THE BROWN-PAPER PARCEL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1075, 17 August 1869, Page 4

THE BROWN-PAPER PARCEL.

IK Fiyß CHAPTBRB.-—CHAPTEB V. (From " All the Year Bound,") Thb result of the above conversation was that, early in the afternoon of the following day, the village street of Farley was enlivened by the appearance of Mr. Langley's barouche, with Mrs. Lester inside. The powdered footman attached to this equipage, descending at the curate's door, gave such a succession of bangs with the rarely used i knocker, that the whole house shook, and poor Mrs.' Mackworth nearly jumped out of her chair. In another moment the openeyed maid-servant had shown in Mrs. Lester: a mass of black velvet and white fur, ; so nowing and voluminous that the tiny square parlour seemed, hardly large enough to contain her drapery. I :. Mrs, Mackworth, always gentle and selfpossessed, was not at all discomposed by this apparition, nor by the consciousness of her; own well-worn merino, and the ungainly basket of tattered garments, which lay, as usual, at her feet. Mary was in the kitchen, her sleeves tucked up and her arms all over flour, engaged in the manufacture of certain cakes, the recipe for which she had obtained from Mrs, Halroyd's cook, and which were destained to tempt Cilia's fanciful appetite at supper. She was singing gaily at her . work, when Cilia, burst in, her pale cheeks flushed scarlet, her blue eyes dancing with excitement. "Mary! Mary! What do you think? Mrs. Lester is here— in the parlour with mamma— oh ! my hair Imy hair !" " Oh ! my cakes ! my cakes !" said Mary ; "however they're in a state that they can be left, luckily." And as soon as she could free her hands from flour, and divest herself of the great apron which defended her dress, she helped to arrange those bright tanglesome locks of Cilia's which never would He flat, but which happily looked all the prettier for disarray. The sisters entered together to hear Mrs. Mackworth saying : "It is very, very kind, and it would be a great pleasure to the girls, and my son too-r-but I. don't know." "I must get them to intercede," said Mrs. Lester, as she shook hands with Mary and gave a kind greeting to Cilia: "My brother has charged me to say how much he hopes you will all come to his ball on the 13th. Mrs. Mackworth says it is out of the question for herself or Mr. Mackworth ; but as I tell her, I should be charmed to be your chaperone. Persuade her to let you come." . . Mary and Cilia looked at each other, and never did two pair of eyes beam with greater delight. But then Mary glanced at her mother. . . "If you don't mind our going, mammo, I can manage everything," said Mary, in a low voice. The end of the discussion was that Mrs. Mackworth promised to consult her husband, and, if he gave his consent; to allow her daughters and son to go to this famous ball. :^ ;-< -.?■ ■■ -V.-v. So when the curate came home in the evening, he found all- his household in a state of 'feminine --bustle ; a snowy shower of muslin heaped on the sofa ; and a bewildering mass of ribbons and tapes lying on the table;;' As he stood amazed at the door, Cilia danced up/ to. him, all excitement, with 1 the wonderful news that they were going to the Nettlehurst ball ; Mary hastily adding that it depended on whether he liked them to do so. 11 My dears, do you really wish to go ? Won't you feel very much at a loss ? You can't dance, any of you." "Can't we, indeed?" cried Mary, "haven't I sat by and seen Carrie and Archie figuring away under Mr. Caracol, every Friday of my life for the last two years ? I will undertake to coach Harry and Cilia — if we may, papa." • "But your clothes? Where is the mo-, ney for them to come from ?" ; "I believe Mary is a conjuror," said her mother; "she produced all this finery at a moment's'notice." And then Mary began explaining how she had bought the white muslin some months before, when she found it necessary to have a best evening, dress for Carrie's birthday, and how, just as she had done so, Mrs. Halroyd had made her a present of another white muslin, ready made up, silk under skirt, and all. " So the new muslin will just come in for Cilia, and she can have the silk petticoat, 1 ' said Mary, eagerly; "and all this green ribbon, her own favourite green, will run under the muslin-— all about— so. How lucky I brought it for