New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22

that was all they knew about 1t. Dear mamma
liked them to work for bazaars and they sent
for the materials to a shop in Edinburgh, at
which dear mamma usually dealt.
When we have added that considerable por-
ton or the Misses Carnoustie's time spent In
gossping with their old nurse. In whose cosey
parlor one or other was constantly to be found.
and in retailing what they learned there to
father or mother. or both, we have said all that
there is to say about them. They were perfectly
satisfied with themselves and their lot. They
hoped that in time Nina would grow to be the
At present Nina only in training She
still 10 be considered incomplete. She would
spend so much OF her time out Of doors. she
would not Sit down to study or to music. or 10
drawing. as soon as breakfast over; she did
not think Of bringing In little pieces Of news.
even when she was afoot and abroad; she, In
short. idled
But then Nina was so young. 1t was only
natural that Nina should still be half a child.
That being the case. Nina and Penelope We're
well out OF the way on the morning in ques-
ton, for Louisa had great deal to do She mad
to take the opinion of the house upon the latter;
and this important task would have received no
furtheTance from the former.
The person to be interviewed was, of course.
Mrs. Alison. the hOusekeeper-Ason being only
second in consequence to Lady Carnoustie her
self in the estimation Of the family. whom she
had faithfully served for fve-and-thirty years
She had come to the castle when Louisa was
born, had discharged the duties of nurse az long
as there was a nursery to preside Overland the
nursery days had been elongated for her sake.
and finally had come to be styled 'housekeeper:
Albeit her real function was that OF family
councillor. arbitrator and judge.
She alone would ever dare to think her mis-
tress In the wrong, TO assert her poor. uinld.
cooress nurslings In the right whenever any
shadow of difference arose. She alone defended
their dignity and upheld their authority IN the
eyes OF the Carnoustie world.
Within the four walls Of her own little sanctuin,
1t Is true. she would rate them both sOundly
when as not infrequently happened. they would
dispease her by their lack Of self-assertion ana
their inaptitude for the position which was 'heirS
by right. But although when well secured
] foil
LOUSY" and "JOanney" what she thought OF mem
in her own homely and most trenchant phrase
ology-at which they never took the least onehre
no cOurtier inducing novice INTO ms uu'ies IN
royal palace could have inculcated generally
more profound respect for the blood royal than
could Mrs. Margery Alison for every living rep
resentatiVe of the CarnOustie line.
That there was no heir TO the title. and that
1t must needs become extinct on the demise 81
it's present posseesor the secret grief of her
heart too deep rooted to be crer spoken about
but she mad another ranking sore which since
| II was capable OF being recthcd, was less easily
borne in silence.
why dd her young ladies not marry?
Why were they not gay. proud. fashionaD!e
bellies who would have brought the men In hooks
to the castle when they might have had their
pick Of the best, wedding In their proper rank ana
being sent forth with great glory ana honor To
had once replied with infinite dignity and lec-
sion. Joanna having mildly made merry on the
subject.
"Barons are not 50 plentiful. Ails!e" The old
nursery name was still retained
"Humphr' retorted Aisie. They dnna look
cor gait. ony way" she added sourly. She always
spoke Of us and "oors' She called her master
"oor fayther" and ner mistress. mammaw
She had no hopes. no fears, no feelings. but as
regarded them and theirs.
What for dinna We gang ABBOTT az hherS
gang?' she would demand. sin thinking Of the
focks OF bachelor barons who were no doubt
loose in the world II only her BARNS had me WIZ
TO find thenl-"what for do We no hae MAR com
p'ny II We maun bide at hame' There's nae
body comes mind the day when We had
the rooms full. and sic COINS on-Nut. moo there's
never a bed aired. wfoOt It's FOR McN hlnnock,
or may be McFadyan. and the best dinner ser
vice ne'er gets used nor yet half the siller us
no likely for sic as thae Tn" big dish covers
hae ma been used for a twamonth" resting her
chin on her hands and rocking slowly backward
and forward In her chair. as was her habit when
lamentations prevailed.
situations.
They knev. very well what was meant and who
was aimed AZ. and they Iid not think * fair that
dear mamma should be made 10 bear the bruni
Of their spnsierhood II was. they told themselves.
| the will OF Providence that they had remained
single far. and II they should never marry, il
y~,uld undoubtedly be- because IL was best Tor
them not 10 marry which vas In one sense very
true, and in another altogether ihIre' since mar
riages are no more made IN heaven than are ~!
earthly arrangements - any nature. ana since II
/ II be unlawful to debar our sons rom getting IN
/ in the world by placing them wher" aaVtn'rin'n
Is impossible or az any rate impr'hapi"- - j
surely no less 80 TO put barrier between our
daughters and possible spheres u domestic nap
pness.
/ Old Aine had a FAR keener perception 81 the
truth than any II them when she grunie1 ana
grumbed. az year after year passed. ana the
massive silver dinner service. with us appropriate
tankards and P)blets. its huge candelapl" anu
gigantic dish covers. lay shrouded In NOR grren
balz< coverings. no guest worthy Of their grazing
/ the board having appeared at the castIe.
She was perfectly correct In ascribing 10 lhny
/ Carnouste's selhshness. even more than to I@,rd
CarnOustie's Incidence. the present state 81 1e-
/ terioration from the old regime
he.
any means stunned society. They had not Dr"h
| a gay couple: they had always detested town ne
even when considering IL due - their posllDl -
pass few months Of each year either IN Ion
don or In Edinburgh more frequently in Elln-
burgh. which was more easily got a. ana "h'iT
there was old house 10 g to-; but 'hey hal
issued fair number q invitations while thus ap-
! sent which had resulted In The autumn season Al
Carnoustie Castle being as hVe4y ana ieS''F' d.
any one need have wished.
Those times were what ola Aisle ues'eu l"
have back again.
She had seen them gradually wane in splen-
dor; had marked how slowly but surely tne les'aI
! ccasions dwinded: how the guests diminished IN
numbers and deteriOrated ~ rank now ever!
now and then an autumn would pass without
tho annual dinner party. for which the great
/ covers came out: how the principal spare rooHS
grew TO be one after another dlsused' no" et'iS
pretext for putting on n pronered VISIT whlch
/ entailed state and fOrrnality was clutcheN az
/ how Lord CarnOustie would say Iut tut
when Informed that some distinguished lai"Hy
! connection or college contemporary would De
passing his way and would be glad to uespaSs
/ on his hospitaty-and would az likely as not
/ conclude that the offer announcement ana
dirpatch a reply to that effect: how Lady car
noustie would reluctantly confess that they real ny
ought to ask such and such an old friend VINO
had been always in the habit OF coming. ana
would expect lt--yet would make 20 much OF the
,nnIction and be 80 gloomy and harassed when
ever the subject cropped up. that her dutifu
Louisa and Joanna would beg TO be allowed 10
write and explain that dear mamma was haiuIy
m to visitors Just then--a Of this Aisle. as we
saw observed with her keen watchfu eyes ana
over II the faithful soul had many Silent heart
ache.
Had any one been really ili-but no one was III
at all Had there been any question or poverty
! hut money was more plentiful than IL nseu 10
be Quiet country life IL very inexpensive ailer
the income has reached a certain point ana no
xfr.aN,n