Daily globe., 1879-06-22

swered, grufiy, "Ask George to come to
me after dinner; / have something to
tell him."
George heard what his godfather had
to say, with a face half angry, half credu-
lous. "It must have been nv wife's sis
ter he said.
Mark laughed scornfully at such de-
tense, and, moreover, stoutly asserted
that it was Mrs. Downes, and not Mrs.
Downes sister. sCome on Thursday,
and see for yourself, Gearge'' '
eff | do, godfather, it will not be be-
am sure to prove you wrong"
Still George thought it singular that
he could not by the most adroit question
ing get from his wife any allusion to
these mysterious visits. At length he
said, emma, will ask for Thursday af-
ternoon, and we will 90 out to Aldbor-
ough Woods, and get the holly and mis-
tletoe for Christmas What do YOU say?''
\ can't go Thursday, George, dear; I
have SO much to do.n
"What have you to do9"
more than can tell you. Is it not
near Christmas, and does not that imply
all sorts of housekeeping duties? But I
will go with you Friday, DEAR
George was little cross at the refusal.
and answered gloomily, 'No; he had lost
| the wish to go now" Then both were
silent, and the evening was not pleasant
one. All the next day he told himself
that he would not 60 and watch bis wife
Thursday; yet when the day came he was
sitting with his godfather at the window.
At the usual hour the carriage arrived.
and Mrs. Downes, with her hair as elab-
orately dressed as if she was going to
state dinner at the bishops palace, ran
down the steps, and was soon driven rap
idly away.
''Well, godfather" he said pleasantly,
'that is Emma, certainly, and she is very
remarkably dressed; but, for all that, T
am sure she has some good reason for
what she IS doing. I believe will wait
until she tells me''
"Don't be such fool, George; 60 and
question your servants
After little reflection, George crossed
to his own house and rang the bell. The
house-lnaid seemed astonished at his ap-
pearance, and when he asked where her
mistress was, said she had not seen her
since she had taken her orders for dinner.
Then George went up to the nursery
''Where is your mistress, Anna"
"Is she not in the parlor, Sir2"
''You know she is not. Where did she
go in the carriage?"
"1ndeed, Sir, it is my business to mind
the children; the mistress knows her
own affairs. without the likes of me med
ding in them''
He turned round impatiently, went
back to Mark Ripon, and got an accu-
: rate description of the house to which he
! had traced Mrs. George; and in half an
hour the half-curious and half-angry
husband stopped at the pretty cottage
All was quiet about it, there was no ap-
pearance of company, it looked almost
deserted in its wlntry garden.
An exceedingly lovely woman, though
evidently in frail and failing health,
opened tie door for him, saying, in an
,, inquiring voice, "You want the signor,
Sar?'
"No, wish to see Mrs. Downes; she is
here, I believer
"Ah, yes; she is here. If you will
|
and tired always"
She pointed to the stairs, and George
went thoughtfully up them. Half way
there was a little landing and a door. and
here he heard strange musical voice
and his wife's merry laugh to its observa-
; ton. It nettled George; he knocked
sharply, and before ap answer could be
given, opened the door and went into
the room.
} ooh, George, how provoking! What
made you come, dear?"
His wife was sitting in all her bridal
finery on a little elevated platform, and
Signor Sarti was putting the last touches
to a very lovely potrait to her.
} II meant it for your Christmas gift,
George, and you have peeped beforehand.
Is not that to bad2''
Indeed it is, Emma" But Emma
!, was almost satisfied with his peeping, so
proudly and lovingly did he take her
, home.
"How did you find me out, George?"
ooh, you are easy to find out, Emma.
Of course knew If you went out in a
carriage, that you got carriage at Nor
rels. But how do you come to know
!, this Frenchman?"
''You think all forei igners are French
men, George He is an Italian, and so is
his beautiful wife. He came from
London to paint my lord bishop and the
, cathedral, and the signora was so much
, better here that he resolved to spend the
winter in Yorkshire, and try and make
enough to take her home to Italy IN the
I spring. My lord asked me to have my
: picture done, and papa paid for it in
order to surprise you. I think, George
; dear, you had better not let papa know
a you have spoiled his SURPRISE
George felt more and more sorry and
Inundated as he looked in the pretty,
!, frank face, and thought how cheerfully,
i after all, she had taken the forestallment
y of her Christmas secret
. II will do as you say, Emma. Has
! the signor plenty Of work2'
"He is painting many of the principal
: ladies in the city The bishop thinks
q very highly of him. Indeed, I have seen
= his lordship there atnearly all my visits. y
George let the subject drop now as
: quickly as possible to Emma; but he
i talked good deal about it-and in no very
good temper-to his godfather. For
a once Mark had no excuse for his suspic-
ions. He was quite awed by the fact
o that he had dared to think wrong of in
G terviews which the bishop had arranged
and honored with his presence.
He had lost faith in his own penetra-
:. ton regarding the sex, and George and
= Emma were quietly at some pains to Gov
> vince him that good and true women are
{ the ru1e and NOT the exceDtiOu