born child of his own." 
 
 '' No, no, my lady, I knozv that is not the case," 
 exclaimed Mrs, Matthews. 
 
 "Will your ladyship permit me to ask one or 
 two questions of her ?" said the lawyer, persuasively. 
 " You were surprised, perhaps, at my dwelling so 
 much just now on the history of Lady Diana 
 Melstrom. Exactly so. But I had my reasons. 
 You seem agitated, Mrs. Matthews. You knew 
 Lady Diana, of course, and are acquainted with 
 the events I allude to .?" 
 
 " Knew her, sir ! Why, didn't I nurse her from 
 the day of her birth, and love her like my own 
 child } She was ten years younger than the Earl. 
 God rest them both ! '' 
 
 ^^ Very creditable ! Very creditable^ indeed ! ^' 
 remarked Mr. Ashfold. " Now, attention, please, 
 Mrs. Matthews, and don't attempt any prevarication. 
 Are you, or are you not, prepared to say that 
 Mr. Anthony is not the son of Lady Diana 
 Melstrom .? ''
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE COMPANION. 
 
 T that question the old woman's face 
 quivered with indignation, and she 
 started forward, exclaiming : 
 
 ^' Oh, sir ! For shame ! for shame ! You have 
 no right to make so cruel and groundless an 
 assertion concerning my dear dead mistress.^^ 
 
 And then she sat down in the chair which she 
 had refused to occupy, and, hiding her face behind 
 her withered palm, began to cry feebly. 
 
 ^' Mrs. Matthews," said Lady Culwarren, majes- 
 tically, ^^ I am surprised at your presumption in 
 addressing Mr. Ashfold in such a manner. You 
 forget yourself.'^ 
 
 *' Oh, pardon, pardon, my lady ! " replied the 
 servant, in a quavering tone ; *^ but to the dead ! 
 It is so cruel — so cruel ! ^'
 
 THE COMPANION 143 
 
 " I cannot say that I quite see the cruelty of 
 it myself/^ remarked the lawyer, ^^and it is an 
 important factor in the chain of events. Lady 
 Diana believed herself to be a married woman. 
 No one would dream of imputing a particle of 
 blame to her, poor thing. It was her misfortune, 
 not her fault. But I have been making some 
 inquiries lately, and I find there is no doubt that, 
 after returning to the protection of her brother, 
 she gave birth to a child, a circumstance which 
 the Earl, in order to save his sister's reputation 
 and the name of the family, desired, most 
 naturally, to conceal from the knowledge of the 
 world. He therefore, so I understand, bribed 
 her attendants to persuade her that the infant 
 was stillborn, and had it conveyed away to be 
 reared at his own expense. Soon afterwards 
 Lady Diana Melstrom is said to have died — 
 in Rome, I believe, or Florence. What more 
 probable, then, that finding a child was necessary 
 to ensure your ladyship's restoration to health, 
 the Earl should have brought his nephew to be 
 substituted in place of his son 1 The dates of
 
 144 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 birth are within a month of one another, and I 
 feel no doubt on the matter myself. Exactly 
 so '' 
 
 But here a deep sigh — almost more like a 
 moan than a sigh — was borne upon the still 
 summer air, and Mr. Ashfold^s attention was 
 directed to the companion. 
 
 " Good gracious ! Mrs. Matthews, look after 
 Miss Paget ; she is fainting. I told your ladyship 
 the temperature of this room was too high for 
 her — or for anybody, in fact, except a visitor from 
 the infernal regions,^^ he muttered to himself. 
 But both the women were too much occupied with 
 Miss Paget to heed what he said. 
 
 "Do make yourself of some use/' cried the 
 Countess, impatiently, as she supported the head 
 of her companion. ^' Get a fan, or ring the bell 
 for some water, or do something. It's all your 
 business that has brought on this attack, Mr. 
 Ashfold. You might have told your story in 
 half the time. Get my smelling-salts, Mrs. 
 Matthews ; you will find them on the writing- 
 table. Dear me ! she looks very white and
 
 THE COMPANION 145 
 
 drawn. What can have occasioned this sudden 
 illness ? " 
 
 " Let me take her to her own room^ my 
 lady/^ pleaded the old woman, who was trembling 
 violently. '' I have often seen her in these attacks 
 before, and she will be terribly upset when she 
 comes to herself if she finds she is not quite 
 alone/' 
 
 " Quite alone ! What nonsense, when she is 
 my dearest friend ! Perhaps it would be better if 
 Mr. Ashfold were to leave us, but Miss Paget 
 cannot possibly have any objection to my presence, 
 who am more like a sister to her than anything 
 else." 
 
 '' I know you are, my lady, and so does she, 
 poor thing. Many's the time she has spoken to 
 me of your goodness and kindness to her. But 
 pray let her be carried to her room. She's gone 
 off just like death, and she will recover nowhere 
 so well as on her own bed. I beg your ladyship 
 to order the servants to carry her upstairs.^' 
 
 In the face of this entreaty on the part of Mrs. 
 Matthews, who was considered quite an authority 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 146 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 on medical matters in the household, Lady Cul- 
 warren did not like to hold out any longer, and 
 so assistance was procured, and accompanied by 
 the old servant; the unconscious form of the 
 companion was conveyed to the upper landing, 
 whilst the Countess^ offended at having been 
 forced to give way against her will, prepared to 
 discuss with Mr. Ashfold the best course of con- 
 duct to pursue with regard to Anthony Melstrom. 
 Meantime, Miss Paget having been placed on 
 her bed, was left (excepting for the presence of 
 Mrs. Matthews) alone. As soon as the other 
 servants had quitted the apartment, the old woman 
 carefully locked the door behind them and busied 
 herself in restoring her charge. She loosened the 
 fastenings of the black dress she wore, disclosing 
 a neck and shoulders of alabaster fairness ; then 
 she removed the mob-cap which hid the com- 
 panion's wealth of hair, and let the pale-golden 
 tresses, flecked here and there with gray, flow over 
 the pillow on which she lay. Viewed in this light, 
 Miss Paget appeared what she really was — a 
 beautiful though prematurely aged woman of nine-
 
 THE COMPANION 147 
 
 and-thirty — beautiful, that is to say, so far as well- 
 formed features went ; but the beauty of colour 
 and expression — the beauty that comes with 
 happiness— the beauty, in fact, of life, had all 
 been washed out of her face by some great trouble 
 or anxiety. She lay on her bed like a marble 
 statue, without hope or feeling, but fixed, re- 
 signed, immovable. Mrs. Matthews continued to 
 bathe her forehead with eau - de - cologne, and 
 hold the smelling-salts to her nostrils, and more 
 than once during her task did she stoop to kiss 
 her hands or silken hair, murmuring half-broken 
 sentences of pity or affection the while. At last 
 the companion opened her eyes, dreamily and 
 wonderingly at first, as people are accustomed to 
 do after a swoon ; but as they fell upon the 
 servant, and she watched the officiousness with 
 which she attended on her, remembrance seemed 
 suddenly to flash upon her mind, and she started 
 up with a wild look of terror. 
 
 ''What is it? What is it.?" she exclaimed. 
 '' Have they found me out t Does that man 
 know me ? " 
 
 L 2
 
 148 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " No, no, my dearie," replied the old nurse, 
 soothingly; "no one said nothing of the kind. 
 Now do lie again and rest a little. You're not fit 
 to leave your bed yet awhile. Lie down^ as your 
 old nursie tells you." 
 
 And she attempted to force her back to a 
 recumbent posture, but she might as well have 
 tried to control the dead. 
 
 " Stay," cried Miss Paget, suddenly ; " I can 
 remember now. They spoke oi AntJionyr 
 
 Then she turned to the old servant and 
 clutched her shoulder like a vice. 
 
 ''Matthews, tell me the truth, as if you 
 and I were standing before the judgment seat 
 of God. Did that man lie, or is Anthony 
 Melstrom the child which you told me never 
 breathed ? " 
 
 " Oh, my dear lady, what shall I say to you } " 
 
 '' The truth, and nothing but the truth. I 
 know you know it, and I will kill you, but you 
 shall tell it me." 
 
 She looked dangerous in her passionate sus- 
 pense with the mother-love gleaming hungrily
 
 THE COMPANION 149 
 
 from her eyes, and the old woman cowered before 
 her. 
 
 " But I sivorey^ she gasped. " I took a solemn 
 oath to the Earl and before high Heaven that I 
 would keep the secret until I died. Oh, my lady, 
 you won't ask me to forswear myself? '' 
 
 " But he never dreamt that others would hint 
 the truth before me, and raise this demon of 
 anxiety in my breast. Matthews^ I absolve you, 
 in the name of my dead brother, from your oath. 
 It concerns me more than anybody else. For 
 God's sake, tell me the truth.'^ 
 
 '^ I cannot refuse you, my lady. Mr. Anthony 
 is your child. I took him, by my lord's orders, 
 from your side myself, and my own sister kept 
 him until he was brought to Gardenholme and 
 exchanged for the dead baby of Lady Culwarren. 
 But it was by his lordship's orders, my dear. Pray 
 remember that, and I believed with him, as there's 
 a heaven above us, that it was the best thing for 
 your honour and happiness." 
 
 But Miss Paget did not appear to have heard 
 her last words. She leapt from the bed and
 
 ISO THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 commenced walking up and down the room, like 
 a creature possessed^ throwing her arms about and 
 laughing and weeping by turns. 
 
 ^^ My child ! " she exclaimed, hysterically, "my 
 child. How did they dare to tell me you were 
 dead, my living, breathing child 1 My Anthony. 
 Ah ! who can wonder now that I have been drawn 
 as no other creature has ever had the power to 
 draw me .? It was the strength of motherhood, 
 mighty even in unconsciousness. Anthony mine. 
 My boy, my son. My o\nx\^ow]i child. Matthews ! " 
 she continued, as she observed the old servant^s 
 stricken attitude, ''don't be afraid, but tell me 
 everything. I forgive you all your share in this 
 transaction. I am sure you did it for the best. 
 I feel as if I could forgive everybody, because 
 I am so happy in the knowledge that he lives 
 — so very, very happy, that I could even bless 
 the bitter teaching of the past.'^ 
 
 "^ Oh, my dear lady, what will come of all 
 this ? " 
 
 " I do not know. I cannot think. I can re- 
 member only one thing — that he is mine. Oh,
 
 THE COMPANION 151 
 
 Matthews ! how had you the heart to take him 
 from me, when you saw how I needed the comfort 
 I should have had in him ? " 
 
 " It nearly broke my heart, my lady, it did 
 indeed — but, as I said just now, I thought I was 
 doing the kindest thing by you, to save you from 
 more shame and sorrow than you needed to bear. 
 And when his lordship, after some years, brought 
 you back from Rome to live here with his countesi^ 
 he bound me by that solemn oath never to reveal 
 to you that Mr. Melstrom was your son, and may 
 he forgive me for doing it now. But I've seen 
 your love for him, my lady, and watched your 
 secret sorrows, and my heart has bled for you. It 
 has^ indeed.^^ 
 
 '^And I believe it, Matthews. I believe, too, 
 that my brother Culwarren meant it for the best ; 
 but it was a cruel kindness. A mother's rights 
 should be unalienable. God gives them to her, 
 God only should have the power to retake them. 
 I see now why Culwarren brought me back to 
 Gardenholme, and placed me under a false name 
 in my own family and beside my son. How
 
 152 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 often did he^ when dying, beseech me to love and 
 cherish Anthony ? Oh ! it is joy beyond telling 
 to know my darling lives. And yet," with a 
 sudden pang, " never to acknowledge him — never 
 to hear his dear voice call me * Mother ^ ! Oh, 
 I\Iatthews, how shall I endure it ? " 
 
 " Hush, hush ! my dear lady. You have been 
 S3 brave and borne so much without complaint. 
 Don't let your stout heart fail you now/^ 
 
 ^' But I did not know then that Anthony was 
 my child. I believed I had no one in the world 
 either to love or to live for. But now, to dwell 
 in his presence — to hear his happy voice, to watch 
 his dear, bright face — to hear others praising and 
 admiring him, and never to be able to tell them 
 he is mine — oh, Heaven, help me ! The weary 
 years that I have passed in silent, hopeless agony 
 have dwindled down to nothing beside this. My 
 punishment has but just descended on my head.'' 
 And throwing herself prostrate on the bed, the 
 unhappy woman burst into a flood of tears. Mrs. 
 Matthews became alarmed. 
 
 ^' My dear, you will never betray yourself now,
 
 THE COMPANION 153 
 
 surely. What good could it lead to ? Think of 
 your noble brother lying in his grave^ and the 
 pains he took to conceal it. Think of your honour 
 and that of the family. And poor Master Anthony, 
 too. What would become of us all if you were 
 to disclose your real name and title now } " 
 
 The companion drew herself up to her full 
 height and looked down on the old servant 
 majestically. All the aristocrat — so long con- 
 cealed beneath a garb of dependence — shone from 
 her eyes and sounded in her voice as she replied : 
 
 " There is no need for you to remind me of 
 my duty, Matthews. I forgot it once, but I shall 
 never do so again. Lady Diana Melstrom is dead 
 — sleeping in her far-off grave under the skies 
 of Italy. You need not fear that she will ever 
 come to life again. You know, notwithstanding 
 the disguise I have assumed, the trouble I have 
 had to preserve myself from recognition whenever 
 any of my relations have visited Gardenholme, 
 and had it not been for Lady Culwarren's coolness 
 with all our family, and occasional assistance from 
 you, I hardly know how I should have accomplished
 
 154. THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 it. Do you think that, after all these years of 
 banishment and shame, I can have any intention 
 of discovering myself now — to receive, perhaps 
 in person, those comments which my sister-in- 
 law was pleased to make concerning me to Mr. 
 Ashfold ? " 
 
 *^Shev/ould never have spoken like that, my 
 lady, if she had known you were standing by.''^ 
 
 " Perhaps not. Still, I have heard them. My 
 heart may break, Matthews, but my child shall 
 never, through my means, blush for his mother's 
 shame. Let him think of himself as he may. Let 
 him think of his unknown parents as he will. My 
 lips shall never fix the stamp of bastardy upon 
 his innocent brow." 
 
