THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY by Charlotte M. Yonge From the 1880 edition published by MacMillan and Co. , London. CHAPTER I. IN SEARCH OF A MISSION "Thou didst refuse the daily round Of useful, patient love, And longedst for some great emprise Thy spirit high to prove. "--C. M. N. "Che mi sedea con l'antica Rachele. "--DANTE. "It is very kind in the dear mother. " "But--what, Rachel? Don't you like it! She so enjoyed choosing it foryou. " "Oh yes, it is a perfect thing in its way. Don't say a word to her; butif you are consulted for my next birthday present, Grace, couldn't yousuggest that one does cease to be a girl. " "Only try it on, Rachel dear, she will be pleased to see you in it. " "Oh yes, I will bedizen myself to oblige her. I do assure you I am notungrateful. It is beautiful in itself, and shows how well nature can beimitated; but it is meant for a mere girl, and this is the very day Ihad fixed for hauling down the flag of youth. " "Oh, Rachel. " "Ah, ha! If Rachel be an old maid, what is Grace? Come, my dear, resignyourself! There is nothing more unbecoming than want of perception ofthe close of young-ladyhood. " "Of course I know we are not quite young girls now, " said Grace, halfperplexed, half annoyed. "Exactly, from this moment we are established as the maiden sisters ofAvonmouth, husband and wife to one another, as maiden pairs always are. " "Then thus let me crown, our bridal, " quoth Grace, placing on hersister's head the wreath of white roses. "Treacherous child!" cried Rachel, putting up her hands and tossing herhead, but her sister held her still. "You know brides always take liberties. Please, dear, let it stay tillthe mother has been in, and pray don't talk, before her of being so veryold. " "No, I'll not be a shock to her. We will silently assume our immunities, and she will acquiesce if they come upon her gradually. " Grace looked somewhat alarmed, being perhaps in some dread ofimmunities, and aware that Rachel's silence would in any one else havebeen talkativeness. "Ah, mother dear, good morning, " as a pleasant placid-looking ladyentered, dressed in black, with an air of feeble health, but of comelymiddle age. Birthday greetings, congratulations, and thanks followed, and the motherlooked critically at the position of the wreath, and Rachel forthe first time turned to the glass and met a set of features of anirregular, characteristic cast, brow low and broad, nose retrousse, withlarge, singularly sensitive nostrils quivering like those of a high-bredhorse at any emotion, full pouting lips, round cheeks glowing withthe freshest red, eyes widely opened, dark deep grey and decidedlyprominent, though curtained with thick black lashes. The glossy chestnuthair partook of the redundance and vigour of the whole being, and theroses hung on it gracefully though not in congruity with the thickwinter dress of blue and black tartan, still looped up over the darkpetticoat and hose, and stout high-heeled boots, that like the greycloak and felt hat bore witness to the early walk. Grace's countenanceand figure were in the same style, though without so much of mark oranimation; and her dress was of like description, but less severelyplain. "Yes, my dear, it looks very well; and now you will oblige me by notwearing that black lace thing, that looks fit for your grandmother. " "Poor Lovedy Kelland's aunt made it, mother, and it was very expensive, and wouldn't sell. " "No wonder, I am sure, and it was very kind in you to take it off theirhands; but now it is paid for, it can't make much difference whether youdisfigure yourself with it or not. " "Oh yes, dear mother, I'll bind my hair when you bid me do it and reallythese buds do credit to the makers. I wonder whether they cost themas dear in health as lace does, " she added, taking off the flowers andexamining them with a grave sad look. "I chose white roses, " proceeded the well-pleased mother, "because Ithought they would suit either of the silks you have now, though I own Ishould like to see you in another white muslin. " "I have done with white muslin, " said Rachel, rousing from her reverie. "It is an affectation of girlish simplicity not becoming at our age. " "Oh Rachel!" thought Grace in despair; but to her great relief in atthat moment filed the five maids, the coachman, and butler, and themother began to read prayers. Breakfast over, Rachel gathered up her various gifts, and betook herselfto a room on the ground floor with all the appliances of an ancientschoolroom. Rather dreamily she took out a number of copy-books, andbegan to write copies in them in large text hand. "And this is all I am doing for my fellow-creatures, " she muttered halfaloud. "One class of half-grown lads, and those grudged to me! Here isthe world around one mass of misery and evil! Not a paper do I take upbut I see something about wretchedness and crime, and here I sit withhealth, strength, and knowledge, and able to do nothing, nothing--at therisk of breaking my mother's heart! I have pottered about cottages andtaught at schools in the dilettante way of the young lady who thinks ither duty to be charitable; and I am told that it is my duty, and thatI may be satisfied. Satisfied, when I see children cramped in soul, destroyed in body, that fine ladies may wear lace trimmings! Satisfiedwith the blight of the most promising buds! Satisfied, when I know thatevery alley and lane of town or country reeks with vice and corruption, and that there is one cry for workers with brains and with purses!And here am I, able and willing, only longing to task myself to theuttermost, yet tethered down to the merest mockery of usefulness byconventionalities. I am a young lady forsooth!--I must not be out late, I must not put forth my views; I must not choose my acquaintance, I mustbe a mere helpless, useless being, growing old in a ridiculous fictionof prolonged childhood, affecting those graces of so-called sweetseventeen that I never had--because, because why? Is it for any betterreason than because no mother can bear to believe her daughter no longeron the lists for matrimony? Our dear mother does not tell herself thatthis is the reason, but she is unconsciously actuated by it. And I havehitherto given way to her wish. I mean to give way still in a measure;but I am five and twenty, and I will no longer be withheld from somepath of usefulness! I will judge for myself, and when my mission hasdeclared itself, I will not be withheld from it by any scruple that doesnot approve itself to my reason and conscience. If it be only a domesticmission--say the care of Fanny, poor dear helpless Fanny, I would thatI knew she was safe, --I would not despise it, I would throw myself intoit, and regard the training her and forming her boys as a most sacredoffice. It would not be too homely for me. But I had far rather becomethe founder of some establishment that might relieve women from theoppressive task-work thrown on them in all their branches of labour. Oh, what a worthy ambition!" "Rachel!" called Grace. "Come, there's a letter, a letter from Fannyherself for you. Make haste, mamma is so nervous till you read it. " No exhortation was needed to make Rachel hurry to the drawing-room, andtear open the black-edged letter with the Australian stamp. "All is right, mamma. She has been very ill, but is fast recovering, andwas to sail by the Voluta. Why, she may be here any day. " "Any day! My dear Grace, see that the nurseries are well aired. " "No, mother, she says her party is too large, and wants us to take afurnished house for her to come into at once--Myrtlewood if possible. Isit let, Grace?" "I think I saw the notice in the window yesterday. " "Then, I'll go and see about it at once. " "But, my dear, you don't really mean that poor dear Fanny thinks ofcoming anywhere but to us?" said her mother, anxiously. "It is very considerate of her, " said Grace, "with so many littlechildren. You would find them too much for you, dear mother. It is justlike Fanny to have thought of it. How many are there, Rachel?" "Oh! I can't tell. They got past my reckoning long ago. I only know theyare all boys, and that this baby is a girl. " "Baby! Ah, poor Fanny, I feared that was the reason the did not comesooner. " "Yes, and she has been very ill; she always is, I believe, but thereis very little about it. Fanny never could write letters; she only justsays: 'I have not been able to attempt a letter sooner, though my dearlittle girl is five weeks old to-day. Think of the daughter coming atlast, too late for her dear father, who had so wished for one. She isvery healthy, I am thankful to say; and I am now so much better, thatthe doctor says I may sail next week. Major Keith has taken our cabins, in the Voluta, and soon after you receive this, I hope to be showing youmy dear boys. They are such good, affectionate fellows; but I am afraidthey would be too much for my dear aunt, and our party is so large, sothe Major and I both think it will be the best way for you to take ahouse for me for six months. I should like Myrtlewood best, if it is tobe had. I have told Conrade all about it, and how pretty it is, and itis so near you that I think there I can be happy as ever I can be againin this world, and have your advice for the dear children. '" "Poor darling! she seems but a child herself. " "My age--five and twenty, " returned Rachel. "Well I shall go and askabout the house. Remember, mother, this influx is to bring no trouble orcare on you; Fanny Temple is my charge from henceforth. My mission hascome to seek me, " she added as she quitted the room, in eager excitementof affection, emotion, and importance, for Fanny had been more like asister than a cousin. Grace and Rachel Curtis were the daughters of the squire of theHomestead; Fanny, of his brother, an officer in the army. Left at homefor education, the little girl had spent her life, from her seventh toher sixteenth year, as absolutely one with her cousins, until she wassummoned to meet her father at the Cape, under the escort of his oldfriend, General Sir Stephen Temple. She found Colonel Curtis sinkingunder fatal disease, and while his relations were preparing to receive, almost to maintain, his widow and daughter, they were electrified by thetidings that the gentle little Fanny, at sixteen, had become the wife ofSir Stephen Temple, at sixty. From that time little had been known about her; her mother had continuedwith her, but the two Mrs. Curtises had never been congenial orintimate; and Fanny was never a full nor willing correspondent, feelingperhaps the difficulty of writing under changed circumstances. Herhusband had been in various commands in the colonies, without returningto England; and all that was known of her was a general impression thatshe had much ill-health and numerous children, and was tended like aninfant by her bustling mother and doting husband. More than half a yearback, tidings had come of the almost sudden death of her mother; andabout three months subsequently, one of the officers of Sir Stephen'sstaff had written to announce that the good old general had been killedby a fall from his horse, while on a round of inspection at a distancefrom home. The widow was then completely prostrated by the shock, butpromised to write as soon as she was able, and this was the fulfilmentof that promise, bringing the assurance that Fanny was coming back withher little ones to the home of her childhood. Of that home, Grace and Rachel were the joint-heiresses, though it wasowned by the mother for her life. It was an estate of farm and moorland, worth some three or four thousand a year, and the house was perched ona beautiful promontory, running out into the sea, and inclosing one sideof a bay, where a small fishing-village had recently expanded into aquiet watering-place, esteemed by some for its remoteness from railways, and for the calm and simplicity that were yearly diminished by itsincreasing popularity. It was the family fashion to look down fromtheir crag at the new esplanade with pity and contempt for the ruinedloneliness of the pebbly beach; and as Mrs. Curtis had not health to gooften into society, she had been the more careful where she trusted herdaughters. They belonged to the county by birth and tradition, and werenot to be mixed up with the fleeting residents of the watering-place, onwhom they never called, unless by special recommendation from a mutualfriend; and the few permanent inhabitants chanced to be such, that avisit to them was in some degree a condescension. Perhaps there was moreof timidity and caution than of pride in the mother's exclusiveness, andGrace had always acquiesced in it as the natural and established stateof affairs, without any sense of superiority, but rather of beingprotected. She had a few alarms as to the results of Rachel's newimmunities of age, and though never questioning the wisdom of her cleversister's conclusions, dreaded the effect on the mother, whom shehad been forbidden to call mamma. "At their age it was affecting aninteresting childishness. " Rachel had had the palm of cleverness conceded to her ever since shecould recollect, when she read better at three years old than her sisterat five, and ever after, through the days of education, had enjoyed, andexcelled in, the studies that were a toil to Grace. Subsequently, whileGrace had contented herself with the ordinary course of unambitiousfeminine life, Rachel had thrown herself into the process ofself-education with all her natural energy, and carried on her favouritestudies by every means within her reach, until she considerablysurpassed in acquirements and reflection all the persons with whom shecame in frequent contact. It was a homely neighbourhood, a society wellborn, but of circumscribed interests and habits, and little connectedwith the great progressive world, where, however, Rachel's sympathiesall lay, necessarily fed, however, by periodical literature, instead ofby conversation or commerce with living minds. She began by being stranded on the ignorance of those who surroundedher, and found herself isolated as a sort of pedant; and as time wenton, the narrowness of interests chafed her, and in like manner lefther alone. As she grew past girlhood, the cui bono question had come tointerfere with her ardour in study for its own sake, and she felt theinfluence of an age eminently practical and sifting, but with smallpowers of acting. The quiet Lady Bountiful duties that had sufficed hermother and sister were too small and easy to satisfy a soul burning atthe report of the great cry going up to heaven from a world of sin andwoe. The examples of successful workers stimulated her longings to be upand doing, and yet the ever difficult question between charitable worksand filial deference necessarily detained her, and perhaps all the morebecause it was not so much the fear of her mother's authority as of herhorror and despair, that withheld her from the decisive and eccentricsteps that she was always feeling impelled to take. Gentle Mrs. Curtishad never been a visible power in her house, and it was through theirdesire to avoid paining her that her government had been exercised overher two daughters ever since their father's death, which had taken placein Grace's seventeenth year. Both she and Grace implicitly acceptedRachel's superiority as an unquestionable fact, and the mother, whentraversing any of her clever daughter's schemes, never disputed eitherher opinions or principles, only entreated that these particulardevelopments might be conceded to her own weakness; and Rachel generallydid concede. She could not act; but she could talk uncontradicted, andshe hated herself for the enforced submission to a state of things thatshe despised. This twenty-fifth birthday had long been anticipated as theturning-point when this submissive girlhood ought to close, and theprivileges of acting as well as thinking for herself ought to beassumed. Something to do was her cry, and on this very day thatsomething seemed to be cast in her way. It was not ameliorating thecondition of the masses, but it was educating those who might amelioratethem; and Rachel gladly hailed the prospect of a vocation that might beconducted without pain to her mother. Young children of her own class were not exactly what her dreamof usefulness had devised; but she had already a decided theory ofeducation, and began to read up with all her might, whilst taking thelead in all the details of house taking, servant hiring, &c. , to whichher regular occupations of night school in the evening and reading tothe lacemakers by day, became almost secondary. In due time the arrivalof the ship was telegraphed, a hurried and affectionate note followed, and, on a bright east-windy afternoon, Rachel Curtis set forth to takeup her mission. A telegram had announced the arrival of the Voluta, andthe train which would bring the travellers to Avonchester. The Homesteadcarriage was sent to meet them, and Rachel in it, to give her helplesscousin assistance in this beginning of English habits. A roomy fly hadbeen engaged for nurses and children, and Mrs. Curtis had put under thecoachman's charge a parcel of sandwiches, and instructed him to offerall the appliances for making her own into an invalid carriage. Full of warm tenderness to those who were to be dependent on herexertions, led by her good sense, Rachel paced the platform till theengine rushed up, and she looked along the line of windows, suddenlybewildered. Doors opened, but gentlemen alone met her disappointed eye, until close to her a soft voice said, "Rachel!" and she saw a figure indeep black close to her; but her hand had been hardly clasped beforethe face was turned eagerly to a tall, bearded man, who was lifting outlittle boy after little boy, apparently in an endless stream, till atlast a sleeping baby was brought out in the arms of a nurse. "Good-bye. Thank you, oh, thank you. You will come soon. Oh, do come onnow. " "Do come on now, " was echoed by many voices. "I leave you in good hands. Good-bye. " "Good-bye. Conrade dear, see what Cyril is doing; never mind, Wilfred, the Major will come and see us; run on with Coombe. " This last was arespectable military-looking servant, who picked up a small child in onehand and a dressing-case in the other, and awaited orders. There was a clinging to the Major by all the children, only ended by hisfinally precipitating himself into the carriage, and being borne off. Then came a chorus--"Mamma, let me go with you;" "I'll go with mamma;""Me go with mamma;" according to the gradations of age. While Coombe and mamma decided the question by lifting the lesserones into the fly, Rachel counted heads. Her mission exceeded herexpectations. Here was a pair of boys in knickerbockers, a pair inpetticoats, a pair in pelisses, besides the thing in arms. When the flyhad been nearly crammed, the two knickerbockers and one pelisse remainedfor the carriage, quite against Rachel's opinion, but "Little Wilfredcan sit on my lap, he has not been well, poor little man, " was quiteconclusive; and when Rachel suggested lying back to rest, there was asweet, low laugh, and, "Oh, no thank you, Wilfred never tires me. " Rachel's first satisfaction was in seeing the veil disclose the face ofeight years back, the same soft, clear, olive skin, delicate, oval face, and pretty deep-brown eyes, with the same imploring, earnest sweetness;no signs of having grown older, no sign of wear and tear, climate, orexertion, only the widow's dress and the presence of the great boysenhancing her soft youthfulness. The smile was certainly changed; it wasgraver, sadder, tenderer, and only conjured up by maternal affection orin grateful reply, and the blitheness of the young brow had changed toquiet pensiveness, but more than ever there was an air of dependencealmost beseeching protection, and Rachel's heart throbbed withBritomart's devotion to her Amoret. "Why wouldn't the Major come, mamma?" "He will soon come, I hope, my dear. " Those few words gave Rachel a strong antipathy to the Major. Then began a conversation under difficulties, Fanny trying to inquireafter her aunt, and Rachel to detail the arrangements made for her atMyrtlewood, while the two boys were each accommodated with a window;but each moment they were claiming their mother's attention, or rushingacross the ladies' feet to each other's window, treating Rachel's kneesas a pivot, and vouchsafing not the slightest heed to her attempts atintelligent pointing out of the new scenes. And Fanny made no apology, but seemed pleased, ready with answers andwith eyes, apparently ignorant that Rachel's toes were less insensiblethan her own, and her heavy three-years-old Wilfred asleep on her lapall the time. "She feeble, helpless, sickly!" thought Rachel, "I should have been lesstired had I walked the twenty miles!" She gave up talking in despair, and by the time the young gentlemen hadtired themselves into quiescence, and began to eat the provisions, bothladies were glad to be allowed a little silence. Coming over the last hill, Conrade roused at his mother's summonsto look out at "home, " and every word between them showed how fondlyAvonmouth had been remembered far away. "The sea!" said Fanny, leaning forwards to catch sight of the long greyline; "it is hard to believe we have been on it so long, this seems somuch more my own. " "Yes, " cried Rachel, "you are come to your own home, for us to take careof you. " "I take care of mamma! Major Keith said so, " indignantly exclaimedConrade. "There's plenty of care for you both to take, " said Fanny, half-smiling, half-sobbing. "The Major says I need not be a poor creature, and I willtry. But I am afraid I shall be on all your hands. " Both boys drummed on her knee in wrath at her presuming to call herselfa poor creature--Conrade glaring at Rachel as if to accuse her of thecalumny. "See the church, " said Lady Temple, glad to divert the storm, andeagerly looking at the slender spire surmounting the bell-turret of asmall building in early-decorated style, new, but somewhat stained bysea-wind, without having as yet acquired the tender tints of time. "Howbeautiful!" was her cry. "You were beginning the collection for it whenI went away! How we used to wish for it. " "Yes, we did, " said Rachel, with a significant sigh; but her cousin hadno time to attend, for they were turning in a pepper-box lodge. The boyswere told that they were arrived, and they were at the door of a sortof overgrown Swiss cottage, where Mrs. Curtis and Grace stood ready toreceive them. There was a confusion of embraces, fondlings, and tears, as Fanny clungto the aunt who had been a mother to her--perhaps a more tender one thanthe ruling, managing spirit, whom she had hardly known in her childhood;but it was only for a moment, for Wilfred shrieked out in an access ofshyness at Grace's attempt to make acquaintance with him; Francis wasdemanding, "Where's the orderly?" and Conrade looking brimful of wrathat any one who made his mother cry. Moreover, the fly had arrived, and the remainder had to be produced, named, and kissed--Conrade andFrancis, Leoline and Hubert, Wilfred and Cyril, and little Stephana thebaby. Really the names were a study in themselves, and the cousins feltas if it would be hopeless to endeavour to apply them. Servants had been engaged conditionally, and the house was fully ready, but the young mother could hardly listen to her aunt's explanationsin her anxiety that the little ones should be rested and fed, and sheresponded with semi-comprehending thanks, while moving on with heryoungest in her arms, and as many hanging to her dress as could get holdof it. Her thanks grew more emphatic at the sight of cribs in invitingorder, and all things ready for a meal. "I don't drink tea with nurse, " was Conrade's cry, the signal foranother general outcry, untranquillized by soothings and persuasions, till the door was shut on the younger half of the family, and those whocould not open it remained to be comforted by nurse, a soldier's widow, who had been with them from the birth of Conrade. The Temple form of shyness seemed to consist in ignoring strangers, but being neither abashed nor silenced, only resenting or avoiding allattempts at intercourse, and as the boys rushed in and out of the rooms, exploring, exclaiming, and calling mamma, to the interruption of allthat was going on, only checked for a few minutes by her uplifted handand gentle hush, Grace saw her mother so stunned and bewildered that sherejoiced in the fear of cold that had decided that Rachel alone shouldspend the evening there. Fanny made some excuses; she longed to see moreof her aunt, but when they were a little more settled, --and as a freshshout broke out, she was afraid they were rather unruly, --she must comeand talk to her at the dear Homestead. So kind of Rachel to stay--notthat the boys seemed to think so, as they went racing in and out, stretching their ship-bound legs, and taking possession of the minuteshrubbery, which they scorned for the want of gum-trees and parrots. "You won't mind, Rachel dear, I must first see about baby;" and Rachelwas left to reflect on her mission, while the boys' feet cantered up anddown the house, and one or other of them would look in, and burst awayin search of mamma. Little more satisfactory was the rest of the evening, for the boys tooka great deal of waiting on at tea, and then some of the party would notgo to sleep in strange beds without long persuasions and comfortings, till Fanny looked so weary that it was plain that no conversation couldhave been hoped from her, even if the baby had been less vociferous. Allthat could be done for her was to wish her good-night, and promise tocome down early. Come early! Yes, Rachel might come, but what was the use of that whenFanny was at the mercy of so many claimants? She looked much betterthan the day before, and her sweet, soft welcome was most cordial andclinging. "Dear Rachel, it is like a dream to have you so near. I feltlike the old life come back again to hear the surge of the sea allnight, and know I should see you all so soon again. " "Yes, it is a great satisfaction to have you back in your old home, under our wing. I have a great deal to tell you about the arrangements. " "Oh yes; thank you--" "Mamma!" roared two or three voices. "I wanted to explain to you--" But Fanny's eye was roaming, and justthen in burst two boys. "Mamma, nurse won't undo the tin box, and myship is in it that the Major gave me. " "Yes, and my stuffed duck-bill, and I want it, mamma. " "My dear Con, the Major would not let you shout so loud about it, andyou have not spoken to Aunt Rachel. " The boys did present their hands, and then returned to the charge. "Please order nurse to unpack it, mamma, and then Coombe will help us tosail it. " "Excuse me, dear Rachel, " said Fanny, "I will first see about this. " And a very long seeing it was, probably meaning that she unpacked thebox herself, whilst Rachel was deciding on the terrible spoiling of thechildren, and preparing a remonstrance. "Dear Rachel, you have been left a long time. " "Oh, never mind that, but, Fanny, you must not give way to thosechildren too much; they will be always--Hark! was that the door-bell?" It was, and the visitor was announced as "Mr. Touchett;" a small, dark, thin young clergyman he was, of a nervous manner, which, growing morenervous as he shook hands with Rachel, became abrupt and hesitating. "My call is--is early, Lady Temple; but I always pay my respects atonce to any new parishioner--resident, I mean--in case I can be of anyservice. " "Thank you, I am very much obliged, " said Fanny, with a sweet, gracioussmile and manner that would have made him more at ease at once, ifRachel had not added, "My cousin is quite at home here, Mr. Touchett. " "Oh yes, " he said, "so--so I understood. " "I know no place in England so well; it is quite a home to me, sobeautiful it is, " continued Fanny. "And you see great changes here. " "Changes so much for the better, " said Fanny, smiling her winning smileagain. "One always expects more from improvements than they effect, " put inRachel, severely. "You have a large young party, " said Mr. Touchett, looking uneasilytowards Lady Temple. "Yes, I have half a dozen boys and one little girl. " "Seven!" Mr. Touchett looked up half incredulous at the girlish contourof the gentle face, then cast down his eyes as if afraid he had beenrude. "Seven! It is--it is a great charge. " "Yes, indeed it is, " she said earnestly; "and I am sure you will be kindenough to give your influence to help me with them--poor boys. " "Oh! oh!" he exclaimed, "anything I can do--" in such a transport ofeager helpfulness that Rachel coldly said, "We are all anxious to assistin the care of the children. " He coloured up, and with a sort of effortat self-assertion, blurted out, "As the clergyman of the parish--, " andthere halted, and was beginning to look foolish, when Lady Temple tookhim up in her soft, persuasive way. "Of course we shall look to you somuch, and you will be so kind as to let me know if there is any one Ican send any broth to at anytime. " "Thank you; you are very good;" and he was quite himself again. "I shallhave the pleasure of sending you down a few names. " "I never did approve the broken victual system, " began Rachel, "itcreates dependence. " "Come here, Hubert, " said Fanny, beckoning a boy she saw at a distance, "come and shake hands with Mr. Touchett. " It was from instinct ratherthan reason; there was a fencing between Rachel and the curate thatmade her uncomfortable, and led her to break it off by any means in herpower; and though Mr. Touchett was not much at his ease with the littleboy, this discussion was staged off. But again Mr. Touchett made bold tosay that in case Lady Temple wished for a daily governess, he knew of avery desirable young person, a most admirable pair of sisters, who hadmet with great reverses, but Rachel snapped him off shorter than ever. "We can decide nothing yet; I have made up my mind to teach the littleboys at present. " "Oh, indeed!" "It is very kind, " said the perplexed Lady Temple. "I beg your pardon, I only thought, in case you were wishing for someone, that Miss Williams will be at liberty shortly. " "I do not imagine Miss Williams is the person to deal with little boys, "said Rachel. "In fact, I think that home teaching is always better thanhired. " "I am so much obliged, " said Fanny, as Mr. Touchett, after this defeat, rose up to take leave, and she held out her hand, smiled, thanked, andsent him away so much sweetened and gratified, that Rachel would haveinstantly begun dissecting him, but that a whole rush of boys broke in, and again engrossed their mother, and in the next lull, the uppermostnecessity was of explaining about the servants who had been hired forthe time, one of whom was a young woman whose health had given way overher lace pillow, and Rachel was eloquent over the crying evils of thesystem (everything was a system with Rachel) that chained girls to anunhealthy occupation in their early childhood, and made an overstockedmarket and underpaid workers--holding Fanny fast to listen by a sortof fascination in her overpowering earnestness, and great fixed eyes, which, when once their grasp was taken, would not release the victim;and this was a matter of daily occurrence on which Rachel felt keenlyand spoke strongly. "It is very sad. If you want to help the poor things, I will giveanything I can. " "Oh, yes, thank you, but it is doleful merely to help them to linger outthe remnant of a life consumed upon these cobwebs of vanity. It is thefountainhead that must be reached--the root of the system!" Fanny saw, or rather felt, a boy making signs at the window, but durstnot withdraw her eyes from the fascination of those eager ones. "Laceand lacemakers are facts, " continued Rachel; "but if the middle menwere exploded, and the excess of workers drafted off by some wholesomeoutlet, the price would rise, so that the remainder would be at leisureto fulfil the domestic offices of womanhood. " There was a great uproar above. "I beg your pardon, dear Rachel, " and away went Fanny. "I do declare, " cried Rachel, when Grace, having despatched herhome-cares, entered the room a quarter of an hour after; "poor Fanny's aperfect slave. One can't get in a word edgeways. " Fanny at last returned, but with her baby; and there was no chance foreven Rachel to assert herself while this small queen was in presence. Grace was devoted to infants, and there was a whole court of brothersvying with one another in picking up her constantly dropped toys, and inperforming antics for her amusement. Rachel, desirous to be gracious andresigned, attempted conversation with one of the eldest pair, but thebaby had but to look towards him, and he was at her feet. On her departure, Rachel resumed the needful details of the arrangementsrespecting the house and servants, and found Lady Temple as grateful andsubmissive as ever, except that, when advised to take Myrtlewood for aterm of seven years, she replied, that the Major had advised her not tobind herself down at once. "Did you let him think we should quarrel?" "Oh, no, my dear; but it might not agree with the children. " "Avonmouth! Grace, do you hear what heresy Fanny has been learning? Why, the proportion of ozone in the air here has been calculated to be fivetimes that of even Aveton!" "Yes, dearest, " said poor Fanny, very humbly, and rather scared, "thereis no place like Avonmouth, and I am sure the Major will think so whenhe has seen it. " "But what has he to do with your movements?" "Sir Stephen wished--" murmured Fanny. "The Major is military secretary, and always settles our head-quarters, and no one interferes with him, " shouted Conrade. Rachel, suspicious and jealous of her rival, was obliged to let Fannypass on to the next item, where her eager acceptance of all thatwas prescribed to her was evidently meant as compensation for herrefractoriness about the house. Grace had meanwhile applied herself to keeping off the boys, and wasmaking some progress in their good graces, and in distinguishing betweentheir sallow faces, dark eyes, and crisp, black heads. Conrade wasindividualized, not only by superior height, but by soldierly bearing, bright pride glancing in his eyes, his quick gestures, bold, decidedwords, and imperious tone towards all, save his mother--and whatever hewas doing, his keen, black eye was always turning in search of her, hewas ever ready to spring to her side to wait on her, to maintain hercause in rough championship, or to claim her attention to himself. Francis was thick-set, round-shouldered, bullet-headed and dull-eyed, in comparison, not aggressive, but holding his own, and notvery approachable; Leoline, thin, white-cheeked, large-eyed andfretful-lipped, was ready to whine at Conrade's tyranny and Francis'sappropriations, but was grateful for Grace's protection, and more easyof access than his elders; and Hubert was a handsome, placid child, thegood boy, as well as the beauty of the family. The pair in the nurseryhardly came on the stage, and the two elders would be quite sufficientfor Mrs. Curtis, with whom the afternoon was to be spent. The mother, evidently, considered it a very long absence, but she wasanxious to see both her aunt and her own home, and set out, leaningon Rachel's arm, and smiling pleased though sad recognition of theesplanade, the pebbly beach, bathing machines and fishing boats, andpointing them out to her sons, who, on their side, would only talk ofthe much greater extent of Melbourne. Within the gates of the Homestead, there was a steep, sharp bit of road, cut out in the red sandstone rock, and after a few paces she paused torest with a sigh that brought Conrade to her side, when she put her armround his neck, and leant on his shoulder; but even her two supporterscould not prevent her from looking pale and exhausted. "Never mind, " she said, "this salt wind is delightful. How like oldtimes it is!" and she stood gazing across the little steep lawn atthe grey sea, the line of houses following the curve of the bay, and straggling up the valley in the rear, and the purple headlandsprojecting point beyond point, showing them to her boys, and tellingtheir names. "It is all ugly and cold, " said Francis, with an ungracious shiver. "Ishall go home to Melbourne when I'm a man. " "And you will come, mamma?" added Conrade. He had no answer, for Fanny was in her aunt's arms; and, like mother anddaughter, they clung to each other--more able to sympathize, more trulyone together, than the young widow could be with either of the girls. As soon as Fanny had rested and enjoyed the home atmosphere downstairs, she begged to visit the dear old rooms, and carried Conrade through acourse of recognitions through the scarcely altered apartments. Only onehad been much changed, namely, the schoolroom, which had been strippedof the kindly old shabby furniture that Fanny tenderly recollected, andwas decidedly bare; but a mahogany box stood on a stand on one side;there was a great accession of books, and writing implements occupiedthe plain deal table in the centre. "What have you done to the dear old room--do you not use it still?"asked Fanny. "Yes, I work here, " said Rachel. Vainly did Lady Temple look for that which women call work. "I have hitherto ground on at after-education and self-improvement, "said Rachel; "now I trust to make my preparation available for others. Iwill undertake any of your boys if you wish it. " "Thank you; but what is that box?"--in obedience to a curious push andpull from Conrade. "It is her dispensary, " said Grace. "Yes, " said Rachel, "you are weak and nervous, and I have just the thingfor you. " "Is it homoeopathy?" "Yes, here is my book. I have done great things in my district, andshould do more but for prejudice. There, this globule is the very thingfor your case; I made it out last night in my book. That is right, and Iwanted to ask you some questions about little Wilfred. " Fanny had obediently swallowed her own globule, but little Wilfred wasa different matter, and she retreated from the large eyes and open book, saying that he was better, and that Mr. Frampton should look at him; butRachel was not to be eluded, and was in full career of elucidation tothe meanest capacity, when a sharp skirmish between the boys endedthe conversation, and it appeared that Conrade had caught Francisjust commencing an onslaught on the globules, taking them for Englishsweetmeats of a minute description. The afternoon passed with the strange heaviness well known to those whofind it hard to resume broken threads after long parting. There was muchaffection, but not full certainty what to talk about, and thepresence of the boys would have hindered confidence, even had they notincessantly occupied their mother. Conrade, indeed, betook himself toa book, but Francis was only kept out of mischief by his constantlyturning over pictures with him; however, at dark, Coombe came to conveythem home, and the ladies of the Homestead experienced a sense ofrelief. Rachel immediately began to talk of an excellent preparatoryschool. "I was thinking of asking you, " said Fanny, "if there is any one herewho would come as a daily governess. " "Oh!" cried Rachel, "these two would be much better at school, and Iwould form the little ones, who are still manageable. " "Conrade is not eight years old yet, " said his mother in an imploringtone, "and the Major said I need not part with him till he has grown alittle more used to English ways. " "He can read, I see, " said Grace, "and he told me he had done some Latinwith the Major. " "Yes, he has picked up a vast deal of information, and on the voyage theMajor used to teach him out of a little pocket Virgil. The Major said itwould not be of much use at school, as there was no dictionary; butthat the discipline and occupation would be useful, and so they were. Conrade, will do anything for the Major, and indeed so will they all. " Three Majors in one speech, thought Rachel; and by way of counteractionshe enunciated, "I could undertake the next pair of boys easily, butthese two are evidently wanting school discipline. " Lady Temple feathered up like a mother dove over her nest. "You do not know Conrade. He is so trustworthy and affectionate, dearboy, and they are both always good with me. The Major said it oftenhurts boys to send them too young. " "They are very young, poor little fellows, " said Mrs. Curtis. "And if they are forward in some things they are backward in others, "said Fanny. "What Major Keith recommended was a governess, who wouldknow what is generally expected of little boys. " "I don't like half measures, " muttered Rachel. "I do not approveof encouraging young women to crowd the overstocked profession ofgovernesses. " Fanny opened her brown eyes, and awaited the words of wisdom. "Is it not a flagrant abuse, " continued Rachel, "that whether she havea vocation or not, every woman of a certain rank, who wishes to gain herown livelihood, must needs become a governess? A nursery maid must havea vocation, but an educated or half-educated woman has no choice;and educator she must become, to her own detriment, and that of hervictims. " "I always did think governesses often much to be pitied, " said Fanny, finding something was expected of her. "What's the use of pity if one runs on in the old groove? We mustprevent the market from being drugged, by diverting the supply into newlines. " "Are there any new lines?" asked Fanny, surprised at the progress ofsociety in her absence. "Homoeopathic doctresses, " whispered Grace; who, dutiful as she was, sometimes indulged in a little fun, which Rachel would affably receiveunless she took it in earnest, as in the present instance. "Why not--I ask why not? Some women have broken through prejudice, andwhy should not others? Do you not agree with me, Fanny, that femalemedical men--I mean medical women--would be an infinite boon?" "It would be very nice if they would never be nervous. " "Nerves are merely a matter of training. Think of the numbers that mightbe removed from the responsibility of incompetently educating! I declarethat to tempt a person into the office of governess, instead of openinga new field to her, is the most short-sighted indolence. " "I don't want to tempt any one, " said Fanny. "She ought to have beenout before and be experienced, only she most be kind to the poor boys. Iwanted the Major to inquire in London, but he said perhaps I might hearof some one here. " "That was right, my dear, " returned her aunt. "A gentleman, an officer, could not do much in such a matter. " "He always does manage whatever one wants. " At which speech Rachel cast a glance towards her mother, and saw herlook questioning and perplexed. "I was thinking, " said Grace, "that I believe the people at the CliffCottages are going away, and that Miss Williams might be at liberty. " "Didn't I know that Grace would come out with Miss Williams?" exclaimedRachel. "A regular eruption of the Touchettomania. We have had himalready advertising her. " "Miss Williams!" said Mrs. Curtis. "Yes, she might suit you very well. I believe they are very respectable young women, poor things! I havealways wished that we could do more for them. " "Who?" asked Fanny. "Certain pets of Mr. Touchett's, " said Rachel; "some of the numerousladies whose mission is that curatolatry into which Grace would lapsebut for my strenuous efforts. " "I don't quite know why you call them his pets, " said Grace, "exceptthat he knew their antecedents, and told us about them. " "Exactly, that was enough, for me. I perfectly understand the meaning ofMr. Touchett's recommendations, and if what Fanny wants is a commonplacesort of upper nursemaid, I dare say it would do. " And Rachel leant back, applied herself to her wood carving, and virtually retired from thediscussion. "One sister is a great invalid, " said Grace, "quite a cripple, and theother goes out as a daily governess. They are a clergyman's daughters, and once were very well off, but they lost everything through somespeculation of their brother. I believe he fled the country under someterrible suspicion of dishonesty; and though no one thought they hadanything to do with it, their friends dropped them because they wouldnot give him up, nor believe him guilty, and a little girl of his liveswith them. " "Poor things!" exclaimed Lady Temple. "I should very much like to employthis one. How very sad. " "Mrs. Grey told me that her children had never done so well with anyone, " said Mrs. Curtis. "She wanted to engage Miss Williams permanently, but could not induce her to leave her sister, or even to remove her toLondon, on account of her health. " "Do you know her, Grace?" asked Fanny. "I have called once or twice, and have been very much pleased with thesick sister; but Rachel does not fancy that set, you see. I meet theother at the Sunday school, I like her looks and manner very much, andshe is always at the early service before her work. " "Just like a little mauve book!" muttered Rachel. Fanny absolutely stared. "You go, don't you, Rachel? How we used to wishfor it!" "You have wished and we have tried, " said Rachel, with a sigh. "Yes, Rachel, " said Grace; "but with all drawbacks, all disappointmentsin ourselves, it is a great blessing. We would not be without it. " "I could not be satisfied in relinquishing it voluntarily, " said Rachel, "but I am necessarily one of the idle. Were I one of the occupied, laborare est orare would satisfy me, and that poor governess ought tofeel the same. Think of the physical reaction of body on mind, and tellme if you could have the barbarity of depriving that poor jaded thingof an hour's sleep, giving her an additional walk, fasting, in allweathers, and preparing her to be savage with the children. " "Perhaps it refreshes her, and hinders her from being cross. " "Maybe she thinks so; but if she have either sense or ear, nothingwould so predispose her to be cross as the squeaking of Mr. Touchett'spenny-whistle choir. " "Poor Mr. Touchett, " sighed Mrs. Curtis; "I wish he would not make suchambitious attempts. " "But you like the choral service, " said Fanny, feeling as if everythinghad turned round. "When all the men of a regiment chant together youcannot think how grand it is, almost finer than the cathedral. " "Yes, where you can do it, " said Rachel, "but not where you can't. " "I wish you would not talk about it, " said Grace. "I must, or Fanny will not understand the state of parties atAvonmouth. " "Parties! Oh, I hope not. " "My dear child, party spirit is another word for vitality. So youthought the church we sighed for had made the place all we sighed to seeit, and ourselves too. Oh! Fanny is this what you have been across theworld for?" "What is wrong?" asked Fanny, alarmed. "Do you remember our axiom? Build your church, and the rest will takecare of itself. You remember our scraping and begging, and how that goodMr. Davison helped us out and brought the endowment up to the needfulpoint for consecration, on condition the incumbency was given to him. He held it just a year, and was rich, and could help out his bad healthwith a curate. But first he went to Madeira, and then he died, andthere we are, a perpetual curacy of £70 a year, no resident gentry butourselves, a fluctuating population mostly sick, our poor demoralizedby them, and either crazed by dissent, or heathenized by their formerdistance from church. Who would take us? No more Mr. Davisons! There wasno more novelty, and too much smartness to invite self-devotion. Sowe were driven from pillar to post till we settled down into this Mr. Touchett, as good a being as ever lived, working as hard as any two, andsparing neither himself nor any one else. " Fanny looked up prepared to admire. "But he has two misfortunes. He was not born a gentleman, and his minddoes not measure an inch across. " "Rachel, my dear, it is not fair to prejudice Fanny; I am sure the poorman is very well-behaved. " "Mother! would you be calling the ideal Anglican priest, poor man?" "I thought he was quite gentlemanlike, " added Fanny. "Gentlemanlike! ay, that's it, " said Rachel, "just so like as to delightthe born curatolatress, like Grace and Miss Williams. " "Would it hurt the children?" asked Fanny, hardly comprehending thetremendous term. "Yes, if it infected you, " said Rachel, intending some playfullness. "Amother of contracted mind forfeits the allegiance of her sons. " "Oh, Rachel, I know I am weak and silly, " said the gentle young widow, terrified, "but the Major said if I only tried to do my duty by them Ishould be helped. " "And I will help you, Fanny, " said Rachel. "All that is requisite isgood sense and firmness, and a thorough sense of responsibility. " "That is what is so dreadful. The responsibility of all those dearfatherless boys, and if--if I should do wrong by them. " Poor Fanny fell into an uncontrollable fit of weeping at the sense ofher own desolation and helplessness, and Mrs. Curtis came to comforther, and tell her affectionately of having gone through the likefeelings, and of the repeated but most comfortable words of promise tothe fatherless and the widow--words that had constantly come before thesufferer, but which had by no means lost their virtue by repetition, andFanny was soothed with hearing instances of the special Providence overorphaned sons, and their love and deference for their mother. Rachel, shocked and distressed at the effect of her sense, retired out of theconversation, till at the announcement of the carriage for Lady Temple, her gentle cousin cheered up, and feeling herself to blame for havinggrieved one who only meant aid and kindness, came to her and fondlykissed her forehead, saying, "I am not vexed, dear Rachel, I know youare right. I am not clever enough to bring them up properly, but if Itry hard, and pray for them, it may be made up to them. And you willhelp me, Rachel dear, " she added, as her readiest woe-offering for hertears, and it was the most effectual, for Rachel was perfectly contentedas long as Fanny was dependent on her, and allowed her to assume hermission, provided only that the counter influence could be averted, and this Major, this universal referee, be eradicated from her foolishclinging habits of reliance before her spirits were enough recovered tolay her heart open to danger. But the more Rachel saw of her cousin, the more she realized this peril. When she went down on Monday morning to complete the matters of businessthat had been slurred over on the Saturday, she found that Fanny hadnot the slightest notion what her own income was to be. All she knewwas that her General had left everything unreservedly to herself, except£100 and one of his swords to Major Keith, who was executor to thewill, and had gone to London to "see about it, " by which word poor Fannyexpressed all the business that her maintenance depended on. If anold general wished to put a major in temptation, could he have found abetter means of doing so? Rachel even thought that Fanny's incapacity tounderstand business had made her mistake the terms of the bequest, andthat Sir Stephen must have secured his property to his children; butFanny was absolutely certain that this was not the case, for she saidthe Major had made her at once sign a will dividing the property amongthem, and appointing himself and her Aunt Curtis their guardians. "I didnot like putting such a charge on my dear aunt, " said Fanny, "but theMajor said I ought to appoint a relation, and I had no one else! And Iknew you would all be good to them, if they had lost me too, when babywas born. " "We would have tried, " said Rachel, a little humbly, "but oh! I am gladyou are here, Fanny!" Nothing could of course be fixed till the Major had "seen about it. "After which he was to come to let Lady Temple know the result; but shebelieved he would first go to Scotland to see his brother. He and hisbrother were the only survivors of a large family, and he had been onforeign service for twelve years, so that it would be very selfish towish him not to take full time at home. "Selfish, " thought Rachel; "ifhe will only stay away long enough, you shall learn, my dear, how wellyou can do without him!" The boys had interrupted the conversation less than the previous one, because the lesser ones were asleep, or walking out, and the elder oneshaving learnt that a new week was to be begun steadily with lessons, thought it advisable to bring themselves as little into notice aspossible; but fate was sure to pursue them sooner or later, for Rachelhad come down resolved on testing their acquirements, and decidingon the method to be pursued with them; and though their mamma, with acurtain instinctive shrinking both for them and for herself, had putoff the ordeal to the utmost by listening to all the counsel about heraffairs, it was not to be averted. "Now, Fanny, since it seems that more cannot be done at present, let ussee about the children's education. Where are their books?" "We have very few books, " said Fanny, hesitating; "we had not muchchoice where we were. " "You should have written to me for a selection. " "Why--so we would, but there was always a talk of sending Conradeand Francis home. I am afraid you will think them very backward, dearRachel, especially Francie; but it is not their fault, dear children, and they are not used to strangers, " added Fanny, nervously. "I do not mean to be a stranger, " said Rachel. And while Fanny, in confusion, made loving protestations about notmeaning that, Rachel stepped out upon the lawn, and in her clear voicecalled "Conrade, Francis!" No answer. She called "Conrade" again, andlouder, then turned round with "where can they be--not gone down on thebeach?" "Oh, dear no, I trust not, " said the mother, flurried, and coming tothe window with a call that seemed to Rachel's ears like the roar of asucking dove. But from behind the bushes forth came the two young gentlemen, theirblack garments considerably streaked with the green marks of laurelclimbing. "Oh, my dears, what figures you are! Go to Coombe and get yourselvesbrushed, and wash your hands, and then come down, and bring your lessonbooks. " Rachel prognosticated that these preparations would be made theoccasion, of much waste of time; but she was answered, and with rathersurprised eyes, that they had never been allowed to come into thedrawing-room without looking like little gentlemen. "But you are not living in state here, " said Rachel; "I never couldenter into the cult some people, mamma especially, pay to theirdrawing-room. " "The Major used to be very particular about their not coming to sit downuntidy, " said Fanny. "He said it was not good for anybody. " Martinet! thought Rachel, nearly ready to advocate the boys making notoilette at any time; and the present was made to consume so much timethat, urged by her, Fanny once more was obliged to summon her boys andtheir books. It was not an extensive school library--a Latin grammar an extremelydilapidated spelling-book, and the fourth volume of Mrs. Marcet's"Little Willie. " The other three--one was unaccounted for, but Cyrilhad torn up the second, and Francis had thrown the first overboard ina passion. Rachel looked in dismay. "I don't know what can be done withthese!" she said. "Oh, then we'll have holidays till we have got books, mamma, " saidConrade, putting his hands on the sofa, and imitating a kicking horse. "It is very necessary to see what kind of books you ought to have, "returned Rachel. "How far have you gone in this?" "I say, mamma, " reiterated Conrade, "we can't do lessons without books. " "Attend to what your Aunt Rachel says, my dear; she wants to find outwhat books you should have. " "Yes, let me examine you. " Conrade came most inconveniently close to her; she pushed her chairback; he came after her. His mother uttered a remonstrating, "My dear!" "I thought she wanted to examine me, " quoth Conrade. "When Dr. M'Vicarexamines a thing, he puts it under a microscope. " It was said gravely, and whether it were malice or simplicity, Rachelwas perfectly unable to divine, but she thought anyway that Fanny hadno business to laugh, and explaining the species of examination that sheintended, she went to work. In her younger days she had worked muchat schools, and was really an able and spirited teacher, liking theoccupation; and laying hold of the first book in her way, she requestedConrade to read. He obeyed, but in such a detestable gabble that shelooked up appealingly to Fanny, who suggested, "My dear, you can readbetter than that. " He read four lines, not badly, but then broke off, "Mamma, are not we to have ponies? Coombe heard of a pony this morning;it is to be seen at the 'Jolly Mariner, ' and he will take us to look atit. " "The 'Jolly Mariner!' It is a dreadful place, Fanny, you never will letthem go there?" "My dear, the Major will see about your ponies when he comes. " "We will send the coachman down to inquire, " added Rachel. "He is only a civilian, and the Major always chooses our horses, " saidConrade. "And I am to have one too, mamma, " added Francis. "You know I have beenout four times with the staff, and the Major said I could ride as wellas Con!" "Reading is what is wanted now, my dear, go on. " Five lines more; but Francis and his mother were whispering together, and of course Conrade stopped to listen. Rachel saw there was no hopebut in getting him alone, and at his mother's reluctant desire, he followed her to the dining-room; but there he turned dogged andindifferent, made a sort of feint of doing what he was told, but whethershe tried him in arithmetic, Latin, or dictation, he made such ludicrousblunders as to leave her in perplexity whether they arose from ignoranceor impertinence. His spelling was phonetic to the highest degree, andthough he owned to having done sums, he would not, or did not answer thesimplest question in mental arithmetic. "Five apples and eight apples, come, Conrade, what will they make?" "A pie. " That was the hopeful way in which the examination proceeded, and whenRachel attempted to say that his mother would be much displeased, heproceeded to tumble head over heels all round the room, as if he knewbetter; which performance broke up the seance, with a resolve on herpart that when she had the books she would not be so beaten. She triedFrancis, but he really did know next to nothing, and whenever he came toa word above five letters long stopped short, and when told to spellit, said, "Mamma never made him spell;" also muttering somethingdepreciating about civilians. Rachel was a woman of perseverance. She went to the bookseller's, andobtained a fair amount of books, which she ordered to be sent to LadyTemple's. But when she came down the next morning, the parcel wasnowhere to be found. There was a grand interrogation, and at last itturned out to have been safely deposited in an empty dog-kennel inthe back yard. It was very hard on Rachel that Fanny giggled like aschool-girl, and even though ashamed of herself and her sons, couldnot find voice to scold them respectably. No wonder, after suchencouragement, that Rachel found her mission no sinecure, and felt atthe end of her morning's work much as if she had been driving pigs tomarket, though the repetition was imposing on the boys a sort of senseof fate and obedience, and there was less active resistance, thoughlearning it was not, only letting teaching be thrown at them. All therest of the day, except those two hours, they ran wild about the house, garden, and beach--the latter place under the inspection of Coombe, whom, since the "Jolly Mariner" proposal, Rachel did not in theleast trust; all the less when she heard that Major Keith, whosesoldier-servant he had originally been, thought very highly of him. A call at Myrtlewood was formidable from the bear-garden sounds, anddelicate as Lady Temple was considered to be, unable to walk or bearfatigue, she never appeared to be incommoded by the uproar in which shelived, and had even been seen careering about the nursery, or runningabout the garden, in a way that Grace and Rachel thought would tirea strong woman. As to a tete-a-tete with her, it was never secured byanything short of Rachel's strong will, for the children were alwayswith her, and she went to bed, or at any rate to her own room, when theydid, and she was so perfectly able to play and laugh with them that hercousins scarcely thought her sufficiently depressed, and comparing herwith what their own mother had been after ten months' widowhood, agreedthat after all "she had been very young, and Sir Stephen very old, andperhaps too much must not be expected of her. " "The grand passion of her life is yet to come, " said Rachel. "I hope not, " said Grace. "You may be certain of that, " said Rachel. "Feminine women always haveit one time or other in their lives; only superior ones are exempt. ButI hope I may have influence enough to carry her past it, and prevent hertaking any step that might be injurious to the children. " CHAPTER II. RACHEL'S DISCIPLINE "Thought is free, as sages tells us-- Free to rove, and free to soar; But affection lives in bondage, That enthrals her more and more. " JEAN INGELOW. An old friend lived in the neighbourhood who remembered Fanny's father, and was very anxious to see her again, though not able to leave thehouse. So the first day that it was fine enough for Mrs. Curtis toventure out, she undertook to convey Fanny to call upon her, and was offwith a wonderfully moderate allowance of children, only the two youngestboys outside with their maid. This drive brought more to light aboutFanny's past way of life and feelings than had ever yet appeared. Rachel had never elicited nearly so much as seemed to have come forthspontaneously to the aunt, who had never in old times been Fanny'sconfidante. Fanny's life had been almost a prolonged childhood. From the moment ofher marriage with the kind old General, he and her mother had conspiredto make much of her; all the more that she was almost constantlydisabled by her state of health, and was kept additionally languidand helpless by the effects of climate. Her mother had managed herhousehold, and she had absolutely had no care, no duty at all but to beaffectionate and grateful, and to be pretty and gracious at the dinnerparties. Even in her mother's short and sudden illness, the one thoughtof both the patient and the General had been to spare Fanny, and she hadbeen scarcely made aware of the danger, and not allowed to witness thesuffering. The chivalrous old man who had taken on himself the charge ofher, still regarded the young mother of his children as almost as muchof a baby herself, and devoted himself all the more to sparing hertrouble, and preventing her from feeling more thrown upon her by hermother's death. The notion of training her to act alone never evenoccurred to him, and when he was thrown from his horse, and carriedinto a wayside-hut to die, his first orders were that no hurried messagemight be sent to her, lest she might be startled and injured by theattempt to come to him. All he could do for her was to leave her in thecharge of his military secretary, who had long been as a son to him. Fanny told her aunt with loving detail all that she had heard from MajorKeith of the brave old man's calm and resigned end--too full of trusteven to be distressed with alarms for the helpless young wife andchildren, but committing them in full reliance to the care of theirFather in heaven, and to the present kindness of the friend who stood byhis pillow. The will, which not only Rachel but her mother thought strangelyunguarded, had been drawn up in haste, because Sir Stephen's family hadoutgrown the provisions of a former one, which had besides designatedher mother, and a friend since dead, as guardians. Haste, and theconscious want of legal knowledge, had led to its being made as simpleas possible, and as it was, Sir Stephen had scarcely had the power tosign it. It was Major Keith who had borne the tidings to the poor little widow, and had taken the sole care of the boys during the sad weeks of careutter prostration and illness. Female friends were with her, and tendedher affectionately, but if exertion or thought were required of her, the Major had to be called to her sofa to awaken her faculties, and shealways awoke to attend to his wishes, as though he were the channel ofher husband's. This state of things ended with the birth of the littlegirl, the daughter that Sir Stephen had so much wished for, coming toolate to be welcomed by him, but awakening her mother to tearful joy andrenewed powers of life. The nine months of little Stephana's lifehad been a tone of continual change and variety, of new interests andoccupations, and of the resumption of a feeling of health which hadscarcely been tasted since the first plunge into warm climates. Perhapsit was unreasonable to expect to find Fanny broken down; and shetalked in her own simple way with abundant overflowing affection of herhusband; but even Mrs. Curtis thought it was to her more like the lossof her own father than of the father of her children; and though not inthe least afraid of anything unbecoming in her gentle, retiring Fanny, still felt that it was more the charge of a girl than of a widow, dreaded the boys, dreaded their fate, and dreaded the Major more. During this drive, Grace and Rachel had the care of the elder boys, whomRachel thought safer in her keeping than in Coombe's. A walk alongthe cliffs was one resource for their amusement, but it resulted inConrade's climbing into the most break-neck places, by preferenceselecting those that Rachel called him out of, and as all the othersthought it necessary to go after him, the jeopardy of Leoline and Hubertbecame greater than it was possible to permit; so Grace took them by thehands, and lured them home with promises of an introduction to certainwhite rabbits at the lodge. After their departure, their brothers becameinfinitely more obstreperous. Whether it were that Conrade had someslight amount of consideration for the limbs of his lesser followers, orwhether the fact were--what Rachel did not remotely imagine--that he wasless utterly unmanageable with her sister than with herself, certainit is that the brothers went into still more intolerable places, andtreated their guardian as ducklings treat an old hen. At last they quitedisappeared from the view round a projecting point of rock, and whenshe turned it, she found a battle royal going on over an oldlobster-pot--Conrade hand to hand with a stout fisher-boy, and Francisand sundry amphibious creatures of both sexes exchanging a hail ofstones, water-smoothed brick-bats, cockle-shells, fishes' backbones, andother unsavoury missiles. Abstractedly, Rachel had her theory that younggentlemen had better scramble their way among their poor neighbours, and become used to all ranks; but when it came to witnessing an actualskirmish when she was responsible for Fanny's sons, it was needful tointerfere, and in equal dismay and indignation she came round the point. The light artillery fled at her aspect, and she had to catch Francis'sarm in the act of discharging after them a cuttlefish's white spine, with a sharp "For shame, they are running away! Conrade, Zack, havedone!" Zack was one of her own scholars, and held her in respect. He desisted at once, and with a touch of his rough forelock, looked sheepish, and said, "Please ma'am, he was meddling with ourlobster-pot. " "I wasn't doing any harm, " said Conrade. "I was just looking in, andthey all came and shied stones at us. " "I don't care how the quarrel began, " said Rachel. "You would not haverun into it if you had been behaving properly. Zack was quite right toprotect his father's property, but he might have been more civil. Nowshake hands, and have done with it. " "Not shake hands with a low boy, " growled Francis. But happily Conradewas of a freer spirit, and in spite of Rachel's interference, had senseenough to know himself in the wrong. He held out his hand, and when theceremony had been gone through, put his hands in his pockets, produceda shilling, and said, "There, that's in case I did the thing any harm. "Rachel would have preferred Zachary's being above its acceptance, buthe was not, and she was thankful that a wood path offend itself, leadingthrough the Homestead plantations away from the temptations and perilsof the shore. That the two boys, instead of listening to her remonstrance, took topunching and kicking one another, was a mitigated form of evil forwhich she willingly compounded, having gone through so much uselessinterference already, that she felt as if she had no spirit left tokeep the peace, and that they must settle their little affairs betweenthemselves. It was the most innocent diversion in which she could hopeto see them indulge. She only desired that it might last them past athrush's nest, in the hedge between the park and plantation, a somewhattreasured discovery of Grace's. No such good luck. Either the thrush'simprudence or Grace's visits had made the nest dangerously visible, and it was proclaimed with a shout. Rachel, in hot haste, warned themagainst taking birds'-nests in general, and that in particular. "Nests are made to be taken, " said Francis. "I've got an egg of all the Australian birds the Major could get me, "said Conrade, "and I mean to have all the English ones. " "Oh, one egg; there's no harm in taking that; but this nest has youngbirds. " The young birds must of course be seen, and Rachel stood by withdespairing frowns, commands, and assurances of their mother'sdispleasure, while they peeped in, tantalized the gaping yellow throats, by holding up their fingers, and laid hands on the side of the nest, peeping at her with laughing, mischievous eyes, enjoying her distress. She was glad at last to find them coming away without the nest, andafter crossing the park, arrived at the house, tired out, but withtwo hours of the boys still on her hands. They, however, were a littletired, too; and, further, Grace had hunted out the old bowls, much tothe delight of the younger ones. This sport lasted a good while, but atlast the sisters, who had relaxed their attention a little, perceivedthat Conrade and Hubert were both missing, and on Rachel's inquiry wherethey were, she received from Francis that elegant stock answer, "intheir skins. " However, they came to light in process of time, the twomothers returned home, and Mrs. Curtis and Grace had the conversationalmost in their own hands. Rachel was too much tired to do anything butread the new number of her favourite "Traveller's Magazine, " listeningto her mother with one ear, and gathering additional impressions of SirStephen Temple's imprudence, and the need of their own vigilance. Tomake Fanny feel that she could lean upon some one besides the militarysecretary, seemed to be the great object, and she was so confiding andaffectionate with her own kin, that there were great hopes. Those boyswere an infliction, no doubt, but, thought Rachel, "there is alwaysan ordeal at the beginning of one's mission. I am mastering them bydegrees, and should do so sooner if I had them in my own hands, and nomore worthy task can be done than training human beings for their workin this world, so I must be willing to go through a little while I bringthem into order, and fit their mother for managing them. " She spent the time before breakfast the next morning in a searchamong the back numbers of the "Traveller's Magazine" for a paper upon"Educational Laws, " which she thought would be very good reading forFanny. Her search had been just completed when Grace returned homefrom church, looking a good deal distressed. "My poor thrushes have notescaped, Rachel, " she said; "I came home that way to see how they weregoing on, and the nest is torn out, one poor little fellow lying deadbelow it. " "Well, that is much worse than I expected!" burst out Rachel. "I didthink that boy Conrade would at least keep his promises. " And shedetailed the adventure of the previous day, whence the conclusion wasbut too evident. Grace, however, said in her own sweet manner that shebelieved boys could not resist a nest, and thought it mere womanhood tointercede for such lawful game. She thought it would be best to take nonotice, it would only distress Fanny and make "the mother" more afraidof the boys than she was already, and she doubted the possibility ofbringing it home to the puerile conscience. "That is weak!" said Rachel. "I received the boy's word, and it is mybusiness to deal with the breach of promise. " So down went Rachel, and finding the boys rushing about the garden, according to their practice, before her arrival, she summoned Conrade, and addressed him with, "Well, Conrade, I knew that you were violentand disobedient, but I never expected you to fail in your honour as agentleman. " "I'll thrash any one who says I have, " hotly exclaimed Conrade. "Then you must thrash me. You gave your word to me not to take your AuntGrace's thrush's nest. " "And I didn't, " said Conrade, boldly. But Rachel, used to flat denials at the village-school, was not to bethus set aside. "I am shocked at you, Conrade, " she said. "I know yourmamma will be exceedingly grieved. You must have fallen into very sadways to be able to utter such a bold untruth. You had better confess atonce, and then I shall have something to tell her that will comfort he. " Conrade's dark face looked set as iron. "Come; tell me you are sorry you took the nest, and have broken yourword, and told a falsehood. " Red colour flushed into the brown cheek, and the hands were clenched. "There is not the smallest use in denying it. I know you took it whenyou and Hubert went away together. Your Aunt Grace found it gone thismorning, and one of the poor little birds dead below. What have you donewith the others?" Not a word. "Then I grieve to say I must tell all to your mother. " There was a sort of smile of defiance, and he followed her. For a momentshe thought of preventing this, and preparing Fanny in private, butrecollecting that this would give him the opportunity of preparingHubert to support his falsehood, she let him enter with her, and soughtLady Temple in the nursery. "Dear Fanny, I am very sorry to bring you so much vexation. I am afraidit will be a bitter grief to you, but it is only for Conrade's own sakethat I do it. It was a cruel thing to take a bird's-nest at all, butworse when he knew that his Aunt Grace was particularly fond of it; and, besides, he had promised not to touch it, and now, saddest of all, hedenies having done so. " "Oh, Conrade, Conrade!" cried Fanny, quite confounded, "You can't havedone like this!" "So, I have not, " said Conrade, coming up to her, as she held out herhand, positively encouraging him, as Rachel thought, to persist in theuntruth. "Listen, Fanny, " said Rachel. "I do not wonder that you are unwilling tobelieve anything so shocking, but I do not come without being only toocertain. " And she gave the facts, to which Fanny listened with palecheeks and tearful eyes, then turned to the boy, whose hand she had heldall the time, and said, "Dear Con, do pray tell me if you did it. " "I did not, " said Conrade, wrenching his hand away, and putting itbehind his back. "Where's Hubert?" asked Rachel, looking round, and much vexed when sheperceived that Hubert had been within hearing all the time, though tobe sure there was some little hope to be founded upon the simplicity offive years old. "Come here, Hubert dear, " said his mother; "don't be frightened, onlycome and tell me where you and Con went yesterday, when the others wereplaying at bowls. " Hubert hung his head, and looked at his brother. "Tell, " quoth Conrade. "Never mind her, she's only a civilian. " "Where did you go, Hubert?" "Con showed me the little birds in their nest. " "That is right, Hubert, good little boy. Did you or he touch the nest?" "Yes. " Then, as Conrade started, and looked fiercely at him, "Yes youdid, Con, you touched the inside to see what it was made of. " "But what did you do with it?" asked Rachel. "Left it there, up in the tree, " said the little boy. "There, Rachel!" said the mother, triumphantly. "I don't know what you mean, " said Rachel, angrily, "only that Conradeis a worse boy than I had thought him, end has been teaching his littlebrother falsehood. " The angry voice set Hubert crying, and little Cyril, who was verysoft-hearted, joined in chorus, followed by the baby, who was consciousof something very disagreeable going on in her nursery. Thereupon, afterthe apparently most important business of comforting Miss Temple hadbeen gone through, the court of justice adjourned, Rachel opening thedoor of Conrade's little room, and recommending solitary imprisonmentthere till he should be brought to confession. She did not at all reckonon his mother going in with him, and shutting the door after her. It wasnot the popular notion of solitary confinement, and Rachel was obligedto retire, and wait in the drawing-room for a quarter of an hour beforeFanny came down, and then it was to say-- "Do you know, Rachel dear, I am convinced that it must be a mistake. Conrade assures me he never touched the nest. " "So he persists in it?" "And indeed, Rachel dear, I cannot help believing him. If it had beenFrancie, now; but I never knew Conrade tell an untruth in his life. " "You never knew, because you always believe him. " "And it is not only me, but I have often heard the Major say he couldalways depend on Conrade's word. " Rachel's next endeavour was at gentle argument. "It must be dreadfulto make such a discovery, but it was far worse to let deceit go onundetected; and if only they were firm--" At that moment she beheld twoknickerbocker boys prancing on the lawn. "Didn't you lock the door? Has he broken out? How audacious!" "I let him come out, " said Fanny; "there was nothing to shut him up for. I beg your pardon, dear Rachel; I am very sony for the poor little birdsand for Grace, but I am sure Conrade did not take it. " "How can you be so unreasonable, Fanny--the evidence, " and Rachel wentover it all again. "Don't you think, " said Fanny, "that some boy may have got into thepark?" "My dear Fanny, I am sorry for you, it is quite out of the question tothink so; the place is not a stone's-throw from Randall's lodge. It willbe the most fatal thing in the world to let your weakness be imposedon in this way. Now that the case is clear, the boy must be forced toconfession, and severely punished. " Fanny burst into tears. "I am very sorry for you, Fanny. I know it is very painful; I assure youit is so to me. Perhaps it would be best if I were to lock him up, andgo from time to time to see if he is come to a better mind. " She rose up. "No, no, Rachel!" absolutely screamed Fanny, starting up, "my boyhasn't done anything wrong, and I won't have him locked up! Go away! Ifanything is to be done to my boys, I'll do it myself: they haven't gotany one but me. Oh, I wish the Major would come!" "Fanny, how can you be so foolish?--as if I would hurt your boys!" "But you won't believe Conrade--my Conrade, that never told a falsehoodin his life!" cried the mother, with a flush in her cheeks and a brightglance in her soft eyes. "You want me to punish him for what he hasn'tdone. " "How much alike mothers are in all classes of life, " thought Rachel, andmuch in the way in which she would have brought Zack's mother to reasonby threats of expulsion from the shoe-club, she observed, "Well Fanny, one thing is clear, while you are so weak as to let that boy go on inhis deceit, unrepentant and unpunished, I can have no more to do withhis education. " "Indeed, " softly said Fanny, "I am afraid so, Rachel. You have taken agreat deal of trouble, but Conrade declares he will never say a lessonto you again, and I don't quite see how to make him after this. " "Oh, very well; then there's an end of it. I am sorry for you, Fanny. " And away walked Rachel, and as she went towards the gate two artificialjets d'eau, making a considerable curve in the air, alighted, the onejust before her, the other, better aimed, in the back of her neck. Shehad too much dignity to charge back upon the offenders, but shewent home full of the story of Fanny's lamentable weakness, andprognostications of the misery she was entailing on herself. Hermother and sister were both much concerned, and thought Fanny extremelyfoolish; Mrs. Curtis consoling herself with the hope that the boys wouldbe cured and tamed at school, and begging that they might never belet loose in the park again. Rachel could not dwell much longer on thematter, for she had to ride to Upper Avon Park to hold council on thebooks to be ordered for the book-club; for if she did got go herself, whatever she wanted especially was always set aside as too something orother for the rest of the subscribers. Mrs. Curtis was tired, and stayed at home; and Grace spent the afternoonin investigations about the harrying of the thrushes, but, alas! withoutcoming a bit nearer the truth. Nothing was seen or heard of Lady Templetill, at half-past nine, one of the midges, or diminutive flies used atAvonmonth, came to the door, and Fanny came into the drawing-room--wan, tearful, agitated. "Dear Rachel, I am so afraid I was hasty, I could not sleep withoutcoming to tell you how sorry I am. " "Then you are convinced? I knew you would be. " "Oh, yes, I have just been sitting by him after he was gone to bed. Henever goes to sleep till I have done that, and he always tells me ifanything is on his mind. I could not ask him again, it would have beeninsulting him; but he went over it all of himself, and owned he oughtnot to have put a finger on the edge of the nest, but he wanted so tosee what it was lined with; otherwise he never touched it. He says, poorboy, that it was only your being a civilian that made you not able tobelieve him, I am sure you must believe him now. " Mrs. Curtis began, in her gentle way, about the difficulty of believingone's children in fault, but Lady Temple was entirely past accepting thepossibility of Conrade's being to blame in this particular instance. Itmade her bristle up again, so that even Rachel saw the impossibility ofpressing it, and trusted to some signal confutation to cure her of herinfatuation. But she was as affectionate as ever, only wanting to beforgiven for the morning's warmth, and to assure dear Aunt Curtis, dearGrace, and dearest Rachel in particular, that there was no doing withoutthem, and it was the greatest blessing to be near them. "Oh! and the squirting, dear Rachel! I was so sorry when I found it out, it was only Francie and Leo. I was very angry with them for it, and Ishould like to make them ask pardon, only I don't think Francie would. I'm afraid they are very rude boys. I must write to the Major to find mea governess that won't be very strict with them, and if she could be anofficer's daughter, the boys would respect her so much more. " CHAPTER III. MACKAREL LANE "For I would lonely stand Uplifting my white hand, On a mission, on a mission, To declare the coming vision. " ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. "Well, Grace, all things considered, perhaps I had better walk down withyou to Mackarel Lane, and then I can form a judgment on these Williamseswithout committing Fanny. " "Then you do not intend to go on teaching?" "Not while Conrade continues to brave me, and is backed up by poorFanny. " "I might speak to Miss Williams after church, and bring her in toMyrtlewood for Fanny to see. " "Yes, that might do in time; but I shall make up my mind first. PoorFanny is so easily led that we must take care what influences fall inher way. " "I always wished you would call. " "Yes, and I would not by way of patronage to please Mr. Touchett, butthis is for a purpose; and I hope we shall find both sisters at home. " Mackarel Lane was at right angles to the shore, running up the valleyof the Avon; but it soon ceased to be fishy, and became agricultural, owning a few cottages of very humble gentility, which were wont to hangout boards to attract lodgers of small means. At one of these Gracerang, and obtained admittance to a parlour with crazy French windowsopening on a little strip of garden. In a large wheeled chair, betweenthe fire and the window, surrounded by numerous little appliances forcomfort and occupation, sat the invalid Miss Williams, holding out herhand in welcome to the guests. "A fine countenance! what one calls a fine countenance!" thought Rachel. "Is it a delusion of insipidity as usual? The brow is good, massive, toomuch for the features, but perhaps they were fuller once; eyes brightand vigorous, hazel, the colour for thought; complexion meant to bebrilliant brunette, a pleasant glow still; hair with threads of grey. I hope she does not affect youth; she can't be less than one or two andthirty! Many people set up for beauties with far less claim. What isthe matter with her? It is not the countenance of deformity--accident, Ishould say. Yes, it is all favourable except the dress. What a material;what a pattern! Did she get it second-hand from a lady's-maid? Willthere be an incongruity in her conversation to match? Let us see. Gracemaking inquiries--Quite at my best--Ah! she is not one of the morbidsort, never thinking themselves better. " "I was afraid, I had not seen you out for some time. " "No; going out is a troublesome business, and sitting in the gardenanswers the same purpose. " "Of air, perhaps, but hardly of change or of view. " "Oh! I assure you there is a wonderful variety, " she answered, with aneager and brilliant smile. "Clouds and sunsets?" asked Rachel, beginning to be interested. "Yes, differing every day. Then I have the tamarisk and its inhabitants. There has been a tom-tit's nest every year since we came, and thatprovides us with infinite amusement. Besides the sea-gulls are often sogood as to float high enough for me to see them. There is a wonderfulcharm in a circumcribed view, because one is obliged to look well intoit all. " "Yes; eyes and no eyes apply there, " said Rachel. "We found a great prize, too, the other day. Rosie!" At the call a brown-haired, brown-eyed child of seven, looking like alittle fawn, sprang to the window from the outside. "My dear, will you show the sphynx to Miss Curtis?" The little girl daintily brought a box covered with net, in which a hugeapple-green caterpillar, with dashes of bright colour on his sides, and a horny spike on his tail, was feasting upon tamarisk leaves. Graceasked if she was going to keep it. "Yes, till it buries itself, " saidthe child. "Aunt Ermine thinks it is the elephant sphynx. " "I cannot be sure, " said the aunt, "my sister tried to find a figure ofit at Villars', but he had no book that gave the caterpillars. Do youcare for those creatures?" "I like to watch them, " said Grace, "but I know nothing about themscientifically; Rachel does that. " "Then can you help us to the history of our sphynx?" asked MissWilliams, with her pleasant look. "I will see if I have his portrait, " said Rachel, "but I doubt it. Iprefer general principles to details. " "Don't you find working out details the best way of entering intogeneral principles?" It was new to Rachel to find the mention of a general principle receivedneither with a stare nor a laugh; and she gathered herself up to answer, "Naming and collecting is not science. " "And masonry is not architecture, but you can't have architecturewithout it. " "One can have broad ideas without all the petty work of flower botanistsand butterfly naturalists. " "Don't you think the broad ideas would be rather of the hearsay order, at least to most people, unless their application were worked out in thetrifle that came first to hand?" "Experimental philosophy, " said Rachel, in rather a considering tone, as if the notion, when presented to her in plain English, requiredtranslation into the language of her thoughts. "If you like to call it so, " said Miss Williams, with a look of archfun. "For instance, the great art of mud pie taught us the porous natureof clay, the expansive power of steam, etc. Etc. " "You had some one to improve it to you?" "Oh dear no. Only afterwards, when we read of such things we rememberedhow our clay manufactures always burst in the baking unless they werewell dried first. " "Then you had the rare power of elucidating a principle?" "No, not I. My brother had; but I could only perceive the confirmation. " "This reminds me of an interesting article on the Edgeworth system ofeducation in the 'Traveller's Review. ' I will send it down to you. " "Thank you, but I have it here. " "Indeed; and do you not think it excellent, and quite agree with it?" "Yes, I quite agree with it, " and there was an odd look in her brighttransparent eyes that made Grace speculate whether she could have heardthat agreement with the Invalid in the "Traveller's Review" was one ofthe primary articles of faith acquired by Rachel. But Grace, though rather proud of Rachel's falling under the spell ofMiss Williams' conversation, deemed an examination rather hard on her, and took the opportunity of asking for her sister. "She is generally at home by this time; but this is her last day atCliff Cottages, and she was to stay late to help in the packing up. " "Will she be at home for the present?" asked Grace. "Yes, Rose and I are looking forward to a festival of her. " Grace was not at all surprised to hear Rachel at once commit herselfwith "My cousin, Lady Temple, " and rush into the matter in hand as ifsecure that the other Miss Williams would educate on the principles ofthe Invalid; but full in the midst there was a sound of wheels and aring at the bell. Miss Williams quietly signed to her little attendantto put a chair in an accessible place, and in walked Lady Temple, Mrs. Curtis, and the middle brace of boys. "The room will be too full, " was Grace's aside to her sister, chieflythinking of her mother, but also of their hostess; but Rachel returnedfor answer, "I must see about it;" and Grace could only remove herselfinto the verandah, and try to attract Leoline and Hubert after her, butfailing in this, she talked to the far more conversible Rose about thebullfinch that hung at the window, which loved no one but Aunt Ermine, and scolded and pecked at every one else; and Augustus, the belovedtame toad, that lived in a hole under a tree in the garden. Mrs. Curtis, considerate and tender-hearted, startled to find her daughter in thefield, and wishing her niece to begin about her own affairs, talkedcommon-place by way of filling up the time, and Rachel had her eyes freefor a range of the apartment. The foundation was the dull, third-ratelodging-house, the superstructure told of other scenes. One end ofthe room was almost filled by the frameless portrait of a dignifiedclergyman, who would have had far more justice done to him by greaterdistance; a beautifully-painted miniature of a lady with short waist andsmall crisp curls, was the centre of a system of photographs over themantel-piece; a large crayon sketch showed three sisters between theages of six and sixteen, sentimentalizing over a flower-basket; a pairof water-colour drawings represented a handsome church and comfortableparsonage; and the domestic gallery was completed by two prints--one ofa middle-aged county-member, the other one of Chalon's ladylike matronsin watered-silk aprons. With some difficulty Rachel read on the one theautograph, J. T. Beauchamp, and on the other the inscription, the LadyAlison Beauchamp. The table-cover was of tasteful silk patchwork, thevase in the centre was of red earthenware, but was encircled withreal ivy leaves gummed on in their freshness, and was filled with wildflowers; books filled every corner; and Rachel felt herself out of themuch-loathed region of common-place, but she could not recover from hersurprise at the audacity of such an independent measure on the part ofher cousin; and under cover of her mother's civil talk, said to Fanny, "I never expected to see you here. " "My aunt thought of it, " said Fanny, "and as she seems to find thechildren too much--" She broke off, for Mrs. Curtis had paused to let her introduce thesubject, but poor Fanny had never taken the initiative, and Rachel didit for her by explaining that all had come on the same errand, to askif Miss Williams would undertake the lessons of her nephews; LadyTemple softly murmured under her veil something about hopes and too muchtrouble; an appointment was made for the following morning, and Mrs. Curtis, with a general sensation of an oppressive multitude in a smallroom, took her leave, and the company departed, Fanny, all the way home, hoping that the other Miss Williams would be like her sister, pityingthe cripple, wishing that the sisters were in the remotest degreemilitary, so as to obtain the respect of the hoys, and wondering whatwould be the Major's opinion. "So many ladies!" exclaimed little Rose. "Aunt Ermine, have they madeyour head ache?" "No, my dear, thank you, I am only tired. If you will pull out the restfor my feet, I will be quiet a little, and be ready for tea when AuntAilie comes. " The child handily converted the chair into a couch, arranging the dressand coverings with the familiarity of long use, and by no means shockedby the contraction and helplessness of the lower limbs, to which she hadbeen so much accustomed all her life that it never even occurred toher to pity Aunt Ermine, who never treated herself as an object ofcompassion. She was thanked by a tender pressure on her hair, and thensaying-- "Now I shall wish Augustus good night; bring Violetta home from her playin the garden, and let her drink tea, and go to bed. " Ah, Violetta, purchased with a silver groat, what was not your valuein Mackarel Lane? Were you not one of its most considered inhabitants, scarcely less a child of Aunt Ermine and Aunt Alison than their Rosebudherself? Murmur, murmur, rippled the child's happy low-toned monologue directedto her silent but sufficient playmate, and so far from disturbing theaunt, that more than one smile played on her lips at the quaint fancies, and at the well of gladness in the young spirit, which made day