Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-14

and myself on eacn slut. lue uiuHei lasse
much as is usual on such occasions. l, hay
ing to play the guest, directed my converse
tion principally, if not exclusively TO my hos
and hostess. and cannot call to mind that
or any one else once addressed the lady oppo
site. Seeing this, and remembering some
thing that looked like a slight want Of atten
tion to her on coming into the dining-room
l at once concluded that she was the govern
ess Iobserved. however, that she made Al
excellent dinner she seemed to appreciate
both the beef and the tart. as well as glas
Of claret afterwards probably she had hal
no luncheon, or the journey had given her al
| appetite.
! The dinner ended, the ladies retired AM
after the usual port. Mr. kirkbeck and
joined them in the drawing-room. by thi
time, however, a much larger party had as
sembled. Brothers and sisters-ln-law hat
come in from their residences in the neigh
borhood, and several children, with Mis-
Hardwick, their governess, were also intro
duced to me. | saw at once that my suppo
sition MS to the lady in black being the gov
erness was incorrect. After passing the time
necessarily occupied in compllmenting the
children, and saying something to the differ
ent persons to whom l was introduced,
| found myself again engaged in conversation
with the lady of the railway carriage, and a
| the topic of the evening had referred princi
| pally to portrait-painting. she continued the
subject.
"Do you think you could paint my por
trait 2 the lady inquired.
Yes, think | could, if | had the oppor
tunity."
"Now, look at my face well do you think
you should recollect my features :"
"Yes, am sure l should never forget youl
features"
''Of course l might have expected you tc
say that but do you think you could do me
from recollection ?"
We'll, if it be necessary, | will try bui
can't you give me any sittingsY
No quite impossible ; it could not be
1t is said that the print l showed to you be-
fore dinner is like me do you think so 2
Not much, l replied lit has your eX.
preston. If you can give me only one sit
ting, it would be better than none.
"No ; | don't see how it could be-"
The evening being by this time rather far
advanced, and the chamber candles being
brought in, on the plea of being rather tired,
she shook me heartily by the hand, and wish
ed me goodnight. My mysterious acquaint-
ance caused me no small pondering during
the night. | had never been introduced to
her had not seen her speak 20 any one dur
ing the entire evening, not even to wish them
goodnight she got across the country
was an inexplicable mystery. Then, why did
she wish me to paint her from memory, and
why could she not give me even one sitting .
Finding the difficulties of a solution to these
questions rather increased upon me, made
up nv mind to deter further consideration OF
them till breakfast time, when supposed the
matter would receive some calculation.
The breakfast hour came, but with 1t no
lady in black. The breakfast over, we went
to church, came home to luncheon, and so
on through the day, but still no lady, neither
any reference TO her. | then concluded that
she must be some relative, who had gone
away early in the morning to visit another
member OF the family living close by. Twas
much puzzled, however, by no reference
whatever being made to her, and finding no
opportunity of leading any part OF my con-
versation with the family towards the sub
ject, l went to bed the second night more
puzzled than ever. On the servant coming
in in the morning, | ventured to ask him the
name of the lady who dined at the table on
Saturday evening, to which be answered
"A lady, sir? No lady, only Mrs. Kirk
beck. sir
Yes. the lady that sat opposite me dressed
black 2"
in"Perhaps. Miss Hardwick the goyerness,
sir 2"
mo, not Miss Hardwick she came down
afterwards.
NO lady as l see, sir.
"Oh, dear me- yes, the lady dressed III
black that was in the drawing-room when
arrived, before Mr. kirkbeck came home"
The man looked at me with surprise as If
he doubted my sanity, and only answered
Il =-rc- any indv si- and then l..it
The mystery now appeared more impene-
trable than ever. ! thought it over in every
possible aspect but could come to no COLI
clusion upon it. Breakfast was early that
morning, IN order to allow of my catching
the morning train to London. The same
cause also slightly hurried us, and allowed
no time for conversation beyond that having
direct reference to the business that brought
me there so, after arranging to return to
paint the portraits on that day three weeks,
| made my adieus and took my departure for
town.
