Dora Deane; Or, The East India Uncle

gossip which his movements

ssed by his young girl-wife, who sat all day in her mother's parlor, bemoaning her fate in being thus doomed to a life in the "horribly vulgar country." She had forgotten that "she could live anywhere with him," for the Ella Hastings of to

rs, too, are suffering from the effect of a like hallucination, and Howard Hastings felt it most keenly. He loved, or fancied he loved, Ella Grey devotedly, and when in her soft flowing robes of richly embroidered lace, with the orange blossoms resting upon her golden curls, and her long eyelashes veiling her eyes of blue, she had stood at the altar as his bride there was

sekeeping. To be sure, it would be very pleasant to keep up a grand establishment and give splendid dinner-parties, but she knew that Howard, with his peculiar notions, would expect her

and his heart softened towards her, as he remembered the kind of training she had received from her mother, who

"drudgery." To remove his wife from her mother's influence, and at the same time prolong her life, for she was really very delicate, was Mr. Hasting's aim; and as he had always fancied a home in the country, he at l

xpressly for herself, she was somewhat mollified and telling her husband "he was the best man in the world," she took the reins in her own little soft, white hands, and laughed aloud as she saw how the spirited creatures obeyed her slightest wish.

rich auburn hair shading her brown cheeks, was Dora Deane, not dreaming this time, but watching so intently a race between two of her companions, that she did not see the carriage until it was directly opposite. Then, guessing who its occupants were

ich she was sure she had lost by having been caught with her feet in th

ney?" softly whispered El

ould be an insult to Dora, who felt more than repaid by th

she walked slowly down the road, while the carriage k

as ere long reminded of the fact by Mrs. Leah, who told of the "crowds of gaping people," who had been up to see the house. With a deprecating glance at the village where the "gaping people" were supposed to live, Ella drew nearer to her husband, expressing a wish that the good folks of Dunwood would confine their calls to the house and grounds, and not b

frown for an instant clouded her pre

ting that her young mistress should wear down something more appropriate than the soiled white muslin wrapper in which s

s between them any point of inferiority, it rested with herself, and not with them. They had traveled much, both in the Old and New World; and though their home was in Boston, they spent almost every summer in Dunwood, which Mrs. Howell pronounced a most delightful village, assuring Ella that she could not well avoid being happy and contented. Very wonderingly the large childish blue e

who came in just after Mrs. Howell left, were obli

ere an hour or two since," exclaimed Mr. Hastings, wh

nto the dressing-room, where he stepped first over a pair of slippers, then over a muslin wrapper, a

hen she spoke of her "uncle in India," with whom she was "such a favorite." During their stay, servants were introduced as a topic of conversation, and on that subject Eugenia was quite as much at home as Mrs. Hastings, descanting at large upon the many annoyances one was compel

e watched them walking slowly down the long avenue. "That silk of Miss Eugenia's could not have cost less than two dollars a yard

er need in the country, she exclaimed aloud, "Why, can't I have a party here as well as at home? The house is a great deal larger than the long narrow thing on which mama prides h

stings, who had entered the parlor in

giving a large party as soon as a sufficie

as she saw the slightly comical expression of her husband's face

nswered Mr. Hastings, "but I do rather wo

aid they would. I wish you could see Eugenia Deane. She's perfectly magnificent-wears a

ntinued, "Yes, she is, I am sure, from the way Eugenia talked. They keep servants, I know, for she spoke of a waiting-maid. Then, too, t

understood the world much better than his wife, and who readily guessed

e did," answered Ella, "and I like her so much! I me

med until the Monday morning following, when, at the breakfast-table, Ella asked for the carriag

m told, mortifies a woman more than to be caught with her hair in papers, and her arms in the

wash-tub! Why, they are almost as white as mine." And the little lady glanced rather admiring

"but I am inclined to think you'll have to wait a l

a handsome plaid silk, she descended again to the parlor, and suggested to her husband the propriety of bringing the young ladies home with her

a never thought it worth her while always to have the best things and fix up when there was no one to dinner but us and father; an

d dog, which came bounding in. Then, remembering she had not finishe

e enviable position of being "only Howard!" Half an hour later, and Ella Hastings, having left orders with Mrs. Leah for a "compa