The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-25

| see you nave IL ready, please"
And she was gone.
Left alone. Henry Collinson uttered VIC
lent and most improper exclamation; then he
took his hat and stick, and went out to walk
up an idea.
CHAPTER II.
AS Collinson was walking at great pace
along Baker street, one Redman caught him
by the shoulder, and begged him, if he con-
templated suicide, to pause and consider.
| You cannot undo it, you KNOW said
Redman; $50 you had better tell me what is
up, and then l will advise you honestly
whether to hang yourself or not.
Redman belonged to the same set as Col
llnson; like him, he was a supporter of
| Woman's Rights; like him he figured at con-
versatons like male dancer in a ballet, and
they were both members of a mutual admira-
ton club. But Redman was not married;
he loved the society of clever women, and
when they were pretty, he invariably fell in
| with them. But it was Platonic love, which
was very Fortunate because the majority of
the ladies who attracted him had husbands
| somewhere.
Rednan and Henry Collinson had been in
innate friends for many years, and had few
secrets from one another; so the latter, in
stead of squashiag the subject in his thoughts
led the talk up to it.
by Jove,' said he, changing is not bad
idea. 1t had not occurred to me-"
| "Come: what is the matter?'
| "Only little domestic trouble about SER
wants and that. Ny wife is so much engaged,
especially since she took up lecturing, and
well, the children are neglected. 1 found
| this morning that their heads are not kept
CLEANUP
| ''Pahv' Get rid of the nurse, to start
withp'
''That is just what my wife said," replied
| Collinson; "and indeed it is the obvious
course. But, confound il! every time I
change a servant-and l am always, at it
now-it is for the worse.''
''Hum! Fact is you want to change the
misss.''
"Redmanv'
pooh! Don't fire up, or shall think
have touched a raw by accident. OF course,
was only trying to be epi-grammatic."
| swell, taken in the sense that it is head
that my household wants, you are right
| enough
"Humv said Redman. 'Let us take
walk in the Park, and don't you speak to me
again until you are spoken to, and perhaps
| may hatch an idea for you. There; stick
that cigar in your mouth, and let it stop in
it,"
Henry Collinson relgously observed his
friends injunction, and was careful not to
disturb the process of incubation; for Red
mans advice, when he did give it was always
practical. 1t came rather quickly this time,
for before the cigars were smoked out he
stopped short and said
Look here! You get nursery govern
ess, a parsons daughter for choice, who has
had little brothers and sisters to look after,
and knows something of household manage
ment. And you put her on good footing at
first, and make your servants understand
that she is to be housekeeper, and that you
| will not stand any nonsense. You will save
her salary and keep In the first month"; and
| your house will be inhabitable, and the chill
| dren kissable."
"Redman, you are a geniusp' cried Collin
son. in delight. II never thought of that;
and yet it seems the most natural plan to
adopt 1 wish you could clench your advice
by conjuring up the right sort of girl for the
situation.
| 81 do not despair of doing that. Our
| friend, Mrs. Noble, has always about a score
of young ladies to get off, and she cannot
make watchmakers of the whole lot. 1 dare
say she will provide the very article you
| want"
''To be sure! Let us go and call on her at
once"
''With all my heart" said Redman; and
they turned towards Kensington, where Mrs.
Noble resided.
"By-the-oy,'' said Collnson, as they walk
| ed along, Il suppose that matchmaking spec
ulatlon is very good as female employment
scheme, but will it ever pay its way?''
'NeverF cried Redman.
$50 1 think" said Collinson; and he regis
tered mental vow that he would not provide
penny of that second five hundred pounds.
His resolution was soon tested, for the lady
| they now called on was one of the principal
| promoters OF the association, and he wanted
her assistance. However, he took the bull
by the horns rather shrewdly, for when Mrs
Noble alluded to the difficulties she had to
contend with they found her busy with
the accounts), he intimated that he never
expected to receive any return for the five
hundred pounds he had already contributed,
but was consoled by rejecting upon the ex-
cellence of the object which his money had
| gene to support, although, indeed, it was
| rather serious matter to him.
| So that instead of asking for mole, Mrs.
Noble thanked him for his past generosity;
| and when he mentioned his present discom-
| fort, and the proposed remedy, entered warm
| ly into the matter. Redman's prognostca-
| ton proved quite correct; amongst her nu-
| merous protegeas there was one who she
thought would fit the position capitally.
| Her father had been naval officer; on his
| death ten years before, his widow had started
| very small school, for very small children;
but falling into bad health, the management
|
ter, who was at present twenty-three and
] an orphan.
/ II have tried to get her some situation in
| large hotel;' said Mrs. Noble, ''but have
failed; so we have fallen upon teiegraphy.
But she would prefer being nursery govern
ess, as she is fond of children and the open
air. She is fairly educated, as women's edu-
cation goes at present, but is not accomplish
| ed and would not do for big children at ALL
| Nay you need not thank me; you will relieve
me OF an anxiety if you take her, for one
thing; and for another, 1 am principal
| cause of your wite's time being so much en-
| gagged. So that it will ease my conscience if
L can help, in any way, to set your domestic
affairs straight. When would you like to see
| Miss Tarrant?'
''As soon as possible" replied Henry Col
linson.
swell, 1t is now halfpast eleven. Will you
call again at three? She will be here then"
"Redman,' said Collinson, when they were
outside the house, ''your ideas are titanic;
you deserve gold medal; I offer you an oys-
ter" So they lunched
Punctually at three, Henry Collinsop re-
turned to Mrs. Mobiles drawing room, where
he found small, placid, selfpossessed young
lady, with nice brown hair, parted, and gath
cred in a knot behind, in the old Greek style,
not fir zzed out, or piled up in any of the
! modern fashions. She was dressed plainly,
but neatly, and though not absolutely pretty,
she had just the pleasant, cheerful kind of
face which children take to. Directly he saw
her, he hoped that she was Miss Tarrant;
and she was.
They soon came to terms, both being con-
tent to abide by Mrs. Mobiles propositions,
and that lady came roundly to the point, as
was her custom.
"And now, when she is to arrive, to-mor-
row?" asked the negotiatress.
swell, demurred Mr.. Collinson, sperhaps
we had better say the day after. Miss Tarrant
would feel more comfortable if my wife knew
of her coming. l suppose l shall see Lucy
this evening?''
eyes, expect 500 replied Mrs. Noble;
''she does not leave for the north till to-mor-
row, and has told Priscilla that she will not
be able to second her motion this evening,
because she must look over the notes for her
lecture"
Every good. Then will tell her of our
arrangements tonight, and with clear day
between, 1 think L shall be able 10 get every-
thing comfortable. There is room which
will make capital school-room, and l think
we will leave the ordering of states and die