Part 11 (1/2)

Mrs Cardew said to herself that this was alo She and her husband had enjoyed an almost ideal married life They had never quarreled; they had never even had a sreeood things, for when Sylvia Meredith of Meredith Manor had accepted the hand of Cyril Cardew she had also given her heart to hihts were almost identical She was by no means a weak-minded woman--she had plenty of character and firood wife should, and was glad! to feel that he was slightly her master Never, under any circumstances, did he make her feel the yoke

Nevertheless, she obeyed hi so

The arrival of their little twin-daughters was the crown of their bliss They never regretted the fact that no son was born to them to inherit the stately acres of Meredith Manor; they were the last sort of people to grumble Mrs Cardew inherited the Meredith property in her own right, and eventually it would be divided between her two daughters

Meanwhile the children the care of their parents Mr Cardeas, as has already been said, a great merchant-prince He often went to London to attend to his business affairs, but he spent most of his time in the exquisite country home

It was quite true that discontent seemed far, very far away from so lovely a spot as Meredith Manor Nevertheless, Mr Cardew had seen it to-day on the face of his best-loved child, his little Merry The look had hurt hi with her, and talking, in his usually bright and intelligent way, her words, and stilllook in her sweet brown eyes, returned to hihtful than usual as he sat by his wife's side now under the elrass at his feet, and his favorite fox-terrier Jim lay close to hisand a couple of novels waiting to occupy her attention when Mr Cardew took up one of the newspapers But for a ti which she wanted to say, and Mr Cardeas thinking of Merry It was, as is invariably the case, the woman who first broke the silence

”Well, Cyril,” said his wife, ”to find ourselves seated here all alone, without the children's voices to listen to reood times, the beautiful times ere first htly as she spoke, ”those were certainly good and beautiful tiood and beautiful than nohen our two dear little girls are growing up and giving us such great happiness”

”That is true Please don't misunderstand me, love; but you come even before the children”

He felt touched as she said this, and glancing at her, said to himself that he was indeed in luck to have secured so priceless a woether, Cyril,” she said, returning his glance

”Yes, Sylvia,” he answered, and once again he thought of Merry's face

”Nothing can alter that,” she continued

”Nothing, ain, and saw that she was a little troubled about so; and, as was his custom, he deter on your mind, Sylvia What is it?”

”I have,” she said at once; ”and soreat importance I have a sort of fear that to talk of it with you may possibly trouble you a little Shall we defer it, dear? The day is so peaceful, and we are so happy”

”No, no,” he replied at once ”We will take the opportunity of the children being perfectly happy at the rectory to discuss the thing that worries you But what can it be?” he continued ”That is ine I have never seen you worried before”

Again he thought of Merry, but it was impossible to connect his wife's trouble with his child's discontent

”Well, I will tell you just out, Cyril,” said his wife ”I urge nothing, but I feel bound to irls”

”My views, dear! What do you ard to their education, Cyril”

”Yes, yes, Sylvia; we have done our very best Have you any reason to find fault with Miss Beverley or with Vaughan or Bennett?”

”Unfortunately,” said Mrs Cardew, ”Miss Beverley, who, you know, is an adhly trust, wrote to n her post as daily governess to our girls She finds the distance from Warwick too far; in fact, she has her physician's orders to take work nearer horets it immensely, but feels that she has no alternative”

”Provoking!” said Mr Cardew; ”but really, Sylvia, I wouldn't allow it to upset me if I were you Surely there are plenty of other Miss Beverleys in the world; and”--again he thought of Merry--”we ht perhaps find some one a little less old-fashi+oned”

”I am afraid, dear, that is ioverness in the house”