Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-22
md launch himself, as it were, upon the

and launch himself, as it were, upon th
world.
But he wrote to the Bishop, nevertht
less, asking for an interview, without stat
ing the object he had in view, and receive
very friendly letter from that dignitar
In return, who, indeed, was very kindl
man, an fond, and most wilfully misun
derstood by Dulcinea The Bishop grant
ed DR.. Ball the desired interview. wit
pleasure, and begged he would come to th
palace early in the ensuing week, not O
business alone, but as guest for day o
two.
On the Monday following, DR.. Ball ros
betimes and having shaved himself will
extra care and donned his best clothes Cob
that he should have to call them so!) b
started for the cathedral town in the heav
lest snow-storm they had known tina
year.
On entering the episcopal drawing-roon
he found there, not only the Bishop ant
his wife, Mrs. Craik, but goodly compa
ny of guests. He was at first bewilderet
by the lights, and the fine small chatter
and the frou-frou of the silken gowns, ant
in his progress up the room fell over seve
came to his senses and a comfortable otto
man close to his hostess-a handsome
woman with great kindly eyes and deli
cious voice.
He saw that she was pouring out tea
and that everyone was drinking. He saw
too, that there was a good deal of cake go
ing about and thin bread and butter, anc
some delicate wafery little things he haG
never seex F.sfrFro. He glanced at the or
molu clo>. 'N nsy piece behint
him, and 49,. - --ssfly six O'Clock
"And very reasonable hour for tea, too, y
he said to himself, complacently, and ate q
good deal more bread and butter, and tolG
himself the tea was excellent. He looked
around him and beamed through his glass
es at the pretty girls in the charming
gowns, and declared them to his heart 8
sight worth seeing. Two or three of them
struck by the benevolence of his smile,
smiled back at him, SO that his satisfaction
was complete.
Then dismal, booming sound came
from the hall. The Doctor started on
hearing it, and nearly dropped his cup Of
Sevres.
s'The gong" said little woman neal
him, getting up with graceful languor from
her chair.
sFirst bell! Who would have thought
it was so late?" said tall pretty girl.
"How time does fly sometimesw The
Doctor in vague way had noticed that this
last speaker had had a young man whis-
perlng 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, and 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 kind
", 'tafter your long drive" There were
no trans in those days to or from Inchinn-
bagga.
Certainly, my lord" said DIR. Ball mild
ly; "but where?"
"Why, to your room," said the Bishop.
.."Ahl to be suro,' returned the Doctor.
Then he shook hands with the Bishop,
rather to that good mans surprise, and
would probably have performed the same
appeared.
The lamps were lighted everywhere, and
a.tall servant in powder handed him sill
which haven he had conducted him. In
liantly, and the Doctor sinking into an arm
chair gave himself up to thought. He
meant to arrange his speech about Dulci.
20 70 ho o1.r ~
row, but somehow his thoughts wander
ed.
evidently they dine early"--(they took
this form at -"Evidently. I suppose
they thought did too, but 1 depended on
getting something here. A mutton chop
now, or even little bit of cold mutton with
my tea-:t is a long drive, as he said him.
SELF" Not that it mattered really. They
had all been kind most kind; Mrs. Craik
Beautiful woman, Mrs. Craik.
He was little, perhaps-well-a little
hungry certainly, but good nights rest is
better than meat or drink; and he had Of
ten been hungry before when on long
days tramp; and better be hungry and re-
ceive such kind reception as had been
accorded him than-than-
The fire was splendid, and the wax can
dies burning here and there were full of
sleepy suggestions. The Doctor reused
himself by an effort and spread his hands
over the glowing Goals and enjoyed the
glorious heat, and almost forgot the mutton
chop. When he, had bobbed nearly
into the flames, and recovered himself
many times, it occurred to the Doctor that
another and a final bob might land him in
the cinders; so he pulled himself together
and rose from his chair. He yawned gent
ly. How quiet the house was! No doubt
was gone to bed. Had he not
heard the Bishop say they were gone to
their rooms, and for what-after tea--ex-
cept for repose? He was tired. He too
would go to bed.
Then the good little gentleman knelt
down and said his evening prayers. He
prayed mostsincerely for the Bishop in spite
Of that missing chop, and calmly, with a
conscience devoid of offence, began to make
for his couch. If he had any
doubts about the 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
a strict belief in the customs of the earlier
part of the century, dinner at 7:30 was a
thing unkonwn. 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-ifth year of the nineteenth GEN.
tury.
Finally he kicked off his boots and crept
gladly into bed. 1t was bed so comfort
able 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 guam
tity to last her several years, when a sound
rang through the room, driving sleep af-
frighted from his eye-lids. Where had he
heard that sound before? The gong! the
gong What ! morning SO soon
He sprang up in bed aud looked vaguely
round him. AS he did so the door opened
and young woman 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-
that she had refused to make
reply to his monosyllable before, he strug.
gled with himself and added some words to