A MERE SCRATCH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 819, 19 January 1867, Page 3

A MERE SCRATCH.

IN EIGHT CHAPTERS. CHAPTER VI. (From " All the Year Round" for October.) The worthy butler had been right ; but not sufficiently right. Miss Vann's faintishness had deepened into a swoon, and her aunt's chamber, to which she had been carried, was a scene of some anxiety. As she regained consciousness, however, Mrs. Turnover gradually cleared the apartment of all extraneous company, and the consequence was that Esther's first accents, on recovering her faculties, were heard by ber aunt alone. Scarcely had the bright ey°s re-opened, when they were filled with a wild alarm. " Is — is he — aunt, tell me — is he safe ?" she gasped. "Yes — yes, dear — safe enough," Mrs. Turnover hastened to reply. "Keep quiet, I hear Mr. Fanshaw " She went to the door and called softly. Mr. Fanshaw's voice was heard in faint response. "Is master bit? That brute's fangs ain't touched him at all, have they ?" To this leading question Mr. Fanshaw was fortunately able to reply in good faith : "No, Mrs. Turnover. Make yourself quite heasy, mam. They have not." Esther's ears had caught the welcome word. "God be praised !" she uttered, fervently ; then, once more turning deadly white, sank back upon the pillow. Mrs. Turnover administered new restoratives, and soon saw the colour returning. "Well, you are a one, I must say," the good lady could not heip remarking, "So bold when there was danger, and such a coward, now there's none ! But, there now, never mind, lie you still for half an hour — and — then Mercy, girl, what's this ?" added Mrs. Turnover, turning almost as pale as her patient had done a minute before. " That?" cried Esther, laughing. "My dear aunt, nothing. A mere scratch." " Not from the clog ?" '■'•Dog! No — no — no, dear. Calm yourself," said Esther, hastily. " I was plucking a rose, Sir George addressed me suddenly, and I got a scratch — that's all." " Lor, what a turn it giv' me !" said her aunt, .sitting down on the bed, withherhand on her portly side. "No wonder, for there's all the mark of the beast's foam close to it, on your wristband. I shall take and snip it off." She did so, and also washed and bound up the passive hand, to all of which Esther submitted placidly. "And now," said Mrs. Turnover, "I must go and titivate myself a bit. I 'spects somebody else will be a-wantin' of me." (I wonder if Fanshaw's giv' the letter !) "Now, you lay quiet as a mouse for half an hour. I shall putt myself to rights in Dolly's room, so's not to worrit you, a-bobbing about. Get a sleep if you can, if 'tis only a wink." Not even the relief obtainable from a nap of this duration was yet vouchsafed to Esther. She did, indeed, close her eyes, until her aunt, after a minute's rummage among the treasures of her wardrobe, trotted off to an adjoining room, and closed the door. Then, however, she rose from the bed, and kneeling beside it, poured out her soul in gratitude to the great Defender, who had, through her feeble hand, turned aside so great a peril. Then, in the reaction that succeeds intense excitement, sleep deigned to visit her. A few minutes had elapsed, when the dpor of the apartment to which Mrs. Tnrn-

over had retired, opened softly, and displayed that lady listening, and lacing her stays. Finding all quiet, she advanced a step or two in the direction of Esther's room, and this enables us to record the fact that the good lady usually wore, under her dress, an uncertain-coloured petticoat, which might be described as pepper-and-salt, with a dash of mustard, and whose brevity authorises the addition that she regarded black cotton stockings, with grey worsted tops, as becoming and economical wear. . What article of dress the lady had forgotten to take from her drawer, is not material to this narrative. She deemed it essential, since, with great care and pains, she made her way noiselessly into the chamber, and was stretching out her hand to the half-opened drawer, when a murmur from the sleeper's lips caught her ear. She stopped. Again the.murmur. It sounded, this time, like somebody's name. • « Eh ! — Wha—at ?" said Mrs. Turnover, softly. "Whatstho.tr She had advanced just beyond the certain of Esther's couch, and, by merely revolving , on the stately pedestals we have already referred to as clothed in black and grey, without moving from her place, could distinguish Esther's face. The cheek was flushed, and, even in sleep, a tear was upon it, while her lips moved in feverish action. For a moment, her words were inaudible, then shaped themselves into : "Safe!