 ^^Oh, my lady, will it not be more than 
 your strength can bear.?" demanded Matthews, 
 anxiously. 
 
 '^ If so^ I can but die, as it would have been 
 better if I had died years ago. No, dear nurse, 
 don't caress me. I want to harden myself — to 
 regard this new fact in the same spirit in which I 
 have learned to regard my living death. Help me
 
 THE COMPANION 155 
 
 to arrange my dress, and put away this tell-tale 
 hair, and then leave me — leave Miss Paget^ tlie 
 companion of the Countess of Culvvarren — to wrestle 
 with her heart and resume the character she never 
 again intends to part with." 
 
 ''And what shall I tell her ladyship, Miss 
 Paget ? " asked the old servant, when she had 
 performed the duties required of her. 
 
 " Say I am recovered^ but feel so weak that, 
 with her permission, I will remain in my room 
 until the evening. And let no one disturb me, 
 Matthews, not even Miss Lily. I wish to be 
 entirely alone.'' 
 
 The old woman crept away to do her bidding, 
 and Miss Paget, advancing to the open window, 
 leaned out of it, to cool her heated face in the soft 
 summer breezes, and try to still the throbbing 
 of her heart. There was a sound of laughter in 
 the air — gay voices and light jests made them- 
 selves audible every now and then through the 
 screen of the surrounding foliage, and, by com- 
 parison, her sad thoughts grew more sad. 
 
 " So used / to laugh," she said, to herself,
 
 156 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ^^and so I jested, until he crossed my path, and 
 turned all my mirth to misery." 
 
 At length a voice, more ringing and more 
 buoyant than the rest, sounded from the path 
 beneath her window. Miss Paget recognised it in 
 a moment. It was that of Anthony Melstrom 
 speaking to Lilian Osprey. Her first impulse 
 was to gloat, with all the pride of new possession, 
 on his beloved face and figure. But before he had 
 come in view, a horrible shrinking, which was 
 almost fear, overpowered her, and drawing back 
 hastily, she sank down upon the floor and wept 
 without restraint. 
 
 " I cannot meet him," she moaned ; '^ I dare 
 not see him. I have not even the courage to look 
 into the face of my own child ! Merciful Heaven, 
 have pity upon me. My punishment is greater 
 than I can bear."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL. 
 
 iT may well be supposed that the desires 
 of Anthony Melstrom did not all tend 
 in the direction of the new conser- 
 vatory and the billiard-room, when he invited 
 Lord Culwarren and Lilian Osprey to accompany 
 him in a tour of inspection of Gardenholme. He 
 was longing to catch, if it were only one glance, 
 from the eyes of the girl he loved, away from the 
 surveillance of his mother, and he did not consider 
 that the presence of his brother, beside whom 
 they had grown up together and who was so well 
 acquainted with their youthful attachment, would 
 prove any bar to his wishes. The few glimpses 
 he had caught of her face across the luncheon- 
 table had not been very encouraging. Lily had 
 blushed deeply each time their eyes had met, but
 
 158 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 she had appeared shy, restless, and strangely ill at 
 ease before him^ and the circumstance had filled 
 his heart with sad forebodings. The gaiety with 
 which he had challenged her to a stroll with him 
 had all been forced. His real object was to find 
 out how matters stood between them, and if 
 anything or anybody had come between his heart 
 and hers during their enforced separation. Lord 
 Culwarren, on the other hand, was equally anxious 
 to let his younger brother know that he must give 
 up all pretensions to their cousin. A few words 
 which he had exchanged with the Countess before 
 leaving the luncheon-room made him feel justified 
 in taking this step, for she had called him to her 
 side and whispered to him, with a smile and a 
 pressure of the hand, that all was right, and she 
 had as good as made the fact of the engagement 
 patent to their friends. Under these circum- 
 stances, it would naturally be supposed that the 
 newly betrothed lover would have sought the 
 society of his fiancee to thank her for acceding 
 to his proposal. But something in Lilian Osprey's 
 manner was more repellent to Culwarren even
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 159 
 
 than to Anthony. If she was shy and distant 
 with the younger brother, she was positively afraid 
 of the elder, and the Earl felt very much as if 
 he were de irop as he sauntered beside the pair. 
 
 As soon as they v/ere clear of the luncheon- 
 room and out of sight of the servants, Anthony 
 took Lily's hand and drew it within his arm. At 
 the same moment Cuhvarren offered his to her. 
 The girl drew back from both. 
 
 " No, no ! " she said, shaking her head in an 
 agitated manner. ^^ I had better not, thank you. 
 Aunt Emily is so very particular." 
 
 ^^ Particular ? By Jove ! she must be indeed, 
 if she objects to your taking your cousin's arm,'' 
 exclaimed Anthony, laughing, as he tried to 
 regain possession of her hand. "Nonsense, Lily. 
 Pve been without you too long, and refuse to 
 give up any of my privileges now I've returned. 
 One would think you were a young lady intro- 
 duced to me for the first time." 
 
 "At all events, there can be no objection to 
 your taking my arm," interposed Culwarren, 
 significantly.
 
 l6o THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "I would rather not," replied Lily, shrinking 
 away. 
 
 Anthony shot one glance of reproach at her, 
 and then addressed his brother. 
 
 "Well, Cuhvarren, so we are once more 
 together. I wonder if you find me as changed 
 as I do you. I don't believe I should have 
 known you in the street. You have cultivated 
 such an indisputable moustache since we parted, 
 and you wear your hair so long. Is that the 
 latest fashion? And how you have been going 
 in for literature, too ! I saw your name in red 
 letters a foot high on some placards at the 
 railway station as we came along.'' 
 
 "Yes, yes,'' replied the Earl in a drawling 
 tone, " it begins to be pretty well known by this 
 time, I believe. You see, Anthony, a man must 
 do something nowadays. It has become quite the 
 thing for our class to go in for music, or acting, 
 or writing, and it doesn't do to be behindhand. 
 It used to be only the lower classes that did 
 anything, but since the Royal Family have gone 
 in for fiddling, and sculpture, and literature,
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL i6i 
 
 it Is time, of course, that zue should follow 
 suit." 
 
 " Exactly so, as old Ashfold says. But how 
 do you manage it, Culwarren ? Who writes the 
 books for you "i " 
 
 The young Earl laughed uneasily and pulled 
 his moustache. 
 
 " Oh, come now, Anthony, that's too bad, 
 'pon my soul. / write them, of course. I don^t 
 mean to say that everybody could do it; but when 
 you have the entree to good society, it's not so 
 difficult after all. You hear so many stories, you 
 know, and have so many things repeated to you, 
 and the people themselves put ideas into your 
 head. They're such fools, they give themselves 
 away, till it becomes very much like writing from 
 dictation.'' 
 
 '^ Do you mean to say that you take advantage 
 of your intimacy with certain families to show 
 their secrets up in print } " demanded young 
 Melstrom, quickly. 
 
 " Oh dear, no. I don't put real names, so no 
 one can recognise them except their friends, but 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 i62 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 that is just what makes the books sell. So many 
 people buy them to see if they know anything 
 of the characters. My last novel, * Lady Barbara's 
 Secret/ was written on something that Mallett 
 told me about Lady Barbara Ribstone, and by 
 Jove ! he made me pay him ten pounds for it, too. 
 And you should have seen how they flew for 
 that book. The libraries had to take twice the 
 usual number. It was an enormous success.^^ 
 
 " I am sorry to hear it, Cul warren. I can 
 imagine an author giving a sly cut now and 
 then at his enemies, but I could not have believed 
 it possible that any gentleman would ridicule 
 or expose the follies of those from whom he had 
 received hospitality or kindness. I am afraid, 
 from what you say, that the report I heard last 
 month at Florence must be true.^' 
 
 " What report .? '' 
 
 " That this season several houses have closed 
 their doors to you.'^ 
 
 The Earl reddened with displeasure. 
 
 "That's all nonsense. It was no such thing. 
 Somebody must have spread the report out of
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 163 
 
 malice because I didn't patronise him. Our class 
 is always subject to a good deal of envy and 
 uncharitableness.'^ 
 
 " Perhaps. At the same time, we are equally 
 dependent with whd,t you are pleased to term *the 
 lower classes' on the goodwill and support of 
 our acquaintance. I think you will find I have 
 rubbed off a good many of my aristocratic 
 prejudices abroad^ Culwarren, and it would do 
 you good to knock about as I have done. It 
 would teach you to appraise your fellow-creatures 
 for their worth rather than their birth^ and to 
 value kindness too much ever to dream of abusing 
 it. What says my little cousin } Lily_, I have 
 hardly heard your voice since I came home. Is 
 anything the matter^ dear? Are you not well .?" 
 
 '^ Oh, yes, Anthony, thank you. I am quite 
 well." 
 
 *' I can't say you look so," continued Melstrom, 
 as he scrutinised her features. '' You are very 
 pale, and I'm sure you have been crying. I hope 
 that is not because you have got your naughty 
 ' Tony ' home again." 
 
 M 2
 
 i64 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Lily grew scarlet. 
 
 " Oh, no," she ejaculated, timidly. 
 
 " Do you know how I have been dreaming of 
 this moment?" he went on, hurriedly; ^'^how I 
 have longed to see Gardenholme again ? Had it 
 not been for my mother's embargo, I should 
 have returned long ago. You may be sure of 
 that. But perhaps it was better I should wait 
 till I was free. You have not forgotten that I 
 come of age to-day, Lily 1 ^^ 
 
 " Oh, no," she reiterated, in the same fluttered 
 manner. 
 
 "And I intend to enter on my inheritance, 
 too," said the young man, proudly, "whether 
 others object to it or not." 
 
 '' Your inheritance !^^ repeated the Earl, frown- 
 ing. " I did not know that you came into any, 
 Anthony." 
 
 ''Lily does," rejoined young Melstrom, gaily. 
 '^ Lily and I have often talked over my coming of 
 age, and the good things I was to inherit then. 
 There is no necessity for yotcr comprehension, 
 Culwarren. Lily and I know all about it."
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 165 
 
 " I must say you have both religiously kept the 
 secret, then," replied the Earl; very stiffly, " and I 
 think I have the right to " 
 
 " Culwarren," exclaimed the girl^ nervously, 
 " had I not better go back to Aunt Emily ? She 
 always requires me about three." 
 
 "Certainly. By all means," he replied. 
 
 " What ! going to leave us ? " cried Anthony. 
 "That is a disappointment. Never mind, though ; 
 I will see you later. I must see you, darling, and 
 speak to you before the sun goes down." 
 
 He smiled lovingly upon her as he spoke, but 
 she dared not return his glance as she ran away 
 in the opposite direction. The brothers entered 
 the new billiard-room in silence. Unconsciously, 
 a great constraint had fallen upon both of them. 
 Anthony took up a cue and sent a ball spinning 
 across the table. 
 
 " How Fosbrooke will delight in this," he said ; 
 " it is a magnificent table." 
 
 "Ah, what about this cosmopoHtan friend of 
 yours, Anthony ? Who is he, and where did you 
 pick him up .? I suppose he is one of those
 
 i66 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 excellent people whom you wish me to value for 
 his worth rather than his birth, eh ? " 
 
 " His birth is as good as our own," returned 
 Anthony, quickly. " I will vouch for that. As 
 for his worthl' laughing softly to himself, '^ poor 
 dear Fosbrooke ! He has been thoroughly kind 
 and good to me — the most congenial friend I ever 
 had — but I don't know whether I can say much 
 for his general respectability. I suppose the 
 majority of people would call him a regular scamp, 
 but every word and action betrays he is a gentle- 
 man. Yet he is very reticent concerning himself." 
 
 " Who are his friends or relations } " 
 
 '^ I have never asked him. His family^ I 
 believe, reside in England, but I perceived as soon 
 as we met that he wished his own silence to be 
 respected by his acquaintance." 
 
 " Well, I hardly consider you are justified in 
 introducing a man of whom you know so little at 
 Gardenholme. He may be a sharper. '' 
 
 "No, no, Culwarren. I am not quite so simple 
 as you would like to make me. Fosbrooke had 
 the entree to the best houses in Rome, and was
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 167 
 
 hand in glove with all the nobility there. I saw 
 at once that he was a gentleman of birth, education, 
 and manners. He is wild, I grant you — some 
 might call him reckless — and he prefers Bohemian 
 society to the dull respectability of the domestic 
 circle. But at the same time he has a noble and 
 generous heart, is an immense favourite with men, 
 and can ingratiate himself with women as quickly 
 as the most polished courtier in Europe." 
 
 "And yet you have never inquired about his 
 antecedents.? It is incredible," said the Earl. 
 
 ^' I have alluded to them, but finding he 
 changed the subject, I followed his example. He 
 is a much older man than I am, remember, and 
 treats me with more kindness than familiarity. 
 But I am sure you will like him. No one could 
 help doing so. He has all the fervour of youth 
 joined to the experience of age. Were I not 
 certain of the welcome he will ensure for himself, 
 I should not venture to introduce him to my 
 mother's society. But to speak of other matters, 
 Culwarren,'^ continued Anthony, with an effort, 
 " tell me a little more about yourself. Our corre-
 
 i68 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 spondence has been so desultory that I am a 
 perfect stranger to your private affairs. Are you 
 completely wedded to the Muses^ or have no 
 bright eyes had the power yet to make you feel 
 fickle ? You are getting on, you know, old fellow. 
 Twenty-five last birthday. It is high time you 
 were thinking of turning my mother into the 
 Dowager Countess of Culwarren, eh t " 
 
 It was with a nervous laugh that Anthony 
 Melstrom finished this peroration and looked up 
 inquiringly into his brother's face. Something in 
 the manner of both the Earl and Lily Osprey had 
 shaken his confidence in himself, and made him 
 anxious to put the question point-blank and learn 
 the truth at once. Culwarren did not know how 
 to answer him. He wanted to say outright that 
 he was engaged to be married to his cousin ; but 
 when it came to the point, his mother's assurance 
 was not sufficient for him. He wished now that 
 he had spoken to the girl himself, and been able 
 to make the announcement on their joint authority ; 
 but since that was impossible, he made the most 
 of the information that had been afforded him.
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 169 
 
 " None of the beauties of the season had much 
 effect upon me, Anthony. The best-looking 
 amongst them appeared to me to be an overrated 
 woman." 
 