afterday of the society of a cripple and an old doll, one constant song ofbliss, one dream of bright imaginings. Surely it was an equalizationof blessings that rendered little lonely Rose, motherless and well nighfatherless, poor, with no companion but a crippled aunt, a bird and atoad, with scarcely a toy, and never a party of pleasure, one of themost joyous beings under the sun, free from occasions of childishtroubles, without collisions of temper, with few contradictions, andwith lessons rather pleasure than toil. Perhaps Ermine did not takeinto account the sunshiny content and cheerfulness that made herselfa delightful companion and playfellow, able to accept the child as hersolace, not her burthen. Presently Rose looked up, and meeting the bright pleasant eyes, observed--"Violetta has been very good, and said all her lessons quiteperfect, and she would like to sit up till her Aunt Ailie comes home. Doyou think she may?" "Will she not be tired to-morrow?" "Oh, then she will be lazy, and not get up when she is called, till Ipull all the clothes off, and that will be fun. " "Or she may be fretful now?" A series of little squeaks ensued, followed by "Now, my love; that istaking a very unfair advantage of my promise. You will make your poorAunt Ermine's head ache, and I shall have to send you to bed. " "Would not a story pass away the time?" "You tell it, Aunt Ermine; your stories are always the best. And letthere be a fairy in it!" The fairy had nearly performed her part, when the arrival took place, and Rose darted forward to receive Aunt Ailie's greeting kiss. "Yes, Rosie--yes, Violetta; what do you think I have got for you?" And out came a doll's chair with a broken leg, condemned by thedeparting pupils, and granted with a laugh to the governess's requestto take it to her little niece; but never in its best days had the chairbeen so prized. It was introduced to Violetta as the reward of virtuefor having controlled her fretfulness, and the repair of its infirmitywas the first consideration that occupied all the three. After all, Violetta's sitting posture was, as Alison observed, an example of theinclined plane, but that was nothing to Rose, and the seance wouldhave been indefinitely prolonged, but for considerations for Violetta'shealth. The sisters were alike, and Alison had, like her elder, what isemphatically called countenance, but her features were less chiselled, and her dark straight brows so nearly met that, as Rose had onceremarked, they made a bridge of one arch instead of two. Six yearsyounger, in full health, and daily battling with the world, Alison had aremarkable look of concentration and vigour, her upright bearing, cleardecided speech, and glance of kindness won instant respect and reliance, but her face missed the radiant beamy brightness of her sister's; herface was sweet and winning, but it was not habitual with her, and therewas about her a look as if some terrible wave of grief or sufferinghad swept over her ere yet the features were fully fixed, and had thusmoulded her expression for life. But playfulness was the tone thatreigned around Ermine's couch at ordinary moments, and beside her thegrave Alison was lively, not with effort, but by infection. "There, " she said, holding up a cheque; "now we'll have a jubilee, and take you down under the East cliff, and we'll invest a shilling in'Ivanhoe, ' and Rose and Violetta shall open their ears!" "And you shall have a respectable Sunday mantle. " "Oh, I dare say Julia will send us a box. " "Then you will have to put a label on your back, 'Second-hand!' orher velvet will be a scandal. I can't wear out that at home like thisflagrant, flowery thing, that I saw Miss Curtis looking at as rathera disreputable article. There's preferment for you, Ailie! What do youthink of a general's widow with six boys? She is come after you. Wehad a great invasion--three Curtises and this pretty little widow, andvarious sons!" "Will she stay?" "Most likely, for she is a relation of Mrs. Curtis, and comes to be nearher. You are to call for inspection at eleven o'clock tomorrow, so Ifear your holiday will be short. " "Well, the less play the less anxiety. How many drives will the sixyoung gentlemen be worth to you?" "I am afraid it will be at the cost of tough work to you; she looked tome too sweet a creature to have broken her sons in, but I should thinkshe would be pleasant to deal with. " "If she be like Miss Curtis, I am sure she will. " "Miss Curtis? My old friend you mean. She was rather suppressed today, and I began to comprehend the reason of the shudder with which Mr. Touchett speaks of the dogmatical young lady. " "I hope she did not overwhelm you!" "Oh, no! I rather liked her; she was so earnest and spirited, I couldfancy enjoying a good passage at arms with her if these were old times. But I hope she will not take the direction of your school-room, thoughshe is an admirer of the educational papers in the 'Traveller. '" And here the discussion was ended by the entrance of little Rose withthe preliminaries of the evening meal, after which she went to bed, andthe aunts took out books, work, and writing materials. Alison's report the next day was--"Well, she is a very sweet creature. There is something indescribably touching in her voice and eyes, so softand wistful, especially when she implores one not to be hard on thosegreat scrambling boys of hers. " "So she is your fate?" "Oh, yes, if there had been ten more engagements offered, I could nothave helped accepting hers, even if it had not been on the best terms Ihave ever had. " "What?" "Seventy--for the hours between nine and five. Pretty well for ajourneyman hack, is it not? Indeed, the pretty thing's only fear seemedto be that she was requiring too much, and offering too little. No, nother only fear, for there is some major in the distance to whose approvaleverything must be subject--uncle or guardian, I suppose, but he seemedto be rather an object of jealousy to the younger Miss Curtis, forevery hint of wishing to wait for the Major made her press on thenegotiations. " "Seventy! I hope you will make it do, Ailie. It would be a greatrelief. " "And spare your brains not a little. Yes, I do trust to keeping it, forLady Temple is delightful; and as to the boys, I fancy it is only tamingthey want. The danger is, as Miss Rachel told me, whether she can bearthe sight of the process. I imagine Miss Rachel herself has tried it, and failed. " "Part amateur work, " said Ermine, smiling. "It really is lucky youhad to turn governess, Ailie, or there would have been a talent thrownaway. " "Stay till I have tried, " said Alison, who had, however, had experienceenough not to be much alarmed at the prospect. Order was wont to comewith her presence, and she hardly knew the aspect of tumultuous idlenessor insubordination to unenforced authority; for her eye and voice inthemselves brought cheerful discipline without constraint, and upheldby few punishments, for the strong influence took away the spirit ofrebellion. After her first morning's work she came home full of good auguries; theboys had been very pleasant with her after the first ten minutes, andConrade had gained her heart by his attention to his mother. He had, however, examined her minutely whether she had any connexion withthe army, and looked grave on her disavowal of any relationship withsoldiers; Hubert adding, "You see, Aunt Rachel is only a civilian, andshe hasn't any sense at all. " And when Francis had been reduced to themuch disliked process of spelling unknown words, he had muttered underhis breath, "She was only a civilian. " To which she had rejoinedthat "At least she knew thus much, that the first military duty wasobedience, " and Francis's instant submission proved that she had made agood shot. Of the Major she had heard much more. Everything was referredto him, both by mother and children, and Alison was the more puzzled asto his exact connexion with them. "I sometimes suspect, " she said, "thathe may have felt the influence of those winsome brown eyes and caressingmanner, as I know I should if I were a man. I wonder how long the oldgeneral has been dead? No, Ermine, you need not shake your head at me. I don't mean even to let Miss Curtis tell me if she would. I knowconfidences from partisan relations are the most mischief-making thingsin the world. " In pursuance of this principle Alison, or Miss Williams, as she wascalled in her vocation, was always reserved and discreet, and thoughready to talk in due measure, Rachel always felt that it was the upper, not the under current that was proffered. The brow and eyes, the wholespirit of the face, betokened reflection and acuteness, and Rachelwanted to attain to her opinions; but beyond a certain depth therewas no reaching. Her ways of thinking, her views of the children'scharacters, her estimate of Mr. Touchett--nay, even her tastes as to theInvalid's letters in the "Traveller's Review, " remained only partiallyrevealed, in spite of Rachel's best efforts at fishing, and attemptingto set the example. "It really seemed, " as she observed to Grace, "as if the more I talk, the less she says. " At which Grace gave way to a small short laugh, though she owned the force of Rachel's maxim, that to bestow confidencewas the way to provoke it; and forbore to refer to a certain delightfulafternoon that Rachel, in her childhood, had spent alone with a littlegirl whom she had never discovered to be deaf and dumb. Still Rachel hadnever been able to make out why Grace, with no theories at all, got somany more confidences than she did. She was fully aware of her sister'ssuperior attractiveness to common-place people, and made her welcome tostand first with the chief of their kindred, and most of the clergy andyoung ladies around. But it was hard that where Rachel really liked andmet half-way, the intimate confidence should always be bestowed uponGrace, or even the mother. She had yet to learn that the way to draw outa snail is not to, grasp its horns, and that halfway meeting is not tolaunch one's self to the opposite starting point. Either herinquiries were too point blank to invite detailed replies, or her owncommunications absorbed her too much to leave room for a return. Thusshe told Miss Williams the whole story of the thrush's nest, and allher own reflections upon the characteristics it betokened; and onlyafterwards, on thinking over the conversation, perceived that she hadelicited nothing but that it was very difficult to judge in such cases, not even any decided assent to her own demonstrations. It was true thatriots and breaches of the peace ceased while Miss Williams was in thehouse, and learning and good manners were being fast acquired; but untilConrade's duplicity should be detected, or the whole disposition ofthe family discussed with herself, Rachel doubted the powers of theinstructress. It was true that Fanny was very happy with her, and onlyregretted that the uncertainty of the Major's whereabouts precluded hisbeing informed of the newly-found treasure; but Fanny was sure to besatisfied as long as her boys were happy and not very naughty, and shecared very little about people's minds. If any one did "get on" with the governess it was Grace, who had beenthe first acquaintance in the family, and met her often in the serviceof the parish, as well as in her official character at the Homestead. It so chanced that one Sunday afternoon they found themselvessimultaneously at the door of the school-house, whence issued not thecustomary hum, but loud sounds of singing. "Ah!" said Grace, "Mr. Touchett was talking of getting the choir masterfrom Avoncester, and giving up an afternoon to practice for Easter, buthe never told me it was to be to-day. " On inquiry, it appeared that notice had been given in the morning, butnot till after Miss Williams had gone home to fetch her little niece, and while Rachel was teaching her boys in the class-room out of hearing. It was one of the little bits of bad management that were sure to happenwherever poor Mr. Touchett was concerned; and both ladies feeling iteasy to overlook for themselves, were thankful that it had not befallenRachel. Alison Williams, thinking it far to walk either to the Homesteador Myrtlewood before church, proposed to Grace to come home with her, anoffer that was thankfully accepted, with merely the scruple whether sheshould disturb the invalid. "Oh, no, it would be a great pleasure; I always wish we could get morechange and variety for her on Sunday. " "She is very self-denying to spare you to the school. " "I have often wished to give it up, but she never will let me. She saysit is one of the few things we can do, and I see besides that it bringsher fresh interests. She knows about all my class, and works for them, and has them to see her; and I am sure it is better for her, though itleaves her more hours alone with Rose. " "And the Sunday services are too long for her?" "Not so much that, as that she cannot sit on those narrow benches unlesstwo are put close together so that she can almost lie, and there isnot room for her chair in the aisle on a Sunday. It is the greatestdeprivation of all. " "It is so sad, and she is so patient and so energetic, " said Grace, using her favourite monosyllable in peace, out of Rachel's hearing. "You would say so, indeed, if you really knew her, or how she has foundstrength and courage for me through all the terrible sutfering. " "Then does she suffer so much?" "Oh, no, not now! That was in the first years. " "It was not always so. " "No, indeed! You thought it deformity! Oh, no, no! she was sobeautiful. " "That she is still. I never saw my sister so much struck with any one. There is something so striking in her bright glance out of those cleareyes. " "Ah! if you had only seen her bloom before--" "The accident?" "I burnt her, " said Alison, almost inaudibly. "You! you, poor dear! How dreadful for you. " "Yes, I burnt her, " said Alison, more steadily. "You ought not to bekind to me without knowing about it. It was an accident of course, butit was a fit of petulance. I threw a match without looking where it wasgoing. " "It must have been when you were very young. " "Fourteen. I was in a naughty fit at her refusing to go to the greatmusical meeting with us. We always used to go to stay at one of thecanon's houses for it, a house where one was dull and shy; and I couldnot bear going without her, nor understand the reason. " "And was there a reason?" "Yes, poor dear Ermine. She knew he meant to come there to meet her, andshe thought it would not be right; because his father had objected sostrongly, and made him exchange into a regiment on foreign service. " "And you did not know this?" "No, I was away all the time it was going on, with my eldest sister, having masters in London. I did not come home till it was all over, andthen I could not understand what was the matter with the house, or whyErmine was unlike herself, and papa restless and anxious about her. Theythought me too young to be told, and the atmosphere made me cross andfretful, and papa was displeased with me, and Ermine tried in vain tomake me good; poor patient Ermine, even then the chief sufferer!" "I can quite imagine the discomfort and fret of being in ignorance allthe time. " "Dear Ermine says she longed to tell me, but she had been forbidden, andshe went on blaming herself and trying to make me enjoy my holidays asusual, till this dreadful day, when I had worried her intolerably aboutgoing to this music meeting, and she found reasoning only made me worse. She still wrote her note of refusal, and asked me to light the taper; Idashed down the match in a frenzy of temper and--" She paused for breath, and Grace squeezed her hand. "We did not see it at first, and then she threw herself down and orderedme not to come near. Every one was there directly, I believe, but itburst out again and again, and was not put out till they all thoughtshe had not an hour to live. There was no pain, and there she lay, all calmness, comforting us all, and making papa and Edward promise toforgive me--me, who only wished they would kill me! And the next day hecame; he was just going to sail, and they thought nothing would hurt herthen. I saw him while he was waiting, and never did I see such a fixeddeathly face. But they said she found words to cheer and soothe him. " "And what became of him?" "We do not know. As long as Lady Alison lived (his aunt) she let us hearabout him, and we knew he was recovering from his wound. Then came herdeath, and then my father's, and all the rest, and we lost sight of theBeauchamps. We saw the name in the Gazette as killed at Lucknow, butnot the right Christian name nor the same rank; but then, though theregiment is come home, we have heard nothing of him, and though she hasnever spoken of him to me, I am sure Ermine believes he is dead, andthinks of him as part of the sunshine of the old Beauchamp days--thesunshine whose reflection lasts one's life. " "He ought to be dead, " said Grace. "Yes, it would be better for her than to hear anything else of him! Hehad nothing of his own, so there would have been a long waiting, but hisfather and brother would not hear of it, and accused us of entrappinghim, and that angered my father. For our family is quite good, and wewere very well off then. My father had a good private fortune besidesthe Rectory at Beauchamp; and Lady Alison, who had been like a motherto us ever since our own died, quite thought that the prospect was goodenough, and I believe got into a great scrape with her family for havingpromoted the affair. " "Your squire's wife?" "Yes, and Julia and Ermine had come every day to learn lessons with herdaughters. I was too young; but as long as she lived we were all likeone family. How kind she was! How she helped us through those frightfulweeks!" "Of your sister's illness? It must have lasted long?" "Long? Oh longer than long! No one thought of her living. The doctorssaid the injury was too extensive to leave any power of rallying; butshe was young and strong, and did not die in the torture, though peoplesaid that such an existence as remained to her was not worth the anguishof struggling back to it. I think my father only prayed that she mightsuffer less, and Julia stayed on and on, thinking each day would be thelast, till Dr. Long could not spare her any longer; and then LadyAlison nursed her night after night and day after day, till she had wornherself into an illness, and when the doctors spoke of improvement, we only perceived worse agony. It was eight months before she was evenlifted up in bed, and it was years before the burns ceased to be painfulor the constitution at all recovered the shock; and even now weathertells on her, though since we have lived here she has been far betterthan I ever dared to hope. " "Then you consider her still recovering?" "In general health she is certainly greatly restored, and has strengthto attempt more, but the actual injury, the contraction, can never bebetter than now. When we lived at Richmond she had constantly the bestadvice, and we were told that nothing more could be hoped for. " "I wonder more and more at her high spirits. I suppose that was whatchiefly helped to carry her through?" "I have seen a good many people, " said Alison, pausing, "but I never didsee any one so happy! Others are always wanting something; she never is. Every enjoyment seems to be tenfold to her what it is to other people;she sees the hopeful side of every sorrow. No burthen is a burthen whenone has carried it to her. " As Alison spoke, she pushed open the narrow green door of the littlelodging-house, and there issued a weak, sweet sound of voices: "Thestrain upraise of joy and praise. " It was the same that had met theirears at the school-door, but the want of body in the voices was fullycompensated by the heartfelt ring, as if here indeed was praise, notpractice. "Aunt Ailie! O Aunt Ailie!" cried the child, as the room-door opened andshowed the little choir, consisting of herself, her aunt, and the smallmaid of the house, "you should not have come, you were not to hear ustill Trinity Sunday. " Explanations were given, and Miss Curtis was welcomed, but Alison, still too much moved for ordinary conversation, slipped into thebedroom adjoining, followed by her sister's quick and anxious eye, andhalf-uttered inquiry. "I am afraid it is my fault, " said Grace; "she has been telling me aboutyour accident. " "Poor Ailie, " said Ermine, "she never will receive kindness withouthaving that unlucky story out! It is just one of the things that get socruelly exaggerated by consequences. It was one moment's petulance thatmight have caused a fright and been forgotten ever after, but for thosechemicals. Ah! I see, she said nothing about them, because they wereEdward's. They were some parcels for his experiments, gun cotton andthe like, which were lying in the window till he had time to take themupstairs. We had all been so long threatened with being blown up by hisexperiments that we had grown callous and careless, and it servedus right!" she added, stroking the child's face as it looked at her, earnest to glean fresh fragments of the terrible half-known tale of thepast. "Yes, Rosie, when you go and keep house for papa on the top of theOural Mountains, or wherever it may be, you are to remember that if AuntErmine had not been in a foolish, inattentive mood, and had taken hisdangerous goods out of the way, she might have been trotting to churchnow like other people. But poor Ailie has always helped herself to thewhole blame, and if every childish fit of temper were the root of suchqualities, what a world we should have here!" "Ah! no wonder she is devoted to you. " "The child was not fifteen, had never known cross or care, but from thatmoment she never was out of my room if it was possible to be in; andwhen nurse after nurse was fairly worn out, because I could not helpbeing so distressing, there was always that poor child, always handy andhelpful, growing to be the chief dependence, and looking so piteouslyimploring whatever was tried, that it really helped me to go throughwith it. Poor Ailie, " she added with an odd turn of playfulness, "Ialways fancied those frowns of anxiety made her eyebrows grow together. And ever since we came here, we know how she has worked away for her oldcinder and her small Rosebud, don't we?" she added, playfully squeezingthe child's cheeks up into a more budding look, hiding deeper and moreovercoming feelings by the sportive action. And as her sister came back, she looked up and shook her head at her, saying, -- "You gossiping Ailie, to go ripping up old grievances. I am going to askMiss Curtis not to let the story go any farther, now you have relievedyour mind of it. " "I did tell Lady Temple, " said Alison; "I never think it right not tolet people know what sort of person they have to teach their children. " And Grace, on feeling her way, discovered that Lady Temple had been toldthe bare fact in Miss Williams's reserved and business-like manner, butwith nothing of the affair that had led to it. She merely looked on itin the manner fully expressed by--"Ah, poor thing; how sad for her!"as a shocking secret, never to be talked of or thought about. And thatvoluntary detailed relation from Alison could only be regarded as drawnforth by Grace's own individual power of winning confidence, and thefriendliness that had so long subsisted between them. Nor indeed was thereserve regarding the cause of the present reduced circumstances of thesisters at all lessened; it was only known that their brother had ruinedthem by a fraudulent speculation, and had then fled to the Continent, leaving them burthened with the maintenance of his child, but that theyrefused to believe in his guilt, and had thus incurred the displeasureof other relatives and friends. Alison was utterly silent about him. Ermine seemed to have a tender pleasure in bringing in a reference tohis ways as if all were well, and it were a matter of course to speak of"Edward;" but it was plain that Ermine's was an outspoken nature. Thismight, however, be only because the one had been a guarded, shelteredinvalid, while the other had gone forth among strangers to battle fora livelihood, and moreover, the elder sister had been fully grown anddeveloped before the shock which had come on the still unformed Alison. At any rate, nobody but Grace "got on" with the governess, while theinvalid made friends with all who visited her, and most signally withRachel, who, ere long, esteemed her environment a good work, worthy ofherself. The charity of sitting with a twaddling, muffatee-knitting oldlady was indisputable, but it was perfectly within Grace's capacity; andRachel believed herself to be far more capable of entertaining the sickMiss Williams, nor was she mistaken. When excited or interested, mostpeople thought her oppressive; but Ermine Williams, except when unwell, did not find her so, and even then a sharp debate was sometimes a curefor the nervous ailments induced by the monotony of her life. Theyseemed to have a sort of natural desire to rub their minds one againstthe other, and Rachel could not rest without Miss Williams's opinion ofall that interested her--paper, essay, book, or event; but often, whenexpecting to confer a favour by the loan, she found that what was newto her was already well known in that little parlour, and even theauthorship no mystery. Ermine explained this by her correspondence withliterary friends of her brother's, and country-bred Rachel, to whomliterature was still an oracle unconnected with living agencies, listened, yes, absolutely listened to her anecdotes of sayings anddoings, far more like clever memoirs than the experiences of the banksof the Avon. Perhaps there was this immediate disadvantage, that hearingof a more intellectual tone of society tended to make Rachel lesstolerant of that which surrounded her, and especially of Mr. Touchett. It was droll that, having so long shunned the two sisters under theimpression that they were his protegees and worshippers, she found thatErmine's point of view was quite the rectorial one, and that to veneratethe man for his office sake was nearly as hard to Ermine as to herself, though the office was more esteemed. Alison, the reserved, had held her tongue on his antecedents; but Erminewas drawn into explaining that his father had been a minor canon, whohad eked out his means with a combination of chaplaincies and partsof curacies, and by teaching at the school where his son was educated. Indignant at the hack estimation in which his father had been held, theson, far more justly viewing both the dignity and duty of his office, was resolved to be respected; but bred up in second rate society, had neither weight, talent, nor manners to veil his aggressiveself-assertion, and he was at this time especially trying to theCurtises. Cathedral music had been too natural to him for the endurance of anunchoral service, and the prime labour of his life was to work up hischoir; but he was musical by education rather than nature, and havingbegun his career with such mortal offence to the native fiddlers andsingers as to impel them into the arms of dissent, he could only supplythe loss from the school by his own voice, of which he was not chary, though using it with better will than taste. The staple of his choirwere Rachel's scholars. Her turn had always been for boys, and herclass on Sunday mornings and two evenings in the week had long beenin operation before the reign of Mr. Touchett. Then two lads, whosepaternal fiddles had seceded to the Plymouth Brethren, were suspendedfrom all advantages by the curate, and Rachel was with difficultywithheld from an explosion; but even this was less annoying than thesummons at the class-room door every Sunday morning, that, in the midstof her lesson, carried off the chief of her scholars to practise theirchants. Moreover, the blame of all imperfect lessons was laid on the"singing for the parson, " and all faults in the singing by the tasks forMiss Rachel; and one night, the excellent Zack excused his failure ingeography by saying that Mr. Touchett had thrown away his book, and saidthat it was no better than sacrilege, omitting, however, to mention thathe had been caught studying it under his surplice during the lessons. At last, with his usual fatality, the curate fixed the grand practicefor the Saturday evenings that were Rachel's great days for instructionin the three R's, and for a sort of popular lecture. Cricket was tosucceed the singing, and novelty carried the day, but only by thedesertion of her scholars did Rachel learn the new arrangement, and shecould hardly credit the assertion that the curate was not aware that itwas her day. In fact, it was the only one when the fisher lads were surenot to be at sea, and neither party would yield it. Mr. Touchett wasdetermined not to truckle to dictation from the great house; so whenRachel declared she would have nothing to do with the boys unless theSaturdays were conceded to her, he owned that he thought the clergymanhad the first right to his lads, and had only not claimed them beforeout of deference for the feelings of a well-meaning parishioner. Both parties poured out their grievances to the same auditor, for Mr. Touchett regarded Ermine Williams as partly clerical, and Rachel couldnever be easy without her sympathy. To hear was not, however, to makepeace, while each side was so sore, so conscious of the merits of itsown case, so blind to those of the other. One deemed praise in itshighest form the prime object of his ministry; the other found theperformance indevotional, and raved that education should be sacrificedto wretched music. But that the dissension was sad and mischievous, it would have been very diverting; they were both so young in theirincapacity of making allowances, their certainty that theirs was thetheory to bring in the golden age, and even in their magnanimity offorgiveness, and all the time they thought themselves so very old. "Iam resigned to disappointments; I have seen something of life. "--"Youforget, Miss Williams, that my ministerial experience is not veryrecent. " There was one who would have smoothed matters far better than any, who, like Ermine, took her weapons from the armoury of good sense; but thatperson was entirely unconscious how the incumbent regarded her softeyes, meek pensiveness, motherly sweetness, and, above all, the refinedgraceful dignity that remained to her from the leading station she hadoccupied. Her gracious respect towards her clergyman was a contrast asmuch to the deferential coquetry of his admirers as to the abruptness ofhis foe, and her indifference to parish details had even its charm in aworld of fussiness; he did not know himself how far a wish of hers wouldhave led him, and she was the last person to guess. She viewed him, likeall else outside her nursery, as something out of the focus of her eye;her instinct regarded her clergyman as necessarily good and worthy, andher ear heard Rachel railing at him; it sounded hard, but it was a pityRachel should be vexed and interfered with. In fact, she never thoughtof the matter at all; it was only part of that outer kind of dreamystage-play at Avonmouth, in which she let herself he moved about at hercousin's bidding. One part of her life had passed away from her, and what remained to her was among her children; her interestsand intelligence seemed contracted to Conrade's horizon, and as toeverything else, she was subdued, gentle, obedient, but slow and obtuse. Yet, little as he knew it, Mr. Touchett might have even asserted hisauthority in a still more trying manner. If the gentle little widow hadnot cast a halo round her relatives, he could have preached that sermonupon the home-keeping duties of women, or have been too much offendedto accept any service from the Curtis family; and he could have donewithout them, for he had a wide middle-class popularity; his mannerswith the second-rate society, in which he had been bred, were justsufficiently superior and flattering to recommend all his bestpoints, and he obtained plenty of subscriptions from visitors, and ofco-operation from inhabitants. Many a young lady was in a flutter at theapproach of the spruce little figure in black, and so many volunteerswere there for parish work, that districts and classes were divided andsubdivided, till it sometimes seemed as if the only difficulty was tofind poor people enough who would submit to serve as the corpus vile fortheir charitable treatment. For it was not a really poor population. The men were seafaring, thewomen lacemaking, and just well enough off to make dissent doublyattractive as an escape from some of the interfering almsgiving of theplace. Over-visiting, criticism of dress, and inquisitorial examinationshad made more than one Primitive Methodist, and no severe distress hadbeen so recent as to render the women tolerant of troublesome weeklyinspections. The Curtis sisters were, however, regarded as an exception;they were viewed as real gentlefolks, not only by their own tenants, butby all who were conscious of their hereditary claims to respect; theydid not care whether hair were long or short, and their benefits weremore substantial and reliable than could be looked for from the casualvisitors and petty gentry around, so that sundry houses that wereforbidden ground to district visitors, were ready to grant them awelcome. One of these belonged to the most able lacemaker in the place, ahard-working woman, who kept seven little pupils in a sort of cupboardunder the staircase, with a window into the back garden, "because, " saidshe, "they did no work if they looked out into the front, there were somany gapsies;" these gapsies consisting of the very scanty traffic ofthe further end of Mackarel Lane. For ten hours a day did these childrenwork in a space just wide enough for them to sit, with the two leastunder the slope of the stairs, permitted no distraction from theirbobbins, but invaded by their mistress on the faintest sound of tongues. Into this hotbed of sprigs was admitted a child who had been a specialfavourite at school, an orphan niece of the head of the establishment. The two brothers had been lost together at sea; and while the onewidow became noted for her lace, the other, a stranger to the art, hadmaintained herself by small millinery, and had not sacrificed her littlegirl to the Moloch of lace, but had kept her at school to a later agethan usual in the place. But the mother died, and the orphan was at onceadopted by the aunt, with the resolve to act the truly kind part by her, and break her in to lacemaking. That determination was a great blow tothe school visitors; the girls were in general so young, or so stupefiedwith their work, that an intelligent girl like Lovedy Kelland was nosmall treasure to them; there were designs of making her a pupil teacherin a few years, and offers and remonstrances rained in upon her aunt. But they had no effect; Mrs. Kelland was persuaded that the child hadbeen spoilt by learning, and in truth poor Lovedy was a refractoryscholar; she was too lively to bear the confinement patiently; her mindwas too much awake not to rebel against the dulness, and her fingers hadnot been brought into training early enough. Her incessant tears spoilther thread, and Mrs. Kelland decided that "she'd never get her breadtill she was broke of her buke;" which breaking was attempted by asummary pawning of all poor Lovedy's reward books. The poor childconfided her loss to her young lady teacher at the Sunday school; theyoung lady, being new, young, and inflammable, reproached Mrs. Kellandwith dishonesty and tyranny to the orphan, and in return was nearlyfrightened out of her wits by such a scolding as only such a woman asthe lace mistress could deliver. Then Mr. Touchett tried his hand, andthough he did not meet with quite so much violence, all he heard wasthat she had "given Lovedy the stick for being such a little tod as tocomplain, when she knew the money for the bukes was put safe away inher money-box. She was not going to the Sunday schule again, not she, to tell stories against her best friends!" And when the next districtvisitor came that way, the door was shut in her face, with the tractthrown out at the opening, and an intimation in Mrs. Kelland's shrillvoice, that no more bukes were wanted; she got plenty from Miss Curtis. These bukes from Miss Curtis were sanatory tracts, which Rachel wasconstantly bestowing, and which on Sundays Mrs. Kelland spelt through, with her finger under the line, in happy ignorance whether the subjectwere temporal or spiritual, and feeling herself in the exemplarydischarge of a Sunday duty. Moreover, old feudal feeling made Rachelbe unmolested when she came down twice a week, opened the door ofthe blackhole under the stairs, and read aloud something religious, something improving, and a bit of a story, following it up by mentalarithmetic and a lesson on objects, which seemed to Mrs. Kelland themost arrant nonsense in the world, and to her well-broken scholars wasabout as interesting as the humming of a blue-bottle fly; but it waspoor Lovedy's one enjoyment, though making such havoc of her work thatit was always expiated by extra hours, not on her pillow, but at it. These visits of Rachel were considered to encourage the Kellandrefractoriness, and it was officially intimated that it would be wise todiscontinue them, and that "it was thought better" to withdraw from Mrs. Kelland all that direct patronage of her trade, by which the ladieshad enabled her to be in some degree independent of the middle-men, who absorbed so much of the profit from the workers. Grace and Rachel, sufficiently old inhabitants to remember the terrible wreck that hadleft her a struggling widow, felt this a hard, not to say a vindictivedecision. They had long been a kind of agents for disposing of her waresat a distance; and, feeling that the woman had received provocation, Grace was not disposed to give her up, while Rachel loudly averred thatneither Mr. Touchett nor any of his ladies had any right to interfere, and she should take no notice. "But, " said Grace, "can we run counter to our clergyman's directwishes?" "Yes, when he steps out of his province. My dear Grace, you grew up inthe days of curatolatry, but it won't do; men are fallible even whenthey preach in a surplice, and you may be thankful to me that you andFanny are not both led along in a string in the train of Mr. Touchett'sdevotees!" "I wish I knew what was right to do, " said Grace, quietly, and sheremained wishing it after Rachel had said a great deal more; butthe upshot of it was, that one day when Grace and Fanny were walkingtogether on the esplanade, they met Mr. Touchett, and Grace said to him, "We have been thinking it over, and we thought, perhaps, you would notwish us not to give any orders to Mrs. Kelland. I know she has behavedvery ill; but I don't see how she is to get on, and she has this childon her hands. " "I know, " said Mr. Touchett, "but really it was flagrant. " "Oh, " said Lady Temple, gently, "I dare say she didn't mean it, and youcould not be hard on a widow. " "Well, " said Mr. Touchett, "Miss Brown was very much put out, and--and--it is a great pity about the child, but I never thought myselfthat such strong measures would do any good. " "Then you will not object to her being employed?" "No, not at all. From a distance, it is not the same thing as close athome; it won't be an example. " "Thank you, " said Grace; and "I am so glad, " said Lady Temple; andMr. Touchett went on his way, lightened of his fear of having let hiszealous coadjutors oppress the hard-working, and far more brightened bythe sweet smile of requital, but all the time doubtful whether he hadbeen weak. As to the victory, Rachel only laughed, and said, "If it madeGrace more comfortable, it was well, except for that acknowledgment ofMr. Touchett's jurisdiction. " A few days after, Rachel made her appearance in Mackerel Lane, andannounced her intention of consulting Ermine Williams under seal ofsecrecy. "I have an essay that I wish you to judge of before I send itto the 'Traveller. '" "Indeed!" said Ermine, her colour rising. "Would it not be better--" "Oh, I know what you mean, but don't scruple on that score. At my age, with a mother like mine, it is simply to avoid teasing and excitementthat I am silent. " "I was going to say I was hardly a fair--" "Because of your different opinions? But those go for nothing. You area worthy antagonist, and enter into my views as my mother and sistercannot do, even while you oppose them. " "But I don't think I can help you, even if--" "I don't want help; I only want you to judge of the composition. Infact, I read it to you that I may hear it myself. " Ermine resigned herself. "'Curatolatry is a species--'" "I beg your pardon. " "Curatolatry. Ah! I thought that would attract attention. " "But I am afraid the scholars would fall foul of it. " "Why, have not they just made Mariolatry?" "Yes; but they are very severe on hybrids between Latin and Greek. " "It is not worth while to boggle at trifles when one has an expressiveterm, " said Rachel; "if it turns into English, that is all that iswanted. " "Would it not be rather a pity if it should turn into English? Might itnot be hard to brand with a contemptuous name what does more good thanharm?" "That sickly mixture of flirtation and hero worship, with a religiousdaub as a salve to the conscience. " "Laugh it down, and what do you leave? In Miss Austen's time silly girlsran to balls after militiamen, now, if they run to schools and charitiesmore for the curate's sake than they quite know, is not the alternativebetter?" "It is greater humbug, " said Rachel. "But I knew you would not agree, atleast beforehand, it is appreciation that I want. " Never did Madame de Genlis make a cleverer hit than in the reading ofthe Genius Phanor's tragedy in the Palace of Truth. Comically absurdas the inconsistency is of transporting the lecture of a Parisianacademician into an enchanted palace, full of genii and fairies of theremotest possible connexion with the Arab jinn, the whole is redeemedby the truth to nature of the sole dupe in the Palace of Truth being theauthor reading his own works. Ermine was thinking of him all the time. She was under none of the constraint of Phanor's auditors, though shecarried a perpetual palace of truth about with her; she would not havehad either fears or compunctions in criticising, if she could. The paperwas in the essay style, between argument and sarcasm, something afterthe model of the Invalid's Letters; but it was scarcely lightly touchedenough, the irony was wormwood, the gravity heavy and sententious, andwhere there was a just thought or happy hit, it seemed to travel in aroad-waggon, and be lost in the rumbling of the wheels. Ermine didnot restrain a smile, half of amusement, half of relief, at theself-antidote the paper contained; but the smile passed with theauthoress as a tribute to her satire. "In this age, " she said, "we must use those lighter weapons of wit, orno one will attend. " "Perhaps, " said Ermine, "if I approve your object, I should tell you youdon't use them lightly. " "Ah! but I know you don't approve it. You are not lay woman enough to beimpartial, and you belong to the age that was trying the experiment ofthe hierarchy modified: I to that which has found it will not do. But atleast you understand my view; I have made out my case. " "Yes, I understand your view; but--" "You don't sympathize. Of course not; but when it receives its fullweight from the printer's bands, you will see that it will tell. Thatbit about the weak tea fumes I thought of afterwards, and I am afraid Idid not read it well. " "I remember it; but forgive me if I say first I think the whole israther too--too lengthy to take. " "Oh, that is only because manuscript takes long to read aloud. I countedthe words, so I can't be mistaken, at least I collated twenty lines, and multiplied; and it is not so long as the Invalid's last letter aboutsystematic reading. " "And then comes my question again, Is good to come of it?" "That I can't expect you to see at this time; but it is to be thebeginning of a series, exposing the fallacies of woman's life as atpresent conducted; and out of these I mean to point the way to moreconsistent, more independent, better combined exertion. If I can makemyself useful with my pen, it will compensate for the being debarredfrom so many more obvious outlets. I should like to have as muchinfluence over people's minds as that Invalid for instance, and byearnest effort I know I shall attain it. " "I--I--" half-laughing and blushing, "I hope you will, for I know youwould wish to use it for good; but, to speak plainly, I doubt about thesuccess of this effort, or--or if it ought to succeed. " "Yes, I know you do, " said Rachel. "No one ever can judge of amanuscript. You have done all I wished you to do, and I value yoursincerity. Of course I did not expect praise, since the more tellingit is on the opposite side, the less you could like it. I saw youappreciated it. " And Rachel departed, while Rose crept up to her aunt, asking, "AuntErmine, why do you look so very funny? It was very tiresome. Are not youglad it is over?" "I was thinking, Rose, what a difficult language plain English issometimes. " "What, Miss Rachel's? I couldn't understand one bit of her long story, except that she did not like weak tea. " "It was my own that I meant, " said Ermine. "But, Rose, always rememberthat a person who stands plain speaking from one like me has somethingvery noble and generous in her. Were you here all the time, Rosie? Idon't wonder you were tired. " "No, Aunt Ermine, I went and told Violetta and Augustus a fairy tale outof my own head. " "Indeed; and how did they like it?" "Violetta looked at me all the time, and Augustus gave three winks, so Ithink he liked it. " "Appreciated it!" said Aunt Ermine. CHAPTER IV. THE HERO. "And which is Lucy's? Can it be That puny fop, armed cap-a-pie, Who loves in the saloon to show The arms that never knew a foe. "--SCOTT. "My lady's compliments, ma'am, and she would he much obliged if youwould remain till she comes home, " was Coombe's reception of Alison. "She is gone to Avoncester with Master Temple and Master Francis. " "Gone to Avoncester!" exclaimed Rachel, who had walked from church toMyrtlewood with Alison. "Mamma is gone to meet the Major!" cried three of the lesser boys, rushing upon them in full cry; then Leoline, facing round, "Not themajor, he is lieutenant-colonel now--Colonel Keith, hurrah!" "What--what do you mean? Speak rationally, Leoline, if you can. " "My lady sent a note to the Homestead this morning, " explained Coombe. "She heard this morning that Colonel Keith intended to arrive to-day, and took the young gentlemen with her to meet him. " Rachel could hardly refrain from manifesting her displeasure, andbluntly asked what time Lady Temple was likely to be at home. "It depended, " Coombe said, "upon the train; it was not certain whetherColonel Keith would come by the twelve or the two o'clock train. " And Rachel was going to turn sharply round, and dash home with thetidings, when Alison arrested her with the question-- "And who is Colonel Keith?" Rachel was too much wrapped up in her own view to hear the trembling ofthe voice, and answered, "Colonel Keith! why, the Major! You have notbeen here so long without hearing of the Major?" "Yes, but I did not know. Who is he?" And a more observant person wouldhave seen the governess's gasping effort to veil her eagerness under herwonted self-control. "Don't you know who the Major is?" shouted Leoline. "He is our militarysecretary. " "That's the sum total of my knowledge, " said Rachel, "I don't understandhis influence, nor know where he was picked up. " "Nor his regiment?" "He is not a regimental officer; he is on our staff, " said Leoline, whose imagination could not attain to an earlier condition than "on ourstaff. " "I shall go home, then, " said Rachel, "and see if there is anyexplanation there. " "I shall ask the Major not to let Aunt Rachel come here, " observedHubert, as she departed; it was well it was not before. "Leoline, " anxiously asked Alison, "can you tell me the Major's name?" "Colonel Keith--Lieutenant-Colonel Keith, " was all the answer. "I meant his Christian name, my dear. " "Only little boys have Christian names!" they returned, and Alison wasforced to do her best to tame herself and them to the duties of the longday of anticipation so joyous on their part, so full of confusion andbewildered anxiety on her own. She looked in vain, half stealthily, asoften before, for a recent Army List or Peerage. Long ago she hadlost the Honourable Colin A. Keith from among the officers of the --thHighlanders, and though in the last Peerage she had laid hands on he wasstill among the surviving sons of the late Lord Keith, of Gowanbrae, thedate had not gone back far enough to establish that he had not died inthe Indian war. It was fear that predominated with her, there were manymoments when she would have given worlds to be secure that the newcomerwas not the man she thought of, who, whether constant or inconstant, could bring nothing but pain and disturbance to the calm tenour of hersister's life. Everything was an oppression to her; the children, intheir wild, joyous spirits and gladsome inattention, tried her patiencealmost beyond her powers; the charge of the younger ones in theirmother's absence was burthensome, and the delay in returning to hersister became well-nigh intolerable, when she figured to herself RachelCurtis going down to Ermine with the tidings of Colonel Keith's arrival, and her own discontent at his influence with her cousin. Would thatshe had spoken a word of warning; yet that might have been merelymischievous, for the subject was surely too delicate for Rachel tobroach with so recent a friend. But Rachel had bad taste for anything!That the little boys did not find Miss Williams very cross that day wasan effect of the long habit of self-control, and she could hardly sitstill under the additional fret, when, just as tea was spread for theschool-room party, in walked Miss Rachel, and sat herself down, in spiteof Hubert, who made up a most coaxing, entreating face, as he said, "Please, Aunt Rachel, doesn't Aunt Grace want you very much!" "Not at all. Why, Hubert?" "Oh, if you would only go away, and not spoil our fun when the Majorcomes. " For once Rachel did laugh, but she did not take the hint, and Alisonobtained only the satisfaction of hearing that she had at least not beenin Mackarel Lane. The wheels sounded on the gravel, out rushed the boys;Alison and Rachel sat in strange, absolute silence, each forgetfulof the other, neither guarding her own looks, nor remarking hercompanion's. Alison's lips were parted by intense listening; Rachel'steeth were set to receive her enemy. There was a chorus of voices inthe hall, and something about tea and coming in warned both to gather uptheir looks before Lady Temple had opened the door, and brought in uponthem not one foe, but two! Was Rachel seeing double? Hardly that, forone was tall, bald, and bearded, not dangerously young, but on that veryaccount the more dangerously good-looking; and the other was almost aboy, slim and light, just of the empty young officer type. Here, too, was Fanny, flushed, excited, prettier and brighter than Rachel had seenher at all, waving an introduction with head and hand; and the boyshanging round the Major with deafening exclamations of welcome, in whichthey were speedily joined by the nursery detachment. Those greetings, those observations on growth and looks, those glad, eager questions andanswers, were like the welcome of an integral part of the family; it wasfar more intimate and familiar than had been possible with the Curtisesafter the long separation, and it was enough to have made the twospectators feel out of place, if such a sensation had been withinRachel's capacity, or if Alison had not been engaged with the tea. LadyTemple made a few explanations, sotto voce, to Alison, whom she alwaystreated as though in dread of not being sufficiently considerate. "I dohope the children have been good; I knew you would not mind; I could notwait to see you, or I should have been too late to meet the train, andthen he would have come by the coach; and it is such a raw east wind. Hemust be careful in this climate. " "How warm and sunshiny it has been all day, " said Rachel, by way ofopposition to some distant echo of this whisper. "Sunshiny, but treacherous, " answered Colonel Keith; "there are coldgusts round corners. This must be a very sheltered nook of the coast. " "Quite a different zone from Avoncester, " said the youth. "Yes, delightful. I told you it was just what would suit you, " addedFanny, to the colonel. "Some winds are very cold here, " interposed Rachel. "I always pitypeople who are imposed upon to think it a Mentone near home. They arechoking our churchyard. " "Very inconsiderate of them, " muttered the young man. "But what made you come home so late, Fanny?" said Rachel. Alison suspected a slight look of wonder on the part of both theofficers at hearing their general's wife thus called to account; butFanny, taking it as a matter of course, answered, "We found that the-thwas at Avoncester. I had no idea of it, and they did not know I washere; so I went to call upon Mrs. Hammond, and Colonel Keith went tolook for Alick, and we have brought him home to dine. " Fanny took it for granted that Rachel must know who Alick was, but shewas far from doing so, though she remembered that the --th had been heruncle's regiment, and had been under Sir Stephen Temple's command inIndia at the time of the mutiny. The thought of Fanny's lapsing intomilitary society was shocking to her. The boys were vociferating aboutboats, ponies, and all that had been deferred till the Major's arrival, and he was answering them kindly, but hushing the extra outcry less byword than sign, and his own lowered voice and polished manner--a mannerthat excessively chafed her as a sort of insult to the blunt, rapid waysthat she considered as sincere and unaffected, a silkiness that no doubthad worked on the honest, simple general, as it was now working onthe weak young widow. Anything was better than leaving her to suchinfluence, and in pursuance of the intention that Rachel had alreadyannounced at home, she invited herself to stay to dinner; and Fannyeagerly thanked her, for making it a little less dull for Colonel Keithand Alick. It was so good to come down and help. Certainly Fanny wasan innocent creature, provided she was not spoilt, and it was a duty toguard her innocence. Alison Williams escaped to her home, sure of nothing but that her sistermust not be allowed to share her uncertainties; and Lady Temple and herguests sat down to dinner. Rachel meant to have sat at the bottom andcarved, as belonging to the house; but Fanny motioned the Colonel tothe place, observing, "It is so natural to see you there! One onlywants poor Captain Dent at the other end. Do you know whether he has hisleave?" Wherewith commenced a discussion of military friends--who had been heardof from Australia, who had been met in England, who was promoted, whomarried, who retired, &c. , and all the quarters of the-th since itsreturn from India two years ago; Fanny eagerly asking questions andmaking remarks, quite at home and all animation, absolutely a differentbeing from the subdued, meek little creature that Rachel had hithertoseen. Attempts were made to include Miss Curtis in the conversation byaddressing anecdotes to her, and asking if she knew the places named;but she had been to none, and the three old friends quickly fell intothe swing of talk about what interested them. Once, however, shecame down on them with, "What conclusion have you formed upon femaleemigration?" "'His sister she went beyond the seas, And died an old maid among black savagees. ' "That's the most remarkable instance of female emigration on record, isn't it?" observed Alick. "What; her dying an old maid?" said Colonel Keith. "I am not sure. Wholesale exportations of wives are spoiling the market. " "I did not mean marriage, " said Rachel, stoutly. "I am particularlyanxious to know whether there is a field open to independent femalelabour. " "All the superior young women seemed to turn nurserymaids, " said theColonel. "Oh, " interposed Fanny, "do you remember that nice girl of ours whowould marry that Orderly-Sergeant O'Donoghoe? I have had a letter fromher in such distress. " "Of course, the natural termination, " said Alick, in his lazy voice. "And I thought you would tell me how to manage sending her some help, "proceeded Fanny. "I could have helped you, Fanny. Won't an order do it?" "Not quite, " said Fanny, a shade of a smile playing on her lip. "It iswhether to send it through one of the officers or not. If Captain Lee iswith the regiment, I know he would take care of it for her. " So they plunged into another regiment, and Rachel decided that nothingwas so wearisome as to hear triflers talk shop. There was no opportunity of calling Fanny to order after dinner, forshe went off on her progress to all the seven cribs, and was only justreturning from them when the gentlemen came in, and then she made roomfor the younger beside her on the sofa, saying, "Now, Alick, I do sowant to hear about poor, dear little Bessie;" and they began so low andconfidentially, that Rachel wondered if her alarms wore to be transferedfrom the bearded colonel to the dapper boy, or if, in very truth, she must deem poor Fanny a general coquette. Besides, a man must becontemptible who wore gloves at so small a party, when she did not. She had been whiling away the time of Fanny's absence by looking overthe books on the table, and she did not regard the present companysufficiently to desist on their account. Colonel Keith began to turnover some numbers of the "Traveller" that lay near him, and presentlylooked up, and said, "Do you know who is the writer of this?" "What is it? Ah! one of the Invalid's essays. They strike every one; butI fancy the authorship is a great secret. " "You do not know it?" "No, I wish I did. Which of them are you reading? 'Country Walks. ' Thatis not one that I care about, it is a mere hash of old recollections;but there are some very sensible and superior ones, so that I have heardit sometimes doubted whether they are man's or woman's writing. For mypart, I think them too earnest to be a man's; men always play with theirsubject. " "Oh, yes, " said Fanny, "I am sure only a lady could have writtenanything so sweet as that about flowers in a sick-room; it so put me inmind of the lovely flowers you used to bring me one at a time, when Iwas ill at Cape Town. " There was no more sense to be had after those three once fell upon theirreminiscences. That night, after having betrayed her wakefulness by a movement in herbed, Alison Williams heard her sister's voice, low and steady, saying, "Ailie, dear, be it what it may, guessing is worse than certainty. " "Oh, Ermine, I hoped--I know nothing--I have nothing to tell. " "You dread something, " said Ermine; "you have been striving forunconcern all the evening, my poor dear, but surely you know, Ailie, that nothing is so bad while we share it. " "And I have frightened you about nothing. " "Nothing! nothing about Edward?" "Oh, no, no!" "And no one has made you uncomfortable?" "No. " "Then there is only one thing that it can be, Ailie, and you need notfear to tell me that. I always knew that if he lived I must be preparedfor it, and you would not have hesitated to tell me of his death. " "It is not that, indeed it is not, Ermine, it is only this--that I foundto-day that Lady Temple's major has the same name. " "But you said she was come home. You must have seen him. " "Yes, but I should not know him. I had only seen him once, remember, twelve years ago, and when I durst not look at him. " "At least, " said Ermine, quickly, "you can tell me what you saw to-day. " "A Scotch face, bald head, dark beard, grizzled hair. " "Yes I am grey, and he was five years older; but he used not to have aScotch face. Can you tell me about his eyes?" "Dark, " I think. "They were very dark blue, almost black. Time and climate must have leftthem alone. You may know him by those eyes, Ailie. And you could notmake out anything about him?" "No, not even his Christian name nor his regiment. I had only the littleones and Miss Rachel to ask, and they knew nothing. I wanted to keepthis from you till I was sure, but you always find me out. " "Do you think I couldn't see the misery you were in all the evening, poor child? But now you have had it out, sleep, and don't bedistressed. " "But, Ermine, if you--" "My dear, I am thankful that nothing is amiss with you or Edward. Forthe rest, there is nothing but patience. Now, not another word; you mustnot lose your sleep, nor take away my chance of any. " How much the sisters slept they did not confide to one another, butwhen they rose, Alison shook her head at her sister's heavy eyelids, and Ermine retorted with a reproachful smile at certain dark tokens ofsleeplessness under Alison's eyes. "No, not the flowered flimsiness, please, " she said, in the course ofher toilette, "let me have the respectable grey silk. " And next sheasked for a drawer, whence she chose a little Nuremberg horn brooch forher neck. "I know it is very silly, " she said, "but I can't quite helpit. Only one question, Ailie, that I thought of too late. Did he hearyour name?" "I think not, Lady Temple named nobody. But why did you not ask me lastnight?" "I thought beginning to talk again would destroy your chance of sleep, and we had resolved to stop. " "And, Ermine, if it be, what shall I do?" "Do as you feel right at the moment, " said Ermine, after a moment'spause. "I cannot tell how it may be. I have been thinking over what youtold me about the Major and Lady Temple. " "Oh, Ermine, what a reproof this is for that bit of gossip. " "Not at all, my dear, the warning may be all the better for me, " saidErmine, with a voice less steady than her words. "It is not what, underthe circumstances, I could think likely in the Colin whom I knew; butwere it indeed so, then, Ailie, you had better say nothing about me, unless he found you out. We would get employment elsewhere. " "And I must leave you to the suspense all day. " "Much better so. The worst thing we could do would be to go on talkingabout it. It is far better for me to be left with my dear littleunconscious companion. " Alison tried to comfort herself with this belief through the long hoursof the morning, during which she only heard that mamma and Colonel Keithwere gone to the Homestead, and she saw no one till she came forth withher troop to the midday meal. And there, at sight of Lady Temple's content and calm, satisfied look, as though she were once more in an accustomed atmosphere, and feltherself and the boys protected, and of the Colonel's courteous attentionto her and affectionate authority towards her sons, it was an absolutepang to recognise the hue of eye described by Ermine; but still Alisontried to think them generic Keith eyes, till at length, amid the merrychatter of her pupils, came an appeal to "Miss Williams, " and then camea look that thrilled through her, the same glance that she had met forone terrible moment twelve years before, and renewing the same longingto shrink from all sight or sound. How she kept her seat and continuedto attend to the children she never knew, but the voices sounded likea distant Babel; and she did not know whether she were most relieved, disappointed, or indignant when she left the dining-room to take theboys for their walk. Oh, that Ermine could be hid from all knowledgeof what would be so much harder to bear than the death in which she hadlong believed! Harder to bear? Yes, Ermine had already been passing through a heartsickness that made the morning like an age. Her resolute will hadstruggled hard for composure, cheerfulness, and occupation; but thelittle watchful niece had seen through the endeavour, and had made herown to the sleepless night and the headache. The usual remedy was adrive in a wheeled chair, and Rose was so urgent to be allowed to go andorder one, that Ermine at last yielded, partly because she had hardlyenergy enough to turn her refusal graciously, partly because she wouldnot feel herself staying at home for the vague hope and when the childwas out of sight, she had the comfort of clasping her hands, and ceasingto restrain her countenance, while she murmured, "Oh, Colin, Colin, areyou what you were twelve years back? Is this all dream, all delusion, and waste of feeling, while you are lying in your Indian grave, moremine than you can ever be living be as it may, -- "'Calm me, my God, and keep me calm While these hot breezes blow; Be like the night dew's cooling balm Upon earth's fevered brow. Calm me, my God, and keep me calm, Soft resting on Thy breast; Soothe me with holy hymn and psalm, And bid my spirit rest. '" CHAPTER V. MILITARY SOCIETY. "My trust Like a good parent did beget of him A falsehood in its contrary as great As my trust was, which had indeed no limit. "--TEMPEST. Rose found the wheeled chair, to which her aunt gave the preference, wasengaged, and shaking her little discreet head at "the shakey chair" and"the stuffy chair, " she turned pensively homeward, and was speeding downMackarel Lane, when she was stayed by the words, "My little girl!" andthe grandest and most bearded gentleman she had ever seen, demanded, "Can you tell me if Miss Williams lives here?" "My aunt?" exclaimed Rose, gazing up with her pretty, frightened-fawnlook. "Indeed!" he exclaimed, looking eagerly at her, "then you are the childof a very old friend of mine! Did you never hear him speak of his oldschool-fellow, Colin Keith?" "Papa is away, " said Rose, turning back her neck to get a full view ofhis face from under the brim of her hat. "'Will you run on and ask your aunt if she would like to see me?" headded. Thus it was that Ermine heard the quick patter of the child's steps, followed by the manly tread, and the words sounded in her ears, "AuntErmine, there's a gentleman, and he has a great beard, and he says he ispapa's old friend! And here he is. " Ermine's beaming eyes as absolutely met the new comer as though she hadsprung forward. "I thought you would come, " she said, in a voice serenewith exceeding bliss. "I have found you at last, " as their hands clasped; and they gazed intoeach other's faces in the untroubled repose of the meeting, exclusive ofall else. Ermine was the first to break silence. "Oh, Colin, you look worn andaltered. " "You don't; you have kept your sunbeam face for me with the dear brownglow I never thought to have seen again. Why did they tell me you werean invalid, Ermine?" "Have you not seen Alison?" she asked, supposing he would have knownall. "I saw her, but did not hear her name, till just now at luncheon, whenour looks met, and I saw it was not another disappointment. " "And she knows you are come to me?" "It was not in me to speak to her till I had recovered you! One canforgive, but not forget. " "You will do more when you know her, and how she has only lived andworked for me, dear Ailie, and suffered far more than I--" "While I was suffering from being unable to do anything but live foryou, " he repeated, taking up her words; "but that is ended now--" and asshe made a negative motion of her head, "have you not trusted to me?" "I have thought you not living, " she said; "the last I know was yourletter to dear Lady Alison, written from the hospital at Cape Town, after your wound. She was ill even when it came, and she could only giveit to Ailie for me. " "Dear good aunt, she got into trouble with all the family for our sake;and when she was gone no one would give me any tidings of you. " "It was her last disappointment that you were not sent home on sickleave. Did you get well too fast?" "Not exactly; but my father, or rather, I believe, my brother, intimatedthat I should be welcome only if I had laid aside a certain foolishfancy, and as lying on my back had not conduced to that end, I couldonly say I would stay where I was. " "And was it worse for you? I am sure, in spite of all that tanned skin, that your health has suffered. Ought you to have come home?" "No, I do not know that London surgeons could have got at the ball, "he said, putting his hand on his chest, "and it gives me no trouble ingeneral. I was such a spectacle when I returned to duty, that good oldSir Stephen Temple, always a proverb for making his staff a refuge forthe infirm, made me his aide-de-camp, and was like a father to me. " "Now I see why I never could find your name in any list of the officersin the moves of the regiment! I gave you quite up when I saw no Keithamong those that came home from India. I did believe then that you werethe Colonel Alexander Keith whose death I had seen mentioned, thoughI had long trusted to his not being honourable, nor having your firstname. " "Ah! he succeeded to the command after Lady Temple's father. A kindfriend to me he was, and he left me in charge of his son and daughter. A very good and gallant fellow is that young Alick. I must bring him tosee you some day--" "Oh! I saw his name; I remember! I gloried in the doings of a Keith; butI was afraid he had died, as there was no such name with the regimentwhen it came home. " "No, he was almost shattered to pieces; but Sir Stephen sent him up thehills to be nursed by Lady Temple and her mother, and he was sent homeas soon as he could be moved. I was astonished to see how entirely hehad recovered. " "Then you went through all that Indian war?" "Yes; with Sir Stephen. " "You must show me all your medals! How much you have to tell me! Andthen--?" "Just when the regiment was coming home, my dear old chief was appointedto the command in Australia, and insisted on my coming with him asmilitary secretary. He had come to depend on me so much that I could notwell leave him; and in five years there was the way to promotion and toclaiming you at once. We were just settled there, when what I heard mademe long to have decided otherwise, but I could not break with him then. I wrote to Edward, but had my letter returned to me. " "No wonder; Edward was abroad, all connexion broken. " "I wrote to Beauchamp, and he knew nothing, and I could only wait tillmy chief's time should be up. You know how it was cut short, and howthe care of the poor little widow detained me till she was fit for thevoyage. I came and sought you in vain in town. I went home, and foundmy brother lonely and dispirited. He has lost his son, his daughters aremarried, and he and I are all the brothers left out of the six! He wasurgent that I should come and live with him and marry. I told him Iwould, with all my heart, when I had found you, and he saw I was toomuch in earnest to be opposed. Then I went to Beauchamp, but Harry knewnothing about any one. I tried to find out your sister and Dr. Long, butheard they were gone to Belfast. " "Yes, they lost a good deal in the crash, and did not like retrenchingamong their neighbours, so they went to Ireland, and there they have aflourishing practice. " "I thought myself on my way there, " he said, smiling; "only I hadfirst to settle Lady Temple, little guessing who was her treasure ofa governess! Last night I had nearly opened, on another false scent;I fell in with a description that I could have sworn was yours, of theheather behind the parsonage. I made a note of the publisher in case allelse had failed. " "I'm glad you knew the scent of the thyme!" "Then it was no false scent?" "One must live, and I was thankful to do anything to lighten Ailie'sburthen. I wrote down that description that I might live in the place infancy; and one day, when the contribution was wanted and I was hard upfor ideas, I sent it, though I was loth to lay open that bit of home andheart. " "Well it might give me the sense of meeting you! And in other papers ofthe series I traced your old self more ripened. " "The editor was a friend of Edward's, and in our London days he asked meto write letters on things in general, and when I said I saw the worldthrough a key-hole, he answered that a circumscribed view gained indistinctness. Most kind and helpful he has been, and what began betweensport and need to say out one's mind has come to be a resource forwhich we are very thankful. He sends us books for reviewal, and that ispleasant and improving, not to say profitable. " "Little did I think you were in such straits!" he said, stroking thechild's head, and waiting as though her presence were a restraint oninquiries, but she eagerly availed herself of the pause. "Aunt Ermine, please what shall I say about the chairs? Will you have the nice one andBilly when they come home? I was to take the answer, only you did talkso that I could not ask!" "Thank you, my dear; I don't want chairs nor anything else while Ican talk so, " she answered, smiling. "You had better take a run in thegarden when you come back;" and Rose replied with a nod of assentthat made the colonel smile and say, "Good-bye then, my sweet LadyDiscretion, some day we will be better acquainted. " "Dear child, " said Ermine, "she is our great blessing, and some day Itrust will be the same to her dear father. Oh, Colin! it is too much tohope that you have not believed what you must have heard! And yet youwrote to him. " "Nay, I could not but feel great distrust of what I heard, since Iwas also told that his sisters were unconvinced; and besides, I hadcontinually seen him at school the victim of other people's faults. " "This is best of all, " exclaimed Ermine, with glistening eyes, and handlaid upon his; "it is the most comfortable word I have heard since ithappened. Yes, indeed, many a time before I saw you, had I heard of'Keith' as the friend who saw him righted. Oh, Colin! thanks, thanks forbelieving in him more than for all!" "Not believing, but knowing, " he answered--"knowing both you and Edward. Besides, is it not almost invariable that the inventor is ruined by hisinvention--a Prospero by nature?" "It was not the invention, " she answered; "that throve as long as myfather lived. " "Yes, he was an excellent man of business. " "And he thought the concern so secure that there was no danger inembarking all the available capital of the family in it, and it didbring us in a very good income. " "I remember that it struck me that the people at home would find thatthey had made a mistake after all, and missed a fortune for me! It wasan invention for diminishing the fragility of glass under heat; was itnot?" "Yes, and the manufacture was very prosperous, so that my father wasquite at ease about us. After his death we made a home for Edward inLondon, and looked after him when he used to be smitten with some newidea and forgot all sublunary matters. When he married we went to liveat Richmond, and had his dear little wife very much with us, for she wasa delicate tender creature, half killed by London. In process of time hefell in with a man named Maddox, plausible and clever, who became a sortof manager, especially while Edward was in his trances of invention; andat all times knew more about his accounts than he did himself. Nothingbut my father's authority had ever made him really look into them, andthis man took them all off his hands. There was a matter about theglass that Edward was bent on ascertaining, and he went to study themanufacture in Bohemia, taking his wife with him, and leaving Rose withus. Shortly after, Dr. Long and Harry Beauchamp received letters askingfor a considerable advance, to be laid out on the materials that thisimprovement would require. Immediately afterwards came the crash. " "Exactly what I heard. Of course the letters were written in ignoranceof what was impending. " "Colin, they were never written at all by Edward! He deniedall knowledge of them. Alison saw Dr. Long's, most ingeniouslymanaged--foreign paper and all--but she could swear to the forgery--" "You suspect this Maddox?" "Most strongly! He knew the state of the business; Edward did not. Andhe had a correspondence that would have enabled so ingenious a personeasily to imitate Edward's letters. I do not wonder at their having beentaken in; but how Julia--how Harry Beauchamp could believe--what they dobelieve. Oh, Colin! it will not do to think about it!" "Oh, that I had been at home! Were no measures taken?" "Alas! alas! we urged Edward to come home and clear himself; but thatpoor little wife of his was terrified beyond measure, imagined prisonsand trials. She was unable to move, and he could not leave her; shetook from him an unhappy promise not to put himself in what she fancieddanger from the law, and then died, leaving him a baby that did not livea day. He was too broken-hearted to care for vindicating himself, and noone-no one would do it for him!" Colonel Keith frowned and clenched the hand that lay in his grasp tillit was absolute pain, but pain that was a relief to feel. "Madness, madness!" he said. "Miserable! But how was it at home--? Did this Maddoxstand his ground?" "Yes, if he had fled, all would have been clear, but he doctored theaccounts his own way, and quite satisfied Dr. Long and Harry. He showedEdward's receipt for the £6000 that had been advanced, and besides, there was a large sum not accounted for, which was, of course, supposedto have been invested abroad by Edward--some said gambled away--as if hehad not had a regular hatred of all sorts of games. " "Edward with his head in the clouds! One notion is as likely as theother. --Then absolutely nothing was done!" "Nothing! The bankruptcy was declared, the whole affair broken up; andcertainly if every one had not known Edward to be the most heedless ofmen, the confusion would have justified them in thinking him a dishonestone. Things had been done in his name by Maddox that might have made astranger think him guilty of the rest, but to those who had ever knownhis abstraction, and far more his real honour and uprightness, nothingcould have been plainer. " "It all turned upon his absence. " "Yes, he must have borne the brunt of what had been done in his name, I know; that would have been bad enough, but in a court of justice, hiswhole character would have been shown, and besides, a prosecution forforgery of his receipt would have shown what Maddox was, sufficiently toexculpate him. " "And you say the losers by the deception would not believe in it?" "No, they only shook their heads at our weak sisterly affection. " "I wish I could see one of those letters. Where is Maddox now?" "I cannot tell. He certainly did not go away immediately after thesettlement of accounts, but it has not been possible to us to keep up aknowledge of his movements, or something might have turned up to justifyEdward. Oh, what it is to be helpless women! You are the very firstperson, Colin, who has not looked at me pityingly, like a creature to beforborne with an undeniable delusion!" "They must be very insolent people, then, to look at that brow and eyes, and think even sisterly love could blind them, " he said. "Yes, Ermine, I was certain that unless Edward were more changed than I could believe, there must be some such explanation. You have never seen him since?" "No, he was too utterly broken by the loss of his wife to feel anythingelse. For a long time we heard nothing, and that was the most dreadfultime of all! Then he wrote from a little German town, where he wasgetting his bread as a photographer's assistant. And since that hehas cast about the world, till just now he has some rather interestingemployment at the mines in the Oural Mountains, the first thing he hasreally seemed to like or care for. " "The Oural Mountains! that is out of reach. I wish I could see him. Onemight find some means of clearing him. What directed your suspicion toMaddox?" "Chiefly that the letters professed to have been sent in a parcel to himto be posted from the office. If it had been so, Edward and Lucy wouldcertainly have written to us at the same time. I could have shown, too, that Maddox had written to me the day before to ascertain where Edwardwas, so as to be sure of the date. It was a little country village, and I made a blunder in copying the spelling from Lucy's writing. Ailiefound that very blunder repeated in Dr. Long's letter, and we showed himthat Edward did not write it so. Besides, before going abroad, Edwardhad lost the seal-ring with his crest, which you gave him. You rememberthe Saxon's head?" "I remember! You all took it much to heart that the engraver had made ita Saracen's head, and not a long-haired Saxon. " "Well, Edward had renewed the ring, and taken care to make it a Saxon. Now Ailie could get no one to believe her, but she is certain that theletter was sealed with the old Saracen not the new Saxon. But--but--ifyou had but been there--" "Tell me you wished for me, Ermine. " "I durst not wish anything about you, " she said, looking up through amist of tears. "And you, what fixed you here?" "An old servant of ours had married and settled here, and had written tous of her satisfaction in finding that the clergyman was from Hereford. We thought he would recommend Ailie as daily governess to visitors, andthat Sarah would be a comfortable landlady. It has answered very well;Rose deserves her name far more than when we brought her here, and it iswonderful how much better I have been since doctors have become a mereluxury. " "Do you, can you really mean that you are supporting yourselves?" "All but twenty-five pounds a year, from a legacy to us, that Mr. Beauchamp would not let them touch. But it has been most remarkable, Colin, " she said, with the dew in her eyes, "how we have never wantedour daily bread, and how happy we have been! If it had not been forEdward, this would in many ways have been our happiest time. Since theold days the little frets have told less, and Ailie has been infinitelyhappier and brighter since she has had to work instead of only to watchme. Ah, Colin, must I not own to having been happy? Indeed it was verymuch because peace had come when the suspense had sunk into belief thatI might think of you as--, where you would not be grieved by the sightof what I am now--" As she spoke, a knock, not at the house, but at the room door, made themboth start, and impel their chairs to a more ordinary distance, justas Rachel Curtis made her entrance, extremely amazed to find, not Mr. Touchett, but a much greater foe and rival in that unexpected quarter. Ermine, the least disconcerted, was the first to speak. "You aresurprised to find a visitor here, " she said, "and indeed only now, didwe find out that 'our military secretary, ' as your little cousins say, was our clear old squire's nephew. " There was a ring of gladness in the usually patient voice that struckeven Rachel, though she was usually too eager to be observant, but shewas still unready with talk for the occasion, and Ermine continued:"We had heard so much of the Major before-hand, that we had a sort ofJupiter-like expectation of the coming man. I am not sure that I shallnot go on expecting a mythic major!" Rachel, never understanding playfulness, thought this both audaciousand unnecessary, and if it had come from any one else, would haveadministered a snub, but she felt the invalid sacred from her weapons. "Have you ever seen the boys?" asked Colonel Keith. "I am rather proudof Conrade, my pupil; he is so chivalrous towards his mother. " "Alison has brought down a division or two to show me. How much alikethey are. " "Exactly alike, and excessively unruly and unmanageable, " said Rachel. "I pity your sister. " "More unmanageable in appearance than in reality, " said the colonel:"there's always a little trial of strength against the hand over them, and they yield when they find it is really a hand. They were wonderfullygood and considerate when it was an object to keep the house quiet. " Rachel would not encourage him to talk of Lady Temple, so she turned toErmine on the business that had brought her, collecting and adaptingold clothes for emigrants. --It was not exactly gentlemen's pastime, andErmine tried to put it aside and converse, but Rachel never permittedany petty consideration to interfere with a useful design, and asthere was a press of time for the things, she felt herself justified indriving the intruder off the field and outstaying him. She succeeded; herecollected the desire of the boys that he should take them to inspectthe pony at the "Jolly Mariner, " and took leave with--"I shall see youto-morrow. " "You knew him all the time!" exclaimed Rachel, pausing in her unfoldingof the Master Temples' ship wardrobe. "Why did you not say so?" "We did not know his name. He was always the 'Major. '" "Who, and what is he?" demanded Rachel, as she knelt before her victim, fixing those great prominent eyes, so like those of Red Riding Hood'sgrandmother, that Ermine involuntarily gave a backward impulse to herwheeled chair, as she answered the readiest thing that occurred toher, --"He is brother to Lord Keith of Gowan-brae. " "Oh, " said Rachel, kneeling on meditatively, "that accounts for it. Somuch the worse. The staff is made up of idle honourables. " "Quoth the 'Times!'" replied Ermine; "but his appointment began onaccount of a wound, and went on because of his usefulness--" "Wounded! I don't like wounded heroes, " said Rachel; "people make such afuss with them that they always get spoilt. " "This was nine years ago, so you may forget it if you like, " saidErmine, diversion suppressing displeasure. "And what is your opinion of him?" said Rachel, edging forward on herknees, so as to bring her inquisitorial eyes to bear more fully. "I had not seen him for twelve years, " said Ermine, rather faintly. "He must have had a formed character when you saw him last. The twelveyears before five-and-forty don't alter the nature. " "Five-and-forty! Illness and climate have told, but I did not think itwas so much. He is only thirty-six--" "That is not what I care about, " said Rachel, "you are both of you socautious that you tell me what amounts to nothing! You should considerhow important it is to me to know something about the person in whosepower my cousin's affairs are left. " "Have you not sufficient guarantee in the very fact of her husband'sconfidence?" "I don't know. A simple-hearted old soldier always means a very foolishold man. " "Witness the Newcomes, " said Ermine, who, besides her usual amusementin tracing Rachel's dicta to their source, could only keep in herindignation by laughing. "General observation, " said Rachel, not to be turned from her purpose. "I am not foolishly suspicious, but it is not pleasant to see greatinfluence and intimacy without some knowledge of the person exercisingit. " "I think, " said Ermine, bringing herself with difficulty to answerquietly, "that you can hardly understand the terms they are on withouthaving seen how much a staff officer becomes one of the family. " "I suppose much must be allowed for the frivolity and narrowness ofa military set in a colony. Imagine my one attempt at rationalconversation last night. Asking his views on female emigration, absolutely he had none at all; he and Fanny only went off upon anursemaid married to a sergeant!" "Perhaps the bearings of the question would hardly suit mixed company. " "To be sure there was a conceited young officer there; for as ill luckwill have it, my uncle's old regiment is quartered at Avoncester, andI suppose they will all be coming after Fanny. It is well they are nonearer, and as this colonel says he is going to Belfast in a day or two, there will not be much provocation to them to come here. Now this greatevent of the Major's coming is over, we will try to put Fanny upon adefinite system, and I look to you and your sister as a great assistanceto me, in counteracting the follies and nonsenses that her situationnaturally exposes her to. I have been writing a little sketch of thedangers of indecision, that I thought of sending to the 'Traveller. ' Itwould strike Fanny to see there what I so often tell her; but I can'tget an answer about my paper on 'Curatocult, ' as you made me call it. " "Did I!" "You said the other word was of two languages. I can't think why theydon't insert it; but in the meantime I will bring down my 'Human Reeds, 'and show them to you. I have only an hour's work on them; so I'll cometo-morrow afternoon. " "I think Colonel Keith talked of calling again--thank you, " suggestedErmine in despair. "Ah, yes, one does not want to be liable to interruptions in the mostinteresting part. When he is gone to Belfast--" "Yes, when he is gone to Belfast!" repeated Ermine, with an irresistiblegleam of mirth about her lips and eyes, and at that moment Alison madeher appearance. The looks of the sisters met, and read one another sofar as to know that the meeting was over, and for the rest they endured, while Rachel remained, little imagining the trial her presence had beento Alison's burning heart--sick anxiety and doubt. How could it be well?Let him be loveable, let him be constant, that only rendered Ermine'scondition the more pitiable, and the shining glance of her eyes wasalmost more than Alison could bear. So happy as the sisters had beentogether, so absolutely united, it did seem hard to disturb that calmlife with hopes and agitations that must needs be futile; and Alison, whose whole life and soul were in her sister, could not without a pangsee that sister's heart belonging to another, and not for hopeful joy, but pain and grief. The yearning of jealousy was sternly reproved andforced down, and told that Ermine had long been Colin Keith's, that theperpetrator of the evil had the least right of any one to murmurthat her own monopoly of her sister was interfered with; that she wasselfish, unkind, envious; that she had only to hate herself and prayfor strength to bear the punishment, without alloying Ermine's happinesswhile it lasted. How it could be so bright Alison knew not, but so itwas she recognised by every tone of the voice, by every smile on thelip, by even the upright vigour with which Ermine sat in her chair andundertook Rachel's tasks of needlework. And yet, when the visitor rose at last to go, Alison was almostunwilling to be alone with her sister, and have that power of sympathyput to the test by those clear eyes that were wont to see her throughand through. She went with Rachel to the door, and stood taking a lastinstruction, hearing it not at all, but answering, and relieved by thedelay, hardly knowing whether to be glad or not that when she returnedRose was leaning on the arm of her aunt's chair with the most eagerface. But Rose was to be no protection, for what was passing between herand her aunt? "O auntie, I am go glad he is coming back. He is just like the pictureyou drew of Robert Bruce for me. And he is so kind. I never saw anygentleman speak to you in such: a nice soft voice. " Alison had no difficulty in smiling as Ermine stroked the child's hair, kissed her, and looked up with an arch, blushing, glittering face thatcould not have been brighter those long twelve years ago. And then Rose turned round, impatient to tell her other aunt her story. "O aunt Ailie, we have had such a gentleman here, with a great brownbeard like a picture. And he is papa's old friend, and kissed me becauseI am papa's little girl, and I do like him so very much. I went where Icould look at him in the garden, when you sent me out, aunt Ermine. " "You did, you monkey?" said Ermine, laughing, and blushing again. "Whatwill you do if I send you out next time? No, I won't then, my dear, forall the time, I should like you to see him and know him. " "Only, if you want to talk of anything very particular, " observed Rose. "I don't think I need ask many questions, " said Alison, smiling beinghappily made very easy to her. "Dear Ermine, I see you are perfectlysatisfied--" "O Ailie, that is no word for it! Not only himself, but to find himloving Rose for her father's sake, undoubting of him through all. Ailie, the thankfulness of it is more than one can bear. " "And he is the same?" said Alison. "The same--no, not the same. It is more, better, or I am able to feelit more. It was just like the morrow of the day he walked down the lanewith me and gathered honeysuckles, only the night between has been avery, very strange time. " "I hope the interruption did not come very soon. " "I thought it was directly, but it could not have been so soon, sinceyou are come home. We had just had time to tell what we most wanted toknow, and I know a little more of what he is. I feel as if it were notonly Colin again, but ten times Colin. O Ailie, it must be a little bitlike the meetings in heaven!" "I believe it is so with you, " said Alison, scarcely able to keep thetears from her eyes. "After sometimes not daring to dwell on him, and then only venturingbecause I thought he must be dead, to have him back again with the samelooks, only deeper--to find that he clung to those weeks so long ago, and, above all, that there was not one cloud, one doubt about thetroubles--Oh, it is too, too much. " Ermine lent back with clasped hands. She was like one weary withhappiness, and lain to rest in the sense of newly-won peace. She saidlittle more that evening, and if spoken to, seemed like one wakened outof a dream, so that more than once she laughed at herself, begged hersister's pardon, and said that it seemed to her that she could not hearanything for the one glad voice that rang in her ear, "Colin is comehome. " That was sufficient for her, no need for any other sympathy, felt Alison, with another of those pangs crushed down. Then wondercame--whether Ermine could really contemplate the future, or if it wereabsolutely lost in the present? Colonel Keith went back to be seized by Conrade and Francis, andwalked off to the pony inspection, the two boys, on either side of him, communicating to him the great grievance of living in a poky place likethis, where nobody had ever been in the army, nor had a bit of sense, and Aunt Rachel was always bothering, and trying to make mamma thinkthat Con told stories. "I don't mind that, " said Conrade, stoutly; "let her try!" "Oh, but she wanted mamma to shut you up, " added Francis. "Well, and mamma knows better, " said Conrade, "and it made her leave offteaching me, so it was lucky. But I don't mind that; only don't you see, Colonel, they don't know how to treat mamma! They go and bully her, andtreat her like--like a subaltern, till I hate the very sight of it. " "My boy, " said the Colonel, who had been giving only half attention;"you must make up your mind to your mother not being at the head ofeverything, as she used to be in your father's time. She will alwaysbe respected, but you must look to yourself as you grow up to make aposition tor her!" "I wish I was grown up!" sighed Conrade; "how I would give it to AuntRachel! But why must we live here to have her plaguing us?" Questions that the Colonel was glad to turn aside by moans of theponies, and by a suggestion that, if a very quiet one were found, and ifConrade would be very careful, mamma might, perhaps, go out riding withthem. The motion was so transcendant that, no sooner had the ponies beenseen, than the boys raced home, and had communicated it at the top oftheir voices to mamma long before their friend made his appearance. LadyTemple was quite startled at the idea. "Dear papa, " as she always calledher husband, "had wished her to ride, but she had seldom done so, andnow--" The tears came into her eyes. "I think you might, " said the Colonel, gently; "I could find you a quietanimal, and to have you with Conrade would be such a protection to him, "he added, as the boys had rushed out of the room. "Yes; perhaps, dear boy. But I could not begin alone; it is so longsince I rode. Perhaps when you come back from Ireland. " "I am not going to Ireland. " "I thought you said--" said Fanny looking up surprised; "I am very glad!But if you wished to go, pray don't think about us! I shall learn tomanage in time, and I cannot bear to detain you. " "You do not detain me, " he said, sitting down by her; "I have found whatI was going in search of, and through your means. " "What--what do you mean! You were going to see Miss Williams thisafternoon, I thought!" "Yes, and it was she whom I was seeking. " He paused, and added slowly, as if merely for the sake of dwelling on the words, "I have found her!" "Miss Williams!" said Fanny, with perplexed looks. "Miss Williams!