— Safe! — My ljfe! —My more than life ! — George !" She breathed a profound sigh, and sank into quiet rest. " Well — I — never" were the first words the listener's quivering lips attempted to frame. After a moment, Mrs. Turnover appeared to rally her disordered thoughts. She faced the bed. As she gazed on the pretty sleeper, a tear crept into her eye, and if something in the facial angle did direct it down the nose instead of the cheeks, there was no less honour due to the generous source from whence it came. Then she glanced at the half- open drawer, and the reflection: "How lucky 'twas I come back for my bustle ! How things do bob up unexpectedly !" passed through her mind. With that, the kind soul turned, and observing, if possible, double caution, stole back to the chamber she had left. Good woman ! If Turnover could see you now, that often-quoted man must have acknowledged his confidence in your frank and single-hearted nature not misplaced, and that the most complimentary of all his last .speeches did not exceed your desert. That Mrs. Turnover did not experience a pang of disappointment, is not pretended. The credit claimed for her is mainly due to the readiness with which she confessed to herself that, whatever might be the issue of Esther's attachment, the fact of its existence was an absolute and insuperable bar to her own pretensions. " Pretty, sweet creetur !" said Mrs. Turnover, as she finished her lacing before the glass, and saw (but she was not apostrophising that) a large coarse torso in the aforesaid dirt-coloured petticoat, and a square head with short grizzled hair. " Lord bless my soul ! what an old gaby I had nearly gone and been ! Cunning little 'ussy that you be ! You'd never ha' told me — not you ! And think of all that purtence of anger last night, and wouldn't even stoop — my lady wouldn't — to open the door for him ! And she'd on'y seen his pictur', a'ter all ! Well, love's a queer thing ! There goes the cussed string !" Lace renewed, and Mrs. Turnover continued : " ' George] she called him ! Well, people is bold, asleep !" The good lady hastily completed her toilette, resuming her original or working garments, and, after one peep at the still slumbering Esther, hurried down stairs in search of Mr. Faushaw. That gentleman's movements, since we last saw him, had been characterised by considerable indecision. . The important letter had been confided to him, with instructions to use his own discretion in the mode of delivery. But for this mysterious addition, the worthy man would, no doubt, have adopted the common-sense course of placing it beside his master's other letters on the breakfast-table. As, however, this proceeding seemed to demand no particular exercise of discretion or delicacy of touch, Mr. Fanshaw at once rejected it, as a nonfulfilment of his mission, and, wandering about with the document in his hand, speculated within how on earth Cupid's postmen usually executed their office. During his hesitation the letter-bag arrived, uncommonly full. A moment afterwards, the footman entered with some DrenMast articles. " Master's coming down, Mr. Fanshaw." "Is he? Anchovy toast. Run, Thomas — quick !" said the butler, hurriedly. His eye had rested on the silver muffin-dish, and an idea, bright as its own beaming cover, occurred to him. He lifted it, hesitated — would it grease ? Sir George's step approached. In his flurry, Mr. Fanshaw dropped the note on the muffin. There was no time to recover it ; he replaced the cover. The baronet entered, glanced hastily over the ranks of letters, looked relieved, and sat down to breakfast. At this instant, Mr. Fanshaw, standing opposite, caught sight of the portly figure of Mrs. Turnover, executing, outside the half-open door, a series of wild and agitated movements, the object of which he could only interpret as either a request to know if he had yet presented the letter, or nn injunction to do it, if he had not. So earnest grew the pantomime, that Mr. Fanshaw made a movement to withdraw, and join her. "Stay a moment, Fanshaw," said his master, who had opened a letter. Unable to explain further, the butler gave Mrs. Turnover a reassuring smile, and significantly pushed the muffin-dish nn inch or so nearer to his master. Finding this had not the tranquillising effect he expected, Mr. Fanshaw, observing that Sir George was still absorbed in his letter, ventured to raise the lid, just sufficiently to afford the anxious lady an opportunity of; noticing the promising aspect of affairs, while at the same time he directed a triumphant glance through the door. In acknowledgment, Mrs. Turnover threw up her arms in some species of ecstacy, flung her apron over her head, and staggered away. Mr. Fanshaw stared after her in some perplexity. "Now, that didn't sim like j'y," was his reflection. He began to wish he could regain the letter. "Fanslmw!" " Yes, Sir George." "Fanshaw! Oh, you will present my