 "But it is not necessary for a girl to be 
 beautiful in order to excite love/^ replied Anthony. 
 " For my part, I think that brightness and 
 sweetness of expression outweigh the most 
 faultless features/' 
 
 " Like Lily's, you mean ? '^ rejoined Culwarren. 
 
 *'Yes, she is sweet enough. Heaven knows/' 
 said Anthony, quickly. " I wonder where I could 
 find her? I am longing to speak to her for a few 
 minutes alone. You know, Culwarren, perhaps, 
 that my mother — most unjustly, I think — forbid 
 my corresponding with her whilst abroad ? " 
 
 " But I don't see why you should have wished 
 to correspond with her," replied his brother. 
 " Miss Paget and my mother were surely able 
 to give you all necessary information respecting 
 her .? '' 
 
 " Perhaps so ; but it was not sufficient for my 
 happiness. Lily and I have been brought up like
 
 170 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 brother and sister, and may have been supposed 
 to like interchanging our ideas or memories/' 
 
 " That's nonsense/' interrupted Culwarren, 
 rudely. '^As a rule, brothers and sisters don't 
 care a pin for writing to each other, and my 
 mother was quite right in forbidding Lily to 
 waste her time scribbling letters when she had 
 her studies to pursue/' 
 
 " You cannot deceive me, Culwarren. My 
 mother had but one motive in her prohibition, 
 and that was to separate us altogether." 
 
 ** If so, she had her own reasons for the act, 
 and knows what is best for the girl.'' 
 
 '' What could be better for her than to gain 
 the love and protection of a husband who would 
 always be true to her } My mother might die any 
 day, and you might marry, and in either case 
 Lily cannot remain at Gardenholme." 
 
 '' She will be married herself before either 
 contingency takes place." 
 
 " Perhaps so ; but why am not I to try my 
 chance with her as well as others .<* You knew of 
 my attachment to her, Culwarren, before I went
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 171 
 
 abroad, and It has sufifered no diminution since. 
 Will you not use your influence with my mother to 
 obtain her permission for me to marry my cousin 
 Lily ? My mother loves you far more than she 
 does me. Your word is law with her. Will you 
 exercise it on my behalf.^ I have returned home 
 with the sole object of marrying Lily Osprey, and 
 if I am baulked of it, I shall go away for ever, for 
 I shall feel I have no home left in England.^' 
 
 ^' You seem to have been practising elocution 
 over there,'^ replied the ^arl, sarcastically ; "but 
 I'm afraid it will be lost at Gardenholme. My 
 mother's mind is made up on this subject, and so 
 for the matter of that is Lily's." 
 
 '' Lily's ! " cried Anthony. " Has she, then, 
 spoken of it.-^ Has she learnt to regard me with 
 indifference ? '^ 
 
 " Her conduct shows plainly enough that she 
 has forgotten all about you/^ 
 
 " What do you mean ? ^^ 
 
 " That she has another lover." 
 
 Anthony Melstrom's fresh face became as 
 pale as ashes.
 
 172 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ^' Culvvarren, is this true ? For God's sake do 
 not trifle with me. For the last twelve months I 
 have lived upon the thought that when this day- 
 dawned I should be free, in spite of all opposition, 
 to ask Lily to be my wife. In troubles and 
 scrapes of all kinds — when I was laid upon a 
 bed of fever, when I lost friends, or heart, or 
 hope, one idea buoyed me up — that if I lived, 
 the time imist come when I should be master of 
 my fate and free to woo and marry Lilian Osprey. 
 And when I add, Culwarren, that the same antici- 
 pation has had the power to keep me pure and 
 faithful to her, I am sure you will think the higher 
 of an affection that proved such a safeguard to me." 
 
 But with each word uttered by his brother, 
 Lord Culwarren's discomposure and confusion 
 increased until he saw no way out of his em- 
 barrassment except by roughly telling him the 
 truth. 
 
 "It is of no good talking in this way, 
 Anthony,'^ he said, '^ because the long and the 
 short of it is that the girl doesn't care for you." 
 
 " I will not believe it except from her own lips.
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 173 
 
 Lily may have, as you assert, another lover, but 
 that does not prove that she is false to me/' 
 
 " Yet she is engaged to be married to him." 
 
 At this announcement young Melstrom became 
 much excited. 
 
 '^ Culwarren, why did you allow it ? Why did 
 you not warn me of what was impending ? You 
 knew my love for her — none better. Why did 
 you not write and inform me there was a rival in 
 my path ? " 
 
 "Because I consider one man has as good 
 a right to a girl as another, and it would have been 
 altogether against my mother's wishes had I done 
 as you say." 
 
 "Lily engagedy* continued Anthony, incre- 
 dulously ; " I cannot believe it. She seemed so 
 very true. I understand now why she has been 
 afraid to meet my eye since my return. She 
 knows I have the right to accuse her of her 
 perfidy." 
 
 " I don't see you have any right at all/' replied 
 Culwarren, hastily. " Lily is free to make her 
 own choice in marriage, and my mother will be
 
 174 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 highly incensed if you presume to mention the 
 subject to her without permission.'^ 
 
 " I am a man now, and my mother does not 
 come between me and any woman. Who is this 
 man to whom she has promised my cousin's 
 hand ? " 
 
 ^' Do you intend to run him through in the 
 melodramatic style of Italian inamorati}" inquired 
 Culwarren, with a sneer. 
 
 " Heaven knows. I believe I shall hardly have 
 control of myself if we meet. What is his name ? " 
 
 " Under the circumstances/' replied the Earl^ 
 '^it would be wiser not to tell you." 
 
 Something in his tone made the truth break 
 upon young Melstrom's mind. He stopped short 
 and confronted his brother. 
 
 '* Culwarren, who is this man ? I will know." 
 
 " Well, I suppose you can hardly murder him 
 because the girl prefers him to yourself, and so you 
 may as well hear his name to-day as to-morrow. 
 The unworthy individual on whom Miss Lilian 
 Osprey has consented to bestow the honour of 
 her hand happens to be — myself."
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 175 
 
 As the last words left his lips, the Earl almost 
 started aside from the expression that overspread 
 Anthony Melstrom's face. 
 
 " No," said the young man, mournfully, as he 
 observed his action, "there is no need for you to 
 shrink from me, Culwarren. I shall not strike 
 you — not in that way. But," he went on, with 
 clenched teeth and a look of determination, '' I 
 will learn the truth of your assertion from Lily's 
 own lips, and if you have lied to me or my mother 
 has coerced her inclination, I will take her from 
 you, were it out of your very arms." 
 
 " You cannot do it. She is my betrothed 
 wife." 
 
 " Since when .? " 
 
 " This morning." 
 
 " Since you received my letter announcing my 
 return. I see through my mother's finesse and 
 yours. Culwarren, I came home with a heart 
 full of love for you, and in one moment you have 
 changed me into an enemy. Coward ! to step 
 between me and the love of my life, as soon as my 
 back was turned and I was unable to plead my
 
 176 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 own cause. Had you won her from me in fair 
 fight, I could have forgiven you and loved you 
 still, but this is a treacherous act which it will 
 take your life or mine to wipe out again." 
 
 '' Where are you going } " demanded Lord 
 Culwarren, as Anthony strode away from him. 
 
 " Straight into the presence of Lilian Osprey, 
 wherever she may be_, to demand an explanation 
 of her conduct." 
 
 " But you cannot commit such an outrage. 
 You will probably find her with my mother or 
 surrounded by our friends. This is not the time 
 to enter upon such a subject." 
 
 " I care nothing for time or place. You should 
 have considered such things before you made your 
 communication to me. You rob me of the best 
 hope of my life, and expect me to sit down quietly 
 under the intelligence, as though it was the loss 
 of a few hundred pounds." 
 
 " But you cannot see Lily now," repeated the 
 Earl, uneasily. All his own hopes seemed vanishing 
 before the impetuosity of his younger brother. 
 
 " Who is to prevent me ? " exclaimed Anthony,
 
 A BROTHERS' QUARREL 177 
 
 loudly. " Not you nor my mother^ nor the whole 
 world ! I will see her, and hear her story. Until 
 then, I do not kr ow whether to treat you as a 
 brother in misfortune, who has fallen in the wiles 
 of an artful coquette, or as a thief who has stolen 
 into my house during my absence and robbed me 
 of the best treasure I possessed.^^ 
 
 Saying which, young Melstrom broke away 
 from the detaining clasp which the Earl would 
 have laid upon him, and re-entered the Abbey. 
 
 VOL. T. 
 
 N
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY. 
 
 HEN Lilian Osprey ran away from the 
 two brothers she was fairly frightened. 
 She was not a cowardly girl by nature, 
 but she was young, and timid, and shy, and had 
 never had a real opportunity to exercise the 
 courage that was in her. She was in the position 
 of an animal that submits to bit and bridle 
 because it does not know its own power, and 
 that it could break away and be free if it chose 
 to do so. She was attached to both her cousins, 
 and she had been brought up to show the strictest 
 obedience to all her aunt's commands. She had 
 no dislike to Culwarren, therefore, but she shrank 
 from the idea of marriage with him, and she 
 dreaded every moment they were together that 
 he would tell Anthony of the half consejit that
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 179 
 
 had been wrested from her ; and now that she 
 had seen Anthony again,, she felt she had been 
 untrue to herself in making such a concession, 
 and that it could never be fulfilled. So she made 
 her escape with a twofold object — the first, to 
 avoid the dangerous glance of her lover's eyes ; 
 the second, to find Miss Paget and tell her exactly 
 what she felt upon the subject. It was true that 
 Miss Paget had disclaimed all belief in the truth 
 or purity of love^ and that she had warned her 
 that to trust in it was to build her hopes of 
 security upon a lie, and Lily had half believed her. 
 But then Anthony had not returned. Anthony 
 had not looked at her with love and faith beaming 
 in his eyes. Anthony's restored presence had 
 not shown her the state of her own heart, and 
 made a marriage with Culwarren seem impossible. 
 Lily flew from room to room to find Miss Paget 
 and tell her all this. But the companion was 
 not to be found. She had a headache — so some 
 of the servants said — and was asleep in her own 
 room, and the Countess was busily engaged with 
 Mr. Ashfold, and the rest of the company were 
 
 N 2
 
 i8o THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 out walking or in the drawing-room. So the 
 girl went and seated herself in a little retreat, 
 hidden by flowering bushes and luxuriant creepers, 
 which went by the name of the Lady's Bower. 
 As she settled herself upon the rustic bench, her 
 hand moved mechanically to the bosom of her 
 dress, and she drew from it an old stained and 
 faded glove — one which Anthony, in the hurry 
 of departure a twelvemonth since, had thrown 
 upon the floor of his bedroom, and she had picked 
 up and cherished as a keepsake. She looked at 
 it as it lay upon her lap, a soiled and misshapen 
 piece of dogskin, but with the impress of his 
 hand left in it, and a few tears rose to her eyes 
 and fell upon the relic of her youthful love. 
 She was sitting thus, with her moist eyes fixed 
 upon the old glove, when the hanging creepers 
 which formed a door to the Lady's Bower were 
 suddenly pushed aside, and Anthony Melstrom 
 stood before her. Not finding her in the Abbey, 
 he had come by instinct to the spot which had 
 been their favourite place of meeting in the days 
 of old. And when he saw Lily sitting there, with
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY i8l 
 
 her glorious eyes dimmed by tears, and a soft 
 languorous melancholy in her attitude and appear- 
 ance, the young man forgot for the moment the 
 question he had come to ask her, and remembered 
 only that they met alone after a whole year's 
 separation, and that she was more beautiful than 
 ever. 
 
 " Lily ! " he exclaimed, eagerly ; '^ my dearest 
 Lily ! I have been longing and praying for this 
 moment. 
 
 He clasped her without resistance in his arms, 
 and kissed her on her lips a dozen times, and she 
 was too agitated, and frightened, and delighted, all 
 in one and at the same moment, to be able to 
 think of anything except that Anthony loved her 
 still. 
 
 ^^ Tony,^' she murmured ; " dear, dear Tony ! " 
 
 " Are you glad to see me, Lily ? ^^ 
 
 " Very, very glad." 
 
 " But there are tears upon your cheek, darling. 
 How came they there ? Not with thoughts of me, 
 I hope?" 
 
 Then Lily remembered, and drew backward.
 
 1 82 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "Oh, Anthony, you must not stay here with 
 me. Aunt Emily would be so angry. Pray, pray 
 go away. Supposing she were to come and find 
 you here ? ^' 
 
 *' What of it if she did ? Have I not as good 
 a right to speak to you as any other man ? I am 
 no longer a child, Lily, to be coerced by my 
 mother^s will and frightened at her frown. I have 
 returned to England, prepared to give her all the 
 affection and duty due from a son to his mother; 
 but I am a man now, of an age not only to know 
 my own wishes, but to accomplish them ; and 
 those who desire to remain friends with me must 
 learn to acknowledge my right to guide myself.'' 
 
 " Oh, Anthony, you must not talk to me like 
 this. Indeed, I cannot listen to you. Pray let 
 me go. You know Aunt Emily strictly forbid me 
 to — to — think about you any more/' 
 
 She slid from his embrace as she spoke, and 
 sank down again upon the rustic bench, whilst 
 he regarded her action gloomily and in silence. 
 
 "So/' he exclaimed, after the lapse of a few 
 seconds that seemed like hours to the conscience-
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 183 
 
 stricken Lily ; " so what Lord Culwarren affirms 
 is, I suppose^ true, and you are the affianced wife 
 of my elder brother, Lily ? ^' 
 
 " Oh, no — that is to say, Aunt Emily spoke to 
 
 me about it this morning, and I said Oh, 
 
 Tony, do not look at me like that," cried the girl, 
 cowering before him with her face hidden in her 
 hands. 
 
