Part 15 (1/2)

”Good heavens!” ed, and can she give me a few entle-room? What name shall I say?”

Cardew produced one of his cards

”Have the goodness to tell your ed I can ”--he hesitated--”call another time”

”I will tell her, sir; but Mrs Ward is not particularly engaged She will see you, I airl withdrew, and Cardew sank into a low chair

He had to wait a fewthat time had abundant leisure to look round the beautiful room in which he found himself It was so furnished as to resemble a fresh country room The wall-paper hite; the pictures were all water-colors, all original, and all the works of well-known artists They mostly represented country scenes, but there were a few adirls just in the heyday of youth and happiness The floor was of polished oak and had a large pale-blue drugget in the center, which could be rolled up at any e s had boxes of flowers outside, which were fresh and well kept, and had evidently been recently watered, for so drops which looked allistened on them The room itself was also decked with flowers in every available corner, and all these floere fresh and beautifully arranged They were country flowers--and of course roses, roses everywhere There were also great bowls of lass vases filled with sweet peas

The air of the room was fresh and full of delicate perfume Mr Cardew had to admit to hi ladies in the world ht sit with pleasure and profit There was a shelf for books running round the dado, and the books therein were good of their kind and richly and handsomely bound There were no slad of that--he detested snificent grand piano, and several music stands, and a violin case on a chair near by

The furniture of the room was covered with a cool, fresh chintz In short, it was a char room, quite different from the roonificent and stately; but it had a refreshi+ng, wholesome look about it which, in spite of himself, Mr Cardew appreciated

He had just taken in the roos when the door was opened and a lady of about thirty-five years of age entered She was dressed very si dress made in a sort of Empire fashi+on

The color was pale blue, which suited her cale, hazel-brown eyes, and her rich chestnut hair to perfection She came forward swiftly

”I am Mrs Ward,” she said, and held out her hand

Mr Cardew considered hiards all women, and he was iling of sweetness and power, of extreentleness and extreme determination There was a lofty expression in the eyes, too, and round the mouth, which further appealed to him; and the hands of the lady were perfect--they hite, soers and well-kept nails There was one signet ring on the left hand, worn as a guard to the wedding-ring--that was all

Mr Cardeas a keen observer, and he noted these things at a glance

”I have coive me, I should like to be quite frank with you”

”There is nothing I desire better,” said Mrs Ward in her exceedingly high-bred and syie Howland, and yet he felt at once that it was infinitely superior to hers

”Sit doon't you, Mr Cardew?” said Mrs Ward, and she set hi herself in a low chair as she spoke

”I hope I a up too much of your time,” he said; ”for, if so, as I said to your servant, I can call again”

”By nowhatever to do thisI am, therefore, quite at your service You will tell netic voice of hers

”The fact is simply this,” he said ”My friend Tristra his two daughters to your school”

”Yes,” said Mrs Ward gently ”Molly and Isabel are cohbor,” said Mr Cardew, ”I live at Meredith Manor At the presentwith them--Miss Howland”

”Yes,” said Mrs Ward very quietly

”Lady Lysle's niece Aneta is also one of your pupils”