Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-17

4
Certainly, my lord"
| And as soon as the general gathering
had dispersed, Mr.. and Mrs Ambrose and
myself accompanied the Bishop to the
school house. Neither the chaplain nor
the rural dean came with us, for which
we were afterwards thankful. l entered
with the Vicar, the Bishop having linger-
ed moment at the door with Mrs. Am
brose to admire the view Of the Southshire
Wolds, with the sea glittering beyond
them in the distance.
Here is the Bishop, come to see the
school, Mrs. Henry" said the Vicar,
blandly.
AS he spoke. he glanced about the
room, to see that all was in order I, not
thinking of the school, was looking at
Mrs. Henry. She flushed crimson and
then turned white to the lips. With a
hasty movement she passed round to the
other side of the great blackboard on
which she had been drawing a map, and
the strange thought came into my head,
us she trying to hide herselfg"
| But the Bishop was in the school by
this time, and the children stood at atten-
ton, and stared at his apron and silk
stockings with round-eyed amazement
He turned to the mistress with civil
! little speech of congratulation. Halfhid-
den behind the board, she swept a
courtesy, but did not raise her eyes; and
| the lower part of her face was covered, as
| if accidentally, by her handkerchief His
lordship walked about among the chill
dren, and the Ambroses were delighted;
but ever as he moved, Mrs. Henry kept be-
hind him.
"Would you like to hear them sing, my
lord?" inquired Mrs. Ambrose, cheer
fully.
What could the Bishop do but say that
| he should like it?
"a short song, please, Mrs Henry"
said the Vicar, as he ranged up to the
| fireplace, where the Bishop stood with his
hands behind him.
Mrs Henry, still on the other side of
the great blackboard, made a sign to the
children, who put their hands behind
them. Hers were quiet as usual, but they
were trembling. The song began; only
some common school melody, but it start
led the Bishop.
God bless mer' he cried, stepping
| forward, and looking round to the black
| board.
Mrs. Henry had not sung ten no es.
| Once started, the children went on by
| themselves, and her voice was silent; but
the Bishop had heard enough.
| Straight round the blackboard he went
with long, eager strides, and i'm another
minute he had his hands on Mrs. Henry's
shoulders, forcing her to look up.
81 knew it," he said emphatically,
while Mrs. Ambrose and and the Vicar
stared, and the children sang on noisily.
He was holding her hand in both of
his now, as if he never meant to let it go
again.
"My lord, you forget" she said, trying
to escape.
"Hester Murray, / remenaberr' was all he
said, but her eyes sank, and the color
came flushing over her face Notwith-
standing the quaint cap and hideous
gown, she looked beautiful then.
Mr.. Ambrose came to his senses first,
and covered the situation. Luckily, the
children had not heard word.
"My lord, should like to have your
opinion on charging the school. We
think of throwing out classroom over
there"
And he pointed vaguely to the other
end, while all the children turned their
heads in the direction indicated, and kept
| them there while the Vicar talked on for
three minutes about alterations OF which
had never before heard word nor have
since.
"Ah," replied the Bishop in a composed
voice, "if you want more accommodation,
it will be best gained there. How does il
look outsider"
And, followed by Mr.. Ambrose, he went
through the door, and / ventured to look
at Mrs. Henry.
She was standing in her place, and max
ing the children form classes as if nothing
had happened Her face betrayed no sign
Of emotion; and when | took Mrs. Am
brose's arm and wished her good after
noon, she replied in her usual voice. The
little scene we had witnessed might have
been dream for all traces it left behind.
/ got Mrs Ambrose out, and was thankful
that the door closed behind us before she
made remark.
any dear, what does it mean ?" she
whispered nervously, as we stood in the
yard
"Never mind; only don't talk about it."
/ replied in the same voice; for the Bish-
Op and the Vicar were coming round the
corner.
81 think you dine at seven, Mr.. AM
brose?" said his lordship serenely.
les, my lolu
"Then / will take little stroll. / have
hardly had enough walking today, and l
should like to see little more Of your
beautiful neighborhood."
Without another word he marched
away down the hill, and few minutes
later we saw his shovel hat going along
the field pathway to the river.
We three went home in silence; but as
we parted at the vicarage gate, Mr.. Am
brosc said, 1--WE always knew that she was
lady"
90, my dear Justin, had forgotten
that" exclaimed his wife, in a relieved
tone. "Then you don't think it anything
improper!"
Heaven knows what terrible things the
poor lady had been imagining during our
silent walk; but the Wears ringing laugh
swept them all away.
Improper! No. It's all right, of
course; only it's no business of ours"
That was quite true; but nevertheless l
could not helpHhinking of it all the time
/ was having my tea, and while ] was
dressing for dinner; for of course l was
going to meet the Bishop. And thought
Of it again later; for as my fly passed the
school-house door, the Bishop, who had
r.trr,od frov, bic ualk Uac