Litchfield enquirer., 1876-02-10

and smartness, Bee. Your untidiness at one time used to annoy me very. muchs but I had rather see even that than this excess of attention to dress. Those slip pers are only fit for ball; at least, for myself, I never wear white ones at Q Tdn- nar party. Of course under white dresses it is different--"'g cu .- .,a .f4
 ''That was exactly what thought, mann ma. Even my bronze ones did not look nice under this dress" ."lei A"'"77 But why wear the dress at all, my dear? You have plenty eff others. and your brother will think we have a house full of people. The best thing you can do is to change it after dinner"
 Bee thinks otherwise. ...
 She was prepared for something of this sort, and perhaps could have been down a little sooner, had she not thought it expe- dient to slid into the dining-room behind the others. a~ q --aLrrE.~= ,s
 They caugh} her 8 moment too soon.
 She has mane up her mind to wear the silver grenadine this evening. F eit4'
 Not without 8 qualm, it is true, trem- ulous shaking of the resolution ere it set tied down: but once fixed, the vibrations only serve to render the resolve more steady. ot ....
 Our pretty Beatrix is, you see, 8 very young lady. .s... ......
 Trifes, questions which will anpear to her of minute importance by and by, now loom before her fancy, mighty as giants.
 Of the world she has seen next to noth- ing. f- ..s..
 A presentation, few weeks uncertain and limited gaities. for which Lady Graeme took her to London hotel, and which neither of them enjoyed in the least; this, with a round of visits at couA- try houses in August and September, 1n- cluding the northern meeting. are all that Bee could point to, if she came to confes- sion about that season." and those house parties to which she so glibly al- ludes in conversation. '"
 She makes the most of it, poor child!
 She skins over the surface of her small experiences so lightly, and prates in the half acquired jargon of Belgravio so clev- erly, that Good Lady Graeme does not half like it, and wonders whether, after all, she was right in undertaking that ex. pedition, which cost her such infinite trou- ble with Sir Charles, and for which the poor baronet had to pay so heavily.
 She had felt 1t at the time to be her du- ty.
 Even now she does not see what else she could have done The children must have their day.
 All the other girlies of her acquaintance are either going through the same or have been so, snd why not her Beatrix?
 Here is Bee shut up for tho winter in an old Scotch country house, where she will see nobody, and be seen by nobody, until perhaps the New Club Ball may stir up Sir Charles to think he would enjoy meet ing his old cronies once more; and they may spend week or so in the rush of en. portant event in Auld Reekie, and that is all .... .....- ....
 Is it fair to her young daughter on the threshold of life?
 For herself, the gentle dame is quite content; her winter months are never dull, but she looks Ut Beatrix. ....s .
 Yes; she is sure, quite sure, that she could have done nothing else, and still
 Why should Bee be so different when see stays out to what she is at home? .e'
 Why should all these little airs and graces be packed up in her travelling trunk to go with her. as regularly. as are her dresses? and why should there be such stock of them both? . ',a e.e
 A morning and evening garment for ev- cry day of the visit, no matter to whom, or for how long; such fuss about her flowers and her ribbons, her hats to match, her gloves to contrast; and such atten- tions exacted from the maid, who rarely fastens button ior her at other times!
 And when, in the drawing-room, there IS creeping over her a somethIngAit is too vague to define. but it IS not real, it is not lnborn-an engrafted tint of artificial ty, that just takes the edge off little Bees attractiveness.
 Even with the Malcolms, whom she has known so long. and the Iathcarts, who are the plainest and quietest of country folks, even before them. the small display goes on; and her mother hears the soft voice take peculiar note, and marks cer- tain turns of phrases, inaations of facts, suppressions, newly-acquired accentua- tions-in truth, a host of petty distortions, which seem even too trivial to think of, but which nevertheless caused her to twist her conscience inside out to see if she can be to blame in any way for it all.
 Of course, whenever there is company at their own old castle it Is the same; but for the last month visitors there have been rare.
 With the exception of poor Miss Will liams's annual visitation, indeed, they have been quite alone.
 Betty has superseded Beatrix altogether in the boys lips; and Betty has been as merry and pleasant and delightful little household spirit as mothers heart could wish to see ..s .- -, ss ... .
 Shn vuoIko and mrlno L R2Al practices diligently every forenoon, and sings to them her sweet simple songs in the evenings: producef rough sketches of the November sunsets, wonders of art in thefamily estimation. and, above all, is great in the boating, the sea fishing, the oyster gathering, durlng those famous low tides which only come in the late au- tumn. r..E
 Macky. the old nurse, demonstrates against the last named amusement--re. monstrates, at least, against Miss Bees being called before seven o'clock, and wandering 50 far and wide in her quest.
 The oysters! Oh ay, she is glad to get the oysters, but they might be had nearer land; her mamma little thinks how far she goes; the waters will be upon her some day; she will catch (expressiye phrase D her death.
 Betty turns deaf ear, and the old wo- mans maunderings go for nothing. =.
 Now they are preparing for the Christ mas party, and already there is change.
 "Why in the world could Arthur not have waited till next week, when those other people are coming, instead of rush. ing down upon us, in this way. and bring ing that Captain Burt, Bluff. Blont, or. whatever his name is. with him? q5f
 Slr Charles does not like being put ont Of his way, and telegraphie messages are not at all in his line; but the sore which chafes him most is. that Arthur demands what he is uncertain of<being able to eom- Ely with, and yet would ill like to refuse --a roe drive for himself and his friend the very day after their arrival. s4ssaau .
 Coming on Monday night with Blont. Not till late. Have hunt for Tuesday,. 2.
 So ran the telegram, and certainly it was a cool one. la 9uttE34ss3..s. 8 : r.
 They knew who Captain Blount was, had heard of him, as one, of Arthur's brother officers, but not a word of his, coming to Castle Graeme till that morn ing. 4T -@< -t -4 4s's 4s9a- @4I