BLACK SHEEP!

BY THE AUTHOR OF "LAND AT LAST," "KISSING THE ROD,'
&c. &c.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER IV. THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES.

MR. FELTON was scrupulously polite towards
women. His American training showed in this
particular more strongly than in any other, and
caused him to contrast advantageously with the
pompous and self-engrossed Mr. Carruthers of
Poynings, who was not a general favourite in
the small society with whom he condescended
to mix while in " foreign parts," as he carefully
designated the places of his sojourn which were
so unfortunate as not to be under British rule.
Mr. Carruthers was apt to apologise, or rather
to explain, the temporary seclusion in which
Mrs. Carruthers's delicate health obliged him to
remain, on the rare occasions when he encountered
any of his acquaintances, with a highly
offensive air of understanding and regretting
the loss he was obliged to inflict upon them;
and the innocent and worthy gentleman would
have been very much astonished if it had been
revealed to him that his condescension had
generally the effect of irritating some and amusing
others among the number of its recipients.
The manners of his brother-in-law were at once
more simple and more refined. There was no
taint of egotism in them, and, though his
engrossing cares, added to a naturally grave
disposition, made him serious and reserved, every
one liked Mr. Felton.

Except Mrs. P. Ireton Bembridge, who
disliked him as much as she could be at the
trouble of disliking anybody— which, indeed,
was not much, for her real nature was essentially
trivial, and her affections, except for herself and
her enmities, alike wavering, weak, and
contemptible. Mr. Felton neither liked nor admired
the brilliant woman who was so much admired
and so very much " talked about" at Homburg;
but he said nothing of his contumacious dissent,
from the general opinion except to George, and
was gravely courteous and acquiescent when
the lady, her dress, her ponies, her " dash,"
and her wealth—the latter estimated with the
usual liberality of society in such cases—were
discussed in his presence. They had been pretty
freely discussed during a few days which
preceded the conversation concerning her which
had taken place between the uncle and nephew.
When they met again on the following morning,
George asked Mr. Felton when he intended to
visit Mrs. P. Ireton Bembridge, and was
informed that his uncle purposed writing to the
lady to inquire at what time it would be her
pleasure and convenience to receive him.
George looked a little doubtful on hearing this.
The remembrance of Harriet's strongly expressed
opinion was in his mind, and he had a notion
that his uncle would have done more wisely had
he sought her presence unannounced. But
such a proceeding would have been entirely
inconsistent with Mr. Felton's notions of the
proper and polite, and his nephew dismissed the
subject; reflecting that, after all, as she had
said " he knows where to find me if he wants
to know what I can tell him," she could not
refuse to see him. So Mr. Felton's note was
written and sent, and an answer returned which
perfectly justified George's misgiving that if
Mrs. P. Ireton Bembridge were afforded an
opportunity of offering Mr. Felton an impertinence,
she would not hesitate to avail herself of it.

The answer was curt and decisive. Mrs. P.
Ireton Bembridge was particularly engaged
that day, and would be particularly engaged
the next; on the third she would receive Mr.
Felton, at three o'clock. Mr. Felton handed
the missive to his nephew with an expression
of countenance partly disconcerted and partly
amused.

" I thought so," said George, as he tossed the
dainty sheet of paper, with its undecipherable
monogram and its perfume of the latest fashion,
upon the table—"I thought so. We must
only wait until Thursday, that is, unless we
chance to meet your fair correspondent in our
walks between to-day and Thursday."

But Mr. Felton and his nephew did not
chance to meet Mrs. P. Ireton Bembridge,
either on that or on the succeeding day. Once
they saw her pony-carriage coming towards
them, but it turned off into another road, and
was out of sight before they reached the turn.

" I am pretty sure she saw and recognised
us," George Dallas thought; " but why she
should avoid my uncle, except out of sheer
spite, I cannot imagine."

There was no further to look for the lady's
motive. Sheer spite was the highest flight of
Mrs. P. Ireton Bembridge's powers of