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'"Umph! I do not propose, however, Julia, that you shall reside quite alone in this house during the winter."
'"Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn," thought I to myself. - "Whatever company is agreeable to you, sir," I answered aloud.
'"O, there is a little too much of this universal spirit of submission, an excellent disposition in action, but your constantly repeating the jargon of it puts me in mind of the eternal salaams of our black dependents in the East. In short, Julia, I know you have a relish for society, and I intend to invite a young person, the daughter of a deceased friend, to spend a few months with us."
'"Not a governess, for the love of Heaven, papa!" exclaimed poor I, my fears at that moment totally getting the better of my prudence.
'"No, not a governess, Miss Ma
'To answer this was trenching upon too dangerous ground, so there was a pause.
'"Is the young lady a Scotchwoman, papa?"
'"Yes" - drily enough.
'"Has she much of the accent, sir?"
'"Much of the devil!" answered my father hastily; "do you think I care about a's and aa's, and i's and ee's,? I tell you, Julia, I am serious in the matter. You have a genius for friendship, that is, for ru
'"Certainly, sir. Is my future friend red-haired?"
'He gave me one of his stern glances; you will say, perhaps, I deserved it; but I think the deuce prompts me with teasing questions on some occasions.
'"She is as superior to you, my love, in personal appearance as in prudence and affection for her friends."
'"Lord, papa, do you think that superiority a recommendation? Well, sir, but I see you are going to take all this too seriously; whatever the young lady may be, I am sure, being recommended by you, she shall have no reason to complain of my want of attention." After a pause - "Has she any attendant? because you know I must provide for her proper accommodation if she is without one."
'"N - no - no, not properly an attendant; the chaplain who lived with her father is a very good sort of man, and I believe I shall make room for him in the house."
"'Chaplain, papa? Lord bless us!"
'"Yes, Miss Ma
'"Yes, papa, but you was a commandant then."
'"So I will be now, Miss Ma
'"Certainly, sir. But will he read us the Church of England service?"
'The apparent simplicity with which I asked this question got the better of his gravity. "Come, Julia," he said, "you are a sad girl, but I gain nothing by scolding you. Of these two strangers, the young lady is one whom you ca
'"Dear papa, I am delighted with that part of his character. But pray, is the house we are going to as pleasantly situated as this?"
'"Not perhaps as much to your taste; there is no lake under the windows, and you will be under the necessity of having all your music within doors."
'This last coup de main ended the keen encounter of our wits, for you may believe, Matilda, it quelled all my courage to reply.
'Yet my spirits, as perhaps will appear too manifest from this dialogue, have risen insensibly, and, as it were, in spite of myself. Brown alive, and free, and in England! Embarrassment and anxiety I can and must endure. We leave this in two days for our new residence. I shall not fail to let you know what I think of these Scotch inmates, whom I have but too much reason to believe my father means to quarter in his house as a brace of honourable spies; a sort of female Rozencrantz and reverend Guildenstern, one in tartan petticoats, the other in a cassock. What a contrast to the society I would willingly have secured to myself! I shall write instantly on my arriving at our new place of abode, and acquaint my dearest Matilda with the farther fates of - her
'JULIA MANNERING.'
CHAPTER XIX
Which sloping hills around inclose,
Where many a beech and brown oak grows
Beneath whose dark and branching bowers
Its tides a far-fam'd river pours,
By natures beauties taught to please,
Sweet Tusculan of rural easel
Woodbourne, the habitation which Ma
Here, then, Ma
He had still his eye upon the purchase of Ellangowan, which Mac-Morlan conceived Mr. Glossin would be compelled to part with, as some of the creditors disputed his title to retain so large a part of the purchase-money in his own hands, and his power to pay it was much questioned. In that case Mac-Morlan was assured he would readily give up his bargain, if tempted with something above the price which he had stipulated to pay. It may seem strange that Ma
Let us do Ma