An Open Question, Chapters XIX-XX (illustrated) [pp. 269-273]

1872.]
AK O~BK QUESHOK.
269
AN OPEN ()JJESTION&*
A ~OVEL.
BY JAMES DE MILLE, AUTHOR OF "THE LADY OF THE ICE,"" THE AMERICAN BARON," ETC.
CHAPTER XIX.-TllE LOST ONE FOUND.
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The old man still sat, with his eyes fixed upon the door-way. "-Page 2T0.
appeared fully equipped. During the years
in which it had been closed every thing had
been managed with the utmost care; and
now it seemed about to enter upon a new career, under auspices at least as brilliant as
any which it had ever known.
As the eye of the great world thus came
to turn itself upon the young mistress of
Mordaunt Hall, and to subject her to its scrutinizing gaze and its cold criticism, Bessie
bore the ordeal in a manner which could not
be surpassed if she had been trained all her
life for this very thing. Perfectly calm and
self-possessed, she yet showed nothing which
was in any way inconsistent with the most
sensitive delicacy and maiden modesty; she
appeared like the type of ianocence and
self-poise combined; and around all this
was thrown the charm of her rare and radiant beauty. Society, which thus came to
criticise, remained to admire; so beautiful,
and at the same time so wealthy an heiress
had but seldom been seen; and she was evidently one who was adapted to shine in the
FROM what has been related it will be seen
that Miss Bessie had experienced a great
change in her life, having thus suddenly ad.
vanced from the position of certainly not
much more than ward to the conspicuous elevation which was given by becoming mistress of Mordaunt Manor. Nor in coming to
what she called her ancestral home did she
find any lack of any thing which she might
have conceived of as necessary to the grandeur of her position. There was the Hall itself, and the broad estate, and every thing
corresponded, without and within. Troops
of servants stood ready to do the slightest
bidding of their young mistress; men-servants and maid-servants, footmen, grooms,
coachmen, pages, appeared before her wherever she wan~dered. Prominent among these
were several dignified functionaries-the butler first; then the French cltef (le cuisine and
the housekeeper, Mrs. Spiller. Over all these
Miss Bessie reigned as queen; while, as her
prime-minister, Mrs. Hicks Lugrin stood at
her side to give her counsel, or to carry into
execution her wishes. Thus Mordaunt Manor, lofty sphere to which she had been born.
on once more being open to the great world, Society thus took note of all her charms.
Society decided that Miss Bessie had a re Ess, a~~dtag S A~ C Cea~s, S She y~ 1875, by kal- t ad affet nat
D. A~~~ & C~, S the OSIn C She LTh~~n C Cas~sss, mar y ener a ~sonae ure. 0
~VashSs5tae. ciety noticed the sli ht 0' -.`~ -~in her accent, and thought that it added
a zest to her already bewitching manner.
Society also noticed the attentions of Sir
Gwyn Ruthven, and smiled approvingly. It
was without doubt a most excellent and suit.
able thing; and, if Sir Gwyn Ruthven could
win her, the match would be unexceptionable.
The two largest estates in the county already
adjoined one another; and this would unite
them into one magnificent property. Society,
in fact, admired this prospect so very greatly
that it unanimously declared Sir Gwyn's attentions to be "really quite providential."
The blandishments of the great world and
the devoted attentions of Sir Gwyn Ruthven
did not make up the whole of Bessie's life,
however. One part of it was taken up in a
correspondence which, though not large, was
yet of immense importance. It was not
large, for it consisted of hut one letter every
other day or so, yet that one letter was so
important that most of her time when alone
was taken up with the study of it, and with
writing her answet-. The letter which she
sent in reply was always dropped into tise
mail-bag with her own hand, and it always
bore the same address-Kevin ffe~-cUt.
Several weeks of Bessie's new life passed
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