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marriage。 The rector； gravely bent on ascertaining that no blame rests with
the church； interrogates； and is satisfied。 The rector's wife is not so easy to
deal with。 She has looked at the signatures in the book。 One of the names
is familiar to her。 She cross…examines the clerk as soon as her husband is
done with him。 When she hears of the coronet on the handkerchief she
points to the signature of 〃Louisa Winwood；〃 and says to the rector； 〃I
know who it is！ Lord Winwood's second wife。 I went to school with his
lordship's daughters by his first marriage。 We occasionally meet at the
Sacred Concerts （on the 'Ladies' Committee'）； I shall find an opportunity
of speaking to them。 One moment； Mr。 Jenkinson； I will write down the
names before you put away the book。 'Launcelot Linzie；' 'Natalie
Graybrooke。' Very pretty names； quite romantic。 I do delight in a romance。
Good…morning。〃
She gives the curate a parting smile； and the clerk a parting nod； and
sails out of the vestry。 Natalie； silently returning in Lady Winwood's
company to Muswell Hill； and Launce； cursing the law of Abduction as he
roams the streetslittle think that the ground is already mined under their
feet。 Richard Turlington may hear of it now； or may hear of it later。 The
discovery of the marriage depends entirely on a chance meeting between
the lord's daughters and the rector's wife。
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Miss or Mrs。？
SEVENTH SCENE。
The Evening Party。
MR。
TURLINGTON；
LADY WINWOOD At Home。
Wednesday； December 15th。Ten o'clock。
〃Dearest NatalieAs the brute insists； the brute must have the
invitation which I inclose。 Never mind； my child。 You and Launce are
coming to dinner； and I will see that you have your little private
opportunities of retirement afterward。 All I expect of you in return is；
_not_ to look （when you come back） as if your husband had been kissing
you。 You will certainly let out the secret of those stolen kisses； if you don't
take care。 At mamma's dinner yesterday； your color （when you came out of
the conservatory） was a sight to see。 Even your shoulders were red！ They
are charming shoulders； I know； and men take the strangest fancies
sometimes。 But； my dear； suppose you wear a chemisette next time； if you
haven't authority enough over him to prevent his doing it again！
〃Your affectionate LOUISA。〃
The private history of the days that had passed since the marriage
was written in that letter。 An additional chapterof some importance in its
bearing on the futurewas contributed by the progress of events at Lady
Winwood's party。
By previous arrangement with Natalie； the Graybrookes （invited to
dinner） arrived early。 Leaving her husband and her stepdaughters to
entertain Sir Joseph and Miss Lavinia； Lady Winwood took Natalie into
her own boudoir； which communicated by a curtained opening with the
drawing…room。
〃My dear； you are looking positively haggard this evening。 Has
anything happened？〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃I am nearly worn out； Louisa。 The life I am leading is so unendurable
that； if Launce pressed me； I believe I should consent to run away with
him when we leave your house tonight。〃
〃You will do nothing of the sort； if you please。 Wait till you are sixteen。
I delight in novelty； but the novelty of appearing at the Old Bailey is
beyond my ambition。 Is the brute coming to…night？〃
〃Of course。 He insists on following me wherever I go。 He lunched at
Muswell Hill today。 More complaints of my incomprehensible coldness to
him。 Another scolding from papa。 A furious letter from Launce。 If I let
Richard kiss my hand again in his presence； Launce warns me he will
knock him down。 Oh； the meanness and the guiltiness of the life I am
leading now！ I am in the falsest of all false positions； Louisa； and you
encouraged me to do it。 I believe Richard Turlington suspects us。 The last
two times Launce and I tried to get a minute together at my aunt's； he
contrived to put himself in our way。 There he was； my dear； with his
scowling face； looking as if he longed to kill Launce。 Can you do anything
for us tonight？ Not on my account。 But Launce is so impatient。 If he can't
say two words to me alone this evening； he declares he will come to
Muswell Hill； and catch me in the garden tomorrow。〃
〃Compose yourself； my dear； he shall say his two words to…night。〃
〃How？〃
Lady Winwood pointed through the curtained entrance of the boudoir
to the door of the drawing…room。 Beyond the door was the staircase
landing。 And beyond the landing was a second drawing… room； the smaller
of the two。
〃There are only three or four people coming to dinner；〃 her ladyship
proceeded； 〃and a few more in the evening。 Being a small party； the small
drawing…room will do for us。 This drawing…room will not be lighted； and
there will be only my reading…lamp here in the boudoir。 I shall give the
signal for leaving the dining…room earlier than usual。 Launce will join us
before the evening party begins。 The moment he appears； send him in
hereboldly before your aunt and all of us。〃
〃For what？〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃For your fan。 Leave it there under the sofa…cushion before we go
down to dinner。 You will sit next to Launce； and you will give him private
instructions not to find the fan。 You will get impatientyou will go to find
it yourselfand there you are。 Take care of your shoulders； Mrs。 Linzie！ I
have nothing more to say。〃
The guests asked to dinner began to arrive。 Lady Winwood was
recalled to her duties as mistress of the house。
It was a pleasant little dinnerwith one drawback。 It began too late。
The ladies only reached the small drawing…room at ten minutes to ten。
Launce was only able to join them as the clock struck。
〃Too late！〃 whispered Natalie。 〃He will be here directly。〃
〃Nobody comes punctually to an evening party；〃 said Launce。 〃Don't
let us lose a moment。 Send me for your fan。〃
Natalie opened her lips to say the necessary words。 Before she could
speak； the servant announced〃Mr。 Turlington。〃
He came in； with his stiffly…upright shirt collar and his loosely…fitting
glossy black clothes。 He made his sullen and clumsy bow to Lady
Winwood。 And then he did； what he had done dozens of times alreadyhe
caught Natalie； with her eyes still bright and her face still animated （after
talking to Launce）a striking contrast to the cold and unimpulsive young
lady whom he was accustomed to see while Natalie was talking to _him_。
Lord Winwood's daughters were persons of some celebrity in the
world of amateur music。 Noticing the look that Turlington cast at Launce；
Lady Winwood whispered to Miss Laviniawho instantly asked the young
ladies to sing。 Launce； in obedience to a sign from Natalie； volunteered to
find the music…books。 It is needless to add that he pitched on the wrong
volume at starting。 As he lifted it from the piano to take it back to the
stand； there dropped out from between the leaves a printed letter； looking
like a circular。 One of the young ladies took it up； and ran her eye over it；
with a start。
〃The Sacred Concerts！〃 she exclaimed。
Her two sisters； standing by； looked at each other guiltily： 〃What will
the Committee say to us？ We entirely forgot the meeting last month。〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃Is there a meeting this month？〃
They all looked anxiously at the printed letter。
〃Yes！ The twenty…third of December。 P