DR AND MRS MORTON.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1071, 10 August 1883, Page 4

DR AND MRS MORTON.

li I T E R AT U RE.

—♦ Dr and Mrs Morton had finished tiffin, and were discussing some private theatricals, which, followed by a ball, were to take place that evening at the mess house of the —th. The subject was a delicate one, for on it they held decided but unfortunately divided opinions. The . doctor had a prejudicp against such things, and though in most respects very indulgent to his pretty little wife, objected to her attending them. She, however, was bent on doing so. ‘You know, dear, that it is the very last of the season, and everyone will be there.’ ‘ And yon know my rooted objection to these entertainments, Ada ; why do yon urge ?’ 'Then when shall I ever have at'i opportunity of showing off that lovely pink and silver cloak you got from Madras on my birthday V pouted the young wife. ‘ Ab, that is a deeply important matter !’ laughed the doctor. ‘ We must see if we can’t get up a . dance in onr own'bungalow, little woman,’ continued he somewhat inconsequently. ‘But that won’t be a ball and theatricals to-night; and by that time Daddah--bhoy, Rnraanagee, and the other Parsees will have their shops filled with the newfashioned cloak, while as yet mine is the only one in the cantonment. I really do think, William, you might let me go. I am sure 1 sit patiently enough through those solemn dinners and scientific reunions of which yon are so fond.’ ‘ Well,! well, as it is the very last of the season, I suppose I must be amiable for once; but-—’ ‘ Oh, that’s a dear good, disagreeable old thing I’ said his wife giving him a kiss ; and without waiting to hear more, in a flutter of delight she left the room. When left to himself, the doctor pondered their late conversation, and felt by no means satisfied with bis share in it. Still; having consented, he determined to do so with a good graefl ; and on Mrs Morion presently re-entering to look for something, he said, ‘ By the way, dear, when shall I order the palanquin for yon ?’ Still continuing her search, she replied, rather absently, ‘ Oh, any time, I shall only want it returning; the Hills will call for me going.’ Dr Morton was then taken back. ‘ So,’ he exclaimed, ‘you had arranged to go with—or without my consent!’ With a little start, she answered somewhat confusedly, ‘ Well, I thought yon would be} sure to give me leave, William, and—’ ‘ As you have chosen to act so wholly independently,’ interrupted her husband, angrily, ‘ I withdraw the consent I so unwittingly gave. This house shall be closed at the usual hour, and if you do ■tiot happen to bo at home at 11 o’clock, we do not sleep nuder the same roof this night.’ And, in high displeasure, Dr Morton left the house; nor did he return for more than a couple of hours, during which his mood had more than ;once changed. The first irritation over, he felt that it was hard upon his pet to deny her the pleasure to which but the moment before he had assented. How could ■ he bear to spend the long evening opposite that disappointed, wistfql little face? It began, too, to dawn upon him that ‘ the whole cantonment’—which in India, where private life is more distinctly public property than in any other corner of the world, stands for our esteemed old friend, Mrs Grundy—might, as has ever been its wont, put an unkind construction on motives it did hot understand; might hint that he was not so much standing by his principles—which, in fact, he has yielded —ns avenging his own offended dignity. The result of which agitation was-that if, on his return home, he should find that she had accepted both disappointment and rebuke in a proper Spirit—much; indeed all, depended on that—she should go with her friends to the'ball; ' or even in the probable event of their 'having already called, be- would show his magnanimity by taking her himself. Just then a carriage drove swiftly l past his; he recognised it to be the Hills’, and in it—could he credit his sensei ?—all radiant with smiles, wrapped In her new cloak, sat his wife; who, in merry defiance, kissed her hands to him as they passed. Both balls and theatricals were delighful, and none enjoyed them more than the volatile and fascinating Mrs Morton, in : the gaiety of her spirits she confided to one after another of her dearest friends her husband’s threat, and to one or two who expressed some fear that he might carry it out, she laughingly replied that she did not think that tbat : would bo at all likely; but in the event of anything so improbable, she had still her palanquin, in which she could rest till gun-fire, when, of course, the house would be opened. J am told that now-a-days palanquins are in as little request in India as sedanchairs In England ; but in Dr and Mrs Morton’s time—for know, Oh reader, that nay story is founded on fact—they were, except in the evening drive, the most general mode of carriage. In the verandah of every house one or more might always be seen, with their bearers at hand, ready for instant service by day or by night. It was past two o’clock when Dr Morton heard, coming down the compound, the moaning, monotonous cry of the bearers who carried their mistress to her home. Placing the palanquin in the verandah, they called loudly for admission, striking the door with their hands, in no small wonder that it had not, as usual, been thrown wide at their approach. Expectation of the coming triumph had driven sleep from his pillow, and he now turned his head with a grim smile, for his revenge was at hand—the little rebel should learn a lesson never to be forgotten. To the bearers’ voices was soon added that of their mistress ; indignantly, en-