--my Ermine whom I had not seen since the day after heraccident, when we parted as on her deathbed!" "That sister! Oh, poor thing, I am so glad! But I am sorry!" cried themuch confused Fanny, in a breath; "were not you very much shocked?" "I had never hoped to see her face in all its brightness again, " hesaid. "Twelve years! It is twelve years that she has suffered, and oflate she has been brought to this grievous state of poverty, and yet thespirit is as brave and cheerful as ever! It looks out of the beautifuleyes--more beautiful than when I first saw them, --I could see and thinkof nothing else!" "Twelve years!" repeated Fanny; "is it so long since you saw her?" "Almost since I heard of her! She was like a daughter to my aunt atBeauchamp, and her brother was my schoolfellow. For one summer, whenI was quartered at Hertford, I was with her constantly, but my familywould not even hear of the indefinite engagement that was all we couldhave looked to, and made me exchange into the --th. " "Ah! that was the way we came to have you! I must tell you, dear SirStephen always guessed. Once when he had quite vexed poor mamma bypreventing her from joking you in her way about young ladies, he toldme that once, when he was young, he had liked some one who died or wasmarried, I don't quite know which, and he thought it was the same withyou, from something that happened when you withdrew your application forleave after your wound. " "Yes! it was a letter from home, implying that my return would beaccepted as a sign that I gave her up. So that was an additionalinstance of the exceeding kindness that I always received. " And there was a pause, both much affected by the thought of the good oldman's ever ready consideration. At last Fanny said, "I am sure it waswell for us! What would he have done without you?--and, " she added, "doyou really mean that you never heard of her all these years?" "Never after my aunt's death, except just after we went to Melbourne, when I heard in general terms of the ruin of the family and the falseimputation on their brother. " "Ah! I remember that you did say something about going home, and SirStephen was distressed, and mamma and I persuaded you because we saw hewould have missed you so much, and mamma was quite hurt at your thinkingof going. But if you had only told him your reason, he would never havethought of standing in your way. " "I know he would not, but I saw he could hardly find any one else justthen who knew his ways so well. Besides, there was little use in goinghome till I had my promotion, and could offer her a home; and I had nonotion how utter the ruin was, or that she had lost so much. So littledid I imagine their straits that, but for Alison's look, I should hardlyhave inquired even on hearing her name. " "How very curious--how strangely things come round!" said Fanny; thenwith a start of dismay, "but what shall I do? Pray, tell me what youwould like. If I might only keep her a little while till I can find someone else, though no one will ever be so nice, but indeed I would not fora moment, if you had rather not. " "Why so? Alison is very happy with you, and there can be no reasonagainst her going on. " "Oh!" cried Lady Temple, with an odd sound of satisfaction, doubt, andsurprise, "but I thought you would not like it. " "I should like, of course, to set them all at ease, but as I can do nomore than make a home for Ermine and her niece, I can only rejoice thatAlison is with you. " "But your brother!" "If he does not like it, he must take the consequence of the utterseparation he made my father insist on, " said the Colonel sternly. "Formy own part, I only esteem both sisters the more, if that were possible, for what they have done for themselves. " "Oh! that is what Rachel would like! She is so fond of the sick--I meanof your--Miss Williams. I suppose I may not tell her yet. " "Not yet, if you please. I have scarcely had time as yet to know whatErmine wishes, but I could not help telling you. " "Thank you--I am so glad, " she said, with sweet earnestness, holding outher hand in congratulation. "When may I go to her? I should like for herto come and stay here. Do you think she would?" "Thank you, I will see. I know how kind you would be--indeed, havealready been to her. " "And I am so thankful that I may keep Miss Williams! The dear boys neverwere so good. And perhaps she may stay till baby is grown up. Oh! howlong it will be first!" "She could not have a kinder friend, " said the Colonel, smiling, andlooking at his watch. "Oh, is it time to dress? It is very kind of my dear aunt; but I do wishwe could have stayed at home to-night. It is so dull for the boys whenI dine out, and I had so much to ask you. One thing was about that poorlittle Bessie Keith. Don't you think I might ask her down here, to benear her brother?" "It would be a very kind thing in you, and very good for her, but youmust be prepared for rather a gay young lady. " "Oh, but she would not mind my not going out. She would have Alick, you know, and all the boys to amuse her; but, if you think it wouldbe tiresome for her, and that she would not be happy, I should be verysorry to have her, poor child. " "I was not afraid for her, " said Colonel Keith, smiling, "but of herbeing rather too much for you. " "Rachel is not too much for me, " said Fanny, "and she and Grace willentertain Bessie, and take her out. But I will talk to Alick. He spokeof coming to-morrow. And don't you think I might ask Colonel and Mrs. Hammond to spend a day? They would so like the sea for the children. " "Certainly. " "Then perhaps you would write--oh, I forgot, " colouring up, "I never canforget the old days, it seems as if you were on the staff still. " "I always am on yours, and always hope to be, " he said, smiling, "thoughI am afraid I can't write your note to the Hammonds for you. " "But you won't go away, " she said. "I know your time will be taken up, and you must not let me or the boys be troublesome; but to have you heremakes me so much less lost and lonely. And I shall have such a friend inyour Erminia. Is that her name?" "Ermine, an old Welsh name, the softest I ever heard. Indeed it isdressing time, " added Colonel Keith, and both moved away with thestartled precision of members of a punctual military household, stillfeeling themselves accountable to somebody. CHAPTER VI. ERMINE'S RESOLUTION "For as his hand the weather steers, So thrive I best 'twixt joys and tears, And all the year have some green ears. "--H. VAUGHAN. Alison had not been wrong in her presentiment that the second interviewwould be more trying than the first. The exceeding brightness andanimation of Ermine's countenance, her speaking eyes, unchangedcomplexion, and lively manner--above all, the restoration of her realsubstantial self--had so sufficed and engrossed Colin Keith in thegladness of their first meeting that he had failed to comprehend herhelpless state; and already knowing her to be an invalid, not entirelyrecovered from her accident, he was only agreeably surprised to seethe beauty of face he had loved so long, retaining all its vivacityof expression. And when he met Alison the next morning with a cordialbrotherly greeting and inquiry for her sister, her "Very well, " and "notat all the worse for the excitement, " were so hearty and ready that hecould not have guessed that "well" with Ermine meant something ratherrelative than positive. Alison brought him a playful message from her, that since he was not going to Belfast, she should meet him with a freerconscience if he would first give her time for Rose's lessons, and, as he said, he had lived long enough with Messrs. Conrade and Co. Toacknowledge the wisdom of the message. But Rose had not long been atleisure to look out for him before he made his appearance, and walkedin by right, as one at home; and sitting down in his yesterday's place, took the little maiden on his knee, and began to talk to her about thelessons he had been told to wait for. What would she have done withoutthem? He knew some people who never could leave the house quiet enoughto hear one's-self speak if they were deprived of lessons. Was that theway with her? Rose laughed like a creature, her aunt said, "to whom thenotion of noise at play was something strange and ridiculous; necessityhas reduced her to Jacqueline Pascal's system with her pensionnaires, who were allowed to play one by one without any noise. " "But I don't play all alone, " said Rose; "I play with you, Aunt Ermine, and with Violetta. " And Violetta speedily had the honour of an introduction, very solemnlygone through, in due form; Ermine, in the languid sportiveness ofenjoyment of his presence and his kindness to the child, inciting Roseto present Miss Violetta Williams to Colonel Keith, an introduction thathe returned with a grand military salute, at the same time as he shookthe doll's inseparable fingers. "Well, Miss Violetta, and Miss Rose, when you come to live with me, I shall hope for the pleasure of teachingyou to make a noise. " "What does he mean?" said Rose, turning round amazed upon her aunt. "I am afraid he does not quite know, " said Ermine, sadly. "Nay, Ermine, " said he, turning from the child, and bending over her, "you are the last who should say that. Have I not told you that there isnothing now in our way--no one with a right to object, and means enoughfor all we should wish, including her--? What is the matter?" he added, startled by her look. "Ah, Colin! I thought you knew--" "Knew what, Ermine?" with his brows drawn together. "Knew--what I am, " she said; "knew the impossibility. What, they havenot told you? I thought I was the invalid, the cripple, with every one. " "I knew you had suffered cruelly; I knew you were lame, " he said, breathlessly; "but--what--" "It is more than lame, " she said. "I should be better off if the fictionof the Queens of Spain were truth with me. I could not move from thischair without help. Oh, Colin! poor Colin! it was very cruel not tohave prepared you for this!" she added, as he gazed at her in grief anddismay, and made a vain attempt to find the voice that would not come. "Yes, indeed it is so, " she said; "the explosion, rather than the fire, did mischief below the knee that poor nature could not repair, and I canbut just stand, and cannot walk at all. " "Has anything been done--advice?" he murmured. "Advice upon advice, so that I felt at the last almost a compensation tobe out of the way of the doctors. No, nothing more can be done; and nowthat one is used to it, the snail is very comfortable in its shell. ButI wish you could have known it sooner!" she added, seeing him shade hisbrow with his hand, overwhelmed. "What you must have suffered!" he murmured. "That is all over long ago; every year has left that further behind, andmade me more content. Dear Colin, for me there is nothing to grieve. " He could not control himself, rose up, made a long stride, and passedthrough the open window into the garden. "Oh, if I could only follow him, " gasped Ermine, joining her hands andlooking up. "Is it because you can't walk?" said Rose, somewhat frightened, and forthe first time beginning to comprehend that her joyous-tempered auntcould be a subject for pity. "Oh! this was what I feared!" sighed Ermine. "Oh, give us strength to gothrough with it. " Then becoming awake to the child's presence--"Alittle water, if you please, my dear. " Then, more composedly, "Don't befrightened, my Rose; you did not know it was such a shock to find me solaid by--" "He is in the garden walking up and down, " said Rose. "May I go and tellhim how much merrier you always are than Aunt Ailie?" Poor Ermine felt anything but merry just then, but she had someexperience of Rose's powers of soothing, and signed assent. So inanother second Colonel Keith was met in the hasty, agonized walk bywhich he was endeavouring to work off his agitation, and the slenderchild looked wistfully up at him from dark depths of half understandingeyes--"Please, please don't be so very sorry, " she said. "Aunt Erminedoes not like it. She never is sorry for herself--" "Have I shaken her--distressed her?" he asked, anxiously. "She doesn't like you to be sorry, " said Rose, looking up. "And, indeed, she does not mind it; she is such a merry aunt! Please, come in again, and see how happy we always are--" The last words were spoken so near the window that Ermine caught them, and said, "Yes, come in, Colin, and learn not to grieve for me, or youwill make me repent of my selfish gladness yesterday. " "Not grieve!" he exclaimed, "when I think of the beautiful vigorousbeing that used to be the life of the place--" and he would have saidmore but for a deprecating sign of the hand. "Well, " she said, half smiling, "it is a pity to think even of a crushedbutterfly; but indeed, Colin, if you can bear to listen to me, I think Ican show you that it all has been a blessing even by sight, as wellas, of course, by faith. Only remember the unsatisfactoriness of ourcondition--the never seeing or hearing from one another after that daywhen Mr. Beauchamp came down on us. Did not the accident win for us aparting that was much better to remember than that state of things? Oh, the pining, weary feel as if all the world had closed on me! I do assureyou it was much worse than anything that came after the burn. Yes, ifI had been well and doing like others, I know I should have fretted andwearied, pined myself ill perhaps, whereas I could always tell myselfthat every year of your absence might be a step towards your finding mewell; and when I was forced to give up that hope for myself, why then, Colin, the never seeing your name made me think you would never bedisappointed and grieved as you are now. It is very merciful the waythat physical trials help one through those of the mind. " "I never knew, " said the Colonel; "all my aunt's latter letters spoke ofyour slow improvement beyond hope. " "True, in her time, I had not reached the point where I stopped. Thelast time I saw her I was still upstairs; and, indeed, I did not halfknow what I could do till I tried. " "Yes, " said he, brightened by that buoyant look so remarkable in herface; "and you will yet do more, Ermine. You have convinced me that weshall be all the happier together--" "But that was not what I meant to convince you of--" she said, faintly. "Not what you meant, perhaps; but what it did convince me was, thatyou--as you are, my Ermine--are ten thousand times more to me than evenas the beautiful girl, and that there never can be a happier pair thanwe shall be when I am your hands and feet. " Ermine sat up, and rallied all her forces, choked back the swellingof her throat, and said, "Dear Colin, it cannot be! I trusted you wereunderstanding that when I told you how it was with me. " He could not speak from consternation. "No, " she said; "it would be wrong in me to think of it for an instant. That you should have done so, shows--O Colin, I cannot talk of it; butit would be as ungenerous in me to consent, as it is noble of you topropose it. " "It is no such thing, " he answered; "it has been the one object andthought of my life, the only hope I have had all these years. " "Exactly so, " she said, struggling again to speak firmly; "and that isthe very thing. You kept your allegiance to the bright, tall, walking, active girl, and it would be a shame in the scorched cripple to claimit. " "Don't call yourself names. Have I not told you that you are more thanthe same?" "You do not know. You are pleased because my face is not burnt, norgrown much older, and because I can talk and laugh in the same voicestill. " (Oh, how it quivered!) "But it would be a wicked mockery in meto pretend to be the wife you want. Yes, I know you think you do, butthat is just because my looks are so deceitful, and you have kept onthinking about me; but you must make a fresh beginning. " "You can tell me that, " he said, indignantly. "Because it is not new to me, " she said; "the quarter of an hour youstood by me, with that deadly calm in your white face, was the realfarewell to the young hopeful dream of that bright summer. I wish it wasas calm now. " "I believed you dying then, " answered he. "Do not make me think it would have been better for you if I had been, "she said, imploringly. "It was as much the end, and I knew it from thetime my recovery stopped short. I would have let you know if I could, and then you would not have been so much shocked. " "So as to cut me off from you entirely?" "No, indeed. The thought of seeing you again was too--too overwhelmingto be indulged in; knowing, as I did, that if you were the same to me, it must be at this sad cost to you, " and her eyes filled with tears. "It is you who make it so, Ermine. " "No; it is the providence that has set me aside from the active work oflife. Pray do not go on, Colin, it is only giving us both useless pain. You do not know what it costs me to deny you, and I feel that I must. Iknow you are only acting on the impulse of generosity. Yes, I will sayso, though you think it is to please yourself, " she added, with one ofthose smiles that nothing could drive far from her lips, and which madeit infinitely harder to acquiesce in her denial. "I will make you think so in time, " he said. "Then I might tell you, youhad no right to please yourself, " she answered, still with the same airof playfulness; "you have got a brother, you know--and--yes, I hear yougrowl; but if he is a poor old broken man out of health, it is themore reason you should not vex him, nor hamper yourself with a helplesscommodity. " "You are not taking the way to make me forget what my brother has donefor us. " "How do you know that he did not save me from being a strong-mindedmilitary lady! After all, it was absurd to expect people to lookfavourably on our liking for one another, and you know they could not beexpected to know that there was real stuff in the affair. If there hadnot been, we should have thought so all the same, you know, and beenquite as furious. " He could not help smiling, recollecting fury that, in the course ofthese twelve years, he had seen evinced under similar circumstances bypersons who had consoled themselves before he had done pitying them. "Still, " he said gravely, "I think there was harshness. " "So do I, but not so much as I thought at that time, and--oh, surelythat is not Rachel Curtis? I told her I thought you would call. " "Intolerable!" he muttered between his teeth. "Is she always coming tobore you?" "She has been very kind, and my great enlivenment, " said Ermine, "andshe can't be expected to know how little we want her. Oh, there, thedanger is averted! She must have asked if you were here. " "I was just thinking that she was the chief objection to Lady Temple'skind wish of having you at Myrtlewood. " "Does Lady Temple know?" asked Ermine, blushing. "I could not keep it from one who has been so uniformly kind to me; butI desired her not to let it go further till I should hear your wishes. " "Yes, she has a right to know, " said Ermine; "but please, not a wordelsewhere. " "And will you not come to stay with her?" "I? Oh, no; I am fit for no place but this. You don't half know howbad I am. When you have seen a little more of us, you will be quiteconvinced. " "Well, at least, you give me leave to come here. " "Leave? When it is a greater pleasure than I ever thought to have again;that is, while you understand that you said good-bye to the Ermine ofBeauchamp Parsonage twelve years ago, and that the thing here is only asort of ghost, most glad and grateful to be a friend--a sister. " "So, " he said, "those are to be the terms of my admission. " "The only possible ones. " "I will consider them. I have not accepted them. " "You will, " she said. But she met a smile in return, implying that there might be a will assteadfast as her own, although the question might be waived for a time. Meantime, Rachel was as nearly hating Colonel Keith as principle wouldallow, with "Human Reeds, " newly finished, burning in her pocket, "Military Society" fermenting in her brain, and "Curatocult" stillunacknowledged. Had he not had quite time for any rational visit? Was heto devour Mackarel Lane as well as Myrtlewood? She was on her way to thelatter house, meeting Grace as she went, and congratulating herself thathe could not be in two places at once, whilst Grace secretly wonderedhow far she might venture to build on Alison Williams's half confidence, and regretted the anxiety wasted by Rachel and the mother; though, tobe sure, that of Mrs. Curtis was less uncalled for than her daughter's, since it was only the fear of Fanny's not being sufficiently guardedagainst misconstructions. Rachel held up her hands in despair in the hall. "Six officers' cards!"she exclaimed. "No, only six cards, " said Grace; "there are two of each. " "That's enough, " sighed Rachel; "and look there, " gazing through thegarden-door. "She is walking with the young puppy that dined here onThursday, and they called Alick. " "Do you remember, " said Grace, "how she used to chatter about Alick, when she first came to us, at six years old. He was the child of one ofthe officers. Can this be the same?" "That's one of your ideas, Grace. Look, this youth could have beenhardly born when Fanny came to us. No; he is only one of the idlers thatmilitary life has accustomed her to. " Rather against Grace's feeling, Rachel drew her on, so as to come upwith Lady Temple and her friend in the midst of their conversation, andthey heard the last words-- "Then you will give me dear Bessie's direction?" "Thank you, it will be the greatest kindness--" "Oh, Grace, Rachel, is it you?" exclaimed Fanny. "You have not metbefore, I think. Mr. Keith--Miss Curtis. " Very young indeed were both face and figure, fair and pale, and thoughthere was a moustache, it was so light and silky as to be scarcelyvisible; the hair, too, was almost flaxen, and the whole complexion hada washed-out appearance. The eyes, indeed, were of the same peculiardeep blue as the Colonel's, but even these were little seen under theirheavy sleepy lids, and the long limbs had in every movement somethingof weight and slowness, the very sight of which fretted Rachel, and madeher long to shake him. It appeared that he was come to spend the Sundayat Avonmouth, and Grace tried to extract the comfort for her mother thattwo gentlemen were better than one, and Fanny need not be on their mindsfor chaperonage for that day. A party of garden-chairs on the lawn invited repose, and there theladies seated themselves; Fanny laying down her heavy crape bonnet, and showing her pretty little delicate face, now much fresher and moreroseate than when she arrived, though her wide-spreading black draperiesgave a certain dignity to her slight figure, contrasting with the summermuslins of her two cousins; as did her hot-house plant fairness, withtheir firm, healthy glow of complexion; her tender shrinking grace, with their upright vigour. The gentleman of the party leant hack in alanguid, easy posture, as though only half awake, and the whole wasso quiet that Grace, missing the usual tumult of children, asked afterthem. "The boys have gone to their favourite cove under the plantation. Theyhave a fort there, and Hubert told me he was to be a hero, and MissWilliams a she-ro. " "I would not encourage that description of sport, " said Rachel, willingto fight a battle in order to avert maternal anecdotes of boyishsayings. "They like it so much, " said Fanny, "and they learn so much now thatthey act all the battles they read about. " "That is what I object to, " said Rachel; "it is accustoming them toconfound heroism with pugnacity. " "No, but Rachel dear, they do quarrel and fight among themselves muchless now that this is all in play and good humour, " pleaded Fanny. "Yes, that may be, but you are cultivating the dangerous instinct, although for a moment giving it a better direction. " "Dangerous? Oh, Alick! do you think it can be?" said Fanny, less easilyborne down with a supporter beside her. "According to the Peace Society, " he answered, with a quiet air ofcourteous deference; "perhaps you belong to it?" "No, indeed, " answered Rachel, rather indignantly, "I think war thegreat purifier and ennobler of nations, when it is for a good and greatcause; but I think education ought to protest against confounding merelove of combat with heroism. " "Query, the true meaning of the word?" he said, leaning back. "Heros, yes from the same root as the German herr, " readily respondedRachel, "meaning no more than lord and master; but there can be nodoubt that the progress of ideas has linked with it a much noblerassociation. " "Progress! What, since the heroes were half divine!" "Half divine in the esteem of a people who thought brute couragegodlike. To us the word maintains its semi-divinity, and it shouldbe our effort to associate it only with that which veritably has thegod-like stamp. " "And that is--?" "Doing more than one's duty, " exclaimed Rachel, with a glistening eye. "Very uncomfortable and superfluous, and not at all easy, " he said, halfshutting his already heavy eyes. "Easy, no, that's the beauty and the glory--" "Major Sherborne and Captain Lester in the drawing room, my lady, "announced Coombe, who had looked infinitely cheered since this militaryinflux. "You will come with me, Grace, " said Fanny, rising. "I dare say you hadrather not, Rachel, and it would be a pity to disturb you, Alick. " "Thank you; it would be decidedly more than my duty. " "I am quite sorry to go, you are so amusing, " said Fanny, "but I supposeyou will have settled about heroism by the time we come out again, andwill tell me what the boys ought to play at. " Rachel's age was quite past the need of troubling herself at beingleft tete-a-tete with a mere lad like this; and, besides, it was anopportunity not to be neglected of giving a young carpet knight a lessonin true heroism. There was a pause after the other two had moved off. Rachel reflected for a few moments, and then, precipitated by the fearof her audience falling asleep, she exclaimed-- "No words have been more basely misused than hero and heroine. The oneis the mere fighting animal whose strength or fortune have borne himthrough some more than ordinary danger, the other is only the subject ofan adventure, perfectly irrespective of her conduct in it. " "Bathos attends all high words, " he said, as she paused, chiefly to seewhether he was awake, and not like her dumb playfellow of old. "This is not their natural bathos but their misuse. They ought to bereserved for those who in any department have passed the limits towhich the necessity of their position constrained them, and done acts ofself-devotion for the good of others. I will give you an instance, andfrom your own profession, that you may see I am not prejudiced, besides, the hero of it is past praise or blame. " Encouraged by seeing a little more of his eyes, she went on. "It was inthe course of the siege of Delhi, a shell came into a tent where somesick and wounded were lying. There was one young officer among them whocould move enough to have had a chance of escaping the explosion, butinstead of that he took the shell up, its fuse burning as it was, andran with it out of the tent, then hurled it to a distance. It exploded, and of course was his death, but the rest were saved, and I call that adeed of heroism far greater than mounting a breach or leading a forlornhope. " "Killed, you say?" inquired Mr. Keith, still in the same lethargicmanner. "Oh yes, mortally wounded: carried back to die among the men he hadsaved. " "Jessie Cameron singing his dirge, " mumbled this provoking individual, with something about the form of his cheek that being taken by Rachelfor a derisive smile, made her exclaim vehemently, "You do not mean toundervalue an action like that in comparison with mere animal pugnacityin an advance. " "More than one's duty was your test, " he said. "And was not this more than duty? Ah! I see yours is a spirit ofdepreciation, and I can only say I pity you. " He took the trouble to lift himself up and make a little bow ofacknowledgment. Certainly he was worse than the Colonel; but Rachel, while mustering her powers for annihilating him, was annoyed by all theparty in the drawing-room coming forth to join them, the other officersrallying young Keith upon his luxurious station, and making it evidentthat he was a proverb in the regiment for taking his ease. Chairs werebrought out, and afternoon tea, and the callers sat down to wait forColonel Keith to come in; Grace feeling obliged to stay to help Fannyentertain her visitors, and Rachel to protect her from their follies. One thing Grace began to perceive, that Lady Temple had in her formerworld been a person of much more consideration than she was made here, and seeing the polite and deferential manner of these officers to her, could only wonder at her gentle content and submission in meeting withno particular attention from anybody, and meekly allowing herself to bebrowbeaten by Rachel and lectured by her aunt. A lecture was brewing up for her indeed. Poor Mrs. Curtis was very muchconcerned at the necessity, and only spurred up by a strong sense ofduty to give a hint--the study of which hint cost her a whole sleeplessnight and a very weary Sunday morning. She decided that her best coursewould be to drive to Myrtlewood rather early on her way to church, and take up Fanny, gaining a previous conference with her alone, ifpossible. "Yes, my dear, " she said to Grace, "I must get it over beforechurch, or it will make me so nervous all through the service. " AndGrace, loving her mother best, durst not suggest what it might do toFanny, hoping that the service might help her to digest the hint. Mrs. Curtis's regular habits were a good deal shocked to find Fannystill at the breakfast table. The children had indeed long finished, and were scattered about the room, one of them standing between ColonelKeith's knees, repeating a hymn; but the younger guest was still in themidst of his meal, and owned in his usual cool manner that he was toblame for the lateness, there was no resisting the charms of no morningparade. Her aunt's appearance made Fanny imagine it much later than it reallywas, and she hurried off the children to be dressed, and proceededherself to her room, Mrs. Curtis following, and by way of preliminary, asking when Colonel Keith was going to Ireland. "Oh!" said Fanny, blushing most suspiciously under her secret, "he isnot going to Ireland now. " "Indeed! I quite understood he intended it. " "Yes, " faltered Fanny, "but he found that he need not. " "Indeed!" again ejaculated poor perplexed Mrs. Curtis; "but then, atleast, he is going away soon. " "He must go to Scotland by-and-by, but for the present he is going intolodgings. Do you know of any nice ones, dear aunt?" "Well, I suppose you can't help that; you know, my dear, it would neverdo for him to stay in this house. " "I never thought of that, " said Fanny simply, the colour coming in afresh glow. "No, my dear, but you see you are very young and inexperienced. I do notsay you have done anything the least amiss, or that you ever would meanit, only you will forgive your old aunt for putting you on your guard. " Fanny kissed her, but with eyes full of tears, and cheeks burning, thenher candour drew from her--"It was he that thought of getting a lodging. I am glad I did not persuade him not; but you know he always did livewith us. " "With us. Yes, my poor dear, that is the difference, and you see hefeels it. But, indeed, my dear child, though he is a very good man, Idare say, and quite a gentleman all but his beard, you had better notencourage--You know people are so apt to make remarks. " "I have no fear, " said Fanny, turning away her head, conscious of theimpossibility of showing her aunt her mistake. "Ah! my dear, you don't guess how ready people are to talk; andyou would not like--for your children's sake, for your husband'ssake--that--that--" "Pray, pray aunt, " cried Fanny, much pained, "indeed you don't know. Myhusband had confidence in him more than in any one. He told him totake care of me and look after the boys. I couldn't hold aloof from himwithout transgressing those wishes"--and the words were lost in a sob. "My dear, indeed I did not mean to distress you. You know, I dare say--Imean--" hesitated poor Mrs. Curtis. "I know you must see a great deal ofhim. I only want you to take care--appearances are appearances, and ifit was said you had all these young officers always coming about--" "I don't think they will come. It was only just to call, and theyhave known me so long. It is all out of respect to my father and SirStephen, " said Fanny, meekly as ever. "Indeed, I would not for theworld do anything you did not like, dear aunt; but there can't be anyobjection to my having Mrs. Hammond and the children to spend the dayto-morrow. " Mrs. Curtis did not like it; she had an idea that all military ladieswere dashing and vulgar, but she could not say there was any objection, so she went on to the head of poor Fanny's offending. "This young man, my dear, he seems to make himself very intimate. " "Alick Keith? Oh aunt!" said Fanny, more surprised than by all therest; "don't you know about him? His father and mother were our greatestfriends always; I used to play with him every day till I came to you. And then just as I married, poor Mrs. Keith died, and we had dear littleBessie with us till her father could send her home. And when poor Alickwas so dreadfully wounded before Delhi, Sir Stephen sent him up in alitter to the hills for mamma and me to nurse. Mamma was so fond of him, she used to call him her son. " "Yes, my dear, I dare say you have been very intimate; but you see youare very young; and his staying here--" "I thought he would be so glad to come and be with the Colonel, who washis guardian and Bessie's, " said Fanny, "and I have promised to haveBessie to stay with me, she was such a dear little thing--" "Well, my dear, it may be a good thing for you to have a young lady withyou, and if he is to come over, her presence will explain it. Understandme, my dear, I am not at all afraid of your--your doing anythingfoolish, only to get talked of is so dreadful in your situation, thatyou can't be too careful. " "Yes, yes, thank you, dear aunt, " murmured the drooping and subduedFanny, aware how much the remonstrance must cost her aunt, and sure thatshe must be in fault in some way, if she could only see how. "Please, dear aunt, help me, for indeed I don't know how to manage--tell me howto be civil and kind to my dear husband's friends without--without--" Her voice broke down, though she kept from tears as an unkindness to heraunt. In very fact, little as she knew it, she could not have defended herselfbetter than by this humble question, throwing the whole guidance of herconduct upon her aunt. If she had been affronted, Mrs. Curtis could havebeen displeased; but to be thus set to prescribe the right conduct, wasat once mollifying and perplexing. "Well, well, my dear child, we all know you wish to do right; you canjudge best. I would not have you ungrateful or uncivil, only you knowyou are living very quietly, and intimacy--oh! my dear, I know yourown feeling will direct you. Dear child! you have taken what I said sokindly. And now let me see that dear little girl. " Rachel had not anticipated that the upshot of a remonstrance, even fromher mother, would be that Fanny was to be directed by her own feeling! That same feeling took Lady Temple to Mackarel Lane later in the day. She had told the Colonel her intention, and obtained Alison's assurancethat Ermine's stay at Myrtlewood need not be impracticable, and armedwith their consent, she made her timid tap at Miss Williams' door, andshowed her sweet face within it. "May I come in? Your sister and your little niece are gone for a walk. Itold them I would come! I did want to see you!" "Thank you, " said Ermine, with a sweet smile, colouring cheek, yet graveeyes, and much taken by surprise at being seized by both hands, andkissed on each cheek. "Yes, you must let me, " said her visitor, looking up with her prettyimploring gesture, "you know I have known him so long, and he has beenso good to me!" "Indeed it is very kind in you, " said Ermine, fully feeling the forceof the plea expressed in the winning young face and gentle eyes full oftears. "Oh, no, I could not help it. I am only so sorry we kept him away fromyou when you wanted him so much; but we did not know, and he was SirStephen's right hand, and we none of us knew what to do without him; butif he had only told--" "Thank you, oh, thank you!" said Ermine, "but indeed it was better forhim to be away. " Even her wish to console that pleading little widow could not make hersay that his coming would not have been good for her. "It has been sucha pleasure to hear he had so kind and happy a home all these years. " "Oh, you cannot think how Sir Stephen loved and valued him. The onething I always did wish was, that Conrade should grow up to be as muchhelp and comfort to his father, and now he never can! But, " driving backa tear, "it was so hard that you should not have known how distinguishedand useful and good he was all those years. Only now I shall have thepleasure of telling you, " and she smiled. She was quite a differentbeing when free from the unsympathizing influence which, withouther understanding it, had kept her from dwelling on her dearestassociations. "It will be a pleasure of pleasures, " said Ermine, eagerly. "Then you will do me a favour, a very great favour, " said Lady Temple, laying hold of her hand again, "if you and your sister and niece willcome and stay with me. " And as Ermine commenced her refusal, she wenton in the same coaxing way, with a description of her plans for Ermine'scomfort, giving her two rooms on the ground floor, and assuring her ofthe absence of steps, the immunity from all teasing by the children, ofthe full consent of her sister, and the wishes of the Colonel, nay, whenErmine was still unpersuaded of the exceeding kindness it would be toherself. "You see I am terribly young, really, " she said, "though Ihave so many boys, and my aunt thinks it awkward for me to have somany officers calling, and I can't keep them away because they are myfather's and Sir Stephen's old friends; so please do come and make itall right!" Ermine was driven so hard, and so entirely deprived of all excuse, thatshe had no alternative left but to come to the real motive. "I ought not, " she said, "it is not good for him, so you must not pressme, dear Lady Temple. You see it is best for him that nobody should everknow of what has been between us. " "What! don't you mean--?" exclaimed Fanny, breaking short off. "I cannot!" said Ermine. "But he would like it. He wishes it as much as ever. " "I know he does, " said Ermine, with a troubled voice; "but you see thatis because he did not know what a wretched remnant I am, and he neverhas had time to think about any one else. " "Oh no, no. " "And it would be very unfair of me to take advantage of that, and givehim such a thing as I am. " "Oh dear, but that is very sad!" cried Fanny, looking much startled. "But I am sure you must see that it is right. " "It may be right, " and out burst Fanny's ready tears; "but it is very, very hard and disagreeable, if you don't mind my saying so, when I knowit is so good of you. And don't you mean to let him even see you, whenhe has been constant so long?" "No; I see no reason for denying myself that; indeed I believe it isbetter for him to grow used to me as I am, and be convinced of theimpossibility. " "Well then, why will you not come to me?" "Do you not see, in all your kindness, that my coming to you wouldmake every one know the terms between us, while no one remarks his justcoming to me here as an old friend? And if he were ever to turn his mindto any one else--" "He will never do that, I am sure. " "There is no knowing. He has never been, in his own estimation, disengaged from me, " said Ermine; "his brother is bent on hismarrying, and he ought to be perfectly free to do so, and not under thedisadvantage that any report of this affair would be to him. " "Well, I am sure he never will, " said Fanny, almost petulantly; "I knowI shall hate her, that's all. " Ermine thought her own charity towards Mrs. Colin Keith much moredubious than Lady Temple's, but she continued-- "At any rate you will be so very kind as not to let any one know of it. I am glad you do. I should not feel it right that you should not, but itis different with others. " "Thank you. And if you will not come to me, you will let me come toyou, won't you? It will be so nice to come and talk him over with you. Perhaps I shall persuade you some of these days after all. Only I mustgo now, for I always give the children their tea on Sunday. But pleaselet your dear little niece come up to-morrow and play with them; thelittle Hammonds will be there, she is just their age. " Ermine felt obliged to grant this at least, though she was as doubtfulof her shy Rose's happiness as of the expedience of the intimacy; butthere was no being ungracious to the gentle visitor, and no doubt Erminefelt rejoiced and elevated. She did not need fresh assurances of Colin'sconstancy, but the affectionate sister-like congratulations of thisloving, winning creature, showed how real and in earnest his intentionswere. And then Lady Temple's grateful esteem for him being, as it was, the reflection of her husband's, was no small testimony to his merits. "Pretty creature!" said Ermine to herself, "really if it did come tothat, I could spare him to her better than to any one else. She has somenotion how to value him. " Alison and Rose had, in the meantime, been joined by Colonel Keith andthe boys, whom Alick had early deserted in favour of a sunny sandy nook. The Colonel's purpose was hard on poor Alison; it was to obtain heropinion of her sister's decision, and the likelihood of persistencein it. It was not, perhaps, bad for either that they conversed underdifficulties, the boys continually coming back to them from excursionson the rocks, and Rose holding her aunt's hand all the time, but to besure Rose had heard nearly all the Colonel's affairs, and somehow mixedhim up with Henry of Cranstoun. Very tenderly towards Alison herself did Colin Keith speak. It was thefirst time they had ever been brought into close contact, and she hadquite to learn to know him. She had regarded his return as probably amisfortune, but it was no longer possible to do so when she heard hiswarm and considerate way of speaking of her sister, and saw him onlydesirous of learning what was most for her real happiness. Nay, he evenmade a convert of Alison herself! She did believe that would Ermine butthink it right to consent, she would be happy and safe in the care ofone who knew so well how to love her. Terrible as the wrench would be toAlison herself, she thought he deserved her sister, and that she wouldbe as happy with him as earth could make her. But she did not believeErmine would ever accept him. She knew the strong, unvarying resolutionby which her sister had always held to what she thought right, and didnot conceive that it would waver. The acquiescence in his visits, andthe undisguised exultant pleasure in his society, were evidences toAlison not of wavering or relenting, but of confidence in Ermine's ownsense of impossibility. She durst not give him any hope, though sheowned that he merited success. "Did she think his visits bad for hersister?" he then asked in the unselfishness that pleaded so strongly forhim. "No, certainly not, " she answered eagerly, then made a little hesitationthat made him ask further. "My only fear, " she said candidly, "is, that if this is pressed much onher, and she has to struggle with you and herself too, it may hurt herhealth. Trouble tells not on her cheerfulness, but on her nerves. " "Thank you, " he said, "I will refrain. " Alison was much happier than she had been since the first apprehensionof his return. The first pang at seeing Ermine's heart another'sproperty had been subdued; the present state of affairs wasindefinitely-prolonged, and she not only felt trust in Colin Keith'sconsideration for her sister, but she knew that an act of oblivion waspast on her perpetration of the injury. She was right. His originalpitying repugnance to a mere unknown child could not be carried on tothe grave, saddened woman devoted to her sister, and in the friendlybrotherly tone of that interview, each understood the other. And whenAlison came home and said, "I have been walking with Colin, " her lookmade Ermine very happy. "And learning to know him. " "Learning to sympathize with him, Ermine, " with steady eyes and voice. "You are hard on him. " "Now, Ailie, " said Ermine, "once for all, he is not to set you on me, as he has done with Lady Temple. The more he persuades me, the better Iknow that to listen would be an abuse of his constancy. It would set himwrong with his brother, and, as dear Edward's affairs stand, we have noright to carry the supposed disgrace into a family that would believeit, though he does not. If I were ever so well, I should not think itright to marry. I shall not shun the sight of him; it is delightful tome, and a less painful cure to him than sending him away would be. Itis in the nature of things that he should cool into a friendly kindlyfeeling, and I shall try to bear it. Or if he does marry, it will be allright I suppose--" but her voice faltered, and she gave a sort of brokenlaugh. "There, " she said, with a recovered flash of liveliness, "there's myresolution, to do what I like more than anything in the world as long asI can; and when it is over I shall be helped to do without it!" "I can't believe--" broke out Alison. "Not in your heart, but in your reason, " said Ermine, endeavouringto smile. "He will hover about here, and always be kind, loving, considerate; but a time will come that he will want the home happinessI cannot give. Then he will not wear out his affection on the impossibleliterary cripple, but begin over again, and be happy. And, Alison, ifyour love for me is of the sound, strong sort I know it is, you willhelp me through with it, and never say one word to make all this lesseasy and obvious to him. " CHAPTER VII. WAITNG FOR ROSE "Not envy, sure! for if you gave me Leave to take or to refuse In earnest, do you think I'd choose That sort of new love to enslave me?"--R. BROWNING. So, instead of going to Belfast, here was Colonel Keith actuallytaking a lodging and settling himself into it; nay, even going over toAvoncester on a horse-buying expedition, not merely for the Temples, butfor himself. This time Rachel did think herself sure of Miss Williams' ear in peace, and came down on her with two fat manuscripts upon Human Reeds andMilitary Society, preluding, however, by bitter complaints of the"Traveller" for never having vouchsafed her an answer, nor having evenrestored "Curatocult, " though she had written three times, and sent adirected envelope and stamps for the purpose. The paper must be ruinedby so discourteous an editor, indeed she had not been nearly so muchinterested as usual by the last few numbers. If only she could get herpaper back, she should try the "Englishwoman's Hobby-horse, " or someother paper of more progress than that "Traveller. " "Is it not veryhard to feel one's self shut out from the main stream of the work of theworld when one's heart is burning?" "I think you overrate the satisfaction. " "You can't tell! You are contented with that sort of home peacefulsunshine that I know suffices many. Even intellectual as you are, youcan't tell what it is to feel power within, to strain at the leash, andsee others in the race. " "I was thinking whether you could not make an acceptable paper on thelace system, which you really know so thoroughly. " "The fact is, " said Rachel, "it is much more difficult to describe fromone's own observation than from other sources. " "But rather more original, " said Ermine, quite overcome by the naiveteof the confession. "I don't see that, " said Rachel. "It is abstract reasoning from givenfacts that I aim at, as you will understand when you have heard my'Human Reeds, ' and my other--dear me, there's your door bell. I thoughtthat Colonel was gone for the day. " "There are other people in the world besides the Colonel, " Ermine beganto say, though she hardly felt as if there were, and at any rate asense of rescue crossed her. The persons admitted took them equally bysurprise, being Conrade Temple and Mr. Keith. "I thought, " said Rachel, as she gave her unwilling hand to the latter, "that you would have been at Avoncester to-day. " "I always get out of the way of horse-dealing. I know no greater bore, "he answered. "Mamma sent me down, " Conrade was explaining; "Mr. Keith's uncle foundout that he knew Miss Williams--no, that's not it, Miss Williams' unclefound out that Mr. Keith preached a sermon, or something of that sort, so mamma sent me down to show him the way to call upon her; but I neednot stay now, need I?" "After that elegant introduction, and lucid explanation, I think you maybe excused, " returned Alick Keith. The boy shook Ermine's hand with his soldierly grace, but rather spoiltthe effect thereof by his aside, "I wanted to see the toad and thepictures our Miss Williams told me about, but I'll come another time;"and the wink of his black eyes, and significant shrug of his shouldersat Rachel, were irresistible. They all laughed, even Rachel herself, asErmine, seeing it would be worse to ignore the demonstration, said, "Theelements of aunt and boy do not always work together. " "No, " said Rachel; "I have never been forgiven for being the firstperson who tried to keep those boys in order. " "And now, " said Ermine, turning to her other visitor, "perhaps I maydiscover which of us, or of our uncles, preached a sermon. " "Mine, I suspect, " returned Mr. Keith. "Your sister and I made out atluncheon that you had known my uncle, Mr. Clare, of Bishopsworthy. " "Mr. Clare! Oh yes, " cried Ermine eagerly, "he took the duty for oneof our curates once for a long vacation. Did you ever hear him speak ofBeauchamp?" "Yes, often; and of Dr. Williams. He will be very much interested tohear of you. " "It was a time I well remember, " said Ermine. "He was an Oxford tutorthen, and I was about fourteen, just old enough to be delighted to hearclever talk. And his sermons were memorable; they were the first I everlistened to. " "There are few sermons that it is not an infliction to listen to, " beganRachel, but she was not heard or noticed. "I assure you they are even more striking now in his blindness. " "Blindness! Indeed, I had not heard of that. " Even Rachel listened with interest as the young officer explained thathis uncle, whom both he and Miss Williams talked of as a man of note, ofwhom every one must have heard, had for the last four years been totallyblind, but continued to be an active parish priest, visiting regularly, preaching, and taking a share in the service, which he knew by heart. Hehad, of course, a curate, who lived with him, and took very good care ofhim. "No one else?" said Rachel. "I thought your sister lived atBishopsworthy. " "No, my sister lives, or has lived, at Little Worthy, the next parish, and as unlike it as possible. It has a railroad in it, and the cockneyshave come down on it and 'villafied' it. My aunt, Mrs. Lacy Clare, haslived there ever since my sister has been with her; but now her lastdaughter is to be married, she wishes to give up housekeeping. " "And your sister is coming to Lady Temple, " said Rachel, in her peculiaraffirmative way of asking questions. "She will find it very dull here. " "With all the advantages of Avoncester at hand?" inquired Alick, with acertain gleam under his flaxen eyelashes that convinced Ermine that hesaid it in mischief. But Rachel drew herself up gravely, and answered-- "In Lady Temple's situation any such thing would be most inconsistentwith good feeling. " "Such as the cathedral?" calmly, not to say sleepily, inquired Alick, to the excessive diversion of Ermine, who saw that Rachel had never beenlaughed at in her life, and was utterly at a loss what to make of it. "If you meant the cathedral, " she said, a little uncertainly, recollecting the tone in which Mr. Clare had just been spoken of, andthinking that perhaps Miss Keith might be a curatolatress, "I am afraidit is not of much benefit to people living at this distance, and thereis not much to be said for the imitation here. " "You will see what my sister says to it. She only wants training to bethe main strength of the Bishopsworthy choir, and perhaps she may findit here. " Rachel was evidently undecided whether chants or marches were MissKeith's passion, and, perhaps, which propensity would render the younglady the most distasteful to herself. Ermine thought it merciful todivert the attack by mentioning Mr. Clare's love of music, and hopinghis curate could gratify it. "No, " Mr. Keith said, "it was very unluckythat Mr. Lifford did not know one note from another; so that his vicarcould not delude himself into hoping that his playing on his violinwas anything but a nuisance to his companion, and in spite of allthe curate's persuasions, he only indulged himself therewith onrare occasions. " But as Ermine showed surprise at the retention ofa companion devoid of this sixth sense, so valuable to the blind, headded--"No one would suit him so well. Mr. Lifford has been with himever since his sight began to fail, and understands all his ways. " "Yes, that makes a great difference. " "And, " pursued the young man, coming to something like life as he talkedof his uncle, "though he is not quite all that a companion might be, myuncle says there would be no keeping the living without him, and I donot believe there would, unless my uncle would have me instead. " Ermine laughed and looked interested, not quite knowing what otheranswer to make. Rachel lifted up her eyebrows in amazement. "Another advantage, " added Alick, who somehow seemed to accept Ermineas one of the family, "is, that he is no impediment to Bessie's livingthere, for, poor man, he has a wife, but insane. " "Then your sister will live there?" said Rachel. "What an enviableposition, to have the control of means of doing good that always fallsto the women of a clerical family. " "Tell her so, " said the brother, with his odd, suppressed smile. "What, she does not think so?" "Now, " said Mr. Keith, leaning back, "on my answer depends whetherBessie enters this place with a character for chanting, croquet, orcrochet. Which should you like worst, Miss Curtis?" "I like evasions worst of all, " said Rachel, with a flash of somethinglike playful spirit, though there was too much asperity in it. "But you see, unfortunately, I don't know, " said Alick Keith, slowly. "Ihave never been able to find out, nor she either. I don't know what maybe the effect of example, " he added. Ermine wondered whether he were inmischief or earnest, and suspected a little of both. "I shall be very happy to show Miss Keith any of my ways, " said Rachel, with no doubts at all; "but she will find me terribly impeded here. Whendoes she come?" "Not for a month or six weeks, when the wedding will be over. It is hightime she saw something of her respected guardian. " "The Colonel?" "Yes, " then to Ermine, "Every one turns to him with reliance andconfidence. I believe no one in the army received so many last chargesas he has done, or executes them more fully. " "And, " said Ermine, feeling pleasure colour her cheek more deeply thanwas convenient, "you are relations. " "So far away that only a Scotsman would acknowledge the cousinship. " "But do not you call yourself Scotch?" said Ermine, who had for yearsthought it glorious to do so. "My great grandfather came from Gowan-brae, " said Alick, "but our branchof the family has lived and died in the --th Highlanders for somany generations that we don't know what a home is out of it. Ourbirthplaces--yes, and our graves--are in all parts of the world. " "Were you ever in Scotland?" "Never; and I dread nothing so much as being quartered there. Justimagine the trouble it would be to go over the pedigree of every Keith Imet, and to dine with them all upon haggis and sheeps' head!" "There's no place I want to sea as much as Scotland, " said Rachel. "Oh, yes! young ladies always do. " "It is not for a young lady reason, " said Rachel, bluntly. "I want tounderstand the principle of diffused education, as there practised. Theonly other places I should really care to see are the Grand Reformatoryfor the Destitute in Holland, and the Hospital for Cretins inSwitzerland. " "Scotch pedants, Dutch thieves, Swiss goitres--I will bear your tastesin mind, " said Mr. Keith, rising to take leave. "Really, " said Rachel, when he was gone, "if he had not that sillymilitary tone of joking, there might be something tolerable about himif he got into good hands. He seems to have some good notions about hissister. She must be just out of the school-room, at the very turn oflife, and I will try to get her into my training and show her a littleof the real beauty and usefulness of the career she has before her. Howlate he has stayed! I am afraid there is no time for the manuscripts. " And though Ermine was too honest to say she was sorry, Rachel did notmiss the regret. Colonel Keith came the next day, and under his arm was a parcel, whichwas laid in little Rose's arms, and, when unrolled, proved to contain amagnificent wax doll, no doubt long the object of unrequited attachmentto many a little Avoncestrian, a creature of beauteous and unmeaningface, limpid eyes, hair that could be brushed, and all her memberswaxen, as far as could be seen below the provisional habiliment of pinkpaper that enveloped her. Little Rose's complexion became crimson, andshe did not utter a word, while her aunt, colouring almost as much, laughed and asked where were her thanks. "Oh!" with a long gasp, "it can't be for me!" "Do you think it is for your aunt?" said the Colonel. "Oh, thank you! But such a beautiful creature for me!" said Rose, withanother gasp, quite oppressed. "Aunt Ermine, how shall I ever make herclothes nice enough?" "We will see about that, my dear. Now take her into the verandah andintroduce her to Violetta. " "Yes;" then pausing and looking into the fixed eyes, "Aunt Ermine, Inever saw such a beauty, except that one the little girl left behind onthe bench on the esplanade, when Aunt Ailie said I should he coveting ifI went on wishing Violetta was like her. " "I remember, " said Ermine, "I have heard enough of that 'ne plus ultra'of doll! Indeed, Colin, you have given a great deal of pleasure, wherethe materials of pleasure are few. No one can guess the delight a dollis to a solitary imaginative child. " "Thank you, " he said, smiling. "I believe I shall enjoy it as much as Rose, " added Ermine, "both forplay and as a study. Please turn my chair a little this way, I want tosee the introduction to Violetta. Here comes the beauty, in Rose's owncloak. " Colonel Keith leant over the back of her chair and silently watched, butthe scene was not quite what they expected. Violetta was sitting inher "slantingdicular" position on her chair placed on a bench, and herlittle mistress knelt down before her, took her in her arms, and beganto hug her. "Violetta, darling, you need not be afraid! There is a new beautifulcreature come, and I shall call her Colinette, and we must be very kindto her, because Colonel Keith is so good, and knows your grandpapa; andto tell you a great secret, Violetta, that you must not tell Colinetteor anybody, I think he is Aunt Ermine's own true knight. " "Hush!" whispered the Colonel, over Ermine's head, as he perceived herabout to speak. "So you must be very good to her, Violetta, and you shall help me makeher clothes; but you need not be afraid I ever could love any one halfor one quarter as much as you, my own dear child, not if she were tentimes as beautiful, and so come and show her to Augustus. She'll neverbe like you, dear old darling. " "It is a study, " said the Colonel, as Rose moved off with a doll ineither hand; "a moral that you should take home. " Ermine shook her head, but smiled, saying, "Tell me, does your youngcousin know--" "Alick Keith! Not from me, and Lady Temple is perfectly to be trusted;but I believe his father knew it was for no worse reason that I was madeto exchange. But never mind, Ermine, he is a very good fellow, and whatis the use of making a secret of what even Violetta knows?" There was no debating the point, for her desire of secrecy was promptedby the resolution to leave him unbound, whereas his wish for publicitywas with the purpose of binding himself, and Ermine was determined thatdiscussion was above all to be avoided, and that she would, after thefirst explanation, keep the conversation upon other subjects. So sheonly answered with another reproving look and smile, and said, "Andnow I am going to make you useful. The editor of the 'Traveller' istravelling, and has left his work to me. I have been keeping someletters for him to answer in his own hand, because mine betrayswomanhood; but I have just heard that he is to stay about six weeksmore, and people must be put out of their misery before that. Will youcopy a few for me? Here is some paper with the office stamp. " "What an important woman you are, Ermine. " "If you had been in England all this time, you would see how easythe step is into literary work; but you must not betray this for the'Traveller's' sake or Ailie's. " "Your writing is not very womanish, " said the colonel, as she gave himhis task. "Or is this yours? It is not like that of those verses onMalvern hills that you copied out for me, the only thing you ever gaveme. " "I hope it is more to the purpose than it was then, and it has had tolearn to write in all sorts of attitudes. " "What's this?" as he went on with the paper; "your manuscript entitled'Curatocult. ' Is that the word? I had taken it for the produce of MissCurtis's unassisted genius. " "Have you heard her use it!" said Ermine, disconcerted, having by nomeans intended to betray Rachel. "Oh yes! I heard her declaiming on Sunday about what she knows no moreabout than Conrade! A detestable, pragmatical, domineering girl! I amthankful that I advised Lady Temple only to take the house for ayear. It was right she should see her relations, but she must not betyrannized over. " "I don't believe she dislikes it. " "She dislikes no one! She used to profess a liking for a hugeIrishwoman, whose husband had risen from the ranks; the most tremendouswoman I ever saw, except Miss Curtis. " "You know they were brought up together like sisters. " "All the worse, for she has the habit of passive submission. If it werethe mother it would be all right, and I should be thankful to see her ingood keeping, but the mother and sister go for nothing, and down comesthis girl to battle every suggestion with principles picked up fromevery catchpenny periodical, things she does not half understand, andenunciates as if no one had even heard of them before. " "I believe she seldom meets any one who has. I mean to whom they arematters of thought. I really do like her vigour and earnestness. " "Don't say so, Ermine! One reason why she is so intolerable to me isthat she is a grotesque caricature of what you used to be. " "You have hit it! I see why I always liked her, besides that it ispleasant to have any sort of visit, and a good scrimmage is refreshing;she is just what I should have been without papa and Edward to keep medown, and without the civilizing atmosphere at the park. " "Never. " "No, I was not her equal in energy and beneficence, and I was youngerwhen you came. But I feel for her longing to be up and doing, and herpuzzled chafing against constraint and conventionality, though it breaksout in very odd effervescences. " "Extremely generous of you when you must be bored to death with herinterminable talk. " "You don't appreciate the pleasure of variety! Besides, she reallyinterests me, she is so full of vigorous crudities. I believe all thatis unpleasing in her arises from her being considered as the cleverwoman of the family; having no man nearly connected enough to keep herin check, and living in society that does not fairly meet her. I wantyou to talk to her, and take her in hand. " "Me! Thank you, Ermine! Why, I could not even stand her talking aboutyou, though she has the one grace of valuing you. " "Then you ought, in common gratitude, for there is no little greatnessof soul in patiently coming down to Mackarel Lane to be snubbed by one'scousin's governess's sister. " "If you will come up to Myrtlewood, you don't know what you may do. " "No, you are to set no more people upon me, though Lady Temple's eyesare very wistful. " "I did not think you would have held out against her. " "Not when I had against you? No, indeed, though I never did see anybodymore winning than she is in that meek, submissive gentleness! Alisonsays she has cheered up and grown like another creature since yourarrival. " "And Alexander Keith's. Yes, poor thing, we have brought something ofher own old world, where she was a sort of little queen in her way. Itis too much to ask me to have patience with these relations, Ermine. If you could see the change from the petted creature she was with hermother and husband, almost always the first lady in the place, andlatterly with a colonial court of her own, and now, ordered about, advised, domineered over, made nobody of, and taking it as meekly andsweetly as if she were grateful for it! I verily believe she is! But shecertainly ought to come away. " "I am not so sure of that. It seems to me rather a dangerousresponsibility to take her away from her own relations, unless therewere any with equal claims. " "They are her only relations, and her husband had none. Still to beunder the constant yoke of an overpowering woman with unfixed opinionsseems to be an unmitigated evil for her and her boys; and no one'sfeelings need be hurt by her fixing herself near some public school forher sons' education. However, she is settled for this year, and at theend we may decide. " With which words he again applied himself to Ermine's correspondence, and presently completed the letter, offering to direct the envelope, which she refused, as having one already directed by the author. He rather mischievously begged to see it that he might judge of thecharacter of the writing, but this she resisted. However, in four days' time there was a very comical twinkle in hiseye, as he informed her that the new number of the "Traveller" was in nofavour at the Homestead, "there was such a want of original thought init. " Ermine felt her imprudence in having risked the betrayal, but allshe did was to look at him with her full, steady eyes, and a littletwist in each corner of her mouth, as she said, "Indeed! Then we hadbetter enliven it with the recollections of a military secretary, " andhe was both convinced of what he guessed, and also that she did notthink it right to tell him; "But, " he said, "there is something in thatgirl, I perceive, Ermine; she does think for herself, and if she werenot so dreadfully earnest that she can't smile, she would be the bestcompany of any of the party. " "I am so glad you think so! I shall be delighted if you will really talkto her, and help her to argue out some of her crudities. Indeed she isworth it. But I suppose you will hardly stay here long enough to do herany good. " "What, are you going to order me away?" "I thought your brother wanted you at home. " "It is all very well to talk of an ancestral home, but when it consistsof a tall, slim house, with blank walls and pepper-box turrets, setdown on a bleak hill side, and every one gone that made it once a happyplace, it is not attractive. Moreover, my only use there would be tobe kept as a tame heir, the person whose interference would be mostresented, and I don't recognise that duty. " "You are a gentleman at large, with no obvious duty, " said Ermine, meditatively. "What, none?" bending his head, and looking earnestly at her. "Oh, if you come here out of duty--" she said archly, and with her merrylaugh. "There, is not that a nice occasion for picking a quarrel? Andseriously, " she continued, "perhaps it might be good for you if wedid. I am beginning to fear that I ought not to keep you lingering herewithout purpose or occupation. " "Fulfil my purpose, and I will find occupation. " "Don't say that. " "This once, Ermine. For one year I shall wait in the hope of convincingyou. If you do not change, your mind in that time, I shall look foranother staff appointment, to last till Rose is ready for me. " The gravity of this conclusion made Ermine laugh. "That's what youlearnt of your chief, " she said. "There would be less difference in age, " he said. "Though I own I shouldlike my widow to be less helpless than poor little Lady Temple. So, "he added, with the same face of ridiculous earnest, "if you continue toreject me yourself, you will at least rear her with an especial view toher efficiency in that capacity. " And as Rose at that critical moment looked in at the window, eager to beencouraged to come and show Colinette's successful toilette, he drewher to him with the smile that had won her whole heart, and listening toevery little bit of honesty about "my work" and "Aunt Ermine's work, "he told her that he knew she was a very managing domestic character, perfectly equal to the charge of both young ladies. "Aunt Ermine says I must learn to manage, because some day I shall haveto take care of papa. " "Yes, " with his eyes on Ermine all the while, "learn to be a usefulwoman; who knows if we shan't all depend on you by-and-by?" "Oh do let me be useful to you, " cried Rose; "I could hem all yourhandkerchiefs, and make you a kettle-holder. " Ermine had never esteemed him more highly than when he refrained fromall but a droll look, and uttered not one word of the sportive courtshipthat is so peculiarly unwholesome and undesirable with children. Perhapsshe thought her colonel more a gentleman than she had done before, ifthat were possible; and she took an odd, quaint pleasure in the ideaof this match, often when talking to Alison of her views of life andeducation, putting them in the form of what would become of Rose as LadyKeith; and Colin kept his promise of making no more references tothe future. On moving into his lodgings, the hour for his visits waschanged, and unless he went out to dinner, he usually came in theevening, thus attracting less notice, and moreover rendering it lesseasy to lapse into the tender subject, as Alison was then at home, andthe conversation was necessarily more general. The afternoons were spent in Lady Temple's service. Instead of theorthodox dowager britchska and pair, ruled over by a tyrannicalcoachman, he had provided her with a herd of little animals for harnessor saddle, and a young groom, for whom Coombe was answerable. Mrs. Curtis groaned and feared the establishment would look flighty; but forthe first time Rachel became the colonel's ally. "The worst despotismpractised in England, " she said, "is that of coachmen, and it is wellthat Fanny should be spared! The coachman who lived here when mamma wasmarried, answered her request to go a little faster, 'I shall drive myhorses as I plazes, ' and I really think the present one is rather worsein deed, though not in word. " Moreover, Rachel smoothed down a little of Mrs. Curtis's uneasiness atFanny's change of costume at the end of her first year of widowhood, on the ground that Colonel Keith advised her to ride with her sons, and that this was incompatible with weeds. "And dear Sir Stephen did sodislike the sight of them, " she added, in her simple, innocent way, asif she were still dressing to please him. "On the whole, mother, " said Rachel, "unless there is more heart-breakthan Fanny professes, there's more coquetry in a pretty young thingwearing a cap that says, 'come pity me, ' than in going about like otherpeople. " "I only wish she could help looking like a girl of seventeen, " sighedMrs. Curtis. "If that colonel were but married, or the other young man!I'm sure she will fall into some scrape; she does not know how, out ofsheer innocence. " "Well, mother, you know I always mean to ride with her, and that will bea protection. " "But, my dear, I am not sure about your riding with these gay officers;you never used to do such things. " "At my age, mother, and to take care of Fanny. " And Mrs. Curtis, in her uncertainty whether to sanction the proceedingsand qualify them, or to make a protest--dreadful to herself, and moredreadful to Fanny, --yielded the point when she found herself not backedup by her energetic daughter, and the cavalcade almost daily set forthfrom Myrtlewood, and was watched with eyes of the greatest vexation, if not by kind Mrs. Curtis, by poor Mr. Touchett, to whom Lady Temple'schange of dress had been a grievous shock. He thought her so lovely, sointeresting, at first; and now, though it was sacrilege to believe it ofso gentle and pensive a face, was not this a return to the world? Whathad she to do with these officers? How could her aunt permit it? Nodoubt it was all the work of his great foe, Miss Rachel. It was true that Rachel heartily enjoyed these rides. Hitherto she hadbeen only allowed to go out under the escort of her tyrant the coachman, who kept her in very strict discipline. She had not anticipated anythingmuch more lively with Fanny, her boys, and ponies; but Colonel Keithhad impressed on Conrade and Francis that they were their mother's primeprotectors, and they regarded her bridle-rein as their post, keepingwatch over her as if her safety depended on them, and ready to quarrelwith each other if the roads were too narrow for all three to goabreast. And as soon as the colonel had ascertained that she and theywere quite sufficient to themselves, and well guarded by Coombe in therear, he ceased to regard himself as bound to their company, but he andRachel extended their rides in search of objects of interest. She likeddoing the honours of the county, and achieved expeditions which hercoachman had hitherto never permitted to her, in search of ruins, camps, churches, and towers. The colonel had a turn for geology, though awandering life even with an Indian baggage-train had saved him fromincurring her contempt for collectors; but he knew by sight thecharacter of the conformations of rocks, and when they had mounted oneof the hills that surrounded Avonmouth, discerned by the outline whethergranite, gneiss, limestone, or slate formed the grander height beyond, thus leading to schemes of more distant rides to verify the conjectures, which Rachel accepted with the less argument, because sententiousdogmatism was not always possible on the back of a skittish black mare. There was no concealing from herself that she was more interested bythis frivolous military society than by any she had ever previously met. The want of comprehension of her pursuits in her mother's limited rangeof acquaintance had greatly conduced both to her over-weening manner andto her general dissatisfaction with the world, and for the first timeshe was neither succumbed to, giggled at, avoided, nor put down with agrave, prosy reproof. Certainly Alick Keith, as every one called him, nettled her extremely by his murmured irony, but the acuteness of it wasdiverting in such a mere lad, and showed that if he could only once beroused, he might be capable of better things. There was an excitementin his unexpected manner of seeing things that was engaging as wellas provoking; and Rachel never felt content if he were at Myrtlewoodwithout her seeing him, if only because she began to consider him asmore dangerous than his elder namesake, and so assured of his positionthat he did not take any pains to assert it, or to cultivate LadyTemple's good graces; he was simply at home and perfectly at ease withher. Colonel Keith's tone was different. He was argumentative where his youngcousin was sarcastic. He was reading some of the books over which Rachelhad strained her capacities without finding any one with whom to discussthem, since all her friends regarded them as poisonous; and even ErmineWilliams, without being shaken in her steadfast trust, was so hauntedand distressed in her lonely and unvaried life by the echo of theseshocks to the faith of others, that absolutely as a medical precautionshe abstained from dwelling on them. On the other hand Colin Keith likedto talk and argue out his impressions, and found in Rachel the onlyperson with whom the subject could be safely broached, and thus she forthe first time heard the subjects fairly handled. Hitherto she had neverthought that justice was done to the argument except by a portion ofthe press, that drew conclusions which terrified while they alluredher, whereas she appreciated the candour that weighed each argument, distinguishing principle from prejudice, and religious faith fromconventional construction, and in this measurement of minds she felt thestrength, and acuteness of powers superior to her own. He was not oneof the men who prefer unintellectual women. Perhaps clever men, of aprofession not necessarily requiring constant brain work, are not somuch inclined to rest the mind with feminine empty chatter, as are thosewhose intellect is more on the strain. At any rate, though Colonel Keithwas attentive and courteous to every one, and always treated Lady Templeas a prime minister might treat a queen, his tendency to conversationwith Rachel was becoming marked, and she grew increasingly prone toconsult him. The interest of this new intercourse quite took out thesting of disappointment, when again Curatocult came back, "declined withthanks. " Nay, before making a third attempt she hazarded a question onhis opinion of female authorship, and much to her gratification, andsomewhat to her surprise, heard that he thought it often highly usefuland valuable. "That is great candour. Men generally grudge whatever they think theirown privilege. " "Many things can often be felt and expressed by an able woman betterthan by a man, and there is no reason that the utterance of anythingworthy to be said should be denied, provided it is worthy to be said. " "Ah! there comes the hit. I wondered if you would get through withoutit. " "It was not meant as a hit. Men are as apt to publish what is not worthsaying as women can be, and some women are so conscientious as only toput forth what is of weight and value. " "And you are above wanting to silence them by palaver about unfemininepublicity?" "There is no need of publicity. Much of the best and most wide-spreadwriting emanates from the most quiet, unsuspected quarters. " "That is the benefit of an anonymous press. " "Yes. The withholding of the name prevents well-mannered people fromtreating a woman as an authoress, if she does not proclaim herself one;and the difference is great between being known to write, and setting upfor an authoress. " "Between fact and pretension. But write or not write, there is aninstinctive avoidance of an intellectual woman. " "Not always, for the simple manner that goes with real superiority isgenerally very attractive. The larger and deeper the mind, the morethere would be of the genuine humbleness and gentleness that a shallownature is incapable of. The very word humility presupposes depth. " "I see what you mean, " said Rachel. "Gentleness is not feebleness, norlowness lowliness. There must be something held back. " "I see it daily, " said Colonel Keith; and for a moment he seemedabout to add something, but checked himself, and took advantage of aninterruption to change the conversation. "Superior natures lowly and gentle!" said Rachel to herself. "Am I soto him, then, or is he deceiving himself? What is to be done? At my age!Such a contravention of my principles! A soldier, an honourable, a titlein prospect, Fanny's major! Intolerable! No, no! My property absorbed bya Scotch peerage, when I want it for so many things! Never. I am sorryfor him though. It is hard that a man who can forgive a woman forintellect, should be thrown back on poor little Fanny; and it isgratifying--. But I am untouched yet, and I will take care of myself. At my age a woman who loves at all, loves with all the gathered force ofher nature, and I certainly feel no such passion. No, certainly not; andI am resolved not to be swept along till I have made up my mind to yieldto the force of the torrent. Let us see. " "Grace, my dear, " said Mrs. Curtis, in one of her most confidentialmoments, "is not dear Rachel looking very well? I never saw her dress sowell put on. " "Yes, she is looking very handsome, " said Grace. "I am glad she hasconsented to have her hair in that now way, it is very becoming to her. " "I--I don't know that it is all the hair, " said the mother, faltering, as if half ashamed of herself; "but it seemed to me that we need nothave been so uneasy about dear Fanny. I think, don't you? that there maybe another attraction. To be sure, it would be at a terrible distancefrom us; but so good and kind as he is, it would be such a thing for youand Fanny as well--" Grace gave a great start. "Yes, my dear, " Mrs. Curtis gently prosed on with her speculation, "shewould be a dreadful loss to us; but you see, so clever and odd as sheis, and with such peculiar ideas, I should be so thankful to see her inthe hands of some good, sensible man that would guide her. " "But do you really think it is so, mother?" "Mind, my dear, it is nothing to build on, but I cannot help beingstruck, and just thinking to myself. I know you'll not say anything. " Grace felt much distressed after this communication had opened her eyesto certain little touches of softening and consciousness that satoddly enough on her sister. From the first avowal of Colonel Keith'sacquaintance with the Williamses, she had concluded him to be thenameless lover, and had been disappointed that Alison, so far fromcompleting the confidence, had become more reserved than ever, leavingher to wonder whether he were indeed the same, or whether his constancyhad survived the change of circumstances. There were no grounds on whichto found a caution, yet Grace felt full of discomfort and distrust, afeeling shared by Alison, who had never forgiven herself for her halfconfidence, and felt that it would be wiser to tell the rest, butwas withheld by knowing that her motive would actuate her sister to acontrary course. That Colin should detach himself from her, love again, and marry, was what Ermine schooled herself to think fitting; but Alisonalternated between indignant jealousy for her sister, and the desire towarn Rachel that she might at best win only the reversion of his heart. Ermine was happy and content with his evening visits, and would not takeumbrage at the daily rides, nor the reports of drawing-room warfare, andAlison often wavered between the desire of preparing her, and thedoubt whether it were not cruel to inflict the present pain of want ofconfidence. If that were a happy summer to some at Avonmouth, it wasa very trying one to those two anxious, yet apparently uninterestedsisters, who were but lookers-on at the game that affected their otherselves. At length, however, came a new feature into the quiet summer life atAvonmouth. Colin looked in on Ermine one morning to announce, withshrugged shoulders, and a face almost making game of himself, that hisbrother was coming! Lord Keith had been called to London on business, and would extend his journey to come and see what his brother was doing. "This comes of being the youngest of the family, " observed Colin, meditatively. "One is never supposed capable of taking care of one'sself. With Keith I shall be the gay extravagant young officer to the endof my days. " "You are not forgiving to your brother, " said Ermine. "You have it in your power to make me so, " he said eagerly. "Then you would have nothing to forgive, " she replied, smiling. Lady Temple's first thought was a renewal of her ardent wish that Ermineshould be at Myrtlewood; and that Mackarel Lane, and the governesshipshould be as much as possible kept out of sight. Even Alison was on herside; not that she was ashamed of either, but she wished that Ermineshould see and judge with her own eyes of Colin's conduct, and alsoeagerly hailed all that showed him still committed to her sister. Shewas proportionably vexed that he did not think it expedient to harassErmine with further invitations. "My brother knows the whole, " he said, "and I do not wish to attempt toconceal anything. " "I do not mean to conceal, " faltered Fanny, "only I thought it mightsave a shock--appearances--he might think better of it, if--" "You thought only what was kind, " answered the colonel, "and I thankyou for it most warmly; but this matter does not depend on my brother'sconsent, and even if it did, Ermine's own true position is that which ismost honourable to her. " Having said this, he was forced to console Fanny in her shame at herown kind attempt at this gentle little feminine subterfuge. He gratifiedher, however, by not interfering with her hospitable instincts ofdoing honour to and entertaining his brother, for whose sake her firstapproach to a dinner party was given; a very small one, but treated byher and her household as a far more natural occurrence than was any sortof entertainment at the Homestead. She even looked surprised, in herquiet way, at Mrs. Curtis's proffers of assistance in the et ceteras, and gratefully answered for Coombe's doing the right thing, withouttroubling herself further. Mrs. Curtis was less easy in her mind, herhousewifely soul questioned the efficiency of her niece's establishment, and she was moreover persuaded that Lord Keith must be bent oninspecting his brother's choice, while even Rachel felt as if the toilsof fate were being drawn round her, and let Grace embellish her for thedinner party, in an odd sort of mood, sometimes rejecting her attemptsat decoration, sometimes vouchsafing a glance at the glass, chieflyto judge whether her looks were really as repellently practical andintellectual as she had been in the habit of supposing. The wreath ofwhite roses, which she wore for the first time, certainly had a pleasingand softening effect, and she was conscious that she had never looked sowell; then was vexed at the solicitude with which her mother lookedher over, and fairly blushed with annoyance at the good lady's evidentsatisfaction. But, after all, Rachel, at her best, could not have competed with thegrace of the quiet little figure that received them, the rich black silkgiving dignity to the slender form, and a sort of compromise betweenveil and cap sheltering the delicate fair face; and with a son on eachside, Fanny looked so touchingly proud and well supported, and the boyswere so exultant and admiring at seeing her thus dressed, that it wasa very pretty sight, and struck the first arrived of her guests, Mr. Touchett, quite dumb with admiration. Colonel Hammond, the two Keiths, and their young kinsman, completed the party. Lord Keith of Gowanbraewas best described by the said young kinsman's words "a long-backedScotchman. " He was so intensely Scottish that he made his brother lookand sound the same, whereas ordinarily neither air nor accent would haveshown the colonel's nation, and there was no definable likeness betweenthem, except, perhaps, the baldness of the forehead, but the remainsof Lord Keith's hair were silvered red, whereas Colin's thick beardand scanty locks were dark brown, and with a far larger admixture ofhoar-frost, though he was the younger by twenty years, and his brother'sappearance gave the impression of a far greater age than fifty-eight, there was the stoop of rheumatism, and a worn, thin look on the face, with its high cheek bones, narrow lips, and cold eyes, by no meanswinning. On the other hand, he was the most finished gentleman thatGrace and Rachel had ever encountered; he had all the gallant polish ofmanner that the old Scottish nobility have inherited from the Frenchof the old regime--a manner that, though Colin possessed all itsessentials, had been in some degree rubbed off in the frankness ofhis military life, but which the old nobleman retained in its fullperfection. Mrs. Curtis admired it extremely as a specimen of the "oldschool, " for which she had never ceased to mourn; and Rachel felt as ifit took her breath away by the likeness to Louis XIV. ; but, strange tosay, Lady Temple acted as if she were quite in her element. It might bethat the old man's courtesy brought back to her something of the tenderchivalry of her soldier husband, and that a sort of filial friendlinesshad become natural to her towards an elderly man, for she respondedat once, and devoted herself to pleasing and entertaining him. Theircivilities were something quite amusing to watch, and in the evening, with a complete perception of his tastes, she got up a rubber for him. "Can you bear it? You will not like to play?" murmured the colonel toher, as he rung for the cards, recollecting the many evenings of whistwith her mother and Sir Stephen. "Oh! I don't mind. I like anything like old times, and my aunt does notlike playing--" No, for Mrs. Curtis had grown up in a family where cards weredisapproved, and she felt it a sad fall in Fanny to be playing with allthe skill of her long training, and receiving grand complimentsfrom Lord Keith on joint victories over the two colonels. It was adistasteful game to all but the players, for Rachel felt slightly hurtat the colonel's defection, and Mr. Touchett, with somewhat of Mrs. Curtis's feeling that it was a backsliding in Lady Temple, suddenlygrew absent in a conversation that he was holding with young Mr. Keithupon--of all subjects in the world--lending library books, and finallyrepaired to the piano, where Grace was playing her mother's favouritemusic, in hopes of distracting her mind from Fanny's enormity; and therehe stood, mechanically thanking Miss Curtis, but all the time turning amelancholy eye upon the game. Alick Keith, meanwhile, sat himself downnear Rachel and her mother, close to an open window, for it was so warmthat even Mrs. Curtis enjoyed the air; and perhaps because that watchingthe colonel had made Rachel's discourses somewhat less ready than usual, he actually obtained an interval in which to speak! He was going thenext day to Bishops Worthy, there to attend his cousin's wedding, and atthe end of a fortnight to bring his sister for her visit to Lady Temple. This sister was evidently his great care, and it needed but littleleading to make him tell a good deal about her. She had, it seemed, beensent home from the Cape at about ten years old, when the regiment wentto India, and her brother who had been at school, then was with her fora short time before going out to join the regiment. "Why, " said Rachel, recovering her usual manner, "you have not been tenyears in the army!" "I had my commission at sixteen, " he answered. "You are not six-and-twenty!" she exclaimed. "You are as right as usual, " was the reply, with his odd little smile;"at least till the 1st of August. " "My dear!" said her mother, more alive than Rachel to his amusement ather daughter's knowing his age better than he did himself, but adding, politely, "you are hardly come to the time of life for liking to hearthat your looks deceived us. " "Boys are tolerated, " he said, with a quick glance at Rachel; but atthat moment something many-legged and tickling flitted into the light, and dashed over her face. Mrs. Curtis was by no means a strong-mindedwoman in the matter of moths and crane-flies, disliking almost equallytheir sudden personal attentions