 '^ I want no reasons — no excuses from you. 
 I only want the truth. Have you promised to 
 marry Culwarren or have you not ? " asked the 
 young man, sternly. 
 
 "I couldn^t help it. Aunt Emily made me.^' 
 
 '^Have you promised or have you not?'' he 
 thundered at her, in a voice which might have 
 been heard half over the grounds of Gardenholme. 
 
 "Yes,'' she answered, faintly; ''^but — but " 
 
 " And this is the girl who said she loved me ! " 
 interposed young Melstrom, sarcastically. 
 
 " Oh, Tony, I did love you. I do love you, 
 indeed — indeed I do ! " she cried, with bitter 
 tears. " This year of silence and separation has 
 been a year of torture to me. Each day I have
 
 i84 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 thought of you, each night I have prayed for 
 you." 
 
 '^ And you expect me to beHeve that, when 
 you are engaged to my brother Culwarren. What 
 are you going to marry him for ? Have you sold 
 yourself for a coronet and a good rent-roll ? Well, 
 then, let him keep his bargain. I wish him joy 
 of it." 
 
 ^' Aunt Emily says I — I — owe everything to 
 her," sobbed Lily, ''and I — I — can only repay 
 her thus." 
 
 " Pshaw ! The case is bad enough as it stands. 
 Don't add to it by a subterfuge. I can quite 
 imagine what Aunt Emily said to you. I am a 
 younger son and a pauper. I am never likely 
 to have either the title or the money, neither 
 am I a literary genius. So Culwarren is in 
 every respect a better match, and I — / may go 
 to the d— 1." 
 
 "Oh, Tony! you are cruel — you do not 
 know." 
 
 " I know more than enough. Miss Osprey, in 
 knowing that you Avill soon be my sister. And I
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 185 
 
 hope after that event happens that I shall never 
 see your face again/' 
 
 " Let me go ! let me go ! my heart is breaking," 
 cried Lily, as she ran past him and entered the 
 Abbey. Anthony Melstrom followed her as far 
 as the lawn, which he paced rapidly, with his 
 bitter thoughts reflected on his face. 
 
 " Well, well, that dream is over,'' he said to 
 himself. " It is best that I should know the truth 
 at once, however rudely. Everything seems gone 
 from me now. Mother, brother — and — and — wife ! 
 There is no longer any place for me at Garden- 
 holme. I never much cared about the old Abbey. 
 There are few sweet memories of home and child- 
 hood in my breast, and those I must make it a 
 duty to forget. I will leave it again as soon as 
 possible, and return to those scenes which have 
 no power to torture me with recollections of the 
 past." 
 
 At this moment a servant approached him with 
 a card upon a salver. 
 
 " The carriage has returned from Dearham, sir, 
 and the gentleman is waiting to see you."
 
 1 86 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 ^^ Fosbrooke, by Jove ! '^ ejaculated Anthony. 
 " If all this business hasn't put him completely 
 out of my head. Where is Lady Culwarren, 
 James t " 
 
 " In the library, sir, with Mr. Ashfold." 
 
 " Well, show Mr. Fosbrooke out here, and tell 
 her ladyship of his arrival. Hallo, my dear fellow ! " 
 continued Anthony, as Fosbrooke appeared on the 
 lawn, " I'm so glad you've come. I begin to be 
 sick of civilised life already. My mother will be 
 here directly. She is engaged on business with 
 the family lawyer.^ ^ 
 
 " And what were you stamping about the lawn 
 for in that dramatic manner, Anthony > '' said 
 Fosbrooke. " I watched you for some minutes 
 from the drawing-room window. What's up } Are 
 you going in for private theatricals, and were you 
 rehearsing to the shrubs and garden benches ? " 
 
 " My rehearsal was for the acting of a more 
 serious drama than you anticipate, Fosbrooke." 
 
 ^' Not a tragedy, I hope, dear boy ? " 
 
 " Unlikelier things have happened. Anyway, 
 it's bound to prove a tragedy for me."
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 187 
 
 " Then there's a woman at the bottom of it ? " 
 
 '' Why should you say so ? '' 
 
 " Because, my dear fellow, women have formed 
 the mainspring of all the plots of all the tragedies 
 this world has ever seen. At eighteen we think 
 them angels ; at twenty-five they have dwindled 
 into ordinary comforts ; at thirty we pronounce 
 them to be extraordinary nuisances ; and I should 
 be afraid to say what name we give them by the 
 time we're forty." 
 
 *' Were you always such a cynic, Fosbrooke ? " 
 
 " Oh dear, no ! I didn't find them out for a 
 long time. Fm only giving you the benefit of my 
 experience. How do you feel about them your- 
 self ? Are you quite disposed to bless the sex at 
 this moment ? " 
 
 " Heaven knows I am not/' replied Anthony, 
 with a deep sigh. 
 
 ''That's a real sigh, and I don't like to hear it," 
 said Fosbrooke, seating himself upon a garden 
 roller. " Come, now, Anthony, since it seems I 
 have guessed the cause of your melancholy, let me 
 hear the whole story.''
 
 i88 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Anthony went up to Fosbrooke and placed his 
 hand affectionately on his shoulder. 
 
 " You hold a strange influence over me/' he 
 said. " I know no man to whom I can speak as I 
 can to you. I have told you how I loved my 
 cousin Lily, and how much I trusted in her faith to 
 me. I deceived myself, Fosbrooke. It was all a 
 chimera. I returned home eager to claim her for 
 my wife, and I find she is engaged to marry my 
 elder brother.^' 
 
 ^^ Your elder brother ? How like a woman 1 " 
 exclaimed Fosbrooke. " But bear it like a man, 
 old fellow. Such a girl isn't worthy of you." 
 
 " I will never give her up," cried young 
 Melstrom, wildly. " You don't know what I feel 
 for her. I will pursue her wherever she may go. 
 I will wrest her from Culwarren's arms at the very 
 altar. I will " 
 
 " Hush, hush, my dear boy,'' said Fosbrooke, 
 quickly ; ^* you don't want all the world to hear 
 you, surely, and there are ladies coming this way." 
 
 And, in effect, there issued from the Abbey at 
 that moment Lady Culwarren with her arm around
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 189 
 
 the neck of Lilian Osprey, followed by Mr. Ashfold 
 and the Earl. Anthony and Fosbrooke rose at 
 their approach. 
 
 " This is your friend, Anthony/' said the 
 Countess, in her bland tones ; " pray introduce him 
 to us." 
 
 "Mr. Fosbrooke — Lady Culwarren, Miss Osprey, 
 Lord Culwarren, Mr. Ashfold,^^ said Anthony, in 
 a constrained voice. 
 
 " This is a pleasure, Lady Culwarren, to which 
 I have long looked forward,^^ commenced Fos- 
 brooke. ^^ My young friend and bon camarade 
 here — who I regret to see is not in his usual 
 good spirits this morning — has often talked with 
 warmth to me of the various members of his 
 family/' 
 
 " Very dutiful of him,'' replied the Countess, 
 coldly. 
 
 " Especially of Miss Lilian Osprey, whom 
 I trust I see quite well," continued Fosbrooke, 
 significantly. 
 
 " My niece is in perfect health, I thank you.'' 
 
 " I am rejoiced to hear it. Anthony, during
 
 IQO 777^ RISEN DEAD 
 
 our ramblings together, has often, with the glad 
 confidence of youth, anticipated the happy moment 
 when he should meet again with his mother, his 
 brother, and — his cousin. ^^ 
 
 " Fosbrooke, pray be silent,^' pleaded Anthony. 
 
 '' My dear boy, why should I not allude to an 
 enviable predilection on your part, which is doubt- 
 less as patent to others as to myself? Especially to 
 Lady Culwarren. A mother's eye sees as quickly 
 as heart feels/' 
 
 The Countess assumed a look of the utmost 
 surprise. 
 
 " I am quite in the dark, Mr. Fosbrooke, and 
 have not the least idea to what predilection on the 
 part of Mr. Melstrom you are alluding." 
 
 '^ No idea I " critd Anthony, starting forward. 
 '' Oh, mother, however painful, let us understand 
 each other. You must have known of my attach- 
 ment to my cousin Lily ; I told it you with my own 
 lips. Speak to my mother, Lily/' he continued, 
 appealingly, to the girl, who was red and white by 
 turns ; " don't be afraid to tell the truth, and clear 
 me from the accusation of presumption. Say that
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 191 
 
 whatever may have happened since, we did love 
 each other dearly, and exchanged a sacred promise 
 of fidelity. What — you are silent ! Are you so 
 false, or I grown so unworthy^ that a word is too 
 much now to bestow on him who once possessed 
 your heart ? '^ 
 
 " I shall not allow my niece to answer you," 
 said Lady Culwarren, as she wound her arms 
 around the girl's slight figure. ''Not a word, 
 Lily, if you please. Remember it is my order.^' 
 
 "You may forbid her to open her mouth, 
 madam," said Anthony, angrily; ''but you 
 cannot prevent her heart speaking. As for yoti, 
 Culwarren, I say before every one that you are a 
 traitor. Yoit knew well enough that I considered 
 myself engaged to Lilian Osprey, yet you stepped 
 between us and bought her, through my mother's 
 intervention, for the value of a title or so much 
 per annum.'' 
 
 " I will not tolerate this language any longer," 
 cried the Countess. " Be silent, sir, at once, or 
 quit my presence." 
 
 "You are my mother^ madam, and therefore I
 
 192 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 will obey you/^ said Anthony. ^^ But, as my 
 mother, I would appeal to you to ^' 
 
 " I am not your mother ! " exclaimed Lady 
 Culwarren, who was too angry to remember what 
 she was saying. "You are no son of mine." 
 
 The little lawyer approached her hastily and 
 plucked her by the sleeve. 
 
 " Exactly so. But let me entreat your ladyship 
 to be cautious. This is no time or place " 
 
 The Countess turned upon him sharply. 
 
 '^ Have you been telling me the truth or not } " 
 
 "The truth, of course, your ladyship." 
 
 " Then be good enough to allow me to manage 
 the matter as I will." 
 
 During this colloquy Anthony had turned 
 aside, silent and distracted, but as soon as it was 
 concluded he addressed the Countess again. 
 
 " In affection, perhaps, you are not my mother. 
 Heaven must judge between us ; but I know you 
 have never loved me as a son. Yet, however much 
 we may wish it, we cannot unmake facts, and the 
 fact remains that I am your own child." 
 
 *' It is 7iot a fact," cried Lady Culwarren,
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 193 
 
 shrilly ; " it is a falsehood. I have but one child, 
 and this is he/' And as she spoke she laid her 
 hand upon the shoulder of the Earl. 
 
 '^You renounce me, then?" said Anthony, 
 in a voice of pain. 
 
 "You are not mine to renounce/' replied the 
 Countess. " I tell you again — I tell all the world 
 — that you are not my son.'' 
 
 A dead pause followed this extraordinary 
 announcement. The assembled guests looked at 
 their hostess and the handsome young man who 
 had so lately joined them in amazement, and a 
 sudden premonition of approaching trouble seemed 
 to strike all present. Anthony Melstrom passed 
 his hand in a dazed manner across his brow, and 
 his friend Fosbrooke drew nearer to him and laid 
 his hand upon his arm. Melstrom shook it off, as 
 though daring the world to say he could not stand 
 alone. In a little while he spoke again. 
 
 " Not your son } " he reiterated. " Who am I, 
 then ? " 
 
 Lady Culwarren's eyes shone with malicious 
 triumph as she replied : 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 194 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "You are a man without a name — a man 
 whose mother's name is stained with shame — a 
 bastard substitute for my dead child." 
 
 '^ It's a lie ! " cried Anthony, fiercely ; " a black 
 and bitter lie. I don't believe it/^ 
 
 " Mr. Ashfold," said the Countess, coldly, " the 
 leading documents which prove this lie are in your 
 possession. Perhaps you will be good enough to 
 show them to this young gentleman, and convince 
 him of the accuracy of my statement. He can 
 hardly be expected to believe it otherwise.^^ 
 
 '^ Exactly so,^^ said the solicitor. ^^ I regret 
 the time and place that have been chosen for 
 imparting so delicate and unfortunate a piece of 
 news, but the late Earl^s papers leave no room 
 for its denial. I shall be happy to show them to 
 you, Mr. Melstrom, if you will accompany me to 
 the library .^^ 
 
 But Anthony seemed to have heard nothing 
 but the fatal news. He staggered back towards 
 Fosbrooke, murmuring : 
 
 " For God^s sake tell me, is this some fearful 
 dream ? "
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 195 
 
 " I think it is time we ended this painful 
 interview, which Mr. Melstrom brought entirely 
 on himself/^ remarked Lady Culwarren, as she 
 turned to re-enter the Abbey. But Lily's forbear- 
 ance had reached its utmost limit. She broke 
 from her aunt's encircling clasp, and rushing 
 back to Anthony, threw herself into his arms, 
 exclaiming : 
 
 " Oh, Anthony, dear Anthony ! If all others 
 forsake you, I will be true. Try me, Anthony ! 
 Take me with you. I cannot remain here alone. 
 Oh, Anthony, I love you — I love you ! ^' 
 
 But i\nthony put her forcibly away. 
 
 '^ Don^t touch me," he said, in a voice of 
 horror ; " don't speak to me. Remember what I 
 am ! '' 
 
 '' No, no ! I remember nothing but that you 
 are my first, my only love. Tony, I have never 
 forgotten you. I was persuaded into renouncing 
 you. I am yours, and yours only." 
 
 He placed his hand upon her head, and raised 
 it so that he could look into her eyes. 
 
 ^^Yes," he ejaculated, "you have told me the 
 
 o 2
 
 196 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 truth. Poor child, you love me still. But your 
 protestations come too late. No power on earth 
 could make me now link my outcast fate with 
 yours." 
 
 " Nor should I permit it, as guardian of my 
 niece/^ interposed Lady Culwarren, as she drew 
 Lily away. '^ I forgive you, my dear, because you 
 evidently don't know what you are doing; but 
 I cannot allow you to expose yourself in this 
 terrible manner any longer. As for you, Mr. 
 Melstrom, you will quit the Abbey, if you please, 
 and return to it no more. Miss Osprey shall not 
 be subjected to your attentions again.'' 
 
