Miss Hastings wrung her hands in silent dismay.
"Oh, for something to redeem you, Pauline--something to soften your heart, which is hardening into sin!"
"I do not know of any earthly influence that could, as you say, redeem me. I know that I am doing wrong. Do not think that I have transformed vice into virtue and have blinded myself. I know that some people can rise to a far grander height; they would, instead of seeking vengeance, pardon injuries. I cannot--I never will. There is no earthly influence that can redeem me, because there is none stronger than my own will."
The elder lady looked almost hopelessly at the younger one. How was she to cope with this strong nature--a nature that could own a fault, yet by strength of will persevere in it? She felt that she might as well try to check the angry waves of the rising tide as try to control this willful, undisciplined disposition.
How often in after years these words returned to her mind: "I know of no earthly influence stronger than my own will."
Miss Hastings sat in silence for some minutes, and then she looked at the young girl.
"What shape will your vengeance take, Pauline?" she asked, calmly.
"I do not know. Fate will shape it for me; my opportunity will come in time."
"Vengeance is a very high-sounding word," observed Miss Hastings, "but the thing itself generally a.s.sumes very prosaic forms. You would not descend to such a vulgar deed as murder, for instance; nor would you avail yourself of anything so commonplace as poison."
"No," replied Pauline, with contempt; "those are mean revenges. I will hurt her where she has hurt me--where all the love of her heart is garnered; there will I wound her as she has wounded me. Where she can feel most there I mean to strike, and strike home."
"Then you have no definite plan arranged?" questioned Miss Hastings.
"Fate will play into my hands when the time comes," replied Pauline. Nor could the governess extract aught further from her.
CHAPTER x.x.xI.
FATE FAVORS PAULINE.
Autumn, with its golden grain, its rich fruits, and its luxuriant foliage, had come and gone; then Christmas snow lay soft and white on the ground; and still Captain Langton had not paid his promised visit to Darrell Court. He sent numerous cards, letters, books, and music, but he did not appear himself. Once more the spring flowers bloomed; Sir Oswald had been lying for twelve months in the cold, silent family vault. With the year of mourning the last of Lady Darrell"s gracefully expressed sorrow vanished--the last vestige of gray and lavender, of jet beads and black tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs, disappeared from her dresses; and then she shone forth upon the world in all the grace and delicate loveliness of her fair young beauty.
Who could number her lovers or count her admirers? Old and young, peer and commoner, there was not one who would not have given anything he had on earth to win the hand of the beautiful and wealthy young widow.
Lady Hampton favored the suit of Lord Aynsley, one of the wealthiest peers in England. He had met Lady Darrell while on a visit at the Elms, and was charmed with her. So young, fair, gifted, accomplished, so perfect a mistress of every art and grace, yet so good and amiable--Lord Aynsley thought that he had never met with so perfect a woman before.
Lady Hampton was delighted.
"I think, Elinor," she said, "that you are one of the most fortunate of women. You have a chance now of making a second and most brilliant marriage. I think you must have been born under a lucky star."
Lady Darrell laughed her soft, graceful little laugh.
"I think, auntie," she returned, "that, as I married the first time to please you, I may marry now to please myself and my own heart."
"Certainly," said her ladyship, dubiously; "but remember what I have always told you--sentiment is the ruin of everything."
And, as Lady Hampton spoke, there came before her the handsome face of Aubrey Langton. She prayed mentally that he might not appear again at Darrell Court until Lord Aynsley had proposed and had been accepted.
But Fate was not kind to her.
The next morning Lady Darrell received a letter from the captain, saying that, as the summer was drawing near, he should be very glad to pay his long-promised visit to Darrell Court. He hoped to be with them on Thursday evening.
Lady Darrell"s fair face flushed as she read. He was coming, then, this man who above all others had taken her fancy captive--this man whom, with all her worldly scheming, she would have married without money if he had but asked her. He was coming, and he would see her in all the glory of her prosperity. He would be almost sure to fall in love with her; and she--well, it was not the first time that she whispered to her own heart how gladly she would love him. She was too excited by her pleasant news to be quite prudent. She must have a confidante--she must tell some one that he was coming.
She went to the study, where Miss Hastings and Pauline were busily engaged with some water-colors. She held the open letter in her hand.
"Miss Hastings, I have news for you," she said. "I know that all that interested Sir Oswald is full of interest for you. Pauline, you too will be pleased to hear that Captain Langton is coming. Sir Oswald loved him very much."
Pauline knew that, and had cause to regret it.
"I should be much pleased," continued Lady Darrell, "if, without interfering with your arrangements, you could help me to entertain him."
Miss Hastings looked up with a smile of a.s.sent.
"Anything that lies in my power," she said, "I shall be only too happy to do; but I fear I shall be rather at a loss how to amuse a handsome young officer like Captain Langton."
Lady Darrell laughed, but looked much pleased.
"You are right," she said--"he is handsome. I do not know that I have ever seen one more handsome."
Then she stopped abruptly, for she caught the gleam of Pauline"s scornful smile--the dark eyes were looking straight at her. Lady Darrell blushed crimson, and the smile on Pauline"s lips deepened.
"I see my way now," she said to herself. "Time, fate, and opportunity will combine at last."
"And you, Pauline," inquired Lady Darrell, in her most caressing manner--"you will help me with my visitor--will you not?"
"Pardon me, I must decline," answered Miss Darrell.
"Why, I thought Captain Langton and yourself were great friends!" cried Lady Darrell.
"I am not answerable for your thoughts, Lady Darrell," said Pauline.
"But you--you sing so beautifully! Oh, Pauline, you must help me!"
persisted Lady Darrell.
She drew nearer to the girl, and was about to lay one white jeweled hand on her arm, but Pauline drew back with a haughty gesture there was no mistaking.
"Pray understand me, Lady Darrell," she said--"all arts and persuasions are, as you know, lost on me. I decline to do anything toward entertaining your visitor, and shall avoid him as much as possible."
Lady Darrell looked up, her face pale, and with a frightened look upon it.
"Why do you speak so, Pauline? You must have some reason for it. Tell me what it is."
No one had ever heard Lady Darrell speak so earnestly before.
"Tell me!" she repeated, and her very heart was in the words.