CHAPTER XX.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 185, 13 October 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XX.

HAEK.Y GEEEITWOOD IN SEAHCH 03? A PEOSE9SIOX. When the Athenian, the man-of-war to which Lieutenant Greenwood belonged, was ordered to the Gulf of Mexico, and the chief officer proposed a ball on ship-board to inaugurate her departure, the Lieutenant had not heard of the acceptance of his resignation. Commodore Greenwood insisted that both Harry and Dora should accept their invitations. "It would look well," he said, "for the first Lieutenant and all the Commodore's family to refuse Captain Jones' civility." The stern mandate of parental authority prevailed over hia children's dislike of the whole thing, under the circumstances. It was to be almost exclusively a naval and military ball. Colonel Hartland and family were among the invited, and to him was sent under cover a card to Mrs. Hartland. This was the signal for a warm discussion as to whit should be done; the Colonel declaring he should

send a carriage for Aleck's wife — it would be best for all, if she went under his protection ; the Doctor stoutly insisting that he would not I appeav with lier, and so risk Kosine's good name as to have her usher* d in with such a — he was about to sny something very wicked, but his father.* one stern look, which he kept for great occasions, and Rosino's nffcctionatp, " Don't, Ned," silenced him. The card was sent, with the Colonel's expressed wish, that she would be ready at eight on the night of the ball, when lie would call for her. Laura unhesitatingly took the note and card at once to her mentor, Sister Agnes, her only counsellor, one might almost say her only friend. She was quite secure as to her advice, she could not tell her she ought to go. She became pale with astonishment whea the good Sister said, " You will go, of course." " O," she replied, with almost a scream of terror, " don't tell me that|l must !" " Not if it were your duty, my dear P" she inquired. " I can coaceive of a case in which it might be one's duty to enter into such am arrangement, and this looks very like a painful self-denying duty," el^e added, as Laura's face suffused with crimson and the tears fell upOn her burning cheek. " Don't, Sister, please don't tell me it is my duty," she said, pleadingly. "Ifotif it is the truth?" replied Sister Agnes. "You see by this note the Colonel and his lady wish to introduce you as their daughter ; should you refuse ? How would your husband wish you to act under the circumstances ? These are the questions you must answer for yourself. I own it is rather anomalous to hear a religeuse advocate ball-going," she said playfully, " but in this case I can see no excuse you can give for not complying with Colonel Hartland's request ; your conscience would not keep you away, only your own will, your own dislike to meet those with whom your husband has been associated ; you must break away from this feeling some time, and why not now ?" While she was persuading Laura, Lieutenant Greenwood and sister were announced ; they had called in behalf of a large family of orphans lately brought under their notice. The card of invitation was in Laura's hand, and the Lieutenant laughingly remarked that she had the samo " bitter-pill " with themselves. " Yes," said the Sister, playfully, " and I, a nun, am advising her to take the potion pressed upon her by Colonel Hartland." " Ah," said Dora, " then do go ; you will find plenty of disaffected ones ; I will keep you company in hating the whole thing most heartily ; we only go because our father wills it." Laura's courage revived, she saw through her reluctance, and resolved to conquer it ; the note of acceptance was despatched without further hesitancy.