The Ugty Duckting.

The Ugty Duckting .

OR DOLLY'S CONQUESTS . * CHAPTER I . DUTCH DOLLY . t ________ Mi ^ ICHARD GOLDMORE , Esq ., of Midas Park , the j ||§ jjji »» wealthy banker of Burnisham , was , notwith-< c 5 s * s standing his greafc riches , a disappointed and " 7 &§ Sr dissatisfied man . To his superiors he was obse-TT quious and fawning , to his equals courteous J * or even affable , but to those whom he

considered his inferiors he was haughtily condescending or superciliously overbearing . His great ambition had been to found a family , but here fortune proved fickle , and while giving him children denied him what he most longed for , a son and heir . His eldest daughter was named Florence , and , without a doubt , she was beautiful ,

with her regularly cut features , dark hair , and flashing eyes ; while Martha , the second daughter , had quite a different style of beauty , being fair in complexion , with an abundance of golden hair , and a pair of soft , dreamy , light blue orbs . Dorothy , tho youngest , was unlike either of her sisters ; her figure was short , not to say

squat , her head was large and round , her eyes large and prominent , and her general appearance suggested the idea of a Dutch doll , which her' household name of " Dolly " tended to strengthen . Florence was petted by her father , and Martha tolerated , but Dorothy was despised . She was despised because of . 'her father's

disappointment , and he even carried his chagrin to such a ridiculous extent that he would not look at tho child , and forbade its ever being brought into his presence . Not only the child , but the child ' s mother , suffered from his cruel treatment , and the result was that Mrs . Goldmore , who had never been of a very robust constitution ,

ended her troubles and her life when Dorothy was about five years of age . Her husband mourned for her in the most fashionable and expensive manner , but for nil this great assumption of woe somo of his more intimate friends maintained that ho considered his wife's death a happy release—for himself , and that he would soon

console himself with another wife . In this last conjecture they were wrong , for Mr . Goldmore never married again . Florence , at tho timo of hor mother ' s death , was ten years old , Martha eight , and Dorothy about five , as mentioned above . The eldest was petted and pampered in everything , and hor slightest whim was humoured ,

nnd it is not to be wondered at thafc sho grew up to he a self-willed , imperious girl , whoso will was law . Martha , although not made so much of as her elder sister , hail too much of her own way , and grow up almost as self-willed and wayward as tlio ofcher ; while Dorothy , on the other hand , was a quiet , meek , retiring

child , who would do anything sho could for anyone . As thoy grew up , the two elder sisters seemed to copy their father's behaviour towards thoir little sister . They shunned her , called her " Dowdio Dolly , " and spurned the "little fright" on every occasion , which unsisterly behaviour Dolly bore most uncomplainingly .

Her 3 ' 0 img life would have beon a complete misery to her but that she hail one good friend in the house , and this was the governess . This lady , whoso authority was spurned by the elder sisters , found little neglected Dorothy a tractable , affectionate , and very intelligent child , and she therefore took the utmost pains

with her education , and mado her moro of a companion than a pupil . Thc rcsultof this was that in course of time the intelligent child developed into an intellectual young lady . When tho children were grown up , and thc services of a governess no longer required , Dolly lost her

companion , and for the first time sinco the death of her mother felt herself miserable and alone . As her father and sisters did not care for her society , and having no other , she sought the companionship of the greatest minds of this and past ages , for Mr . Goldmore , although not a reading man , yet took a pride in having a library ,

which had been furnished by a bookseller , who was also instructed to keep it replenished from timo to timo with the best of the newest publications . And thus it was that Dorothy found consolation and companionship in the midst of her solitude . Mr . Goldmore , as his daughters wero growing up into

womanhood , came at last to the conclusion that next to baring a son of his own was the having a good sonin-law . What he meant by a good son-in-law was , not one of your exemplary young men , but a man in a good social position , with or without morals . His daughter Florence , he considered , was fit to mate with

the highest noble in the land . She was beautiful , accomplished , and lady-like ; and as ho could give hor a dower worthy of a duchess , why should sho not bc a duchess ? There was young Lord Falconswing , second son of tho Duko of Eyrie , whose elder brother , tho Marquis of Eaglescrest , was considered to bc in a very delicate state of health , so that the chances were that

the successor to the tlucal coronet would be Lord Falconswing . So the banker calculated , and then began to form his plan to bring about a match which , by its brilliancy , would console him for not being able to found a family himself . With Mr . Goldmoro to determine upon a thing was to do it , and as he had the honour of an acquaintance with Lord Falconswing , and had dined several times

