Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

like the angels they was, was just like Heaven. She must have had an odd notion of 'Spotted snakes with double tongues.' Moreover, effect was added to the said hymns by Uncle Lance behind the scenes.

Then there was the account of how it had been at first intended that Oberon should be represented by little Sir Adrian, with his Bexley cousin, Pearl Underwood, for his Titania; but though she was fairy enough for anything, he turned out so stolid, and uttered, ‘Well met by moonlight, proud Titania,' the only lines he ever learnt, exactly like a lesson, besides crying whenever asked to study his part, that the attempt had to be given up, and the Fairy sovereigns had to be of large size, Mr. Grinstead pronouncing that probably this was intended by Shakspeare, as Titania was a name of Diana, and he combined Grecian nymphs with English fairies. So Gerald Underwood had to combine the part of Peter Quince (including Thisbe) with that of Oberon, and the queen was offered to Gillian.

6

'But I had learnt Hermia,' she said, and I saw it was politeness, so I wouldn't, and Anna Vanderkist is ever so much prettier, besides being used to acting with Gerald. She did look perfectly lovely, asleep on the moss in the scene Mrs. Grinstead painted and devised for her!

There was

Oh not only the prettiness, I don't care for that. enough of the artistic, but the fun-the dear fun.'

[ocr errors]

One gets

'There was fun enough, I am sure,' said Gillian. Puck was FelixPearl's brother, you know-eleven years old, so clever, and an awful imp-and he was Moon besides; but the worst of it was that his dog-it was a funny rough terrier at the Vicarage-was so furious at the lion, when Adrian was roaring under the skin that nobody could hear, and Adrian got frightened, as well he might, and crept out from under it, screaming, and there fell the lion, collapsing flat in the middle of the place. Even Theseus-Major Harewood, you know, who had tried to be as grave as a judge, and so polite to the actors-could not stand that, interpolation as he called it, of "the man in the moon-not to say the dog," came down too soon Why, Fly

For Fly was in such a paroxysm of laughter, as to end in a violent fit of coughing, and to bring Lady Rotherwood in, vexed and

anxious.

'Oh, mother! it was only-it was only the lion's skinoff went Fly, laughing and coughing again.

' and

'I was telling her about the acting of Midsummer Night's Dream at Vale Leston,' explained Gillian.

'I should not have thought that a suitable subject for the day,' said the Marchioness gravely, and Fly's endeavour to say it was her fault for asking about it, was silenced by choking, and Gillian found herself courteously dismissed in polite disgrace, and as she felt, not entirely without justice.

It was a great disappointment that Aunt Jane did not think it

well to take any of the young people to their home with her. As she said, she did not believe that they would catch anything; but it was better to be on the safe side, and she fully expected that they would spend most of the day with Mysie and Fly.

'I wish I could go and talk to Kalliope, my dear,' she said to Gillian; but I am afraid it must wait another day.'

'Oh, never mind,' said Gillian, as they bade each other good-night at their doors; they don't know that I am come home, so they will not expect me.'

(To be continued.)

DAGMAR.

BY HELEN SHIPTON, AUTHOR OF CAIRNFROTH,' ETC.

CHAPTER VI.

THE HOUSE WARMING.

Hush! hush!-oh, hush! for the yellow rose is-Sorrow,
And the nightshade flower is-Silence,

And the cypress bough is-Death.'

TIME passed swiftly on, and brought with it a break up of the party at the Hall. Raymond could no longer neglect the very little business with which he pretended to occupy himself, and went reluctantly back to town, not having made as much progress in his wooing as he could have wished. It was not only that Dagmar's feelings were hard to touch, but his own needed so much arousing. He resolved to try what absence would do, and departed, promising to come back at Christmas.

Agnes Morrison went to her aunt at Brighton for the winter, and Maurice Claughton, perhaps finding a stationary existence somewhat dull, went off to visit some of the English lions, also promising to come back in December.

The family at the Hall were genuinely sorry to lose him. He had become more one of themselves than they had at first imagined possible, and no one who saw his frankly affectionate manner towards Mr. and Mrs. Tyndal would have believed in the shy stiffness which he had shown on his first arrival. Nevertheless the shyness was there, though much in obeyance, and every now and then a chance word or allusion would freeze him up for a time into incomprehensible gloom and stateliness.

But as a rule he was excellent company, and good friends, in a fitful sort of fashion, with Dagmar, and always admired, followed, and looked up to, by Dick.

The repairs at the Court went on but slowly, and were being well and thoroughly done. Some eccentricities the Squire and his ex-ward managed to commit between them, for Mr. Tyndal was apt to give his opinions at random, and Maurice was almost absurdly docile-up to a certain point.