her l" "And yourself, Mary?" asked the curate, who had listened with some amusement to this explanation. v - Oh ! my dres3 will do up nicely : I can make it quite fresh with a little ironing and plaiting," said Mary, briskly. " Only say we may, papa!" . Though all papa said was " Foolish children!" it , was saicl with a smile which jnade : his daughters fly around him with kisses and delighted thanks. A very pleasant little note from Mrs. Lester arrived a few days before the ball, hoping that they would allow the brougham to^b&ysent for them, and reminding the ~ sisters that they were to consider themselves in her cWge for the evening. At last came the great day itself; and a busy, bustling, happy day it was, such as young ladies who go habitually to two or three balls a week can form no idea of. '. Such a peipejiual buzz of chatter and laughfag! wenfcpn, /«» have driven the wild, bjit for his ■ peculiar power of abßtrac.tin|[ himself from what went on about him. But even he showed some interest when the girls made their appearance in the parlour early in the evening, readyjdressed, in: order that they might not keep thej>rpughaqi one moment waiting. La^rry and Jack, who Bad Insisted on the . unwonted extravagance, of two pairs of candles, in order that their sisters' magnifi.j cehce might appear to advantage, capered ; 'w about in ft high state of excitement, in dan-' ')■■■'.'. /: i&=^ ■*;-;■.' Jj"-i hs} ; .^^,< \ "•'.■■ ;:; V' ; >^ -"'y; -

,gerous. proximity to the -floating muslin robes. " You really -are worth looking at, I must say," cried Mr. Mackwortb, smiling approvingly ; while his wife's eyes glistened with, pride at sight of her bright pair of girls. "Doesn't Cilia look charming P" Mary cried, her eyes riveted on her sister : who certainly did look remarkably pretty in the white draperies, exquisitely fresh and crisp, as if the sewing and trimming had been performed by fairy fingers; wav^ lines of green, pale yet bright, wandered about under the muslin, and peeped out more decidedly in the folds ot the bodice ; and a wreath of real holly enoircled the small head, only the green, white-speckled leaves in front, and a few bright berries mixing with her soft, loose hair at the back, like coral set in gold. Mary's best care and skill had not been able to give her own often-worn dress quite the fresh, full sit of her sister's, but it was well made and appropriate, and a; few bright dashes of holly trimmed it here .and there, matching the wreath,- in; 'which, mindful of her own dark colouring; 1 11 had left a larger number of berries HhaV she had allowed to Cilia. Nothing could have been more becoming than the rich full colour was to her; and at her openly expressed admiration of Cilia, the parents exchanged a smile which meant that Mary herself was by no means unworthy of being admired and sought after. Harry appeared to less advantage than his sisters. It was not in Mary's power to make bis dress anything 1 very first rate ; and be was at the age when a lad is painfully conscious that he has ceased to be a boy, and is a very poor imitation of a man. The brougham arrived, the trio started, and, after a rather nervous and silent drive through the dark lanes, entered the gates of ISfettlehurst, and came in sight of the house, blazing with lights : the conservatory, with its coloured lamps and lovely- flowers, looking like an enchanted palace. The library was the reception-room, as the drawing-room was given up to the dancers. At the door stood Mrs. Lester, in the handsome black robes which she had never cast off since her early widowhood. Her cordial greeting set the fluttered girls at once at their ease. The brougham had been sent so early that they were almost the first arrivals. Very soon Mr. Langley joined them : "I am so very glad to see you here," he said to Mary ; " I was afraid Mr. Mackworth would not let you come now." "He was very glad for us to have the pleasure," said Mary. " Yes, but I feared that now perhaps he might change his mind. It would have been very cruel." " But why should he ?" asked Mary, bewildered. | " Have you not heard ?" Mr. Lang- ! ley was beginning ; but a fresh arrival called him away, and the guests began rapidly to I assemble. It was a great amusement to Mary to 'watch them, and to see so many people who had hitherto been only names to her. All the higiher