Litchfield enquirer., 1875-09-23

| The poor OuccaSt Will soon De deserted by her last friend. She sees the white stockings go farther and farther, and grow smaller and smaller, then suddenly go out like the distant speck of lighthouse. and once more the shock of being only little red-haired girl instead of fairy princess. comes over Nan.
 By this time she is seated in the dusky blue oven, indicated to her as first class.
 She looks daintily round upon the cush- ions. Dust everywhere, invincible, in- evitable.
 The little lady takes out thick green veil, and proceeds to envelop herself in it's folds. Granny had tied it round Nan's head when the parting came, for, "My dear," says the old lady, ''i. will keep you tidy"
 Not for worlds would she hint, what she nevertheless believes to be the case, that there is not skin like her darling's in WestmOreland.
 Aunt Eliza and Laura Church, however, have not been so reticent. and Nan has learnt to know that the green veil may have other uses than to Keep her tidy.
 She is anxious about her first appear ance at the Watts.
 Not very anxious. chiefly caring because of the impression it will produce at Queens Gate.
 Will any one meet her at the station Hum She changes her gloves.
 Is her neck-tie smooth? Pulls out the bows
 Gets nervous. Begins to dread the arrival more than ever.
 After an hour the London life has grown dinner. and Wyatt Hall stands out prominently in her minds eye.
 The train slackens speed. She wildly tears off the vail, gives her hat lurch on one side, and hair-pin falls into her lap.
 She doubles up the veil, staffs it into her pocket, whence long green string protrudes, frantically settles the hat, bursts her glove, and has hard work to be sitting quite calm and composed when the train draws up.
 Calmness and composure thrown away {: no carriage, cart, or wheelbarrow belong ing to the Wyatts is at the station.
 Nan gets out uRassisted, feeling severe ly that her days of princess-ship are over; and she has redeemed her box, and the train IS of again ere any one asks whither she is going
 Suddenly she is taken hold of, in the midst of crowd of laughing voices. [.
 Edie, Deity, Miss Blisset, and one or two children all together explaining, well coming, apolOgising, sorry for their fault. and declaring it was not their fault, in breath.
 The little traveller is bewildered, and | very meek.
 A servant seizes her trunk, her shawl is | drawn from her arm. and her bag is about to follow, but to this she clings.
 "Now, you are ready" says her eldest cousin. 'It is so nice that you are really come at last. Nan. We thought you were going to put us off altogether" People never keep country engage ments," cheerfully suggests the bright eyed Deity, on her other side. ''And you must have hated leaving town just now. But, you know, we did want to see you again so very much" Nan tres to murmur some reply, but she is guiltily conscious that the desire has not been reciprocal How kind they are, these unknown re latiOns How foolish of her to have minded putting on the old grey dress, when they are in brown holland, and wear the most ancient of garden gloves
 Yet how nice they look Edith, a slim, gracious maiden, not hair of whose little orderly head is turned the wrong way; Deity, Anticipated, sparkling. Both SO kind. gentle, and full of soft, lively pratt tie, that she cannot choose but be at her ease with them.
 They ask if she is fond of riding? She may be, but 1t an undeveloped affection. Driving also latent.
 How charming Edith will drive her, Deity will teach her to ride.
 They will have matches at croquet and archery.
 They will do this and do that. Nan be. glns to laugh and look forward.
 ''You must try not to find us dull, :" says Edith. Some people are coming here tomorrow, and Dick comes tonight Then by-and-by there is going to be a bali at one of our neighbours. I am SO glad you will come in for the ball, Man." This is said as they are alighting, and Nan is doing her best not to show anew her quakings at the notion of a formal entry.
 In moment they are dispelled. Deity IS at her side, saying. Come to the school-room first. dear. and have tea. Mother is in her room you need not see her till dinner-time. Miss Blisset gives us tea in the school-room just now"
 Miss Blisset, the rosy, jolly soul of good nature, whose daily excitement it is to preside at this entertainment, politely begs Miss Church will take of her things first, if she feels inclined. Is Miss Church tired?
 Dirty is more properly the word, and Nan owns she is dirty, but will have her tea first.
 So she sits down, and drinking the hot liquid after her drive and her journey, gets a red nose, and is conscious that she is looking her worst.
 'I thought Nan had been pretty" be- gins Edith, when the toilet preparation had taken place, "but I don't know that she is. She looked so pretty at first''
 ''She has a good figure at any rate"
 "I like her." "So do l." "Edie, do you think she will have dress for the ball?" ''Oh yes, of course, dozens
 Mot if she has exhausted them al, you know"
 "Well, if she has, there is plenty of time to get another. or an old one could | be refreshed. That was why mentioned it. and will take care to say more about it tonight"
 "Edie. I suppose we must be in white | tonight"
 "Why tonight? The blue 6atistes will do very we'll"
 "You know Dick likes white, and he does not care for blue"
 "Oh, Dick Yes, suppose we must. l wonder if Dick will be good to Man," "He will never notice her."
 Nan comes down to the drawing-room a different creature. The red nose has dis appeared, and pair of shell.pink cheeks have come in it's stead.
 Edith looks at her cousin in wonder. Lady Wyatt makes the kindest and most unmeaning of speeches. Lord Wyatt fol- lows suit. and then to Nan's amusement she discovers that the room is full of peo- pie.
 The girls had let her infer that they were alone. They had spoken of people who were coming the next day. but had never mentioned any being with them at the time: Then who is this old gentle man Tn the corner, and his counterpart on | the rng2 Who ia that nn &ha aofa Who