CAMELLA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2910, 10 March 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA.

OR, AN IGNORANT WRANGLER. By Mrs L. Frost Raxxbay (Author of " Bnstondell.") CHAPTER X. (continued.) " Well, Mrs Ratnley,'' said a rnerry voice at the door, •' what's tho latest from Auckland ?"' •' Wo have just come from the wedding, said Mr Jlamley, then she paused. She was not quite sure of Mr Tnllot- He would soon discover that tho now wife was not. going to bo made very welcome, but she did not. know whether ho would bo willinir to join in making; her still less so or whether, like that infatuated Lawrence, ho would be one of her admirers. "What do you think of tho bride ?" was tho next and natural question. '< She is tall," snul Mrs Rnmloy, cautiously, " rather too tall for my

notion of what ladies should bo, And she is rather pasty-looking. '

" Lawrence says her comp'exion is lilies and roses," put in Maude, who had been getting a full, true, and particular account of the whole ceremony from her brother. "Lawrence is a fool," said his mother hotly ; then, vexed at having betrayed herself so before Mr Tallot, she said suavely, "Tastes differ so wonderfully, do they not ?"

" Indeed they do, Mrs Ramley," said ho, fully determined on finding the vanished Lawrence, and ascertaining from him what manner of woman Stanley had actually married. " For,'' lie reasoned, as he made his way across the paddock where Maude said shf; had seen Lawrence disappear, " she is most probaby a very ordinary young woman, Mrs Rnuiley does not tiling much of her, but Lawrence thinks she is a divinity, evidently.'' "Cooey! Cooey!" Lawrence turned at the familiar call. " Oh, it's you, is it 1 How's the arm 1" " First-rate, thinks, I shall soon have it out of the sling now. ' " You have had a pretty bad time, altogether, but you will be able to enjoy a holiday now that the boss is coming home." " I shall be able to take things easier any how. I say, what the new missus like "You had better ask my mother ! She says I am no judge." "31 rs Taft'ersou does not seem to have produced a very favourable impression, somehow." " Well, Tallot, you know exactly how it is. The mater and the girls do not approve of Stanley marrying out of the family like this. I think he is very wise, myself. For had he chosen one of my sisters, he would never have had the house to himself." " Yes, perhaps, but what is the bride like?" "You will see her soon enough." " I am anxious to know what to expect."

"Blessed is lie uhat expecteth nothing, for ho shall not be disappointed." "Is she pretty?" asked Tallot patiently. " No." " Is she short ?" " No." " Like a giraffe ?" " Well, yes, she is." "Umph! Ugly .and giraffe-like. What a gawk she must be !" " I never said she was ugly. Do wait until you see her !" " One question only." "That's good, you have asked a dozen already." "This isathirteenthlyand lastly. Has shea good temper, for you know if she hasn't, and can't cook, and gets vexed when Stanley and I chuck the joints and puddings at her, we shall all have rather too warm a time of it this summer : and the Maoris do say that it is going to be a hot one in any case." " All right, I'll tell her what you say." " Man alive, do you want Stanley to shoot me 1 For, strange as it seems, he must hp. very much in love with this uneooth damsel to marry her at all, and he will greatly resent any remarks on her personal appearance, and general incapacity." Lnwerence burst out laughing. "Just wait till you see her, that's all."