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with his lordship , the matter was nofc so difficult . He would give a select dinner party , and invite this scion of the aristocracy as one of the guests . One evening after dinner , and when they had retired to the drawing-room , he intimated his intention to his family , that is , to Florence and Martha , Dorothy having retired to her own room , or " den , " as her

sisters called it . " Florence , my dear , " said Mr . Goldmore , " I have something of importance to tell yon . " " Indeed , papa , and what may it be ? " " If it is a secret intended for Florence alone , I had better leave the room , " said Martha , preparing to go . " No , you need not ; it is no secret , and it concerns

you almost as much as your sister , " answered hei father . " It is simply this , that I have invited Lord Falconswing to dine with us next week . " "How nice , " cried Florence . "I once met his lord , ship at the Mowbray ' s , and he was so pleasant and agreeable ; I ' m so glad you have asked him here . " " I trust you will find him more agreeable than ever .

I have been thinking of late that 1 would like to see yon well settled in life , and where could we look for a better position than that occupied by his lordship . You understand , I would like to think that there is a chance of your becoming Lady Falconswing , ay , and , perhaps , of being a duchess yet . " " Oh , papa , how you talk ! " exclaimed the young

lady , blushing all the while wifch pride and pleasure at the dazzling prospect her father had conjured up before her . " How beautiful your ladyship looks just now , " said Martha , coming up and putting her arm round her sister ' s waist , and then turning to her father . " But , papa , hav'nt you got a nice nobleman for me ? "

" One at a time , please ; remember noblemen are not so easily caught ; Florence is older than you , and she must have tho first chance . When she has made her catch , it will be your turn , " said hor father , smiling . "I suppose , papa , " said Florence , " there will be no necessity for Dolly ' s appearing that day ; she is such a fright that I ' m certain she would shock his

lordship . " " No , no ; there will not be the slightest need for her to make her appearance , " replied her father . " Tho fact is that I had quite forgotten to tell you I had a letter from her aunt in London , who wishes her to spend a few weeks there . Sho can go ns soon as she pleases , and stay as long ns she likes ; I suppose

wo won't miss her very much . " " I don't think we shall , " said Florence . " She shuts herself up in her room , or den , for it is more like a den than anything else , it is so full of books , and papers , and litters of all sorts , and she won't even admit the housemaid to tidy it . " This treatment of Dolly was not unusual when thoy

had company . Asa child she had always been sent to bod , but sho was now long past that mode of treatment , aud BO was simply told that thoy wero going to have company she wouldn't care about , so Dolly generally took thc hint and kept out of the way . This arrangement , although intended as a bit of spitefulness against her , and a sort of punishment for the crime of

plainness , was rather a relief to Dolly , who was naturally of a shy and retiring nature . When Dolly was informed next dny that she was to go to London for a short time sho was very pleased , but when sho heard that Lord Falconswing was going to dine at Midas Park she surprised her sister by saying , " Oh ! how much I would have liked to have met

him . " " You meet Lord Falconswing ? " exclaimed Florence , " what nonsense ! Why , when you do condescend to meet even our ordinary company you can never say n word to anybody . " "That ' s just tlie reason , Flo , " answered she ; " tho ordinary talk of the ordinary company is about stocks

and shares , the weather and tho crops , with now and then a smattering of political gossip , but Lord Falconswing is no ordinary man , and must have something worth talking about , for he has travelled a great deal , and that last book of his on Egypt is quite delightful . " " And pray what do you know of his writings ? " " Ouly what I have read ; his contributions to tho

fauna and flora of " Oh I stop , stop ! " cried Florence , " we don't know and don't earo anything about that—all we know is that he is a gentleman and a friend of papa ' s . " " And wo aro going to do our best to entertain bim ^ aren't we Flo ? " said Martha , with a significant smile .

