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Wilders, ma'am?" replied the sergeant, with a shake of the head. "No improvement?" "Far worse, ma'am, poor young chap! He died this morning, soon after daylight." "And my lord was his brother present?" "Lord Lydstone watched with him through the night, and was here by the bedside when he died." "Where is he now? Lord Lydstone, I mean." "He went back on board his yacht, ma'am, I think.
"Oh! she is your choice? I have often seen her and you together." "We have been friends almost from childhood; and it seems quite natural " "That you should tie yourself for life to a red-headed, raw-boned Scotch girl." "To an English lady of my own rank in life," interrupted Lord Lydstone, sternly, "who will make me an honest, faithful helpmate, as I have every reason to hope and believe."
"You will say so, Countess, when you get on shore," said Lord Lydstone. "Is there anything really to see?" she asked. "Is it worth the trouble of landing?" "Why, of course! I thought it was all settled. The general sent some hours ago to say he proposed to pay his respect to the Governor. You cannot help yourself now." "Oh! the general," remarked Mrs.
My father and mother are most anxious to see me; and now, after what has happened, it is right that I should be at their side." "You are a good son, Lord Lydstone," she said, but there was the slightest sneer concealed beneath her simple words. "I have not been what I ought, but now that I am the only one left I feel that I must defer to my dear parents' wishes in every respect."
On the deck of the yacht, under an awning for the spring sun already beat down hotly at noon were the owner and his guests. Lord Lydstone, cigar in mouth, lounged lazily upon a heap of rugs and cushions at the feet of Mrs. Wilders, who took her ease luxuriantly in a comfortable cane arm-chair. Blanche Cyprienne, Countess of St. Clair, had changed little since her marriage.
"A monstrously handsome person!" cried the blunt soldier, evidently cordially endorsing Lord Lydstone's taste. "That's not the question, Colonel Wilders; it was not my son's place to take her to the tea-room, and I am much annoyed. Will you, to oblige me, go and tell Lydstone I want to speak to him?" Cousin Bill, docile and obsequious, hurried off to execute her ladyship's commission.
It was otherwise now: the murdered man was a prominent personage, an Englishman of high rank, a rich and powerful representative of a great people. No wonder that Constantinople was agitated and disturbed. On this occasion Lord Lydstone was the murdered man. He had been found at daybreak by the Turkish patrol, lying in a doorway just where he had fallen dead, stabbed to the heart.
Hyde spent a great portion of every year at Essendine Castle, after his friend had succeeded to the estates, and there was no more honoured guest than he at the coming of age of Rupert, Viscount Lydstone, his godson. The boy whom Mrs. Wilders had hesitated to surrender to old Lord Essendine, from greed rather than maternal instinct, was not neglected by the old peer.
"Are you not coming with us, Lydstone?" said his young brother, greatly disappointed. "I did want to show you our mess." "I know Gibraltar by heart, and I have letters to write. I hope you will enjoy yourself, Countess," he added, sarcastically, as they went down the side. "There's no fear of that, now we have left you behind," replied Mrs. Wilders, sharply.
Perhaps I had better stay on board for a time, and make arrangements to receive you; if Lord Lydstone will allow me, that is to say." "Lord Lydstone is not there. Mrs. Wilders tells me she has come up alone, and in the very nick of time. But now be off, McKay, and lose no time. Be gentle with her: it will be a great shock, I am afraid."
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