Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-10


open a door at the end of the passage.
''This is the old day nursery, and there
are two bedrooms communicating with it..
Susan will bring up the children's tea di-
rectlv. Will you ring for anything you
wantt am sorry l cannot wait now, but
! must pour out tea for my father and
Mr.. Hawtry. will come up again by and
by" And she nodded pleasantly and ran
away.
/ looked round the nursery approvingly.
1t was such a charming, Old-fashiOned
room, rather low, perhaps, but with
brown wainscoting. and dark paneled
ceiling, and wooden window-seats, and
though the windows were small, they
were deliciOusly quaint, and they looked
out on the grass terrace and the sun-dial,
and there was the white pony grazing I'M
der the elms, and such a pretty peep of
the park, as | supp sed they called it. An
old black-faced sheep came in sight; l
called Joyce to look at it, and even Reggie
cIapped his dear little hands, and cried
ont. "Ba-ba, ba-ba."
The bedrooms were just as coy and
old-fashiOned as the nursery. The bed
where Joyce and were 10 sleep was hung
with curious blue chintz, and there was
an oak wardrobe that looked black with
age. and curious prints in little black
frames hung round the walls. Reggie's
cot had chintz hanging too. The after
noon sunshine was flooding the room, as
| stood at the window moment. called
to Hannah to admire the view. We were
at the back of the house: there was a
kitchen garden and fruit trees, then
came a deep, narrow lane and cOrn-field,
and beyond lay the sea; / could even
catch sight of a white sail very near the
shore.
/ never saw Hannah 50 excited as she
was when she caught sight of that lane.
She thrust her head out Of the window,
almost Oyerbalancing herself in her eager.
"Why, miss" she exclaimed, there Is
Cherry Tree Lane, and if we could only
see round the cOrner-but those pear-trees
shut it out-we should see Wheeler's
Farm. Isn't it like being at home" her
voice trembling with emotion. Directly
/ had a taste of the salt air, and glimpse
of Squire Hawtry's corn-ields, | felt al
most beside myself" And indeed the
girls honest JOY was good to witness, and
again, as | thought of those sisters crowd
ing out the attics of Wheeler's Farm,
could have found it in my heart to envy
Hannah.
When 1 had taken off the. children's
things we went back to the day nursery.
A frccke-faced country girl was covering
the round table with all sorts IF dainties-
new-laid eggs, fruit, jam, and honey
there seemed no end to the good things.
She nodded to Hannah in a friendly way,
and asked after her health in broad Sus
sex dialect.
"DO you know Susan?" | observed, in
some surprise, as poured out some milk
for the thirsty children.
'She is Il neighbours daughter" replied
Hannah, as she waited on us. Susan
was never much to my taste, but we
learned our samplers together The Null.
lnscs are not our sort" she continued,
with manifest pr Idle. Joseph Mullins
is the village cobblcr, but he is none toa
steady, and father and Molly can't abide
him"
As soon as the children had finished
their tea, ! took them to the window,
where they found plenty to amuse them.
The white pony was still cropping the
grass; here and there was nibbling
nests in the elm-trees; the peacock was
strutting along the terrace, accompanied
by his mate; n pair OF golden-crested
pheasants followed them.
Presently the bay mare was brought
round by n groom, and then Mr.. Hawtry
came out qY,1he, tterFacN MD atood talkisg
q away dMiyou call him Squire Hawtry,
/ u
rode away down the avenue.
De1Hdis mostly called by that name" re-
tIsrnedf Hannah. "He is a gentleman
farmer. and lives ut the Red Farm, down
kp4}AQete way. His mother and sister
used to live with him, but his mother
died two Years ago, and Miss Agnes did
not long Survive her. She was sweet
creature, and very handsome, but she had
been sad invalid the last few years OF
her life"
Poor Mr.. Hawtry! and he is all aloneS"
Quite alone, except for his good old
housclleepcr, Mrs. Cornish; she takes good
care of Mr.. Roger, as she calls him. Folks
say" continued Hannah, somewhat hes
itating, Squire IIawtry has had enough
of loneliness and nursing Miss Agnes, and
that he is looking out fcg wife; he and
Miss Gay are firm friends, and"
Il think Reggie is getting sleepy" OBJ
served, hastily, for Joyce was listening
with all her might, and the old proverb is
true in saying little pitchers have long
ears" besides which, this was gossiping
about other peoples affairs, and Hannah
knew never countenanced gossip; it al
ways seemed to me such a mean and IN
dignitled thing to chatter about those who
were inmates of the house that sheltered
us. We had partallen of their bread and
salt, and 50 they ought to have been sacred
to us. How little oftentimcS the world re-
CARDS the word "houorr' but NObleSSe
ObiigC is a safe motto
hannah took the hint with her usual
good-nature, and went off for the bath
water. The next moment there was a
slight peremptOry tap mt the nursery door,
and before | could answer a tall, elegant
looking woman, dressed in black, en-
tered the room. | rose at once in some
little treptdation; of course it was Mrs.
Markham.
"Good-eveniuS, nurse" she said, In
rather thin, highly pitched voice. II
hope you find yourself comfortable, and
that the children are not tired with the
journey" IL n, without waiting for an
answer, she seated herself lauguidly, and
called to Joyce, Come to me. NV dear; |
am your aunt adelaide; good children al
ways come when they are called
gave 10, &C a slight push, for she was
hanging back in a most unaccountable
way, and yei she was by no means a shy
child, and would be friendly even with
strangers, If she liked their appearance.
thou rlt Mrs Mark ham looked n LITTLE an
noyed at her hesitation, but she controlled
herself, and tried coaXing
wv hat would your mamma say. if you
refused to kiss poor Aunt Adelaide2
Come. that is better" as Joyce advanced
timidly. "Why, what thin, sickly look
ing child it ISL regarding the sweet little
face before her rather critically; al should
hardly have thought" speaking half to
herself, that Violet would have had such
a plain child"
was indignant at this; for every one
thought joyce had lovely little face,
though it was rather too thin and grave.
Excuse me, Mrs. MaUkham,"I observed
hastily, but Joyce IS very forward
child, and understands all that is said be-
fore herr for it was hard that our pet
should meet with such a cold reception.
Mrs. Markham regarded me with q
superCihOus stare; she evidently thought
was taking a liberty with her in veutur-
ing to demonstrate, but took no notice,
and prudeutly restrained myself
I felt, even Mt that first moment. an IN
accountable dislike to Mrs. Markham.
Most people would have pronounced her
very handsome, in spite of her sallow
/ 81