It appeared to Adrian, Lord Chandon, on the morning following, that
there was some unusual confusion in the house. Lady Dartelle was late in
coming down to breakfast. When breakfast was over, she asked to speak
with Lord Chandon alone, and he followed her to the library.
"My lord," she began, "pray tell me, do you know anything of the
whereabouts of this unfortunate girl? I had perhaps better explain to
you that much scandal has been caused in my household by the fact that
my governess met your valet on the sands, and was seen talking to him
for more than an hour. One of my daughters also saw him give Miss Holte
a note. Now, as we could not imagine her capable of any correspondence
with a servant it was only natural to suppose that he was acting for his
master. I sent for Miss Holte and spoke to her, and she evinced the
utmost confusion, and terrible agitation. She did not deny that she was
acquainted with you. I told her I should consider it my duty to speak to
you; this morning we find she must have left the house last night. Had I
not reason to seek an explanation, Lord Chandon?"
"You had, indeed," he replied, "but I can throw no light on the mystery.
Here is Gustave; perhaps he can enlighten us."
"Gustave," asked Lord Chandon, "for whom have you been carrying notes to
Lady Dartelle's governess?"
"For no one, my lord. I took her one note, but it was written by
myself."
"Gustave," said Lord Chandon, sternly, "I command you to tell all you
know of the lady."
"I promised not to betray her, my lord," and as he spoke he looked
wistfully at his master. Adrian thought that he saw tears in his eyes.
"Gustave," he said, "you have always been faithful to me. Tell me, who
is this lady?"
"Oh, my lord!" cried the man, in a strange voice, "can you not guess?"
Lord Chandon was puzzled, and then his face changed, a ghastly pallor
came over it.
"Do you mean to tell me," he demanded, in a trembling voice, "that it
is--it is Miss Vaughan?"
A look of wild excitement came over Adrian's face, as he turned to Lady
Dartelle.
"I believe," he said, "that the lady you call your governess is the one
I have so long searched for--the lady who is betrothed to me--Miss
Vaughan. Where is she?" he cried, "she must be looked for. Thank heaven,
I have found some trace of her at last!"
"Where is Aubrey?" he asked, and in a few minutes the young baronet had
heard the story. He could scarcely conceal his excitement and wonder. "I
will find her," said Adrian to Sir Aubrey. "Will you go down to the
seashore, Aubrey? And I will take Gustave with me through the woods. I
will find her, living or dead."
They were half way through the woods, walking on in profound silence,
when Gustave, looking through a cluster of trees, suddenly clutched his
master's arm. "Look, my lord, there is something lying under that tree!"
It was Hyacinth's silent, prostrate form.
"She is dead!" cried Gustave.
But Lord Chandon pushed him away. With a cry of agony the man never
forgot, he raised the silent figure in his arms. "My darling!" he cried,
"Oh, heaven, do not let me lose her! Give me the brandy, Gustave,
quickly," he said, "and run--run for your life. Tell Lady Dartelle that
we have found Miss Vaughan, and ask her to send a carriage to the
entrance to the woods, telegraph for a doctor, and have all ready as
soon as possible."
Adrian would allow no other hands to touch her. He raised her, carried
her to the carriage, and held her during the short drive. When they
reached the house, and she had been carried to her room, he went to Lady
Dartelle and took her hands in his. Tears shone in his eyes.
"Lady Dartelle," he said, "I would give my life for hers! Will you do
your best to save her for me?"
"I will," she replied, "you may trust me."
Adrian did not leave the house, but Sir Aubrey Dartelle telegraphed Sir
Arthur and Lady Vaughan the glad tidings that the lost one had been
found. Dr. Ewald was astonished, when he went down stairs, to find
himself caught in a most impulsive and excited manner by the hand.
"The truth, doctor," said Lord Chandon, "I must know the truth! Is there
any danger?"
"I think not. If she is kept quiet, and free from excitement for two
days, I will predict a perfect recovery."
On the third day Lady Dartelle sought Lord Chandon. "Miss Vaughan is
much better, and is sitting up," she said, with a quiet smile. "Would
you like to go up and see her?"
Hyacinth rose when Adrian entered Lady Dartelle's sitting-room. She
stretched out her hands to him with a little imploring cry, and the next
moment he had folded her to his heart--he had covered her face with
passionate kisses and tears. She trembled in his strong grasp.
"Adrian," she whispered, "do you quite forgive me?"
