Lady Rosamonds Secret | Page 4

full-blooded Arabian horses; magnificent
specimens of their species; proudly sits their owner in his costly
equipage. As a man of wealth, high family, Mr. Howe occupied a
prominent position in the household of the Douglas family. His coming
is awaited with eagerness. Captain Douglas, his friend and companion,
is at his side in a moment addressing him with hearty familiarity,
"Howe, you are late. Has business been pressing? Takes some time to
get reconciled to the hum drum of life in New Brunswick! Well, old
fellow, send around the horses and we will yet have time for a cigar
before dinner. Strange, I enjoy one better before than after. You know I
am an odd bird in every sense. Was odd last evening at mess when we
got the rubber." "Douglas, one thing is confoundedly odd." "How did
the natives of New Brunswick ever impose upon the British
Government to send a governor and a private secretary," interrupted
Charles Douglas. "Ha, ha, ha," laughed the latter, with repeated and
renewed attacks. "Howe, you have been baulked in some design to-day;
perhaps the fair one smiled on another, or odder still, some rival is
ready to exchange a few kindly shots." "Oh, Douglas, for Heaven's sake
stop and save your breath for more interesting topics," exclaimed the
latter. The secretary lit a cigar and sat down to glance over the contents
of a letter. Muttering some irreverent expressions upon the writer.
"Howe, you 'see through a glass darkly,'" yelled Captain Douglas,
"to-morrow you will see face to face Major McNair and the sports of
H.M. 52nd. It will be mightily odd if you do not give them a brush.

Count upon me, too, as I intend to show in earnest what stuff Prince is
made of." "One thing you show," said Mr. Howe, with a strange
grin--"a desire to turn parson or priest. I might make a few suppositions
without interruption. Perhaps you have been initiating yourself in the
good graces of a Rev. Clergyman, by a few such quotations. Perhaps
the church might take better in New Brunswick than the army. Douglas,
with all your perhapses, you are a cunning diplomatist." "You certainly
do me credit, Howe," said his friend; "I possess enough cunning to
perceive that you are not in your native element this September 22nd,
1824."
The private secretary of His Excellency, Sir Howard Douglas, was a
man of no ordinary stamp. He had ability and coolness; the last named
quality had gained him much favour from the veteran commander, and
a desire to retain his service. Tall, slight and athletic, Mr. Howe was
foremost in all feats of physical sports. Horse racing was his greatest
mania. Few could manage a horse as he, and fewer still could own one
faster than his favourite mare, Bess. Quickly he rose to his feet with
"Jove, Douglas, I feel angry with myself and everybody." "Then keep
your distance, I beseech you," returned Captain Douglas, in his usual
jolly manner. "Listen for a moment and hear my scrape," said Howe.
"Down in the mess this afternoon we got talking,"--"horse, of course,"
said the Captain--"yes, horse," said the former, "and got mixed up into
one of the greatest skirmishes ever heard of. Captain Markham swore
and raged like a wild beast Captain Hawley bit his lips with anger, and
when I tried to conciliate matters, they turned on me like a set of vipers.
In fact, with two or three exceptions, they hung together and irated me
in good round English, forward and backward with little regard to
Johnson or any of the time-honoured lexicographers. It was a hot
encounter. In spite of anger, I cannot help laughing, to think how they
abused each other, and, in turn, united themselves into a general force,
directing the fire of their battery upon me. By St. George of England, it
was too much. Of Course this is only the beginning of a series of such
demonstrations." "All's well that ends well," returned Captain Douglas,
"a night's sleep will restore all to a former footing. Major McNair
would frown upon any breach thus made."

CHAPTER II.
AMID THE HOUSEHOLD
The spacious dining hall of Government House now assumed an aspect
of studied splendour. The tables groaned under the weight of tempting
and delicious dishes. The culinary intricacies of Sir Howard's table
were often under comment. Viands of all kinds stood on every side,
while the brilliant scintillations from chandeliers--massive silver and
sparkling glasses--were of wondrous radiance. Sir Howard, preceded
by Mr. Howe and Lady Douglas, led his beautiful daughter to a seat at
his side. Captain Charles Douglas was the escort of Miss Cheenick, the
family governess, and companion of Miss Douglas. The remaining part
of the company took their places in like order, thus completing the