The national leader., 1889-04-13


well, auntie, it's this. I'm very
ugly. you know"
'Who said sop inquired the elder
lady, in peppery tone.
Flora laughed outright.
My looking glass. No one else has
ever suggested or ever will suggest
such thing. But 1 have studied my
short. plebeian nose, my little eyes, my
mouth
Hold your tongue, childl' cried
Lady Margaret, aghast to find how
well acquainted her niece was with her
lmperfectlons; and conscious, too, that
she and her sisters had many times
bewailed that Lady Flora's daughter
had not one of her mothers features.
Please, auntie, let me unfold my
plan. Before the lovers Of my money
bags begin to buzz about me 1 want
you to travel with me for little.
Travel, my dearp' doubtfully an
swered Lady Margaret. Pm a sad
coward about going across the water.
There's no water to cross, Aunt
Margaret. just want to go to Stat
fordshire.'
Dear mel Iasl1ed you if you wanted
to live at Rldwell. and you said no.
Pm a tiresome, provoking, trouble
some'-
Have done now and tell me what
you do want
SITS just this: 1 want to find out
what would happen to me if were
poor-I mean with enough to live on,
but not an helress. 1 want to live
near Ridwell Grange with you, and for
nobody to know who we are-just for
a few months, to see what the tenants
are like; and the nail makers homes. ,
My dear, anybody but my doting
self would say you were madl'
But you won't say It, whispered
Flora. And all that evening they sat
like two conspirators arranging their
plans, with bated breath, for leaving
the luxurious home at Terrick and set
ting up in a small furnished house
with two servants, one to be taken with
them, the other hired on the spot.
On dark November evening, about
8 O'Clock, the train drew near the sta
ton, and Flora's eyes had been fixed
with sort Of awe upon several fam
ing, smoking places-the only things
visible in the darkness-where the
ceaseless work of the iron trade was
carried on. She fell into reverie,
wondering how many of the human
beings were working for her, and was
reused by her aunt saying:
Il wonder if the carriage
'Auntie, we must take fly you
know said Flora. deprecatlngly.
Luckily they were alone, but for their
elderly maid. who most unwillingly
connived at this demeaning of her
ladies'. "You are Miss O'Moore. and
1 am your niece of the same name.
We have a modest little income out Of
which we are going to do as much good
as we can.'
Lady Margaret repressed groan.
And I'll be calling your ladyship my
LADY, as sure as my names Martini
mournfully responded the maid.
Get a fly, please. and If all the lug
gage won't 60 on it. send the rest up to
Miss O'Moore. Acacia Cottage. Here's
the full address,
1t was Flora who undertook all the
arrangements. and they were soon lam
ded at the neat little furnished villa
they mad engaged just outside the
town. A tidy Staffordshire woman
opened the door, and cozy fires burned
IN the two little sitting rooms. Lady
Margaret looked round the drawing
room and across the tiny ship of pas
sage, and muttered:
Like dolls hOusel'
'Yes,' said Flora, quickly. so neat
and tidy
After few days things began to
settle down, and Flora made acquaint-
ance of working clergyman's equally
energetic wife. This lady pronounced
the party at Acacia cottage to be evil
IDENTIFY quite respectable, and the girl
intelligent and inclined to be useful.
She also remarked how very plain she
was. Her husband agreed with her,
but softened the observation by we'll
known proverb, Handsome is. etc.
Flora gained her object, and became
acquainted with nail makers. First
she went over her own works under
the condescending guidance of very
vulgar manager to whom a large sal
ary was paid. She appeared to be ex-