A GOLDEN SORROW.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 245, 4 December 1873, Page 2

A GOLDEN SORROW.

I swear, 'tii better to be lowly born. And range n ith humble liver* in content. Tbtin to be p< rked up in a ylintmng grief, And « ear a golden sorrow. Suaxspeahk.

CHAPTER XXII. — FRIEITOLT OFFICES. Life within the eaten at the Firs went on very quiHlv, to outward appearance, nnd was so full of uuxiety to Florence, that her mind, with the one great exception of its st ravin over the sea to Walter, wa» concent rated upon it. She knew nothing; she cured nothing about wlmt went on without. But the moroseness and the exd mi renews of Reginul I Clint had not banished the influent of go.-wip among the inmates of his house and their village acquaintance!. Ihey had. perhaps, rather intensified the need lor. the loosing of tongues in every direction in which eilhor information or surmise could be distributed ; and the master of Ihe Fir* would have been astonished if he could have known how much people who, he would hnve positively declared, knew nothing at. all about him, contrived to say. That Mr Clint was a bud father, had been a bud husband, and was not likely ever to br anything but <i bad mnn, were facts so well known and frequently discussed in the neigh bonrhoDd, that they had quite lost the ohnrin of novelty ; but an entirely fresh impetus had been given of late to the gossip of the place, and its motive power was poor unconscious Florence. She went on her way fulGlling her appointed task, which was becoming day by day more difficult and painful, and she was furnishing an inexhaustible theme of surmise, suspicion, and detraction, to a number of people of w'lose existence she was hardly aware. The falseness of her position, though, in one of its aspects, never absent from her mind, in others never occurred to Florence So intent was she upon the one purpose of her life, that she did not perceive the surrounding facts and im pressions and she failed to remark the manifest silence and restraint of the tenants toward* her, because they weiv ju<t what she wished for, and bv freeing her Irom a constant necessity for acting, left her all the more time for thought and the furtherance of her pr >jeet. She did once or twice notice that Mrs Uitchie spoke sharply to her, and that she was never asked to join her on any of' the occasions which had been impossible to avoid, and which had taxed her gentle patience so severely; but she merely not iced these things, thfy mnde no impression on hqr., " In the meantime, a very pretty little commotion was in progress in the village, and even for nome distance outside it, and before very long Air Martin became aware of it, and of its origin. The indignant public had convinced itself that Mr Clint, for whom no esteem or compassion had ever before been felt, wa* in danger of falling a victim to the arts and fnscinationn of his daughter* confidential maid, and that Mrs St Quent in, owing to her injudicious selection of a young and pretty woman to fill the place sho her elf ought to have occupied, was not unlikely to find herself accommodated with a stepmother. It was just the sort of thing a man like Mr Clint, who had exelu led h.mself fro ■ socie y, would be likely to do ; in short, there was many people who asked, with Susan, whether Mrs St Quentin thought there w u only one old fool in the world, when she had made sure of her husband? Tin* question had suggested itself, in the first instance, through the instrumentality of Sman, who, without feeling any positivd dUlike of Mrs D'non, had an uneasy jealousy and suspicion of her, which, of course, originated in her una«knowlodged intuitive consciousness of that young person's superiority. She had no deliberate intention of ■'ander, or even of ill-nature, in the firit whispers which she set abroad, subsequent to her discovery of Mrs Dixon at the piano in the drawing-room ; but the suggestion that MrsSt Quent in's maid was 'playing a nice little game of her own,' louni such popular favour, that Bu<an could bv no means reiint multiplying her observations, mid detailing their result's .with considerable exaggeration. The perfect quiet of life at the Firs, and the seclusion of j it, were dangerous in the wnse thut they threw Florence, olf her guard — »hat she appeared, as she' was, a refined and high-iniuded young lady, and' by degrees ceased to remember the technicalities to which she had trained herself f>r the maintenance of her assumed position. Thii told sorion«ly in support of the theory of her designs upon Mr Clint ; for whereas she was unconsciously resuming the external* of her real station, she was supposed to be practising fertile nation to which she nefariously aspired. It would be difficult, in any case, to trace the progress of a rumour originating in one cla-s of hoci.-tv, to the know. l« geof another, and its adopt on by t!»at other In this particular iiiotimco it would be impossible. Mrs Cooke tried to traco it, hut. she failed j it had pmsod through go many channels before it reached her, through tho medium of tlao

