The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-25
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letter, and In Ii were fully oct forth the day
and hour Of my proposed arrival "Ahl
n ocs Whit ny changed ssss 'a lyon are
Arriving q shis conclusiou, ra,se,, nv
glance, and met, full, the Observant gaxe of 4
par OF large hrewd grey eyes. Ny little
n6 ,sn LOT the time being, was regarding me
her face that could not but read It and be
amused. 1t said plainly: f" know more aboui
you Than you think, and I pity you. You
come here with expectations which will moi
% fulfilled. There II much modification in
store for you. I wonder you came here ut all
II were once well outside these gates
should never limp inside them again. If ]
Knew n road out into the world you come
rom would set out bravely on my clutches
NO, not even for the sake of a stolen hour like
this, In q velvet chair, would remain here -
How any one glance could say all this was 4
riddle; but 1t did say all this. The language
OF the face was rs simple to me as though every
word had been translated into my ear. Per.
haps a certain internal light, kindled long ago
before this little orphan was born, or George
Rutland had become owner of Rutland Hall
assisted me In deciphering SO much informa
ton SO readily. However that may be, certain
things before surmised became assured facts
In my mind, and quaint bond of sympa tHy
became at once established between me and
my companion.
Miss Ray" said, " what do yon think OF
a man who, having been abroad for fifteen
years, has the impudence to come home with
out shilling in his pocketT Ought he not tc
be stoned alive?,'
II thought how it was" she said, shaking
her head, and looking up with another of her
shrewd glances. g. knew it, when they put
you into such a bad bedroom. They are keep
ing all the good rooms for the people who are
coming next week. The house will be full for
Christmas. 1t won't do" She added, medita-
lively
"What won't do?'' said. ....-.---
Your not having shilling in your pocket.
They'll sheer at you for it, and the servants
will find it out. have guinea that old Lady
Thornton gave me on my birthday, and If you
would take the loan of it should be very
glad. don't want it at all, and you could pay
me back when You are better OFF,"
She said this with such business-ike gravity
that felt obliged to control my inclination to
laugh. She had evidently taken me under her
protection. Her keen little wits foresaw SHARES
and difficulties besetting my steps during my
stay at Rutland Hall, to which my newer eyes,
she imagined, must be ignorantly blind.
looked at her with amusement, as she sat there
seriously considering my financial interests !
had a fancy to humor this quaint conf1dentlal
relation that had sprung up so spontaneously
between us. I said gravely:
CT am very much obliged to you Tor your Of
fer, and will gladly take advantage OF It, 10
you happen to have guinea at hand
She seized her crutches, and lmped quickly
out of the ROOM Presently she returned with
q little bonbon box which she placed IN my
hand. Opening it, found one guinea, wrap
ped up carefully in silver paper
WISH IL Decll H1OIc. SAc SAAN' WIS.,
fully, as coolly transferred it to my pocket,
box and all, "But so seldom get money I"
At this moment the solemn person who had
escorted me hither and thlther before an
nOunced that my dinner was served.
On my return to the drawing room found,
to my intense disappointment that my bene1i-
cent bird had flown. Teecie Ray had limped
Oft to the nursery.
Next morning, at breakfast, was introduced
to the family. I found them, on the whole,
pretty much what had expected. My Cousin
George had developed into pompous portly
and, in spite of his cool profess
sions of pleasure, was evidently very sorry to
see me. The Mamma Rutland Just cOunte-
nanced me, in manner the most frigidiy pO-
lite. The grOwn-up young ladies treated me
with the most we'll bred negligence. Unless l
had been very obtuse indeed, could scarcely
have failed to perceive the place appointed for
ne in Rutland Hall. 1 was expected to sit be-
ow the salt. I was that dreadful thing-a
person of no Importance. George amused him.
self with me for a few days, displaying to me
ais various fine possessions, and then, on the
arrival OF grander guests, left me TO my own
resources. The Misses Rutland endured my
escort on their riding expeditions only till
more eligible cavaliers appeared. AS for the
lady of the house, her annoyance at having
ne quartered indefinitely on her premises,
was hardly concealed. The truth. was, they
were new people in the circle in which they
moved, and it did not suit them to have a poor
relation coming suddenly among them, calling
them g cousin and making himself at home
in the house. For me, was not blind, though
none of these things did it suit me to see. l
made myself as comfortable as was possible
under the circumstances, took every sheer and
snub in excellent part, and was rs amiable and
satisfied on all occasions as though I believed
myself to be the most cherished inmate Of the
household. That this meanness Of mine should
provoke their contempt, had hardly right
to complain of. Nor did I. 1 accepted this
like the rest of their hospitality, and smiled
contentedly as the days went on. The gloom
which had oppressed me on my first arrival in
England had all betaken itself away. How
could feel otherwise than supremely happy
at finding myself thus surrounded by my kind
relations, thus generously entertained under
their hospitable roof?
enjoyed certain freedom in their choice of
and the disposal of their time l
speedily availed myself of this privilege 1
selected my own associates, and I entertained
myself as pleased me best. Not finding nv
self always welcomed in the drawing ROOM
by a series of the most dexterous
to gain the free entree of the nursery
In this nursery We're growing up some five or
siX younger branches of the Rutland family
After a certain hour in the day none of the
elders ever thought of invading it's remote
precincts. Five O'Clock in the evening was
Inc chlidren's tea hour, and the pleasantest,
lnought, In the twentyfOur Nurse was
staid woman, who knew how to appreciate a
little present now and again, and to keep her
own counsel on the subject The children
were not pleasant children they were unruly
little wretches. They conceived
SORT OF aHectlOn for me, because sometimes
brought to the nursery sundry purchases made
during solitary rides; picture books, toys,
Tolls, or sweetmeats, procured by means of
Ieecie Rays guinea. 1 suggested as much to
Ieecie one evening as she sat by. watching the
and she nodded her head in sage
She thought that 1 economised
my substance very well. 1t covered a great
many small extravagances, that guinea did.
- hateVer might be my position at Rutland
Hall, Teecie Rays was simply intolerable. A
spirit less brave must have been cowed and bro
zen by it; nature less delicate must have been
'lunted and made cOarser. The servants openly
neglected her, the children used her as they
pleased; wreaked their humors on her, sparing |
lelther blow nor taunt in their passions, and |
demanding from her at all times Whate SER |
nee 1T suited their capricious fancy to need |
urse, the only one who ever showed a grain |
Il consideration for the orphan, would some
INES shield her from their impish attacks. |
when she could do SO with safety to herself |
mt she was not permitted to deal with those
larhngs in the only fashion which would have
'een at all likely to bring them to reason AS |
or the elders of the house, Teecie Ray s mo-
1entary presence or the mere menoion of her
anne, was sufficient to rufiie their peace of
mind. What is to be done with that girly,'
nd rl~