The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-25

II cd sho had remained in Italy. She lei
y stranga too in England. Every thing wa
j cold and formal. The language sounde'
Q harsh, spoken all abound her with grufI
rough voices and ungnteful accents tn
! houses looked small and mean after tn
. glorious marble palaces Of Italy; and th'
Q people were finely dressed in shabby fncry
/ Adirty bonncts in place of the white vel
of Genoa, the simple flower Of the Mederter.
ranen coast, and the picturesque head
, dresses Of Italy; trailing gowns, with aoun,
ces dragging in the mud, worn by women
who In her own country, would have been
dressed in PEASANTS costume, graceful and
distinctiye--all was 30 strange that Estella
felt lost and miserable, and wished herself
back among the orange trees again, far
away from a land with which she had not
learned to be familiar in its familiar features,
and whose industrial granduer seemed to di-
minish as she approached 1t. For, ideal
imagination does not go very far in daily
life. . a.I,H I
At last, Estella took heart and courage,
and one day boldly went to Mrs. Malahide's
house. She knocked at the door, which q
prim ncat-looking servant girl opened. To
her inquiry If "Mrs. Malahidc was in her
own house for Estella did not speak
English with a perfect knowledge of its
idioms-the servant, witha broad stare, said
"yes," vague belief that she was some
body very improper crossing her brain.
Estella was ushcred INTO prim room,
with the chairs, and the sofa, and the cur
tains, done up in brown holland no fire in
the CRATE; and the girls work all about
Berlin worsted mats netted, knitted and
crotchetcd. and embroidered blotting.books
of faded colored flowers, and other things Of
the same kind, all very stiff and formal, and
with no evidence of life or artistic taste
among them. Estella's heart sank when
she looked round this cold lifeless room, so
different to the Italian homes of pictures,
and birds, and living gems of art; but she
resolved to bear up against the chilling in
auenccs pressing on her, and to be brave
and constant to herself; no little merit in a
girl brought up in Italy, where but little
of the moral stcadlastness Of lifc is braided
in with its poetry. In short while lady
entered, dressed in deep mourning, her face
fixed into mask Of severe grief, but still
with certain womanly tenderness lurking
behind, like the light through darkened
window. She bowed; looking suspicious
and little stern, standing erect by the
door.
"You do not know me, madam" said
Estella, her soft voice, with its pretty foreign
accent trembling.
"I DO not" answered Mrs Malahidc,
coldly. .
The girls eyes filled with tears. " And
| am afraid I shall not be welcome when
you do know me-" she said timidly. 81
am Estella Everett" |..
Mrs. Malahide started. "lmpudcnt
forward! presumptuous here in my
house! " she thought this, strongly agitat-
ed, and moved to the fireplace, to ring the
bell. t.
Estella went nearer to her, and laid her
hand on her arm. "Do not send me away
without hearing me-" she said plaintively
+" for, indeed, have only come in kindli-
ness and love-" ,.....
Her pure young voice touched the wo-
mans heart in spite of herself. She dropped
the hand outstrctchcd, and pointing to a
chair, said, "What is it you have to say"
in voice still cold, yet with shade lefs
sharpness in it. W
81 have come to you, Madam" !" began
Estella, '.that 1 might see some one who
knew my father, and some ono that no loved
and belonged to. am very lonely, now
that he has gone, with all Of you disowning
me; but thought that you, who had seen
more sorrow than the others, would have
more sympathy than they; for sorrow
brings hearts very near And so, Aunt
Grace, came to Brighton from Venice on
purpose to see you and tho children, that
might make you love and adopt me among
YOU. And now," she added, her full heart
swelling with its old hope of love, "you
will not turn me away from your heart!-l
You will not forbid my cousins to love me
If .havc injured you by my birth, and
dear Aunt, it is not my fault will make
up for it in the best way can, and prove
to you my love for my father by loving you.
I want some one to bc kind to me, and some
one. Aunt, that can be kind to and love.
am rich, and want some near one to
share my riches, and not strangers want
one of my own blood, one of my own kin
dred. | want you and your children, Aunt
Grace, and you will give them to me!
This simple, unworldly outpouring, sof-
tened Mrs. Malahidc into almost smile-a
smile which, when just born around the
corners of her mouth, Estclla caught like u
ray of light. Young and impulsive she ran
up to her Aunt, and, ilinging herself on
her knees by her side, putting her arms
round her, said, You are going to love
me, Aunt Gracc2 And you will let me
love you and the children" holding her
face to be kissed. l...a.-... .... -.
She looked 80 lovely, with her beautiful
gray eycs which had their mothers depth,
and softness, and lustre-with her bright
brown hair braided of her low white brow
with her small red lips, like two little
rose-buds parted-her carressing ways,
which had all the grace and warmth Of
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