and their suicidal propensities, and Rachel dutifully started up at once to give chase to thefather-long-legs, and put it out of window before it had succeeded inderanging her mother's equanimity either by bouncing into her face, orsuspending itself by two or three legs in the wax of the candle. Mr. Keith seconded her efforts, but the insect was both lively andcunning, eluding them with a dexterity wonderful in such an apparentlyover-limbed creature, until at last it kindly rested for a moment withits wooden peg of a body sloping, and most of its thread-likemembers prone upon a newspaper, where Rachel descended on it with herpocket-handkerchief, and Mr. Keith tried to inclose it with his hands atthe same moment. To have crushed the fly would have been melancholy, tohave come down on the young soldier's fingers, awkward; but Rachel didwhat was even more shocking--her hands did descend on, what should havebeen fingers, but they gave way under her--she felt only the leatherof the glove between her and the newspaper. She jumped and verynearly cried out, looking up with an astonishment and horror only halfreassured by his extremely amused smile. "I beg your pardon; I'm sosorry--" she gasped confused. "Inferior animals can dispense with a member more or less, " he replied, giving her the other corner of the paper, on which they bore theircapture to the window, and shook it till it took wing, with various legsstreaming behind it. "That venerable animal is apparently indifferent tohaving left a third of two legs behind him, " and as he spoke he removedthe already half drawn-off left-hand glove, and let Rachel see for amoment that it had only covered the thumb, forefinger, two joints of themiddle, and one of the third; the little finger was gone, and the wholehand much scarred. She was still so much dismayed that she gasped outthe first question she had ever asked him-- "Where--?" "Not under the handkerchief, " he answered, picking it up as if hethought she wanted convincing. "At Delhi, I imagine. " At that moment, Grace, as an act of general beneficence certainlypleasing to her mother, began to sing. It was a stop to allconversation, for Mrs. Curtis particularly disliked talking duringsinging, and Rachel had to digest her discoveries at her leisure, assoon as she could collect herself after the unnatural and strangelylasting sensation of the solid giving way. So Grace was right, he wasno boy, but really older than Fanny, the companion of her childhood, andwho probably would have married her had not the general come in the way!Here was, no doubt, the real enemy, while they had all been thinking ofColonel Keith. A man only now expecting his company! It would sound moreabsurd. Yet Rachel was not wont to think how things would sound! Andthis fresh intense dislike provoked her. Was it the unsuitability of theyoung widow remarrying? "Surely, surely, it must not be that womanhoodin its contemptible side is still so strong that I want to keep all formyself! Shame! And this may be the true life love, suppressed, now ableto revive! I have no right to be disgusted, I will watch minutely, andjudge if he will be a good guide and father to the boys, though itmay save the colonel trouble. Pish! what have I to do with either? Whyshould I think about them? Yet I must care for Fanny, I must dislike tosee her lower herself even in the eyes of the world. Would it really belowering herself? I cannot tell, I must think it out. I wish that gamewas over, or that Grace would let one speak. " But songs and whist both lasted till the evening was ended by LadyTemple coming up to the curate with her winnings and her pretty smile, "Please, Mr. Touchett, let this go towards some treat for the schoolchildren. I should not like to give it in any serious way, you know, butjust for some little pleasure for them. " If she had done it on purpose, she could not have better freshlyriveted his chains. That pensive simplicity, with the smile of heartfeltsatisfaction at giving pleasure to anybody, were more and more engagingas her spirits recovered their tone, and the most unsatisfactoryconsideration which Rachel carried away that evening was that AlexanderKeith being really somewhat the senior, if the improvement in Fanny'sspirits were really owing to his presence, the objection on the scoreof age would not hold. But, thought Rachel, Colonel Keith being her own, what united power they should have over Fanny. Pooh! she had by no meansresigned herself to have him, though for Fanny's sake it might be well, and was there not a foolish prejudice in favour of married women, thatimpeded the usefulness of single ones? However, if the stiff, dry oldman approved of her for her fortune's sake, that would be quite reasonenough for repugnance. The stiff old man was the pink of courtesy, and paid his respects in dueorder to his brother's friends the next day, Colin attending in his oldaide-de-camp fashion. It was curious to see them together. The oldpeer was not at all ungracious to his brother; indeed, Colin had beenagreeably surprised by an amount of warmth and brotherliness that hehad never experienced from him before, as if old age had brought adisposition to cling to the remnant of the once inconveniently largefamily, and make much of the last survivor, formerly an undesirableyoungest favourite, looked on with jealous eyes and thwarted andretaliated on for former petting, as soon as the reins of governmentfell from the hands of the aged father. Now, the elder brother was kindalmost to patronizing, though evidently persuaded that Colin was a gaycareless youth, with no harm in him, but needing to be looked after; andas to the Cape, India, and Australia being a larger portion of the worldthan Gowanbrae, Edinburgh, and London, his lordship would be incredulousto the day of his death. He paid his formal and gracious visits at Myrtlewood and the Homestead, and then supposed that his brother would wish him to call upon "theseunfortunate ladies. " Colin certainly would have been vexed if he hadopenly slighted them; but Alison, whom the brothers overtook on theirway into Mackarel Lane, did not think the colonel looked in the mostfelicitous frame of mind, and thought the most charitable constructionmight be that he shared her wishes that she could be a few minutes inadvance; to secure that neither Rose's sports nor Colinette's toilettewere very prominent. All was right, however; Ermine's taste for the fitness of things hadtrained Rose into keeping the little parlour never in stiff array, butalso never in a state to be ashamed of, and she herself was sitting inthe shade in the garden, whither, after the first introduction, Colinand Rose brought seats; and the call, on the whole, went off extremelywell. Ermine naver let any one be condescending to her, and conductedthe conversation with her usual graceful good breeding, while thecolonel, with Rose on his knee, half talked to the child, half listenedand watched. As soon as he had deposited his brother at the hotel, he came backagain, and in answer to Ermine's "Well, " he demanded, "What she thoughtof his brother, and if he were what she expected?" "Very much, only older and feebler. And did he communicate his views ofMackarel Lane? I saw him regarding, me as a species of mermaid or syren, evidently thinking it a great shame that I have not a burnt face. If hehad only known about Rose!" "The worst of it is that he wants me to go home with him, and I amafraid I must do so, for now that he and I are the last in the entail, there is an opportunity of making an arrangement about the property, forwhich he is very anxious. " "Well, you know, I have long thought it would be very good for you. " "And when I am there I shall have to visit every one in the family;" andhe looked into her eyes to see if she would let them show concern, butshe kept up their brave sparkle as she still said, "You know you ought. " "Then you deliver me up to Keith's tender mercies till--" "Till you have done your duty--and forgiven him. " "Remember, Ermine, I can't spend a winter in Scotland. A cold alwaysmakes the ball remind me of its presence in my chest, and I was toldthat if I spent a winter at home, it must be on the Devonshire coast. " "That ball is sufficient justification for ourselves, I allow, " shesaid, that one little word our making up for all that had gone before. "And meantime you will write to me--about Rose's education. " "To be sure, or what would be the use of growing old?" Alison felt savage all through this interview. That perfectunderstanding and the playful fiction about waiting for Rose left him agreat deal too free. Ermine might almost be supposed to want to get ridof him, and even when he took leave she only remained for a few minutesleaning her cheek on her hand, and scarcely indulged in a sigh beforeasking to be wheeled into the house again, nor would she make anyremark, save "It has been too bright a summer to last for ever. It wouldbe very wrong to wish him to stay dangling here. Let what will happen, he is himself. " It sounded far too like a deliberate resignation of him, and persuasionthat if he went he would not return to be all he had been. However, thedeparture was not immediate, Lord Keith had taken a fancy to the placeand scenery, and wished to see all the lions of the neighbourhood, sothat there were various expeditions in the carriages or on horseback, inwhich he displayed his grand courtesy to Lady Temple, and Rachel enjoyedthe colonel's conversation, and would have enjoyed it still more if shehad not been tracing a meaning in every attention that he paid her, andconsidering whether she was committing herself by receiving it. She wasglad he was going away that she might have time to face the subject, andmake up her mind, for she was convinced that the object of his journeywas to make himself certain of his prospects. When he said that heshould return for the winter, and that he had too much to leave atAvonmouth to stay long away from it, there must be a meaning in hiswords. Ermine had one more visit from Lord Keith, and this time he came alone. He was in his most gracious and courteous mood, and sat talking ofindifferent things for some time, of his aunt Lady Alison, and ofBeauchamp in the old time, so that Ermine enjoyed the renewal of oldassociations and names belonging to a world unlike her present one. Thenhe came to Colin, his looks and his health, and his own desire to seehim quit the army. Ermine assented to his health being hardly fit for the army, andrestrained the rising indignation as she recollected what a differencethe best surgical advice might have made ten years ago. And then, Lord Keith said, a man could hardly be expected to settle downwithout marrying. He wished earnestly to see his brother married, but, unfortunately, charges on his estate would prevent him from doinganything for him; and, in fact, he did not see any possibility ofhis--of his marrying, except a person with some means. "I understand, " said Ermine, looking straight before her, and her colourmounting. "I was sure that a person of your great good sense would do so, " saidLord Keith. "I assure you no one can be more sensible than myself ofthe extreme forbearance, discretion, and regard for my brother's truewelfare that has been shown here. " Ermine bowed. He did not know that the vivid carmine that made her lookso handsome was not caused by gratification at his praise, but by thestruggle to brook it patiently. "And now, knowing the influence over him that, most deservedly, you mustalways possess, I am induced to hope that, as his sincere friend, youwill exert it in favour of the more prudent counsels. " "I have no influence over his judgment, " said Ermine, a little proudly. "I mean, " said Lord Keith, forced to much closer quarters, "you willexcuse me for speaking thus openly--that in the state of the case, withso much depending on his making a satisfactory choice, I feel convinced, with every regret, that you will feel it to be for his true welfare--asindeed I infer that you have already endeavoured to show him--to make anew beginning, and to look on the past as past. " There was something in the insinuating tone of this speech, increasedas it was by the modulation of his Scottish voice, that irritated hishearer unspeakably, all the more because it was the very thing she hadbeen doing. "Colonel Keith must judge for himself, " she said, with a cold manner, but a burning heart. "I--I understand, " said Lord Keith, "that you had most honourably, most consistently, made him aware that--that what once might have beendesirable has unhappily become impossible. " "Well, " said Ermine. "And thus, " he proceeded, "that the sincere friendship with whichyou still regard him would prevent any encouragement to continue anattachment, unhappily now hopeless and obstructive to his prospects. " Ermine's eyes flashed at the dictation. "Lord Keith, " she said, "I havenever sought your brother's visits nor striven to prolong them; but ifhe finds pleasure in them after a life of disappointment and trouble, Icannot refuse nor discourage them. " "I am aware, " said Lord Keith, rising as if to go, "that I havetrespassed long on your time, and made a suggestion only warranted bythe generosity with which you have hitherto acted. " "One may be generous of one's own, not of other people's, " said Ermine. He looked at her puzzled, then said, "Perhaps it will be best to speakcategorically, Miss Williams. Let it be distinctly understood that mybrother Colin, in paying his addresses to you, is necessarily without mysanction or future assistance. " "It might not be necessary, my lord. Good morning;" and her courteousbow was an absolute dismissal. But when Alison came home she found her more depressed than she hadallowed herself to be for years, and on asking what was the matter wasanswered-- "Pride and perverseness, Ailie!" then, in reply to the eagerexclamation, "I believe he was justified in all he said. But, Ailie, Ihave preached to Colin more than I had a right to do about forgiving hisbrother. I did not know how provoking he can be. I did not think it wasstill in me to fly out as I did!" "He had no business to come here interfering and tormenting you, " saidAlison, hotly. "I dare say he thought he had! But one could not think of that when itcame to threatening me with his giving no help to Colin if--There was noresisting telling him how little we cared!" "You have not offended him so that he will keep Colin away!" "The more he tried, the more Colin would come! No, I am not sorry forhaving offended him. I don't mind him; but Ailie, how little one knows!All the angry and bitter feelings that I thought burnt out for ever whenI lay waiting for death, are stirred up as hotly as they were long ago. The old self is here as strong as ever! Ailie, don't tell Colin aboutthis; but to-morrow is a saint's day, and would you see Mr. Touchett, and try to arrange for me to go to the early service? I think then Imight better be helped to conquer this. " "But, Ermine, how can you? Eight o'clock, you know. " "Yes, dearest, it will give you a great deal of trouble, but you nevermind that, you know; and I am so much stronger than I used to be, thatyou need not fear. Besides, I want help so much! And it is the day Colingoes away!" Alison obeyed, as she always obeyed her sister; and Lord Keith, takinghis constitutional turn before breakfast on the esplanade, was met bywhat he so little expected to encounter that he had not time to get outof the way--a Bath chair with Alison walking on one side, his brotheron the other. He bowed coldly, but Ermine held out her hand, and he wasobliged to come near. "I am glad to have met you, " she said. "I am glad to see you out so early, " he answered, confused. "This is an exception, " she said, smiling and really looking beautiful. "Good-bye, I have thought over what passed yesterday, and I believe weare more agreed than perhaps I gave you reason to think. " There was a queenly air of dignified exchange of pardon in her manner ofgiving her hand and bending her head as she again said "Good-bye, " andsigned to her driver to move on. Lord Keith could only say "Good-bye;" then, looking after her, muttered, "After all, that is a remarkable woman. " CHAPTER VIII. WOMAN'S MISSION DISCOVERED. "But O unseen for three long years, Dear was the garb of mountaineers To the fair maid of Lorn. "--LORD OF THE ISLES. "Only nerves, " said Alison Williams, whenever she was pushed hard as towhy her sister continued unwell, and her own looks betrayed an anxietythat her words would not confess. Rachel, after a visit on the firstday, was of the same opinion, and prescribed globules and enlivenment;but after a personal administration of the latter in the shape ofa discussion of Lord Keith, she never called in the morning withouthearing that Miss Williams was not up, nor in the afternoon withoutAlison's meeting her, and being very sorry, but really she thought itbetter for her sister to be quite quiet. In fact, Alison was not seriously uneasy about Ermine's health, forthese nervous attacks were not without precedent, as the revenge for allexcitement of the sensitive mind upon the much-tried constitution. Thereaction must pass off in time, and calm and patience would assist inrestoring her; but the interview with Lord Keith had been a revelationto her that her affection was not the calm, chastened, mortified, almostdead thing of the past that she had tried to believe it; but ayoung, living, active feeling, as vivid, and as little able to brookinterference as when the first harsh letter from Gowanbrae had fallenlike a thunderbolt on the bright hopes of youth. She looked back at someverses that she had written, when first perceiving that life was to beher portion, where her own intended feelings were ascribed to a maidenwho had taken the veil, believing her crusader slain, but who saw himreturn and lead a recluse life, with the light in her cell for hisguiding star. She smiled sadly to find how far the imaginings of fourand twenty transcended the powers of four and thirty; and how the heartthat had deemed itself able to resign was chafed at the appearance ofcompulsion. She felt that the right was the same as ever; but it wasan increased struggle to maintain the resolute abstinence from all thatcould bind Colin to her, at the moment when he was most likely to bedetached, and it was a struggle rendered the more trying by the monotonyof a life, scarcely varied except by the brainwork, which she was oftenobliged to relinquish. Nothing, however, here assisted her so much as Lady Temple's new ponycarriage which, by Fanny's desire, had been built low enough to permitof her being easily lifted into it. Inert, and almost afraid of change, Ermine was hard to persuade, but Alison, guessing at the benefit, wasagainst her, and Fanny's wistful eyes and caressing voice were not to begainsaid; so she suffered herself to be placed on the broad easy seat, and driven about the lanes, enjoying most intensely the new scenes, the peeps of sea, the distant moors, the cottages with their glowingorchards, the sloping harvest fields, the variety that was an absolutehealing to the worn spirits, and moreover, that quiet conversation withLady Temple, often about the boys, but more often about Colonel Keith. Not only Ermine, but other inhabitants of Avonmouth found the worldmore flat in his absence. Rachel's interest was lessened in her readingsafter she had lost the pleasure of discussion, and she asked herselfmany times whether the tedium were indeed from love, or if it weresimply from the absence of an agreeable companion. "I will try myself, "she said to herself, "if I am heartily interested in my occupations bythe end of the next week, then I shall believe myself my own woman!" But in going back to her occupations, she was more than ordinarilysensible of their unsatisfactoriness. One change had come over her inthe last few months. She did not so much long for a wider field, as forpower to do the few things within her reach more thoroughly. Her latediscussions had, as it were, opened a second eye, that saw two sidesof questions that she had hitherto thought had only one, and she wasrestless and undecided between them, longing for some impulse fromwithin or without, and hoping, for her own dignity and consistency'ssake, that it was not only Colonel Keith's presence which had renderedthis summer the richest in her life. A test was coming for her, she thought, in the person of Miss Keith. Judging by the brother, Rachel expected a tall fair dreamy blonde, requiring to be taught a true appreciation of life and its duties, andwhether the training of this young girl would again afford her food foreagerness and energy, would, as she said to herself, show whether heraffections were still her own. Moreover, there was the great duty ofdeciding whether the brother were worthy of Fanny! It chanced to be convenient that Rachel should go to Avoncester onthe day of the arrival, and call at the station for the traveller. Sherecollected how, five months previously, she had there greeted Fanny, and had seen the bearded apparition since regarded, with so muchjealousy, and now with such a strangely mixed feeling. This being a farmore indifferent errand, she did not go on the platform, but sat in thecarriage reading the report of the Social Science Congress, untilthe travellers began to emerge, and Captain Keith (for he had had hispromotion) came up to her with a young lady who looked by no means likehis sister. She was somewhat tall, and in that matter alone realizedRachel's anticipations, for she was black-eyed, and her dark hair wascrepe and turned back from a face of the plump contour, and slightlyrosy complexion that suggested the patches of the last century; asindeed Nature herself seemed to have thought when planting near thecorner of the mouth a little brown mole, that added somehow to thepiquancy of the face, not exactly pretty, but decidedly attractive underthe little round hat, and in the point device, though simple and plainlycoloured travelling dress. "Will you allow me a seat?" asked Captain Keith, when he had disposedof his sister's goods; and on Rachel's assent, he placed himself on theback seat in his lazy manner. "If you were good for anything, you would sit outside and smoke, " saidhis sister. "If privacy is required for swearing an eternal friendship, I can go tosleep instead, " he returned, closing his eyes. "Quite the reverse, " quoth Bessie Keith; "he has prepared me to hate youall, Miss Curtis. " "On the mutual aversion principle, " murmured the brother. "Don't you flatter yourself! Have you found out, Miss Curtis, that it isthe property of this species always to go by contraries?" "To Miss Curtis I always appear in the meekest state of assent, " saidAlick. "Then I would not be Miss Curtis. How horribly you must differ!" Rachel was absolutely silenced by this cross fire; something so unlikethe small talk of her experience, that her mind could hardly propelitself into velocity enough to follow the rapid encounter of wits. However, having stirred up her lightest troops into marching order, she said, in a puzzled, doubtful way, "How has he prepared you to hateus?--By praising us?" "Oh, no; that would have been too much on the surface. He knew theeffect of that, " looking in his sleepy eyes for a twinkle of response. "No; his very reserve said, I am going to take her to ground tootranscendent for her to walk on, but if I say one word, I shall neverget her there at all. It was a deep refinement, you see, and he reallymeant it, but I was deeper, " and she shook her head at him. "You are always trying which can go deepest?" said Rachel. "It is a sweet fraternal sport, " returned Alick. "Have you no brother?" asked Bessie. "No. " "Then you don't know what detestable creatures they are, " but shelooked so lovingly and saucily at her big brother, that Rachel, spite ofherself, was absolutely fascinated by this novel form of endearment. An answer was spared her by Miss Keith's rapture at the sight of somesoldiers in the uniform of her father's old regiment. "Have a care, Bessie; Miss Curtis will despise you, " said her brother. "Why should you think so?" exclaimed Rachel, not desirous of putting ona forbidding aspect to this bright creature. "Have I not been withered by your scorn!" "I--I--" Rachel was going to say something of her change of opinion withregard to military society, but a sudden consciousness set her cheeksin a flame and checked her tongue; while Bessie Keith, with ease andreadiness, filled up the blank. "What, Alick, you have brought the service into disrepute! I am ashamedof you!" "Oh, no!" said Rachel, in spite of her intolerable blushes, feelingthe necessity of delivering her confession, like a cannon-ball amongskirmishers; "only we had been used to regard officers as necessarilyempty and frivolous, and our recent experience has--has been otherwise. "Her period altogether failed her. "There, Alick, is that the effect of your weight of wisdom? I shall bemore impressed with it than ever. It has redeemed the character of yourprofession. Captain Keith and the army. " "I am afraid I cannot flatter myself, " said Alick; and a sort ofreflection of Rachel's burning colour seemed to have lighted on hischeek, "its reputation has been in better hands. " "O Colonel Colin! Depend upon it, he is not half as sage as you, Alick. Why, he is a dozen years older!--What, don't you know, Miss Curtis, thatthe older people grow the less sage they get?" "I hope not, " said Rachel. "Do you! A contrary persuasion sustains me when I see people obnoxiouslysage to their fellow-creatures. " "Obnoxious sageness in youth is the token that there is stuff behind, "said Alick, with eagerness that set his sister laughing at him forfitting on the cap; but Rachel had a sort of odd dreamy perception thatBessie Keith had unconsciously described her (Rachel's) own aspect, and that Alick was defending her, and she was silent and confused, and rather surprised at the assumption of the character by one who shethought could never even exert himself to be obnoxious. He evidently didnot wish to dwell on the subject, but began to inquire after Avonmouthmatters, and Rachel in return asked for Mr. Clare. "Very well, " was the answer; "unfailing in spirits, every one agreedthat he was the youngest man at the wedding. " "Having outgrown his obnoxious sageness, " said Bessie. "There is nothing he is so adroit at as guessing the fate of acroquet-ball by its sound. " "Now Bessie, " exclaimed Alick. "I have not transgressed, have I?" asked Bessie; and in the exclamationsthat followed, she said, "You see what want of confidence is. Thisbrother of mine no sooner saw you in the carriage than he laid hiscommands on me not to ask after your croquet-ground all the way home, and the poor word cannot come out of my mouth without--" "I only told you not to bore Miss Curtis with the eternal subject, asshe would think you had no more brains than one of your mallets, " hesaid, somewhat energetically. "And if we had begun to talk croquet, we should soon have driven himoutside. " "But suppose I could not talk it, " said Rachel, "and that we have noground for it. " "Why, then, "--and she affected to turn up her eyes, --"I can only averthat the coincidence of sentiments is no doubt the work of destiny. " "Bessie!" exclaimed her brother. "Poor old fellow! you had excuse enough, lying on the sofa to thetune of tap and click; but for a young lady in the advanced ranks ofcivilization to abstain is a mere marvel. " "Surely it is a great waste of time, " said Rachel. "Ah! when I have converted you, you will wonder what people did withthemselves before the invention. " "Woman's mission discovered, " quoth her brother. "Also man's, unless he neglects it, " returned Miss Elizabeth; "I wonder, now, if you would play if Miss Curtis did. " "Wisdom never pledges itself how it will act in hypotheticalcircumstances, " was the reply. "Hypothetical, " syllabically repeated Bessie Keith; "did you teach himthat word, Miss Curtis? Well, if I don't bring about the hypotheticalcircumstances, you may call me hyperbolical. " So they talked, Rachel in a state of bewilderment, whether she wereteased or enchanted, and Alexander Keith's quiet nonchalance notconcealing that he was in some anxiety at his sister's reckless talk, but, perhaps, he hardly estimated the effect of the gay, quaint mannerthat took all hearts by storm, and gave a frank careless grace to hernonsense. She grew graver and softer as she came nearer Avonmouth, and spoke tenderly of the kindness she had received at the time of hermother's death at the Cape, when she had been brought to the general's, and had there remained like a child of the house, till she had been senthome on the removal of the regiment to India. "I remember, " she said, "Mrs. Curtis kept great order. In fact, betweenourselves, she was rather a dragon; and Lady Temple, though she had onechild then, seemed like my companion and playfellow. Dear little LadyTemple, I wonder if she is altered!" "Not in the least, " returned both her companions at once, and she wasquite ready to agree with them when the slender form and fair young facemet her in the hall amid a cloud of eager boys. The meeting was a fullrenewal of the parting, warm and fond, and Bessie so comported herselfon her introduction to the children, that they all became enamoured ofher on the spot, and even Stephana relaxed her shyness on her behalf. That sunny gay good-nature could not be withstood, and Rachel, againsharing Fanny's first dinner after an arrival, no longer sat apartdespising the military atmosphere, but listening, not without amusement, to the account of the humours of the wedding, mingled with Alick Keith'stouches of satire. "It was very stupid, " said Bessie, "of none of those girls to have UncleGeorge to marry them. My aunt fancied he would be nervous, but I know hedid marry a couple when Mr. Lifford was away; I mean him to marry me, asI told them all. " "You had better wait till you know whether he will, " observed Alick. "Will? Oh, he is always pleased to feel he can do like other people, "returned Bessie, "and I'll undertake to see that he puts the ring on theright--I mean the left finger. Because you'll have to give me away, youknow, Alick, so you can look after him. " "You seem to have arranged the programme pretty thoroughly, " saidRachel. "After four weddings at home, one can't but lay by a little experiencefor the future, " returned Bessie; "and after all, Alick need not lookas if it must be for oneself. He is quite welcome to profit by it, if hehas the good taste to want my uncle to marry him. " "Not unless I were very clear that he liked my choice, " said Alick, gravely. "Oh, dear! Have you any doubts, or is that meant for a cut at poorinnocent me, as if I could help people's folly, or as if he was not goneto Rio Janeiro, " exclaimed Bessie, with a sort of meek simplicity andunconsciousness that totally removed all the unsatisfactoriness of thespeech, and made even her brother smile while he looked annoyed; andLady Temple quietly changed the conversation. Alick Keith was obliged togo away early, and the three ladies sat long in the garden outside thewindow, in the summer twilight, much relishing the frank-hearted way inwhich this engaging girl talked of herself and her difficulties to Fannyas to an old friend, and to Rachel as belonging to Fanny. "I am afraid that I was very naughty, " she said, with a hand laid onLady Temple's, as if to win pardon; "but I never can resist plaguingthat dear anxious brother of mine, and he did so dreadfully take toheart the absurdities of that little Charlie Carleton, as if any onewith brains could think him good for anything but a croquet partner, that I could not help giving a little gentle titillation. I saw you didnot like it, dear Lady Temple, and I am sorry for it. " "I hope I did not vex you, " said Fanny, afraid of having been severe. "Oh, no, indeed; a little check just makes one feel one is cared for, "and they kissed affectionately: "you see when one has a very wisebrother, plaguing him is irresistible. How little Stephana will plaguehers, in self-defence, with so many to keep her in order. " "They all spoil her. " "Ah, this is the golden age. See what it will be when they thinkthemselves responsible for her! Dear Lady Temple, how could you send himhome so old and so grave?" "I am afraid we sent him home very ill. I never expected to see him soperfectly recovered. I could hardly believe my eyes when Colonel Keithbrought him to the carriage not in the least lame. " "Yes; and it was half against his will. He would have been almost gladto be a lay curate to Uncle George, only he knew if he was fitfor service my father would have been vexed at his giving up hisprofession. " "Then it was not his choice!" said Rachel. "Oh, he was born a soldier, like all the rest of us, couldn't help it. The --th is our home, and if he would only take my hint and marry, Icould be with him there, now! Lady Temple, do pray send for all theeligible officers--I don't know any of them now, except the two majors, and Alick suspects my designs, I believe, for he won't tell me anythingabout them. " "My dear!" said Fanny, bewildered, "how you talk; you know we are livinga very quiet life here. " "Oh, yes, so Alick has told me, " she said, with a pretty compunction inher tone; "you must be patient with me, " and she kissed Fanny's fingersagain and spoke in a gentler way. "I am used to be a great chatter-box, and nobody protested but Alick. " "I wish you would tell me about his return, my dear; he seemed so unfitto travel when your poor father came to the hills and took him away bydak. It seemed so impossible he could bear the journey; he could notstand or help himself at all, and had constant returns of fever; butthey said the long sea voyage was the only chance, and that in Indiahe could not get vigour enough to begin to recover. I was very unhappyabout him, " said Fanny, innocently, whilst Rachel felt very vigilant, wondering if Fanny were the cause of the change his sister spoke of. "Yes, the voyage did him good, but the tidings of papa's death came twomonths before him, and Uncle George's eyes were in such a state that hehad to be kept in the dark, so that no one could go and meet the poordear boy at Southampton but Mr. Lifford, and the shock of the news heheard brought the fever back, and it went on intermitting for weeks andweeks. We had him at Littleworthy at first, thinking he could be betternursed and more cheerful there, but there was no keeping the house quietenough. " "Croquet!" said Rachel. "Everything!" returned Bessie. "Four courtships in more or lessprogress, besides a few flirtations, and a house where all theneighbours were running in and out in a sociable way. Our loss was notas recent there as it was to him, and they were only nieces, so we couldnot have interfered with them; besides, my aunt was afraid he would bedull, and wanted to make the most of her conquering hero, and everybodycame and complimented him, and catechised him whether he believed in theIndian mutilations, when, poor fellow, he had seen horrors enough neverto bear to think of them, except when the fever brought them allover again. I am sure there was excuse enough for his being a littleirritable. " "My dear, " exclaimed Fanny, quite hurt, "he was patience itself while hewas with us. " "That's the difference between illness and recovery, dear Lady Temple!I don't blame him. Any one might be irritable with fresh undetectedsplinters of bone always working themselves out, all down one side;and doubts which were worse, the fingers on, or the fingers off, and noescape from folly or politeness, for he could not even use a crutch. Oh, no, I don't blame him; I quite excuse the general dislike he took toeverything at poor dear Littleworthy. He viewed it all like that childin Mrs. Browning's poem, 'seeing through tears the jugglers leap, ' andwe have partaken of the juggler aspect to him ever since!" "I don't think he could ever be very irritable, " said Fanny, taking theaccusation much to heart. "Sister and recovery!" lightly said Bessie; "they encounter what no oneelse does! He only pined for Bishopsworthy, and when we let him movethere, after the first month, he and my uncle were happy. I stayed therefor a little while, but I was only in the way, the dear good folks werealways putting themselves out on my account; and as to Alick, you can'tthink how the absence of his poor 'souffre-douleur, ' invigoratedhim. Every day I found him able to put more point into his cuttingcompliments, and reading to my uncle with more energy; till at last bythe time the --th came home, he had not so much as a stiff leg to retireupon. Luckily, he and my uncle both cared too much for my poor father'swishes for him to do so without, though if any unlucky chance shouldtake Mr. Lifford away from my uncle, he threatens coming to supply thevacancy, unless I should, and that is past hope. " "Your home is with your uncle, " affirmed Rachel. "Yes, " she said, mournfully, "dear Littleworthy was too happy to last. It broke itself up by its own charms--all married and gone, and the lastrose of summer in my poor person must float away. Jane wants her motherand not me, and my uncle will submit to me as cheerfully as to othernecessary evils. It is not myself that I fear for; I shall be very happywith the dear uncle, but it will be a dreadful overthrow to his habits. " "I do not see why it need be, " said Rachel. "What! two old bachelors with a young lady turned in on them! And thehousekeeper--think of her feelings!" "I do not think you need be uneasy, my dear, " said Fanny. "Your brotheris convinced that it will be the greatest pleasure and comfort to Mr. Clare to have you; and though there may be difficulties at first, I amsure anybody must be the happier for having you, " and she caressed theupturned face, which responded warmly, but with a sigh. "Alick is no judge! He is the child of the house, and my uncle and Mr. Lifford don't feel complete without him. My uncle is as fond of me ascan be, and he and I could get on beautifully, but then Mr. Lifford isimpracticable. " "Impracticable?" said Rachel, taking up the long word. "He objects toyour exerting yourself in the parish. I know what that is. " "Pray, Rachel, " said Fanny, imploringly, "pray don't any anythingagainst him! I am very sorry he has annoyed you, but I do like him. " "Oh, does he play croquet!" cried Bessie. "I gather, " said Rachel, in her impressive tone, a little disappointed, "that by impracticable you mean one who will not play croquet. " "You have hit it!" laughed Bessie. "Who will neither play at croquet, nor let one work except in his way. Well, there are hopes for you. Icure the curates of every cure I come near, except, of course, the curethat touches me most nearly. The shoemaker's wife goes the worst shod!I'll tame yours. " "My dear, I can't have poor Mr. Touchett made game of. " "I won't make game of him, dear Lady Temple, only make him play a game. " "But you said Alick did not approve, " said Fanny, with the dimmestpossible ideas of what croquet was, and believing it a wicked flirtationtrap that figured in "Punch. " "Oh, that's fudge on Master Alick's part! Just the remains of his oldmiseries, poor fellow. What he wants is love! Now he'll meet his fatesome of these days; and as he can't meet three Englishwomen without amallet in hand, love and croquet will come together. " "Alick is very good, " went on Lady Temple, not answering, but arguingwith herself whether this opposition could be right. "Colonel Hammondgave me such an account of him, so valuable and excellent among the men, and doing all that is possible for their welfare, interesting himselfabout their library, and the regimental school and all. The colonelsaid he wished only that he was a little more easy and popular among theyoung officers; but so many of his own standing were gone by the timehe joined again, that he lives almost too much to himself, reads a gooddeal, and is most exemplary, but does not quite make his influence asavailable as it might be. " "That's just it, " cried Bessie, eagerly; "the boy is a lazy boy, andwants shaking up, or he'll get savage and no good. Can't you see, by theway he uses his poor little sister, what an awful don Captain Keith mustbe to a schoolboy of an ensign? He must be taught toleration and huntedinto amiability, or he'll be the most terrible Turk by the time he is acolonel; and you are the only person that can do it, dear Lady Temple. " Rachel did not much like this, but it was so prettily and playfully saidthat the pleasing impression was quite predominant; and when Rachel tookleave, it was with a sense of vexation that a person whom she had begunto esteem should be hard upon this bright engaging sister. Yet it mightbe well if Fanny took note of the admission that he could be irritableas well as stern, and sometimes mistaken in his judgments. What wouldthe Colonel say to all this? The Colonel--here he was coming back againinto her imagination. Another symptom! The brother left the field entirely to his sister for the present; hewas a good deal occupied after his leave, and other officers being away, he was detained at Avoncester, and meantime Bessie Keith took all heartsby storm with her gay good humour and eager sympathy. By the end of thefirst morning she had been to the stable with a swarm of boys, patted, and learnt the names of all the ponies; she was on the warmest termswith the young spaniel, that, to the Curtises' vexation, one of theofficers had given Conrade, and which was always getting into theway; she had won Alison by telling her of Mr. Clare's recollections ofErmine's remarkable beauty and intelligence, and charmed Ermine herselfby his kind messages and her own sunshiny brightness; she had delightedMrs. Curtis and Grace by appreciating their views and their flowers;she had discussed hymnals and chants with Mr. Touchett, and promised herservices; she had given a brilliant object lesson at Mrs. Kelland's, andreceived one herself in lace-making; and had proved herself, to Rachel'ssatisfaction, equally practical and well-read. All the outer world wasasking, "Have you seen the young lady with Lady Temple?" Nothing came amiss to her, from the antiquity of man to Stephana's firstwords; and whether she taught Grace new stitches, played cricket withConrade, made boats for Cyril, prattled with Lady Temple, or studiedwith Rachel, all was done with grace, zest, and sympathy peculiarlyher own. Two practisings at the school removed the leaden drawl, andlessened the twang of the choir; and Mr. Touchett looked quite exalted, while even Rachel owned that she had hardly believed her ears. Rachel and she constituted themselves particular friends, and Grace keptalmost aloof in the fear of disturbing them. She had many friends, andthis was the first, except Ermine Williams, to whom Rachel had taken, since a favourite companion of her youth had disappointed her by afoolish marriage. Bessie's confidences had a vigour in them that evenRachel's half-way meetings could not check, and then the sharp, cleverthings she would say, in accordance with Rachel's views, were moresympathetic than anything she had met with. It was another new charm tolife. One great pleasure they enjoyed together was bathing. The Homesteadpossessed a little cove of its own under the rocks, where there wasa bathing-house, and full perfection of arrangement for young ladies'aquatic enjoyment, in safety and absolute privacy. Rachel's vigorousstrength and health had been greatly promoted by her familiarity withsalt water, and Bessie was in ecstasies at the naiad performances theyshared together on the smooth bit of sandy shore, where they dabbled andfloated fearlessly. One morning, when they had been down very early tobe beforehand with the tide, which put a stop to their enjoyment longbefore the breakfast hour, Bessie asked if they could not profitby their leisure to climb round the edge of the cliff's instead ofreturning by the direct path, and Rachel agreed, with the greaterpleasure, that it was an enterprise she had seldom performed. Very beautiful, though adventurous, was the walk--now on the brow of thesteep cliff, looking down on the water or on little bays of shingle, now through bits of thicket that held out brambles to entangle the longtresses streaming on their shoulders; always in the brisk morning air, that filled them with strength and spirit, laughing, joking, callingto one another and to Conrade's little dog, that, like every othercreature, had attached itself to Bessie, and had followed her fromMyrtlewood that morning, to the vexation of Rachel, who had no love fordogs in their early youth. They were beyond the grounds of the Homestead, but had to go a littlefurther to get into the path, when they paused above a sort of dip oramphitheatre of rock around a little bay, whilst Rachel began tellingof the smugglers' traditions that haunted the place--how much brandy andsilk had there been landed in the time of the great French war, and howonce, when hard pressed, a party of smugglers, taking a short cut inthe moonlight midnight across the Homestead gardens, had encountered anescaped Guinea-pig, and no doubt taking it for the very rat without atail, in whose person Macbeth's witch was to do, and to do, and to do, had been nearly scared out of their wits. Her story was cut short by a cry of distress from the dog, and lookingdown, they perceived that the poor fellow had been creeping about therocks, and had descended to the little cove, whence he was incapableof climbing up again. They called encouragingly, and pretended to moveaway, but he only moaned more despairingly, and leapt in vain. "He has hurt his foot!" exclaimed Rachel; "I must go down after him. Yes, Don, yes, poor fellow, I'm coming. " "My dear Curtia, don't leap into the gulf!" "Oh, it's no great height, and the tide will soon fill up this place. " "Don't! don't! You'll never be able to get up again. " But Rachel was already scrambling down, and, in effect, she wassure-footed and used to her own crags, nor was the distance much abovethirty foot, so that she was soon safe on the shingle, to the extremerelief of poor Don, shown by grateful whines; but he was still evidentlyin pain, and Rachel thought his leg was broken. And how to get up therock, with a spaniel that when she tried to lift it became apparentlytwice the size she had always believed it to be, and where both hands aswell as feet were required, with the sea fast advancing too? "My dear Rachel, you will only break your neck, too, it is quite vain totry!" "If you could just come to that first rock, perhaps I could push him upto you!" Bessie came to it, but screamed. "Oh, I'm not steady; I couldn't do it!Besides, it would hurt him so, and I know you would fall. Poor fellow, it is very sad; but indeed, Rachel, your life is more precious than adog's!" "I can't leave him to drown, " said Rachel, making a desperate scramble, and almost overbalancing herself. "Here, if you could only get him bythe scrough of his neck, it would not hurt him so much; poor Don, yes, poor fellow!" as he whined, but still showed his confidence in thetouching manner of a sensible dog, knowing he is hurt for his good. Bessie made another attempt, but, unused to rocks, she was uneasy abouther footing, and merely frightened herself. "Indeed, " she said, "I hadbetter run and call some one; I won't be long, and you are really quitesafe. " "Yes, quite safe. If you were down here and I above I am sure he coulddo it easily. " "Ah! but I'm no cragswoman; I'll be back instantly. " "That way, that's the shortest, call to Zack or his father, " triedRachel, as the light figure quickly disappeared, leaving her a littleannoyed at her predicament. She was not at all alarmed for herself, there was no real danger of drowning, she could at any moment get upthe rock herself if she chose to leave the dog to its fate; but thatshe could not bear to think of, and she even thought the stimulus ofnecessity might prove the mother of invention, if succour should notcome before that lapping flux and reflux of water should have crept upthe shingly beach, on which she stood; but she was anxious, and feltmore and more drawn to the poor dog, so suffering, yet so patient andconfiding. Nor did she like the awkwardness of being helped in whatought to be no difficulty at all to a native, and would not have beenhad her companion, been Grace or even Conrade. Her hope was that herally Zack would come, as she had directed Bessie towards the cottage;but, behold, after a wearily long interval, it was no blue jacketthat appeared, but a round black sea-hide hat, and a sort of easyclerical-looking dress, that Bessie was fluttering before! Few words were required, the stranger's height and length of arms didall that was needful, and Don was placed in safety with less pain andoutcry than could have been hoped, Rachel ascending before the politestranger had time to offer his assistance. The dog's hurt was, he agreedwith Rachel, a broken leg, and his offer of carrying it home could notbe refused, especially as he touched it with remarkable tenderness anddexterity, adding that with a splint or two, he thought he had surgeryenough to set the limb. They were much nearer the Homestead than to Myrtle-wood, and as it hadbeen already agreed that Bessie should breakfast there, the three benttheir steps up the hill as fast as might be, in consideration of Mrs. Curtis's anxieties. Bessie in a state of great exultation and amusementat the romantic adventure, Rachel somewhat put out at the untowardmishap that obliged her to be beholden to one of the casual visitors, against whom her mother had such a prejudice. Still, the gentleman himself was far from objectionable, in appearanceor manner; his air was that of an educated man, his dress that of aclergyman at large, his face keen. Rachel remembered to have met himonce or twice in the town within the last few days, and wondered if hecould be a person who had called in at the lace school and asked so manyquestions that Mrs. Kelland had decided that he could be after no good;he must be one of the Parliament folks that they sent down to take thebread out of children's mouths by not letting them work as many hoursas was good for them. Not quite believing in a Government commissionon lace-making grievances, Rachel was still prepared to greet a kindredspirit of philanthropy, and as she reflected more, thought that perhapsit was well that an introduction had been procured on any terms. So she thawed a little, and did not leave all the civility to MissKeith, but graciously responded to the stranger's admiration of theviews, the exquisite framings of the summer sea and sky made by tree, rock, and rising ground, and the walks so well laid out on the littleheadland, now on smooth turf, now bordering slopes wild with fernand mountain ash, now amid luxuriant exotic shrubs that attested themildness of Avonmouth winters. When they came near the front of the house, Rachel took man and dog inthrough the open window of her own sitting-room, and hastened to providehim with bandages and splints, leaving Bessie to reassure Mrs. Curtisthat no human limbs were broken, and that no one was even wet to theskin; nay, Bessie had even the tact to spare Mrs. Curtis the romanticcolouring that delighted herself. Grace had followed Rachel to assistat the operation, and was equally delighted with its neatness andtenderness, as well as equally convinced of the necessity of asking theperformer first to wash his hands and then to eat his breakfast, bothwhich kind proposals he accepted with diffident gratitude, first castinga glance around the apartment, which, though he said nothing, conveyedthat he was profoundly struck with the tokens of occupation that itcontained. The breakfast was, in the first place, a very hungry one;indeed, Bessie had been too ravenous to wait till the surgery was over, and was already arrived at her second egg when the others appeared, andthe story had again to be told to the mother, and her warm thanks given. Mrs. Curtis did not like strangers when they were only names, but lether be brought in contact, and her good nature made her friendly atonce, above all in her own house. The stranger was so grave and quiettoo, not at all presuming, and making light of his services, butonly afraid he had been trespassing on the Homestead grounds. Theseincursions of the season visitors were so great a grievance at theHomestead that Mrs. Curtis highly approved his forbearance, whilst shewas pleased with his tribute to her scenery, which he evidently admiredwith an artistic eye. Love of sketching had brought him to Avonmouth, and before he took leave, Mrs. Curtis had accorded him that permissionto draw in her little peninsula for which many a young lady below wassighing and murmuring. He thanked her with a melancholy look, confessingthat in his circumstances his pencil was his toy and his solace. "Once again, that landscape painter!" exclaimed Bessie, with upliftedhands, as soon as both he and Mrs. Curtis were out of earshot, "anadventure at last. " "Not at all, " said Rachel, gravely; "there was neither alarm nordanger. " "Precisely; the romance minus the disagreeables. Only the sea monsterwanting. Young Alcides, and rock--you stood there for sacrifice, I wasthe weeping Dardanian dames. " Even Grace could not help laughing at the mischief of the one, and theearnest seriousness of the other. "Now, Bessie, I entreat that you will not make a ridiculous story of amost simple affair, " implored Rachel. "I promise not to make one, but don't blame me if it makes itself. " "It cannot, unless some of us tell the story. " "What, do you expect the young Alcides to hold his tongue? That is morethan can be hoped of mortal landscape painter. " "I wish you would not call him so. I am sure he is a clergyman. " "Landscape painter, I would lay you anything you please. " "Nay, " said Grace, "according to you, that is just what he ought not tobe. " "I do not understand what diverts you so much, " said Rachel, growinglofty in her displeasure. "What matters it what the man may be?" "That is exactly what we want to see, " returned Bessie. Poor Rachel, a grave and earnest person like her, had little chance withone so full of playful wit and fun as Bessie Keith, to whom her verydignity and susceptibility of annoyance made her the better game. Tohave involved the grave Rachel in such a parody of an adventure wasperfectly irresistible to her, and to expect absolute indifference to itwould, as Grace felt, have been requiring mere stupidity. Indeed, there was forbearance in not pushing Rachel further at the moment; butproceeding to tell the tale at Myrtlewood, whither Grace accompaniedBessie, as a guard against possible madcap versions capable ofmisconstruction. "Yes, " said Rachel to herself, "I see now what Captain Keith regrets. His sister, with all her fine powers and abilities, has had her tonelowered to the hateful conventional style of wit that would put me tothe blush for the smallest mishap. I hope he will not come over tillit is forgotten, for the very sight of his disapproval would incite herfurther. I am glad the Colonel is not here. Here, of course, he is in myimagination. Why should I be referring everything to him; I, who usedto be so independent? Suppose this nonsense gave him umbrage? Let it. Imight then have light thrown on his feelings and my own. At any rate, I will not be conscious. If this stranger be really worth notice, asI think he is, I will trample on her ridicule, and show how little Iesteem it. " CHAPTER IX. THE NEW SPORT "'Sire, ' I replied, 'joys prove cloudlets, Men are the merest Ixions. ' Here the King whistled aloud, 'Let's, Heigho, go look at our lions!' Such are the sorrowful chances If you talk fine to King Francis. "--R. BROWNING. The day after Rachel's adventure with Don a card came into thedrawing-room, and therewith a message that the gentleman had availedhimself of Mrs. Curtis's kind permission, and was sketching theSpinster's Needles, two sharp points of red rock that stood out in thesea at the end of the peninsula, and were specially appropriated byRachel and Grace. The card was written, not engraved, the name "Rd. R. H. C. L. Mauleverer;" and a discussion ensued whether the first letters stoodfor Richard or for Reverend, and if he could be unconscionable enoughto have five initials. The sisters had some business to transact atVillars's, the Avonmouth deposit of literature and stationery, which wasin the hands of a somewhat aspiring genius, who edited the weeklypaper, and respected Miss Rachel Curtis in proportion to the number ofperiodicals she took in, and the abstruseness of the publications sheinquired after. The paper in its Saturday's dampness lay fresh onthe counter, and glancing at the new arrivals, Grace had the desiredopportunity of pointing to Mr. Mauleverer's name, and asking when he hadcome. About a week since, said the obliging Mr. Villars, he appeared tobe a gentleman of highly literary and artistic tastes, a philanthropist;indeed, Mr. Villars understood him to be a clerical gentlemen who hadopinions-- "Oh, Rachel, I am very sorry, " said Grace. "Sorry, what for?" "Why, you and mamma seemed quite inclined to like him. " "Well, and what have we heard?" "Not much that is rational, certainly, " said Grace, smiling; "but weknow what was meant. " "Granting that we do, what is proved against him? No, I will notsay proved, but alleged. He is one of the many who have thought forthemselves upon the perplexing problems of faith and practice, and hasbeen sincere, uncompromising, self-sacrificing, in avowing that his mindis still in that state of solution in which all earnest and originalminds must be ere the crystallizing process sets in. Observe, Grace, Iam not saying for an instant that he is in the right. All I do say is, that when depth of thought and candour have brought misfortune upona man, it is ungenerous, therefore, to treat him as if he had theleprosy. " "Indeed, Rachel, I think you have made more out of his opinions than Idid. " "I was only arguing on your construction of his opinions. " "Take care--!" For they were at this moment reaching a gate ofMyrtlewood, and the sound of hoofs came close behind them. They werethose of the very handsome chestnut, ridden by Alexander Keith, whojumped off his horse with more alacrity than usual as they were openingthe gate for him, and holding out his hand, eagerly said-- "Then I conclude there is nothing the matter?" "Nothing at all, " said Grace. "What did you hear?" "Only a little drowning, and a compound fracture or two, " said he, relapsing into his languid ease as he gave his bridle to a groom, andwalked with them towards the house. "There, how very annoying!" exclaimed Rachel, "though, of course, thesmallest adventure does travel. " "I may venture to hope that neither are you drowned, nor my sister'sleg broken, nor a celebrated professor and essayist 'in a high fever wi'pulling any of you out of the sea. '" "There, Grace, " exclaimed Rachel; "I told you he was somethingdistinguished. " "My dear Rachel, if his celebrity be in proportion to the rest of thestory. " "Then there really was a rescue!" exclaimed Captain Keith, now with muchmore genuine anxiety; and Rachel recollecting her desire that the rightversion should have the precedence, quickly answered, "There was nodanger, only Don slipped down into that curved cove where we walked oneday with the boys. I went down after him, but he had broken his leg. Icould not get up with him in my arms, and Bessie called some one to helpme. " "And why could not Bessie help you herself?" "Oh! strangers can never climb on our slippery rocks as we can. " "Moreover, it would have spoilt the predicament, " muttered the brotherto himself; then turning round with a smile, "And is the child behavingherself?" Grace and Rachel answered in a eager duet how she was charming everyone, so helpful, so kind, so everything. "Ah!" he said with real satisfaction, apparent in the eyes that wereso pleasant when open wide enough to be visible; "I knew she always didbetter when I was not there. " They were by this time entering the hall, which, in the confidentfashion of the sea-side, stood open; and at the moment Fanny cametripping downstairs with her dress looped up, and a shady hat on herhead, looking fearfully girlish, thought her cousins, though her attirewas still rigidly black. "Oh, I am so glad to see you; Don is so much better, Rachel, and Conradewants to thank you. He went up yesterday, and was so sorry you were out. Might it not have been dreadful, Alick? I have been so wanting to tellyou how very delightful that dear sister of yours is. All the boys aredistracted about her. Come out please. She has been teaching the boyssuch a delightful game; so much nicer than cricket, for I can play withthem. " Alick and Rachel could not but exchange a glance, and at the samemoment, emerging through the screen of shrubs on the lawn, Bessie Keith, Conrade, Francis, and Leoline, were seen each with a mallet in hand anda gay ball in readiness to be impelled through the hoops that beset thelawn. "And you really are learning croquet!" exclaimed innocent Grace; "well, it makes a beautiful ground. " "Croquet!" exclaimed poor Lady Temple, with startled eyes; "you don'treally mean that it is croquet! O Bessie, Bessie!" "Ah! I didn't mean you to have come so soon, " said the much amusedBessie, as she gave her hand in greeting. "I meant the prejudice to befirst conquered. See, dear Lady Temple, I'm not ashamed; this whiteybrown moustache is going to kiss me nevertheless and notwithstanding. " And so it certainly did, and smiled into the bargain, while the boyscame clamouring up, and after thanks for Don's preservation, beganloudly to beg mamma would come, they could not make up their sideswithout her, but mamma was distressed and unhappy. "Not now, my dears--I must--I must. Indeed I did not know. " "Now, Alick, I trust to your generosity, " said Bessie, finding thatthey must be pacified. "Coming, Con--Come, Grace, come and convince LadyTemple that the pastime is not too wicked for you. " "Indeed, Alick, " Lady Temple was saying. "I am very sorry, I won't allowit one moment if you think it is objectionable. " "But I don't, " said Alick, smiling. "Far from it. It is a capital gamefor you and your boys. " "I thought--I thought you disapproved and could not bear it, " said LadyTemple, wondering and wistful. "Can't bear is not disapprove. Indeed, " seeing that gentle earnest alonecould console her, "there is no harm in the game itself. It is a whollypersonal distaste, arising from my having been bored with it when I wasill and out of spirits. " "But is not there something about it in 'Punch?'" she still asked, soanxiously, that it was impossible not to smile; but there was not aparticle of that subdued mockery that was often so perplexing in him, as he replied, "Certainly there is about its abuse as an engine forflirtation, which, to tell you the truth, was what sickened me with thesight at Littleworthy; but that is not the line Con and Francie willtake just yet. Why, my uncle is specially addicted to listening tocroquet, and knows by the step and sound how each player is getting on, till he is quite an oracle in disputed hits. " "So Bessie told me, " said Fanny, still feeling that she had been takenin and the brother unkindly used; "but I can't think how she could, whenyou don't like it. " "Nobody is bound to respect foolish prejudices, " said Alick, still quitein earnest. "It would have been very absurd not to introduce it. " "Come, Alick, " said Bessie, advancing, "have you absolved her, and maywe begin? Would it not be a generous act of amnesty if all the presentcompany united in a match?" "Too many, " said Alick, "odd numbers. I shall go down and call on MissWilliams. May I come back, Lady Temple, and have a holiday from themess?" "I shall be very glad; only I am afraid there is no dinner. " "So much the better. Only let me see you begin, or I shall never dare toexpress an opinion for the future. " "Mamma, do pray, pray begin; the afternoon is wasting like nothing!"cried Conrade of the much-tried patience. "And Aunt Rachel, " he added, in his magnanimity, "you shall be my partner, and I'll teach you. " "Thank you, Conrade, but I can't; I promised to be at home at four, "said Rachel, who had all this time been watching with curious interestwhich influence would prevail--whether Alick would play for Fanny'ssake, or Fanny abstain for Alick's sake. She was best satisfied as itwas, but she had still to parry Bessie Keith's persuasive determination. Why would she go home? it certainly was to inspect the sketches of thelandscape-painter. "You heard, Alick, of the interesting individual whoacted the part of Rachel's preserver, " she added. The very force of Rachel's resolution not to be put out of countenanceserved to cover her with the most uncomfortable blushes, all the more atthe thought of her own unlucky exclamation. "I came here, " said Alick, coolly, "to assist in recovering the beloved remains from a waterygrave;" and then, as Bessie insisted on hearing the Avoncester version, he gave it; while Grace added the intelligence that the hero was aclergyman, sinking the opinions, as too vague to be mentioned, even hadnot the company been too flighty for a subject she thought serious andpainful. "And he is at this moment sketching the Spinster's Needles!"said Bessie. "Well, I am consoled. With all your resolve to flatten downan adventure, fate is too strong for you. Something will come of it. Isnot the very resolve that it shall not be an adventure a token?" "If any one should wish to forget it, it is you, I think, Bessie, " saidAlick. "Your admirable sagacity seems to have been at fault. I thoughtyou prided yourself on your climbing. " "Up a slippery perpendicular--" "I know the place, " he gravely answered. "Well, " exclaimed Bessie, recovering herself, "I am not a mermaid noreven a dear gazelle, and, in my humble opinion, there was far more gracein preventing heroism from being 'unwept, unnoticed, and unsung, ' thanin perilling my own neck, craning down and strangling the miserablebeast, by pulling him up by the scrough of his neck! What anintroduction would have been lost!" "If you are going to play, Bessie, " said her brother, "it would be kindto take pity upon those boys. " "One achievement is mine, " she said, dancing away backwards, her brighteyes beaming with saucy merriment, "the great Alexander has bidden me tocroquet. " "I am afraid, " said her brother, turning to Rachel as she departed, "that it was all her fault. Pray be patient with her, she has had manydisadvantages. " His incomprehensible irony had so often perplexed Rachel, that she didnot know whether his serious apologetic tone were making game of herannoyance, and she answered not very graciously, "Oh, never mind, it didnot signify. " And at the same time came another urgent entreaty fromthe boys that the two "aunts" would join the game, Conrade evidentlyconsidering that partnership with him would seal the forgiveness AuntRachel had won by the rescue of Don. Grace readily yielded, but Rachel pleaded her engagement, and when theincorrigible Bessie declared that they perfectly understood that nothingcould compete with the sketch of the Spinster's Needles, she answered, "I promised to write a letter for my mother on business before posttime. The Burnaby bargain, " she explained, to add further conviction. "A business-like transaction indeed!" exclaimed Bessie, much divertedwith the name. "Only a bit of land in trust for apprenticing poor children, " saidRachel. "It was left by a Curtis many generations ago, in trust to therector of the parish and the lord of the manor; and poor Mr. Linton isso entirely effete, that it is virtually in our hands. It is one of thevexations of my life that more good cannot be done with it, for the feesare too small for superior tradespeople, and we can only bind them tothe misery of lacemaking. The system belongs to a worn-out state ofthings. " The word system in Rachel's mouth was quite sufficient to send Bessie toher croquet, and the poor boys were at length rewarded for their unusualpatience. Their mother had been enduring almost as much as they did inher dislike to see them tantalised, and she now threw herself intothe game with a relish that proved that as yet, at least, Conrade'sapprobation was more to her than Captain Keith's. It was very pretty tosee her so pleased with her instructions, so eager about her own game, and yet so delighted with every hit of her boys; while Bessie was anadmirable general, playing everybody's game as well as her own, and withsuch life and spirit, such readiness and good nature, that a far dullersport would have been delicious under her management. "Poor Alick, " said she, meeting him when he again strolled into thegarden, while the boys were collecting the mallets and balls; "he didthink he had one lawn in the world undefiled by those horrible hoops!"then as she met his smile of amusement and pardon, "but it was soexactly what they wanted here. It is so good for Lady Temple and herboys to have something they can do together. " The pleased affectionate smile was gone. "I object to nothing but its being for her good, " he said gravely. "But now, does not it make her very happy, and suit her excellently?" "May be so, but that is not the reason you introduced it. " "You have a shocking habit of driving one up into corners, Alick, but itshall be purely, purely for my own selfish delight, " and she clasped herhands in so droll an affectation of remorse, that the muscles round hiseyes quivered with diversion, though the hair on his lip veiled what thecorners of his mouth were about; "if only, " she proceeded, "you won'tlet it banish you. You must come over to take care of this wicked littlesister, or who knows what may be the consequences. " "I kept away partly because I was busy, and partly because I believeyou are such a little ape as always to behave worse when you have thesemblance of a keeper;" he said, with his arm fondly on her shoulder asthey walked. "And in the mean time fell out the adventure of the distinguishedessayist. " "I am afraid, " he returned, "that was a gratuitous piece of mischief, particularly annoying to so serious and thoughtful a person as MissRachel Curtis. " "Jealousy?" exclaimed Bessie in an ecstatic tone. "You see what youlost by not trusting me, to behave myself under the provocation of yourpresence. " "What! the pleasure of boxing your ears for a coward?" "Of seizing the happy opening! I am very much afraid for you now, Alick, " she proceeded with mock gravity. "What hope can a poor Captainof Highlanders, even if he does happen to be a wounded hero or two, haveagainst a distinguished essayist and landscape painter; if it were acommon case indeed, but where Wisdom herself is concerned--" "Military frivolity cannot hope, " returned Alick, with a shake of hishead, and a calm matter-of-fact acquiescent tone. "Ah, poor Alick, " pursued his sister, "you always were a discreet youth;but to be connected with such a union of learning, social science, andhomeaopathy, soared beyond my utmost ambition. I suppose the weddingtour--supposing the happy event to take place--will be through a seriesof model schools and hospitals, ending in Hanwell. " "No, " said Alick, equally coolly, "to the Dutch reformatory, and theSwiss cretin asylum. " She was exceedingly tickled at his readiness, and proceeded in apretended sentimental tone, "I am glad you have revealed the secrets ofyour breast. I saw there was a powerful attraction and that you wereno longer your own, but my views were humbler. I thought the profoundrespect with which you breathed the name of Avonmouth, was due to therevival of the old predilection for our sweet little--" "Hush, Bessie, " said her brother, roused for the first time intosternness, "this is more than nonsense. One word more of this, and youwill cut me off from my greatest rest and pleasure. " "From the lawn where croquet waits his approbation, " was on Bessie'stongue, but she did not say it. There were moments when she stood infear of her brother. He paused, and as if perceiving that his vehemencewas in itself suspicious, added, "Remember, I never met her from sevenyears old till after her marriage. She has been the kindest of friendsin right of our fathers' old friendship. You know how her mother nursedme, and the sister she was to me. And Bessie, if your selfishness--Iwish I could call it thoughtlessness--involves her innocent simplicityin any scrape, derogatory to what is becoming her situation, I shallfind it very hard to forgive you, and harder still to forgive myself forletting you come here. " Bessie pouted for a moment, but her sweetness and good humour were neveraway. "There, you have given your wicked little sister a screed, " shesaid, looking insinuatingly up at him. "Just as if I did not think her adarling, and would not for the world do anything to spoil her. Have notI been leading the most exemplary life, talking systems and visitingcottages with Rachel and playing with the boys, and singing with theclergyman; and here am I pounced on, as if I were come to be the serpentin this anti-croquet paradise. " "Only a warning, Bessie. " "You'll be better now you have had it out. I've seen you suppressing itall this time, for fear of frightening me away. " Every one knows how the afternoon croquet match on the Myrtlewood Lawnbecame an institution, though with some variation in the observersthereof, owing to the exigencies of calls, rides, and Ermine Williams'sdrive, which Lady Temple took care should happen at least twice a week. The most constant votaries of the mallet and hoop were, of course, thetwo elder boys, the next pair being distant worshippers only now andthen admitted by special favour, but the ardour of their mother evenexceeded that of Bessie Keith, and it was always a disappointment to herif she were prevented from playing. Grace and Alison Williams frequentlytook their share with enjoyment, though not with the same devotion, andvisitors, civil and military, also often did their part, but the mostfervent of all these was Mr. Touchett. Ever since that call of his, when, after long impatience of his shy jerks of conversation andincapacity of taking leave, Miss Keith had exclaimed, "Did you everplay at croquet? do come, and we will teach you, " he had been its mostassiduous student. The first instructions led to an appointment formore, one contest to another, and the curate was becoming almost asregular a croquet player as Conrade himself, not conversing much butsure to be in his place; and showing a dexterity and precision thatalways made Lady Temple pleased to have him on her side, and exclaimwith delight at his hits as a public benefit to the cause, or thankhim with real gratitude when he croqued her or one of her sons out of adifficulty. Indeed that little lawn at Myrtlewood was a battle-field, of whichAlison used to carry her sister amusing and characteristic sketches. Thetwo leading players were Miss Keith and Mr. Touchett, who alone hadany idea of tactics; but what she did by intuition, sleight of hand orexperience, he effected by calculation and generalship, and even whenConrade claimed the command of his own side, the suggestions of thecurate really guided the party. Conrade was a sort of Murat onthe croquet field, bold, dashing, often making wonderful hits, butuncertain, and only gradually learning to act in combination. Alison wasa sure-handed, skilful hitter, but did not aspire to leadership. Mammatried to do whatever her boys commanded, and often did it by a sort ofdainty dexterity, when her exultation, was a very pretty sight, nor wasGrace's lady-like skill contemptible, but having Francis as an ally waslike giving a castle; and he was always placed on the other side fromConrade, as it was quite certain that he would do the very reverse ofwhatever his brother advised. Now and then invitations were given forRose Williams to join the game, but her aunts never accepted them. Ermine had long ago made up her mind against intimacies between herniece and any pupils of Alison's, sure that though starts of pleasuremight result, they would be at the cost of ruffling, and, perhaps, perturbing the child's even stream of happiness--even girl-friendshipsmight have been of doubtful effect where circumstances were so unequal;but Lady Temple's household of boys appeared to Ermine by no meansa desirable sphere for her child to be either teased or courtedin. Violetta, Colinette, and Augustus were safer comrades, and Rosecontinued to find them sufficient, varied with the rare delight of nowand then sharing her aunt's drive, and brightened by many a kind messagein Colonel Keith's letters to her aunt, nay, occasionally a small letterto herself, or an enclosure of some pretty photograph for her much-lovedscrap book, or some article for Colinette's use, sometimes even a newbook! She was never forgotten in his letters, and Ermine smiled herstrange pensive smile of amusement at his wooing of the unconsciousRose. CHAPTER X. THE PHILANTHROPIST. "Scorn not the smallness of daily endeavour, Let the great meaning ennoble it ever, Droop not o'er efforts expended in vain, Work, as believing, that labour is gain. " Queen Isabel, &c. By S. M. The sturdy recusant against Myrtlewood croquet continued to be RachelCurtis, and yet it was not a testimony against the game so much as realwant of time for it. She was always full of occupation, even while heractive mind craved for more definite and extended labour; and when shecame upon the field of strategy, it was always either with some businessbefore her, or else so late that the champions were only assisting theirseveral lags to bring the battle to an end. If there had been a will there would have been a way, but, as she said, she saw enough to perceive that proficiency could only be attained atthe cost of much time and study, and she did not choose to be inferiorand mediocre. Also, she found occupations open to her elsewhere thathad long been closed or rendered unpleasant. Mr. Touchett had becomewonderfully pacific and obliging of late, as if the lawn tacticsabsorbed his propensities for offence and defence, he really seemedobliged for one or two bits of parish work that she attended to;finding that between him and his staff of young ladies they were gettingomitted. Somehow, too, an unaccountable blight was passing over theactivity of those curatolatresses, as Rachel had been wont to call them;they were less frequently to be met with popping out of the schools andcottages, and Rachel, who knew well all the real poor, though refusingthe bonds of a district, was continually detecting omissions which shemore often supplied than reported. There was even a smaller sprinklingat the weekly services, and the odd thing was that the curate neverseemed to remark or be distressed by the change, or if any one spokeof the thin congregation he would say, winter was the Avonmouth season, which was true enough, but the defaulters were mostly his own peculiarfollowers, the female youth of the professional and mercantilepopulation. Rachel did not trouble herself about the cause of all this, indeed shewas too much occupied with the gradual gliding into somewhat of heroriginal activity and importance in the field thus left open to her. None the less, however, did she feel the burden of life's problems; theintercourse she had enjoyed with Colonel Keith had excited her for atime, but in the reaction, the old feelings returned painfully that thetimes were out of joint; the heavens above became obscure and misty asbefore, the dark places of the earth looked darker than ever, and thosewho lived at ease seemed to be employed either in sport upon the outsideof the dungeon where the captives groaned, or in obstructing the way ofthose who would fain have plunged in to the rescue. Her new acquaintance, Mr. Mauleverer, was an example of such prevention, which weighed much on her mind. He had been perfectly unobtrusive, but Mrs. Curtis meeting him on the second day of his sketching, hadnaturally looked at his drawing, and admired it so much that she broughther daughters to see it when in course of completion the next day. Hehad then asked whether there would be any objection to his making use ofthe sketches in the way of remunerative sale. Mrs. Curtis looked rathertaken aback, it hardly agreed with her exclusive notions of privacy, andhe at once apologized with such humility that she was touched, and feltherself doing him a wrong, whilst Rachel was angry at her scruple, yetuncomfortably thought of "that landscape painter, " then said in herdecided way, "you did not mean to object, mother?" "Oh, not for a moment, pray don't think of it, " returned Mr. Mauleverer, in haste. "I would not think of the intrusion. It is only that thesepoor trifles are steps to one of the few means by which I can still hopeto do even a little for my fellow creatures; the greatest solace thatremains to me. " "My mother did not mean to prevent anything, " said Rachel eagerly;"least of all any means of doing good. " "Indeed, I cannot but be aware that Miss Curtis is the last individualwho would do so, except indeed by the good works she herself absorbs. " "You are too good, sir, " returned Mrs. Curtis; "I am sure I did not meanto object to anything for good. If it is for a charity, I am sure someof our friends would be very glad to take some sketches of our scenery;they have been begging me this long time to have it photographed. Ishould like to have that drawing myself, it would please your aunt somuch, my dear, if we sent it to her. " Mr. Mauleverer bowed, but Rachel was not sure whether he had not beeninsulted. Next day he left at the door the drawing handsomely mounted, and lookingso grand and meritorious that poor Mrs. Curtis became much troubled inmind whether its proper price might not be five or even ten guineas, instead of the one for which she had mentally bargained, or if thismight not be the beginning of a series; "which would be quite anotherthing, you know, my dear. " Rachel offered to go and talk to the artist, who was sketching in fullview from the windows, and find out what value he set upon it. "Perhaps, but I don't know, my dear. Won't it be odd? Had you not betterwait till Grace comes in, or till I can come down with you?" "No need at all, mother, I can do it much better alone, and at my age--" So Rachel took a parasol and stepped out, looked at the outline newlyproduced, thanked and praised the drawing that had been received, addingthat her mother would be glad to know what price Mr. Mauleverer setupon it. She was met by a profession of ignorance of its value, andof readiness to be contented with whatever might be conferred upon hisproject; the one way in which he still hoped to be of service to hisfellow creatures, the one longing of his life. "Ah!" said Rachel, greatly delighted with this congenial spirit, and asusual preferring the affirmative to the interrogative. "I heard youhad been interesting yourself about Mrs Kelland's lace school. What amiserable system it is!" "My inquiries have betrayed me then? It is indeed a trying spectacle. " "And to be helpless to alleviate it, " continued Rachel. "Over work, lowprices and middle-men perfectly batten on the lives of our poor girlshere. I have thought it over again and again, and it is a constantburden on my mind. " "Yes, indeed. The effects of modern civilization are a constant burdenon the compassion of every highly constituted nature. " "The only means that seems to me likely to mitigate the evil, " continuedRachel, charmed at having the most patient listener who had ever fallento her lot, "would be to commence an establishment where some freshtrades might be taught, so as to lessen the glut of the market, and toremove the workers that are forced to undersell one another, and thusoblige the buyers to give a fairly remunerative price. " "Precisely my own views. To commence an establishment that would drainoff the superfluous labour, and relieve the oppressed, raising the wholetone of female employment. " "And this is the project you meant?" "And in which, for the first time, I begin to hope for success, if itcan only receive the patronage of some person of influence. " "Oh, anything I can do!" exclaimed Rachel, infinitely rejoiced. "It isthe very thing I have been longing for for years. What, you would forma sort of industrial school, where the children could be taught someremunerative labour, and it might soon be almost self-supporting?" "Exactly; the first establishment is the difficulty, for which I havebeen endeavouring to put a few mites together. " "Every one would subscribe for such a purpose!" exclaimed Rachel. "You speak from your own generous nature, Miss Curtis; but the worldwould require patronesses to recommend. " "There could be no difficulty about that!" exclaimed Rachel; but atthis moment she saw the Myrtlewood pony carriage coming to the door, andremembering that she had undertaken to drive out Ermine Williams in it, she was obliged to break off the conversation, with an eager entreatythat Mr. Mauleverer would draw up an account of his plan, and bring itto her the next day, when she would give her opinion on it, and considerof the means. "My dear, " said her mother, on her return, "how long you have been; andwhat am I to give for the water-colour?" "Oh, I forgot all about the water-colour; but never mind what we give, mamma, it is all to go to an asylum for educating poor girls, and givingthem some resource beyond that weary lace-making--the very thing I havealways longed for. He is coming to settle it all with me to-morrow, andthen we will arrange what to give. " "Indeed, my dear, I hope it will be something well managed. I think ifit were not for those middle-men, lace-making would not be so bad. Butyou must not keep poor Miss Williams waiting. " Ermine had never seen Rachael in such high spirits as when they set outthrough the network of lanes, describing her own exceeding delight inthe door thus opening for the relief of the suffering over which she hadlong grieved, and launching out into the details of the future goodthat was to be achieved. At last Ermine asked what Rachel knew of theproposer. "Captain Keith, heard he was a distinguished professor and essayist. " "Then I wonder we have not heard his name, " said Ermine. "It is aremarkable one; one might look in the 'Clergy List' at Villars's. " "Villars called him a clerical gentleman, " mused Rachel. "Then you would be sure to be able to find out something about himbefore committing yourself. " "I can see what he is, " said Rachel, "a very sensible, accomplished man, and a great deal more; not exactly a finished gentleman. But that is noobjection to his doing a great work. " "None at all, " said Ermine, smiling; "but please forgive me. We havesuffered so much from trusting too implicitly, that I never can thinkit safe to be satisfied without thorough knowledge of a person'santecedents. " "Of course, " said Rachel, "I shall do nothing without inquiry. I willfind out all about him, but I cannot see any opening for distrust. Schemes of charity are not compatible with self-seeking and dishonesty. " "But did I not hear something about opinions?" "Oh, as to that, it was only Villars. Besides, you are a clergyman'sdaughter, and your views have a different colouring from mine. Modernresearch has introduced so many variations of thought, that no goodwork would be done at all if we required of our fellow-labourers perfectsimilarity of speculative belief. " "Yet suppose he undertook to teach others?" "The simple outlines of universal doctrine and morality which arerequired by poor children are not affected by the variations to whichinvestigation conducts minds of more scope. " "I am afraid such variations may often reach the foundation. " "Now, Miss Williams, I am sure you must often have heard it observed howwhen it comes to real practical simple teaching of uninstructed people, villagers or may be heathens, the details of party difference melt away, and people find themselves in accordance. " "True, but there I think party differences in the Church, and even thevariations between Christian sects are concerned, both being differentways of viewing the same truth. These may, like the knights in the oldfable, find that both were right about the shield, both have the samefoundation. But where the foundation is not the same, the results of theteaching will not agree. " "Every one agrees as to morality. " "Yes, but do all give a motive sufficient to enforce the self-denialthat morality entails? Nay, do they show the way to the spiritualstrength needful to the very power of being moral?" "That is begging the question. The full argument is whether the fullchurch, say Christian system, exactly as you, as we hold it, is needfulto the perfection of moral observance. I don't say whether I assent, butthe present question is whether the child's present belief and practiceneed be affected by its teacher's dogmatic or undogmatic system. " "The system for life is generally formed in childhood. Harvest dependson seed time. " "And after all, " added Rachel, "we have no notion whether this poor manbe not precisely of your own opinions, and from their fruits I am sureyou ought to claim them. " "Their blossoms if you please, " laughed Ermine. "We have not seen theirfruits yet. " "And I shall take care the fruits are not nipped with the blight ofsuspicion, " said Rachel, good-humouredly. However, after driving Ermine home, and seeing her lifted out andcarried into the house by her sister, Rachel did send the carriage backby the groom and betake herself to Villars's shop, where she asked fora sight of the "Clergy List. " The name of Mauleverer caught her eye, but only one instance of it appeared, and he was a cathedral canon, hispresentation dated in 1832, the time at which, judging from appearances, the object of her search might have been born; besides, he rejoiced inthe simple name of Thomas. But Rachel's search was brought to an abruptconclusion by the issue of Mr. Mauleverer himself from the reading-roomwithin the shop. He bowed and passed by, but Rachel for the life of hercould not hinder a burning colour from spreading to the very tips ofher ears; so certain did she feel that she was insulting him by herresearches, and that he perceived them. She felt absolutely ashamed tosee him the next day, and even in her dreams was revolving speechesthat might prove that though cautious and clear-sighted, she was neithersuspicious nor narrow-minded. He came when some morning visitors were at the Homestead, prosyneighbours whose calls were always a penance to Rachel, and thebutler, either from the manner of the inquiry or not regarding him asdrawing-room company, put him into the dining-room and announced, "Mr. Mauleverer to see Miss Rachel. " Up jumped Miss Rachel, with "You'llexcuse me, it is on business;" and went off highly satisfied that"the mother" was hindered by politeness from making any attempt atchaperonage either personally or through Grace, so unnecessary at herage, for since Colonel Keith's departure, Rachel's age had begun to growon her again. She held out her hand as if to atone for her search, butshe found at once that it had been remarked. "You were doing me the honour to look for my name in the 'Clergy List, 'Miss Curtis, " he said. "Yes, one is apt--, " faltered Rachel, decidedly out of countenance. "I quite appreciate the motive. It is exactly in accord with MissCurtis's prudence and good sense. I should wish to be fully explicitbefore any arrangements are made. I am unhappily not in orders, MissCurtis. I know your liberality will regard the cause with leniency. " "Indeed, " said Rachel, sufficiently restored to recall one of herpremeditated reassurances. "I can fully appreciate any reluctance tobecome stringently bound to dogmatic enunciations, before the fullpowers of the intellect have examined into them. " "You have expressed it exactly, Miss Curtis. Without denying an iota ofthem, I may be allowed to regret that our formularies are too technicalfor a thoughtful mind in the present age. " "Many have found it so, " returned Rachel, thoughtfully, "who only neededpatience to permit their convictions to ripen. Then I understand you, itwas a rejection on negative not positive grounds?" "Precisely; I do not murmur, but it has been the blight of my life. " "And yet, " said Rachel, consolingly, "it may enable you to work withmore freedom. " "Since you encourage me to believe so, Miss Curtis, I will hope it, butI have met with much suspicion. " "I can well believe it, " said Rachel; "even some of the most superiorpersons refuse to lay their hands to any task unless they are certifiedof the religious opinions of their coadjutors, which seems to me likea mason's refusing to work at a wall with a man who liked Greekarchitecture when he preferred Gothic!" If Rachel had been talking to Ermine she might have been asked whetherthe dissimilarity might not be in the foundations, or in the temperingof the mortar, but Mr. Mauleverer only commended her liberal spirit, andshe thought it high time to turn from this subject to the immediate onein hand. He had wished to discuss the plan with her, he said, beforedrawing it up, and in effect she had cogitated so much upon it that herideas came forth with more than her usual fluency and sententiousness. The scheme was that an asylum should be opened under the superintendenceof Mr. Mauleverer himself, in which young girls might be placed to learnhandicrafts that might secure their livelihood, in especial, perhaps, wood engraving and printing. It might even be possible, in time, torender the whole self-supporting, suppose by the publication of a littleillustrated periodical, the materials for which might be supplied bythose interested in the institution. If anything could add to Rachel's delight it was this last proposition. In all truth and candour, the relief to the victims to lace-making washer primary object, far before all besides, and the longing desireof her heart for years seemed about to be fulfilled; but a domesticmagazine, an outlet to all the essays on Curatocult, on Helplessness, on Female Folly, and Female Rights, was a development of the plan beyondher wildest hopes! No dull editor to hamper, reject or curtail! Sheshould be as happy, and as well able to expand as the Invalid herself. Mr. Mauleverer had brought a large packet of letters with him, in allmanner of hands. There were some testimonials from a German university, and letters from German professors in a compromise between English andGerman hand, looking impossible to read, also the neat writing and thinwavy water-marked paper of American professors and philanthropists inhigh commendation of his ability and his scheme, and a few others thathe said were of too private a nature to do more than show Miss Curtisin confidence, but on which she recognised some distinguished names ofpersons interested in Social Science. She would not wound his feelingsby too close an inquiry, but she felt armed at all points againstcavillers. Really, she began to think, it was a great pity Colonel Keithshould cross her path again, she had so much on her hands that it wouldbe a public misfortune if any one man's private domestic love shouldmonopolize her; and yet, such was this foolish world, the HonourableMrs. Colin Keith would be a more esteemed lady patroness than MissRachel Curtis, though the Curtises had been lords of the soil for manygenerations, and Colonel Keith was a mere soldier of fortune. One disappointment Rachel had, namely, that Mr. Mauleverer announcedthat he was about to return to St. Herbert's, the very large andfashionable watering-place in the next indentation of the coast. He hadduties there, he said, and he had only come to Avonmouth for a briefholiday, a holiday that was to result in such happy effects. He lived inan exceedingly retired way, he said, being desirous of saving his smallprivate means for his great object, and he gave Rachel his address atthe chief printseller's of the place, where his letters were leftfor him, while he made excursions from time to time to study thepicturesque, and to give lectures on behalf of philanthropical subjects. He offered such a lecture at Avonmouth, but Mr. Touchett would notlend either school-room, and space was nowhere else available. Inthe meantime a prospectus was drawn up, which Rachel undertook to getprinted at Villars's, and to send about to all her friends, since asubscription in hand was the first desideratum. Never since she had grown up to be a thinking woman had Rachel been sohappy as with this outlet to her activity and powers of managing, "thegood time coming at last. " Eagerly she claimed sympathy, names andsubscriptions. Her own immediate circle was always easily under herinfluence, and Lady Temple, and Mrs. Curtis supplied the dignity of ladypatronesses; Bessie Keith was immensely diverted at the development of"that landscape painter, " and took every opportunity of impressing onRachel that all was the result of her summons to the rescue. Erminewished Rachel had found out who was the bishop's chaplain who rejectedhim, but allowed that it would have been an awkward question to ask, andalso she wondered if he were a university man; but Mr. Touchett had beenat a Hall, and never knew anybody, besides being so firmly convincedthat Mr. Mauleverer was a pestiferous heretic, that no one, except LadyTemple, could have obtained a patient answer from him on that head--andeven with her he went the length of a regret that she had given thesanction of her name to an undertaking by a person of whose history andprinciples nothing satisfactory was known. "Oh!" said Fanny, with hersweet look of asking pardon, "I am so sorry you think so; Rachel wishedit so much, and it seems such a nice thing for the poor children. " "Indeed, " said Mr. Touchett, well nigh disarmed by the look, "I am quitesensible of the kindness of all you do, I only ventured to wish therehad been a little more delay, that we were more certain about thisperson. " "When Colonel Keith comes back he will find out all about him, Iam sure, " said Fanny, and Mr. Touchett, to whom seemed to have beentransferred Rachel's dislike to the constant quoting of Colonel Keith, said no more. The immediate neighbourhood did not very readily respond to the appealto it in behalf of the lace-makers. People who did not look into thecircumstances of their neighbours thought lace furnished a good trade, and by no means wished to enhance its price; people who did care for thepoor had charities of their own, nor was Rachel Curtis popular enoughto obtain support for her own sake; a few five-pound notes, and a scantysupply of guineas and half-guineas from people who were ready at anycost to buy off her vehement eyes and voice was all she could obtain, and with a subscription of twenty pounds each from her mother, LadyTemple, and Grace, and all that she could scrape together of her own, hardly seemed sufficient to meet the first expenses, and how would thefuture be provided for? She calculated how much she could spare out ofher yearly income, and actually, to the great horror of her mother andthe coachman, sold her horse. Bessie Keith was the purchaser. It was an expense that she could quiteafford, for she and her brother had been left very well off by theirfather--a prudent man, who, having been a widower during his Indianservice, had been able to live inexpensively, besides having had a largeamount of prize money. She had always had her own horse at Littleworthy, and now when Rachel was one day lamenting to her the difficulty ofraising money for the Industrial Asylum, and declaring that she wouldpart with her horse if she was sure of its falling into good hands, Bessie volunteered to buy it, it was exactly what would suit her, andshe should delight in it as a reminder of dear Avonmouth. It was a pang, Rachel loved the pretty spirited creature, and thought of her rides withthe Colonel; but how weigh the pleasure of riding against the welfareof one of those hard-worked, half-stifled little girls, and besides, itmight be best to have done with Colonel Keith now that her mission hadcome to find her. So the coachman set a purposely unreasonable valueupon poor Meg, and Rachel reduced the sum to what had been given for itthree years before; but Bessie begged her brother to look at the animaland give his opinion. "Is that what you are after?" he exclaimed. "Indeed, Alick, I thought it was the greatest kindness I could do her;she is so very eager about this plan, and so anxious to find poor Meg agood home. " "Purely to oblige her?" "Of course, Alick, it was much more convenient to her than if she hadhad to send about to horse-dealers or to advertise. I doubt if she couldhave done it at all; and it is for her asylum, you know. " "Then give the coachman's sixty guineas at once. " "Ah, Alick, that's your infatuation!" and she put on a droll gesture ofpity. "But excuse me, where would be the fine edge of delicacy in givinga manifestly fancy price? Come and look at her. " "I never meddle with horse-dealing. " "Stuff, as if you weren't the best-mounted man in the regiment. I shallsend a note to Captain Sykes if you won't; he knows how to drive abargain. " "And give a fancy price the other way. Well, Bessie, on one conditionI'll go, and that is, that Meg goes to Bishopsworthy the day she isyours. I won't have her eating Lady Temple's corn, and giving herservants trouble. " "As if I should think of such a thing. " Captain Keith's estimate of the value of the steed precisely agreed withRachel's demand of the original price. Bessie laughed, and said therewas collusion. "Now seriously, Alick, do you think her worth so much? Isn't it a pity, when you know what a humbug poor Rachel is going to give it to?" and shelooked half comical, half saucy. "If she were going to throw it into the sea, I don't see what differencethat would make. " "Ah! you are far too much interested. Nothing belonging to her can beara vulgar price. " "Nothing belonging to me is to gain profit by her self-denial, " saidAlick, gravely. "You cannot do less than give her what she gave for it, if you enter on the transaction at all. " "You mean that it would look shabby. You see we womankind never quiteknow the code of the world on such matters, " she said, candidly. "There is something that makes codes unnecessary, Bessie, " he said. "Ah! I can make allowances. It is a cruel stroke. I don't wonder youcan't bear to see any one else on her palfrey; above all as a sacrificeto the landscape painter. " "Then spare my feelings, and send the mare to Bishopsworthy, " saidAlick, as usual too careless of the imputation to take the trouble torebut it or to be disconcerted. Bessie was much tickled at his acceptance, and laughed heartily. "To be sure, " she said, "it is past concealment now. You must have beenvery far gone, indeed, to have been taken in to suppose me to be makingcapital of her 'charitable purposes. '" "Your acting is too like life, " he said, not yet induced to laugh, andshe rattled on with her droll, sham sentimental air. "Is it the longwords, Alick, or is it 'the great eyes, my dear;' or is it--oh, yes, Iknow what is the great attraction--that the Homestead doesn't possess asingle spot where one could play at croquet!" "Quite irresistible!" replied Alick, and Bessie retreated from thecolloquy still not laughing at but with him; that is, if the odd, quaint, inward mirth which only visibly lengthened his sleepy eyes, could be called a laugh. Next time Captain Keith rode to Avonmouth he met the riding party on theroad, Bessie upon Rachel's mare, and it appeared that Lady Temple hadconsidered it so dreadful that Meg should not share her hospitality, that it had been quite impossible to send her away. "So, Alick, yourfeelings must endure the dreadful spectacle. " Meanwhile Rachel was hard at work with the subscribers to the "ChristianKnowledge Society. " Beginning with the A's, and working down a page aday, she sent every member a statement of the wrongs of the lacemakers, and the plans of the industrial establishment, at a vast expense ofstamps; but then, as she calculated, one pound thus gained paid for twohundred and forty fruitless letters. "And pray, " said Alick, who had ridden on to call at the Homestead, "howdo you reconcile yourself to the temptation to the postmen?" "They don't see what my letters are about?" "They must be dull postmen if they don't remark on the shower ofenvelopes that pass through their hands--ominous money-letters, all withthe same address, and no detection remember. You don't know who willanswer and who will not. " "I never thought of that, " said Rachel; "but risks must be run when anygreat purpose is in hand. " "The corruption of one postman versus the rescue of--how many childrenmake a postman?" asked Captain Keith, with his grave, considering look. "The postman would be corrupt already, " said Grace, as Rachel thoughtthe last speech too mocking to be worthy of reply, and went on pickingup her letters. "There is another objection, " added Captain Keith, as he watched herbusy fingers. "Have you considered how you are frightening people out ofthe society? It is enough to make one only subscribe as Michael Miserlyor as Simon Skinflint, or something equally uninviting to applications. " "I shall ask you to subscribe by both names!" said Rachel, readily. "Howmuch for Simon Skinflint?" "Ten pounds. Stop--when Mr. Mauleverer gives him a reference. " "That's ungenerous. Will Michael Miserly make up for it?" "Yes, when the first year's accounts have been audited. " "Ah! those who have no faith to make a venture can never effect anygood. " "You evidently build on a great amount of faith from the public. How doyou induce them to believe--do you write in your own name?" "No, it makes mamma unhappy. I was going to put R. C. , but Grace saidpeople would think it meant Roman Catholic. Your sister thought I hadbetter put the initials of Female Union for Lacemaker's Employment. " "You don't mean that Bessie persuaded you to put that?" exclaimed AlickKeith, more nearly starting up than Rachel had ever seen him. "Yes. There is no objection, is there?" "Oh, Rachel, Rachel, how could we have helped thinking of it?" criedGrace, nearly in a state of suffocation. Rachel held up her printed appeal, where subscriptions were invited tothe address of F. U. L. E. , the Homestead, Avonmouth. "Miss Curtis, though you are not Scottish, you ought to be well read inWalter Scott. " "I have thought it waste of time to read incorrect pictures ofpseudo-chivalry since I have been grown up, " said Rachel. "But that hasnothing to do with it. " "Ah, Rachel, if we had been more up in our Scotch, we should have knownwhat F. U. L. E. Spells, " sighed Grace. A light broke in upon Rachel. "I am sure Bessie never could haverecollected it, " was her first exclamation. "But there, " she continued, too earnest to see or stumble at straws, "never mind. It cannot behelped, and I dare say not one person in ten will be struck by it. " "Stay, " said Grace, "let it be Englishwoman's Employment. See, I canvery easily alter the L into an E. " Rachel would hardly have consented, but was forced to yield to hermother's entreaties. However, the diligent transformation at L's didnot last long, for three days after a parcel was left at the Homesteadcontaining five thousand printed copies of the appeal, with the Erightly inserted. Bessie laughed, and did not disavow the half reluctantthanks for this compensation for her inadvertence or mischief, whichever it might be, laughing the more at Rachel's somewhat ungratefulconfession that she had rather the cost had gone into a subscription forthe F. U. E. E. As Bessie said to herself, it was much better andmore agreeable for all parties that it should so stand, and she wouldconsider herself in debt to Alick for the amount. Indeed, she fullyexpected him to send her in the bill, but in the meantime not oneword was uttered between the brother and sister on the subject. Theyunderstood one another too well to spend useless words. Contrary to most expectation, there was result enough from Rachel'ssolicitations to serve as justification for the outlay in stamps. Thevery number of such missives that fly about the world proves thatthere must be a great amount of uninquiring benevolence to render thespeculation anything but desperate, and Rachel met with very tolerablesuccess. Mr. Mauleverer called about once a week to report progress onhis side, and, in his character of treasurer, to take charge of the sumsthat began to accumulate. But Rachel had heard so much on all sides ofthe need of caution in dealing with one so entirely a stranger, thatshe resolved that no one should blame her for imprudence, and thereforeretained in her own name, in the Avoncester Bank, all the sums thatshe received. Mr. Mauleverer declared himself quite contented withthis arrangement, and eagerly anticipated the apologies that Rachel wasashamed even to make to him. Enough was collected to justify a beginning on a small scale. A housewas to be taken where Mr. Mauleverer and a matron would receive thefirst pupils, teach them wood engraving, and prepare the earlier numbersof the magazine. When a little more progress had been made, the purchaseof a printing-press might be afforded, and it might be struck off bythe girls themselves, but in the meantime they must be dependent on theregular printer. On this account Mr. Mauleverer thought it best to openthe establishment, not at Avonmouth, but at St. Herbert's, where he hadacquaintance that would facilitate the undertaking. Rachel was much disappointed. To be in and out constantly, dailyteaching and watching the girls, and encouraging them by learning theemployment herself, had been an essential portion of her vision. Shehad even in one of her most generous moods proposed to share the delightwith the Williamses, and asked Ermine if she would not, if all thingssuited, become the resident matron. However, Mr. Mauleverer saidthat there was an individual of humbler rank, the widow of a NationalSchoolmaster, so anxious to devote herself to the work, that he hadpromised she should share it whenever he was in a condition to set theasylum on foot; and he assured Rachel that she would find this personperfectly amenable to all her views, and ready to work under her. He brought letters in high praise of the late school master, andrecommendations of his widow from the clergyman of the parish wherethey had lived; and place and name being both in the "Clergy List, " evenErmine and Alison began to feel ashamed of their incredulity, whilst asto Grace, she had surrendered herself completely to the eager delight offinding a happy home for the little children in whom she was interested. Grace might laugh a little at Rachel, but in the main her trust in hersister's superiority always led her judgment, and in the absence ofColonel Keith, Fanny was equally willing to let Rachel think for herwhen her own children were not concerned. Rachel did not give up her hopes of fixing the asylum near her tillafter a considerable effort to get a house for it at Avonmouth, but thiswas far from easy. The Curtises' unwillingness to part with land forbuilding purposes enhanced the price of houses, and in autumn and winterthe place was at its fullest, so that she could not even rent a housebut at a ruinous price. It would be the best way to build on Homesteadland, but this would be impracticable until spring, even if means wereforthcoming, as Rachel resolved they should be, and in the meantimeshe was obliged to acquiesce in Mr. Mauleverer's assurance that a smallhouse in an overbuilt portion of St. Norbert's would be more eligiblethan one in some inland parish. Anything was better than delay. Mr. Mauleverer was to superintend from his lodgings. Rachel went with Grace and her mother to St. Norbert's, and inspectedthe house, an ordinary cheap one, built to supply lodgings for the moreeconomical class of visitors. It was not altogether what Rachel wished, but must serve till she could build, and perhaps it would be best toform her experience before her plans. Mr. Mauleverer's own lodgingswere near at hand, and he could inspect progress. The furniture wasdetermined upon--neat little iron beds for the dormitories, and all thatcould serve for comfort and even pleasure, for both Mr. Mauleverer andRachel were strong against making the place bare and workhouse-like, insulting poverty and dulling the spirit. Grace suggested communication with the clergyman of the parish; but theNorth Hill turned out not to belong to St. Norbert's proper, being apart of a great moorland parish, whose focus was twelve miles off. Adistrict was in course of formation, and a church was to be built; butin the meantime the new houses were practically almost pastorless, andthe children and their matron must take their chance on the free seatsof one of the churches of St. Norbert's. The staff of clergy there wereso busy that no one liked to add extra parochial work to their necessaryduties, and there was not sufficient acquaintance with them to judge howthey would view Mr. Mauleverer's peculiarities. Clerical interferencewas just what Rachel said she did not want; it was an escape that shedid not call it meddling. One bit of patronage at least she could exercise; a married pair offormer Homestead servants had set up a fuel store at St. Norbert's, receiving coal from the ships, and retailing it. They were to supplythe F. U. E. E. With wood, coal, and potatoes; and this was a greatingredient in Mrs. Curtis's toleration. The mother liked anything thatbrought custom to Rossitur and Susan. The establishment was at present to consist of three children: the fundswere not sufficient for more. One was the child of the matron, and theother two were Lovedy Kelland and the daughter of a widow in ill health, whose family were looking very lean and ill cared for. Mrs. Kelland wasvery unwilling to give Lovedy up, she had always looked to receiving theapprentice fee from the Burnaby bargain for her as soon as the childwas fourteen, and she had a strong prejudice against any possibledisturbance to the lace trade; but winter would soon come and her salewas uncertain; her best profit was so dependent on Homestead agency thatit was impolitic to offend Miss Curtis; and, moreover, Lovedy was soexcited by the idea of learning to make pictures to books that sheforgot all the lace dexterity she had ever learnt, and spoilt more thanshe made, so that Mrs. Kelland was reduced to accept the kind proposalthat Lovedy should be Lady Temple's nominee, and be maintained, by herat the F. U. E. E. At seven shillings a week. Fanny, however, asked the clergyman's consent first, telling him, withher sweet, earnest smile, how sorry she was for the little girl, andshowing him the high testimonials to Mrs. Rawlins. He owned that theywere all that could be wished, and even said at her request that hewould talk to Mr. Mauleverer. What the talk amounted to they never knew;but when Fanny said "she hoped he had found nothing unsatisfactory, the poor man must be so glad to be of use;" Mr. Touchett replied with, "Indeed, it is an unfortunate situation;" and his opposition mighttherefore be considered as suspended. "Of course, " cried Bessie, "we know by what witchery!" But AlisonWilliams, her listener, turned on her such great eyes of wilful want ofcomprehension, that she held her peace. Rachel and Grace united in sending Mary Morris, the other child; theyreally could do nothing more, so heavily had their means been drawn uponfor the first expenses; but Rachel trusted to do more for the future, and resolved that her dress should henceforth cost no more than AlisonWilliams's; indeed, she went through a series of assertions by way ofexamining Alison on the expenses of her wardrobe. The house was taken from Michaelmas, and a few days after, the twolittle victims, as Bessie laughingly called them, were taken over to St. Norbert's in the Homestead carriage, Lady Temple chaperoning the threeyoung ladies to see the inauguration, and the height of Rachel's glory. They were received by Mr. Mauleverer at the door, and slightly in therear saw the matron, Mrs. Rawlins, a handsome pale woman, younger thanthey expected, but whose weeds made Fanny warm to her directly; but shewas shy and retiring, and could not be drawn into conversation; andher little Alice was only three years old, much younger than Rachel hadexpected as a pupil, but a very pretty creature with great black eyes. Tea and cake were provided by way of an inauguration feast, and thethree little girls sat up in an atmosphere of good cheer, stronglysuggestive of school feasts, and were left in the midst, with manypromises of being good, a matter that Lovedy seemed to think would bevery easy in this happy place, with no lace to make. Mrs. Rawlins, whose husband had been a trained schoolmaster, was totake the children to church, and attend to their religious instruction;indeed, Mr. Mauleverer was most anxious on this head, and as Rachelalready knew the scruples that withheld him from ordination were onlyupon the absolute binding himself to positive belief in minor technicalpoints, that would never come in the way of young children. Altogether, the neat freshness of the room, the urbanity of Mr. Mauleverer, the shy grief of the matron, all left a most pleasantimpression. Rachel was full of delight and triumph, and Grace and Fannyquite enthusiastic; the latter even to the being sure that the Colonelwould be delighted, for the Colonel was already beginning to dawn on thehorizon, and not alone. He had written, in the name of his brother, tosecure a cottage of gentility of about the same calibre as Myrtlewood, newly completed by a speculator on one of the few bits of groundavailable for building purposes. A name was yet wanting to it; but theday after the negotiation was concluded, the landlord paid the delicatecompliment to his first tenant by painting "Gowanbrae" upon thegate-posts in letters of green. "Go and bray, " read Bessie Keith as shepassed by; "for the sake of the chief of my name, I hope that it is notan omen of his occupations here. " The two elder boys were with her; and while Francis, slowly apprehendingher meaning in part, began to bristle up with the assurance that"Colonel Keith never brayed in his life, " Conrade caught the point withdangerous relish, and dwelt with colonial disrespect, that alarmedhis mother, on the opinion expressed by some unguarded person in hishearing, that Lord Keith was little better than an old donkey. "He isworse than Aunt Rachel, " said Conrade, meditatively, "now she has savedDon, and keeps away from the croquet. " Meantime Rachel studied her own feelings. A few weeks ago her heartwould have leapt at the announcement; but now her mission had found herout, and she did not want to be drawn aside from it. Colonel Keithmight have many perfections, but alike as Scotsman, soldier, andHigh-Churchman, he was likely to be critical of the head of the F. U. E. E. , and matters had gone too far now for her to afford to doubt, orto receive a doubting master. Moreover, it would be despicable to bediverted from a great purpose by a courtship like any ordinary woman;nor must marriage settlements come to interfere with her buildingand endowment of the asylum, and ultimate devotion of her propertythereunto. No, she would school herself into a system of quietdiscouragement, and reserve herself and her means as the nucleus of thegreat future establishment for maintaining female rights of labour. CHAPTER XI. LADY TEMPLE'S TROUBLES. "The pheasant in the falcon's claw, He scarce will yield, to please a daw. "--SCOTT. Early in the afternoon of a warm October day, the brothers arrived atAvomnouth, and ten minutes after both were upon the lawn at Myrtlewood, where croquet was still in progress. Shouts of delight greeted theColonel, and very gracefully did Bessie Keith come to meet him, with thefrank confiding sweetness befitting his recent ward, the daughter of hisfriend. A reassuring smile and monosyllable had scarcely time to passbetween him and the governess before a flood of tidings was pouredon him by the four elder boys, while their mother was obliged to bemannerly, and to pace leisurely along with the elder guest, and poor Mr. Touchett waited a little aloof, hammering his own boot with his mallet, as if he found the enchanted ground failing him. But the boys had nonotion of losing their game, and vociferated an inquiry whether theColonel knew croquet. Yes, he had several times played with his cousinsin Scotland. "Then, " insisted Conrade, "he must take mamma's place, whilst she was being devoured, and how surprised she would be at beingso helped on!" "Not now, not to-day, " he answered. "I may go to your sister, Ailie?Yes, boys, you must close up your ranks without me. " "Then please, " entreated Hubert, "take him away, " pointing to theengrosser of their mother. "Do you find elder brothers so easily disposed of, Hubert?" said theColonel. "Do you take Conrade away when you please?" "I should punch him, " returned Francis. "He knows better, " quoth Conrade in the same breath, both with infinitecontempt for Hubert. "And I know better, " returned Colonel Keith; "never mind, boys, I'llcome back in--in reasonable time to carry him off, " and he waved a gayfarewell. "Surely you wish to go too, " said Bessie to Alison, "if only to relievethem of the little girl! I'll take care of the boys. Pray go. " "Thank you, " said Alison, surprised at her knowledge of the state ofthings, "but they are quite hardened to Rose's presence, and I thinkwould rather miss her. " And in fact Alison did not feel at all sure that, when stimulated byBessie's appreciation of their mischief, her flock might not in herabsence do something that might put their mother in despair, and maketheir character for naughtiness irretrievable; so Leoline and Hubertwere summoned, the one from speculations whether Lord Keith would havepunched his brother, the other from amaze that there was anything ourmilitary secretary could not do, and Conrade and Francis were arrestedin the midst of a significant contraction of the nostrils and openingof the mouth, which would have exploded in an "eehaw" but for Bessie'svaliant undertaking to be herself and Lady Temple both at once. Soon Colonel Keith was knocking at Ermine's door, and Rose was clingingto him, glowing and sparkling with shy ecstasy; while, without sittingdown again after her greeting, Rachel resolutely took leave, and walkedaway with firm steps, ruminating on her determination not to encouragemeetings in Mackarel Lane. "Better than I expected!" exclaimed Colonel Keith, after havingushered her to the door in the fulness of his gratitude. "I knew it wasinevitable that she should be here, but that she should depart so fastwas beyond hope!" "Yes, " said Ermine, laughing, "I woke with such a certainty that shewould be here and spend the first half hour in the F. U. E, E. That Iwasted a great deal of resignation. But how are you, Colin? You are muchthinner! I am sure by Mrs. Tibbie's account you were much more ill thanyou told me. " "Only ill enough to convince me that the need of avoiding a northernwinter was not a fallacy, and likewise to make Tibbie insist on cominghere for fear Maister Colin should not be looked after. It is rathera responsibility to have let her come, for she has never been farthersouth than Edinburgh, but she would not be denied. So she has been tosee you! I told her you would help her to find her underlings. I thoughtit might be an opening for that nice little girl who was so oppressedwith lace-making. " "Ah! she has gone to learn wood-cutting at the F. U. E. E. ; but I hopewe have comfortably provided Tibbie with a damsel. She made us a longvisit, and told us all about Master Colin's nursery days. Only I amafraid we did not understand half. " "Good old body, " said the Colonel, in tones almost as national asTibbie's own. "She was nursery girl when I was the spoilt child of thehouse, and hers was the most homelike face that met me. I wish she maybe happy here. And you are well, Ermine?" "Very well, those drives are so pleasant, and Lady Temple so kind! It iswonderful to think how many unlooked-for delights have come to us; howgood every one is;" and her eyes shone with happy tears as she lookedup at him, and felt that he was as much her own as ever. "And you havebrought your brother, " she said; "you have been too useful to him to bespared. Is he come to look after you or to be looked after!" "A little of both I fancy, " said the Colonel, "but I suspect he isgiving me up as a bad job. Ermine, there are ominous revivificationsgoing on at home, and he has got himself rigged out in London, and hadhis hair cut, so that he looks ten years younger. " "Do you think he has any special views!" "He took such pains to show me the charms of the Benorchie property thatI should have thought it would have been Jessie Douglas, the heiressthereof, only coming here does not seem the way to set about it, unlessbe regards this place as a bath of youth and fashion. I fancy he haslearnt enough about my health to make him think me a precarious kind ofheir, and that his views are general. I hope he may not be made a foolof, otherwise it is the best thing that could happen to us. " "It has been a dreary uncomfortable visit, I much fear, " said Ermine. "Less so than you think. I am glad to have been able to be of use tohim, and to have lived on something like brotherly terms. We know andlike each other much better than we had a chance of doing before, and wemade some pleasant visits together, but at home there are many thingson which we can never be of one mind, and I never was well enough atGowanbrae to think of living there permanently. " "I was sure you had been very unwell! You are better though?" "Well, since I came into Avonmouth air, " said he, "I fear nothing butcold. I am glad to have brought him with me, since he could not staythere, for it is very lonely for him. " "Yet you said his daughter was settled close by. " "Yes; but that makes it the worse. In fact, Ermine, I did not knowbefore what a wretched affair he had made of his daughters' marriages. Isabel he married when she was almost a child to this Comyn Menteith, very young too at the time, and who has turned out a good-natured, reckless, dissipated fellow, who is making away with his property asfast as he can, and to whom Keith's advice is like water on a duck'sback. It is all rack and ruin and extravagance, a set of ill-regulatedchildren, and Isabel smiling and looking pretty in the midst of them, and perfectly impervious to remonstrance. He is better out of sight ofthem, for it is only pain and vexation, an example of the sort of matchhe likes to make. Mary, the other daughter, was the favourite, and usedto her own way, and she took it. Keith was obliged to consent so as toprevent an absolute runaway wedding, but he has by no means forgivenher husband, and they are living on very small means on a Governmentappointment in Trinidad. I believe it would be the bitterest pill to himthat either son-in-law should come in for any part of the estate. " "I thought it was entailed. " "Gowanbrae is, but as things stand at present that ends with me, and theother estates are at his disposal. " "Then it would be very hard on the daughters not to have them. " "So hard that the death of young Alexander may have been one of thegreatest disasters of my life, as well as of poor Keith's. However, thisis riding out to meet perplexities. He is most likely to outlive me;and, moreover, may marry and put an end to the difficulty. Meantime, till my charge is relieved, I must go and see after him, and try if Ican fulfil Hubert's polite request that I would take him away. Rosie, mywoman, I have hardly spoken to you. I have some hyacinth roots to bringyou to-morrow. " In spite of these suspicions, Colonel Keith was not prepared for whatmet him on his return to Myrtlewood. On opening the drawing-room door, he found Lady Temple in a low arm-chair in an agony of crying, so thatshe did not hear his approach till he stood before her in consternation. Often had he comforted her before, and now, convinced that somethingdreadful must have befallen one of the children, he hastily, thoughtenderly, entreated her to tell him which, and what he could do. "Oh, no, no!" she exclaimed, starting up, and removing her handkerchief, so that he saw her usually pale cheeks were crimson--"Oh, no, " shecried, with panting breath and heaving chest. "It is all well with themas yet. But--but--it's your brother. " He was at no loss now as to what his brother could have done, but hestood confounded, with a sense of personal share in the offence, and hisfirst words were--"I am very sorry. I never thought of this. " "No, indeed, " she exclaimed, "who could? It was too preposterous to bedreamt of by any one. At his age, too, one would have thought he mighthave known better. " A secret sense of amusement crossed the Colonel, as he recollected thatthe disparity between Fanny Curtis and Sir Stephen Temple had been fargreater than that between Lady Temple and Lord Keith, but the littlegentle lady was just at present more like a fury than he had thoughtpossible, evidently regarding what had just passed as an insult to herhusband and an attack on the freedom of all her sons. In answer to a fewsympathising words on the haste of his brother's proceeding, she burstout again with indignation almost amusing in one so soft--"Haste! Yes!I did think that people would have had some respect for dear, dear SirStephen, " and her gush of tears came with more of grief and less ofviolence, as if she for the first time felt herself unprotected by herhusband's name. "I am very much concerned, " he repeated, feeling sympathy safer thanreasoning. "If I could have guessed his intentions, I would have triedto spare you this; at least the suddenness of it. I could not haveguessed at such presumptuous expectations on so short an acquaintance. " "He did not expect me to answer at once, " said Fanny. "He said he onlymeant to let me know his hopes in coming here. And, oh, that's the worstof it! He won't believe me, though I said more to him than I thoughtI could have said to anybody! I told him, " said Fanny, with her handsclasped over her knee to still her trembling, "that I cared for mydear, dear husband, and always shall--always--and then he talked aboutwaiting, just as if anybody could leave off loving one's husband! Andthen when he wanted me to consider about my children, why then I toldhim"--and her voice grew passionate again--"the more I considered, theworse it would be for him, as if I would have my boys know me withouttheir father's name; and, besides, he had not been so kind to you thatI should wish to let him have anything to do with them! I am afraid Iought not to have said that, " she added, returning to something of hermeek softness; "but indeed I was so angry, I did not know what I wasabout. I hope it will not make him angry with you. " "Never mind me, " said Colonel Keith, kindly. "Indeed, Lady Temple, itis a wonderful compliment to you that he should have been ready toundertake such a family. " "I don't want such compliments! And, oh!" and here her eyes widened withfright, "what shall I do? He only said my feelings did me honour, and hewould be patient and convince me. Oh, Colonel Keith, what shall I do?"and she looked almost afraid that fate and perseverance would master herafter all, and that she should be married against her will. "You need do nothing but go on your own way, and persist in yourrefusal, " he said in the calm voice that always reassured her. "Oh, but pray, pray never let him speak to me about it again!" "Not if I can help it, and I will do my best. You are quite right, LadyTemple. I do not think it would be at all advisable for yourself orthe children, and hardly for himself, " he added, smiling. "I think themischief must all have been done by that game at whist. " "Then I'll never play again in my life! I only thought he was an oldman that wanted amusing--. " Then as one of the children peeped in at thewindow, and was called back--"O dear! how shall I ever look at Conradeagain, now any one has thought I could forget his father?" "If Conrade knew it, which I trust he never will, he ought to esteem ita testimony to his mother. " "Oh, no, for it must have been my fault! I always was so childish, andwhen I've got my boys with me, I can't help being happy, " and the tearsswelled again in her eyes. "I know I have not been as sad and serious asmy aunt thought I ought to be, and now this comes of it. " "You have been true, have acted nothing, " said Colonel Keith, "and thatis best of all. No one who really knew you could mistake your feelings. No doubt that your conduct agrees better with what would please our dearSir Stephen than if you drooped and depressed the children. " "Oh, I am glad you say that, " she said, looking up, flushed withpleasure now, and her sweet eyes brimming over. "I have tried to thinkwhat he would like in all I have done, and you know I can't help beingproud and glad of belonging to him still; and he always told me not tobe shy and creeping into the nursery out of every one's way. " The tears were so happy now that he felt that the wound was healed, andthat he might venture to leave her, only asking first, "And now whatwould you like me to do? Shall I try to persuade my brother to come awayfrom this place?" "Oh, but then every one would find out why, and that would be dreadful!Besides, you are only just come. And Miss Williams--" "Do not let that stand in your way. " "No, no. You will be here to take care of me. And his going now wouldmake people guess; and that would be worse than anything. " "It would. The less disturbance the better; and if you upset his plansnow, he might plead a sort of right to renew the attempt later. Quietindifference will be more dignified and discouraging. Indeed, I littlethought to what I was exposing you. Now I hope you are going to rest, Iam sure your head is aching terribly. " She faintly smiled, and let him give her his arm to the foot of thestairs. At first he was too indignant for any relief save walking up and downthe esplanade, endeavouring to digest the unfairness towards himselfof his brother's silence upon views that would have put their jointresidence at Avonmouth on so different a footing; above all, when theTemple family were his own peculiar charge, and when he remembered howunsuspiciously he had answered all questions on the money matters, and told how all was left in the widow's own power. It was the moreirritating, as he knew that his displeasure would be ascribed tointerested motives, and regarded somewhat as he had seen Hubert'sresentment treated when Francis teased his favourite rabbit. Yet notonly on principle, but to avoid a quarrel, and to reserve to himselfsuch influence as might best shield Lady Temple from further annoyance, he must school himself to meet his brother with coolness and patience. It was not, however, without strong effort that he was able to perceivethat, from the outer point of view, one who, when a mere child, hadbecome the wife of an aged general, might, in her early widowhood, besupposed open to the addresses of a man of higher rank and fewer years, and the more as it was not in her nature to look crushed and pathetic. He, who had known her intimately throughout her married life and in hersorrow, was aware of the quiet force of the love that had grown up withher, so entirely a thread in her being as to crave little expression, and too reverent to be violent even in her grief. The nature, alwaysgentle, had recovered its balance, and the difference in years had nodoubt told in the readiness with which her spirits had recovered theircheerfulness, though her heart remained unchanged. Still, retired as herhabits were, and becoming as was her whole conduct, Colin began tosee that there had been enough of liveliness about her to lead to LordKeith's mistake, though not to justify his want of delicacy in theprecipitation of his suit. These reflections enabled him at length to encounter his brotherwith temper, and to find that, after all, it had been more like thedeclaration of an intended siege than an actual summons to surrender. Lord Keith was a less foolish and more courteous man than might havebeen gathered from poor Fanny's terrified account; and all he had donewas to intimate his intention of recommending himself to her, and theview with which he had placed himself at Avonmouth; nor was he in theslightest degree disconcerted by her vehemence, but rather entertainedby it, accepting her faithfulness to her first husband's memory as thebest augury of her affection for a second. He did not even own that hehad been precipitate. "Let her get accustomed to the idea, " he said with a shrewd smile. "Thevery outcry she makes against it will be all in my favour when the turncomes. " "I doubt whether you will find it so. " "All the world does not live on romance like you, man. Look on, andyou will see that a pretty young widow like her cannot fail to get intoscrapes; have offers made to her, or at least the credit of them. I'dlay you ten pounds that you are said to be engaged to her yourself bythis time, and it is no one's fault but your own that you are not. It isin the very nature of things that she will be driven to shelter herselffrom the persecution, with whoever has bided his time. " "Oh, if you prefer being accepted on such terms--" He smiled, as if the romance of the exclamation were beneath contempt, and proceeded--"A pretty, gracious, ladylike woman, who has seen enoughof the world to know how to take her place, and yet will be content witha quiet home. It is an introduction I thank you for, Colin. " "And pray, " said Colin, the more inwardly nettled because he knew thathis elder brother enjoyed his annoyance, "what do you think of thoseseven slight encumbrances?" "Oh, they are your charge, " returned Lord Keith, with a twinkle in hiseye. "Besides, most of them are lads, and what with school, sea, andIndia, they will be easily disposed of. " "Certainly it has been so in our family, " said Colin, rather hoarsely, as he thought of the four goodly brothers who had once risen in stepsbetween him and the Master. "And, " added Lord Keith, still without direct answer, "she is sohandsomely provided for, that you see, Colin, I could afford to give youup the Auchinvar property, that should have been poor Archie's, and whatwith the farms and the moor, it would bring you in towards three hundreda year for your housekeeping. " Colin restrained himself with difficulty, but made quiet answer. "I hadrather see it settled as a provision on Mary and her children. " Lord Keith growled something about minding his own concerns. "That is all I desire, " responded the Colonel, and therewith theconference ended. Nor was the subject recurred to. It was observable, however, that Lord Keith was polite and even attentive to Ermine. Hecalled on her, sent her grouse, and though saying nothing, seemed towish to make it evident that his opposition was withdrawn, perhaps as nolonger considering his brother's affairs as his own, or else wishing toconciliate him. Lady Temple was not molested by any alarming attentionsfrom him. But for the proclamation, the state of siege might have beenunsuspected. He settled himself at the southern Gowanbrae as if he hadno conquest to achieve but that of the rheumatism, and fell rapidly intosea-side habits--his morning stroll to see the fishing-boats come in, his afternoon ride, and evening's dinner party, or whist-club, whichlatter institution disposed of him, greatly to Colin's relief. Thebrothers lived together very amicably, and the younger often madehimself helpful and useful to the elder, but evidently did not feelbound to be exclusively devoted to his service and companionship. Allthe winter residents and most of the neighbouring gentry quickly calledat Gowanbrae, and Lord Keith, in the leisure of his present life, likedsociety where he was the man of most consequence, and readily acceptedand gave invitations. Colin, whose chest would not permit him to ventureout after sunset, was a most courteous assistant host, but necessarilymade fewer acquaintances, and often went his own way, sometimes ridingwith his brother, but more frequently scarcely seeing him betweenbreakfast and twilight, and then often spending a solitary evening, which he much preferred either to ecarte or to making talk. The summer life had been very different from the winter one. There wasmuch less intercourse with the Homestead, partly from Rachel being muchengrossed with the F. U. E. E. , driving over whenever the coachman wouldlet her, to inspect progress, and spending much of her time in sendingout circulars, answering letters, and writing a tale on the distressesof Woman, and how to help them, entitled "Am I not a Sister?" Tales werenot much in Bachel's line; she despised reading them, and did not lovewriting them, but she knew that she must sugar the cup for the world, and so she diligently applied herself to the piece de resistance for thedestined magazine, heavily weighting her slender thread of story withdisquisitions on economy and charity, and meaning to land her heroinesupon various industrial asylums where their lot should be far morebeatific than marriage, which was reserved for the naughty one to liveunhappy in ever after. In fact, Rachel, in her stern consistency, hadmade up her mind to avoid and discourage the Colonel, and to preventher own heart from relenting in his favour, or him from having anyopportunity of asking an explanation, and with this determination sheabsented herself both from Ermine's parlour and Lady Temple's croquetground; and if they met on the esplanade or in a morning call, tookcare never to give the chance of a tete-a-tete, which he was evidentlyseeking. The croquet practice still survived. In truth, Fanny was afraid to ridelest Lord Keith should join her, and was glad to surround herself withcompanions. She could not see the enemy without a nervous trepidation, and was eager to engross herself with anybody or thing that came to handso as to avoid the necessity of attending to him. More than once did shelinger among her boys "to speak to Mr. Touchett, " that she might avoida ten minutes' walk with his lordship; and for nothing was she moregrateful than for the quiet and ever ready tact with which Bessie Keiththrew herself into the breach. That bright damsel was claimed by LordKeith as a kinswoman, and, accepting the relationship, treated him withthe pretty playfulness and coquetry that elderly men enjoy from livelyyoung girls, and thus often effected a diversion in her friend's favour, to the admiration both of the Colonel and of Lady Temple herself; all, however, by intuition, for not a word had been hinted to her of whathad passed during that game at croquet. She certainly was a most winningcreature; the Colonel was charmed with her conversation in its shadesbetween archness and good sense, and there was no one who did not lookforward with dread to the end of her visit, when after a short stay withone of her married cousins, she must begin her residence with the blinduncle to whose establishment she, in her humility, declared she shouldbe such a nuisance. It was the stranger that she should think so, as shehad evidently served her apprenticeship to parish work at Bishopsworthy;she knew exactly how to talk to poor people, and was not only at home inclerical details herself, but infused them into Lady Temple; so that, tothe extreme satisfaction of Mr. Touchett, the latter organized a treatfor the school-children, offered prizes for needlework, and onceor twice even came to listen to the singing practice when anythingmemorable was going forward. She was much pleased at being helped to dowhat she felt to be right and kind, though hitherto she had hardly knownhow to set about it, and had been puzzled and perplexed by Rachel'sdisapproval, and semi-contempt of "scratching the surface" by thecommonplace Sunday-school system. CHAPTER XII. A CHANGE AT THE PARSONAGE. "What could presumptuous hope inspire. "--Rokeby. There had been the usual foretaste of winter, rather sharp forAvonmouth, and though a trifle to what it was in less sheltered places, quite enough to make the heliotropes sorrowful, strip the fig-trees, andshut Colonel Keith up in the library. Then came the rain, and the resultwas that the lawn of Myrtlewood became too sloppy for the most ardentdevotees of croquet; indeed, as Bessie said, the great charm of thesport was that one could not play it above eight months in the year. The sun came back again, and re-asserted the claim of Avonmouth to bea sort of English Mentone; but drying the lawn was past its power, andConrade and Francis were obliged to console themselves by the gloryof taking Bessie Keith for a long ride. They could not persuade theirmother to go with them, perhaps because she had from her nursery-windowsympathized with Cyril's admiration of the great white horse that wasbeing led round to the door of Gowanbrae. She said she must stay at home, and make the morning calls that thecharms of croquet had led her to neglect, and in about half an hourfrom that time she was announced in Miss Williams' little parlour, and entered with a hurried, panting, almost pursued look, a frightenedglance in her eyes, and a flush on her cheek, such as to startle bothErmine and the Colonel. "Oh!" she exclaimed, as if still too much perturbed to know quite whatshe was saying, "I--I did not mean to interrupt you. " "I'm only helping Rose to change the water of her hyacinths, " saidColonel Keith, withdrawing his eyes and attention to the accommodationof the forest of white roots within the purple glass. "I did not know you were out to-day, " said Lady Temple, recoveringherself a little. "Yes, I came to claim my walking companion. Where's your hat, Rosie?" And as the child, who was already equipped all but the little brown hat, stood by her aunt for the few last touches to the throat of her jacket, he leant down and murmured, "I thought he was safe out riding. " "Oh no, no, it is not that, " hastily answered Lady Temple, a freshsuffusion of crimson colour rustling over her face, and inspiring anamount of curiosity that rendered a considerable effort of attentionnecessary to be as supremely charming a companion as Rose generallyfound him in the walks that he made it his business to take with her. He turned about long before Rose thought they had gone far enough, andwhen he re-entered the parlour there was such an expectant look on hisface that Ermine's bright eyes glittered with merry mischief, when shesent Rose to take off her walking dress. "Well!" he said. "Well? Colin, have you so low an opinion of the dignity of your chargeas to expect her to pour out her secrets to the first ear in her way?" "Oh, if she has told you in confidence. " "No, she has not told me in confidence; she knew better. " "She has told you nothing?" "Nothing!" and Ermine indulged in a fit of laughter at his discomfiture, so comical that he could not but laugh himself, as he said, "Ah! thepleasure of disappointing me quite consoles you. " "No; the proof of the discretion of womanhood does that! You thought, because she tells all her troubles to you, that she must needs do so tothe rest of the world. " "There is little difference between telling you and me. " "That's the fault of your discretion, not of hers. " "I should like to know who has been annoying her. I suspect--" "So do I. And when you get the confidence at first hand, you willreceive it with a better grace than if you had had a contrabandforetaste. " He smiled. "I thought yours a more confidence-winning face, Ermine. " "That depends on my respect for the individual. Now I thought LadyTemple would much prefer my looking another way, and talking aboutConrade's Latin grammar, to my holding out my arms and inviting her topour into my tender breast what another time she had rather not knowthat I knew. " "That is being an honourable woman, " he said, and Rose's return endedthe exchange of speculations; but it must be confessed that at theirnext meeting Ermine's look of suppressed inquiry quite compensated forher previous banter, more especially as neither had he any confidence toreveal or conceal, only the tidings that the riders, whose coalition hadjustified Lady Temple's prudence, had met Mr. Touchett wandering in thelanes in the twilight, apparently without a clear idea of what he wasdoing there. And on the next evening there was quite an excitement, thecurate looked so ill, and had broken quite down when he was practisingwith the choir boys before church; he had, indeed, gone safely throughthe services, but at school he had been entirely at a loss as to whatSunday it was, and had still more unfortunately forgotten that to beextra civil to Miss Villars was the only hope of retaining her services, for he had walked by her with less attention than if she had been themeanest scholar. Nay, when his most faithful curatolatress had offeredto submit to him a design for an illumination for Christmas, he hadescaped from her with a desperate and mysterious answer that he hadnothing to do with illumination, he hoped it would be as sombre aspossible. No wonder Avonmouth was astonished, and that guesses were not confinedto Mackarel Lane. "Well, Colin, " said Ermine, on the Tuesday, "I have had a first-handconfidence, though from a different quarter. Poor Mr. Touchett came toannounce his going away. " "Going!" "Yes. In the very nick of time, it seems, Alick Keith has had a letterfrom his uncle's curate, asking him to see if he could meet with asouthern clergyman to exchange duties for the winter with a Londonincumbent who has a delicate wife, and of course. Mr. Touchett jumped atit. " "A very good thing--a great relief. " "Yes. He said he was very anxious for work, but he had lost ground inthis place within the last few months, and he thought that he shoulddo better in a fresh place, and that a fresh person would answer betterhere, at least for a time. I am very sorry for him, I have a greatregard for him. " "Yes; but he is quite right to make a fresh beginning. Poor man! he hasbeen quite lifted off his feet, and entranced all this time, andhis recovery will be much easier elsewhere. It was all that unluckycroquet. " "I believe it was. I think there was at first a reverential sort ofdistant admiration, too hopeless to do any one any harm, and that reallymight have refined him, and given him a little of the gentleman-liketone he has always wanted. But then came the croquet, and when it grewto be a passion it was an excuse for intimacy that it would have taken astronger head than his to resist. " "Under the infection of croquet fever. " "It is what my father used to say of amusements--the instant they becomepassions they grow unclerical and do mischief. Now he used, though notgetting on with the Curtises, to be most successful with the second-ratepeople; but he has managed to offend half of them during this unhappymania, which, of course, they all resent as mercenary, and how he isever to win them back I don't know. After all, curatocult is a shallowmotive--Rachel Curtis might triumph!" "The higher style of clergyman does not govern by curatocult. I hopethis one may be of that description, as he comes through Mr. Clare. Iwonder if this poor man will return?" "Perhaps, " said Ermine, with a shade of mimicry in her voice, "when LadyTemple is married to the Colonel. There now, I have gone and told you! Idid try to resolve I would not. " "And what did you say?" "I thought it due to Lady Temple to tell him exactly how she regardedyou. " "Yes, Ermine, and it is due to tell others also. I cannot go on on theseterms, either here or at Myrtlewood, unless the true state of the caseis known. If you will not let me be a married man, I must be an engagedone, either to you or to the little Banksia. " This periphrasis was needful, because Rose was curled up in a cornerwith a book, and her accessibility to outward impressions was dubious. It might be partly for that reason, partly from the tone of fixedresolve in his voice, that Ermine made answer, "As you please. " It was calmly said, with the sweet, grave, confiding smile that told howshe trusted to his judgment, and accepted his will. The look and tonebrought his hand at once to press hers in eager gratitude, but still shewould not pursue this branch of the subject; she looked up to him andsaid gently, but firmly, "Yes, it may be better that the true state ofthe case should be known, " and he felt that she thus conveyed that hemust not press her further, so he let her continue, "At first I thoughtit would do him good, he began pitying us so vehemently; but when hefound I did not pity myself, he was as ready to forget our troublesas--you are to forget his, " she added, catching Colin's fixed eye, moreintent on herself than on her narrative. "I beg his pardon, but there are things that come more home. " "So thought he, " said Ermine. "Did you find out, " said Colin, now quite recalled, "what made him takecourage?" "When he had once come to the subject, it seemed to be a relief to tellit all out, but he was so faltering and agitated that I did not alwaysfollow what he said. I gather, though, that Lady Temple has used him alittle as a defence from other perils. " "Yes, I have seen that. " "And Miss Keith's fun has been more encouragement than she knew;constantly summoning him to the croquet-ground, and giving him tounderstand that Lady Temple liked to have him there. Then came thatunlucky day, it seems, when he found Bessie mounting her horse at thedoor, and she called out that it was too wet for croquet, but LadyTemple was in the garden, and would be glad to see him. She was going tomake visits, and he walked down with her, and somehow, in regretting theend of the croquet season, he was surprised into saying how much it hadbeen to him. He says she was exceedingly kind, and regretted extremelythat anything should have inspired the hope, said she should never marryagain, and entreated him to forget it, then I imagine she fled in hereto put an end to it. " "She must have been much more gentle this time than she was with Keith. I had never conceived her capable of being so furious as she was then. Iam very sorry, I wish we could spare her these things. " "I am afraid that can only be done in one way, which you are not likelyat present to take, " said Ermine with a serious mouth, but with lightdancing in her eyes. "I know no one less likely to marry again, " he continued, "yet no one ofwhom the world is so unlikely to believe it. Her very gentle simplicityand tenderness tell against her! Well, the only hope now is that thepoor man has not made his disappointment conspicuous enough for her toknow that it is attributed to her. It is the beginning of the fulfilmentof Keith's prediction that offers and reports will harass her into thedeed!" "There is nothing so fallacious as prophecies against second marriages, but I don't believe they will. She is too quietly dignified for the fullbrunt of reports to reach her, and too much concentrated on her childrento care about them. " "Well, I have to see her to-morrow to make her sign some papers abouther pension, so I shall perhaps find out how she takes it. " He found Fanny quite her gentle composed self, as usual uncomprehendingand helpless about her business affairs, and throwing the wholeburthen on him of deciding on her investments; but in such a gracious, dependent, grateful way that he could not but take pleasure in theoffice, and had no heart for the lesson he had been meditating on theneed of learning to act for herself, if she wished to do without aprotector. It was not till she had obediently written her "FrancesGrace Temple" wherever her prime minister directed, that she said with acrimson blush, "Is it true that poor Mr. Touchett is going away for thewinter?" "I believe he is even going before Sunday. " "I am very glad--I mean I am very sorry. Do you think any one knows whyit is?" "Very few are intimate enough to guess, and those who are, know you toowell to think it was otherwise than very foolish on his part. " "I don't know, " said Fanny, "I think I must have been foolish too, or henever could have thought of it. And I was so sorry for him, he seemed somuch distressed. " "I do not wonder at that, when he had once allowed himself to admit thethought. " "Yes, that is the thing. I am afraid I can't be what I ought to be, orpeople would never think of such nonsense, " said Fanny, with large tearswelling into her eyes. "I can't be guarding that dear memory as I ought, to have two such things happening so soon. " "Perhaps they have made you cherish it all the more. " "As if I wanted that! Please will you tell me how I could have been moreguarded. I don't mind your knowing about this; indeed you ought, for SirStephen trusted me to you, but I can't ask my aunt or any one else. Ican't talk about it, and I would not have them know that Sir Stephen'swife can't get his memory more respected. " She did not speak with anger as the first time, but with most touchingsadness. "I don't think any one could answer, " he said. "I did take my aunt's advice about the officers being here. I have nothad them nearly as much as Bessie would have liked, not even Alick. Ihave been sorry it was so dull for her, but I thought it could not bewrong to be intimate with one's clergyman, and Rachel was always so hardupon him. " "You did nothing but what was kind and right. The only possible thingthat could have been wished otherwise was the making a regular habit ofhis playing croquet here. " "Ah! but the boys and Bessie liked it so much. However, I dare say itwas wrong. Alick never did like it. " "Not wrong, only a little overdone. You ladies want sometimes to be putin mind that, because a clergyman has to manage his own time, he is nota whit more really at liberty than a soldier or a lawyer, whose hoursare fixed for him. You do not do him or his parish any kindness byengrossing him constantly in pastimes that are all very well once in away, but which he cannot make habitual without detriment to his higherduties. " "But I thought he would have known when he had time. " "I am afraid curates are but bits of human nature after all. " "And what ought I to have done?" "If you had been an exceedingly prudent woman who knew the world, youwould have done just as you did about the officers, been friendly, andfairly intimate, but instead of ratifying the daily appointments forcroquet, have given a special invitation now and then, and so shown thatyou did not expect him without one. " "I see. Oh, if I had only thought in time, I need not have driven himaway from his parish! I hope he won't go on being unhappy long! Oh, Iwish there may be some very nice young lady where he is going. If heonly would come back married!" "We would give him a vote of thanks. " "What a wedding present I would make her, " proceeded Fanny, brighteningperceptibly; "I would give her my best Indian table, only I always meantthat for Ermine. I think she must have the emu's egg set in Australiangold. " "If she were to be induced by the bribe, " said Colonel Keith, laughing, "I think Ermine would be sufficiently provided for by the emu's egg. Doyou know, " he added, after a pause, "I think I have made a great step inthat direction. " She clasped her hands with delighted sympathy. "She has given me leaveto mention the matter, " he continued, "and I take that as a sign thather resistance will give way. " "Oh, I am very glad, " said Fanny, "I have so wished them to know at theHomestead, " and her deepened colour revealed, against her will, that shehad not been insensible to the awkwardness of the secrecy. "I should rather like to tell your cousin Rachel myself, " said theColonel; "she has always been very kind to Ermine, and appreciated hermore than I should have expected. But she is not easily to be seen now. " "Her whole heart is in her orphan asylum, " said Fanny. "I hope you willsoon go with us and see it; the little girls look so nice. " The brightening of his prospects seemed to have quite consoled her forher own perplexities. That Avonmouth should have no suspicion of the cause of the suddenchange of pastor could hardly be hoped; but at least Lady Temple did notknow how much talk was expended upon her, how quietly Lord Keith huggedhimself, how many comical stories Bessie detailed in her letters to herClare cousins, nor how Mrs. Curtis resented the presumption; and whileshe shrank from a lecture, more especially as she did not see how dearFanny was to blame, flattered herself and Grace that, for the future, Colonel Keith and Rachel would take better care of her. Rachel did not dwell much on the subject, it was only the climax ofconceit, croquet, and mere womanhood; and she was chiefly anxious toknow whether Mr. Mitchell, the temporary clergyman, would support theF. U. E. E. , and be liberal enough to tolerate Mr. Mauleverer. She hadgreat hopes from a London incumbent, and, besides, Bessie Keith knewhim, and spoke of him as a very sensible, agreeable, earnest man. "Earnest enough for you, Rachel, " she said, laughing. "Is he a party man?" "Oh, parties are getting obsolete! He works too hard for fightingbattles outside. " The Sunday showed a spare, vigorous face, and a voice and pronunciationfar more refined than poor Mr. Touchett's; also the sermons were farmore interesting, and even Rachel granted that there were ideas in it. The change was effected with unusual celerity, for it was as needful toMrs. Mitchell to be speedily established in a warm climate, as it wasdesirable to Mr. Touchett to throw himself into other scenes; and thelittle parsonage soon had the unusual ornaments of tiny children withsmall spades and wheelbarrows. The father and mother were evidently very shy people, with a greatdeal beneath their timidity, and were much delighted to have an oldacquaintance like Miss Keith to help them through their introductions, an office which she managed with all her usual bright tact. Thediscovery that Stephana Temple and Lucy Mitchell had been born withintwo days of one another, was the first link of a warm friendship betweenthe two mammas; and Mr. Mitchell fell at once into friendly intercoursewith Ermine Williams, to whom Bessie herself conducted him for his firstvisit, when they at once discovered all manner of mutual acquaintanceamong his college friends; and his next step was to make the veryarrangement for Ermine's church-going, for which she had long beenwishing in secret, but which never having occurred to poor Mr. Touchett, she had not dared to propose, lest there should be some greatinconvenience in the way. Colonel Keith was the person, however, with whom the new comers chieflyfraternized, and he was amused with their sense of the space forbreathing compared with the lanes and alleys of their own district. Theschools and cottages seemed to them so wonderfully large, the childrenso clean, even their fishiness a form of poetical purity, the peopleridiculously well off, and even Mrs. Kelland's lace-school a palace ofthe free maids that weave their thread with bones. Mr. Mitchell seemedalmost to grudge the elbow room, as he talked of the number of cubicfeet that held a dozen of his own parishioners; and needful as thechange had been for the health of both husband and wife, they almostreproached themselves for having fled and left so many pining for wantof pure air, dwelling upon impossible castles for the importation offavourite patients to enjoy the balmy breezes of Avonmouth. Rachel talked to them about the F. U. E. E. , and was delighted by theflush of eager interest on Mrs. Mitchell's thin face. "Objects" swarmedin their parish, but where were the seven shillings per week to comefrom? At any rate Mr. Mitchell would, the first leisure day, come overto St. Herbert's with her, and inspect. He did not fly off at the firsthint of Mr. Mauleverer's "opinions, " but said he would talk to him, andthereby rose steps untold in Rachel's estimation. The fact of change isdangerously pleasant to the human mind; Mr. Mitchell walked at once intopopularity, and Lady Temple had almost conferred a public benefit bywhat she so little liked to remember. At any rate she had secured anunexceptionable companion, and many a time resorted to his wing, leavingBessie to amuse Lord Keith, who seemed to be reduced to carry on hiscourtship to the widow by attentions to her guest. CHAPTER XIII. THE FOX AND THE CROW. "She just gave one squall, When the cheese she let fall, And the fox ran away with his prize. " JANE TAYLOR. "My dear, " said Mrs. Curtis, one Monday morning, "I offered ColonelKeith a seat in the carriage to go to the annual book-club meeting withus. Mr. Spicer is going to propose him as a member of the club, youknow, and I thought the close carriage would be better for him. Isuppose you will be ready by eleven; we ought to set out by that time, not to hurry the horses. " "I am not going, " returned Rachel, an announcement that electrified herauditors, for the family quota of books being quite insufficient forher insatiable appetite, she was a subscriber on her own account, andbesides, this was the grand annual gathering for disposing of old books, when she was relied on for purchasing all the nuts that nobody elsewould crack. The whole affair was one of the few social gatheringsthat she really tolerated and enjoyed, and her mother gazed at her inamazement. "I wrote to Mrs. Spicer a month ago to take my name off. I have nosuperfluous money to spend on my selfish amusement. " "But Rachel, " said Grace, "did you not particularly want--oh! that fatred book which came to us uncut?" "I did, but I must do without it. " "Poor Mr. Spicer, he reckoned on you to take it; indeed, he thought youhad promised him. " "If there is anything like a promise, I suppose it must be done, but Ido not believe there is. I trust to you, Grace, you know I have nothingto waste. " "You had better go yourself, my dear, and then you would be able tojudge. It would be more civil by the society, too. " "No matter, indeed I cannot; in fact, Mr. Mauleverer is coming thismorning to give his report and arrange our building plans. I want tointroduce him to Mr. Mitchell, and fix a day for going over. " Mrs. Curtis gave up in despair, and consulted her eldest daughter inprivate whether there could have been any misunderstanding with ColonelKeith to lead Rachel to avoid him in a manner that was becoming pointed. Grace deemed it nothing but absorption into the F. U. E. E. , and poorMrs. Curtis sighed over this fleeting away of her sole chance of seeingRachel like other people. Of Mr. Mauleverer personally she had nofears, he was in her eyes like a drawing or music-master, and had neverpretended to be on equal terms in society with her daughters, and shehad no doubts or scruples in leaving Rachel to her business interviewwith him, though she much regretted this further lapse from the ordinarypaths of sociability. Rachel, on the other hand, felt calmly magnanimous in the completion ofa veritable sacrifice, for those books had afforded her much enjoyment, and she would much like to have possessed many of those that would betossed aside at a cheap rate. But the constant small expenses entailedby the first setting on foot such an establishment as the F. U. E. E. Were a heavy drain on her private purse, as she insisted on allaccounts being brought to her, and then could not bear that these smallnondescript matters should be charged upon the general fund, whichhaving already paid the first half-year's rent in advance, and furnishedthe house, must be recruited by some extraordinary supply before shecould build. The thing could not be done at all but by rigid economy, and she was ready to exercise it, and happy in so doing. And theColonel? She thought the pain of her resolution was passing. After all, it was not so dreadful as people would have one believe, it was nosuch wrench as novels described to make up one's mind to prefer asystematically useful life to an agreeable man. Mr. Mauleverer came, with a good report of the children's progress, andtalking quite enthusiastically of Lovedy's sweetness and intelligence. Perhaps she would turn out a superior artist, now that chill penury nolonger repressed her noble rage, and he further brought a small demandfor drawing materials and blocks for engraving, to the amount of fivepounds, which Rachel defrayed from the general fund, but sighed over itsdiminution. "If I could only make the Barnaby bargain available, " she said; "it iscruel to have it tied up to mere apprenticeships, which in the presentstate of things are absolutely useless, or worse. " "Can nothing be done?" "You shall hear. Dame Rachel Curtis, in 1605, just when this place wastaking up lace-making, an art learnt, I believe, from some poor nunsthat were turned out of St. Mary's, at Avoncester, thought she didan immense benefit to the place by buying the bit of land known asBurnaby's Bargain, and making the rents go yearly to apprentice two poorgirls born of honest parents. The rent is fourteen pounds, and so thefees are so small that only the small lace-makers here will acceptthem. I cannot get the girls apprenticed to anything better in the townsexcept for a much larger premium. " "Do I understand you that such a premium is at present to be bestowed?" "No, not till next June. The two victims for this year have beensacrificed. But perhaps another time it might be possible to bind themto you as a wood engraver or printer!" cried Rachel, joyfully. "I should be most happy. But who would be the persons concerned?" "The trustees are the representative of our family and the rector ofthe parish--not Mr. Touchett (this is only a district), but poor oldMr. Linton at Avonbridge, who is barely able to sign the papers, so thatpractically it all comes to me. " "Extremely fortunate for the objects of the charity. " "I wish it were so; but if it could only be made available in such acause as ours, I am sure my good namesake's intentions would be muchbetter carried out than by binding these poor girls down to theircushions. I did once ask about it, but I was told it could only bealtered by Act of Parliament. " "Great facilities have of late been given, " said Mr. Mauleverer, "manyold endowments have most beneficially extended their scope. May I askwhere the land in question is?" "It is the level bit of meadow just by the river, and all the slope downto the mouth; it has always been in our hands, and paid rent as part ofthe farm. You know how well it looks from the garden-seat, but it alwaysgrieves me when people admire it, for I feel as if it were thrown away. " "Ah! I understand. Perhaps if I could see the papers I could judge ofthe feasibility of some change. " Rachel gladly assented, and knowing where to find the keys of the strongbox, she returned in a short space with a parcel tied up with, red tape, and labelled "Barnaby's Bargain. " "I have been thinking, " she exclaimed, as she came in, "that that pieceof land must have grown much more valuable since this rent was set onit! Fourteen pounds a year, why we never thought of it; but surelyin such a situation, it would be worth very much more for buildingpurposes. " "There can be no doubt. But your approach, Miss Curtis?" "If it is a matter of justice to the charity, of course that could notbe weighed a moment. But we must consider what is to be done. Get theland valued, and pay rent for it accordingly? I would give it up to itsfate, and let it for what it would bring, but it would break my mother'sheart to see it built on. " "Perhaps I had better take the papers and look over them. I see theywill need much consideration. " "Very well, that will be the best way, but we will say nothing aboutit till we have come to some conclusion, or we shall only startle anddistress my mother. After all, then, I do believe we have the realincome of the F. U. E. E. Within our very hands! It might be ten timeswhat it is now. " Rachel was in higher spirits than ever. To oblige the estate to pay £140a year to the F. U. E. E. Was beyond measure delightful, and though itwould be in fact only taking out of the family pocket, yet that was apocket she could not otherwise get at. The only thing for which she wassorry was that Mr. Mauleverer had an appointment, and could not comewith her to call on Mr. Mitchell; but instead of this introduction, asshe had sworn herself to secrecy rather than worry her mother till theways and means were matured, she resolved, by way of compensation, upon going down to impart to Ermine Williams this grave reformation ofabuses, since this was an afternoon when there was no chance of meetingthe Colonel. Very happy did she feel in the hope that had come to crown her effortsat the very moment when she had actually and tangibly given up apleasure, and closed a door opening into worldly life, and she waswalking along with a sense of almost consecrated usefulness, to seek hercompanion in the path of maiden devotion, when in passing the gates ofMyrtlewood, she was greeted by Captain Keith and his bright-eyed sister, just coming forth together. A few words told that they were all bound for Mackarel Lane, actuated bythe same probability of finding Miss Williams alone, the Colonel beingabsent. "Wonderfully kind to her he is, " said Rachel, glad to praise him toconvince herself that she did not feel bitter; "he takes that littlegirl out walking with him every morning. " "I wonder if his constancy will ever be rewarded?" said Bessie, lightly;then, as Rachel looked at her in wonder and almost rebuke for so directand impertinent a jest, she exclaimed, "Surely you are not in ignorance!What have I done? I thought all the world knew--all the inner world, that is, that revels in a secret. " "Knew what?" said Rachel, unavoidable intolerable colour rushing intoher face. "Why the romance of Colin and Ermine! To live on the verge of such a--atragi-comedy, is it? and not be aware of it, I do pity you. " "The only wonder is how you knew it, " said her brother, in a tone ofrepression. "I! Oh, it is a fine thing to be a long-eared little pitcher when one'selders imagine one hears nothing but what is addressed to oneself. ThereI sat, supposed to be at my lessons, when the English letters came in, and I heard papa communicating to mamma how he had a letter from oldLord Keith--not this one but one older still--the father of him--abouthis son's exchange--wanted papa to know that he was exemplary and allthat, and hoped he would be kind to him, but just insinuated that leavewas not desirable--in fact it was to break off an affair at home. Andthen, while I was all on fire to see what a lover looked like, comesanother letter, this time to mamma, from Lady Alison something, whocould not help recommending to her kindness her dear nephew Colin, goingout broken-hearted at what was feared would prove a fatal accident, to the dearest, noblest girl in the world, for so she must call ErmineWilliams. Ermine was a name to stick in one's memory if Williams wasnot, and so I assumed sufficient certainty to draw it all out of dearLady Temple. " "She knows then?" said Rachel, breathlessly, but on her guard. "Know? Yes, or she could hardly make such a brother of the Colonel. Infact, I think it is a bit of treachery to us all to keep such an affairconcealed, don't you?" with a vivid flash out of the corner of her eyes. "Treachery not to post up a list of all one's--" "One's conquests?" said Bessie, snatching the word out of her brother'smouth. "Did you ever hear a more ingenious intimation of the number onehas to boast?" "Only in character, " calmly returned Alick. "But do not laugh, " said Rachel, who had by this time collected herself;"if this is so, it must be far too sad and melancholy to be laughedabout. " "So it is, " said Alick, with a tone of feeling. "It has been a mournfulbusiness from the first, and I do not see how it is to end. " "Why, I suppose Colonel Colin is his own master now, " said Bessie; "andif he has no objection I do not see who else can make any. " "There are people in the world who are what Tennyson calls 'selfless, '"returned Alick. "Then the objection comes from her?" said Rachel, anxiously. "So saith Lady Temple, " returned Bessie. They were by this time in Mackarel Lane. Rachel would have given much tohave been able to turn back and look this strange news in the face, but consciousness and fear of the construction that might be put on herchange of purpose forced her on, and in a few moments the three were inthe little parlour, where Ermine's station was now by the fire. Therecould be no doubt, as Rachel owned to herself instantly, that there wasa change since she first had studied that face. The bright colouring, and far more, the active intellect and lively spirit, had alwaysobviated any expression of pining or invalidism; but to the airof cheerfulness was added a look of freshened health and thoroughhappiness, that rendered the always striking features absolutelybeautiful; more so, perhaps, than in their earliest bloom; and the hairand dress, though always neat, and still as simply arranged as possible, had an indescribable air of care and taste that added to the effect ofgrace and pleasantness, and made Rachel feel convinced in a moment thatthe wonder would have been not in constancy to such a creature but ininconstancy. The notion that any one could turn from that brilliant, beaming, refined face to her own, struck her with a sudden humiliation. There was plenty of conversation, and her voice was not immediatelywanted; indeed, she hardly attended to what was passing, and reallydreaded outstaying the brother and sister. When Ermine turned to her, and asked after Lovedy Kelland in her new home, she replied like one ina dream, then gathered herself up and answered to the point, but feelingthe restraint intolerable, soon rose to take leave. "So soon?" said Ermine; "I have not seen you for a long time. " "I--I was afraid of being in the way, " said Rachel, the first timeprobably that such a fear had ever suggested itself to her, and blushingas Ermine did not blush. "We are sure to be alone after twilight, " said Ermine, "if that is nottoo late for you, but I know you are much occupied now. " Somehow that invalid in her chair had the dignity of a queen appointingher levee, and Rachel followed the impulse of thanking and promising, but then quickly made her escape to her own thoughts. "Her whole soul is in that asylum, " said Ermine, smiling as she went. "Ishould like to hear that it is going on satisfactorily, but she does notseem to have time even to talk. " "The most wonderful consummation of all, " observed Bessie. "No, " said Ermine, "the previous talk was not chatter, but realeffervescence from the unsatisfied craving for something to do. " "And has she anything to do now?" said Bessie. "That is exactly what I want to know. It would be a great pity if allthis real self-devotion were thrown away. " "It cannot be thrown away, " said Alick. "Not on herself, " said Ermine, "but one would not see it misdirected, both for the waste of good energy and the bitter disappointment. " "Well, " said Bessie, "I can't bear people to be so dreadfully inearnest!" "You are accountable for the introduction, are not you?" said Ermine. "I'm quite willing! I think a good downfall plump would be the mostwholesome thing that could happen to her; and besides, I never told herto take the man for her almoner and counsellor! I may have pointed tothe gulf, but I never bade Curtia leap into it. " "I wish there were any one to make inquiries about this person, " saidErmine; "but when Colonel Keith came it was too late. I hoped she mightconsult him, but she has been so much absorbed that she really has nevercome in his way. " "She would never consult any one, " said Bessie. "I am not sure of that, " replied Ermine. "I think that her realsimplicity is what makes her appear so opinionated. I verily believethat there is a great capability of humility at the bottom. " "Of the gulf, " laughed Bessie; but her brother said, "Quite true. Shehas always been told she is the clever woman of the family, and what canshe do but accept the position?" "Exactly, " said Ermine; "every one has given way to her, and, of course, she walks over their bodies, but there is something so noble about herthat I cannot but believe that she will one day shake herself clear ofher little absurdities. " "That is contrary to the usual destiny of strong-minded women, " saidBessie. "She is not a strong-minded woman, she only has been made to believeherself one, " said Ermine, warmly. With this last encounter, Bessie and her brother took leave, and thelast at once exclaimed, in sentimental tones, "Generous rivals! I neversaw so good a comedy in all my days! To disclose the fatal truth, andthen bring the rival fair ones face to face!" "If that were your belief, Bessie, the demon of teasing has fullerpossession of you than I knew. " "Ah! I forgot, " exclaimed Bessie, "it is tender ground with youlikewise. Alas! Alick, sisterly affection cannot blind me to the fact ofthat unrequited admiration for your honourable rival. " "What, from the strong-minded Curtia?" "Ah! but have we not just heard that this is not the genuine article, only a country-made imitation? No wonder it was not proof against anhonourable colonel in a brown beard. " "So much the better; only unluckily there has been a marked avoidance ofhim. " "Yes; the Colonel was sacrificed with all other trivial incidents at theshrine of the F. U. L. E. --E. E. , I mean. And only think of finding outthat one has been sacrificing empty air after all--and to empty air!" "Better than to sacrifice everything to oneself, " said Alick. "Not at all. The latter practice is the only way to be agreeable!By-the-bye, Alick, I wonder if she will deign to come to the ball?" "What ball?" "Your ball at Avoncester. It is what I am staying on for! Major McDonaldall but promised me one; and you know you must give one before you leavethis place. " "Don't you know that poor Fraser has just been sent for home on hissister's death?" "But I conclude the whole regiment does not go into mourning?" "No, but Fraser is the one fellow to whom this would be real enjoyment. Indeed, I particularly wish no hints may be given about it. Don't deny, I know you have ways of bringing about what you wish, and I will nothave them used here. I know something of the kind must be done before weleave Avoncester, but to give one this autumn would be much sooner thanneedful. I believe there is hardly an officer but myself and Fraser towhom the expense would not be a serious consideration, and when I tellyou my father had strong opinions about overdoing reciprocities ofgaiety, and drawing heavily on the officers' purses for them, I do notthink you will allow their regard for him to take that manifestationtowards you. " "Of course not, " said Bessie, warmly; "I will not think of it again. Only when the fate does overtake you, you will have me here for it, Alick?" He readily promised, feeling gratified at the effect of having spoken tohis sister with full recognition of her good sense. Meantime Rachel was feeling something of what Bessie ascribed to her, as if her sacrifice had been snatched away, and a cloud placed in itsstead. Mortification was certainly present, and a pained feeling ofhaving been made a fool of, whether by the Colonel or herself, hercandid mind could hardly decide; but she was afraid it was by herself. She knew she had never felt sure enough of his attentions to do morethan speculate on what she would do if they should become more pointed, and yet she felt angry and sore at having been exposed to so absurd ablunder by the silence of the parties concerned. "After all, " she saidto herself, "there can be no great harm done, I have not been weakenough to commit my heart to the error. I am unscathed, and I will showit by sympathy for Ermine. Only--only, why could not she have told me?" An ordeal was coming for which Rachel was thus in some degree prepared. On the return of the party from the book club, Mrs. Curtis came intoRachel's sitting-room, and hung lingering over the fire as if she hadsomething to say, but did not know how to begin. At last, however, shesaid, "I do really think it is very unfair, but it was not his fault, hesays. " "Who?" said Rachel, dreamily. "Why, Colonel Keith, my dear, " said good Mrs. Curtis, conceiving thather pronominal speech had "broken" her intelligence; "it seems we weremistaken in him all this time. " "What, about Miss Williams?" said Rachel, perceiving how the land lay;"how did you hear it?" "You knew it, my dear child, " cried her mother in accents of extremerelief. "Only this afternoon, from Bessie Keith. " "And Fanny knew it all this time, " continued Mrs. Curtis. "I cannotimagine how she could keep it from me, but it seems Miss Williams wasresolved it should not be known. Colonel Keith said he felt it was wrongto go on longer without mentioning it, and I could not but say that itwould have been a great relief to have known it earlier. " "As far as Fanny was concerned it would, " said Rachel, looking into thefire, but not without a sense of rehabilitating satisfaction, asthe wistful looks and tone of her mother convinced her that thissemi-delusion had not been confined to herself. "I could not help being extremely sorry for him when he was telling me, "continued Mrs. Curtis, as much resolved against uttering the idea asRachel herself could be. "It has been such a very long attachment, andnow he says he has not yet been able to overcome her scruples aboutaccepting him in her state. It is quite right of her, I can't say but itis, but it is a very awkward situation. " "I do not see that, " said Rachel, feeling the need of decision in orderto reassure her mother; "it is very sad and distressing in some ways, but no one can look at Miss Williams without seeing that his return hasdone her a great deal of good; and whether they marry or not, one canonly be full of admiration and respect for them. " "Yes, yes, " faltered Mrs. Curtis; "only I must say I think it was due tous to have mentioned it sooner. " "Not at all, mother. Fanny knew it, and it was nobody's concern buthers. Pray am I to have Owen's 'Palaeontology'?" "No, Colonel Keith bought that, and some more of the solid books. Mydear, he is going to settle here; he tells me he has actually boughtthat house he and his brother are in. " "Bought it!" "Yes; he says, any way, his object is to be near Miss Williams. Well, I cannot think how it is to end, so near the title as he is, and hersister a governess, and then that dreadful business about her brother, and the little girl upon her hands. Dear me, I wish Fanny had any oneelse for a governess. " "So do not I, " said Rachel. "I have the greatest possible admirationfor Ermine Williams, and I do not know which I esteem most, her for herbrave, cheerful, unrepining unselfishness, or him for his constancy andsuperiority to all those trumpery considerations. I am glad to have thewatching of them. I honour them both. " Yes, and Rachel honoured herself still more for being able to speak allthis freely and truly out of the innermost depths of her candid heart. CHAPTER XIV. THE GOWANBRAE BALL. "Your honour's pardon, I'd rather have my wounds to heal again, Than hear say how I got them. "--Coriolanus. "Yes, I go the week after next. " "So soon? I thought you were to stay for our ball. " "Till this time next year! No, no, I can't quite do that, thank you. " "This very winter. " "Oh, no--no such thing! Why, half the beauty and fashion of theneighbourhood is not come into winter quarters yet. Besides, the veryessence of a military ball is that it should be a parting--the brightestand the last. Good morning. " And Meg's head, nothing loth, was turned away from the wide view ofthe broad vale of the Avon, with the Avoncester Cathedral towers in themidst, and the moors rising beyond in purple distance. The two younglieutenants could only wave their farewells, as Bessie