treatingly, coaxingly she called in turn She reminded her husband that their verandah was overlooked from the road. ‘ Let me in, I beg, I entreat of you, William. It will be gun-fire in a couple of hours, and if seen here I shall be the laughing-stock of the whole station. Oh, William, dear, do let me in !’ To which her husband answered sternly, ‘We shall not rest under the same roof this nightand he chuckled to himself, for he only intended to keep her waiting a few minutes. For a moment Mrs Morton seemed irresolute; then having said a few words to the head bearer, she cried aloud in a passionate burst of sobs, ‘ I will die sooner than submit to such humiliation,’ and, followed by her servants, she rushed away. There was a long wailing cry—a shriek—a splash. Good Heaven ! could it be possible that his impetuous wife had thrown herself into the well ? Hark to those wild cries as the bearers run hither and thither with loud exclamations and calls for help. Paralyzed with fear, the husband could with difficulty open the door; then, rushing out, he would have flung himself into the still rippling water, in a mad attempt to rescue, had not a bearer lu\ng upon, his arm, as, in broken .English,Jbeilfied/to explain that his mistress was safe, 1 Then where is she ? What is all this row about? Who has fallen in ? What are you all yelling for?’ ‘For Mem Sahib tell, ‘ Throw big stone down well;’ then too much bobbery make; rnn this way, that way—plenty tamasha. Mem Sahib make big cry, then Mem run away.’ Dr Morion knew himself outwitted, for doubtless his wife had taken advantage of the door she had thus succeeded in opening. Ab, well though vexed at the trick, he was by no means sorry that the conflict was at an end, and that they should both pass what remained of the night p'n peaceful rest. He dismissed the bearers, and returned to the house, but to find it shut! the door was closed,-and obstinately resisted all efforts to open it ; while a voice from the window from which he had himself so lately spoken said ; ‘ We shall not sleep under the same roof this night,’ The doctor, with ,an uneasy laugh, first treated the situation ns a silly joke, then expostulated* then stormed; but all without avail or- even notice. He called to the ayah to open the door, but her answer was that she was locked in Mem’s room, and Mem had the key under her pillow. He stamped at first with anger, but soon with cold, for night by jamas offered slight protection against the chill morning air. At length, seeing the palanquin, he got into it. The lovely cloak was lying on the cushions ; he drew' the hood over his head, its delicate lines in striking contrast to his sunburned face and dishevelled hair, and dragging it round his

broad shoulders with an angry tug, settled himself to sleep. The gun had fired, the ‘ assembly ’ sounded, but still he slept on. *Nor was he roused by the sound of horses’ hoofs, as a bevy of ladies, unescorted by servants, rode up to the door, Ihey would be joined in their ride by their husbands after parade ; and then, after a first round of the course, assemble, at the house of one or other of their party to chota hazzarie and a lively discussion of absent friends. In much surprise they waited a minute or so before the closed and silent house; then, with significant glances, one after the other slid from her saddle, determined to solve the mystery. Ah, there it is 1 A little corner of the cloak peeped out of the palanquin ; ’twas evident that the poor little tlijng- had l«en obliged to seek that shelter. What a shame ! They would speak to her, they would comfort, and oh, what a laugh they would have at her! They grouped round the palanquin, bending low to peer in ; and one on cither side drew the sliding doors as gracious ! Dr Morton, still half asleep, slowly opened his eyes. Most effectually was he awakened by the startled exclamation with which the visitors hastily retreated to their horses, which they were just in the act of mounting as the dobr was thrown open, and Mrs Morton, appeared in her riding habit. They immediately rode .away,..,to the infinite satisfaction of the recumbent but impatient doctor, who was in mortal fear that fresh complications might arise through his unexplained absence duty bringing messages of inquiry. At the meeting of the husband and wife we would rather not play fly in the corner, but take for granted that there was the usual amount of tears, recrimination and hysterics, in which—for this occasion only—a torn and crumpled fabric of pink and silver took an active part; the sight of it from time to time stimulating Mrs Morton’s grief and eloquence, while, her husband, who smarting under the exposd of the morning had entered on the fray with unusual spirit, soon found himself vanquished, limp and utterly dismayed, as his own inconsistent, tyrannical and selfish conduct was contrasted—not for the first time—with the patient endurance of Iris long-suffering wife. Neither for this nor of the reconciliation that followed in natural sequence, shall we make record ; but we must of the pleasing fact that at the very next concert, Mrs Morton, leaning on her husband’s arm, appeared in most excellent spirits, her cloak, this time of amber and gold, being admired by all beholders.