The Portland daily press., 1877-03-24


the shock ola novelty, and unfortunately that
vision was only too acute.
Elizabeth could be magnanimous, she could
pardon, but she could never fail to see.
''What would you have?" cried John.
s'She is good-looking and good-tempered, and
never said an unkind word of anyone in her
lite. She is the most popular woman in the
neighborhood."
''Then shall be the most unpopular"
every likely"
seYou won't ask me why? 1t is because
every respect" 80,
$50 you are. l like you best, but you will
find that mine is not the general opinion"
"Most people will like Sir Walter great
deal better than you"
"Tha: is a fact, again."
"Well?'
"Well?"
81 don't care for the opinion of most peo-
ple."
"Neither do II
Sand if everybody in the world were to
say so, they would never convince me that
you were not worth hundred Sir Walters
and"
go on.''
'That am not worth thousand Lady
Adelaides.'
"Ha! halls so I think. But, little one,
clever as you are, there is one thing you cam
not do-and that is, argue"
How came John always to have the best
of it? Chatter as she might, this quick-witted
and high-spirited girl was as devotedly sub
iect to her sober-minded husband as any
wife ever was in this world before.
It was evident she was happy bride.
Contentment beamed in her lively dark
eye; and the ling of her quick firm footstep,
the snatches of song which broke forth at in
tervals through the little house, the pleasure
she took in her pretty possessions, the glory
in her small achievements, all spoke Of the
satisfaction of heart at rest.
Still the dead fly in the ointment was
there, small though it was. That fiy-would
any one have guessed it twas Lady AIDE
lalde.
On the day succeeding that which witness
ed the little ebullition above narrated, Eliza
beth was busy with her hyacinths, when the
barouche from the Priory swept up the
modest drive, and her aunt in February fnrs
and velvet bonnet alighted.
"My dear, came early, know you will
excuse it; how sweet, how delicious this room
is. All from the hyacinths? Yes? Your un-
Gle and hope that you and John-so full of
sun too, charming, quite charming! We
must have some people you know, my dear,
to meet you; and perhaps Thursday, week
take care, my love, the new carpet! water
pot drippings may have paint in them. Oh,
there are drops on the velvet table, too! your
handkerchief? All, yes, quite dry! no harm
done. But my dear, will that day suit you?
No other engagement"
''We have no engagements at all, thank
you.'
''Not yet? no ?really?"
Elizabeth brought one of her glasses into
the ray of sunlight.
The young couple had not been settled in
their new home above fortnight; it was
natural to suppose that their evenings might
be still at liberty.
Nor did Lady Adelaide feel the slightest
degree of establishment. 1t was she who
ought to introduce her niece. twas at their
house Elizabeth must make her first appear
ance, and she had only been waiting for Sir
Walter to recover from his last attack of the
govt to issue her cards. She calculated that
blythe day fixed on he would be well enough
to receive his guests; and though Elizabeth
had been duly waited on by the principal
neighboring families, it was only now that
she might begin to expect the inevitable in
vitations. Thus although she cried "Not yeti
no? really" with all due fervor and impress
siveness, her unmeved co1ntenance betrayed
that she exclaimed by rote.
"May we consider that fixed then, my
dear?"
"Oh, certainly, Aunt Adelain, very happy.
John"
.sYou will ask JohnP Quite right, so right.
Always consult your husbands wishes. And
you will let us know? But you will accept
nothing else for that EVENING"
81 beg your pardon. 1 am sure, know 1
may answer for John; he is always glad to go
say yes at once. was only going to say he
il ont this mornino''
$50 sorry to miss him, but you were the
person came chiefly to see. And you really
say yes? That is charming! then can send
Thomas round at once. So thoughtful of
you, my love, if you are quite sure John will
not mind for of course it does make diff
ference to know. One ought to try to get to-
gether the right people to meet each other.
But how can one if you are unable to fix the
day?" reasoned the lady wisely.
Eyes, certainly, you may depend upon
u.s."
ooh, and Miss Chorley, that charming.
beautiful friend of yours, of course we include
her: or must ought not to write her a
separate invitation? Undoubtedly ought.
You think not? really?"
''She left us this morning, thank you"
"Dear! this morning! Is it possible ?"
Now Anne had arrived on weeks visit,
the week had expired, and she had depa rted
what more could be said2 Anne had her.
self informed Lady Adelaide of the duration
of her stay; and Elizabeth, alive to everything
remembered having heard the same SIS it
possible?" on the subject few days be-
fore.
"Then I need not Wrte?'
Plainly not.
"But we should have been TO glad, so
pleased to have seen her, and of course a
special invitaton-and my dear Elizabeth,
your white satin, you won't mind, will you,
just this once? Sir Walter does like to be old
fashioned, you know, and bride out of
white satin"
"Would be a queen without crown?
Very well, Aunt Adelaide, white satin 1t
shall be; wreath and veil too, I suppose?"
my dear! But you are only in jest. Or
auge-blossom, you know, is quite inadmissi-
BILE except upon the day quite. Your maid
must take it off the dress even. You know
that? yesP And my love, your music you
will bring your music and your drawinins;
some Of those foreign sketches you took last
autumn, so bright and pretty; and-and-"
"Pray, nothing more this time. My music
will bring, but the sketches are on such
very small scale, surely there will be some
one among the guests more fitted t. exhibit
than I?"
"My dear, how can you say so Every one
aumlres Lnem eXceedlnSly-So spirited, so
cleverr'
Elizabeth started, the obnoxious epithet
settled the question; nothing should induce
her to be shown off to her aunt's guests.
But when the time came, Lady Adelaide
was not to be foiled, The portfolio, to be
sure was not at hand, but it existed: and she
could still whisper in audible asdes "Sketches
too, MISUNDERSTANDING Hall absolute
ly amazed. Lord Guelder, quite the best
amateur last season, came on purpose to see
them. / assure you he did. Came all the
way to. Kensington. So accomplished! So
clever"
Orher niece could catch:
"a sweet place, the Cottage; is it not?
And she has made it so pretty, so fresh and
bright. Nice new furniture, birds and flow
ers-quite a genius in arranging flowers
and all the little elegant knick-knacks put
about. Shows such taste in everything"
Or, "Are you a worker, my dear ? You
must get my niece to show you her embroid-
ery-that new kind of work, you know in
woods. All done from nature, assure you,
every stitch of it. What can be the name of
it? Elizabeth, my love, what is the name of
that beautiful woodwork you do all from ma
ture Miss de Bury is longing to see it,
Elizabeth could not forgive her.
81 am helpless whatever she chooses to
say, John. I cannot contradict, because it
10 hoI I ali han