, 1871-05-18


giving to the beautiful lips the occasion
required to finish the sentence demurely
with the words,-'having a decided gift
for the useful in necessitous circumstances,
you sep."
But here Mrs Beaumont interierrd. Il
think we must not waste time. MelaniP,
my maid, will be here directly, Julia. She
aud the man were lef; with the luggage.
Everybody could not come in the ear
yisge. and Melanie knows everything. Do
order chair bed to be put in:c this Dress
ing room; suppose am to have it as
usual. She"-pointiDg to the stranger
'can sleep there. And now what is the
programme How and when aud where
are We TO tell Lord Glaverings What will
he think OF her /: What is she to say =
''He can only think one thing" said
tie stranger ''and as to what l am TO
say, shall say have done it for his
good; aud it is all for his good that l have
done it. But we had bitter know what is
going forward. Is there anything to hap
pen to,night:" :"
This beautiful girl while saying this
was looking at Lady Claveing with eyes
full Of interest, and her pretty mouth had
such clear, courageous way of useri2g
her business.!ike assertions and inquiries
that even the surprised lady found it diff
cult to refuse belief in the young beau'y's
power. But before she could answer Mrs.
Braumont's maid Melanie walked in.
''Oh. you are come T. was exclaim d
generally. Then from Mrs. Beaumont
came rush of word TO her laughter.
Julia. tell us quickly what has been
settled as to these Christmas festivities.
As you said just now, Ihare done It; and
now it must be carried through. Lord
Clavriing must see her soon. Whpns
Hows Where! We have not long to de-
eide in"
''Let chance decide" said the stranger.
NO, no madame" whispered Melanie.
"Well," said Lady Clavering, "fo-day
we have the west wing, where the bache>
Iors' rooms are, almost filed. A dinner
party Of about twenty, and more than a
dozen sleep in the house."
81 shali'not dine with you," said the
Stranger.
"And them" went on Lady Cllveriug,
with smile and sigh, "to morrow is the
usual great hunting meet at Claydown
Cross, and at twelve o'clock tbs poorer
tenantry come for their gifts, money and
meat as usual. You, mother, were to
Irlp me in the entertainment of them.
The women come into the greathall; the
mrn if a6y are here aud not at the meet,
have a glass Of beer outside the door.
There is a great seeing Of the gardens and
a three o. clock tea for the women in the
long conservatory which Joins on to the
orchard house. By the time everybody is
come home and gone home the decoration
nf the great rooms will be finished and
dinner will be ready. The day after to-
NOR ow being Christmas day, we have
our home ball This afternoon is gener-
ally taken up with the school children's
entertainment in the village school rooms.
The teachers come to our ball. Every>
body dances. Ii is necessarily late, be-
Cause the dutirs -and work of the day
make it so. Bm somehow everybody is
ready and the eatableS laid out, and the
dear old respectables from the village get
in as SUI ernumeiies to help the servants
and look on at the fun BY nine O'Clock /;
and then dancing, singing, a childrcn's
play-'The Babes in the Wood it is to
be this year-aciually last till, at the
earliest, two o'clock,in the morning"
81 shall appear at that" said the
stranger decidedly
"And then," continued Lady Ciavef-
ing, "the next day we rest; and the day
after, the twenty all our neigh
Ools, having kep; their Christmas day and
had their rest at home, come to our great
ball. We fill the house with distant
friends. 1t is the business of the day to
receive them. We dine OF eight--as
many as we can collect. The dancers
come about half-past ninei and we have
generally had few tableaux first of all
but don't know bow we shall manage
that this year. am provided with two
The Shorts and GreysOus gave me a re-
hearsal Of them, and they are; very good
Lucy Ashton, and scene from Mary
Queen of Scots in it, where Mary Grey
son looks splendid. But two are not
enough, am afraid" And Lady CIaver-
ing stopped, with helpless look on her
sace.
But her mother was all attention.
"Three would be enough she said, look
ing at the lovely stranger with glance of
inquiry.
Yes" murmured sweet voice, which