village sc'inol-mistre*-., a fmv days bofoiv Ihul. on wliioli sho M hud met Florence in the villatro, and produced to unpleaaing an pfffct on her. Cireu-nstan-'s wpro ngain«t Florenw, it must be eonljjised, since- thy Way of the worlJ it to take a ba 1 motive for grunted, but, ne ver to recognise a generous one, oxi ept uj v\or the pressure of overwhelming proof ; and MrsCoi)kp,ft icnjibMHoni'uCnnfl.uofin Hip Ira-t 111-nnttireJ, felt softie con e-n fo| her found Miriam. There was another 4j point of vie^ t j be : ure—^whether uny noman, with ti good ™ character ant in dccc it edwiitwn, woul 1 nut beau tnucli too good for Mrphnt ai to' bo fairly Imld to have purchased the worldly advantages JiiKolvii I in- becoming hii wife ut a very hitih price indeed*}, ut Mrs Cooke could hardly be expected' ' to consider* the matfSfcin tb»t aspect. Class prejudices ka«« such tremendous power over women, that it would be almost impossible to the most reasonable among them to discern tlint mnrrying a ' gentleman ' might be not only a condescension and a sacrifice, but an actual degradation on the part of a ' servant.' ' ' ~ ■, As it was, Mrs Cooke felt much indignation with Mr* Dixon, contempt" for "Mr Clint, compassion' for Miriam, and indecision as regarded herself. ' She had forgotten her lius* band's intuitive incredulity about Miriam's intention of ac* cepting Mr §t Quentin, or sho might have been prepared for Ins reception of the exciting itom of Tillage g*o«sip winch die now retailed to him. He merely remarked that it would be a srrnt pit; any decent woman should become the wife of such a man, but lie suppoii-d the poor girl wished, like her mistress, to ' better herself.' * * ' Like Miriam,' exclaimed Mrs Cook, aghast at the comparison. ' What can you mean V ' How can yon ask ?' Miriam \ lint married an old manvfl| to better herself— it is the won I that shock* you, my dear, not the fact ; and r bis young woman may, peVhnps, if this story you hare heard of her anomolous position ai the Fir* be fie truth, he scheming, without assistance, to do what Miriam was backed up iv doing by every due ' rßut,r But, my dear John, thiuk ot the difference, think of her position.' 'Bu k , my dear Fanny, tLiik of his age/ hi* character, and his haiiits.' ' r 'It is impossible you could approve, 1 aaid Mrs Cooke, rather bewildered.' ♦ I certainly do not approve, but, supposing this gossip* ing sfory to have any foundation, whiuu 1 do not believe, you should bear in mind that vulgar but veracious pioverb,^ what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gau«ler. 9 The inline iute result of this cunveisation was a letter from Mrs Cu'tke to Miriam, which sufficiently accounted for thti impression produced on Florence by her interx icw with that lidy She had indeed been rexatdei with suSpiciou, HUtljiurfinsely reminded of her st»tu>u. ' Hit* the most ex«i«isitely funny complies li >i\,' wrote Miriam topoor Florence, 'th^t e»er occuned. lambo po seesed with l ,he comicality of the i en. tbiit I c»n har.lly take. a qerinna view of the iuci»u venience it might have led to if we had fmind it out sooner, when the time which will &<•£ it nil to right* wha farther away. I laughed until I nenriy oriel nver her letter, ami .Mr Sr. Queutin had one of hA m >st severe ti sof curiosity nver it, but L ueul hardly say/ tb it he dM not get the slightest satisfaction. My dear£. romantic, sentimental, devoted Ro-e. to think of you heinJH solemnly and ciicumstantially accuse i of scheming to ma • papa mar y you! Undue influence, iudeed ! "Oh, Sir * Pitt, Hr Pitt ! I— l am married already !"— <»nly it is Amelia who is in the scrape, and not Be« ky. I caniict fancy anything more amusing, and how like tiie people of Dringion to get Up such a story Juut think ot all your care and kindness being thus interpreted ! Of course, it is nut worth being auuoyed nbt/ut for one moment, and it will certainly increase the piquancy of the "situation," when the truth comes out. There is no uhauce, 1 hail almost said no hope, of its coming to papa's ears— no one 1 -entures to talk igoskip to him— bat, if it only could, just fancy the rage he would be in ! I am quite su^e that it would lie quite a revelation to <bira that any one bad ever > dared to talk of him and his affairs j and I could find it in -T i my heart to wish for once to see him in one of bis very s finest frenzies I flatter myself I have answered Fanny • C-Kjke's letter with admirable discretion. She most sin* \ cerely believed she was doing her duty in writing to me. ; I fully recognised her zeal and ti.ldity, and then went on t ) say that I was about io repose a confidence in her which I would at once convince her that the rumour she ha- 1 heard ■ was utterly unfounded, and relieve her from anxiety on mfP i accouut. I told her that my confidential maul bail a prior > attachment of long standing, to a young man wih whose , merits an»l fidelity to her JL was intimately acquainted— , that the engagement had already subsisted Hume ye«rs, and that Mrs Dixon had entered my service, and *nbse> - quently assumed her present responsible task in consequence of this inestimable young man's absence in a i foreign country, from which he hoped to return s> tticiently , well olf to enable to put an end to their separation— that ; Mrs Dixon'a attendance on my father was an immeastir* able boon to me, nnd that I most- earnestly' hoped no ill. I natured gossip might ever come to 'ht^onti) rendering it ; impossible for her to continue to do me this great service. Admire. I beg, m/ 1 deal, tl c ingenuity with which I have , told nothing but the truth, and yet completely routed, , Fanny's suspicions. You hate a prior attachment, y«/W \ have been engaged to Walter for some years, and he doe*; hope to put' an end to your separation. Dej end upon iej Kanuy will be very kind to you in future, and will put , down the village gossip with a high hard. 'We may safely tru-t her for that. I was so much ai'used at the whole business, and was so preoccupied with my* litter to her, that I have no doubt Mr St Queutin is convinced I am carrying on some deep-laid scheme.

