CHAPTER II.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 120, 19 September 1885, Page 3

CHAPTER 11.

"A SERtANT; NOTHINO MOBB," u Candiob I" It was Key Aunt Kezia, standing oa the threshold and surveying her with' an air of stern disapprobation. «' Yes, aunt," and Candice rose instantly j • u do you want me"- -< - "Xeß, Candice. What «» ungrateful girl are. I've been running ail over 'the house, trying to find you, and you are moping up here. What in the world ails you?" "Nothing," Candice said, quietly, hurt more than she oared to own by her aunt's unkind words. "Then, if that's the case, and you are m ot sick, you could put your time in much more profitably helping Katie ; she's in one of her pouts again." " I will be down in one moment, aunt." ••Hurry, then, for it's tea time, and Katie's as mad as a March hare. I don't know what to do with her." Candice followed her aunt's elegant figure from the little room down the grand old stairway and went straight to the kitbhen. Katie looked up defiantly, as if expecting to see Mrs Maynard, come to find fault as usual, but, instead} Candice said kinkly : "Katie, I have come to help you; tell me what to do, quick !" and she bared her rounded arms preparatory to active work. Katie's countenance cleared, like April's sunshine breaking through storm clouds, at Candice's cheery words and gentle voice. " Miss Candice, you are always kind and good, and I'm so tired I'm fit io drop ; what Kith allthis work to doand the neurallajay in my head, I'm that put out I fale like setting meeelf down and letting the mistress storm or else come and do the work herself ; shure, she's always finding fault with poor Kabie !" " I'm so sorry for you, Katie ! Does your poor head hurt you badly ? If so, just tell me what to do and you sit here by the stove and keep your facs warm ; perhaps that will make it feel better." ; "Oh ! no, Miss Candice; there's naught but tooth pulling will do me any good." Katie almost groaned with pain. *' Och j howly Moses ! * tis jumping it is like it would jump out of me poor head, and all this wurruk to do !" "Never mind what's to be done," Candice said, soothingly, seeing that Katie was in real pain j " I can manage that," and quietly and deftly she went to work ; the tea was drawn, the table was set, the roast turkey and boiled ham sliced to perfection and trimmed off artistically with celery leaves. Molds of wine-red jellies were emptied from their glasses into crystal dishes. " Miss Candice J" The girl looked up quickly from her occupation of bread cutting. "What is it, Katie? Is your tooth worse ?" "No ! no ; but 'tis a shame the way you have to slave ; all day long you've been sweeping and dusting, and now you are doing my wurruk, more shame to me to be groanin' and takin' on to you when you have your hands full already ! " "That's all right, Katie. I'm only glad I can help you a little. And it's my duty, remember, Katie." "Your duty! Faith! and what do you get in return, Miss Candice? What little you ate and a few calico dresses, and, shure, you could am dacint wages at any other place and work no harder than you do here." " I know it," Candice said, quietly. "I'm tired of it all, Miss Candice, and ['m goin' to lave ; there's wurruk enuff here for two Irish gurls like me, and the mistress expecting me to do it all, and company stuck up in the parlour in the bargain 1" "Oh ! Katie, you do not mean it !" Candice said, anxiously. " Think, Katie, how would I manage without you ? I could never do all the work !" " I can't help it, Miss Candice ! I would do anything in the wurruld for you,but stay I can't much longer. She can get other j help, or else let them lazy, good-for-nothing gurls of hers soil their dainty fingers ; shure, it won't hurt them !" Katie was clearly in one of her humours, and knowing that she would Boon be ashamed of her ill-temper, Caridice ran out in the old- j fashioned garden and picked all the latej fall flowers she could|find, and made them I into bouquets for the table. This done, she stood off and surveyed the result ; it was certainly all that could be desired, and with an air of satisfaction Candice again sought the Irish servant. " Katie, everything is ready. What shall I do next?" " Oh ! Miss Candice, plase ring the bell, and then. If you would not mind pouring the tay, I will try and see about some of the other wurruk." j " All right, Katie 1" and catching up a white apron that hung over a chair back, Candice tied it jauntily about her'waisb, ■ and then rang the bell with a silvery peal, ■ bringing the family and guests from the parlour ; they were soon seated about the well spread table. Candice entered the dining-room quietly, with a cup of tea in each hand. She felt slightly embarrassed, for this was the first time she had met the new arrivals, 'having kept out of their way heretofore. " Will you have tea ?" she asked of each j guest in turn # every moment expecting; her j aunt to introduce her, but no introduction came. She looked across at Mark ; his eyes were bent on his plate as if not noticing her presence. " Cold water, if you please," Alda Lome was saying, in a rich, melodious voice, " I never drink tea." Candice waited just one second longer for the introduction that did not come, then with head held haughtily erected hurried from the room. , " Quite a nice-looking servant !" Alda's voice came to her through the open door, and, glancing back, Candioe saw Mark look up quickly, and then she distinctly saw Mrs Maynard cast him a warning glance. That was all, and when Candice re-entered the apartment her eyes were shining strangely, a crimson spot glowed on either, cheek and her red-tressed head was still held haughtily erect. "That will do, Candice." It was her aunt's cold, metallic voice. " I will ring when I need you." " Very well," and Candice quietly withdrew. Ah! her aunt was angry with her for waiting on the table in place of Katie, but that did not matter. Mrs Maynard called her in just once more, and as soon as her task was completed sent her away. Candice heard the click of spoons and glassware and the merry table chatter, but she was excluded from it all as much as poor Katie 'groaning in the kitchen over her neuralgia. "Cwdicel" Again her aunt was calling her, and she answered quietly enough. She was straining the milk into big stone jars ,out in the milk cellar. The family bad all dispersed but her, Aunt Kezia, and she had followed her here. ♦' What <lo you wish, aunt?" , ( , •* Only this, Candice,'/ and even this hardhearted woman's face flushed uncomfortably under the' girl's clear, searching gaze. ** Katie is not feeling very welVt I wish ypu would help her all you can while the company are here."

