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THE SHADOW OF A SIN. 69 |
said Adrian. “It is, you know, as Lady Vaughan says,
our betrothal night. Will you give me that pleasure?” _
Still wondering at what she had heard, Hyacinth com.
plied with his request. She played well, and she hada _
magnificent, well-trained voice. She sung now sorne sim-
-ple ballad, telling of love that was never to. die, of faith,
that was never to change, of happiness that was to last fo.
ever and ever; and as she sung the divine light of love.
played on her face and deep warm gratitude rose in her
heart. He thanked her—he kissed the white hands that’ .
had touched the keys so deftly; and, then she heard Sir
Arthur say again: ‘ re
“He cannot be guilty ; it is utterly impossible. I can-
not say I liked the young fellow ; he seemed to me one of
the careless, reckless kind. But rely upon it he is too
_° much of a gentleman to be capable of such a brutal, bar-
barous deed.” ° . 8
“Tf he-is innocent,” observed Lady Vaughan, “he will -
- be released. In our days justice is to sure and too careful _
to destroy an innocent man.”
~“ Colonel Lennox will never get over it. Such a blow
will kill a proud man like him.” ree
“T pity his mother most,” said Lady Vaughan.
Every word of this-conversation had been heard by
Hyacinth and Adrian. She was looking over some music,
and he stood by her. A strange, vague, numb sensation was
gradually creeping over her.. She raised her cyes to her
lover’s face, and they asked, as plainly as eyes could speak : |
_. “What are they discussing?” - os, po Fs
“ A strange, sad story,” he spoke in answer,to the look, |
for she had uttered no word. Lady Vaughan heard him.
“You will be grieved, Hyacinth,” she said ; “ but that youd
will be sure to hear of it sooner or later, I would not teilf,
you one word. . Do you remember young Claude Lennox,
who was visiting his uncle?) He came over to the Chase
several times.” . | oe
“J remember him,” she replied, vaguely conscious of
her own. words—for a terrible dread was over her. She_ -
could have cried aloud in her anguish, ‘What is it—oh,
what is it >?” a - a
“Appearances are against him, certainly,” continued
Lady Vaughan, in her calm tone—oh, would she never —
finish 2—“ but I cannot think him guilty.” - Pe
“Guilty of what ?”” asked Hyacinth ; and the sound of
her own voice frightened hey as-itleft her rigid lips.