Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 19, 2025
"At Christmas, I expect. But, Allan, shall we never see each other until I am twenty-one?" "I hope so," he replied. "You do not know where you will live?" "No, that is not decided. Lord Ridsdale says I cannot go to Hanton alone, and I know that I cannot live at his house." "But go where you will, Marion, you will write to me and see me sometimes?" "Of course I shall.
Those words were the death-blow to her love, or what she called her love "Not even an honest man." This hero of her romance, this artist whom she was to ennoble by her love, was not even an honest man. She shuddered and grew faint at the thought. Again she was present when Lady Ridsdale was talking of the Lysters to her husband.
It was silence like that of a tiger falling back for a spring. Then the great event of her life came to Marion Arleigh. She fell in love, and this time it was real, genuine and true. Lady Ridsdale insisted on her going to London for the season. It was high time, she said, that Miss Arleigh, the heiress of Hanton, was presented at court, and made her debut in the great world.
My dear William, the only wonder is that the poor girl has not fallen into some dreadful mischief. She ought to have been presented last year. We must have her home at once." Lady Ridsdale was a woman of the world; she knew exactly how much eclat and importance would accrue to her from the fact of being chaperone to a wealthy heiress like Miss Arleigh.
He came; she lingered by Lady Ridsdale's side during his reception. The thought did certainly pass through Lord Ridsdale's mind that Allan Lyster was very young and very handsome to be drawing-master of a young ladies' school; but not for the world would he have breathed such a thought to any one living, lest it should injure him. Lord Ridsdale was courtesy itself to his young guest.
In short, she set herself to work to win Lady Ridsdale's heart; but she did not succeed. The mistress of Thorpe Castle did not like Miss Lyster; she merely tolerated her, and that was for Marion's sake. With Lord Ridsdale she succeeded better. Her subtle flattery and constant attentions made some impression on him.
"You will write to me, and you will let me sometimes see you?" She promised faithfully. She wept over leaving him, yet in some unaccountable way her spirits rose when she came away; she felt more free, more at ease than she had done for a long time. "You must make the best use of the sunny days," said Lady Ridsdale.
"No," she replied. "You are so kind, Lord Ridsdale, that I may tell you of what I was thinking. I was wishing that this great privilege I now enjoy could be given to my brother instead of me." Lord Ridsdale looked benevolently interested, and she continued: "I have but one relative in the world, an only brother, and he is an artist.
Indeed, she would not be angry." "Do you know what would happen if I did as you advise, Marion?" he asked. "Nothing would happen," she replied; "and they would be pleased to see me happy." "You have to learn some of the world's lessons yet," he said. "If I were to go to Lord Ridsdale and say to him, 'My Lord, I love your ward and she loves me, do you know what he would do?"
Lord Ridsdale received all these thanks with great complacency, feeling that he deserved them. Lady Ridsdale's impression was: "I am glad they are gone, though I do not like to interfere in Marion's affairs. I shall certainly advise her to drop that acquaintance as soon as she can." Allan bade Marion "good-bye."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking