MODERN BROODS, or DEVELOPMENTS UNLOOKED FOR

CHAPTER I--TORTOISES AND HARES

"Whate'er is good to wish, ask that of Heaven, Though it be what thou canst not hope to see. "- HARTLEY COLERIDGE. 

The scene was a drawing-room, with old-fashioned heavy sash windowsopening on a narrow brick-walled town-garden sloping down to a river, and neatly kept. The same might be said of the room, where heavyold-fashioned furniture, handsome but not new, was concealed byvarious flimsy modernisms, knicknacks, fans, brackets, chinaphotographs and water-colours, a canary singing loud in the window inthe winter sunshine. 

"Miss Prescott, " announced the maid; but, finding no auditor save thecanary, she retreated, and Miss Prescott looked round her with a halfsigh of recognition of the surroundings. She was herself a quiet-looking, gentle lady, rather small, with a sweet mouth and eyes ofhazel, in a rather worn face, dressed in a soft woollen and grey fur, with headgear to suit, and there was an air of glad expectation, alittle flush, that did not look permanent, on her thin cheeks. 

"Is it you, my dear Miss Prescott?" was the greeting of the olderhostess as she entered, her grey hair rough and uncovered, and herdress of well-used black silk, her complexion of the red that showswear and care. "Then it is true?" she asked, as the kiss and doubleshake of the hand was exchanged. 

"May I ask? Is it true? May I congratulate you?"

"Oh, yes, it is true!" said Miss Prescott, breathlessly. "I supposethe girls are at the High School?"

"Yes, they will be at home at one. Or shall I send for them?"

"No, thank you, Mrs. Best. I shall like to have a little time withyou first. I can stay till a quarter-past three. "

"Then come and take off your things. I do not know when I have beenso glad!"

"Do the girls know?" asked Miss Prescott, following upstairs to acomfortable bedroom, evidently serving also the purposes of a privateroom, for writing table and account books stood near the fire. 

"They know something; Kate Bell heard a report from her cousins, andthey have been watching anxiously for news from you. "

"I would not write till I knew more. I hope they have not raisedtheir expectations too high; for though it is enough to be an immenserelief, it is not exactly affluence. I have been with Mr. Bell goinginto the matter and seeing the place, " said Miss Prescott, sittingcomfortably down in the arm-chair Mrs. Best placed for her, while sheherself sat down in another, disposing themselves for a talk over thefire. 

"Mr. Bell reckons it at about 600 pounds a year. "

"And an estate?"

"A very pretty cottage in a Devonshire valley, with the furniture andthree acres of land. "

"Oh! I believe the girls fancy that it is at least as large as LordColdhurst's. "

"Yes, I was in hopes that they would have heard nothing about it. "

"It came through some of their schoolfellows; one cannot help thingsgetting into the air. "

"And there getting inflated like bubbles, " said Miss Prescott, smiling. "Well, their expectations will have a fall, poor dears!"

"And it does not come from their side of the family, " said Mrs. Best. "Of course not! And it was wholly unexpected, was it not?"

"Yes, I had my name of Magdalen from my great aunt Tremlett; but shehad never really forgiven my mother's marriage, though she consentedto be my godmother. She offered to adopt me on my mother's death, and once when my father married again, and when we lost him, shewrote to propose my coming to live with her; but there would havebeen no payment, and so--"

"Yes, you dear good thing, you thought it your duty to go and workfor your poor little stepmother and her children!"

"What else was my education good for, which has been a costly thingto poor father? And then the old lady was affronted for good, andnever took any more notice of me, nor answered my letters. I did noteven know she was dead, till I heard from Mr. Bell, who had learnt itfrom his lawyers!"

"It was quite right of her. Dear Magdalen, I am so glad, " said Mrs. Best, crossing over to kiss her; for the first stiffness had wornoff, and they were together again, as had been the solicitor'sdaughter and the chemist's daughter, who went to the same school tillMagdalen had been sent away to be finished in Germany. 

"Dear Sophy, I wish you had the good fortune, too!"

"Oh! my galleons are coming when George has prospered a little morein Queensland, and comes to fetch me. Sophia and he say they shallfight for me, " said Mrs. Best, who had been bravely presiding over ahigh-school boarding-house ever since her husband, a railwayengineer, had been killed by an accident, and left her with twochildren to bring up. "Dear children, they are very good to me. "

"I am sure you have been goodness itself to us, " said Magdalen, "intaking the care of these poor little ones when their mother died. Idon't know how to be thankful enough to you and for all the blessingswe have had! And that this should have come just now, especiallywhen my life with Lady Milsom is coming to an end. "

"Indeed!"

"Yes, the little boys are old enough for school, and the Colonel isgoing to take a house at Shrewsbury, where his mother will live withthem, and want me no longer. "

"You have been there seven years. "

"Yes, and very happy. When Fanny married, Lady Milsom was leftalone, and would not part with me, and then came the two little boysfrom India, so that she had an excuse for retaining me; but that isover now, or will be in a few weeks time. I had been trying for anengagement, and finding that beside your high-school diploma youngladies I am considered quite passee--"

"My dear! With your art, and music, and all!"

"Too true! And while I was digesting a polite hint that my termswere too high, and therewith Agatha's earnest appeal to be sent toGirton, there comes this inheritance! Taking my burthen off my back, and making me ready to throw up my heels like a young colt. "

"Ah! you will be taking another burthen, perhaps. "

"No doubt, I suppose so, but let me find it out by degrees. I canonly think as yet of having my dear girls to myself, moi, as theFrench would say, after having seen so little of them. "

"It has been very unfortunate. Epidemics have been strangelyinconvenient. "

"Yes. First there was whooping cough here to destroy the summerholidays; then came the Milsoms' measles, and I could not go andcarry infection. Oh! and then Freddy broke his leg, and hisgrandmother was too nervous to be left with him. And by and by someone told her the scarlatina was in the town. "

"It really was, you know. "

"Any way, it would have been sheer selfish inhumanity to leave her, and then she had a real illness, which frightened us all very much. Next came influenza to every one. And these last holidays! Whatshould the newly-come little one from India do, but catch a fever inthe Red Sea, and I had to keep guard over the brothers at Weymouthtill she was reported safe, and I don't believe it was infectiousafter all! Still, I am tired of 'other people's stairs. '"

"It is nearly five years since you have been with them, except forthat one peep you took at Weston. "

"And that is a great deal at their age. Agatha was a vehementreader; she would hardly look at me, so absorbed was she in 'The Yorkand Lancaster Rose' which I had brought her. "

"She is rather like that now. I conclude that you will wish to takethem away?"

"Not this time, at any rate till the house is fit to put over theirheads. Besides, you have so mothered them, dear Sophy, that I couldnot bear to make a sudden parting. "

"There will be pain, especially over little Thekla and Polly. But ifGeorge comes home this spring, and I go out to Queensland with him, perhaps I should have asked you to take this house off my hands. Maybe it would be prudent in you to do so even now, considering allthings; only I believe that transplanting would be good for themall. "

"I am glad you think so, for I have a perfect longing for that littlehouse of my own. "

"You will be able to give them a superior kind of society to whatthey have had access to here. There is a good deal that I shouldlike to talk over with you before they come in. "

"Agatha seems to be in despair at her failure. "

"So is all the house, for we were very proud of her, and, of course, we all thought it a fad of the examiners, but perhaps ourheadmistress might not say the same. She is a good, hardworking girlthough, and ambitious, and quite worth further training. "

"I am glad of being able to secure it to her at least, and by thetime her course is finished I shall be able to judge about theothers. "

"You thought of taking them in hand yourself?"

"Certainly; how nice it will be to teach my own kin, and not endlessstrangers, lovable as they have been!"

"It will be very good for them all to see something of life andmanners superior to what I can give them here. You will take theminto a fresh sphere, and--as things were--besides that, I could not--I did not know whether their lives would not lie among our peoplehere. "

"Dear Sophy, don't concern yourself. I am quite certain you wouldnever let them fall in with anything hurtful. "

"Why, no! I hope not; but if I had known what was coming, I don'tthink I should have asked you to consent to Vera and Thekla'sspending their holidays at Mr. Waring's country house. "

"Very worthy people, you said. I remember Tom Waring, a very niceboy; and Jessie Dale went to school with us--I liked her. Fancy themhaving a country house. "

"Waring Grange they call it. He has got on wonderfully asupholsterer, decorator, and auctioneer. It is a very handsome one, with a garden that gets the prizes at the horticultural shows. Theyare thoroughly good people, but I was afraid afterwards that therehad been a good deal of noisiness among the young folks at Christmas. Hubert Delrio was there, and I fancy there was some nonsense goingon. "

"Ah, the Delrios! Are they here?"

"Yes, poor Fred did not make his art succeed when he had a family toprovide for, and he is the head of the Art School here. His son hasa good deal of talent, and very prudently has got taken on by thefirm of Eccles and Co. , who do a great deal of architecturaldecoration. The boy is doing very well, but there have been gigglesand whispers that make me rejoice that Vera should be out of theneighbourhood. "

"Is she not very pretty?"

"You will be very much struck with her, I think; and Paulina ispretty too, and more thoughtful. She would not go with Thekla, because Waring Grange is far from church, and she would not disturbher Christmas and Epiphany. She is the most religious of them all, and puts me in mind of our old missionary castles in the air. "

"Ah, what castles they were! And they seem further off than ever!Or perhaps you will fulfil them, and go and teach the Australianblacks!"

"A very unpromising field, " said Mrs. Best, "though I hear there is aSister Angela at the station who does wonders with them. I hear thequarter striking--they will be back directly. "

"Ah! before they come, we ought to talk over means! Something isowing for these last holidays. Oh! Sophy, I cannot find words to sayhow thankful I am to you for having helped me through this time, evento your own loss! It has made our life possible. "

"Indeed, I was most thankful to do all I could for poor Agnes'children; and though I did not gain by them like my other boarders, Inever LOST, and they have been a great joy to me, yes, and a help, bygiving my house a character. "

"When I recollect how utterly crushed down I felt, seven years ago, when their mother died, and Aunt Magdalen refused help, and howdespairingly I prayed, I feel all the more that there is an answer toeven feeble almost worldly prayer. "

"That it could not be when it was that you might be enabled to do theduty that was laid on you, my dear. "

And with the exchange of a kiss, the two good women set themselves topractical pounds, shillings, and pence, which was just concluded whenthe patter of feet up the stone steps and voices in the hallannounced the return of Mrs. Best's boarders. 

Just as Magdalen was opening the door, there darted up, with the airof a privileged favourite, a little person of ten years old, withflying brown hair and round rosy cheeks, exclaiming breathlessly, "Isshe come?"

The answer was to take her up with a motherly hug, and "My dearlittle Thekla!" There was not time for more than a hurried glanceand embrace of the three on the steps of the stair, in their sailorhats and blue serge; but when in ten minutes more, the whole party, twenty in number, were seated round the dining table, observation waspossible. Agatha, as senior scholar, sat at the foot of the table, fully occupied in dispensing Irish stew. She had a sensible face, towhich projecting teeth gave a character, and a brow that would haveshown itself finer but for the overhanging mass of hair. Vera andPaulina were so much alike and so nearly of the same age that theywere often taken for twins, but on closer inspection Vera proved tobe the prettiest, with a more delicately cut nose, clearercomplexion, and bluer eyes; but Paulina, with paler cheeks, hadsofter eyes, and more pencilled brows, as well as a prettier lip andchin, though she would not strike the eye so much as her sister. Little Thekla was a round-faced, rosy little thing, childish for hernearly eleven years, smiling broadly and displaying enough whiteteeth to make Magdalen forebode that they would need much attentionif they were not to be a desight like Agatha's. 

She sat between Mrs. Best and Magdalen; and in the first pause, whenthe first course had just been distributed, she looked up with agreat pair of grey eyes, and asked, in a shrill, clear little voice, "Sister, may I have a bicycle?"

"We will see about it, my dear, " returned Magdalen, unwilling topledge herself. 

"But haven't you got a fortune?" undauntedly demanded Thekla. 

"Something like it, Thekla. You shall hear about it after dinner. "And Magdalen felt her colour flushing up under all those young eyes. 

"Kitty Best said--"

But here Mrs. Best interposed. "We don't talk over such things attable, Thekla. Take care with the gravy. Did Mr. Jones give alesson, this morning?"

"Yes, a very long one, " said Vera. 

"It was about the exact force of the words in the Revised Version, "added Agatha, "compared with the Greek. "

"That must have been very interesting!" said Magdalen. 

Vera and her neighbour looked at one another and shrugged theirshoulders; while some one else broke in with the news that anothergirl had not come back because she was down with influenza; andMagdalen, suspecting that "shop" was not talked at table, and alsothat the Scripture passage could not well be discussed there, sawthat it was wise to let the conversation drift off, by Mrs. Best'sleading, into anecdotes of the influenza. 

All were glad when grace was chanted, and the five sisters couldretreat into the drawing-room, which Mrs. Best let them have tothemselves for the half hour before Magdalen's train, and the youngones' return to the High School. She was at once established withThekla on her lap, and the others perched round on chairs andfootstools. Of course the first question was, "And is it reallytrue?"

"It is true, my dears, that my old great aunt has left me a house andsome money; but you must not flatter yourselves that it is a greatestate. "

"Only mayn't I have a bicycle?" began Thekla again. 

"Child, I believe you have bicycles on the brain, " said Agatha. "But, sister, you do mean that we shall be better off, and I shall beable to go on with my education?"

"Yes, my dear, I think I can promise you so much, " said Magdalen, caressing the serge shoulder. 

"O thanks! Girton?" cried Agatha. 

"There is much that I must inquire about before I decide--"

Again came, "Elsie Warner has a bicycle, and she is no older than me!Please, sister!"

"Hush now, my little Thekla, " said the sister kindly; "I will talk toMrs. Best, and see whether she thinks it will be good for you. "

Thekla subsided with a pout, and Magdalen was able to explain hercircumstances and plans a little more in detail; seeing however thatthe girls had no idea of the value of money, Paulina asked whether itmeant being as well off as the Colonel and Lady Mary -

"Who keep a carriage and pair, and a butler, " interposed Vera. 

"Oh no, my dear. If I keep any kind of carriage it will be only abasket or governess cart, and a pony or donkey. "

"That's all right, " said Agatha. "I would not be rich and stupid forthe world. "

"Small fear of that!" said Magdalen, laughing. "Our home, the Goyle, is not more than a cottage, in a beautiful Devonshire valley--"

"What's the name of it?"

"The Goyle. I believe it is a diminutive of Gully, a narrow ravine. It is lovely even now, and will be delightful when you come to me inApril--"

"Shall I leave school?" asked Vera. "I shall be seventeen in May. "

"You will all leave school. Mrs. Best has made it easy to me by herwonderful goodness in keeping you on cheaper terms; but if Agathagoes to the University you must be content to work for a time withme. "

"Oh!" cried Thekla. "Shall I have always holidays? My bicycle!"

Everybody burst out laughing at this--not a very trainedcachinnation, but more of the giggle, even in Agatha; and Magdalenanswered:

"You will have plenty of time for bicycling if the hills are not toosteep, but I hope to make your lessons pleasant to you. " She did notknow whether to mention Mrs. Best's intention of soon giving up herhouse, which would have much increased her difficulties but for herlegacy; and Agatha said, "You know, I think, that Vera and Polly bothought to make a real study of music. They both have talent, andcultivation would do a great deal for it. "

Agatha spoke in a dogmatic way that amused Magdalen, and she said, "Well, I shall be able to judge when we are at the Goyle. Vera, Ithink you sing--"

Vera looked shy, and Agatha said, "She has a good voice, and MadameLardner thinks it would answer to send her to some superiorConservatoire in process of time. "

Vera did not commit herself as to her wishes, and Mrs. Best returnedto say that if Miss Prescott wished to see the headmistress it wastime to set out for the school; and accordingly the whole partywalked up together to the school, Magdalen with Agatha, who waschiefly occupied in explaining how entirely it was owing to the one-sidedness of the examiners that she had not gained the scholarship. Magdalen had heard of such examiners before from the mothers of herpupils. 

She had to wish her sisters good-bye for the next three months, nothaving gathered very much about them, except their personalappearance. She administered a sovereign to each of them as theyparted. Agatha thanked her in a tone as if afraid to betray what aboon it was; Vera, with an eager kiss, asking if she could spend itas she liked; Paulina, with a certain grave propriety; and Thekla, ofcourse, wanted to know whether it would buy a bicycle, or, if not, how many rides could be purchased from it. 

When they were absorbed in the routine of the day, the interview withthe head mistress disclosed, what Magdalen had expected, that Agatha, was an industrious, ambitious girl, with very good abilities quiteworth cultivating, though not extraordinary; that Vera had a certainsort of cleverness, but no application and not much taste foranything but music; and that Paulina was a good, dutiful, ploddinggirl, who surpassed brighter powers by dint of diligence. The littleone was a mere child, who had not yet come much under notice from thehigher authorities. 

On the whole, Magdalen went away with pleasant hopes, and theaffectionate impulses of kindred blood rising within her, to completeher term with Lady Milsom, by whom she could not well be spared tilltowards Easter; while, in the meantime, her house was being repaired. 

CHAPTER II--THE GOYLE

"A poor thing, but mine own. "--SHAKESPEARE. 

"Thaay stwuns, thaay stwuns, thaay stwuns, thaay stwuns. "--T. HUGHES, Scouring of the White Horse. 

Magdalen Prescott stood on her own little terrace. Her house was, like many Devonian ones, built high on the slope of a steep hill, running down into a narrow valley, and her abode was almost at thenarrowest part, where a little lively brawling stream descended fromthe moor amid rocks and brushwood. If the history of the place weretold, it had been built for a shooting box, then inherited by alawyer who had embellished and spent his holidays there, andafterwards, his youngest daughter, a lonely and retiring woman, hadspent her latter years there. 

The house was low, stone built, and roofed with rough slate, with anarrow verandah in front, and creepers in bud covering it. Then camea terrace just wide enough for a carriage to drive up; and below, flower-beds bordered with stones found what vantage ground they couldbetween the steep slopes of grass that led almost precipitously downto the stream, where the ground rose equally rapidly on the otherside. Moss, ivy, rhododendrons, primroses, anemones, and the promiseof ferns were there, and the adjacent beds had their full share ofhepaticas and all the early daffodil kinds. Behind and on thesouthern side, lay the kitchen garden, also a succession of steps, and beyond as the ravine widened were small meadows, each with a bigstone in the midst. The gulley, (or goyle) narrowed as it rose, andthere was a disused limestone quarry, all wreathed over with creepingplants, a birch tree growing up all white and silvery in the middle, and above the house and garden was wood, not of fine trees, andinterspersed with rocks, but giving shade and shelter. The oppositeside had likewise fields below, with one grey farm house peeping insight, and red cattle feeding in one, and above the same rockywoodland, meeting the other at the quarry; and then after a littlecascade had tumbled down from the steeper ground, giving place to theheathery peaty moor, which ended, more than two miles off in a torrlike a small sphinx. This could not be seen from Magdalen'sterritory, but from the highest walk in her kitchen garden, she couldsee the square tower of Arnscombe, her parish church; and on a clearday, the glittering water of Rockstone bay. 

To Magdalen it was a delightful view, and delightful too had been thearranging of her house, and preparing for her sisters. All thefurniture and contents of the abode had been left to her. It wassolid and handsome of its kind, belonging to the days of the retiredQ. C. , and some of it would have been displaced for what was morefresh and tasteful if Magdalen had not consulted economy. So shedepended on basket-chairs, screens, brackets and drapery to enliventhe ancient mahagony and rosewood, and she had accumulated a goodmany water colours, vases and knick-knacks. The old grand piano wasfound to be past its work, so that she went the length of purchasinga cottage one for the drawing-room, and another for the sitting-roomthat was to be the girls' own property, and on which she expendedmuch care and contrivance. It opened into the drawing-room, and likeit, had glass doors into the verandah, as well as another door intothe little hall. The drawing-room had a bow window looking over thefields towards the South, and this way too looked the dining-room, inwhich Magdalen bestowed whatever was least interesting, such as the"Hume and Smollett" and "Gibbon" of her grandfather's library and herown school books, from which she hoped to teach Thekla. 

Her upstairs arrangements had for the moment been rather disturbed byMrs. Best's wishing to come with her pupils; but she decided thatAgatha should at once take possession of her own pretty room, and thetwo next sisters of theirs, while she herself would sleep in thedressing room which she destined to Thekla, giving up her own chamberto Mrs. Best for these few days, and sending Thekla's little bed toAgatha's room. 

And there she stood, on the little terrace, thinking how lovely thepurple light on the moor was, and how all the newcomers would enjoysuch a treat. 

She had abstained from meeting them at the station, having respect tothe capacities of the horse, even upon his native hills, and she hadhired a farmer's cart to meet them and bring their luggage. Alreadyshe had a glimpse of the carriage, toiling up one hill, thendisappearing between the hedges, and it was long before her gate, already open, was reached, and at her own OWN door, she received herlittle sister, followed by the others. And the first word she heardeven before she had time to pay the driver was, "My dear Magdalen, what a road!"

Poor Mrs. Best! as the payment was put into the man's hand, Magdalenlooked round and saw she looked quite worn out. 

"Yes, " said Paulina, "bumped to pieces and tired to death. "

"I was afraid they had been mending the roads, " said Magdalen. 

"Mending! Strewing them with rocks, if you please, " said Agatha. 

"And such a distance!" added Paulina. 

"Not quite three miles, " replied Magdalen. "Here is some tea torepair you. "

"My dear Magdalen"--in a chorus--"that really is quite impossible. It must be five, at least. "

"Your nearest town ten miles off!" sighed Vera. 

"Your nearest church, " cried Paulina. 

"Up in the wilds, " said Agatha. 

Magdalen felt as if these speeches were so many drops of water in herface and that of her beautiful Goyle, but she rose in its defence. 

"It actually is less than three miles, " she said. "I have walked itseveral times, and the cabs only charge three. "

"That is testimony, " said Mrs. Best, smiling; "but hills, perhaps, reckon for miles in one's feelings!"

"Particularly before you are rested, " said Magdalen, setting her downin a comfortable wicker chair. "You will think little of it on yourown feet, Vera, and the church is much nearer, Paulina, only on theother side of the hill. "

"May I have a bicycle of my own?" burst in Thekla, again; while everyone began laughing, and Agatha told her that Sister would think herbrains were cycling. 

"With centric and concentric scribbled o'erCycle and epicycle orb in orb. "

"Epicycle?" cried Vera. "I saw it advertised in the Queen. Asplendid one. "

"Ah! Magdalen, you will think I have not taught them their Milton, "said Mrs. Best, as both elders burst out laughing; and Agatha said, in an undertone, "Don't make yourself such a goose, Vera. "

"I should think it rather rough sailing for bikes, " said Paulina. 

"I should have thought so, myself, " returned Magdalen; "but theClipstone girls do not seem to think so. I see them sailing merrilyinto Rockstone. "

"You have neighbours, then?" said Vera. 

"Certainly. Rockstone supplies a good deal. Here are various cardsof people whose visits are yet to be returned. Clipstone is furtheroff; but the daughters will be nice friends for you. I met one ofthem before, when she was staying at Lord Rotherwood's. But I amafraid your boxes are hardly come yet. Still, you will like to takeoff your things before dinner, even if you cannot unpack. "

She led the way, and disposed of each girl in her new quarters, explaining to Agatha that her's and her little lodger were onlytemporary; but it struck upon her rather painfully that the only wordof approbation or comfort came from Mrs. Best, and there were nonotes at all of admiration of the scenery. 

"Well, " she said to herself, "much is not to be expected from peoplewho have been tired and shaken up in a station cab over newly-mendedroads! Were they as bad when I came? But then I could look out, anddid not hear poor Sophy's groans all the way. I rather wish she hadnot come with them, though I am glad to see her again for this lasttime. "

Meantime the four girls had congregated in the room appropriated toVera and Paulina. "Here are the necessaries of life, " said Agatha, handing out a brush and comb. "That slow wain may roll its course inutter darkness before it comes here. "

"To the other end of nowhere, " said Vera. 

"And I am so tired, " whined Thekla. "These tight boots do hurt meso! I want to go to bed. "

Paulina was already on her knees, removing the boots andaccommodating a pair of slippers to the little feet. 

"We might as well be in a desert island, " continued Vera, "shut upfrom everything with an old frump. "

"Take care, " said Agatha, in warning, signing towards Thekla. 

"I am sure she looks jolly and good-natured, " said Paulina. 

"But did you hear what Elsie Lee always calls her, 'our maidenaunt'?"

All three laughed, and Vera added, "All the girls say she can't beless than fifty. "

"Topsy! You know she is only sixteen years older than I am. "

"Well, that's half a hundred!"

"Sixteen and nineteen, what do they make?"

"Oh, never mind your sums. She has got the face and look of half ahundred!"

"Now, I thought her face and her dress like a girl's, " said Paulina. 

"Yes, " said Vera, "that's just the way with old maids. They dressthemselves up youthfully and affect girlish airs, and are all themore horrid. "

"That's your experience!" said Agatha. "But there's the waggoncreeping up at a snail's pace. "Let us run down and see after ourthings. "

CHAPTER III--THE FIRST SUNDAY

"Speed on, speed on, the footpath way, And merrily hunt the stile-a;A merry heart goes all the way, A sad tires in a mile-a. "- SHAKESPEARE. 

Sunday morning rose with new and bright hopes. The girls looked outat their window, and saw that it was a beautiful morning, and thatthe spring sunshine glowed upon the purple summits of the hills. Agatha supposed there would be a pleasant walk to church; Paulinasaid she had heard good accounts of the services in that part of thecountry; Vera hoped that they would see what their neighbours werelike, and Thekla was delighted with the jolly garden and places toscramble in. 

On this first Sunday they were let alone to explore the garden beforethe walk to church, which Magdalen foresaw would be a long affairwith Mrs. Best. After their decorous stillness at breakfast, it wasa contrast to hear the merry voices and laughter outside, but itsubsided as soon as she approached, though she did not hear themurmured ripple, "Here comes maiden aunt! Behold--Quite a spicyhat!"

In truth, Magdalen's hat was a pretty new one, not by any meansunsuitable to her age and appearance, and altogether her air was morestylish than the country town breeding was accustomed to; her dressperfectly plain, but well made. 

Vera was perhaps the most sensible of the perfection of the turn-out;Agatha chiefly felt that her more decorated skirt and mantle hadtheir inconveniences in walking through the red mud of the lanes, impeded by books and umbrella, which left no leisure to admire theprimroses that studded the deep banks and which delighted Thekla inthe freedom of short skirts. 

Magdalen herself had enough to do in steering along such asubstantial craft as poor Mrs. Best, used to church-going along astreet, and shrouded under a squirrel mantle of many pounds weight. 

Barely in time was the convoy when at last the exhausted lady washelped over the stone stile that led to the churchyard. Highlypicturesque was the grey structure outside, but within modernism hadnot done much; the chancel was feebly fitted after the ideas of the"fifties, " but the faded woodwork of the nave was intact, andMagdalen still had to sit in the grim pew of her predecessors. 

The girls' looks at each other might have suited the entrance to acondemned cell, and the pulpit towered above them with a faded greencushion, that seemed in danger of tumbling down over their heads. 

The service was a plain one, but reverent and careful; the music hada considerable element of harmonium mixed with schoolchild voices, and the sermon from an elderly man was a good one; but when the moveto go out was made, and the young ones were beyond ear-shot of theirelders, the exclamations were, "Well, I never thought to have goneback to Georgian era. "

"Exactly the element of our maiden aunt. "

"And nobody to be seen. "

"Naggie, why do they shut one up in boxes?"

"Just to daunt Flapsy's roving eye, Tickle, my dear. "

"Don't, Polly. There was nobody to be seen if we hadn't been in abox. Of course no one comes there but stately old farmers and theirsmart daughters. I saw one with a Gainsborough hat, and a bunch ofcock's feathers, with a scarlet cactus cocking it up behind. "

"Flapsy made use of her opportunities, you see. Being 'emparocked ina pew' cannot daunt her spirit of research. "

"Now, Nag, I only meant to show you what impossible people they are. "

"Natives who will repay the study perhaps, " continued Agatha, readingas though from a book of travels. "We were able to observe a groupof the aborigines at their devotions. Conspicuous was a notungraceful young female, whose head, ornamented with a plume offeathers, towered above the enclosure in which she was secluded, while an aged fakir, hakem or medicine man pronounced from a loftierstructure resembling a sentry box. "

"Children, children, that's the wrong way, " came Magdalen's voicefrom behind. "You must turn into that lane. Wait a moment. "

They waited till Mrs. Best's lagging steps allowed Magdalen to comeup with them, but dead silence fell on them when Mrs. Best observed, "You were very merry. " They could not speak of the cause. PerhapsMagdalen divined something, for she said, "We hope to make someimprovements, and so indeed does Mr. Earl, but he is very poor. Besides, newcomers must work slowly. "

The doubt whether she had heard Agatha's speech made the girlsconscious enough to keep from responding, as she meant them to do, bycheerful criticisms, and indeed the task of cheering and dragging onMrs. Best was quite enough to occupy her. There was only three yearsdifference in their ages, but this seemed to have made a greatinterval between one whose metier had been to be youthful and active, and her who had to be staid and dignified. 

The early dinner passed in all demureness and formality, and the poorvisitor was too much tired for any more services to be thought of forher. Magdalen explained that when the days would be longer, shethought of walking to Rockstone for evensong, but now the best waywas to go to the chapel at Clipstone, which was nearer than either ofthe others. 

"There is a lovely little chapel there, beautifully fitted up by LordRotherwood and Sir Jasper Merrifield, for the hamlet, " she said. 

"How far?" asked Mrs. Best. 

"About a mile and a half across the fields; further by the road. Youwill find your bicycles available when you know the way. "

"Don't we go to Rockstone?" asked Paulina. "I am sure there is areally satisfactory church there. "

"St. Kenelm's, do you mean? That is not so near as St. Andrew'sChurch, but that is very satisfactory, and I go to one or other ofthem on week-days. It is too late to come back on these springSundays. "

"I should not like to live among so many churches, " said Mrs. Best, "and so far from them all!"

"You love your old parish church, like a faithful old churchwoman, "said Magdalen. "Well, you see, I am faithful enough to go to myparish in the morning, but I think we may be discursive afterwards. There is a Sunday school in which I was waiting to offer help tillour party was made up. "

Magdalen had looked twice for a responding smile, first from Agatha, and then from Paulina, but none was awakened. The girls clusteredtogether in the bedroom, and the word "Goody" passed between them. 

"Tempered by respect for my Lord and Sir Jasper, " added Agatha. 

"And avoiding St. Kenelm's because it is the real correct church, "said Paulina. 

"Oh, yes!" cried Vera. "Mr. Hubert Delrio went to see it in caseEccles and Beamster should have an order. We must go there. "

"Of course, " said Paulina, with a sympathetic nod. 

"But, " said Agatha, "there will be an embargo on all acquaintanceexcept the grandees at Clipstone. "

"I shall never drop old friends, " cried Vera. "I am a rock ofcrystal as regards them, whatever swells may require, if they burstthemselves like the frog and the ox. "

"Well done, crystal rock; but suppose the old friends slide off anddrop you?" laughed Agatha. 

Vera tossed her head; and Thekla ran in to say that Sister was ready. 

The walk was shorter and pleasanter than that in the morning, overmoorland, but with a good road; but all Magdalen discovered on thewalk was that though the girls had attended botanical classes, theydid not recognise spear-wort when they saw it, and Agatha thought theold catalogue fashions of botany were quite exploded. This was asentiment, and it gave hopes of something like an argument and aconversation, but they were at that moment overtaken by theneighbouring farmer's wife, who wanted to give Miss Prescott someinformation about a setting of eggs, which she did at some length, and with a rapid utterance of dialect that amused, while it puzzled, Magdalen, and her inquiries and comments were decided to be"thoroughly good-wife" by all save Thekla, who hailed the possibleownership of a hen and chicken as almost equal to that of a bicycle. 

Magdalen further discovered that Thekla's name in common use was"Tickle, " or else "Tick-tick"; Paulina was, of course, Paula orPolly; Vera had her old baby title of Flapsy, which somehow suitedher restless nervous motions, and Agatha had become Nag. Well, itwas the fashion of the day, though not a pretty one; but Magdalenrecollected, with some pain, her father's pleasure in the selectionof saintly names for his little daughters, and she wondered how hewould have liked to hear them thus transmuted. There had beensomething bordering on sentiment in her father's character, andsomething in Paulina's expression made her hope to see it repeated byinheritance. She saw the countenance brighten out of the morning'santagonistic air when they entered the little chapel at Clipstone, and saw the altar adorned and carefully decked with white narcissusand golden daffodils. 

The little chapel was old and plain, very small, but reverently caredfor. There was no choir, but the chairs of those who could sing wereplaced near the harmonium, which was played by one of the youngladies from the large gabled house to which the chapel was attached, and the singing had the refined tones that belong to the music ofcultivated people. The congregation was evidently of poor folks fromthe hamlet, dependants of the great house, and the family itself, agrey-haired, fine-looking general, a tall dark-eyed lady, a tallyouth, a schoolboy, and four girls--one of whom was musician, and theother presided over the school children. The service was reverent, the catechising good and effective, the sermon brief, and summing upin a spiritual and devotional manner; Magdalen was happy, and trustedthat Paulina was so likewise. 

She expected to hear some commendation as they walked home, but Veraalone kept with her, to examine her on the names and standing of thepersons she had seen, on which there was as yet little to tell, forthe first move towards acquaintance had not yet been made. All thatwas known was that there were Sir Jasper and Lady Merrifield, connections of Lord Rotherwood, who owned most of the Rockstoneproperty, and who with his family had once been staying in thecountry house where Magdalen had been governess; but it was a longtime ago, and she only recollected that there were some nice littlegirls. At least she said no more, but her friend thought the more. 

"I suppose they will call?" said Vera. 

"Most likely they will. "

"Has nobody called?"

"Mr. Earl, the Vicar of Arnscombe. He has promised to tell me how wecan be of use here. I believe there is great want of a lady at theSunday school. "

This did not interest Vera--and she went on asking questions aboutthe neighbourhood, and whether any of the Rockstone people had leftcards, and whether there were any parties, garden or evening, atRockstone--more than Magdalen could yet answer, though she was gladto promote any sort of conversation with either of the girls who didnot stand aloof from her. 

"I say, the M. A. (maiden aunt) knows nobody but that old clergyman, who wants her to teach his Sunday school. "

"I'm out of that, thank goodness, " said Agatha. 

"And Sunday schools are a delusion, only hindering the children fromgoing to church with their parents, " said Paulina. 

"And if nobody calls, and they all think her no better than an oldgoverness, how awfully slow it will be, " continued Vera. 

"I do not suppose that will last, " said Agatha. "There is Rockstone, remember. "

"Ten miles off, " said Vera disconsolately. "Oh, Nag, Nag, isn't ithorrid! We shall be just smart enough to be taken for swells, andknow nobody; and the swells won't have us because she is a governess. We might as well be upon a desert island at once. "

Agatha could not help laughing and repeating -

"I am out of humanity's reach, I must finish my journey alone -Never hear the sweet music of speech, I start at the sound of my own. "

"But really, Nag, " broke in Paulina, "it is horrid. Here we areequidistant from three or four churches, and condemned to the mostbehind the world of them all, and then to the one where there is thisdistant fragrance of swells, instead of the only Catholic one. "

Agatha had a little more common sense than the other two, and sheresponded -

"After all, you know, you are better off than if you were still atschool; and the M. A. Is a good old soul at the bottom, and you maymanage her, depend on it. Though I wish she had let me go toGirton. "

Magdalen and Mrs. Best meantime were going over future prospects andold times. Mrs. Best's destination was Albertstown, in Queensland, where her son George had a good practice as a doctor, and where heassured her she would find church privileges--even a cathedral, so-called, and a bishop--though Bishop Fulmort was always out on someexpedition among the colonists or the natives, but among his clergythere was always Sunday service. In fact, Magdalen thought the goodold lady expected to find a town more like Filsted than the Goyle. There was a sisterhood located there too, which tried, mostly invain, to train the wild native women--an attempt at which George Bestlaughed, though he allowed that the sisters were splendid nurses, especially Sister Angela, who had a wonderful way of bringing casesround. 

Magdalen could feel secure that her old friend would be near kindpeople; and presently Mrs. Best, returning to the actualneighbourhood, observed -

"Merrifield! It is not a common name. "

"No; but I do not think this is the same family. This is a retiredgeneral, living in a house of Lord Rotherwood's. I once met one ofhis little girls, who came to Castle Towers with the Rotherwoodparty, and though she had a brother of the name, he was evidently notthe same person. "

Mrs. Best asked no more, for tell-tale colour had arisen inMagdalen's cheeks; and she had been the confidante of an engagementwith a certain Henry Merrifield, who had been employed in the bank atFilsted when Magdalen was a very young girl. His father had comedown suddenly, had found debt and dissipation, had broken all offdecidedly, and no more had been heard of the young man. It was manyyears previously; but those cheeks and the tone of the reply made hersuspect that there was still poignancy in the remembrance. 

CHAPTER IV--CYCLES

"What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee. "- E. BARRETT BROWNING. 

Mrs. Best departed early the next morning. It was probably a partingfor life between the two old friends; and Magdalen keenly felt theseverance from the one person whom she had always known, and on whosesympathy she could rely. Their conversations had been very preciousto her, and she felt desolate without the entire companionship. Yet, on the other hand, she felt as if she could have begun better withher sisters if Sophy Best had not come with them, to hand them over, as it were, when she wanted to start on the same level with them, andbe more like their contemporary than their authority. 

They all stood on the terrace, watching the fly go down the hill, andshe turned to them and said -

"We will all settle ourselves this morning, and you will see how theland lies, so that to-morrow we can arrange our day and see what workto do. Thekla, when you have had a run round the garden, you mightbring your books to the dining-room and let me see how far you havegone. "

"Oh, sister, it is holidays!"

"Well, my dear, you have had a week, and your holiday time cannotlast for ever. Looking at your books cannot spoil it. "

"Yes, it will; they are so nasty. "

"Perhaps you will not always think so; but now you had better put onyour hat and your thick boots, for the grass is still very wet, andexplore the country. The same advice to you, " she added, turning tothe others; "it is warm here, but the dew lies long on the slopes. "

"We have got a great deal too much to do, " said Agatha, "for dawdlingabout just now. "

Really, she was chiefly prompted by the satisfaction of not beingordered about; and the other two followed suit, while Magdalen turnedaway to her household business. 

They found the housemaid in possession of the bedrooms, so that theunpacking plans could not conveniently be begun; and while Agatha wasstruggling with the straps of a book box, Thekla burst in upon them. 

"Oh, Nag, Nag, there is the loveliest angel of a bicycle in thestable, and a dear little pony besides! 'New tyre wheels, ' he says. "

"A bicycle! Well, if she has got it for us, she is an angel indeed, "said Vera. 

"It is a big one, " said Thekla, "but the pony is a dear little thing;Pixy is his name, and I can ride him! Do come, Flapsy, and see!Earwaker will show you. It is he that does the oiling of Pixy andharnessing the bicycle. I mean--"

"Tick, Tick, which does he oil and which does he harness?" saidPaula. 

"That little tongue wants both, " said Agatha. 

"But do, do come and see, " said Thekla, not at all disconcerted bybeing laughed at; and Vera came, only asserting her independence bynot putting on either hat or boots. 

Thekla led the way to the stable, tucked under the hill at the back, and presiding over a linhay, as she had already learnt to call thetiny farm-court, containing accommodation for two cows, a pig, andsundry fowls. There was a shed attached with a wicker pony carriageand the bicycle, a handsome modern one, with all the newestappendages, including the "Nevertires, " as Thekla had translatedthem. 

But disappointment was in store for Vera. Magdalen came out duringthe inspection, and was received with -

"Sister, you never told us of this beauty. "

"It was a parting present from General Mansell, " she said, "and hetook great pains to get me a very good one. "

"And you bike!"

"Oh, yes; I learnt to go out with the Colvins. But I do not ventureto use it much here, unless the road is good. Those rocks, freshlylaid towards Rockstone, would make regular havoc of the pneumatictyres. "

Vera saw that this was prohibitive, and felt too much vexed tomention Thekla's version of the same; but Magdalen asked, "Have youlearnt?"

"They were always going to teach me at Warner Grange, but it alwayssnowed, or rained, or skated, I mean we skated, or something, whenever Hubert had time; but I am perfectly dying to learn. "

"Well, before you expire, we may teach you a little on these smootherpaths; and hire one perhaps, by the time the stones are passable. Just at present, I think our own legs and Pixy's are safer for thatdescent. "

Vera was pacified enough to look on with a certain degree ofcomplacency, while Thekla was enraptured at being set to take out theeggs from the hens' nests. 

But the conclave in the sitting-room on Vera's report decided, "Selfish old thing, it is only an excuse! Of course we should takecare not to spoil it. It shows what will be the way witheverything. "

No one knew of a still more secret conclave within Magdalen's ownbreast, one of those held at times by many an elder, between theclaims of loyalty to the keepsakes of affection and old associationand the gratification of present desires. Magdalen thought of therules of convents forbidding the appropriation of personal trifles, and wondered if it were wise, if stern; but for the present shedecided that it could not be her duty to risk what had been carefullyand kindly selected for her in unpractised and careless hands; andshe further compromised the matter by reckoning whether her funds, which were not excessive, would admit of the hire or purchase ofmachines that might allay the burning aspirations of her youngpeople. 

The upshot of her reckoning was that when they all met at the earlydinner, she announced, "I think we might go to Rock Quay thisafternoon, between the pony carriage and Shanks's mare. I want toask about some lessons, and we could see about the hire of a bicyclefor you to learn upon. "

It was only Agatha who answered, "Thank you, but it is not worthwhile for me, I shall be away so soon. "

Thekla cried out, "Me too!"--and Paulina mumbled something. Intruth, besides the thought of the bicycle in the stable, the othertwo had lived enough in the country-town atmosphere to be foolishlydisgusted at being obliged to dine early. That they had always beenused to it made them only think it beneath their age as well as theirdignity, and, "What a horrid nuisance!" had been on their tongueswhen the bell was ringing. 

Moreover, they had enough of silly prejudice about them to feelaggrieved at the sight of hash, nice as it was with fresh vegetables, and they were not disposed to good temper when they sat down to theirmeal. "They" perhaps properly means the middle pair, for Agatha hadmore notion of manners and of respect, and Thekla had an endlessstore of chatter about her discoveries. 

The pony-carriage was brought round in due time, but just thenanother vehicle of the same kind, only prettier and with two ponies, was seen at the gate, too late for the barbarian instinct of rushingaway to hide from morning visitors to be carried out, before LadyMerrifield and a daughter, were up the slope and on the levelled roadbefore the verandah. 

"I think this is an old acquaintance, " said Lady Merrifield as sheshook hands, "though perhaps Mysie is grown out of remembrance. "

"Oh, yes, " said an honest open-faced maiden, eagerly putting out herhand. "Don't you remember, Miss Prescott, our all staying at CastleTowers? I came with Phyllis Devereux, and she and I took poor BettyBernard out after blackberries, and she thought it was a mad bullwhen it was a railway whistle, and ran into a cow-pond, and CousinRotherwood came and Captain Grantley and got her out. "

Magdalen was smiling and nodding recollection, and added, "It wasreally one of the boys. "

"Oh, yes. "

"I thought it was a crazy bull Firing a blunderbuss--"

She paused for recollection, and Magdalen went on -

"I thought it was a crazy bull Firing a blunderbuss;I looked again, and, lo, it was A water polypus. 'Oh, guard my life, ' I said, 'for she Will make an awful fuss. '"

"Ah! do you remember that?" cried Mysie. "I have so often tried torecollect what it really was when she looked again. Captain Grantleymade it, you know, when we were trying to comfort Betty. "

"I remember you and Lady Phyllis said you would go and confess toMrs. Bernard and take all the blame, and Lord Rotherwood said hewould escort you!"

"Yes, and Betty said it was no good, for if her mother forgave herten times over, still that spiteful French maid would put her to bedand say she had no robe convenable, " went on Mysie. "But then youtook her to your own room, and washed her and mended her, so that shecame out all right at luncheon, and nobody knew anything, but shethought that horrid woman guessed and tweaked her hair all the harderfor it. "

"Poor child, she looked as if she were under a tyranny. "

"Have you seen her since?"

"No; but Phyllis tells me she has burst forth into liberty, bicycles, and wild doings that would drive her parents to distraction if shedreamt of them. "

"How is Lady Phyllis? Did I not hear that the family had gone abroadfor her health?"

"Oh yes, and I went with them. They all had influenza, and werefrightened, but it ended in our meeting with Franceska Vanderkist, the very most charming looking being I ever did see; and Ivinghoe hadfallen in love with her when she was Miranda, and he married her likea real old hero. Do you remember Ivinghoe?"

"No; I suppose he was one of an indistinguishable troop ofschoolboys. "

"I remember Lord Rotherwood's good nature and fun when he met thebedraggled party, " said Magdalen, smiling. 

"That is what every one remembers about him, " said Lady Merrifield, smiling. "You have imported a large party of youth, Miss Prescott. "

"My young sisters, " responded Magdalen; "but I shall soon part withAgatha; she is going to Oxford. "

"Indeed! To which College? I have a daughter at Oxford, and a niecejust leaving Cambridge. Such is our lot in these days. No, not thisone, but her elder sister Gillian is at Lady Catharine's. "

"I am going to St. Robert's, " said Agatha, abruptly. 

"Close to Lady Catharine's! Gillian will be glad to tell heranything she would like to ask about it. You had better come over totea some afternoon. "

The time was fixed, and then Magdalen showed some of theadvertisements of tuition in art, music, languages, and everythingimaginable, which had begun to pour in upon her, and was very glad ofa little counsel on the reputation of each professor. LadyMerrifield saying, however, that her experience was small, as heryoung people in general were not musical, with the single exceptionof her son Wilfred, who was at home, reading to go up for the CivilService, and recreating himself with the Choral Society and lessonson the violin. "My youngest is fifteen, " she said, "and we providefor her lessons amongst us, except for the School of Art, andcalisthenics at the High School, which is under superior managementnow, and very much improved. "

Mysie echoed, "Oh, calisthenics are such fun!" and took the reins todrive away. 

"Oh! she is very nice, " exclaimed Mysie, as they drove down the hill. 

"Yes, there is something very charming about her. I wonder whetherSam made a great mistake. "

"Mamma, what do you mean?"

"Have I been meditating aloud? You said when you met her at CastleTowers, she asked you whether you had a brother Harry. "

"Yes, she did. I only said yes, but he was going to be a clergyman, and when she heard his age, she said he was not the one she hadknown; I did not speak of cousin Henry because you said we were notto mention him. What was it, if I may know, mamma?"

"There is no reason that you should not, except that it is a painfulmatter to mention to Bessie or any of the Stokesley cousins. Harrywas never like the rest, I believe, but I had never seen him since hewas almost a baby. He never would work, and was not fit for anyexamination. "

"Our Harry used to say that Bessie and David had carried off all thebrains of the family. "

"The others have sense and principle, though. Well, they put theirHal into a Bank at Filsted, and by and by they found he was in agreat scrape, with gambling debts; and I believe that but for theforbearance of the partners, he might have been prosecuted forembezzling a sum--or at least he was very near it; besides which hehad engaged himself to an attorney's daughter, very young, and with avery disagreeable mother or stepmother. The Admiral came down ingreat indignation, thought these Prescotts had inveigled poor Henry, broke everything hastily off, and shipped him off to Canada to hisbrothers, George and John. They found some employment for him, butSusan and Bessie doubt whether they were very kind to him, and in afew years more he was in fresh scrapes, and with worse stains andquestions of his integrity. It ended in his running away to theStates, and no trace has been found of him since. I am afraid hetook away money of his brothers. "

"How long ago was it, mamma?"

"At least twenty years. It was while we were in Malta. "

"Who would have thought of those dear Stokesley cousins having such askeleton in their cupboard?"

"Ah! my dear, no one knows the secrets of others' hearts. "

"And you really think that this Miss Prescott was his love?"

"I know it was the same name, and Bessie told me that he used to talkto her of his Magdalen, or Maidie; and when I heard of your meetingher at Castle Towers I wondered if it were the same. And now I seewhat she is, and what she is undertaking for these young sisters; Ihave wondered whether your uncle was wise to insist on the utterbreak, and whether she might not have been an anchor to hold him fastto his moorings. "

"Only, " said Mysie, "if he had really cared, would he have let hisfather break it off so entirely?"

"I think your uncle expected implicit obedience. "

"But--, " said Mysie, and left the rest unsaid, while both she and hermother went off into meditations on different lines on the exigenciesof parental discipline and of the requirements of full-grown hearts. 

And, on the whole, the younger one was the most for strict obedience, the experienced parent in favour of liberty. But then Mysie was old-fashioned and dutiful. 

CHAPTER V--CLIPSTONE FRIENDS

"What idle progeny succeedTo chase the rolling circle's speed, Or urge the flying ball. "--GRAY. 

The afternoon at Clipstone was a success. Gillian was at home, andevery one found congeners. Lady Merrifield's sister, Miss Mohun, pounced upon Miss Prescott as a coadjutor in the alphabet of goodworks needed in the neglected district of Arnscombe, where Mr. Earlwas wifeless, and the farm ladies heedless; but they were interruptedby Mysie running up to claim Miss Prescott for a game at croquet. "Uncle Redgie was so glad to see the hoops come into fashion again, "and Vera and Paula hardly knew the game, they had always played atlawn tennis; but they were delighted to learn, for Uncle Redgieproved to be a very fine-looking retired General, and there was a ladbesides, grown to manly height; and one boy, at home for Easter, who, caring not for croquet, went with Primrose to exhibit to Thekla thetame menagerie, where a mungoose, called of course Raki raki, was thelast acquisition. She was also shown the kittens of the belovedBegum, and presented with Phoebus, a tabby with a wise face and ahead marked like a Greek lyre, to be transplanted to the Goyle in duetime. 

"If Sister will let me have it, " said Thekla. 

"Of course she will, " said Primrose. "Mysie says she is so jolly. "

"Dear me! all the girls at our school said she was a regular OldMaid. "

"What shocking bad form!" exclaimed Primrose. "Just like cads ofgirls, " muttered Fergus, unheard; for Thekla continued--"Why, theysaid she must be our maiden aunt, instead of our sister. "

"The best thing going!" said Fergus. 

"Maiden aunts in books are always horrid, " said Thekla. 

"Then the books ought to be hung, drawn, and quartered, andspifflicated besides, " said Fergus. 

"Fergus doesn't like anybody so well as Aunt Jane, " said Primrose, "because nobody else understands his machines. "

Thekla made a grimace. 

"Ah!" said Primrose. "I see it is just as mamma and Mysie said whenthey came home, that Miss Prescott was very nice indeed, and it wasfamous that she should make a home for you all, only they were afraidyou seemed as if--you might be--tiresome, " ended Primrose, lookingfor a word. 

"Well, you know she wants to be our governess, " said Thekla. 

"Well?" repeated Primrose. 

"And of course no one ever likes their governess. "

This aphorism, so uttered by Thekla, provoked a yell from Primrose, echoed by Fergus; and Primrose, getting her breath, declared thatdear Miss Winter was a great darling, and since she had gone away, more's the pity, mamma was real governess to herself, Valetta, andMysie, and she always looked at their translations and heard theirreading if Gillian was not at home. 

"And they are quite grown-up young ladies!"

"Mysie is; but I don't know about Val. Only I don't see why any oneshould be silly and do nothing if one is grown up ever so much, " saidPrimrose. 

"As the Eiffel Tower, " put in Fergus. 

"Nonsense!" said Primrose, bent on being improving. "Don't you knowwhat that old book of mamma's says, 'When will Miss Rosamond'seducation be finished?' She answered 'Never. '"

Thekla gave a groan, whether of pity for Rosamond or for herselfmight be doubted; and a lop-eared rabbit was a favourable diversion. 

There was a triad who seemed to be of Rosamond's opinion regardingeducation, for Agatha was eagerly availing herself of the counsel ofGillian, and the books shown to her; with the further assistance ofthe cousin, Dolores Mohun, now an accredited lecturer in technicalclasses, though making her home and headquarters at Clipstone. 

Thekla's views of young ladyhood were a good deal more fulfilled bythe lessons on cycling which were going on among the other youngpeople after the game of croquet had ended. Every size and varietyseemed to exist among the Clipstone population, under certainregulations of not coasting down the hills, the girls not going outalone, and never into the town, but always "putting up" at AuntJane's. 

Vera and Paulina were in ecstasy, and there was a continual mounting, attempting and nearly falling, or turning anywhere but the right, little screams, and much laughter, Jasper attending upon Vera, who, in spite of her failures, looked remarkably pretty and graceful uponValetta's machine; while Paula, whom Mysie and Valetta were bothassisting, learnt more easily and steadily, but looked on with a fewqualms as to the entire crystal rock constancy that Vera hadprofessed, more especially when Jasper volunteered to come over tothe Goyle and give another lesson. 

Magdalen, after her game at croquet, had spent a very pleasant timewith Lady Merrifield and her brother and sister, till they wereimperiously summoned by Primrose to come and give consent to thetransfer of Phoebus, or to choose between him and the Mufti, to whomThekla had begun to incline. 

The whole party adjourned to the back settlements, where Magdalen wasedified by the antics of the mungoose, and admired the Begum and herprogeny with a heartiness that would have won Thekla's heart, savethat she remembered hearing Vera say, over the domestic cat in themorning, that M. A. 's were always devoted to cats. But, on the whole, the visit had done much to reconcile the young sisters to their newsurroundings; books, bicycles, and kitten had reconciled them even tothe intimacy with "swells. "

The hired bicycle and tricycle had arrived in their absence, and themoment breakfast was over the next morning, the three younger onesall rushed off to the enjoyment, and, at ten minutes past theappointed hour for the early reading and study, Agatha felt obligedto go out and tell them that the M. A. Was sitting like Patience on amonument, waiting for them; on which three tongues said "Bother, " and"She ought to let us off till the proper end of the holidays. "

"Then you should have propitiated her by asking leave after theScripture was done, " said Agatha; "you might have known she would notlet you off that. "

"Bother, " said Vera again; "just like an M. A. "

"I did forget, " said Paula; "and you know it was only just goingthrough a lesson for form's sake, like the old superlative. "

They had, in fact, read the day before; when Thekla had made suchfrightful work of every unaccustomed word, and the elders by one ortwo observations had betrayed so much ignorance alike of Samuel'shistory and of the Gospel of St. Luke, that she had resolved toendeavour at a thorough teaching of the Old and New Testaments forthe first hour on alternate days, giving one day in the week toCatechism and Prayer Book. 

She asked what they had done before. 

"Mrs. Best always read something at prayers. "

"Something?"

"Something out of the Bible. "

"No, the Testament. "

"I am sure it was the Bible, it was so fat. "

"And Saul was in it, and we had him yesterday. "

"That was St. Paul before he was converted, " said Paula. 

There their knowledge seemed to end, and it further appeared thatMrs. Best heard the Catechism and Collect on Sundays from theunconfirmed, and had tried to get the Gospel repeated by heart, buthad not succeeded. 

"We did not think it fair, " said Vera. "None of the other housesdid. "

"Yes, " said Agatha, "Miss Ferris's did. "

"Oh, she is a regular old Prot, " said Paula, "almost a Dissenter, andit is not the Gospel either, only texts out of her own head. "

"Polly!" said Agatha. "Texts out of her own head!"

"It is Bible, of course, only what she fancies; and they have to workout the sermon, and if they can't do the sermon, a text. They mightas well be Dissenters at once!" said Paula. 

"Janet M'Leod is, " said Vera. "It was really Dissentish. "

Magdalen could not help saying, "So you would not learn the Gospelbecause Dissenters learnt pieces of Scripture! You seem to me likethe Roman Catholic child, who said there were five sacraments, thereought to be seven, but the Protestants had got two of them. "

She was sorry she had said it, for though Agatha laughed, the othertwo drew into themselves, as if their feelings were hurt. "These arethe boarding-house habits, " she said. "What is done at the HighSchool itself?"

"The Vicar comes when he has time, and gives a lecture on anEpistle, " said Agatha, "or a curate, if he doesn't; but I was workingfor the exam. , and didn't go this last term. What was it, Polly?"

"On the--on the Apollonians, " answered Paulina, hesitating. 

"My dear, where did he find it?"

"I know it was something about Apollo, " said Vera. 

"It was Corinthians, " said Paula. "I ought to have recollected, butthe lectures are very dull and disjointed; you said so yourself, Nag, and the Rector is very low church. "

"So you could not learn from him!"

"Really, sister, " said Agatha, "the lectures are not well managed, they are in too many hands, and too uncertain, and it is not easy tolearn much from them. "

"Well, that being the case, I think we had better begin at thebeginning. Suppose I ask you to say the first answer in theCatechism. "

On which Vera said they had all been confirmed except Thekla, andpassed it on to her. 

However, the endeavours of that half-hour need not be recounted, andthe moment half-past ten chimed out the young ladies jumped up, andwould have been off to the bicycles, if Magdalen had not felt thatthe time was come for asserting authority, and said, "Not yet, if youplease. We cannot waste whole days. You know Herr Gnadiger iscoming to-morrow, and it would be well to practise that sonatabeforehand; you ought each to practise it; Paula, you had betterbegin, and Vera, you prepare this first scene of Marie Stuart to readwith me when Thekla's lessons are over. Change over when Paula hasdone. "

"It is of no use my doing anything while anyone is playing, " saidVera. 

"Nonsense, " Agatha muttered; but Magdalen said, "You can sit in thedrawing-room or your own room. Come, Tick-tick, where's your slate?Come along. "

"Don't sulk, Flapsy, " said the elder sister, "it is of no use. TheM. A. Means to be minded, and will be, and you know it is all for yourgood. "

"I hate my good, " said naughty Vera. 

"So does every one when it is against the grain, " said Agatha; "butremember it is a preparation for a free life of our own. "

"It is our cross, " said Paula, as she placed herself on the musicstool with a look of resignation almost comical. 

Nor did her performance interfere with the equations which Agatha wasdiligently working out; but Vera, though refusing to take refuge fromthe piano, to which, in fact, she was perfectly inured, worried herelder as much as she durst, by inquiries after the meaning of words, or what horrid verb to look out in the dictionary; and it was apleasing change when Paula proceeded to work the same scene out forherself without having recourse to explanations, so that Agatha wasundisturbed except by the careless notes, which almost equallyworried Magdalen in the more distant dining-room. 

This was really the crisis of the battle of study. As the girls wereaccustomed to it, and knew that they were of an age to be grounddown, they followed Agatha's advice, and submitted without furtheropen struggle, though there was a good deal of low murmur, and theforeman's work was not essentially disagreeable, even while Veramaintained, what she believed to be an axiom, that governesses weredetestable, and that the M. A. Must incur the penalty of acting assuch. 

Very soon after luncheon appeared three figures on bicycles. WilfredMerrifield, with Mysie and Valetta, come to give another lesson onthe "flying circle's speed. "

Magdalen came out with her young people to enjoy their amusement, aswell as to watch over her own precious machine, as Vera said. It wasadmired, as became connoisseurs in the article; and she soon saw thatWilfred was to be trusted with the care of it, so she consented toits being ridden in the practice, provided it was not taken out intothe lanes. 

Mysie turned off from the practising, where she was not wanted, andjoined Miss Prescott in walking through the garden terraces, andplanning what would best adorn them, talking over favourite books, and enjoying themselves very much; then going on to the quarry, whereMysie looked about with a critical eye to see if it displayed anyfresh geological treasures to send Fergus in quest of. She beganeagerly to pour forth the sister's never-ending tale of her brother'scleverness, and thus they came down the outside lane to the lowergate, seeing beforehand the sparkle of bicycles in its immediateproximity. 

It was not open, but Vera might be seen standing with one hand on thelatch, the other on Magdalen's bicycle, her face lifted withimploring, enticing smiles to Wilfred, who had fallen a little back, while Paula had decidedly drawn away. 

None of them had seen Magdalen and Mysie till they were round the lowstone wall and close upon them. There was a general start, and Veraexclaimed, "We haven't been outside! No, we haven't! And it is notthe Rockquay Road either, sister! I only wanted a run down that laneup above. "

Wilfred laughed a little oddly. It was quite plain that he had beenwithstanding the temptress, only how long would the resistance havelasted?

Downright Mysie exclaimed, "It would have been a great shame if youhad, and I am glad Wilfred hindered you. "

"Thank you, " said Magdalen, smiling to him. "You know better than mysisters what Devon lanes and pneumatic tyres are!"

Perhaps Wilfred was a little vexed, though he had resisted, for hewas ready to agree with Mysie that they could not stay and drink tea. 

But he did not escape his sister's displeasure, for Mysie began atonce, "How lucky it was that we came in time. I do believe thatnaughty little thing was just going to talk you over into doing whather sister had forbidden. "

"A savage, old, selfish bear. It was only the lane. "

"Full of crystals as sharp as needles, enough to cut any tyre intwo, " said Mysie. 

"Like your tongue, eh, Mysie?"

"Well, you did not do it! That is a comfort. You would not let hertransgress, and ruin her sister's good bicycle. "

"She is an uncommonly pretty little sprite, and the selfish hag of asister only left orders that I was to take care of the bike! I couldsee where there was a stone as well as anybody else. "

"Hag!" angrily cried Mysie, "she is the only nice one of the wholelot. Vera is a nasty little thing, or she would never think ofmeddling with what does not belong to her, or trying to persuade youto allow it. "

"I call it abominable selfishness, dog in the mangerish, to shut upsuch a machine as that, and condemn her sisters to one greatlumbering one. "

"That's one account, " said Valetta. "Paula said it was only tillthey had learnt to ride properly, and till the stones have a littleworn in. "

"Yes, " said Mysie, "I could see Vera is an exaggerating monkey, justtalking over and deluding Will, just as men like when they get asilly fit. "

By this time Wilfred had thought it expedient to put his bicycle togreater speed, and indulge in a long whistle to show how contemptiblehe thought his sisters as he went out of hearing. 

"Paulina is nice and good, " said Valetta, "she has heard all aboutSt. Kenelm's, and wants to go there. Yes, and she means to be aSister of Charity, only she is afraid her sister is narrow and lowchurch. "

"That is stuff and nonsense, " said Mysie. "I have had a great dealof talk with Miss Prescott. She loves all the same books that we do. She is going to have G. F. S. And Mothers' Union, and all at poorArnscombe, and she told me to call her Magdalen. "

With which proofs of congeniality Valetta could not choose but beimpressed. 

CHAPTER VI--THE FRESCOES OF ST. KENELM'S

Earn well the thrifty months, nor wedRaw Haste, half-sister to Delay. --TENNYSON. 

The deferred expedition to Rockquay also began, Magdalen driving Veraand Thekla. She was pleased with her visitors, and hoped that thegirls would feel the same, but Vera began by declaring that THAT MissMerrifield was not pretty. 

"Not exactly, but it is an honest, winning face. "

"So broad, and such a wide mouth, and no style at all, as I shouldhave expected after all that about lords and ladies! An old blueserge and sailor hat!"

"You don't expect people to drive about the country in silk attire?"

"Well, perhaps she is not out! Sister, do you know I am seventeen?"

"Yes, my dear, certainly. "

"Oh, look, look, there's a dear little calf!" broke in Thekla, "and, oh! what horns the cows have. I shall be afraid to go near them!Was it only a sham mad bull when the little girl ran into the pond?"

"It was the railway whistle, and she had never heard it in thefields. She rushed away in a great fright and ran into the pond, full of horrible black mud. The gentlemen heard the scream anddragged her out, and it would have all been fun and a good story ifshe had not been so much afraid of the French lady's maid. It iscurious how the sight of those brown eyes brought the whole sceneback to me. We all grew so fond of Mysie Merrifield in the few dayswe spent together, and she is very little altered. "

"Is she out?" asked Vera once more. 

"Oh, yes, she cannot be less than twenty. "

"And I am seventeen, " said Vera, returning to the charge. "I oughtto be out. "

"If there are nice invitations, I shall be quite ready to accept themfor you. "

"But I am too old for the schoolroom and lessons and masters. "

"Too old or too wise?" said Magdalen laughing. 

"I have got into the highest form in everything. Every one atFilston of my age is leaving off all the bother. "

"Not Agatha. "

"Oh, but Agatha is--!"

"Is what?

"Agatha is awfully clever, and wants to be something!"

"Something? But do you want to evaporate? To be nothing at all, Imean, " said Magdalen, seeing her first word was bewildering, andThekla put in -

"Flapsy couldn't go off in steam, could she? Isn't thatevaporating?"

"I think what she wants is to be a young lady at large! Eh, Vera?Only I don't quite see how that is to be managed, even if it is quitea worthy ambition. But we will talk that over another time. Do yousee how pretty those sails are crossing the bay?"

Neither girl seemed to have eyes for the lovely blue of the sea inthe spring sunshine, nor the striking forms of ruddy peaks of rockthat enclosed it. Uneducated eyes, she thought, as she slowlymanoeuvred the pony down the steep hill before coming to theRockstone Cliff Road. The other two girls were following herdirection across field and road, and making their observations. 

"A dose of lords and ladies, " said Agatha. 

"I thought they were rather nice, " said Paula. 

"I see how it will be, " said Agatha. "They will patronise the M. A. As Lady Somebody's old governess, and she will fawn upon them and runafter them, and we shall be on those terms. "

"But I thought you meant to be a governess?"

"I shall make my own line. I know how swells look on a governess ofthe ancien regime, and how they will introduce her as the kindly oldgoody who mends my little lady's frock!"

"The girl had not any airs, " said Paula. "She told me about thechurches down there in the town--not the ones we went to on Sunday;but there's one that is very low indeed, and St. Andrew's, which istheir parish church, was suiting the moderate high church folk; andthere is St. Kenelm's, very high indeed, Mr. Flight's, I think I haveheard of him, and it is just the right thing, I am sure. "

"Don't flatter yourself that the M. A. Will let you have much pleasurein it. It is just what people of her sort think dangerous. "

"But do you know, Nag, I do believe that it is the church that HubertDelrio was sent down to study and make a design for. "

"Whew! There will be a pretty kettle of fish if he comes down aboutit! That is, if he and Flapsy have not forgotten all about the iceand the forfeits at Warner's Grange, as is devoutly to be hoped. "

"Do you hope it really, Nag, for Flapsy really was very much--didcare very much. "

"I have no great faith in Flapsy's affections surviving the contactwith greater swells. "

"Poor Hubert!"

"Perhaps his will not survive common sense. I am sure I hope not forboth their sakes. "

"But, Nag, it would be very horrid of them if they had no constancy, "declared the more romantic Paula. 

"It will be a regular mess if they do have it, and bring on horridscrapes with the M. A. Just think. It is all very well to say shehas known Hubert all his life; but she can't treat him as agentleman, or she won't. She has a position to keep up with allthese swells, and he will be only the man who paints the church! Ionly hope he will not come. There will be nothing but bother if hedoes, unless they both have more sense and less constancy than youexpect. Well, this really is a splendid view. Old Mr. Delrio wouldbe wild about it. "

Here the steep and stony hill brought them into contact with the ponycarriage, nor were there any more confidential conversations. Thepony was put up at the top of the hill leading from Rockstone toRockquay, and thence the party walked down for Miss Prescott to makea few purchases, and, moreover, to begin by gratifying Thekla'sreiterated entreaty for a bicycle, though, as she was unpractised andgrowing so fast, it was decided to be better to hire a tricycle forpractice, and one bicycle on which Vera and Paula might learn theart. 

The choice was a long one, and left only just time for a peep intothe two churches and a study of the hours of their services. St. Kenelm's was decided to be a "perfect gem, " ornaments, beauty, andall, a little overdone, perhaps, in Magdalen's opinion, but perfectly"the thing" in her sisters'. 

This St. Andrew's fulfilled to her mind, being handsome, reverent, and decorous in all the arrangements, while to the younger folk itwas "all very well, " but quite of the old times. Little did theyknow of "old times" beyond the quarter century of their birth! Poorold Arnscombe might feebly represent them, but even that hadstruggled out of the modern "dark ages. " Magdalen had decided ontalking to Agatha and seeing how far she understood the situation, and she came to her room to put her in possession now that Mrs. Besthad left the guest chamber free. 

"This is your home when you are here. You must put up any belongingsthat you do not want to take to St. Robert's. "

"Thank you; it is a nice pleasant room. "

"And, my dear, may I stay a few minutes? I think we had better havea talk, and quite understand one another. "

"Very well. "

It was not quite encouraging, but Agatha really wished to hear, andshe advanced a wicker chair for her elder sister, and sat down on thewindow seat. 

"Thank you, my dear; I do not know how much Mrs. Best has told you. "

"She told us that you had always been very good to us, and that youhad been our guardian ever since we lost our mother. "

"Did she tell you what we have of our own that our father could leaveus?"

"No. "

"What amounts to about 40 pounds a year apiece. Mrs. Best in hervery great goodness has taken you four for that amount, though herproper charge is eighty. "

"And she never let any one guess it, " said Agatha, more warmly, "forfear we might feel the difference. How very good of her. "

She seemed more impressed by Mrs. Best's bounty than by Magdalen's, but probably she took the latter as a matter of course andobligation; besides, the sense of it involved a sum in subtraction. However, this was not observed by her sister, who did not want tofeel obliged. 

"Now that this property has come in, " continued Magdalen, "we canlive comfortably together upon it for the present, and your expensesat Oxford can be paid, as well as masters in what may be needful forthe others, and an allowance for dress. I suppose you will want the40 pounds while you are at St. Robert's, besides the regularexpenses?"

"Thank you, " warmly said. 

"But I want you to understand, as I think you do, about the future, for you must be prepared to be independent. "

"I should have wished for a career if I had been a millionaire, " saidAgatha. 

"I believe you would, and it is well that you should have everyadvantage. But the others. If I left you all this property, itwould not be a comfortable maintenance divided among four; and youwould not like to be dependent, or to leave the last who might notmarry to a pittance alone. "

"Certainly not, " said Agatha, with flashing eyes. 

"Then you see that it is needful that you should be able to dosomething for yourselves. I can give one of you at a time the powerof going to the University. "

"I don't think Vera or Polly would wish for that, " said Agatha. 

"Well, what would they wish for? I can do something towardspreparing them, and I can teach Thekla, but I should like to knowwhat you think would be best for them. "

"Vera's strong point is music, " said Agatha. "She cares for thatmore than anything else, and Mr. Selby thought she had talent andmight sing, only she must not strain her voice. I don't believe shewill do much in any other line. And Polly--she is very good, andalways does her best because it is right, but I don't think anythingis any particular pleasure to her, except needlework. She is alwayswanting to make things for the church. She really has a better voicethan Flapsy, and can play better, but that is because she is so muchsteadier. "

"Seventeen and sixteen, are they not?"

"Yes; but Polly seems ever so much older than Flapsy. "

"Mrs. Best showed me that she had higher marks. She must be athoroughly good girl. "

"That she is, " cried Agatha, warmly. "She never had any task forgetting into mischief. "

"Well, they are both so young that a little study with me will begood for them, and there will be time to judge what they are fit for. In art I think they are not much interested. "

"Paula draws pretty well, but Vera hates it. Old Mr. Delrio isalways cross to her now; but--" Agatha stopped short, rememberingthat there might be a reason why the drawing master no longer madeher a favourite pupil. 

"Do you think him a good judge?"

"Yes; Mrs. Best thinks much of him. He had an artist's education, and sometimes has a picture in the Water Colour Exhibition; but Ibelieve he did not find it answer, and so he took our school of art. "

Agatha had talked sensibly throughout the conference, but notconfidentially; much, in fact, as she would have discussed hersisters with Mrs. Best. She was glad that at the moment the sound ofthe piano set them listening. She did not feel bound to mention to"sister" any more than she would to the head mistress, that whenstaying at Mr. Waring's country house a sort of semi-flirtation hadbegun with Hubert Delrio, a young man to whose education his fatherhad sacrificed a great deal, and who was a well-informed andintelligent gentleman in all his ways. He had engaged himself to thegreat firm of Eccles and Beamster, ecclesiastical decorators, andmight be employed upon the intended frescoes of St. Kenelm's Church. 

Ought "Sister" to be told?

But Agatha thought it would be betraying confidence to "set on thedragon"; and besides nobody ever could tell how much Vera'sdescriptions meant. She knew already that the sweetest countenancein the world and the loveliest dark eyes belonged to a fairly good-looking young man, and she could also suspect that the "squeeze of myhand" might be an ordinary shake, and the kneeling before the one heloved best might have been only the customary forfeit. On the whole, it would be better to let things take their course; it was not likelythat either was seriously smitten, and it was more than probable thatHubert Delrio would be too busy to look after a young lady now in adifferent stratum, and that Vera would have found another sweetestcountenance in the world. 

All this passed through her mind while Magdalen listened, andpronounced -

"That is brilliant--a clever touch--only--"

"Yes, that is Vera--I know what you are noticing, but this is onlyamusement; she is not taking pains. "

"It is very clever--especially as probably she has no music. Butthere--"

"Polly's? Oh, yes; she is really steady-going. That is just whatyou will find her. This is a charming room, sister; thank you verymuch. "

"Make it your home, my dear. "

But in reality they were not much nearer together than before theconference. 

CHAPTER VII--SISTER AND SISTERS

"Have we not all, amid earth's petty strife, Some pure ideal of a nobler life?We lost it in the daily jar and fact, And now live idly in a vain regret. "ADELAIDE PROCTER. 

Agatha was so much absorbed in her preparation for St. Robert's thatshe did not pay very much heed to her younger sisters or theirrelations with Magdalen. She had induced them to submit to theregulation of their studies with her pretty much as if she had beenMrs. Best, looking upon her, however, as something out of date, andhardly up to recent opinions, not realising that, of late, Magdalen'sworld had been a wide one. 

Perhaps, in Agatha's feelings, there was an undercurrent inheritedfrom her mother, who had always felt the better connected, bettereducated step-daughter, a sort of alien element, exciting jealousy byher companionship to her father, and after his death, apt to beregarded as a scarcely willing, and perhaps censorious pay-master. 

"Your sister might call it too expensive. " "I must ask your sister. ""No, your sister does not think she can afford it. I am sure shemight. Her expenses must be nothing. " All this had been nopreparation for full sisterly confidence with "Sister, " even when asort of grudging gratitude was extracted, and Agatha had been quiteold enough to imbibe an undefined antagonism, though, being asensible girl, she repressed the manifestations, kept her sisters inorder and taught them not to love but to submit, and herself remainedin a state of civil coolness, without an approach beyond formal signsof affection, and such confidence. 

It was the more disappointing to Magdalen, because Agatha and Paulinaboth showed so much unconscious likeness to their father, not only infeatures, but in little touches of gesture and manner. She longed topet them, and say, "Oh, my dears, how like papa!" but the only timeshe attempted it, she was met by a severe, uncomprehending look andmanner. 

And Agatha went away to Oxford without any thawing on her part. 

The only real ground that had been gained was with little Thekla, whowas soon very fond of "Sister, " and depended on her more and more forsympathy and amusement. Girls of seventeen and sixteen do notdelight in the sports of nine-year-olds, except in the case ofspecial pets and protegees, and Thekla was snubbed when a partner wasrequired to assist in doll's dramas, or in evening games. Only"Sister" would play unreservedly with her, unaware or unheeding thatthis was looked on as keeping up the metier of governess. Indeed, Thekla's reports of schoolroom murmurs and sneers about the M. A. Hadto be silenced. Peace and good will could best be guarded by closedears. Yet, even then, Thekla missed child companionship, and, evenmore, competition, the lack of which rendered her dull and listlessover her lessons, and when reproved, she would beg to be sent toschool, or, at least, to attend the High School on her bicycle. Notadmiring the manners or the attainments of the specimens before her, Magdalen felt bound to refuse, and the sisters' pity kept alive thegrievance. 

She had, however, decided on granting the bicycles. She had foundplenty of use for her own, for it was possible with prudent use ofit, avoiding the worst parts of the road, to be at early celebrationat St. Andrew's, and get to the Sunday school at Arnscombeafterwards; and Paulina, with a little demur, decided on giving herassistance there. 

At a Propagation of the Gospel meeting at the town hall, the MissesPrescott were introduced to the Reverend Augustine Flight, of St. Kenelm's, and his mother, Lady Flight, who sat next to Magdalen, andbegan to talk eagerly of the designs for the ceiling of their church, and the very promising young artist who was coming down from Ecclesand Beamster to undertake the work. 

The church had not yet been seen, and the conversation ended in thesisters coming back to tea, at which Paula was very happy, for thetalk had something of the rather exclusive High Church tone that washer ideal. She had seen it in books, but had never heard it beforein real life, and Vera was in a restless state, longing to hearwhether the promising young artist was really Hubert Delrio, andhoping, while she believed that she feared, that she should blushwhen she heard his name. However, she did not, though Mr. Flightunfolded his rough plans for the frescoes, which were to be of virginand child martyrs, Magdalen hesitating a little over those thatseemed too legendary; while old Lady Flight, portly and sentimental, declared them so sweet and touching. After tea, they went on to thechurch. Just at the entrance of the porch, Vera clutched at Paula, with the whisper, "Wasn't that Wilfred Merrifield? There, crossing?"

"Nonsense, " was Paula's reply, as she lingered over the illuminatedlist of the hours of services displayed at the door, and feeling asif she had attained dreamland, as she saw two fully habited Sistersenter, and bend low as they did so. 

The church was very elaborately ornamented, small, but showing thatno expense had been spared, though there was something that did notquite accord with Magdalen's ideas of the best taste; so that whenthey went out she answered Paula's raptures of admiration somewhatcoldly, or what so appeared to the enthusiastic girl. 

The next day, meeting Miss Mohun over cutting out for a workingparty, Magdalen asked her about the Flights and St. Kenelm's. 

"He is an excellent good man, " said Jane Mohun, "and has laid outimmense sums on the church and parish. "

"All his own? Not subscription?"

"No. He is the only son of a very rich City man, a brewer, and camehere with his mother as a curate, as a good place for health. Theyfound a miserable little corrugated-iron place, called the KennelChapel, and worked it up, raising the people, and doing no end ofgood till it came to be a district, as St. Kenelm's. "

"Very ornamental?"

"Oh, very, " said Jane, warming out of caution, as she felt she mightventure showing city gorgeousness all over. "But it is infinitely tohis credit. He had a Fortunatus' purse, and was a spoilt child--notin the bad sense--but with an utterly idolising mother, and he trieda good many experiments that made our hair stand on end; but he hassobered down, and is a much wiser man now--though I would not bebound to admire all he does. "

"I see there are Sisters? Do they belong to his arrangements?"

"Yes. They are what my brother calls Cousins of Mercy. The elderone has tried two or three Sisterhoods, and being dissatisfied withall the rules, I fancy she has some notion of trying to set up one onher own account at Mr. Flight's. They are both relations of hismother, and are really one of his experiments--fancy names and fancyrules, of course. I believe the young one wanted to call herselfSister Philomena, but that he could not stand. So they act as parishwomen here, and they do it very well. I liked Sister Beata when Ihave come in contact with her, and I am sure she is an excellentnurse. They will do your nieces no harm, though I don't like theirregular. "

Of this assurance Magdalen felt very glad, when at the door of theparish room, where the ladies were to hold a working party for themissions, Carrigaboola Missions at Albertstown, she and her nieceswere introduced to the two ladies in hoods and veils; and Paula'seyes sparkled with delight as she settled into a chair next to SisterMena. She looked as happy as Vera looked bored! Conversation wasnot possible while a missionary memoir was being read aloud, but thehistory of Mother Constance, once Lady Herbert Somerville, but thenhead at Dearport, and founder of the Daughter Sisterhood atCarrigaboola. To the Merrifields it was intensely interesting, andalso to Magdalen; but all the time she could see demonstrationspassing between Paula and Sister Mena, a nice-looking girl, muchembellished by the setting of the hood and veil, as if the lending ofa pair of scissors or the turning of a hem were an act of tenderadmiration. So sweet a look came out on Paula's face that she longedto awaken the like. Vera meantime looked as if her only consolationlay in the neighbourhood of a window, whence she could see up thestreet, as soon as she had found whispers to Mysie Merrifield treatedas impossible. 

The party at the Goyle had begun to fall into regular habits, andstruggles were infrequent. There was study in the forenoon, walks orcycle expeditions in the afternoon, varied by the lessons in musicand in art, which Vera and Paula attended on Wednesdays and Fridays, the one in the morning, the other after dinner. It was possible togo to St. Andrew's matins at ten o'clock before the drawing class, and to St. Kenelm's at five, after the music was over. Magdalen, whenever it was possible, went with her sisters on their bicycles toSt. Andrew's, and sometimes devised errands that she might join themat St. Kenelm's, but neither could always be done by the head of thehousehold. And she could perceive that her company was not speciallywelcome. 

Valetta, the only one of the Clipstone family whose drawing was worthcultivating, used to ride into Rockstone, escorted by her brotherWilfred, who was in course of "cramming" with a curate on his way tohis tutor, and Vera found in casual but well-cultivated meetings andpartings, abundant excitement in "nods and becks and wreathedsmiles, " and now and then in the gift of a flower. 

Paula on the other hand found equal interest and delight in meetingswith Sister Mena, especially after a thunderstorm had driven the twoto take refuge at what the Sisters called "the cell of St. Kenelm, "and tea had unfolded their young simple hearts to one another!Magdalen had called on the Sisters and asked them to tea at theGoyle, and there had come to the conclusion that Sister Beata was anadmirable, religious, hardworking woman, of strong opinions, and notmuch cultivated, with a certain provincial twang in her voice. Shehad a vehement desire for self-devotion and consecration, but perhapsnot the same for obedience. She sharply criticised all theregulations of the Sisterhoods with which she was acquainted, wore adress of her own device, and with Sister Mena, a young cousin of herown, meant to make St. Kenelm's a nucleus for a Sisterhood of her owninvention. 

Sister Mena had been bred up in a Sisterhood's school, from fiveyears old and upwards, and had no near relatives. Mr. Flight wasSaint, Pope and hero to both, and Mena knew little beyond the horizonof St. Kenelm's, but she and Paula were fascinated with one another;and Magdalen saw more danger in interfering than in acquiescing, though she gave no consent to Paulina's aspirations after admissioninto the perfect Sisterhood that was to be. 

CHAPTER VIII--SNOBBISHNESS

"Why then should vain repinings rise, That to thy lover fate deniesA nobler name, a wide domain?"--SCOTT. 

The friendship with the Sisters was about three weeks old when, onemorning, scaffold poles were being erected in the new side aisle ofSt. Kenelm's Church, and superintending them was a tall dark-hairedyoung man. There was a start of mutual recognition; and by and by hemet Paula and Vera in the porch, and there were eager hand-clasps andgreetings, as befitted old friends meeting in a strange place. 

"Mr. Hubert! I heard you were coming!"

"Miss Vera! Miss Paula! This is a pleasure. "

Then followed an introduction of Sister Mena, whose elder companionwas away, attending a sick person. 

"May I ask whether you are living here?"

"Two miles off at the Goyle, at Arnscombe, with our sister. "

"So I heard! I shall see you again. " And he turned aside to give anorder, bowing as he did so. 

"Is he the artist of those sweet designs?" asked Sister Mena. 

"Did we not tell you?"

"And now he is going to execute them? How delicious!"

"I trust so! We must see him again. We have not heard of Edie andNellie, nor any one. "

"He will call on you?" said Sister Mena. 

"I do not think so, " said Paula. "At least his father is really anartist, but he is drawing-master at the High School, and Hubert worksfor this firm. They are not what you call in society, and our sisteris all for getting in with Lady Merrifield and General Mohun and allthe swells, so it would never do for him to call. "

"She would first be stiff and stuck up, " said Vera, "and I could notstand that. "

"I thought she was so kind, " said Mena. 

"You don't understand, " said Vera. "She would be kind to a workmanin a fever; but this sort--oh, no. "

"To be on an equality with the man painting the church?" said Paula. "No, indeed! not if he were Fra Angelico and Ary Scheffer andMichelangelo rolled into one. "

At that moment the subject referred to in that mighty conglomerationreappeared. He was a handsome young man, his touch of Italian bloodshowing just enough to give him a romantic air; and Sister Philomenalistened, much impressed by the interchange of question and answerabout "Edie and Nellie, " and the dear Warings, and the happyChristmas at the Grange; and Vera blushed again, and Paula colouredin sympathy, as it appeared that Mr. Delrio had never had such asplendid time. 

The colloquy was ended by Mr. Flight being descried, approaching withhis mother, whereupon the two girls fled away like guilty creatures. 

Presently Vera exclaimed, "Oh, Polly dear, what a complication! Poordear fellow! he cares for me as much as ever. "

"And you will be staunch to him in spite of all the worldlyallurements, " said Paula. 

"Well, I mean Mr. Wilfred Merrifield is not half so handsome, "returned Vera. 

"Nor is he engaged in sacred work; only bent on frivolity, " saidPaula; "yet see how the M. A. Encourages him with tennis and games andnonsense. "

Poor M. A. , when the encouragement had only been some generalmerriment, and a few games on the lawn Paulina, who had heard manyconfidences when Vera returned from Waring Grange, believedaltogether in the true love of the damsel and Hubert Delrio, who hadbeen wont to single out the prettiest of the girls at Filstead, andshe was resolved to do all she could in their cause, being schoolgirlenough to have no scruple as to secrecy towards Magdalen, though onthe next opportunity she poured out all to Sister Philomena's by nomeans unwilling ears. 

Lovers had never fallen within the young Sister's experience, eitherpersonally or through friends; and they had only been revealed to herin a few very carefully-selected tales, where they were more thenecessary machinery than the main interest, for she had been bred upin an orphanage by Sister Beata, and had never seen beyond it. So toher Paula's story, little as there was of it, was a perfect romance, and it gained in colour when she related it to her senior. 

Sister Beata hesitated a little, having rather more knowledge of theworld, remembering that Vera Prescott was not eighteen years old, anddoubting whether an underhand intimacy ought to be encouraged; butthen Mr. Flight had spoken of Mr. Delrio as a highly praiseworthyyoung man, of decided Catholic principles; he was regular at Churchservices, and had dined or supped at the Vicarage. The intercourse, as the girls had explained, had been sanctioned by Mrs. Best in theirnative town, where all parties were well known, and thus there couldbe no harm in letting it continue. While as to the elder MissPrescott, she was understood to be unduly bent on county and titledsociety, and to be exclusive towards inferiors. Moreover, she was anattendant at St. Andrew's Church, and thus regarded as out of thepale of sympathy of the St. Kenelm's flock. 

So no obstacle was put in the way of the gossips, for they werereally nothing more, except that there was admiration of the designsfor the side chapel, which were of the Scripture children on oneside, and on the other of child martyrs. Now and then there was areference to the chilliness and hardship of living with anunsympathising sister, and being obliged to go to churches of whichthey did not approve. Sometimes too there were airy castles of adistant future to be shared by the magnificent architect, togetherwith Vera, while Paula nursed in the convent with Mother Beata andSister Philomena. 

But all this did not prevent an excitement and eager laughter andchatter whenever Wilfred Merrifield came in the way, and he certainlywas enough attracted by Vera's pretty face and lively graces to makehis sisters think him very absurd; but his mother had seen so manypassing fancies among her elder sons as to hold that blindness wasbetter than serious treatment. 

There was the further effect that Magdalen had no suspicion that thevehement attraction to St. Kenelm's went beyond the harmless quarterof the two nursing Sisters and some hero worship of Mr. Flight. MissMohun, who knew everything, had indeed hinted that something foolishmight be going on there; but Magdalen had not decided on the mutualfairness of the two congregations, and deferred investigation tillAgatha should come home, when she would have a reasonable, if cold, person to deal with. Nor did Thekla's chatter excite any suspicion;for the only time when she had been present at a meeting with Mr. Delrio, she had been half bribed, half threatened into silence, andshe was quite schoolgirl enough to feel that such was the naturaltreatment of authority, though she had become really fond of"sister. "

CHAPTER IX--GONE OVER TO THE ENEMY

"Can I teach thee, my beloved? can I teach thee?"E. B. BROWNING. 

Agatha came home in due time, and Magdalen sent her sister to meether at the station, where they found a merry Clipstone party in thewaggonette waiting for Gillian, who was to come home at the sametime. There was so much discussion of the new golf ground, that Verahad hardly a hand or a glance to bestow on Mr. Delrio, who jumped outof the same train, shook hands with Agatha, and bestirred himself infinding her luggage and calling a cab. 

"How he is improved! What a pleasing, gentlemanly fellow he looks!"she exclaimed, as she waved her thanks, while driving off in the cab. 

"Is he not?" said Paula, while Vera bridled and blushed. "You willbe delighted with his work. I never saw anything more lovely thanlittle St. Cyriac the martyr. "

"He is taken from Mrs. Henderson's little boy, " added Vera; "such adear little darling. "

"And his mother is to be done; indeed, he has sketched her for St. Juliet. "

"Flapsy! St. Romeo, too, I suppose?"

"Nonsense, Nag! There really was a St. Juliet or Julitta, and shewas his mother, and they both were martyrs. I will tell you all thehistory, " began Paula; but Agatha interposed. 

"You must like having him down here. Sister must be much pleasedwith him. She used to like old Mr. Delrio. "

"Well, we have not said much about him, " owned Paula. "He does notseem to wish it, or expect to be in with swells. "

"We could not stand his being treated like a common house-painter andupholsterer, " added Vera. 

"Surely no one does so, " said Agatha. 

"Not exactly, " said Paula; "at least, he has had supper at St. Kenelm's Vicarage with Lady Flight, and luncheon at Carrara withCaptain and Mrs. Henderson. "

"Because he was DOING the child, " interposed Vera; "and Thekla saysthat Primrose Merrifield says that her Aunt Jane--that is, old MissMohun--says that Lady Flight is not a gentlewoman. "

"What has that to do with Magdalen?"

"Why, she is so taken up with those swells of hers, especially nowthat there is a talk of Lord Somebody's yacht coming in, that shewould never treat him as on equal terms, but just keep him at adistance, like a mere decorator. "

"That seemed to me just what you were doing, " said Agatha, "when hewas so kind and helpful about my box. "

"Oh, THEY were all there, and we did not want to be talked of, " saidVera, blushing. "He understands. "

"He understands, " repeated Paula. "We do see him at the church andat the Sisters'. Those dear Sisters! There is no nonsense aboutthem. You will love them, Nag. "

"Well, it does not seem to me to be treating our own sister Magdalenfairly. "

"The M. A. !" said Vera, in a tone of wonder. 

"No; not to be intimate with a person you do not introduce to her, because you do not think she would consider him as on equal terms. "

"Sister Beata quite approves, " added Paula, sincerely, not guessinghow little Sister Beata knew of the situation, of which she onlyheard through the medium of her own representations to Sister Mena. 

The two girls rushed into the charms of these two Sisters, and theplan for an entertainment for the maidens of the Guild of St. Milburgha, at which they were to assist. It lasted up to the gate ofthe Goyle, where Magdalen and Thekla were ready to meet them; andthey trooped merrily up the hill, Agatha keeping to Magdalen's sidein a way that struck her as friendly and affectionate. It seemed tobe more truly coming HOME than the elder sister had dared toanticipate; nor, indeed, did she feel the veiled antagonism toherself that had previously disappointed her. 

The talk was about St. Robert's, about Oxford in general, the newfriends, the principal, the games, the debates, the lectures, thesermons, the celebrities, the undergraduates, the concerts, thechapels, the boats, the architecture; all were touched on for furtherdiscussion by and by as they sat at the evening meal, and then on thechairs and cushions in the verandah; and through all there was noexclusion of the elder sister, but rather she was the one who couldappreciate the interest of what Agatha had seen and heard; and evenshe was allowed to enter into the amusement of an Oxford bon mot, sometimes, indeed, when it was far beyond Paula and Vera. 

There was no doubt that the term had much improved Agatha even inappearance and manner. She held herself better, pronounced better, uttered no slangish expressions, and twice she repressed littlediscourtesies on the part of her sisters, and neglects such as werenot the offspring of tender familiarity, but of an indifference akinto rudeness. Magdalen had endured, knowing how bad it was for theirmanners, but unwilling to become more of an annoyance than could behelped. The indescribable difference in Agatha's whole manner sentMagdalen to bed happier than she had been since the arrival of hersisters, and feeling as if Agatha had come to her own side of abarrier. 

Perhaps it was quite true; for the last two months had been a time ofgrowth with the maiden, changing her from a schoolgirl to a student, from the "brook to the river. " She had, indeed, studied hard, butthat she had always done, as being clever, intellectual andambitious. The difference had been from her intercourse with personsslightly her elders, but who did not look on authorities as naturalenemies, to be tolerated for one's own good. There had been adevelopment of the conscience and soul even in this first term thatmade her regard her elder sister not merely with a sense ofcompulsory gratitude and duty, but with sympathy and fellow feeling, which were the more excited when she saw her own chilliness of lastspring carried further by the two young girls. 

So breakfast went off merrily; and after the round of the garden andthe pets, Agatha promised to come, when summoned, to hear how wellThekla could read French. In the meantime she waited in the morning-room, looking at her sisters' books; Vera pushed aside the Venetianblind. 

"Don't come in that way, Flapsy!" called Paula. "You'll be heard inthe dining-room, and the M. A. Will tremble at your dusty feet. "

"They aren't dusty, " said Vera, pulling up the blind with a clatter. 

"Aren't they?" laughed Paula, pointing. 

"You had better go and wipe them, " said Agatha. 

"I don't believe in M. A. 's fidgets, " returned Vera. 

"But I do, in proper deference to the head of the house, " saidAgatha, gravely. 

"Murder in Irish!" cried Vera, bouncing away, while Paula argued, "Really, Nag, life is not long enough to attend to all the M. A. 'slittle worries. "

"Polly, dear, I am afraid we have been on a wrong tack with oursister. I don't like calling her by that name. "

"You began it!" exclaimed Vera, dashing in by the door as she spoke. 

"I could not have meant it as a nickname to be always in use. "

"Oh yes, you did, I remember"--and an argument was beginning, whichAgatha cut short by saying, "Any way, it is bad taste. "

"Nag has been so much among the real M. A. That she is tender abouttheir title. "

"She wants to be one herself, " said Vera; "and so she will if shegoes on getting learned and faddy. "

"In both senses?" said Paula. 

Agatha laughed a little, but added, "No, Polly, the thing is that itis hardly kind or right to put that sort of label upon a person likeMagdalen--who has done so much for us--and--"

The perverse young hearts could not bear a touch on the chord ofgratitude; and Paula burst in, "Label or libel, do you mean?"

"It becomes a libel as you use it. "

"Do you want us to call her sister or Magdalen, the whole scripturalmouthful at once?"

"I believe that to call her Magdalen or Maidie, as my father did, would make her feel nearer to us than the formal way of saying'Sister. '"

"I don't mind about changing, " said Paula. "She can never be thesame to us as dear Sister Mena. "

"She is so tiresome, " added Vera. "She bothers so over my music;calling out if I make ever so small a slip, and making me go over allagain. "

"Well she may, " said Paula. "She is making little Tick play sonicely. Just listen! But I can't bear her dragging us off to thathorrid old Arnscombe Church and the nasty stuffy Sunday school. "

"That reminds me, " said Agatha; "Gillian Merrifield met a relation ofMr. Earl's, who said that Miss Prescott had brought quite new lifeand spirit to the poor old man, who had been getting quite out ofheart for want of any one to help and sympathise with him. "

"Then he ought to make his services more Catholic, " said Paula. "Butnothing will wean her from the old parochial idea. Why, she wouldnot let me give my winter stockings to Sister Beata's poor girls, butmade me darn them and put them by. "

"Yes, and mine, which were bad enough to give away, she made me darnfirst, " cried Vera. "She is ever so much worse than the superlativeabout mending one's clothes. "

"There ought to be another degree of comparison, " said Paula, --"Botheratissima!"

"For, only think!" said Vera. "She won't let us have new hats, butonly did up the old ones, and not with feathers, though there is sucha love at Tebbitts's at Rockstone. "

"She says it is cruel, " said Paula. 

"Cruel to me, I am sure; and what difference does it make when thebirds are once killed?"

"Well, she did give us those lovely wreaths of lilies, " said Paula. 

"Of course, but nothing to make them stylish! What's the good ofbeing out if one is to have nothing chic? And she won't let me havea hockey outfit. She says she must see more of it to be able tojudge whether to let us play!"

"That just means seeing whether her dear Merrifields do, " said Paula. 

"Gillian did at St. Catherine's. But you will know soon. Did I nothear something about a garden party?"

"Oh, yes; she is talking of one, but it will be all swells andcroquet, and deadly dull. "

"I thought you seemed to be getting on well with the swells, if youmean the Merrifields, especially Wilfred, if that is his name. "

"Bil--Bil! Oh, he is all very well, " said Vera, "if he would not bealways so silly and come after me! As if I cared!"

"And only think, " said Paula, "that she was going to have it on thevery day that St. Milburga's Guild has their festival! Just as if itwas on purpose!"

"Did you ask her to keep clear of your engagements?"

"I told her, but I don't think she listened. " And as anothergrievance suggested itself to Vera, she declared, "And she won't letus join the Girls' Magazine Club, because she saw one she didn't likeon somebody's table. As if we were little babies!"

"She won't let us order books at the library, but gets such awfullyslow ones, " chimed in Paula, "or only baby stories fit for Thekla. She made me return that book dear Sister Mena lent me, because shesaid it was Roman Catholic. "

"And hasn't she got Thomas a Kempis on her table? and I'm sure he wasRoman Catholic. There's consistency!"

"You don't understand, " began Agatha. "He was a great Saint beforethe Catholics became so Roman. "

"Oh, never mind! It is anything to thwart us, " cried Vera. "It isever so much worse than school. "

"But, " began Agatha, and the tone of consideration to that oneconjunction caused an outburst. "Oh, Nag, Nag, if you are gone overto the enemy, what will life be worth?"

As that terrible question was propounded, in burst Thekla with, "Oh, Nag, Nag, they are cutting the hay in the high torr field, and sistersays we may go and see them before I read my French. "

"Oh!" cried Vera, with a prolongation into a groan, "is she going tobe tiresome?"

"She has come to be quite a don, " said Paula; "but never mind, wewill soon make her all right again. "

The two sisters had to go to their different classes in theafternoon, and wanted Agatha to go with them; but it was a very warmday, and she preferred resting in the garden, and, to Magdalen'ssurprise and pleasure, conversation with her. At first it was aboutOxford matters, very interesting, but public and external to thehome, and it did not draw the cords materially closer; but whenThekla had privately decided that even hanging upon the newlyrecovered Nag was not worth the endurance of anything so tedious, andhad gone off to assist her beloved old gardener in gathering greengooseberries, Magdalen observed that she was a very pleasant littlepupil, and was getting on very well, especially with arithmetic. 

"That was the strong point in the junior classes, " said Agatha;"better taught than it was in my time. "

"I wish she could have more playfellows, " said Magdalen. "She wouldlike to go to the High School at Rockquay, but there are foundationsI should wish to lay before having her out of my own hands. "

"I should think you were her best playfellow. She seems very fond ofyou, and very happy. "

"Yes, " said Magdalen, rather wistfully. "I think she generally isso. "

"Maidie! may I call you by the old home name?" And as Magdalenanswered with a kiss and tearful smile, "Do tell me, please, if Pollyand Flapsy are nice to you?"

Magdalen was taken by surprise at the pressure of the hand and theeyes that gazed into her face full of expression. 

She could not keep the drops from rushing to her own eyes, though shesmiled through them and said, "As nice as they know how. "

"I am afraid I know what that means, " said Agatha. 

"If I only knew how to prevent their looking on me as theirgoverness, " continued Magdalen; "but I must have got into the groove, and I suppose I do not always remember how much must be tolerated iflove has to be won; and Paula is a thoroughly good girl. "

"Yes, I am sure she wishes to be, " said Agatha. "Are those Sistersnice that she talks of so eagerly?"

"They are very excellent women, but somehow I should have had moreconfidence in them if they were not unattached, or belonged to someregular Sisterhood. I wish she had taken instead to MysieMerrifield, who is more of my sort; but no one can control thoselikings. "

"I don't think Gillian very attractive; she is so wrapped up in herwork, " confessed Agatha. 

"You will see them all, I hope, for I am giving a garden party nextweek, perhaps. Have not they told you?"

"Oh, yes; but Polly seemed bent on its not clashing with somefestival at St. Kenelm's. "

"Therefore I had not fixed the day till I had heard what is settled. I have invited people for Thursday, which will hardly interfere. "

"Did you know that the young man who is painting the ceiling at St. Kenelm's Church is old Mr. Delrio's son Hubert?"

"Indeed! Is he staying here? We must ask him to come up to luncheonor to tea. I am glad he is doing so well. I heard Eccles andBeamster were to do the decorations; I suppose they employ him. Ishould think it was a very good line to get into. "

This was on a Friday; and the next day Magdalen proposed driving downin the cool of the evening to see the decorations at St. Kenelm's andtheir artist; but it turned out that he was gone to spend Sunday atthe Cathedral city, and all that could be done was to admire thedesigns, and listen to Paula's enthusiastic explanation. 

Magdalen consulted Agatha whether to send young Delrio a card for thegarden party; but they decided that it was too late for an invitationto be sent, though a spoken one might have been possible. Besides, it was not likely to be pleasant to a stranger who knew no one butthe Flights and Hendersons, and those professionally. Agatha toldher sisters, and with one voice they declared that they would not seehim patronised; while Agatha's acute senses doubted whether Vera'sobjection was not secretly based on the embarrassment of a doubleflirtation with him and with Wilfred Merrifield. 

Indeed, Vera told her gaily: "Only think, Nag, I did have a jollyride on the M. A. 's bike after all. "

"Indeed! Then she lent it to you. "

"Not she! But she and the little kid were safe gone to Avoncester, and Paula was with her dear Sisters, so Will and I took a jolly spinalong the cliff road; and it was such screaming fun. Only once wethought we saw old Sir Jasper coming, and we got behind a barn, butit turned out to be only a tripper, and we had such a laugh. "

"Paula does not know?"

"What would be the good of telling her, with her little nun'sschoolgirl mind? She would only make no end of a fuss about a merebit of fun and nonsense. "

"I think if Wilfred Merrifield was afraid to meet his father, itshowed a sense of wrong. "

"Sir Jasper is a horrid old martineau, who never gives them any peaceat home, but is always after them. "

"A martinet, I suppose you mean. I don't think that makes it anybetter. I should not be happy till Magdalen knew. "

"Why, no harm was done! There's her precious machine all safe! Itwas just for the fun of the thing, and to try how it goes. One can'tbe kept in like a blessed baby! She never has guessed it. That'sthe fun of it. "

"I would not return her kindness in such an unladylike way when sheis trusting you, Vera. "

Did Magdalen know what had been done? She did guess, for there was amark on the wheel that she did not remember to have known before, andit cost her a bitter pang of mistrust; but she abstained frominquiries, thinking that they might only do harm. But she bought achain for her bicycle; and Agatha felt more shame than did Vera, whotried to believe herself amused by her tacit sense of emancipation. 

CHAPTER X--FLOWN

"Till now thy soul hath been all glad and gay, Bid it arise and look on grief to-day. "ADELAIDE PROCTOR. 

There was a Guild at St. Kenelm's which was considered by thepromoters to be superior to the Girls' Friendly Society, and whichcomprised about a dozen young women, who attended classes held bySister Beata, and occasional modest entertainments given by LadyFlight. 

One of these was to take place the day before Miss Prescott's gardenparty. It was to be given at Carrara, the very pretty grounds on thetop of the cliff, belonging to Captain Henderson, the managingpartner in the extensive marble works of Mr. White, who lived atRocca Marina, in the Riviera. Mrs. Henderson had resided in Mr. Flight's parish, and been a member of his congregation, and while hewas absent for a day or two she had put her garden at the service ofthe Guild of St. Milburga's for the day. 

Of course Vera and Paula were delighted to assist; but Thekla was tooyoung for the amusements of grown-up maidens, and was much betterpleased to help her two elder sisters in preparations for the nextday, placing tennis nets, arranging croquet hoops, mustering chairsby the verandah, and adorning tables with flowers. Agatha'sassistance was heartily given, as making it her own concern, and, forthat reason above all others, it was a happy day, though a verytiring one, to Magdalen, in spite of the sultry atmosphere and thesight of lurid-looking clouds over the moors, which did not augurwell for the next day's weather, and caused all the arrangement ofchairs and rugs to be prudently broken up and deposited under theverandah. 

This was done, and the evening meal had been taken, and Thekla hadgone to bed before some flashes of lightning made the two sisterswish to see the other pair at home, especially as Vera was muchafraid of lightning, and Paula apt to be made quite ill by it. 

The storm rolled on, bringing violent gusts of wind and hail, thoughnot at the very nearest, and such a hurricane of wind and rain ensuedthat the two watchers concluded that the two girls must have beenhoused for the night by some of the friends at Rock Quay, and it wasnear midnight, when just as they had gone to their rooms, a carriagewas heard ascending the hill, and they had reached the door beforePaulina sprang out with the cry, "Is she come home?" Then at sightof the blank faces of dismay, she seized hold of Agatha's hands andbegan to sob. Mr. Flight had stepped out of the car at the samemoment, and answered the incoherent questions and exclamations. 

"Young Delrio offered to take photographs of the party, and that wasthe last time she was seen. "

"Yes, " sobbed Paula, "Sister Mena saw her there. We were trying toget up croquet, and then I missed her. I tried to find her when thelightning began, but I could not find her anywhere, though I lookedin all the summer-houses!"

"At Mrs. Henderson's? or Miss Mohun's? or the Sisters'?" askedMagdalen, catching alarm from each denial. "She might have gone homewith one of the girls. "

"She would be wild in such a storm, " said Agatha, "and not know whatshe was about. "

"Sister Beata and I have gone to each house, " said Mr. Flight. 

"When did you say you saw her last?"

"I saw her when we were grouped, " said Paula; "Sister Mena, when shewas helping him to put up his photos. "

"The strange thing is, " said Mr. Flight, "though no doubt it will beexplained, that Delrio is missing too. "

"Hubert Delrio!" exclaimed Agatha. "Impossible! He must have takenher into the church to be out of the storm. "

"We have tried, " said the clergyman. And as the round of suggestionsbegan to be despairingly reiterated, he said, hesitating, "Miss Mohuntold me that she thought she had seen a boat, Captain Henderson's, she believed, in the cave with some one rocking in it; and certainlythat little boat was there, when on the hope, if it can be called ahope, I ran down the steps to look. "

"Would it not have been put into the boathouse out of the rain?" saidAgatha. 

"The gardener was gone home, out of reach round the point, but weshall know to-morrow. "

"He thinks they may have rowed out and been caught in the storm, "cried Paula, bursting into fresh weeping; and Magdalen saw theconjecture confirmed by Mr. Flight's countenance. 

"I am afraid it is the least distressing--the least unsatisfactoryidea, " said he, in much agitation. "I thought Mr. Delrio anexcellent young man; and she, " indicating his companion, "tells meyou know him and his family well. "

"Oh, yes, " said Agatha and Magdalen in one breath. "We have knownhis father all our lives. Nothing can be more respectable. "

"And Hubert is as steady and good as possible, " continued Agatha. "His mother used to come to Mrs. Best and praise him, till we werequite tired of his name; I am sure he is all right. "

"Or I should be much deceived in him, " said the clergyman. 

Yet there was an idea in Paulina's mind. Could Vera have poured outsuch an exaggerated tale of oppression and unhappiness as to haveinduced her old playfellow to carry her off to his mother at Filsted?She had given some such hint to Mr. Flight on the way; but he had notseemed to hear or attend, and he was now promising to let the sistersknow as soon as possible in the morning whether anything had beendiscovered, and to telegraph to Filsted and to the office in Londonif he should see occasion. 

Then he drove off, in what would have been almost daylight but forthe pelting of the storm; and after a vain attempt to make Paulaswallow some nourishment, Magdalen thought it kinder to let Agathacarry her off to bed, and then she confessed, what really gave acertain hope, that the pair had been in the habit of murmuringagainst "sister" so much that, considering poor Vera's propensity tostrong language, it was quite possible that Hubert might think hercruelly oppressed, and for a freak carry her off to his mother to beconsoled. 

Agatha tried to believe it, for the sake of hushing the exhaustedPaula, who almost went into hysterics, as she laughed at the notionof to-morrow's telegram that Vera was safe at Filsted; and thenallowed herself to be calmed enough to sleep, while Agatha revolvedthe notion, but found herself unable seriously to believe, thatsufficient grievance could be brought against sister to induce anyman in his senses to take such a step. But then Paula had inferredthat he was a lover, and Agatha did not know of what lovers might becapable, and she could not but blame herself for not having givenmore importance to the semi-confidences of her sisters on the firstday of her arrival. It was all misery; and the two poor girls couldfind no solace in the morning, save in talking to Magdalen, thoughthat involved the confession of all the murmurs against her, thedistrust of her kindness, and the explanation of the interviews, which, as far as Paula had ever witnessed them, were absolutelyharmless, the only pity being in their concealment. 

Magdalen was manifestly as wretched as they, or even more so, beingconvinced of her own shortcoming in not having won the affection orconfidence that would have made all open between them. She could notunderstand why Hubert Delrio should not have been made known to her. 

"We thought, " said Paula, "we thought you might not think him enough--enough--of a gentleman for your sort of society. "

"I think you might have trusted me to know what was due to an oldfriend, " said Magdalen "but, oh, I ought to have made you feel thatwe could think together. "

"Perhaps, " said Agatha, "there was a little consciousness on poordear Vera's part that she did not want you to know the terms she wason. "

They had tried only to let Thekla know that they were much alarmedbecause Vera had gone out in a boat and not returned. It wasobservable that, on the principle that where there is life there ishope, Paula clung to the notion that Vera's having fled to Filsted;while the two elder sisters, perhaps because they better knew whatsuch a flight might seem to others, would almost have preferred tosuppose there had been a fatal accident in the midst of youthful, innocent sport. 

The two were lingering sadly over their uneaten breakfast, talkingmore freely when they had sent Thekla to feed her pets, when Mr. Flight came up on his bicycle; but it was plain at the first momentthat he had no good news. 

Nothing had been heard. It only appeared that one of the younggardeners at Carrara had taken Captain Henderson's boat withoutleave, to fetch one of the girls, but on entering the cove had foundthe boathouse locked. He had moored the boat to a stake for want ofthe ring that secured it within. When the storm threatened he randown to recover it, but it was gone, and he had concluded that thegardeners had put it into the boathouse. It now appeared that theyhad not seen it, and were very angry at its having been meddled with. An oar had drifted up with the morning tide, and had been recognisedas belonging to the boat; but such a gale was blowing that it wasimpossible to put out to sea or make any search round the coast. Words could hardly describe the distress of Mr. Flight or of hisladies at not having better looked after the young girl; Sister Beatafor never having thoroughly attended to the matter; and Sister Menafor having accepted confidences which, if she had only guessed it, told her more than there really was to be known. Both these two wereinclined to the elopement idea, partly because it was the leastshocking, and partly because they had looked at Vera's grievancesthrough her own spectacles, and partly from their unlimited notionsof young men's wickedness. Their vicar was not of the same opinion, knowing Hubert better, and besides having found his work, his ordersto his subordinates, and the belongings at the lodgings in a statethat showed that whatever he had done had been unpremeditated. Sending off notes to stop the garden party was a sort of occupation, broken by many signs, much listening, and much sorrowful discussion, not quite vain, since it made Paulina more one with Magdalen thanever before. Poor old Mr. Delrio arrived in the afternoon, a thin, grey-haired and bearded old man, who could only make it too certainthat Paula's theory of the innocent flight to Filsted was impossible. Moreover, he was as certain as a father could be, intimate with, andtherefore confident of, his eldest son, that though Hubert mightindulge in a little lively flirtation, it could never be otherwisethan perfectly harmless. In the terrible suspense and restlessness, he went vibrating about in the torrents of moorland rain between RockQuay and the Goyle, on the watch for telegrams from the office inLondon or his wife at home, or for the discovery of anything from thesea, or searching in his son's lodgings, where nothing was found thatdid not show him to have been a pure-hearted young man, devoted tohis art, and fond of poetry. Sundry compositions were in theblotting-book, one, indeed, to Vera's name, under the supposition (awrong one) {100} that it meant "true, " but mostly rough copies of apoem about the Saints Julitta and her child Cyriac. Hope sank asanother stormy day rose; and still the poor old artist lingered inhopes of news by some returning craft which might have picked up thederelict. His chief comfort was in walking about between the showerswith Magdalen, as an old friend, and trying to think of the two asinnocent creatures, engulfed like mayflies in the stream. 

Sister Mena came over, wanting to join Paula in bewailing entreaties;but Paula, in youthful hard-hearted wilfulness, declared that it wasimpossible to see her; and it fell to Magdalen to try to discuss thegrief with her. 

It turned out that Mr. Flight had spoken severely to her and to thefar less implicated Sister Beata, declaring his confidence in themdestroyed, so that they had begun to consider of throwing up theirwork in his parish. "And it was all my fault, " said Mena; "SisterBeata really knew nothing, or hardly anything of what Vera told me. "

"Indeed, I can quite understand that you had hardly experience enoughto know that it might be wiser not to encourage what was not quiteopen. "

"But I thought, --I thought you--"

"That I was unkind and unsympathising. "

"Oh, you never could have been--"

"Indeed I never meant to be, but I am afraid it seemed so to my youngsisters. I can quite see how you thought you were acting kindly. "

"Oh, that is so good of you. "

"And perhaps I, being only an elder sister, you would not feel that Iwas the only authority the poor girls have to look to; and that itwould have been kinder to help them to be content with me. "

"I did not know what you could be, " said Mena, greatly soothed andsurprised by her caresses. 

"We often do go on in ignorance, and get on a wrong tack; but youknow God pardons our mistakes, and I do believe that you will bewiser for all this sorrow, and better able to rise to your work. Iam sure, however it ends, that is the reason that such blows are sentto us. "

Mena went back sorrowful and chastened, but tenderly hopeful. IfMiss Prescott could forgive, surely Mr. Flight could, and One stillgreater. 

CHAPTER XI--ADRIFT

"She splashed, and she dashed, and she turned herself round, And heartily wished herself safe on the ground. "JANE TAYLOR. 

And where were the missing pair?

Vera had lingered about, fancying she was helping to pack thephotographic apparatus, while the others dispersed. Presently, seeing no one near, Hubert Delrio said, in a gentle diffident voice, "It would be a great pleasure to me if I might ask you to listen tothe verses on St. Cyriac and his mother that the design brought withit. "

"I should love it better than anything, " said Vera, highly flattered. 

"If you would come down this way, there is a charming secluded cove, where we should be free from interruption. "

"How deliciously romantic! Quite stunning!" cried Vera, as hercavalier conducted her down a steep path along the side of the cliffto the stony beach, where a few red rocks had been manipulated into atiny harbour, with a boathouse for the little skiff in which CaptainHenderson was wont to go round to the marble works on the other sideof the headland. The boat looked very inviting as it lay swinginggently in the sluggish waves in the advancing shade of the tallcliff; and Vera exclaimed with delight as she was assisted into it, and placed herself comfortably on the cushion, with one hand dabblingin the cool translucent wave. Hubert Delrio opened his manuscriptand began to read his ballad, if so it was to be called, being thehistory of the little boy of four years old, who, being taken withhis mother before the tribunal at Tarsus, was lifted on thepropraetor's knee, but struggled, crying out, "I am a Christian!"till the propraetor, in a rage, hurled him down. His skull wasfractured on the marble pavement, and his mother gave thanks for hissoul's safety, when she too was sentenced to be beheaded. Greatpains had been taken with the noble-minded tale; and the verses hadconsiderable merit, more, perhaps, than Vera could appreciate. Butto read such a production of his own, in such surroundings, to theauditor whom youthful fancy most preferred, was such luxury to boththat it was no wonder that under the broad shady hat with the lilywreath she was nodding in the gentle breeze, the lapping of thewaves, and the soft cadence of the poetry, till at an effectivepassage on the mother's death, the poet looked up, expecting toreceive a responsive glance from those blue eyes. 

Not only were they hidden, but the cliff was farther off. Themooring rope and the stake were dragging behind in the water. Thetide had turned, and the boat was already out of reach of the rockwhere it had been drawn up. His exclamation of dismay awoke Vera, who would have started up with a little shriek, but for his, "Don't!Don't! I'll row back. "

But he was a landsman, whose only knowledge of the water was in anoccasional bathe, or in a river steamer; and his first attempt atplacing the oars in the rowlocks resulted in one falling overboard, while he helplessly grasped the other; and Vera screamed again. 

"Don't be frightened, my dear! Dearest, don't! We must be seen. Some one will come out and help us. "

"Can't you get on with one oar? They do in pictures. "

"Punting? Yes, but there must be a bottom. No, don't move, whateveryou do. There can't be any danger. Fishermen must be about. Or weshall be seen from the cliffs. "

"They are getting farther off! Can't you shout?"

Hubert shouted, and Vera added her shriller cries; but all in vain, and the outgoing tide was carrying them, not towards the quay andmarble rocks, but farther to sea. The waves grew rougher and hadcrests of foam, and discomfort began. Once the feather of a steamerwas seen on the horizon. They waved handkerchiefs and redoubledtheir shouts, and Hubert had to hold his companion to prevent herfrom leaping up; but they never were within the vessel's ken, and shewent on her way, while the sea bore them farther and farther. 

The shore was growing dim and indistinct, the sun was sinking, andthe cloud, that had at first shown only a golden border, was liftingtall perpendicular masses, while the tossing of the little boatbecame more and more distressing. Anxiety and sense ofresponsibility kept Hubert from feeling physical discomfort; but Verabegan to cry, and to declare that it would be the death of her if shewere not landed immediately. 

"If it were only possible!" sighed Delrio. 

"There must be some way! You are so stupid! Oh! There was a flashof lightning. "

"Summer lightning. "

"No such thing! There will be a storm, and we shall be drowned. Oh, I wish I had never listened to your nonsense, and got into thishorrible boat. " She was in a state for scolding, and scold she did, as the clouds rose higher, and sheets of lightning more decided. "How could you? You, who know nothing about boats, and going on, on, with those horrid tiresome verses--not minding anything--I wish I hadnever come near you!"

Vainly the poor young fellow tried to get in a word of consolation;it only made her scold the more, till there was no question that thestorm was raging overhead; the hail rattled and splashed, the wavesraised them to a height, then subsided into endless depths; thethunder pealed, and she clung to Hubert, too frightened forscreaming. His fear was that the cockleshell of a boat should filland founder; he tried to bale out the water with his hat, and to makeher assist, but she seemed incapable, and he could only devise layingher down in the bottom of the boat with his coat over her, hiding herface in terror. Her hat had long ago been blown away, and her hairwas flapping about. Ejaculations were in his heart, if not on hislips, and once or twice she cried out something like, "Save me!" butin general it was, "We are sinking! Hold me! We are going! Paula!Nag!" clutching at his legs, so as to hamper him in the baling outthe water. 

The hail passed, but there was a solid sheet of rain descending onthem, undistinguishable from the foam that rushed over them as theywent down, down, down. Vera was silenced; and Hubert, drenched andnearly beaten out of life, almost welcomed every downward plunge asthe last, tried to commend his spirit, and was amazed to find hislittle boat lifted up again, and the black darkness not so absolute. 

CHAPTER XII--"THE KITTIWAKE"

"Good luck to your fishing! Whom watch ye to-night?A man of mean, or a man of might?"--SCOTT. 

Something black was before the tossed boat! Yes, and light, notlightning. A human voice seemed to be on the blast. Hubert Delrioessayed to shout, but his voice was gone, or was blown away. Heunderstood that a vessel must be above him. Would it finish all byrunning him down? He perceived that he was bidden to catchsomething. A rope! His benumbed hands and the heaving of the boatmade him fail once, twice, and he was being swept away as at last hedid grasp a rope, and was drawn, as it ground his hands, close to thedark wall that rose above, with lights visible. 

"Cheer up! cheer up!" he cried to Vera. "Thank God, we are saved!"

Response from her there was none; but he could hear the yell ofinquiry from ahead, and answered, "Here! Two! A woman!"

A second rope was lowered. "Lash her to it. " But as it was evidentthat Delrio could do nothing but hold on, and that his companion washelpless, a sailor descended from no great elevation, and, in anothermoment, the senseless girl was hoisted up and received on deck; and, with some assistance, Hubert was also on board, thinking of nothingbut the breathless question, "Is she safe?"

"Oh, yes! She will soon come round! Here! They will see to her. "As she was carried away, and Hubert had a perception that she wasreceived by female hands, but he was utterly exhausted, and unable tosee or speak, till some stimulant had been poured down his throat, and even then he could hardly ask, "Is she safe?

"Yes, yes! All right! Reviving fast! Here! Take some more! Bedis ready! Get rid of those clothes!" It was an elderly, grey-hairedman who spoke, and Hubert was in no condition to resist, as the yachtwas pitching considerably, though after the boat the motion wasalmost rest. He instinctively shook his head at the glass, butswallowed what was forced upon him, and managed to say, "Thanks--sitting in boat--drifted off--Rock Quay. "

"All right! Never mind. Take him down. My berth, Ivy--Jephson. Tuck him in. Don't let him speak! Never mind, my lad! We will hearall about it to-morrow!"

Meantime, Vera, though reviving, was conscious of very little, save asoft pillow, tender hands, and warm drink that choked her; and thenshe fell asleep, though still she was aware of a strange tossinggoing on all night, and by and by she found herself secured into asort of narrow shelf, and murmuring female voices were at hand. Asshe moved, she heard, "There, you are better now. You can take this, then you will be more comfortable. "

Her eyes had opened to a curious sort of twilight, and there was afair girlish head over her, with a sweet smiling face. An elderlyweather-beaten face in a hood next appeared, and a brown hand holdinga cup closed over the top, in invalid fashion, and a kind strong armslightly raised her with, "There, there, poor dear! The spirit, mylady dear, the spirit! That's right, now then. "

"You MUST be a baby;" and a merry reassuring smile broke out as thedraught was administered. Vera tasted, thanked, swallowed, feltgiddy, and lay down, hearing a lively bit of self-gratulation. "There, Mrs. Griggs, I'm getting my sea legs!" followed by anignominious stumble as Mrs. Griggs caught the cup in good time as thevessel gave a lurch which completed Vera's awakening in the fear ofbeing shaken out on the floor. 

She looked round to find herself in a tiny room, cushionedthroughout, with strange dancing confused light coming in, and thefew articles of furniture carefully secured. Two young figures werethere, both dressed in stout blue serge, with white trimmings; one, the darker, beside her bed, had a face full of kindness andsolicitude, yet of fun dimpling over continually; the other, even inthat dim light, striking Vera as something out of the loveliestvisions of romance, so fair and beautiful was the countenance. 

A man's voice was at the door. "Fly! Francie! How is she?"

"Much better! Nearly well! Good morning, Papa dear. Is he allright?"

"As sound as a bell! Ha!" As the door escaped, the curtain over itshook, and he nearly fell against it, saving himself with his hands. "That was exercise!" As the young girls came tumbling up anddisappeared behind the curtain, where, however, the voices could beplainly heard, "Had any sleep to-night or this morning?"

"Between whiles! O yes! All our bones are still whole, as I hopeyours and Ivy's are. "

"Come and see. Griggs is getting breakfast under difficultiesinsurmountable to any one but a sea-grasshopper! I came to call youdamsels, and present my inquiries to Miss Prescott. "

"She will soon be all right! Francie and I are so proud of havinghad a real downright adventure. "

"I trust she will not be the worse, and will--excuse me, and regardme as incognito. "

This was said as another lurch drove the grizzled head into thecabin; and recovering in another upheaval they all disappeared, leaving Vera in a dreaming state, whence she was only half rousedwhen Mrs. Griggs returned to administer breakfast, so far as shecould taste it, under exhortations, pettings, and scoldings; and shevery soon fell asleep again, and was thus left, sensible all the timeof tossings and buffetings, but so worn out by the five hours of theboat, and so liable to be made ill by the motion of the vessel, thatit was thought best to leave her to sleep in her berth. 

She was only aware of voices above talking and laughing, or sailorcalls being shouted out, or now and then of some one coming to lookat her, and insisting on her taking food. 

It was not till late in the afternoon that she awoke from what seemedlike a strange long uneasy dream, and found one of the girls sittingby her and telling her she was better now. 

"Yes, " said Vera, trying to raise herself, finding something over herhead, and falling back on the pillow; "but what is it? Where isthis?"

"THIS is somewhere out in the Channel, near off Guernsey, Griggssays, but we cannot put in anywhere till the gale goes down. "

"What is it? Is it a ship, then?"

"O yes, " said the girl, laughing; "a yacht, the Kittiwake. SirRobert Audley has lent it to my brother, and we are all going to seethe Hebrides and Staffa and Iona. "

"Not to take me all up there?" groaned poor Vera, in horror. "Can'tyou put me out somewhere, anywhere?"

"Don't be afraid, " was the much-amused reply. "As soon as ever wecan put in anywhere, we can telegraph to Rock Quay and put you ashoreto go home; but we can only run before the wind while the sea is sohigh. I wish you could come on deck, it is so jolly!"

"Oh! it was too dreadful!"

"Beating about in the boat! It must have been, Mr. Delrio told us. "

"It was so stupid in him never to see that we had got loose, and weredrifting off, " said Vera, who had never thought of inquiring afterhim. 

"My father and Griggs think he behaved quite like a hero, " was theanswer. "He must have managed very well to keep you afloat, andsaved you all this time. "

"I suppose so, " said Vera. "We always did know him, or I should nothave let him get me into that boat, when he minded nothing but hisverses. "

"Those verses, they came all limp and wet out of his pocket, andFrancie made him let her dry them and copy them out; and she is sodelighted with them. It really is well it is too late to call thebaby Cyriac. "

"The baby?"

"Oh, yes. We had to leave him behind, though Francie was ready tobreak her heart over it; but they said that nothing would do forIvinghoe--after this second influenza--but a sea voyage, so she hadto make up her mind to leave him to my mother. "

Vera was in a state of bewilderment, caring a great deal more forherself and her own sensations than for any of her surroundings; andher next question was, "When do you think we shall be out of this?"

"We shall put into harbour somewhere as soon as the wind lulls. Wecannot venture yet, though we do steam; and then we can telegraph. Iam longing to relieve Miss Prescott. We can take you home all theway. We were on our way into Rock Quay to take up Mysie Merrifieldif she can go. It really was a wonderful and most merciful thingthat we made you out just as it was getting light before running youdown. My father saw you first, and old Griggs would hardly believeit, but then we heard Mr. Delrio's hail! But it was a terriblebusiness getting you up the ship's side. "

"I did not know anything about it. It was so dreadful in thelightning. And my new hat was blown away. And what is become of allmy clothes?"

"Mrs. Griggs has them, and is drying them. We will lend you a hat toland in. "

"Oh, when we do! I wish I had never got into that boat, but HubertDelrio did persuade me so. "

"And he is an old friend?"

"Yes, he is come to paint the roof of St. Kenelm's Church, and wewant to be attentive to him because my eldest sister would be sure tobe cross and keep him at a distance, being only that sort of wallpainter, you know, and his father a drawing master. "

"My father is very much pleased with him, and thinks him a verysuperior young man. They have been sitting on deck together, talkingas much as they could about architecture and Italy, with their breathall blown away every moment. There! You are really getting better!If you would eat something and come on deck you would be well! Iwill call the sea gnat, and see what we have. "

It was all very wonderful to Vera; and she began to be interested andto forget her troubles. A slice of very salt ham was brought to herand a glass of something, she did not know what, and asked if shecould have some tea. 

"You could have tea if you like, but there's no milk. You see, weought to have been in at Rock Quay yesterday evening, and our storeswere not adapted to hold out any longer! We shall have anothercurious experience, though Mrs. Griggs says it won't be so bad asonce when they were off the coast of Ireland, and when they put intoa bay with a queer name, all Kill and Bally, they could get nothingbut potatoes and goat's milk. "

"Who is Mrs. Griggs?"

"She is wife to the sailing master; and, like the Norsemen, her homeis on the wave, at least in the yacht, for she always lives in it, and her cabin is quite a sight; she is great fun, she cooks whenthere is anything to cook, and is stewardess and everything. Francieand I knew a maid would be a vain encumbrance, so we are taking careof ourselves, and, if you will let me, I will try and set your hairto rights. "

It was in a fearful tangle, after five hours at sea, and many more inthe berth in the cabin; but Vera was able to sit up in a daintydressing-gown, and submit to treatment not quite that of ahairdresser, but made as lively as could be by little jokes andkindly apologies at any extra hard pull at the knots, which reallyseemed "as if a witch had twined them;" and the two began to feelwell acquainted with each other over the operation, though Vera wassomewhat impressed when she observed that the brush was ivoryhandled. 

Her bicycling skirt was in tolerable condition, but her once delicateblue blouse was past renovation, so she was invested with a borrowedwhite one, and led in triumph to the saloon, just as the beautiful"Francie" came to call "Phyllis, " and give a helping hand. Therewere two gentlemen besides Hubert Delrio, and there was a generalrejoicing welcome; but Vera did not think Hubert made half enoughinquiries or apologies, before she was seated at the table, whereeverything was secured, and the fare was not very sumptuous orvarious, being chiefly some concoction of rice and scraps of saltbeef, which Francie said was a shame, eating up the poor sailors'fare; also there was potted meat, and cheese, but all the fresh breadwas gone, and they praised Mrs. Griggs' construction of ham and ricewith all the warmth and drollery each could contribute. Vera beganto be puzzled as to who every one was, for no names except Phyl, Fly, Francie and Ivy were heard, and the merry grey-haired head of thefamily was "Father" or "Papa" to every one, except of course Mr. Delrio, who, however, seemed at his ease, and took a fair share inthe talk, and once or twice Vera thought he said, "my lord, " but shedid not believe it. 

"I find you are a friend of a special pet of mine, Mysie Merrifield, "said the father. 

"I know her a little, " stammered Vera, "but Primrose best. "

"Nearer your age, eh? But Mysie is our gem! It looks fit for goingon deck. "

After the apology for a dinner, the young married pair went theirway, he to endeavour to add a fish to their provisions, she to lookon; the father and Delrio went where the latter could best study thewonderful tints of sunset over the purple retreating clouds, and thestill agitated foaming sea, --sights that seemed to be filling himwith enchantment, and revealing effects in colour, while his delightwas evidently a new pleasure to his companion. 

Vera was afraid to move, and sat on a deck chair, with her back tothe sunset, while Phyllis, who perhaps would have liked to share inthe admiration, sat by her, so that Vera began to accept her as aspecial friend, and to pour out the explanation of how she came to betossing in an open boat with this one companion. 

"You see, poor fellow, " she said, simpering, "he has been always sodevoted to me. Everybody observed it, and I could not help justgratifying him a little. "

"He does seem to be very full of promise, " said Phyllis. "I supposeMiss Prescott is much pleased with him. "

"My sister Magdalen, do you mean? Well, we have not introduced himto her yet. You see, he is ONLY painting the church, and she is sodevoted to swells, and makes such a fuss about our manners. "

"Indeed! But surely you could not go out with him without herknowing it. "

"She was not at this St. Milburgha's Guild, you know, and SistersBeata and Mena knew all about it. Oh, yes, she lets us go to them atSt. Kenelm's, but they are not swells enough for her. "

"Mr. Flight's Sisterhood, are not they?"

"And Primrose Merrifield says that Wilfred declares that they are notladies; but that's all jealousy, you know, because Will doesn't likemy friends, and Magdalen is altogether gone upon grandees. "

"Fancy!" was all that Phyllis managed to say. 

"She doesn't want us to be friends with anybody who don't belong tosome one with a handle to her name. So foolish and stuck up! So weknew she would not be kind to Hubert. "

"I think you had better have tried. I thought her one of the kindestpeople in the world. "

"Ah! but, you know, unfortunately she has been a governess, and thatteaches toadying. "

At that moment "Phyl" was called to see the first star over the sea, and ran up to her father, so as to conceal how nearly she waslaughing. Hubert Delrio came towards Vera. 

"Can you forgive me, Vera?" he said. "I shall speak to your sisteras soon as I am at home, and ask her forgiveness, and--"

"Oh, yes! yes! But do tell me who these people are. "

"Did you not know? That most kind of men, is Lord Rotherwood. Thoseare Lord and Lady Ivinghoe, and--"

"Lady Phyllis! Oh!"

CHAPTER XIII--CHIMERAS DIRE

"Qu'allait-il faire dans cette galere?"FRENCH COMEDY. 

Vera's first thorough awakening the next morning was to hear outsidethe door, "Are you up, Fly?"

"I shall be in a minute or two. Do you want me?"

"You are a dab at parlez-vous. I want you to come ashore with me andcater for the starving crew. "

"What fun! Anon, anon, Sir!"

Vera then perceived that she had been bestowed in Lady Phyllis'cabin, and that the proper owner was dressing herself in haste beforethe little shelf of a toilette table. So great had been theconfusion of last night's discovery that the poor silly child hadonly thought of hurrying out of sight and tumbling into bed withoutspeaking to any one, and she had not distinctly known, when LadyPhyllis came down a good deal later and disposed of herself on thesofa, that Mrs. Griggs had made ready for her. And now the onlything she could think of was to say, "Oh! Lady Phyllis, I didn'tknow. "

"Take care! Don't knock your head! We ought to have remembered thatBoreas, or whichever it was, was hardly a sufficient introduction. Are you all right now? You had better go to sleep again till I bringsomething to eat. We are lying to off some little Breton fishingvillage, and I am going with my brother to get some provisions, andtelegraph if we can. "

It was long before they came back. Vera had another nap, dressedherself, grew very hungry, and came out to find Lord Rotherwoodfishing, and his daughter-in-law watching for the boat to put outfrom the white houses with grey roofs, which, clustered round theirchurch-tower, seemed descending to the water's edge. They wereequally famished, though Mrs. Griggs stewed up the poor remnants oflast night's banquet; but at last the little boat appeared, gailydancing over the waves, and Phyllis making signals of success. 

"Oh, yes, you may be thankful, you poor starving beings! Here, Mrs. Griggs! Accept, and do all you can! Here are eggs, and some milkand fresh water, four poulets, such as they are, and a huge monsterof a crab; but all the bread is leavened, and you little guess whatIvy and I had to go through before we were allowed to buy anything. We were had up to the Mayor, and had to constater all manner ofthings about our ship, to prove that we were no smugglers. "

"I thought the fat old rogue would have come out to visit the yachtbefore he would have allowed us a morsel, " said Lord Ivinghoe. 

"In which case you might have been found a skeleton, father, like SirHugh Willoughby! And as to our telegrams, they won't go till thediligence gets to St. Malo, and what they will make of them there isanother question. I did not dare to send more than one, for fearthey should get mixed up. 

Vera heard the joyous chaff as it fluttered round her, not halfunderstanding it any more than if it had been a strange tongue, andnot always guessing the cause of the fits of laughter, chiefly atLord Ivinghoe's misadventures, over which his little sister and hisfather were well pleased to tease his correctness, and his young wifelooked a little hurt at his being tormented. He could not rememberthat braconnier was a poacher by land, not by sea, and veryunnecessarily disclaimed to the Maire being such a thing. Hisfather, he said, "was gentilhomme anglais en--what's a yacht?--yac. (Nonsense! that's a long-haired ox. No!) Non point contrabandiste, mais galerien dans galere. " "And there I interposed, " said Phyllis, "for fear we should be boarded as escaped galeriens. "

"Why, galley was a pleasure-boat sometimes, " said Ivinghoe, and hiswife supported him with "Cleopatra's galley. "

"Well done, Francie! To your oars for Ivy's defence, " said LordRotherwood. "How did you defend us, Fly, from being towed intoharbour at Brest as runaway convicts?"

"She gabbled away most eloquently to the Maire, almost as fluently asa born French-woman, " said Ivinghoe, "and persuaded him at last thatit was not necessary to come on board to inspect us, nor even todetain us till he had sent for instructions to St. Malo. "

"As Ivy managed matters, I thought we might be kept as hostages, "said Phyllis. 

"But, thanks to her blandishments, the solemn official vouchsafed tosend off a messenger for us with a telegram. "

"I do not think he sent directions to pursue our suspicious galere, "added Phyllis; "but I own I shall be glad to be under the lee of oldEngland again. "

"What was your telegram?"

"Brevity was safest, nor had we money enough for two; so all Iattempted was, 'Delrio to Flight, Rock Quay. Both safe. Picked upby Kittiwake. ' I thought that would be the quickest means ofrelieving anxiety, as we were not sure of other addresses; and as to'home, ' Mamma probably hardly was aware of the storm, or, if shewere, she knew the capabilities of yachts and of Griggs. "

"Right!" returned his father. "Poor Miss Prescott! she must havegiven you up for lost. Have you been improving your mind with Frenchtelegrams?" he added, turning to Delrio. 

"No, my lord, I found my way to the church, a wonderful piece of oldNorman!--if it may so be called. "

"I see you have been sketching. "

Griggs here interposed with tidings that eggs and coffee were readyin the saloon, the worthy pair having had respect to the generalfamine, and prepared what could be made ready in haste. Those whohad eaten ashore sat by, making an amusing account of theirreception, and difficulties with language and peasants, for, this notbeing an ordinary place of call, nothing was ready for sale. 

Vera, finding herself for the first time in distinguished company, which desired to set her at ease, began to be at ease, and to desireto shine, so she giggled whenever she perceived the slightest excuse, even when Lord Ivinghoe handed her the eggs, and, hoped she had nottoo British an appetite for French eggs; and Lady Ivinghoe asked ifshe had seen the fowls, and whether their feathers were ruffled uplike a hen's that had been given to Aunt Cherry. Her little sisterJoan, she added, had asked whether eating the eggs would make herhair curl. 

"Or stand on end, " said Phyllis. 

"As I am afraid Miss Prescott's is doing till your telegram reachesher. Did you say it was to go from St. Malo?"

"Yes. I thought that the safest place to have a comprehensiblemessage copied. "

"To whom did you say?" asked Lady Ivinghoe. 

"'Delrio to Flight. ' Oh, they will know his name and address fastenough when it gets to Rock Quay. "

"He is the clergyman at St. Kenelm's, " put in Vera, in explanation;"very very advanced Ritualist, you know. "

"Indeed!" was the answer. 

"Oh, yes, that he is. My sister Polly is perfectly devoted to him;but we don't go to his church, except now and then, because my eldestsister is just one of those very old-fashioned people, you know, whowant everything horrid and dull. "

"That is hardly what our cousins think of Miss Prescott, " saidPhyllis. "I am so sorry for her anxiety! But I was not sure of thename of her place. "

"The Goyle! Isn't it frightful?" said Vera. 

"You say she was unprepared for your adventure?"

"Oh, yes, quite. Her notions are so dreadfully proper and oldfashioned. She hasn't got any sympathy, has she, Hubert?"

"I don't know, " he said gravely. "I have always had the greatestrespect for her. "

"Respect! So you ought. That's just the thing one has for a slowdear old fogey, " she said, laughing, "Oh, Hubert!" There was asilence, and Lord Rotherwood made an observation upon the wind. 

Vera perceived an awkwardness, and, by way of repairing it, afterwards thought it expedient to communicate to Lady Phyllis thatit might be a pity she had said "Hubert. " It was so awkward, only hewas such an old acquaintance. 

"I should have thought the awkwardness was incurred long ago, " saidLady Phyllis. "Come, you will have no more concealments from MissPrescott, will you? You will be ever so much more comfortable, andfind out how kind she is. "

"Oh, but!--" Vera wanted to talk over all her grievances for thepleasure of talking, saying very much what she had said before, andPhyllis tried to endure and put in as much sense as she could, without lecturing the girl, who struck her as the very silliest shehad ever encountered; but she was continually called off to admirethe receding French coast, or to look at the creatures brought up bydredging. She always took care to call Vera, and not let her feelherself left out; but Vera, if in solitude for a moment, reflected onthe neglect shown of little people by great ones; and when called upto see uncanny slimy creatures, or even transparent balls like wateryumbrellas, only was disgusted and horrified. 

She began to guess, rather truly, that Lady Phyllis wanted to hindera tete-a-tete between her and Hubert Delrio. In fact, LordRotherwood, who was much more of a sympathetic, confidence-invitingpersonage than his stiffer, much older seeming son, had said to hisdaughter, "Don't let that poor lad and the girl get together alone, Fly; the boy thinks he is bound to make her an offer. "

"Oh, father! Surely not!"

"No more than if they had been two babies in a walnut shell. So Itold him, but people don't see what infants they are themselves, andI want to hinder him from putting his foot in it before he has seenher aunt--cousin--sister, or whoever it is that has the charge ofher; and she has depicted to him a Gorgon, with Medusa's hair, clawsand all--a fancy sketch, isn't it?"

"Of course, sentimental schoolgirl colours! Mysie thinks herdelightful. "

"At any rate, let him get a dose of common sense before committinghimself. He is a capital fellow, sure to rise; has the soul and headand hands for it, but he ought not to weight himself with a drag. "

"Do you think he is really in love with her?"

Lord Rotherwood waved his hands. "He thinks so, but nobody knowswith those boys! I had to tell him at last that I would not have anyphilandering on board MY ship; and whatever he might think it hisduty to say, must be put off for aunt--sister--Gorgon--Medusa or whatnot. And I don't think he's very bad, Fly, for he modestly askedpermission to sketch Francie's head for St. Mildred, or Milburg, orsomebody; and was ready to run crazy about the tints on that dogfish. The young fellow is in the queerest state between the artist and thelover! delight and shame! I should like to take him north with us;the colours of the cliffs in the Isles would soon drive out MissVictoria--what's her name?"

"You don't think him like Stephen in the Mill on the Floss, who oughtto have married Maggie Tulliver. "

"I believe that is his precedent--but it is sheer stuff--pureaccident--as a respectable old householder like me is ready totestify to the Gorgons and Chimeras dire--Grundys and all. We mustencounter Rock Quay, Fly, if it is only to rescue this unluckyyouth. "

"What is he doing now? Oh, I see; drawing Francie, who sits as stiffas a Saint of Burne-Jones! Well, I'll have an eye to them! Vera!Have you finished Rudder Grange?"

"Not quite. I can't make out who Lord Edward was. "

"Why, the big dog! Did you think he was Pomona's hero?"

"I don't know. Wasn't Pomona very silly?"

"If life was to be taken from story-books, " said Phyllis, in a verydidactic mood; "but you see she imbibed the best side, what theyreally taught her of good. "

"I thought, when you gave me the book, it was to be an adventure likemine, not all standing still in an old river. What do you thinkHubert Delrio ought to do after persuading me into such an awfulpredicament?"

"Tell your sister he is very sorry that you two foolish children gotinto such a scrape, and very thankful that you were saved. "

"We are very thankful to Lord Rotherwood. "

"I didn't mean to him. To some One else, " said Phyllis, reverently. 

"Oh, of course, " said Vera. "But what DO you think, Lady Phyllis?"(Since her discovery of the title she made a liberal use of it. )"What do you think people will say?"

"That a little girl has had a dangerous adventure and a happyescape. "

"I am seventeen, Lady Phyllis!"

"One is nothing like grown up at seventeen! I declare there's a bigsteamer coming into sight. I wonder if it belongs to the ChannelFleet!"

Nothing more sentimental could be extracted for the rest of thevoyage. 

CHAPTER XIV--PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED

"I marry without more ado, My dear Dick Red Cap, what say you?"COWPER. 

The telegram had been received about mid-day; and Mr. Flight rushedup with it to the Goyle, just in time to prevent poor old Mr. Delriofrom starting hopelessly home. It had suffered a good deal inspelling and precision, in spite of Lady Phyllis's precautions; but"both safe" was understood, as it was known in Rock Quay that "LordRotherwood and family, " as the papers had it, were yachting in theKittiwake and might be expected in the bay. 

Agatha and Paula threw their arms round one another and cried;Magdalen, with a choke in her voice, struggled to ask Mr. Flight tolead them in a few words of thanksgiving; and as soon as these wereover, Thekla expressed her hopes that they had been cast on a desertisland and would bring home Man Friday. 

The Goyle ladies walked over to Clipstone with the good news, and thewhole party went down afterwards to Rockstone to look out for yachts, and inquire about possibilities. The Kittiwake being a steamer, light and swift, might be expected in harbour in the course of thenight, and Mr. Delrio meant to wait for her at his son's lodgings. The ladies wished they could do the same; and Paula was allowed toaccept Sister Beata's humble entreaty to house her. But they did notknow how long before the telegraph from St. Malo the Kittiwake fromSt. Cadoc had spread her wings and hoisted her feather, for, happily, her coals had held out better than her provisions. So, as they werelooking their last look from the cliffs of Beechcroft Miss Mohunexclaimed, "A steamer! a yacht! Kittiwake!"

Glasses were rushed for, and unaccustomed eyes could trace thegraceful course through the gentle evening waves towards the quay. 

Every one was on the quay in time to receive the boat, which, rowedby four smart sailors, was seen with the party of six, two sailorhats, and one red cap being at once spied out among the femalefigures. Then two hats were waved and answered by cheers of welcome;and the figures were recognised, and unnecessarily numerous handsstretched out to assist the landing from the plank extended to theboat. 

Vera was put first by her kind rescuers, Lord Rotherwood's handguiding her to the rail, and, after an insecure step or so, she foundherself in the arms of Paulina, sobbing for joy; and the littlecluster of sisters seemed to know nothing else, except Thekla, whopresently, in the confusion of the greetings, was found by LordRotherwood looking about vaguely, and saying, "But where's their manFriday?"

"You must accept me for him, " said he. "'Tis Friday, unless we havelost our reckoning! I hope you think me something promising in theway of savages!"

Young Delrio's first proceeding, even while his father was wringinghis hand in speechless welcome and thankfulness, was to turn toCaptain Henderson. "Sir, your boat is safe, it will be brought into-morrow. I am much concerned, and beg your forgiveness, but I hadno idea that it was yours till Griggs found your name. Only one oaris lost, and a cushion, which I will replace. "

"Say no more, pray, " said Captain Henderson. "The fault was myservant's, who took it without leave, and left it out. He mustrepair the very slight damage. "

Miss Mohun wanted the whole troop to come up to Beechcroft to drinktea, and her relations consented; but the hearts of the Prescottswere a great deal too full for them not to wish to be alone together;and after Magdalen had given her hand to Lord Rotherwood with afervent, "You know what I would say, my lord--beyond all words, " theyturned homewards; but Mr. Flight ran after them to say in a lowvoice, "Can we meet to-morrow at eight for a service ofthanksgiving?" And this was gladly accepted. 

Hubert was dragged off by his father. 

"Nonsense! they don't want your apologies and explanations. It wouldonly be besetting them. Come home with me, and don't be a fool! Butwrite a few lines to your poor mother, after the intolerable frightyou have given her; meddling and presuming where you had no business. A Providence it is that you are not half across the Atlantic, if notat the bottom of it. "

Of course this was the reaction of great anxiety; but however meeklyHubert submitted to the queer outpouring of affection, and howeverthankful they both were, and glad and content over the particulars ofthe youth's work and progress, still he was not to be withheld fromlaying hand and heart at Vera Prescott's feet, as he insisted was dueto her and her family after the compromising situation in which hehad placed her. His father said it was talking novels and folly; buthe was a man of three and twenty, and could not well be stopped, ashe was earning his own livelihood, and had always beenirreproachable. So Mr. Delrio had to leave the matter, onlyexpressing discouragement, and insisting that it must be no more thanan engagement. 

The thanksgiving took place as arranged, and Lord Rotherwood, hisdaughter, and Mysie were there. For indeed there had been dangerenough during the thunderstorm to make the safety of the Kittiwake amatter of thankfulness, though the rescue of the boat had caused itto be almost forgotten in the history of the night. 

Lady Flight had begged that all would come to breakfast with her, andthis was accepted by the Goyle party; but the Clipstone pony-carriagewas waiting for the others, and they could not accede to LadyFlight's impromptu, and rather nervous, invitation. But before theystarted Lord Rotherwood managed to say a few words aside to MissPrescott of the impression he had divined from his voyage with HubertDelrio, whom he thought a young man of great ability and promise, andof excellent principles, but with a chivalry it was quite refreshingto see in youth, perhaps ready to strain honourable scruples almosttoo far for his own good or that of others. 

Magdalen thought she perceived what had been in the marquis's mindwhen, immediately after her return home, Hubert and Vera came up, hand in hand, and he informed her of their mutual attachment. 

"I am afraid, Miss Prescott, " he said, "that we may not have actedrightly or squarely by you; and this last adventure was a mostunhappy result of my careless awkwardness and preoccupation. "

"It was the merest accident. We all quite understand. It is not tobe thought of. "

"You are very good to say so, but--"

Both he and Magdalen wished that Vera had not been present, blushingand smiling, or rather simpering; and as Hubert hesitated over his"but, " Magdalen said:

"Vera, my dear, Hubert and I can talk over this better without you. You had better go and find Paula. "

"Only, sister, please do understand that I care for Hubert with allmy heart, " said Vera, much less childishly than Magdalen hadexpected. 

However, she went, while Magdalen succeeded in saying what she hadintended--that Hubert must not consider himself in the smallestdegree bound by what had been accident, entirely unintentional andinnocent. 

"You are generous, Miss Prescott. You understand! But the world!It was public. "

"Never mind the world. You see what sensible people think. "

"But, indeed, Miss Prescott, I cannot leave you to suppose I am onlyactuated by the fact of that awkward situation. Of course that wouldnever have been if I did not deeply, entirely love your sister. Ithas only precipitated matters. I entreat of you to give her to me, as one who is--who is devoted to her! If my station is inferior Iwill work--"

"That is not the point. Vera is too young for such things. Whatdoes your father say?"

"My father sees that I am right. "

"I see what that means, " said Magdalen, smiling. "But where is he?I should like to talk to him. "

Mr. Delrio, pretty well knowing what was going on, was foundendeavouring to distract his mind by sketching the Goyle. He andMagdalen walked up and down the drive together, perfectly agreeingthat it would be senseless cruelty to permit an early marriagebetween these two young people, and that it was a pity there shouldbe an engagement; but this could hardly be prevented, since Mr. Delrio could only give advice, and leave a self-supporting worthy sonto judge for himself; but the elder sister and the trustee couldstipulate for delay till Vera should be of age. 

So Hubert was called, and acquiesced, cheerfully observing that hetrusted that four years would make him able to render Vera's life aneasy and pleasant one; and after heartily thanking both Miss Prescottand his father, he went off to rejoice the heart of the maiden, whowas sitting under the pear-tree, watching with anxious eyes. 

CHAPTER XV--BROODS ASTRAY

"But ill for him who, bettering not with time, Corrupts the strength of Heaven-descended will, And ever weaker grows through acted crime, Or seeming genial venial fault. "- TENNYSON. 

"Man Friday hope piccaniny live well--bring her buckra fish fromsea!" Such was the greeting from Lord Rotherwood to Thekla when thewhole party walked over in time for tea on the lawn, before church atClipstone, as he presented her with a facsimile oyster which he hadhunted up in a sweet shop, making an absurd bow and scrape. 

Poor Thekla coloured, and mumbled a shy, "Thank you, my--my--" havinghad a lecture from Vera on treating a marquis with over familiarityand it was left to Primrose to ask where Friday learnt niggerlanguage. "By nature, Missy buckra, " he responded; "all same niggereverywhere. " And he repeated his bow so drolly that Primrose's laughcarried Thekla's along with it, as Lady Phyllis walked up with, "Come, father, you are wanted to congratulate. "

"Eh! Am I? So they have perpetrated it, have they? More's the pityis what I should say in the Palace of Truth; but the maiden haslanded a better fish than she knows--that is, if she have landedhim. "

"There! take care, don't be tiresome, Papa!" admonished Lady Phyllis, drawing him on, when he met Vera with a courtly manner, and, "I hopeI see you recovered, Miss Prescott, and able to rejoice in thepleasant consequences of your adventure. "

Vera blushed, and looked very pretty and modest, making not muchanswer as she retreated among her contemporaries to show them herring, a hoop of pearls, which Wilfred insisted were Roman pearls, fishes' eyes, most appropriate; but Flapsy felt immeasurably olderthan Wilfred to-day, and able to despise his teasing, though HubertDelrio was not present, and indeed Wilfred was not disposed to bestowmuch of his attention upon her, having much more inclination to besethis cousin, Lady Phyllis, who surely ought to perceive that he hadattained at least the same height as his brother Jasper, and could, in his absence, pose as the young man of the household. 

Phyllis had not much to say to him, nor after the first to Vera, though she duly admired the ring so exultantly shown, and acceptedthe assurance that Hubert was the dearest fellow in the world. Butthere was no getting any condolence out of her upon the misery ofhaving to wait four whole years. She said, "It was a very goodthing! There was her cousin Gillian, who had insisted on waitingthree years to finish her education. "

"Oh, but dear Hubert likes me as I am, " simpered Vera. 

"You might wish that he should find more in you to like. Gillian, "said Phyllis, coming up to her and Agatha, "I want you to assure Verathat four years is not such a great trial in waiting. "

"It is what I have been trying to persuade her, " said Agatha; "she ishardly seventeen. "

"And I would not have been married at seventeen for anything, " saidGillian to the pouting Vera. "I want to be more worth having. "

Vera did not like it, she had heard the like at home, and she fellback upon Valetta, while the others walked on. "Poor little Flapsy!"said Agatha, "I do hope this engagement may make more of a woman ofher. "

"My father was very much struck by Mr. Delrio, " said Phyllis, "bothas artist and personally. "

"You must be glad of the time for putting her up to his level, " saidGillian. 

"Do you think such things are to be done?" asked Agatha. 

"Yes, " said Phyllis stoutly. "You may not make her able to be aSenior Wrangler--(Oh you are Oxford!)--or capable of it, like thisGillyflower; but you can get the stuff into her that makes a soundsensible wife. "

Gillian caught a little hopeless sigh of "CAN, " and answered it with, "When all this effervescence is blown off, then will be the time forworking at the substance, and she may be all the better wife--especially for the artist temperament, if she is of the homely sort. "

"How angry she would be if she heard you say so!" returned Agatha. "Yet certainly I do feel relieved that wifehood is to be my poorFlapsy's portion, for she is not of the sort that can stand alone andmake her own way. "

"There will always be plenty of such women in the world, " saidGillian. 

"So much the better for the world, " retorted Phyllis, who had nevershown any symptoms of exclusive devotion to any one of the other sex, except her father. 

One thing Agatha wanted to know, and dared not ask, namely, whatimpression Vera had made in the Kittiwake and what Hubert had saidabout her; for she and Paula had begun to remark that, lover as hewas, not a word about her heroism had escaped him. And it was aswell that she did not hear what the extra plain spoken Primrose didnot spare the boasting Thekla. "Cousin Rotherwood and Fly both saythey can't think how Mr. Delrio got on with such a silly littlehysterical goose upon his hands; and that it is a foolish romanticunlucky notion that he ought to be engaged to her. I think Mammawill tell Miss Prescott so. "

The Kittiwake, having arrived three days later than had beenexpected, there had been an amount of revolution in the generalarrangements. The break up of the High School was to be on an earlyday of the next week. It had become a much more extensive and publicmatter than in the days of Valetta and Maura, though these were notso very long ago, and there was a great day of exhibitions andspeeches to the parents and neighbourhood generally. Two ladies hadbeen secured for the purpose, Elizabeth Merrifield and Miss Arthuret, and the former arrived on the Saturday afternoon, but as theRotherwood party almost overflowed Clipstone, she was transferred toMiss Mohun. 

After the death of their parents, about three years previously, Susanand Elizabeth had gone to live at Coalham, and to be useful to theirbrother David's parish; Susan betaking herself to the poor, andBessie finding herself specially available in the various forms ofimprovement undertaken by ladies in modern days. To her ownsurprise, and her sister's discomfiture, her talent as a publicspeaker had become developed. With a little assistance from hersister-in-law Agnes's unwilling stage experience, and entreaties, noteasily to be withstood, came from various quarters that she wouldcome and advocate the good cause. 

Of course she was ever welcome at Clipstone, and she walked upthither with General Mohun, arriving just after the others from theGoyle; and in the general confusion of greetings, and the Babel ofcousinly tongues, there were no introductions nor naming of names. Bessie declared herself delighted with the chance of seeing LadyIvinghoe, whom she considered more to realise the beauty of womenthan any one she had hitherto beheld, and the fair face had not lostits simplicity, but rather gained in loveliness by the sweetness ofearly motherhood, as she and Phyllis sat by Mysie, regaling her withtales of what they regarded as the remarkable precocity of the infantClaude, reluctantly left to his grandmother. 

"But where's Dolores?" asked Bessie. "I miss her among the swarm ofmice!"

"Dolores is at Vale Leston, " answered Gillian. "She has been a longtime making up her mind to go there, to Gerald's home; and now she isthere, they will not let her go till some birthday is over. "

"Uncle Felix's!" whispered Franceska to Mysie. "You know it was dearGerald's place. She had never seen it. "

Another voice was now raised, asking, "What had become of MissArthuret?"

"She only comes down on Monday, " said Bessie. "Just in time for themeeting. She is too valuable to come for more than one meeting. "

"But who is she?"

"Arthurine Arthuret? She is a girl, or rather woman, who has someproperty at Stokesley. In fact, she is one of those magnets thatseem to attract inheritance without effort--like the Hapsburgs, though happily she makes a most beneficent, though, sometimes, original use of them. "

"Is not that very dangerous?" said Aunt Lily. 

"The first came to her early, and coming into it very young, andoverflowing with new ideas, she began rather grotesquely; but she hastamed down a good deal since, and really has done an immense deal ofgood in finding employment for people, making improvements and thelike, though she is Sam's pet aversion, a tremendous Liberal, almosta Socialist. They are so like cat and dog that Susan and I werereally glad to be away from Stokesley, especially at election times;but altogether she is an admirable person. "

Lady Merrifield thought she detected a start of Miss Prescott at thename Stokesley, and that her eyes looked anxiously at the speaker. Bessie was not of the sandy part of the family. Was the unattractiveschoolboy, once seen, like his sisters? All that was observable wasstartling similitudes to her own children, though in them theelements of the handsome dark Mohun generally predominated. 

But by and by, in a quiet moment, Bessie suddenly asked, "Did you sayher name was Magdalen?"

Lady Merrifield laughed. "Four years MAY do a good deal at that timeof life, " she said. "I suppose no time ever so changes--changes--what shall I say?--eyes--views--characters. Only constancy inabsence is the dangerous thing. There are distinguished examples of--of the mischief of being constant without knowing what one isconstant to. Virulent constancy, as Mrs. Malaprop has it. "

Magdalen thanked and smiled. Perhaps there was a certain virulentconstancy in a remote corner of her heart which had been revived by acertain indescribable look in the eyes and contour of BessieMerrifield. 

And Bessie herself, while sitting under the verandah with LadyMerrifield, while all the others were walking down to embark Lord andLady Ivinghoe in the yacht, suddenly repeated, "Did you say that hername was Magdalen?"

"Yes; I saw it startled you, my dear. "

"It revived an old, old story. I do not know whether there wasanything in it. Who or what is she, Aunt Lily? I only know her asthe sister of the girl that the Ivinghoes picked up. "

"She is the owner of a little property at Arnscombe, and has takenhome her four young half-sisters to live with her, after havingslaved for them as a governess till she came into this inheritance. She is an excellent person. "

"Ah! Was her house at Filsted?"

"I am not sure. Yes, I think the young ones were at school there. You think--"

"I feel certain. May I tell you, Aunt Lily? Some of the otherscannot bear to mention my poor Hal; but to me the worst of the stingis gone, since I know he repented. "

"My dear, I should be very glad to hear. Your father and mothernever mention your brother, and we were away at the time. "

"Poor Hal! I am afraid there was a weakness in him. He never hadthat determination that carried all the others on. He never couldget through an examination, and my father put him into a bank atFilsted. By and by, after some years, came a letter telling myfather he was gambling very seriously, getting into temptation, andengaging himself to an attorney's daughter. It was while I wasliving with grandmamma, and he used sometimes to look in on me, andtalk to me about this Magdalen. Once he showed me her photograph andI thought I knew her face again. But my father went off, very angry. I have always feared he found poor Hal on the verge of tampering withthe bank money, but he never would say a word. He broke everythingup, put an end to the engagement if there was one, and sent Hal offto John and George, who had just got their farm in Manitoba, and weregetting on by dint of hard work. "

"They have done very well, have they not?"

"Yes, by working and living harder than any day labourer atStokesley. Hal could not stand it, and--and I'm afraid the boys werenot very merciful to him, poor fellow, and he got something to do inWinnipeg. There he fell in with a speculator called Golding, theyall did in fact; he was a plausible man, whom they all liked, andused to put up at his house when they took waggons in with theirproduce. He had a daughter, and Johnnie got engaged to her, orthought he was. They all were persuaded to put money into a horridbuilding speculation, --Henry, what he had brought out, the other twowhat they had realised. Well, suddenly it all ended. They were allgone, Golding, daughter, Hal and all--yes, all--the money the otherboys had put in the thing, off to the States, as we suppose! Notrace ever found. "

"Really no trace?"

"None! The poor boys lost all they had, and were obliged to beginover again. "

"And has really nothing been heard of this unfortunate Hal?"

"There is one thing that does give me a hope. There did come toStokesley a letter from a Brisbane bank, addressed to J. And G. Merrifield, to the care of Rear-Admiral Merrifield, and in it werebank bills up to the value of what the boys had been robbed of, abouttwo hundred and fifty pounds. Poor Henry must have repented, andwished to make restitution. "

"Was there no name, no clue?"

"None at all. We know no more. "

"But was there no inquiry made at Brisbane?"

"It was when my father was very ill. The parcel was not opened atfirst. I have been always sorry he never heard of it; but after allthere was no asking of forgiveness, nor anything that could beanswered. The boys got it with the tidings of our dear father'sdeath. John came home to see about things, George stayed to lookafter his Stokesley. They were well over their troubles by thattime, and they gave the restored money to David for his churches. "

"And no more was done, not even by David?" said Lady Merrifield, thinking over what she had heard from Geraldine Grinstead, and howthe Underwoods would have accepted such a token from their lostsheep. 

"David did write to Brisbane to the bank, but there never was anyanswer. There is no knowing how it might have been, if any one hadgone out and done his best; but you see we were all much taken upwith home duties and cares, and I am afraid we have not dwelt enoughupon our poor boy, and he had much against him. The discipline frommy dear father, that all the elders responded to with a sort of loyalexultation, only frightened him and made him shifty. They despisedhim, and I do not think any of us were as kind to him as we ought tohave been; though on the whole he liked me the best, for he cared forbooks and quiet pursuits, such as all laughed at, except David. Iwish he could have seen more of David. "

"Did your mother hear of this ray of hope?"

"Susan thought it best not to tell her. We used to hear hermurmuring his name among all ours in her prayers, Susie, Sam, Hal, Bessie, and so on; but she never was herself enough to understand, and they thought it might only stir her up to expect to see him. Oh, Aunt Lily, I don't think you--any of you--would have gone on so; butyou are all much more affectionate and demonstrative than our branchof the family. "

"Ah, my dear, I am sure there was a pang in your mother's heart thatshe never durst mention, " said Lady Merrifield, her imaginationdwelling in terror on her Wilfred, the one child in whom she couldnot help detecting the weakness of character of his unhappy cousin. "Depend upon it, Bessie, her prayers were hovering round him all thetime, and bringing that act of restitution, though she was notallowed to hear of it. "

"I had not thought of that, " said Bessie, in a low tone, "though Ithink David has. I have heard his voice choke over an intercessionfor the absent. "

"Think of it now, my dear, and do not let habitual reserve hinder youfrom speaking of it to Susan and David, though most likely they havethe habit already. Who knows what united prayer may do with Him whodeviseth means to bring home His banished?"

Steps returning, Bessie wiped away her tears in haste, actually thefirst she had shed for the lost Hal, though there was a heartache toodeep for tears. 

CHAPTER XVI--THE REGIMENT OF WOMEN

"And happier than the merriest gamesIs the joy of our new and nobler aims. "F. R. HAVERGAL. 

Miss Mohun and Miss Merrifield encountered Miss Prescott and Agathaamong a perfect herd of cycles, making Bessie laugh over therecollections of the horror caused at Stokesley by the arrival ofArthurine Arthuret on a tricycle twelve years previously. 

The place was the Town Hall, the High School having proved too smallfor the number of the intended audience, and Lord Rotherwood havingbeen captured, in spite of the Kittiwake being pronounced ready tosail, and all the younger passengers being actually on board, entertaining a party from Clipstone. There he sat enthroned on theplatform, with portraits of himself, his Elizabethan ancestor, andthe Prince of Wales overhead, and, in propria persona on either side, the Mayor of Rockstone, Captain Henderson, and a sprinkling of thecommittee, Jane, of course, being one; while in the space beneath wasa sea of hats, more or less beflowered and befeathered. 

Lord Rotherwood began by complaining of an act of piracy! Afterbeing exposed to a tempest and forced to put in for supplies, here hewas captured, and called upon to distribute prizes! He perceivedthat it was a new act of aggression on the part of the ladies, proving to what lengths they were coming. Tyrants they had alwaysbeen, but to find them wreckers to boot was a novelty. However, prizes were the natural sequence of a maritime exploit, and he washappy to distribute them to the maidens about to start on the voyageof life, hoping that these dainty logbooks would prove a stimulus anda compass to steer by even into unexplored seas, such as he believedthe better-informed ladies were about to describe to them. 

Rockstone was used to its Marquis's speeches, and always enjoyedthem; and he handed the prize-books to the recipients with a shake ofthe hand, and a word or two of congratulation appropriate to each, especially when he knew their names; and then he declared that theywere about to hear what education was good for, much better than fromhimself, from such noted examples as Miss Arthuret and MissMerrifield, better known to them as Mesa. Wherewith he waved forwardMiss Arthuret, a slight, youthful-looking lady, fashionably attired, and made his escape with rapid foot and hasty nods, almost furtively, while the audience were clapping her. 

She spoke with voice and utterance notably superior to his well-knownhalting periods, scarcely saved by long training and use from being astutter. The female population eagerly listened, while she paintedin vivid colours the aim of education, in raising the status ofwomen, and extending their spheres not only of influence in theoccult manner which had hitherto been their way of working throughothers, but in an open manner, which compelled attention; and shedwelt on certain brilliant achievements of women, and of others whichstood before them, and towards which their education, passing out ofthe old grooves, was preparing them to take their place among men, and temper their harshness and indifference to suffering with thelaws of mercy and humanity, speaking with an authority and equalitysuch as should ensure attention, no longer in home and nurserywhispering alone, but with open face asserting and claiming justicefor the weakest. 

It was a powerful and effective speech; and Agatha's eye lighted withenthusiasm, as did those of several others of the elder scholars andyounger teachers, as these high aims were unfolded to them. 

Then followed Elizabeth Merrifield, not contradictory, butrecognising what wide fields had been opened to womanhood, dwellingon such being the work of Christianity, which had always tended torepress the power of brute animal strength and jealousy, and to givepreponderance to the force of character and the just influence ofsweet homely affection. Exceptional flashes, even in heathen lands, and still more under the Divine guidance of the Israelites, showedwhat women were capable of; and ever since a woman had been thechosen instrument of the mystery of the Incarnation, the Church, thechosen emblem of the union of humanity with her Lord, had graduallypurified and exalted the sex by training them through the duties ofmercy, of wifehood and motherhood, to be capable of undertaking andfulfilling higher and more extensive tasks, always by the appointmentand with the help of Him who had increased their outside powers, forthe sake of the weaker ones of His flock. What might, by His will, in the government and politics of the country, be put into theirhands, no one could tell; but it was right to be prepared for it, byextending their intellectual ability and knowledge of the past, aswell as of the laws of physical nature--all, in short, that moderneducation aimed at opening young minds to pursue with growingfaculties. This was what made her rejoice in the studies herefollowed with good success, as the prizes testified so pleasantly;and she trusted that the cultivation, which here went on soprosperously, was leading--if she might use old well-accustomedwords--to the advancement of God's glory, the good of His Church, aye! and to the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and herdominions. 

The words brought tears of feeling into the eyes of some; but JaneMohun could not help observing, "Ah! I was afraid you were going tohold up to us the example of the ants and bees, where the old maidsdo all the working and fighting and governing! Don't make Gillianregret that she is falling away from the spinsterhood. "

"Come, Aunt Jane, Bessie never did make it the praise of spinsters. I am sure married women can do as much as spinsters, and have moreweight, " said Gillian, facing round gallantly, and winning theapproval of her aunt and of Bessie. There was no doubt but thatsince her engagement she had been much quieter and less opinionative. 

With what different sensations the same occasion may be attended! ToBessie Merrifield, the primary object was, as ever, woman's work, especially her own, for the Church; and the actual business absorbedher. In spite of her evenings' talk to her Aunt Lilias, and the sadand painful recollections it had aroused, still her only look atMagdalen Prescott's face was one half of curiosity half of sorrow, asof the object of the brief calf-love of one of many brothers, and whohad been now lost sight of, with the passing wonder whether, if theaffection had survived and been encouraged, it might have led him tobetter things. 

While Magdalen felt the poignant renewal of the one romance of alifetime, as she caught tones, watched little gestures and recognisedthose indescribable hereditary similarities which more and more borein upon her the fraternal connection of the bright earnest woman withthe lively pleasant young man who had brought the attraction of ahigher tone of manners and cultivation into the country town. Nomore had been heard of him since his promise to write, a promise thathad been only once remembered, so that she had tried to take refugein the supposition, unlikely as it was, that her stepmother hadconfiscated his letters. All was a blank since that last stolenkiss; and the wonder whether she could by any means discover anythingfurther from Lady Merrifield or Gillian, so occupied her that shehardly heard the tenor of the two speeches, and did not observeAgatha's glowing cheeks and burning eyes, which might have told herthat this was one of the moments which direct the current of life. 

When Hubert Delrio came up in the evening he was curious to hearabout the meeting. His young landlady, who had been a High Schoolgirl for a short time, thought Miss Arthuret's speech the mostbeautiful discourse that ever was spoken; while other reports saidthat Lady Flight and Miss Mohun were very much shocked, and thoughtit unwholesome, not to say dangerous; and he wanted to know themeaning of it. Magdalen was quite dismayed to find how entirely herattention had been absent, and how little account she could give ofwhat had passed by her like the wind; but she need not have been at aloss, for Agatha, with sparkling eyes and clasped hands, burst outinto a very able and spirited abstract of the speech, and the futureit portrayed, showing perhaps more enthusiasm than the practisedpublic speaker thought it prudent to manifest. 

"I see, " said Hubert with something of a smile, "you ladies arecharmed with the great future opened to you. "

"I'm sure, " said Vera, perhaps a little nettled by attention paid solong to Agatha, "I can't see the sense of it all; I think a woman ismade just to love her husband, and be his pet, without all that fussabout societies, and speeches and learning and fuss!" And she gave alittle caress to Hubert's hand, which was returned, as he said, "Shemay well be loved, but, without publicly coming forward, she maybecome the more valuable to her home. "

"Of course she may, at home or abroad. She ought --" began Agatha, but Vera snapped her off. "Well, it only comes to being one of a lotof horrid old maids; and you don't want me to be one of them, do you, darling? Come and look at my doves!"

"What do you think of it all, sister?" asked Paulina. 

"So far as I grasp the subject, " said Magdalen, to whom, of course, this was not new, "I think that if a larger scope is to be given towomen, it is for the sake and under the direction of the Church thatit can be rightly and safely used. "

She knew she was speaking by rote, and was not surprised that Agathasaid, "That is just what one has heard so often, and what MissMerrifield harped upon! I want to breathe in a fresh atmospherebeyond the old traditions, and know which are Divine and which areonly the superstructure of those who have always had the dominion andjustified it in their own way!"

"Who gave them that dominion?" said Magdalen. 

"Brute strength, " began Agatha. 

"Nag, Nag!" cried Paula. "Surely you believe--"

"I did not say--I did not mean--I only meant to think it out, andunderstand what is Divine and what is in the eternal fitness ofthings. "

Here came an interruption, leaving Magdalen conscious of the want ofpreparation for guiding the thought of these young things, and ofself-reproach too, for having let herself be so absorbed in thethought of "her broken reed of earth beneath, " as not to have dwelton what might be the deep impressions of the young sisters under hercharge. 

A few days later, as Agatha sat reading in the garden, two figuresappeared on the drive, wheeling up their bicycles. One was Gillian, the other had a general air of the family, but much darker, and notone of the old acquaintances. Advancing to meet them, she said, "Iam the only one at home. My sisters are all at lessons or in thevillage. "

"I'll leave a message, " said Gillian. "My mother wants you all tocome up to picnic tea to see the foxgloves in the dell, on Monday, and to bring Mr. Delrio--"

"Oh! thank you. "

"I forgot, you had not seen my cousin Dolores Mohun before. Mysiecalls her a cousin-twin, if you know what that is. "

Agatha thought the newcomer's great pensive dark eyes and overhangingbrow under very black hair made her look older than Mysie, or indeedthan Gillian herself; and when the message had been disposed of, thelatter continued, "Dolores wanted to know about Miss Arthuret'slecture, being rather in that line herself. She could not get homein time for it, and I was seeing the Kittiwake party on board, andonly crept in at the other end of the hall in time for Bessie's faintechoes. "

"I was in the very antipodes, " said Dolores, "in a haunt of ancientpeace, whence they would not let me come away soon enough. "

"And, Agatha, Aunt Jane says she saw you devouring Miss Arthuret withyour eyes, " said Gillian. 

"It gave one a sense of new life, " said Agatha; and she related againMiss Arthuret's speech, broken only by appreciative questions andcomments from Dolores' auditor, to whom, in the true fashion ofnineteen, Agatha straightway lost her heart. Dolores, who had seenmuch more of the outer world than her cousins, and had had besides adeeply felt inward experience which might well render her far moreresponsive, and able to comprehend the questions working in thegirl's mind, and which found expression in, "I went to St. Robert'sonly wanting to get my education carried on so that I might be abetter governess; but I see now there are much farther on, muchgreater things to aim at, than I ever thought of. "

"Alps on Alps arise!" said Dolores. "Yes--till they lose themselves--and where?"

"Miss Merrifield would say in Heaven, by way of the Church. "

"The all things in earth or under the earth rising up in circles ofpraise to the Cherubim and the Great White Throne, " said Dolores, herdark eyes raised in a moment's contemplation. 

"Ah! One knows. But is that thought the one to be brought home toevery one, as if they could bear it always? Are not we to dosomething--something--for the helping people here in this life, notalways going on to the other life--"

"Temporal or spiritual?" said Dolores; "or spiritual throughtemporal?"

"And our part in helping, " said Agatha. 

"There is an immense deal to be thought out, " said Dolores. "I feelonly at the beginning of the questions, and there is study andexperience to go to them. "

"You mean what one gets at Oxford?"

"Partly. Thorough--at least, as thorough as one can--of the physicaland material nature of things, then of the precedent which thenresults, also of reasoning. "

"Metaphysical, do you mean, or logical?"

"That comes in; but I was thinking of mathematical in the indirecttraining of the mind. It all works into needful equipment, and sodoes actual life. "

"It takes one's breath away. "

"Well, we have begun our training, " said Dolores, with a sweet sadsmile. "At least, I hope so. "

"At St. Robert's, you mean?"

"You have, I think. But I believe my aunt will be expecting us. "

"Oh! And then they talk about modesty and womanliness and retiring!What do you think about all that?"

"That we never shall do any good without it. "

They were interrupted by the hasty rushing up of Paula, who hadcommitted her bicycle to Vera, and came dashing up the steep slope, crying, "O Nag, Nag, they are going away!"

The announcement was interrupted as she perceived the presence of thevisitor, and they rose to meet her, but saw that there were tears inher eyes, and she had rushed up so fast that she was panting andcould hardly speak, though she gave her hand, as Agatha, after namingthe two cousins, asked, "Who are going?"

"The Sisters--Sister Mena--" with another overflow of tears whichmade Dolores and Gillian think they had better retreat and leave herto her sister's consolation; so they took leave hastily, Agathahowever, coming as far as their machines, and confiding to them, "Poor Polly, it is a great blow to her, but I believe it is very goodfor her. "

"There's stuff in that girl, " said Dolores, as soon as they were outof reach. "She has the faculty of hearkening as well as of hearing. "

"You would say so if you saw her at a lecture; and she is alsogaining power of expressing and reproducing, " said Gillian. 

"She will be a power by and by, unless some blight comes across her. "

"Will me, will me, it seems as if we HAD to do it. Even Mamma, whoseideal was chivalry, Church and home, has to be drawn out to take acertain public part; Aunt Jane, who only wished to live to potterabout among neighbours, poor and rich, must needs come out of hertraditional conventions, and relate her experiences, and you--"

"Oh, I am only trying to do the work Gerald aimed at!"

"Any way we have our work before us, whether we call it for theChurch or mankind. "

"Charity or Altruism, " said Dolores. 

"May not altruism lead to charity?" said Gillian. 

"Sometimes, but sometimes disappointment leads only to intolerance ofthose whose methods differ. Altruism will not stand without afoundation, " said Dolores. 

"Mysie has been impressing on me, with what she heard from PhyllisDevereux, of the work Sister Angela has been doing at Albertstown--the most utter self-abnegation, through bitter disappointment in hermost promising pupils--only the charity that is rooted could endure. It is just the old difference Tennyson points out between Wisdom andKnowledge. "

"And with wisdom come those feminine attributes that Agatha beganasking about. "

"Yes, softening, gentleness, tact. If people have not grown up tothem, they must be taught as parts of wisdom. "

Gillian sighed. "I wonder what Ernley Armitage will say when hecomes home?"

"He won't want you to throw up everything. "

"I don't think he will! But if he did--No, I think he will be astaff to guide a silly, priggish heart to the deeper wisdom. "

CHAPTER XVII--FOXGLOVES AND FLIRTATIONS

"With her venturous climbings, and tumbles, and childish escapes. "TENNYSON. 

Hubert Delrio, pleased and gratified, but very shy, joined the ladiesfrom the Goyle in their walk to Clipstone, expecting perhaps a gooddeal of stiffness and constraint, since every one at St. Kenelm'stold him what a severe and formidable person Sir Jasper Merrifieldwas, and that all Lady Merrifield's surroundings were "so veryclever. " "They did want SUCH books ordered in the library. "

Magdalen laughed, and said her only chance of seeing a book shewanted was that Lady Merrifield should have asked for it. AtClipstone, they were directed to the dell where the foxgloves wereunusually fine that year, covering one of the banks of the ravinewith a perfect cloud of close-grown spikes, nodding with thickclustered bells, spotted withinside, and without, of thatindescribable light crimson or purple, enchanting in reality butimpossible to reproduce. It was like a dream of fairy land to Hubertto wander thither with his Vera, count the tiers of bells, admire therings of purple and the crooked stamens, measure the height of thetall ones, some almost equal to himself in stature, and recall thefairy lore and poetry connected with them, while Vera listened andthought she enjoyed, but kept herself entertained by surreptitiouslypopping the blossoms, and trying to wreath her hat with wild roses. 

Thekla meantime admired from the opposite bank, in a state of muchelevation at acquiring a dear delicious brother-in-law, and insistedon Primrose sharing her sentiments till her boasting at last provokedthe exclamation, "I wouldn't be so cocky! I don't make such a fussif my sisters do go and fall in love. I have two brothers-in-law outin India, and Gillian has a captain, an Egyptian hero, with a medal, a post captain out at sea in the Nivelle. You shall see hisphotograph coloured in his lovely uniform, with his sword and all!Your Flapsy's man isn't even an officer!"

"He is a poet, and that's better!"

"Better! why, if you WILL have it, Wilfred and Fergus always call himthat 'painter cad, '" broke out Primrose, who had not outgrown herchildish power of rudeness, especially out of hearing of her elders. 

"Then it is very wicked of them, " exclaimed Thekla, "when the Marquisof Rotherwood himself said that Hubert Delrio is a very superioryoung man" (each syllable triumphantly rounded off). 

Primrose was equal to the occasion. "Oh, they all laugh at CousinRotherwood; and, besides, a superior young man does not mean agentleman. "

Thekla burst into angry tears and sobs, which brought Gillian, and agrave, dark young lady from the other side of a rock to inquire whatwas the matter--there was a confession on the two tongues of "shedid, " and "I didn't" of "painter cad, superior young man and nogentleman, " but at last it cleared itself into Primrose allowingthat, to take down Thekla's conceit, she had declared that a verysuperior young man did not mean a gentleman. 

"I could not have believed that you could have been so abominablyill-mannered, " said Gillian gravely; "you ought to apologise toThekla. "

"Oh, never mind, " began Thekla ashamed; and at that moment a franticbarking was heard in the depths, and Valetta, Wilfred, Fergus and adog or two darted headlong past, calling out, "Hedgehogs, hedgehogs!Run! come!" And Primrose, giving a hand to Thekla, joined in thegeneral rush down the glade. 

"A situation relieved!" said the newcomer. 

"For all ran to see, For they took him to be An Egyptian porcupig, "

quoted Gillian. "They have wanted such a beast for some time fortheir menagerie; but really Primrose is getting much too old toindulge in such babyish incivility to a guest, true though the speechwas, 'a superior young man, ' not necessarily a gentleman. "

"I am colonial enough to like him the better for the absence of ahall mark. "

"Should you have missed it? He is very good looking, and has asensible refined countenance, poor man!"

"He is a little too point device, too obviously got up for theoccasion!"

"Too like the best electroplate! No; that is not fair, for it is notpretence, at least, I should think there was sound material below, and that never would brighten instead of dimming it. "

"According to Mysie and Fly, there is plenty of good taste; and hisprinciple is vouched for. Mysie is quite furious at any lady-lovehaving gone to sleep to the sound of original verses from a lover!"

"Dear old Mysie! No, she would not. She has a practical vein inher! Would you?"

"I'm not likely to be tried!" said Gillian merrily. "Catch Ernleyeither practising or not minding his boat! But come! Mamma willwant me, I feel only deputy daughter, with Mysie away. "

The two girls rose from the mossy bank, and proceeded across thepaddock to the opening of the glade. 

On the turf Lady Merrifield sat enthroned; making a nucleus to thefestivities and delicacies of all sorts, from sandwiches and cakesdown to strawberries, cherries and Devonshire cream, were displayedbefore her; and the others drifted up gradually, Miss Mohun first. "I am later than I meant to be, " she said, "but I was delayed by atalk with Sister Beata. I never saw a woman more knocked down thanshe is by that adventure of Vera's. "

"I know, " said Magdalen, rousing herself. "It has made her look tenyears older, and she could not talk it over or let a word be said tocomfort her. She says it was all her fault, and I should havethought it was that silly little Sister Mena's, if that is her name. 

"She considers it her fault for objecting to strict discipline inthings of which she did not see the use, " said Jane Mohun, "and sogetting absorbed in her own work, and having no fixed rule by whichto train Mena. "

"I see, " said Lady Merrifield; "it reminds me of a story told inMadame de Chantal's life, how, when, par mortification, a Sisterquietly ate up a rotten apple without complaint and another madesigns of amusement, a rule was made that no one should raise her eyesat meals. It shows that some rules which seem unreasonable may havea foundation. "

"It is an unnatural life altogether, " said Dolores. "Why should therotten apple have been swallowed? or, if it was, I should think ajoke over it might have been wholesome. "

"Hindering priggishness in the mortified Sister, " said Gillian. 

"The fact is, " said Lady Merrifield, "that if you vow yourself to anunnatural life, so to speak, you must submit to the rules that havebeen found best to work for it. "

"And poor Sister Beata did neither the one nor the other, by her ownaccount, " said Jane. "She called herself a Sister, but disliked eachrule, and chose to go her own way, like any other benevolent woman, doing very admirable work herself, but letting little Mena have theprestige of a Sister, while too busy to look after her, and withoutrules to restrain her. "

"But surely there has been no harm!" exclaimed Lady Merrifield. 

"No harm, only a little incipient flirtation with the organist, nothing in any one else, but not quite like a convent maid. "

"Ah! I rather suspected, " said Agatha. 

"I should think the best thing for Sister Mena would be to go to agood school, leave off her veil, in which she looks so pretty, and betreated like an ordinary girl, " said Lady Merrifield. 

"That is just what Sister Beata intends, " said Miss Mohun. "She isto sink down into Miss Marian Jenkins, to wear a straw hat and bluefrock, and go to school with the other girls, the pupils, whileSister Beata begins life as a probationer at Dearport. "

"Poor Sister Beata!"

"She says she has experienced that it is best to learn to obey beforeone begins to rule. It is most touching to see how humble she is. Such a real good woman too! I doubt whether she gets a night's restthree days in a week, and she looks quite haggard with thisdistress, " said Jane. 

"She will be a great power by and by! But what will Mr. Flight andSt. Kenelm's do without her?"

"He is promised relays of Sisters from Dearport, which has stood somany years that they have a supply. You see, he, like Sister Beata, tried a little too much to be original and stand aloof. "

"Ah!" said Lady Merrifield, "that is the benefit of institutions. They hinder works from dying away with the original clergyman or thewonderful woman. "

"But, Aunt Lily, " put in Dolores, "institutions get slack?"

"They have their DOWNS, but they also have their ups. There issomething to fall back upon with public schools. "

"Yes, like croquet, " laughed Aunt Jane. "We saw it rise and saw itfall; and here come all the players, the revival. Well, how went thegame?"

So the party collected, and the two Generals came in from some vanityof inspection to grumble a little merrily at the open air banquet, but to take their places in all good humour, and the lively mealbegan with all the home witticisms, yet not such as to excludestrangers. Indeed, Hubert Delrio was treated with something likedistinction, and was evidently very happy, with Vera by his side. Perhaps Magdalen perceived that there was not the perfect ease ofabsolute equality and familiarity; but his poetical and chivalrousnature was gratified by the notice of a Crimean hero, and heinfinitely admired the dignity and courtesy of Lady Merrifield, andthe grace and ease of her daughters, finding himself in a new worldof exquisite charm for him. 

And before they broke up, Magdalen had a quiet time with LadyMerrifield, in which she was able, not without a tell-tale blush evenat her years, to ascertain that there were two Henry Merrifields, andthat, alas! there was nothing good known of the son of Stokesley, except that anonymous attempt at restitution which gave hopes ofrepentance. 

CHAPTER XVIII--PALACES OR CHURCHES

"And if I leave the thing that lieth next, To go and do the thing that is afar, I take the very strength out of my deed. "- MACDONALD. 

Those were happy days that succeeded Vera's engagement. It had madeher more womanly, or at least less childish; and the intercourse withHubert Delrio became an increasing delight to her sisters, who hadnever known anything so like a brother. 

He was at first shy and not at ease with Magdalen, who, on her side, perceived the lack of public school and university training; but ingrain he was so completely a good man, a churchman, and a gentleman, and had so much right sense as well as talent, that she liked himthoroughly and began to rely on him, as a woman with unaccustomedproperty is glad to do with a male relation. 

And to him, the society of the Goyle was a new charm. He had beenbrought up to the technicalities and the business relations of art, and had a cultivated taste; but to be with a thoughtful, highlyeducated lady, able to enter into its higher and deeper associations, was an unspeakable delight and improvement to him. Vera was fairlysatisfied as long as he sketched her in various attitudes, and heldher hand while he talked; though she did grudge having so much timespent on "taste, Shakespeare and the musical glasses. " Paula hadvarious ecclesiastical interests in common with him, and began toexpand and enter more into realities, while Thekla had in him a deardelightful delicious brother, who petted her, bantered her, mendedher rabbit hutch, caught her hedgehog, taught her to guide herbicycle, drew picture games for her, and taught her to sketch. 

Agatha had endless discussions with him on his various aspirations, in some of which Magdalen took her share, sometimes thinking with apang of regret and self-reproach that that brief time of intercoursewith Hal Merrifield had been spent in youthful nonsense that couldhave left no permanent influence for good. 

In fact, whether through Hubert or through Agatha, a certainintellectual waft had breathed upon the Goyle. Hubert was eager forassistance in learning German and Italian, and read and discussedbooks of interest; and even when he had left Rockstone, and his workat St. Kenelm's being finished, the stimulus was kept up by hisletters, comments and questions; and the younger girls had entirelyceased to form an opposite camp, or to view "sister" as ataskmistress, even when Agatha had returned to St. Robert's. 

Mysie had come home, very brown, fuller of Scott than ever for hermother, and of Hugh Miller for Fergus, for whom she had brought somany specimens that Cousin Rotherwood declared that she would sinkthe Kittiwake. Over the sketches and photographs of Iona, she andPaulina became great friends, and Paula was admitted to hear accountsof the modern missions that had come from the other Harry Merrifieldamong the Karens in Burmah, or again through Franciska Ivinghoe, ofher Aunt Angela Underwood, who was considered to have a peculiarfaculty for dealing with those very unpromising natives, theAustralian gins. Franciska remembered her tender nursing and brightmanner in the days of fever at Vale Leston, and had a longing hopethat she would take a holiday and come home; but at present she wasbound to the couch of her slowly declining old friend, SisterConstance, the Mother of Dearport. It was another bond of interestwith Magdalen, to whom missions to the heathens had always been adream. 

Thus had passed a year uneventful and peaceable, with visits fromHubert whenever he had a day or two to spare. They were lookedforward to with delight; but if there were a drawback it was inVera's viewing him partly as one who held her in a sort of chain, andpartly as one whom it was pleasant to tease by allowing little casualcivilities from Wilfred Merrifield. 

For Wilfred was an embarrassment to his family. He had never beenstrong, his public school career had been shortened by failure inhealth, and headaches in the summer, and coughs in the winter made itneedful to keep him at home, and trust to cramming at Rockstone, enforced by his father's stern discipline and his mother'sauthoritative influence. 

Thus he was always within reach of the mild social gaieties in whicheach family indulged, and Vera was not quite so ready as were hissisters to contrast unfavourably his hatred of all self-improvementwith Hubert Delrio's eagerness to pick up every crumb of information, thus deservedly getting on well in his profession. 

One morning, at breakfast, Hubert opened a letter and made a suddenexclamation; and in answer to Vera's vehement inquiry said, "It seemsthat the great millionaire swell, Pettifer--is that his name?"

"Oh, yes, he was at Rock Quay. "

"Well, he went to see St. Kenelm's, fell in love with the ceiling, and offered Pratt and Pavis any sum they like to decorate a huge newhall he is building in the same style. So they write to propose tome to come and do it, with a promise of future work, at any terms Ilike to ask. "

"Oh! but that's jolly, " cried Vera. "Can't you?"

"No, " he said; "this is immediate, and I have two churches, reredosand walls, on my hands, enough to last me all the year. Nor could Ithrow over Eccles and Beamster. "

"Is there an agreement with them?" asked Magdalen. 

"Not regularly; but Mr. Eccles has been very kind to me, and promisedme employment for four years to come; in fact, he has madeengagements on that understanding. "

"I see, " said Magdalen. "You could not break with them. "

"Certainly not. Nor do I entirely like the line of this other house. It is a good deal more secular. "

"And you have dedicated your talents to the Church!" cried Paulina. 

"Not that exactly, Paula, " he said, smiling; "but I had rather workfor the Church, so I am glad the matter is definitely settled forme. "

To that he kept, though he had a very kind letter from Mr. Eccles, who had evidently been applied to, wishing not to stand in his light, especially as he was engaged to be married, and telling him how itmight be possible to fairly compensate for the loss to the firm. Between the lines, however, it was plain that it would be a greatblow, only possible because the agreement had been neglected; andHubert was only the more determined, out of gratitude for thegenerosity, not to break what he felt to be an implied pledge; andall the sisters sympathised with his determination. 

He adhered to it even after his return to London, though his fatherthought it a pity to lose the chance, if it could be accepted withoutdiscourtesy to Mr. Eccles; and he had been interviewed by variousparties concerned, and there had been an attempt to dazzle him by theprospects held out to him by an enthusiastic young member of thefirm. Perhaps he was too shrewd entirely to trust them, but at anyrate he felt his good faith to Eccles and Beamster a bond to hold himfast from the temptation; and his heart was really set on theconsecration of the higher uses of his art; so that regard to thesimple rule of honour was an absolute relief to him. 

So he wrote to Vera, who, if there were a secret wish on her part, did not dare to give it shape; while all her sisters, to whom sheshowed the letters that she scarcely comprehended, were open-mouthedin their admiration. Thekla, who had been seized with a fit ofhagiology, went the length of comparing him to St. Barbara; evenPaula pronounced it a far-fetched resemblance. 

It was some months later that Sir Ferdinand Travis Underwood haddecided on building a magnificent cathedral-like church for thepopulation rising around him in the Rocky Mountains; and meeting LordRotherwood in London heard of the work at St. Kenelm's, and resortedto Eccles and Beamster as the employers of young Delrio. There wouldbe plenty of varieties of beautiful material to be found near at handin the mountains; but Hubert was sent first for a short journey inItaly to study the effect of the old mosaics as well as the frescoes, and then to go out to America to the work that would last aconsiderable time. 

Vera was much excited by the notion of the Italian journey, andthought she ought to have been married at once and have shared it, including as it did a short visit to Rocca Marina. But she wasscarcely eighteen, and neither her trustee nor her elder sisterthought it advisable to dispense with the decision that her twenty-first birthday must be waited for, at which she pouted. Hubert camefor two nights on his return, and was exceedingly full of his tour, talking over Italian scenes and churches with Magdalen, who had neverseen them, but had the descriptions and the history at her fingers'ends, and listened with delight to all the impressions of a mind fullof feeling and poetry. The time was only too short to discuss orlook out everything, and much was left to be copied and sent afterhim, with many promises on Vera's part of writing everything for him, and translating the books that Magdalen would refer to. He wasallowed to take Vera and Paulina to Filsted for a hurried visit tohis parents. When they came home again, it soon became plain that ithad not been a success. "I am glad to be at home again, " said Paula, as the pony carriage turned up the steep drive, and the girls jumpedout to walk. "I am quite glad to feel the stones under my feetagain!"

Magdalen laughed. "A new sentiment!" she said. 

"I don't like the stones, " said Vera, "but I did not know Filsted wassuch a poky place. "

"A dead flat!" added Paula. "No sea, no torrs! one wanted somethingto look at! and SUCH a church!"

"Did you see Minnie Maitland?" put in Thekla. 

"I saw all the Maitlands in a hurry, " said Vera. "I don't rememberwhich was which. They were all dressed alike in horrid colours. Hubert said they set his teeth on edge!"

"How was old Mrs. Delrio?"

"Just the same as ever, lean and pinched. "

"But so kind!" added Paula. "She could not make enough of Flapsy. "

"I should think not!" ejaculated Vera. "Enough! aye, and too much!just fancy, no dinner napkins! and Edith went away and made thescones herself!"

"Very praiseworthy, " said Magdalen. "Don't you know how Hubertalways tells us what a dear devoted good girl she is?"

"Well, I only hope Hubert does not expect me to live in that way, "said Vera. "His mother looks like a half-starved hare, and Edith isgiving lessons as a daily governess!

"Edith is very nice, " said Paula; "and I never understood before howexcellent old Mr. Delrio's pictures are! Do you remember his'Country Lane'? What a pity it did not sell!"

"Poor man!" said Magdalen. "He married too soon, and that has kepthim down. "

"It is beautiful to see how proud they are of Hubert, " said Paula, "and his pretty gentle attention and deference to them both. Mr. Delrio is really a gentleman, I am sure; but, Maidie, " she said, falling back with her, while Vera and Thekla mounted faster, "it wasvery odd to see how different things looked to us from what theyseemed when we were at Mrs. Best's. Filsted High Street has grown sosmall, and one could hardly breathe in Mrs. Delrio's stuffy drawing-room. And as to Waring Grange, which we used to think just perfect, it was all so pretentious and in such bad taste. Hubert saw it asmuch as we did, but I could see he was on thorns to hinder Flapsyfrom making observations. "

Certainly the visit had not done much good, except in making thegirls appreciate the refinement of their surroundings at the Goyle. 

And when letters arrived from Hubert at the American Vale Leston, asking questions requiring some research in books, either Magdalen'sor at the Rock Quay library, Vera dawdled and sighed over them; andwhen the more zealous Magdalen or Paula took all the trouble, andleft nothing for her to do but to copy their notes, and write theletters, she grew cross. "It was for Hubert, and she did not wantany one else to meddle! So stupid! If he had only taken Pratt andPavis's offer, there would not have been all this bother!"

That, of course, she only ventured to utter before Paula and Thekla, and it made them both so furious that she declared she was only injoke, and did not mean it. 

She was indulging in reflections on the general dulness of her lot, and the lack of sympathy in her sisters, as she lingered by theconfectioner's window, with her eyes fixed on a gorgeous combinationof coloured bonbons, when Wilfred Merrifield sauntered out. "Freshfrom Paris!" he said. "Going to choose some?"

"Oh no, I haven't got any cash. M. A. Keeps us horribly short. "

"As usual with governors! But look here! Pocket this. Sweets tothe sweet, from an old chum!"

"Oh, Will, how jolly! Such a love of a box. "

"Make haste! Some of the girls are lurking about, and if there isany mischief to be made, trust Gill for doing it. "

"Mischief!--" but before the words were out of her mouth, Gillian andMysie appeared from the next shop, a bootmaker's, and Mysie stoodaghast with, "What ARE you doing? Buying goodies! How veryridiculous!"

"The proper thing between chums, isn't it, Vera?" said Wilfred, withan indifferent air. "We aren't unlucky Sunday scholars, Mysie, to bejumped upon! Good-bye, Vera, au revoir!"

He sauntered away with his hands in his pockets; while Gillian, fromher eldership of two years, and her engagement, gravely said, "Vera, perhaps you do not fully know, but I should say this is not quite thething. "

"He told you we are just chums!" exclaimed Vera. "As if there wereany harm in it! You've not got a sweet tooth yourself, so you neednot grudge me just a few goodies. "

Gillian saw that it was of no use to prolong the dispute either forthe place or the time, and she hushed Mysie, who was about toexpostulate farther, and made her go away with a brief parting, suchas she hoped would impress on Vera that the sisters thought verybadly of her discretion and loyalty. They could not hear thereflection, "They need not be so particular and so cross. Hubertnever thought of giving me anything nice like this. Why should notmy chum? Such a sweet little box too, with a dear girl's head on it!Would Polly fuss about it, and set on Sister? I shall put it into myown drawer, and then if they notice it, they may think somebody atFilsted gave it! No one has any business to worry me about Hubert, and Wilfred being civil to me. He IS a gentleman. "

The gentleman had been overtaken by his sisters. He was walking hisbicycle up the hill rather breathlessly and slowly. Mysieindignantly began, "Of all the stupid things to do, to give goodiesto that girl, like a baby!"

"I have been wishing to speak to you, " said Gillian. "You are goingthe way to get that foolish girl into a scrape. "

"Oh, yes, of course. Sisters uniformly object to a little civilityto a pretty girl, " carelessly answered Wilfred. 

"Nonsense!" returned Mysie, hotly. "We don't care! only it is notfair on Mr. Delrio. "

"The painter cad! A very good thing too! The sacrifice ought to beprevented. Is not that the general sentiment?"

"Wilfred!" cried the scandalised Mysie, "when it is all the otherway, and he is ever so much too good for her. "

"Consummate prig! The cheek of him pretending to a lady!"

"But, Wilfred, " went on downright Mysie, "is it only mischief, or doyou want to marry her yourself?"

"Draw your own conclusions, " responded Wilfred, mounting his machine, and spinning down the hill faster than they could follow on foot. 

"What is to be done, Gill?" sighed Mysie. "Ought we to get mamma tospeak to him?"

"Better not, " said Gillian, with more experience. "It would onlymake it worse to take it seriously. Half of it is play--and half totease you. "

"And, " said Mysie, with due deference to the engaged sister, "howabout Mr. Delrio? Will it make him unhappy?"

"If he finds out in time what a horrid little thing it is, I shouldsay it would be very well for him; but I don't want Will to be themeans. "

"Oh! when his examination is over, and he gets an appointment, hewill go away, and it will be safe. "

"I have not much hopes of his getting in!"

"Oh, Gill, none of us ever failed before. "

On the side of the Goyle not much was known or cared about Wilfred'slittle attentions, which were generally out of sight of Magdalen, anddid not amount to much; but Paula saw enough of them to consultAgatha on, and to observe that Flapsy was going on just as she usedto at Filsted, and she thought Hubert would not like it. 

"I believe Flapsy can't live without it, " sighed Agatha. 

"But would you speak to her? I don't think she ought to let him giveher boxes of bonbons--to keep up in her room, and never give a hintto Maidie. "

Agatha did speak but the effect was to set Vera into crying out atevery one being so intolerably cross about such a trifle, GillianMerrifield and all!

"Did Gillian speak to you?"

"Yes, as if she had any business to do so!"

"I am sure it is not the way she would treat Captain Armitage. "

"I don't believe she cares for Captain Armitage one bit! You saidyourself that all the girls at Oxford thought she cared much more forher horrid examination! I wouldn't be a dry, cold-hearted, insensible stick like her for the world. "

"Perhaps she is the more quietly in earnest, " said Agatha, repentinga little that she had told before Vera the college jokes over whathad leaked out of Gillian's reception of Ernley Armitage when he hadhastened up to Oxford as soon as his ship was paid off, and she hadbeen called down to him in the Lady Principal's room. Report saidthat she had only prayed him to keep out of the way, and not to upsether brain, and that he had meekly obeyed--as one who knew what it wasto have promotion depending on it. 

It was a half truth, exaggerated, but it had not a happy effect onVera. Nevertheless, the finishing push of preparation brought onsuch a succession of violent headaches as quite to disable the reallydelicate boy. Moreover, the tutor declared that there had beenlittle chance of his success, and Dr. Dagger said that he had muchbetter not try again. The best hope for his health, and even for hislife, was to keep him at home for a few years, and give him lightwork. 

He had never been the pleasantest element in the household; and ifhis parents were glad of the avoidance of the risk of a launch intothe world, and his mother's love rejoiced in the power of watchingover him, there were others who felt his temper a continual trial, while his career was a perplexity. 

However, Captain Henderson offered a clerkship at the Marble Works, subject to Mr. White's approval; and this was gratefully accepted. Nor did Agatha come home again at the Long Vacation for more than twodays, in which there was no time for consultation with her sisters onmatters of uncertain import. 

Miss Arthuret and Elizabeth Merrifield had arranged together to takethe old roomy farmhouse on Penbeacon for three or four months, andthere receive parties of young women in need of rest, fresh air, and, in some cases, of classes, or time for study. It was to be a sort ofHoliday House, though not altogether of idleness; and Doloresundertook to be a kind of vice-president, with Agatha to pursue herreading under her superintendence, and to assist in helping others, governesses, students, schoolmistresses from Coalham, in whose behalfindeed the scheme had been first started, and it was extremelydelightful to Agatha, among many others. 

CHAPTER XIX--TWO WEDDINGS

"How happy by my mother's sideWhen some dear friend became a bride!To shine beyond the rest I was In gay embroidery drest. Vain of my drapery's rich brocade, I held my flowing locks to braid. "ANSTICE (from the Greek). 

"Epidemics of marriage set in from time to time, " said Jane Mohun. "Gillian has set the fashion. "

For the Rock Quay neighbourhood was in a state of excitement over aletter from Mrs. White, of Rocca Marina, announcing the approachingmarriage of Mr. White's niece, Maura, with Lord Roger Grey, a nephewof dear Emily's husband, and heir to the Dukedom. The White familywere coming home for the wedding, and the interest entirely eclipsedthat of Gillian Merrifield's. In fact, though that young ladysomewhat justified the Oxford stories, she was in a state of muchinward agitation between real love for Ernley, and pain in leavinghome, so she put on an absolutely imperturbable demeanour. Herreserve and dread of comments made her so undemonstrative andrepressive to her Captain that there were those who doubted whethershe cared for him at all, or only looked on her wedding as amediaeval maiden might have done, as coming naturally a few yearsafter she had grown up. Ernley Armytage knew better, and so did herparents. The wedding was hurried on by Captain Armytage'sappointment to a frigate on the coast of Southern America, where hehad to join at once, in lieu of a captain invalided home; and Gillianaccepted the arrangements, which would take her to Rio, "as much amatter of course, " said her aunt, "as if she had been a wife for tenyears. " Her uncle, Mr. Mohun, was anxious that the marriage of hissister Lily's daughter should take place at the family home, Beechcroft. If there had been scruples, chiefly founded on thelargeness of the party, and the trouble to Mrs. Mohun, these wereforgotten in the convenience of being out of the way of Rockstonegossip, as well as for other reasons. 

"I should certainly have escaped, " said General Mohun. "I have nonotion of meeting that unmitigated scamp. "

"Mr. White ought to be warned, " said Jane. 

"You'll do so, I suppose; and much good it will be. "

"I do not imagine that it will. It will be too charming to surpassFranciska and Ivinghoe; but if neither you nor Jasper will speak toold Tom, I shall deliver my conscience to Ada. "

"And be advised to mind your own business. "

Nevertheless, Jane Mohun did deliver her conscience, when, on the dayafter the arrival, there had been loud lamentations over the intendedabsence of the Merrifield family. "It would have looked well to makeit a double wedding, all in the family, " said Mr. White. 

To which Miss Mohun only answered by a silence which Mrs. White wasunwilling to break, but Maura exclaimed -

"But I thought Valetta would be sure to be my bridesmaid. Suchfriends as we were at the High School!"

It did not strike Miss Mohun that the friendship had been very closeor very beneficial; but Adeline added, "We thought she would pair sowell with Vera Prescott, and then uncle will give all the dresses--white silk with cerise trimmings. We ordered them in Paris. "

"Uncle Tom is so generous!" said Maura. "There is no end to hiskindness. I'll go and unpack some of the patterns, that Miss Mohunmay see them. "

She tripped out of the room, and Jane exclaimed, "Poor child! HasEmily written to you, Ada?"

"Yes, rather stiffly. Mr. White thinks it aristocratic pride. "

"Ada, you know it is not that. "

"Well, I suppose the Greys are hardly gratified by the connection, though Mr. White will make it worth their while. You see the Dukeleaves everything in his power to his daughters, so poor Roger willbe very badly off. "

"But--" There was so much expressed in that "but" that Adeline beganto answer one of the sentiments she supposed it to convey. "He cando it easily--for all the rest are provided for by the Marble Works--except the two eldest brothers. Richard has gone away, and Alexis--oh, you know he has notions of his own that Mr. White does not like. "

"Does Mr. White know all about Lord Roger, or why the Duke should cuthim off as far as possible?"

"My dear Jane, it is not charitable to bring things up against youngmen's follies. "

"It is a pretty considerable folly to have done what compelled him toretire. Reginald was called in at the inquiry, and knows all aboutit. "

"But that was ages ago, and he has been quite distinguished in theTurkish army. "

"Yes; and I also know that English gentlemen have associated with himas little as possible. I should call it a fatal thing to let Mauramarry him. What does Captain Henderson say?"

"Mr. White thinks that it is all jealousy. And really, Jenny, I donot in the least believe that he will make her unhappy. He is oldenough to have quite outgrown all his wild ways, and he has quitegentlemanly manners and ways. Besides, Maura likes him, and is quitebent upon it. "

Still there was a dissatisfied look on Jane's face, and Adeline wenton answering it, with tears in her eyes. "My dear Jane, I know whatyou would say, and what Reginald and all the rest feel, that it isnot what we should like! But, my dear, don't let the whole familyrise up in arms! It would be of no use, only make it painful for me. Maura is quite bent upon it, and she has arrived at turning her uncleround her finger so much that I am sometimes hardly mistress of thehouse! Oh, I don't tell any one, not Lily nor any one, but it willreally be a relief to me when she is gone, with her Greek coaxingways. Her uncle is wrapped up in her, and so proud of her being aDuchess that he would condone anything. Indeed, I am always afraidof her putting it into his head to suppose that her disappointmentabout Ivinghoe was in any way owing to my family pride. "

Jane was sorry for Adeline, and able to perceive how the wifelyfeelings, which she had taken on herself, by choosing a man ofinferior breeding and nature clashed with her hereditary characterand principles. 

"You are absolutely relieved that the Beechcroft wedding takes all ofus out of the way naturally and without offence, " she said so kindlythat Ada laid her head on her sisterly shoulder, and allowed herselfto shed a few tears. 

"Yes, yes, " she said; "I am glad to have so good a reason to mention. Only I do hope Jasper will not object to Valetta's coming back to bebridesmaid. That would really be a blow and give offence, and itwould make difficulties with others--even James Henderson, who swearsby Jasper. I have often wished they would have done as I advised, and have had this wedding at Rocca Marina, out of the way ofeverybody! I sometimes think it will be the death of me. Do comehome to help me through it. "

She spoke so like the Ada of old that it went to Jane's heart. 

She promised that she would return in time to give the verysubstantial assistance in which all believed, and the moresentimental support in which nobody believed, though her distastearose tenfold after seeing the bridegroom, who looked like an oldsatyr, all the more because Maura was like a Greek nymph. Mrs. Henderson was much grieved, and had tried remonstrance with hersister, but found her quite impervious. 

Glad were all the Merrifields to escape to the quiet atmosphere ofBeechcroft, where the relations were able to congregate between theCourt, the Vicarage, and the more-distant Rotherwood; and the weddingwas an ideal one in ecclesiastical beauty, and the festivities ofthose who had known and loved Lady Merrifield as Miss Lily in earlyyouth, grandmothers who had been her schoolchildren, and were pleasedto hear that she was a grandmother herself, and hoped in a year ortwo to welcome her grandchildren. 

Alethea and her little Somervilles she had seen en route to Canada, and Phyllis was to come in due time when Bernard Underwood could bespared from the bank in Colombo, and they would bring their littlepair. 

In the matter of bridesmaids Gillian certainly had the advantage, forshe was amply provided with sisters and cousins, Dolores coming for afew days for the wedding; whereas the six whom Maura had provided forbeforehand in Paris were only, as Miss Jane said, "scraped up" withdifficulty from former schoolfellows. Lord Roger's nieces would nothear of being present. Paulina was unwillingly pressed into theservice, as well as the more willing Vera; but Mysie Merrifield wasnot to be persuaded to give up her visit to Lady Phyllis, and AuntJane could only carry home Valetta, who held the whole as "capitalfun, " and liked the acquisition of the white silk and lace and ceriseribbons. Dolores had negotiated that No. 6 of the Vanderkist girlsshould spend a year with Miss Mohun for a final polish at the HighSchool at Rock Quay, so as to be with her brother Adrian, who wascompleting his term at the preparatory school before his launch atWinchester. 

Wilfred also returned, father and uncle having decided that he didnot merit a game licence, nor to attack the partridges of Beechcroft, and the prospect of the gaieties of Cliffe House consoled him. 

Adeline had to endure her husband's mortification at otherdisappointments. The Ducal family was wholly unrepresented. EvenEmily, the connecting link, would not venture on the journey; and theclerical nephew was not sufficiently gratified by Lord Roger'sintention to se ranger to undertake to officiate; and a Bishop, whohad enjoyed the hospitality of Rocca Marina, proved to have otherengagements. No clergyman could be imported except Maura's brotherAlexis, who had been two years at work at Coalham under Mr. RichardBurnet, and had just been appointed by the newly-chosen Bishop ofOnomootka, and both were to go out with him as chaplains. In themeantime, while the Bishop was preparing, by tours in England, Alexisundertook the duties of Mr. Flight's curate, rejoicing in theopportunity of seeing his elder sister, and the old friends with whomhe had never been since his unlucky troubles with Gillian Merrifield, now no more. 

The delight of receiving him compensated to Kalliope Henderson formuch that was distressing to both in Maura's choice. The seven yearsthat had passed had made him into a noble-looking man, with ahandsome classical countenance, lighted up by earnestness anddevotion, a fine voice and much musical skill, together with a brightattractive manner that, all unconsciously on his part, had turned theheads of half the young womanhood of Coalham, and soon had the sameeffect at Rock Quay. 

Vera and Paulina were in a state of much excitement over their whitesilks, in which the three other sisters took great pleasure inarraying them, and Thekla only wished that Hubert could see them. She should send him out a photograph, buying it herself with her ownmoney. 

She was, of course, to see the wedding, in her Sunday white and broadpink sash, of the appropriateness of which she was satisfied when, atBeechcroft, they met Miss Mohun's young friend, Miss Vanderkist, inthe same garb. She and her brother had been put under Magdalen'sprotection, as Miss Mohun was too much wanted at Cliffe House to lookafter them; but Sir Adrian, a big boy of twelve, wanted to go his ownway, and only handed her over with "Hallo, Miss Prescott! you'll lookafter this pussy-cat of ours while Aunt Jane is dosing Aunt Ada withsalts and sal volatile. She--I'll introduce you! Miss Prescott, Miss Felicia Vanderkist! She wants to be looked after, she is alittle kitten that has never seen anything! I'm off to Martin's. "

The stranger did look very shy. She was a slight creature, not yetseventeen, with an abundant mass of long golden silk hair tiedloosely, and a very lovely face and complexion, so small that she wasa miniature edition of Lady Ivinghoe. 

Her name was Wilmet Felicia, but the latter half had been always usedin the family, and there was something in the kitten grace thatsuited the arbitrary contractions well. In fact, Jane Mohun had beenrather startled to find that she had the charge of such a littlebeauty, when she saw how people turned around at the station to look, certainly not at Valetta, who was a dark bright damsel of no specialmark. 

At church, however, every one was in much too anxious a state to gazeat the coming procession to have any eyes to spare for a childishgirl in a quiet white frock. St. Andrew's had never seen such acrowded congregation, for it was a wedding after Mr. White's ownheart, in which nobody dared to interfere, not even his wife, whatever her good taste might think. So the church was filled, andmore than filled, by all who considered a wedding as legitimate gapeseed, and themselves as not bound to fit behaviour in church. Onsuch an occasion Magdalen, being a regular attendant, and connectedwith the bridesmaids, was marshalled by a churchwarden into areserved seat; but there they were dismayed by the voices and thescrambling behind them, which, in the long waiting, the Vicar fromthe vestry vainly tried to subdue by severe looks; and Felicia, whosenotions of wedding behaviour were moulded on Vale Lecton andBeechcroft, looked as if she thought she had got into the house ofDuessa, amid all Pride's procession, as in the prints in the large-volumed "Faerie Queene. "

And when, on the sounds of an arrival, the bridegroom stood forth, the resemblance to Sans Foy was only too striking, while the partyswept up the church, the bride in the glories of cobweb veil, whitesatin, &c. , becomingly drooping on her uncle's arm, while he beamedforth, expansive in figure and countenance, with delight. LittleJasper Henderson, anxious and patronising to his tiny brother Alexis, both in white pages' dresses picked out with cerise, did his best tosupport the endless glistening train. 

The bridesmaids' costumes taxed the descriptive powers of themilliners in splendour and were scarcely eclipsed by the rich brocadeand lace of Mrs. White, as she sailed in on Captain Henderson's arm;but her elaborate veil and feathery bonnet hardly concealed the wearytedium of her face, though to the shame, well nigh horror, of hersister, she was rouged. "I must, I must, " she said; "he would bevexed if I looked pale. "

It was true that "he" loved her heartily, and that he put all theworld at her service; but she had learnt where he must not beoffended, and was on her guard. Hers had been the last wedding thatJane had attended in St. Andrew's. "Did she repent?" was Jane'sthought. No, probably not. She had the outward luxuries she hadcraved for, and her husband was essentially a good man, though not ofthe caste to which her instincts belonged--very superior in natureand conscience to him to whom his blinded vanity was now giving hisbeautiful niece, a willing sacrifice. 

It was over! More indecorous whispering and thronging; and theprocession came down the aisle, to be greeted outside by a hail ofconfetti and rice; the schoolboys, profiting by the dinner interval, and headed by Adrian, had jostled themselves into the foreground, andthey ran headlong to the portico of Cliffe House to renew the shower. 

And there, unluckily, Mr. White recognised the boy, and, pleased tohave anything with a title to show, turned him round to thebridegroom, with, "Here, Lord Roger, let me introduce a guest, SirAdrian Vanderkist. "

"Ha, I didn't know poor Van had left a son. I knew your father, myboy. Where was it I saw him last? Poor old chap!"

"You must come in to taste the cake, my boy, " began Mr. White. 

"Thank you, Mr. White, I must get back to Edgar's. Late already. The others are off. "

"Not a holiday! For shame! He'll excuse you. I'll send a note downto say you must stay to drink the health of your father's oldfriend. "

Those words settled the matter with Adrian. The holiday wasenticing, and might have overpowered the chances of a scholarship, for which he was working; but he had begun to know that there wereperplexities from which it was safer to retreat; and that he hadnever transgressed his Uncle Clement's warning might be read in theclear open face that showed already the benefits, not only ofdiscipline, but of self-control. So obedience answered the question;though, as he again thanked and refused, he looked so dogged as heturned and walked off, that Ethel Varney whispered to Vera that atschool he was called, "the Dutchman, if not the Boer. "

Nor did he ever mention the temptation or his own resistance. OnlyMr. White asked Miss Mohun to bring him to the dance which was to begiven in the evening, telling her of his refusal of the invitation towedding cake and champagne and she--mindful of her duty to her chargeas hinted by Clement Underwood--had not granted the honour of hispresence on the score of his school obligations. 

The afternoon was spent in desultory wanderings about the gardens, Magdalen and her sisters being invited guests, and Vera in acontinual state of agitated expectation. Had not Wilfred Merrifieldalways been a cavalier of her own? And here he was, paying noattention to her, with all the embellishment of her bridesmaid'sadornments, and squiring instead that little insignificant Felicia, in a simple hat, and hair still on her shoulders; whilst she had toput up with nothing better than a young Varney, who was very shy, andhad never probably mastered croquet. 

She was an ill-used mortal; and why had she not Hubert to show howsuperior she was to them all, in having a piece of property of herown to show off?

There was Paula, too, playing animated tennis with that clericalbrother of the bride, who had been talking to Magdalen about thefrescoes of St. Kenelm's (as if she, Vera, had not the greatest rightto know all about those frescoes!). Even little Thekla was betteroff, for she was reigning over a merry party of the little ones, which had been got up for the benefit of the small Hendersons, and ofwhich Theodore White had constituted himself the leader, being ayoung man passionately devoted to little children. 

So when the guests dispersed to eat their dinner at their homes anddress for the dance, Vera was extremely cross. Each of the otherthree had some delightful experiences to talk over; but whether itwas Mr. Theodore's fun in acting ogre behind the great aloe, or Mr. Alexis's achievements with the croquet ball, or his information aboutthe Red Indians and Onomootka, she was equally ungracious to all; shescolded Thekla for crumpling her skirt, and was quite sure that Paulahad on the wrong fichu that was meant for her. Each bridesmaid hadbeen presented with a bracelet, like a snake with ruby eyes; butVera, fingering hers with fidgeting petulance, seemed to have managedto loosen the clasp, and when arranging her dress for the eveningthought that her snake had escaped. 

Upstairs and downstairs she rushed in hopes of finding it. The cabin which they had returned was gone home to come again, and there wasthe chance that it might be there or in the Cliffe House gardens; andthen the others tried to console her, but they were not able tohinder a violent burst of crying, which scandalised Thekla. 

"I am sure you couldn't cry more if you had lost Hubert's, and thatwould be something worth crying about. "

Hubert's was an ingeniously worked circle of scales of Californiangold, the first ornament that Vera had ever possessed, and that allthe sisters had set great store by. But with an outcry of joy Veraexclaimed, "Here's the snake all safe! I pushed the other up my armbecause it looked so plain and dull, and it was that which came off. "

"That is a great deal worse than losing the snake, " said Thekla. "Hehas a nasty face, and I don't like him, with his red eyes. "

"Don't be silly, " returned Vera; "this is a great deal morevaluable. "

"Surely the value is in the giver, " said Paula; to which Verareturned in the same vein, "Don't be silly and sentimental, Polly. "

She was so much cheered by the recovery of the snake that theybrought her off to the evening dance without a fresh fit of ill-humour, and she sprang out under the portico of Cliffe House, withher spirits raised to expectation pitch. 

But disappointment was in store for her. It was not disappointmentin other eyes. Paula had all the attention she expected or desired, she danced almost every time and did not reckon greatly on who mightbe her partner. What pleased and honoured her most was being askedto dance by Captain Henderson himself. 

What was it to Vera, however, that partners came to her, young men ofRock Quay whom she knew already and did not care about? And shenever once had the pleasure of saying that she was keeping the nextdance for Wilfred Merrifield! To her perceptions, he was alwaysfiguring away with Felicia Vanderkist, her golden hair seemed alwaysgleaming with him; and though this was not always the case, as thenephew of the house was one of those who had duties to guests and wasnot allowed by his aunts to be remiss, yet whenever he was notordered about by them, he was sure to be found by Felicia's side. 

Vera's one consolation was that Alexis White took her to supper. Tobe sure he was a clergyman, and had stood talking to Lady Flight halfthe time, and his conversation turned at once to Hubert Delrio'sfrescoes; but then he was very handsome, and graceful in manner, andhe sympathised with her on the loss of her bracelet, and promised tohave a search for it by daylight in the gardens. 

CHAPTER XX--FLEETING

"And variable as the shadeBy the light quivering aspen made. "- SCOTT. 

The bracelet came to light in the gardens of Cliffe House the nextmorning, and Alexis White walked over to the Goyle to return itsafely, little guessing, when he set forth to enjoy the sight of thepurple moors, and to renew old recollections, what a flutter ofgratified vanity would be excited in one silly little breast, thoughhe only stayed ten minutes, and casually asked whether the sisterswere coming to Lady Flight's garden party. Everybody was goingthere. Miss Mohun even took Felicia, as it was on a Saturday'sholiday; and, unwittingly, she renewed all the agitation caused byWilfred's admiration, and that of others, to the all-unconsciousgirl. Vera could no longer think herself the reigning belle of RockQuay, though she talked of Felicia as a schoolgirl or a baby, or ahorrid little forward chit! Her excitement was, however, dividedbetween Wilfred and Mr. Alexis White, who could not look in herdirection without putting her in a state of eagerness. 

In this, however, she was not alone. Half the ladies were interestedabout him; his manners were charming, his voice in church beautiful, and his destination as chaplain to a missionary bishop made himdoubly interesting; while he himself, even though his mind was set onhigher things, was really enjoying his brief holiday, and his sister, Mrs. Henderson, was delighted to promote his pleasure, and gardenparties and the like flourished as long as weather permitted; and asVera was a champion player, she was sure to be asked to thetournaments, and to have to practise for them. 

Inopportunely there arrived a letter from Hubert, requiring an answerabout the form of ornament in the moulding of the fourteenth century!Paula dutifully went to the library, looked out and traced two orthree examples, French and English. Nothing remained but for Vera towrite the letter after the early dinner. However, she went to sleepin a hammock, and only roused herself to recollect that there was tobe tea and lawn tennis at Carrara. 

"Won't you just write to Hubert first?"

"Oh, bother, how can I now? Don't worry so!"

"But, Flapsy, he really needs it without loss of time. "

"I'm sure he has no right to make me his clerk in that horridperemptory way, as if one had nothing else to do but wait on hisfads. "

"Flapsy, how can you?" broke out even Thekla. 

"Surely it is the greatest honour, " said Paula. 

"Well, do it yourself then, I'm not going to be bothered for ever. "

Thekla went off, in great indignation, to beg "sister" to speak toFlapsy, and beg her not to use dear Hubert so very very badly, whichof course Magdalen refused to do, and Thekla had her first lesson onthe futility of interfering with engaged folk; Paula meanwhile sentoff the despatch, with one line to say that Vera was too busy towrite that day. 

There had been two or three letters from Hubert, over which Vera hadlooked cross, but had said nothing; and at last she came down fromher own room, and announced passionately, "There! I have done withMr. Hubert Delrio, and have written to tell him so!"

"Vera, what have you done?"

"Written to tell him I have no notion of a man being so tiresome anddictatorial! I don't want a schoolmaster to lecture me, and expectme to drudge over his work as if I was his clerk. "

"My dear, " said Magdalen, "have you had a letter that vexed you? Hadyou not better wait a little to think it over?"

"No! Nonsense, Maidie! He has been provoking ever so long, and Iwon't bear it any longer!" and she flounced into a chair. 

"Provoking! Hubert!" was all Paulina could utter, in her amazementand horror. 

"Oh, I daresay you would like it well enough! Always at me to slavefor him with stupid architectural drawings and stuff, as if I wasonly a sort of clerk or fag! And boring me to read great dull books, and preaching to me about them, expecting to know what I think! Dearme!"

"Those nice letters!" sighed Paula. 

"Nice! As if any one that was one bit in love would write such asthat! No, I don't want to marry a schoolmaster or a tyrant!"

"How can you, Flapsy?" went on Paula, so vehemently that Magdalenleft the defence thus far to her; "when he only wishes for yoursympathy and improvement. "

The worst plea she could have used, thought the elder sister, as Verabroke out with, "Improvement, indeed! If he cared for me, he wouldnot think I wanted any IMPROVING! But he never did! Or he wouldhave taken Pratt and Povis' offer, and I should have been living inLondon and keeping my carriage! Or he would have taken me to Italy!But that horrid home of his, and his mother just like a half-starvedhare! I might have seen then it was not fit for me; but I was achild, and over-persuaded among you all! But I know better now, andI know my own mind, as I didn't then. So you need not talk! I havedone with him. "

"Oh, Flapsy, Flapsy, how can you grieve him so? You don't know whatyou are throwing away!" incoherently cried Paula, collapsing in aburst of tears. "Maidie, Maidie, why don't you speak to her, andtell her how wicked it is--and--and--and--"

The rest was cut short by sobs. 

"No, Paula, authority or reasoning of mine would not touch such amood as this. We must leave it to Hubert himself. If she reallycares for him, she will have recovered from her fit of temper by thetime his letter can come, and it may have an effect upon her, if ourtongues have not increased her spirit of opposition. I stronglyadvise you to say nothing. "

Paula tried to take her sister's advice, and would have adhered toit, but that Vera would talk and try to make her declare the ruptureto have been justified; and this produced an amount of wranglingwhich did good to no one. Magdalen really rejoiced when the frequentgolf and tennis parties carried Vera on her bicycle out of reach ofarguing, even if it took her into the alternative of flirtation. 

Thekla cried bitterly, and declared that she should never speak toFlapsy again; but in half an hour's time was heard chattering aboutthe hedgehog's meal of cockroaches. In another week the excitementwas over. The Bishop of Onomootka had come and gone, after holdingmeetings and preaching sermons at Rock Quay and all the villagesround, and had carried off Alexis White with him. 

Nothing had come of the intercourse of the latter with his richuncle, nor of the varieties of encounters with the damsels of RockQuay, except that society was declared by more than one to havebecome horridly flat and slow. 

Vera was one of these, and the letters received from Hubert Delriodid not stir up a fresh excitement. There were no persuasions torevoke her decision, no urgent entreaties, no declaration of beingheart-broken. He acquiesced in her assurance that the engagement hadbeen a mistake; and he wrote at more length to Magdalen, avowing thathe had for some time past traced discontent in Vera's letters, andfearing that he had been too didactic and peremptory in writing toher. He relinquished the engagement with much regret, and shouldalways regard it as having been a fair summer dream--but, thoughundeserving, he hoped still to retain Miss Prescott's kindness andfriendship, which had been of untold value to him. 

A little more zeal and distress would have been much more pleasing toVera; and she began to be what Agatha and Thekla called cross, andPaula called drooping, and even excited alarm in her, lest Flapsyshould be going into a decline. But a note came to the Goyle whichMagdalen read alone, and likewise she cycled alone to Rockstone. 

"Miss Mohun, can you give me a few minutes?" said she, as the trimlittle figure emerged from beneath the copper beeches, basket inhand. 

"By all means; I shall not be due at the cutting-out meeting tillthree o'clock. "

"I wanted to consult you about an invitation that Mrs. White has beenso very kind as to give my little sister, Vera. "

"Oh!" quoth Jane Mohun, in a dry sort of tone. 

"I know that she had wished to take out one of her own nieces toRocca Marina, but that Sir Jasper did not wish it, and I thoughtperhaps it would be easier for you than for Lady Merrifield to tellme whether there is any objection that would apply to Vera. "

"I suppose Vera wishes to go?"

"She is so wild with delight that it would be a serious thing todisappoint her. Mrs. White is very kind and good, and has thoughtthat she has flagged of late, and has supposed it might be due topoor Hubert Delrio, but, indeed, it was no fault of his. "

"None at all, except for out-growing her. "

"The offer was hinted at to go with Valetta even before we knew itwas declined at Clipstone, and that made me anxious to know whetherit would be well for me to send Vera. I suppose she would pick uppronunciation of languages, which would be a great advantage, as shewill have to earn her own living, and Mrs. White is so good as topromise lessons in arts and music. I hear, too, it is quite anEnglish colony, with a church and schools. "

"Oh, yes, Mr. White is a very good and careful man about his workmen. I have been there at the Henderson's wedding, and it is a charmingplace, a castle fit for Mrs. Radclyffe, with English comforts, and anItalian garden and an English village on the mountain side. Mysister would do all that she promises, and would look after any younggirl very well; you may quite trust her. "

"Then is there any fear of Italian society?--not that poor Vera hasany attraction OF THAT KIND, " hesitated Magdalen. 

"None at all. All the society they have is of English travellerscoming with introductions. I fancy it is very dull at times, andthat Adeline wants a young person about her. You need have no fears. Ah! I see you still want to know why the Merrifields don't consent. It is not their way. They would not let the Rotherwoods have Mysieto bring up with Phyllis, and--and Val is just the being that needs amother's eye over her. But I really and honestly think that yourVera may quite safely be put under Adeline's care, and that she islikely to be all the better for it. "

"One thing more, added Magdalen, with a little hesitation; "is yournephew, Wilfred, likely to be one of the party?"

"None at all. His father wants to keep him under his own eye, andhis mother is anxious about his health; nor do I think Mr. Whitewants him, having his own two nephews, who are useful, so he willremain under Captain Henderson here. "

"Thank you! That settles it in my mind. I am sure the change to afresh home will be an excellent thing for my poor Vera, and that thetraining of imitation of one to whom she looks up is what she mostneeds. "

"Very true, " said Miss Mohun. 

And as she afterwards said to Lady Merrifield, "It was in allsincerity and honesty that I gave the advice to Magdalen, who is verysensible in the matter. In plain English, Ada can't do without alady in waiting, and Vera probably fancies that Lords, young or old, start from every wave like the spirits of our fathers, at RoccaMarina, in which she will probably be disappointed; but Ada will be avery dragon as to her manners and discretion, and not being his ownniece, old Tom White will not be deluded by his ambition and anyblandishments of hers. As people go, they are very safe guardians, and Vera--Flapsy as they call her--is just of the composition to beimproved, and not disimproved, by living with Ada. "

"Probably, though I do not like the foolish little puss to berewarded for throwing over young Delrio. "

"He was so much too good for her that I am more inclined to rewardher for doing so!"

Agatha, however, came home somewhat annoyed by the whole arrangement. She supposed the rupture with Hubert might have been inevitable; butshe was very sorry for it, thinking that Vera might have grown up tohim, and regretting the losing him as a brother. Nor did she likethe atmosphere of the Whites and Rocca Marina for her feather-brainedyoung sister. "Dolores had no great opinion of her Aunt Adeline, "she said. 

"My dear, " said Magdalen, as they sat over their early fire, "I havetalked it over with Lady Merrifield and Miss Mohun, and they bothtell me that Mrs. White is very sensible, and sure to be discreet forany girl in her charge--probably better for Flapsy than a moreintellectual woman. "

"But--! Such a marriage as this one!" said Agatha. 

"It was Mr. White's own niece, and taken out of Mrs. White's hands, "said Magdalen. "Besides, " as Agatha still looked unconvinced, "onething that made me think the invitation desirable was that it wouldbreak off any foolishness with Wilfred Merrifield--I think it was intheir minds too. "

"Wilfred! Oh, there was a little nonsense. "

"Less on his side, since Felicia Vanderkist has been here; but Ithink Vera has been all the more disposed to--to--"

"Run after him, " said Agatha. "I could fancy it in Flapsy; but he issuch a boy, and not half so nice-looking as the rest of them either. "

"My dear Agatha, I must tell you he reminds me strangely of a youngMr. Merrifield whom I knew at Filsted when I was younger than you. "

"A brother of Bessie?"

"Even so. He got into some kind of trouble at Filsted, his fathercame and broke it off, and sent him out to Canada, where I fear hedid not do well, and nothing has been heard of him since, except -

She spoke with a catch in her voice which made Agatha look up at her, and detect a rising colour. 

"Nothing!" she repeated. 

"Except an anonymous parcel, returning to the brothers in Canada thesum he had taken with him. Strangely, the clue was not followed up, and he is lost sight of! But Wilfred's air, and still more hismanner, is always recalling his cousin to me, and, Nag, dear, I couldnot bear to see Vera go through the same trial by my exposing her tothe intercourse. Not that I know any harm of Wilfred, but hisparents could not like anything of the kind. "

"Certainly not! Yes, I suppose you are right, dear old Maidie. " ButAgatha pondered over those words that had slipped out, "the sametrial. "

CHAPTER XXI--THE ELECTRICIANS

 "Thou shalt have the airOf freedom. Follow and do me service. "- "THE TEMPEST. "

"Is Agatha in?" asked Dolores Mohun, jumping off her bicycle as shesaw Magdalen, on a frosty day the next Christmas vacation, in hergarden. 

"She is doing scientific arithmetic with Thekla; giving me a holiday, in fact! You University maidens quite take the shine out of us poorold teachers. "

"Ah! if we can give shine we can't give substance. But I want toborrow Nag, if you have no objection. "

"Borrow her! I am sure it is something she will like. "

"It is in the way of business, but she will like it all the same. They want me to give a course of lectures on electricity at Bexley tothe Institute and the two High Schools, and I particularly want askilled assistant, whom I can depend upon; not masters, nor boys!Now Nag is just what I should like. We should stay at LancelotUnderwood's, a very charming place to be at. "

"Isn't he some connection?"

"Connection all round. Phyllis Merrifield married his brother, banking in Ceylon, and may come home any day on a visit; andIvinghoe's pretty wife is Lancelot's niece. He edits what is reallythe crack newspaper of the county, in spite of its being true blueConservative, Church and all. "

"The Pursuivant? It has such good literary articles. "

"Oh, yes! Mrs. Grinstead and Canon Harewood write them. His wife isa daughter of old Dr. May--rather a peculiar person, but very jollyin her way. "

"But would they like to have Agatha imposed upon them?"

"Certainly; they are just the people to like nothing better, and itwill only be for a fortnight. I have settled it all with them. "

At which Magdalen looked a little doubtful, but Dolores reiteratedthat there need be no scruple, she might ask Aunt Lily if she liked;but Lance Underwood was Mayor, and member of all the committees, andthe most open-hearted man in the world besides, and it was all right. 

To the further demur as to safety, Dolores answered that to light acandle or sit by the fire might be dangerous, but as long as peoplewere careful, it was all right, and Agatha had already assisted insome experiments at Rock Quay, which had shown her to be thoroughlyunderstanding and trustworthy, and capable of keeping off theamateur--the great bugbear. 

So Magdalen consented, after rapturous desires on the part of Agatha, and assurances from General Mohun that Dolores had it in her byinheritance and by training to meddle with the lightning as safely ashuman being might; and Lady Merrifield owned with a sigh that shemust accept as a fact that what even the heathens owned as a Divinemystery and awful attribute, had come to be treated as a commonplacebusiness messenger and scientific toy, though (as Mrs. Gatty puts it)the mystery had only gone deeper. So much for the peril; and for theother scruple, it was set at rest by a hospitable letter from Mrs. Underwood, heartily inviting Miss Agatha Prescott, as an Oxfordfriend of Gillian. 

So off the two electricians set, and after two days of business andsight-seeing in London, went down to Bexley. In the third-classcarriage in which they travelled they were struck by the sight of atall lady in mourning--a sort of compromise between a conventual anda secular bonnet over short fair hair, and holding on her lap a tinylittle girl of about six years old, with a small, pinched, delicateface and slightly red hair, to whom she pointed out by name each spotthey passed, herself wearing an earnest absorbed look of recognitionas she pointed out familiar landmark after landmark till the darknesscame down. Also there were two cages--one with a small pinkcockatoo, and another with two budgerigars. 

As the train began slackening Dolores exclaimed:

"There he is! Lance--!"

"Lance! Oh, Lance!" was echoed; and setting the child down, hercompanion almost fell across Agatha, and was at the window as thetrain stopped. 

What happened in the next moment no one could quite tell; but as thedoor was torn open there was a mingled cry of "Angel!" and of"Lance!" and the traveller was in his arms, turning the next momentto lift out the frightened little girl, who clung tight round herneck; while Lance held out his hand with, "Dolores! Yes. This isDolores, Angel, whom you have never seen. "

Each knew who the other was in a moment, and clasped hands ingreeting, as well as they could with the one, and the other receivingbird-cages, handbags, umbrellas, and rugs from Agatha, whom, however, Lance relieved of them with a courteous, "Miss Prescott! You havecome in for the arrival of my Australian sister! What luggage haveyou?" Wherewith all was absorbed in the recognition of boxes, andtherewith a word or two to an old railway official, "My sisterAngela. "

"Miss Angela! this is an unexpected pleasure!"

"Tom Lightfoot! is it you? You are not much altered. Mr. Dane, Ishould have known you anywhere!" with corresponding shakes of thehand. 

"Yes, that's ours. Oh, the birds! There they are! All right! Oh!not the omnibus, Lance! Let the traps go in that! Then Lena willlike to stretch her legs, and I must revel in the old street. "

Dolores and Agatha felt it advisable to squeeze themselves with thebird-cages into the omnibus, and leave the brother and sister to walkdown together, though the little girl still adhered closely to herprotector's hand. 

"Poor Field's little one? Yes, of course. "

"But tell me! tell me of them all!"

"All well! all right! But how--"

"The Mozambique was out of coal and had to put in at Falmouth. Youknow, I came by her because they said the long sea voyage would bebest for this child, and it was so long since I had heard of any onethat I durst not send anywhere till I knew--and I knew Froggatt'swould be in its own place. Oh! there's the new hotel! the gas looksjust the same! There's the tower of St. Oswald's, all shadowyagainst the sky. Look, Lena! Oh! this is home! I know the lamps. I've dreamt of them! Tired, Lena, dear? cold? Shall I carry you?"

"No, no; let me!" and he lifted her up, not unwillingly on her part, though she did not speak. "You are a light weight, " he said. 

"I am afraid so, " answered Angel. "Oh! there's the bus stopping atMr. Pratt's door. "

"Mine, now. We have annexed it. "

"But let me go in by the dear old shop. The window is as of old, Isee. Ernest Lamb! don't you know me?" as a respectable tradesmancame forward. "And Achille, is it? You are as much changed as thisold shop is transmogrified! And they are all well? Do you meanBernard?"

"Bernard and Phyllis may come home any day to deposit a child. Theylost their boy, and hope to save the elder one. But come, Angel! ifyou have taken in enough we must go up to those electrical girls. Dolores is come to give a lecture, with the other girl to assist, Miss Prescott. "

"Dolores! Yes, poor Gerald's love! They are almost myths to me. Ah!" as Lancelot opened his office-door, "now I know where I am! Andthere's the old staircase! This is the real thing, and no mistake. "

"Angel, Angel, come to tea!" And Gertrude, comfortable andsubstantial, in loving greeting threw arms round the new comers, Lance still carrying the child, who clung round his neck as hebrought her into the room, full of his late fellow travellers, andalso of a group of children. 

"It is as if we had gone back thirty years or more, " was Angela'scry, as she looked forth on what had been as little altered aspossible from the old family centre; and Lance, setting down thechild, spoke as the pretty little blue-eyed girls advanced toexchange kisses with their new aunt. 

"Margaret, or Pearl, whom you knew as a baby; Etheldred, or Awdrey, and Dickie! Fely is at Marlborough. There, take little Lena--isthat her name--to your table, and give her some tea. "

"Her name is Magdalen, " said Angela, removing the little black hatand smoothing the hair; but Lena backed against her, and let her handhang limp in Pearl's patronising clasp. Nor would she amalgamatewith the children, nor even eat or drink except still beside"Sister, " as she called Angela. In fact, she was so thoroughly wornout and tired, as well as shy and frightened, that Angela's attentionwas wholly given to her and she could only be put to bed, but not inthe nursery, which, as Angel said, seemed to her like a den of littlewild beasts. So she was deposited in the chamber and bed hastilyprepared for the unexpected guest; and even there, being wakeful andfeverish from over-fatigue, there was no leaving her alone, andGertrude, after seeing her safely installed, could only go down withthe hope that she would be able to spare her slave or nurse, whichwas it? by dinner-time. 

"Who is that child so like?" said Dolores, in their own room. 

"Very like somebody, but I can't tell whom, " said Agatha. "Who didyou say she is?"

"I cannot say I exactly know, " said Dolores. "I believe she is thedaughter of Fulbert Underwood's mate, on a sheep-farm in Queensland, and that as her mother died when she was born, she has been alwaysunder the care of this Angela, living in the Sisterhood there. "

"Not a Sister?"

"Not under vows, certainly. I never saw her before, but I believeshe is rather a funny flighty person, and that Fulbert was afraid atone time that she would marry this child's father. "

"Is he alive?"

"Which? Fulbert died four or five years ago, and I think the littlegirl's father must be dead, for she is in mourning. "

"There's something very charming about her--Miss Underwood. "

"Yes there is. They all seem to be very fond of her, and yet tolaugh about her, and never to be quite sure what she will do next. "

"Did I not hear of her being so useful among the Australian blackwomen?"

"No one has ever managed those very queer gins so well; and she is anadmirable nurse too, they say. I am very glad to have come in herway. "

They did not, however, see much of her that evening. The head masterof the Grammar School and his wife, the head mistress of the HighSchool, and a few others had been invited to meet them; and Angelacould only just appear at dinner, trusting to a slumber of hercharge, but, on coming out of the dining-room, a wail summoned herupstairs at once, and she was seen no more that night. 

However, with morning freshness, Lena showed herself much lessfarouche, and willing to accept the attentions of Mr. Underwoodfirst, and, later, of his little daughter Pearl--a gentle, eldersisterly person, who knew how to avert the too rough advances ofDick--and made warm friends over the pink cockatoo; while Awdrey wasentranced by the beauties of the budgerigars. 

Robina had been informed by telegram, and came up from Minsterhamwith her husband, looking just like his own father, and grown verybroad. He was greatly interested in the lecture, and went off to it, to consider whether it would be desirable for the Choristers' School. Lancelot had, of course, to go, and Angela declared that she must bebrought up to date, and rejoiced that Lena was able to submit to beleft with the other children under the protection of Mrs. Underwood, who averred that she abhorred electricity in all its forms, and thatif Lance were induced to light the town, or even the shop by thatmeans, he must begin by disposing of her by a shock. 

It was an excellent lecture, only the two sisters hardly heard it. They could think of nothing but that they were once more sitting sideby side in the old hall, where they had heard and shared in so manyconcerts, on the gala days of their home life. 

The two lecturers, as well as the rest of the party, were urgentlyentreated to stay to tea at the High School; but when the interest ofthe new arrival was explained, the sisters and brother were releasedto go home, Canon Harewood remaining to content their hostesses. 

CHAPTER XXII--ANGEL AND BEAR

"Enough of science and of art! Close up those barren leaves, Come forth, and bring with you a heart That watches and receives. "- WORDSWORTH. 

A telegram had been handed to Mr. Mayor, which he kept to himself, smiling over it, and he--at least--was not taken utterly by surpriseat the sight of a tall handsome man, who stepped forward withsomething like a shout. 

"Angel! Lance! Why, is it Robin, too?"

"Bear, Bear, old Bear, how did you come?"

"I couldn't stop when I heard at Clipstone that Angel was here, so Ileft Phyllis and the kid with her mother. Oh, Angel, Angel, to meetat Bexley after all!"

They clung together almost as they had done when they were theriotous elements of the household, while Lance opened the front door, and Robina, mindful of appearances, impelled them into the hall, Bernard exclaiming, "Pratt's room! Whose teeth is it?"

"Don't you want Wilmet to hold your hands and make you open yourmouth?" said Lance, laughing. 

Gertrude, who had already received the Indian arrival, met Angela, who was bounding up to see to her charge, with, "Not come in yet!She is gone out with the children quite happily, with Awdrey's dollin her arms. Come and enjoy each other in peace. "

"In the office, please, " said Angela. "That is home. We shall beour four old selves. "

Lance opened the office door, and gave a hint to Mr. Lamb, while theylooked at each other by the fire. 

Bernard was by far the most altered. The others were slightlychanged, but still their "old selves, " while he was a graveresponsible man, looking older than Lancelot, partly from the effectsof climate; but Angela saw enough to make her exclaim, "Here we are!Don't you feel as if we were had down to Felix to be blown up?"

"Not a bit altered, " said Bernard, looking at the desks and shelvesof ledgers, with the photographs over the mantelpiece--Felix, Mr. Froggatt, the old foreman, and a print of Garofalo's Vision of St. Augustine, hung up long ago by Felix, as Lance explained, as a tokenof the faith to which all human science and learning should besubordinated. 

"A declaration of the Pursuivant, " said Angela. "How Fulbert didlook out for Pur! I believe it was his only literature. "

"Phyllis declares, " said Bernard, "that nothing so upsets me as afailure in Pur's arrival. "

"And this is Pur's heart and centre!" said Robina. 

"Only, " added Angela, "I miss the smell of burnt clay that used topervade the place, and that Alda so hated. "

"Happily the clay is used up, " said Lance. "I could not have broughtGertrude and the children here if the ceramic art, as they call it, had not departed. Cherry was so delighted at our coming to livehere. She loved the old struggling days. "

"Fulbert said he never felt as if he had been at home till he camehere. He never TOOK to Vale Leston. "

"Clement and Cherry have settled in very happily, " said Robina, "withconvalescent clergy in the Vicarage. "

"I say, Angel, let us have a run over there, " cried Bernard, "you andI together, for a bit of mischief. "

"Do, DO let us! Though this is real home, our first waking toperception and naughtiness, it is more than Vale Leston. We seem tohave been up in a balloon all those five happy years. "

"A balloon?" said Bernard. "Nay, it seems to me that till they wereover, I never thought at all except how to get the most rollickingand the finest rowing out of life. It seems to me that I had aboutas much sense as a green monkey. "

"Something sank in, though, " said Lance; "you did not drift off likepoor Edgar. "

"Some one must have done so, " said Angela. "I wanted to ask you, Lancey, about advertising for my little Lena's people; the Bishopsaid I ought. "

"I say, " exclaimed Bernard, "was it her father that was Fulbert'smate? I thought he was afraid of your taking up with him. Youdidn't?"

"No, no. Let me tell you, I want you to know. Field and a littlewife came over from Melbourne prospecting for a place to sit down in. They had capital, but the poor wife was worn out and ill, and aftertaking them in for a night, Fulbert liked them. Field was aneducated man and a gentleman, and Ful offered them to stay there inpartnership. So they stayed, and by and by this child was born, andthe poor mother died. The two great bearded men came galloping overto Albertstown from Carrigaboola, with this new born baby, smallerthan even Theodore was, and I had the care of her from the veryfirst, and Field used to ride over and see the little thing. "

"And--?" said Bernard, in a rather teasing voice, as his eyesactually looked at Angela's left hand. 

"I'll own it DID tempt me. I had had some great disappointments withmy native women, running wild again, and I could not bear my childhaving a horrid stepmother; and there was the glorious free bushlife, and the horses and the sheep! But then I thought of you allsaying Angel had broken out again; and by and by Fulbert came andtold me that he was sure there was some ugly mystery, and spoke toMother Constance, and they made me promise not to take him unless itwas cleared up. Then, as you know, dear Ful's horse fell with him;Field came and fetched me to their hut, and I was there to the last. Ful told each of us again that all must be plain and explained beforewe thought of anything in the future. He, Henry Field, said he hadgreat hopes that he should be able to set it right. Then, as youknow, there was no saving dear Fulbert, and after that MotherConstance's illness began. Oh! Bear, do you recollect her coming inand mothering us in the little sitting-room? I could not stir fromher, of course, while she was with us. And after that, Harry Fieldcame and said he had written a letter to England, and when the answercame, he would tell me all, and I should judge! But I don't thinkthe answer ever did come, and he went to Brisbane to see if it was atthe bank; and there he caught a delirious fever, and there was an endof it

At that moment something between a whine or a call of "sister" washeard. Up leapt Angela and hurried away, while Lance observed, "Well! That's averted, but I am sorry for her. "

"It was not love, " said Robina. 

"Or only for the child, " said Bernard; "and that would have been adangerous speculation. "

"The child or something else has been very good for her, " said Lance;"I never saw her so gentle and quiet. "

"And with the same charm about her as ever, " said Bernard. "I don'twonder that all the fellows fall in love with her. I hope she won'tmake havoc among Clement's sick clergy. "

"I suppose we ought to go up and fulfil the duties of society, " saidRobina, rising. "But first, Bear, tell me how is Phyllis?"

"Pretty fair, " he answered. "Resting with her mother, but she hasnever been quite the thing of late. I almost hope Sir Ferdinand willsee his way to keeping us at home, or we shall have to leave ourlittle Lily. "

Interruption occurred as a necessary summons to "Mr. Mayor, " and thepaternal conclave was broken up, and had to adjourn to Gertrude's teain the old sitting-room. 

"I see!" exclaimed Agatha, as she looked at the party of children attheir supplementary table. "I see what the likeness is in thatchild. Don't you, Dolores? Is it not to Wilfred Merrifield?"

"There is very apt to be a likeness between sandy people, beggingyour pardon, Angel, " said Gertrude. 

"Yes, the carroty strain is apt to crop up in families, " said Lance, "like golden tabbies, as you ladies call your stable cats. "

"All the Mohuns are dark, " said Dolores, "and all Aunt Lily'schildren, except Wilfred; and is not your Phyllis of that colour?"

"Phyllis's hair is not red, but dark auburn, " said Bernard, in a tonelike offence. 

"I never saw Phyllis, " said dark-browed Dolores, "but I have heardthe aunts talk over the source of the--the fair variety, and trace itto the Merrifields. Uncle Jasper is brown, and so is Bessie; butSusan is, to put it politely, just a golden tabby, and David's babypromises to be, to her great delight, as she says he will be a realMerrifield. So much for family feeling!"

"Sister, Sister!" came in a bright tone, "may I go with Pearl and geta stick for Ben? He wants something to play with! He is eating hisperch. "

Ben, it appeared, was the pink cockatoo, who was biting his perchwith his hooked beak. The children had finished their meal, andconsent was given. "Only, Lena, come here, " said Angela, fastening asilk handkerchief round her neck, and adding, "Don't let Lena go onthe dew, Pearl; she is not used to early English autumn, I must gether a pair of thicker boots. "

"What is her name?" asked Agatha, catching the sound. 

"Magdalen Susanna. Her father made a point of it, instead of hiswife's name, which, I think, was Caroline. "

"I don't think I ever knew a Magdalen except my own elder sister, "said Agatha, "and Susanna! Did you say Miss Merrifield had a sisterSusan?"

"An excellent, sober-sided, dear old Susan! Yes, Susanna was theirmother's name, " said Dolores "and now that you have put it into myhead, little Lena, when she is animated, puts me more in mind ofBessie than even of Wilfred, though the colouring is different. Why?"

"Did you never hear, " said Agatha, "that there was one of thebrothers who was a bad lot, and ran away. My sister says Wilfred islike him. I believe, " she added, "that he was her romance!"

"Ha!" exclaimed Bernard, "that's queer! We had a clerk in the bankwho gave his name as Meriton, and who cut and ran the very day heheard that Sir Jasper Merrifield was coming out as Commandant. Yes, he was carroty. I rarely saw Wilfred at Clipstone, but this mightvery well have been the fellow, afraid to face his uncle. "

Angela did not look delighted. "She is not destitute, you know, " shesaid, "I am her guardian, and she will have about two hundred ayear. "

"Is there a will?" asked Lance. 

"Oh, yes, I have it upstairs! It is all right. It was at the bankat Brisbane, and they kept a copy. I brought her because the Bishopsaid it was my duty to find out whether there were any relations. "

"Certainly, " said Bernard. "In our own case, remember what joyTravis's letter was!"

Angela was silent, and presently said, "You shall see the will when Ihave unpacked it, but there is no doubt about my being guardian. "

"Probably not, " said Bernard, rather drily. 

"If it be a valid will, signed by his proper name, " said Lance. 

Whereupon the two brothers fell into a discussion on points of law, not unlike the editor of the Pursuivant, as he had become known tohis family, but most unlike the Bernard they had known before hisdeparture for the East. At any rate it dissipated the emotional toneof the party; and by and by, when Bernard and Angela had agreed tomake a bicycle rush to Minsterham the next day, "that is, " saidAngela "if Lena is happy enough to spare me, " the Harewoods tookleave. 

When the children had gone to bed, and Angela had stayed upstairs solong that Gertrude augured that she was waiting till her charge hadgone to sleep, and that they should have no more of her henceforthbut "Lena's baulked stepmother, " she came down, bringing a documentwith her, which she displayed before her brothers. 

There was no question but that it was a will drawn up in due form, and very short, bequeathing his property at Carrigaboola, Queensland, to his daughter, Magdalen Susanna, and appointing Fulbert Underwoodand Angela Margaret Underwood and "my brother Samuel" her guardian. It was dated the year after his daughter's birth, and was signedHenry Field, with a word interposed, which, as Lance said, might beanything, but was certainly the right length for the first syllablesof Merrifield. Bernard looked at it, and declared it was, to thebest of his belief, the same signature as his former clerk used towrite. 

"And this, " he said, looking at the seal, "is the crest of theMerrifield's--the demi lion. I know it well on Sir Jasper's sealring. "

"Have you nothing else, Angel?" asked Lance. 

"Here is the certificate of her baptism, but that will tell younothing. "

No more it did, it only called the child the daughter of Henry andCaroline Field, and the surname was omitted in the bequest. 

"Who was the mother?" asked Lance. 

"I never exactly knew. Fulbert thought she had been a person whomField had met in America or somewhere, and married in a hurry. Fulbert said she was rather pretty, but she was a poor helpless, bewildered thing, and very poorly. He wanted to bring her toAlbertstown for fit help and nursing; but she cried so much at theidea of either horse or wagon over the-no-roads, that it was put offand off and she had only his shepherd's housekeeper, so it was nowonder she did not live! Field was dreadfully cut up, and blamedhimself extremely for having given way to her; but it is as likely asnot the journey would have been just as fatal. "

"Poor thing!"

"You never heard her surname?"

"No, it did not signify. "

"He did not name his child after her?"

"No. I remember Fulbert saying he supposed she should be calledCaroline; and he exclaimed, 'No, no, I always said it should beMagdalen and Susanna. '"

"My sister's name, " repeated Agatha. 

"And Susan Merrifield, " added Dolores. 

"But she is mine, mine!" cried Angela, with a tone like herself, of asort of triumphant jealousy. "They can't take her away from me!"

"Gently, Angela, my dear, " said Lance, in a tone so like Felix ofold, that it almost startled her. "Tell me what arrangement is thisabout the property. Your share of Fulbert's has never been takenout, I think?"

"No, Macpherson, the purchaser, you know, of Fulbert's share, pays memy amount out of it, and agreed to do the same by Lena. I don'tthink the value is quite what it used to be. It rather went downunder Field; but Macpherson is all there, and it has been a betterseason. I could sell it all to him, hers and mine both; but I havethought how it would be, as it is her native country, and I have notparted with my own to go out again to Carrigaboola, and bring her upthere. I assure you I am up to it, " she added, meeting an amusedlook. "I know a good deal more about sheep farming than either ofyou gentlemen. I can ride anything but a buckjumper, and boss theshepherds, and I do love the life, no stifling in fields and copses!I only wish you would come too, Bear; it would do you ever so muchgood to get a little red paint on those white banker's hands ofyours. "

"Well done, sister Angel!" And the brothers both burst out laughing. 

"But really, " proceeded Angela, "it is by far the best hope ofkeeping up Christianity among those hands. Fulbert had a sort oflittle hut for a chapel, and once a month one of the clergy fromAlbertstown came over there; I used to ride with him when I could, and if I were there, I could keep a good deal going till the place ismore peopled, and we can get a cleric. It is a great opportunity, not to be thrown away. I can catch those cockatoos better than aparson. And there are the blacks. "

The brothers had not the least doubt of it. Angela was Angela still, for better or for worse. Or was it for worse? Yet she went up tobed chanting -

"His sister she went beyond the seas, And died an old maid among black savagees. "

CHAPTER XXIII--WILLOW WIDOWS

 "Set your heart at rest. The fairyland buys not that child of me. - "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. "

An expedition to Minsterham finished the visit of Dolores and herfaithful "Nag, " whose abilities as an assistant were highlyappreciated, and who came home brilliantly happy to keep herremaining holiday with Magdalen; while Dolores repaired to Clipstone. Bernard had been obliged to go to London, to report himself to SirFerdinand Travis Underwood, but his wife and little girl were thereigning joy at Clipstone. Phyllis looked very white, much changedfrom the buxom girl who had gone out with her father two years ago. She had never recovered the loss of the little boy, and suffered themore from her husband's inability to bear expression, and it was animmense comfort to her to speak freely of her little one to hermother. 

The little Lilias looked frail, but was healthy, happy, and asadvanced as a well-trained companion child of six could well be, andthe darling of the young aunts, who expected Dolores to echo theirraptures, and declare the infinite superiority of the Ceylonese to"that little cornstalk, " as Valetta said. 

"There's no difficulty as to that, " said Dolores, laughing. "Thepoor little cornstalk looks as if she had grown up under a blight. "

"It is a grand romance though, " said Mysie; "only I wish that CousinHarry had had any constancy in him. "

"I wonder if Magdalen will adopt her!" was Valetta's bold suggestion. 

"Poor Magdalen has had quite adopting enough to do, " said Mysie. 

"Besides, " said Dolores, "Sister Angela will never let her go. Andcertainly I never saw any one more TAKING than Sister Angela. She isso full of life, and of a certain unexpectedness, and one knows shehas done such noble work. I want to see more of her. "

"You will, " said Mysie. "Mamma is going to ask her to come, forPhyllis says there is no one that Bernard cares for so much. She washis own companion sister. "

"Magdalen might have the little cornstalk, " said Valetta. 

"Well, " said Mysie, "it is rather funny to have two--what shall Isay?--willow widows, and a child that is neither of theirs! How willthey settle it?"

Magdalen had heard from Agatha on the first evening of the arrival ofthe sister, and the probability of the identification of littleLena's father with the Henry Merrifield of her former years, and shewas deeply touched by the bestowal of her name--so much that Nagavoided saying more, but only kissed her and went to bed. 

The Merrifields discussed the subject dispassionately. 

Sir Jasper recollected what his brother had written to him of hisanxieties and disappointment in his son Henry, and of his abscondingfrom Manitoba, since which time all trace of him had been lost, except in the restoration to the two brothers in Canada. To thesurprise and indignation of Sir Jasper, there had been no attempt tofollow it up. 

"If my poor brother Edgar had done anything of the kind, " saidBernard, "none of us would have rested. "

So far as they could put recollections together this act ofrestitution must have been made soon after the connection withFulbert Underwood began, perhaps at the time of the wife's death. Ifthere had been another letter, as Sister Angela thought, it was morerecent, certainly within the last two years. 

Captain Samuel Merrifield, of Stokesley, had been on a voyage forfour years, and had not long been at home. His wife had been chargedwith the forwarding of the letters that she thought of immediateinterest, and there was an accumulation of those that had been leftfor his return, as yet not looked over. 

Of course, Sir Jasper impelled him to plunge into these, and by andby one came to light, which Mrs. Merrifield had taken "for only someAustralian gold mines, " and left to wait, especially as it wasdirected to his father instead of himself. 

It was a letter full of repentance, and entreaties for forgiveness, describing in part poor Henry's past life, and adding that the bestthing that had ever befallen him was his association with "such afellow as Underwood. "

It was to be gathered that Fulbert's uprightness of mind had led himto the first impulse of restitution, and he went on to mention hisfirst hasty marriage and the loss of his wife, with the kindness ofthe Carrigaboola Sisterhood; above all, of Sister Angela, anddeclaring his love and admiration for her, and his sense that she wasthe one person who could keep him straight now that her brother wasgone. 

He had more than once offered to her, but he found that her brotherhad solemnly charged her not to accept him till he had made all hispast clear before her, and could show her that he was acknowledged byhis family, and had his father's forgiveness, and for this he humblycraved, as one deeply sensible of his own demerits. 

It was piteous to think of the poor fellow waiting and hoping for ananswer to such a letter as this, and dying without one, while all thetime it was lying unread in the Captain's desk, and no one even knewof the changed life and fresh hopes. Sir Jasper was much moved byit; but Sam said, "Ay, ay! poor Harry always was a plausible fellow!"and his wife was chiefly concerned to show that the suppression wasnot by her fault. Sir Jasper had brought the will with him, and thecertificate of the child's baptism. 

Both were met with a little hesitation. So little had been said inthe letter about the marriage that the Captain wanted to know more, and also whether the will had been properly proved in Australia, andwhether it had force in England. In that case he was surely theright person to have the custody of his brother's child. His wife, who had been bred up in a different school, was not by any meanssatisfied that she should be consigned to a member of a Sisterhood. 

David came to Stokesley, saw the letter, and agreed with his brotheron the expediency of obtaining full proof of the validity of the willin both Queensland and England, and put in hand the writing ofinquiries for the purpose, from the legal authorities at Brisbane, for which purpose Angela had to be consulted. 

She had been (having left the budgerigars to the delight of Pearl andAwdrey), in the meantime, at Vale Leston, enjoying the atmosphere ofpeace that prevailed wherever were Clement and Geraldine, and hailedwith delight by all her old village friends, as well as LadyVanderkist and her somewhat thinned flock. 

She won Adrian's heart by skating or golfing with him, and even, onone or two hunting days, joining in his pursuit of the chase, beingaltogether, as he said, ever so much better a fellow than even hisyoungest sister Joan, and entrancing them all with tales ofkangaroos. Lena had really a tame kangaroo at Carrigaboola. Oh, whydid they not bring it home as well as Ben, the polly? She quitepined for it, and had tears in her eyes when it was spoken of. 

Indeed the joyous young Vanderkists were too much for the delicatelittle girl, and sorry as Angela was to leave Vale Leston, she wasnot ungrateful for an invitation to the Goyle, where there was moreroom for them than at Clipstone in the holidays, and with the BernardUnderwoods making it their headquarters. 

Lena and she were much better and happier with "Sister" always at herservice, and Paula and Thekla were delighted to amuse her. Paula wasin a state of delight with Sister Angela, only a little puzzled bythe irregularity of her course, though it was carefully explainedthat she had never been under any vows. To hear of her doings amongthe Australian women was a romance, often as there had beendisappointment. "Paula is a born Sister, " said Angela, "a much truerone than I have ever been, for there does not seem to be any demon ofwaywardness to drive her wild. "

These talks with Magdalen, often prolonged hours after the youngpeople had gone to bed, were a great solace to both the elders. Girls like Mysie Merrifield and Phyllis Devereux thought sitting upto converse a propensity peculiar to themselves, and to their ownage, of new experiences and speculations; but the two "old girls, "whose experiences were not new, and whose speculations had a certainmaterial foundation, they were equally fascinating. 

There were no small jealousies in either of them--"willow widows"--though Mysie's name stuck. There was nothing but comfort to Magdalenin the certainty of the ultimate "coming home" of one who hadfinished a delusive dream of her younger days, and been yearned afterwith a heartache now quenched; and Angela, who had never been theleast in love with Henry Merrifield, could quite afford her interestin the scanty records of his younger days, and fill up all she knewof the measure of the latter and better days. There was anotherbond, for Mrs. Best's daughter was, "as distances go, " a neighbour toCarrigaboola, and resorted thither on great occasions. 

Angela's vision began to be, to take Magdalen and her sisters out toCarrigaboola, where a superior school for colonists' daughters wasmuch needed, and where Paula might enter the Sisterhood. She longedall the more when she saw how much better Magdalen could deal withLena as to teaching and restraint than she could. The child was verybackward, and could hardly read words of one syllable, though sheknew any amount of Scripture history and legends of Saints, and wasvery fairly intelligent; but though she was devoted to "Sister, "always hanging on her, and never quite happy when out of sight ofher, she had hardly any notion of prompt obedience or of giving upher own way. 

Angela's visit to Vale Leston had been partly spoilt by the littlegirl's fretful worry at the elder children, and by the somewhatuncalled for fears that all the Vanderkists were hard on the poorlittle colonial damsel; but whether it was the air of Rock Quay, orthe quiet influence of Miss Prescott, Lena certainly improved inhealth at the Goyle, and was much more amenable, and less rudely shy. But her guardian trembled at hearing that, pending CaptainMerrifield's correspondence with Brisbane, the sisters, Susan andElizabeth, were coming to Miss Mohun's to see their niece, therebeing no room for them at Clipstone. 

They came--Susan, plump, comfortable and good-natured looking, aslike an apricot as ever, with an air many years more than three aboveher sister Bessie, who as ever was brisk and bright, scarcely middleaged in face, dress or demeanour. They arrived too late forvisiting, and only dined at Clipstone to be introduced to BernardUnderwood, and see their cousin Phyllis, whom they had once met whenall were small children. Dolores was much amused, as she told herAunt Jane, to see how gratified they were at the "sanguine" colouringof Phyllis and Wilfred, quite Merrifields, they said, though Phylliswith auburn eyes and hair was far handsomer than any other of theclan had ever been; and Wilfred had simply commonplace carrots andfreckles. 

"The fun is, " said Jane, "to remember how some of us Mohuns havesighed at Lily's having any yellow children, and, till we sawStokesley specimens, wondering where the strain came from! As if itsignified!"

"It does in some degree, " said Dolores; "something hereditary goeswith the complexion. "

"I don't know, " said Jane. "I believe too much is made in these daysof heredity, and by those who believe least in the Bible indicationson the effect, forgetting the counteracting grace. "

"Well, " said Dolores, "Wilfred was always a bete noire to me--no, notnoire--in my younger days, and I can't help being glad he is not ofour strain! Though you know the likeness was the first step toidentifying that poor little girl. "

"Poor child! I am afraid she will be a bone of contention. "

The two aunts were at Clipstone early; and might be satisfied withthe true Merrifield tints of Magdalen Susanna, but perhaps she hadbeen over much warned to be gracious, for the very contrary was theeffect. She had been very civil to her great-aunt Lilias, and hadallowed both her uncles to take her up in their arms; but sheretreated upon Angela, planted an elbow on the well-known lap, turnedher back, and put a skinny little finger in her mouth by way ofanswer to Susan's advances, advances which had hardly ever beforebeen repelled even by the most untamable of infants. 

Angela tried to coax, lift her up and turn her round; but this onlyled to the shoulder being the hiding-place, and it might be suspectedthat there was a lurking perception that these strangers asserted acloser claim than the beloved "Sister. " She would not even respondto Susan's doll or Bessie's picture book; and Bessie advised leavingher alone, and turned to the window with Agatha, who was nothing lothto tell of her Bexley and Minsterham experiences. 

Angela tried to talk about the voyage, or any thing that might savethe child from being discussed or courted; but Susan's heart was inthe subject, and she had not enough tact or knowledge of the world toturn away from it. Regret for the past was strong within her, andshe could not keep from asking how much "little Magdalen" (at fulllength) remembered of her father, how much she had been with him, whether he had much altered, whether there were a photograph of him, and a great deal more, with tears in her eyes and a trembling in hervoice which made Angela feel much for her, even while vexed at herpertinacity, for the child was by no means the baby she looked like, but perfectly well able to listen and understand, and thisconsciousness made her own communications much briefer and morereserved than otherwise they would have been. 

Bessie, with more perception, saw the embarrassment, turned roundfrom Agatha, went up to the cockatoo in his cage, and asked in apleasant voice if Magdalen would show him to her, and tell her hisname. Angela was glad enough to break off poor Susan's questioning, and come forward, with the child still clinging, to incite the birdto display the rose colour under his crest, put up a grey claw toshake hands, and show off his vocabulary, laughing herself and actingmerriment as she did so, in hopes to inspire Lena. 

"Come, Ben, tell how you were picked up under a gum tree, quite ababy, a little grey ball, and brought over in the shepherd's pocketfor a present to the little Boss, and how we fed you and nursed youtill you turned all rose-colour and lovely! There! put up your crestand make red revelations. Can't you speak? Fetch him a banana, Lena. That will open his mouth. "

At sight of the banana, the bird put his head on one side and croakedin a hoarse whisper, "Yo ho!"

"No, you need not be afraid of any more sailors' language, " saidAngela. "They were as careful as possible on board. I overheardonce, 'Hold hard, Tom, Polly Pink is up there, and she's a regularlady born!

Whereupon Polly indulged in a ridiculous chuckle, holding the bananacleverly in one foot, while Angela laughed and chattered more andmore nervously, but only succeeded in disgusting the visitors by whatSusan at least took for unbecoming flippancy. 

"THAT Sister, " said Susan, as they drove away, "does not seem to meat all the person to have the charge of Henry's poor little girl!"

"I wish she had not thrust herself in, " said Bessie, "to prevent mefrom getting on with the child over the cockatoo. "

"She calls herself a Sister! I don't understand it, for she seems tohave been bent on marrying poor Henry. "

"She never took any vows. "

"Then why does she wear a ridiculous cap over all that hair?"

By and by they were met by Bernard Underwood striding along. "Holloa! have you seen Angel and her darling? She is a perfect slaveto the little thing, and one only gets fragments of her. "

"She seems very fond of her, " said Bessie. 

"Just kept her alive, you see. Poor old Angel! She is all for onething at a time! Are you going up to Clipstone?"

"I think we shall find Phyllis at Beechcroft. "

"Yes, she is driving there to lunch, and Angel is to bring the littlecornstalk over to make friends with our Lily! I trust the creaturegoes to sleep now, and I may get a word out of Angel!" Wherewith hedashed on, and the two ladies agreed that "those Underwoods seemed tobe curiously impulsive. "

They were, however, much better satisfied with the Ceylonese Lily, who was a very well trained civilised specimen, conversing veryprettily over one of Aunt Jane's picture books, which Bessie lookedat with her, and showing herself fully able to read the titlesbeneath, a feat of which Lena was quite incapable, though she wasless on the defensive than she had shown herself at the Goyle, andAngela was far more at her ease than when she was conscious that"Field's" original love was watching the introduction to his sisters. Besides, Bernard's presence was sunshine to her, and the two expandedinto bright reminiscences and merry comparisons of their two lives, absolutely delightful to themselves, and to Phyllis and her AuntJane, and which would have been the same to Elizabeth, if she had notbeen worried at Susan's evident misunderstanding of--and displeasureat--the quips and cranks of the happy brother and sister; also shewas bent on promoting an intercourse between Lily and Lena, over thedoll she had brought for the former. She was a little hurt that Lenahad not been accompanied by the blue-eyed article with preposterouslylong eyelashes that had been bestowed on her at the Goyle; but thelittle Australian had no opinion of dolls, and had let the one boughtfor her at Sydney be thrown overboard by the ship's monkey. 

"That was cruel!" said Lily, fondling her black-eyed specimen. 

"She could not feel, " reasoned Lena, with contempt. 

"I don't know, " said Lily, knitting her brows. "It's not ALL makebelieve! I do love my Rosamunda Rowena, and she loves me, and Ishall tell her not to be jealous of this dear Betsinda. For, do youknow, when Rosamunda was ill in the Red Sea, father carried her upand down on deck, and made her a dear little deck chair. "

"But she is not alive. She COULDN'T be, " sighed Lena. "I like myBen and my kangaroo! Oh, I do want to go back to my kangaroo!"

"And does Lily want to go back to her riki-tiki?" asked Lily'sfather, lifting a little girl on each knee, so that they might bevis-a-vis, when certainly his own had the advantage in beauty, as sheanswered, leaning against him, "Granny's better than riki-tiki!"

For which pretty speech some of the ladies gave her much credit; buther father, with a tender arm round her, said, "Ah! you are asentimental little pussy-cat! Is anything here as good asCarrigaboola? Eh, Lena?"

But Lena resolutely shook her carrots; but kept silence, whileBernard turned over the leaves of a great book of natural history, till as a page was displayed with a large kangaroo under a blue-gumtree, with a yellow wattle tree beside him, her lips quivered, herface puckered, and she burst into an uncontrollable fit of crying;"Oh! I want to go home, home! Sister, Sister, take me home!"

Angela was in a minute beside her, took her within loving arms, andcarried her off. 

CHAPTER XXIV--CRUEL LAWYERS

"Tender companions of our serious days, Who colour with your kisses, smiles and tears, Life's worn web woven over wasted ways. "- LOWELL. 

There was a good deal of worry and anxiety for some little time, while correspondence was going on about Henry Merrifield's will, andin the meantime Angela decided to board with Miss Prescott, since hercharge was certainly much better in health there; and besides, asMrs. Bernard Merrifield was naturally at Clipstone, it became thehead quarters of her husband, though he made many excursions to hisown people, and on business affairs to Sir Ferdinand Travis Underwoodin London. 

And Clipstone suited him well for his holiday. Sir Jasper had, ofcourse, a certain amount of intercourse with the garrison atAvoncester, and the officers stationed there at present had alreadysome acquaintance with Bernard Underwood, who was known to be achampion in Ceylon in all athletic sports, especially polo andcricket. Tall and well made, he had been devoted to all such gamesin his youth, and they had kept up his health in his sedentaryoccupation. Now, in his leisure time, his prowess did much to effacethe fame of the much younger and slighter Alexis White, and, so faras might be, Angela enjoyed the games with him, keeping well withinbounds, but always feeling activity a wholesome outlet for hersuperfluous strength, and, above all, delighting in an interval ofbeing a child again with her Bear of old times; and her superabundantlife, energy, and fun amazed all, especially by the contrast with herpoor little languid charge, who seemed, as Jane Mohun said, centuriesolder. 

The Merrifield lads were also devoted to him. Even Fergus wassomewhat distracted from his allegiance to Dolores and herexperiments, and in the very few days that Christmas afforded forskating, could think of nothing else. 

And as to Wilfred, his whole mind seemed to be set on sports, andmarble works to be only an incident thrown in. Bernard, whom hefollowed assiduously, and who took him to Avoncester, and introducedhim to young officers, began to have doubts whether he had donewisely. Bernard had, in his time, vexed Felix's soul by idleness andamusement, but he had been one betted upon, not himself given tobetting. He loved football and cricket for their bodily excitement, not the fictitious one of a looker on, or reader of papers, and itstruck him that Wilfred knew a good deal too much about this moredangerous side of races and athletics. 

He said so to Angela, and she answered, "Oh, nonsense! Young men areout of it if they don't know the winning horse. Even Pur had to beup to the Derby. "

And Angela had her own bitter trial in the decision of the lawyers. Not only was the signature of the will unsatisfactory, from theconfusion between Field and Merrifield, but the two witnesses failedto be traced, John Shepherd and George Jones were not to beidentified, and though Brisbane might accept wills easily, an Englishcourt of law required more certainty. The little daughter being theonly child and natural heiress, this was not felt to be doing her anyinjury; but the decision deprived her of the guardian her father hadchosen, and Angela was in despair. She was ready to write to thePursuivant, to the Bishop of Albertstown, to the Lord Chancellor, with an exposition of the wicked injustice and hardness of heart oflawyers, and the inexpedience of taking the poor child from herearliest motherly friend, expressly chosen by her father. AllBernard's common sense and Magdalen's soothing were needed to makeher hold her peace, when correspondence made it plain that theguardianship being assumed by the uncles, Captain Merrifield wouldnot hear for a moment of the scheme of taking the child out toCarrigaboola. In his opinion, and his sister Susan's, the only fitthing to be done with her was to place her with the two aunts atCoalham to be educated. He came down to Rock Quay to inspect her. It was a cold, raw day, with the moors wrapped in mist, and the poorlittle maid looked small, peaky and pinched. He was sure that thedry winds of the north were what she needed, wanted to carry her offimmediately, and looked regardless of Angela's opinion, though backedby Miss Prescott, that it would be highly dangerous to take thedelicate child of a semi-tropical climate off in the depth of winterto a northerly town. Angela walked off to ask Dr. Dagger to inspectthe child and give his opinion, while Captain Sam repaired toClipstone to visit his relations and lunch with them. 

He did not meet with all the sympathy he expected. Lady Merrifieldsaid that Coalham had not agreed with her own son Harry, and thatlittle Lena ought not to be taken there till after the cold winds ofspring were over; and her daughters all chimed in with a declarationthat Angela Underwood was perfectly devoted to the little one, andthat no one else could make her happy. 

"Petting her! spoiling her!" scoffed the Captain. "Why, Susan andBessie were full of the contrast with your little girl. "

"Health, " began Phyllis. 

"An Indian child too!" he went on. "Just showing what a little goodsense in the training can do! No, indeed! Since I am to be herguardian, I have no notion of swerving from my duty, and letting poorHal's child be bred up to Sisterhoods and all that flummery. "

"It will just break Angela's heart, " cried Valetta, with tears in hereyes, at which the Captain looked contemptuous. 

"I must say, " added Bernard, "that I should think it little short ofmurderous to take that unlucky child from the one woman whounderstands her up into the bleak north at this time of year. "

"Decidedly!" added Sir Jasper. "Miss Underwood deserves everyconsideration in dealing with the child who has been always her solecharge. "

Wherewith he changed the conversation by a question about Stokesley;but he held to his dictum when alone with his nephew, and as he wasthe only person for whose opinion Captain Sam had any respect, it hadits effect, though there was a sense that he might be biassed by hisson-in-law and his herd of womanfolk, and that he did not partakeMrs. Samuel Merrifield's dislike to the very name of Sister or ofanything not commonplace. 

Angela obtained Dr. Dagger's opinion to reinforce her own and LadyMerrifield's, and the Captain was obliged to give way so far as toconsent to Magdalen, as he insisted on calling her, being allowed toremain at Arnscombe till after Easter, when her aunts were to fetchher to Coalham, there to send her to the kindergarten. 

After Angela's period of raging against law and lawyers and all theStokesley family, and being on the verge of impertinence to CaptainMerrifield, she submitted to the prospect more quietly than herfriends had dared to hope. Lance had almost expected her to deporther charge, parrot and all, suddenly and secretly by an Australianliner, and had advised Bernard, on a fleeting meeting at Bexley, tobe on his guard if she hinted at anything so preposterous; butBernard shook his head, and said Angel was more to be trusted thanher elders thought. "Waves and storms don't go over us for nothing, I hope, " he said. 

And he found himself right on his return. Angela had bowed her headto the inevitable, and was quietly trying to prepare her littlecharge for the change, accustoming her to more discipline and lesspetting. When Angela proposed to walk over to Clipstone with herbrother on his return, and the whine was set up, "Let me go, Sister, "it was answered, "No, my dear, it is too far for you. You must stayand walk with Paula. "

"I want to go with Sister. "

"You must be a good child, and do as Sister tells you. No, I can'thave any fretting. Paula will show you how to drive your hoop. Keepher moving fast, Paula, don't let her fret and get cold. "

And Angela actually detached the clinging hand, and put it intoPaulina's, and, holding up her finger, silenced the burst of weeping, though tears sprang to her own eyes as she resolutely turned away, and, after running out and shutting the back gate after her, put herarm with a clinging gesture into Bernard's. 

"That's right!" he said, pressing her hand. 

"Cruel, " she said, "but better by and by for her. Oh, Bear, if onecould but learn to lie still and say, 'Thou didst it, ' when it ishuman agency that takes away the desire of one's eyes with a stroke. "

"The desire of thine eyes!" repeated Bernard. "How often I thoughtof that last February. "

It was the only time he had referred to the loss of his little boy. His wife had told her mother that he could not bear to mention it, and had poured out all her own feelings of sorrow and her strugglefor cheerfulness and resignation alone with her or with Mysie; but hehad shrunk from the least allusion to the little two year old Felix, who slept beneath a palm tree at Colombo. 

Now, however, still holding his sister's hand, he drifted into allthe particulars of the little ways, the baby language, the dawningunderstanding, and the very sudden sharp illness carrying thebeautiful boy away almost before they were aware of danger; and hetook out the photograph from his breast, and showed her the littleface, so recalling old fond remembrances. "Forbear to cry, make nomourning for the dead, " he repeated. "Yes, the boy is saved the wearand tear and heat and burthen of the day, but it is very hard to bethankful. "

"Ah, and it is all the harder if you have to leave your Lily. "

"If--yes; but Travis MAY so arrange that we can stay, or I make onlyone voyage out to settle matters and then come home for good. If youare still bent on Carrigaboola you might come as far as Frisco withme. I may have to go there about the Californian affairs. "

"That would be jolly. Yes, I think it will clench the matter, for Ibelieve I am of more good at Carriga than anywhere else, though theheart of it is taken out of it for me; but one lives on and gets onsomehow without a heart, or a heart set where I suppose it ought notto be entirely at least! And, indeed, I think that little one taughtme better than ever before how to love. "

"That's what the creatures are sent us for, " said Bernard, in a lowvoice. "And here are, looming in the distance, all the posse ofgirls to meet us. "

"Ah-h!" breathed Angela, withdrawing her arm. "Well, Bear, you havegiven me something to look forward to, whether it comes to anythingor not. It will help me to be thankful. I know they are goodpeople, and the child will do well when once the pining and bracingare over. They are her own people, and it is right. "

"Right you are, Angel!" said Bernard, with a fresh squeeze of thehand, as he resumed his own cheerful, resolute voice ere joining hissisters-in-law. 

"What! Angela without her satellite!" cried Primrose. 

"Too far, " murmured Angela; but Mysie tried to hush her sister, perceiving the weaning process, and respecting Angela for it. 

And the next moment Angela was challenging Bernard to a game at golf. 

CHAPTER XXV--BEAR AS ADVISER

"Weary soul and burthened soreLabouring with thy secret load. "- KEBLE. 

The early spring brought a new development. Thekla, who attendedclasses at the High School, came home with unmistakable tokens ofmeasles, and Primrose did the same, in common with most of theircontemporaries at Rockstone. Nor was there any chance that eitherLily Underwood at Clipstone or Lena Merrifield at the Goyle wouldescape; indeed, they both showed an amount of discomfort that made itsafer to keep them where they were, than to try to escape in thesharp east wind and frost. 

No one was much dismayed at what all regarded as a trifling ailment, even if dignified as German. Angela owned that she regarded it as arelief, since infection might last till the summer, and the onlyperson who was--as he owned--trying to laugh at himself with Angela, was Bernard, who could not keep out of his mind's eye a little graveat Colombo. As he walked home, at the turning he saw a figurewearily toiling upwards, which proved to be Wilfred. "Holloa! youare at home early!"

"I had an intolerable headache!"

"Measles, eh?"

"No such thing! Once when I was a kid in Malta. But I say, Bear, "he added, coming up with quickened pace, "you could do me no end of afavour if you would advance me twenty pounds. "

"Whew!" Bernard whistled. 

"There is Lady Day coming, and I can pay you then--most assuredly. "And an asseveration or two was beginning. 

"Twenty pounds don't fly promiscuously about the country, " mutteredBernard, chiefly for the sake of giving himself time. 

"But I tell you I shall have a quarter from the works, and a quarterfrom my father (with his hand to his head). That's--that's--. Awfulskinflints both of them! How is a man to do, so cramped up as that?"

"Oh! and how is a man to do if he spends it all beforehand?"

"I tell you, Bernard, I must have it, or--or it will break mymother's heart! And as to my father, I'd--I'd cut my throat--I'd goto sea before he knew! Advance it to me, Bear! You know what it isto be in an awful scrape. Get me through this once and I'll never--"

Bernard did not observe that the scrape of his boyhood over thedrowned Stingo had hardly been of the magnitude that besought fortwenty pounds. He waived the personal appeal, and asked, "What isthe scrape?"

"Why, that intolerable swindler and ruffian, Hart, deceived me aboutRacket, and--"

"A horse at Avoncester?" said Bernard, light beginning to dawn onhim. 

"I made sure it was the only way out of it all, and they said Racketwas as sure as death, and now the brute has come in third. Hartswears there was foul play, but what's that to me? I'm done forunless you will help me over. "

"If it is a betting debt, the only safe way is to have it out withyour father, and have done with it. "

"You don't know what my father is! Just made of iron. You might aswell put your hand under a Nasmyth's hammer. " And as he saw that hishearer was unconvinced, "Besides, it is ever so much more than what Iput upon Racket! That was only the way out of it! It is all up withme if he hears of it. You might as well pitch me over the cliff atonce!"

"Well, what is it then?"

Incoherently, Wilfred stammered out what Bernard understood at lastto mean that he had got into the habit of betting at the billiardtable, surreptitiously kept up in Ivinghoe Terrace in a house ofRichard White's, not for any excessive sums, and with luck at firston his side than otherwise; but at last he had become involved for asum not in itself very terrible to elder years, and his creditor wasin great dread of pressure from his employers, and insisted onpayment. Wilfred, who seemed to have a mortal terror of his father, beyond what Bernard could understand, had been unable to believe thatthe offence for so slight a sum might be forgiven if voluntarilyconfessed, had done the worst thing he could, he had paid the debtwith a cheque which had, unfortunately, passed through his hands atthe office, trusting in a few days to recover the amount by a betupon the horse, in full security of success! And now!

Before the predicament was made clear, Wilfred reeled, and would havefallen if Bernard had not supported him, and he mumbled somethingabout giddiness and dazzling, insisting at the same time that it wasnothing but the miserable pickle, and that if Bernard would not seehim out of it, he might as well let him lie there and have done withit. 

Happily they were in the immediate neighbourhood of the house, and itwas possible to get him into the hall before he entirely collapsedupon a chair; but seeming to recover fresh vigour from alarm at thesound of voices, he rushed at the stairs and dashed up rapidly thetwo flights to his own room, only throwing back the words, "Deadsecret, mind!"

Bernard was glad to have made no promise, and, indeed, Wilfred'sphysical condition chiefly occupied him at the moment, for one or twoof the girls were hurrying in, asking what was the matter, and at theanswer, "He is gone up to his room with a bad headache, " Valettadeclared with satisfaction, "Then he has got it! We told him so!But he would go to the office! and, Bernard, so has Lily. "

"Pleasing information!" said Bernard, nettled and amused at the toneof triumph, while Mysie, throwing behind her the words, "It may benothing, " went off to call Mrs. Halfpenny, who was in a state ofimportance and something very like pleasure. Bernard strode up tohis wife's room, leaving Valetta half-way in her exposition that whenall the family had been laid low by measles at Malta, Wilfred hadbeen a very young infant, and it had always been doubtful whether hehad been franked or not; and how he had been reproached with lookingill in the morning, but had fiercely insisted on going down to theoffice, which he was usually glad to avoid on any excuse. 

By the time the household met at dinner, it was plain that they hadto resign themselves to being an infected family, though there werenot many probable victims, and they were likely only to have thedisorder favourably, with the exception of Wilfred, who had evidentlygot a severe chill, and could only be reported as very ill, thoughstill he vehemently resented any suspicion of being subject to such ababyish complaint. But when the break up for the night was justover, Lady Merrifield came in search of Bernard, entreating him tocome to speak to Wilfred, who was more and more feverish, almostlight-headed, and insisting that he must speak to Bear, "Bear had notpromised, " reiterating the summons, so that there was no choice butto comply with it. 

He found Wilfred flushed with fever, and violently restless, startingup in bed as he entered, and crying out, "Bear, Bear, will you? willyou? You did not promise!"

"I will see about it! Lie down now! There's nothing to be done to-night. "

"But promise! promise! And not a word!"

All this was reiterated till Wilfred at last was exhausted for thetime, and to a certain degree pacified by the reassuring voice inwhich Bernard soothed him and undertook to take the matter in hand, hardly knowing what he undertook, and only feeling the necessity ofquieting the perilous excitement, and of helping the mother to bringa certain amount of tranquillity. 

His own little girl was going on well, and quite capable of beingamused in the morning by being compared to a lobster or a tiger lily;and Primrose was reported in an equally satisfactory state, readyeither for sleep or continuous reading by her sisters. Only Wilfredwas in the same, or a more anxious, state of fever; and as soon asBernard had satisfied himself that there was no special use in hisremaining in the house, he set out for the marble works office, having made up his mind as to one part of what he had expressed as"seeing about it. "

He had hardly turned into the Cliffe road before he met CaptainHenderson walking up, and they exchanged distant inquiries andanswers as to whether each might be thought dangerous to the other'shome; after which they forgathered, and compared notes as toinvalids. The Captain had heard of Wilfred's going home ill, and wascoming, he said, to inquire. 

"He seems very seriously ill, " was the answer. "I imagine there hasbeen a chill, and a check. I was coming to speak to you about him. "

"He has spoken to you?"

Both could now consult freely. "It is a very anxious matter--not somuch for the actual amount as for the habits that it shows. "

"The amount? Oh, I have made up that as regards the firm. I couldnot let it come before Sir Jasper, especially in the present state ofthings! I meant to give the young chap a desperate fright androwing, but that will have to be deferred. "

"You must let me take it!"

"No, no. Remember, Sir Jasper was my commanding officer, and I andmy wife owe everything to him. I could supply the amount, so that noone would guess from the accounts that anything had been amiss. "

Bernard could hardly allow himself to be thus relieved, but there wasthe comfort of knowing that Wilfred's name was safe, and that theunstained family honour would not have to suffer shame. Still theother debts remained, of which Captain Henderson had been onlyvaguely suspicious, till the two took counsel on them. Wilfred hadnot given up the name of the person for whom he had meant to borrowfrom the office; but Captain Henderson had very little doubt who itwas, and it was agreed that he should receive the amount through acheque of Bernard on Brown and Travis Underwood, from CaptainHenderson's hands, with a scathing rebuke and peremptory assurance ofexposure to Mr. White, and consequent dismissal, if anything more ofthe same kind among the younger men were detected. The man was aclever artist in his first youth, and had always been something of afavourite with the authorities, and had a highly respectable father;so Captain Henderson meant to spare him as much as possible, andendeavour to ascertain how far the mischief had gone among the youngmen connected with the marble works, also to consult Mr. White on theamount of stringency in the measures used to put a stop to it. Allthis, of course, passed out of Bernard Underwood's hands andknowledge, but a sad and anxious day was before him. All the younggirls were going on well, but Wilfred was increasingly ill all day, and continually calling for Bernard. Being told, "I have settled thematter" did not satisfy him. He looked eagerly about the room tofind whether his mother were present, and fancying she was absentdemanded, "Does he know? Do they know?" reiterating again and again. It was necessary to tell Lady Merrifield that there was anentanglement about money matters on his mind, which had been settled;but towards evening he grew worse and more light-headed, apparentlyunder the impression that only Bernard could guard him from somethingunknown, or conceal, whenever he was conscious of the presence of hismother; and on his father's entrance he hid his face in the pillowsand trembled, of course to their exceeding distress and perplexity;and when he believed no one present but Bernard and Mrs. Halfpenny, he became more and more rambling, sometimes insisting that his fathermust not know, sometimes abusing all connected with the racing bet, and more often fancying that he was going to be arrested for robbingthe firm, the enormity of the sum and of the danger increasing withthe fever, and therewith his horror of his father's knowing. It wasof no use for his mother to hang over him, hold his hands, and assurehim that she knew (as, in fact, she did, for Bernard had been obligedto make a cursory explanation), and that nothing could hinder herloving him still; he forgot it in the next interruption, and turnedfrom her with terror and dismay, and once he nearly flung himself outof bed, fancying that the policeman was coming. 

Bernard held him on this occasion, and told him, "Nothing will do yougood, Willie, but to tell your father, and he will keep all from you. Let him know, and it will be all right. "

It only seemed to add to his misery and terror. Something thatpassed in his hearing, gave him the impression that he was in greatdanger, if not actually dying; but his cry was still for Bernard, whohad not ventured to go to bed; but it was still, "Oh, Bear, save me!Don't let me die with this upon my name! I can't go to God!"

"There's nothing for it, Wilfred, but to tell your father. He willpardon you. Your mother has, you see. Tell him, and when heforgives, you will know that God does. It will come right. Let mecall him!"

"Let me bring him, my boy, my dear boy!" entreated his mother. "Youknow he will. "

Wilfred seemed as if he did not know, but still held fast byBernard's strong hands, as though there were support in them; andwhen in a few moments Sir Jasper entered the room, there was the sameclinging gesture and endeavour to hide, in spite of the gentlesweetness of the tone of, "Well, my poor boy. "

It was Bernard who was obliged to say, turning the poor flushed facetowards him, "Wilfred wishes to say--"

"Father, " it came with a gasp at last, "I've done it. I've disgracedus all. Forgive!"

He was repeating his own exaggerated ideas of what his crime hadbeen, and what Sir Jasper would have said to him if all had beendiscovered in any other way. 

"Do not think of it now, my boy. I forgive you, whatever it is. "

Thereupon Dr. Dagger entered. He turned every one out except Mrs. Halfpenny, and gave a draught, which silenced the patient and put himto sleep in a few minutes. While Bernard hastily satisfied theparents that a good deal was exaggerated feeling, and that an oldsoldier must have known of a good many worse things in his time, though not so near home. 

There was a general sense of relief in the morning, for Wilfred'sattack had become an ordinary, though severe one, and the other caseswere going on well. But Sir Jasper, who had not been able to graspthe extent of Wilfred's delinquency, and had been persuaded by hisdespair that it was much more serious than it really was, called hisson-in-law into council, and demanded whether the whole could havebeen told. 

Bernard was certain that it was so, and related his transactions withCaptain Henderson, much of course to the father's relief, so far asthe outer world was concerned; but what principally grieved him, besides the habits thus discovered, was his son's abject terror ofhim, not only in the exaggeration of illness, but in his mode ofspeaking of him. 

It had never been thus with any of his sons before. 

Claude, the soldier, had always been satisfactory, so had Harry theclergyman, though often widely separated from the parents in theirwandering life; but the bond of confidence had never been broken. Jasper had never teased any one but his sisters. Fergus, too, theyoungest of all the sons, and of an individual, rather peculiarnature, was growing up in straight grooves of his own; but Wilfred, who from delicate health, had been the most at home, had never seemedto open to his father. The family discipline of the General seemedonly to oppress and terrify him, and the irregularities andsubterfuges that had from time to time been detected had been metwith just anger, never received in such a manner as to call forth thetenderness of forgiveness. Each discovery of a misdemeanour had onlybeen the prelude to fresh and worse concealments and hardening. 

And experience of mankind did not give any decided hope that even thelast day's agony of repentance would be the turning over of a newleaf, when convalescence should bring the same surroundings andtemptations, and perhaps the like disproportionate indignation andimpatience in dealing with errors and constitutional weakness. "Andthe example of my brother's poor son is not encouraging, " he added. "He who seems to have owed everything to your brother and sister. "

"Yet poor Fulbert and I were to our homes, perhaps not the blacksheep, but at any rate the vagrant ones. "

"And what made a difference to you, may I ask?"

"Strong infusion by character and example of principle, " said Bernardthoughtfully; "then, real life, and having to be one's own safeguard, with nothing to fall back on. As my brother told me at his last, Ishould swim when my plank was gone. "

"Yes, but, plainly, you were never weak, " and as Bernard did notanswer at once, "Old-fashioned severity used to be the rule withlads, but it seems only to alienate them now and make them thinkthemselves unjustly treated. What is one to do with these boys?"

A question which Bernard could not answer, though it carried him backwith a strange yearning, yet resignation, to the little figure thathad curled round on his knee, and the hopes connected with the handsthat had caressed his cheek. 

He thought over it the more the next week, when he was called to sitby Wilfred, who was getting better and anxious to talk. 

"My father is very kind, " he said. "Oh, yes, very kind now; but itwill be all the same when I get well. You see, Bear, how can a manbe always dawdling about with a lot of girls? There's Doloresbothering with her science, and Fergus every bit as bad; and Mysieafter her disgusting schoolchildren; and Val and Prim horrid littleempty chatterboxes; and if one does turn to a jolly girl for a bit offun, their tongues all go to work, so that you would think the skieswere going to fall; and if one goes in for a bit of a spree, downcomes the General like a sledge-hammer! I wish you would take me outwith you, Bear. "

The same idea had already been undeveloped in Bernard's mind, andever on his tongue when alone with his wife; but he kept it tohimself, and only committed himself to, "You would not find an officein Colombo much more enlivening. "

"There would be something to see--something to do. It would not beall as dull as ditch-water--just driving one to do something to getaway from the girls and their fads. "

This was nearly a fortnight from the night of crisis, when Wilfred, very weak, was still in bed; when Primrose and Lily were up andabout, but threatened with whooping cough. Thekla much in the samecase, and very cross; and little Lena weak, caressing and dependant, but angelically good and patient, so much so that Magdalen and Angelawere quite anxious about her. 

CHAPTER XXVI--NEW PATHS

"I'll put a girdle round the earthIn forty minutes. "- SHAKESPEARE. 

The visitation had not been confined to the High School. The littlecheaply-built rows for workmen and fishermen had suffered much moreseverely, owing chiefly to the parents' callous indifference toinfection. "Kismet, " as they think it, said Jane Mohun, and stillmore to their want of care. Chills were caught, fevers anddiphtheria ensued, and there was an actual mortality among thechildren at the works and at Arnscombe. Mr. Flight begged for helpfrom the Nursing Sisterhood at Dearport, and, to her great joy, Sister Beata was sent down to him, with another who was of the samestanding as Angela, and delighted to have a glimpse of her; thoughAngela thought it due to her delicate charge, and the Merrifields, not to plunge into actual nursing while Lena needed her hourlyattention, and was not yet in a state for the training to do withoutit to continue. Paulina, however, being regarded as infection proof, was permitted to be an attendant and messenger of her dear SisterBeata, to her own great joy. She was now nineteen, and her desire todevote herself to a Sisterhood had never wavered, and intercoursewith Sister Angela had only strengthened it. 

"Oh, Maidie!" she said, "I do not think there can be any life so goodor so happy as being really given up to our Lord and His work amongthe sick and poor. "

"My dear, He can be served if you are in the world, provided you arenot OF the world, and if you keep yourself from the evil. "

"Yes; but why should I run into the world? It is not evil, I know, so far as you and all your friends can manage; but it stirs up theevil in one's self. "

"And so would a Sisterhood. That is a world, too. "

"I suppose it is, and that there would be temptation; but there is agreat deal to help one to keep right. And, oh! to have one's work inreal good to Christ's poor, or in missions, instead of in all theseoutside silly nonsensical diversions that one doubts about all thetime. If you would only let me go back with dear Sister Beata andSister Elfleda as a probationer!"

"You could not be any more yet, " said Magdalen; "but I will thinkabout it, and talk it over with Sister Angela. You know your friendSister Mena, as she called herself, does not mean to be a Sister, buta governess. "

"Yes; she wrote to me. She has never seen or known anything outsidethe Convent, and it is all new and turns her head, " said Paulina, wisely. "I know she helped me to be all the more silly about Veraand poor Hubert Delrio. "

Magdalen promised to talk the matter over with Sister Angela. 

"I should call it a vocation, " said Angela. "I have watched her eversince I have been here, and I am sure her soul is set on these bestthings, in a steady, earnest way. "

"She has always been an exceedingly good girl ever since I have hadto do with her, " said Magdalen. "I have hardly had a fault to findwith her, except a little exaggeration in the direction of St. Kenelm's. "

"A steady, not a fitful flame, " said Angela. 

"But she is so young. "

"If you will believe me, Magdalen, such a home as that DearportSisterhood is a precious thing--I have not been worthy of it. I havebeen a wild colt, carried about by all manner of passing excitements. Oh, dear! love of sheer fun and daring enterprise, and amusement, inshocking every one, even my very dearest, whom I loved best. I havedone things too dreadful to think of, and been utterly unreasonableand unmanageable, and proud of it; but always that Sisterhood hasbeen like a cord drawing me! I never quite got free of it, even whenI sent back my medal, and fancied it had been playing atsuperstition. I was there for a month as almost a baby, and theatmosphere has brought peace ever since. That, and my brother, andSister Constance, and Bishop Fulmort, have been the saving of me, ifanything has. I mean, if they will have me, to spend a little timeat Dearport after all this perplexity is over, and I know how it iswith Lena, and I could see how it is with Paula if you liked. "

Magdalen accepted the suggestion, perhaps the more readily because ofa fleeting visit from Hubert Delrio, who had finished his frescoes atthe American Vale Leston, and came for a day or two to Mr. Flight's. She had sometimes doubted whether the supposed love of Vera had notbeen a good deal diffused among the young ladies, and might not sofar awaken in Paulina as to render her vocation doubtful; but therewere no such symptoms. Paula was quiet and cheerful, with a friendlywelcome, but no excitement; but it was Thekla, now fifteen, who wasall blushes whenever Hubert looked or spoke to her, all herforwardness gone; and shyness, or decidedly awkwardness, set in, resulting chiefly in giggle. 

Hubert looked more manly and substantial, and he had just had anorder for an important London church, which pleased him much, andinvolved another journey to Italy to study some of the designs in theLombardic churches. 

Not that there was any chance of meeting Vera. Mr. And Mrs. Whitehad spent the last summer at Baden; and Vera, who had many prettylittle drawing-room talents, and was always obliging, had been veryacceptable there. This winter an attack of rheumatism had made themdecide on trying Algiers, with a view to the Atlas marbles, and thenGerman baths again might claim them for the summer. 

In fact, the fear of infection had rendered Rock Quay a desertedplace during the Easter vacation. Fergus Merrifield might not comenear Primrose and Lily, and was charmed to accept an invitation fromhis friend and admirer, Adrian Vanderkist, to Vale Leston, where hewould be able to explore the geology of Penbeacon, to say nothing ofthe coast; while his sister Felicia, who had been one of the victims, remained to be disinfected with Miss Mohun. Dolores was at ValeLeston Priory, and Agatha Prescott with her, so as to have a cleanbill of health for her return to Oxford for her last term. 

The Holy Week was calm and grave; and the two girls, with AnnaVanderkist and her little sisters, were very happy over theirprimroses and anemones on Easter Eve, with the beautiful Altar Crossthat no one could manage like Aunt Cherry, whose work was confined tothat, and to the two crosses on the graves. 

Another notion soon occupied them. There was a vague idea that asort of convalescent or children's hospital might be established forthe training of women intending to study medicine or nursing, chieflyat Miss Arthuret's expense, and Dolores was anxious to consider thepossibility of placing it in the sweet mountain air, tempered by thesea breezes of Penbeacon. 

It was an idea to make Mrs. Grinstead shudder; but neither she norher niece, Anna Vanderkist, could forget Gerald's view that Penbeaconwas not only to be the playground of Vale Leston, and they alwaysfelt as if Dolores had a certain widow's right to influence anydecision. So she cheerfully acquiesced in what, in her secret heart, seemed only a feeble echo of the past, though, to the younggenerations it was a very happy hopeful present when all the youthfulparty, under the steerage of Mary and Anna, and the escort of SirAdrian and Fergus, started off with ponies, donkeys, cycles andsturdy feet to picnic on Penbeacon, if possible in the March winds--well out of the way of the clay works. 

How Fergus divided his cares between the strata and Dolores' kodak, how even his photography could not spoil Aunt Alda; how charming agroup of sisters Dolores contrived to produce; how Adrian was theproud pioneer into a coach adorned with stalactites and antediluvianbones; how Anna collected milkwort and violets for Aunt Cherry; how asly push sent little Joan in a headlong career down a slope thatmight have resulted in a terrible fall, but did only cause a tumbleand great fright, and a severe reprimand from the elder sisters; howAgatha was entranced by the glorious view in the clearness of spring, how they ate their sandwiches and tried to think it was not cold; howgrey east wind mist came over the distance and warned them it wastime to trot down, --all this must belong to the annals of later ValeLeston; and of those years of youth which in each generation leaveimpressions as of sunbeams for life. And on their return, Doloresfound a letter which filled her with a fresh idea. It was from herfather in New Zealand, telling her that there was an opening for herto come and give a course of lectures on electricity at Canterbury, Auckland and the other towns, and proposing to her to come out withher lady assistant, when she might very probably extend her tour toAustralia. 

"Would you come, Naggie?" asked Dolores. 

"Oh! I should like nothing half so well. If you could only waittill my turn is over, and the exam!"

"Of course! Why, we shall not have finished the correspondence tillafter the examination! How capital it will be! My father will likeyour bright face, and you will think him like Fergus grown older. Will your sister consent?"

"Oh! Magdalen will be glad enough to have me off on a career. Wewill write and prepare her mind. I believe I am not to go home, soas to bring a clean bill of health to St. Robert's. "

"I really think, " added Dolores, "that Magdalen would make anadmirable head matron, or whatever you call it!"

"Dear old thing! She is very fond of her Goyle. "

"True, but Sophy's engineer husband tells us that a new line isprojected to Rock Quay, through the very heart of the Goyle, Act ofParliament, compulsory sale and all. "

"Well! work might console her for being uprooted, and she is quiteyouthful enough to take to it with spirit. "

"Besides that she would greatly console Clement and Cherry for theprofanation of their Penbeacon. I declare I will suggest it toArthurine!"

So the two young people resolved, not without a consciousness thatwhat was to them a fresh and inspiring gale, to the elder generationwas "winds have rent thy sheltering bowers. "

CHAPTER XXVII--A SENTENCE

"What should we give for our beloved?"- E. B. BROWNING. 

No sooner had the visitors departed than the others now out ofquarantine appeared at Vale Leston. Angela was anxious to spend alittle time there, and likewise to have Lena overhauled by Tom May. The child had never really recovered, and was always weakly; andwhereas on the journey, Lily, now in high health, was delighted withall she saw, though she could not compare Penbeacon to Adam's Peak, Lena lay back in Sister Angela's arms, almost a dead weight, hardlyenduring the bustle of the train, though she tried not to whine, aslong as she saw her pink Ben looking happy in his cage. 

Angela was an experienced nurse, and was alarmed at some of thesymptoms that others made light of. Mrs. Grinstead had thoughtthings might be made easier to her if the Miss Merrifields came tomeet her and hear the doctor's opinion; and Elizabeth accepted herinvitation, arriving to see the lovely peaceful world in the sweetblossoming of an early May, the hedges spangled with primroses, andthe hawthorns showing sheets of snow; while the pear trees liftedtheir snowy pyramids, and Lily in her white frock darted about thelawn in joyous play with her father under the tree, and the greycloister was gay with wisteria. 

Angela was sitting in the boat, safely moored, with a book in herhand, the pink cockatoo on the gunwale, nibbling at a stick, and thegirl lying on a rug, partly on her lap. Phyllis and Anna, who hadcome out on the lawn, made Elizabeth pause. 

"That's the way they go on!" said Phyllis. "All day long Angela isreading to the child either the 'Water Babies' or the history ofJoseph. "

"Or crooning to her the story of the Cross, " said Anna; "and as soonas one is ended she begins it again, and Lena will not let her missor alter a single word. "

"They go on more than half the night, " added Phyllis. "Bear sat uplong over his letters and accounts, and as he went up he heard thecrooning, and looked in; and the very moment Angela paused, therecame the little plaintive voice, 'Go on, please. ' 'Women arefollowing'--"

"But is not that spoiling her?" asked Bessie. 

A look of sad meaning passed between her two companions. Phyllisshook her head slightly, and, instead of answering, conducted Bessieon to the bank, when Angela looked up and made a sign that she couldnot move or speak, for the child was asleep. The yellow head wasshaded by Angela's parasol, the thin hair lying ruffled on the blackdress, and the small face looked more pinched than when the aunt hadlast seen it, nearly a year previously. She had watched the decay ofaged folks, but she was unused to the illnesses of children; and sherecoiled with a little shock, as she looked down at the little wastedface, with a slight flush of sleep. "Recovery from measles, " shesaid. 

Phyllis smiled a little pitifully as her own little girl, all radiantwith health and joy, came skipping up, performing antics over herfather's hand. "Take care, Lily, don't wake poor little Lena, " wasmurmured quietly. 

"Northern breezes--" began Bessie, but the voices had broken thelight slumber; and as Angela began, "See, Lena, here is Aunt Bessie, "the effect was to make her throw herself over Angela's shoulder andhide her face; and when her protector tried to turn her round andreason her into courtesy, she began to cry in a feeble manner. 

"She has had a bad night, " said motherly Phyllis; "let her alone. "

"May not I get down into the boat?" asked Lily. "I'll be very good. "

There would have been a little hesitation, but at the voice Lenalooked up and called "Lily, Lily!" Bernard lifted his small daughterdown, Elizabeth was not sorry to be led away for the present, andwhen, after a turn in the rose garden, she came back, the twochildren were sitting with arms round one another, holding aconversation with Ben, the cockatoo, and making him dance on one ofthe benches of the boat, under Angela's supervision, lest he shouldend by dancing overboard. The rich fair hair, shining dark blueeyes, and plump glowing cheeks of Lily were a contrast to the wanwasted colouring of her little cousin; but Lena was more herself nowthan when just awake, and let Lily lead her up and introduce her, asit might be called, to Cousin Bessie as Lily called her, a lessformidable sound than "Aunt Elizabeth. " They were both kissed, andshe endured it. Angela was, as her brothers and sisters said, "verygood, " and scrupulously abstained from absorbing the child all theevening, letting Elizabeth show her pictures and tell her stories, towhich, by Lily's example, she listened quietly enough and withinterest. 

When the two children went off, hand in hand, to their beds, Elizabeth said, "Really, Magdalen is improved. If you leave Lilywith her, Phyllis, I think we should get on beautifully. The bracingair will do wonders for them both. "

"Thank you, " said poor Phyllis forbearingly; "we have not made ourplans about Lily yet. "

But Elizabeth thought out a beautiful scheme of discipline and studyin the long light hours of the morning, and began to feel herselfdrawn towards her delicate little niece, feeling sure that the littlething would soon be Susan's darling, if Susan could be brought toendure the cockatoo walking loose about the house. 

Early in the day Professor May appeared, and was hailed as an oldfriend by all the Underwoods. He rejoiced to see Clement lookingwell and active; and "as to this fellow, " he said, looking atBernard, "it shows what development will do. "

"Not quite the young Bear of Stoneborough, " said Clement, leaningaffectionately on his broad shoulder; "our skittish pair are grownvery sober-minded. But you have not told us of your father. "

"My father is very well. He walks down every day to sit with mywife, and visits a selection of his old patients, who are getting fewenough now. This is not my patient, I suppose?"

"Unless you are ready to prescribe only laughing and good Jerseycows' milk, " said Bernard, pulling the long silky brown hair. "Where's mother, little one?"

"Mother sent me to say Aunt Angel is ready, if Dr. May will come upto Aunt Cherry's room. Lena is frightened, and they did not like toleave her. "

It was a long visit, after Phyllis had come down; and, walking up anddown the cloister with Bessie Merrifield, listened to her schemes ofeducation for the little maidens. Lily she liked and admired, andshe was convinced that Magdalen's weak health and spirits were theresult of the spoiling system. Phyllis trembled a little as sheheard of the knocking about, out-of-doors ways that had certainlyproduced fine strong healthy frames and upright characters, but sheforbore to say that if her little girl had to be left, it would be toher mother and Mysie. 

By and by Tom came down, and finding Geraldine alone in the drawing-room, he answered her inquiry with a very grave look. "Poor littlething! You do not think well of her! Is it as Angel feared?"

"Confirmed disease, from original want of development of heart. Measles accelerated it. I doubt her lasting six months, though itmay be longer or less. "

"Have you told Angel?"

"She knew it, more or less. She is ready to bear it, though one cansee how her soul is wrapped up in the child, and the child in her. "

"One thing, Tom, will you tell Miss Merrifield yourself, and alone, and make her feel that it is an independent opinion? It may saveboth the poor child and Angel a great deal. "

"Are you prepared to keep her here?"

"Of course we are. It is Angel's natural home. Clement and I couldthink of nothing else"

"I knew you would say so. If I understand rightly there is somethinglike a jealousy of her case in the Merrifields, prompted greatly bytheir wish to expiate any neglect of her father. "

"That is what I gather from what Phyllis tells me. "

"What a lovely countenance hers is in expression! No wonder Bernardhas softened down. There is strength and solidity as well assweetness in her face. Ah, there they are!"

"I will call Phyllis in. Bessie Merrifield has almost walked her todeath by this time. "

So Phyllis was called and told. What she said was, "I only hope hewill make her understand that it could not be helped, and it was notAngela's fault. "

Tom May had wisdom enough to make this clear in what was a greatershock to Elizabeth than it was to Angela, who had suspected enough tobe prepared for the sentence, and had besides a good deal of hospitalexperience, which enabled her thoroughly to understand theProfessor's explanations. So, indeed, did it seem to Elizabeth atthe time he was speaking; but she had lived a good deal in London, and had a great idea that a London physician must be superior to aman who had lived in the country, and, moreover, whom all thehousehold called Tom, and she asked Mrs. Grinstead if he were reallyso clever. 

"Indeed, I think he is; and I have seen a great deal of histreatment. You may quite trust him. He lives down here atStoneborough for his father's sake, or he would be quite at the headof his profession. "

"Superior to the two Doctors Brownlow?"

"I should not say superior, but quite equal. "

"The Brownlows, " said Clement, looking up from his paper, "helped methrough an ordinary malarial fever. John Lucas is a brilliantspecialist in such cases, but certifying an affection of the heart. Tom May latterly has treated me better. As far as I understand thecase of your little niece, I should say both that it was more in theline of Tom May, and likewise that it would be very hurtful to her totake her about and subject her to more examinations. "

"Poor little thing! no doubt it would be a terrible distress, "acquiesced Bessie; "but still, if it is bracing that she needs--northern air might make all the difference. "

Clement sighed a little hopelessly over making a woman understand orgive way, and returned to his newspaper; while Geraldine tried toargue that air could not make much difference, speaking in theinterest of the child herself and of her sister. Elizabeth listenedand agreed; but there was in the Merrifield family a fervour ofalmost jealous expiation of their neglect of Henry, inattention tohis daughter, and desire to appropriate her, and to restore her tohealth, strength, and wisdom, in spite of her would-be stepmother. 

"They hate me as much as if I were her stepmother!" cried Angela. "Iwish I was, to have a right to protect her! No, Clem; I'll not breakout, if I can help it, as long as they don't worry her; and I thinkBessie does see the rights of it. "

Yes; the peaceful, thoughtful atmosphere of Vale Leston, unlike theactive bustle of Coalham, had an insensible influence on Elizabeth'smind; and she saw that Angela's treatment of the child, alwayscheerful though tender, was right, and that it would be sheer crueltyto separate them. She promised to use all her power to prevent anysuch step, and finally left Vale Leston, perfectly satisfied that itwas impossible to take Lena with her. 

But her family did not see it thus, especially Mrs. SamuelMerrifield, the child's guardian. She insisted that it was herhusband's duty to bring the little one to London for advice, and toremove her from all the weakening, morbid influences of Vale Leston. 

CHAPTER XXVIII--SUMMONED

"What would we give to our beloved?"- E. B. BROWNING. 

"I wish they all would not go so very fast, " said little Lena, hidingher face against him from the whirl of cabs and omnibuses. 

"They bewilder us savages, " said Angela, smiling. "Remember we arefrom the wilds. "

"She shall have her tea, and a good rest, " said Marilda; "and then Ihave asked her uncle and aunts to meet you at dinner, and Fernanhopes to bring home another old friend. Whom do you think, Angel?"

"Oh! Not our Bishop?"

"Yes, the Bishop of Albertstown! He is actually in town; Fernan sawhim yesterday at the Church House. "

"Oh! that is joy!" cried Angela; and Lena raised her head, with, "Isit mine--mine own Bishop?"

"Mine own, mine own Bishop and godfather, my sweet!" said Angela;"more to us in our own way than any one else. Oh! it is joy! Howhappy Clement will be!"

It was with much feeling, almost akin to shame, that Bessie wrote toAngela this decision of her brother, that a London authority must beconsulted--not Dr. Brownlow, but one whom Mrs. Sam had heard highlyspoken of. 

"That man!" cried Angela. "I have heard of him! He is a regularmealy-mouthed old woman of a doctor! And she is so well just now!How horrid to shake her up again! Oh, Bear! if I could only sailaway with her to Queensland!"

"You would if it was ten years ago, " said Bernard. 

"Yes! Is it the way of the world, or learning resignation, thatmakes one know one must submit? Giving up an idol is a worse thingwhen the idol is made of flesh and blood. "

Bernard wanted to see Sir Ferdinand, so made it an excuse for helpinghis sister on the way; and he did so effectively, for his knee andbroad breast were Lena's great resting-place; and his stories ofmonkeys and elephants were almost as good as kangaroos. Was therenot a kangaroo to be seen in London, which she apparently thoughtwould be a place of about the size of Albertstown?

