Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI
Together let us beat this ample field,
Try what the open, what the covert y1elo
1t is the 10th of August. Late last night
long after Rhoda had retired to her room
ETr Drayton had returned to hingslands
Old Peter the butler, had sent her word Of
his coming by one of the women. The new
hsd kept her awake great part OF tn
night. and when she did fall asleep it wa
oply to wake again as the day dawned
Now, indeed, her work is beginning il
earnest. And if she should prove uneoua
to it, what is left to her? She can begin al
over again truly, but probably with tn
same result If incompetent now, she vii
be incompetent to the end of the chapter.
The dawn Is far advanced by this tint
and dav is fully born. Her little travelling
clock tells her that it is all but seven
Perhaps "the master'-she laughs to her
self as she calls him thIs-is an early rise
that would mean an early breakfast l
behooyes her above all things to make hin
comfortable at the beginning. What sort
of breakfast have they prepared for HIM
How will they arrange the table? Care
lessly, no doubt, and without the little del
icate superauities that 60 so far to make
meal palata5le.
Once dressed in the usual sombre black
she ventures out of her room. The hush
that still pervades the house, the whisper
ing of the servants when they meet, the
cautious brushing and cleansing, tell hel
that she had overlsuded the explorer to her
self and that, after all, early hours are not
indispensable to him.
Satisfied on this point, she gives direc,
tiou or two to the women as she moves
through corridor and hall, and passing by
the breakfast room looks in.
The table is already laid for breakfast;
but what a dismal table. The big silver
urn, the teapot, cream ever, sugar bowl
two plates, a long eSpanse OF white table
cloth, with nothing on it save fork and
spoon where presumably some dish is going
to be laid. A bread plate is over there,
certainly, with the butter dish beside 1t,
and no{hing more.
AS she gazes askance at this mournful ar
rar, old Peter enters the room.
Good morning." saws Rhoda (Mrs-
Clarke. rather, for the future), giving him
her kindly smile $50 Mr.. Drayton has re-
turned. He-he has not been much at
home, has hep
six DAYS out Of 16 years." says the old
butler, solemnly. "You see, ma'am, Mr..
Cecil-Mr Drayton, mean-went abroad
directly after the old masters death, and
never came home until month before you
came down here. Six days of that he spent
al kingsiand.
All" says Rhoda, (and to herself, "Thas
accounts for the look OF the table. y "What
is Tor breakfast, Peter?'
Eggs, ma am, heard cook say"
Nothing else? No kidneys?"
''NO ma am. "
'J must speak to cook about having kid
news for to-morrow's breakfast, and one can
get fish sometimes, no doubt?"
1T might be got down from Lunnon."
"Ah, true! Your master will be expect.
ing guests here tomorrow 1 should say"
Tomorrow, ma am? He wrote to you
then before coming?"
"NO. But he gave me to understand be-
fore leaving that he would have some men
some gentlemen" (hurriedly) ''for the
grouse shooting"
"And never line?" says Peter "How
does he think things will be got ready?"
ale leaves that to you and me, Peter, u
saws Mrs. Clarke so sweetly, that the old
mans face brightens, and he laughs with
her.
"weIl, ma'am, he's put it in good hands
if in yours" SAYS he He turns as If to 60,
but Rhoda recalls him.
"Do you know if there are any little
glasses anywhere-glasses for holding flow
ers? 20 asks she.
GLASSES, ma'am Well, I do remember
that in the old masters time there was
high-up little bits of things, in which the
poor mistress would put her roses"
"Will you bring them to me? And o
glass bowl for jam, Peter, please; and one
1or marmaiade. I'm sure you will find
them somewhere. And do you think cook
knows how to make porridge ?"
"Why, yes, ma'am, she's deadly fond Of
that herself"
'fOh, veil then. she is safe there" say,
Rhoda, laughing. Now then, be quick
with the 'high-up' glasses, while run into
the garden and get some flowers"
1t takes but second to spring from the
sill of the open dining room window on to
the grass plot outside, in which beds and
beds of glowing blossoms may be seen. Be.
yond the four walls of the house everything
is in the most perfect order, and indeed in
side too, if one excepts the word comfort
All is neat and clean, and IN some ways
luxurious, the house having been done up
and rearranged by q good London firm,
under Mr. Dravton's orders, on bis return
IRON the East; but the best London firm
cannot give an air Of home to a house, aud
tie best servants VIII not trouble them
selves to obeyond the barest routine unless
compelled to do So
She haSaken her spring in safety, alight-
ing among the geraniums and carnations in
q happy certainty that she is alone IN this
pretty garden. And so she is, but for all
that, there is someone who sees her-some-
one who has noted the poisine OF the
lissome figure on the sill, and the graceful
spring into the garden. The masters room
is On a side wing that commands the north
window OF the dining room, and therefore
Mr. Drayton, while shaving, has had as
good view as might be bought tor money
Of his housekeeper's venturous leap.
Good heavens! Is this his housekeeperl
She had seemed very reasonable, very
pretty, perhaps too pretty-on his first &C
quaintance with her; but housekeeper who
can skip through windows at that ratel
Well, after all, you know, ifa housekeeper
ism t active, what is she? Answer to con-
undrum-uselessi
he cuts himselfa little whilst coming to
this conclusion, but even 80 continues his
thought OF Mrs. Clarke.
''Clarkel By jovei what name She
doesn't look like Clarkel ind what the
deuce is to become Of all those fellows who
are to be here to-morrov ~ nj ht III abe doesn't