The Penn's Grove record., 1885-02-28

making for Mrs. Martyrs birthday.
"Di, my dear" | remarked TO my
self, having no one else TO speak to, and
dearly loving the sound of my own
voice, ''Di, what do you mean to do Z
1t is not like you to care for a few inches
of water and wet feet BERTHE taught
you better than that, you know. No
one is about, and the keepers seldom
come here so here goes ~
And. ungracefully gathering up my
skirts into anything but classic folds
about my knees, L carefully stepped
down upon the stones, singing to my
self ONE quaint Italian words | had
arranged for my own pleasure to the air
of the "Blue Danube" | reached the
middle of the brook, when-I can never
tell how it happened-my foot slipped
aud tumbled headlong INTO the water,
burylng my face IN the ferns and mud,
and making a splash that might have
been heard up at the Hall. When l
tried to recover my feet | found to my
horror that it could not well be done.
An intense pain and an inability to put
one foot to the ground warned me that
my ankle was ~dislocated. There was
nothing for it but to remain where |
was, in the fond hope of some passer-Dy
happening to see me. 1t certainly was
a most awkward predicament in which
to be placed. Here was a young lady,
the goyerness at the Rectory, seated on
a stone some inches in the water Ill the
middle of the brook in Seldene Park.
The intense pain 1 suffered from my
ankle made me feel inclined to cry +;
while the situation was SO absurdly lu-
dicTous that for a moment 1t overcame
all else and | burst into a fit of uncon-
trollable laughter. To my great amaze
ment, | heard the laugh echoed from
behind me, and, turning my head, | met
the gaze of a pair of bright blue eyes,
which were regarding me with a merrl
lnent that was evidently irrepressible.
81 hope you will excuse my joining
in your laugh" said the gentleman,
coming towards me ; shut really | could
not help 1t you looked so funny seated
in the water. May 1 ask if it is your
fav0rite seat ?"
Certainly not" l replied 'but |
cannot well help myself. | have slipped
and sprained my ankle, and cannot
move"
"Oh, [ am so sorryi Do allow me to
help you. | had no idea you were in
pain, or | would not have laughed at
you-that is, if Icould have helped my
SELF" he added, smiling, as he bent
over me, and, before | had any idea
what he was going to do, | found myself
lifted up in a PAIR of strong arms and
carried back to the bank.
Can you stand, do you think 3'' he
asked, as he gently placed me on my
feet, and held me.
con one Leg" l said. "What a di-
lemma to be placed IN What will
Mrs. Martyr think of me ?"
''Think ? What a she think ? You
do not imagine she would suppose you
would ~purpo5aly sprain your ankle, do
your If you viii SIT down here until
[ return, | will run to the Rectory and
tell them, and bring Mr.. Martyrs trap
for you to return in"
Helping me to seat myself on the
grass, my companion assured me he
would lose no time, and left me to my
m%editatiOus. So | occupied myself in
wondering until the sound of voices and
| footsteps gave notice OF the approach
of help. Mr.. and Mis-. Martyr accom-
panied the stranger, the gentlemen car
rying a small gate between them.
"NOw, Miss Cannon, | am sorry you
will return in so undIgniied a manner"
said the Rector but it will be far the
best and easiest for your foot. The car
| riage would have been awkward to get
in and out of, to say nothing of the
shaking over the stones. If you will
let my wife help you to sit down on this,
we will carry you home without giving
you much PAIN
Nor did they but it was very bad
| nevertheless, and l was very glad to lie
ON the sofa and let Mrs. Martyr apply
a cooling lotion TO the swelled ankle.
That accident put a stop to my out
door excursions for a long time, and l
was Ofteu obliged to be left much alone;
at least, [ should say alone as far as the
society of mankind was concerned, for
[ generally had two companions, blood
| hounds of very great value, belonging
to Mr.. Martyr. These dogs took a re-
they were unclaimed would be certain
to find me out.
My captivity was cheered by good ac-
counts of Bertie's Improvement, and
now and then at rare intervals by a
short visit from the gentleman who had
e~xtricated me from my dilemma. His
name was Ross and l had time to
notice, on his first visit of inquiry after
the sprain, what I had been too much
distressed to remark on our first meet
mg-that he VS. exceedingly handsome.
| grew to 0Rijrward to his coming 4;
for with HIM came a vague feeling of
content, which | had never experienced
before In the presence of any one except
BERTHE.
Que day. shall never forget it-Mrs.
| Martyr came to me when l was lying
on the sofa teaching Maud, for [ still
had 10 rest my foot a great deal though
able to walk a little.
"Miss Cannon" she said, 81 want
you to be kind enough to let Maud have
a holiday for the rest of the day. Her
little friends from the Grange have
| driven over to ask her to spend the day
with them, as it is M of their birth
days. | dare say you will not object to
being without such a plague for once"
she added, fondly passing her hand over
the child's head.
The next moment "the plague" had
her arms round my neck, and was
showering her thanks on my face for
my compliance with her mothers re-
quest. In another instant she was off,
with a shout of delight.
81 wish | could induce you to change
your mind ana accompany nay husband
and me tonight. dear Miss Cannon"
said Mrs. Ma tyn, sitting down by me.
"We do not like to leave you for a
whole evening it will be so lonely for
you. Do come to the Selwyns' with usp"
''lndeed | would so much rather not, "
| replied. II do not feel incliued for a
dinner-party. You know how pleased
| always am to avoid one If possible
d siike them SO much. Do not give me
a second thought ; l shall manage to
pass the time very well. You know 1t
is my evening for writing home, and [
must write TO Mrs. FINLEY as well. Oh,
| shall find many things to do ="
II am only afraid you may be lonely, -
said Mrs Martyr. I'VE may not be
home until rather late, for it is a very
long way from .Drayton. By-the-bye,
Won will only have Jane at homa in the