Lady Underwood had insisted on receiving the travellers from ValeLeston in her house in Kensington; and there was her broad, kindlyface looking out for them at the station, and her likewise broad andkindly carriage ready to carry them from it. How natural all lookedto Angela, with all her associations of being a naughty, wild, mischievous schoolgirl, the general plague and problem!

"But always a dear, " said Marilda, with her habit of forgettingeverybody's faults. "Why didn't you bring your wife, Bernard, andyour little girl for this darling's playfellow?"

"She is her best playfellow, " said Angela; "Adela's Joan is toorough, and fitter for Adrian's companion. "

"She is my playfellow, " said Bernard, holding her up. "Look out, Lena. Here's Father Thames to go over. "

"And Fernan is so glad, " added Marilda. 

For Bishop Robert Fulmort had, when Vicar of St. Wulstan's, been theguide and helper of Ferdinand Travis's time of trial anddisappointment, as well as the spiritual father of Clement Underwood;he had known and dealt with Angela in her wayward girlhood, and aidedher bitter repentance; and in these later days in Australia had beenher true fatherly friend, counsellor and comforter in the trials andperplexities that had befallen her. Bernard read, in her lifted headand brightened eye, that she felt the meeting him almost acompensation for the distress and perplexity of this journey toLondon. 

Bernard carried the little girl up to the room and laid her down tosleep off her fatigue, while Marilda waited on her and Angela withher wonted bustling affection, extremely happy to have two of herbest beloved cousins under her roof. 

Bernard went off to find Sir Ferdinand at his office, and quietprevailed till nearly dinner time, when Lena awoke and would not bedenied one sight of her godfather. So Angela dressed her in herwhite frock, and smoothed her thin yellow hair, and took her down tothe great stiff handsome room that all Emilia's efforts had nevermade to look liveable. Emilia Brown was there, very fashionablyattired, but eager for news of Vale Leston, and the Merrifields soonarrived with, "Oh! here she is!" from the Captain, "Well! she looksbetter than I expected!"

"Poor little dear!" observed his wife, dressed in a low dress andthin fringe on her forehead in honour of what, to the country mind, was a grand dinner party, at which Angela's plain black dress andtight white cap were an unbecoming sight. Elizabeth was there, kissing Angela with real sympathy; and Lena, who had grown a gooddeal more accustomed to strange relations, endured the variousembraces without discourtesy. 

But when the door opened and the grey-headed Bishop came in there wasa low half scream of "Oh! oh!" and with one leap she was in his arms, as he knelt on one knee, and clasped her, holding out a hand toAngela, whose eyes were full of tears of relief and trust. Marildagave a glad welcome, but they were startled by perceiving that thejoy of meeting had brought on a spasm of choking on Lena, who wasgasping in a strange sort of agony. Angela took her in her arms andcarried her out of the room. Marilda presently following, came backreporting that the little girl had been relieved by a shower oftears, but was still faint and agitated, and that Angela could notleave her, but begged that they would not wait dinner. 

"Such sensitiveness needs anxious care, " said Elizabeth. 

"If it be not the effect of spoiling. Just affectation!" replied thesister-in-law in a decided voice, which made Bessie glad that thepoor child's home was not to be among the rough boys at Stokesley, who were not credited with any particular feelings. 

Angela's absence gave the Bishop the opportunity of telling what shehad been during her years at Albertstown, what a wonderful poweramong the natives, though not without disappointment, and she hadbeen still more effective among the settlers and their daughters. Carrigaboola, Fulbert's farm, had been an oasis of hope and rest tothe few clergy of his scanty staff, and Fulbert himself had been atower of strength for influence over the settlers who had fallen inhis way, by his unswerving uprightness and honour, with the deeperprinciples of religion, little talked of but never belied. Evenafter his death, the power he had been told over all with whom he hadcome in contact. 

Bernard heard it with immense pleasure, as did the faithful Ferdinandand Marilda; while Elizabeth felt more and more that Sister Angelawas not to be treated, as she feared Sam and his wife were inclinedto do, as a mere interloper in their family affairs, but as one to benot merely considered with gratitude, but even reverenced. 

Indeed, Sam began to feel it, as he saw how the other men, bothpractical business men, listened, and were impressed; but it was notquite the case with his wife, who did not particularly esteemcolonial Bishops, and still less Sisterhoods or devotion tomissionary efforts, especially among the Australian blacks, whom herold geography book had told her were the most degraded and hopelessof natives, scarcely removed from mere animals. 

When Angela appeared half through dinner time and said that Lena wassafely asleep, and Marilda sat her down to be happy in exchange ofCarrigaboola tidings with her Bishop, Fernando greeted her with areverence not undeserved, though perhaps all the more from thecontrast to the mischievous little sprite who used to disturb thedays of his philandering with Alda. 

How much shocked Mrs. Samuel was, when the magnificent Sir Ferdinand, whom she regarded with awe as a millionaire, was flippantly answeredby this extraordinary Sister, "Thank you, Fernan, I should like tohave a sight of the old office. I hope you have a descendant of theold cat, Betty. Didn't she come from your grandmother, Marilda? Doyou remember her being found playing tricks with the nugget, justcome from Victoria?"

"That was in her kitten days, " said Ferdinand. 

"Is that personal, Fernan?"

"A compliment, Angel, " said the Bishop. "Kittens alter a good deal. "

"Not much for the better, " said Angela. "If you only could see Mrs. Lamb, who used to be the very moral of a kitten, scratchiness andall!"

"I thought her very much improved, " said Lady Underwood gravely. 

"Oh, yes; grown into a sleek and personable tabby, able to wave hertail at the tip and tuck her paws--her velvet paws--well under her;and lick her lips over the--oh, dear!--what do you call it?--yourmenu is quite too much for us poor savages, Marilda. A bit of damperis quite enough for us, isn't it, Bishop?"

"Varied with opossum and fern root, " he said smiling; "but that'sonly when we have lost our way. "

The talk drifted off to the history of a shepherd's child, who hadstrayed into the bush, and after much searching, in which the Bishopand Fulbert had been half starved, had finally been found and carriedhome by Angela's "crack gin, " as she told it to Bernard; and asMarilda thought the poor child was in a trap, it had to be translatedinto "favourite pupil, " though Bernard carried on the joke by askingMarilda if she thought the natives cannibals given to the snaring ofmankind. 

Altogether it was a thoroughly merry evening, such as comes to passin the meeting of old friends and comrades in too large numbers forgrave discourse, but with habits of close intercourse andassociations of all kinds. Emilia and her husband tried in allcourtesy not to let the Merrifields feel themselves neglected; andindeed Bessie was only too glad to listen and join at times in thetalk; but it all went outside Mrs. Sam, who was on the wholescandalised at the laughter of a Bishop, and a Sister. Indeed, itwas true that Bishop Fulmort, naturally a grave man, very much so inhis early days, comported himself on this occasion as if he realisedSouthey's wish -

"That in mine age as cheerful I might be, Like the green winter of the holly tree. "

At any rate, that evening was long a bright remembrance. Lena sleptall night, and was so fresh and well in the morning that Angelaforeboded that the examination might not detect her delicacy. Theymet Mrs. Merrifield, and took her with them to the doctor's, LadyUnderwood Travis having placed her carriages at their disposal. 

It was very much as Angela had expected, knowing by hospitalreputation what the doctor was supposed to be to old ladies andfanciful mothers, while perhaps he had also heard of her fracas longago at the hospital. For he was not more courteous to her than couldbe helped, treating her much as if she were only the nursery maid, and hardly looking at the opinion which she had made Professor Maywrite out for him. 

To her mind, it was a very cursory examination that he made; and theupshot of his opinion, triumphantly accepted by Mrs. Merrifield, wasthat there was nothing seriously amiss with the child, that she onlyneeded care, regularity and bracing, and that the stifling, gaspingspasms were simply the effect of hysteria. 

Hysteria! Angela felt as if she should run wild as she heard Mrs. Merrifield's complacent remarks on having always thought so, andbeing sure that a few weeks of good air and good management wouldmake an immense difference. The need of not alarming or prejudicingthe poor little victim was all that kept Angela in any restraint; andMrs. Merrifield went on to say that she had promised her youngestboy, who was with her in London, to take him to the ZoologicalGardens, and it would be a good opportunity for Magdalen to see them. 

"Is that where there is a kangaroo?" asked Lena, so eagerly thatAngela, though thinking that morning's work enough for the feeblestrength, could not withstand her. Besides, if the Merrifields wereto have her wholly in another day, what was the use of standing outfor one afternoon? One comfort was that Elizabeth, who would reallyhave the charge of the child, had much more good sense and knowledgeof the world than her sister-in-law. 

Still Angela felt the only way of bearing it was that after settingMrs. Merrifield down, she stopped the carriage at a church she knewto have a noon-tide Litany, knelt there, with the little girl besideher, and tried to say, "Thy will be done! To Thy keeping I commither. " Her "hours" came to help her. 

"Quench Thou the fires of hate and strife, The wasting fever of the heart, From perils guard her feeble life, And to our souls Thy help impart. "

She was able to be calm, and to utter none of her rage when they cameback to luncheon; and Marilda, declaring she liked nothing so well asseeing children at the Zoo, wished to go with the party. All, saveMrs. Merrifield and her boy, had gone different ways in London, sothere was plenty of room in the barouche. 

The boy's mind was set on riding on the elephant, and they walked onthat way, turning aside, however, to the yard where towered thekangaroo, tall, gentle, graceful and gracious. Lena sprang forwardwith a cry of joy, and clasped her hands; but in one moment the samespasm, at first of ecstasy then of overpowering feeling, becomingagony, came over her, and gasping and choking, Angela held her in herarms and carried her to a seat, holding her up, loosening herclothes; but still she did not come round. Her aunt tried to say, "hysteric. " Some one brought water, but it was of no use--there werestill the labouring gasps, and the convulsive motion. "Let us takeher home, " Marilda said. 

"Nothing but hysterics!" repeated the aunt. "I will stay withJackie. "

Marilda found her servant and the carriage, and in the long drive, afew drops of strong stimulant at a chemist's brought a little reliefthough scarcely consciousness; and when Angela had carried her up toher room, there was a blueness about the lips, a coldness about thefingers, that told much. Marilda had at once sent for Dr. Brownlowas the nearest, and he was at home; but he could only look and donothing, but attempt to revive circulation, all in vain; and withMarilda standing by, with one convulsive clutch of Angela's hand, thetrue mother of her orphaned life, little Lena sank to a peaceful restfrom the tribulations that awaited her here. 

CHAPTER XXIX--SAFE

"Rest beyond all grief and pain, Death to thee is truest gain. "KEBLE. 

Angela's nearest and best friends had anticipated that the peacefulclimax of all her cares would be a relief to her; and so indeed inthe long run it would be to her higher sense, and she would bethankful. But even those who knew her most thoroughly had notestimated the pangs of personal affection and deprivation of thechild she had fostered with a mother's tenderness for seven years, and the absolute suffering of the sudden parting, even though it wasto security of bliss, instead of doubt and uneasiness. 

She was quite broken and really ill with neuralgia and exhaustion, unable to attend the funeral, which the Merrifields wished to have atStokesley, and unfit for anything but lying still with the pinkparrot on the rail below, kindly watched over by good Marilda. Thestrain of many disturbed nights, the perplexities, the struggle forresignation, all coming after a succession of trying events inAustralia, had told heavily upon her. Indeed, no one guessed howmuch she had undergone, physically as well as spiritually, tillMarilda would not be denied the consulting Dr. Brownlow, whoquestioned her closely, and extorted confessions of the longcontinued strain of exertion. Rest was all she needed; and Marildatook care that she had it, bringing Robina up from Minsterham to makeit more effectual, and letting her have visits from her Bishop andfrom Bernard as they could afford the time, both being very andvariously busy. 

Angela had made up her mind to go out to Australia again, and to makeCarrigaboola an endowment for the Sisterhood; but the means of doingthis could best be arranged there, and she intended to go out whenher Bishop should return in the autumn, feeling that her vocation wasthere, though there was a blank in all she had most cared for onearth in that home. 

As soon as she had recovered, she wished to spend a fortnight atDearport, beginning with a retreat that was held there. Rememberingher old career there, and the abrupt close of her novitiate, she feltand spoke as if she was to be received as in penitence, but to theSisters who surrounded her it was more as if they were receiving asaint. 

When she came back to Vale Leston, she had recovered cheerfulness, more equable than it had ever been, and Cherry and Alda found her acharming companion. There was much going on at Vale Leston justthen. Miss Arthuret and Dolores were at Penbeacon, seriouslyconsidering of the scheme of converting the old farm house into akind of place of study for girls who wanted to work at varioustechnicalities, and to fit themselves for usefulness or for self-maintenance. There was to be more or less of the Convalescent Homeor House of Rest in combination, and it had occurred to Dolores thatthere could hardly be a better head of such an establishment thanMagdalen Prescott. 

Magdalen had been asked to the Priory to meet Angela, to whom it wasnow a comfort and pleasure to talk of her treasure, so much less lostto her than in the uncongenial surroundings threatened at Coalham. And the invitation, followed by the proposal, came at a notunpropitious moment. A railway company, after much surveying, muchdisputing, and many heartburnings, were actually obtaining an Act ofParliament, empowering it to lay its cruel hands upon the Goyle, running its viaducts down the ravine of Arnscombe, and destroy allthe peace and privacy! It did much, as Agatha had said, to make thenew scheme of Penbeacon acceptable though. 

"That comes of making one's nest, " she sighed, "and thinking one'sself secure in it for life! Oh! it is worse and more changeable inthis latter century than in any other! Does the world go roundfaster?"

"Of course it does, " said Geraldine. "Think how many fashions, howmany styles, how many ways of thinking, have passed away, even in ourown time. "

"And what have they left behind them?"

"Something good, I trust. Coral cells, stones for the nextgeneration of zoophytes to stand upon to reach up higher. "

"Is it higher?"

"In one sense, I hope. The same foundation, remember, and each cellforms a rock for the future--a white and beautiful cell, remember, asit grows unconsciously, beneath this creature. "

Magdalen smiled, delighted with the illustration. 

"It forms into the rocks, the strong foundations of the earth, " shesaid. 

"When it has undergone its baptism beneath the sea, " added Geraldine. "But practically and unpoetically, perhaps--how the young folk mountupon all our little achievements in Church matters, and think themnearly as old-fashioned and despicable as we did pews and blackgowns! Or how attempts like the schools that brought up Robina andAngela have shot out into High Schools, colleges, professions, and Iknow not what besides. "

"Ah! we come to my old notions for my sisters. I thought they wouldhave been governesses like myself, but they married; and now tell me, what do you think of this scheme of Miss Mohun and Agatha?"

"You know Dolores is going to her father first. I never saw him, butLady Merrifield and Jane tell me he is a very wise, highly-principledperson, perfectly to be trusted; and they like all that they haveheard of his young wife. I should think if Agatha is to become ascientific lecturer, she could not begin her career under bettertraining. "

"Career, exactly! People used not to talk of careers. "

"Life and career! Tortoise and hare, eh? But the hare may and oughtstill to reach the goal, and have her cell built, even if she doeshave her wander yahr, like the young barnacles, before becomingattached! No! she need not become the barnacle goose. That isfabulous, " said Mrs. Grinstead, laughing off a little of herseriousness, and adding, "Tell me of the other girls. I think Veradid not come home last year. "

"No; nor the year before. She has a good many pretty little talents, and is very obliging. Mrs. White seems to be very fond of her, anddid not want to spare her when they went to Gastein for the summer. And this year, when there was so much infection about, I could notpress it. "

"Is it true that there is anything between her and Petros White?"

"I know Miss Mohun--Jane--infers it, but I don't like to build uponit. "

"I should build on most inferences that Jane Mohun ventured to makeknown, " said Geraldine, smiling; "and Paulina's fate is pretty wellfixed, I suppose!"

"Dear child, she has never had any other purpose since I first knewher thoroughly, and I do not think her present stay at Dearport willdisenchant her. I think she is really devoted, not to thetheoretical romance of a Sisterhood, but to the deeper full purposeof self-devotion. "

"I can fully believe it of her. Hers have not been the ups and downsof my Angela, though indeed, after all she has gone through, there issomething in her face that brings to my mind, 'After that ye havesuffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you. '"

"It is a lovely countenance--so patient, and yet so bright. "

"I do not think anything in all her life has tried her so much as thedistress about little Lena; and after knowing her wildness--to use aweak word for it--under other troubles, I see what grace and self-control have done for her. You still keep your Thekla!" she added, as the girl flashed by, in company with a coeval Vanderkist. 

"For a few years to come, though I am beginning to feel like the oldhens who do but bring their children up to launch them on thewaters. "

"Well, it is happy if the launch can be made with hope present aswell as faith; and to see what Angel has become after manyvicissitudes, not confined to her first years of youth, is an immenseencouragement. "

To Angela's great delight, the affairs of Brown and Underwood werefound to require inspection at San Francisco, as well as at Colombo, where Bernard was to put the firm into the hands of one of theBrowns, who was to meet him there, and he would then be able to comehome to the central office in England. 

It was not expedient for Phyllis to make the voyage for so brief astay, so it was decided that she should remain with her mother, andshe declared that she should be happy about Bernard being taken careof if Angela, before settling in at Carrigaboola, would go and staywith him at Ceylon. "No one can tell the pleasure it is, " she saidto Magdalen, "to borrow one's own especial brother from his wife fora little while. Oh, yes, I know it goes against the grain with him, and it is right it should; but the poor old sister enjoys her treatnevertheless and notwithstanding. "

There was a great family gathering at Vale Leston, including both theHarewoods; and the Bishop of Albertstown came to spend that lastfortnight in England with Clement, the boy who had been committed tohim as a chorister, then trained as a young deacon, and almost drivenout in his inexperience to the critical charge of the neglectedparish and the old squire, only to be recalled after seven years tothe more important charge in London on the Bishop's appointment, there to serve till strength gave way, and he must perforce return tohis former home. There was a farewell picnic of the elders atPenbeacon, merry and yet wistful in its hopeful auguries that theloved play place would be a glad and beneficial home. 

It was a strange retrospect, talked over by the two old friends indeep thankfulness, yet humility over their own shortcomings andfailures, and no less strange were the recollections of the wildnoisy insubordinate schoolgirl whom the Bishop's sister had failed totame, and who had to both seemed to live only on sensation, whetherreligious or secular, and who had been one continual care andperplexity to each. By turns they had thought that the full Churchsystem acted as a hotbed on her peculiar temperament, and at othersthey had thought it only an alternative to the amusements of vanityand flirtation. Each had felt himself a failure with regard to her, and had hoped for a fresh start from each crisis of repentance, notably, from the death of Felix, only to be disappointed by somefresh aberration. 

However, in Queensland, her work had been noble, and thoroughlyeffective in many cases; it had involved much self-denial and evendanger, and though these might agree with her native spirit ofadventure, there had likewise been not fitful, but steadily earnestdevotion in her convent life, as well as the tenderest reverent careof Mother Constance in a long and painful decline, and therewith asteady cheerful influence which had immensely assisted the growth ofFulbert's character. For some years past, Sister Angela had been nota care, but a trusty helper to the Bishop; and the later trials anddifficulties, especially the sore rending of the tie with the beingshe had come to love with all the force of her strong nature, hadbeen borne in a manner that bore witness to the subduing of thatover-rebellious and vehement spirit. 

And, as she said to Geraldine on the last evening as they bade good-night, "This has been the very happiest time I ever spent here--yes, happier than in those exultant days of new possession and liberty. Oh, yes, all experiments, as it were, bold ventures, self-reproachand failure, defiance and fun, and then--oh, the ache I would notconfess, the glory of being provoking, and, oh, the final anguish Ibrought on myself and on you all; and I went on, when it began towear away, still stifling the sting which revived whenever I camehome, and all was renewed! Really, whenever I shammed it was onlyremorse. I don't think that real repentance, and the peace after it, began till those quiet days with dear Mother Constance. "

"And is it peace now?"

"Yes, I think so. Even the parting with my child has not torn me up. I can say it is well--far better than leaving her, far better, indeed! And Felix is what he meant to be, my treasure, not myaccuser. Oh, I am glad to have been at home, and made it all up, tobear away--and leave with you the sense of Peace. "

All who had loved and feared for her were very happy over her whenall joined in that farewell service on her own birthday, St. Michaeland All Angels' Day. 

The party were joined by Dolores and Wilfred at Liverpool; Bernardhaving undertaken to establish the latter at Colombo in hands as safeas might be. 

CHAPTER XXX--THE MAIDEN ROCKS

"What need we more if hearts be true, Our voyage safe, our port in view. "- KEBLE. 

A telegram that a steamer had been wrecked on the Maiden Rocks filledthree homes with dismay. The rocks were sought out in maps, andfound to be specks lying between County Antrim and Scotland--no doubtterrible in their reality. 

Another day brought something more definite. It WAS the Afra, --"wrecked in the fog of October 11th. Boats got off. "

That was all; but a day's post brought letters, of which the fullestwas from Dolores:

"CORNCASTLE, LARNE, CO. ANTRIM, IRELAND, October 12. 

"DEAREST AUNT LILY, -

"I trust Phyllis has by this time heard from Bernard, as I heard himcalled on, as a good oarsman, to go in the first boat, and we sawAngela's bonnet. We--that is Wilfred, Nag, and the Bishop--are allsafe here, with eight or nine others. Will will do well, I trust. He quite owes his life to Nag. This is how it was: We had not longbeen out of the Mersey before an impenetrable fog came down upon us, and we could not see across the deck; but on we went, on what provedto be our blind way, till, after a night and day, just as we weregetting up from dinner, there came a hideous shock and concussion, throwing us all about the room; and in less than a minute it wasrepeated, with horrible crackings, tearings, yells and shouts. Noone needed to tell us what it meant, and down came the call, 'Don'twait to save your things, only wraps, ladies! Up on deck! Life-belts if you can!' I remember Bernard standing at the top of theladder, helping us up, and somehow, I understand from him, that wewere on a reef, and might either remain there, and sink, or be washedoff. The fog was clearing, and there was a dim light up high, somewhere, one of the lighthouses, I believe. I don't quite know howit all went; I think we kept in the background, round the Bishop, andthat a boat full of emigrant women was put off. I know there wereonly about half a dozen women left, who had been crying and refusingto leave their husbands; and about thirty altogether, men and women, were somehow got into our boat with the chief mate; the Bishop allconsolation and prayer; poor Wilfred limp, cold and trembling, for hehad been very seasick till the last moment, when Bernard pulled himout of his berth, and put him into a lifebelt. The sea was not veryrough, with an east wind; but the mate said the current was so stronghe could make no way against it. It would bring us on to the Irishcliffs, and then, God help us! Knowing what that coast is, I thoughtthere was no hope; and as it was beginning to grow light there rosean awful wall, all black and white, ready to close upon us; but justas I set my teeth and tried to recollect prayers, or follow theBishop's, but I could only squeeze Agatha harder and harder, therewas a fresh shouting among the men, and the boat was heaved up in afearful way, then down. It was tide, and we were near upon breakers;but there were answering shouts, or so they said--I believe a linewas thrown, and a light shown. But as the boat rose again, Nag and Iexpected to be hurled on the rocks the next moment, and clungtogether. But instead--though the waves had almost torn us asunder--we were lying on a stony beach, and human hands were dragging at us--voices calling and shouting about our not being dead. God had helpedus! We had been carried into a clift where there is a coastguardstation; and the good men had come down and were helping us on shore. But before I well knew anything, Agatha was on her feet; I heard hercry 'Wilfred, Wilfred!' and then I saw her dragging him, quite like adead thing, out of the surf, just in time before another great waverushed in which would have washed them both back, if a man had notgrappled her at the very moment, calling out, 'Let go, let go, he's adead man!' She did not let go; when the wave broke, happily, justshort of them, and another came to help, and saved them from beingsucked back. Then the Bishop came and assured us that he was alive, and got the men to carry him up to the coastguard cottages; indeed, it was an awful escape; for of our boatload most were lostaltogether, three lie dead, dashed against the rock, and two more, the mate one of them, have broken limbs. Wilfred was unconscious fora long time, at least an hour; but by the help of spoonfuls ofwhiskey he came round to a dreamy kind of state, and he does not seemto suffer much; and the Bishop, the Preventive man and Nag all aresure no limbs are broken, but he seems incapable of movement excepthis hands. It may be only jar upon the spine, and go off in anotherday or two; but we do not dare to send for a doctor, or anythingelse, indeed, till we have some money; for we all of us have losteverything except five shillings in my pocket and two in Nag's. Evenour wraps were washed off--I believe Agatha gave hers to a shiveringwoman in the boat. The Bishop, too, gave away his coat, forgettingto secure his purse. But the people are very kind to us--North, orScotch Irish Presbyterians, I think--for they don't seem to know whatto make of his being a Bishop when they found he was not R. C. , thoughthey call him His Reverence. Please send us an order to get cashed, at Larne, six miles off, where this is posted. Wilfred lies on thegood Preventive woman's bed, clean and fairly comfortable, and theyhave made a shake-down in their parlour for Nag and me. The BishopSAYS he is well off, but I believe he is always looking after themate and the other man in the other house, and sleeps, if at all, ina chair. Nag is THE nurse. She had ambulance lessons, you know, when at the High School, and profited by them more than I ever did, and Wilfred likes to have her about him, and when he is dazed, as healways is at first waking, he calls her Vera. But don't be uneasyabout him, dear Aunt Lily. Deadly sea-sickness, a night of tossingand cold, and then this terrible landing may well upset him, andprobably he will be on his legs by the time you get this letter. 

"I find our disaster was on the Maiden Rocks, a horrible group, Ionly wonder that any one gets past them. There are five of them, thewicked Sirens, and three have lighthouses, but not very efficientones, and apt to disappear in the fog, and there are reefs beneath onone of which we came to grief. The folk here think a wreck on theseMaidens absolutely fatal, so we cannot be but most thankful for beingalive, though it is a worse experience than the Rotuma earthquake. 

"Fergus would think the place worth all we have undergone. The cragsare wonderful, chalk at the bottom, basalt above, and of course allround to the Giant's Causeway it is finer still. Well may we, as theBishop is always doing, give thanks that we were taken, by the DivineHand guiding tide and current, to this milder and less inhospitableopening. 

"We can afford to dispense with less majesty, for one of those finercliffs would have been our destruction. 

"This is going to Larne, where there is a railway station andsomething of a town, and the Bishop has written to the doctor of theplace. I will write again when he has been here. I hope to send youanother and more cheery account to-morrow, or whenever post goes. 

"Nag is writing to her sister. I trust you will have heard ofBernard and Angela. Their boat was a better one than ours, andcertainly got off safely. Let us know as soon you can. 

"Your most loving niece, "D. M. MOHUN. "

Agatha had also written to Magdalen, very briefly, to assure her ofher safety and thankfulness, and to say she could not leave Wilfredtill more efficient care arrived, or till she had means to come backwith. She was evidently too busy over her patient to have muchpossibility of writing, even if she had paper, which seemed to bescarce at Corncastle. 

The Bishop also wrote to Clement, and to Sir Jasper and others; buthe also could say little, only that he trusted that Angela andBernard were safe elsewhere, having heard them called, and, as hebelieved, seen them off in the first boat, so that probably they hadbeen already heard of before these letters arrived. Their own partyhad been spared from being dashed against the rocks almost by amiracle; and Agatha Prescott's courage and readiness, as now hernursing faculties, were beyond all praise, as indeed was the bravepatience of Miss Mohun. He could only look on and be thankful, andhope for tidings of those who were as his own children. The nextday's letters spoke of the doctor as so much perplexed about Wilfred, and nothing had been heard at Larne of the other boats. 

But no tidings came; there was too much cause to fear that the firstboat had been borne away by the currents and swamped. LadyMerrifield could not leave Phyllis in such a crisis of suspense, andSir Jasper was hardly fit for such a journey, so that his wife wasmuch relieved when her brother, General Mohun, came to Clipstone, andundertook to hasten out to Corncastle, with money and appliances, including a nurse. 

"Oh, Reggie, always good at need! I hardly dare to send my good oldHalfpenny--!"

"No, Mamma, send me. You know I had the ambulance lessons with Nag, "said Mysie, "and we could get a real nurse from Belfast or Dublin, ifit was wanted. "

So it was arranged, and uncle and niece started, but hope faded moreand more! Were those two precious young lives so early quenched?

CHAPTER XXXI--THE WRECK

"How purer were earth, if all its martyrdoms, If all its struggling sighs of sacrificeWere swept away!"E. HAMILTON KING. 

No tidings of Bernard and Angela. The suspense began to diminishinto "wanhope" or despair; and the brothers and sisters continued tosay that they were sorry above all for Phyllis, whose gentlesweetness had made her one with them. 

But at last, one forenoon, a telegram was put into Clement's hand, dated from Ewmouth:

Muriel Ellen, Ewmouth Harbour, October 14th. Blaine to Rev. Underwood. Brother here. Come to infirmary. 

Clement and Geraldine lost no time in driving to the infirmary, tooanxious to speak to one another. Blaine's name was known to them asa Gwenworth lad, who had gone to sea, and risen to be sailing masterof the Muriel Ellen, a trader plying between Londonderry and Bristol. He, with another, who proved to be the American captain of the Afra, were at the gate of the hospital, where an ambulance had justentered. 

"Oh! Sir, " as Clement held out his hand, "I could not save her. I'dhave given my life!"

"My brother?" as Clement returned his grasp fervently. 

"We've just got him in here, Sir. I hope! I hope! And here's thedoctor. "

The house surgeon, who, of course, knew the Rector of Vale Leston, met him with, "Best see him before we touch him, it will set his mindat rest--You must be prepared, Sir--No, better not you, Mrs. Grinstead. "

Clement followed in silence, leaving Geraldine to the care of thematron. All he was allowed to see was a ghastly, death-like face andform, covered with rugs, lying prostrate on a mattress; but as hecame in, at the sound of his step, there was a quiver of recognition, the eyes opened and looked up, the lips moved, and as Clement bentdown with a kiss, there was a faint sound gasped out, "Telegraph toClipstone. "

"I will, I will at once. "

"It was noble!" Then was added, "She gave herself for the Bishop, for me. " Then the eyes closed, and unconsciousness seemed toprevail. Some one came and put Clement aside, saying -

"Go now, Sir; you shall hear!"

Clement, who thought it might be death, would have stayed at hand;but he was turned away, and could only murmur an inarticulateblessing and prayer, as he meant to fulfil the earnest desire thatwas thought to have been conned over and over again by Bernard, asthese half sentences recurred again and again in semi-consciousness. His telegram despatched, Clement returned to his sister, to hear fromthe two masters all they had to tell. Captain Miller, of the Afra, had slight hurts, which had been looked to before he should take thetrain for London; and Blaine had waited to tell his story beforepursuing his voyage to Bristol, both, indeed, to hear the report ofthe patient, and likewise to collect the news of the few who had beenlanded at Corncastle, to the great relief of Captain Miller; but ofthe first boat there were no tidings, and Blaine thought there waslittle probability that it had not sunk or been dashed against thecrags of the savage coast. 

Captain Miller's account was, that not long after leaving the Mersey, there had set in an impenetrable fog, lasting for a night and a day. There was perhaps some confusion as to charts, and the scarcelyvisible lights upon the Maidens. At any rate, the Afra had suddenlystruck on a reef, and, shifting at once, had been hopelessly rent, soas to leave no hope save in the boats. Every one seemed to havebehaved with the resolute fortitude and unselfishness generally shownby English and Americans in the like circumstances. The sea was notin a dangerous state, and there was a steady east wind, so that theboats were lowered without much difficulty, and most of the womendisposed of in the first. 

Before the second could be put off however, the water had reached thefires; there was a violent lurch, the ship had heeled completelyover, washing many overboard, and of course causing a great confusionamong those who had been steady before, and making the deck almostperpendicular. The captain, however, succeeded in lowering anotherboat, and putting into it, as he trusted, the few remaining women, the Bishop, and most of the men. This was, of course, that which hadsafely reached Corncastle, and of which he only now heard. The lastboat was so overcrowded that he, with three of his crew, had thoughtit best to remain for the almost desperate chance of being picked upbefore they sank. 

He had supposed Mr. Underwood had been washed overboard in theheeling over of the ship, and that his sister had been put into thefirst boat; but presently he heard a call. 

"Oh, help me, please!" And he became aware that Sister Angela washanging over her brother, who lay crushed by a heavy chest which hadfallen on him, and thrown him against the gunwale, though a moan ortwo showed him to be still alive. The remaining sailors removed theweight, lifted him, and laid him in the best place and position theycould, while his sister hung over him and supported his head. ToMiller's dismayed exclamation at finding a woman still on board, shereplied -

"It was no fault of yours. I hid below. Other lives--the Bishop's--were what mattered! I am glad to be here!"

He believed that Mr. Underwood had revived enough to know his sister, for he had heard her voice talking to him. Yes, and singing; but itwas not for very long. The wreck was in motion, being carried bycurrent and tide along the Channel, and if it did not sink, might beperceived now that daylight had come, and a signal of distress mightbe seen by some passing vessel. 

Seen it was, in fact, and that there were persons to be rescued; andBlaine, who was on his way from Londonderry to Bristol, in the MurielEllen, a cattle-boat, possessed a boat in which to attempt a rescue. 

All that experienced sailors could do in transferring the helplessand unconscious form to the boat first, and then to the sloop hadbeen done; but it was no wonder that in the transit Angela, moreheedful of her brother's safety than her own, had fallen between, andbeen lost in the waves, to the extreme grief of Tom Blaine, who hadbeen one of her scholars, and devoted to her, as all the boys of ValeLeston were. 

The cattle-boat had few facilities for comfort, and all he could dowas to let Mr. Bernard Underwood lie, as softly as could becontrived, on deck, and make sail for Ewmouth, so as to land him asnear home as possible. How far he had been conscious it wasimpossible to say, though once he had asked for Angela, but hadseemed to understand from an evasion, that she was missing, and hadsaid no more, but muttered parts of these requests, as if afraid ofnot being capable of them. 

All this had been told or implied, while messages came down that thesurgeons did not think the injuries need be mortal, provided theexhaustion and exposure had not fatal consequences. The left arm, two ribs, and the leg had been broken, and were reduced before thedoctors ventured on a hopeful report with which to send home thebrother and sister. One sight, Clement was allowed of a moreunconscious, but much less distressed face, and one murmur, "Noble!Phyllis!" and he was promised a telegram later in the day. The twohardly knew which to feel most; grief or thankfulness, the loss orthe mercy, and yet--and yet--after the fitful, wayward, yet alwaysdevout life, with all its strains, there was a sense of wistfulacceptance of such a close. 

They felt it all the more deeply when, a day or two later, Bernardwas able to say, at intervals, for the injury rendered speechdifficult and almost dangerous, as Clement leant over him -

"Yes! I woke to see her face over me, all bright in wavy hair justas when we were children, and she said, 'Bear! Bear! we are goingtogether!' Then somehow she tried to help me to trust for Phyllisand Lily. "

Then his voice sank, but presently he added, "There was more, but itis like a dream. She was singing in her own, own voice. There was'Lead, kindly Light!' and when it came to 'Angel faces smile' therewas a cry--quite glad--'There! there on the water! Felix! Comingfor us! Oh! and another One! Lord, into Thy hands. ' That is all Iknow--a kiss here, and 'Yes! thanks! For me!' But the lifting hurtso much that I lost all sense, when she must have fallen between thewreck and the boat. You are glad for her! Mine own! mine Angel!"

"Safe home!" said Clement. "Oh, thankworthy!"

CHAPTER XXXII--ANCHORED

"Safe home, safe home in port, Rent cordage, shattered deck;Torn sails, provision short, And only not a wreck;But all the joy upon the shore, To tell our voyage the perils o'er!"

Safe home! It might be said in another sense for Bernard, for he wasnaturally so strong and healthy that the effects of exposure andexhaustion were not long in passing off, the injury to the chestproved to be only temporary; and having cased him like a statue inplaster of Paris, the surgeons decided, to the joy of his family, that the more serious injuries would be better recovered from in thefresh air of Vale Leston, than in the fishy, muddy atmosphere ofEwmouth. 

So he was transported thither, and installed in Felix's study, amongthe familiar sights and sounds, and where another joy awaited him, and where he lay in happy stillness. 

Phyllis had borne up bravely through the suspense, neverrelinquishing a strong assurance of hope; but when that hope wasactually crowned by the first telegram, the reaction set in, and shehad broken down so entirely that her mother durst not let her move atfirst, and indeed accompanied her and her little girl as far as thejunction, being herself on the way to Larne. 

And Geraldine's heart was at peace when she saw Phyllis sitting bythe bed, her hand in his, content to see and not to speak. Anothervisitor appeared the following day, namely, the Bishop ofAlbertstown, who had remained at Larne till he could see his fellowpassengers in safe hands. Then he had crossed to Bristol, and beforehis hurried visit to his sisters he could not but come to see hisbeloved old pupil, Clement, and share with him those reminiscences ofher, who, as he had only now learnt, had given her youngsuperabundant life for him, a man growing into age, whose work mightbe nearly done. 

He only saw Bernard in silence, but heard from Clement the account ofthose last moments, which showed how entirely Angela had beenconscious of what she was doing, and how willingly she had devotedherself to save those whom she loved and valued. 

While yet they talked, there was a fresh arrival. Sir FerdinandTravis Underwood, who could not forbear the running down to hearperfectly all that was to be heard, and to make arrangements thatmight relieve Bernard's mind, if he were indeed on the way ofrecovery. 

In fact, almost the first thought after that of the wife and childhad been the security of the drenched, stained, and soiled pocket-book; nor would the patient be satisfied till he had been allowedhimself to hand it over to the head of his firm, with, "There, Fernan, safe, though smashed with me. Tell Brown. "

"Never mind Brown or anything else but getting well, Bernard. I havetaken our passage for next week. I shall get things arranged so thatyou need not think of being wanted again out there. We will find aberth for you in the office in town, as soon as you are about again. "

Bernard's eye lightened. "I hope--"

But Ferdinand would not let him either thank or hope, scarcely evenallow any words from Phyllis, who could not be grateful enough forthe relief. To Alda, who had received her old companion, sinceMarilda seemed unable to let her husband out of her sight; it wasexplained that she was going too, happen what would. Oh, yes, it wastrue she was a shocking bad sailor, but she was not going to haveFernan's ships running upon rocks or getting on fire, or anything ofthat sort, without her. She wanted to see about LudmillaSchmetterling, who was reported to have found a lover while studyingat a class in the States, and she also meant to settle her ownespecial niece Emilia, whose husband was to take Bernard's place inCeylon and who had become heartily tired of London's second-rategaieties. 

Those thus concerned met at the memorial service in the morningbefore the Bishop quitted them, where many parishioners gathered whohad been spellbound in Angela's freakish days of early girlhood, andwho were greatly touched when the committal to the deep was insertedfrom the Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea. 

It brought a deep sense of awe and thankfulness to those who hadfeared and wondered through the stormy uncertain life, and now couldexult in what was almost a martyrdom, and had brought their belovedone to the great pure grave, as her Baptism for eternity. 

Some months later, while Bernard still lay on his couch, but couldspeak and be glad, he rejoiced indeed, for a sore in his heart washealed, when two fair babes were brought to him, --a boy who would beas another firstborn son, and a little maiden who would bear thatname which had become dear and saintly in the peculiar calendar ofVale Leston. 

CHAPTER XXXIII--FAREWELL

"Nay, your pardon! Cry you, 'Forward. ' Yours are youth, we hope--but I?"- BROWNING. 

The visit of the Bishop of Albertstown had, in fact, been deferredtill he could quit his fellow-sufferers, especially Wilfred, whocould not well be left to the charge of the two girls, with the Larnedoctor evidently in difficulty about his case. 

It was with great joy that a telegram was received with tidings thatGeneral Mohun and Mysie were on the way, and also Magdalen Prescott, who met them at Liverpool, being unable to stay away from Agathaunder such circumstances. At Belfast they obtained a trained nurse, and a doctor was to follow them. 

The joy of the meeting between Magdalen and Agatha was almost that ofmother and daughter, and nothing could be more entirely convincingthat they were one. 

Indeed, Agatha was thoroughly worn out; for the main strain ofattendance had fallen upon her, since the Bishop was fully occupiedwith some of the seriously hurt in other cottages; and though Dolorestried to be helpful, it was chiefly in outside work, and attempts atsick cookery, in which she was rather too scientific, and found thelack of appliances very inconvenient. Besides, cousin though shewas, or perhaps for that very reason, Wilfred was far less amenableto her voice than Agatha's; and if she attempted authority it wassure to rouse all the resistance left in him. Agatha had beenconstantly on the alert, liable to be called on every half-hour, tosoothe fretful distress over impossible impatience at delay, anger atwant of comforts, and dolefulness over the chances of improvements, and abuse, whether just or not, of the only accessible doctor. 

In fact, Magdalen, on seeing how utterly worn out she was, and howlittle space the cottages afforded, thought it best, now that thepatient was in the hands of sister, uncle, and nurse, to carry heroff at once by the return car to Larne; and Dolores thought it bestto accompany them, after Mysie had hung on her as one restored fromdeath. But Mysie was absorbed in her brother, and Dolores had astrong yearning to be with her father, so strong that she decided notto return to England, but to procure a second outfit at Belfast, andto set forth again from thence, nothing daunted, for, as she said(not carelessly), such things did not happen immediately after, in asecond voyage. In fact, though thankful and impressed by the loss ofthe others, she had gone through the crisis of the life of her heartand affections, and she had likewise been once in imminent perilthrough a convulsion of nature. Thus she was inclined to look on thewreck and the Irish cliffs as an experience in the way of business, so she was resolved to see the Giant's Causeway, and to make notesupon it for her lectures. 

But it was a different thing with Agatha. She had been brought faceto face with death; and though the actual time had been spent inhurry and bustle, and even the subsequent tossing in the boat hadbeen not so much waiting and thinking as attending to others moreterrified and injured than herself, and there followed the incessantwaiting on Wilfred; still the experiences had worked in. She restedvery silently, dwelling little to Magdalen on her thoughts; but eachword she said, and her very countenance, showed that she had made agreat step in life and realised the spiritual world, which hithertohad been outside her life--not disbelieved, but almost matter ofspeculation and study. 

She was not at all desirous of falling back from Dolores, whose gravesteadiness and fortitude, the result of a truly brave and deep trust, had given her a sense of confidence and protection. So they wrote, and arranged for their passage, and, with Magdalen, spent theintermediate time in needful preparations at Belfast, and in anexpedition to the Causeway, where they laid in a stock of notes andobservations, all in a spirit that made Magdalen feel that she knewboth in a manner she had never done before, and loved them with adeep value and confidence. 

Wilfred meanwhile made very slow, if any, progress. 

They took him to Belfast as soon as it was possible, and his mothercame to him. He was gentle and quiet, with little power of movement, and scarcely any of thought; and in a consultation of doctors, theverdict was given that he must be carefully tended for months, if notfor years to come; and though there might finally be full recovery, yet it would depend on the most tender and careful treatment of bodyand mind. London doctors, when he could be moved thither, confirmedthe decision, and he began a helpless invalid life, in which acertain indifference and dulness made him a much less peevish andtrying patient than would have been anticipated. Mysie was hiswilling, but intelligent slave; and his mother was not only thankfulto have him brought back to her at any price, but really--though shewould not have confessed it even to herself--was less troubled andanxious about him than she had been since he had begun to "roam inyouth's uncertain wilds. " Indeed, there were hopes that slowrecovery might find him a much changed person in character. 

He had become so uninterested in his former predilections that heheard with little emotion that Vera was to marry Petros White. 

"I thought she would take up with some cad, " he said. But his familywere really glad that this wedding was to take place at Rocca Marina, whither the two sisters and Magdalen were invited. 

Paulina would not go. She still resented the treatment of HubertDelrio, and she was devoted to her study of nursing at the DearportSisterhood; but Magdalen thought it right to take Thekla, and giveher the advantages of improvement in languages, and the sight of finescenery. 

And certainly Rocca Marina was a wonderful place for marriages. Vera, handsome and happy and likely to turn into a fairly goodcommonplace wife, had no sooner been sent off on a honeymoon tour toGreece and Egypt, and Mrs. White had begged the other two to prolongtheir visit, considering, perhaps, if one or the other aunt or niececould not be promoted to the vacant post of lady-in-waiting, thanHubert Delrio came to secure specimens of marble for some mosaic workon which he was engaged. He was fast becoming a man of mark, whomthe Whites were delighted to receive and entertain, and who wasdelighted to be with the old friends who had had so great aninfluence on his life. And was it Magdalen alone to whom he chieflylooked up as his helper and guide? So he thought; but before thetime of separation had come, he had found out that Thekla was farprettier than ever Vera had been, and with a mind and principle--noFlapsy, but a real sympathetic and poetic nature, which had grown upin these years. Young as she was, their destinies were fixed. 

And Magdalen? The railroad had obtained authority to pass throughthe Goyle, and thus break up her home and shelter. Still she was nottempted by Adeline White's desire to make her a companion; but rathershe accepted the plan on which Dolores had first started, and onwhich Elizabeth Merrifield and Miss Arthuret were set, of making herthe head of their home at Penbeacon, partly a convalescent home, andpartly a training college for young women in need of technicalinstruction in nursing or other possible feminine avocations. TomMay was delighted with all it might set on foot, and Clement saw inher leading the hopes that a high and pure spirit might inspire it. 

Footnotes:

{100} It is Russian, and means Faith.