cantered merrilyover the soft smooth turf of the racecourse, in company with Lord Keith, the Colonel, and Conrade. "Do you not like dancing?" inquired Lord Keith, when the canter wasover, and they were splashing through a lane with high hedges. "I'm not so unnatural, " returned Bessie, with a merry smile, "but itwould never do to let the Highlanders give one now. Alick has beentelling me that the expense would fall seriously on a good many ofthem. " "True, " said Colonel Keith, "too many fetes come to be a heavy tax. " "That is more consideration than is common in so young a lad, " addedLord Keith. "Yes, but dear Alick is so full of consideration, " said the sister, eagerly. "He does not get half the credit for it that he deserves, because, you know, he is so quiet and reserved, and has that unluckyironical way with him that people don't like; especially rattlepateslike those, " pointing with her whip in the direction of the two youngofficers. "It is a pity, " said the Colonel, "it lessens his influence. And it isstrange I never perceived it before his return to England. " "Oh! there's much owing to the habitual languor of that long illness. That satirical mumble is the only trouble he will take to lift up histestimony, except when a thing is most decidedly his duty, and then hedoes it as England expects. " "And he considered it his duty to make you decline this ball?" said LordKeith. "Oh, not his more than mine, " said Bessie. "I don't forget that I am theColonel's daughter. " No more was said on that occasion, but three days after cards were goingabout the county with invitations from Lord Keith to an evening party, with "Dancing. " Lord Keith averred, with the full concurrence ofhis brother, that he owed many civilities to the ladies of theneighbourhood, and it was a good time to return them when he couldgratify the young kinswoman who had showed such generous forbearanceabout the regimental ball. It was no unfavourable moment either, when hehad his brother to help him, for the ordering of balls had been so mucha part of Colin's staff duties, that it came quite naturally to him, especially with Coombe within reach to assist. There was some questionwhether the place should be the public rooms or Gowanbrae, but Bessie'svote decided on the latter, in consideration of the Colonel's chest. She was rather shocked, while very grateful, at the consequences of thelittle conversation on the hill top, but she threw herself into all thecounsels with bright, ardent pleasure, though carefully refraining fromany presumption that she was queen of the evening. Lady Temple received an invitation, but never for one moment thought ofgoing, or even supposed that any one could imagine she could. Indeed, ifshe had accepted it, it would have been a decisive encouragement to herancient suitor, and Colin saw that he regarded her refusal, in its broadblack edges, as a further clenching of the reply to his addresses. Bessie was to be chaperoned by Mrs. Curtis. As to Rachel, she hadresolved against youthful gaieties for this winter and all others, butshe felt that to show any reluctance to accept the Keith invitationmight be a contradiction to her indifference to the Colonel, and soconstrued by her mother, Grace, and Bessie. So all she held out for was, that as she had no money to spend upon adornments, her blue silk dinnerdress, and her birthday wreath, should and must do duty; and as to hermother's giving her finery, she was far too impressive and decided forMrs. Curtis to venture upon such presumption. She was willing to walkthrough her part for an evening, and indeed the county was pretty wellaccustomed to Miss Rachel Curtis's ball-room ways, and took them as amatter of course. Gowanbrae had two drawing-rooms with folding doors between, quitepracticable for dancing, and the further one ending in a conservatory, that likewise extended along the end of the entrance hall anddining-room. The small library, where Colonel Keith usually sat, becamethe cloak-room, and contained, when Mrs. Curtis and her daughtersarrived, so large a number of bright cashmere cloaklets, scarlet, white, and blue, that they began to sigh prospectively at the crowd which, Mrs. Curtis would have encountered with such joyful valour save for thatconfidence on the way home from the book club. They were little prepared for the resources of a practisedstaff-officer. Never had a ball even to them looked so well arranged, or in such thorough style, as a little dexterous arrangement of flowers, lights, and sofas, and rendered those two rooms. The two hosts workedextremely well. Lord Keith had shaken off much of his careless stoopand air of age, and there was something in his old-world polish andhis Scotch accent that gave a sort of romance to the manner of hisreception. His brother, with his fine brow, and thoughtful eyes, certainly appeared to Rachel rather thrown away as master of theceremonies, but whatever he did, he always did in the quietest and bestway, and receptions had been a part of his vocation, so that he infuseda wonderful sense of ease, and supplied a certain oil of good breedingthat made everything move suavely. Young ladies in white, and mothers inall the colours of the rainbow, were there in plenty, and, by Bessie'sspecial command, the scene was enlivened by the Highland uniform, withthe graceful tartan scarf fastened across the shoulder with the Brucebrooch. Rachel had not been long in the room before she was seized on by EmilyGrey, an enthusiastic young lady of the St. Norbert's neighbourhood, whom she met seldom, but was supposed to know intimately. "And they say you have the hero here--the Victoria Cross man--and thatyou know him. You must show him to me, and get me introduced. " "There is no Victoria Cross man here, " said Rachel, coldly. "ColonelKeith did not have one. " "Oh, no, I don't mean Colonel Keith, but Captain Alexander Keith, quitea young man. Oh, I am sure you remember the story--you were quite wildabout it--of his carrying the lighted shell out of the hospital tent;and they told me he was always over here, and his sister staying withLady Temple. " "I know Captain Alexander Keith, " said Rachel, slowly; "but you must bemistaken, I am certain I should know if he had a Victoria Cross. " "It is very odd; Charlie told me it was the same, " said Miss Grey, who, like all others, was forced to bend to Rachel's decisive manner. "Scottish names are very common, " said Rachel, and at that moment apartner came and carried Emily off. But as Rachel stood still, an odd misgiving seized her, a certain doubtwhether upon the tall lazy figure that was leaning against a wall nearlyopposite to her, talking to another officer, she did not see somethingsuspiciously bronze and eight-pointed that all did not wear. There wasclearly a medal, though with fewer clasps than some owned; but what elsewas there? She thought of the lecture on heroism she had given to him, and felt hot all over. Behold, he was skirting the line of chaperons, and making his way towards their party. The thing grew more visible, andshe felt more disconcerted than ever had been her lot before; but escapethere was none, here he was shaking hands. "You don't polk?" he said to her. "In fact, you regard all this as adelusion of weak minds. Then, will you come and have some tea?" Rachel took his arm, still bewildered, and when standing before him withthe tea-cup in her hand, she interrupted something he was saying, sheknew not what, with, "That is not the Victoria Cross?" "Then it is, like all the rest, a delusion, " he answered, in his usualimpassive manner. "And gained, " she continued, "by saving the lives of all those officers, the very thing I told you about!" "You told me that man was killed. " "Then it was not you!" "Perhaps they picked up the pieces of the wrong one. " "But if you would only tell me how you gained it. " "By the pursuit of conchology. " "Then it was yourself?" again said Rachel, in her confusion. "If I be I as I suppose I be, " he replied, giving her his arm again, andas they turned towards the conservatory, adding, "Many such things havehappened, and I did not know whether you meant this. " "That was the reason you made so light of it. " "What, because I thought it was somebody else?" "No, the contrary reason; but I cannot understand why you let me go onwithout telling me. " "I never interfere when a story is so perfect in itself. " "But is my story perfect in itself?" said Rachel, "or is it thecontrary?" "No one knows less of the particulars than I do, " he answered. "I thinkyour version was that it was an hospital tent that the shell came into. It was not that, but a bungalow, which was supposed to be out of range. It stood on a bit of a slope, and I thought I should have been able tokick the shell down before it had time to do mischief. " "But you picked it up, and took it to the door--I mean, did you?" saidRachel, who was beginning to discover that she must ask Alick Keitha direct question, if she wished to get an answer, and she received agesture of assent. "I was very blind, " she said, humbly, "and now I have gone and insistedto poor Emily Grey that you never did any such thing. " "Thank you, " he said; "it was the greatest kindness you could do me. " "Ah! your sister said you had the greatest dislike to hero worship. " "A natural sense of humbug, " he said. "I don't know why they gave methis, " he added, touching his cross, "unless it was that one of theparty in the bungalow had a turn for glorifying whatever happened tohimself. Plenty of more really gallant things happened every day, andwere never heard of, and I, who absolutely saw next to nothing of thecampaign, have little right to be decorated. " "Ah!" said Rachel, thoughtfully, "I have always wondered whether onewould be happier for having accomplished an act of heroism. " "I do not know, " said Alick, thoughtfully; then, as Rachel lookedup with a smile of amazement, "Oh, you mean this; but it was mereself-preservation. I could hardly even have bolted, for I was laid upwith fever, and was very shaky on my legs. " "I suppose, however, " said Rachel, "that the vision of one's life inentering the army would be to win that sort of distinction, and soyoung. " "Win it as some have done, " said Alick, "and deserve what is far betterworth than distinction. That may be the dream, but, after all, it isthe discipline and constant duty that make the soldier, and are far morereally valuable than exceptional doings. " "People must always be ready for them, though, " said Rachel "And they are, " said Alick, with grave exultation in his tone. Then, after a pause, she led back the conversation to its personalcharacter, by saying. "Do you mean that the reception of this cross wasno gratification to you?" "No, I am not so absurd, " he replied, but he added sadly, "That wasdamped quite otherwise. The news that I was named for it came almost inthe same breath with that of my father's death, and he had not heard Iwas to receive it. " "Ah! I can understand. " "And you can see how intolerable was the fuss my good relations madewith me just when the loss was fresh on me, and with that of my twochief friends, among my brother officers, fellows beside whom I wasnobody, and there was my uncle's blindness getting confirmed. Was notthat enough to sicken one with being stuck up for a lion, and constantlypoked up by the showwoman, under pretext of keeping up one's spirits!" "And you were--I mean were you--too ill to escape?" "I was less able to help myself than Miss Williams is. There had beena general smash of all the locomotive machinery on this side, and thewretched monster could do nothing but growl at his visitors. " "Should you growl very much if I introduced you to Emily Grey? Yousee it is a matter of justice and truth to tell her now, after havingcontradicted her so flatly. I will wait to let you get out of the wayfirst if you like, but I think that would be unkind to her; and if youever do dance, I wish you would dance with her. " "With all my heart, " he answered. "Oh, thank you, " said Rachel, warmly. He observed with some amusement Rachel's utter absence of smalldexterities, and of even the effort to avoid the humiliation of aconfession of her error. Miss Grey and a boy partner had wandered intothe conservatory, and were rather dismally trying to seem occupied withthe camellias when Rachel made her way to them, and though he could notactually hear the words, he knew pretty well what they were. "Emily, you were right after all, and I was mistaken, " and then as he drew near, "Miss Grey, Captain Keith wishes to be introduced to you. " It had been a great shock to Rachel's infallibility, and as she slowlybegan working her way in search of her mother, after observingthe felicity of Emily's bright eyes, she fell into a musing on theadvantages of early youth in its indiscriminating powers ofenthusiasm for anything distinguished for anything, and that senseof self-exaltation in any sort of contact with a person who had beenpublicly spoken of. "There is genuine heroism in him, " thought Rachel, "but it is just in what Emily would never appreciate--it is in thefeeling that he could not help doing as he did; the half-grudging hisreward to himself because other deeds have passed unspoken. I wonderwhether his ironical humour would allow him to see that Mr. Maulevereris as veritable a hero in yielding hopes of consideration, prospects, honours, to his sense of truth and uprightness. If he would only lookwith an unprejudiced eye, I know he would be candid. " "Are you looking for Mrs. Curtis?" said Colonel Keith. "I think she isin the other room. " "Not particularly, thank you, " said Rachel, and she was surprised tofind how glad she was to look up freely at him. "Would it be contrary to your principles or practice to dance with me?" "To my practice, " she said smilingly, "so let us find my mother. IsMiss Alison Williams here? I never heard whether it was settled that sheshould come, " she added, resolved both to show him her knowledge of hissituation, and to let her mother see her at her ease with him. "No, she was obstinate, though her sister and I did our utmost topersuade her, and the boys were crazy to make her go. " "I can't understand your wishing it. " "Not as an experience of life? Alison never went to anything in hergirlhood, but devoted herself solely to her sister, and it would bepleasant to see her begin her youth. " "Not as a mere young lady!" exclaimed Rachel. "That is happily not possible. " An answer that somewhat puzzled Rachel, whose regard for him was likelyto be a good deal dependent upon his contentment with Alison's stationin life. "I must say young ladyhood looks to the greatest advantage there, "Rachel could not help exclaiming, as at that moment Elizabeth Keithsmiled at them, as she floated past, her airy white draperies loopedwith scarlet ribbons; her dark hair turned back and fastened by a snoodof the same, an eagle's feather clasped in it by a large emerald, amemory of her father's last siege--that of Lucknow. "She is a very pretty creature, " said the Colonel, under the sparkle ofher bright eyes. "I never saw any one make the pursuits of young ladyhood have so muchspirit and meaning, " added Rachel. "Here you see she has managed to makeherself sufficiently like other people, yet full of individual characterand meaning. " "That is the theory of dress, I suppose, " said the Colonel. "If one chooses to cultivate it. " "Did you ever see Lady Temple in full dress?" "No; we were not out when we parted as girls. " "Then you have had a loss. I think it was at our last Melbourne ball, that when she went to the nursery to wish the children good night, oneof them--Hubert, I believe--told her to wear that dress when she went toheaven, and dear old Sir Stephen was so delighted that he went straightupstairs to kiss the boy for it. " "Was that Lady Temple?" said Alick Keith, who having found Miss Greyengaged many deep, joined them again, and at his words came back athrill of Rachel's old fear and doubt as to the possible future. "Yes, " said the Colonel; "I was recollecting the gracious vision sheused to be at all our chief's parties. " "Vision, you call her, who lived in the house with her? What do youthink she was to us--poor wretches--coming up from barracks where Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was our cynosure? There was not one of us to whom shewas not Queen of the East, and more, with that innocent, soft, helplessdignity of hers!" "And Sir Stephen for the first of her vassals, " said the Colonel. "What a change it has been!" said Alick. "Yes; but a change that has shown her to have been unspoilable. We werejust agreeing on the ball-room perfections of her and your sister intheir several lines. " "Very different lines, " said Alick, smiling. "I can't judge of Fanny's, " said Rachel, "but your sister is almostenough to make one believe there can be some soul in young lady life. " "I did not bring Bessie here to convert you, " was the somewhatperplexing answer. "Nor has she, " said Rachel, "except so far as I see that she can followordinary girls' pursuits without being frivolous in them. " Alick bowedat the compliment. "And she has been a sunbeam, " added Rachel, "we shall all feel graverand cloudier without her. " "Yes, " said Colonel Keith, "and I am glad Mr. Clare has such a sunbeamfor his parsonage. What a blessing she will be there!" he added, as hewatched Bessie's graceful way of explaining to his brother some littlematter in behalf of the shy mother of a shy girl. Thinking he might bewanted, Colonel Keith went forward to assist, and Rachel continued, "Ido envy that power of saying the right thing to everybody!" "Don't--it is the greatest snare, " was his answer, much amazing her, forshe had her mind full of the two direct personal blunders she had madetowards him. "It prevents many difficulties and embarrassments. " "Very desirable things. " "Yes; for those that like to laugh, but not for those that are laughedat, " said Rachel. "More so; the worst of all misfortunes is to wriggle too smoothlythrough life. " This was to Rachel the most remarkable part of the evening; as to therest, it was like all other balls, a weariness: Grace enjoying herselfand her universal popularity, always either talking or dancing, and hermother comfortable and dutiful among other mothers; the brilliant figureand ready grace of Bessie Keith being the one vision that perpetuallyflitted in her dreams, and the one ever-recurring recollection thatCaptain Keith, the veritable hero of the shell, had been lectured byher on his own deed! In effect Rachel had never felt so beaten down andashamed of herself; so doubtful of her own most positive convictions, and yet not utterly dissatisfied, and the worst of it was that EmilyGrey was after all carried off without dancing with the hero; and Rachelfelt as if her own opinionativeness had defrauded the poor girl. Other balls sent her home in a state of weariness, disgust, and contempttowards every one, but this one had resulted in displeasure withherself, yet in much interest and excitement; and, oh, passing strange!through that same frivolous military society. Indeed the military society was soon in better odour with her than theclerical. She had been making strenuous efforts to get to St. Herbert's, with Mr. Mitchell, for some time past, but the road was in a stateof being repaired, and the coachman was determined against taking hishorses there. As to going by train, that was equally impossible, sincehe would still less have driven her to the station, finally, Racheltook the resolute stop of borrowing Fanny's pony carriage, and drivingherself and the clergyman to the station, where she was met by Mrs. Morris, the mother of one of the girls, to whom she had promised such avisit, as it had been agreed that it would be wisest not to unsettle thescholars by Christmas holidays. The F. U. E. E. Was in perfect order; the little girls sat upon a benchwith their copies before them, Mrs. Rawlins in the whitest of capspresided over them, and Mr. Mauleverer was very urbane, conductingthe visitors over the house himself, and expatiating on his views ofcleanliness, ventilation, refinement, and equality of cultivation, whileMrs. Rawlins remained to entertain Mrs. Morris. Nothing could be morepractical and satisfactory; some admirable drawings of the children'swere exhibited, and their conduct was said to be excellent; except, Mr. Mauleverer remarked unwillingly, that there was a tendency about littleMary to fancy herself injured, and he feared that she was not alwaystruthful; but these were childish faults, that he hoped would pass awaywith further refinement, and removal from the lower influences of herhome. After this, Rachel was not surprised that poor, ignorant, and alwaysdeplorable Mrs. Morris did not seem in raptures with the state of herchild, but more inclined to lament not having seen more of her, andnot having her at home. That was quite in accordance with peasantshortsightedness and ingratitude, but it was much more disappointingthat Mr. Mitchell said little or nothing of approbation; asked her afew questions about her previous knowledge of Mr. Mauleverer and Mrs. Rawlins, and when she began to talk of arranging for some one or two ofhis London orphans, thanked her rather shortly, but said there was noway of managing it. It was evident that he was quite as prejudiced asothers of his clerical brethren, and the more Rachel read of currentliterature, the more she became convinced of their bondage to views intowhich they durst not examine, for fear honesty should compel them toassert their conclusions. She had hoped better things from the stranger, but she began to bepersuaded that all her former concessions to the principles infused inher early days were vain entanglements, and that it was merely weaknessand unwillingness to pain her mother that prevented her from breakingthrough them. She could not talk this out with anybody, except now and then anutterance to the consenting Mr. Mauleverer, but in general she wouldhave been shocked to put these surging thoughts into words, and Bessiewas her only intimate who would avow that there could be anything tobe found fault with in a clergyman. When alone together, Bessie wouldsometimes regretfully, sometimes in a tone of amusement, go over bitsof narrow-minded folly that had struck her in the clergy, and moreespecially in her uncle's curate, Mr. Lifford, whose dryness was, sheowned, very repulsive to her. "He is a good creature, " she said, "and most necessary to my uncle, buthow he and I are to get through life together, I cannot tell. It mustsoon be tried, though! After my visit at Bath will come my home atBishopsworthy!" And then she confided to Rachel all the parish ways, andtook counsel on the means of usefulness that would not clash with thecurate and pain her uncle. She even talked of a possible orphan for theF. U. E. E. , only that unlucky prejudice against Mr. Mauleverer was sureto stand in the way. So acceptable had Bessie Keith made herself everywhere, that allAvonmouth was grieved at her engagement to spend the winter at Bathwith her married cousin, to whom she was imperatively necessary in thegetting up of a musical party. "And I must go some time or other, " she said to Colonel Keith, "so ithad better be when you are all here to make Myrtlewood cheerful, andI can be of most use to poor Jane! I do think dear Lady Temple is muchmore full of life and brightness now!" Everybody seemed to consider Bessie's departure as their own personalloss: the boys were in despair for their playfellow, Ermine would missthose sunny visits; Colonel Keith many a pleasant discussion, repletewith delicate compliments to Ermine, veiled by tact; and Lord Keith thepretty young clanswoman who had kept up a graceful little coquetry withhim, and even to the last evening, went on walking on the esplanade withhim in the sunset, so as to set his brother free to avoid the eveningchill. And, above all, Lady Temple regretted the loss of the cheery companionof her evenings. True, Bessie had lately had a good many small eveninggaieties, but she always came back from them so fresh and bright, and sofull of entertaining description and anecdote, that Fanny felt as if shehad been there herself, and, said Bessie, "it was much better for herthan staying at home with her, and bringing in no novelty. " "Pray come to me again, dearest! Your stay has been the greatest treat. It is very kind in you to be so good to me. " "It is you who are good to me, dearest Lady Temple. " "I am afraid I shall hardly get you again. Your poor uncle will neverbe able to part with you, so I won't ask you to promise, but if ever youcan--" "If ever I can! This has been a very happy time, dear Lady Temple, " aconfidence seemed trembling on her lips, but she suppressed it. "I shallalways think of you as the kindest friend a motherless girl ever had! Iwill write to you from Bath. Good-bye--" And there were all the boys in a row, little affectionate Hubertabsolutely tearful, and Conrade holding up a bouquet, on which he hadspent all his money, having persuaded Coombe to ride with him to thenursery garden at Avoncester to procure it. He looked absolutely shy andblushing, when Bessie kissed him and promised to dry the leaves and keepthem for ever. CHAPTER XV. GO AND BRAY "Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this!"-- As You Like It "Alick, I have something to say to you. " Captain Keith did not choose to let his sister travel alone, when hecould help it, and therefore was going to Bath with her, intending toreturn to Avoncester by the next down train. He made no secret that hethought it a great deal of trouble, and had been for some time asleep, when, at about two stations from Bath, Bessie having shut the littledoor in the middle of the carriage, thus addressed him, "Alick, I havesomething to say to you, and I suppose I may as well say it now. " She pressed upon his knee, and with an affected laziness, he drew hiseyes wide open. "Ah, well, I've been a sore plague to you, but I shall be off your handsnow. " "Eh! whose head have you been turning?" "Alick, what do you think of Lord Keith?" Alick was awake enough now! "The old ass!" he exclaimed. "But at leastyou are out of his way now. " "Not at all. He is coming to Bath to-morrow to see my aunt. " "And you want me to go out to-morrow and stop him?" "No, Alick, not exactly. I have been cast about the world too long notto be thankful. " "Elizabeth!" "Do not look so very much surprised, " she said, in her sweet pleadingway. "May I not be supposed able to feel that noble kindness andgracious manner, and be glad to have some one to look up to?" "And how about Charlie Carleton?" demanded Alick, turning round full onher. "For shame, Alick!" she exclaimed hotly; "you who were the one topersecute me about him, and tell me all sorts of things about his beingshallow and unprincipled, and not to be thought of, you to bring him upagainst me now. " "I might think all you allege, " returned Alick, gravely, "and yet bemuch amazed at the new project. " Bessie laughed. "In fact you made a little romance, in which you actedthe part of sapient brother, and the poor little sister broke her heartever after! You wanted such an entertainment when you were lying on thesofa, so you created a heroine and a villain, and thundered down to therescue. " "Very pretty, Bessie, but it will not do. It was long after I was wellagain, and had joined. " "Then it was the well-considered effect of the musings of yourconvalescence! When you have a sister to take care of, it is as well tofeel that you are doing it. " "Now, Elizabeth, " said her brother, with seriousness not to be laughedaside, and laying his hand on hers, "before I hear another word on thismatter, look me in the face and tell me deliberately that you nevercared for Carleton. " "I never thought for one moment of marrying him, " said Bessie, haughtily. "If I ever had any sort of mercy on him, it was all to teaseyou. There, are you satisfied?" "I must be, I suppose, " he replied, and he sighed heavily. "When wasthis settled?" "Yesterday, walking up and down the esplanade. He will tell his brotherto-day, and I shall write to Lady Temple. Oh, Alick, he is so kind, hespoke so highly of you. " "I must say, " returned Alick, in the same grave tone, "that if youwished for the care of an old man, I should have thought my uncle themore agreeable of the two. " "He is little past fifty. You are very hard on him. " "On the contrary, I am sorry for him. You will always find it good forhim to do whatever suits yourself. " "Alick?" said his sister mournfully, "you have never forgotten orforgiven my girlish bits of neglect after your wound. " "No, Bessie, " he said, holding her hand kindly, "it is not the neglector the girlishness, but the excuses to me, still more to my uncle, andmost of all to yourself. They are what make me afraid for you in whatyou are going to take upon yourself. " She did not answer immediately, and he pursued--"Are you driven to thisby dislike to living at Bishopsworthy? If so, do not be afraid to tellme. I will make any arrangement, if you would prefer living with Jane. We agreed once that it would be too expensive, but now I could let youhave another hundred a year. " "As if I would allow that, Alick! No, indeed! Lord Keith means you tohave all my share. " "Does he? There are more words than one to that question. And pray is hegoing to provide properly for his poor daughter in the West Indies?" "I hope to induce him to take her into favour. " "Eh? and to make him give up to Colin Keith that Auchinvar estate thathe ought to have had when Archie Keith died?" "You may be sure I shall do my best for the Colonel. Indeed, I do thinkLord Keith will consent to the marriage now. " "You have sacrificed yourself on that account?" he said, with irony inhis tone, that he could have repented the next moment, so good-humouredwas her reply, "That is understood, so give me the merit. " "The merit of, for his sake, becoming a grandmother. You have thought ofthe daughters? Mrs. Comyn Menteith must be older than yourself. " "Three years, " said Bessie, in his own tone of acceptance of startlingfacts, "and I shall have seven grandchildren in all, so you see you mustrespect me. " "Do you know her sentiments?" "I know what they will be when we have met. Never fear, Alick. If shewere not married it might be serious, being so, I have no fears. " Then came a silence, till a halt at the last station before Bath rousedAlick again. "Bessie, " he said, in the low voice the stoppage permitted, "don't thinkme unkind. I believe you have waited on purpose to leave me no timefor expostulation, and what I have said has sounded the more harsh inconsequence. " "No, Alick, " she said, "you are a kind brother in all but theconstructions you put upon my doings. I think it would be better ifthere were more difference between our ages. You are a young guardian, over anxious, and often morbidly fanciful about me during your illness. I think we shall be happier together when you no longer feel yourselfresponsible. " "The tables turned, " muttered Alick. "I am prepared for misconstruction, " added Bessie. "I know it will besupposed to be the title; the estate it cannot be, for you know how poora property it is; but I do not mean to care for the world. Your opinionis a different thing, and I thought you would have seen that I couldnot be insensible to such dignified kindness, and the warmth of a naturethat many people think cold. " "I don't like set speeches, Bessie. " "Then believe me, Alick. May I not love the fine old man that has beenso kind to me?" "I hope you do, " said Alick, slowly. "And you can't believe it? Not with Lady Temple before you and hers wasreally an old man. " "Do not talk of her or Sir Stephen either. No, Bessie, " he added morecalmly after a time, "I may be doing great injustice to you both, but Imust speak what it is my duty to say. Lord Keith is a hard, self-seekingman, who has been harsh and grasping towards his family, and I verilybelieve came here bent on marriage, only because his brother was nolonger under his tyranny. He may not be harsh to you, because he is pasthis vigour, and if he really loves you, you have a power of governing;but from what I know of you, I cannot believe in your loving him enoughto make such management much better than selfish manoeuvring. ThereforeI cannot think this marriage for your real welfare, or be other thanbitterly grieved at it. Do not answer, Bessie, but think this over, andif at any time this evening you feel the least doubt of your happinessin this matter, telegraph to me, and I will stop him. " "Indeed, Alick, " she answered, without anger, "I believe you are veryanxious for my good. " It will readily be believed that Captain Keith received no telegram. Nevertheless, as soon as his time was his own the next morning, he rodeto Avonmouth and sought out the Colonel, not perhaps with very definedhopes of making any change in his sister's intentions, but feeling thatsome attempt on his own part must be made, if only to free himselffrom acquiescence, and thinking that Colin, as late guardian to the oneparty, and brother to the other, was the most proper medium. Colonel Keith was taken by surprise at the manner in which his cordialgreeting was met. He himself had been far from displeased at hisbrother's communication; it was a great relief to him personally, as well as on Lady Temple's account, and he had been much charmed atBessie's good sense and engaging graces. As to disparity of years, LordKeith had really made himself much younger of late, and there was muchto excite a girl's romance in the courtesy of an elderly man, the chiefof her clan; moreover, the perfect affection and happiness Colin hadbeen used to witness in his general's family disposed him to make lightof that objection; and he perceived that his brother was sufficientlybewitched to be likely to be kind and indulgent to his bride. He had not expected Alexander Keith to be as well pleased as he washimself, but he was not prepared for his strong disapprobation, andearnest desire to find some means of prevention, and he began toreassure him upon the placability of Mrs. Comyn Menteith, the daughter, as well as upon his brother's kindness to the objects of his realaffection. "Oh, I am not afraid of that. She will manage him fast enough. " "Very likely, and for his good. Nor need you question his being a safeguide for her in higher matters. Perhaps you are prejudiced against himbecause his relations with me have not been happy, but candidly, in themyou know the worst of him; and no doubt he thought himself purely actingfor my welfare. I know much more of him now that I have been at homewith him, and I was greatly struck with his real consideration for thegood of all concerned with him. " "No, I am not thinking of Lord Keith. To speak it out, I cannot believethat my sister has heart enough in this to justify her. " "Young girls often are more attracted by elderly men than by lads. " "You do not know Bessie as, I am sorry to say, I do, " said Alick, speaking slowly and sadly, and with a flush of shame on his cheek. "I donot say that she says anything untrue, but the truth is not in her. She is one of those selfish people who are infinitely better likedthan those five hundred times their worth, because they take care to bealways pleased. " "They give as much pleasure as they take. " "Yes, they take every one in. I wish to my heart I could be taken intoo, but I have seen too much of her avoidance of every service to myuncle that she did not like. I verily believe, at this moment, that onegreat inducement with her is to elude the care of him. " "Stern judgments, Alick. I know you would not speak thus withoutwarrant; but take it into account that marriage makes many a girl'sselfishness dual, and at last drowns the self. " "Yes, when it is a marriage of affection. But the truth must betold, Colonel. There was a trumpery idle fellow always loitering atLittleworthy, and playing croquet. I set my face against it with allmy might, and she always laughed to scorn the notion that there wasanything in it, nor do I believe that she has heart enough to wish tomarry him. I could almost say I wish she had, but I never saw her showthe same pleasure in any one's attentions, and I believe he is gone outto Rio in hopes of earning means to justify his addresses. " Colonel Keith sat gravely considering what he knew would not be spokenlightly. "Do you mean that there was attachment enough to make itdesirable that you should tell my brother?" "No, I could say nothing that she could not instantly contradict withperfect truth, though not with perfect sincerity. " "Let me ask you one question, Alick--not a flattering one. May not someof these private impressions of yours have been coloured by your longillness!" "That is what Bessie gives every one to understand, " said Alick, calmly. "She is right, to a certain degree, that suffering sharpened myperceptions, and helplessness gave me time to draw conclusions. If I hadbeen well, I might have been as much enchanted as other people; andif my uncle had not needed her care, and been neglected, I could havethought that I was rendered exacting by illness. But I imagine all Ihave said is not of the slightest use, only, if you think it rightto tell your brother to talk to me, I would rather stand all thevituperation that would fall on me than allow this to take place. " Colonel Keith walked up and down the room considering, whilst Alicksat in a dejected attitude, shading his face, and not uttering howvery bitter it had been to him to make the accusation, nor how dear thesister really was. "I see no purpose that would be answered, " said Colonel Keith, coming toa pause at last; "you have nothing tangible to mention, even as to theformer affair that you suspect. I see a great deal in your view ofher to make you uneasy, but nothing that would not be capable ofexplanation, above all to such a man as my brother. It would appear likemere malevolence. " "Never mind what it would appear, " said Alick, who was evidently in sucha ferment as his usually passive demeanour would have seemed incapableof. "If the appearance would entirely baffle the purpose, it must beconsidered, " said the Colonel; "and in this case it could only lead toestrangement, which would be a lasting evil. I conclude that you haveremonstrated with your sister. " "As much as she gave me time for; but of course that is breath spent invain. " "Your uncle had the same means of judging as yourself. " "No, Colonel, he could do nothing! In the first place, there can be nocorrespondence with him; and next, he is so devotedly fond of Bessie, that he would no more believe anything against her than Lady Templewould. I have tried that more than once. " "Then, Alick, there is nothing for it but to let it take its course;and even upon your own view, your sister will be much safer married thansingle. " "I had very little expectation of your saying anything else, but incommon honesty I felt bound to let you know. " "And now the best thing to be done is to forget all you have said. " "Which you will do the more easily as you think it an amiable delusionof mine. Well, so much the better. I dare say you will never thinkotherwise, and I would willingly believe that my senses went after myfingers' ends. " The Colonel almost believed so himself. He was aware of the miserablysensitive condition of shattered nerve in which Alick had been senthome, and of the depression of spirits that had ensued on the news ofhis father's death; and he thought it extremely probable that his wearyhours and solicitude for his gay young sister might have made molehillsinto mountains, and that these now weighed on his memory and conscience. At least, this seemed the only way of accounting for an impression socontrary to that which Bessie Keith made on every one else, and, byhis own avowal, on the uncle whom he so much revered. Every other voiceproclaimed her winning, amiable, obliging, considerate, and devotedto the service of her friends, with much drollery and shrewdness ofperception, tempered by kindness of heart and unwillingness to givepain; and on that sore point of residence with the blind uncle, itwas quite possibly a bit of Alick's exaggerated feeling to imagine thearrangement so desirable--the young lady might be the better judge. On the whole, the expostulation left Colonel Keith more uncomfortable onAlick's account than on that of his brother. CHAPTER XVI. AN APPARITION. "And there will be auld Geordie Tanner, Who coft a young wife wi' his gowd. " JOANNA BAILLIE. "Mamma, " quoth Leoline, "I thought a woman must not marry hergrandfather. And she called him the patriarch of her clan. " "He is a cross old man, " added Hubert. "He said children ought not to beallowed on the esplanade, because he got into the way as I was pushingthe perambulator. " "This was the reason, " said Francis, gravely, "that she stopped mefrom braying at him. I shall know what people are at, when they talk ofdisrespect another time. " "Don't talk of her, " cried Conrade, flinging himself round; "women haveno truth in them. " "Except the dear, darling, delightful mammy!" And the larger proportionof boys precipitated themselves headlong upon her, so that any one buta mother would have been buffeted out of breath in their struggles forembracing ground; and even Lady Temple found it a relief when Hubert, having been squeezed out, bethought himself of extending the honourableexception to Miss Williams, and thus effected a diversion. What wouldhave been the young gentlemen's reception of his lordship's previousproposal! Yet in the fulness of her gladness the inconsistent widow, who hadthought Lord Keith so much too old for herself, gave her younger friendheartfelt congratulations upon the blessing of being under fatherlydirection and guidance. She was entrusted with the announcement toRachel, who received it with a simple "Indeed!" and left her cousinunmolested in her satisfaction, having long relegated Fanny to the classof women who think having a friend about to be married the next bestthing to being married themselves, no matter to whom. "Aspirations in women are mere delusions, " was her compensating sigh toGrace. "There is no truer saying, than that a woman will receive everyman. " "I have always been glad that is aprocryphal, " said Grace, "and Easternwomen have no choice. " "Nor are Western women better than Eastern, " said Rachel. "It is allcircumstances. No mental power or acuteness has in any instance thatI have yet seen, been able to balance the propensity to bondage. Theutmost flight is, that the attachment should not be unworthy. " "I own that I am very much surprised, " said Grace. "I am not at all, " said Rachel. "I have given up hoping better things. Iwas beginning to have a high opinion of Bessie Keith's capabilities, butwomanhood was at the root all the time; and, as her brother says, shehas had great disadvantages, and I can make excuses for her. She had nother heart filled with one definite scheme of work and usefulness, suchas deters the trifling and designing. " "Like the F. U. E. E. ?" "Yes, the more I see of the fate of other women, the more thankful I amthat my vocation has taken a formed and developed shape. " And thus Rachel could afford to speak without severity of the match, though she abstained from congratulation. She did not see CaptainKeith for the next few days, but at last the two sisters met him atthe Cathedral door as they were getting into the carriage after aday's shopping at Avoncester; and Grace offered her congratulations, inaccordance with her mother's old fashioned code. "Thank you, " he said; then turning to Rachel, "Did she write to you?" "No. " "I thought not. " There was something marked in his tone, but his sister's silence wasnot of long duration, for a letter arrived containing orders for lace, entreating that a high pressure might be put on Mrs. Kelland, andcontaining beauteous devices for the veil, which was to be completed ina fearfully short time, since the wedding was to be immediate, inorder that Lord Keith might spend Christmas and the ensuing coldmonths abroad. It was to take place at Bath, and was to be as quiet aspossible; "or else, " wrote Miss Keith, "I should have been enchanted tohave overcome your reluctance to witness the base surrender of femalerights. I am afraid you are only too glad to be let off, only don'tthank me, but circumstances. " Rachel's principles revolted at the quantity of work demanded of thevictims to lace, and Grace could hardly obtain leave to consult Mrs. Kelland. But she snapped at the order, for the honour and glory ofthe thing, and undertook through the ramifications of her connexion toobtain the whole bridal array complete. "For such a pleasant-spoken ladyas Miss Keith, she would sit up all night rather than disappoint her. " The most implacable person of all was the old housekeeper, Tibbie. She had been warmly attached to Lady Keith, and resented her having asuccessor, and one younger than her daughters; and above all, ever sincethe son and heir had died, she had reckoned on her own Master Colincoming to the honours of the family, and regarded this new marriage asa crossing of Providence. She vainly endeavoured to stir up Master Colinto remonstrate on his brother's "makin' siccan a fule's bargain wi'yon glaikit lass. My certie, but he'll hae the warst o't, honest man;rinnin' after her, wi' a' her whigmaleries an' cantrips. He'll ruethe day that e'er he bowed his noble head to the likes o' her, I'mjalousin. " It was to no purpose to remind her that the bride was a Keith inblood; her great grandfather a son of the house of Gowanbrae; all thesubsequent descendants brave soldiers. "A Keith ca' ye her! It's a queer kin' o' Keiths she's comed o', naebetter nor Englishers that haena sae muckle's set fit in our bonnyScotland; an' sic scriechin', skirlin' tongues as they hae, a body wadneed to be gleg i' the uptak to understan' a word they say. Tak' my wordfor't, Maister Colin, it's no a'thegither luve for his lordship's greyhairs that gars yon gilpy lassock seek to become my Leddy Keith. " "Nay, Tibbie, if you find fault with such a sweet, winning youngcreature, I shall think it is all because you will not endure a mistressat Gowanbrae over you. " "His lordship'll please himsel' wi' a leddy to be mistress o' Gowanbrae, but auld Tibbie'll never cross the doorstane mair. " "Indeed you will, Tibbie; here are my brother's orders that you shouldgo down, as soon as you can conveniently make ready, and see about thenew plenishing. " "They may see to the plenishing that's to guide it after han, an'that'll no be me. My lord'll behove to tak' his orders aff his youngleddy ance he's married on her, may be a whilie afore, but that's no tobind ither folk, an' it's no to be thought that at my years I'm to beputtin' up wi' a' ther new fangled English fykes an' nonsense maggots. Na, na, Maister Colin, his lordship'll fend weel aneugh wantin' Tibbie;an' what for suld I leave yerself, an' you settin' up wi' a house o'yer ain? Deed an' my mind's made up, I'll e'en bide wi' ye, an' nae mairabout it. " "Stay, stay, " cried Colin, a glow coming into his cheeks, "don't reckonwithout your host, Tibbie. Do you think Gowanbrae the second is never tohave any mistress but yourself?" "Haud awa' wi' ye, laddie, I ken fine what ye'ra ettlin' at, but yon's abraw leddy, no like thae English folk, but a woman o' understandin', an'mair by token I'm thinkin' she'll be gleg aneugh to ken a body that'llserve her weel, an' see to the guidin' o' thae feckless queens o'servant lasses, for bad's the best o' them ye'll fin' hereawa'. Naefear but her an' me'll put it up weel thegither, an' a' gude be wi' yebaith. " After this Colin resigned himself and his household to Tibbie's somewhatdespotic government, at least for the present. To Ermine's suggestionthat her appellation hardly suited the dignity of her station, hereplied that Isabel was too romantic for southern ears, and that hersurname being the same as his own, he was hardly prepared to have thetitle of Mrs. Keith pre-occupied. So after Mrs. Curtis's example, theworld for the most part knew the colonel's housekeeper as Mrs. Tibbs. She might be a tyrant, but liberties were taken with her territory; foralmost the first use that the colonel made of his house was to ask arheumatic sergeant, who had lately been invalided, to come and benefitby the Avonmouth climate. Scottish hospitality softened Tibbie's heart, and when she learnt that Sergeant O'Brien had helped to carry MasterColin into camp after his wound, she thought nothing too good for him. The Colonel then ventured to add to the party an exemplary consumptivetailor from Mr. Mitchell's parish, who might yet be saved by goodliving and good air. Some growls were elicited, but he proved to beso deplorably the ninetieth rather than the ninth part of a man, thatTibbie made it her point of honour to fatten him; and the sergeantfound him such an intelligent auditor of the Indian exploits of the--th Highlanders that mutual respect was fully established, and highpoliteness reigned supreme, even though the tailor could never beinduced to delight in the porridge, on which the sergeant dailycomplimented the housekeeper in original and magnificent metaphors. Nor had the Colonel any anxieties in leaving the representatives of thethree nations together while he went to attend his brother's wedding. Heproposed that Tibbie should conduct Rose for the daily walk of whichhe had made a great point, thinking that the child did not get exerciseenough, since she was so averse to going alone upon the esplanade thather aunt forbore to press it. She manifested the same reluctance togoing out with Tibbie, and this the Colonel ascribed to her fancyingherself too old to be under the charge of a nurse. It was trying tolaugh her out of her dignity, but without eliciting an answer, when, one afternoon just as they were entering together upon the esplanade, hefelt her hand tighten upon his own with a nervous frightened clutch, asshe pressed tremulously to his side. "What is it, my dear? That dog is not barking at you. He only wants tohave a stick thrown into the sea for him. " "Oh not the dog! It was--" "Was, what?" "HIM!" gasped Rose. "Who?" inquired the Colonel, far from prepared for the reply, in aterrified whisper, -- "Mr. Maddox. " "My dear child! Which, where?" "He is gone! he is past. Oh, don't turn back! Don't let me see himagain. " "You don't suppose he could hurt you, my dear. " "No, " hesitated Rose, "not with you. " "Nor with any one. " "I suppose not, " said Rose, common sense reviving, though her grasp wasnot relaxed. "Would it distress you very much to try to point him out to me?" saidthe Colonel, in his irresistibly sweet tone. "I will. Only keep hold of my hand, pray, " and the little hand trembledso much that he felt himself committing a cruel action in leading heralong the esplanade, but there was no fresh start of recognition, andwhen they had gone the whole length, she breathed more freely, and said, "No, he was not there. " Recollecting how young she had been at the time of Maddox's treason, theColonel began to doubt if her imagination had not raised a bugbear, andhe questioned her, "My dear, why are you so much afraid, of this person?What do you know about him?" "He told wicked stories of my papa, " said Rose, very low. "True, but he could not hurt you. You don't think he goes about like RedRidinghood's wolf?" "No, I am not so silly now. " "Are you sure you know him? Did you often see him in your papa's house?" "No, he was always in the laboratory, and I might not go there. " "Then you see, Rose, it must be mere fancy that you saw him, for youcould not even know him by sight. " "It was not fancy, " said Rose, gentle and timid as ever, but stillobviously injured at the tone of reproof. "My dear child, " said Colonel Keith, with some exertion of patience, "you must try to be reasonable. How can you possibly recognise a manthat you tell me you never saw?" "I said I never saw him in the house, " said Rose with a shudder;"but they said if ever I told they would give me to the lions in theZoological Gardens. " "Who said so?" "He, Mr. Maddox and Maria, " she answered, in such trepidation that hecould scarcely hear her. "But you are old and wise enough now to know what a foolish and wickedthreat that was, my dear. " "Yes, I was a little girl then, and knew no better, and once I did tella lie when mamma asked me, and now she is dead, and I can never tell herthe truth. " Colin dreaded a public outbreak of the sobs that heaved in the poorchild's throat, but she had self-control enough to restrain them tillhe had led her into his own library, where he let her weep out herrepentance for the untruth, which, wrested from her by terror, hadweighed so long on her conscience. He felt that he was sparing Erminesomething by receiving the first tempest of tears, in the absoluteterror and anguish of revealing the secret that had preyed on her withmysterious horror. "Now tell me all about it, my dear little girl. Who was this Maria?" "Maria was my nurse when I lived at home. She used to take me outwalking, " said Rose, pressing closer to his protecting breast, andpausing as though still afraid of her own words. "Well, " he said, beginning to perceive, "and was it than that you sawthis Maddox?" "Yes, he used to come and walk with us, and sit under the trees inKensington Gardens with her. And sometimes he gave me lemon-drops, butthey said if ever I told, the lions should have me. I used to think Imight be saved like Daniel; but after I told the lie, I knew I shouldnot. Mamma asked me why my fingers were sticky, and I did say it wasfrom a lemon-drop, but there were Maria's eyes looking at me; oh, sodreadful, and when mamma asked who gave it to me, and Maria said, 'Idid, did not I, Miss Rose?' Oh, I did not seem able to help saying'yes. '" "Poor child! And you never dared to speak of it again?" "Oh, no! I did long to tell; but, oh, one night it was written up inletters of fire, 'Beware of the Lions. '" "Terror must have set you dreaming, my dear. " "No, " said Rose, earnestly. "I was quite awake. Papa and mamma were goneout to dine and sleep, and Maria would put me to bed half an hour toosoon. She read me to sleep, but by-and-by I woke up, as I always did atmamma's bed time, and the candle was gone, and there were those dreadfulletters in light over the door. " She spoke with such conviction that he became persuaded that all was notdelusion, and asked what she did. "I jumped up, and screamed, and opened the door; but there they weregrowling in papa's dressing-room. " "They, the lions? Oh, Rose, you must know that was impossible. " "No, I did not see any lions, but I heard the growl, and Mr. Maddoxcoughed, and said, 'Here they come, ' and growled again. " "And you--?" "I tumbled into bed again, and rolled up my head in the clothes, andprayed that it might be day, and it was at last!" "Poor child! Indeed, Rose, I do not wonder at your terror, I never heardof a more barbarous trick. " "Was it a trick?" said Rose, raising a wonderfully relieved and hopefulface. "Did you never hear of writing in phosphorus, a substance that shines atnight as the sea sometimes does?" "Aunt Ailie has a book with a story about writing in fiery letters, butit frightened me so much that I never read to the end. " "Bring it to me, and we will read it together, and then you will seethat such a cruel use can be made of phosphorus. " "It was unkind of them, " said Rose, sadly, "I wonder if they did it forfun?" "Where did you sleep?" "I had a little room that opened into mamma's. " "And where was all this growling?" "In papa's room. The door was just opposite to mine, and was open. Allthe light was there, you know. Mamma's room was dark, but there was acandle in the dressing-room. " "Did you see anything?" "Only the light. It was such a moment. I don't think I saw Mr. Maddox, but I am quite certain I heard him, for he had an odd little cough. " "Then, Rose, I have little doubt that all this cruelty to you, poorinoffensive little being, was to hide some plots against your father. " She caught his meaning with the quickness of a mind precocious on somepoints though childish on others. "Then if I had been brave and told thetruth, he might never have hurt papa. " "Mind, I do not know, and I never thought of blaming you, the chiefsufferer! No, don't begin to cry again. " "Ah! but I did tell a lie. And I never can confess it to mamma, " shesaid, recurring to the sad lament so long suppressed. She found a kind comforter, who led her to the higher sources ofconsolation, feeling all the time the deep self-accusation with whichthe sight of sweet childish penitence must always inspire a grownperson. "And now you will not fear to tell your aunt, " he added, "only it shouldbe when you can mention it without such sad crying. " "Telling you is almost as good as telling her, " said Rose, "and Ifeel safe with you, " she added, caressingly drawing his arm round her. "Please tell Aunt Ermine, for my crying does give her such a headache. " "I will, then, and I think when we all know it, the terrors will leaveyou. " "Not when I see Mr. Maddox. Oh, please now you know why, don't make mewalk without you. I do know now that he could not do anything to me, butI can't help feeling the fright. And, oh! if he was to speak to me!" "You have not seen him here before?" "Yes I have, at least I think so. Once when Aunt Ermine sent me to thepost-office, and another time on the esplanade. That is why I can'tbear going out without you or Aunt Ailie. Indeed, it is not dislikingTibbie. " "I see it is not, my dear, and we will say no more about it till youhave conquered your alarm; but remember, that he is not likely to knowyou again. You must be more changed in these three years than he is. " This consideration seemed to reassure Rose greatly, and her next inquirywas, "Please, are my eyes very red for going home?" "Somewhat mottled--something of the York and Lancaster rose. Shall Ileave you under Tibbie's care till the maiden blush complexion returns, and come back and fetch you when you have had a grand exhibition of myIndian curiosities?" "Have you Indian curiosities! I thought they were only for ladies?" "Perhaps they are. Is Tibbie guard enough? You know there's an Irishsergeant in the house taller than I am, if you want a garrison?" "Oh, I am not afraid, only these eyes. " "I will tell her you have been frightened, and she shall take nonotice. " Tibbie was an admirer of Rose and gladly made her welcome, while theColonel repaired to Ermine, and greatly startled her by the disclosureof the miseries that had been inflicted on the sensitive child. It had indeed been known that there had been tyranny in the nursery, and to this cause the aunts imputed the startled wistful expression inRose's eyes; but they had never questioned her, thinking that silencewould best wear out the recollection. The only wonder was that hersenses had not been permanently injured by that night of terror, whichaccounted for her unconquerable dread of sleeping in the dark; and astill more inexplicable horror of the Zoological Gardens, togetherwith many a nervous misery that Ermine had found it vain to combat. The Colonel asked if the nurse's cruelty had been the cause of herdismissal? "No, it was not discovered till after her departure. Her fate has alwaysbeen a great grief to us, though we little thought her capable of usingRose in this way. She was one of the Hathertons. You must remember thename, and the pretty picturesque hovel on the Heath. " "The squatters that were such a grievance to my uncle. Always suspectedof poaching, and never caught. " "Exactly. Most of the girls turned out ill, but this one, the youngest, was remarkably intelligent and attractive at school. I remember makingan excuse for calling her into the garden for you to see and confessthat English beauty exceeded Scottish, and you called her a gipsy andsaid we had no right to her. " "So it was those big black eyes that had that fiendish malice in them!" "Ah! if she fell into Maddox's hands, I wonder the less. She showed anamount of feeling about my illness that won Ailie's heart, and we hadher for a little handmaid to help my nurse. Then, when we broke up fromhome, we still kept her, and every one used to be struck with her looksand manner. She went on as well as possible, and Lucy set her heart onhaving her in the nursery. And when the upper nurse went away, shehad the whole care of Rose. We heard only of her praises till, toour horror, we found she had been sent away in disgrace at a moment'swarning. Poor Lucy was young, and so much shocked as only to think ofgetting her out of the house, not of what was to become of her, and allwe could learn was that she never went home. " "How long was this before the crash?" "It was only a few weeks before the going abroad, but they had beenabsent nearly a year. No doubt Maddox must have made her aid in hisschemes. You say Rose saw him?" "So she declares, and there is an accuracy of memory about her that Ishould trust to. Should you or Alison know him?" "No, we used to think it a bad sign that Edward never showed him to us. I remember Alison being disappointed that he was not at the factory theonly time she saw it. " "I do not like going away while he may be lurking about. I could send anote to-night, explaining my absence. " "No, no, " exclaimed Ermine, "that would be making me as bad as poorlittle Rose. If he be here ever so much he has done his worst, andEdward is out of his reach. What could he do to us? The affairs werewound up long ago, and we have literally nothing to be bullied out of. No, I don't think he could make me believe in lions in any shape. " "You strong-minded woman! You want to emulate the Rachel. " "You have brought her, " laughed Ermine at the sound of the well-knownknock, and Rachel entered bag in hand. "I was in hopes of meeting you, " she said to the Colonel. "I wanted toask you to take charge of some of these;" and she produced a packet ofprospectuses of a "Journal of Female Industry, " an illustrated monthlymagazine, destined to contain essays, correspondence, reviews, history, tales, etc. , to be printed and illustrated in the F. U. E. E. "I hoped, " said Rachel, "to have begun with the year, but we are notforward enough, and indeed some of the expenses require a subscriptionin advance. A subscriber in advance will have the year's numbers for tenshillings, instead of twelve; and I should be much obliged if you woulddistribute a few of these at Bath, and ask Bessie to do the same. Ishall set her name down at the head of the list, as soon as she hasqualified it for a decoy. " "Are these printed at the F. U. E. E. ?" "No, we have not funds as yet. Mr. Mauleverer had them done at Bristol, where he has a large connexion as a lecturer, and expects to get manysubscribers. I brought these down as soon as he had left them with me, in hopes that you would kindly distribute them at the wedding. And Iwished, " added she to Ermine, "to ask you to contribute to our firstnumber. " "Thank you, " and the doubtful tone induced Rachel to encourage herdiffidence. "I know you write a great deal, and I am sure you must produce somethingworthy to see the light. I have no scruple in making the request, asI know Colonel Keith agrees with me that womanhood need not be anextinguisher for talent. " "I am not afraid of him, " Ermine managed to say without more smile thanRachel took for gratification. "Then if you would only entrust me with some of your fugitivereflections, I have no doubt that something might be made of them. Apractised hand, " she added with a certain editorial dignity, "can alwayspolish away any little roughnesses from inexperience. " Ermine was choking with laughter at the savage pulls that Colin wasinflicting on his moustache, and feeling silence no longer honest, sheanswered in an odd under tone, "I can't plead inexperience. " "No!" cried Rachel. "You have written; you have not published!" "I was forced to do whatever brought grist to the mill, " said Ermine. "Indeed, " she added, with a look as if to ask pardon; "our secrets havebeen hardly fair towards you, but we made it a rule not to spoil ourbreadwinner's trade by confessing my enormities. " "I assure you, " said the Colonel, touched by Rachel's appalled look, "Idon't know how long this cautious person would have kept me in the darkif she had not betrayed herself in the paper we discussed the first dayI met you. " "The 'Traveller, '" said Rachel, her eyes widening like those of a child. "She is the 'Invalid'!" "There, I am glad to have made a clean breast of it, " said Ermine. "The 'Invalid'!" repeated Rachel. "It is as bad as the Victoria Cross. " "There is a compliment, Ermine, for which you should make your bow, "said Colin. "Oh, I did not mean that, " said Rachel; "but that it was as great amistake as I made about Captain Keith, when I told him his own story, and denied his being the hero, till I actually saw his cross, " and shespoke with a genuine simplicity that almost looked like humour, endingwith, "I wonder why I am fated to make such mistakes!" "Preconceived notions, " said Ermine, smiling; "your theory suffices you, and you don't see small indications. " "There may be something in that, " said Rachel, thoughtfully, "itaccounts for Grace always seeing things faster than I did. " "Did Mr. --, your philanthropist, bring you this today?" said theColonel, taking up the paper again, as if to point a practical moral toher confession of misjudgments. "Mr. Mauleverer? Yes; I came down as soon as he had left me, onlycalling first upon Fanny. I am very anxious for contributions. Ifyou would only give me a paper signed by the 'Invalid, ' it would be afortune to the institution. " Ermine made a vague answer that she doubted whether the 'Invalid' wasseparable from the 'Traveller, ' and Rachel presently departed with herprospectus, but without having elicited a promise. "Intolerable!" exclaimed the Colonel. "She was improving under Bessie'sinfluence, but she has broken out worse than ever. 'Journal of FemaleIndustry!' 'Journal of a Knight of Industry, ' might be a better title. You will have nothing to do with it, Ermine?" "Certainly not as the 'Invalid, ' but I owe her something for having lether run into this scrape before you. " "As if you could have hindered her! Come, don't waste time and brains ona companion for Curatocult. " "You make me so idle and frivolous that I shall be expelled fromthe 'Traveller, ' and obliged to take refuge in the 'Female IndustryJournal. ' Shall you distribute the prospectuses?" "I shall give one to Bessie! That is if I go at all. " "No, no, there is no valid reason for staying away. Even if we were surethat Rose was right, nothing could well come of it, and your absencewould be most invidious. " "I believe I am wanted to keep Master Alick in order, but if you havethe least feeling that you would be more at ease with me at home--" "That is not a fair question, " said Ermine, smiling. "You know very wellthat you ought to go. " "And I shall try to bring back Harry Beauchamp, " added the Colonel. "Hewould be able to identify the fellow. " "I do not know what would be gained by that. " "I should know whom to watch. " Ermine had seen so much of Rose's nervous timidity, and had known somany phantoms raised by it, that she attached little importance to therecognition, and when she went over the matter with her little niece, itwas with far more thought of the effect of the terror, and of the longsuppressed secret, upon the child's moral and physical nature, than withany curiosity as to the subject of her last alarm. She was surprised toobserve that Alison was evidently in a state of much more restlessnessand suspense than she was conscious of in herself, during Colin'sabsence, and attributed this to her sister's fear of Maddox's makingsome inroad upon her in her long solitary hours, in which case she triedto reassure her by promises to send at once for Mr. Mitchell or forCoombe. Alison let these assurances be given to her, and felt hypocritical forreceiving them in silence. Her grave set features had tutored themselvesto conceal for ever one page in the life that Ermine thought wasentirely revealed to her. Never had Ermine known that brotherlycompanionship had once suddenly assumed the unwelcome aspect of anaffection against which Alison's heart had been steeled by devotionto the sister whose life she had blighted. Her resolution had beenunswerving, but its full cost had been unknown to her, till heradherence to it had slackened the old tie of hereditary friendshiptowards others of her family; and even when marriage should haveobliterated the past, she still traced resentment in the hard judgmentof her brother's conduct, and even in the one act of consideration thatit galled her to accept. There had been no meeting since the one decisive interview just beforeshe had left her original home, and there were many more bitter feelingsthan could be easily assuaged in looking forward to a renewal ofintercourse, when all too late, she knew that she should soon be nolonger needed by her sister. She tried to feel it all just retribution, she tried to rejoice in Ermine's coming happiness; she tried to believethat the sight of Harry Beauchamp, as a married man, would be the bestcure for her; she blamed and struggled with herself: and after all, herdistress was wasted, Harry Beauchamp had not chosen to come home withhis cousin, who took his unwillingness to miss a hunting-day ratherangrily and scornfully. Alison put her private interpretation on therefusal, and held aloof, while Colin owned to Ermine his vexation andsurprise at the displeasure that Harry Beauchamp maintained against hisold schoolfellow, and his absolute refusal to listen to any arguments asto his innocence. This seemed to have been Colin's prominent interest in his expeditionto Bath; the particulars of the wedding were less easily drawn fromhim. The bride had indeed been perfection, all was charming wherever shebrought her ready grace and sweetness, and she had gratified the Colonelby her affectionate messages to Ermine, and her evident intention tomake all straight between Lord Keith and his daughter Mary. But theClare relations had not made a favourable impression; the favouriteblind uncle had not been present, in spite of Bessie's boast, and itwas suspected that Alick had not chosen to forward his coming. Alick haddevolved the office of giving his sister away upon the Colonel, as herguardian, and had altogether comported himself with more than his usuallazy irony, especially towards the Clare cousinhood, who constantlybuzzed round him, and received his rebuffs as delightful jests andcompliments, making the Colonel wonder all the more at the perfect goodtaste and good breeding of his new sister-in-law, who had spent amongthem all the most critical years of her life. She had been much amused with the prospectus of the "Journal of FemaleIndustry, " but she sent word to Rachel that she advised her not topublish any list of subscribers--the vague was far more impressive thanthe certain. The first number must be sent to her at Paris, and trusther for spreading its fame! The Colonel did not add to his message her recommendation that thefrontispiece should represent the Spinster's Needles, with the rescue ofDon as the type of female heroism. Nor did he tell how carefully hehad questioned both her and Rachel as to the date of that interestingadventure. CHAPTER XVII. THE SIEGE. "The counterfeit presentment. "--Hamlet. Christmas came, and Rachel agreed with Mr. Mauleverer that it was betternot to unsettle the children at the F. U. E. E. By permitting them tocome home for holidays, a decision which produced much discontent intheir respective families. Alison, going to Mrs. Morris with her pupils, to take her a share of Christmas good cheer, was made the receptacle ofa great lamentation over the child's absence; and, moreover, that themother had not been allowed to see her alone, when taken by Miss Rachelto the F. U. E. E. "Some one ought to take it up, " said Alison, as she came home, in herindignation. "Who knows what may be done to those poor children? Can'tMr. Mitchell do something?" But Mr. Mitchell was not sufficiently at home to interfere. He wasindeed negotiating an exchange with Mr. Touchett, but until this waseffected he could hardly meddle in the matter, and he was besidesa reserved, prudent man, slow to commit himself, so that his ownimpression of the asylum could not be extracted from him. Here, however, Colonel Keith put himself forward. He had often been asked by Rachelto visit the F. U. E. E. , and he surprised and relieved Alison byannouncing his intention of going over to St. Norbert's alone andwithout notice, so as to satisfy himself as far as might be as tothe treatment of the inmates, and the genuineness of Mauleverer'spretensions. He had, however, to wait for weather that would not makethe adventure one of danger to him, and he regarded the cold and rainwith unusual impatience, until, near the end of January, he was able toundertake his expedition. After much knocking and ringing the door was opened to him by a rude, slatternly, half-witted looking charwoman, or rather girl, who said"Master was not in, " and nearly shut the door in his face. However, hesucceeded in sending in his card, backed by the mention of Lady Templeand Miss Curtis; and this brought out Mrs. Rawlins, her white streamersfloating stiff behind her, full of curtsies and regrets at having torefuse any friend of Miss Curtis, but Mr. Mauleverer's orders wereprecise and could not be infringed. He was gone to lecture at Bristol, but if the gentleman would call at any hour he would fix to morrow ornext day, Mr. Mauleverer would be proud to wait on him. When he came at the appointed time, all was in the normal state of theinstitution. The two little girls in white pinafores sat upon theirbench with their books before them, and their matron presiding overthem; Mr. Mauleverer stood near, benignantly attentive to the childrenand obligingly so to the visitor, volunteering information and answeringall questions. Colonel Keith tried to talk to the children, but when heasked one of them whether she liked drawing better than lace-makingher lips quivered, and Mrs. Rawlins replied for her, that she was neverhappy except with a pencil in her hand. "Show the gentleman, my dear, "and out came a book of studios of cubes, globes, posts, etc. , while Mr. Mauleverer talked artistically of drawing from models. Next, he observedon a certain suspicious blackness of little Mary's eye, and asked herwhat she had done to herself. But the child hung her head, and Mrs. Rawlins answered for her, "Ah! Mary is ashamed to tell: but thegentleman will think nothing of it, my dear. He knows that children willbe children, and I cannot bear to check them, the dears. " More briefly Mr. Mauleverer explained that Mary had fallen while playingon the stairs; and with this superficial inspection he must needscontent himself, though on making inquiry at the principal shops, heconvinced himself that neither Mr. Mauleverer nor the F. U. E. E. Wereas well known at St. Norbert's as at Avonmouth. He told Rachel of hisexpedition, and his interest in her work gratified her, though she wouldhave preferred being his cicerone. She assured him that he must havebeen very much pleased, especially with the matron. "She is a handsome woman, and reminds me strongly of a face I saw inIndia. " "There are some classes of beauty and character that have a remarkablesameness of feature, " began Rachel. "Don't push that theory, for your matron's likeness was a very handsomeSepoy havildar whom we took at Lucknow, a capital soldier before themutiny, and then an ineffable ruffian. " "The mutiny was an infectious frenzy; so that you establish nothingagainst that cast of countenance. " Never, indeed, was there more occasion for perseverance in Rachel'schampionship. Hitherto Mrs. Kelland had been nailed to her pillow by theexigencies of Lady Keith's outfit, and she and her minions had toiledunremittingly, without a thought beyond their bobbins, but as soon asthe postponed orders were in train, and the cash for the wedding veiland flounces had been transmitted, the good woman treated herself andher daughters to a holiday at St. Norbert's, without intimating herintention to her patronesses; and the consequence was a formal complaintof her ungrateful and violent language to Mrs. Rawlins on being refusedadmission to the asylum without authority from Mr. Mauleverer or MissCurtis. Rachel, much displeased, went down charged with reproof andrepresentation, but failed to produce the desired effect upon the aunt. "It was not right, " Mrs. Kelland reiterated, "that the poor lone orphanshould not see her that was as good as a mother, when she had no oneelse to look to. They that kept her from her didn't do it for no goodend. " "But, Mrs. Kelland, rules are rules. " "Don't tell me of no rules, Miss Rachel, as would cut a poor child offfrom her friends as her mother gave her to on her death-bed. 'Sally, 'says she, 'I know you will do a mother's part by that poor little maid;'and so I did till I was over persuaded to let her go to that thereplace. " "Indeed you have nothing to regret there, Mrs. Kelland; you know, thatwith the kindest intentions, you could not make the child happy. " "And why was that, ma'am, but because her mother was a poor creaturefrom town, that had never broke her to her work. I never had the troublewith a girl of my own I had with her. 'It's all for your good, Lovedy, 'I says to her, and poor child, maybe she wishes herself back again. " "I assure you, I always find the children well and happy, and it is veryunfair on the matron to be angry with her for being bound by rules, towhich she must submit, or she would transgress the regulations underwhich we have laid her! It is not her choice to exclude you, but herduty. " "Please, ma'am, was it her duty to be coming out of the house in a'genta coloured silk dress, and a drab bonnet with a pink feather init?" said Mrs. Kelland, with a certain, air of simplicity, that provokedRachel to answer sharply-- "You don't know what you are talking about, Mrs. Kelland. " "Well, ma'am, it was a very decent woman as told me, an old lady of thename of Drinkwater, as keeps a baker's shop on the other side of theway, and she never sees bread enough go in for a cat to make use of, let alone three poor hungry children. She says all is not right there, ma'am. " "Oh, that must be mere gossip and spite at not having the custom. Itquite accounts for what she may say, and indeed you brought it all onyourself by not having asked me for a note. You must restrain yourself. What you may say to me is of no importance, but you must not go andattack those who are doing the very best for your niece. " Rachel made a dignified exit, but before she had gone many steps, shewas assailed by tearful Mrs. Morris: "Oh, Miss Rachel, if it would notbe displeasing to you, would you give me an order for my child to comehome. Ours is a poor place, but I would rather make any shift for us tolive than that she should be sent away to some place beyond sea. " "Some place beyond sea!" "Yes, ma'am. I beg your pardon, ma'am, but they do say that Mr. Maw-and-liver is a kidnapper, ma'am, and that he gets them poorchildren to send out to Botany Bay to be wives to the convicts as aretransported, Miss Rachel, if you'll excuse it. They say there's a wholeshipload of them at Plymouth, and I'd rather my poor Mary came to theUnion at home than to the like of that, Miss Rachel. " This alarm, being less reasonable, was even more difficult to talkdown than Mrs. Kelland's, and Rachel felt as if there wore a generalconspiracy to drive her distracted, when on going home she found thedrawing-room occupied by a pair of plump, paddy-looking old friends, whohad evidently talked her mother into a state of nervous alarm. On herentrance, Mrs. Curtis begged the gentleman to tell dear Rachel whathe had been saying, but this he contrived to avoid, and only on hisdeparture was Rachel made aware that he and his wife had come, fraughtwith tidings that she was fostering a Jesuit in disguise, that Mrs. Rawlins was a lady abbess of a new order, Rachel herself in danger ofbeing entrapped, and the whole family likely to be entangled in themysterious meshes, which, as good Mrs. Curtis more than once repeated, would be "such a dreadful thing for poor Fanny and the boys. " Her daughters, by soothing and argument, allayed the alarm, though theimpression was not easily done away with, and they feared that it mightyet cost her a night's rest. These attacks--absurd as they were--inducedRachel to take measures for their confutation, by writing to Mr. Mauleverer, that she thought it would be well to allow the pupils to paya short visit to their homes, so as to satisfy their friends. She did not receive an immediate answer, and was beginning to feel vexedand anxious, though not doubtful, when Mr. Mauleverer arrived, bringingtwo beautiful little woodcuts, as illustrations for the "Journal ofFemale Industry. " They were entitled "The free maids that weave theirthread with bones, " and one called "the Ideal, " represented a latticedcottage window, with roses, honeysuckles, cat, beehives, and allconventional rural delights, around a pretty maiden singing at herlace-pillow; while the other yclept the "Real, " showed a den ofthin, wizened, half-starved girls, cramped over their cushions ina lace-school. The design was Mr. Mauleverer's, the execution thechildren's; and neatly mounted on cards, the performance did them greatcredit, and there was great justice in Mr. Manleverer's view that whilethey were making such progress, it would be a great pity to interruptthe preparation of the first number by sending the children home evenfor a few hours. Rachel consented the more readily to the postponementof the holiday, as she had now something to show in evidence of thereality of their doings, and she laid hands upon the cuts, in spite ofMr. Mauleverer's unwillingness that such mere essays should be displayedas specimens of the art of the F. U. E. E. When the twenty pounds whichshe advanced should have been laid out in blocks, ink, and paper, there was little doubt that the illustrations of the journal would be atriumphant instance of female energy well directed. Meantime she repaired to Ermine Williams to persuade her to write anarticle upon the two pictures, a paper in the lively style in whichRachel herself could not excel, pointing out the selfishness of wilfullysentimental illusions. She found Ermine alone, but her usual fatepursued her in the shape of, first, Lady Temple, then both Colonel andCaptain Keith, and little Rose, who all came in before she had had timeto do more than explain her intentions. Rose had had another fright, andagain the Colonel had been vainly trying to distinguish the bugbear ofher fancy, and she was clinging all the more closely to him because hewas the only person of her aquaintance who did not treat her alarms asabsolutely imaginary. Rachel held her ground, well pleased to have so many spectators of thistriumphant specimen of the skill of her asylum, and Lady Temple gavemuch admiration, declaring that no one ought to wear lace again withoutbeing sure that no one was tortured in making it, and that when sheordered her new black lace shawl of Mrs. Kelland, it should be oncondition that the poor girls were not kept so very hard at work. "You will think me looking for another Sepoy likeness, " said theColonel, "but I am sure I have met this young lady or her twin sistersomewhere in my travels. " "It is a satire on conventional pictures, " said Rachel. "Now, I remember, " he continued. "It was when I was laid up with mywound at a Dutch boer's till I could get to Cape Town. My solereading was one number of the 'Illustrated News, ' and I made too goodacquaintance with that lady's head, to forget her easily. " "Of course, " said Rachel, "it is a reminiscence of the painting thererepresented. " "What was the date?" asked Alick Keith. The Colonel was able to give it with some precision. "You are all against me, " said Rachel, "I see you are perfectlydetermined that there shall be something wrong about every performanceof the F. U. E. E. " "No, don't say so, " began Fanny, with gentle argument, but Alick Keithput in with a smile, "It is a satisfaction to Miss Curtis. " "Athanasius against the world, " she answered. "Athanasius should take care that his own foot is firm, his positionincontrovertible, " said Ermine. "Well!" "Then, " said Ermine, "will you allow these little pictures to beexamined into?" "I don't know what you mean. " "Look here, " and the Colonel lifted on the table a scrap-book that Rosehad been quietly opening on his knee, and which contained an etching ofa child playing with a dog, much resembling the style of the drawing. "Who did that, my dear?" he asked. "Mamma had it, " was Rose's reply; "it was always in my old nurseryscrap-hook. " "Every one knows, " said Rachel, "that a woodcut is often like anetching, and an etching like a woodcut. I do not know what you aredriving at. " "The little dogs and all, " muttered Alick, as Rachel glanced ratherindignantly at Rose and her book so attentively examined by the Colonel. "I know, " repeated Rachel, "that there is a strong prejudice against Mr. Mauleverer, and that it is entertained by many whom I should have hopedto see above such weakness but when I brought these tangible productionsof his system, as evidence of his success, I did not expect to see themreceived with a covert distrust, which I own I do not understand. Iperceive now why good works find so much difficulty in prospering. " "I believe, " said Alick Keith, "that I am to have the honour of diningat the Homestead on Monday?" "Yes. The Greys spend the day with us, and it is Emily's due to have agood sight of you. " "Then will you let me in the meantime take my own measures with regardto these designs. I will not hurt or injure them in any way; they shallbe deposited here in Miss William's hands, and I promise you that if Ihave been able to satisfy myself as to the means of their production, Simon Skinflint shall become a subscriber to the F. U. E. E. Is it abargain?" "I never made such a bargain, " said Rachel, puzzled. "Is that a reason for not doing so?" "I don't know what you mean to do. Not to molest that poor Mrs. Rawlins. I will not have that done. " "Certainly not. All I ask of you is that these works of art shouldremain here with Miss Williams, as a safe neutral, and that you shouldmeet me here on Monday, when I will undertake to convince myself. " "Not me?" cried Rachel. "Who would make it part of his terms to convince a lady?" "You mean to say, " exclaimed Rachel, considerably nettled, "that as awoman, I am incapable of being rationally convinced!" "The proverb does not only apply to women, " said Ermine, coming to herrescue; but Rachel, stung by the arch smile and slight bow of CaptainKeith, continued--"Let the proof be convincing, and I will meet it ascandidly as it is the duty of all reasonable beings to do. Only let mefirst know what you mean to prove. " "The terms are these then, are they not, Miss Williams? I am to comeon Monday, February the 5th, prepared to test whether these designs arewhat they profess to be, and Miss Curtis undertakes to be convinced bythat proof, provided it be one that should carry conviction to a clear, unbiassed mind. I undertake, on the other hand, that if the said proofshould be effectual, a mythical personage called Simon Skinflint shallbecome a supporter of the Female Union for Englishwomen's Employment. " Ho spoke with his own peculiar slowness and gravity, and Rachel, uncertain whether he were making game of her or not, looked perplexed, half on the defence, half gratified. The others were greatly amused, anda great deal surprised at Alick's unwonted willingness to take troublein the matter. After a few moment's deliberation, Rachel said, "Well, Iconsent, provided that my candour be met by equal candour on the otherside, and you will promise that if this ordeal succeeds, you will layaside all prejudice against Mauleverer. " A little demur as to the reasonableness of this stipulation followed, but the terms finally were established. Mr. And Mrs. Grey, old familyfriends, had long been engaged to spend the ensuing Monday at theHomestead. The elder daughter, an old intimate of Grace's, had marriedan Indian civil servant, whom Colonel Keith was invited to meet atluncheon, and Captain Keith at dinner, and Alick was further to sleepat Gowanbrae. Lady Temple, who was to have been of the party, was calledaway, much to her own regret, by an appointment with the dentist of St. Norbert's, who was very popular, and proportionately despotic, beingonly visible at his own times, after long appointment. She wouldtherefore be obliged to miss Alick's ordeal, though as she said, whenRachel--finding it vain to try to outstay so many--had taken her leave, "I should much like to see how it will turn out. I do believe that thereis some difference in the colour of the ink in the middle and at theedge, and if those people are deceiving Rachel, who knows what they maybe doing to the poor children?" It was exactly what every one was thinking, but it seemed to have freshforce when it struck the milder and slower imagination, and Lady Temple, seeing that her observation told upon those around her, became moreimpressed with its weight. "It really is dreadful to have sent those little girls there without anyone knowing what anybody does to them, " she repeated. "It makes even Alick come out in a new character, " said the Colonel, turning round on him. "Why, " returned Alick, "my sister had so much to do with letting theyoung lady in for the scrape, that it is just as well to try to get herout of it. In fact, I think we have all sat with our hands before usin a shamefully cool manner, till we are all accountable for thehumbuggery. " "When it comes to your reproaching us with coolness, Captain Keith, thematter becomes serious, " returned Colin. "It does become serious, " was the answer; "it is hard that a personwithout any natural adviser should have been allowed to run headlong, byforce of her own best qualities, into the hands of a sharper. I donot see how a man of any proper feeling, can stand by without doingsomething to prevent the predicament from becoming any worse. " "If you can, " said Colonel Keith. "I verily believe, " said Alick, turning round upon him, "that the worseit is for her, the more you enjoy it!" "Quite true, " said Ermine in her mischievous way; "it is a true case ofman's detestation of clever women! Look here, Alick, we will not havehim here at the great ordeal of the woodcuts. You and I are much morecandid and unprejudiced people, and shall manage her much better. " "I have no desire to be present, " returned the Colonel; "I have nosatisfaction in seeing my friend Alick baffled. I shall see how theyboth appear at luncheon afterwards. " "How will that be?" asked Fanny, anxiously. "The lady will be sententious and glorious, and will recommend the F. U. E. E. More than ever, and Alick will cover the downfall of his crest bydouble-edged assents to all her propositions. " "You will not have that pleasure, " said Alick. "I only go to dinnerthere. " "At any rate, " said the Colonel, "supposing your test takes effect bysome extraordinary chance, don't take any further steps without lettingme know. " The inference was drawn that he expected great results, but he continuedto laugh at Alick's expectations of producing any effect on the CleverWoman, and the debate of the woodcuts was adjourned to the Monday. In good time, Rachel made her appearance in Miss Williams's littlesitting-room. "I am ready to submit to any test that Captain Keith mayrequire to confute himself, " she said to Ermine; "and I do so the morereadily that with all his mocking language, there is a genuine candourand honesty beneath that would be quite worth convincing. I believe thatif once persuaded of the injustice of his suspicions he would inthe reaction become a fervent supporter of Mr. Mauleverer and of theinstitution; and though I should prefer carrying on our work entirelythrough women, yet this interest would be so good a thing for him, thatI should by no means reject his assistance. " Rachel had, however, long to wait. As she said, Captain Keith was oneof those inborn loiterers who, made punctual by military duty, revengethemselves by double tardiness in the common affairs of life. Impatiencehad nearly made her revoke her good opinion of him, and augur that, knowing himself vanquished, he had left the field to her, when at lasta sound of wheels was heard, a dog-cart stopped at the door, and CaptainKeith entered with an enormous blue and gold volume under his arm. "I am sorry to be so late, " he said, "but I have only now succeeded inprocuring my ally. " "An ally?" "Yes, in this book. I had to make interest at the Avoncester Library, before I could take it away with me. " As he spoke he placed the bookdesk-fashion on a chair, and turned it so that Ermine might see it; andshe perceived that it was a bound-up volume of the "Illustrated LondonNews. " Two marks were in it, and he silently parted the leaves at thefirst. It revealed the lace-making beauty in all her rural charms. "I see, " said Rachel; "it is the same figure, but not the same shapedpicture. " Without another word, Alick Keith opened the pages at the lace-school;and here again the figures were identical, though the margin had beendifferently finished off. "I perceive a great resemblance, " again said Rachel, "but none that isnot fully explained by Mr. Mauleverer's accurate resemblance and desireto satirize foolish sentiment. " Alick Keith took up the woodcut. "I should say, " he observed, holdingit up to the light, "that it was unusual to mount a proof engraving soelaborately on a card. " "Oh, I see what your distrust is driving at; you suspect the designs ofbeing pasted on. " "There is such a test as water, " suggested Alick. "I should be ashamed to return the proof to its master, bearing tracesof unjust suspicion. " "If the suspicion you impute to me be unjust, the water will produce noeffect at all. " "And you engage to retract all your distrust and contempt, if you areconvinced that this engraving is genuine?" "I do, " he answered steadily. With irritated magnanimity Rachel dipped her finger into the vaseof flowers on the table, and let a heavy drop of water fall upon thecottage scene. The centre remained unaltered, and she looked round inexultation, saying, "There, now I suppose I may wipe it off. " Neither spoke, and she applied her pocket handkerchief. What camepeeling away under her pressure? It was the soft paper, and as she waspassing the edge of the figure of the girl, she found a large smearfollowing her finger. The peculiar brown of Indian ink was seen upon herhandkerchief, and when she took it up a narrow hem of white had becomeapparent between the girl's head and its surroundings. Neither spectatorspoke, they scarcely looked at her, when she took another drop from thevase, and using it more boldly found the pasted figure curling up andrending under her hand, lines of newspaper type becoming apparent, andthe dark cloud spreading around. "What does it mean?" was her first exclamation; then suddenly turning onErmine, "Well, do you triumph?" "I am very, very sorry, " said Ermine. "I do not know that it is come to that yet, " said Rachel, trying tocollect herself. "I may have been pressing too hard for results. " Thenlooking at the mangled picture again as they wisely left her to herself, "But it is a deception! A deception! Oh! he need not have done it! Or, "with a lightened look and tone of relief, "suppose he did it to seewhether I should find it out?" "He is hardly on terms with you for that, " said Ermine; while Alickcould not refrain from saying, "Then he would be a more insolentscoundrel than he has shown himself yet. " "I know he is not quite a gentleman, " said Rachel, "and nothing elsegives the instinct of the becoming. You have conquered, Captain Keith, if it be any pleasure to you to have given my trust and hope a cruelshock. " "With little satisfaction to myself, " he began to say; but shecontinued, "A shock, a shock I say, no more; I do not know whatconclusion I ought to draw. I do not expect you to believe in thisperson till he has cleared up the deceit. If it be only a joke in badtaste, he deserves the distrust that is the penalty for it. If you havebeen opening my eyes to a deception, perhaps I shall thank you for itsome day. I must think it over. " She rose, gathered her papers together, and took her leave gravely, while Alick, much to Ermine's satisfaction, showed no elation in hisvictory. All he said was, "There is a great deal of dignity in thestrict justice of a mind slow to condemn, or to withdraw the trust oncegiven. " "There is, " said Ermine, much pleased with his whole part in theaffair; "there has been full and real candour, not flying into the otherextreme. I am afraid she has a great deal to suffer. " "It was very wrong to have stood so still when the rascal began hismachinations, " repeated Alick, "Bessie absolutely helping it on! But forher, the fellow would have had no chance even of acquaintance with her. " "Your sister hardly deserves blame for that. " "Not exactly blame; but the responsibility remains, " he replied gravely, and indeed he was altogether much graver than his wont, entirely freefrom irony, and evidently too sorry for Rachel, and feeling himself, through his sister, too guilty of her entanglement, to have any of thatamused satisfaction that even Colin evidently felt in her discomfiture. In fact Ermine did not fully enter into Colin's present tactics; she sawthat he was more than usually excited and interested about the F. U. E. E. , but he had not explained his views to her, and she could onlyattribute his desire, to defer the investigation, to a wish that Mr. Mitchell should have time to return from London, whither he had goneto conclude his arrangements with Mr. Touchett, leaving the duty incommission between three delicate winter visitors. Rachel walked home in a kind of dreamy bewilderment. The first stone inher castle had been loosened, and her heart was beginning to failher, though the tenacity of her will produced a certain incapacity ofbelieving that she had been absolutely deceived. Her whole fabric wasso compact, and had been so much solidified by her own intensity ofpurpose, that any hollowness of foundation was utterly beyond presentcredence. She was ready to be affronted with Mauleverer for perillingall for a bad joke, but wildly impossible as this explanation would haveseemed to others, she preferred taking refuge in it to accepting thefull brunt of the blow upon her cherished hopes. She had just re-entered the house on her return, when Grace met her, saying, "Oh, Rachel dear, Mrs. Rossitur is here. " "I think old servants have a peculiar propensity for turning up when thehouse is in a state of turmoil, " returned Rachel. "I have been walking round the garden with her, and doing my best tosuffice for her entertainment, " said Grace, good-naturedly, "but shereally wants to see you on business. She has a bill for the F. U. E. E. Which she wants you to pay. " "A bill for the F. U. E. E. ?" "Yes; she makes many apologies for troubling you, but Tom is to beapprenticed to a grocer, and they want this fifteen pounds to make upthe fee. " "But I tell you, Grace, there can't have been fifteen pounds' worth ofthings had in this month, and they were paid on the 1st. " "She says they have never been paid at all since the 1st of December. " "I assure you, Grace, it is in the books. I made a point of having allthe accounts brought to me on the 1st of every month, and giving outthe money. I gave out £3. 