The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-10-26

| information he required relative to the
| average of cleanliness upon the continent,
| Lydia's father was not in the best of
tempers.
FSit up for me-" he said; 81 shall be
in by half-past H."
These were his last words as, the car
| iage having been announced, he hurried
away from the table, stopping for an in
slant at Lyda's side to kiss her hastily
on the top of the head. And Miss Lirri-
pip was left alone in solitary grandeur,
sitting at one end of the dining-room.
She did not stay there long, but went to
the drawing room, whittier she babe
servant bring two candles, which but
dimly lighted the large apartment. Then,
taking her seat at the piano, Lydia began
to play and to sing alternately.
The drawing-room at Bruton street
was like many other London drawing
rooms. 1t occupied the whole of the
first floor of the house, save where in one
corner the staircase assembled, and it was
therefore L-shapcd, the longer arm of the
i having three windows looking out into
the street. and the shorter arm one win
dow looking out over some news in the
rear. Heavy curtains of tapestry hung
between the back and front portions of
the room, but were usually looped up,
and in the back room was the piano, at
which, within the halo of the two
candles, Lydia Lirripip played and
sang
She had considerable knowledge of
music and fine voice, and, wrapped up
in her occupation she started when the
Of h.
servant, who was to her invisible, an
nounced Mr.. Horace Frcake.
Lydia rose and received her visitor
meantime ordering the gas to be lighted
1t was half-past s. Why had he called
at that hour? Why had he not come in
the daytime, while she was so dull,
rather than just when she was singingl
But, upon the whole she was glad to see
Horace, who. no doubt, simply desired
to inquire how she was after the dance
of the previous evening. and had not
been able to do so earlier. AS he be-
traycd, nevertheless. a certain hesitation
in his manner, she led the conversation,
and asked him whether he had cnioyed
Lady Carnaby's ball. lie had, he said,
pretty well; and then there cnsucd a
pause, during which Horace rather
awkwardly took a seat at Lytlia's side on
an ottoman and gazed at the carpet Mr.
Freakc was not altogether stupid, but
even wits often become rather dull when
they are meditating an immediate pro-
posal; and the situation is so trying to
almost every man who finds himself in it.
that it amply excuses the exhibition of
little uneaSiness and nervousness. Mr.
Frcake certainly was nervous, but he
soon recovered himself
Your father is mt the meeting, | sup
pose. Don't you feel it very dull ali by
yourself here, Miss Lirripip!"
"Oh, no, | have been singing; and
all day have been painting
But dull, mean, without society? |
know that do; and have much more
society, | suspect, than You have. Unless
20 out, the evenings, | find, pass very
slowly. | cannot get the excitement of
work. for, of course, one can't paint by
artificial light; and if | try to read, |
generally go to s,ccp o;cr my book
II think. that you must be difficult to
please, Mr.. Frealc. You have lovely
studio, and you ought always to be able
to amusc yourself among such beautiful
80 Wv nav III YOU no'se' ,.,
NO. l doh thlnk mat am dlin-
cut 10 PiT''Se, MISS LlIrlplp' Tor kho"
exactly what want. The fact is that Il
pachelor e%Stcnce IS not suited for
man Oh my leeilngS and sympaihles |
I'VE wrapped up IN my sellIShncsS' ana
lcel my hcart growing colder and colder
every day. | have beautiful things in
my house, but they don't satisfy me. |
"'',.' Nv luz Do"H'l -so,I'c1ninS "lilcil 1
,h;1S, rC"i,iH 6"'G ior ,.C "G ioiSG'e
td i.ae' 5'''.' iii''Nc my iie oolil1Ito
Ne, = WIS ~ .".N u you "oou' 'ni:
''i' ii,pil' 'i''' o'iiic ~ soo W" 'i'i'
o'r"inS
Lydia experienced curious sensation
winch she mad never felt before.
fou Know, suppose, Miss Llrrlpip,
ne continued, what mean. You know
that since l llrst saw yol, three or Tour
years ago, nave loved you. And llor-
ace TOOK Lydias unwilling hand. Can
you. he went on, LEARN to love me!
\