Brownebrook.

Otago Witness, Issue 1190, 19 September 1874, Page 18

Brownebrook.

A STORY OP COLONIAL LIFE.* Chapter VI. I hope I shall not fall in the estimation of those of my friends who may read this manuscript, when I say that I had by this time entered heart and soul into my brother John's views as regarded Mary Raynor ; that I stood pledged to give him all the assistance in my power ; and that I knew I could easily prevail upon my »ood kind husband to help me in befriending him and the lovely young creature to whom he had given his heart. I hope, once more, that I shall not fall in the estimation of any of my friends who read this, when I tell them that, immediately j after luncheon, I sent for Mary Raynor, and took her up to my room, where we had a long conversation ; that, at the close of this conversation, I was charmed beyond measure with the simplicity, purity, and elegance of this young girl's mind, and that I was more than ever confirmed in my resolution of standing by her and John, and of doing what I could to induce my mother to consent to their marriage. If Ido so fall in the estimation of these friends of mine, I am sorry for it, but I cannot help it ; all I can say is, that they never saw Mary Raynor. In thinking over every argument which could be brought forward to aid John's cause with my mother, my mind glanced at one or two instances among our near neighbours of marriages quite unequal in point of rank, but which hid turned out happily. There are Sir Thomas and Lady Falcon, thought I — apparently, no prouder man breathing than Sir Thomas ; and his wife is admired and received everywhere, and entertains the best society. Who was she ? People who meet with her in a general way don't know ; but we, who have lived all our lives within a mile or two of the Falcons, know very well that she was the only daughter of old blind Mullins, who used to live with his wife and child in that pretty little cottage with the willows round it, down in the swampy corner between this and Falcon Hall. Old Mullins and his wife supported themselves by basket-making, and Lucy was a lovely little creature, and used to help them. From the moment Sir Thomas (then a handsome young baronet, with no parents to look after him) first noticed Lucy, he used to ride past the little cottage by the willows much oftener than he need have done ; he began by looking at her, and he endedby making her Lady Falcon one quiet morning in the parish church. The old couple dying soon after this, the Falcons went away to the Continent, where they stayed for five years ; and when they returned at the end of that time, all the country people called on her. They all — every one of them — gave their own reasons for doing so ; but the truth is, that, like a flock of sheep, where one jumped, they all followed ; and from that day to this, Lady Falcon has held her own with the best of them, and is quite a match for Sir Thomas in pride and dignity. I thought of other gentlemen of our acquaintance, besides Sir Thomas, who had married beneath them, and whose wives we visited; but I could think of none in all the country who, for beauty and gentleness, could compare with Mary Raynor. It was late that day when the carriage leturned from Landbourne. There had been a great deal of shopping, and, on the way home, they had called at Grassmount to see the Overburys. This had detained them, and it was quite dark before they arrived at Lane Court. As I knew my mother would be much surprised at not seeing Catherine Green in attendance at the dinner-table (where she was generally assisted by Betsy and a very small boy in buttons, whom I had quite forgotten to mention, and who was an embyro butler in training by Mrs. Tansy), I went at once to her room and imparted the disagreeable intelligence of the circumstances attending the sisters' absence. " How unfortunate ! — how particularly unfortunate !" exclaimed my mother. " I am very sorry for the Greens, but for ourselves the accident is hardly less untoward. While we were in Landbourne to-day, I received a note from Birmingham from Mr. Icing, the confectioner, which shows that he has totally misunderstood the order he received last week ; and as ! the things must all be here on Monday, I at once decided to Bend Tansy to Birmingham to see after them herself, and to prevent any possibility of mistake. I telegraphed to Icing that I would send Mrs. Tansy by the early train to-morrow morning, and although it is dreadfully annoying, Bhe must go." At this juncture, a light tap was heard at the door, and presently Emmeline came in. "What on earth is the matter?" she said, on entering. " What long faces ! You both look as if somebody was going to be buried instead of married ! What is it, Laura 1" I thereupon again narrated the circum ♦Copyright- ot.Ws Story U rwrvwU

stances of Catherine and Betsy's departure, adding my hope that their father's case might not be so bad> and that one of them might be back that night or next morning. " But it is the whole thing," said my mother, "which is so vexatious — Tansy, Catherine, and Betsy all away at the same time !" " Is that all I" said Emmeline, laughing. "For one day we can surely manage without them ; luckily, none of our visitors come until Monday, and this is Thursday. And then— how fortunate !—! — we are all asked to Grassmount for tomorrow ; we are to go quite early, and in the evening there are to be charades and all sorts of things. Our going there will suit capitally ; for Crippets won't have any dinner to get ready for us, and on Saturday we shall have Tansy, and most likely Catherine and Betsy, back again. I have all sorts of kind messages to you from Milicent, Laura, and a note from Mrs. Overbury ; they are all delighted at the engagement." I started — for I was thinking of John and Mary Raynor all the while — but I opened the note, which was a very kind one, telling me of Milicent's engagement to my brother Wilfred, and of the delight and approbation of all parties concerned ; it also contained a pressing invitation to spend the following day with them, and to meet in the evening a few intimate friends, who wished to bid Emmeline farewell. We were to go early ; we were to have charades ; and I was particularly requested to bring Folding, my maid, she being extremely dexterous and tasteful , — from long practice, as she was Milicenty maid before being promoted to my service, and all the Overburys being crazed about private theatricals — in dressing the actresses for their different parts. " Our going to Grassmount to-morrow," said my mother, when I had read out the note to her, " certainly permits of our dispensing with Catherine and Betsy's services until Saturday morning. That is so far fortunate, and Tansy will be back to-morrow evening by the late train from Birmingham. I shall drive the pony carriage round by the mill after breakfast, and see how poor Green is myself j so now, girls, go and get ready for dinner." (To he continued.)