The National tribune., 1881-12-31
THE WHITE LADY OF HlLLBURY.
BY MRS. c. DESPARD.
III

From the moment when she awoke from her
long sleep perfect health seemed to return to the
lady who had fallen in so strange way into the
hands of Lady Montague and her daughter. But
in the lovely ladys form the mind of little
child seemed to dwell and this was what puzzled
them.
During the first few days she was with them
Dr. Griffith came and went; but he would not
see her. He listened to all they had to say,
gave his advice, and went away. When Lady
Montague asked him why he would not see her,
he replied that he was afraid he might alarm
her. "I want her to see only pleasant things at
first" he said; "see cheerful faces, hear charming
sounds"
Whereupon Lady Montague accused him once
more of being poet
Meanwhile their strange and lovely visitor,
who had at first seemed incapable even of con-
nected speech, was learning rapidly. "Say what
you like" said Ellen to DR.. Griffith on one of his
visits II am certain she has intelligence of a
high order"
"She never forgets single thing we tell her."
said Lady Montague. at is really pathetic to
see the efforts she makes to please us. As she
appears not even to remember her own name, we
have given her the name of Theodore, and she
answers to it. She seems to like the sound of it.
] suppose we shall find out her right name some
day"
The Doctor approved the choice of the name.
"She seems like protege of mine as well as
yours" ne said. "But where is she now?"
They brought him to the window of the garden
parlor, and pointed her out moving to and fro
among the plants in glass-house near at hand.
"She is still dressed in white" observed the
Doctor, watching her with attentive scrutiny.
"Yes" said Ellen. ave tried her with
colored dress of mammals, but she appeared un-
easy, so we gave her back her own, which, after
all, suits her best, and am having other dresses
made of the same fashion. 1t is cut like those
Greek dresses that the aesthetic people are raving
about in London just now; and do you know
that her belt is worth a mint Of money? 1t is
studded with jewels?"
limitations, most likely" said the Doctor,
and-unheeding Ellens indignant protest
"What is more important" he sad turning to
Lady Montague, "is our patients state of mind?
Do you think she is satisfied still? Has she
begun to ask questions
"She has not said anything" replied the lady;
cher vocabulary, you know, is not very large
yet. But think she begins to be perplexed."
Il will see and speak to her the next time
come" said DR.. Griffith, taking his leave hur-
riedly.
Theodore was no longer to be seen in the glass
house She had probably entered the long COW
cred passage which connected it with the garden
parlor. Many weeks elapsed before the Doctors
next time of coming. He wrote to Lady Mon
tague in the interval. He was overwhelmed with
work. His patients had chosen to fall i'll in
batch. Should there be any urgent necessity for
his presence at Hillbury, he would make point
of going there; if not he trusted Lady Montague
would excuse him.
Then came news that his work had been too
heavy for him; he was breaking down. Since
the worst cases were in fair way to recovery
and his assistant was careful, he thought of TAX
ing run up to London to recruit himself with
little music and art. On his return he would
make it his first business to call upon Lady
Montague and see for himself what she and Miss
Ellen had made of the White Lady of Hillbury;
for this he informed them was the name their
guest bore in the neighborhood. This latter fact
was known at Hillbury, and had given some
little annoyance to its inmates.
Lady Montague, who was quiet, retiring and
eminently correct in all her ideas-ideas which
had been part of her heritage-could not bear
the thought that, from any cause whatever, she
or hers should be topic of conversation to their
neighbors; and for some time she had tried to
hide the fact that the guest whose beauty and
strangeness made her necessarily subject of re-
mark had come to them in so mysterious man
ner. But such things cannot be hidden. The
story, with many an establishment, was soon
noised abroad, and Lady Montague was put to
the ordeal Of hearing from particular friends
what friends who were not so particular, had
been pleased to say on the subject.
"There are some who will have it that the
poor thing escaped from mad-house," said one
lady in the course of an atternoon-call, prolonged
almost past endurance.
"Oh! but that's not the strangest thing that is