"My darling," he said, "I have nothing to forgive; it was, after all,
but the shadow of a sin."
* * * * *
Never had the May sun shone more brightly. It was the twenty-second of
the month, yet everyone declared it was more like the middle of June
than of May.
Hyacinth and Adrian were to be married in the old parish church at
Oakton. Long before the hour of celebration, crowds of people had
assembled, all bearing flowers to throw beneath the bride's feet.
Sir Aubrey Dartelle--best man--with Lord Chandon, was already waiting at
the altar, and to all appearances seemed inclined to envy his friend's
good fortune.
The ceremony was performed, the marriage vows were repeated, and Adrian
Lord Chandon and Hyacinth Vaughan were made husband and wife--never to
be parted more until death.
* * * * *
Three years have passed since that bright wedding day. Looking on the
radiant face of Lady Chandon, one could hardly believe that desolation
and anguish had marked her for their own. There was no shadow now in
those beautiful eyes, for the face was full of love and of happiness.
One morning Lady Chandon was in the nursery with Lady Vaughan, who had
gone to look at the baby. They were admiring him, his golden curls, his
dark eyes, the grace of his rounded limbs, when Lord Chandon suddenly
appeared on the scene.
"Hyacinth," he said, "will you come down stairs? There are visitors for
you."
"Who is it, Adrian?" she asked.
"The visitors are Mr. and Mrs. Lady Claude Lennox."
She drew back with a start, and her face flushed hotly. "Claude," she
repeated. "Oh, Adrian, I would rather not go."
"Go for my sake, darling, and because I ask it."
Her husband's wish was sufficient. She entered the room, and Claude
advanced to meet her. "Lady Chandon," he said, "I am delighted to see
you."
She was introduced to his wife, and Hyacinth speedily conceived a liking
for her. Lady Geraldine was very fond of flowers, and during the course
of conversation she asked Lord Chandon to show her his famous
conservatories. They all four went together, but Claude, who was walking
with Lady Chandon, purposely lingered near some beautiful heliotrope.
"Pardon me," he said, "Lady Chandon, I wish to ask you a great favor.
You will like my wife, I think. Will you be her friend? Will you let us
all be friends? We should be so happy."
She answered, "Yes." And to this day they are all on the most intimate
and friendly terms.
After Claude and Lady Geraldine had driven away, Lord Chandon returned
to the drawing-room, and saw his wife standing by the window, with a
grave look on her beautiful face. He went to her.
"What are you thinking about, Hyacinth?" he asked.
"I am thinking, Adrian," she said, "that, remembering my great fault, I
do not deserve to be half as happy as I am."
But he kissed the sweet lips, and said--
"Hush! That is passed and done with. After all, my darling, it was but
the Shadow of a Sin."
THE END.
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Transcriber's Notes
Bertha M. Clay is a pseudonym sometimes used by American publishers when
reprinting books written by Charlotte M. Brame; this novel has been
published at different times under both names.
Italics are represented using _underscores_. Bold is represented with
=equals signs=.
Added Table of Contents.
Retained some inconsistent hyphenation from the original (e.g. dewdrops
vs. dew-drops; fairylike vs. fairy-like).
Title page, added close quote after "Lady Damer's Secret."
Marriage Guide ad, changed "Gastation" to "Gestation" and "PUPLISHING"
to "PUBLISHING."
Page 7, changed single to double quote before "You need not marry
him..."
Page 13, changed "to night" to "to-night" and added missing quote after
'Yes; I will go.'
Page 15, changed comma to period after "queen allowed herself."
Page 16, changed "then" to "than" in "more toward magnificence than
cheerfulness."
Page 36, changed "thick-notted" to "thick-knotted."
Page 58, added missing "s" to "Darcy's" at end of first line of Chapter
XIII.
Page 69, changed "to sure" to "too sure."
Page 77, changed "pursuaded" to "persuaded."
Page 79, added missing period after "life and death were in the
balance."
Page 83, changed "seen hear" to "seen her."
Page 84, moved letter signature to its own line and added an opening quote
for more consistent formatting.
Page 106, added missing quote before "take my word for it."
Page 119, added missing close quote after "dear old friends."
Page 132, changed "correet" to "correct."
Page 137, changed question mark to exclamation point after "If he could
only forget that horrid girl!"
Page 142, changed oe ligature to oe in "coeur" for text edition.
Page 153, added missing "an" to "more than an hour."
Page 158, changed "brady" to "brandy."