Extremely puzzed, Tallot returned home, and spent the remainder of the day making sketches of curious looking giraffes in female garments. The giraffes would have failed to recognise themselves, and a lady whould have modestly inquired what sort of dress those animals were wearing. 11 But Mr Cheswick Tallot's curiosity was satisfied at length. This is Mrs Tafferson, Tallot. You know Mr Tallot quite well by name, do you not Ella?" Mr Cheswick Tallot fairly gasped. The giraffe resolved into a tall graceful figure, clad in a soft fawn, coloured costume, a white-hat with ostrich feathers drooping over the side, slightly shading the delicate clear complexion, but not hiding the large grey eyes, the, well shaped features, and exquisite red lips, where formed into the words, <- Yes, I seem to be perfectly acquainted with Mr Tallot verbally, and am very glad to know him personally." And then as the young man still continued to gaze at her, a soft pink colour spread over her face, and she said with a smile, "Is anything the matter 'I Stanley, have the smuts from the engine blackened me T " No, you look all right," said her husband, " what makes you think you don't ? Neither steamer nor trains seems to have hurt you at all." Mr Taliot recovered himself. " I beg your pardon," he said earnestly, " but—the fact is you—" he stammered, but the bride, camc to his assistance as she thought. " I remind you of some one, I suppose ? I am glad, for then we shall be friends at once." Mr Tallot could not exactly tell her why her appearance had so surprised him, and he was glad when Stanley said,"Where are the cousins'!'' " They thought they would not drive down to the station, but would wait for you at the house. " At liuamoa T' " Yes, they are all there, I belie\o. Are you hungry, Mrs Tafferson T' "Yes, a little ; my breakfast on the steamer was of the slightest." * How stupid of me, 'eried Stanl >y, " we could have had srmethipg at the hotel." " I" can easily last a lit.tle longer," said Oamella, " What are these, Mr 'Tallot? " The three in the comfortable buggy, and Tallot from behind had thrust, a paper-bag into the lady's hand. " Those are loqnal.s. They are just about over, but I found a few and I thought they might serve to sustain life until we got home.''

"Were there no strawberries?" asked Stanley. " I think they

would have been nicer ; loquats are poor things at best."

" Any quantity of strawberries, but, they are such messy things, don't you think so ?" appealing to Camella.

" I must confess to a great weakness for that fruit,'' she replied. " I never remember having as many as I could eat. The blackbirds and a neighbour used to go shares with me in those uncle had, and if ever I saved a nice quantity from their depredations, the housekeeper invariably took them for jam. Such a waste, was it not?' " At any rate," said Stanley, " no one here can take them from you. Wh.it do you think of the new bossl" he said, turning with a smile of triumph to Tallot. " I will tell you afterwards," said that gentleman, discreetly.

"And t linn you will tell mo, won't you, Stanley V suidCamella pretending to whisper. "Do you see those trees, Ella I" asked her husband, indicating a group of gum-trees. " Yes." "That is my first paddock." " Do you have fields of trees here?" she asked. " Of, course I mean that clump is at the corner of the paddock ! What an obtuse little body it is for a Cambridge girl !" Then they all laughed merrily, and talking nonsense in the exuberance of their happiness, drove up to Camella's new home. But the first sight of Mrs Ramley standing upright, as far as the proportions of her round figure would allow ; her facc wearing it« stillest company smilo, drove the gaiety suddenly away, and in perfect silence the buggy was drawn u p in front of her, as she majestically decsended the steps, extending a gracious welcome, she thought, to the fair young bride. " These are your cousins, Susan," and a freckled, round-faced, somewhat good-natured-looking girl came forward, bestowing a frigid kiss on Camella's cheek as she stood on the lowest step of the verandah. But although she had rather a pleasanter expression, Susan was not one whit behind the others in her aptitude for making unkind remarks, if it suited her purpose so to do, or if her temper was ruffled. When those two had exchanged greetings, 3lrs Ramley brought Hetty forward, and introduced her with the air of one who should say, " Now, what do you think of this beauty 1"

Certainly, Hetty was better looking than her sisters. Mature had been kinder to her inasmuch as she was free from the frockles which annoyed both her sisters ; also she had inore neatly cut features, and in the matter of height, she could boast fin extra inch. So ehe drew herself up, and was vexed to find that Camella, who had gained '.he verandah floor, actually looked down on her, us they stood facing each other.

SimplG curiosity was expressed in Mrs Tafierson's face, mingled with a longing t.o like, and be liked by her husband's relations. But Hetty's expression was defiant, and though she tried to put on a friendly smile, it was distinctly antagonistic. " War to the knife." muttered Mr Tallot, "and not an honest open sort either, but it't going to be a mean, back-biting, difficult - foe - to - tackle tight." " And this is Maude, Why, child, how did you scratch yourself so !" " Getting roses," laconically answered Maude. " Have you been decorating the house for us, Maude?" asked Stanley well-pleased at the little attention.

Hetty laughed. " She has put more thorns than roses, I'm sure, 1 ' and Camilla thought it a very odd remark little dreaming that the second Miss Ramley intended to strew hcrpath with as many thorns as she could, with out pricking her own finders. (To be cuntinuctt.)