The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-01
woodwork you do, all from nature? Miss

81 am helpless whatever she chooses to
say, John. I can not contradict, because
it is bad manners. / can not help hear
ing; and if l attempt to turn it aside,
Lady Adelaide is sure to make herself
only the more ridiculous; and me toe,
that is the worst of it. People will sup
pose that L am enjoying it! That new
kind of woodwork Why, every creature
does it, and Miss DeBury worked some a
year and ahalf ago."
"What is it?"
"Oh, crewels. You know the thing,
though you don't know the name. That
honegsuckle I did for the little black
chair, that was it. And then about our
flowers, she is really very kind, you
know, in bringing them, and then she is
quite amazed because | put them in
water. How people will laugh at u.s."
| "No they won't. They know her too
we'll"
"Why does she fix upon me? You are
her relation, yet she never annoys you in
the same way"
"You are mistaken. / heard her ex-
alting my knowledge of horses to Mr..
Foster, at the other end OF the dinner
table,"
Your knowledge of horses"
"And advising him to apply to me for
the next hunters he wanted"
"To Mr.. Foster! The Master of Fox
hounds!" .
"Even so"
"John. Poor Johnw
GAY, poor John! don't think any of
your experiences will beat that, my little
Elizabeth"
"No, indeed, but how did you bear it?
Did you not suffocate?"
"Oh dear, no! l took mouthful of
sherry, and bore up very WE'LL"
"But is it not dreadful?'
John shrugged his shoulders.
"It is her way, Lizzie; everybody has
some peculiarity."
"A peculiarity need not be offensive" ="
every true. Do not be offended by
it."
"John I shall take lesson from you.
You are the best John, the most patient
John. the most wonderful John that ever
was made. If had heard that said to
Mr.. Foster, l should have jumped up and
screamed. Oh! you know what | mean.
Of course you never set up for being a
Judge, and to "a man who doesl What
do you suppose he thought?"
Elizabeth was so taken up with her
husbands wrongs that she almost forgot
her own.
| So matters went on. ...
Lady Adelaide, having no CHILDREN Of
her own, took a maternal interest in her
nephew and all who belonged to him.
At least four days in the week the bay
horses trotted through the Cottage gate,
and the kind soul, full of smiles and
presents, sailed into the drawing-room.
The excitement did her all the good ia
the world; but unfortunately, as it raised
her spirits, and stirred up her gentle
sluggish nature, it served also more
prominently to display her defects
"My dear, do tell me about your ser
wants. Are they comforts to you? l
don't mean in the way Of understanding
their duties, and keeping things properly
that, we can all see, is satisfactory; but
are they comforts? So mach depends
upon that ina household; indeed il
does. So told John when we set about
engaging them. We did our best, to be
sure, but it is such a lottery. Ola. at
tached servants are the only ones of any
value" '
"Very true, Aunt Adelaide" said Eliz
abeth, gravely.
"And you are really pretty we'll Off
You will excuse my asking, Lknow, my
dear; for itwas such responsibility.
And so little'experience as you have had
it would have been cruel to have inflict-
ed bad servants upon you."
"llley promise very well, thank you
/ know" continued Elizabeth, with a
twinge OF conscience, "that you took a
great deal Of trouble"
mo trouble in the world, my love. ]
would gladly be Of any use. And as to
the house--a new house, you know
quite untssted; no smoky chimneyst
Bells ringing properly? That's well; Sil
Walter and 1 were talking about the
chimneys last night. told him John
would be sure to let him know; for Of
course it would be Sir Walters place to
put them in order. So mind you tell us
no reverses, my dear."
"And then your calls7" proceeded
Lady Adelaide, starting afresh. "You
keep a book? you are returning them al
lin order?"
"Not book, Indeed, I can get or
without that"
! "Ah, you are so thoughtful, SO clever
But still can assure you that book is
a great help. an absolute necessity
When was bride could never have
got on at all without my visiting book.
"You lived in London, Aunt AIDE
laideT
eyes, my dear, for many years. Sil
. Walter was in the Guards, you know
We had an immense circle of acquaint
: ances."
"And we," said Elizabeth, shave hal
! dozen." N
"Half dozen! More than that, sure
ly. Certainly, we manage to do withou