The Womans Way

"I wish to God you were!" said Derrick, huskily, and feeling, with

amazement, and an Englishman's annoyance, that his own eyes were moist.

"Let us pretend that we are--mother and son," she said, in so low a

voice as to be almost inaudible. "Therefore, as a son, you need conceal

nothing from me. Tell me, who is this man whose name escaped you?"

As she asked the question, she made an evident effort to control her

agitation, and her voice and manner were well-nigh calm, and infinitely

tender and persuasive.

"Oh, Heyton!" said Derrick, feeling that he would be quite safe to tell

her everything. "He is the eldest, the only, son of the Marquess of

Sutcombe; and, of course, he will be the next Marquess; and, of course,

that's the reason why Miriam--Miriam Ainsley--chucked me and married

him."

"This Lord Heyton, what manner of man is he?" she said.

"Oh, I'm afraid he's a bad lot; you'll see that, or he wouldn't have

played this low down trick on me. He's a weak sort of fellow who has

played the fool pretty thoroughly. I met him at the place where the

Ainsleys lived, a little village called Bridgeford; and though--it's

easy to be wise after the event--I didn't like him much, we got to be

kind of friends. He's full of low cunning and I'd no idea he was after

Miriam until it was too late. You see the sort of man he is."

"And he will be the Marquess," she said, musingly.

"Oh, yes, nothing can prevent that," assented Derrick, with a short

laugh.

"It is a pity," she said.

"A thousand pities," agreed Derrick; "but there you are! It's our system

of primogeniture, eldest son, you know."

"If you go to England, you will keep out of his way," she said.

"Rather!" said Derrick, grimly. "If I go to England--and, of course, I

shall if you wish it--I shall keep out of everybody's way. I shall use

my assumed name, Sydney Green."

"It will be well to do so," she said, gravely. It was evident that she

was considering the matter with all a woman's acuteness. "Yes; I wish

you to go to England. There are other reasons--it will be better for you

to see the machinery."

"All right, your Excellency," said Derrick, promptly; for he felt as if

he had placed himself in her hands. "When would you like me to start?"