10s. For the Rossiturs last Friday, the 1st ofFebruary, when Mr. Mauleverer was over here. He said coals were dearer, and they had to keep more fires. " "There must be some mistake, " said Grace. "I'll show you the books. Mr. Mauleverer keeps one himself, and leaves one with me. Oh, botheration, there's the Grey carriage! Well, you go and receive them, and I'll tryto pacify Mrs. Rossitur, and then come down. " Neatly kept were these account books of the F. U. E. E, , and sure enoughfor every month were entered the sums for coals, wood, and potatoes, tallying exactly with Mrs. Rossitur's account, and each month Mr. Mauleverer's signature attested the receipt of the sum paid over tohim by Rachel for household expenses. Rachel carried them down to Mrs. Rossitur, but this evidence utterly failed to convince that worthypersonage that she had ever received a farthing after the 1st ofDecember. She was profuse in her apologies for troubling Miss Rachel, and had only been led to do so by the exigencies of her son's apprenticefee, and she reposed full confidence in Rachel's eager assurance thatshe should not be a loser, and that in another day the matter should beinvestigated. "And, Miss Rachel, " added the old servant, "you'll excuse me, but theydo say very odd things of the matron at that place, and I doubt you aredeceived in her. Our lads went to the the-a-ter the other night, and Ichecked them well for it; but mother, says they, we had more call to bethere than the governess up to Miss Rachel's schule in Nichol Street, dressed out in pink feathers. " "Well, Mrs. Rossitur, I will make every inquiry, and I do not think youwill find anything wrong. There must be some one about very like Mrs. Rawlins. I have heard of those pink feathers before, but I know who thematron is, and all about her! Good-bye. I'll see you again before yougo, I suppose it won't be till the seven o'clock train. " Mrs. Rossitur remained expressing her opinion to the butler that dearMiss Rachel was too innocent, and then proceeded to lose all past caresin a happy return to "melting day, " in the regions of her past gloriesas cook and housekeeper. Rachel repaired to her room to cool her glowing cheeks, and repeat toherself, "A mistake, an error. It must be a blunder! That boy that wentto the theatre may have cheated them! Mrs. Rawlins may have deceived Mr. Mauleverer. Anything must be true rather than--No, no! such a tissue ofdeception is impossible in a man of such sentiments! Persecuted as hehas been, shall appearances make me--me, his only friend--turn againsthim? Oh, me! here come the whole posse purring upstairs to take offtheir things! I shall be invaded in a moment. " And in came Grace and the two younger ladies, and Rachel was no more herown from that moment. CHAPTER XVIII. THE FORLORN HOPE. "She whipped two female 'prentices to death, And hid them in the coal-hole. For her mind Shaped strictest plans of discipline, sage schemes, Such as Lycurgus taught. "--Canning and Frere. The favourite dentist of the neighbourhood dwelt in a grand mansionat St. Norbert's, and thither were conducted Conrade and Francis, asvictims to the symmetry of their mouths. Their mother accompanied themto supply the element of tenderness, Alison that of firmness; and, infact, Lady Temple was in a state of much greater trepidation than eitherof her sons, who had been promised five shillings each as the reward offortitude, and did nothing but discuss what they should buy with it. They escaped with a reprieve to Conrade, and the loss of one tooth ofFrancis's, and when the rewards had been laid out, and presents chosenfor all the stay-at-home children, including Rose, Lady Temple becameable to think about other matters. The whole party were in a littleden at the pastrycook's; the boys consuming mutton pies, and the ladiesox-tail soup, while waiting to be taken up by the waggonette which hadof late been added to the Myrtlewood establishment, when the little ladythus spoke-- "If you don't object, Miss Williams, we will go to Rachel's asylum onour way home. " Miss Williams asked if she had made the appointment. "No, " said Lady Temple, "but you see I can't be satisfied about thosewoodcuts; and that poor woman, Mrs. Kelland, came to me yesterday aboutmy lace shawl, and she is sadly distressed about the little girl. Shewas not allowed to see her, you know, and she heard such odd thingsabout the place that I told her that I did not wonder she was introuble, and that I would try to bring the child home, or at any ratesee and talk to her. " "I hope we may be able to see her, but you know Colonel Keith could notget in without making an appointment. " "I pay for her, " said Lady Temple, "and I cannot bear its going on inthis way without some one seeing about it. The Colonel was quite surethose woodcuts were mere fabrications to deceive Rachel; and there mustbe something very wrong about those people. " "Did she know that you were going?" "No; I did not see her before we went. I do not think she will mindit much; and I promised. " Lady Temple faltered a little, but gatheredcourage the next moment. "And indeed, after what Mrs. Kelland said, Icould not sleep while I thought I had been the means of putting any poorchild into such hands. " "Yes, " said Alison, "it is very shocking to leave them there withoutinquiry, and it is an excellent thing to make the attempt. " And so the order was given to drive to the asylum, Alison marvellingat the courage which prompted this most unexpected assault upon thefortress that had repulsed two such warriors as Colonel Keith and Mrs. Kelland. But timid and tender as she might be, it was not for nothingthat Fanny Temple had been a vice-queen, so much accustomed to bewelcomed wherever she penetrated, that the notion of a rebuff neversuggested itself. Coombe rang, and his lady made him let herself and Miss Williams out, sothat she was on the step when the rough charwoman opened the door, andmade the usual reply that Mr. Mauleverer was not within. Lady Templeanswered that it was Mrs. Rawlins, the matron, that she wished to see, and with more audacity than Alison thought her capable of, insertedherself within the doorway, so as to prevent herself from being shut outas the girl took her message. The next moment the girl came back saying, "This way, ma'am, " opened the door of a small dreary, dusty, coldparlour, where she shut them in, and disappeared before a word could besaid. There they remained so long, that in spite of such encouragementas could be derived from peeping over the blinds at Coombe standingsentinel over his two young masters at the carriage window, Lady Templebegan to feel some dismay, though no repentance, and with anxiousiteration conjured Miss Williams to guess what could be the cause ofdelay. "Making ready for our reception, " was Alison's answer in various forms;and Lady Temple repeated by turns, "I do not like it, " and "it is veryunsatisfactory. No, I don't like it at all, " the at all always growingmore emphatic. The climax was, "Things must be very sad, or they would never take somuch preparation. I'll tell you, Miss Williams, " she added in a lowconfidential tone; "there are two of us, and the woman cannot be in twoplaces at once. Now, if you go up and see the rooms and all, which I sawlong ago, I could stay and talk to the poor children. " Alison was the more surprised at the simple statecraft of the General'swidow, but it was prompted by the pitiful heart yearning over themysterious wrongs of the poor little ones. At last Mrs. Rawlins sailed in, crape, streamers, and all, with thelowest of curtsies and fullest of apologies for having detained herLadyship, but she had been sending out in pursuit of Mr. Mauleverer, hewould be so disappointed! Lady Temple begged to see the children, andespecially Lovedy, whom she said she should like to take home for aholiday. "Why, my lady, you see Mr. Mauleverer is very particular. I hardly knowthat I could answer it to him to have one of his little darlings out ofhis sight. It unsettles a child so to be going home, and Lovedy has abad cold, my lady, and I am afraid it will run through the house. Mylittle Alice is beginning of it. " However, Lady Temple kept to her desire of seeing Lovedy, and of lettingher companion see the rest of the establishment, and they were at lastushered into the room already known to the visitors of the F. U. E. E. , where the two children sat as usual in white pinafores, but it struckthe ladies that all looked ill, and Lovedy was wrapped in a shawl, andsat cowering in a dull, stupified way, unlike the bright responsivemanner for which she had been noted even in her lace-school days. MaryMorris gazed for a moment at Alison with a wistful appealing glance, then, with a start as of fright, put on a sullen stolid look, and kepther eyes on her book. The little Alice, looking very heavy and feverish, leant against her, and Mrs. Rawlins went on talking of the colds, thegruel she had made, and her care for her pupils' ailments, and LadyTemple listened so graciously that Alison feared she was succumbing tothe palaver; and by way of reminder, asked to see the dormitory. "Oh, yes, ma'am, certainly, though we are rather in confusion, " andshe tried to make both ladies precede her, but Lady Temple, for onceassuming the uncomprehending nonchalance of a fine lady, seated herselflanguidly and motioned Alison on. The matron was evidently perplexed, she looked daggers at the children, or Ailie fancied so, but she wasforced to follow the governess. Lady Temple breathed more freely, androse. "My poor child, " she said to Lovedy, "you seem very poorly. Haveyou any message to your aunt?" "Please, please!" began Lovedy, with a hoarse sob. "Lovedy, don't, don't be a bad girl, or you know--" interposed thelittle one, in a warning whisper. "She is not naughty, " said Lady Temple gently, "only not well. " "Please, my lady, look, " eagerly, though with a fugitive action ofterror, Lovedy cried, unpinning the thin coarse shawl on her neck, andrevealing the terrible stripes and weals of recent beating, such asnearly sickened Lady Temple. "Oh, Lovedy, " entreated Alice, "she'll take the big stick. " "She could not do her work, " interposed Mary with furtive eagerness, "she is so poorly, and Missus said she would have the twenty sprigs ifshe sat up all night. " "Sprigs!" "Yes, ma'am, we makes lace more than ever we did to home, day and night;and if we don't she takes the stick. " "Oh, Mary, " implored the child, "she said if you said one word. " "Mary, " said Lady Temple, trembling all over, "where are your bonnets?" "We haven't none, ma'am, " returned Mary, "she pawned them. But, oh, ma'am, please take us away. We are used dreadful bad, and no one knowsit. " Lady Temple took Lovedy in one hand, and Mary in the other; then lookedat the other little girl, who stood as if petrified. She handed the pairto the astonished Coombe, bidding him put them into the carriage, andlet Master Temple go outside, and then faced about to defend the rear, her rustling black silk and velvet filling up the passage, just asAlison and the matron were coming down stairs. "Mrs. Rawlins, " she said, in her gentle dignity, "I think Lovedy is sopoorly that she ought to go home to her aunt to be nursed, and I havetaken little Mary that she may not be left behind alone. Please to tellMr. Mauleverer that I take it all upon myself. The other little girl isnot at all to blame, and I hope you will take care of her, for she looksvery ill. " So much for being a Governor's widow! A woman of thrice Fanny's energyand capacity would not have effected her purpose so simply, and madethe virago in the matron so entirely quail. She swept forth with such aconsciousness of power and ease that few could have had assurance enoughto gainsay her, but no sooner was she in the carriage than she seizedMary's hand, exclaiming, "My poor, poor little dear! Francis, dear boy, the wicked people have been beating her! Oh, Miss Williams, look at herpoor neck!" Alison lifting Lovedy on her knee, glanced under the shawl, and sawindeed a sad spectacle, and she felt such a sharpness of bone as provedthat there was far from being the proper amount of clothing or of fleshto protect them. Lady Temple looked at Mary's attenuated hand, andfairly sobbed, "Oh, you have been cruelly treated!" "Please don't let her get us, " cried the frightened Mary. "Never, never, my dear. We are taking you home to your mother. " Mary Morris was the spokeswoman, and volunteered the exhibition ofbruises rather older, but no less severe than those of her companion. All had been inflicted by the woman; Mr. Mauleverer had seldom or neverbeen seen by the children, except Alice, who used often to be calledinto Mrs. Rawlins's parlour when he was there, to be played with andpetted. A charwoman was occasionally called in, but otherwise the entirework of the house was exacted from the two girls, and they had beenbesides kept perpetually to their lace pillows, and severely beatenif they failed in the required amount of work; the ample wardrobe withwhich their patronesses had provided them had been gradually taken fromthem, and their fare had latterly become exceedingly coarse, and veryscanty. It was a sad story, and this last clause evoked from Francis'spocket a large currant bun, which Mary devoured with a famishedappetite, but Lovedy held her portion untasted in her hand, andpresently gave it to Mary, saying that her throat was so bad that shecould not make use of anything. She had already been wrapped in LadyTemple's cloak, and Francis was desired to watch for a chemist's shopthat something might be done for her relief, but the region of shops wasalready left behind, and even the villas were becoming scantier, sothat nothing was to be done but to drive on, obtaining from time to timefurther doleful narratives from Mary, and perceiving more and more howill and suffering was the other poor child. Moreover, Lady Temple's mind became extremely uneasy as to the mannerin which Rachel might accept her exploit. All her valour departed as shefigured to herself that young lady discrediting the alarm, and resentingher interference. She did not repent, she knew she could not have helpedit, and she had rather have been tortured by Rachel than have left thevictims another hour to the F. U. E. E. , but she was full of nervousanxiety, little as she yet guessed at the full price of her courage; andshe uttered more than once the fervent wish that the Colonel had beenthere, for he would have known what to do. And Alison each time replied, "I wish it with all my heart!" Wrought up at last to the pitch of nervousness that must rush on thecrisis at once, and take the bull by the horns, this valiant piece ofcowardice declared that she could not even return the girls to theirhomes till Rachel knew all about it, and gave the word to drive to theHomestead, further cheered by the recollection that Colonel Keith wouldprobably be there, having been asked to luncheon, as he could not dineout, to meet Mr. Grey. Moreover, Mr. Grey was a magistrate and wouldknow what was to be done. Thus the whole party at the Homestead were assembled near the door, when, discerning them too late to avoid them, Lady Temple's equipagedrew up in the peculiarly ungraceful fashion of waggonettes, when theyprepare to shoot their passengers out behind. Conrade, the only person who had the advantage of a previous view, stoodup on the box, and before making his descent, shouted out, "Oh, AuntRachel, your F. U. Thing is as bad as the Sepoys. But we have saved thetwo little girls that they were whipping to death, and have got them inthe carriage. " While this announcement was being delivered, Alison Williams, thenearest to the door, had emerged. She lifted out the little muffledfigure of Lovedy, set her on her feet, and then looking neither to theright nor left, as if she saw and thought of no one else, made but onebound towards Colonel Keith, clasped both hands round his arm, turnedhim away from the rest, and with her black brows drawn close together, gasped under her breath, "O, Colin, Colin, it is Maria Hatherton. " "What! the matron?" "Yes, the woman that has used these poor children like a savage. O, Colin, it is frightful. " "You should sit down, you are almost ready to faint. " "Nothing! nothing! But the poor girls are in such a state. And thatMaria whom we taught, and--" Alison stopped. "Did she know you?" "I can't tell. Perhaps; but I did not know her till the last moment. " "I have long believed that the man that Rose recognised was Mauleverer, but I thought the uncertainty would be bad for Ermine. What is allthis?" "You will hear. There! Listen, I can't tell you; Lady Temple did itall, " said Alison, trying to draw away her arm from him, and to assumethe staid governess. But he felt her trembling, and did not release herfrom his support as they fanned back to the astonished group, to which, while these few words were passing, Francis, the little bareheadedwhite-aproned Mary Morris, and lastly Lady Temple, had by this time beenadded; and Fanny, with quick but courteous acknowledgment of all, wassingling out her cousin. "Oh, Rachel, dear, I did not mean it to have been so sudden or beforethem all, but indeed I could not help it, " she said in her gentle, imploring voice, "if you only saw that poor dear child's neck. " Rachel had little choice what she should say or do. What Fannywas saying tenderly and privately, the two boys were communicatingopen-mouthed, and Mrs. Curtis came at once with her nervous, "What isit, my dear; is it something very sad? Those poor children look verycold, and half starved. " "Indeed, " said Fanny, "they have been starved, and beaten, and cruellyused. I am very sorry, Rachel, but indeed that was a dreadful woman, and I thought Colonel Keith and Mr. Grey would tell us what ought to bedone. " "Mr. Grey!" and Mrs. Curtis turned round eagerly, with the comfort ofhaving some one to support her, "will you tell us what is to be done?Here has poor dear Rachel been taken in by this wicked scheme, and thesepoor--" "Mother, mother, " muttered Rachel, lashed up to desperation; "please notout here, before the servants and every one. " This appeal and Grace's opening of the door had the effect of directingevery one into the hall, Mr. Grey asking Mrs. Curtis by the way, "Eh?Then this is Rachel's new female asylum, is it?" "Yes, I always feared there was something odd about it. I never likedthat man, and now--Fanny, my love, what is the matter?" In a few simple words Fanny answered that she had contrived to be leftalone with the children, and had then found signs of such shockingill-treatment of them, that she had thought it right to bring them awayat once. "And you will commit those wretches. You will send them to prison atonce, Mr. Grey. They have been deceiving my poor Rachel ever so long, and getting sums upon sums of money out of her, " said Mrs. Curtis, becoming quite blood-thirsty. "If there is sufficient occasion I will summon the persons concerned tothe Bench on Wednesday, " said Mr. Grey, a practical, active squire. "Not till Wednesday!" said Mrs. Curtis, as if she thought the course ofjustice very tardy. But the remembrance of Mr. Curtis's magisterialdays came to her aid, and she continued, "but you can take all theexaminations here at once, you know; and Grace can find you a summonspaper, if you will just go into the study. " "It might save the having the children over to-morrow, certainly, " saidMr. Grey, and he was inducted almost passively into the leathern chairbefore the library table, where Mr. Curtis had been wont to administerjustice, and Grace was diving deep into a bureau for the printed formslong treasured there, her mother directing her, though Mr. Grey vainlyprotested that any foolscap would do as well. It was a curious scene. Mrs. Grey with her daughters had the discretion to remove themselves, but every one else was in a state of excitement, and pressed into theroom, the two boys disputing under their breath whether the civilianscalled it a court martial, and, with some confusion between mutineersand Englishwomen, hoping the woman would be blown from the mouth of acannon, for hadn't she gone and worn a cap like mamma's? They would havereferred the question to Miss Williams, but she had been deposited bythe Colonel on one of the chairs in the furthest corner of the room, and he stood sheltering her agitation and watching the proceedings. Lady Temple still held a hand of each of her rescued victims, as ifshe feared they were still in danger, and all the time Rachel stood andlooked like a statue, unable to collect her convictions in the hubbub, and the trust, that would have enabled her to defy all this, swept awayfrom her by the morning's transactions. Yet still there was a hopethat appearances might be delusive, and an habitual low estimate of Mr. Grey's powers that made her set on looking with her own eyes, not withhis. His first question was about the children's names and their friends, andthis led to the despatching of a message to the mother and aunt. He theninquired about the terms on which they had been placed at St. Norbert's, and Rachel, who was obliged to reply, felt under his clear, stringentquestions, keeping close to the point, a good deal more respect for hispowers than she had hitherto entertained. That dry way of his was ratheroverwhelming. When it came to the children themselves, Rachel watched, not without a hope that the clear masculine intellect would detect Fannyin a more frightened woman's fancy, and bring the F. U. E. E. Off withflying colours. Little Mary Morris stood forth valiant and excited. She was eleven yearsold, and intelligent enough to make it evident that she knew whatshe was about. The replies were full. The blows were described, withterrible detail of the occasions and implements. Still Rachel rememberedthe accusation of Mary's truth. She tried to doubt. "I saw her with a bruised eye, " said the Colonel's unexpected voice in apause. "How was that?" "Please, sir, Mrs. Rawlins hit me with her fist because I had only doneseven sprigs. She knocked me down, and I did not come to for ever solong. " And not only this, and the like sad narratives, but each child bore themarks in corroboration of the words, which were more reluctant and morehoarse from Lovedy, but even more effective. Rachel doubted no moreafter the piteous sight of those scarred shoulders, and the pinchedfeeble face; but one thing was plain, namely, that Mr. Mauleverer hadno share in the cruelties. Even such severities as had been perpetratedwhile he was in the house, had, Mary thought, been protested against byhim, but she had seldom seen him, he paid all his visits in the littleparlour, and took no notice of the children except to prepare thetableau for public inspection. Mr. Grey, looking at his notes, said thatthere was full evidence to justify issuing a summons against the womanfor assaulting the children, and proceeded to ask her name. Then whilethere was a question whether her Christian name was known, the Colonelagain said, "I believe her name to be Maria Hatherton. Miss Williams hasrecognised her as a servant who once lived in her family, and who camefrom her father's parish at Beauchamp. " Alison on inquiry corroborated the statement, and the charge was madeagainst Maria Rawlins, alias Hatherton. The depositions were read overto the children, and signed by them; with very trembling fingers bypoor little Lovedy, and Mr. Grey said he would send a policeman with thesummons early next day. "But, Mr. Grey, " burst out Mrs. Curtis, "you don't mean that you are notgoing to do anything to that man! Why he has been worse than the woman!It was he that entrapped the poor children, and my poor Rachel here, with his stories of magazines and illustrations, and I don't know whatall!" "Very true, Mrs. Curtis, " said the magistrate, "but where's the chargeagainst him?" It may be conceived how pleasant it was to the clever woman of thefamily to hear her mother declaiming on the arts by which she had beenduped by this adventurer, appealing continually to Grace and Fanny, and sometimes to herself, and all before Mr. Grey, on whose old-worldprejudices she had bestowed much more antagonism than he had thoughtit worth while to bestow on her new lights. Yet, at the moment, thisoperation of being written down an ass, was less acutely painful toher than the perception that was simultaneously growing on her of themiserable condition of poor little Lovedy, whose burning hand she held, and whose gasping breath she heard, as the child rested feebly in thechair in which she had been placed. Rachel had nothing vindictive orselfish in her mood, and her longing was, above all, to get away, andminister to the poor child's present sufferings; but she found herselfhemmed in, and pinned down by the investigation pushed on by her mother, involving answers and explanations that she alone could make. Mr. Grey rubbed his forehead, and looked freshly annoyed at eachrevelation of the state of things. It had not been Mauleverer, butRachel, who had asked subscriptions for the education of the children, he had but acted as her servant, the counterfeit of the woodcuts, whichLady Temple suggested, could not be construed into an offence; andit looked very much as if, thanks to his cleverness, and Rachel'sincaution, there was really no case to be made out against him, as ifthe fox had carried off the bait without even leaving his brush behindhim. Sooth to say, the failure was a relief to Rachel, she had thrown somuch of her will and entire self into the upholding him, that she couldnot yet detach herself or sympathize with those gentle souls, the motherand Fanny, in keenly hunting him down. Might he not have been as muchdeceived in Mrs. Rawlins as herself? At any rate she hoped for time toface the subject, and kneeling on the ground so as to support littleLovedy's sinking head on her shoulder, made the briefest replies in herpower when referred to. At last, Grace recollected the morning's affairof Mrs. Rossitur's bills. Mr. Grey looked as if he saw daylight, Gracevolunteered to fetch both the account-book and Mrs. Rossitur, and Rachelfound the statement being extracted from her of the monthly productionof the bills, with the entries in the book, and of her having given themoney for their payment. Mr. Grey began to write, and she perceived thathe was taking down her deposition. She beckoned Mary to support herpoor little companion, and rising to her feet, said, to the horror andconsternation of her mother, "Mr. Grey, pray let me speak to you!" He rose at once, and followed her to the hall, where he looked preparedto be kind but firm. "Must this be done to-day?" she said. "Why not?" he answered. "I want time to think about it. The woman has acted like a fiend, and Ihave not a word to say for her; but I cannot feel that it is fair, aftersuch long and entire trust of this man, to turn on him suddenly withoutnotice. " "Do you mean that you will not prosecute?" said Mr. Grey, with a dozennotes of interjection in his voice. "I have not said so. I want time to make up my mind, and to hear what hehas to say for himself. " "You will hear that at the Bench on Wednesday. " "It will not be the same thing. " "I should hope not!" "You see, " said Rachel, perplexed and grievously wanting time to rallyher forces, "I cannot but feel that I have trusted too easily, andperhaps been to blame myself for my implicit confidence, and after thatit revolts me to throw the whole blame on another. " "If you have been a simpleton, does that make him an honest man?" saidMr. Grey, impatiently. "No, " said Rachel, "but--" "What?" "My credulity may have caused his dishonesty, " she said, bringing, atlast, the words to serve the idea. "Look you here, Rachel, " said Mr. Grey, constraining himself to arguepatiently with his old friend's daughter; "it does not simply liebetween you and him--a silly girl who has let herself be taken in by asharper. That would be no more than giving a sixpence to a fellow thattells me he lost his arm at Sebastopol when he has got it sewn up in abag. But you have been getting subscriptions from all the world, makingyourself answerable to them for having these children educated, andthen, for want of proper superintendence, or the merest rationalprecaution, leaving them to this barbarous usage. I don't want to behard upon you, but you are accountable for all this; you have madeyourself so, and unless you wish to be regarded as a sharer in theiniquity, the least you can do by way of compensation, is not to makeyourself an obstruction to the course of justice. " "I don't much care how I am regarded, " said Rachel, with subdued toneand sunken head; "I only want to do right, and not act spitefully andvindictively before he has had warning to defend himself. " "Or to set off to delude as many equal foo--mistaken people as he canfind elsewhere! Eh, Rachel? Don't you see, it this friend of yoursbe innocent, a summons will not hurt him, it will only give him theopportunity of clearing himself. " "Yes, I see, " owned Rachel, and overpowered, though far from satisfied, she allowed herself to be brought back, and did what was requiredof her, to the intense relief of her mother. During her three minuteconference no one in the study had ventured on speaking or stirring, andMrs. Curtis would not thank her biographer for recording the wild alarmsthat careered through her brain, as to the object of her daughter'stete-a-tete with the magistrate. It was over at last, and the hall of justice broke up. Mary Morris wasat once in her mother's arms, and in a few minutes more making up forall past privations by a substantial meal in the kitchen. But Mrs. Kelland had gone to Avoncester to purchase thread, and only her daughterSusan had come up, the girl who was supposed to be a sort of spider, with no capacities beyond her web. Nor did Rachel think Lovedy capableof walking down to Mackarel Lane, nor well enough for the comfortlesschairs and the third part of a bed. No, Mr. Grey's words that Rachel wasaccountable for the children's sufferings had gone to her heart. Pitywas there and indignation, but these had brought such an anguish ofself-accusation as she could only appease by lavishing personal careupon the chief sufferer. She carried the child to her own sitting-roomand made a couch for her before the fire, sending Susan away with theassurance that Lovedy should stay at the Homestead, and be nursed andfed till she was well and strong again. Fanny, who had accompanied her, thought the child very ill, and was urgent that the doctor should besent for; but between Rachel and the faculty of Avonmouth there was adeadly feud, and the proposal was scouted. Hunger and a bad cold wereeasily treated, and maybe there was a spark of consolation in having apatient all to herself and her homoeopathic book. So Fanny and her two boys walked down the hill together in the dark. Colonel Keith and Alison Williams had already taken the same road, anxiously discussing the future. Alison asked why Colin had not givenMauleverer's alias. "I had no proof, " he said. "You were sure of thewoman, but so far it is only guess work with him; though each timeRose spoke of seeing Maddox coincided with one of Mauleverer's visits. Besides, Alison, on the back of that etching in Rose's book is written, Mrs. Williams, from her humble and obliged servant, R. Maddox. '" "And you said nothing about it?" "No, I wished to make myself secure, and to see my way before speakingout. " "What shall you do? Can you trust to Rose's identifying him?" "I shall ride in to-morrow to see what is going on, and judge if it willbe well to let her see this man, if he have not gone off, as I shouldfear was only too likely. Poor little Lady Temple, her exploit hasprecipitated matters. " "And you will let every one, Dr. Long and all, know what a wretch theyhave believed. And then--" "Stay, Alison, I am afraid they will not take Maddox's subsequent guiltas a proof of Edward's innocence. " "It is a proof that his stories were not worth credit. " "To you and me it is, who do not need such proof. It is possible thatamong his papers something may be found that may implicate him and clearEdward, but we can only hold off and watch. And I greatly fear both manand woman will have slipped through our fingers, especially if she knewyou. " "Poor Maria, who could have thought of such frightful barbarity?" sighedAlison. "I knew she was a passionate girl, but this is worse than onecan bear to believe. " She ceased, for she had been inexpressibly shocked, and her heart stillyearned towards every Beauchamp school child. "I suppose we must tell Ermine, " she added; "indeed, I know I could nothelp it. " "Nor I, " he said, smiling, "though there is only too much fear thatnothing will come of it but disappointment. At least, she will tell ushow to meet that. " CHAPTER XIX. THE BREWST SHE BREWED. "Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given. " Timon of Athens. Under the circumstances of the Curtis family, no greater penance couldhave been devised than the solemn dinner party which had to take placeonly an hour after the investigation was closed. Grace in especial wasnearly distracted between her desire to calm her mother and to comforther sister, and the necessity of attending to the Grey family, whorepaid themselves for their absence from the scene of action by atorrent of condolences and questions, whence poor Grace gathered to herhorror and consternation that the neighbourhood already believed thata tenderer sentiment than philanthropy had begun to mingle in Rachel'srelations with the secretary of the F. U. E. E. Feeling it incumbenton the whole family to be as lively and indifferent as possible, Grace, having shut her friends into their rooms to perform their toilette, hurried to her sister, to find her so entirely engrossed with herpatient as absolutely to have forgotten the dinner party. No wonder! Shehad had to hunt up a housemaid to make up a bed for Lovedy in a littleroom within her own, and the undressing and bathing of the poor childhad revealed injuries even in a more painful state than those which hadbeen shown to Mr. Grey, shocking emaciation, and most scanty garments. The child was almost torpid, and spoke very little. She was mostunwilling to attempt to swallow; however, Rachel thought that some ofher globules had gone down, and put much faith in them, and in warmthand sleep; but incessantly occupied, and absolutely sickened by thesight of the child's hurts, she looked up with loathing at Grace'sentreaty that she would, dress for the dinner. "Impossible, " she said. "You must, Rachel dear; indeed, you must. " "As if I could leave her. " "Nay, Rachel, but if you would only send--" "Nonsense, Grace; if I can stay with her I can restore her far betterthan could an allopathist, who would not leave nature to herself. OGrace, why can't you leave me in peace? Is it not bad enough withoutthis?" "Dear Rachel, I am very sorry; but if you did not come down to dinner, think of the talk it would make. " "Let them talk. " "Ah, Rachel, but the mother! Think how dreadful the day's work has beento her; and how can she ever get through the evening if she is in afright at your not coming down?" "Dinner parties are one of the most barbarous institutions of paststupidity, " said Rachel, and Grace was reassured. She hovered overRachel while Rachel hovered over the sick child, and between her ownexertions and those of two maids, had put her sister into an eveningdress by the time the first carriage arrived. She then rushed to her ownroom, made her own toilette, and returned to find Rachel in conferencewith Mrs. Kelland, who had come home at last, and was to sit with herniece during the dinner. Perhaps it was as well for all parties thatthis first interview was cut very short, but Rachel's burning cheeks didnot promise much for the impression of ease and indifference she was tomake, as Grace's whispered reminders of "the mother's" distress draggedher down stairs among the all too curious glances of the assembledparty. All had been bustle. Not one moment for recollection had yet beenRachel's. Mr. Grey's words, "Accountable for all, " throbbed in her earsand echoed in her brain--the purple bruises, the red stripes, vergingupon sores, were before her eyes, and the lights, the flowers, thepeople and their greetings, were like a dizzy mist. The space beforedinner was happily but brief, and then, as last lady, she came in as asupernumerary on the other arm of Grace's cavalier, and taking the onlyvacant chair, found herself between a squire and Captain Keith, who hadduly been bestowed on Emily Grey. Here there was a moment's interval of quiet, for the squire was slightlydeaf, and, moreover, regarded her as a little pert girl, not to beencouraged, while Captain Keith was resigned to the implied homageof the adorer of his cross; so that, though the buzz of talk and theclatter of knives and forks roared louder than it had ever seemed to dosince she had been a child, listening from the outside, the immediatesense of hurry and confusion, and the impossibility of seeing or hearinganything plainly, began to diminish. She could not think, but she beganto wonder whether any one knew what had happened; and, above all, sheperfectly dreaded the quiet sting of her neighbour's word and eye, inthis consummation of his victory. If he glanced at her, she knew shecould not bear it; and if he never spoke to her at all, it would bemarked reprehension, which would be far better than sarcasm. He wasevidently conscious of her presence; for when, in her insatiable thirst, she had drained her own supply of water, she found the little bottlequietly exchanged for that before him. It was far on in the dinnerbefore Emily's attention was claimed by the gentleman on her other hand, and then there was a space of silence before Captain Keith almost madeRachel start, by saying-- "This has come about far more painfully than could have been expected. " "I thought you would have triumphed, " she said. "No, indeed. I feel accountable for the introduction that my sisterbrought upon you. " "It was no fault of hers, " said Rachel, sadly. "I wish I could feel it so. " "That was a mere chance. The rest was my own doing. " "Aided and abetted by more than one looker-on. " "No. It is I who am accountable, " she said, repeating Mr. Grey's words. "You accept the whole?" It was his usual, cool, dry tone; but as she replied, "I must, " sheinvoluntarily looked up, with a glance of entreaty to be spared, andshe met those dark, grey, heavy-lidded eyes fixed on her with so muchconcern as almost to unnerve her. "You cannot, " he answered; "every bystander must rue the apathy that letyou be so cruelly deceived, for want of exertion on their part. " "Nay, " she said; "you tried to open my eyes. I think this would havecome worse, but for this morning's stroke. " "Thank you, " he said, earnestly. "I daresay you know more than I have been able to understand, " shepresently added; "it is like being in the middle of an explosion, without knowing what stands or falls. " "And lobster salad as an aggravation!" said he, as the dish successivelypersecuted them. "This dinner is hard on you. " "Very; but my mother would have been unhappy if I had stayed away. It isthe leaving the poor child that grieves me. She is in a fearful state, between sore throat, starvation, and blows. " The picture of the effect of the blows coming before Rachel at thatmoment, perilled her ability even to sit through the dinner; but hercompanion saw the suddening whitening of her cheek, and by a dexteroussignal at once caused her glass to be filled. Habit was framing herlips to say something about never drinking wine; but somehow she felta certain compulsion in his look, and her compliance restored her. Shereturned to the subject, saying, "But it was only the woman that wascruel. " "She had not her Sepoy face for nothing. " "Did I hear that Miss Williams knew her?" "Yes, it seems she was a maid who had once been very cruel to littleRose Williams. The Colonel seems to think the discovery may haveimportant consequences. I hardly know how. " This conversation sent Rachel out of the dining-room more like herselfthan she had entered it; but she ran upstairs at once to Lovedy, andremained with her till disinterred by the desperate Grace, who could notsee three people talking together without blushing with indignation atthe construction they were certainly putting on her sister's scarletcheeks and absence from the drawing-room. With all Grace's efforts, however, she could not bring her truant back before the gentlemen hadcome in. Captain Keith had seen their entrance, and soon came up toRachel. "How is your patient?" he asked. "She is very ill; and the worst of it is, that it seems such agony toher to attempt to swallow. " "Have you had advice for her?" "No; I have often treated colds, and I thought this a case, aggravatedby that wicked treatment. " "Have you looked into her mouth?" "Yes; the skin is frightfully brown and dry. " He leant towards her, and asked, in an under tone-- "Did you ever see diphtheria?" "No!"--her brow contracting--"did you?" "Yes; we had it through all the children of the regiment at Woolwich. " "You think this is it?" He asked a few more questions, and his impression was evidentlyconfirmed. "I must send for Mr. Frampton, " said Rachel, homeopathy succumbing toher terror; but then, with a despairing glance, she beheld all the malepart of the establishment handing tea. "Where does he live? I'll send him up. " "Thank you, oh! thank you. The house with the rails, under the eastcliff. " He was gone, and Rachel endured the reeling of the lights, and thesurges of talk, and the musical performances that seemed to burst thedrum of her ear; and, after all, people went away, saying to each otherthat there was something very much amiss, and that poor dear Mrs. Curtiswas very much to blame for not having controlled her daughters. They departed at last, and Grace, without uttering the terrible word, was explaining to the worn-out mother that little Lovedy was moreunwell, and that Captain Keith had kindly offered to fetch the doctor, when the Captain himself returned. "I am sorry to say that Mr. Frampton is out, not likely to be at hometill morning, and his partner is with a bad accident at Avonford. The best plan will be for me to ride back to Avoncester, and send outMacvicar, our doctor. He is a kind-hearted man, of much experience inthis kind of thing. " "But you are not going back, " said polite Mrs. Curtis, far from takingin the urgency of the case. "You were to sleep at Colonel Keith's. Icould not think of your taking the trouble. " "I have settled that with the Colonel, thank you. My dog-cart will behere directly. " "I can only say, thank you, " said Rachel, earnestly. "But is therenothing to be done in the meantime? Do you know the treatment?" He knew enough to give a few directions, which revealed to poor Mrs. Curtis the character of the disease. "That horrible new sore throat! Oh, Rachel, and you have been hangingover her all this time!" "Indeed, " said Alick Keith, coming to her. "I think you need not bealarmed. The complaint seems to me to depend on the air and locality. Ihave been often with people who had it. " "And not caught it?" "No; though one poor little fellow, our piper's son, would not tryto take food from any one else, and died at last on my knee. I do notbelieve it is infectious in that way. " And hearing his carriage at the door, he shook hands, and hurried off, Mrs. Curtis observing-- "He really is a very good young man. But oh, Rachel, my dear, how couldyou bring her here?" "I did not know, mother. Any way it is better than her being in Mrs. Kelland's hive of children. " "You are not going back to her, Rachel, I entreat!" "Mother, I must. You heard what Captain Keith said. Let that comfortyou. It would be brutal cruelty and cowardice to stay away from her tonight. Good night, Grace, make mother see that it must be so. " She went, for poor Mrs. Curtis could not withstand her; and only turnedwith tearful eyes to her elder daughter to say, "You do not go into theroom again, Grace, I insist. " Grace could not bear to leave Rachel to the misery of such a vigil, andgreatly reproached herself for the hurry that had prevented her frompaying any heed to the condition of the child in her anxiety to makeher sister presentable; but Mrs. Curtis was in a state of agitation thatdemanded all the care and tenderness of this "mother's child, " and thesharing her room and bed made it impossible to elude the watchfulnessthat nervously guarded the remaining daughter. It was eleven o'clock when Alexander Keith drove from the door. It was amoonlight night, and he was sure to spare no speed, but he could hardlybe at Avoncester within an hour and a half, and the doctor would takeat least two in coming out. Mrs. Kelland was the companion of Rachel'swatch. The woman was a good deal subdued. The strangeness of the greathouse tamed her, and she was shocked and frightened by the little girl'sstate as well as by the young lady's grave, awe-struck, and silentmanner. They tried all that Captain Keith had suggested, but the child was tooweak and spent to inhale the steam of vinegar, and the attempts to makeher swallow produced fruitless anguish. They could not discover how longit was since she had taken any nourishment, and they already knew whata miserable pittance hers had been at the best. Mrs. Kelland gave her upat once, and protested that she was following her mother, and that therewas death in her face. Rachel made an imperious gesture of silence, andwas obeyed so far as voice went, but long-drawn sighs and shakes of thehead continued to impress on her the aunt's hopelessness, throughoutthe endeavours to change the position, the moistening of the lips, theattempts at relief in answer to the choked effort to cough, the weary, faint moan, the increasing faintness and exhaustion. One o'clock struck, and Mrs. Kelland said, in a low, ominous voice, "Itis the turn of the night, Miss Rachel. You bad best leave her to me. " "I will never leave her, " said Rachel impatiently. "You are a young lady, Miss Rachel, you ain't used to the like of this. " "Hark!" Rachel held up her finger. Wheels were crashing up the hill. The horrible responsibility was over, the immediate terror gone, help seemed to be coming at the utmost speed, and tears of relief rushed into Rachel's eyes, tears that Lovedy musthave perceived, for she spoke the first articulate words she had utteredsince the night-watch had begun, "Please, ma'am, don't fret, I'm goingto poor mother. " "You will be better now, Lovedy, here is the doctor, " said Rachel, though conscious that this was not the right thing, and then shehastened out on the stairs to meet the gaunt old Scotsman and bring himin. He made Mrs. Kelland raise the child, examined her mouth, felt herfeet and hands, which were fast becoming chill, and desired the warmflannels still to be applied to them. "Cannot her throat be operated on?" said Rachel, a tremor within herheart. "I think we could both be depended on if you wanted us. " "She is too far gone, poor lassie, " was the answer; "it would be merecruelty to torment her. You had better go and lie down, Miss Curtis; hermother and I can do all she is like to need. " "Is she dying?" "I doubt if she can last an hour longer. The disease is in an advancedstate, and she was in too reduced a state to have battled with it, evenhad it been met earlier. " "As it should have been! Twice her destroyer!" sighed Rachel, with abursting heart, and again the kind doctor would have persuaded her toleave the room, but she turned from him and came back to Lovedy, who hadbeen roused by what had been passing, and had been murmuring somethingwhich had set her aunt off into sobs. "She's saying she've been a bad girl to me, poor lamb, and I tell hernot to think of it! She knows it was for her good, if she had not beenset against her work. " Dr. Macvicar authoritatively hushed the woman, but Lovedy looked up withflushed cheeks, and the blue eyes that had been so often noticed fortheir beauty. The last flush of fever had come to finish the work. "Don't fret, " she said, "there's no one to beat me up there! Please, theverse about the tears. " Dr. Macvicar and the child both looked towards Rachel, but her wholememory seemed scared away, and it was the old Scotch army surgeon thatrepeated-- "'The Lord God shall wipe off tears from all eyes. ' Ah! poor little one, you are going from a world that has been full of woe to you. " "Oh, forgive me, forgive me, my poor child, " said Rachel, kneeling byher, the tears streaming down silently. "Please, ma'am, don't cry, " said the little girl feebly; "you werevery good to me. Please tell me of my Saviour, " she added to Rachel. It sounded like set phraseology, and she knew not how to begin; but Dr. Macvicar's answer made the lightened look come back, and the child wasagain heard to whisper--"Ah! I knew they scourged Him--for me. " This was the last they did hear, except the sobbing breaths, ever moreconvulsive. Rachel had never before been present with death, and awe anddismay seemed to paralyse her whole frame. Even the words of hope andprayer for which the child's eyes craved from both her fellow-watchersseemed to her a strange tongue, inefficient to reach the misery of thisuntimely mortal agony, this work of neglect and cruelty--and she thecause. Three o'clock had struck before the last painful gasp had been drawn, and Mrs. Kelland's sobbing cry broke forth. Dr. Macvicar told Rachelthat the child was at rest. She shivered from head to foot, her teethchattered, and she murmured, "Accountable for all. " Dr. Macvicar at once made her swallow some of the cordial brought forthe poor child, and then summoning the maid whom Grace had stationed inthe outer room, he desired her to put her young mistress to bed withoutloss of time. The sole remaining desire of which she was conscious wasto be alone and in the dark, and she passively submitted. CHAPTER XX. THE SARACEN'S HEAD. "Alas, he thought, how changed that mien, How changed those timid looks have been, Since years of guilt and of disguise Have steeled her brow and armed her eyes. " Marmion. "Are you sleepy, Rose? What a yawn!" "Not sleepy, Aunt Ailie; only it is such a tiresome long day when theColonel does not come in. " "Take care, Rosie; I don't know what we shall be good for at this rate. " "We? O Aunt Ermine, then you think it tiresome too. I know you do--" "What's that, Rose!" "It is! it is! I'll open the door for him. " The next moment Rose led her Colonel in triumph into the lamp-light. There was a bright light in his eye, and yet he looked pale, grave, andworn; and Ermine's first observation was-- "How came Tibbie to let you out at this time of night?" "I have not ventured to encounter Tibbie at all. I drove up to yourdoor. " "You have been at St. Norbert's all this time, " exclaimed Alison. "Do you think no one can carry on a campaign at St. Norbert's butyourself and your generalissima, Miss Ailie?" he said, stroking downRose's brown hair. "Then, if you have not gone home, you have had nothing to eat, and thatis the reason you look so tired, " said Ermine. "Yes; I had some luncheon at the Abbey. " "Then, at any rate, you shall have some tea. Rosie, run and fetch thelittle kettle. " "And the Beauchamp cup and saucer, " added Rose, proudly producing thesingle relic of a well-remembered set of olden times. "And please, please, Aunt Ermine, let me sit up to make it for him. I have not seenhim all day, you know; and it is the first time he ever drank tea in ourhouse, except make-believe with Violetta and Colinette. " "No, Rose. Your aunt says I spoil that child, and I am going to have myrevenge upon you. You must see the wild beast at his meals another time;for it just happens that I have a good deal to say to your aunts, and itis not intended for your ears. " Rose showed no signs of being spoilt, for she only entreated to beallowed "just to put the tea-things in order, " and then, winking veryhard, she said she would go. "Here, Rose, if you please, " said Ermine, clearing the space of tablebefore her. "Why, Aunt Ermine, I did not know you could make tea!" "There are such things as extraordinary occasions, Rose. Now, goodnight, my sweet one. " "Good night, my Lady Discretion. We will make up for it one of thesedays. Don't stay away, pray, Ailie, " as Alison was following the child. "I have nothing to say till you come back. " "I know it is good news, " said Ermine; "but it has cost you something, Colin. " Instead of answering, he received his cup from her, filled up hertea-pot, and said-- "How long is it since you poured out tea for me, Ermine?" "Thirteen years next June, when you and Harry used to come in from thecricket field, so late and hot that you were ashamed to present yourselfin civilized society at the Great House. " "As if nobody from the Parsonage ever came down to look on at thecricket. " "Yes; being summoned by all the boys to see that nothing would teach aScotchman cricket. " "Ah! you have got the last word, for here comes Ailie. " "Of course, " said Alison, coming in; "Ermine has had the pith of thestory, so I had better ask at once what it is. " "That the Beauchamp Eleven beat Her Majesty's --th Foot on MidsummerDay, 1846, is the pith of what I have as yet heard, " said Ermine. "And that Beauchamp ladies are every whit as full of mischief as theyused to be in those days, is the sum of what I have told, " added Colin. "Yes, " said Ermine, "he has most loyally kept his word of reserving allfor you. He has not even said whether Mauleverer is taken. " "My story is grave and sad enough, " said Colin, laying aside all hisplayfulness, and a serious expression coming over his features; but, atthe same time, the landlady's sandy cat, which, like all other animals, was very fond of him, and had established herself on his knee as soon asRose had left it vacant, was receiving a certain firm, hard, caressingstroking, which resulted in vehement purrs on her part, and wasevidently an outlet of suppressed exaltation. "Is he the same?" asked Alison. "All in due time; unless, like Miss Rachel, you wish to tell me my storyyourselves. By-the-bye, how is that poor girl to-day?" "Thoroughly knocked down. There is a sort of feverish lassitude abouther that makes them very anxious. They were hoping to persuade her tosee Mr. Frampton when Lady Temple heard last. " "Poor thing! it has been a sad affair for her. Well, I told you I shouldgo over this morning and see Mr. Grey, and judge if anything couldbe done. I got to the Abbey at about eleven o'clock, and found thepoliceman had just come back after serving the summons, with the newsthat Mauleverer was gone. " "Gone!" "Clean gone! Absconded from his lodgings, and left no traces behind him. But, as to the poor woman, the policeman reported that she had been leftin terrible distress, with the child extremely ill, and not a penny, nota thing to eat in the house. He came back to ask Mr. Grey what was tobe done; and as the suspicion of diphtheria made every one inclined tofight shy of the house, I thought I had better go down and see what wasto be done. I knocked a good while in vain; but at last she looked outof window, and I told her I only wanted to know what could be done forher child, and would send a doctor. Then she told me how to open thedoor. Poor thing! I found her the picture of desolation, in the midst ofthe dreary kitchen, with the child gasping on her lap; all the pretenceof widowhood gone, and her hair hanging loose about her face, which wasquite white with hunger, and her great eyes looked wild, like the glareof a wild beast's in a den. I spoke to her by her own name, and shestarted and trembled, and said, 'Did Miss Alison tell you?' I said, 'Yes, ' and explained who I was, and she caught me up half way: 'O yes, yes, my lady's nephew, that was engaged to Miss Ermine!' And she lookedme full and searchingly in the face, Ermine, when I answered 'Yes. ' Thenshe almost sobbed, 'And you are true to her;' and put her hands over herface in an agony. It was a very strange examination on one's constancy, and I put an end to it by asking if she had any friends at home that Icould write to for her; but she cast that notion from her fiercely, andsaid she had no friend, no one. He had left her to her fate, because thechild was too ill to be moved. And indeed the poor child was in such astate that there was no thinking of anything else, and I went at once tofind a doctor and a nurse. " "Diphtheria again?" "Yes; and she, poor thing, was in no state to give it the resolute carethat is the only chance. Doctors could be easily found, but I was at mywit's end for a nurse, till I remembered that Mr. Mitchell had toldme of a Sisterhood that have a Home at St. Norbert's, with a nursingestablishment attached to it. So, in despair, I went there, and beggedto see the Superior, and a most kind and sensible lady I found her, ready to do anything helpful. She lent me a nice little Sister, ratheryoung, I thought; but who turned out thoroughly efficient, nearly asgood as a doctor. Still, whether the child lives is very doubtful, though the mother was full of hope when I went in last. She insistedthat I had saved it, when both she and it had been deserted by Maddox, for whom she had given up everything. " "Then she owned that he was Maddox?" "She called him so, without my even putting the question to her. She hadplayed his game long enough; and now his desertion has evidently put anend to all her regard for him. It was confusedly and shortly told; thechild was in a state that prevented attention being given to anythingelse; but she knows that she had been made a tool of to ruin her masterand you, and the sight of you, Ailie, had evidently stirred up much oldaffection, and remembrance of better days. " "Is she his wife?" "No, or the evidence she promises could not be used against him. Do youknow this, Ermine?" as he gave her a cover, with a seal upon it. "The Saracen! the Saracen's head, Colin; it was made with the lostseal-ring!" "The ring was taken from Edward's dressing-room the night when Rose wasfrightened with the phosphorus. Maria declares that she did not suspectthe theft, or Maddox's purpose, till long after she had left her place. He effected his practices under pretence of attachment to her, and thencould not shake her off. She went abroad with him after the settlementof affairs; but he could not keep out of gambling speculation, and losteverything. Then he seems to have larked about, obtaining means she knewnot how--as artist, lecturer, and what not--till the notable F. U. E. E. Was started. Most likely he would have collected the subscriptions andmade off with them, if Rachel Curtis had not had just sense enough totrust him with nothing without seeing some result, so that he was forcedto set the affair going with Maria at its head, as the only personwho could co-operate with him. They kept themselves ready for a startwhenever there should be symptoms of a discovery, but, in the meantime, he gambled away all that he got into his hands, and never gave herenough to feed the children. Thus she was absolutely driven to forcework from them for subsistence; and she is a passionate creature, whomjealousy embittered more and more, so that she became more savage thanshe knew. Poor thing! She has her punishment. Maddox only came home, yesterday, too late for any train before the mail, and by that time thechild was too ill to be moved. He must have thought it all up with him, and wished to be rid of both, for they quarrelled, and he left her toher misery. " "What, gone?" "Yes, but she told us of his haunts--haunts that he thought she did notknow--a fancy shop, kept by a Mrs. Dench at Bristol, where it seems thathe plays the philanthropical lecturer, and probably has been trying tosecure a snug berth for himself unknown, as he thought, to Maria; butshe pried into his letters, and kept a keen watch upon him. He was tobe inquired for there by his Mauleverer name, and, I have little doubt, will be captured. " "And then?" "He will be committed for trial at the sessions; and, in the meantime, I must see Beauchamp and Dr. Long, and arrange that he should beprosecuted for the forgery, even though he should slip through ourfingers at the sessions. " "Oh, could that be?" "This Clever Woman has managed matters so sweetly, that they might justas well try her as him for obtaining money on false pretences; and theman seems to have been wonderfully sharp in avoiding committing himself. Mrs. Curtis's man of business has been trying all day to get up thecase, but he has made out nothing but a few more debts such as thatwhich turned up yesterday; and it is very doubtful how far a case can bemade out against him. " "And then we should lose him. " "That is exactly what I wish to avoid. I want to bring up my forces atonce, and have him laid hold of at once for the forgery of those lettersof Edward's. How long would it take to hear from Ekaterinburg? I supposeEdward could travel as fast as a letter. " Alison fairly sprang to her feet. "O, Colin, Colin! you do not think that Edward would be here by the nextsessions. " "He ought, " said Colin. "I hope to induce Dr. Long and Harry to writehim such letters as to bring him home at once. " Self-restrained Alison was fairly overcome. She stretched out bothhands, pressed Colin's convulsively, then turned away her face, and, bursting into tears, ran out of the room. "Poor dear Ailie, " said Ermine; "she has suffered terribly. Her heart isfull of Edward. Oh, I hope he will come. " "He must. He cannot be so senseless as to stay away. " "There is that unfortunate promise to his wife; and I fear that he isbecome so much estranged from English ways that he will hardly care toset himself straight here, after the pain that the universal suspiciongave him. " "He cannot but care. For the sake of all he must care, " vehementlyrepeated Colin, with the punctilious honour of the nobly-born soldier. "For his child's sake, this would be enough to bring him from his grave. If he refused to return to the investigation, it would be almost enoughto make me doubt him. " "I am glad you said almost, " said Ermine, trying to smile; but he hadabsolutely brought tears into her eyes. "Dear Ermine, " he said, gently, "you need not fear my not trustinghim to the utmost. I know that he has been too much crushed to reviveeasily, and that it may not be easy to make him appreciate our hopesfrom such a distance; but I think such a summons as this must bringhim. " "I hope it will, " said Ermine. "Otherwise we should not deserve that youshould have any more to do with us. " "Ermine, Ermine, do you not know that nothing can make any differencebetween us?" Ermine had collected herself while he spoke. "I know, " she said, "that all you are doing makes me thank and blessyou--oh! more than I can speak. " He looked wistfully at her, but, tearful as were her eyes, there was aresolution, about her face that impressed upon him that she trusted tohis promise of recurring no more within the year to the subject so nearhis heart; and he could say no more than, "You forgive me, Ermine, youknow I trust him as you do. " "I look to your setting him above being only trusted, " said Ermine, trying to smile. "Oh! if you knew what this ray of hope is in the drearydarkness that has lasted so long!" Therewith he was obliged to leave her, and she only saw him for a fewminutes in the morning, when he hurried in to take leave, since, ifmatters went right at the magistrates' bench, he intended to proceedat once to make such representations in person to Mr. Beauchamp and Dr. Long, as might induce them to send an urgent recall to Edward in timefor the spring sessions, and for this no time must be lost. Ermineremained then alone with Rose, feeling the day strangely long andlonely, and that, perhaps, its flatness might be a preparation for theextinction of all the brightness that had of late come into her life. Colin had said he would trust as she did, but those words had made heraware that she must trust as he did. If he, with his clear sense andkindly insight into Edward's character, became convinced that hisabsence proceeded from anything worse than the mere faintheartedindifference that would not wipe off a blot, then Ermine felt that hisjudgment would carry her own along with it, and that she should lose herundoubting faith in her brother's perfect innocence, and in that caseher mind was made up; Colin might say and do what he would, but shewould never connect him through herself with deserved disgrace. Theparting, after these months of intercourse and increased knowlege of oneanother, would be infinitely more wretched than the first; but, cost herwhat it would--her life perhaps--the break should be made rather thanlet his untainted name be linked with one where dishonour justlyrested. But with her constant principle of abstinence from dwelling oncontingencies, she strove to turn away her mind, and to exert herself;though this was no easy task, especially on so solitary a day as this, while Alison was in charge at Myrtlewood in Lady Temple's absence, andRachel Curtis was reported far too ill to leave her room, so that Erminesaw no one all day except her constant little companion; nor was it tilltowards evening that Alison at length made her appearance, bringing anote which Colin had sent home by Lady Temple. All had so far gone well. Maria Hatherton had been committed to take hertrial at the quarter sessions for the assault upon the children; but, asher own little girl was still living, though in extreme danger, and theSisters promised to take charge of both for the present, Colonel Keithhad thought it only common humanity to offer bail, and this had beenaccepted. Later in the day Mauleverer himself had been brought down, having been taken up at a grand meeting of his Bristol friends, who hadall rallied round him, expressing strong indignation at the accusation, and offering evidence as to character. He denied any knowledge of thename of Maddox, and declared that he was able to prove that his ownaccount of himself as a popular, philanthropical lecturer was perfectlycorrect; and he professed to be much amazed at the charges broughtagainst him, which could only have arisen from some sudden alarm in theyoung lady's mind, excited by her friends, whom he had always observedto be prejudiced against him. He appealed strongly against the hardshipof being imprisoned on so slight a charge; but, as he could find no oneto take his part, he reserved his defence for the quarter sessions, forwhich he was fully committed. Colin thought, however, that it was sodoubtful whether the charges against him could be substantiated, thatit was highly necessary to be fully prepared to press the former forgeryagainst him, and had therefore decided upon sleeping at St. Norbert'sand going on by an early train to obtain legal advice in London, andthen to see Harry Beauchamp. Meantime, Ermine must write to her brotheras urgently as possible, backing up Colin's own representations of thenecessity of his return. Ermine read eagerly, but Alison seemed hardly able to command herattention to listen, and scarcely waited for the end of the letterbefore her own disclosure was made. Francis was sickening withdiphtheria; he had been left behind in the morning on account of someoutbreak of peevishness, and Alison, soon becoming convinced that temperwas not solely in fault, had kept him apart from his brothers, and atlast had sent for the doctor, who had at once pronounced it to bethe same deadly complaint which had already declared itself in RachelCurtis. Alison had of course devoted herself to the little boy till hismother's return from St. Norbert's, when she had been obliged to givethe first intimation of what the price of the loving little widow'sexploit might be. "I don't think she realizes the extent of theillness, " said Alison; "say what I would, she would keep on thanking mebreathlessly, and only wanting to escape to him. I asked if we shouldsend to let Colin know, and she answered in her dear, unselfish way, 'Byno means, it would be safer for him to be out of the way, ' and, besides, she knew how much depended on his going. " "She is right, " said Ermine; "I am thankful that he is out of reach oftrying to take a share in the nursing, it is bad enough to have one inthe midst!" "Yes, " said Alison. "Lady Temple cannot be left to bear this grievoustrouble alone, and when the Homestead cannot help her. Yet, Ermine, whatcan be done? Is it safe for you and Rose?" "Certainly not safe that you should come backwards and forwards, " saidErmine. "Rose must not be put in danger; so, dear, dear Ailie, you hadbetter take your things up, and only look in on us now and then at thewindow. " Alison entirely broke down. "Oh, Ermine, Ermine, since you began tomend, not one night have we been apart!" "Silly child, " said Ermine, straining her quivering voice to becheerful, "I am strong, and Rose is my best little handmaid. " "I know it is right, " said Alison, "I could not keep from my boys, and, indeed, now Colin is gone, I do not think any one at Myrtlewood willhave the heart to carry out the treatment. It will almost kill that dearyoung mother to see it. No, they cannot be left; but oh, Ermine, it islike choosing between you and them. " "Not at all, it is choosing between right and wrong. " "And Ermine, if--if I should be ill, you must not think of coming nearme. Rose must not be left alone. " "There is no use in talking of such things, " said Ermine, resolutely, "let us think of what must be thought of, not of what is in the onlyWise Hands. What has been done about the other children?" "I have kept them away from the first; I am afraid for none of them butConrade. " "It would be the wisest way to send them, nurses and all, to Gowanbrae. " "Wise, but cool, " said Alison. "I will settle that, " returned Ermine. "Tibbie shall come and invitethem, and you must make Lady Temple consent. " The sisters durst not embrace, but gazed at one another, feeling thatit might be their last look, their hearts swelling with unspoken prayer, but their features so restrained that neither might unnerve the other. Then it was that Alison, for the first time, felt absolute relief in theknowledge, once so bitter, that she had ceased to be the whole world toher sister. And Ermine, for one moment, felt as if it would be a way outof all troubles and perplexities if the two sisters could die together, and leave little Rose to be moulded by Colin to be all he wished; butshe resolutely put aside the future, and roused herself to send a fewwords in pencil, requesting Tibbie to step in and speak to her. That worthy personage had fully adopted her, and entering, tall andstately, in her evening black silk and white apron, began by professingher anxiety to be any assistance in her power, saying, "she'd bewon'erfu' proud to serve Miss Williams, while her sister was sae thrangwaitin' on her young scholar in his sair trouble. " Emmie thanked her, and rejoiced that the Colonel was out of harm's way. "Deed, aye, ma'am, he's weel awa'. He has sic a wark wi' thae laddiesan' their bit bairn o' a mither, I'll no say he'd been easy keepit outo' the thick o' the distress, an' it's may be no surprisin', aftera' that's come and gane, that he seeks to take siccan a lift of theconcern. I've mony a time heard tell that the auld General, Sir Stephen, was as good as a faither to him, when he was sick an' lonesome, puirlad, in yon far awa' land o' wild beasts an' savages. " "Would it not be what he might like, to take in the children out of theway of infection?" "'Deed, Miss Ermine, " with a significant curtsey, "I'm thinkin' yeken my maister Colin amaist as weel as I do. He's the true son of hisforbears, an' Gowanbrae used to be always open in the auld lord's time, that's his grandfather Foreby, that he owes so much kindness to theGeneral. " Ermine further suggested that it was a pity to wait for a letterfrom the Colonel, and Tibbie quite agreed. She "liked the nurse as anextraordinar' douce woman, not like the fine English madams that MissIsabel--that's Mrs. Comyn Menteith--put about her bairns; and as toroom, the sergeant and the tailor bodie did not need much, and themasons were only busy in the front parlour. " "Masons?" asked Ermine. "On, aye? didna ye ken it's for the new room, that is to be built outfrae the further parlour, and what they ca' the bay to the drawin'-room, just to mak' the house more conformable like wi' his name and forbears. I never thocht but that ye'd surely seen the plans and a', Miss Ermine, an' if so be it was Maister Colin's pleasure the thing suld be private, I'm real vext to hae said a word; but ye'll may be no let on to him, ma'am, that ye ken onything about it. " "Those down-stairs rooms so silently begun, " thought Ermine. "How fixedhis intention must be? Oh, how will it end? What would be best for him?And how can I think of myseif, while all, even my Ailie, are in distressand danger?" Ermine had, however, a good deal to think of, for not only had sheColin's daily letter to answer, but she had Conrade, Leoline, and Hubertwith her for several hours every day, and could not help being amused byRose's ways with them, little grown-up lady as she was compared tothem. Luckily girls were such uncommon beings with them as to be rathercourted than despised, and Rose, having nothing of the tom-boy, did notforfeit the privileges of her sex. She did not think they compensatedfor her Colonel's absence, and never durst introduce Violetta to them;but she enjoyed and profited by the contact with childhood, and was avery nice little comforter to Conrade when he was taken with a fit ofanxiety for the brother whom he missed every moment. Quarantine weighed, however, most heavily upon poor Grace Curtis. Rachelhad from the first insisted that she should be kept out of her room; andthe mother's piteous entreaty always implied that saddest argument, "Whyshould I be deprived of you both in one day?" So Grace found herselfcondemned to uselessness almost as complete as Ermine's. She could onlyanswer notes, respond to inquiries, without even venturing far enoughfrom the house to see Ermine, or take out the Temple children for awalk. For indeed, Rachel's state was extremely critical. The feverish misery that succeeded Lovedy's death had been utterlycrushing, the one load of self-accusation had prostrated her, but witha restlessness of agony, that kept her writhing as it were in herwretchedness; and then came the gradual increase of physical suffering, bearing in upon her that she had caught the fatal disorder. To her senseof justice, and her desire to wreak vengeance on herself, the notionmight be grateful; but the instinct of self-preservation was farstronger. She could not die. The world here, the world to come, were alltoo dark, too confused, to enable her to bear such a doom. She saw herperil in her mother's face; in the reiterated visits of the medicalman, whom she no longer spurned; in the calling in of the Avoncesterphysician; in the introduction of a professional nurse, and the strongand agonizing measures to which she had to submit, every time withthe sensation that the suffering could not possibly be greater withoutexceeding the powers of endurance. Then arose the thought that with weakness she should lose all chance ofexpressing a wish, and, obtaining pencil and paper, she began to writea charge to her mother and sister to provide for Mary Morris; but inthe midst there came over her the remembrance of the papers that she hadplaced in Mauleverer's hands--the title-deeds of the Burnaby Bargain; anestate that perhaps ought to be bringing in as much as half the rentalof the property. It must be made good to the poor. If the title-deedshad been sold to any one who could claim the property, what would bethe consequence? She felt herself in a mist of ignorance and perplexity;dreading the consequences, yet feeling as if her own removal mightleave her fortune free to make up for them. She tried to scrawl anexplanation; but mind and fingers were alike unequal to the task, andshe desisted just as fresh torture began at the doctor's hands--torturefrom which they sent her mother away, and that left her exhausted, anddespairing of holding out through a repetition. And then--and then! "Tell me of my Saviour, " the dying child had said;and the drawn face had lightened at the words to which Rachel's oraclesdeclared that people attached crude or arbitrary meanings; and now shehardly knew what they conveyed to her, and longed, as for something faraway, for the reality of those simple teachings--once realities, nowall by rote! Saved by faith! What was faith? Could all depend on alast sensation? And as to her life. Failure, failure through headstrongblindness and self-will, resulting in the agony of the innocent. Wasthis ground of hope? She tried to think of progress and purificationbeyond the grave; but this was the most speculative, insecure fabric ofall. There was no habit of trust to it--no inward conviction, no outwardtestimony. And even when the extreme danger subsided, and Francis Templewas known to be better, Rachel found that her sorrow was not yetended: for Conrade had been brought home with the symptoms of thecomplaint--Conrade, the most beloved and loving of Fanny's little ones, the only one who really remembered his father, was in exceeding, almosthopeless peril, watched day and night by his mother and Miss Williams. The little Alice, Maria Hatherton's own child, had lingered andstruggled long, but all the care and kindness of the good Sisters atSt. Norbert's had been unavailing, she had sunk at last, and the motherremained in a dull, silent, tearless misery, quietly doing all that wasrequired of her, but never speaking nor giving the ladies any opening totry to make an impression upon her. Rachel gleaned more intelligence than her mother meant her to obtain, and brooded over it in her weakness and her silence. Recovery is often more trying than illness, and Rachel suffered greatly. Indeed, she was not sure that she ought to have recovered at all, andperhaps the shock to her nerves and spirits was more serious thanthe effect of the sharp passing disorder, which had, however, so muchweakened her that she succumbed entirely to the blow. "Accountable forall, " the words still rang in her ears, and the all for which she wasaccountable continually magnified itself. She had tied a dreadful knot, which Fanny, meek contemned Fanny had cut, but at the cost of grievoussuffering and danger to her boys, and too late to prevent that deathwhich continually haunted Rachel; those looks of convulsive agony camebefore her in all her waking and sleeping intervals. Nothing put themaside, occupation in her weakness only bewildered and distracted her, and even though she was advancing daily towards convalescence, leavingher room, and being again restored to her sister, she still continuedlistless, dejected, cast down, and unable to turn her mind from this onedreary contemplation. Of Fanny and her sons it was hardly possibleto think, and one of the strange perturbations of the mind in illnesscaused her to dwell far less on them than on the minor misery of thefate of the title-deeds of the Burnaby Bargain, which she had put intoMauleverer's hand. She fancied their falling into the hands of somespeculator, who, if he did not break the mother's heart by putting upa gasometer, would certainly wring it by building hideous cottages, ordesirable marine residences. The value would be enhanced so as to beequal to more than half that of the Homestead, the poor would have beencheated of it, and what compensation could be made? Give up all her ownshare? Nay, she had nothing absolutely her own while her mother lived, only £5, 000 was settled on her if she married, and she tortured herselfwith devising plans that she knew to be impracticable, of strippingherself, and going forth to suffer the poverty she merited. Yes, but howwould she have lived? Not like the Williamses! She had tried teachinglike the one, and writing like the other, but had failed in both. TheClever Woman had no marketable or available talent. She knew very wellthat nothing would induce her mother and sister to let her despoilherself, but to have injured them would be even more intolerable; andmore than all was the sickening uncertainty, whether any harm had beendone, or what would be its extent. Ignorant of such subjects at the best, her brain was devoid of forceeven to reason out her own conjectures, or to decide what must beimpossible. She felt compelled to keep all to herself; to alarm hermother was out of the question, when Mrs. Curtis was distressed andshaken enough already, and to have told Grace would only have broughther soothing promises of sharing the burthen--exactly what she did notwant--and would have led to the fact being known to the family man ofbusiness, Mr. Cox, the very last person to whom Rachel wished to confessthe proceeding. It was not so much the humiliation of owning to him sucha fatal act of piracy upon his province, as because she believed him tohave been the cause that the poor had all this time been cheated of thefull value of the estate. He had complacently consulted the welfareof the Curtis family, by charging them with the rent of the fields asordinary grass land, and it had never dawned on him that it would beonly just to increase the rent. Rachel had found him an antagonist toevery scheme she had hatched, ever since she was fifteen years old, hermother obeyed him with implicit faith, and it was certain that if thequestion were once in his hands, he would regard it as his duty to savethe Curtis funds, and let the charity sink or swim. And he was the onlyperson out of the house whom Rachel had seen. As soon as--or rather before--she could bear it, the first day that herpresence was supposed not to be perilous to others, she was obliged tohave an interview with him, to enable him to prepare the case forthe quarter sessions. Nothing could be much worse for her nerves andspirits, but even the mother was absolutely convinced of the necessity, and Rachel was forced to tax her enfeebled powers to enable her to giveaccurate details of her relations with Mauleverer, and enable him tojudge of the form of the indictment. Once or twice she almost sunk backfrom the exceeding distastefulness of the task, but she found herselfurged on, and when she even asked what would happen if she were not wellenough to appear, she was gravely told that she must be--it would bevery serious if she did not make a great effort, and even her mothershook her head, looked unhappy, but confirmed the admonition. A littlerevenge or hatred would have been a great help to her, but she could notfeel them as impulses. If it had been the woman, she could have gladlyaided in visiting such cruelty upon her, but this had not been directlychargeable upon Mauleverer; and though Rachel felt acutely that he hadbitterly abused her confidence, she drooped too much to feel the spiritof retort. The notion of being confronted with him before all the worldat Avoncester, and being made to bring about his punishment, was simplydreadful to her, but when she murmured some word of this to her mother, Mrs. Curtis fairly started, and said quite fiercely, "My dear, don't letme hear you say any such thing. He is a very wicked man, and you oughtto be glad to have him punished!" She really spoke as if she had been rebuking some infringement ofdecorum, and Rachel was quite startled. She asked Grace why the motherwas so bent on making her vindictive, but Grace only answered that everyone must be very much shocked, and turned away the subject. Prudent Grace! Her whole soul was in a tumult of wrath and shame at whatshe knew to be the county gossip, but she was aware that Rachel's totalignorance of it was the only chance of her so comporting herself incourt as to silence the rumour, and she and her mother were resolutelydiscreet. Mrs. Curtis, between nursing, anxiety, and worry, looked lamentablyknocked up, and at last Grace and Rachel prevailed on her to take adrive, leaving Rachel on a sofa in her sitting-room, to what wasno small luxury to her just at present--that of being miserablealone--without meeting any one's anxious eyes, or knowing that herlistlessness was wounding the mother's heart. Yet the privilege onlyresulted in a fresh perturbation about the title-deeds, and longing toconsult some one who could advise and sympathize. Ermine Williams wouldhave understood and made her Colonel give help, but Ermine seemed asunattainable as Nova Zembla, and she only heard that the Colonel wasabsent. Her head as aching with the weary load of doubt, and she triedto cheat her woe by a restless movement to the windows. She saw CaptainKeith riding to the door. It suddenly darted into her mind that here wasone who could and would help her. He could see Mauleverer and ascertainwhat had become of the deeds; he could guess at the amount of danger!She could not forget his kindness on the night of Lovedy's illness, or the gentleness of his manner about the woodcuts, and with a suddenimpulse she rang the bell and desired that Captain Keith might be shownin. She was still standing leaning on the table when he entered. "This is very good in you, " he said; "I met your mother and sister onmy way up, and they asked me to leave word of Conrade being better, butthey did not tell me I should see you. " "Conrade is better?" said Rachel, sitting down, unable to stand longer. "Yes, his throat is better. Miss Williams's firmness saved him. Theythink him quite out of danger. " "Thank Heaven! Oh, I could never have seen his mother again! Oh, she hasbeen the heroine!" "In the truest sense of the word, " he answered. And Rachel looked upwith one moment's brightening at the old allusion, but her oppressionwas too great for cheerfulness, and she answered-- "Dear Fanny, yes, she will be a rebuke to me for ever! But, " she added, before he had time to inquire for her health, "I wanted--I wanted to begyou to do me a service. You were so kind the other night. " His reply was to lean earnestly forward, awaiting her words, and shetold him briefly of her grievous perplexity about the title-deeds. "Then, " he said, "you would wish for me to see the man and ascertain howhe has disposed of them. " "I should be most grateful!" "I will do my utmost. Perhaps I may not succeed immediately, as Ibelieve visitors are not admitted every day, and he is said to be busypreparing his defence, but I will try, and let you know. " "Thanks, thanks! The doubt is terrible, for I know worry about it woulddistract my mother. " "I do not imagine, " he said, "that much worse consequences than worrycould ensue. But there are none more trying. " "Oh not none!" "Do not let worry about this increase other ills, " he said, kindly, "donot think about this again till you hear from me. " "Is that possible?" "I should not have thought so, if I had not watched my uncle cast offtroubles about his eye-sight and the keeping his living. " "Ah! but those were not of his own making. " "'There is a sparkle even in the darkest water. ' That was a saying ofhis, " said Alick, looking anxiously at her pale cheek and down-cast eye. "Not when they are turbid. " "They will clear, " he said, and smiled with a look of encouraging hopethat again cheered her in spite of herself. "Meantime remember that inany way I can help you, it will be the greatest favour--" he checkedhimself as he observed the exceeding languor and lassitude apparent inher whole person, and only said, "My sister is too much at the bottom ofit for me not to feel it the greatest kindness to me to let me try tobe of the slightest use. I believe I had better go now, " as he rose andlooked at her wistfully; "you are too much tired to talk. " "I believe I am, " she said, almost reluctantly, "but thank you, this hasdone me good. " "And you are really getting better?" "Yes, I believe so. Perhaps I may feel it when this terrible day isover. " What a comfort it would be, she said to herself, when he was gone, if wehad but a near relation like him, who would act for the mother, insteadof our being delivered up, bound hand and foot, to Mr. Cox. It wouldhave been refreshing to have kept him now, if I could have done itwithout talking; it really seemed to keep the horrible thoughts inabeyance, to hear that wonderfully gentle tone! And how kind and softthe look was! I do feel stronger for it! Will it really be better afternext week? Alas! that will have undone nothing. Yet even this perception of a possibility of hope that there would berelief after the ordeal, was new to Rachel; and it soon gave way to thattrying feature of illness, the insurmountable dread of the mere physicalfatigue. The Dean of Avoncester, a kind old friend of Mrs. Curtis, hadinsisted on the mother and daughters coming to sleep at the Deanery, on the Tuesday night, and remaining till the day after the trial; butRachel's imagination was not even as yet equal to the endurance ofthe long drive, far less of the formality of a visit. Lady Temple waslikewise asked to the Deanery, but Conrade was still too ill for her tothink of leaving him for more than the few needful hours of the trial;nor had Alison been able to do more than pay an occasional visit at hersister's window to exchange reports, and so absorbed was she in her boysand their mother, that it was quite an effort of recollection to keep upto Ermine's accounts of Colonel Keith's doings. It was on the Monday afternoon, the first time she had ventured into theroom, taking advantage of Rose having condescended to go out with theTemple nursery establishment, when she found Ermine's transparent faceall alive with expectation. "He may come any time now, " she said; "hiscoming to-day or to-morrow was to depend on his getting his businessdone on Saturday or not. " And in a few minutes' time the well-known knock was heard, and Ermine, with a look half arch half gay, surprised her sister by rising withthe aid of the arm of her chair, and adjusting a crutch that had beenleaning against it. "Why Ermine! you could not bear the jarring of that crutch--" "Five or six years ago, Ailie, when I was a much poorer creature, " thenas the door opened, "I would make you a curtsey, Colonel Keith, but Iam afraid I can't quite do that, " though still she moved nearer tomeet him, but perhaps there was a look of helplessness which made herexultation piteous, for he responded with an exclamation of alarm, putout his arm to support her, and did not relax a frown of anxiety tillhe had placed her safe in her chair again, while she laughed perhaps alittle less freely, and said, "See what it is to have had to shift foroneself!" "You met me with your eyes the first time, Ermine, and I never missedanything. " "Well, I think it is hard not to have been more congratulated on mygreat achievement! I thought I should have had at least as much creditas Widdrington, my favourite hero and model. " "When you have an arm to support you it may be all very well, and Ishall never stand it without. " Then, as Ermine subsided, unprepared witha reply, "Well, Ailie, how are your boys?" "Both much better, Francis nearly well. " "You have had a terrible time! And their mother?" "Dearer and sweeter than ever, " said Alison, with her voice trembling;"no one who has not seen her now can guess half what she is!" "I hope she has not missed me. If this matter had not been so pressing, I could not have stayed away. " "The one message she always gave me was, that you were not to think ofcoming home; and, indeed, those dear boys were so good, that we managedvery well without you. " "Yes, I had faith in your discipline, and I think that matters are intrain against Edward comes. Of course there is no letter, or you wouldhave told me. " "He will be coming himself, " said Ermine, resolved against againexpressing a doubt; while Alison added that he hated letter-writing. "Nothing could be more satisfactory than Beauchamp's letter, " addedColin. "He was so thoroughly convinced, that he immediately beganto believe that he had trusted Edward all along, and had only beenoverruled. " "I dare say, " said Ermine, laughing; "I can quite fancy honest Harrycompletely persuaded that he was Edward's champion, while Maddox wasturning him round his finger. " "And such is his good faith, that I hope he will make Edward believe thesame! I told you of his sending his love to you, and of his hopes thatyou would some day come and see the old place. He made his wife quitecordial. " Alison did not feel herself obliged to accept the message, and Erminecould freely say, "Poor Harry! I should like to see him again! He wouldbe exactly the same, I dare say. And how does the old place look?" "Just what I do not want you to see. They have found out that theRectory is unhealthy, and stuck up a new bald house on the top of thehill; and the Hall is new furnished in colours that set one's teeth onedge. Nothing is like itself but Harry, and he only when you get him offduty--without his wife! I was glad to get away to Belfast. " "And there, judging from Julia's letter, they must have nearly devouredyou. " "They were very hospitable. Your sister is not so very unlike you, Ermine?" "Oh, Colin!" exclaimed Alison, with an indignation of which she becameashamed, and added, by way of making it better, "Perhaps not so very. " "She was very gracious to me, " said Colin, smiling, "and we had muchpleasant talk of you. " "Yes, " said Ermine, "it will be a great pleasure to poor Julia to beallowed to take us up again, and you thought the doctor sufficientlyconvinced. " "More satisfactorily so than Harry, for he reasoned out the matter, andseems to me to have gone more by his impression that a man could not beso imprudent as Edward in good faith than by Maddox's representation. " "That is true, " said Alison, "he held out till Edward refused to comehome, and then nothing would make him listen to a word on his behalf. " "And it will be so again, " thought Ermine, with a throb at her heart. Then she asked, "Did you see whether there was a letter for you athome?" "Yes, I looked in, and found only this, which I have only glanced at, from Bessie. " "From Paris?" "Yes, they come home immediately after Easter. 