The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-02-22
HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
By ANTHONY TRoLLoPE,
CHAPTER xxx.
Continued. |

man just turned thirty, and was clerk
in the Ecclesiastical Record Otfice in
Somerset House. No doubt the peculiar
nature aud name of the public depart
ment to which he was attached had done
something to recommend him To Miss
Stanbury. Ecclesiastical records were
things greatly to be reverenced in Der
eyes, aud she felG that gentlemen who
handled them and dealt with them
would probably be sedate, gentleman
like, aud conservative. Brooke Burgess,
when she had last seen him, was
inst about to enter upon the duties
of the Office. Then there had come
offence, and she had in truth known
nothing Of him from that day to
this, The visitor was to be at
Exeter on the following Monday, and
very much was done in preparation of
his coming. There was to be dinner
party on that very day, and dinner-par-
ties were not common with Miss Stan
bury. She had, however, explained to
Martha that she intended to put heI
best foot forward. Martha understood
perfectly that Mr.. Brooke Burgess was
to be received as the heir of property
Sir Peter Mancudy, the great Devon
shire chemist, was coming to dinner,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Powell from Haldon,-
people of great distinction in that part
of the county, Mrs. MacHugh. of course;
and equally of courses, Mr.. Gibson.
There was deep discussion between
Miss StanOury aud Martha as to asking
two of the Cliffords, aud Mr.. aud Mrs.
Noel from Doddiscombeleigh Martha
had been very much in favor of having
twelve. Miss Stanbury had declared
that with twelve she must have tive
walters from the greengrocer's, and that
two walters would Oyerpower her own
dOmesticities below stairs. Martha bad
declared that she didn't care about them
any more than if they were puppy dogs.
But Miss Stanbury had been quite firm
against twelve. She had consented to
have ten, for. the sake of artistic ar
rangement at the table: "They should
be panIaloous and petticoats alternate,
you know" she had said to MARTHA
and had therefore asked the CliffOrds.
Bat the CliffOrds could not come, and
then she had declined to make any fur
Their attempt. Indeed new idea had
struck her. Brooke Burgess, her guest,
should sit at one end of the table, and
Mr.. Gibson, the clergyman, at the other.
In this way the proper alienation
would be effected. When Martha heard
this, Martha quite understood the ex-
tent of the good fortune that was In
store for Dorothy. If Mr.. Gibson was to
be welcomed in that way, it could only
be in preparation of his becoming one OF
the family.
And Dorothy herself became aware
that she must make up her mind. 1t
was not so declared to her, but she came
to understand that it was very proba-
BILE that something would occur on the
coming Monday which would require
her to be ready with her answer on that
day. And she was greatly tormented
by feeling that if she could not bring
herself to accept MIR. GibsOn,-should
Mr.. Gibson propose to her, as to which
she continued TO tell herself that the
chance of such thing must be very re-
mote ed,-but that fine should pro-
pose to her, and if she could not accept
him, her aunt ought TO know that il
would be so before the moment came.
But yet she could not bring herself to
proposition were possible.
1t happened that during the week,
on the Saturday, Priscilla came in
TO Exeter. Dorothy met her SIS
ter at the railway station, and then
the two walked together two miles
and back along the Creditor Road.
Aunt Stanbury had consented to
Priscilla coming TO the Close, even
though it was not the day appoint
ed for such visits: but the walk
had been preferred and Dorothy felt
that she would be able to ask
for counsel from the only human being
to whom shecOuld have brought herself
to coDfide the fact that a gentleman was
expected to ask her 10 marry him. But
il was not till they had turned upon
their walk, that she was able to open
her mouth on the subject, even tOj her
sister. Priscilla had been very full of
their own cares at Nuncombe, and had
said much of her determination to leave
the Clock House and to return 10 the re-
tircment # some small cottage. She had
already written to Hugh 10 this effect,
and during their walk had said much Of
her own folly in having consented to
so great change in their mode of life.
AT last Dorothy .struck in with her
story.
Aunt stanbury wants me to make a
change too
what changer" asked Priscilla snx.
iously. =
at is not nay idea, PrisciII, md T
don't think that there can be anyIbira
in il. Indeed, rm sure there isn'ts
don't see how it's possible there shonId
be-"
But what is it, Dolly r.
~ suppose there can't he any harm in
my telling you.'
''Ifi anything concerning yourself,
l should say not. If it concerns Aunt
Stanbury, / dare say she'd rather You
held your tongue"
sit concerns me most" said Dorothy.
She doesn't wan. you to leave her;
does she I"
wei, yes; no. By what she said last,
i shouldn't leav- her at all in that way.
Only In snre it's not possible"
81 am the worst hand in the world,
Dolly, at guessing riddle"