10
A CHRISTMAS STORY,proximate causes of his state of mind, and held them in abhorrence accordingly.
(Continued from 'Page 8.)
Britain, who had been paying the profoundest and most melancholy altention to each speaker in his turn scemed suddenly to decide in favour of the same preference, if a deep sepulchral sound that escaped him might be construed into a demon.
"But this is not our business, Alfred," said the doctor. "Censing to be my ward (as you have said) to day; and leaving us full to the brim of such learning as the grammar. school down here was able to give you, and your studies in London could add to that, and such practical adult old country knowledge as doctor like myself could graft upon both; you are away, now, into the appointed by your poor father, being master, to fulfil his second desire.
stration of risibility! His face, how ever, so perfectly unaffected by it, although one or two of the breakfast; party looked round as being startled over, away you go now, your own
THE CHINA MAIL
“Read a timble ! " echoed Snitchey, What are you talking about, young woman???
Clemency nodded. nutmeg-grater."
And
A
"Why, this is a lunatic! a subject for the ford high chancellor !" said Snitchey, staring at her.
If possessed of any property." stipulated Craggs.
BATURDAY, DECEMBER
us here, and making us both happier and better. I wouldn't carry them away, to sustain myself, if I could!" "Coach upon the hill-top!" ex claimed Britain.
Yea!" interposed the elder siste eagerly, and with a radiant smile, "Yes! Alfred, don't linger. There's no time. Say good-bye to Marion. And Heaven be with you!
He pressed the younger sister to his heart, Released from his em brace, she again clung to her sister; and her eyes, with the same blended look, again sought those so calm serene, and cheerful.
"Farewell, my boy!" said the doctor. "To talk about any serious correspondence or serious affections, and engagements and so forth, in
mean-why that, of course, would
knowledge of human nature in it!" append his name to a document, not said Snitchey," So applicable to the of his own writing, without commit affairs of life!" said Craggs.
ting himself in some shadowy man "And the numeg-grater?” Inquired ner, or somehow signing away vague the head of the firm.
and enormous sums of money and The
grater says," returned how he approached the deeds under "Time fllen, Alfred," said the doctor.
Do as you would-be protest, and by dint of the doctor's:
Marion bad stood apart, with her Clemency, -done by.
coercion, and insisted on pausing to eyes fixed upon the ground; but, this Do, or you'll be done brown, you look at them before writing (the warning being given, her young lover mean," said Mr. Snitchey,
cramped hand, to say nothing of the brought her tenderly to where her Grace, however, interposing, ex-
"I don't understand," retorted phraseology, being so much Chinese sister stood, and gave her into her plained that each of the articles in Clemency, shaking her head vaguely.to him), and also on turning them embrace.
I ain't no lawyer.
round to see whether there was any- question bore an engraved motto,
"I have been telling Grace, dear "I am afraid that if she was thing fraudulent underneath; and Marion," he said, "that you are her and so formed the pocket library of
to him suddenly, as if to anticipate came desolate as one who had parted And when I come back and reclaim much given to the study of books.
Oh, that's it, is it, Miss Grace!" any effect that might otherwise be with his property and rights I want you, dearest, and the bright prospect be sheer nonsense. All I can say is, said Smitchiey. Yes, yes. Ha, ha, consequent on this retort, 'she'd the time to tell. Also, how the blue idiot. She looks uncommonly like it," her clients. They are serious enough he muttered, with a supercilious in that whimsical as your world is glance, And what does the thimble and lay the blame on us afterwards, Bay, Mrs. Newcame?"
We, in our profession, are little else than "I'ain't married, mister," observed | mirrors after all, Mr. Alfred; but we Clemency.
are generally consulted by angry and quarrelsome people who are not in their best looks, and it's rather hard to quarrel with us if we reflect unpleasant aspects. I think," said and Cragga?"", Mr. Snitchey, "that I speak for self
both before and afterwards, that world. The first term of probation Clemency Newcome. who was not doctor," said Mr. Snitchey, turning how, having signed his name, he be charge; my precious trust at parting such a-ha, ha, ha!--you know what
. by a mysterious noise, nobody con And long before your three years hal I thought our friend was an find it to be the golden rule of half bag containing his signature after.) of our married life lies stretched be that if you and Marion should con
nected the offender with it.
Except his partner in attendance, Clemency Newcome: who, rousing him with one of those favourite joints; her elbows, inquired, in a reproachful whisper, what he laughed at.
"Not you!" said Britain. "Who then?" "Humanity," said Britain. "That's the joke!"
"What between master and them lawyers, he's getting more and more addle-headed every day!" cried Clemency, giving him a lunge with the other elbow, as a mental stimut ant "Do you know where you are? Do you want to get warning?"
"I don't know anything," said Britain, with a leaden eye, and an in movable visage. "I don't care for anything. I don't make out anything. I don't believe anything. And I don't want. anything."
forgotten us.
tutor among the foreign schools of medicine is finished, you'll have easily in six months!"
