CAMELLA : OR, AN IGNORANT WRANGLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2895, 3 February 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA : OR, AN IGNORANT WRANGLER.

BY MKS L. Fkost EATTUAV (Author uf " ')

CHAPTER IV. — That SU.VHONXKT.

Arn-;u breakfast. Uamolla went to her cabin for her hat, intending to accept Stanley's invitation to take a stroll before it became too warm.

Meehanically .she put up her hand to reach it oil' "it's accustomed peg when, to her surprise she found it, was not there.

"Have you seen my hat, Miss Powys/' she inquired of her cabiti-

companion. "No, but I am sure it was hanging up there last, night ; it's such a large one, I always notice it.' " Yes, and that's the very reason why it's so queer 1 can't tinil it. ' [loth girhi explored the limited recesses of the cabin, and came to the conclusion that the hal hud certainly and mysteriously (lis appeared. "Never mind loooking for it any more, Miss I'owys, I. have sometiling lure Lliat will answer the purpose quite as well. ' .said (Jainellu and she dropped on her knees, and dragged :>. small liti box from its hiding place under the berth. " J.'lease il-j not be so formal with me, do call me Kate. " Very well, if you will return the-compliment. Ifow do you like this?'' and (Jaiiolladrew an enormous white sun-bonnet out of its receptacle, and tied it .securely under her chin. "Good gracious, Camella, you are never going on deck in that thing !' ■• liutl am, don't you think it's very useful V

"Yes, useful perhaps,'' reluctantly •oneeded her companion, " but—"

" Not exactly ornamental, you would say 1 Well, for a society young lady that is a consideration that should have some weight ; with me, whose destiny as a Professor's assistant is fixed, it is a matter of little or no importance/' " 1.5 ut 1 think it is the duty of every one to make themselves look as nice as they possibly can, without bestowing too much time upon their personal appearance,'' urged Kate. " And don't 1 look nice '!" queried Oamella, turning her handsome face that no unbecoming sunboimet could entirely spoil, on the agrieved .Miss Powys. But tint young lady could see no further than the embroidery at the edge of tin; obnoxious head gear, and begged Oamella to replace it in her box, and wear something uiore stylish. •• Vml the junior wrangler only laughed, and ran lightly up to the poop, where she encountered a group of young men. They seemed to be on Ihe watch for .some one, buL if it was for Camolla, her appearance rather startled them. With the privilege of an old friend, Jlenry accosted her.

11 Shades of Venus, where did you raise that thing? Have you tied the cook's apron round your head this morning ?" '■ .1 am so glad you like it," said she with great suavity, " Some one stole my hat, and I could not imagine what I was to do until I remembered my sunbonnet. I have another like this one, if you would care to wear it, they are so comfortable." The, other men wen; giad to be able to let out a little of their smothered mirth by laughing at the discomfited Henry, who had si'd he had been talking to a girl when you couldn't see her face. J-lufc if the hat was bad, this monstrosity was ten times worse. " Where is your guardian V groa ned I Lcnry, '• Oh, here she conies ! Mrs .Slangston, did you ever see such an awful head-dress as that?" Jlut the lady could not help laughing. "My dear C'ainella," she said, "where did you pick that thing up?'' •• Please do not insult iny suubonnet. It, and another very similar, were made for me to wear iu the tropics by my uncle's good old housekeeper. But as they make one decidedly warm, tittiugso close over the ears, 1 did not intend to don either of them until driven to it this morning by the unexpected disappearance of my usual hat.'' "1 Lave you lost it:'' aoked Mrs iSJangston. " No, i have had nothing whatever to do with its disappearance: but I shall continue to wear this bonnet until my more comfortable head-gear turns up."' " Will you walk with me!'" asked Stanley, "or would you rather sit down?'' " I should prefer a promenade, if you donnt, object lo my bonnet, "said Camellu. " I do not like it, certainly, but 1 do not intend to allow such a trille to come between me and the pleasure of a walk with you, Mis« Pittersloy.'' The two joined the various strollers, and Camella soon forgot her amusement at the deep disgiiot expressed iu Henry's face at the failure of his stratagem to made her take to the little cap so much admired ; for she knew lie must some way have contrived to ' possess himself of her large hat.

" When you have quite done with this sun-bonnet, I am going to beg for it, that is, of course if you do not intend to present it to the Auckland Museum when we arrive in New Zealand." " May L ask what you propose to do with it?' " Well, 1 thought it would make a capital bonnet for my aunt. She usually wears a frightfully ugly old hat, tied under the chin, when she goes to inspect her poultry, or when she gardens." '• She shall have my now one, with pleasure. I did offer it to Mr Kenridge, but he did not seem inclined to take it, so L feel quite at liberty to bestow it where it will have a better chance of being appreciated."

"You are very good." said Stanley.'" "I wonder what you would think of the homely people round my farm. They would enjoy your music immensely.' A little colour rose in Camella s face, and she softly answered, "1 do not suppose 1 am ever likely to see any of them.'' Then she hastily made a remark about the baauty of thesea. Stanley felt that she had unwittingly given him an opening for an expression of his earnest hope that someday she would become intimately acquainted with his neighbours and relations, but whilst he was vaguely »ropiug in his mind for some way of conveying this desire in suitable language, the opportunity was lost, by (Jaiiiella saying she was tired, and immediately sitting down by the side of Mrs Slaugston, and commencing an animated conversation with that lady. The amiable eliaperonc had been eying with considerable- dissatisfaction the pretty Hush on Miss L'ittersleys's cheek, and wondering what nonsense her companion had been talking to produce it, anil the slight confusion of manner which hail marked her return to her female protector. But she did not question the girl. She wasa wise woman upon occasions, and she did not want to put any thought of Stanley Tall'ersou" as a possible suitor, into ] Camella's head. As for falling in love ! Well, that was old-fashioned and absurd. Camella had surely enjoyed far too practical an education to commit any such blunder. She. would marry, of course, Mrs Slaugston was resolved on that, but she should certainly not throw herself away. As for her ridiculous words of the previous evening regarding her intention of being a Professor, that could only be considered the merest raving not worth worrying about at all. They had been" merely uttered because she had a modest girl's wish to throw her cliaperoneoff the scent—so to speak—regarding her relations with young Kenridge, and AlrsSlangstone decided she should certainly have done the same. That the girl was in a little whirl of of perplexity and unrest, the elder lady did not dream. That Camella was lighting a battle against inclination and what she considered her duty to her uncle, never entered the good lady's head. And yet, some look in Stanley's brave blue eyes just now, as he turned them upon her when he

wondered how Uamella would like

the people round about him, had awakened a longing in her heart to see his home, nay more, to see him iu it, to hear his voiee as master. (Jumelhi resolutely crushed l hose thoughts, and said to herself, " lam going to help dear unule, F. shall he <|uile contented again when I get homo : everyone is unsettled when they ire travelling, nothing keeps its I rue proportions. f expect the men an: only flirting, 1 believe they

always do on board ship." And so she chatted away as if there was no one on the vessel of more interest to her than Mrs Slangston. {To be cun.lbiuctl.)