Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-19

could not decide between an Indian mnslin
lowered with gold and white satin hrocad-
cd with silver. ! heard there had been three
quarrels among her selecting friends on the
subject, but ut last the satin was chosen. If
was the night of his Maicstys ball, and we
were upon the dress There was it to he n
dcmitrain in the fashion of the dav. lined
with rose color, and laced with silver n lace
mantle trimmed with the best Orleans. and
loopcd up with lunches Of orange buds.
Madame had given Il solemn promise that
the whole would 90 home ut noon. to rive
her ladyship time for trial and alterations.
The heat of that night was suffocatnp we
sat with doors and windows open even the
door to Woodbinc Court was aiar. Madame
and her nicccs had gone to bed worn out
leaving me in charge as usual and for hours
there was nothing to De heard but the roll of
carriages going to the palace ball All Nav
Fair had gone, but not Lady RoSalind: it
would not have been etiquette for her to
appear in public 50 near her weddinr-dav.
However, there was Il rcchcrChc supper. which
had taken away the old earl and his son-in-
law, and Il card-room, from which the coun-
tess could not stay. The Misses Carey
(thcy had an uncommon knack for kim
out mottcr) had heard from her maid that
the bride was not quite comfortable in her
mind it might have been so, for there were
old reports rakcd up about the dead Mar
chioncss of Twccddalc, and what sort of hus-
band she had. Oh the work of that night
| thought we never should have got through
it. The girls fingers were soiling the lace
with the heat, their eyes were closing where
they sat with sleep and wcarincss, and at
hali-past twelve | laid my watch on the
table, and thought for mcrcys sake. would
give them the half hour instead of the quar-
trr-maybc they would work the better for
it. Every needle was laid down. and every
head back as spoke. OH but the silence
was deep There was not a carriage in the
street now. nor even Il sound in the sunk fiat
where Sally should have been preparing the
green tea. How hated the sight and smell
of it, At one side, ON great table. Law the
piIcd-up dresses for Lady RoSalind-a glitter
ing mass Of silk. and lace, and embroidery.
MI round me were the sleeping girls |
never felt less inclined to sleep in my life.
There were faces there | could not help look
ing on. and thinking how many of them
would come back next season. for every sum
mcr we missed some. There was one right
before me, the clevcrcst Of our first hands
She had an only sister who used to come with
her, but the girl was in other and worse
company now. | can't say whether it was
the shame or the hard work-mavbc both
together were breaking down poor Grace
But as | looked up, Il long rustic made me
turn round l. the door was slowly thrown
back, and II tall woman. in what | at first
took to he grave clothes. walked into the
workroom. My blood ran cold, and. as |
live, my belief was saw ghost There
was. however, something in the motion and
the figure which had seen before; and as it
came nearer, | saw with almost as much
terror that it was Lady Rosalind in her night
clothes. Slrrp-walkimg she must have been.
The back Of Limerick House opened ON an
alley leading to Woodhinc Court-that's all
know. Why her ladyship should have
walked to our workroom. or why she walked
at all is question beyond me. She stepped
in c'mloscdly and proudly. as if to her own
drawlng-room but the next moment her
look changed to one Of fear and horror. for
Lady RoSalind seemed to awake | think
she would have screamed if she could. | saw
her stepping back and back. still gazing on
that strange circle Of worn, haggard CHASTITY
young faces, roposing apparently more in
death than sleep and thcn-goodncSS knows
how or WHY found sense and strength
enough to take her ladyship hy the arm, out
of the workroom, through the back-hall,
across Woodbine Court, and down the alley
to the hack-door of Limerick House. There
she left me, muttcrng that she had been dis
turbcd, and would reward my goodness.
saw her walk quickly in, and hurried
back myself The half hour had elapsed the
clock struck one. 1t was sad work wakcn-
ing the girls. Sally had slumbcred on her
poStwh | went down, but the green tea
was ready in fifteen minutes more. When
madame came down at the usual London
morning, the silver mocadc and the lace
mantle were in the fair way of making their
promise true: but a servant from Limerick
House came in with news, that the Marquis
of Twcrddalc had been seized with apoplcXy
going home from the palace supper; and he
lived just four-and-twenty hours after. The
dresses, however, were all paid for, before
the carl and countess with their daughter
went to Gcrmany-as it was said, to get the
grief over. They commenced the journey on
the following Friday and late on Thursday
evening, Lady Rosaind's French maid, who
managed everything for her mistress, had
word with me in Madame lavcllc's back par
lor, where she put into my hands the gold
watch still wear with my best things, and
four five pound notes. saying, her ladyship
knew my discretion could be depended on
and before ! had time to say had done mo-
thing for 50 much money, and it wasn't my
way to talk of private affairs, she laid down
on the table Il small paper parcel, and went
on: Lady RoSalind requests that You will
divide this among the work-girlS as they
most require it, but she hopes none of them
will know from whence it came. | kept her
ladyshirS commandment, merely saying the
money had been left by generous lady, and
madame was to know nothing about it, But
to some of them money could do little good |
when that season was over, and never again |
kept watch in the wOrkroom. Lady Rosa |
lind and her parents came back in due time. |
She was as gay and admired as ever for some
two years more, and then married the Hon, |
Mr.. Finchley, who was made comptroller of
something. They told me that her ladyship /.
was long II belle, and then took strongly to
cards, like her mother; but one thing was
remarked Of hcr-that she never hurried |
dressmakcr.
CABINET MEErING.--Thc Troy Daily |
Tunes records the following amongst the incl |
Il.