The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-01-01 00:00:00

remedies, The old-fuhioned remedies, however, salts
end cold water, soon did their work.
"Whore am I!" whispered Laura, whilst • deep sigh
heralded Ethel's return to consciousness.
They looked round inqiiiringly, and both seemed
bewildered at the noels of fame which hemmed them In.
At last tlo eyes of the sisters met !—For so instant they
mooned each other curiously, and then • look of relief
appeared upon both countenances.
' Were you the shon I" they aria, simultaneonsly,
and a feeble laugh from each proclaimed th.t they were
The laugh was contagious and ir came general.
▪ Had I not been's° anxious about Ethel's recovery, I
should have found it very hard to oontrol my laughter
within moderate bounds when I tint slanged round the
group of by.4andere The costume for the dressing-
room is seldomtbeeoming, but when that costume is
huddled on without any regard to appearance, the effect
may be imagined better than described. It would be
impossible to describe the eingleeillis that appeared in
the gallery that night. There were wraps of all torte.
shawls of all eoloure cloaks of all shapes., nightstape of
all patterns, forming • rout-reseadde truly groteeque.
We four, who felt outrages; to be properly equipped at
all point., could afford to laugh at the ridieuloas figures
cut by our friends,—and we did laugh ; and as Ethel
and Laura regained their strength. their merriment
became louder and longer. The rest, of coarse, could
not refrain from laughing at each other, but they could
not laugh with • will as we oould. We bad decidedly
the best of it; but there wee one month that did not:
rel.: even into • smile. Sir Harry'. anger was in no I
whit appeased. and he called again for an explanation I
of this unseemly disturber's'.
"Don't be angry, dear papa," Seeded Ethel; "we '
have been foolish, very foetid', but we have been
punished enough for our folly. It eppears that the
same idea struck Laura and myself; we both thought it
would be fun to play the ghost, and frighten you all
out of your senses. The Wiles have been tamed ; I
iestead of terrifying you we have half killed each other I
with fright. I woe afnicl that I might meet the real
ghost, and I asked Captain Arden to be Present.
I suppose Linea invited Captain Flerrsford for the same
moon. There pap., you have the whole truth; but,
really, if you wish me to preserve my gravity you must
put your night sap straight? It does give you such •
comical look."
Sir Harry did not join in Ethel's laugh, on the
t he looked very him • but at this RtAte of the
°°° R „
proowinrs an event occurred providentially woo'h
restored him to good humour. Ethers baby, who had
been sleeping son aelly.saddenly awoke and quietly walked
off—harking violently; the noise arousing laura's
infant, who 'mug off her lap, °Bevis', piteously,
hurried away as fast saber robes would Deena. This
was too mach even for Sir Harry—he joined in the
nniverial about of laughter, and 'Stewards kneed and
roman his daughters.
Lady Dampier followed his example, and then carried
off the rival ghosts, reeommenditie at the same time
every one to return at once to their warm beds lest a
third, and a real ghost should make her appearance, and
ease another disturbuice.
We all took the hint, and left the gallery to Olotuo
and the moon. I went to bed, bet think you that I
slept? No, not • wink. Ethel's exclamation as she
fell into my aims kept ringing in my earl lilto an end-
less shim, vary sweet and very musical. The fright
bed been mv friend: and saved me some anxiety and
tremble. "She loves me yes, she loves me," I
whispered to myself, as I towed about, and the chime
become • wedding peal.
I took an early opportunity of reminding Ethel of
the expression that bad voluntarily fallen from her
and of begging her to repeat it.
I need only add that on coercion she did repeat it.
Whether Jack had the same reason for thioking the
catastrophe in the Odom gallery I cannot say. I only
know that before the next season arrived Lenin and
Ethel Dampier were the wives of Jack Beresford and
Harry Arden.