compliments to Miss Vann, and beg her, when she has fully recovered, to afford me an opportunity of expressing my acknowledgments of the great service she has this day rendered to me, and, indeed, to all my household." "Yes, Sir George." " Stay, give me a muffin." " Muffin, Sir George ?" « Muffin." At that supreme moment 1 the butler was conscious of the re-appearance of Mrs. Turnover, now in an unmistakable attitude of despair, while Dolly, equally agitated, peeped over her shoulder. It was, however, too late. Mr. Fanshaw had placed the fatal dish within reach, and was preparing to beat a precipitate retreat. " Take off the cover," said George. Mr. Fanshaw obeyed. One glance revealed the fact that the steam-saturated, letter had begun to imbibe the rich fluid below, and, having once tasted thereof, was rapidly becoming inebriated. " Why, what in the name of——" began George, lifting it curiously with his fork. "Here, take this away! Something has got into it." " Bless me, so there be !" cried the butler, as he whipped off the dish, muttering something about " the baker." "Lor! What a providence!" gasped Mrs. Turnover, as Mr. Fanshaw presented her with the recovered treasure, dish and all. Snatching off the letter, the good woman hurried away. For some time after he had finished both his letters and his breakfast, the young baronet remained at the table, immersed in thought. With an effort, he rose and went into his study. There he took two or three restless turns, then rang the bell, and flung himself into a chair. "Now for my fate," he muttered. A servant appeared. " Desire the coo " George checked himself. ' " Say to Mra. Turnover that I shall be glad to see her for a minute." " Mrs. Turnover's awaitin', Sir George," was the prompt reply. " Beg her to come in." Mrs. Turnover, quietly attired, came in. Though on a large scale, and of that general aspect which a fastidious critic might have described in the not uncommon expression "vulgar," the worthy cook was, for her style, a personable woman. It may further be that the consciousness of a generous purpose had imparted to her countenance and manner a degree of softness and dignity not usually to be fbund there. At all events, her young master thought he had never seen her look so comely since the days when, as a schoolboy, he had not disdained to receive surreptitious dainties at that large and liberal hand. " Sit down, I beg," said Sir George. Mrs. TuKnover bobbed a curtsey, and remained standing. "Sit, sit, my good friend," said Sir George, a little impatiently. " Beggin' your pardon, Sir George, was the reply, " I prefer standin'." Sir George rose. Mrs. Turnover cleared her throat, twitched her apron nervously, and began : " I was wishful, Sir George, to give hanser, so quick as I could, to what you was asaying of, last night. I've been considerin' of it, as you bordered, Sir George, and, with my respectful doofcy and thanks, I shall be most 'appy" — George's heart stood still — " for to remain your cook ; but as to being your wife, I'd rayther, when I doos marry, keep to my hone spear." "Of your feelings on such a point, my good Barbara, you must, of course, be the best judge," said the much relieved suitor ; " but do not decide hastily." " 'Tis settled, Sir George ; and I'm very glad to see you take it so kindly, sir. I was af'eard, seeing how earnest you was, that you might be disappointed," said the honest cook. Z George took the good woman's hand, and was hypocrite enough to allow a shade of tranquil resignation to be perceptible in his countenance as he replied, with a melancholy smile, -that it was not his first disappointment, and he should overcome it as he might ; adding, after a decent pause, that he should dine at home that day, and expected two Mends. Mrs. Turnover curtseyed, and prepared to withdraw.; but, pausing a moment, remarked : " Hevcry day I lives, I has occasion to bless them last words has hever issued from the lips of T." " Tea ?" said George, absently. " The same was as follers," resumed Mrs. Turnover. "He was total unconscious. Indeed, we thought he were gone, when, suddenly, he opens one eye, and winks twice ; which meaning ' stunilants,* they was giv', and he says, faintly : 'Fishes don't enjy bilin' water.' Thinking he was a wanderin', we nodded cheerful-like ; but he goes on: .'A diilykid female 'oodn't live long at the bottom of the Harctic Sea.' After that, we thought he ivas going ; but, with a great heffort, poor dear, he just manages to hadd : ' Theer's social differences. While there is, stick to 'em. When there ain't, don't let 'em stick to you. Adoo !' " " Your excellent husband seems to have reserved many results of his experience to a very late moment!" remarked George. "At this precise moment, my mind is, I fear, too fully occupied with selfish thoughts to appreciate them properly. I have this morning escaped an imminent peril" (more than one, his thought suggested), " and I am impatient till I have thanked my deliverer. Is your niece sufficiently recovered to afford me the opportunity ?" Mrs. Turnover considered that, by this time, she was, and would hasten to see if such were the case. "I have played the booby long enough," soliloquised the master of the mansion, left alone. " Honesty and common sense inspire me ! I will toll her the whole truth, and then " Mrs. Turnover had a harder task than she expected. Her niece was indeed awake, and, calmed and invigorated by her unwonted siesta, looked as charming as need be. But the going down — except for the single end of going away — was not to be thought of. At length, Mrs. Turnover lost all patience. " Well, of all the contrniry. creeters I ever did see, you beats all ! You wentered your life to protect hisn — nay, I believe," added Mrs. Turnover, darkly, "you've actinlly been a-dreamin' of him." Esther started. " Child, you loves him ! Won't you go down -stairs?" " If what you say were true, ina'ani," Esther replied, with burning cheeks, " you, of

