The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-12-06

'sThe gong" said little woman neal
him, getting up with graceful languor from
her chair.
"First bell Who would have thought
it was so late ?" said a tall pretty girl
elbow time does fly sometimes !" The
Doctor in vague way had noticed that
this last speaker had had young mar
whispering to her for the last half hour.
Then, as if by magic, everyone seemed
to disappear They melted away through
the open doorway before his very eyes
Where were they going? To their rooms!
The little Doctor who had been puzzled by
his afternoon tea, an entirely new custom
to him-now grew mildly speculative and
somewhat bewildered. Seeing the signs OF
hesitation that enshrouded him, the Bishop
went up to him and laid his hand upon his
shoulder.
"You will like to go too" he said kindly
"after your long drive" There were no
trains in those days to or from Inchinna
bagga.
"Certainly, my lord" said DR.. Bal
mildlyI "but where ?"
"Why, to your room, said the Bishop
'Ah to be sure" returned the Doctor
Then he shook hands with the Bishop
rather to that good mans surprise, and
would probably have performed the same
ceremony with Mrs. Craik, but she had
disappeared.
The lamps were lighted everywhere, and
tall servant in, powder handed him a
silver candlestick at his bedroom door, to
which haven he had conducted him. In
side, the bedroom FIVE was burning bril-
liantly, and the Doctor sinking into an
armchair gave himself up to thought,
He meant to arrange P.ae-"ech about Dull
cinea's engagement to beWelivered to-mor-
row, but somehow his thoughts wandered.
Evidently they dine earl au6they took
this form at last)-"EvideS sup
pose they thought | did too, d END
ed ON getting something here n
chop now, or even little bit of
ton with my tea-it is long dri
said himself" Not that it mattereS
They had all been kind, most kind
Craik especially. Beautiful woman!
Craik. He was a little, perhaps-we "a
little hungry certainly, hut GOOD nights
rest is better than moal 1r drink and he
had often been hungry before Wien on a
long days tramp, and better ba hungry
and receive such kind reception rs had
been accorded him than-,han-
The fire was splendid. and the wax can
dies burning here and there Were full of
sleepy suggestions. The Doctor reused
himself by an e and spread his hands
over the glowing coals and enjoyed the
glorious hest, aud almost forgot the NUT
ton chop. Z When he had bobbed into the
flames, and recovered himself many times,
it occurred to the little Doctor that another
and final bob might land him in the Gin
ders; SO he pulled himself together and
rose from his chair. He yawned gently.
How quiet the house was! No doubt
everySGG iiais6noSSe anoSe to bed. Had he not
heard say they were gone to
their pr what-after tea-ex-
cept lie was tired, He, too,
would
Tb title gentleman knelt
dow n Hening prayers. He
prayed most slns lGndt t'9a Bishop in
spite of that missing -c.dmly,
with conscience devoN of offence, began
to make preparations fdt his couch. If he
had any doubts about t6e earliness of the
hour, he put it down to an episcopal rule
that all should retire at an appointed time
and so found it good in his eyes. To his
primitive mind "a mind that had never
wandered from strict belief in the Gus
toms of the earlier part of the century,, a
dinner at 7.30 was thing unknown. If
he had heard of any such absurdity he had
forgotten it. AS l have told you, he was
as dead to all innovations that had taken
place since "Sailor Billy was king, as the
babe unborn; and yet it was the sixty-fifth
year of the nineteenth century,
Finally he kicked off his boots and crept
gladly into bed. 1t was bed so comfor4
table that in two minutes he was sound
asleep. He was indeed just entering into
a beatifc dream where his poorest old
widow had received provisions sufficient in
quantity to last her several years, when a
sound rang through the room, driving
sleep affrighted from his eye-lids. Where
had he heard that sound before The
gong! the gongl What morning so
soon
He sprang up in bed and looked vague
ly around him. As he did so the door
opened and servant girl entered the room.
"Eh ?" said the Doctor, staring hard at
her He felt he was at disadvantage in
his nightcap, and could not help wishing
at the moment that the tassel would not
dangle so insanely. He wished, too that
some more intellectual remark had risen to
his lips, but the wish was productive of no
good The young woman stared at him
in return with undisguised wonder, but
from speech she refrained.
"Oh ?" said the Doctor again then, re-
membering that she had refused to make
reply to his monosyllable before, he strug-
gled with himself and added some words to
it. "What is this ?" he said confusedly
"What hour is it? Does his lordship rise
before daylight ?" he bobbed the tassel at
her as he said this. A most confounding
tassel of abnormal stoutness and unparal-
ieiled length. The maid went down hs:';: hsss;.u
it. She drew nearer to the door, and laid
her grasp as precautionary measure upon
the handle.
"Lawks, sir" she said, "whatever are
you lying a-bed for? Dinner will be served
in two minutes"
With that she darted into the corridor
outside, and fled from the "mad gentle
man" to the safe regions below.
"Dinner p repeated the Doctor to him
self, in a dazed tone; and then, "Bless
mel" He had not even time to repent
him of his rash oath as he called to mind
the bare two minutes left him, and spring
ing from his bed he plunged into his
clothes again.
With all the haste he made, however,
he did not succeed in being less than ten
minutes late as he entered the drawing
room. All the other guests were there,
but were fortunately arguing busily over
huge portfolio of Italian views. Mrs.
Craik was standing on the hearth-rug
somewhat apart. With deep blush and
a very distressing countenance the curate
advanced towards her
"Ah, DIR. Ball As l said before, it was
n 1oner driva ,; cold tba Rishon oraciouslV