The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-08-16
No. BIB.

ed no contradiction. Noddy knew that
and what is more, that her step-mother
knew it too. The mistake of women's dis
putes i'll their prediction for hanging -
quarrel on any peg but the right one. Had
Mrs. Mueller confined herself to SAYING
she hated Noddy, and always had done SO.
she would have been completely justified,
and would have succeeded in making her
victim cry.
The 7.15 train set Noddy down at lit
tie country station, in the middle of the
New Forest, amid a wilderness of tree
beauty, with no other habitation in sight
for miles than the station-master's house
and the long red roofs of Lyndhurst Union
peering out from the distant green. The
air was scented with flowers, and musical
with bird%oices, and the golden evening:
haze lay on all the sombre trees, and burn
ed them into red misty glory. A few
minutes, and shaggy pony became visible
drawing small phaeton out of the forest
shade. The man drove up, and asked for
Miss Cray
"No luggage, mum, l think? No. Per-
haps you won't mind sittin' by me. The
road is roughish, and the front seat is more
springy."
So Noddy perched herself beside the
coachman, and the shaggy pony began a
shufflng sort of running trot, and the scar
riage" began to glide and bump over the
grassy forest-path.
Glow far is Pinewood ?" Noddy inquir-
ed.
GA matter of five mile, mum,-miss, I
should say,-"but the road is q rum un.'
So it seemed. Over humps and bumps
m the lawny way, and the forest-path twist
ing and winding about among the majestic
trees the wheels singing pleasantly on the
grass, grating stone here and there, or
going over bough yonder, but the pony
shuffied along over everything with hap
py see-saw swaying of his head.
care they at home?"
| es'm, -leastways, miss"
"Who did you say your master was2''
Noddy wanted to know something of the
folks she was going to- e.N
81 didn't say he was no one, did Ip He
thought this too sharp, however for he
added, "He's the govenor,-that's what he
is"
"And the child ?" asked Noddy a lit
tie rebuffed. ga girl, suppose ?"
The coachman looked at her severely.
"No," he said, doggedly; ;'"it amt girl.
Come up Peg, can't you p' the last re-
mark being addressed in surly tone to
the pony.
1t was getting dusk when Noddy ar
rived. She was shown into spacious room
comfortably furnished, but plenty of room
to walk about.
The windows looked out on the billowy
forest, now fading into purple gloom, all
save the nearer trees, which stood in a
silhouette of black lackwork against the
twilight sky. Presently, an ole lady in
black silk entered the room. Not the lady
of the house, Noddy judged, more like q
motherly housekeeper than that but there
was comfortable smile on her face as she
said, "Miss Cray, believe,-in answer to
the letter? viii you follow me, my dear?''
Noddy followed her out of the room,
and along cool white hall, to door. The
old lady knocked. "My master is within
please to enter"
Master thought Noddy, and trembled at
the prospect of the approaching ordeal ; but
the housekeeper had opened the door, and
Noddy had to go in. The room was larger
than the other; it was also darker,
inasmuch as the blinds were halfway down
and no lights to enliven the gloom. Noddy
could only distinguish dimly the figure of
man, in great chintz-coyered easy-chair
at the far end of the room. She judged
him to be elderly by his reclining as if with
gout, his legs making two great bolster like
parcels in front of him. The hair that
strayed out beneath his velvet slx,ill-cap
appeared white, and he addressed her in
q slow voice Of some firmness. I" Be seated
Miss Cray, if you please"
Nora took n seat f