But he would never consent to alter a plan once made, or counterorder what he had once ordered. He would hasten to carry out a suggestion of his old friend's as if he had no will of his own; but the thing once begun or even ordered, was as the laws of the Medes and Persians, and altered not.

Remonstrance then was wasted upon Maurice. He never argued or got angry, but he never wavered; and what was done could not be undone. It seemed that he could not change his mind.

Poor Simpson, the gardener, came in for a share of the effects of this peculiarity; for no intercession on the part of the Squire could undo what his hasty speeches had brought about. Maurice was grieved to vex him, but seemed to think it altogether out of the question to withdraw his dismissal. He gave Simpson a handsome present of money, and Mr. Tyndal contrived to get him another situation, and a new gardener reigned over the new hothouses that were fast being raised on the ruins of the old.

When the family party reassembled at Christmas-time no one was more welcome or more glad to come back than Maurice Claughton. He turned out the great boxes which he had brought with him from abroad, and which had never been opened till now, and showered curious and valuable trifles on everybody. The simple homely life at the Hall at this festive season was altogether new and delightful to him, and he flung himself into it with heart and soul.

Raymond was not so happy. He had only spoken the truth when he said that he cordially disliked Christmas-time, and after a very short visit, in which he had unavoidably seen more of Agnes and less of Dagmar than he wished, or thought advisable, he went back once more to town.

And now followed the long quiet winter and spring, during which there was little intercourse with the outside world.

The workmen still had possession of the Court, and seemed in no hurry to relinquish it, and the owner thereof would have been puzzled to find a corner in which to bestow his head under his own roof.

He made one or two suggestions as to the propriety of betaking himself elsewhere, but was pressed to stay where he was with such unfeigned cordiality that he must needs yield.

He bought a couple of good horses, which were stabled up at the Court, and Dagmar and her father showed him the way about the country in many long pleasant rides. He threw himself heart and soul into the management of his estates, and did a good deal of miscellaneous reading. And further he produced a portfolio of hurried sketches taken in different places during his wanderings, and proceeded to turn them into very tolerable oil-paintings. No one could doubt that he had plenty of occupation to prevent his feeling dull; yet he had always time to find himself casually in the stable yard when Dagmar went to feed what she called her animals,' and though they rarely started to walk together, Dagmar was very seldom suffered to come home alone.

6

She did not find this new companionship unpleasant, though their conversation was sometimes stiff, sometimes pugnacious, and only now and then abruptly friendly and confidential.

Dick had always been her favourite companion, and she viewed Maurice Claughton much as she might Dick's elder brother, equally good to be tyrannized over and to serve as an escort, and more interesting by virtue of his travels and varied experiences.

One day, as Dagmar, followed by a groom, was riding slowly through one of the lanes near the Court, her horse suddenly started and pricked up its ears. A sound of flying feet was heard in the! field on one side of the lane, and the next instant a tall chestnut and his rider came gallantly over the stiff fence and alighted in the lane not many yards in front of the young lady.

Her horse was a little startled, and the new-comer rode swiftly up as if to her assistance, though none was really needed.

It was Maurice Claughton, his face all in a glow of pleasant excitement, with eyes that danced even while he expressed his penitence for having given Miss Tyndal such a start.

'Oh, I am all right,' she said, in her frank way. 'But that is an awkward fence. I think my father would say that you were rash.'

I am just learning what our English hunters can do,' he answered gaily. It is glorious fun-as good as having wings. I have ridden many kinds of animals in my time, but never anything like this, as you may imagine.'

'Nevertheless, if the Chevalier had arrived in the lane on his nose I might have been startled to some purpose,' she answered, smiling. 'I believe most of the hunt rather fight shy of that particular quarter of a mile of fencing-which they say was put up on purpose to keep them out.'

'Oh! I shall join the hunt next year,' he said, turning his horse to ride by her side. 'I would not do it this year, for fear I should commit some unpardonable bétise, such as my foreign bringing up alone could have accounted for.'

Then you must learn caution,' said Dagmar, with a little air of motherly sedateness. My father talks very severely now and then about young men who have no value for their own necks; and if he had seen you just now

'No man can die till his day comes,' answered Maurice lightly. 'Surely I have not knocked about half over the world to come to grief in a quiet English lane. May I ask where you are going?'

'I am riding over to Shardbrook, to see the place where Simpson has gone the man who used to be gardener at the Court."

'Oh! yes. I remember he went to some place of that name,' answered Maurice, with cheerful unconsciousness of a slight hint of disapproval in her tone. How far is it?'

[ocr errors]

About twelve miles. I promised his wife and little daughter that I would go and see them in their new home.'

'I will go with you, if I may. May I?'

If you think that they would care to see you,' said Dagmar, so significantly that Maurice looked at her for a moment in wonder.

« AnteriorContinuar »