An Ambitious Man

Armed with her card of introduction, the Baroness set forth on her

"errand of mercy." She had not mentioned Miss Irving's name to Mabel

or Alice. The secret of the rector's interest in the girl was locked

in her own breast. She knew that Mabel was wholly incapable of

coping with such a situation, and she dreaded the effect of the news

on Alice, who was absorbed in her love dream. The girl had never

been denied a wish in her life, and no thought came to her that she

could be thwarted in this, her most cherished hope of all.

The Baroness was determined to use every gun in her battery of

defence before she allowed Mabel or Alice to know that defence was

needed.

The rector's card admitted her to the parlour of a small flat. The

portieres of an adjoining room were thrown open presently, and a

vision of radiant beauty entered the room.

The Baroness could not explain it, but as the girl emerged from the

curtains, a strange, confused memory of something and somebody she

had known in the past came over her. But when the girl spoke, a more

inexplicable sensation took possession of the listener, for her voice

was the feminine of Preston Cheney's masculine tones, and then as she

looked at the girl again the haunting memories of the first glance

were explained, for she was very like Preston Cheney as the Baroness

remembered him when he came to the Palace to engage rooms more than a

score of years ago. "What a strange thing these resemblances are!"

she thought. "This girl is more like Senator Cheney, far more like

him, than Alice is. Ah, if Alice only had her face and form!"

Miss Irving gave a slight start, and took a step back as her eyes

fell upon the Baroness. The rector's card had read, "Introducing Mrs

Sylvester Lawrence." She had known this lad by sight ever since her

first Sunday as organist at St Blank's, and for some unaccountable

reason she had conceived a most intense dislike for her. Joy was

drawn toward humanity in general, as naturally as the sunlight falls

on the earth's foliage. Her heart radiated love and sympathy toward

the whole world. But when she did feel a sentiment of distrust or

repulsion she had learned to respect it.

Our guardian angels sometimes send these feelings as danger signals

to our souls.

It therefore required a strong effort of her will to go forward and

extend a hand in greeting to the lady whom her rector and friend had

introduced.