Dora Deane; Or, The East India Uncle

nds had swept the withered leaves from the tall trees which grew around Rose Hill; when one cold, rainy Nov

must be some mistake," said Eugenia, putting her

thought she would know what to do for the baby, wh

y and cross, the servants ignorant and impertinent, the house was in disorder; while Mr. Hastings, with a cloud on his face, ill befitting a newly-made father, stalked up and down the s

uch looking rooms! I don't wonder her servants give her so much trouble; but my heart ached for him, po

ile the bed, on which she lay, cost a hundred dollars, and the rosewood crib was perfect of its kind, but there was a great lack of neatness and order; and as day after day Mr. Hastings stood with folded arms, looking first from one window and then from the other, his thoughts were far from

tle cherub, just like its mother;" and there her services ended, for it never occurred to her that she could make the room much more cheerful by picking up and putting away the numerous articles which lay scattered around, and which were a great annoyance to the more orderly Mr. Hastings. Once, when Ella, as usual, was expatiating upon her goodness, asking

do?" asked Ella, her large blu

t it seems to me that a genuine woman could not si

enia Deane to do a servant's duty. Why, she has been as del

rue," answered Mr. Hastings some

uppose you would have learned, ere this, that few ladies are like y

ue the point, he was about changing the subject, when the new nurse, who had been there but a few days (the first one having quarreled with Mrs

soothe the angry girl-she was determined,

d upon her late nurse. "Do, pray, Howard, go to the kitchen

y Eugenia, to whom Ella detailed her grievances. "Her head ached dreadfully, Howard was cross, and her nurse

of offering Dora as a substitute in the place of the girl who had just left. "Mother can work a little harder,

ast, "We have a little girl at our house, who is very capable for one of her years. I think she would be quit

ld," answered Ella.

hurry, took her leave, having first said that Mrs. Hastings "needn't think strange if Dora called

d she walked leisurely along, admiring the beautiful house and grounds, and thinking Mrs. Hastings must be very happy to live in so fine a place. Ella was unusually nervous and low-spirited this morning, for her husband had gone to Rochester; and when Dora was shown into the room she wa

drawing near, and involuntarily laying her ha

de of sadness upon her handsome face, unusual in one so young. Then, too, there was an expression of goodness and truth shining out all over her countenance, and Ella's heart yearned towards her at once as towards a long-tried friend. Stretching out her white, wasted hand, she said, "And you are Dora. I am glad you have come. The sight of you makes me feel better already," and the small, rough hand she held was pressed with a fervor which showed that she was sincere in what she said. It was strange h

, her own spirits rising in proportion as the

clean linen was put upon the pillows, while Ella's tangled curls were carefully brushed and tucked under her tasteful cap, and then for the first time Dora took

ecious mother had answered to that blessed name! And how it thrilled her as she repeated

ed, "I am thinking of mother. Her name was Fa

told the sad story of her life, while Ella Hastings's tears fell fast and her eyes opened wide with wonder as

. Elliott found sleeping on her mother's neck that New Year's morning. But God didn't let you freeze. He save

ot speak, so surprised and delighted was she to learn that her benefactress was indeed the sister of Mr. Ha

ely double relationship that existed between herself and her cousins,

le, too-the old East

should think he wo

nt some to Eugenia once, but none to me," and a tear a

was soon restored by the appearance of the young lady herself, who overwhelmed her with caressess, and went into ecstasies over the little Fannie, thus surely winning her wa

ing them out for him," said Dora, wheeling up before the glowing grate the

ss they are in the dressing-room, either behind the door, or in the black trunk,

ey had not seen the light for many a day. Shaking out the gown, and brushing the dust from off the slipper

you were well Ever so long ago, before pa died, mother made him a calico d

ing a lesson from the little domestic girl, who brushed the hearth, dropped the curt

said Ella, as, lifting up her hea

which he had left them; and rather reluctantly he entered his handsome dwelling, starting back when he opened the door of the sick chamber, and half thinking he had mistaken another man's house for his own. But Ella's voice reassured him, and in a few moments he had heard from her the story of

own partially indifferent to coldness and neglect, but the extreme kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Hastings touched her heart; and stammering out an almost inaudible reply, she turned aw

rything. She is my good angel, and I mean to ke

nswered Dora; "but I can

la, who had not yet identified Eugenia's waiting-m

We are poor, and I help Aunt Sarah to pay for my board; so,

d, whose quizzical expression kept her silent, for it seemed to say, "I told y

e Mr. Hastings was mentally resolving to befriend

vening concerning her studies, and the books she had read, feeling surprise

aining of her," he thought, as he saw how animated she became when he mentioned he

e Eugenia did not once appear; but at the close of the fourth day, a note was brough

cried Ella, while Dora crept

vy heart, Dora went out from a place where she had been so happy-went back to the home where no one greeted her kindly, save the old house cat, who purred a joyous welcome, and rubbed against her side as she kindled a fire in the dark, dreary kitchen, where, on the table, were piles of dishes left

ings, who had spent the day in the city, and did not come home until evening, felt that something was wrong the mom

er aching head upon his bosom, she told him of her loss, and how muc

ho, before the morning dawned, had concluded that Rose Hill was nothing without Dora Deane. "She shall come back, too," he said, and the sooner to effect this, he started immediately after breakfast for the house of Mrs. Deane. Very joyfully the deep blue eyes of Dora, who met him at the door, looked up into his, and her bright face flushed with del

ant of her," answered Mr. Hastings, "We could not do othe

his wife was better, she should be well cared for, and he himself would superintend her studies, so she should lose nothing by being out o

, what would he not be after her death? Then, too, but the day before they had received a remittance from Uncle Nat, and with that they could afford to hire a

ripping up the walk, her cheeks flushed with exercise, and her eyes sparkling with joy, as, glancing upward, she saw him looking down upon her. In after years, when Howard Hastings's cup was full of bl

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