Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-24

:" Pooh nonsense - he exclaimed. "Just
help Mrs. Granger off with some OF these things;
and We'll 60 to her at once, If the mountain
won't come to MahometP'
Sir, Miss Yardley is there" said Parrot,
Significantly.
He checked his impatience in moment, cast
Ing hasty but cIiticisiDg glance over his own
travel worn aspect, and my dishevelied, wear.
led appearance and coming to Parrots assist
ance ne helped to unshell me from the multi.
tude Of wrappings in which was mantled,
and presented me in all my dimin N i We.
ness and chiidishness to Parrots wondering
eyes:
iHyoluntarily, as her master had done before
her
Mr.. Granger nodded silent affirmation, and
hade ner attend me in my room; which she did
In gentle and tender manner, though caught
her now and then fixing on me q very puzzled
and bewilGered regard. The arrangement and
fashion Of the strange room embarrassed me ;
did not knew the use OF half the articles on
the dressing table and Parrots prolonged
scrutiny OF me when had completed nv short
toilet made me turn again anxiously to nv
looking glass before descending to the drawing
room. The reflection did not reassure me-
My only black dress, which had put on as
mourning, was velvet robe, worn by nav
mother at a colonial ball some years before she
died; and 1t hung in straight, heavy folds
round my slight figure, making my brown ace,
and short tangled curls look as quaint and elfsh
as IL had purposely clad myself in some gro.
tesque disguise. ! enyied the staid, sell. pos
sessed Parrot her acquaintance with English
customs and etiquette, while 1 folio wed her
with beating heart consciously ignorant of
the manner in which ought to enter draW wing
room.
The drawing room door, flung wide open by
Parrot eyeaied a scene almost as whita and
frigid as the landscape without. I stood in the
doorway, shy, nervous, shrinking girl from
the colony, anXiously gazing round a large and
elegant room, which seemed q confused mass
OF cloudy curtains and coverings. Three win.
dows, with delicate white drapery over pale
blue, looked out upon the snowy park chairs,
scfas. and ottomans were yelled under a pro-
fusion of white network the walls, of a pale,
creamy tinge were hung with light paintings;
here and there were little tables, with their
the most shell.like fabric; and the marble
chimney piece contained similar fragile orna-
mems, 10 the mum Der OF forty seven, as dis
covered by counting them one day Afterwards.
I wo ladies, OF whom dimly dscerned only
full IL ut amplitude of form and raiment, were
seated gracefully in louHgiug chairs upon the
hearth !; while l saw myself IN a large pier
glass opposite as the only blot, little speck of
blackness, upon the frosty elegance of the
To bieau.
was trembling on the threshold, fearful of
treadIng my way through the labyrinth OF tables
and ottomans, hen hand, with whose we'll
SNAPPED and muscular proportions was already
1dmlilaf, LOCK mine within It's encouraging
clasp, as If were child. Mr.. Granger led
me into the room clearing every obstacle with
out apparent effort: and addressing the two
ladies, who rose wi cere monious and formal
deHeanor at our approach, he said in an ap-
pealing voice,
- Eliza, this is Mrs. Henry Granger This
yinia."
BE CoSTfNUED