CAMELLA :

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2893, 29 January 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA :

OK, ,\\ KINOKANI WKANGLKK. l'>y Mrs L. Fkost Eattiiay. CHAJTKit 111. (ooxtinukd). liur lon;,' fitter hor nightly chapter wus read, and she was wooing tho sloop that would not 'joiuo, a vision of astonished blur , en-US, and h dismayed expression of uoiiiiten.-inco, presentod itself boforo ln>r liu'iital g:i/.u, as who thought of Mr TiilTerson's surprise had ho heard her little address. And when at longth. she fell asleep, she was haunted by droams iu which she found herself accepting as her husband, Mr TafCorson, Mr Kenridgo, and Mr Strongbow, and they would iioue of thorn agree to yield hor to either ot the others. Who woko with .1 firm conviction that marriage was a terrible muddle, and that she, at least, would have nothing to do with it. She assured herself that her dear uncle's comfort should bo her first consideration, and that she would willingly spend her life in his study, copying hie crabbed old hand-writing, turning over the leavos of musty, worm-eaten folios, with, when she choose to make a. determined stand for a little holiday, a run up to town for some specially attractive concert. But why did this self-sacrificing life appear so disastrous ? Camella was not blest with the gift of early rising. She had been obliged, as one of her fellowstud°ents said, to get up long before

she was awake, at Newnhani, in order to keep pace with the multifarious studies which occupied each moment, except a few devoted to recreation. But after her illness, she had gladly availed herself of the doctor's suggestion that there was no need to get up to breakfast even if she did not feel inclined to do so. She kept her room, therefore, as long as her uncle would let her. He used to wait breakfast for his tardy niece until half-past eight, then if his repeated inquiries of the housekeeper if Miss Pittersley were not yet dressed failed to elicit a satisfactory answer, he sat down_ to his solitary meal, and consoled himself with the "Times." Indeed, Camella always declared he inn-

nitely preferred that paper to her company : only he was afraid that she would not put in an appearance in his library until 10 o'clock at the earliest if he did not succeed in dragging her down to an 8 o'clock meal, or half-an-hour later, at most. Kate Powys was generally on deck to enjoy the fresh morning air, before the breakfast bell or gong sounded, but Camella only entered the saloon at its summons. This was another proof to Henry Kenridge how little fitted she was for anything but the most comfortablyarranged home, where she would not be required to rise betimes and see that the matitutional repast was served in good time. Ho was aware that at a country house in New Zealand, where servants are

not as punctual as their well-trained English sisters, the mistress of the establishment is compelled to rise early herself in order to set a good example, and in many instances assist in cooking that meal. A smile played round his moustache as he tried t© picture the fair Newnham girl with a huge apron tied artistically round her, preparing some choice morsel to tempt the healthy appetite of a hard-working squatter. " She shall never marry that farmer Tafferson, anyway," he murmured as he seated himself opposite her at table the morning after the theatricals. On Camella's right, Stanley Tafferson enjoyed the honour of being placed, whilst Colonel Slangston guarded her on the left, boing ably supported by | his wife, who sat next to him. Mr Strongbow occupied a seat near Henry, whilst Miss Powys and her chaporono were further down the table. The places at the table had been arranged by the head steward, and though Henry had ondcavoured to get him to transfer Mr Tafferson to the other side, whilst he took the coveted position next to Camella, that important functionary refused, unless Mr Tafferson particularly wished it so. But that young man knew at once when he was well off, and remained deaf to all hints on Henry's part as to the desirability of old friends being close together. (To be continued.)