« -Very welUunt iMW&t a» *"- 1 > ' , ■* , 11 No I wjsK' you. would not oalljineiau^t injfctfeir preae^ceY <w -will save all^iinpcessary. explanations. V , i , ' ,' ; \, .' . <\ l r Now,, the- girl's tones .were, .cold 4 and ouitwgly polite." «• You wish me, then, Mrs Maynard," tp ,bs;%,ien»fat , 6nly-rnothing more-auhng your Viflitbr^ stay? s „, - m Dotiftpat' it quite ßo;|>laihly, Candice j it isonly for a short time.* " ' : , ! • 1 «fDb the girls arid Mark know?" „. ; ' "Yea," the Woman said; hesitating slightly j " they Understand' that you will masquerade for a time at least !" Candice's heart beat .Wildly like that of an' imprisoned 1 .bird 1 ; however, she made no sign,* ' Kut r went oh with | quiet graoe, - arranging the milkj jars, and skimming off yesterday's cream | to be churned early in the morning. Her aunt fctood and watched her for a few moments, then, seeing, the girl did not notice her further, noiselessly quitted the cellar and joined the company ; but her mind was ill at ease. Would Oandice ac quieace, or must there be a scene ? In order that the reader may understand a little more of the story, a few explanations are necessary, ,'♦«.. i Candice was Mrs Maynard s half -sister's ohild, the daughter of sweet Annie Desbro, who, marrying against her parents' wishes* j had been an exile from home for years • iCandice'e father, , a poor, «trugglmg ! ; mechAnia, had died when she was a baby.. Poor Annie, left with an infant child on her hands, knew not which way to turn or what to do, and had struggled on and on, fighting poverty at each and every step, until Candice was fifteen years old j then her strength had failed her and'she died, first writing a letter to her half-sister, Kezia, begging her, to care for her child, little Candice Lee. i KeziaTiad consented through selfish motives only. * Some of the wondering neighbours called it an act of disinterested kindness, and others prophesied a hard lot for the orphan, who was at length duly installed in the Maynard mansion as one of its inmates. The family consisted of MrsMoynard, Candice's widowed aunt, the daughters, Alice and Leta, two haughty, indolent young ladies, and Mark, handsome, indolent Mark. Mrs Maynard had an only brother, Samuel Desbro, but he had teen absent for over twenty years in India and the old countries, and now he had returned, accompanied by hia ward, Alda Lome. Ho did not even know of Candice'B existence ; ho had asked after Annie, and Mrs Maynard had told him she was dead, but never a word had she spoken of the child left behind. Mrs Maynard knew her brother Sam of old ; if he found out that Candice, his half.sister's child, was living under the Maynard roof in almost the capacity of a I menial, be would instantly take possession I of her and provide for her out of Mb own I abundant means. This would oot suit Mrs Maynard at all, for she did nob care to lose Candice altogether ; besides, there would also be danger of Uncle Sam [ making her his heiress, and that would never do, for she had set her heart on Mark succeeding to his uncle's vast wealth. For | these potent reasons she had doomed Candice to the kitchen during the visitors' I stay.