Litchfield enquirer., 1875-09-23

skin, burnt neck, no particular eyes, and a nose that has run of the rails alto gether.
 But, on the other hand, he has a good, set, determined mouth, and the sweetest smile ever seen.
 When Mir. Burnand comes, Nan sees a really handsome man, but they have not been two days in the house before she discovers that she likes ugly faces best.
 What is there about Dick that makes people like him?
 He seldom comes near his sisters, who are stiff and stupid in his presence, and adore him from far.
 Yet when he does come-ah, we'll, it is the old thing over again with our poor little Nan. P
 Edith drives her in the pony carriage; but the thoughts of both are elsewhere. She and Deity play croquet. and Deity wins every game
 Then there is this Augusta.
 Miss Bushe is, as Edith said, a very fine lady, but Nan declines to be put down by her, for all that; and what is more, Augusta in her secret heart is jealous of the bright. popular, merry hearted girl.
 All Mans regrets, and remembrances of Queens Gate. are plotted out now,
 The present week, day, hour, is every thing. Laura Church's letter, with the long accounts of gaities for which Nan had begged. and which it had really cost an effort of good nature to write-that very letter lies half read in her drawer. Some day she will wade through it,-not now.
 Dick was talking to her when the post came in, and the letter drove him away. you see. She has a spite against it.
 Not word, look, nor outward sign of mischief done. does the tough little crea- ture give. Disgraced she may be in her own eyes, but it is something to know that she is unsuspected. Her secret is her own. Hide it, cover it up, bury it we'll, little girl. Other hearts than yours have done the like in their day.
 Dick is not behaving well, however. It is not for nothing that those grey wistful eyes watch the empty chairs at the break fast or the luncheon table. Several times he has gone over to sit beside her, whether Intentionally or not she cannot guess; but they talk together all the time, and she is quite at her ease with him.
 This IS nothing, of course; but Dick has no need to follow them out afterwards, and walk up and down with this cousin, till he makes her late for their drive, and draws forth Q remark on it from Augusta Bushe.
 And then that delightful long Sunday evening, when he sat with them all in the recess, talking over old times, and retail ing childish stories, which Edith and Det- ty had forgotten. He is by Mans side, so perhaps that is why he speaks principally to her. Next morning he goes away to the other end of the breakfast table. and never utters word.
 To his own friends he is devoted. They go about together all day long, four neu- tral- tinted figures. Now and then little Lord Hsfton con- descends to lie on the croquet ground in the heat of the day, and Pax Burnand contriyes to slip in to the schoolroom tea afterwards; but Dick, if he comes at all, takes his cup standing. and then goes of, perchance, to romp with his little sisters. He does this one day at least, and it is on the only day that Nan had been let off She IS very good to the little ones. who torment her sadly, and all unconsciously. For who was so good as Nan at all their games, and who can tell them wild and wonderful tales like hers? That very | morning she had spent an hour in blow ing paper ladies across the table for Flo. Dick had come in, and for few seconds | she fondly hoped he meant to stay: but he had only looked, laughed, and lounged out again.
 Then what follows this very evening? He comes out to Nan, who is sitting lonely and forlorn in the recess, brings his photograph book, and shows her the whole collection.
 Nan fDds them charming, and Dick is | pleased to explain to such an enthusiastic listener. He has some more upstairs, and goes In search of them. While he is away. Augusta comes out. Of course, Miss Bushe would like to see the beautiful photographs. Mir. Wyatt | accordingly hands her the book they have just gone through, and proceeds to show Nan the fresh ones. This Is too much, and not at all what the intruder bargained for. She looks at the two, and hounces back | into the drawing-room. It gets too dark to see, so Dick promi- ses to keep the rest for tomorrow. He and Nan are talking together, with one lying on her lap. s9t
 By-and-by the drawlng-room door opens and shower of people emerge. They are going out of doors to get cool. "Bnt we shan't interrupt you," says Augusta, graciously.
 The girls put on shawls.
 'You don't need one, says Dick, ris- ing; and Nan finds herself walking of alone with him. It is too bad of Dick. All that night the child thinks or dreams of him. She cannot forget the look he gave her for "Good-night," nor help won- dering if it meant anything like Edith's audible murmur, "How pretty Nan looks tonight"
 Tossing up and down, over and over. | in the short, light, midsummer night that follows, these words ding-dong in her ears.
 She does not wonder at the sisters now. for what Dick thinks is still more to her than to them.
 Recklessly she puts on her best dresses, anxiously she stares in the glass. Nothing much to boast of, the morning after that dusky ramble. Large bright eyes, and cheeks burning with a feverish flush. these are what she sees, but what of that? They cannot betray her, and very. very quietly the slight graceful fig ure giides iu, and very. very circumspect IS Nan m her questions and answers that morning. s......
 It is one of the hottest days in the year, and she is in white, with rose in her bosom.
 Dick looks at it. walks over, and sits down beside her.
 It is so hot that the expedition to the ruins has been nearly given up. and would have been so; without doubt, if the Dents had not agreed to be there.
 The Dents will drive, the Wyatts will row up the river.
 Nan held her breath while the discus sion was being held, she was so fearful that Lady Wyatt should carry her point. | Lady Wyatt thinks the girls will tire themselves out. and that the picnic is a foolish affair. a@-ts -
 But Nan thinks otherwise; and accord ingiy the extravagant little creature goes in her white frock, and gets it all dirty and trodden upon, and does not care in the least-or rather rejoices in her ruins since Dick takes out his own breastpin