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Updated: June 25, 2025
"She seems to be enjoying it, mamma," said Miss Laura Burnham, with a faint sigh. Miss Laura had been looking on over her parent's shoulder. "They all seem to be enjoying it. See how Lucia Gaston and Mr. Burmistone are laughing. I never saw Lucia look like that before. The only one who seems a little dull is Mr. Barold."
It may as well be explained at the outset, that the mill-owner of Burmistone Mills was a man of decided determination of character, and that, upon the evening of Lady Theobald's tea, he had arrived at the conclusion that he would spare no effort to gain a certain end he felt it would add to his happiness to accomplish.
"May I ask who thinks of giving a garden-party in Slowbridge?" "It is no one in Slowbridge," replied this lady cheerfully. "Some one who lives a little out of Slowbridge, Mr. Burmistone, my dear Lady Theobald, at his new place." "Mr. Burmistone!" "Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. Barold." "Mr.
Burmistone, "I suppose there is a medium." "A charming wife she would make, for a man with a position to maintain," remarked Barold, with a short and somewhat savage laugh. "Octavia Bassett?" queried Burmistone. "That's true. But I am afraid she wouldn't enjoy it if you are supposing the man to be an Englishman, brought up in the regulation groove."
"Then we won't go in," she said, the smile returning to her lips again. In the mean time Mr. Burmistone was improving his opportunities within doors. He had listened to the music with the most serious attention; and on its conclusion he had turned to Mrs. Burnham, and made himself very agreeable indeed.
It happened oddly that Mr. Burmistone's first words touched upon the subject of her thought. He began quite abruptly with it. "It seems to me," he said, "that Miss Octavia Bassett" Lucia stopped him with a courage which surprised herself. "Oh, if you please," she implored, "don't say any thing unkind about her!" Mr. Burmistone looked down into her soft eyes with a good deal of feeling.
Perhaps, as I say, he had not put this sentiment into words; but it is quite certain that it had been uppermost in his mind upon more occasions than one. As he thought their acquaintance over, this evening, he was rather severe upon Octavia. He even was roused so far as to condescend to talk her over with Burmistone.
Burmistone accompanied him; and, upon almost every other occasion of his presenting himself to her ladyship, Mr. Burmistone was his companion.
Poppleton, who, under Octavia's direction, was devoting all his energies to the game: her eyes were bright, and she had lost, for the time being, her timid air of feeling herself somehow in the wrong. "I am glad to see you here," said Mr. Burmistone. "I am glad to be here," she answered. "It has been such a happy afternoon. Every thing has seemed so bright and and different!"
It seemed that her resolution was to be tried immediately; for at that very moment Lady Theobald turned, and, on recognizing the full significance of Lucia's position, was apparently struck temporarily dumb and motionless. When she recovered from the shock, she made a majestic gesture of command. Mr. Burmistone glanced at the girl's face, and saw that it changed color a little.
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