Year: 1868

ment | told him not to trouble himself,
but should he be passing the station he
might give it to the guard of the Bin
field train, directed to "Nliss B Plum
midge, Binfeld Station, to be left until
called for He lifted his hat, and
was soon looking out for an omnibus to
take me to the appointed meeting place
with Pamela.


She was there, and we spent delight
full day. | experienced some little in
convenience from the want of my hand
kerchief, such as when Pam would tell
me to take "back" off my nose.
then had to contrive to get behind her,
and furtiyely rub it off with my glove
Tired enough we were when we reached
home that night, but we had seen plen-
ty to think of and to talk about The
next week passed rapidly enough, when
one evening, as Pam and | were taking
a walk near the station, one of the por-
ters came up and said to me:


"If you please, Miss, there's a parcel
for you here. should have brought
it up, but it says, TO be left till called
for"


1t was large brown- paper parcel.


"There must be some mistake" |
said; "mine was but a pocket handker-
chief"


hesitated and debated but hesita-
tion and debating were cut short by
Pam desiring the man to take the par
eel to our house; and an ominous 81
lence was maintained until we reached
home.


remember with what trepidation |
then asked whether we had not better
open the parcel, and see what was in it;
and though Pamela was dying of curl
osity, she only said she had no desire
to interfere with me in such matter
So | cut the string. and soon my be-
wildered eyes were fixed on pink bro
cade silk, SO rich and stiff that it would
have stood alone. But there was nc
name, no handkerchief, no nothing l
couldn't describe Pamela wrath, nor
my distress [ only know that that
evening felt that henceforth | WAS TO
be regarded as a bold woman, and a
disgrace to the name of Plummidge.


And what was to be done with the
unfortunate parcel? | couldn't keep
it, and [ couldn't send it back, because
| didn know the name Of the sender
Why did | lend my handkerchief? and,
when | did lend it, why was | so mean
as ever to want it back again?


Matters stood thus when we received
an invitation to dinner from our doc
tors wife. Now, we often went out to
tea, or to small evening parties; but
the circle in which we moved, in Bin.
field, was not much given to asking
friends to dine. So this was rather an
event for US. Pam became trife
more gracious, and by the day named
she was almost herself l could have
Rugged her, felt so glad not to feel
the Pariah | had done the last ten days
Pam looked very well-quite handsome
| thought. | am the best work woman,
and had trimmed her ack silk with
some nice lace cousin of ours had Civ
en- NE, and felt quite proud Of my work
and my sister


| was too taken up with the delight
Of having all pleasant again to think
much about how l looked. Besides,
Pam is so clever that people were not
in the habit of taking much notice of
me, unless they were deaf or invalids,
and then they seemed to like to talk to
ne. Quite prepared to enjoy myself at
DR.. Fletcher s, | entered the drawing
room behind Pam, wl4en-oh! it could
not be-yes it was-there on the sofa
sat my eccentric friend of the railway
carriage. am perfectly sure if my
nerves hadn't given way | should have
rushed out. AS it was, every thing
and every body seemed swimming about
the room; gurgling of water sounded
in my ears, and voice seemed to come
from long way off, whispering, "Mr.
Glinthus Lobb, Miss Britannia PLUM
tiiui-O. l. VI lull LCI MINUTES Udu
not the slightest idea what any one said
or did. However, when l seemed to
return to the world about me, every
body was talking most agreeably to
every body else, and began to breathe
again, especially when | saw that my
friend did not intend showing that we
bad ever met before We spent a de-
lightful evening. Pam was quite charm
ed with our new acquaintance. He
gave way to her, agreed with her opin-
ions, and, though he took but little no.
tice of me, treated US both with the
greatest politeness.


| declare I thou ght Pam had made a
conquest when he Insisted On seeing us
home, and asked permission to call and
inquire after US the next morning.
Pam had found out that Mr.. Lobb was
an old friend of DR. Fletcher's, and
under the shield of a fiery, quick man.
ner, and very eccentric appearance, was
always doing the kindest actions, which
he would never acknowledge, or permit
himself to be thanked for Mrs Fletch
er said she advised the unmarried ladies
to look after bin, as he was very well
off, and devoted to ladies. though, from
having had an early disappointment,
and spending most of his lite in India
and China, he bad never been II arried


That night, when Pam had left me,
| opened my drawers aud looked at the
pink brocade, and smiled to think that
after all | might wear that "bone OF
contention" at Pam wedding. and that
then she might be more induIgent abo It


] L