The Argosy — page 371: what you’re looking at

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The Missing Rubies. 353 “T can’t possibly tell her anything to-day,” she said at last. “These headaches are becoming very frequent, and they always leave her exhausted. Lately I have thought Caroline looking a good deal older.” ‘* She does look older,” Jane replied. ‘She will not wear as well as you and J have done. Poor Godwin—how proud he used to be of our appearance, Dorothy !” ‘*T really believe the boy admired us,” admitted Miss Earle, not ill-pleased. ‘‘ How extraordinary that Mr. Corder should have taken such a fancy to him! We never dreamt of such a thing. I suppose he will marry Miss Ward without much delay. But if all this could have been foreseen, he might have married Alma after all.” “T fancy he will be happier with Beatrice Ward,’’ Jane said, musingly. ‘She is very young, and rather undisciplined, perhaps ; but she is a girl that the Earles cannot possibly be ashamed of. And such beauty, you know! Quite an uncommon style.” ‘Charles will be charmed with her,” Dorothy remarked. “ If God- win’s name is really cleared, Mr. Redburn is sure to take the pair into favour. I was always very sorry, Jane, that the Lindricks knew anything about the necklace. We meant, of course, to keep the matter entirely to ourselves. But Olga babbled ; one cannot trust that girl with the smallest secret!” ‘It was not nice in Colonel Lindrick to set Mr. Redburn against the poor boy,” Jane said, with unusual warmth. “Charles is evi- dently displeased about it. You see, Godwin has told Charles every- thing ; and Mr. Corder must have written too.” “Yes, Charles speaks of having had a letter from Mr. Corder,” rejoined Dorothy, thoughtfully. ‘ It seems that there will be quite a long story to tell, and a great deal of evidence to bring forward. I am feeling rather unsettled, Jane. On the whole, I am glad we have decided not to say anything to Caroline just yet.” ‘She is really too ill to be excited, Dorothy. It would be most unwise to broach the subject at present. You will write to Charles to-day?” Yes ; before Caroline comes downstairs. Of course I shall tell him that we are quite willing for the meeting to take place here on Monday. But, as IJ said just now, I shall be glad when it is over.” “It may not be as bad as we fear,” said Jane, consolingly, as she went off to dress for her walk. As Jane Earle took her way across the sunshiny meadows, keeping under the shade of the trees, she pondered over all the wonderful things that had happened this summer. In spite of her dread of Caroline, and all that she might do and say, there was happiness in her heart this morning. Jane had kept her knowledge of Godwin’s engagement locked up in her own bosom, till Beatrice’s flight startled her into making a revelation. The part that the Lindricks had played had" displeased _ orn comicbooks.com