Litchfield enquirer., 1876-02-10

l guaSt, they must look to thelf steel s1si "a. g1 Nothing escapes his eye Little omis- sions and economies which are winked at | by the kind old laird and his gentle dame, had better not be tried before the ram- pant young autocrat, who is the real mas 1 ter of the house while he is in 1t; and Duncan shakes his head with twinkling humorous eyes, as he unfastans the second silver chest, and Macky bustIes up again and again to her linen press and her store-room, thinking, with fond. proud hearts, how they will catch it if every thing is not quite to my lords mind.
 AS for Bee, the telegram put her quite l in futter. There were flowers to be got few as there are in the greenhouse at l present rooms to be arranged; above all, oysters to be brought in from her own reserve bed on the shore
 l Who that had seen Betty Graeme when the tide was out that morning, tucking up her short skirts, putting aside the slippery tangIe, and kneeling on the rocks. while with grave and anxious care she selected her oysters; who that had watch ed her afterwards bearing them, breath less and dripping, homeward- displaying her freight with honest pride at the win- dow where her fatber sat-doing it all for herself because the boys were out, and doing it as well or better than any of them could,-would have dreamt that this dainty apparition at the evening din- ner-table could be one and the same creature?
 No harm, either, in the transformation, if only Beatrix will still be Betty at heart.
 'Ifonly," thinks Lady, Graeme, Ar thur will not begin putting his foolish notions into her head, and if only Captain l~A lNAra n14 Ansr l Blount does let her alone, unexpectedly. unaccountably in the mothers eyes. He has come down to shoot roes and wild duck, and does not in the least heed. Arthuf's fears that he will find the old place dull. nor his insinuations that his sister would have had some girls down to meet them if she had known. Arthur means to be questioned about the sister.
 He would have described her as just out, and awfully run after, which he would have declared was the greatest nuisance, as'he was expected to tool her about everywhere-withw whatever else he SUD- poses likely to enhance her consequence. But his friend does not give him the chance. ...-.... ,.t He has never met Miss Graeme, and | does not in the least care whether she has girls to meet thom or not nor indeed, to | tell the truth, is he so passionately, att tached to Arthur as to be very deeply in- terested in his people at all but he does like wild-duck shooting, and he fancies very much the idea of a roe-drive.
 Sir Charles, however, he is taken with, in spite of himself. In spite of the black watered silk waistcoat and morning trou- | sers too.
 Harry is a sportsman, and he can rev. erence veteran in the craft. All alive and interested now, although he had slept peacefully in his big arm char till the very moment of their arri- val, the laird finds ready listener in his sons friend.
 That message from the keeper restored his equanimity 1; the hunt has been satis- factorlly arranged, and his cares are at rest.
 A ceaseless hum proceeds from the big chair. Beatrix wonders what they can find to say more, when over and over the same well-known names-Henry, Purdie, Westley Richards-recur in the converAa- tion. q sa re.s .-g ....,..- "a agH
 '''I could tell you curious thing, Cap. tain Blount"--A quarter of an hour passes.
 ''I remember something like that, Sir Charles" Another quarter of an hour.
 Ten o'clock, the servants come ill to prayers, and the evening is over. Beatrix sweeps past the stranger with a stately little bend; he starts up and shakes hands, looks round to see how many moro are coming, politely stands while every one is scuf1ing about, and, as they leave the room, sinks into his chair again, with "My uncle had deer forest---" and Bee laughs outright behind the door.
 What a man
 On Arthur, however, his sisters care- ful toilet has not been thrown away.
 He quite approves-he was proud to present her-she has made him capital tea and he and his friend have had warm reception. # a.4. ..t ..
 All is as it should be and accordingly our young mans brow is smooth he pat ronises his mother and pets his sister, good-humouredly regards the boys, who hang on his lips, and gaze into his face and Lady Graeme's heart lightens-she really feels the joy of having her first born by her side her husbands anima- ton exhilarates her spirits, and Captain Blount is viewed through rose-colohred spectacles
 Sheeps-head for breakfast
 Arthur makes the best of it ; supposes, aloud, that it is there out ot compliment to his tastes and puts nearly the half on his own plate. l'tas s' '''
 As he passes to his chair from the side. table, he says to Blount, "You never saw this before ]" and jocosely holds, out the plate.
 Honest Blount answers simply, ''Thank you" and stretches forth his hand to take it.
 Arthur stops short. 'sIti is sheep's-head, Harry. You don't know what sheep's- head is." ...,.t s,,.......' .
 'I am very fond of it-thanks.
 Taken aback, Arthur goes to the side- board for more, and finds that Jack, Tom, and Charlie have swept off the remainder among them. .. ......f -...s.....,.
 This is too bad. Y He loves sheep s-head, and is ashamed of it; and here he has to put up with Gthe shame without the sheep's-head Iseass
 Mamma, why don't.we have break lasts like everybody else? There is noth- ing but fish here-no omelets, nor curry, nor anything T" cries the young man, magni6centlY. ~.t.. ... .... -,....
 Lady Graeme looks down her plentiful board.
 Eggs, scones, rolls, hot cakes, jams, mAI1aAduSs tOOSC, DreaO-anOeDuJteFs 1n abundance the sideboard cold meats, fish, and game; what would the boy have? | She knows better than to argue with him, however: Arthur in this spirit is best let alope--the loss of his sheep's- has rufied his equanimity, and the pleas ant mood of the previous evening is gone. Miserable tea p' he mutters. F"' -.
 To this also she turns deaf ear. | "Bee, why don't NoeG look after things ? I hate to bring anyone here when, every thing is at sixes and sevens. Look at that spoon Duncan doesn't keep the silver fit to be seenal You let everything p go down when I am not here every one does just as they please and papa and mamma never say a word" Do be quiet, Arthur Captain BIount will hear you." aa'E 3a ot'T7a4azE 8af v.... 'I told you I was going to bring him. and-- How was there no hot water in