Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-07-18
Sir Andrews displeasure fell not on him

she thought, if they were positively engaged.
At that suggestion Sir Andrew grew down
right angry. Engaged! he would hear OF
no such thing as an engagement If his
wife did not give her word to refrain from
encouraging Georges nonsense, he would
either send Pennie home, or else forbid his
brother the house--which he should be very |
unwilling to do when the lad was leaving
him 40 soon, whether ever to return God
only knew. There was generally no alter
native then but for Lady Goodwin to yield;
her husband was man of his word, and
not accustomed to threaten unless in earnest. |
George continued to come to Harley |
Street, but he never again had the opportu- |
nifty of private speech with Pennie. She
did not observe any restraint; and if he felt
any, he dissembled it with admirable success.
He was soon very busily engaged in sterner
matters than love e-making, and he seemed
quite happy and at ease in his mind when
he dropped in for talk over what was at
hand. Pcnnie listened to him with kind,
visible interest and spoke of Inn OCCASION
ally to Lady Goodwin when he was not
there. AT these times Lady Goodwin thought
with regret what hopeful little attachment
Sir Andrew was nipping in the bud! She
told the Dame, and the Dame was sympa-
thetic too. But still she agreed with her
son-in-law, that on the verge of war, of long
absence, and of possible final separation, it
was wisest not to form any engagement.
Lady Goodwin could not see it in that light.
She thought it, indeed, the very hour Of all
others when true lovers should plight their
troth. The Dame again demurred-shc did
not quite believe that George and Pcnnie
| were lovers in that sense both were too
cheerful, too open, too easy and friendly be-
fore all the world, to invite that suspicion.
She was sure they would not break their
hearts at parting, either of them though If
time and opportunity had favoursd them, she
did not consider it improbable but that they
might have grown into sensible and per-
manent affection. Lady Goodwin liked to
indulge in more romantic view of her
young friends, and this view of the Danes
did not satisfy her as being just. She as
sured her mother that Pennie, though she
was plain, was fai from commonplace; and
that George was full of spirit, enthusiasm,
aud ardour. The dear old Dame laughed
she could not for the life Of her make hero
and heroine of pair SO oddly contrasted
and so deficient in beauty.
| "My DEAR" said she, 81 think you are
the only person who wishes them to marry.
The notion has not entered Pennies head T;
and ifi has entered Georges it is only in
a vagrant, sort of way, and will be better
gone again"
"We shall see," replied Lady Goodwin !;
and with that safe prediction dropped the
subject.
The Queens speech at the opening OF
Parliament prepared the nation for active
hostiities; and though the ministry still
talked of preserving peace. Februnr,- as
George had said, saw the Guards all on the
move, and London all astir in sympathy
with them. 1t was in the thick dark of a
, very wintery morning that George himself
, marched away--one of q thousand Grena-
diers, few OF whom returned to be greeted
again by the enthusiastic London mob thai
,, gathered to see them off. The Squire ant
a Sir Andrew trudged alongside the lad dowr
. the Strand and over Waterloo Bridge to thu
station. They journeyed to Southampton
: with him, and only shook hands at las
i when he was embarked with his compan,
= on board the Ripon. They watched tn
a ships steam down Southampton Water, am
! then carried home the news that the Guard
:. were fairly under weigh for the East. La
> DIV Goodwin heard the announcement wit
:. = tears. Pennies eyes glittered too, but he
. heart bounded. 81 wish, wish, wisl
= he were one of them!" was her vehement
= !. silent cry. She was thinking of Mr.. linda
70 but both Sir Andrew and his wife fancie
: she was sending prayer after George
The next event that happened in Harle
nj Street was the arrival from the north {
a. CAPTAIN and Mrs. Blake. Captain Blake ha
been appointed to ship in the fleet th'
or was to sail to the Baltic, and he stayed
ID few days there with his wife on his road
no Join at Portsmouth. Everybody did his ar
ry her best to be cheerful; but Pennie discerns
n now, what she had not discerned in George
IF case, that war meant something else besid
N. honour and glory. Mrs. Blake had two i
II, tie children, and expected third in Il
w. summer. She was dispirited and anxiou
he delicate moreover, and a cause OF anxiety
n all who loved her. The Dame would fa
nj have had her go back to Brackenfeld, to
mo taken care OF in her husbands absence; b
nv she would hear of nothing but going in
he lodgings at Southsea, and there awaiting
nie return. She was suffered to have her oy
The way, and the Squire and the Dame accol
mt panied her, to stay with her over the pa
lad ing.
an, On the 2Sth of March came the form
nj Declaration of War with Russia in the ''Lc
zen don Gazette" then on the 2Gth of April
led National Fast-Day, and after that many {
ed. other day of national humiliation and S
vas row. Pennie became a Jealous reader
ust "The Times" She had her own copy;
too Sir Andrews reading of it interfered W
ire hers, and she had not patience to wait III
the it came to her hands after he had done W
yn. it. Lady Goodwin speculated often W
ave ther 1t was interest in George held her
she long every morning over the broad sheet,
he she did not ask; only whenever news
uld him came in letter, she took the first q,
saw opportunity Of telling her. And Pennie
,ple ways received the intelligence with rapt
,rpe tention. In fact, she lent patient ears
rch- anybody who would talk about the W
ned hoping against hope that some day, by cha
now she should hear tidings of Mr. Tindal. I'll
onie was systematic avoidance of his name
sho all the letters she received at this pei
from her mother and Mrs. Wynyard.
no a question she asked was answered; no v
. in she expressed was responded to. But
,ees very carefulness defeated its own end
Ma filling her with vague alarms and NAL
a,,sa he anxiety to learn something Of his VIII