1t is only necessary for me to refer to my
second visit to that house, in order to state
that was assured most positively, both by
Mr. and Mrs. kirkbeck, that no fourth per-
son dined at the table on Saturday evening
in question. Their recollection WAS clear on
the subject, as they had debated whether
they should ask Miss Hardwick, the govern
ess to take the vacant seat, but had decided
not to do so neither could they recall to
mind any such person as | described III the
whole CIRCLE of their acquaintance.
Some weeks passed. 1t was close upon
Christmas. The light OF short winter day
was drawing to close, and | was seated at
my table, writing letters for the evening
post. NV back was towards the folding-doors
leading into the room in which my visitors
usually waited l had been engaged some
minutes in writing. whea, without hearing or
seeing anything 1 became aware that per-
son had come through the folding-doors, and
was then standing beside me. | turned, and
beheld the lady of the railway carriage.
suppose that my manner indicated that
was somewhat startled, as the lady, after the
usual salutation, said, Pardon me tor dis
turbing you. You did not hear me come in.
Her manner, though it WAS more quiet and
subdued than l had known 1t before, WAS
hardly to be termed grave. still less sorrow
ful. There was change. but 1t was that
kind of change only which may often be OBJ
served from the frank impulsiveness of an IN
teligent young lady, to the composure and
self-possession of that same young lady when
she is either betrothed or has recently be-
come matron. She asked me whether |
had made any attempt at likeness of her.
/ was obliged to confess that / had not. She
regretted 1t much, as she wished one for her
father She had brought an engraving "a
portrait of Lady NJ. A. with her that she
thought would assist Inc. 1t was like the one
she had asked my opinion upon at the house
in Lincolnshire. Ii had always been consld-
cred very like her, and she would leave 1t
with me. Then quitting her hand impress
sively on my ARM she added, "She really
would be most thankful and grateful to me II
would do ii, (and if recollect rightly, she
added) "dS much depended On H. Seeing she
was so much in earnest took up my sketch
book, and by the dim light that was still re-
naming began to make rupld pencil
sketch Of her On observing my doing So
however, instead OF giving me what assist
ance she was able she turned away, under
pretence of looking at the pictures around
the room. occasionally passing from one to
another so as to enable me to catch mo-
mentary glimpse of her features la tins
manner | made two hurried but rather eI-
pressive sketches of her, which being all that
the declining light would allow mo to do, |
shut my book, and she prepared To leave.
This time, instead of the usual ''tiood-morn-
ing" she wished me an mpressiyely pro
nounced "Good-by," firmly holding rather
than shaking my hand while she SAID 1t |
accompanied her to the door, outside oil
which she seemed rather TO fade into the
lhIhntSh tlhl 10 pass lHioubh II. i'' ~
ferred this impression to my own iancy.
| Immediately inquired OF the servant why
she had not announced the visitor to me.
She stated that she was not aware there had
been one. and that any one who had entered
must have done so when she had left the
street-door open about haitian hour rrevlons-
ly, while she went across the road Tor II
moment.
Soon after this occurred, hud to fulfil an
engagement at house near BoswOrth Field,
in Leicestershire. | left town on II Friday,
having sent some pictures, that were too
large to take with me. 10y the luggpge-train IL
week previously, in order that they might he
at the house on my arrival, snd occasion mo
NO loss OF time in waiting Tor them. On get
ting to the house. however. found that they
had not been heard of, and ON lnqulnng nt
the station, it was stated that case similar
to the one | described had passed through
and gone on TO Leicester where 1t probably
still was 1t being Friday, and past the hour
for the post, there was no possibility Oi get
ting letter 10 Leicester before Monday
morning. AZ the luggage office would be
closed there ON Sunday consequently,
could in no case expect the arrival "i the
pictures before the succeeding Tuesday OF