 "You will not find me slow to obey you, 
 madam. The recollection of these walls will 
 become as hateful to me as they were once dear. 
 I shall have no home now but the wide world." 
 
 '' Tony — Tony, speak to me ! " wailed Lily. 
 
 '' Be happy, darling, if you can, and think of 
 me as little as you may. Come, Fosbrooke, you 
 have encountered a sorry welcome to Garden- 
 holme ; but I must leave it, and I know you will 
 stand by me to the end."
 
 OUTCAST ANTHONY 197 
 
 " With all my heart, dear boy. It will be a 
 sorry day that sees us estranged. If all the 
 world forsake you, Anthony, you will still find 
 a friend in me. We have been happy enough 
 in our Bohemian life together. Let us return to 
 it and see if it cannot provide sufficient bolts to 
 bar the door effectually against dull care. Name- 
 less, friendless, penniless, what matter ? So am I. 
 The inhabitants of the fair land of Bohemia accord 
 the heartiest welcome to those who have been 
 driven out and turn no lingering glances on the 
 false paradise they leave behind them. Come, 
 Anthony, you shall be my son.^' 
 
 ^^ One moment, gentlemen,'^ interposed Mr. 
 Ashfold, as they prepared to turn away. '^ Mr. 
 Melstrom is not quite so penniless as you suppose. 
 The late Earl did not neglect to make arrange- 
 ments for his maintenance, and I shall be glad 
 to know before we part when and where I can see 
 him to settle the business between us." 
 
 " My father/' commenced Anthony, and then 
 checking himself with a sob — '^ I mean Lord 
 Culwarren — was always only too good to me. I
 
 198 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 shall be at Dearham, Mr. Ashfold, until to-morrow. 
 Perhaps you will wait upon me there and tell 
 me all you know about this miserable business." 
 
 He threw one last glance of farewell at the 
 old Abbey, mantled in green, which was brightened 
 by the setting sun^ as he spoke. At her bedroom 
 window he encountered the face of Miss Paget, 
 pale and immovable as that of a statue, but staring 
 at him and his companion with eyes of fire. 
 Anthony doffed his felt hat and waved it towards 
 her in farewell. 
 
 *' Good-bye/' he cried aloud, with a reckless 
 laugh. ^^ Good-bye to you and Gardenholme for 
 ever." 
 
 And then he clapped Fosbrooke cheerily on 
 the shoulder, and the two men went forth arm-in- 
 arm.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH. 
 
 S they disappeared, an ominous silence 
 fell on the group they left behind 
 them. The guests of Gardenholm€ 
 did not dare to express their opinions on the 
 matter, but their faces told them plainly enough. 
 Lord Culwarren looked moody and dissatisfied. 
 Lily's head drooped lower and lower to the ground. 
 The solicitor was stroking his chin and meditating. 
 The Countess began to feel uncomfortable and 
 as if she had made a mistake. 
 
 "Are they really gone?'^ she inquired, present! y^ 
 finding that no one made a remark. 
 
 *' It looks like it. They are certainly out of 
 sight," replied Ashfold, gazing after them in a 
 melancholy manner. 
 
 " But they can't go without the carriage.
 
 200 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Dearham is five miles off. And Mr. Fosbrooke 
 brought the luggage with him. Aren't they going 
 to take it back again ? What can they be 
 thinking of.?'' 
 
 ^' Exactly so. But your ladyship will pardon 
 me for observing that your announcement of this 
 very delicate and painful piece of information was 
 so abrupt that it left them no time for thinking 
 at all." 
 
 '^ Of course not. Nor any one else either/' said 
 the Earl; "or I might have been tempted to 
 remind you, mother, before you turned my brother 
 out of Gardenholme, that the Abbey belongs to 
 mer 
 
 If her son had turned and struck her in the 
 face, he could hardly have given the Countess a 
 greater shock than these words conveyed. It was 
 true that Gardenholme belonged exclusively to 
 him, and that her dower house lay at some 
 distance from it. But she had been accustomed, 
 since his father's death, to order everything about 
 the Abbey, just as she had done in the old days, 
 until she had almost forgotten it had passed out of
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 201 
 
 her possession. And then to be reminded of it 
 before her company and on such an occasion. It 
 made the Countess feel that she had gained her 
 victory too dearly. 
 
 " He is not your brother, Culwarren," she 
 answered, in a most subdued manner; "but we 
 will not discuss the question any further now. 
 Lily, my dear, don't hang so heavily on my arm. 
 Take your cousin back to the house, Culwarren. 
 These unpleasant proceedings have quite upset the 
 dear child.'^ 
 
 *^ I should think they were enough to upset 
 any one,'' replied his lordship, gloomily, as he 
 offered his arm to Lilian Osprey. As he dis- 
 appeared. Lady Culwarren looked round upon 
 her guests with a sickly smile. 
 
 '^ I'm afraid I owe you all an apology for 
 having made you witnesses to such a painful 
 scene ; but it was a duty I owed to myself. The 
 young man has been behaving very badly, and 
 presuming on his supposed relationship to me. 
 Perhaps I should have kept the secret a little 
 longer, but he provoked me to disclose it by
 
 202 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 his absurd pretensions to the hand of my niece, 
 Miss Osprey, who is already engaged to be 
 married to Lord Culwarren. But it is just as 
 well it is over, and I trust you will all forget it 
 as soon as possible. Mr. Ashfold, will you kindly 
 give me your arm back to the house ? The 
 excitement has made me feel quite ill. How 
 annoying it is," she continued, as they moved 
 away, "that Miss Paget should be laid up at 
 this juncture, when she would have been in- 
 valuable to me in satisfying the idle curiosity 
 of these people and keeping them amused. What 
 is the matter with you, Culwarren ? ^^ she said, as 
 they reached the library, and saw the Earl looking 
 unusually sulky or perplexed. "Do you intend 
 to give me the same trouble as this boy whom 
 your father foisted on me as a son? I consider 
 I have been most cruelly and unjustifiably treated." 
 "' And I consider Anthony might say the 
 same. He has been brought up amongst us 
 from his very birth, without a hint of his not 
 being of the same parentage, and then, without 
 the slightest warning, the truth, accompanied by
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 203 
 
 the bitterest insult^, is flung in his face, and he is 
 turned out of Gardenholme like a thief or a dis- 
 charged servant. And / stood by and saw it 
 done/^ 
 
 ^^Upon my word, you are grateful, Lord 
 Culwarren/^ exclaimed the Countess, sarcasti- 
 cally. '^ Here have I seized upon the oppor- 
 tunity to remove a most dangerous rival from 
 your path, and all the thanks I receive in return 
 are to hear my conduct censured by the one I 
 strove to benefit. You don't seem to understand 
 what an obstacle to your marriage with Lilian 
 Osprey lay in the presence of Anthony Melstrom." 
 
 "I do understand it perfectly. We nearly came 
 to blows about it this afternoon, and the girl made 
 her feelings for him palpable enough just now. 
 Instead of gaining by your stratagem, mother, I 
 am far more likely to lose. You have been unjust 
 to Anthony in Lily's estimation, and I know 
 enough of women to be aware that they always 
 sympathise with the injured party. But put that 
 aside, as I have done, for this business has pretty 
 well knocked all thoughts of love and marriage
 
 204 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 out of my head. The fact remains that you have 
 turned the man who was brought up as your 
 son and my brother out of my house in the most 
 cruel and inhospitable manner, in the presence of 
 your guests, and I must make amends for your 
 behaviour if I can. Mr. Ashfold, are you in my 
 brother's confidence ? Where has he gone ? '^ 
 
 ''Mr. Melstrom told me he should be at the 
 * Culvvarren Arms ' until to-morrow, my lord." 
 
 The Earl rang the bell and ordered the 
 servant to have a carriage at the door as soon 
 as it could be made ready. 
 
 '' Culwarren, where are you going ? " demanded 
 the Countess, anxiously. 
 
 *' I am going to Dearham to apologise to the 
 two gentlemen you have treated so discourteously, 
 and to ask Anthony to forgive me for the words 
 that passed between us this afternoon."" 
 
 ''You will humiliate yourself and me,^' cried 
 his mother, indignantly. 
 
 " It will be a noble action, my lord. Exactly 
 so,'^ exclaimed the little lawyer, " and may I ask 
 to go with you ? '^
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 205 
 
 " No, Mr. Ashfold, I would rather go alone/' 
 replied the Earl. But a few hours later he re- 
 turned home crestfallen. 
 
 '''Anthony refuses to see me/' he said, mourn- 
 fully. '^ He declines, now or ever, to hold any 
 further intercourse with the house of Culwarren." 
 
 " I knew the sort of reception you would 
 encounter," exclaimed the Countess, triumphantly. 
 ''This young man, like all low-bred people, can 
 "Only show his annoyance by insulting his superiors. 
 Anybody could see he had not been born to the 
 position he held here. I suppose his mother was 
 a housemaid. But I have little doubt that he 
 will not scruple to avail himself of the provision 
 made for him by his patron, the late Earl. The 
 whole transaction is the most scandalous thing I 
 ever heard of. It drives me wild even to think 
 of it.'' 
 
 The next day, however. Lady Culwarren's 
 predictions proved to be untrue. 
 
 "Mr. Melstrom refuses to accept the three 
 hundred a year unconditionally settled upon him 
 by the late Earl," said Mr. Ashfold, entering the
 
 2q5 the risen dead 
 
 library, after a visit to Dearham. " He declares 
 that his lordship must have done so believing that 
 he would remain as a loved and loving son at 
 Gardenholme^ and not be kicked out as a usurper. 
 It is very foolish of him — foolish and quixotic — 
 and so I told him plainly, but I could not alter his 
 resolve. It is his^ however, and so there it must 
 remain until he chooses to take it. But this affair 
 has cut him up terribly — terribly — no doubt of 
 that; and his pride is all up in arms. Exactly so.''^ 
 
 "Did you ask him to see me.? Did you tell 
 him with what purpose I visited Dearham last 
 night .^^^ demanded Culwarren^ anxiously. 
 
 " I did, my lord, and Mr. Melstrom desired 
 me to thank you for your good intentions, but 
 to say that, under the circumstances, it was better 
 that you should not meet." 
 
 '•' He sJialL see me," exclaimed the Earl, im- 
 petuously. " I will ride over there this afternoon." 
 
 " It would be useless, my lord. They are 
 gone.^^ 
 
 " Gone ! Where .? " 
 
 "That I cannot tell you, and I don't think they
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 207 
 
 knew themselves. But they started as I came 
 away. I shook hands with them as they got 
 into the carriage, and I don't think they are 
 likely to send their address to Gardenholme. 
 Exactly so.'' 
 
 " I would have given everything that I possess 
 that this should not have happened/' cried Cul- 
 warren, remorsefully, as he hurried from the 
 room. 
 
 Everything appeared to grow very stale, flat, 
 and unprofitable at the Abbey after that. The 
 company dispersed as if by magic. Miss Paget, 
 who had come downstairs again, was so pale, and 
 silent, and depressed, and moved about the house 
 so like a ghost, that it inspired melancholy only to 
 look at her. Lily Osprey had become the shadow 
 of her former self. Lord Culwarren seemed to take 
 interest in nothing, and the Countess was always 
 in a bad temper. With the departure of Anthony 
 Melstrom, a cloud had fallen upon Gardenholme, 
 and the old Abbey was speedily given up to its 
 lawful possessors. 
 
 ^^ What is the matter with you all } " exclaimed
 
 2o8 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 the Countess, fretfully, some weeks after these 
 events had happened. *^ There seems a spell upon 
 the place. I never knew the house so dull before. 
 I hear no music nor singing, and no one ever seems 
 to call. One would think there was a death in the 
 family. Why don't you do something to enliven 
 us, Culwarren ? " 
 
 '* I am not lively enough myself for that, 
 mother.'' 
 
 '' I don't know why you shouldn't be. Where 
 is Lily?" 
 
 *"' In her own room, I suppose. I have not seen 
 her since breakfast-time." 
 
 '' You should invite her to walk or ride with 
 you. You have become a laggard in love, 
 Culwarren. Have you relinquished your desire to 
 marry your cousin .?" 
 
 " By no means, if she will marry me. But I 
 doubt it. You heard what she said to Anthony 
 the day he left us. She called him her first and 
 only love, and declared she was his and his 
 only. They were not pleasant words for me to 
 hear, mother, and I have not forgotten them. Nor
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 209 
 
 is it likely, if they were true^ that she will consent 
 to become my wife." 
 
 " Oh, that's nonsense ! She has consented. 
 She told me distinctly that she would do as I 
 pleased in the matter. And as for any foolish 
 ideas she may have given vent to in the excitement 
 of the occasion you mention, you mustn't think 
 any more about it. The girl was hysterical. She 
 has probably forgotten what she did say. It was 
 just on the impulse of the moment. Nothing 
 more." 
 
 ^'The impulse may return when she meets 
 Anthony again." 
 
 *^ She will never meet him again/' replied the 
 Countess, angrily. " I will renounce any one who 
 keeps up any communication with that young man. 
 I utterly forbid his name being mentioned in my 
 presence." 
 
 " Well, well ! perhaps it is best so. And when 
 Lily is ready to marry me, mother, I shall be ready 
 to marry her ; but not before." 
 
 Upon this Lady Culwarren took an early oppor- 
 tunity to sound her niece's wishes on the subject. 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 2IO THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " My dear girl does not forget the promise she 
 once gave me to become my daughter/' she said, 
 in a loving voice one day, as she passed her 
 jewelled fingers through Lily's hair. 
 
 " No, Aunt Emily,^^ replied Lily, trembling. 
 
 "Our dear Cuhvarren is getting rather im- 
 patient, love. We are nearly through September, 
 and I should like to see the wedding take place 
 before Christmas. What does my bird say to six 
 weeks hence — the first week in November ? ^^ 
 
 ^^ Oh, no, aunt, not so soon as that, I beg. It 
 is so sudden. We have never thought of it. Why 
 cannot we remain as we are ? We are very happy, 
 are we not } " pleaded the girl, in faltering tones. 
 
