The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15

Roman emperors and Greek philosopher
looking down upon them from above the
bookcases with an air of grave surprise
The Professor was little timid and awk
ward at first, but the younger man soon SCI
him at his case, and when he had received
good deal Of amusing information about
the inhabitants of Lichbury and its neigh
borhood, he thought he might feel his way
towards the subject which he was deter
mined to broach.
81 know very few people in these parts,
he remarked; II have not been here long
and am generally much occupied. But
have a long standing acquaintance with the
Cccils, who l think are also friends Of
yours"
"0h, rather p responded the young man
heartily "Known them all my life. Aw.
fully jolly people-awfully good old chap.
old Cecil And Mrs Cecil-she's awfully
jolly too"
Bob Annesley's vocabulary of adjectives
made up in emphasis what it lacked in
variety.
sAnd Miss Cecil?' the Professor said
II have only been fortunate enough tc
meet her once, but I am told that she is q
singularly beautiful and charming young
lady"
This leading observation elected a some
what less cordial assent from Bob, who
murmured, "Theres no question about
that and locked rather grave for a few
seconds
II was thinking" went on the willy Pro
fessor, ''that | should very much like to
see more of her. her father having been
such an intimate friend of mine in former
years; but | hesitate to ask young people
into my dull house unless | can provide
some sort of amusement for them. Do you
think there would be room for a lawn
tennis court in the garden p
"Oh Lord bless your soul, yesp' ans
wered the young man, rising to the fly most
satisfactorily; "heaps of room. I'll tell you
what-if you'd like me to mark out the
court for you, I'll do it tomorrow with the
greatest of pleasure, and | could make up
four any day that suited you and Miss
Cecil"
Il should be very much obliged to you.
Let me see, you would want another lady,
wouldn't you ?" said the Professor, with
some fear that his accommodating guest
might offer to bring Mrs Harrington.
He was relieved to find that no such in-
discretion was contemplated The young
man said there were the Deans daughters,
or failing in them there was Mrs Green,
the wife of one of his brother officers, who
was first class player and friend of the
Cecils. He could easily get her and her
husband to come, and he was sure the Pro-
fessor would like them.
So far, so good. There would apparently
be no difficulty in bringing the young
people together; and as for the harpy, per-
haps the moment had hardly yet come for
declaring war upon her. In the course of
the few following days the Professor tried
to find out more about this mysterious
lady; but the canons knew nothing of her,
and the canons' wives shifted and said that
she was person whom nobody visited, al
though, upon being pressed, they admitted
there was nothing definite against her.
Possibly, after all, she might prove less
formidable than Mrs. Annesley had sup
posed and the Professor was confirmed in
this hope by the evident admiration with
which Bob regarded Miss Cecil. That
young lady willingly consented to drink
tea and play tennis in the Precincts, and
closer inspection showed that her personal
attractions had been in no way exaggerated
Not only did she possess a quantity of
golden brown hair, and eyes of the darkest
blue, shaded by long curved lashes, but her
features, complexion and figure were all
perfect, and she had an enchanting smile.
If any young man could prefer the vulgar
charms of a Mrs. Harrington to these, he
must be a very extraordinary young man
indeed; and the Professor, watching the
tennis players from his cane arm chair in
the shade, smiled as he thought to himself
that Bob Annesley had none of the out
ward and visible signs of an extraordinary
young man. Furthermore, he noticed
that Annesley and Miss Cecil remained
partners throughout, and though this might
be trivial basis upon which to build con-
clusions, there was surely some significance
in the fact that after each game these two
sauntered away together, leaving Captain
and Mrs Green to entertain their host with
polite conversation.
When play was over for the day, re-
newal of the contest at an early date was
agreed upon, and after three such meetings
the Professor felt justified in despatching a
consolatory note to Mrs, Annesley. II
really think you may make your mind quite
easy" he wrote II have had your boy
and Cecil's girl playing tennis in my garden
several times, and even so inexperienced a
looker-on as myself cannot fail to perceive
that if ever two people were in love with
each other they are The 'harpy have
not yet met, nor am [ likely to do so; but
Captain Green, of your son regiment, tells
me she is what is called a garrison hack
term not known to me, but which take
to mean broadly that she is ready to firt
with all, and is consequently dangerous to
none"
The folly of generalization was one to
which the Professor was fully alive in
dealing with matters of historical interest;
and the question before him being of that
kind. he would have been the first to point
out that. though this lady might not be
dangerous qua garrison hack, there was no
sure ground for assuming that she was
not dangerous qua Mrs. Harrington. Mrs.
Annesley's grateful reply to his letter did
not reach him before he had begun to re-
pent of his haste in communicating with
her.
1t was upon the occasion of an afternoon
party, given by the officers of the 9th
Lapcers, that Canon Stanwick was privi-
legged to make Mrs. Harrington's acquaint-
ance Had he been left to consult his own
inclinations, he would not have been present
at this entertainment, but the Cecils, who
had driven in FROM the country to attend
it, invited themselves to luncheon with
him, and then carried him away by main
force, alleging that it would do him good
to see more of his neighbors. As matter
of fact, however, he was not benefited in
this particular way, for the cathedral dig
nitaries seldom showed themselves at the
barracks, and he searched the mess room
and ante-room in vain for any familiar face
He remained beside the Cecils, and pres
emily accompanied them to the lawn in
front of the building, where some younger
members of the assemblage were playing
n. - al, l., ho,ao a-fl