all people, should be the last to force me into hia presence." " Highfcy-tighty ! Who wants to force your ryal 'ighness ? And why should I be the last to make you do what in your 'art you wishes ?" demanded the cook, losing all. control of her temper. "Now, look here. If you don't go down and be thanked like a reasonable l woman, I'll go to master myself, and tell him flat that you was a-making love to his pictur. Now .'" " Aunt, auut ! I could not have believed that you would have been so cruel— so— so — wicked," said Esther, bursting into tears. " Cruel ! Wicked!"ejaculatedMrs.Turnover, aghast. " Why, what " " To compel me, heling as you say and believe I do, to hold any further intercourse with this gentleman, to whom, miserably for yourself and for him, you are about to be married !" "Hoh! Thafsit? Who said we was going to be married ?" said her aunt, in an altered tone. " Have you not accepted his offer ?" " Who's gone and put that nonsense into your little head ?" asked her aunt, with an assumption of so much innocence that Esther gazed at her in dumb surprise. "Don't you think it possible as I might like .to hear what they'd say below, without railly meaning to»make such a ninny of myself as that comes to ? P'raps I'd a fancy to tease Mrs. Mapes. But, theer, a joke's a joke, and if master had his'n, why, I've had mine." " Ob, aunt, I am so glad !" cried Esther. " How wise ! how prudent ! how disintei'ested!" " But, good gracious, child ! you stand chatterin"here, and master's waiting ! Now, Esther, I insist upon your going instant down. I'm not going to be married to him a bit, and so I've told him. Why, whatever is the matter with the girl ?" continued Mrs. Turnover, flushing with anger and excitement. " You was glib enough to his pictur. As I'm a livin' 'oman, I'll tell him." The movement she made to quit the room decided Esther. "Stay, stay, aunt !" she exclaimed. "I will go down. It will be better — in the end." " Uttering the last words almost in soliloquy, she quitted the room. The dialogue above recorded had allowed Sir George a little time for renewed self-examination and the arrangement of his thoughts, so that, on Miss Vann making her appearance, wearing very much the aspect of an empress whose privacy has been invaded by the exigencies of a public audience, he was prepared to meet her with a dignity equal to — and an ease greater than —her own. Having made his purposed acknowledgments for the service she had, at such imminent personal hazard, rendered to himself and people, (George respectfully bespoke her further attention for a few moments, and thereupon related, without stinfc or pause, the history of his engagement to Miss Mulcaster, its abrupt and hopeless termination, his own mad yielding to a wild and foolish impulse, the attempt he had nevertheless felt it incumbent on him to make, to carry it out, and its failure. In making these humiliating confessions, he trusted his patient hearer would at least give him credit for sincerity of purpose. Had Miss Vann's estimable relation accepted the overture he had been induced to make, nothing should have been wanting on his part that might reconcile her to the duties of her new station. Her reason and foresight, however, which put his entirely to shame, had suggested a course of greater wisdom, and more likely to conduce to the happiness of both, thus leaving him, the speaker, free to— to " "To ?" " To make a fitter choice." Miss Vann must be forgiven for observing that there did not appear to be any choice in the matter. Sir Geoi'ge Gosling had indulged the hope that the course of his remarks would have indicated his having arrived at sounder views : aware of the selfishness which lay at the root of his intemperate vow, he cast it to the winds. Miss Vann was aware that those atmospheric agents possessed a very extensive treasury of the kind, but, nevertheless, entertained doubts as to the legal transfer. That, however, was beyond her province. She would wish Sir George good morning. Sir George considered that it could scarcely prove such to him, unless his hearer ' vouchsafed her attention a little longer. But there was nothing more to say. Her pardon. There was. Everything. How ? Thus. He had frankly described his engagement with Miss Mulcaster, how their intimacy, began in childhood, had ripened into what he had been accustomed to regard as a mutual attachment, and how, on the very threshold of their union, one of the parties had recoiled from the bargain. The blow, thus rudely dealt, had awakened in his heart a serious doubt whether Miss Mulcaster had ever felt towards him as she per-, mitted him to believe ; while the speaker, on his part, was disposed to question whether, in his estimate of her character, he had attached sufficient importance to a certain, weakness and frivolity which underlay her more attractive qualities. In one word, Geoi'ge must acknowledge he no longer adored the idol of his boyhood. He had tested her, and found her mortal. Dreams were over for him. Henceforth, he stooped to truth, to