 Lady Culwarren almost pushed her from her. 
 
 '^ I am tired of all this,^' she said, petulantly. 
 " You are still hankering after that worthless youth 
 who has passed out of your life altogether. Now, 
 mark my words, Lily ! If there were not another 
 man in the world, you should never marry Anthony 
 Melstrom. He is idle, and dissipated, and un- 
 grateful. He cares only for low society, and is 
 probably entitled to no better. He has not even
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 211 
 
 a name to offer you, and if he had, you should 
 never, with my consent, accept it. So put him out 
 of your head at once, and make up your mind to 
 do your duty." 
 
 "I will. Aunt Emily — Indeed I will. I am 
 trying day and night to do it, only it is so very, 
 very hard. But don't ask me to marry any one 
 else — not just yet, for it would break my heart,'' 
 cried Lily, sobbing. 
 
 " Oh, there ! Go away, do, Lily, and cry some- 
 where else, for I am positively sick of all this 
 affectation," said the Countess, impatiently, and 
 she sought her companion with a view of taking 
 counsel of her. 
 
 " What am I to do with these children, Miss 
 Paget } " she exclaimed ; ^^ they seem to me to be 
 positively bewitched. Culwarren has become as 
 indifferent about his engagement to Lily as he 
 was once eager to compass it. And as for the 
 girl, she makes every objection to the proposal that 
 she can, and has really cried so much lately as to 
 actually disfigure herself, which perhaps accounts 
 for her cousin's coolness." 
 
 p 2
 
 212 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 Miss Paget's eyes grew softer than usual, as she 
 listened to this narrative. 
 
 ^^Poor children!^' she said; "you must not 
 forget that they have suffered a great shock/' 
 
 " About Anthony ? Well, if it was a shock 
 to them, I am sure it was so to me. I couldn't 
 sleep for nights after. To think that for twenty-one 
 years I had been cherishing some other woman's 
 base-born child in my bosom ! I felt as if I had 
 been contaminated." 
 
 " Don't regret it, Lady Culwarren,'' said the 
 companion, earnestly. " Think how the unhappy 
 mother, who for all these years has never known 
 her son, would bless you for any kindness you 
 have shown to him. And I don't believe he is un- 
 grateful. He may be wild and thoughtless, and 
 the failure of Lily's love was very hard for him 
 to bear; but he has a warm and generous heart, 
 and he will be the first to regret any hasty 
 word? or actions of which he may have been 
 guilty." 
 
 ^^ Ah, you always were his advocate from the 
 time he was a little child, Miss Paget. However,
 
 A SORRY TRIUMPH 213 
 
 though I can^t agree with you, as we are never 
 likely to be brought in contact with him again, 
 let us drop the subject. But what should you advise 
 me to do with regard to Lily and Culwarren ? " 
 
 " Suppose you take them away for a while." 
 
 '' Leave Gardenholme ? '' 
 
 ^' Yes. Why not ? You have so little change, 
 and every tree and flower here seems fraught now 
 with a sad memory. How can the children help 
 mourning when they remember they are separated, 
 perhaps for ever, from the companion of their 
 youth ? Would not a little foreign travel be good 
 for all of you ? It would instil fresh ideas in 
 Culwarren's mind, and help Lily to shake off her 
 regretful thoughts, and, by throwing them much 
 together, perhaps bring about the very consum- 
 mation you so ardently desire." 
 
 " Miss Paget, you are a genius ! You always 
 hit upon the right thing to do. We will certainly 
 winter abroad. I shall enjoy the change as much 
 as any one, for I am catching the infection of the 
 general dulness, and wish sometimes — well, it's 
 no use saying it now — but I do wish sometimes
 
 214 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 that my husband, having kept his secret for so 
 many years, had kept it to himself for ever." 
 
 The companion did not venture to make any 
 comment on the Countess's remark, but she caught 
 her hand and kissed it fervently.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IN THE TOILS. 
 
 T was a glorious morning, about the 
 middle of October, in Florence. The 
 soft, balmy air, filled with the odour 
 of the Tuscan violets that bloom above poor 
 Keats's untimely grave, exhilarated the inhaler 
 like a draught of champagne. The sky was an 
 expanse of cloudless blue. In the streets of the 
 city, and on the bridges of the Arno, the flower 
 girls offered their rich bouquets of tuberoses and 
 orange blossoms and heliotrope with lavish gene- 
 rosity, filling the hands of the passers-by for a 
 few scudi, and causing the English visitors to fill 
 the air with their exclamations of surprise and 
 delight. At a little distance from the traffic came 
 a young man walking^ — almost bounding — from 
 the railway station. He was but a stripling, but
 
 2i6 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 he appeared to have all the gay insouciance of a 
 child as he pursued his way. He carried his soft 
 felt hat in his hand, and his handsome face, flushed 
 with the rapidity of his motion, was raised to the 
 fair Italian sky. Mirth was on his lips and in his 
 eye as he hurried along the road with some glad 
 anticipation before him. He had just entered 
 some public gardens, which led by a short cut to 
 his temporary home, when a voice from a side 
 path arrested his footsteps. He turned quickly, 
 and saw Oliver Fosbrooke stretched at full length 
 on a garden seat, with his hat tilted over his eyes 
 and a cigar between his lips. 
 
 ^' Hullo, Anthony ! " he exclaimed, in a cordial 
 voice. " Back already t I didn't expect you till 
 the next train. It's a sight for sore eyes to see 
 your beaming face, my boy. It seems a week 
 since you left Florence.'' 
 
 ''What, can't you do without me for a single 
 day ? " said Anthony Melstrom, as he laid his 
 hand affectionately on the speaker's shoulder. 
 
 '' Not very well, my son. We had a dull 
 evening last night, and I missed your bright face
 
 IN THE TOILS 217 
 
 and ready hand every minute. But have you got 
 the money ? " 
 
 "No fear, Fosbrooke," cried the young man 
 with a laugh. " I frightened him into compliance. 
 I manipulated the name of his mother so deftly 
 that Monsieur le Vicomte fancied I was in 
 communication with her, and shelled out like a 
 bird. Four thousand eight hundred francs, and 
 I took care to cash his note of hand before I 
 accepted it. I have it safe in my belt." 
 
 " You're invaluable to me, Tony. Simply 
 invaluable! " said Fosbrooke, with a sigh of relief. 
 " This will enable us to carry on the war gallantly.'^ 
 
 " Yes,'^ replied Melstrom, '' it's not a job I 
 much care about, Fosbrooke ; but in this instance 
 the Vicomte is rich and can well afford to part 
 with it, added to which he is a braggart, and 
 deserves a lesson. If I had not started for Villagio 
 yesterday, I don't think I should have caught him, 
 for his portmanteaux were packed and already 
 addressed to Paris.'' 
 
 '' It has been a lucky stroke of business,'' 
 mused Fosbrooke ; " but I have been lucky ever
 
 2i8 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 since I met you_, Tony. Our rencontre seems to 
 have been the turning-point of my existence. I 
 shall never forget you saved my life, my boy. I 
 shall never forget that night when I stood before 
 the glass with my revolver in my hand and you 
 knocked at my bedroom door. What a plucky 
 young fellow I thought you then, and how my 
 heart, such as it is, went forth to you, and made 
 me listen to reason administered through the 
 mouth of a suckling ! I loved you for it, Tony, 
 and I have loved you ever since.^^ 
 
 Anthony sat down on the bench beside his 
 friend as though prepared to enter on a conver- 
 sation with him. 
 
 "When I watched you come bounding along the 
 Villiegatura Road just now, with a glad smile upon 
 your face, I thought how different it looked from 
 what it did two months ago, when we left Garden- 
 holme together, and I hoped it was the happier 
 life you have led with me that wrought the change. 
 You are happier, are you not, Melstrom, and have 
 ceased to worry yourself about that which is in- 
 evitable ? "
 
 IN THE TOILS 219 
 
 Some of the sunshine faded from Anthony's 
 face as he replied : 
 
 *' Yes, Fosbrooke, I am happier ; there is no 
 doubt of that. The free Hfe we lead together, the 
 gaieties we pursue, the pleasant company we 
 cultivate, are all conducive to drive care away. 
 Besides, what is the use of caring ? I cannot 
 undo the wrong that others have done me. 
 Ashfold's proofs of my stained birth were irre- 
 fragable, and I suppose it is scarcely to be 
 wondered at that Lady Culwarren was almost 
 as sore as I was at the discovery. And then I 
 try to convince myself that if Lily had been 
 faithful to me it would have been of no avail. I 
 think she does love me, poor child, but she will 
 soon get over it, and I could never have been 
 so base as to persuade her to share my fortunes. 
 If she doesn't exactly love Lord Culwarren she 
 likes him, and I fancy that few women's attach- 
 ments go any further. But it is he whom I cannot 
 find it in my heart to forgive — the traitor." 
 
 '^Ah! you cannot forgive him^^^ remarked 
 Fosbrooke, thoughtfully ; " I'm not surprised at
 
 220 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 it. Well, some day, perhaps, you may have an 
 opportunity for revenge." 
 
 " When I do, I shall take it," replied the youth, 
 flushing. 
 
 ^^ It may come sooner than you imagine. 
 Count Biron lo'st heavily again last night, and 
 so did Captain Tomkins." 
 
 '^ Did they } '' remarked Anthony, absently. 
 
 ^^ Yes, and I was introduced to two new 
 fellows just arrived in Florence, brothers of the 
 name of Dacre, but I am not sure if they have 
 more than enough of the ready to pay their way." 
 
 " Fosbrooke,'' said Anthony, presently, ''there 
 is only one thing I don^t care for in this life of 
 ours." 
 
 '' And what is that, my boy ? '' 
 
 " The high play. It is very amusing and very 
 exciting, but it's what it leads to, Fosbrooke. 
 These men, especially the foreigners, are seldom 
 strictly honourable. I have seen some dirty work 
 since we have been together that I have been 
 afraid to mention lest I should have a stiletto in 
 my heart."
 
 JN THE TOILS 221 
 
 '^ You're rights my boy. It's a case of diamond 
 cut diamond, but that's the excitement of it. 
 Who cares for a game of neither skill nor chance, 
 and with no reward at the end ? Besides, Tony, 
 I don't quite see how you and I would get on 
 without an occasional haul. You have no money, 
 or you don't choose to take it, and I have very 
 little. If we did not live like freebooters on 
 society, I'm afraid we should soon cease to live 
 at all." 
 
 ^^But all our good fortune must come at the 
 expense of others," said the young man, sadly. 
 
 " True, dear fellow ; but we run an equal 
 chance of loss. If we are quicker or cleverer than 
 the herd, we deserve to win. Besides, they play 
 of their own free will, no one can compel them, 
 and if they are such fools as to go on in the face 
 of ill-luck, it's their look-out and not ours. What, 
 conscience-stricken still, Tony ? / have no such 
 fine-drawn scruples. I know of a fat pigeon in 
 Florence to-day whom I should dearly love to 
 pluck till he hadn't a feather left upon his 
 carcase."
 
 222 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 "Who is that? Prince Ptolemy of Sturin ? '' 
 asked Anthony, indifferently. 
 
 "Prince Ptolemy of Sturin," repeated Fos- 
 brooke, contemptuously. '^ Some one who carries 
 more money in his pocket, Anthony, than Ptolemy 
 has in the bank. Some one also who might afford 
 yoti the revenge you covet.^' 
 
 ^^ Cidwarreiil^ cried the young man, starting 
 violently. " Is he in Florence ? Have you seen 
 him ? Are you sure ? " 
 
 " One question at a time, mon cJier, Yes, 
 it is true. The Earl of Culwarren is in Florence, 
 at the ' Hotel Villa Pomona,' with Lady Culwarren 
 and suite. I saw it in the papers, and I inquired 
 personally last night. There is no doubt about 
 the matter." 
 
 ^^ He is married, then/' said Anthony, turning 
 deathly pale. 
 
 " Probably ; it sounds like a wedding trip, 
 doesn't it } But what does that signify to you ? 
 It will be all the greater triumph to draw him into 
 the net and drain him dry. I don't see why he 
 should have the girl and her fortune too — do you?"
 
 IN THE TOILS 223 
 
 ^^ By Heaven, no ! " exclaimed Anthony, as 
 he rose and paced the garden path. " Get hold of 
 him, Fosbrooke,^^ he continued, with clenched 
 teeth ; '' grip him, ruin him. If I must suffer, let 
 him suffer too." 
 
 " That^s right, inon cher. That shows the 
 stuff that is in you, and is worth ten thousand 
 maudlin thoughts of love. But be advised by me, 
 Tony. Don't go near the * Hotel Villa Pomona.' " 
 
 " Is it likely } Why should I go there I 
 What is left for me now she is gone t " 
 
 " There you go again. You cannot see 
 through the folly of that process of imagination 
 which men call love." 
 
 " I know you have no faith in its existence, 
 Fosbrooke." 
 
 ^^ Pardon me, dear chum. I believe it exists, 
 under certain circumstances, but I know that 
 it never endures. A boy imagines that the 
 possession of the object he longs for will secure 
 the happiness it seems to promise. A man has 
 ascertained that the realisation of desire is not 
 half so sweet as the desire itself.^'
 
 224 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " You cannot persuade me of that, Fosbrooke. 
 My love is lost to me^ and all my hopes are 
 shattered. But there must have been truth in both 
 of them, for neither will ever be succeeded or 
 restored.^' 
 
 Oliver Fosbrooke laughed heartily. 
 
 '^ Forgive me^ Tony. You have every right to 
 be angry, but I can^t help it/^ he said. '^ I know 
 you don't believe me. You never will until you 
 have bought experience for yourself; perhaps as 
 bitterly as I have done. Who, surmising in the 
 summer-tide of life, looks around to the winter 
 storms that toss him to the sea that lies beyond 
 the quiet stream? Who, in the full flush of 
 health, can realise the tortures of disease ? Yet 
 there are rocks in the river-bed, my son, storms in 
 the cloudless summer air, cancers lurking beneath 
 apparent health, and misery in love. You are 
 but one-and-twenty, and yet you are experiencing 
 its torture. You will not be really happy until 
 you have learnt to despise its existence." 
 
