y ~i^ —^m r^ttol-STd^-GE- 01JE\:,iiyES -JI^pM-Yl^TO ^i^P^^ CO^(JCT£DBY WITH WHICH IS l|NICOF\Po^XED a^^»rri in m rii I "i .n- Tl nji i'^ ^MtNBwSEEUs.j SATUEDAT, AUGUST 2, 1873. " And where to, may I ask ?'' lUNG MR. NIGHTINGALE. " That matters not; only let me go." •T THB ACTHOR OF "HOBSON'S CHOICB," &C. " To your husband's house, of course. » Overbury Hall is, without doubt, the proper L'i •CHAPTER XXII. HER LADYSHIP. place, the only place, for Lady Overbury JBBTTA"abruptly resumed possesrion of to return to. Where else could she go ?" f(^ded paper, the proof, as she had Rosetta hesitated. Then she tossed her jed, of her marriage with Lord Over- head and stamped her foot impatiently. How strange and unaccounta'jle it There was silence for a few moments. ieemed ! I was speechless, motionless " Let it be so," sbe said at length. " I'll surprise. go back to the hall." 'Let me pass," she said. "I'll not re- " It Avill be best, I think, if your lady­ here a moment longer." ship really feels well enough to undertake [ Jly mother interposed. the journey. His lordship must be already L" Pardon me. YoUi ladyship forgets, I anxious on your ladyship's account. But Ilk, that it is now night, and bitter cold, I can send to the hall to let him know snow deep, the way very dangerous, that you are here In safety, if your lady­ were safer, better, surely, to remain ship Avill honour us by remaining here -at least until the morning. You until the morning." endured much already." "No, I'll go back; at once," Rosetta mother's staid manner and sober said, peevishly. She was nearly crying, I 1—she was really troubled and ex- think. " Perhaps you can send some one I was certain, but she had great to point out the best and nearest way. I'll rer of self-control—appeared to irritate not trouble you to do more than that." 9setta curiously. She Avas losing ber grand manner. "I'll go hence," she said, sharply. " I'll " It is no question of trouble. I'll go with ' stay here to be insulted." you myself," said my mother, promptly. 'Ton mistake, indeed. There is no in- And she rang a bell which communicated Ltention to insult you. I have bidden you with the stables. Hcome. Our poor house is much at your "Mother," I cried, "let me go. It is ihip's service. My brother, Mr. Orme, not fit for you to venture out. The night part, a tenant of Lord Overbury's. is very bitter." But she put me from her •re bound, therefore, if only on that AvItb calm decision. it, to do all we may on behalf of " Your uncle is not here at this moment, Overbury's lady." or it Avould be for him to see her ladyship r mother spoke with an old-fashioned safely to the liaU. In his absence It is aallty and precision ; and there was no my duty to undertake the task. Kem, tell ^pi^ciable lack of respectfulness in ber Truckle to get the covered cart ready and and bearing. Yet her impasslvencss to harness the old chestnut; he's very sure­ Jts galling effect in some way. I felt it footed, and will take us by the doAvu L°"yetf, and Rosetta no less. track Avell enough If Truckle leads him. 111 go," Rosetta repeated, roughly. There is no fear. I knoAv every step of And at once." the Avav. I have been out in worso I ass 31% A li olt [Aut;uht-.MP:.!.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Oondacttd Aveather than this—and Truckle and the will be back soon. I cannot think chestnut too." has detained bim so late," she wi Kem departed on ber errand. My " You Avill tell him that I havo gone iiiolher took doAvn a large lantern from a and explain the errand I am boiaii high shelf above tbe dresser, and lighted hope to be back before very long, it. Then sbe equijiped herself in a heavy bim that there is no danger. TflMlfim cloak of scarlet cloth Avith a close hood to I have taken Truckle Avith me, and tl it, that hung behind the kitchen door. She chestnut. Kem Avill see to his Avas scon ready for the journey. Keep up good fires." Rosetta sank down again by the kitchen The cart moved off slowly, Avith a lire, and listlessly kicked the fender as she muffled sound as tbe wheels forced gazed into the gloAving coals. Her face Avay along tbe heavy choked path. A\ ore the pouting looks of a vexed child. "Good-bye, Duke," cried She had played out her part. Sbe looked merrily. more herself—the Rosetta of my love. There What an exquisite voice it was! Avus silence for some minutes, broken only by laughed again, and I thought I saw hupj^pfc'''': the loud ticking of the old Dutch clock, the hand waving adieu to me. She seemiift;!!"