Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-01-18

fast to morrow"
"Ohl of course! Iquite understand" d"
said Miss Herries. with provoking smile.
NOW let me introduce you to Miss
Barlow, my dear. She was Rupert's
governess long ago, and is now staying
with me for few weeks "a great pleas
ure to me-
So Ars. Lorraine talked on, trying to
hide even from herself Miss Herres's
total Responsiveness for. in answer to
this introduction, shs only bowed to me.
and said. "lndeed Ho,g kind of you -
to Mrs. Lorraine. Saunders came in with
fresh tea, which was a help to us. Mrs.
Lorraine said something of regret that
her fathers ill.heallh should have pre-
vented her mother from being able 20
bring her on this first coming to Helms
/ leigh"
"Oh, hanks you were too kind to
think Of asking her bat hanna never
goes anywhere"
A. this moment there entered q good
looking youth OF nineteen, Albert Eliot,
nephow OF Mrs. Lorraine Cor rather of
her husbauD, who was being crammed
for an examination Of some Aind by The
Vicar OF He,msleigh. lie had come OBJ
yiously to inspect h.s future cousin. Mrs.
Lorraine introduced him, and. young as he
was, his masculine presence worked 4
change in Mss IIerries She was quiet,
a'moc' demure in manner bat she was
excited.
"Now, my dear, said Mrs. Lorraine, a
few minutes later, Il will take you to
your room. We dine st half past seven.
and you sill like to rest little"
As the door closed upon them, Albert
planted himself in front Of me and made
a comcal facdol amazemeut and disgust.
That young woman won't le; her eyes
grow rusty for want of use !" he said.
Miss Barlow, Rupert ought to have his
head punched :"
"You will keep Mr.. and Mrs. Carter
waiting for dinner, Albert" replied, as
dscouragingly as could; but in my
heart lelt that agreed with him, and |
wen, at once to my room to dress for
dinner. feeling that could not meet Mrs.
Lorraine. My heart ached for her disap.
pointment. What horrible blindness
could have come over our boy2 what
iulatuation could have made him fall in
love with such $ girl IS this
When I went down to the drawing
room. | found Mrs Lorraine there alone.
She made no remarklabo Miss Herries,
winch in itself sufficiently showed her
disappointment Miss Herries came
down in good time. prettily, though
showily, dressed in white, with black
lace and red ribbons, and looking
undeniably very handsome. The con-
versalion at dinner dragged painfully.
Mrs. Lorraine was chilled and depressed,
ard Miss Herries, though now quite at
her ease. was unfortunate in her subjects.
She was evidently anxious to please, but
her admiration Of the place, her praises
of the room assigned were utterly
tasleless. The only sign of good taste
that she showed was in abstaining OF
talking of Rupert-she never once men
toned him of her own accord, and barely
responded to any accidental allusion TO
him l. was, under the circumstances,
lucky, but It seemed to me unnatural.
During the evening we tried every mag
Unable subject. She was good natured,
and very ready TO talk, apparently
quite unconscious OF her :own deficien-
cies The knowledge of German,
vaunted by Rupert. was the merest
school. girl smattering; her music was
not absolutely bad, but commonplace
and meaningless. She was ready to
profess interest in any subject that Mrs.
Lorraine started, but before bedtime
came, we both knew that the other must
have discovered her to be ill-educated,
unrefned, aud under bred. When we
went up stairs that night, Mrs. Lorraine
stopped at the turning which led to her
own rooms; she could evidently bear no
more. II will say good night here, my
dear" she said; Il am very tired, and
Miss Barlow will kindly see that you
have all you want in your room.' She
said goodnight to me, too. | knew it
meant that she wished to be alone, and
that for the present there was TO be
silence even between her and me.
thought her wise and right-and how l
pilied her
accompanied Miss Herries TO her
room. to see that all was as it should be.
She set down the candle and closed the
door. "Sit down and talk" she said
familiarly. "Put me.up to few things.
You know her well, of course. Shall ]
find her easy to live withP"
"It is difficult to tell beforehand who
will suit each other" | replied, coldly /;
for her easy tone displeased me. "Mrs.
Lorraine is most charming person, and
kindness itself"
"Ralher odd, though. isn't sheP Well
l daresay we shall do very well together;
and with such q lot of US at home. and
so little money, l am thankful TO get
away LIS alwn1s q chnnce hnt