 '^ Perhaps so, Fosbrooke. But it is a sad 
 religion. However, you need not be afraid that
 
 IN THE TOILS 225 
 
 I shall leave my card upon Lord and Lady 
 Culwarren. But how will you get hold of him ? " 
 
 '^ As easily as possible. I understand that he 
 feels rather strange in Florence, and hardly knows 
 what to do with himself. I will throw myself in 
 his way, and ask him to sup with us at Galanti's. 
 Then I will offer to be his cicerone through the 
 city, and the result will be to land him in the 
 society of our friends. Then for the plucking ! 
 Upon my word, my fingers itch to begin.^^ 
 
 " But he will see me,'' said Anthony. 
 
 '* What matter ? Your only cause of difference 
 was the young lady, and now that he^s got her, he 
 will forget everything that passed between you_, 
 and probably be eager to be friends again. Don't 
 you remember that he came after you to Dearham, 
 but you refused to see him ? It will be right 
 enough with his lordship, you may depend upon 
 that, and if you can put your pride so far in your 
 pocket as to appear to forgive him, there will be 
 no difficulty about the matter. By Jove ! Tony, 
 there he comes along that path by the lake, with a 
 green book in his hand — Swinburne's poems, V\\ 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 226 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 be bound— and a cigarette in his mouth. Doesn't 
 he look like a girl dressed up in men^s clothes, 
 with his long hair and his rose in his button-hole ? 
 Upon my word, he's the greatest sawny I ever met, 
 and Miss Osprey is the young lady with the worst 
 taste I ever knew. I wish her joy of him.^^ 
 
 "FosbrookC; what shall I do?^' exclaimed 
 Anthony. 
 
 ^'Stay and meet him, my boy, and be as 
 amiable as you can. Why shouldn't you ? You've 
 done no harm.^^ 
 
 " But if he should speak to me of her t '' 
 
 " Don't allow him. Say you decline to discuss 
 the subject. And think of your revenge, my boy ! 
 Think of your revenge ! We'll make it as glorious 
 as it shall be complete." 
 
 Anthony Melstrom, with a fast-beating heart, 
 turned to one side as Lord Culwarren, his eyes 
 bent upon his book, walked leisurely past the 
 bench on which reclined the form of Oliver 
 Fosbrooke. 
 
 " Good morning, my lord," he said in his rich, 
 round voice. " This is an unexpected meeting."
 
 IN THE TOILS 227 
 
 The Earl looked up, and the pleasure of the 
 recognition was visible in his face. He advanced 
 rapidly with extended hand. 
 
 " Mr. Fosbrooke ! Is it possible } This is the 
 last place in the world in which I should have 
 expected to meet you. And is Anthony with you ? 
 Is he in Florence } '^ 
 
 "Anthony is here," replied Fosbrooke as he 
 waved his hand towards his young friend. ^' We 
 have never separated^ my lord, since you saw us 
 last, and I trust we never shall. '^ 
 
 " Anthony, won't you speak to me t " said the 
 Earl, as he turned to the man he had for so long 
 believed to be his brother. 
 
 '^ If your lordship wishes it/' replied Anthony, 
 coldly. 
 
 " Your lordship ! Has it come to that between 
 you and me, who were always ' Cul ' and ^ Tony ' 
 to each other?" cried Culwarren. "Oh, Anthony, 
 this terrible expose was not of my doing. Had 
 my father's documents been brought to me instead 
 of to my mother " 
 
 ^'You would doubtless have done your duty 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 as the Countess did. Pray don't mention it again. 
 My lot is fixed and I am content with it, and 
 under the circumstances I can only be grateful 
 for the many years of hospitality I enjoyed at 
 your hands and those of your late father's.^^ 
 
 "You talk to me as if we were strangers, 
 Anthony. Why should this unfortunate disclosure 
 make such a difference between us ? ^^ 
 
 " I am not aware that it has." 
 
 "Yet you are altered. Your manner savours 
 of offence." 
 
 " If so^ it has nothing to do with the subject 
 you mention." 
 
 " Then you will let us be friends again, as we 
 were in the old days before this trouble came 
 upon us. If I could only make you understand 
 how disgusted I was at my mother's treatment of 
 you. It was harsh and unwomanly in the extreme. 
 Both Lily and I '' 
 
 " Stop, Culwarren ! " exclaimed Anthony, inter- 
 rupting him. " You have expressed a wish to be 
 on friendly terms with me again. It can only be 
 on one condition — that you never mention that
 
 IN THE TOILS 229 
 
 lady's name in my hearing, nor endeavour to 
 bring about a meeting between us. Let the dead 
 past bury its dead. We fought together, and you 
 are victor. Be generous enough to leave the 
 vanquished in peace." 
 
 ^^ If you wish it, it shall be so," replied Lord 
 Culwarren ; ^' but I shall not dare, in that case, to 
 tell her that 1 have seen you. She is here, of 
 course, but it is hardly likely you will meet her 
 without an appointment." 
 
 " It is far better you should keep your 
 own counsel, my lord," interposed Fosbrooke. 
 " Florence is a charming city, but her best 
 amusements are those in which ladies cannot 
 join. If you want to see life, you must leave 
 your femininities at home."'^ 
 
 '' I do want to see it,'* exclaimed the young 
 Earl, eagerly ; " I came abroad on purpose to see 
 a little of the world. Anthony said it would do 
 me good to mix in Bohemian society, but Pve 
 been cooped up so long at Gardenholme I don't 
 know how to set about it. I had read so much 
 of Florence, I was full of anticipations on coming
 
 230 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 here. But it doesn't seem much gayer to me 
 than other cities, and really on the whole I've been 
 rather dull/' 
 
 " Your lordship doesn't know the right way to 
 go to work/' said Fosbrooke. ^'^ It requires a 
 knowledge of Continental life to get the entree to 
 the best places of amusement. Let me and 
 Anthony be your ciceroni — that is^ if you will 
 not be bound to account for your absence from 
 the ' Hotel Villa Pomona.' " 
 
 ^^ Bound I No such thing. Do you suppose 
 Pm not free to come and go as I choose, Mr. 
 Fosbrooke? Besides, Fm engaged on an ItaHan 
 romance at the present, and it's absolutely necessary 
 I should see a few phases of the national life. I 
 shall be delighted to join your party. What time 
 shall I be with you, and where do you hang out ? " 
 
 ^^ I am afraid the quarters which I and Anthony 
 occupy would rather shock your insular prejudices, 
 my lord. What would you say to a huge barrack 
 of a room at the very top of an old Florentine 
 Palazzo once ov/ned by the Prince of Salacci, two 
 beds, a table, and a couple of chairs ; that^s about
 
 IN THE TOILS 232 
 
 the amount of our furniture, isn't it, Tony ? But 
 we sleep the sleep of the just all the same, and 
 are none the worse for the emptiness of our 
 apartment.^^ 
 
 '^ But how do you manage about your meals ? '^ 
 inquired Culwarren, curiously. 
 
 " We breakfast out of doors, dine out of doors, 
 sup out of doors, smoke out of doors, and might 
 sleep out if we felt so inclined, my lord. We live 
 the life of the birds of the air, are as free, as care- 
 less, as easily satisfied, and almost as happy. We are 
 true Bohemians, Lord Culwarren, and if you would 
 see something of our existence you must be 
 prepared to meet our friends." 
 
 '^ There is nothing that would please me better, 
 Mr. Fosbrooke. I have been longing for a little 
 excitement. I am sure you must lead a charming 
 life, and full of pleasure.'^ 
 
 "Yes. We have our simple and inexpensive 
 pleasures,^^ replied Fosbrooke ; " a cup of coffee and 
 a cigarette, a seat at the play^ a game at cards or 
 dominoes. These make up about the sum of our 
 dissipations."
 
 2.32 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " How glad I am I came across you!" exclaimed 
 Lord Cuhvarren, with a beaming face. " Florence 
 will look a different place to me now/' 
 
 '' Will your lordship give us the honour of your 
 company to supper at Galanti^s to-night ? " con- 
 tinued Fosbrooke. " Doubtless you know the 
 place — at the corner of the Strada Reale. An 
 unpretending little restaurant, but a first-rate chef^ 
 and a favourite haunt of ours. Will you come } ^' 
 
 *^ With the greatest of pleasure/^ replied Cul- 
 warren, shaking Fosbrooke's hand. " I must go 
 now, because Lady Culwarren will be expecting 
 me, but I will be sure to be punctual. At what 
 time } " 
 
 '' Ten o^clock, if that will suit your lordship," 
 and then the men bade each other farewell and 
 separated. 
 
 " Lady Culwarren will be expecting him ! ^' 
 repeated Anthony, grinding his teeth. ''By 
 Heaven ! If he goes on talking like that, I shan't 
 be able to keep my hands off him/' 
 
 '' Softly, softly, iuo?i cher^' said Fosbrooke ; 
 '' remember this is your revenge ! ''
 
 IN THE TOILS 233 
 
 "Yes, and by George it shall be a deadly 
 one ! ril get Braganza or Tomkins or some of 
 those fellows to lead him on until he shoots 
 himself." 
 
 " Not quite so far as that, dear boy. You 
 might be tempted to go in for the widow.'^ 
 
 " Hush, Fosbrooke ! don't jest on that subject. 
 Remember I am no one.^*
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE. 
 
 ^HE pleasant suite of rooms in the 
 " Hotel Villa Pomona" which had been 
 engaged for the Earl of Culwarren's 
 party was lighted up by the morning sun. 
 Through the open windows came the breath of a 
 thousand flowers. Beneath the casement lay a 
 parterre of orange and citron trees, intermingled 
 with bushes weighed to the ground with their 
 burden of roses and myrtle blossom. Beyond 
 might be seen the deep blue waters of the River 
 Arno, placid as a lake in summer. Breakfast was 
 laid upon the table, and Lady Culwarren, attired 
 in a fiow'mg pei^;ioir of muslin, was fanning her- 
 self violently at one end of it, whilst Lily Osprey 
 and Miss Paget sat at the other. 
 
 " Really, this is all very delightful," exclaimed
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 235 
 
 the Countess ; ^' fancy our being in November with 
 such a scene before us ! I suppose they are half- 
 way up to their knees in mud in England by this 
 time. If I had known that life abroad was half so 
 charming, I should have visited the Continent 
 yearly. What do yoit say, Miss Paget ? ^^ 
 
 The companion was not looking so well as she 
 had done at Gardenholme. There was a strained 
 expression about her features that had not been 
 there before. She looked hopeless, perhaps, but 
 more anxious ; but she smiled cheerfully as she 
 replied : 
 
 " I am quite of your opinion, Lady Cul- 
 warren ; Florence is like a beautiful dream to 
 me. I feel as if I could never tire of its ex- 
 ceeding loveliness." 
 
 "And the style of living is so novel and so 
 much pleasanter than in England. Those Cascine 
 Gardens, where you can walk about in the evenings 
 as freely as if you were in your own house. It is 
 quite entrancing. I shall go there whenever we are 
 not otherwise engaged. But where is Culwarren ? 
 He is getting very late in the mornings. I wish
 
 236 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 he would learn to be a little more punctual. Lily, 
 my love, do ring the bell for Francois." 
 
 But on Francois being sent to summon the 
 tardy Earl, he returned with the intelligence that 
 milord had not been home all night. Lady 
 Culwarren's face reddened with anger as she 
 heard it. 
 
 " The second time this week ! ^' she exclaimed, 
 as soon as the servant had disappeared ; " it is too 
 bad of Culwarren. I will not stand it any longer. 
 What can he possibly find to do that should keep 
 him away from us for so many hours ? '^ 
 
 " Doubtless he has made acquaintances in the 
 city, and is staying the night with them. I shouldn't 
 worry myself about it if I were you, Lady Cul- 
 warren," observed Miss Paget, quietly. 
 
 " Not worry myself about it, Miss Paget 1 
 Not worry ^ when my only son has not slept in his 
 bed all night, and may be lying murdered some- 
 where, for aught I know ! But then, of course, 
 you can't understand a mother's feelings. You 
 don't know what it is to have brought a child 
 into the world. How should you ? ^^
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 237 
 
 '' True, as you say, how should I ? But then 
 you were just as anxious last time Culwarren 
 stayed out, you must remember, and he reminded 
 you that he was a man, and capable of looking 
 after himself. And he is right/' 
 
 '^1 thank you, Miss Paget. I am much 
 obliged to you for teaching me my duty," re- 
 plied the Countess, in an offended tone. Miss 
 Paget left her seat and approached the Countess's 
 side. 
 
 '^ Don't be angry with me, my dear friend. I 
 did not mean to offend you." 
 
 " But you do offend me. Everybody offends 
 me. It is not likely you should observe Cul- 
 warren as I have done. He is totally different 
 from what he has ever been before. He stays 
 away at all times and evades the questions I put 
 to him, looks wretchedly pale and ill, and can't 
 eat his breakfast. If you knew anything about 
 young men, you'd acknowledge he could not display 
 worse symptoms." 
 
 " But of what ? " 
 
 " Oh, of anxiety, suspense, disgust of everything
 
 238 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 around him. I know perfectly well the reason of 
 it all. It's Lily/' 
 
 '* I, Aunt Emily ? " cried the girl, starting. 
 
 '^Certainly! You! If you would fulfil the 
 promise you once made, you would win him back 
 to his former self. My poor boy is not to blame. 
 It is misery that has made him what he is. It is 
 your unkindness that has wrought this sad change 
 in him.'' 
 
 '^ Oh, Aunt Emily^ indeed you are mistaken ! 
 My cousin and I have had several conversations 
 on this subject, and he has no wish for me to feign 
 an attachment I cannot feel. He knows I love him 
 with a sister's love, and he is satisfied with that." 
 
