Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-13
+ opened It at once to show that /
did not think it Of any consequence. 1t

+ opened It at once to show that 1
did not think it Of any consequence. It
only said:
"DEAR MISS CHRIsT1E-My sisters md
sS to %
de s part, e., II YOU would not mind, .ill
"Yours sincerely. LAURENCE REApE.
I think was little disappointed in
the note; but it was all the better, as
could repeat in quite careless way
what it said; and then, just as I was
wondering whether 1 should tear it up
to show that did not care, saw that
there was something written on the in
side leaf, and I put it back into the en-
velope as if I did not notice what was
doing. and slipped it into my pocket:
Dinner was long that day; when it
drew out my letter again. The words
on the inside leaf were:
"Why were you so unkind on Sun
dayP"
I had no way of sending back an
answer; could only wait till next day
at a quarter past two. But think
could have sung through the lessons
like the heroine of an opera that after
noon.
had not thought it necessary to
mention to Mr.. Rayner the time at
which Mr.. Reade had said he should
bring the work; at a quarter past two
we were always i'll the drawing-room
all together. But the next day, the
day of all others when it was import
ant that should stay and hear the
explanations about the work 1 had to
do, Mrs. Rayner asked me, directly
after dinner, if I would mind writing
some letters for her, to 20 by that
afternoons post. should have sat
down to write them in the drawing
room, but Mrs. Rayner said:
You would like to be undisturbed,
know. Shall l send your coffee to
your room or the school-r ,om?"
said "to my room, if you please"
and went up stairs trying to swallow
the lump in my throat.
had got through one stupid letter.
they were not at all important-when
there was knock at the door, and
Jane came in, giggling and excited.
"Oh, miss, I've brought you par
and she laughed delightedly. II an
Reade on his horse with this; and he
said, take it to the school room,
please; it's for Miss Christie;' and then
he got off, and 1 showed him into the
drawing-room. And saw you wasn't
in there, nor yet in the schooi-room.
So. when l got into the hall, thinks l,
I'll be beforehand with old Sally this
timer when out she comes and says,
give that to me. I'll give it to Miss
Christie Never mind says I, half
way up the stairs-'don't you trouble. ,
And she made grab at me, but I was
too quick for her. and up run; and
here it is, miss"
And she slapped the parcel down
upon the table triumphantly.
Thank you, Jane" l said quietly.
cit is only some work for the church
from Miss Reade."
James face fell little; and then, as
if struck by a fresh thought. she gig
gled again. 1 cut the string and
opened the parcel to prove the truth of
my words, and showed her the red
flannel and the wheat-cars, which were
to be sown on in letters to form a text.
But in the middle was another note,
and q box wrapped up in paper, both
directed to "Nliss Christie;" and at
sight of these little James delight grew
irrepressible again.
81 knew it!' she began; but stopped
herself and said: II beg your pardon,
MISS" and left the room very de-
murely.
But heard another burst Of merri-
ment as she ran down stairs. Then
opened the note; it only said:
DEAR MISS CHRIsTIE-I take the liberty OF
| sending you few late roses from a tree in a
| sheltered corner where the rain can not
mot sGne ses w So1 VIII ea
fetch the the text II you win a let me know when
LAT RENEE READE."
The roses were in a cigar-box, and
as long as they lasted they never smelt
of any thing but tobacco; but began
to think that perfume nicer than their
| own.
. was so happy that evening that
was glad when Mr.. Rayner asked me
| to accompany his violin. 1t was half
after ten before we ceased playing the
passionate and sweet music he had Sc
1ected from III Trovatore" and similar
operas.
When we had finished, Mr.. Rayne,
put down his violin, and, drawing q
chair close to my musio-stool, ran his
fingers over the keys of the piano.
l. 'Do you know the words? Vio che
sapete che cos eamore,' he sung softly.
"Do you know what that means?"
'Oh, yes!" said I, rather proud Of
showing off my small knowledge OF
Italian. "'You know what love is "
l drew my music-stool little back,
and listened while he sung it softly
through. I had never known love,
song touch me like that before. When
he had finished he turned round. ] did
not move or speak, and he jumped up,
walked to the shutters and unbarred
them and threw open the windows.
II am suffocating. Oh. for a Vene.
tan balcony" said he. "Ccme here
little woman"
l rose and obeyed. He threw 6
wooden antinacassar round my head
and shoulders, and drew me to the
window.