HE-SXQJ^JQE • Qim:_lJSES-pQW/^^S^ "^f^ W8TB WBlKaEI IS II NC0i\P0l^T=O SATURDAT, OCTOBER 8, 1870, she who had lived so long, in the dull THE DOCTOR'S MIXTURE. round of that little viUage, a prosy, un­ eventful life, and for whom, in these latter BOOK II. days, events had been hurrying on with the strangest precipitation. Then, too, CHAPTER XIII. DEAWING ON. came on the uneasy feeling that the step IT was only two or three days before the she was going to take, sanctioned, as she marriage, when Katey found herself alone, beHeved it was, by the holiest principle of as she had longed to be, to get time to devotion, might, after all, turn out to be think over the new life she was about to doubtful, and even wicked. Was she enter on. Peter had gone out on business bound, in the cause of affection to her —that is, "up to the Bar'ks;" Polly was family, thus to sacrifice herself, her feel­ gone to the band, resplendent in spirits ings, her hopes, her life ?—was not that and raiment; a new officer had arrived, who life a trust given to her, not to be given had signified his approbation and adoration away thus carelessly to others ? in the most open manner, and the incon­ As she sat and looked across the swelling stant creature was laughing and blushing meadow of the park, she heard footsteps over those outrageous compliments which approaching, and in a moment saw Mr. the bold mUitary chevaHer thinks he can pay Leader with his steward, or keeper, coming to a handsome country-town girl. Katey, past her. Grreatly confused, she half rose left alone, stole out gently, and, sad at heart, to go. Mr. Leader, no less " taken back," wandered out at the back of the house, np coloured and stopped, and then took off his over a little stile, which led into green hat. meadows, part of the demesne of Leaders­ As she went away, she heard him calHng fort. Indeed, every patch of grass about after her. the place belonged to the great family, and, " Don't let me disturb you," he said, in in a primitive fashion, the natives of the a hesitating fashion; " it seems you wUl district strayed over it at pleasure. There soon have nearly as good a right to be here were all manner of soft lanes and paths as I myself. Tour people have deter- through woods, with some deer feeding, mined to carry this through in spite of and a stray seat here and there put up, us." not by the present dynasty, but by the Katey hung down her head, overcome honest squire who preceded it. There was with shame and confusion. There was a a great tree, one of those noble soHtaries of good nature in his manner quite unex­ a demesne which, whatever changes take pected, and contrasting strongly with the place, still preserve their solemn and ere­ contemptuous fashion with which she had mitical life, looking on with a grand con­ been treated by the rest of the famUy. She tempt at the decay or grandeur of those tried to speak; her lips moved; she sank who assume to be their owners. Under down on the seat again in a torrent of one of these disdainful old watchers Katey tears. sat down, very sad, yet glad to be alone— Mr. Leader was beside her in a moment. still bewildered, and hardly able to per­ " My poor child," he said, " don't! Com­ suade herself that she was not in a dream ; pose yourself. Surely I know this is no -w- "»**• \0L. IV. i)7 ^ y 434 [October 8,1870.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. {Conducted l>y fault of yours. For my own part, I have There was something very good natured always thought it a pity to oppose it; SK" though, at the same time, something ludi­ if you like one another—now, don't." crously helpleBs, in this candid confession " Indeed, indeed, I am very wretched," of weakness. But when Mr. Leader rose said Ki;tey; " if I only knew Avhat to do! to go away, and shaking 'her wa,rmly by My poor father and family—I have pro­ the hand bade her be of go©d chser, looking mised—and. Mrs. Leader was so cruel to round at the same time with^eafc caution, him." Katey was inexpressibly cheered, and went *' Oh, as for your father, I don't know home with a lighter heart. what to say. I am afraid he is not over­ The behaviour of the future bridegroom scrupulous. But it is very unfortunate. might, indeed, give her more cause for dis­ It is driving us out of this place. We are turbance. Within these few days he had going away to-morrow; and as for poor grown brusque and sulky, and, as we have CecU, I fear he will be made the victim, mentioned—deeply injured. This demean­ as Mrs. Leader is determined to have the our the Doctor had carried off by deep com­ entail cut off." miseration for his " ailments." He was "Tes, I know; I heard. But it is not delicate, would require great care and that. I dare not go back now. I know nursing from Katey, &c. what would be said then ! I know what is It was on the very evening of this inter­ thought of me, and what you think of me. view of Katey with Mr. Leader that young But I accept it all. Tou need blame no Leader came suddenly into the Doctor's one else but the scheming girl, who brought house, noisily and violently asking to see aU this about." its master. "Tou, scheming ! No, indeed, my poor " I must see him—just fetch him at child. But you must not be cast down, or once." take such an utterly gloomy view of the The Doctor emerged suddenly from his future. Now, sit down here, next to me. parlour. Now, don't—don't," as Katey was break­ " My dear boy, looking for me ? Just ing into fresh hysterical sobs. " Things step in here for a moment. There ! what are not so bad. Tou see Mrs. Leader has is it ?" peculiar views of her own about rank and " Here's a pretty thing! They're all getting up in the world, and I am afraid" gone away, every one of them, and left me —with a sigh —" sacrifices a little too here in the lurch! Tou said they'd give in much to them. Now I and my dear at the end. But they haven't, and here daughter care very little about that; all am I sold, and done in every way !" we ask is* to be happy, and to have our He was very excited, and the Doctor saw walks and Httle enjoyments. And I de­ " with half an eye" how the case was to be ' clare I don't know if we didn't enjoy our­ handled. selves more in the little house in London, " Well, let them go ! It makes no dif­ when I went to court every day. Now I ference to us. They'll come back fast confess to you, from the first day I saw you enough." coming out of the church, I took a fancy " Tes, to make me a beggar. I won't to you, for I was sure you were gentle and have that. I didn't bargain for that. I amiable, and that we should get on toge­ am not caUed on to sacrifice myself in this ther famously. But there's Mrs. Leader." way. Tou said it was aU to be made And he shook his head sadly. square. But it's not fair that I should be These were inexpressibly comforting taken in " words for Katey; the more comforting as The Doctor turned on him at once. they were unexpected. She took his hand " Taken in, sir ? Have I taken you in, '' and raised it to her Hps. sir ?" "Heaven bless you for this !" she said. " N—no—I don't say that. Oh, it's no " Of course, not a word to any one," he use going on that way with me; there's no went on ; " but I will make the best fight I one Hstening." can. Tou know, after a time it may all This was a case for blistering, a? the blow over; when there's no help for a Doctor would have said, or for surgery. ' thing, Mrs. Leader may think it best to " No, you don't mean me, and you make the best of it. I'll try and do what daren't. But you mean an inoffensive girl, I can, and, as far as injuring poor Cecil's that can't call you to account. That's prospects, wiU stave it off as long as manly—that's generous ! The girl that possible." you've betrayed—that you're dragging ^ / Charles Dicftens, Jun.] THE DOCTOR'S MIXTURE. [Octobers, 1870.] 435 down in contempt and servitude, and peculiar vehicle, slightly burnished up, setting under the tyranny of your step­ was seen in the inn-yard. His lordship mother ! Who wanted you here ?" added had shown a disinclination to assist at the the Doctor, going back to his old argu­ ceremony, fearful of committing himself ment. "I vow I am ashamed that the with the powers at Leadersfort; but the noble rites of matrimony should be de­ Doctor was so sarcastic, not to say jeering, graded by such a lath-and-plaster lover.