class of professional people from Brigham were the first to arrive ; and a little later the county families, of whom there were many, Mary noticed with what marked cordiality they appeared to welcome the banker into their ranks, and her heart swelled with a feeling of pride, for which she laughed at herself, as she recalled all she had lately heard her father and brother | say of the high reputation for honor, liberality, and public spirit which Mr. Langley ! had always borne. "As if I had any right to feel proud of htm !" she thought, and then glanced at Cilia, the real object of her pride ; and a delightful vision began to float before her, dispersed in a moment as she remembered how papa would despise such castle building. Mrs. Lester did not forget her young charges : she had promised her brother to be kind to them, and she thoroughly' 'ful-l filled her promise. She had little difficulty' 'n finding partners for two such attractive girls ; and indeed when Cilia had once been' noticed, her chaperone had numerous applications for an introduction. Mary's bright eyes danced with pleasure as she watched her sister, and Mrs. Lester looked at her often and with much interest. " She is the nicest girl I ever saw in my life," Mrsj Lester thought : " and if it is to be, I won't forbid the banns. Still, it would be a pity." And she glanced at her brother who was dancing with a very handsome girl, daughter to one of the county magnates. It was not until late in the evening that Mr. Langley came up to Mary again. Cilia, who had just been dancing, was resting on a seat, looking flushed and weary, but full of enjoyment. Mary bad had her share of dancing too; Harry alone had found the evening rather slow. " Won't you come and have something to eat ? The hall is open now." Mary and Mr. Langley passed into the conservatory, which opened also into the hall, now converted into a supper-room. "What a crowd of people!" he said, pausing.' "Don't you think it would be better to stay here among the orange-trees than to plunge into that hungry multitude ? Shall I get you something ? An ice ?" "If you please," said Mary, and they were soon comfortably established on two low green seats in the conservatory. The coloured lamps twinkled among the dark foliage, bright figures passed and repassed, a soft continuous ripple of voice and laughter mingled with the music from the ballroom. "I have been trying to get near you all this evening, but I have been obliged to attend to so many people. I hope my sister has taken care of you." "She has been so very kind, and my sister and I have enjoyed ourselves extremely." " I suppose it is her first ball — and yours too. Is it?" Mary laughed : " Our first, and probably our last.. You do not know what a treat you have given us : it was so very kind of you and Mrs. Lester to think of asking us." " Kind ?" he repeated, smiling ; "it was very kind of you to come, I think." "By-the-by," asked Mnry, suddenly, " what did you menu by asking me if we had heard something ?" " You have not heard it, evidently," said Mr. Langley, hesitating. "I am sorry I said anything about it. Is there no second post at Farley ?" : " Not unless we send to Brigham." i : J £ kat accQunta for it ; they wrote to tell

me as soon as it happened. Poor old Dr. Lowther died yesterday morning." Mary felt shocked. "I had no idea he was really ill," she said in an awe-struck voice., 4 • It is the old story of boy and wolf," said Mr. Langley. " Poor old fellow ! I really fancy he might have lived, to ninety if he could have thoughi JeS|^b||t.;his health $ but a man can^go >,£ti : ttl^|||prsio all his life without takii^-'tDp mucft; wit at last." "Poor Dr. L6w!t.her! t hardly knew him, butheused-to be kind to us when we were little. Once he gate me a prayerbook. I wonder," Maty added, after a pause, " who our new rector will be P* Mr. Langley hesitated. Mary looked up, and saw something in bis face which made her fancy that her remark had been somehow mal-apropos. " I beg your pardon," she said, instinctively. " For what ?" he asked, amused by her perplexity ; " I only thought that perhaps you knew the Farley living to be in my gift. I bought it with the Nettlehurst estate. I hoped— l do hope — " Mr. Langley hesitated. "Do you think that Mr. Mackworth would kindly undertake the responsibility ? He has long done all the work, I