reason, to reality. These — and how much more he would not add — he believed he had discovered in — in her who had so patiently listened to his discourse. During those appeals and explanations, to which George's historian has done but indifferent justice, the mind of bis hearer had fluctuated not a little. Touched at length to the heart by his frank and earnest mannc, she ended by believing every syllable. Strange and sudden as was the attachment he had formed for her, something seemed to whisper her that ifc was of more genuine and natural growth than that from whose ashes it had sprung ; and if the exciting circumstances of the hour had led to a somewhat premature declaration, had she a right to dispute it on that ground alone,? ' After a moment's hesitation, breaking into a bright smile, she gave him her hand. It -"was the left. George happened to be superstitious oh this subject. He hesitated : " A half. forgiveness ?" he asked, smiling. She held out the other. "Good Heavens, what is this?" ex-

claimed the youiig mari,^tWn^i»g;tonly?o^ the dog. 1 :-/■■• '-;• • '-{'/^. "Nothing. The rose,"; sa|'Eßi|'ep;-^-:?^;i George was much relieved. , >H©J : -Jsj?fc':" ; : the little hand tenderly, and^sedit.;y ;^, ; There followed a Httle farther; coii^e^^ sation, with which we v Have no oihej c6n~'C cern than to know that it reisulted. in an understanding that the engagement ; (for 1 such it must now be considered) should be kept secret for a period of twelve calendair r ; ; months, subsequently reduced , six, and ;. ultimately, on, petition, to ;three T 'during ;: which no communication" whatever. was J>f>.take place between the contracting : To this last condition Miss Vann held firm.,; Sir George was to enjoy a period of three-.;: months for undisturbed self-examination. : ; : If, then, the impression that^ he now a knew;., his own mind was sufficiently confirmed,.hewould use" his discretion as to , announcing the engagement; but any word o£ marriage, or allusion to that event, within one twelvemonth, was to nullify the whole transaction. Article the last. Sir George was to order the carriage forth with.. . - He did so, and led. the young lady to the. door, still looking wistfully at the bandaged hand. ..--.».-■ " I fear you are suffering more than you will confess ?" he said. "I do not feel it at all," replied Esther, with her radiant smile. "I shall send to inquire the' progress of the cure." . . \ ■ '.-.; , ■ "It will be your last communication, then," said Esther. " our con-.. ditions." /> , , - „ " Nay, but lam really anxious "'■ . • " Nonsense,", said Esther, laughing,* " a mere scratch !"

Extract of Meat.— An establishment for manufacturing an extract of meat has been set up at Wide Bay by Mr. Robert Tooth. The product is not at preset in-' tended for consumption in the colony, being all engaged for export to England. The operations are undertaken in connection -with an English company, who have also ■ an establishment in South America. The process is identical with, or similar to one discovered and patented by Dr. Liebig, the celebrated analytical chemist. By it all the essential principles of the meat is preserved and concentrated in a small compass. It will keep for any length of time and in any climate. A gomewhat similar, manufacture though of a less concentrated article, .has also been for some time carried on by Mr. Whitehead. — Sydney Mail. Capt. Kidd's Treasures. — The Van-: kees, never at. a loss for a new invention, have formed a joint-stock company, with a large capital, to search for Captain Kidd's treasures ! Kidd was a pirate of the 17th century, who was said to have buried enormous amounts of plunder in neglected places along the shores of New England. This enterprising company have already begun to sink a well on the coast of Connecticut, and are guided by the son. of a man who, • ' when living, was supposed to be in Captain Kidd's confidence. This Quixotic enterprise, although so chimerical, has many devoted believers in New England. Alterations ix Steamer dates. — -lit consequence of February being a short, month, an alteration will take place in the arrivals and departures of the Inter-provin-cial mail steamers. It is also nptified:that* the steamer for Panama will arrive from Sydney on the sth, and sail for Panama on the 6 th. The Suez portion of the February homeward mail will be despatched on the 15th. On and after the Ist March the present dates of arrival and departure will be resumed. — Advertiser. H.M.S. Challenger has returned from Tauranga to Auckland, where, withtheexception of the Esk, all the vessels of. the Australian fleet are now assembled. The Auckland papers state that the Challenger will shortly proceed on a cruise to "Hobart Town, so that the report of the fleet coming to Wellington is unfounded. The New Audit Act, which came into operation on the Ist instant, requires that every warrant for money to be paid out of the Provincial Revenue, shall be first examined and signed by. the auditor, and imposes a penalty of £500 on the treasurer who pays any money until that examination has duly taken place and the signature affixed.