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198 > WILD MARGARET.
known, ‘T’'llrun up and see that t
comfortable for you, old man.”’
~ Blair looked at him moodily.
“TI don’t know why you take so much trouble for me,
Austin,” -he said. ‘‘I’ve no claim upon you; you are nod ©
7
my brother——
‘“‘Wish I were, especially your elder brother!” gaid .
Austin Ambrose, smiling, ‘‘then I should have all. the
Leyton property, and be the Earl of Ferrers, shouldn’t 1?
Well, I don’t know quite why I fuss over you; I’ve done
_it so long that I can’t get out of it, I suppose. It is won- .
derful, the force of bad habit. So you have made up your '
_ glad, Violet Graham amongst them.”’
Blair frowned. .
~ mind to go to London? Well, heaps of fellows will be very
‘* Why should Violet Graham be glad?” he said, coldly. - -
** Why should anybody?’’. ” ,
“*Oh, I don’t know.’? Austin replied, carelessly; ‘‘ but I
_ suppose they will. You always were popular, you know,
- my dear fellow.’’ - os
-- $0 Mr. Austin Ambrose, impelled by his extreme good-
—-nature and friendship for Lord Blair, ran up to town first,
‘and saw that the chambers were put straight, and the
valet, who had been put on. board wages, and kept in com-
plete ignorance of his master’s movements, warned of Lord
lair’s. return.
And in the evening, after he had done all this, he went -
‘to Park Lane. .
Violet Graham was still in London, although like the
Jast Rose of Summer, ‘‘all her companions ’”’ had gone.
She had pressing invitations to county: houses in England,
_ Scotland,-and Ireland—shooting and fishing parties clam-
ored for the presence of the popular heiress; but in vain.
~ She declared that she hated eating luncheon in wet turnip
_ fields. and that fishing parties were a bore, and intende
~ remaining in London, at any rate, for the’ present. The |
truth was that she could not tear herself away while there
_ remained a chance of Blair’s return. -
_ Austin Ambrose found her sitting before the fire in the. ,
drawing-room, crouching almost, her hands clasped in her
‘lap, her eyes fixed on the glowing coals as if she were
seeking the future in the red light; and she started and
sprung up as he entered with an exclamation of surprise:
‘Austin!’ then she looked beyond -him,.as if she hoped
and expected to seesome one else with him, and not seeing:
-him, her face fell. «| |. oo
‘Well, Violet,” he said, with his slow, calm smile...
‘Where have you been?” she demanded, moving heF
-hand toward a chair, ‘I thought you were dead!"
hingsare straight and’