The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-11-10
A BLUNDER.

Wv ak OUT 10 my mouse anu have
breakfast with me some morning."
Such was the invitation given me n
day by Mr.. Robertson, o genial, middle
aged solicitor, to whom I was articled,
in the thriving town of A~bbeyton.
Now, 1 had only been articled for a few
weeks, and what 1 had seen of Mr..
Robertson in business, made me wish to
know him and his in their private life;
hence I was much delighted to have this
opportunity CT gratifying my wish. A
few days afterwards, waking up and
finding a glorious summer sun stream
ing into my room, I speedily decided
that this was just the kind of morning on
which l should accept the invitation to
breakfast at Abbey Grove; and in a few
minutes 1 was on my way thither.
Abbey Grove was situated about two
miles from the town, and consisted of a
small cluster Of villas, built in a prettily
situated spot, which, generations ago,
had formed part of the grounds of an
old abbey. The only remains of this an
cient building, however, were q few
yards of c%rumbling wall, with here and
there vestiges of what at one time had
been traceried windows; these, with
numerous mounds of stones and masonry,
were all that was now left to tell of what
had been there centuries ago. Most of
these mounds were now covered with
grass and shrubs and trees, and thus
formed a delightfully."- secluded retreat,
which the inhabitants of the Abbey Grove
villas enjoyed in common.
The invigorating charms of a. early
walk on a summers morning need no
description. The pure air, the genial
sun, the twittering birds, the sparkling
dew, and soft low breeze, all tend to ex-
hilarate ones spirits and to make the day
pleasanter and happier throughout. All
these experiences were mine on the day
1 write Of. As I approached Abbey
Grove and saw the houses peeping from
out the surrounding trees, l commenced
wondering as to what kind OF q residence
would be occupied by Mr.. Robertson,
how it would be furnished, what kind OF
people his wife and family would be like,
and the kindred things that you specu.
late upon when going to visit a house for
the first time. Last, but by no means
least, as my walk continued, l wondered
what kind of a breakfast there would be,
to appease the appetite stimulated by the
morning breeze.
l walked down the shoit avenue lead
ing to the houses, and then began to
wonder which Of the half-dozen villas l
was bound for. This small community
dispensed with numbers to their houses,
nor did they ever distinguish them by
the ambitious and ridiculous names
which you see stuck up on most
suburban residences. No, nothing
savoring so of the town for this group OF
country residents; they all called their
several houses by the common name OF
Abbey Grove, and the stranger had to
take his chance of having to go to each
of the houses in turn, before he found
the particular one he sought. Fortune
favored me, however, by sending across
nv path a travelling directory in the
shape of the local milkman; and in re-
Spouse to my inquiry as to which house
was Mr.. Robertson's l received the
straightforward reply: "This ere n as
I've list come from, SIR" Walking up
the path l found the door invitingly
open and the housemaid putting the
finishing touches on the bell handle.
master is not down yet, sir" she re-
Piled to my inquiry as to whether he was
at home. which, considering the time Of
day. really appeared an absurd question
10 ASK tuc kiIi, O0t VIC XIV w
use stereotyped phrases under some cir
cumstances. .-l
"Oh, then, 1 will come in and watt
replied. ,
s.What name shall I say, sir?" asked
the girl. ,|
Just tell him Mr.. Brookes has called,
and he will understand"
So saying, the girl showed mo into q
snug little breakfast room, where the sun
beams and the fresh morning air seemed
to be wing with each other as to which
should hold possession Of the room, with
such friendly rivalry were they streaming
through two open French windows,
which opened upon q tastefully arranged
lawn and flower beds outside. While
noticing these things, the housemaid had
gone upstairs to announce me. when
something like the following dialogue
ensued:
please, ma'sm, Mr.. Brookes is down.
stairs"
"Mr. Brookes! Who is he?" VA the
in . muf1ed female voice.
II don't know. ms'am, the maid 70
piled. I've never . him hero be.
fore. But he's . young gentleman, .
says he viii wait till master comes
down." 80
"Whosver can he be, and Whist . be
vnnf. bothering here, q this tine OF