"Of course , of course , answered Florence hurriedly , and immediately turned the conversation . Before going further with our narrative we think it is due to our readers to give a slight sketch of Lord Falconswing . He was , as we have already seen , tho second son of the Duke of Eyrie , and was , unlike somo of the members of our aristocracy , a thorough

gentleman , with a healthy mind and a sound constitution . Brought up in early youth as a sailor , he had acquired a taste for travel which his position in the navy did not altogether satisfy . So after coming of ago he retired from Her Majesty's service , purchased and fitted out a vessel of his own , and made several voyages to various parts of the world . His experiences in the

different latitudes were carefully noted down ; and ou his return homo they wore made into baokshapo and published for tho benefit of thoso who cared to read of voyages , and travels , and the wonders of foreign countries . Those publications , and the new facts con . toined in them , attracted the attention of some of our men of science , who sought out his lordship and made him a follow of some of the most learned societies in

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the kingdom , with the privilege of writing a number of mysterious letters after his name . Strange to say Lord Falconswing was actually more proud of these letters than of his hereditary titles . This then was the gentleman Mr . Goldmore thought of as a husband for his eldest daughter . We do nofc think we need waste time

and space in telling our readers how the two elder sisters strove to entertain and captivate him on the occasion of the dinner party , nor how agreeable he made himself without getting entangled . As for Dolly ' s sojourn in London , we must pass it

over wifch the simple remark thafc she seemed to have enjoyed herself very much , and to havo made a number of friends who evidently appreciated her , for at their solicitation , and wifch her father's ready consent , she ultimately left Midas Park and took up her permanent residence in the metropolis .

CHAPTER II .

DOLLY THE DUCHESS . A FEW years have passed since we last met thc family of Mr . Goldmore afc Midas Park , and now we visit it with a shadow resting over ifc . It is tho season of a great commercial crisis , a panic and distrust had seized the populace from one end of the land to the other , and

all around failures were taking place and banks breaking , owing to tha sudden demand for money which they wore unable to supply . While many of the larger banks were tottering to their fall , the banker of Burnisham was not without considerable anxiety as to the stability of his own . His state of affairs he had

thought perfectly good , his investments were considered first-class , but , with the most respectable and oldest established firms failing on all sides , there seemed to be no security in anything . He had got over the first two days of the panic , and was beginning to congratulate himself thafc tho worst was over , when

the stoppage of a large bank , considered one of the most stable , threw the people into such a state of consternation that everyone rushed to secure his or her deposits , and so overwhelming was the demand that Mr . Goldmore had to give way before the pressure of the times and suspend payment . When ho at length

reached his home that evening he was utterly worn out and prostrate with anxiety and excitement . " A few moro days such as this will kill mo entirely , " he said to his daughters on their enquiring how matters were at the bank . " But nre affairs in such a serious condition , papa ? "

asked one . " They could not be moro serious , " answered ho . " You do not mean to say that you aro ruined like those other people you wero talking about last night ?" asked Florence . " Well , perhaps we may not bo reduced to a state of

actual beggary , but through tho failure of one of my principal debtors to-day , to say nothing of a number of smaller ones , we will have to alter our stylo of living considerably . " " Oh , papa , we could uot live on less than we do . " " Couldn't we ? " said Mr . Goldmore , grimly , " we'll

have to . " " Well , let me sec , " said Martha ; " we might do with only two horses , and that would save thoir keep and one groom . " " Yes , " added Florence , " aud there's old Wilkins , the gardener , he's quite useless with ago ; Jones does all

his work , any way ; so we could put away Wilkins , and that would make a considerable saving . " " Wo will have to do without any horses , grooms , or gardeners ; in fact , wo will have to leave this place altogether and take a small house in Burnisham , and be thankful if wc can afford even ouc servant , " said

the father , severely . "What ! aro then things so very bad ? " exclaimed Martha . " They could not easily be worse—but I'm tired and want rest , so good-night , " saying whicli he retired to his own room .

The state of mind of these young ladies may , perhaps , bc better imagined than described . They had been brought up in luxury ; everything they could wish for , and which money could procure , was theirs for the ordering ; and now , in a moment as it were , they were reduced from affluence to a state of poverty . They

grumbled and grieved at their ill-fortune , and instead of doing what thoy could to comfort their father under the severe blow he was so acutely suffering from , they irritated him by their complainings until at last ho lelt as if his mind would give way . It iVns now thc second day after tho stoppage of the

bank , and instead of matters appearing better they looked worse , for the panic had not yet subsided , and the people were clamorous and eager to get what they could out of the wreck . At his offico tho banker had to face the angry threatenings of his creditors , who accused him of wasting their capital by the extravagant

stylo he kept up . It was in vain that he asked for time , and promised to pay them in full . No ! they would sell his estate , his fine horses and carriages , pictures and plate , and everything he had , so as to secure something at any rate . When he returned home that evening ,

dejected and worn out , his servants were insolent and demanded their wages , and from his daughters he got no word of sympathy . This was tho last bitter drop in his cup of misery , and rushing from the room in an almost distracted state ho gained his own apartment .