Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-28

pertinent; but he was too kind-heaTted TO utter
fretful or impatient word in turn, and therefore
strove to smile as he remarked, "Then you had
a long chat about your girlhoOd days, / pre-
sume1"
"No, we had not" the lady responded, eve
left that for another opportunity, for we hope to
meet often. Mrs. Peacock insisted on my going
home to take luncheon with her, and then she
showed me her beautifully furnished house and
splendid wardrobe Oh! was delighted to see
her so comfortable; but it made me very dssat-
sfed with our little mean house and old fash
toned furniture"
81 wish, my dear, you had never met with
Mrs Peacock, them" Mr.. Duncan observed.
"Why so, William"
Because from your own confession, it made
you dissatisfied with your home and that is the
worst thing that | have to dread Janet"
"Nay, my dear, but it did not make me dis
satisfied with you" she replied with one of her
most winning smiles
"True; yet perhaps that will be the next
step, he laughingIy rejoined "but in what stu
alton is this Mr. Peacock" he further asked,
'1hat he can afford so many Injuries"
ooh, he is just in the same line of business
that you are, my dear; but then he is so literal
to Catherine, ne lets her lay out ust what she
likes, upon the house and herself Indeed she
says he is never better pleased than when she is
richly dressed. She is fine handsome woman,
you know, and he is proud of her"
"Ah thought that 0ould be the next thing,
Mrs Duncan" nterposed her husband with a
smile that savored little Of pique, "have you
not now indirectly implied that Mr. Peacock is
more liberal to his wife than | am to mine, and
that because am not fond of fnery, | am mean
and ungenerous towards youl"
81 never intended to imply any such thing"
cried Mrs. Duncan; and she was sincere in the
declaration, for she had not the sense to see the
apparent drift of her own observation; indeed
her thoughts were full of something elsa
som netting she felt must not be dlvuged at pres
ent lest it should be unfavorably received
The tea was by this time made, the mullins
and toast placed before the fire. and Mrs. Dun
can with her own good-tempered smiles handed
a cup of the former to her husband, and invited
him to take whichever was most agreeable to his
taste from the latter, observing that it was cold
evening. She was sure he must be hungry aE
ter his walk, aud that she was sorry she had moi
had it as usual ready for him when he came in.
The social meal, the cheerful fire, and above
all, the happy mood in which the conntenanct
Of his wife appeared to be, all had their inAu
cnce in soothing the perturbed feelings Of Mr.
Duncan, and the disappointment of this was al
most forgotten.
Mrs. Duncan proceeded to descant further OF
the beauty of her friends residence, adding tina
she had requested her to favor her with visi
on the morrow, but that Mrs Peacock was som,
:. days deep in engagements, consequently sht
could not promise to come till the next week
She was realty glad, she said oGthe delay, sine,
1t would give her and Sally time to put ever
thing ia order, and she really mast have a few
little articles now in the drawing room; one thin.
was indispensable, aRd that was some new win
=" dow-curtains; those old fawn-moreen curtains
10 we're actually dropping to pieces with age; the
. would not bear another brushing. She had tina
u day seen some very beautiful crimson damask
: cheap, which would set off her room so nicely
: and she and sally could make it up without an
J. additional expense. She mad particularly nc
: ticed how Mrs. Peacock's drawing-room curtain
u we've arranged she would like to have her
u made just like them; no doubt they were tn
" newest fashion. She concluded with saying sh
d was sure her dear William would not refuse he
: such triAe, when it would make her happy
= more especially as it was not often that she ask
u Io1I oro hoe
y 1t was trying moment for Mr.. Duncan. II
u loved his wife dearly, and he wished to pleas
} her. She had spoken the truth in saying thG
. it was not often she askedfor anything that wa
: expensive; he had hitherto thought her of yer
~ fconented disposition; but then the trial he ha
}, that day felt ought TO induce him to cutail hi
expenses, instead Of adding only few dollars t
- DECENTRALIZATION however triumphed; he coui
u not summon frmness to refuse her, though h
felt it was his duty he had not courage to dampe
:, her by relation Of the events Of the last fe'
= hours and he gave his consent to the damas
u curtains being bought, and put the necessar
. sum into Mrs, Duncan's hands, for the purpose
: The next morning the lady and her maid wer
very busy, having what the latter called a thu
rOugh-rOwtc; but sally was always wlllingto d
: any thing that her master or mistress wished
:" yet she could not help thinking that some yer
. grand person was expected, to cause such grei
. preparations. The damask curtains were bough
g made and put up by the upholster; but Mrs. Dul
:, can could have wept with vexation when it Wi
~ done, to discover that so far from onamentn
IL her drawing room, they made it look worse tina
% bef"re-there was such discrepancy betwee
~ their rich hue and bright gold bordering
- that the rest of the furniture, especially Il
:" well worn Brussels carpet, the flowers of whiC
10 were woiulIy faded at would never do" sal
- she, to admit Mrs. Peacock (whose eye was :
"a used to things in character Ito a room like thi
- she must have new carpet; she would ventul
:, to order it now, the upholster's young man W;
-, -. on the spot she could pay him at any time; ST
~ was sure he was not afraid to trust her. and 81
~ would economist in her house, to make up il
ho. h,,.l L. - - l.