 " It is not true/' replied the Countess. " You 
 are a disobedient and ungrateful girl, and have 
 entirely misrepresented the matter. Of course, if 
 you are unmaidenly enough to tell Culwarren that 
 you are still hankering after that fellow, Anthony 
 what's-his-name — for I'm sure I don't know what 
 his name is " 
 
 At this thrust Miss Paget's breast heaved with 
 indignation.
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 239 
 
 '^ Don't you think," she said, with an immense 
 effort, " that we might leave any reference to that 
 unfortunate young man out of the discussion? 
 He is gone from amongst us for ever. He is, as 
 it were, dead to the family of Culwarren, and the 
 dead should always be held sacred." 
 
 '' I must allude to him, Miss Paget, if my niece 
 compels me to do so. He refused her love before 
 us all, and yet she still openly avows her devotion 
 to him. She can have no pride left." 
 
 '^ Oh, Aunt Emily, you are cruel both to him 
 and me," exclaimed Lily, as she threw herself into 
 Miss Paget^s arms. ^^You force me to tell you 
 that it is because Anthony is nameless and outcast 
 that I cannot forget him, and that there is nothing 
 I cherish so much as the memory of his love for 
 me." 
 
 " This is intolerable. It is positively indecent," 
 cried Lady Culwarren, fanning herself more 
 vigorously than ever. ^'No, don't cling to Miss 
 Paget in that melodramatic manner. I am sure 
 she would be the last person to encourage such 
 boldness."
 
 240 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 The companion pressed a kiss upon Lily's fore- 
 head^ and then put her gently from her. 
 
 "Dear child/^ she said, softly, "you must learn 
 to bear your troubles as we all do — alone." 
 
 "Well, really," cried the Countess, '^ one would 
 think that to be asked to marry an earl was 
 tantamount to going on the parish. If Miss 
 Osprey intends to make so great a favour of it, 
 I shall strongly advise my son to offer his coronet 
 to some less particular young lady. But here is 
 Culwarren himself. Now I suppose we shall have 
 another scene." 
 
 The young Earl entered the apartment with 
 rather a festive appearance, although he looked 
 tired and sleepy. It was not the policy of his 
 newly found friends to let him lose money at first, 
 and he had begun to think himself even a cleverer 
 fellow than before. It was not often, so they told 
 him, that a man who could write novels and 
 sonnets could also distinguish himself by winning 
 so easily at pool and baccarat from old hands like 
 themselves. So Lord Culwarren was becoming 
 more intoxicated with his new pleasures and
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 241 
 
 associates each day, and had already threatened 
 his mother with taking up his quarters in another 
 hotel if she continued to object to his hours of 
 coming in and going out. He swaggered into the 
 room on the present occasion, and having saluted 
 the ladies, without a word of explanation took 
 possession of an arm-chair. 
 
 "Just a cup of coffee, Miss Paget^ if you please. 
 Nothing more ; I'm not hungry this morning." 
 
 " You never are hungry, Culwarren/' observed 
 the Countess, majestically. " You have lost your 
 appetite completely since you came to this place. 
 You will kill yourself if you go on at this rate." 
 
 " You wouldn't say so if you had seen me 
 eating grilled bones and drinking champagne at 
 four o'clock this morning, mother. A man can't 
 be eating all day, you know.'^ 
 
 " Four o'clock in the morning ! What a dis- 
 graceful hour ! '' retorted Lady Culwarren. " And 
 pray when did you return to the hotel ? " 
 
 "About half an hour ago. Just had time to 
 change my things. Fact is, I fell asleep on a 
 sofa at my friends' place, and didn't wake till ten. 
 
 VOL. I. R
 
 242 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 What time is it now ? '' looking at his watch. *' Ah, 
 twelve ! and/^ with a yawn, " what are we going 
 to do this morning? " 
 
 '' We are going to the Palazzo Farnese/-' replied 
 his mother, severely. " I should think the best 
 Xkivcigyoii could do would be to go to bed.^' 
 
 " Well, perhaps I will, or take a siesta in the 
 balcony. English post in yet } " 
 
 " There are no letters for you, Culwarren. 
 Only The Times and Morning Post. But you 
 have not yet told us with whom you dined last 
 night." 
 
 " What can it signify to you .'' '^ said Culwarren, 
 as he opened the newspapers with a good deal of 
 rustling. *^ You wouldn't recognise the names if I 
 were to tell them to you." 
 
 " But I wish to know. You surely do not 
 accept the hospitality of persons of whom you are 
 ashamed." 
 
 " Certainly not. They are English gentlemen 
 whom I met at the club here. But yoti are not 
 likely to meet them." 
 
 " Why do you not bring them to the hotel to
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 243 
 
 be introduced to me ? You always brought your 
 friends to Gardenholme/' 
 
 " That was different. But if you will receive 
 these at Gardenholme with proper courtesy per- 
 haps I may induce them to come/' said the Earl, 
 with a laugh. 
 
 " Culwarren, there is a mystery in all this that 
 I cannot understand/^ persisted his mother. "Why 
 should you be so unwilling to tell me with whom 
 you pass your time } You absent yourself from our 
 society almost every evening. You keep such hours 
 as you never kept in your life before, and yet you 
 are resolutely reticent concerning your friends, 
 your amusements, and the places which you visit. 
 Is this treating me with proper respect and 
 confidence t '^ 
 
 " Perhaps not/' replied the Earl, yawning ; 
 " but then you must remember we are no longer 
 at Gardenholme. You have cooped me up there 
 like a schoolboy, tied to your apron-string, for 
 five-and-twenty years, but now I am a man, and I 
 intend to see a little life. I have my reasons for 
 the reticence you complain of. I don't wish to
 
 244 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 provoke any domestic quarrels or arguments^ and 
 probably were I to tell you the names of my 
 chief friends in Florence, you would never leave 
 off worrying me to give them up/^ 
 
 " You acknowledge, then_, that they are not 
 reputable acquaintances, Culwarren ? " 
 
 " By no means, mother. But you would be 
 likely to say so." 
 
 " I should think you might at all events give 
 me the option." 
 
 *'lf you make a point of it, I will. But 
 remember this, mother, I am not going to give 
 up my friends, whatever you may think about 
 them. I am my own master, and intend to do as 
 I choose in all things for the future ; and if, after 
 having worried their names out of me, you begin 
 to worry me about themselves, I shall take up 
 my quarters in another hotel, and leave you 
 ladies to keep each other company." 
 
 Lady Culwarren's curiosity was now fairly 
 aroused. Who could these people be who, by their 
 influence, had almost changed the nature of her 
 son ? She was determined to know.
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 245 
 
 "Of course, my dear boy," she commenced, 
 " I am aware that you are of full age to look after 
 yourself. Only, cannot you sympathise with a 
 mother's feelings at being excluded from your 
 confidence for the first time in your life ? I have 
 no wish to interfere with your pleasures. I only 
 want to know the names of the friends who 
 engross so much of your time." 
 
 " Very well, mother. If you insist, it shall 
 be so," said Culwarren, with rather a defiant 
 air. "The names of my two best friends in 
 Florence — the friends whom I will not give up 
 for you or anybody — are Anthony Melstrom and 
 Oliver Fosbrooke. Now you have it." And he 
 returned to the perusal of his papers. 
 
 The Countess turned pale beneath her rouge 
 with annoyance, but was too much surprised by 
 the announcement to find any immediate answer 
 to his words. Her companion breathed harder 
 than usual and pressed her hand upon her heart, 
 as though to still its rapid motion. But Lily 
 Osprey, with her face all aflame, sprang forward, 
 eagerly exclaiming :
 
 246 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 " Anthony in Florence, and you have seen 
 him ! Oh, Culvvarren, is it possible ? " 
 
 " Haven't I just answered the question, Lily ? 
 But you needn't excite yourself over it, for 
 you're not likely to see him. I don't believe 
 Tony would come near any of you to save his 
 life." 
 
 " I should think not, indeed," interposed the 
 Countess, who had found her tongue again. " He 
 would hardly presume so far, after the way in 
 which he spoke to me on leaving Gardenholme. 
 Sit down in your seat again, Lily. If you have 
 no shame left, I must have some for you. If your 
 cousin chooses, out of the goodness of his heart, 
 to recognise this unhappy young man, rest assured 
 you will have no opportunity of doing so, for the 
 first time he crosses my path I leave Florence at 
 once. I cannot submit to a second edition of the 
 humiliation I have already gone through." And 
 gathering the folds of her peignoir around her 
 ample person. Lady Culwarren rose from her seat 
 and sailed from the apartment. 
 
 '^ I should think poor Tony might have echoed
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 247 
 
 that sentiment," observed the Earl, as he returned 
 to the perusal of his papers. 
 
 " I'm afraid you have vexed your mother very 
 much/' said the companion, with a heavy sigh. 
 
 " I cannot help it, Miss Paget. Nothing has 
 pleased me so much, since coming abroad, as 
 meeting old Tony again. I shall never cease to 
 regard him as a brother.'^ 
 
 " Your feelings do you credit, Cuhvarren. 
 And — how is he 1 He was my little pupil with 
 yourself, you know, years ago,^-* continued Miss 
 Paget, with a sickly smile, '^so I may be forgiven 
 for being anxious to have news of his welfare.'' 
 
 '' He seems jolly enough with his friend Fos- 
 brooke, who is a regular brick," replied the Earl ; 
 " but he is very sore upon everything connected 
 with the past, so that it is a tabooed subject 
 between us. They spend the gayest life possible, 
 and are out every night at theatres, casinos, or 
 wine and card parties." 
 
 " Indeed 1 I hope Anthony will not be led 
 into dissipation. And you, too, my dear Cul- 
 warren. Amuse yourself as much as you will,
 
 248 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 but be careful with whom you associate. These 
 foreign societies are very mixed sometimes. And 
 your mother has but one thought — for your welfare 
 and happiness, so you must be patient with her." 
 
 " Oh, ril take care of myself, Miss Paget, 
 never fear/^ rejoined the Earl, carelessly; ^^and, 
 indeed, with Anthony and Fosbrooke on either 
 side of me, I don^t see how I can go wrong." 
 
 " Come, Lily, then," continued the companion, 
 rising, *'let us go to our rooms and prepare to 
 drive with Lady Culvvarren." 
 
 But as soon as they were safe from observation, 
 Lily clung about Miss Paget's neck and burst into 
 tears. 
 
 "Oh, Miss Paget, Miss Paget, what shall I 
 do } To know he is so near, and yet not to be 
 able to see or speak to him. My poor Tony ! " 
 
 The elder woman stroked the girPs hair very 
 lovingly, and pressed the tear-stained face close 
 to her heart. 
 
 " Dear Lily, is it not better so } What good 
 could come of your meeting? It would only be 
 useless pain for both.^'
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 249 
 
 " But I love him ! I love him ! '' 
 
 " Hush, hush ! Try and cast the thought 
 away from you as something sinful. You could 
 never marry him, dear. It would be impos- 
 sible." 
 
 "But ze;//;/?'' 
 
 " You know well. Why make me reiterate the 
 bitter truth ? Poor Anthony is a nameless man, 
 without parents, family, or friends. He is no fit 
 match for the niece of the Countess of Culwarren, 
 and your aunt would never give her consent to 
 such a marriage, which would reflect disgrace even 
 upon your descendants." 
 
 " Then I shall never marry any one, Miss Paget, 
 but remain single, like you.^^ 
 
 " Dear child, perhaps you will be happier so. 
 Marriage does not always confer happiness, Lily. 
 We have but to look round on our married friends 
 to see the truth of that." 
 
 " It would — with Anthony," whispered Lily. 
 
 " I thought we had agreed not to talk of that, 
 my dear ? " 
 
 " What is the use of not speaking, when my 
 
 VOL. I. s
 
 250 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 heart is full of nothing else? Day and night I 
 think of him and pray for him^ Miss Paget. The 
 memory of that last terrible day, when Aunt Emily 
 turned him out of the Abbey, is always present 
 with me. I can hear his horror-stricken voice, can 
 see the pain in his dear eyes. And what had he 
 done wrong ? Nothing — nothing ! It was those 
 who had placed him in such a position who were 
 alone to blame. And even if my love can never 
 do him any good, I will love him, and him only, 
 till I die." 
 
 '^ My darling, darling child,'' said Miss Paget, 
 kissing her fondly; and when Lily raised her head 
 to return the loving embrace, she was surprised to 
 see that the eyes of the usually placid .and calm 
 conapanion were brimming with tears. 
 
 ^^ Ah ! you have come to think differently 
 about him since the time you spoke to me of 
 this at Gardenholme, Miss Paget,'' she exclaimed. 
 " You would not tell me 7iow to marry my cousin 
 Culwarren. You will not say that love is all 
 a lie ! " 
 
 *' Indeed, Lily, you mistake me. I sympathise
 
 AN UNPLEASANT DISCLOSURE 251 
 
 with your attachment for Anthony, but I beg of 
 you not to encourage it, or it may lose you all 
 your present friends. The poor boy is too proud 
 to ask you to be his wife. In cherishing his memory 
 you are hugging a chimera to your breast. Far 
 better to think of him as a dear, lost brother only. 
 You heard what Culwarren said — that Anthony 
 avoids even the mention of our names, so he must 
 have abandoned all intentions with regard to you. 
 And Culwarren is so good and amiable, Lily. How 
 warmly and generously he speaks of poor Anthony ! 
 That alone should make you love him and try to 
 accede to his wishes." 
 
 "No, no, Miss Paget, it is impossible. My 
 heart is fixed. At one time, when I had neither 
 seen nor heard of Anthony for a year, I thought 
 I might do as my aunt wished me, and sometimes 
 I think that the terrible trouble that has overtaken 
 me since is a punishment for my weakness then ; 
 but from the moment I met Tony again the 
 thought of marriage with Culwarren became a 
 sacrilege — a blasphemy ! If I am not Tony's 
 wife, I will be the wife of no one. If I may not
 
 252 THE RISEN DEAD 
 
 love him openly, I will love him secretly until I 
 die." 
 
 " May God bless you ! " exclaimed Miss Paget, 
 fervently, as she folded the girl in her arms. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON : SPENCER BLACKETT, ST. BRIDE STREET, E.C.