"If I do--But you know better; why should I speak to you!" said Alfred, laughing,
Lord, you'll forget us
"I don't know anything of the sort," returned the doctor. What do you say, Marion?"
seemed to say---but she didn't say it Marion, trifling with her teacup, that he was welcome to forget them, if he could. Grace pressed the blooming face against her cheek, and
smiled.
"I haven't been, I hope, a very unjust steward in the execution of my trust," pursued the doctor; but I am to be, at any rate, formally dis charged, and released, and what not this morning; and here are our good Although this forlorn summary of friends Snitchey and Craggs, with a his general condition may have been bagful of papers, and accounts, and overcharged in an access of despon- documents, for the transfer of the dency. Benjamin Britain-sometimes balance of the trust funds to you I relled Little Britain, 10 distinguish wish it was a more difficult one to him from Great; as we might say dispose of, Alfred, but you must get Young England, to express Old Eng to be a great man and make it so), land with a decided difference--had and other drolleries of that sort, defined his real state more accurately which are to be signed, sealed, and than might be supposed. For, serv- delivered." ing as a sort of man Ales to the "And duly witnessed as by law doctor's Friar Bacon, and listening required," said Snitchey, pushing day after day 4o-innumerable orations away his plate, and taking out the addressed by the doctor to various papers, which his partner proceeded people, all tending to show that his to spread upon the table: and self very existence was at best a mistake and Craggs having been co-trustees and an absurdity, this unfortunate with you, doctor, in so far as the fund servitor had fallen, by degrees, into was concerned, we shall want your such an abyss of confused and con. two servants to attest the signatures. tradictory suggestions from within-Can you read, Mrs, Newcome?" and without, that Truth at the bottom "I ain't married, mister," azid of her well, was on the level surface | Clemency. as compared with Britain in the depths of his mystification. The only point he clearly comprehended was that the new element usually brought
A little," answered Clemency. into these discussions by Snitchey and Crages. never served, to make! "The marriage service, night and them clearer, and always seemed to morning, eh?"observed the lawyer give the doctor a species of advantage jocnsely. and confirmation, Therefore, be,
"Oh! I beg your pardon. I should think not," chuckled Snitchey, casting his eyes over her extraordinary, figure. "You can read?"-
"No," said Clemency. "Too hard. looked upon the firm as one of the I only reads a thimble."
"Well, Newcome. Will that do?" said the lawyer. "What does the thimble say, Newcome?"
wi
wards had a mysterious interest for fore is, it shall be one of our chief tinue in the same foolish minds,
make Grace happy; how we can son-in-law one of these days." him, and he couldn't leave it; also, pleasures to consult how we can shalt not object to have you for a anticipate her wishes; how we can
an
show our gratitude and love to her; how we can return her something of the debt she will have heaped upon
UB:"
"Over the bridge!" crled Britain. "Let it come!" sald Alfred, wring- Think of me sometimes, my old ing the doctor's hand stoutly.
friend and guardian, as seriously us you can! Adieu, Mr. Snitchey!
Coming down the road cried
"A kiss of Clemency New-
for long acquaintance
how Clemency Newcome. in ecstasy of laughter at the idea of her own importance and dignity, brooded over the whole table with her two elbows, like a spread eagle, and re- posed her head upon her left arm as a
The younger sister had one hand preliminary to the formation of cer tain cabalistic characters, which re- in his; the other rested on her sister's Farewell, Mr. Cragga!" quired a deal of ink, and imaginary neck. She looked into that sister's counterparts whereof she executed at eyes, so calm, serene, and cheerful, Britain. "Decidedly," said Craggs.
the same time with her tongue. Also, with a gaze in which affection, "And so, if Mr. Britain will oblige how, having once tasted ink, she admiration, sorrow, wonder, almost come, us with a mouthful of ink," said Mr. became thirsty in that regard, as veneration, were blended. She look sake! Shake hands, Britain! Marion Snitchey, returning to the papers,tame tigers are said to be after ed into that sister's face, as if it dearest heart, good-bye 'Sister Grace!
we'll sign, seal, and deliver as soon tasting another sort of fluid, and were the face of some bright angel. remember!"
The quiet household figure, and as possible, or the coach will be wanted to sign everything, and put Calm, serene, and cheerful, the face coming past before we know where her name in all kinds of places. In looked back on her and on her lover, the face ao beautiful in its serenity,
brief, the doctor was discharged of his
"And when the time comes, as it were turned towards him in reply we are."
If one might judge from his aptrust and all its responsibilities; and must one day," said Alfred-"I but, Marion's look and attitude pearance, there was every probability Alfred, taking it on himself, was fair-wonder it has never come yet, but remained unchanged.
