The Log House by the Lake | Page 3

but that you will find it pleasant."
"What, do you live in Canada, sir?" asked Charley.
"Yes; I have lived there all my life," said the stranger. "But, my young
friend, you say that you are ruined, and yet I see that you have servants
attending on you: how is that?"
"Why, they insisted on coming, and would not leave us," answered
Charley.
"Would more have accompanied you?" enquired the stranger. "I am
afraid, though, that my questions may appear impertinent,"
"If papa would have let them," said Charley.
"That fact speaks volumes in favour both of masters and servants," said
the stranger to himself.

From that day Charley looked upon the stranger as an especial friend,
though he could learn little more about him than that his name was
Norman. At length the Saint Lawrence was reached, and the Ashton
family landed safely at Quebec, the chief port of the superb province
which the gallantry of Wolfe won for England, and which, mainly by
the perseverance and energy of Anglo-Saxon inhabitants, has become
one of the brightest jewels in the British crown.
CHAPTER TWO.
"We have gained the day, Mrs Ashton! We have gained the day, girls!"
exclaimed Mr Ashton, rushing with his hat on into the small
sitting-room of a red brick house in a dull street of a country town in
England. Various exclamations broke from the lips of Mrs and the
Misses Ashton at this unexpected announcement. For reasons best
known to himself, Mr John Ashton had not informed his wife and
daughters of the law-suit going on between himself and his relative, Mr
Philip Ashton. "Guess the amount!" he exclaimed. That was impossible.
"What do you think of six thousand a-year? Every shilling of it, and
under my management it will become ten thousand; ay, and more than
that, probably." It was some time before the Ashtons could realise the
fact of this good fortune, as they called it; but as they realised it their
ideas expanded, their aspirations increased. Their eldest son, John,
lately articled to an attorney, must be entered at Oxford; the second,
apprenticed to a draper, was sent off to Germany to grow whiskers and
a moustache, lest any of the country gentry should recognise him as
having measured out ribbons for them from behind the counter; while
the youngest was taken from the Grammar-school and sent off, much
against his will, to form aristocratic acquaintances at Eton. The great
ambition of the Miss Ashtons was to shine in London society. Their
father boasted that money could do everything. It enabled him to obtain
a handsome house, equipage, and establishment, and then to commence
their career in the world of fashion. There were three Miss Ashtons.
The two eldest were considered beauties; the youngest, Mary, had been
absent on a visit, and did not return home till her father was on the
point of setting off for London.

"Father, I wish to speak to you alone," said Mary, on the evening of her
arrival. Mr Ashton led the way to his office at the back of the house. He
had considerable respect for Mary, though he tried not to show it.
"Father, I hope that you will not consider I have been wanting in duty
in having refrained from writing what I now wish to tell you," she
began. Mr Ashton looked uncomfortable, but nodded for her to
continue, which she did. "While I was with Mrs Musgrave, at
Scarborough, a gentleman of our name, who happened to be there with
some members of his family, was introduced to me. Mrs Musgrave was
much pleased with him-- we saw him frequently--he at length proposed
to me, and feeling sure that you would approve of him, I accepted him."
"What is his name?" asked Mr Ashton, sharply.
"Philip Ashton;--he is most worthy--most excellent," answered Mary,
trembling at her father's tone. "He is all--!"
"He is a beggar!" exclaimed Mr Ashton, vehemently. "You will have
nothing more to say to him; you understand me clearly; it is not a
matter I wish to discuss." Rising from his seat he led the way out of the
room.
Two days afterwards Mary received a letter from Philip Ashton, freeing
her from her engagement to him in consequence of their altered
circumstances, but couched in terms which more than ever convinced
her that he was worthy of her best affections. The family arrived in
London, and by dint of perseverance, managed to engage in a whirl of
dissipation, which they called pleasure. Mary's cheeks grew paler than
they were wont. Her sisters said that it was the effect of the London
season. John, voting Oxford a bore, came to London, and without much
difficulty, obtained the character of a fashionable young man about
town. It might have been