The true Democrat., 1857-03-03
CHAPTER TIT.

CHAPTER III.
 Another twelvemonth passed away Sir Lionel fingered in the Crimea and the Hall was shut up. It was understood that he had given up his post in the commissariat, but stopped out there " to see the fun" Just before the end of the twelvemonth, howeve", news again came from hlm: he had arrived in London and was coming home.
 Christmas eve was the day he fixed on foi his arrival and all the Ruperts were in an ex- ated state of miud-each one secretly hoping to be especially si-nalled out by the young ba- ronet more than the rest, Otway and Charles Rupert, naughty lads, hat held themselves at due distance from their poorer relatives; but Lionel had been of the poor ones, entirely one of themselves hail-fellow- well-met with all Mrs. Dixon and Betsey Rupert monopolized all arran9 n9cments into their own hands, and manag. ed to iu4ratiate themselves wonderfully with the steward, to whom Sir Lionel had entrusted the control of his affairs. IL was decided that he should be welcomed home by a grand en- tertairmcnt-a ball given at his own house the night of his arrival My father suggested, in his quiet way, that an entertainment might be out of place, considering the melancholy cir cumstances which had led to Lionel'S success sion. But he was not listened to. Poor Otway and his brother were forgotteu-the dead soon are--and invitations in Sir Lionel Rupert's name be knowing nothing whatever about it went out to all the country
 Mrs. Dixon, leaving her children for once tc the care of servant waSs at the Hall morning noon and night, experimenting and giving or ders. believe the steward--and others, too thought she took a great deal upon herself, bu she m1s the first cousin of Sir Lionel. She and Miss Betsev sent a nasty dispatch for their ais ter's second daughter Kate ArrOwSmith, gir about my own age, and she arrived at our house They might in courtesy, have invited the cid est, Maria; but she was plain and awkward whereas Kate was beautiful. l wondered wha their looks had to do with it. Mrs. Dixon and Miss Betsey had been con- coctng scheme, a little plan, and it oozed out Charlotte got hold of it, and whispered it tc me. It was that Kate Arrowsmith and hel charms should suhdue the heart and win the hand of Sir Lionel Rupert. Charlotte also got hold of something else-that l was not to be invited to make one at the Hall on the ball night. l believe the girl must have listened to conversation not meant for her, but die. not accuse her of it. I felt that it was true, for il wanted now but few days to the ball, and nothing whatever had been said to me direct about it. The omission had not struck me be- fore
 How angry I was,-how pained and hurt! Every indignant feeling was aroused within me, and determined to golf possible. It was not that cared to see Sir Lionel--for every vestige of former hope had long died within me, and our meeting would be painful rather than otherwise; but thsv had no right to put upon me in this shameful way, and they should not
 The morning after Charlotte's communica- ton they set out as usual to the Hall--I mean Mrs. Dixon and her sister--kate Arrowsmth being squeezed in between them in the pony chaiSe. immediately went in search of my father, and found him on the sofa by the dres- sing-room fire, playing with his little four year old boy. Charlotte was in the bed chamber, dusling, but did not care for that. l stood before him, my color flushing.
 "Papa! have gathered hint that am not to go to the en ertainment at the Hall."
 "Indeed don't know, Jane Why not?''
 "I have come to ask you why. Mrs. Dixon says it'
 "Well,i if she says it, Isuppose you cannot"
 Sir" 1 said, my anger rising, !" do you re- "NIioNi ehie N".t tOaiS dS', "iCil Npu ttiOl l sat together on that very sofa, weeping?-when you had come in from laying mamma in the ground? You said then, that we would be all in all to each other How has that promise been carried out?"
 "Why, what's the matter with you, Jane?' he exclaimed, looking startled.
 II could have borne much from you, papa have borne much-but to be ill- treated, de Cpienl 1Fp ir l. you have put over me in mammals place.
 l was choking with sobs, and could not con- tinue
 "Jane! Jane! what is it? Speak out?"
 "I will not speak of the past-now-but of this fresh indignity sought to be put upon me. It is an indignity, sir, and you ought to see it as such, offered to your daughter. Every one goes to this entertainment but me. Mrs Dixon and her sister have actually brought their niece here, miles across the country, to be present at it; but l. your daughter, am to be excluded"
 ",Iane, think you ought to go," he replied. q see no reason against it. You shall go. I suppose the children can be left by us all for one evening""
 And if they couldn't, sir" interposed Char otte, who came from the bedroom at the mo- ment, Git would not be Miss Jane's place to stop With them. w nat are us servants good for, if we can't take care of three little chil- dren?''
 She passed through the room as she spoke, and my father turned to me.
 Dry your tears, Jane, I tell you, you shall go."
 "It is not to go that am weeping" almost indignantly cried. "You said-that day when wished had died with mamma, that time would come to me with healing on its wing. Papa, there is no healing in my chec- quered life: still wish had died with her. It would have been happier for me-"
 Pray Jane, do not talk in that uncomforta- ble strain. If things are so miserable for you, they must be altered. I will see. Do you want anything else now?"
 "I have no dress to go in to the Hall. How shall I have one?''
 "Dress! You must ask Mrs. Dixon about that'
 No, sir. To ask her would not give me one should be put off with orders to wear an old one, be it ever so unfit. Many child is treated with more respect and consideration than l. will not ask Mrs. Dixon"