The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-21

pendage to my dressing case.
''Of course [ accepted the invitation,
and in due time turned up at Manibere
Court, diamonds and all. As we drew up
at the gate at the bottom of the short ave-
nue. of lime trees that led to the house [
thought to myself that more likely find
for good family ghost of the white-sheet
and chain-clanking order it had never been
my fortune to come across.
ga gray stone front, with heavily null
lioned windows, brought the picture of
Tappington Hall in the edition of the
Ingoldsby Legends wildly before my
mind. There was something just little
depressing, too, in the wide steps that led
up to the terrace with its moldering balus-
trade, in the utter absence of any bright
color to relieve the monotony-the gardens
being on the other side-and in the dreary
rustling of the lime trees as they bent to
the chilly Autumn breeze.
"Nor was this impression removed on
entering the hall. The present craze for
aesthetic browns and greens had not, of
course, come in. But modern mediavalism
had just been discovered; Pugin was its
prophet, and Mrs. Gore was evidently one
of his most advanced disciples. Old oak
furniture had been collected from various
parts of the country and made to do duty
as family pieces. Ancestral Cores scowled
at you from the paneled walls and armored
figures seemed to threaten one from odd
recesses and corners.
at was quite relief to escape from these
somewhat gloomy surroundings into the
bright morning room looking upon the
gardens, and to receive the cordial welcome
of Mrs. Gore. She was indeed the most
fascinating of hostesses, and withal very
beautiful woman. She had the peculiar
knack of making you feel, after the first
five minutes, as if you had known her all
your life; and though cavilers might pos
sibly find fault with her manner, as being,
perhaps, a trife too ensprcsss, no doubt it
was great deal owing to the freedom of
her colonial bringing-up. Besides, who
could have the heart to criticise when what
ever defect there might be arose from an
anxious, possibly a too-anxious, wish to
please.
80 very glad to see you at last, dear
Miss Carew = as she advanced to meet me.
4 began to be quite afraid that we were
never to know each other. So wrong of
Harry not to have been here to introduce
us, but now that those poor dreadful par
tridges have to be shot [ never see him
from morning till night. Ihave taken you
at your word and put you in the haunted
Vo,, do mind y
"Of course [ did not mind. was posi-
lively delighted, for in those days [ owned
no nerves. don't say that it is so now,
but at that time / was certainl not fanci-
full, and should have regarded the offer of
even night light as personal insult.
''The ghost at Manibere Court had GER
tainly secured one of the best rooms in the
house 1t was comfortable, and even cheer
full, its three windows commanding a fine
view of the gardens and woods backed by
the shire hills. 1t was furnished in a
delightfully."- rococo and altogether mixed
style which would have suficed to set on
edge the teeth of cultured persons of to-
day. The high narrow mantefpieee called
aloud for spindle-shanked chairs and chip
pendale tables, whereas it was evident that
up here only a partial reformation from
utter Philistinism had as yet been effected.
Sundry gaudily covered tablekins cropped
up in highly incorrect but convenient
places, and particularly snug but too ut
terly wrong arm chair stood clothed in a
species of white petticoat beside severely
orthodox carved oak bed.
"'And this is really your dressing room,
explained Mrs. Gore, indicating door
near the fireplace. That absurd Harry
insisted ON your maid being put in there,
lest you should be seized with panic in the
night But if you do not like it you have
only to say so, and I will have her moved.
"'By no means, said. Dear old Pin
fold has been with me so long, from my
childhood in fact, that I think of her com
fort almost before my own, and l know
there is nothing she will like so much as
being near me-
"'As you please: said pretty Mrs. Gore
with just the slightest ghost of shrug,
but if you should change your mind you
have only to tell the housekeeper, and have
her things moved up stairs at once
II need not say that [ did not change
my mind. After spending very happy
evening, l found myself in due course in
my room with Pinfold brushing out my
hair. As our habit was, we were passing
in review the various toilets. Mrs. Cores
dress, of lovely shade of mauve, Just then
come into fashion, had particularly capti-
waited Pinfold's fancy, as, with privileged
few, she had watched us from the gallery,
trooping in to dinner She was, however,
happy in the conviction that none of the
jewelry worn by the other ladies at all
came up to mine.
"'There was nothing that could beat
even your "littlest" cross, Miss Florence,
let alone your whole parure. What will
they say when they see it tomorrow night,
| wonder?'
"'They have seen it, 1 replied: Mr..
Gore made me fetch it down after dinner
"'Well, to be sure, said Pinfold, what
funny thing for a gentleman to do! [
wouldn't have fetched it then, if I had
been you
Mrs. Gore wanted to show it to Lady
Elizabeth Mogg, who is leaving to-mor-
row.
"'And what did she think of it in
quired Pinfold, when she had relieved her
mind by giving few hard tugs at my
hair.
Nothing much [ said, impelled by
the love of teasing the dear old woman
Oh, yes, forgot, Mrs. Gore said it wanted
cleaning. OF course you will think she was
jealous of it.
"'I am sure she was, returned Pinfold
viciously. Perhaps she would like to have
the job herself.
"'She would, I said. She offered to do
them for me tomorrow. She has got
some wonderful new stuff she does her
own with. She is going to give me les
son, so prepare to have all the big stones
dropping out of their settings all over the
place. Pooh, you silly old woman 1t is
all joke, of course; but possibly she was
right, and they really do want cleaning.
But now let's get to bed before the clock
/ Ill O.