Litchfield enquirer., 1878-07-11
waist. have been ?"


 Every one seized a piece of the tucker. l "Carry, think it's beGutiful," " said small voice, in accents that had not been heard be- l fore and little Nelly Bertram, who had been altogether swamped in hoops and flounces hitherto, was now visible sitting on stool | among the geraniums, with her hands folded in her lap. ''I saw one like it in London last week, !" continued the child; land think it was in the British Museum. It was in some museum, know. Why don't you send this gown to the British Museum too?" ''tOh! what good idea of Nelly's!" cried one. s.Send it, by all means, Car Say you | found it wrapped round a Pharaoh and in high preservation. A few bones inserted down the sleeve would make the illusion complete
 ''Tom would do that for you" suggested Bessie. who had aroguish brother. q say, Garry, do let Tom see it, and see you in it. You might-just for once" .... Nonsense" said Carry, shortly. ''Oh, do. Tom admires you vastly, as you very we'll know, and he will take your picture 1 in it. if you will sit to him. wish you would l it would be quite a curieslty."
 'sNo doubt of that! a'3 .'-" ,. ''Others, however, took up the cry, and she l was unmercifully urged. She grew peevlsh, | she certainly would do nothing of the kind 1 but if any one of the others was ambitious of sitting for her portrait in the antiquated robe, she should be made heartily welcome to it, for l the occasion. ..-........ ... Then began the excuses.
 '1t would be different for me- with my fair hair; but you dark people can wear anything | you please" alleged pretty little milk-and- water blonde done up in pale blue. ''And don't affect white, either," said an other, of sallow complexion.
 ''Tm too tall for anything outre," said Bes- sic. ''That is to say,' seeing her mistake, for | Mrs. Brand overtopped her by an inch and more, considering that have nospecial good looks to fall back upon"
 'It is world too wide for me-" thought a sylph, who was strapped in until her figure re- sembled an hour-glass.
 ''Take my advice. Car, and make it over to your maid, ]" suggested the affected Selina, who had before promised to- faint, and now meant to be thought exceedingly fine. ,.. | "1ndeed l shall do no such thing" retorted Carry, for once reused by so base proposal 'It is very great deal too good for her. If it is old-fashioned, it is a splendid brocade !; and wonder what Mir. Oldham would say if he knew had given away his mothers gown to servant"
 (Ay! What would Mr. Oldham have said l His eyes had opened at the suggestion.)
 "Well then, dear, I'll tell you what to do, /" nodded the hour glass, seriously. 'Make an ottoman of it. Whenever we have any work or material that we are puzzled what to do with, devise an ottoman. They always look well, you know, and fill up room Besides, people like to sit on ottomans; every shy per- son pokes about in search of humble, inof- fensive seat, and he is sure to seize upon an ottoman, if he possibly can One does not even take up the whole of it Oh, there is no doubt the vocation of this dear old gown is to be an | ottoman!' ....., lr.. ..r.... .. ..t. l SGEUbvr lao bo1 of Try curtains" said Bessie.
 But the ingenious ottoman-projector was not to be foiled.
 ''An ottoman is such an easy thing to have made, 7" she said, "Any one can make some kind or other. Your own carpenter would have it ready in a day. Make two, if there is enough material. We have ours always made to open, and they are delightful perfect abys- ses of rubbish !''
 The abysses of rubbish carried the day, and the garment was doomed
 ''It would be so nice, really, to asse It," said Carry, ''that I don't think even Mr. Oldham would object"
 Gle did, but then was neither the time nor place to do so.) -.s
 Accordingly, seeing the discussion was at end, and as it was unlikely that the sentence would be carried into immediate execution, bided my time for expestulation, and was just turning away when there was f1utter aud stir in the midst of the small assembly. A cane was tapping at the low window, and there, behold! black head and Turkish feZ.
 Captain Thorne It's Captain Thorne p Uttered the girls.
 ''Oh, hide me, dears l" cried tLe hostess.
 "Run upstairs Duck P exhorted one, mov- ing towards the window with very evident in tentions of opening it.
 "Pray don't, yet-rrGy den't," besought Carry.
 ''He'll think it odd, won't he, if we take nc notice" replied the other. He wants us tc come out am sure. See he is climbing up now. Slip out by the side door, and we will stand between you and the window.
 Carry bounded towards the recess discover. en me, and stood still, confounded.
 "Dear MT. Oldham, you have been here all this time listening to-te our silly ,talk?" ...
 ''Even so, my dear, and it has entertained me much. We will discuss it another time but come I must now assist your escape. Get away as fast as you can, for observe the Cap. tain's head and shoulders are already halfway through the window"
 Away she flew, too much futtered to attemp, another word ; and speedily followed, for the knickerbockers and heather mixture stockings of Captain Thorne were now following theil owners upper story into the room land, thought l, ''when one silly young man is the centre of attraction to dozen silly young wo men the case is worse than any l know, un less for young you read old"
 All this happened on bright summer day, and we were in the glorious Highlands, sur. I rounded by blue waters blue mountains, blue skies felt drawn to solitary ramble. Re sisting, therefore, every entreaty to join the T riding and boating parties, vanished from among them, but little regretted, no doubt.
 It was six o'clock when, on my return, 1 sanh down into the depths of a soft armchair, be- side an open window which fronted the golder western sunshine, and proceeded to enjoy a delightful hour of rest and Elias Essays. Tax. ing fright, however, after some length of time, that should for the one-and- twentieth time be late for dinner, resolved neither again tc look at my watch nor begin another tempting chapter, but commence at once the tedious task of dressing. It was not until this was complete, until the we'll worn luxuriously easy garments were one and all donned, that ven. tured to pause, and found, with satisfaction that for once in my life might have the cred it of descending to the drawng-ro0m in really | good time. To the drawing room, therefore 1 went, and behold !! it was empty,-I was tn. first l fancied I could eAen detect, as wait ed a moment in the hall, subdued shuttle O feet across the passage, as of some of the eX cursionists returning, anxious to slip to thei | CuehHlDCIS uuOUcCIVCO. ud0 pduSCu HI Illt hall to enjoy the first brilliancy of the sunset and the next conner did the same, as she speed ly made me aware. tt
 ..You here :" exclaimed Miss Car, as sh streamed in, all muslin, lace, and sweet-smell ing blossoms. '1 thought wasready so soon was standing in the hall to look at the view l What pity that this window does not lool out on the sea! It seems as if the one idea o the people who built these old houses, was t' exclude every possibility of a view from all thu ; principal rooms P } She then paused, and it seemed as if as ide, had occurred to her
 ssBy the way, meant to speak to you" sh said, with something of an effort. s1 was s' yexed about it. I don't know what you mus have thought of us, We were only in joke , you know. That is-you see-that is , Listeners never hear any good of them } selves, of course, my dear. But with the. ex ception of my bald pate, which got rap iron Miss Bessie believe, don't know that hav