Grace knows best, for Grace is always [ The coach was at the gate. There of the coach coming past before, Mr.ly started on the journey of life.
"Britain !" said the doctor. "Run, right-when she will want a friend was a bustle with the luggage. The Britain knew where he was; for he
to the gate, and watch for the coach. to open her whole heart to, and to coach drove away. Marion never stood in a state of abstraction, mea-
be to her something of what she has moved. tally balancing the doctor against the Time flies, Alfred !'"
"Yes, sir, yes," returned the young been to us, then, Marion, how faith- He waves his. hat to you, my lawrers, and the lawyers against the
"Dear Grace! a ful we will prove, and what delight love," said Grace. Your choren doctor, and their client against both, man bu tedly.
moment! Marion-30 young and to us to know that she, our dear good husband, darling. Look ! and engaged in feeble attempts to beautiful, so winning and so much sister, loves and is loved again, as we make the thimble and nutmeg grater (a new idea to him) square with any. admired, dear to my heart as nothing would have her!” body's system of philosophy; and, in else in life is remember! I leave short, bewildering himself as much Marion to you!" she as ever his great namesake, has done
with theories and schools. Clemency, wao was his good genius- though he had the meanest possible
**I do believe it, Grace. I know it opinion of her understanding, by reas of her saldom troubling her well. Who could look upon your self with abstract speculations, and face, and hear your voce, and not being always at hand to do the right know it! Ah, Grace! If I had your thing at the right time-having prowell-governed heart, and tranquil duced the ink in a twinkling, tendered mind, how bravely I would leave this him the further service of recalling place today!" him to himself by the application of.! her elbows with which gentle flap pers she an joged his memory, in a more literal canstraction of that phrass thin usdal, that he soon be cans quite fresh and brisk.
How Clemency, before replying to and looked down into its yawning this question, held one pocket open, depths for the thimble which wasn't there and how she then held an opposite pocket open, and seeming to descry it like a pearl of great price, at the bottom, cleared away suchi intervening obstacles as a handker- chief, an end of wax candle, a fished apple, an orange, a lucky penny, a cram bone, a padlock, a pair of scissors in a sheath, m re expressively describable as promising young shears, a handful or so of loose beads, several balls of cotton, a needle-case, a cabinet collection of curl-papers, and a biscuit, all of which articles she intrusted individually and severally to Britain to hold is of no consequ ence. Nor how, in her determination to grasp this pocket by the throat and keep it prisoner (for it had a tendency to swing; and twist itself round the nearest corner), assumed, and calmly maintained, an attitude apparently inconsistent with the humin anromy and the laws of gravity. It is enough that at last she triumphantly produce the thimble on her finger, and rattled the nutmeg grater-the literature of bath those trinkets being obviously in course of wearing out and wasting away, through excessive friction,
"That's the thimble, is it, young woman?" said Mr. Saitchev, divert ing himself at her expense. "And what does the thimble say?".
"It says." replied Clemency, real ing slowly round as if it were a tower,
Forget and for give."
Saitchey and Craggs the1 heartily.. "Sɔ new!" said Snitchey. "So easy!" said Craggs, "Sich a
|
Bat
How he laboured undir an appre- hension not uncommɔa to persons in his degree, to whom the use of pen and ink is an event, that he couldn't
¦
She has always been a sacred charge to me, Alfred. She is doubly so now, I will be faithful to my trust, believe me."
"Would you?" ahe answered, with a quiet smile.
"And yet, Grace-sister seems the natural word-"
"I am
"Use it!" she said quickly. glad to hear it. Call me nothing lelse."
"And yet, sister, then," said Alfred, "Marion and I had better have your true and steadfast qualities serving
The younger sister raised her head and; for a moment, turned it. Then, Still the younger sister looked into turning back again, and fully meet- her eyes, and turned not-evening, for the first time, those calm towards him, And still those eyes, feli sobbing no her neck. honest eyes looked back, so calm, Oh, Grace. God bless you! Bat serene, and cheerful, on herself and I cannot bear to see it, Grace! It on her lover.
breaks my heart."
PART THE SECOND.
"And when all that is past, and we are old, and living (as we must!). together talking together-close often of old times," said Alfred-
Snitchey and Craggs had a snug these shall be our favourite times among them-this day most of all; little office on the old battle-ground. and telling each other what we where they drove a snug little busi thought and felt, and hoped and ness, and fought a great many smalt. feared at parting; and how we pitched battles for a great many couldn't bear to say good-bye" contending parties. Though it could "Coach coming through the wood!" hardly be said of these conflicts that cried Britain.
they were running fights-for in truth they generally proceeded at a snail's pace-the part the firm had in them came so far within the general denomination, that now they
"Yes! I am ready. And how we met again, so happily, in spite of all; we'll make this day the happiest in all the year, and keep it as a treble birthday. Shall we, dear ?*
(Contiuued on Page 123
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