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"Why can't you and Lydstone keep better friends?" said General Wilders, a little shocked at this remark. "It's his fault, not mine, and that's enough about it," replied Mrs. Wilders, rather petulantly. "Did you ever quarrel with your brother," she went on to Anastasius, "when you were boys?" "I would not have dared. Not that I wanted to: we three brothers were always the best of friends."
But we will not talk about them, please," interrupted Lord Lydstone. "You have my warmest and most affectionate sympathy. Is there anything I can do to console you, to prove to you how deeply, how sincerely, I feel for you?" Her voice faltered, and she seemed on the point of breaking down.
"Madame," corrected Lord Lydstone, who had been already put right himself. "Let me introduce you. Madame Cyprienne my cousin, Colonel Wilders, of the Royal Rangers. I hope we shall hear you sing again to-night, unless you are too tired." "I shall do whatever miladi wishes," said Madame Cyprienne, in a deep but musical voice, with a slight foreign accent. "It is for her to command, me to obey.
"I mean that after they are gone only one obstacle intervenes between you and all the Essendine wealth. If Lord Lydstone were out of the way, the title and its possession would come, perhaps, to your husband, certainly to your son." "Silence! Do not put thoughts into my head. You must be the very fiend, I think." "I know you, Cyprienne, and every move of your mind.
He said he should like a little sleep. But he is to be here again this afternoon, for the funeral." "So soon?" "Oh, yes! ma'am. It must take place at once, the doctors say." Mrs. Wilders left the hospital, hesitating greatly what she should do. She would have liked to see and speak with Lydstone, but she had enough good feeling not to intrude by following him on board the yacht.
He appears a decent, good sort of youth. But I feel satisfied that we ought, as far as is possible by human endeavour, to prevent his becoming the head of the family. "You are now in possession of the whole of the facts, my dear Lydstone, and I need scarcely insist upon the way in which you are affected by them.
"No!" cried Lord Lydstone. "Throw the general over, and stay on board with me." "That would be too great penance," said Mrs. Wilders, as she moved towards the companion-ladder. "I've had enough of your lordship for one day." Lydstone got up, looking rather vexed, and followed her across the deck. When he was quite close to her side he whispered with suppressed but manifest feeling
But, if you please, we won't talk about her." "Why not? You cannot pretend that she was right in ignoring me, flouting me, insulting me! Am I not your near relative's wife? Why, Bill is only four off the title now." "One of them being your humble servant, who devoutly hopes that all four will long interpose between him and the succession," said Lord Lydstone, with a pleasant laugh.
Wilders, as she was generally styled the title Countess was only used by intimate friends in a tone that implied she was not at all bound by her husband's plans. "Where is the good man just now?" inquired Lord Lydstone, in much the same tone. "There, forward," said Mrs. Wilders, pointing to the part of the deck beyond the awning. "Trying to get a sunstroke by walking about with his head bare."
Let me take you to the tea-room," and, offering his arm, he led her away, despite his mother's black looks and frowns of displeasure. "Lydstone is so impulsive," she whispered to the first confidant she could find.
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