know." Mary's breath was absolutely taken away by surprise and emotion. She looked up with a wondering, incredulous gaze : then tried to speak $ then stopped, and nearly broke down altogether. " Mr, Langley brought her a glass of water. "I am ashamed of myself," she said, as soon as she could ; then his looks of warm interest encouraging her to speak frankly, she went on. "But you don't know the relief ! You don't know what life has been all these years for papa and mamma, Cilia and Harry . They will thank you better than I can." She held out her hand, looking up to him with glad tearful eyes. Mr. Langley pressed the hand warmly, as if the thanksgiving look had gone to his heart. " Nobody need thank me, Heaven knows, except the people of Farley. What would they be without Mr. Mackworth ? I believe the rectory is in pretty good repair, and the garden well kept up ; but Mr. Mackworth and I must go over it together. "It is perfect," said Mary, as a vision of the pleasant roomy house and bowery garden rose before her". " Thank you, thank you ! You may think I care a great deal about money, but it is not that. It is such pain to see one's own dear people wanting anything, and not to be able to give it to them." " You will, at all events, be freed from your slavery now, I hope," said Mr. Langley. Mary looked surprised. " I have nothing to complain of, though it will be nice to be at home of course, nicer than anything." " A fine lad your brother is. Does he think of the church ?" " No, he wishes for the army, but lately he has been thinking of going into Mr. Bagshawe's office. He hated the idea, but he wouldn't trouble papa with making difficulties. He is so unselfish," said the sister, proudly. "But there will be no trouble about the army now, thanks to you." Mr. Langley was touched by this simple girl's great idea of the capabilities of their new income. "How should /feel ?" he thought, "if I were obliged to live on nine hundred a yeai- ! Well ; this lad's commission may be a means of paying my fire hundred pounds." " You will let me come to-morrow ?" he said aloud : " I must see your father, and go over the rectory with him ; and I shall see you too, shall I not ?" "Certainly," said Mary; "I don't go back to London until the 20th. " And then only to say good-bye to it, I hope. A new dance is beginning, will you come ?" „ As Mary rose, she could not help saying, [ " I seem! to have been talking of nothing but my home concerns." ";. '"You could not have" given me greater was the answer. " Miss Mackworth, I must say it. Whatever happens hereafter, I shall never forget what I owe to that brown-paper parcel." At night, when all the guests were gone, Mr. Langley, pncingthe deserted conservatory with a cigar, musec l much aa follows. " She is too grateful to me — by far too grateful. When she looked up at me with those innocent thankful eyes, I could hardly help speaking then and there ; but I must wait till she forgets that I am something of a benefactor, and only remembers me as a friend. Please God, the best friend she will ever have ! 0 blessings on the fog, and on the snow, and on the brown-paper parcel, and on the hansom, and on everything else. And blessing on old Lowther, wherever he is now, for going off at the convenient moment ! Well, to-morrow I shall see her again — those clear eyes that went straight to my heart in the cold and dark that day ,• and the sweet smile, and the earnest quiet mouth, worth all her sister's beauty, twenty thousand times ! If her heart is not too full of father and mother, and sister and brothers, to leave one corner for meT Well, I must hope and try, and I shall see her again tomorrow." And at the same hour, Mary, who kept her precious secret for the morrow to disclose, lying wakeful beside her sleeping sister, poured out her earnest thanksgivings for troubles over, and peace beginning. " How kind he is !" she thought with tears, " How nicely he spoke of Harry ! How he listened when I talked so much I How could I talk so much to a stranger ? But somehow, I don't feel as if he were a stranger : I feel as if he must belong to us some day. Is that prophetic, I wonder ! Is he to be the knight I have always dreamed of, who was to come and carry off my Cilia ? May be. And yet, I don't know. There are some people in the world who seem too good for any one — even for Cilia."