The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-03-18

wIFE.""THELAw AND THE LADY"
1.-THE NEW MAGDALEN,"
ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER I.--THR ORDER OF THE DISHES.
When Miss Notman assumed the
post of housekeeper in Lady Loring's
service, she was accurately described as
"a competent and respectable person."
and was praised, with perfect truth,
for her incorruptible devotion to the
interests of her employers. On its
weaker side her character was repre-
sented by the wearing of youthful
wig, and the erroneous conviction that
she still possessed fine figure. The
ruling idea in her narrow little mind
was the idea of her own dignity. ANY
offense offered in this direction OPP
pressed her memory for days together,
and found its way outward in speech
to any human being whose attention
Su6 COuuu SeCuro.
At five o'clock on the day which fol.
lowed his introduction to Romayne,
Father Benwell sat drinking his coffee
in the housekeeper's room-to all ap-
pearance as much at his ease as if he had
known Miss hoffman from the remote
days Of her childhood. A new contribu'
tion to the housekeeper's little library
of devotional works lay on the table,
and bore silent witness to the means by
which he had mada those first advances
which had won him his present position.
Miss Notman's sense OF dignity was
doubly fattered. She had priest TO,
guest, and o new book with the rev.
erend gentleman's authoglaph inscribed
on the title-page.
els your coffee to your liking,
Father ??
"a little more sugar if you please"
Miss Notman was proud of her hand,
viewed MS one of the meritorious details
of her figure. She took up the sugar
tongs with suavity and grace; she
dropped the sugar into the cup, with o
youthful pleasure in ministering to the
minor desires of her illustricus guest.
1t is SO good ofyou, Father, to honor
me in this way" she said with the ap-
pearance Of sixteen superinduced upon
the reality of sixty.
Father Benwell was An adept at moral
disguises Of all kinds. On this occasion
he wore the disguise of pastoral sim
plicity.
"I am an idle old man at this hour
of the afternoon" he said. 81 hope ]
am not keeping you from any household
duties ?"
II generally enjoy my duties." Miss
hoffman answered. "To-day they have
not been 80 agreeable as usual it is Q
relief to me to have done with them.
Even my humble position has its
trials."
Persons acquainted with Miss Not
mans character, hearing these words,
would have at once changed the subject.
When she spoke of "her humble posi-
tion." she invariably referred to some
offense offered to her dignity, and she
vas invariably ready to state the griev.
ance at full length. Ignorant of this
popularity Father Benwell committed
o fatal error. He inquired, with court
eous interest, what the housekeepers
"trials" might be.
"Oh, sir, they are beneath your
noticei" said Miss Notman, modestly.
"At the same time, should feel it an
honor to have the benefit of your opin.
ion-I should so like to know that you
did not altogether disapprove of my
conduct, under some provocation. You
see, Father, the whole responsibility oi
ordering the dinners falls on me. And,
when there is company, as there is this
evening, the responsibility is partiou.
larly trying to timid person like my.
self"
"a largo dirner-party, Miss Not
man?"
"Oh, dear, mol Quite the reverse
Only one gentleman-Mr. Eomayne."
Father Benwell set down his cup o.
coffee, half way to his lips. He at ono,
drew the correct conclusion that the in
vitation to Romayne must have beer
given and accepted after he had left tn,
picture gallery. That the object wa
to bring Romayne and Stella together
under circumstances which woult
rapidly improve their acquaintance
was as plain to him as il he had hears
it confessed in SO many words. II h,
had only remained in the gallery h
might have become acquainted with tn
form Of persuasion used to induce
man so unsocial as Romayne to accep
an invitation. ct have myself {,
blame" he thought, bitterly, "for be
ing left in the dark"
Anything wrong with the coffee
Miss Notman asked, anxiously.
He rushed on to his fate. He said
Nothing whatever. Pray go on"
Miss Notman went on.
"You see, Father, Lady Loring wa
unusually particular about the dinne
ON this occasion. She said; Lord Lol
ing reminds me that Mr.. Romayne is
very little eater, and yet very diflicul
to please in what he does eat c
course, consulted my experience, an
suggested exactly the sort of dinns
that was wanted under the circum
stances. wish to do her ladyship til
utmost justice. She made no obje,
tion to the dinner in itself. On III
contrary she complimented me 0
what she was pleased to call my read
invention. But when we came next I
the order in which the dishes were |
be served" Miss hoffman paused
Che middle Of the sentence and shud
dered over the private and poignant re
cOllaetiona which tha ordar ~ th