Iho following touching fasts are rouohed^for by the San Franeiico News Letter:— 1 The power of the human OTer the brute creation is tremendous. If beiet by a «arage dog, ■imply catch hit eye, and the brut« will shrink and rawer beneath your steady gaze.' Brigg* came across this \alunta piece of information us he was perusing a »oientifie netP paper. • Wonderful,' said lie, • and ro simple. In the interest of science I will try it on Jowler's bulldog.' Now • meaner thing than Jowler's bu 1-dog nerer worried cat. Hi*, name is Bill. His leirs are mnrvels of crookedness, •special lt the hind ones. His eyes are yellow, and he looks out. of the corners of them most sincerely. His body is seamed with ocura— not the honorable words of a hundred fights, but the impressions of red heated p#kers, applied for the | urposn of inducing him to relax hi* grin. He has a qiu'et way about lim that is most beguiling. H-* will saunter behind a. fellow's leg. looking as demure as a suckling, select the most fleshy port, and without sayin« a word, muke a huge bite and hung there, steadfastly reniitting ererv r bfftndishment in the way of yells, kiok«, clubs, &0., to induoe^him to desist. Jowlrr Jets him run loose in hi« bar-k yard. With a mind conscious of rectitude, our hero climbed over the fence ascalmly as I >»niel enter* the lions' den in Barnum's menagerie. Bill was at the other end of his lot, his usual equanimity roused to a pitch of exrite-nent bordering on distraction by some playful hoys, who were poking km with sharp stiok« through the fence; but on seeing Hi/- intruder I he male conquerable tim» toward* him. The undaunh^J Brigg.4 xtoop.d down with his hands on his knee, and uu>leTN at. the approaching animal a most searching look, enough to pierce his very soul. Now wlmt followed mar be deemed incredible by scientific men, but the truth niust be told. The beast never stopped nor swerved, but with erect tail and exceedingly open ccuntenonve, made a straight shoot for Briggs's nose, and grabbing that, orgnn between his teeth,, hung to it like grim death to a dead darker. ' How is this P * thought the poor man. 'Can't it be that the paper «w wronaP Incredible hypothesis! I will try again.' Their faces being in most intimate propinquity, the opportunity was a good one, and Briggs once more threw his whole soul into a Jook. He was t riumphant ! The cause of sei- nre was I never more nobly vindicated. Bill was petrified, entranced, I mesmerised. The will force conveyed in that withering I glance rendered the do» so completely s ( wllbound tlmtho I e*en forgot to let go Brig^s's nose ! Although tin's proo^kf I infallibility of newspapers was most pleasing to him, yet his I situation was becoming a little irksome; so as a last resort I he thrust his finger into Bill's eyes. This broke the spell, ■ and Briggs taking advantage of the animal opening bis ■ mouth t* howl, extricated his nose therefrom, and struck out I for the fence, but before he could reach it the dog had fas- 1 tened on his rear with relentless pertinacity. The martyr to I science cast a glanco over his shoulder that again petrified I Bill into unconsciousness, and things remained in ttatu quoM until Jowler, alarmed by Briggs's cries, csme out and called ■ otf his dog. Jowler kindly plastered up the wounded man's I nose, Ac, and lent him a pair of trousers to go home in. I Briggs thinks that though the experiment is a glorious sue- 1 cess, it is gaining knowledge under difficulties.' The symme- 1 try of his face is gone for ever ; also the cartilage of his iiom. I lie may hope to be able to sit down in afew weeks, the I doctor rays. ' ■ Dr Mary Walker, of Baltimore, who was arrested lately I for wearing men's clothes, was at the time attired as fol- 1 lows : —A suit of green silk pantaloons nnd frock coat, cr I very short orerskirt, closely fitting, and trimmed wfrjaH black lace. V^fl From a return sent in by the General Register Oiße# t fl Dublin on the 10th of it appenn th 1 29,077 males I and 20,005 females emigrated from Ireland during tb» H first six months of 1873, and 35,150 males and 24,990 1 females during the corresponding period of 1872, The H total emigration from Lelnnd since tlie 31st of May, 1851, ■ the date at which the collection of these returns *t th» I several Irish port* commenced, to the 50th of Sun; 1873, 1 is stated to l>e 2,222,736 person*. I Handel happened once to '>c prtsidinp'-oror the dratrio B of ' Israel in Egypt.' Th« first tenor began, entirely cnfK>f I timo, •I am an Israelite.' Hande', who Was at the ©rHm, ■ turned round, and, giarin ■ down upon the offender, in » H voioo of ten thousand thunders, exclaitntd, ' You at « v<m B groet boost.' . ■