™'*'''' occasional cracklinjr and rustlinj; of the coals like a child enjoying Its first ride. W^ '^' in the grate, the light silvery sound of falling this acting still? I felt how httle Htijiial*' cinders, and the jarring of Rosetta's foot strange mirth would commend her to my ^ilnn kicking against the iron fender. ^mother's favour. -^ To me there Avas something dreamlike For some time I stood, leaning againrill'/: r about the whole scene. I could not yet the farm-yard gate, watching the depart. j|t fully believe that it was all real and true. ing cart as it jogged and struggled on it>; j; Rosetta—the tight-rope dancer—my Ro­ uneven way, looking jet black upon theiii setta—Lady Overbury ! and seated in front field of dead white it traversed, the lanterak,!, h of our kitchen fire. My mother, standing my mother carried within casting in froaC,,p;en 0 apai-t, cloaked and carrying a lantern, a circle of dim orange light upon the ^. i^ ready to see her ladyship safe back to the snow. I could bear the creaking of tho'.;^'j^( ] hall. And I, leaning against the dresser, spi'ings and the jolting of the wheels, long i^j^gj looking on, bewildered, helpless, dumb. It after I had failed to discern the figure of. tttek Avas all most strange. old Truckle at the chestnut's head andt^ Soon Kem returned to say tbat tbe form of the high hood of the cart. Itwafi,^ covered cart was ready and waiting at the quite out of sight at last, hidden by th^.j^i i' iiirm-yard gate. It could not be drawn shoulder of the down. Yet still I stooil:-,,,' nearer to the house because of tbe snow. listening to the dull sounds of its uneasjt. ,„', Rosetta rose. I approached to assist her progress. 1 almost longed to hear cneij. iu resuming her fur-trimmed mantle, but for assistance—for I knew the snow TOMI,^,|' ' my mother was beforehand with me. She very deep just outside Purrington—thatl., *"' saw herself to the due wrapping-up of her might hasten forward released from mj^-* ^^ ladyship for her night's trip across the promise, and see Rosetta once again 1J35MT down. Again I w^as compelled to be a Yet what madness it was ! What co^ mere useless bystander, forbidden to take she ever be to me? Was she not lost tO|J/j'^* active part in the scene. me for ever? There was shame and siw '''' Rosetta was herself once more. She in even thinking of her. She was Lordn'^.*' turned upon me a most radiant smile. Overbury's wife. The night was bitterly " Good-bye, Duke, and thank you. I cold. I returned to the house, and sat dowwf'*' (p shall never forget this day." She stretched in Rosetta's chair beside the fire, moodn^Pi'iiic forth her hand to me. I pressed it, timidly and vexed, and despondent enough. I liM^'Jyl); and aAvkwardly, I fear. I bad not a word never felt so wretched. 'i ' ^ s: to say. I Avent out with them to the farm­ " And to think of her being a real lady,** ^ VK yard gate. said Kem, "and sitting avore the fire in ^'^tlii Rosetta, declining my aid, sprang lightly my kitchen, warming herself just as yoa -heTf into tbe high cart. or I might do. Master Duke. There, it^'h'je " It reminds me of mounting to the quite mazes me, it does. A pretty crea- 4 tl rope," she whispered, with a musical laugh. ture she was, too; I'll say that for h«jj \ My mother drew me on one side. though not in her ways like the quaUtyivjitfyj " You Avill remain at home, Duke. folks quite, to ray thinking. She'datempfflrlnfijfi'lt Promise me." I promised, for she spoke of her own. She'd no need that I could flW'fi^tr urgently, although, in truth, I had in­ to fall out with the missus. But she was qoi^'W'iiim tended to follow the cart. " Your uncle in a miff, all on a sudden. Lady Overbury aitit ^ *?= I Dl^ena.] YOUNG MR. NIGHTINGALE. [Aoru^t 2. Ifi73.] lyhis lordship must be terrible old for snow-drift in Bulb ironcrti meadows for (ung a wife ! What Avere they stones three Avhole days during one very severe she wore in her ears, ^Master Duke, winter, within sight of her OAvn cottage.