Year: 1878

had SO impracticable and aggravating a
sister to manage; and never met one
who attempted to treat me with such
open Indifference and thinly-veiled con-
tempt 1t is unnecessary for me to state
the consequences. l began to interest
myself in this Miss Lindsay as I had
never interested myself in the others.
began to banker for her good opinion.
as | had never hankcred for theirs. I
longed to set myself straight with her,
and beg her forgiveness for thought
less insult that | would have given
worlds to recall, and to feel that the
way was open between us to meet and
associate as friends. This longing grew
apace as the evening wore on, but the
prospect of its qualification grew less
and less. Until the little ones were
taken away by their nurse she devoted
herself to them, telling them stories
most of the time in a dark corner,





whence their merry chatter and ripple
of subdued laughter came flowing out to
us; but when they were gone, the bright
vivacity that was true characteristic
went too, and she became Marie Antoin-
ette again.


With an amiable wish to make things
pleasant, Lizzie asked her to pour out
the tea; but she merely stood in front of
me at the tea-table, with her little nose
in the air, and asked me whether [ took
sugar and cream. in a high clear tone
that brought puzzled wonder into her
sisters face and slow smile to Don's.
| came and stood beside her, to take the
cups from her hand cher pretty head
was about level with the flower in my
button-hole) and she tried to ignore me,
but could not. Her hand shook slightly
and little angry flush came and went
in her face /; but | preferred that to hav-
ing no notice at all Later on she went
to the piano and sung song after song
for the delectation of Lizzie and Don,
neither of whom had the hearing ear
and the understanding heart to appre-
ciate the pure quality and poetic sweet
ness of her voice By this time I was



very lowaspirited, and drew away from


my host. who was growing sleepy after
his hard days work, and took chair
near her-which of course was signal to


Lizzie to leave the ROOM And she sung
on, forgetful of me and of everything


but the poetry awaking in her, and as l
studied the pose of her slight figure and


half-bent head, and the now dreamy


happiness in her face, and listened for


the first time after many years, to the


true translation of language that l


loved, vague perception dawned in me


that there were some latent fellowship


between us. And then I felt that Fate


had indeed been hard.


The silence of the room was presently
brought into strong relief by a deep
snore from Don, whereupon she sudden
rose from the piano and saw that we
were virtually alone. Goodnight, Mr..
Gardener" she said promptly, holding
a somewhat reluctant hand and stiffen-
ing back in her unnatural stateliness.
l took it and held it and looked into
) her face; and tried to tell her, as well
; as plain ''good night" would do it. that
l knew what bad happened and wanted
E her to forgive ms. | think she guessed
$ what my look meant, by the sudden
( crimson fame IN her face; but she
| walked out of the room with as much
s dignity a. she had first walked into it
b without another word.


: The early days Of December wer'
: cold and wet, and the shearing was ;
f protracted and troublesome affair. Dor
: hovered about restlessly, whether in o
/ out of the house, always bothered ant
d anxious. and paying frequent visits t


the barometer. The ladies clung t


their ireside as if they had been ii
II England and l tied myself to Lizzie
it apron.string with an abject alacrity tha
It puzzled and charmed her. My oppoI
), tunities for '.improving the occasion
d were many, but somehow | could neve
It turn them to an account. The pride c
r that little lady was quite beyond m
l. management. Lizzie threw us together
1t she left US alone; she did all that i
t. her lay to further my desires for rt
ir Cancellation and an understanding bu
a the implacable resentment of the last {
le the Lindsays towards me for that wretch
ut ed slip Of the tongue was a stone wall
,e could not climb over. The worst of S
Is was, she SAID and did nothing tangibl
O. offensive and | was precluded by a
a sorts of considerations from mentionir
e. the subject we were both (and that
K. both knew we were) thinking of.
be matters went on day after day. Al
n before great many days were past
a was over head and ears in love-I m;
on as we'll say it and have done with it.
to and began to feel desperate and DANCE
d. GUS. She walked about the house wi


her grand air, my Queen Marie Antoi
N. cite. my little tyrant that | could
;u. most have demolished with finger al