'Your brother is resolvedI should be presented, and submit to the whole season in style; afterwhich he says I may judge for myself. ' What people will do forpretty young wives! Poor Mary's most brilliant season was a winter atEdinburgh; and it must be his doing more than hers, for she goes on:'Is it not very hard to be precluded all this time from playing thechieftainess in the halls of my forefathers? I shall have to run down toyour Gowanbrae to refresh myself, and see what you are all about, forI cannot get the fragment of a letter from Alick; and I met anAvoncestrian the other day, who told me that the whole county was in astate of excitement about the F. U. Etc. ; that every one believed thatthe fascinating landscape-painter was on the high road to winning one ofthe joint-heiresses; but that Lady Temple--the most incredible partof the story--had blown up the whole affair, made her way into thepenetralia of the asylum, and rescued two female 'prentices, so nearlywhipped to death that it took an infinitesimal quantity of Rachel'shomoeopathy to demolish one entirely, and that the virtuous public washighly indignant that there was no inquest nor trial for manslaughter;but that it was certain that Rachel had been extremely ill ever since. Poor Rachel, there must be some grain of truth in all this, but onewould like to be able to contradict it. I wrote to ask Alick the rightsof the story, but he has not vouchsafed me a line of reply; and I shouldtake it as very kind in you to let me know whether he is in the landof the living or gone to Edinburgh--as I hear is to be the lot of theHighlanders--or pining for the uncroquetable lawn, to which I alwaystold him he had an eye. '" "She may think herself lucky he has not answered, " said Ermine; "hehas always been rather unreasonably angry with her for making theintroduction. " "That is the reason he has not, " added Alison, "for he is certainly notfar off. He has been over almost every day to inquire, and played Germantactics all Saturday afternoon with Francis to our great relief. But Ihave stayed away long enough. " "I will walk back with you, Ailie. I must see the good little heroine ofthe most incredible part of the story. " Lady Temple looked a good deal paler than when he had last seen her, andher eyelids still showed that they had long arrears of sleep to make up;but she came down with outstretched hands and a sunny smile. "They areso much better, and I am so glad you were not at home in the worst ofit. " "And I am sorry to have deserted you. " "Oh, no, no, it was much better that you should be away. We should allhave wanted you, and that would have been dangerous, and dear, dear MissWilliams did all that could be done. Do you know, it taught me that youwere right when you told me I ought never to rest till the boys learntto obey, for obedience' sake, at a word. It showed what a bad mother Iam, for I am sure if dear Conrade had been like what he was last year, even she could not have saved him, " said Fanny, her eyes full of tears. Then came her details, to which he listened, as ever, like the brotherlyfriend he was, and there was a good deal said about restoring the littleones, who were still at Gowanbrae, to which he would by no means as yetconsent, though Fanny owned herself to have time now to pine for herStephana, and to "hear how dismal it is to have a silent nursery. " "Yes, it has been a fearful time. We little guessed how much risk youran when you went to the rescue. " "Dear Con, when he thought--when we thought he could not get better, said I was not to mind that, and I don't, " said Fanny. "I thought it wasright, and though I did not know this would come of it, yet you see Godhas been very merciful, and brought both of my boys out of this dreadfulillness, and I dare say it will do them good all their lives now it isover. I am sure it will to me, for I shall always be more thankful. " "Everything does you good, " he said. "And another thing, " she added, eagerly, "it has made me know that dearMiss Williams so much better. She was so good, so wonderfully good, tocome away from her sister to us. I thought she was quite gone the firstday, and that I was alone with my poor Francie, and presently there shewas by my side, giving me strength and hope by her very look. I wantto have her for good, I want to make her my sister! She would teach theboys still, for nobody else could make them good, but if ever her sistercould spare her, she must never go away again. " "You had better see what she says, " replied the Colonel, with suppressedemotion. That night, when Conrade and Francis were both fast asleep, their motherand their governess sat over the fire together, languid but happy, andtold out their hearts to one another--told out more than Alison hadever put into words even to Ermine, for her heart was softer and moreunreserved now than ever it had been since her sister's accident hadcrushed her youth. There was thenceforth a bond between her and LadyTemple that gave the young widow the strong-hearted, sympathizing, sisterly friend she had looked for in Rachel, and that filled up thoseyearnings of the affection that had at first made Alison feel thatColin's return made the world dreary to her. Her life had a purpose, though that purpose was not Ermine! But where were Edward and hisletter? CHAPTER XXI. THE QUARTER SESSIONS. "Is it so nominated in the bond?"--Merchant of Venice. Malgre her disinclination, Rachel had reached the point of recovery inwhich the fresh air and change of scene of the drive to Avoncester couldnot fail to act as restoratives, and the first evening with the Dean andhis gentle old sister was refreshing and comfortable to her spirits. It was in the afternoon of the ensuing day that Mr. Grey came to tellher that her presence would soon be required, and both her mother andsister drove to the court with her. Poor Mrs. Curtis, too anxious togo away, yet too nervous to go into court, chose, in spite of all Mr. Grey's advice, to remain in the carriage with the blinds closed, far toomiserable for Grace to leave her. Rachel, though very white, called up a heroic smile, and declared thatshe should get on very well. Her spirit had risen to the occasion, soas to brace her nerves to go becomingly through what was inevitable; andshe replied with a ready "yes, " to Mr. Grey's repetition of the advicefor ever dinned into her ears, not to say a word more than needful, feeling indeed little disposed to utter anything that she could avoid. She emerged from the dark passage into full view of faces which werefar more familiar than she could have wished. She would have greatlypreferred appearing before a judge, robed, wigged, and a stranger, tocoming thus before a country gentleman, slightly known to herself, butan old friend of her father, and looking only like his ordinary self. All the world indeed was curious to see the encounter between RachelCurtis and her impostor, and every one who had contributed so much asa dozen stamps to the F. U. E. E. Felt as if under a personal wrong andgrievance, while many hoped to detect other elements of excitement, sothat though all did not overtly stare at the witness, not even the mostconsiderate could resist the impulse to glance at her reception of thebow with which he greeted her entrance. She bent her head instinctively, but there was no change of colour onher cheek. Her faculties were concentrated, and her resolute will hadclosed all avenues to sensations that might impair her powers; she wouldnot give way either to shame and remorse for herself, or to pity orindignation against the prisoner; she would attend only to the accuracyof the testimony that was required of her as an expiation of hercredulous incaution; but such was the tension of her nerves, that, impassive as she looked, she heard every cough, every rustle of paper;each voice that addressed her seemed to cut her ears like a knife; andthe chair that was given to her after the administration of the oath wasindeed much needed. She was examined upon her arrangement that the prisoner should providefor the asylum at St. Herbert's, and on her monthly payment to him ofthe sums entered in the account-book. In some cases she knew he hadshown her the bills unreceipted; in others, he had simply made thecharge in the book, and she had given to him the amount that heestimated as requisite for the materials for wood-engraving. So far shefelt satisfied that she was making herself distinctly understood, butthe prisoner, acting as his own counsel, now turned to her and asked thequestion she had expected and was prepared for, whether she could referto any written agreement. "No; it was a viva voce agreement. " Could she mention what passed at the time of making the arrangement thatshe had stated as existing between himself and her? "I described my plans, and you consented. " An answer at which some of the audience could have smiled, so well didit accord with her habits. The prisoner again insisted on her definingthe mode of his becoming bound to the agreement. Rachel took time forconsideration, and Alison Williams, sitting between Lady Temple andColonel Keith, felt dizzy with anxiety for the answer. It came at last. "I do not remember the exact words; but you acquiesced in the appearanceof your name as secretary and treasurer. " The prospectus was here brought forward, and Mauleverer asked her todefine the duties he had been supposed to undertake in the character inwhich he had there figured. It of course came out that she had been herown treasurer, only entrusting the nominal one with the amount requiredfor current expenses, and again, in reply to his deferential questions, she was obliged to acknowledge that he had never in so many wordsdeclared the sums entered in the book to have been actually paid, andnot merely estimates for monthly expenditure to be paid to the tradesmenat the usual seasons. "I understood that they were paid, " said Rachel, with some resentment. "Will you oblige me by mentioning on what that understanding wasfounded?" said the prisoner, blandly. There was a pause. Rachel knew she must say something; but memoryutterly failed to recall any definite assurance that these debts hadbeen discharged. Time passed, all eyes were upon her, there was a direnecessity of reply, and though perfectly conscious of the weakness andfolly of her utterance, she could only falter forth, "I thought so. "The being the Clever Woman of the family, only rendered her the moresensible both of the utter futility of her answer, and of the effect itmust be producing. Alison hung her head, and frowned in absolute shame and despair, alreadyperceiving how matters must go, and feeling as if the hope of herbrother's vindication were slipping away--reft from her by Rachel'sfolly. Colin gave an indignant sigh, and whispering to her, "Come outwhen Lady Temple does, I will meet you, " he made his way out of court. There had been a moment's pause after Rachel's "I thought so, " and thenthe chairman spoke to the counsel for the prosecution. "Mr. Murray, canyou carry the case any further by other witnesses? At present I see nocase to go to the jury. You will see that the witness not only does notset up any case of embezzlement, but rather loads to an inference in thecontrary direction. " "No, sir, " was the answer; "I am afraid that I can add nothing to thecase already presented to you. " Upon this, the chairman said, "Gentlemen of the Jury, --The case for the prosecution does not sustainthe indictment or require me to call on the prisoner for his defence, and it is your duty to find him not guilty. You will observe that weare not trying a civil action, in respect of the large sum which he hasreceived from the young lady, and for which he is still accountable toher; nor by acquitting him are you pronouncing that he has not shownhimself a man of very questionable honesty, but only that the evidencewill not bring him within the grasp of the criminal law, as guilty ofembezzlement under the statute, and this because of the looseness ofthe arrange ments, that had been implied instead of expressed. It isexceedingly to be regretted that with the best intentions and kindestpurposes, want of caution and experience on her part should haveenabled the prisoner thus to secure himself from the possibility of aconviction; but there can be no doubt that the evidence before us issuch as to leave no alternative but a verdict of not guilty. " The very tenderness and consideration of the grey-haired Sir EdwardMorden's tone were more crushing to Rachel than severe animadversionson her folly would have been from a stranger. Here was she, the CleverWoman of the family, shown in open court to have been so egregiousa dupe that the deceiver could not even be punished, but must goscot-free, leaving all her wrongs unredressed! To her excited, morbidapprehension, magnified by past self-sufficiency, it was as thoughall eyes were looking in triumph at that object of general scorn andaversion, a woman who had stepped out of her place. She turned witha longing to rush into darkness and retirement when she was called toreturn to her mother, and even had she still been present, little wouldshe have recked that when the jury had, without many moments' delay, returned a verdict of "Not Guilty, " the prisoner received a strong, stemreprimand from Sir Edward, to whom he replied with a bow that had in itmore of triumph than of acceptance. Burning tears of disappointment were upon Alison's cheek, the oldhopeless blank was returning, and her brother might come back invain, to find his enemy beyond his reach. Here was an end alike of hisrestoration and of Ermine's happiness! "Oh!" whispered Lady Temple, "is it not horrid? Is nothing to be doneto that dreadful man? I always thought people came here to do justice. I shall never like Sir Edward Morden again! But, oh! what can that be?Where is the Colonel?" It was a loud, frightful roar and yell, a sound of concentrated furythat, once heard, could never be forgotten. It was from the crowdoutside, many of them from Avonmouth, and all frantic with indignationat the cruelty that had been perpetrated upon the helpless children. Their groans and execrations were pursuing the prison van, from whichMaria Hatherton was at that moment making her exit, and so fearfulwas the outcry that penetrated the court, that Fanny trembled withrecollections of Indian horrors, looked wistfully for her protectorthe Colonel, and murmured fears that her aunt must have been very muchterrified. At that moment, however, a summons came for Lady Temple, as this wasthe case in which she was to bear witness. Alison followed, and was nosooner past the spectators, who gladly made way, than she found her armdrawn into Colonel Keith's. "Is he come?" she asked. "No, " was rathersigned than spoken. "Oh, Colin!" she sighed, but still there was noreply, only she was dragged on, downstairs and along dark passages, intoa room furnished with a table, chairs, pens, ink, and paper, and lightedwith gas, which revealed to her not only Mr. Grey, but one who, thougheight years had made him stouter, redder, and rougher, had one of themoat familiar faces of her youthful days. Her senses almost reeled withher as he held out his hand, saying heartily, "Well, Ailie, how are you?and how is Ermine? Where can this brother of yours be?" "Harry! Mr. Beauchamp! You here!" she exclaimed, in the extremity ofamazement. "Here is Colin seeming to think that something may be done towardsnailing this scoundrel for the present, so I am come at his call. Weshall have the fellow in a moment. " And then, by way of getting rid ofembarrassment, he began talking to Mr. Grey about the County Hall, andthe room, which Mr. Grey explained to be that of the clerk of the peace, lent for this occasion while the usual justice room was occupied, Alisonheard all as in a dream, and presently Mauleverer entered, as usualspruce, artist-like, and self-possessed, and was accosted by HarryBeauchamp, "Good evening, Mr. Maddox, I am sorry to trouble you. " "I hope there is no misunderstanding, sir, " was the reply. "I have notthe pleasure of knowing for whom you take me. " Without regarding this reply, however, Mr. Beauchamp requested Mr. Greyto take his deposition, stating his own belief in the identity of theperson before him with Richard Maddox, whom he charged with havingdelivered to him a letter falsely purporting to come from EdwardWilliams, demanding three hundred pounds, which upon this he haddelivered to the accused, to be forwarded to the said Mr. Williams. Alison's heart beat violently at the ordeal before her of speaking tothe genuineness of the letter. She had seen and suspected that to herbrother-in-law, but she could not guess whether the flaws in that toMr. Beauchamp would be equally palpable, and doubt and anxiety made herscarcely able to look at it steadily. To her great relief, however, shewas able to detect sufficient variations to justify her assertion thatit was not authentic, and she was able to confirm her statement bycomparison of the writing with that of a short, indignant denial ofall knowledge of the transaction, which Harry Beauchamp had happilypreserved, though little regarding it at the time. She also showed thewrong direction, with the name of the place misspelt, according toher own copy of her sister-in-law's address, at the request of Maddoxhimself, and pointed out that a letter to Ermine from her brotherbore the right form. The seal upon that to Mr. Beauchamp she likewiseasserted to be the impression of one which her brother had lost morethan a year before the date of the letter. "Indeed, sir, " said the accused, fuming to Mr. Grey, "this is anexceedingly hard case. Here am I, newly acquitted, after nearly sixweeks' imprisonment, on so frivolous a charge that it has been dismissedwithout my even having occasion to defend myself, or to call my own mostrespectable witnesses as to character, when another charge is broughtforward against me in a name that there has been an unaccountable desireto impose on me. Even if I were the person that this gentleman supposes, there is nothing proved. He may very possibly have received a forgedletter, but I perceive nothing to fix the charge upon the party he callsMaddox. Let me call in my own witnesses, who had volunteered to comedown from Bristol, and you will be convinced how completely mistaken thegentleman is. " To this Mr. Grey replied that the case against him was not yet closed, and cautioning him to keep his own witnesses back; but he was urgent tobe allowed to call them at once, as it was already late, and they wereto go by the six o'clock train. Mr. Grey consented, and a messenger wassent in search of them. Mr. Beauchamp looked disturbed. "What say youto this, Colin?" he asked, uneasily. "That man's audacity is enough tostagger one, and I only saw him three times at the utmost. " "Never fear, " said Colin, "delay is all in our favour. " At the same timeColin left them, and with him went some hope and confidence, leaving allto feel awkward and distressed during the delay that ensued, the accusedexpatiating all the time on the unreasonableness of bringing up anoffence committed so many years ago, in the absence of the only witnesswho could prove the whole story, insisting, moreover, on his entireignorance of the names of either Maddox or Williams. The sight of his witnesses was almost welcome. They were a dissentingminister, and a neat, portly, respectable widow, the owner of afancy shop, and both knew Mr. Mauleverer as a popular lecturer uponphilanthropical subjects, who came periodically to Bristol, and madehimself very acceptable. Their faith in him was genuine, and he had eveninterested them in the F. U. E. E. And the ladies that patronized it. The widow was tearfully indignant about the persecution that hadbeen got up against him, and evidently intended to return with him intriumph, and endow him with the fancy shop if he would condescend sofar. The minister too, spoke highly of his gifts and graces, but neitherof them could carry back their testimony to his character for more thanthree years. Mr. Grey looked at his watch, Harry Beauchamp was restless, and Alisonfelt almost faint with suspense; but at last the tramp of feet was heardin the passage. Colonel Keith came first, and leaning over Alison'schair, said, "Lady Temple will wait for me at the inn. It will soon beall right. " At that moment a tall figure in mourning entered, attended by apoliceman. For the first time, Mauleverer's coolness gave way, thoughnot his readiness, and, turning to Mr. Grey, he exclaimed, "Sir, youdo not intend to be misled by the malignity of a person of thisdescription. " "Worse than a murderess!" gasped the scandalized widow Dench. "Well, Inever!" Mr. Grey was obliged to be peremptory, in order to obtain silence, andenforce that, let the new witness be what she might, her evidence mustbe heard. She had come in with the habitual village curtsey to Mr. Beauchamp, and putting back her veil, disclosed to Alison the piteous sight ofthe well-remembered features, once so bright with intelligence andinnocence, and now sunk and haggard with the worst sorrows of womanhood. Her large glittering eyes did not seem to recognise Alison, but theyglared upon Mauleverer with a strange terrible fixedness, as if unableto see any one else. To Alison the sight was inexpressibly painful, and she shrank back, as it were, in dread of meeting the eyes once soresponsive to her own. Mr. Grey asked the woman the name of the person before her, and lookingat him with the same fearful steadiness, she pronounced it to be RichardMaddox, though he had of late called himself Mauleverer. The man quailed for a moment, then collecting himself, said, "I nowunderstand the incredible ingratitude and malignity that have pointedout against me these hitherto unaccountable slanders. It is a punishmentfor insufficient inquiry into character. But you, sir, in commonjustice, will protect me from the aspersions of one who wishes to dragme down in her justly merited fall. " "Sentenced for three years! To take her examination!" muttered Mrs. Dench, and with some difficulty these exclamations were silenced, andMaria Hatherton called on for her evidence. Concise, but terrible in its clear brevity, was the story of the agenttampering with her, the nursemaid, until she had given him access tothe private rooms, where he had turned over the papers. On the followingday, Mr. Williams had been inquiring for his seal-ring, but she herselfhad not seen it again till some months after, when she had left herplace, and was living in lodgings provided for her by Maddox, when shehad found the ring in the drawer of his desk; her suspicion had thenbeen first excited by his displeasure at her proposing to him toreturn it, thinking it merely there by accident, and she had afterwardsobserved him endeavouring to copy fragments of Mr. Williams's writing. These he had crushed up and thrown aside, but she had preserved them, owning that she did not know what might come of them, and the family hadbeen very kind to her. The seal and the scraps of paper were here produced by the policemanwho had them in charge. The seal perfectly coincided with that which hadclosed the letter to Harry Beauchamp, and was, moreover, identified byboth Alison and Colonel Keith. It was noticeable, too, that one of thesefragments was the beginning of a note to Mr. Beauchamp, as "Dear H. " andthis, though not Edward's most usual style of addressing his friend, wasrepeated in the demand for the £300. "Sir, " said the accused, "of course I have no intention of intimatingthat a gentleman like the Honourable Colonel Keith has been in anycollusion with this unhappy woman, but it must be obvious to you thathis wish to exonerate his friend has induced him to give too easycredence to this person's malignant attempts to fasten upon one whomshe might have had reason to regard as a benefactor the odium of thetransactions that she acknowledges to have taken place between herselfand this Maddox, thereto incited, no doubt, by some resemblance whichmust be strong, since it has likewise deceived Mr. Beauchamp. " Mr. Grey looked perplexed and vexed, and asked Mr. Beauchamp if he couldsuggest any other person able to identify Maddox. He frowned, said theremust have been workmen at the factory, but knew not where they were, looked at Colin Keith, asked Alison if she or her sister had ever seenMaddox, then declared he could lay his hands on no one but Dr. Long atBelfast. Mauleverer vehemently exclaimed against the injustice of detaining himtill a witness could be summoned from that distance. Mr. Grey evidentlyhad his doubts, and began to think of calling in some fresh opinionwhether he had sufficient grounds for committal, and Alison's hopes wereonly unstained by Colin's undaunted looks, when there came a knock atthe door, and, as much to the surprise of Alison as of every one else, there entered an elderly maid-servant, leading a little girl by thehand, and Colonel Keith going to meet the latter, said, "Do not befrightened, my dear, you have only to answer a few questions as plainlyand clearly as you can. " Awed, silent, and dazzled by the sudden gas-light, she clung to hishand, but evidently distinguished no one else; and he placed her closeto the magistrate saying, "This is Mr. Grey, Rose, tell him your name. " And Mr. Grey taking her hand and repeating the question, the clearlittle silvery voice answered, "I am Rose Ermine Williams. " "And how old are you, my dear?" "I was eight on the last of June. " "She knows the nature of an oath?" asked Mr. Grey of the Colonel. "Certainly, you can soon satisfy yourself of that. " "My dear, " then said Mr. Grey, taking her by the hand again, and lookinginto the brown intelligent eyes, "I am sure you have been well taught. Can you tell me what is meant by taking an oath before a magistrate?" "Yes, " said Rose, colour flushing into her face, "it is calling uponAlmighty God to hear one speak the truth. " She spoke so low thatshe could hardly be heard, and she looked full of startled fearand distress, turning her face up to Colonel Keith with a terrifiedexclamation, "Oh please, why am I here, what am I to say?" He was sorry for her; but her manifest want of preparation was all infavour of the cause, and he soothed her by saying, "Only answer justwhat you are asked as clearly as you can, and Mr. Grey will soon letyou go. He knows you would try any way to speak the truth, but as he isgoing to examine you as a magistrate, he must ask you to take the oathfirst. " Rose repeated the oath in her innocent tones, and perhaps theirsolemnity or the fatherly gentleness of Mr. Grey reassured her, for hervoice trembled much less when she answered his next inquiry, who herparents were. "My mother is dead, " she said; "my father is Mr Williams, he is away atEkaterinburg. " "Do you remember any time before he was at Ekaterinburg?" "Oh yes; when we lived at Kensington, and he had the patent glassworks. " "Now, turn round and say if there is any one here whom you know?" Rose, who had hitherto stood facing Mr. Grey, with her back to the restof the room, obeyed, and at once exclaimed, "Aunt Alison, " then suddenlyrecoiled, and grasped at the Colonel. "What is it, my dear?" "It is--it is Mr. Maddox, " and with another gasp of fright, "and Maria!Oh, let me go. " But Mr. Grey put his arm round her, and assured her that no one couldharm her, Colonel Keith let his fingers be very hard pinched, and heraunt came nearer, all telling her that she had only to make her answersdistinctly; and though still shrinking, she could reply to Mr. Grey'squestion whom she meant by Mr. Maddox. "The agent for the glass--my father's agent. " "And who is Maria?" "She was my nurse. " "When did you last see the person you call Mr. Maddox?" "Last time, I was sure of it, was when I was walking on the esplanadeat Avoncester with Colonel Keith, " said Rose, very anxious to turn asideand render her words inaudible. "I suppose you can hardly tell when that was?" "Yes, it was the day before you went away to Lord Keith's wedding, " saidRose, looking to the Colonel. "Had you seen him before?" "Twice when I was out by myself, but it frightened me so that I neverlooked again. " "Can you give me any guide to the time?" She was clear that it had been after Colonel Keith's first stay atAvonmouth, but that was all, and being asked if she had ever mentionedthese meetings, "Only when Colonel Keith saw how frightened I was, andasked me. " "Why were you frightened?" asked Mr. Grey, on a hint from the Colonel. "Because I could not quite leave off believing the dreadful things Mr. Maddox and Maria said they would do to me if I told. " "Told what?" "About Mr. Maddox coming and walking with Maria when she was out withme, " gasped Rose, trying to avert her head, and not comforted by hearingMr. Grey repeat her words to those tormentors of her infancy. A little encouragement, however, brought out the story of thephosphoric letters, the lions, and the vision of Maddox growling in thedressing-room. The date of the apparition could hardly be hoped for, but fortunately Rose remembered that it was two days before her mamma'sbirthday, because she had felt it so bard to be eaten up before thefete, and this date tallied with that given by Maria of her admittingher treacherous admirer into the private rooms. "The young lady may be precocious, no doubt, sir, " here said theaccused, "but I hardly see why she has been brought here. You can attachno weight to the confused recollections of so young a child, of mattersthat took place so long ago. " "The question will be what weight the jury will attach to them at theassizes, " said Mr. Grey. "You will permit me to make one inquiry of the young lady, sir. Who toldher whom she might expect to see here?" Mr. Grey repeated the query, and Rose answered, "Nobody; I knew my auntand the Colonel and Lady Temple were gone in to Avoncester, and AuntErmine got a note from the Colonel to say that I was to come in to himwith Tibbie in a fly. " "Did you know what you were wanted for?" "No, I could not think. I only knew they came to get the woman punishedfor being so cruel to the poor little girls. " "Do you know who that person was?" "Mrs. Rawlins, " was the ready answer. "I think, " said Mr. Grey to the accused, "that you must perceive that, with such coincidence of testimony as I have here, I have no alternativebut to commit you for the summer assizes. " Mauleverer murmured something about an action for false imprisonment, but he did not make it clear, and he was evidently greatly crestfallen. He had no doubt hoped to brazen out his assumed character sufficientlyto disconcert Mr. Beauchamp's faith in his own memory, and though hehad carried on the same game after being confronted with Maria, it wasalready becoming desperate. He had not reckoned upon her desertinghis cause even for her own sake, and the last chance of employing herantecedents to discredit her testimony, had been overthrown by Rose'sinnocent witness to their mutual relations, a remembrance which had beenburnt in on her childish memory by the very means taken to secure hersilence. When the depositions were read over, their remarkable andindependent accordance was most striking; Mrs. Dench had already beenled away by the minister, in time to catch her train, just when her sobsof indignation at the deception were growing too demonstrative, and thepoliceman resumed the charge of Maria Hatherton. Little Rose looked up to her, saying, "Please, Aunt Ailie, may I speakto her?" Alison had been sitting restless and perplexed between impulses of pityand repulsion, and doubts about the etiquette of the justice room;but her heart yearned over the girl she had cherished, and she signedpermission to Rose, whose timidity had given way amid excitement andencouragement. "Please, Maria, " she said, "don't be angry with me for telling; I neverdid till Colonel Keith asked me, and I could not help it. Will you kissme and forgive me as you used?" The hard fierce eyes, that had not wept over the child's coffin, filledwith tears. "Oh, Miss Rose, Miss Rose, do not come near me. Oh, if I had mindedyou--and your aunts--" And the pent-up misery of the life that hadfallen lower and lower since the first step in evil, found its coursein a convulsive sob and shriek, so grievous that Alison was thankful forColin's promptitude in laying hold of Rose, and leading her out of theroom before him. Alison felt obliged to follow, yet could not bear toleave Maria to policemen and prison warders. "Maria, poor Maria, I am so sorry for you, I will try to come and seeyou--" But her hand was seized with an imperative, "Ailie, you must come, theyare all waiting for you. " How little had she thought her arm would ever be drawn into that arm, sounheeded by both. "So that is Edward's little girl! Why, she is the sweetest littleclear-headed thing I have seen a long time. She was the saving of us. " "It was well thought of by Colin. " "Colin is a lawyer spoilt--that's a fact. A first-rate get-up of acase!" "And you think it safe now?" "Nothing safer, so Edward turns up. How he can keep away from such achild as that, I can't imagine. Where is she? Oh, here--" as they cameinto the porch in fuller light, where the Colonel and Rose waited forthem. "Ha, my little Ailie, I must make better friends with you. " "My name is Rose, not Ailie, " replied the little girl. "Oh, aye! Well, it ought to have been, what d'ye call her--that was aDaniel come to judgment?" "Portia, " returned Rose; "but I don't think that is pretty at all. " "And where is Lady Temple?" anxiously asked Alison. "She must be grievedto be detained so long. " "Oh! Lady Temple is well provided for, " said the Colonel, "all themagistrates and half the bar are at her feet. They say the grace andsimplicity of her manner of giving her evidence were the greatestcontrast to poor Rachel's. " "But where is she?" still persisted Alison. "At the hotel; Maria's was the last case of the day, and she went awaydirectly after it, with such a choice of escorts that I only just spoketo her. " And at the hotel they found the waggonette at the gateway, and LadyTemple in the parlour with Sir Edward Morden, who, late as it was, would not leave her till he had seen her with the rest of the party. Shesprang up to meet them, and was much relieved to hear that Maulevererwas again secured. "Otherwise, " she said, "it would have been all myfault for having acted without asking advice. I hope I shall never do soagain. " She insisted that all should go home together in the waggonette, andRose found herself upon Mr. Beauchamp's knee, serving as usual as asafety valve for the feelings of her aunt's admirers. There was noinconstancy on her part, she would much have preferred falling to thelot of her own Colonel, but the open carriage drive was rather arisk for him in the night air, and though he had undertaken it in theexcitement, he soon found it requisite to muffle himself up, and speakas little as possible. Harry Beauchamp talked enough for both. He wasin high spirits, partly, as Colin suspected, with the escape from a dullformal home, and partly with the undoing of a wrong that had rankledin his conscience more than he had allowed to himself. Lady Temple, her heart light at the convalescence of her sons, was pleased witheverything, liked him extremely, and answered gaily; and Alison enjoyedthe resumption of pleasant habits of days gone by. Yet, delightful as itall was, there was a sense of disenchantment: she was marvelling all thetime how she could have suffered so much on Harry Beauchamp's account. The rejection of him had weighed like a stone upon her heart, but now itseemed like freedom to have escaped his companionship for a lifetime. Presently a horse's feet were heard on the road before them; there wasa meeting and a halt, and Alick Keith's voice called out--"How has itgone?" "Why, were you not in court?" "What! I go to hear my friends baited!" "Where were you then?" "At Avonmouth. " "Oh, then you have seen the boys, " cried Lady Temple. "How is Conrade?" "Quite himself. Up to a prodigious amount of indoor croquet. But how hasit gone?" "Such a shame!" returned Lady Temple. "They acquitted the dreadful man, and the poor woman, whom he drove to it, has a year's imprisonment andhard labour!" "Acquitted! What, is he off?" "Oh, no, no! he is safe, and waiting for the Assizes, all owing to theColonel and little Rose. " "He is committed for the former offence, " said Colonel Keith; "theimportant one. " "That's right! Good night! And how, " he added, reining back his horse, "did your cousin get through it?" "Oh, they were so hard on her!" cried Lady Temple. "I could hardly bringmyself to speak to Sir Edward after it! It was as if he thought it allher fault!" "Her evidence broke down completely, " said Colonel Keith. "Sir Edwardspared her as much as he could; but the absurdity of her whole conductwas palpable. I hope she has had a lesson. " Alick's impatient horse flew on with him, and Colin muttered to Alisonunder his mufflers, --"I never could make out whether that is the coolestor the most sensitive fellow living!" CHAPTER XXII. THE AFTER CLAP "I have read in the marvellous heart of man, That strange and mystic scroll, That an army of phantoms vast and wan Beleaguer the human soul. "Encamped beside life's rushing stream, In Fancy's misty light, Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam Portentous through the night. " The Beleaguered City, LONGFELLOW. A dinner party at the Deanery in the sessions week was an institution, but Rachel, lying on the sofa in a cool room, had thought herself exemptfrom it, and was conscious for the time of but one wish, namely, to belet alone, and to be able to shut her eyes, without finding the lids, asit were, lined with tiers of gazing faces, and curious looks turned onher, and her ears from the echo of the roar of fury that had dreadfullyterrified both her and her mother, and she felt herself to have merited!The crush of public censure was not at the moment so overwhelming asthe strange morbid effect of having been the focus of those many, manyglances, and if she reflected at all, it was with a weary speculatingwonder whether one pair of dark grey eyes had been among those levelledat her. She thought that if they had, she could not have missed eithertheir ironical sting, or perchance some kindly gleam of sympathy, suchas had sometimes surprised her from under the flaxen lashes. There she had lain, unmolested and conscious of a certain relief in theexceeding calm; the grey pinnacle of the cathedral, and a few branchesof an elm-tree alone meeting her eye through the open window, and thesole sound the cawing of the rooks, whose sailing flight amused andattracted her glance from time to time with dreamy interest. Grace hadgone into court to hear Maria Hatherton's trial, and all was still. The first break was when her mother and Miss Wellwood came in, afterhaving wandered gently together round the warm, walled Deanery garden, comparing notes about their myrtles and geraniums. Then it was that amidall their tender inquiries after her headache, and their administrationof afternoon tea, it first broke upon Rachel that they expected her togo down to dinner. "Pray excuse me, " she said imploringly, looking at her mother forsupport, "indeed, I don't know that I could sit out a dinner! A numberof people together make me so dizzy and confused. " "Poor child!" said Miss Wellwood, kindly, but looking to Mrs. Curtisin her turn. "Perhaps, as she has been so ill, the evening might beenough. " "Oh, " exclaimed Rachel, "I hope to be in bed before you have finisheddinner. Indeed I am not good company for any one. " "Don't say that, my dear, " and Miss Wellwood looked puzzled. "Indeed, my dear, " said Mrs. Curtis, evidently distressed, "I think theexertion would be good for you, if you could only think so. " "Yes, indeed, " said Miss Wellwood, catching at the notion; "it is yourmind that needs the distraction, my dear. " "I am distracted enough already, " poor Rachel said, putting her hand up. "Indeed, I do not want to be disobliging, " she said, interpreting hermother's anxious gestures to mean that she was wanting in civility; "itis very kind in you, Miss Wellwood, but this has been a very trying day, and I am sure I can give no pleasure to anybody, so if I might only belet off. " "It is not so much--" began Miss Wellwood, getting into a puzzle, andstarting afresh. "Indeed, my dear, my brother and I could not bear thatyou should do anything you did not like, only you see it would never dofor you to seem to want to shut yourself up. " "I should think all the world must feel as if I ought to be shut up forlife, " said Rachel, dejectedly. "Ah! but that is the very thing. If you do not show yourself it willmake such a talk. " Rachel had nearly said, "Let them talk;" but though she felt tormentedto death, habitual respect to these two gentle, nervous, elderly womenmade her try to be courteous, and she said, "Indeed, I cannot much care, provided I don't hear them. " "Ah! but you don't know, my dear, " said Mrs. Curtis, seeing her friendlooked dismayed at this indifference. "Indeed, dear Miss Wellwood, shedoes not know; we thought it would be so awkward for her in court. " "Know what?" exclaimed Rachel, sitting upright, and putting down herfeet. "What have you been keeping from me?" "Only--only, my dear, people will say such things, and nobody couldthink it that knew you. " "What?" demanded Rachel. "Yes, " said Mrs. Curtis, perhaps, since her daughter was to have theshock, rather glad to have a witness to the surprise it caused her: "youknow people will gossip, and some one has put it about that--that thishorrid man was--" Mrs. Curtis paused, Miss Wellwood was as pink as her cap strings. Rachelgrasped the meaning at last. "Oh!" she said, with less reticence thanher elders, "there must needs be a spice of flirtation to give piquancyto the mess of gossip! I don't wonder, there are plenty of peoplewho judge others by themselves, and think that motive must underlieeverything! I wonder who imagines that I am fallen so low?" "There, I knew she would take it in that way, " said Mrs. Curtis. "And soyou understand us, my dear, we could not bear to ask you to do anythingso distressing except for your own sake. " "I am far past caring for my own sake, " said Rachel, "but for yours andGrace's, mother, I will give as much ocular demonstration as I can, thatI am not pining for this hero with a Norman name. I own I should havethought none of the Dean's friends would have needed to be convinced. " "Oh, no! no! but--" Miss Wellwood made a great confusion of noes, buts, and my dears, and Mrs. Curtis came to the rescue. "After all, my love, one can't so much wonder! You have always been very peculiar, you know, and so clever, and you took up this so eagerly. And then the Greys sawyou so unwilling to prosecute. And--and I have always allowed you toomuch liberty--ever since your poor dear papa was taken--and now it hascome upon you, my poor child! Oh, I hope dear Fanny will take warning byme, " and off went poor Mrs. Curtis into a fit of sobs. "Mother--mother! this is worse than anything, " exclaimed Rachel in anagony, springing to her feet, and flying after sal volatile, but feelingfrightfully helpless without Grace, the manager of all Mrs. Curtis'sailments and troubles. Grace would have let her quietly cry it out. Rachel's remedies and incoherent protestations of all being her ownfault only made things worse, and perhaps those ten minutes were themost overwhelming of all the griefs that Rachel had brought on herself. However, what with Miss Wellwood's soothing, and her own sense of thebecoming, Mrs. Curtis struggled herself into composure again by the timethe maid came to dress them for dinner; Rachel all the while longing forGrace's return, not so much for the sake of hearing the verdict, as ofknowing whether the mother ought to be allowed to go down to dinner, soshaken did she look; for indeed, besides her distress for her daughter, no small ingredient in her agitation was this recurrence to a statedcustom of her husband's magisterial days. Persuasion was unavailing. At any cost the Curtis family must presentan unassailable front to the public eye, and if Mrs. Curtis had forcedforward her much tried and suffering daughter, far more would shepersist in devoting herself to gaiety and indifference, but hernervousness was exceeding, and betrayed itself in a continual wearyingfor Grace, without whom neither her own dress nor Rachel's could bearranged to her satisfaction, and she was absolutely incapable of notworrying Rachel about every fold, every plait, every bow, in a mannerthat from any one else would have been unbearable; but those tearshad frightened Rachel into a penitent submission that endured with anabsolute semblance of cheerfulness each of these torments. The languorand exhaustion had been driven away, and feverish excitement had set in, not so much from the spirit of defiance that the two elder ladies hadexpected to excite, as from the having been goaded into a recklessdetermination to sustain her part. No matter for the rest. It often happened in these parties that the ladies would come in fromthe country in reasonable time, while their lords would be detainedmuch later in court, so when the cathedral clock had given notice ofthe half-hour, Mrs. Curtis began to pick up fan and handkerchief, andprepare to descend. Rachel suggested there would be no occasion so todo till Grace's return, since it was plain that no one could yet bereleased. "Yes, my dear, but perhaps--don't you think it might be remarked as ifyou chose to keep out of sight?" "Oh, very well. " Rachel followed her mother down, sustained by one hope, that CaptainKeith would be there. No; the Deanery did not greatly patronize thebarracks; there was not much chance of any gentleman under forty, except, perhaps, in the evening. And at present the dean himself andone canon were the entire gentleman element among some dozen ladies. Everybody knew that the cause of delay was the trial of the cruelmatron, and added to the account of Rachel's iniquities their famishedand weary state of expectation, the good Dean gyrating among the groups, trying to make conversation, which every one felt too fretful andtoo hungry to sustain with spirit. Rachel sat it out, trying to talkwhenever she saw her mother's anxious eyes upon her, but failing infinding anything to say, and much doubting whether her neighbours likedtalking to her. At last gentlemen began to appear in twos and threes, and each made someconfidence to the womankind that first absorbed him, but no one came inRachel's way, and the girl beside her became too unfeignedly curious tosupport even the semblance of conversation, but listened for scraps ofintelligence. Something was flying about respecting "a gentlemanwho came down by the train, " and something about "Lady Temple" and"admirable, " and the young lady seized the first opportunity ofdeserting Rachel, and plunging into the melee. Rachel sat on, sick withsuspense, feeling utterly unable to quit her seat. Still they waited, the whole of the party were not arrived, and here was the curfewringing, and that at the Deanery, which always felt injured if it wereseven o'clock before people were in the dining-room! Grace must beupstairs dressing, but to reach her was impossible! At last Mr. Grey was announced, and he had mercy upon Rachel; he came upto her as soon as he could without making her remarkable, and told herthe cause of his delay had been the necessity of committing Maulevererupon an accusation by a relation of Colonel Keith, of very extensivefrauds upon Miss Williams's brother. Rachel's illness and the cautionof the Williamses had prevented her from being fully aware of thecomplication of their affairs with her own, and she became paler andpaler, as she listened to the partial explanation, though she was hardlyable as yet to understand it. "The woman?" she asked. "Sentenced to a year's imprisonment with hard labour, and let me tellyou, Rachel, you had a most narrow escape there! If that army doctor hadnot come in time to see the child alive, they could not have chosenbut have an inquest, and no mortal can tell what might have been thedecision about your homoeopathy. You might have been looking forward toa worse business than this at the next assizes. " Mr. Grey had done his work at last! The long waiting, the wearyconstraint, and at last the recurrence of Lovedy's sufferings and herown share in them, entirely overcame her. Mists danced before her eyes, and the very sensation that had been so studiously avoided was producedby her fainting helplessly away in her chair, while Mr. Grey was talkingto her. To be sure it brought deliverance from the multitude, and she awokein the quiet of her room, upon her bed, in the midst of the despairingcompunction of the mother, and the tender cares of Grace, but shewas too utterly overdone for even this to be much relief to her; anddownstairs poor Miss Wellwood's one desire was to hinder the spread ofthe report that her swoon had been caused by the tidings of Mauleverer'sapprehension. It seemed as if nothing else had been wanting to make thehumiliation and exposure complete. Rachel had despised fainting ladies, and had really hitherto been so superabundant in strength that she hadno experience of the symptoms, or she might have escaped in time. Butthere she lay, publicly censured before the dignitaries of her countyfor moral folly, and entirely conquered before the rest of the world bythe physical weakness she had most contemned. Then the mother was so terrified and distressed that all sorts ofcomforting reassurances were required, and the chief object soon becameto persuade her to go downstairs and leave Rachel to her bed. And atlast the thought of civility and of the many Mrs. Grundys prevailed, andsent her downstairs, but there was little more comfort for Rachel evenin being left to herself--that for which she had a few minutes beforemost ardently longed. That night was perhaps the most painful one of her whole life. Theearnest desire to keep her mother from uneasiness, and the longing to beunmolested, made her play her part well when the mother and Grace cameup to see her before going to bed, and they thought she would sleep offher over-fatigue and excitement, and yielded to her desire that theyshould bid her good night, and leave her to rest. But what sort of rest was it? Sometimes even her own personal identitywas gone, and she would live over again in the poor children, thehunger and the blows, or she would become Mrs. Rawlins, and hear herselfsentenced for the savage cruelty, or she would actually stand in courtunder sentence for manslaughter. Her pulses throbbed up to fever pitch, head and cheeks burnt, the very power to lie still was gone, and whethershe commanded her thoughts or lapsed into the land of dreams, theyworked her equal woe. Now it was the world of gazing faces, feverishly magnified, multiplied, and pressing closer and closer on her, till she could have screamed todispel them; now it was her mother weeping over the reports to which shehad given occasion, and accusing herself of her daughter's errors; andnow it was Lovedy Kelland's mortal agony, now the mob, thirsting forvengeance, were shouting for justice on her, as the child's murderer, and she was shrieking to Alick Keith to leave her to her fate, and onlysave her mother. It would hardly be too much to say that the positive wretchedness ofactually witnessing the child's death was doubled in these its imaginaryrepetitions on that still more suffering night of waking dreams, whenevery solemn note of the cathedral clock, every resolute proclamationfrom its fellow in the town hall, every sharp reply from the domestictimepiece in the Deanery fell on her ears, generally recalling herat least to full consciousness of her identity and whereabouts, anddispelling the delusion. But, then, what comfort was there? Veritably she had caused sufferingand death; she had led to the peril of Fanny's children; she hadcovered her mother with shame and grief! Nay, in her exaggerated tone offeeling, she imagined that distress and poverty might have been entailedon that beloved mother. Those title deeds--no intelligence. CaptainKeith had taken no notice. Perhaps he heard and believed those degradingreports! He had soul enough to pity and sympathize with the failure ofextended views of beneficence; he despised the hypocrisy that had madecharity a cloak for a credulous debasing attachment, and to such anobject! He might well avoid her! His sister had always bantered heron what had seemed too absurd to be rebutted, and, at any rate, thisfainting fit would clench his belief. No doubt he believed it. And if hedid, why should not every one else whose opinion she cared for: Ermine, her Colonel, even gentle Fanny--no, she would never believe any harm, she had suffered too much in her cause. Oh, for simple genuine charity like Fanny's, with eyes clear withinnocence and humility! And now what was before her? should she ever beallowed to hide her head, or should she be forced again to brave thatmany-eyed world? Perhaps the title-deed business would prove utter ruin. It would have been acceptable to herself, but her mother and sister! Chastisement! Yes, it was just chastisement for headstrong folly andconceit. She had heard of bending to the rod and finding it a cross, buthere came the dreadful confusion of unreality, and of the broken habitof religious meditation except as matter of debate. She did not knowtill her time of need how deeply sneers had eaten into her heart. Theonly text that would come to her mind was, "And in that day they shallroar against them like the roaring of the sea; and if one look untothe land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened inthe heavens thereof. " Every effort at prayer or at calm recall of oldthoughts still ended in that desolate verse. The first relief to thesemiserable dreams was the cool clear morning light, and by-and-bythe early cathedral bells, then Grace's kind greeting made her quiteherself; no longer feverish, but full of lassitude and depression. Shewould not listen to Grace's entreaties that she would remain in bed. Noplace was so hateful to her, she said, and she came down apparently notmore unwell than had been the case for many days past, so that afterbreakfast her mother saw no reason against leaving her on the sofa, while going out to perform some commissions in the town, attended, of course, by Grace. Miss Wellwood promised that she should not bedisturbed, and she found that she must have been asleep, for she wastaken by surprise by the opening of the door, and the apologetic faceof the butler, who told her that a gentleman had asked if she would seehim, and presented the card of "Captain Alexander Keith. " Eagerly she desired that he should be admitted, tremulously she awaitedhis sentence upon her mother's peace, and, as she thought of all he musthave heard, all he must believe, she felt as if she must flee; or, ifthat were impossible, cower in shrinking dread of the glance of hissatirical eye! Here he was, and she could not look or speak, nor did he; she only feltthat his clasp of greeting was kind, was anxious, and he put forward theeasy-chair, into which she sank, unable to stand. He said, "I saw yourmother and sister going into the town. I thought you would like to hearof this business at once. " "Oh yes, thank you. " "I could not see the man till the day before yesterday, " he said, "and Icould get nothing satisfactory from him. He said he had taken the papersto a legal friend, but was not authorized to give his name. Perhaps hisviews may be changed by his present condition. I will try him again ifyou like. " "Thank you, thank you! Do you think this is true!" "He is too cunning a scoundrel to tell unnecessary lies, and very likelyhe may have disposed of them to some Jew attorney; but I think nothingis to be feared but some annoyance. " "And annoyance to my mother is the one thing I most fear, " sighedRachel, helplessly. "There might be a mode of much lessening it to her, " he said. "Oh, what? Tell me, and I would do it at any cost. " "Will you?" and he came nearer. "At the cost of yourself?" She thrilled all over, and convulsively grasped the arm of her chair. "Would not a son be the best person to shield her from annoyance, " headded, trying for his usual tone, but failing, he exclaimed, "Rachel, Rachel, let me!" She put her hands over her face, and cried, "Oh! oh! I never thought ofthis. " "No, " he said, "and I know what you do think of it, but indeed you neednot be wasted. Our women and children want so much done for them, andnone of our ladies are able or willing. Will you not come and help me?" "Don't talk to me of helping! I do nothing but spoil and ruin. " "Not now! That is all gone and past. Come and begin afresh. " "No, no, I am too disagreeable. " "May not I judge for myself?" he said, drawing nearer, and his voicefalling into tremulous tenderness. "Headstrong--overbearing. " "Try, " and his smile overbore her. "Oh no, no, nobody can bear me! This is more than you--you ought todo--than any one should, " she faltered, not knowing what she said. "Than any one to whom you were not most dear!" was the answer, and hewas now standing over her, with the dew upon his eyelashes. "Oh, that can't be. Bessie said you always took up whatever other peoplehated, and I know it is only that--" "Don't let Bessie's sayings come between us now, Rachel. This goes toodeep, " and he had almost taken her hand, when with a start she drew itback, saying, "But you know what they say!" "Have they been stupid enough to tell you?" he exclaimed. "Confute themthen, Rachel--dolts that can't believe in self-devotion! Laugh at theirbeards. This is the way to put an end to it!" "Oh no, they would only detest you for my sake. I can't, " she saidagain, bowed down again with shame and dejection. "I'll take care of that!" he said with the dry tone that perhaps wasabove all reassurance, and conquered her far enough to enable him totake possession of the thin and still listless hand. "Then, " he said, "you will let me take this whole matter in hand; and ifthe worst comes to the worst, we will make up to the charity out of theIndian money, without vexing the mother. " "I can't let you suffer for my miserable folly. " "Too late to say that!" he answered; and as her eyes were raised to himin startled inquiry, he said gravely, "These last weeks have shown methat your troubles must be mine. " A hand was on the door, and Rachel fled, in time to screen her flightfrom Miss Wellwood, whom Alick met with his usual undisturbed front, andinquiries for Mrs. Curtis. That good lady was in the town more worried than flattered by thenumerous inquiries after Rachel's health, and conscious of having gonerather near the wind in making the best of it. She had begun to dreadbeing accosted by any acquaintance, and Captain Keith, sauntering nearthe archway of the close, was no welcome spectacle. She would havepassed him with a curt salutation, but he grasped her hand, saying, "MayI have a few words with you?" "Not Fanny--not the children!" cried Mrs. Curtis in dismay. "No indeed. Only myself, " and a gleam of intelligence under hiseyelashes and judicious pressure of his hand conveyed volumes to Grace, who had seen him often during Rachel's illness, and was not unprepared. She merely said that she would see how her sister was, substitutedCaptain Keith's arm for her own as her mother's support, and hurriedaway, to encounter Miss Wellwood's regrets that, in spite of all herprecautions, dear Rachel had been disturbed by "a young officer, Ibelieve. We see him often at the cathedral, and somebody said it was hissister whom Lord Keith married. " "Yes, we know him well, and he is a Victoria Cross man, " said Grace, beginning to assume his reflected glory. "So some one said, but the Dean never calls on the officers unless thereis some introduction, or there would be no end to it. It was a mistakeletting him in to disturb Rachel. Is your mother gone up to her, mydear?" "No, I think she is in the cathedral yard. I just came in to see aboutRachel, " said Grace, escaping. Miss Wellwood intended going out to join her old friend; but, on goingto put on her bonnet, she saw from the window Mrs. Curtis, leaning onthe intruder's arm, conversing so confidentially that the Dean's sisterflushed with amazement, and only hoped she had mentioned him with duerespect. And under that southern cathedral wall good Mrs. Curtis tookthe longest walk she had indulged in for the last twenty years, so thatGrace, and even Rachel, beholding from the window, began to fear thatthe mother would be walked to death. But then she had that supporting arm, and the moral support, that wasinfinitely more! That daughter, the spoilt pet of her husband, thesubject of her pride, even when an enigma and an anxiety, whom she hadlately been forced to think of as "A maid whom there were few to praise And very few to love, " she now found loved by one at least, and praised in terms that thrilledthrough and through the mother's heart in their truth and simplicity, for that sincerity, generosity, and unselfishness. It was her owndaughter, her real Rachel, no illusion, that she heard described inthose grave earnest words, only while the whole world saw the errors andexaggerated them, here was one who sank them all in the sterling worththat so few would recognise. The dear old lady forgot all her prudence, and would hardly let him speak of his means; but she soon saw thatRachel's present portion would be more than met on his side, and that noone could find fault with her on the score of inequality of fortune. Hewould have been quite able to retire, and live at ease, but this hesaid at once and with decision he did not intend. His regiment was hishereditary home, and his father had expressed such strong wishes thathe should not lightly desert his profession, that he felt bound to it byfilial duty as well as by other motives. Moreover, he thought the changeof life and occupation would be the best thing for Rachel, and Mrs. Curtis could not but acquiesce, little as she had even dreamt that adaughter of hers would marry into a marching regiment! Her surrender ofjudgment was curiously complete. "Dear Alexinder, " as thenceforth shecalled him had assumed the mastery over her from the first turn theytook under the cathedral, and when at length he reminded her thatthe clock was on the stroke of one, she accepted it on his infalliblejudgment, for her own sensations would have made her believe it not aquarter of an hour since the interview had begun. Not a word had been granted on either side to the conventional vows ofsecrecy, always made to be broken, and perhaps each tacitly felt thatthe less secrecy the better for Rachel. Certain it is that Mrs. Curtiswent into the Deanery with her head considerably higher, kissed Rachelvehemently, and, assuring her she knew all about it, and was happierthan she had ever thought to be again, excused her from appearing atluncheon, and hurried down thereto, without giving any attention to afeeble entreaty that she would not go so fast. And when at three o'clockRachel crept downstairs to get into the carriage for her return home, the good old Dean lay in wait for her, told her she must allow him anold friend's privilege, kissed her, congratulated her, and said he wouldbeg to perform the ceremony. "Oh, Mr. Dean, it is nothing like that. " He laughed, and handed her in. "Mother, mother, how could you?" sighed Rachel, as they drove on. "My dear, they were so kind; they could not help knowing!" "But it can't be. " "Rachel, my child, you like him!" "He does not know half about me yet. Mother, don't tell Fanny or any onetill I have seen him again. " And the voice was so imperious with the wayward vehemence of illnessthat Mrs. Curtis durst not gainsay it. She did not know how Alick Keithwas already silencing those who asked if he had heard of the great eventat the Dean's party. Still less did she guess at the letter at thatmoment in writing:-- "My Dear Bessie, --Wish me joy. I have gone in for the uncroquetablelawn, and won it. --Your affectionate brother', "A. C. Keith. " CHAPTER XXIII. DEAR ALEXANDER. "I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou firstfall in love with me?"--Much Ado about Nothing. "Alick, is this all chivalry?" inquired Colonel Keith, sitting by hisfire, suffering considerably from his late drive, and hearing reportsthat troubled him. "Very chivalrous, indeed! when there's an old county property to thefore. " "For that matter, you have all been canny enough to have means enough tobalance all that barren moorland. You are a richer man than I shall everbe. " "Without heiress-hunting?" said Alick, as though weighing his words. "Come, Alick, you need not put on a mask that does not fit you! If itis not too late, take the risk into consideration, for I own I think theprice of your championship somewhat severe. " "Ask Miss Williams. " "Ermine is grateful for much kindness, and is--yes--really fond of her. " "Then, Colonel, you ought to know that a sensible woman's favourableestimate of one of her own sex outweighs the opinion men can form ofher. " "I grant that there are fine qualities; but, Alick, regarding you, as Imust necessarily do, from our former relations, you must let me speak ifthere is still time to warn you, lest your pity and sense of injusticeshould be entangling you in a connexion that would hardly conduce tomake you happy or popular. " "Popularity is not my line, " said Alick, looking composedly into thefire. "Tell me first, " said the puzzled Colonel, "are you committed?" "No one can be more so. " "Engaged!!!" "I thought you would have known it from themselves; but I find she hasforbidden her mother to mention it till she has seen me again. And theytalk of quiet, and shut me out!" gloomily added Alick. The Colonel conceived a hope that the lady would abjure matrimony, andrelease this devoted knight, but in a few moments Alick burst out-- "Absurd! She cannot mend with anything on her mind! If I could have seenMrs. Curtis or Grace alone, they might have heard reason, but that oldwoman of a doctor was prosing about quiet and strain on the nerves. Iknow that sort of quiet, the best receipt for distraction!" "Well, Alick, " said his friend, smiling, "you have at least convinced methat your heart is in the matter. " "How should it not be?" returned Alick. "I was afraid it was only with the object of unjust vituperation. " "No such thing. Let me tell you, Colonel, my heart has been in it eversince I felt the relief of meeting real truth and unselfishness! Iliked her that first evening, when she was manfully chasing us offfor frivolous danglers round her cousin! I liked her for having noconventionalities, fast or slow, and especially for hating heroes! Andwhen my sister had helped to let her get into this intolerable web, howcould I look on without feeling the nobleness that has never shiftedblame from herself, but bowed, owned all, suffered--suffered--oh, howgrievously!" The Colonel was moved. "With such genuine affection you should surelylead her and work upon her! I trust you will be able. " "It is less that, " said Alick, rather resentfully, "than sympathy thatshe wants. Nobody ever gave her that except your Ermine! By-the-bye, isthere any news of the brother?" Colonel Keith shook his head. "I believe I shall have to go to Russia, "he said with some dejection. "After that, reproach one with chivalry, " said Alick, lightly. "Nay, Ibeg your pardon. Shall I take any message down to Mackarel Lane?" "Are you going?" "Well, yes, though I hardly ought to venture there till this embargois taken off; for she is the one person there will be some pleasure intalking to. Perhaps I may reckon you as the same in effect. " The Colonel responded with a less cheerful look than usual, adding, "Idon't know whether to congratulate you, Alick, on having to ask no one'sconsent but your own at your age. " "Especially not my guardian's!" said Alick, with the desired effect ofmaking him laugh. "No, if you were my son, I would not interfere, " he added gravely. "Ionly feared your not knowing what you were about. I see you do know it, and it merely becomes a question of every man to his taste--except forone point, Alick. I am afraid there may have been much disturbance ofher opinions. " "Surface work, " said Alick, "some of the effects of the literature thatpaints contradiction as truth. It is only skin deep, and makes me wishall the more to have her with my uncle for a time. I wonder whetherGrace would let me in if I went back again!" No, Grace was obdurate. Mr. Frampton had spoken of a nervous fever, and commanded perfect quiescence; and Grace was the less tempted totransgress the order, because she really thought her mother was morein love with "dear Alexander" than Rachel was. Rachel was exceedinglydepressed, restless, and feverish, and shrank from her mother'srejoicing, declaring that she was mistaken, and that nothing more mustbe said. She had never consented, and he must not make such a sacrifice;he would not when he knew better. Nay, in some moods, Rachel seemedto think even the undefined result of the interview an additionalhumiliation, and to feel herself falling, if not fallen, from hersupreme contempt of love and marriage. The hurry, and the consenttaken for granted, had certainly been no small elements in her presentdisturbed and overwhelmed state; and Grace, though understanding themotive, was disposed to resent the over-haste. Calm and time to thinkwere promised to Rachel, but the more she had of both the more they hurther. She tossed restlessly all night, and was depressed to the lowestebb by day; but on the second day, ill as she evidently was, sheinsisted on seeing Captain Keith, declaring that she should never bebetter till she had made him understand her. Her nurses saw that shewas right; and, besides, Mrs. Curtis's pity was greatly touched by dearAlexander's entreaties. So, as a desperate experiment, he was at lastallowed to go into the dressing-room, where she was lying on the sofa. He begged to enter alone, only announced by a soft knock, to which shereplied with a listless "Come in, " and did not look up till she suddenlybecame conscious of a footfall firmer though softer than those she wasused to. She turned, and saw who it was who stood at a window oppositeto her feet, drawing up the Venetian blind, from whose teasing divisionsof glare and shade she had been hiding her eyes from the time shehad come in, fretted by the low continuous tap of its laths upon theshutters. Her first involuntary exclamation was a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you. I did not know what it was that was such a nuisance. " "This is too much glare. Let me turn your sofa a little way round fromit. " And as he did so, and she raised herself, he shook out her cushions, and substituted a cool chintz covered one for the hot crimson damask onwhich her head had been resting. "Thank you! How do you know so well?"she said with a long breath of satisfaction. "By long trial, " he said, very quietly seating himself beside her couch, with a stillness of manner that strangely hushed all her throbbings;and the very pleasure of lying really still was such that she did notat once break it. The lull of these few moments was inexpressibly sweet, but the pang that had crossed her so many times in the last two days andnights could not but return. She moved restlessly, and he leant towardsher with a soft-toned inquiry what it was she wanted. "Don't, " she said, raising herself. "No, don't! I have thought moreover what you said, " she continued, as if repeating the sentence shehad conned over to herself. "You have been most generous, most noble;but--but, " with an effort of memory, "it would be wrong in me to acceptsuch--oh! such a sacrifice; and when I tell you all, you will think ita duty to turn from me, " she added, pressing her hands to her temples. "And mind, you are not committed--you are free. " "Tell me, " he said, bending towards her. "I know you cannot overlook it! My faith--it is all confusion, " she saidin a low awe-struck voice. "I do believe--I do wish to believe; but mygrasp seems gone. I cannot rest or trust for thinking of the questionsthat have been raised! There, " she added in a strange interrogativetone. "It is a cruel thing to represent doubt as the sign of intellect, " Alicksaid sadly; "but you will shake off the tormentors when the power ofthinking and reasoning is come back. " "Oh, if I could think so! The misery of darknesshere--there--everywhere--the old implicit reliance gone, and allobservance seeming like hypocrisy and unreality. There is no thinking, no enduring the intolerable maze. " "Do not try to think now. You cannot bear it. We will try to face whatdifficulties remain when you are stronger. " She turned her eyes full on him. "You do not turn away! You know you arefree. " "Turn from the sincerity that I prize?" "You don't? I thought your views were exactly what would make you hateand loathe such bewilderment, and call it wilful;" there was somethingpiteous in the way her eye sought his face. "It was not wilful, " he said; "it came of honest truth-seeking. And, Rachel, I think the one thing is now gone that kept that honesty fromfinding its way. " "Self-sufficiency!" she said with a groan; but with a sudden turn sheexclaimed, "You don't trust to my surrendering my judgment. I don'tthink I am that kind of woman. " "Nor I that kind of man, " he answered in his natural tone; thenaffectionately, "No, indeed I want you to aid mine. " She lay back, wearied with the effort, and disinclined to break thestillness. There was a move at the door; Mrs. Curtis, in an agony ofrestless anxiety, could not help coming to see that the interview wasdoing no harm. "Don't go!" exclaimed Rachel, holding out her hand as he turned at theopening of the door. "Oh, mother!" and there was an evident sound ofdisappointment. Mrs. Curtis was infinitely rejoiced to find her entrance thusinopportune. "I only wished just to be sure it was not too much, " shesaid. "Oh, mother, it is the first peace I have known for weeks! Can't youstay?" looking up to him, as her mother retreated to tell Grace that itwas indeed all right. This brought him to a footstool close beside her. "Thank you, " hemurmured. "I was wondering just then if it would hurt you or agitate youto give me some little satisfaction in going on with this. I know youare too true not to have told me at once if your objections were morepersonal than those you have made; but, Rachel, it is true, as you say, that you have never consented!" The tone of these words made Rachel raise herself, turn towards him, andhold out both her hands. "Oh, " she said, as he took them into hisown, "it was--it could be only that I cannot bear so much more than Ideserve. " "What! such an infliction?" in his own dry way. "Such rest, such kindness, such generosity!" "No, Rachel, there is something that makes it neither kindness norgenerosity. You know what I mean. " "And that is what overpowers me more than all, " she sighed, in the fullsurrender of herself. "I ought not to be so very happy. " "That is all I want to hear, " he said, as he replaced her on hercushions, and sat by her, holding her hand, but not speaking till thenext interruption, by one of the numerous convalescent meals, brought inby Grace, who looked doubtful whether she would be allowed to come in, and then was edified by the little arrangements he made, quietly takingall into his own hands, and wonderfully lessening a sort of fidget thatMrs. Curtis's anxiety had attached to all that was done for Rachel. It was not for nothing that he had spent a year upon the sofa in theirritably sensitive state of nerves that Bessie had described; and whenhe could speak to Grace alone, he gave her a lecture on those littlerefinements of unobtrusive care, that more demonstrative ailments hadnot availed to inculcate, and which Mrs. Curtis's present restlessanxiety rendered almost impossible. To hinder her from constantlyaggravating the fever on the nerves by her fidgeting solicitude wasbeyond all power save his own, and that when he was actually in thehouse. Morning after morning he rode to the Homestead to hear that Rachel hadhad a very bad night, and was very low, then was admitted to find Mrs. Curtis's fluttering, flurried attentions exasperating every weariedfibre with the very effort to force down fretfulness and impatience, till, when she was left to him, a long space of the lull impressed onher by his presence was needful before he could attempt any of the quiettalk, or brief readings of poetry, by which he tried further to sootheand rest her spirits. He would leave her so calm and full of repose asto make him augur well for the next day; but the moment his backwas turned, something would always happen that set all the pulses inagitation again, and consigned her to a fresh night of feverish phantomsof the past. He even grew distracted enough to scold Grace fraternallyas the only person he could scold. "You seem to nurse her on the principle of old Morris, the biggestofficer among us, who kindly insisted on sitting up with me, and beganby taking his seat upon my hand as it was lying spread out upon apillow. " "Indeed, Alick, " said Grace, with tears in her eyes, "I hardly know whatto do. When you are not in the house the mother is almost as much ina nervous fever as Rachel, and it is hardly in her power to keep fromfretting her. It is all well when you are here. " "Then, Grace, there is only one thing to be done. The sooner I takeRachel away the better for both her and the mother. " "Oh, Alick, you will drive them both wild if you hurry it on. " "Look here. I believe I can get leave from Saturday till Tuesday. If Ican get a hearing in those two days, I shall try; and depend upon it, Grace, this place is the worst that Rachel can be in. " "Can you come out here for three whole days? Oh, what a comfort!" And 'what a comfort' was re-echoed by Mrs. Curtis, who had erected dearAlexander to a pedestal of infallibility, and was always treated by himwith a considerate kindness that made her pity Fanny for the number ofyears that must pass before Stephana could give her the supreme blessingof a son-in-law. Fanny, on her side, had sufficient present blessing incollecting her brood around her, after the long famine she had suffered, and regretted only that this month had rendered Stephana's babyhood moreperceptibly a matter of the past; and that, in the distance, school dayswere advancing towards Conrade, though it was at least a comfort thathis diphtheria had secured him at home for another half year, and theColonel had so much to think about that he had not begun his promisedresearches into schools. The long-looked-for letters came after a weary interval of expectation, the more trying to Ermine because the weather had been so bitter thatColin could not shake off his cold, nor venture beyond his own fireside, where Rose daily visited him, and brought home accounts that did notcheer her aunt. Edward wrote shortly to his sister, as if almost annoyed at the showerof letters that had by every post begun to recall his attention fromsome new invention on the means of assaying metals:-- "I am sorry you have stirred up Keith to the renewal of this painfulsubject. You know I considered that page in my life as closed for ever, and I see nothing that would compensate for what it costs me even tothink of it. To redeem my name before the world would be of no availto me now, for all my English habits are broken, and all that made lifevaluable to me is gone. If Long and Beauchamp could reject my solemnaffirmation three years ago, what would a retractation slowly wrung fromthem be worth to me now? It might once have been, but that is all overnow. Even the desire to take care of you would no longer actuate mesince you have Keith again; and in a few years I hope to make my childindependent in money matters--independent of your love and care youwould not wish her to be. Forget the troubles of your life, Ermine, andbe happy with your faithful Keith, without further efforts on behalf ofone whom they only harass and grieve. " Ermine shed some bitter tears over this letter, the more sorrowfulbecause the refusal was a shock to her own reliance on his honour, andshe felt like a traitress to his cause. And Colin would give him upafter this ungrateful indifference, if nothing worse. Surely it betrayeda consciousness that the whole of his conduct would not bear inquiry, and she thought of the representations that she had so indignantlyrejected, that the accounts, even without the last fatal demand, werein a state that it required an excess of charity to ascribe to merecarelessness on the part of the principal. She was glad that Alison was absent, and Rose in the garden. She laidher head on her little table, and drew long sobs of keen suffering, the reaction from the enjoyment and hope of the last few months. Andso little knew she what she ought to ask, that she could only strive tosay, "Thy will be done. " "Ermine! my Ermine, this is not a thing to be so much taken to heart. This foolish philosopher has not even read his letters. I never saw anyone more consistently like himself. " Ermine looked up, and Colin was standing over her, muffled up to theeyes, and a letter of his own in his hand. Her first impulse was to cryout against his imprudence, glad as she was to see him. "My cough isnearly gone, " he said, unwinding his wrappings, "and I could not stay athome after this wonderful letter--three pages about chemical analysis, which he does me the honour to think I can understand, two ofcommissions for villainous compounds, and one of protestations that 'Iwill be drowned; nobody shall help me. '" Ermine's laugh had come, even amid her tears, his tone was so greata relief to her. She did not know that he had spent some minutesin cooling down his vexation, lest he should speak ungently of herbrother's indifference. "Poor Edward, " she said, "you don't mean thatthis is all the reply you have?" "See for yourself, " and he pointed to the divisions of the letter he haddescribed. "There is all he vouchsafes to his own proper affairs. Yousee he misapprehends the whole; indeed, I don't believe he has even readour letters. " "We often thought he did not attend to all we wrote, " said Ermine. "Itis very disheartening!" "Nay, Ermine, you disheartened with the end in view!" "There are certainly the letters about Maddox's committal still to reachhim, but who knows if they will have more effect! Oh, Colin, this wassuch a hope that--perhaps I have dwelt too much upon it!" "It is such a hope, " he repeated. "There is no reason for laying itaside, because Edward is his old self. " "Colin! you still think so?" "I think so more than ever. If he will not read reason, he must hear it, and if he takes no notice of the letters we sent after the sessions, Ishall go and bring him back in time for the assizes. " "Oh, Colin! it cannot be. Think of the risk! You who are still lookingso thin and ill. I cannot let you. " "It will be warm enough by the time I get there. " "The distance! You are doing too much for us. " "No, Ermine, " with a smile, "that I will never do. " She tried to answer his smile, but leant back and shed tears, not likethe first, full of pain, but of affectionate gratitude, and yet ofreluctance at his going. She had ever been the strength and stay of thefamily, but there seemed to be a source of weakness in his nearness, andthis period of his indisposition and of suspense had been a strain onher spirits that told in this gentle weeping. "This is a poor welcomeafter you have been laid up so long, " she said when she could speakagain. "If I behave so ill, you will only want to run from the sight ofme. " "It will be July when I come back. " "I do not think you ought to go. " "Nor I, if Edward deigns to read the account of Rose's examination. " In that calm smiling resolution Ermine read the needlessness of presentargument, and spoke again of his health and his solitary hours. "Mitchel has been very kind in coming to sit with me, and we haveindulged in two or three castles in the air--hospitals in the air, perhaps, I should say. I told him he might bring me down another guestinstead of the tailor, and he has brought a poor young pupil teacher, whom Tibbie calls a winsome gallant, but I am afraid she won't save him. Did you ever read the 'Lady of La Garaye'?" "Not the poem, but I know her story. " "As soon as that parcel comes in, which Villars is always expecting, Ipropose to myself to read that poem with you. What's that? It can't beRachel as usual. " If it was not Rachel, it was the next thing to her, namely, Alick Keith. This was the last day of those that he had spent at the Homestead, andhe was leaving Rachel certainly better. She had not fallen back on anyevening that he had been there, but to his great regret he would not beable to come out the next day. Regimental duty would take him up nearlyall the day, and then he was invited to a party at the Deanery, "whichthe mother would never have forgiven me for refusing, " he said; justas if the mother's desires had the very same power over him as over herdaughters. "I came to make a desperate request, Miss Williams, " he said. "Would it be any way possible for you to be so kind as to go up and seeRachel? She comes downstairs now, and there are no steps if you go in bythe glass doors. Do you think you could manage it?" "She wishes it!" said Ermine. "Very much. There are thorns in her mind that no one knows how to dealwith so well as you do, and she told me yesterday how she longed to getto you. " "It is very good in her. I have sometimes feared she might think we haddealt unfairly by her if she did not know how very late in the businesswe suspected that our impostors were the same, " said Ermine. "It is not her way to blame any one but herself, " said Alick, "and, infact, our showing her the woodcut deception was a preparation for therest of it. But I have said very little to her about all that matter. She required to be led away rather than back to it. Brooding over it isfatal work, and yet her spirits are too much weakened and shattered tobear over-amusement. That is the reason that I thought you would be sovery welcome to-morrow. She has seen no one yet but Lady Temple, andshrinks from the very idea. " "I do not see why I should not manage it very well, " said Ermine, cheerfully, "if Miss Curtis will let me know in time whether she isequal to seeing me. You know I can walk into the house now. " Alick thanked her earnestly. His listless manner was greatly enlivenedby his anxiety, and Colonel Keith was obliged to own that marriage wouldbe a good thing for him; but such a marriage! If from sheer indolencehe should leave the government to his wife, then--Colin could only shrughis shoulders in dismay. Nevertheless, when Ermine's wheeled chair came to the door the nextafternoon, he came with it, and walked by her side up the hill, talkingof what had been absolutely the last call she had made--a visit whenthey had both been riding with the young Beauchamps. "Suppose any one had told me then I should make my next visit withyou to take care of me, how pleased I should have been, " said Ermine, laughing, and taking as usual an invalid's pleasure in all the littlenovelties only remarked after long seclusion. That steep, winding, pebbly road, with the ferns and creeping plants on its rocky sides, wasa wonderful panorama to her, and she entreated for a stop at the summitto look down on the sea and the town; but here Grace came out to themfull of thanks and hopes, little knowing that to them the event was avery great one. When at the glass doors of the garden entrance, Erminetrusted herself to the Colonel's arm, and between him and her crutchcrossed the short space to the morning room, where Rachel rose from hersofa, but wisely did not come forward till her guest was safely placedin a large easy chair. Rachel then held out her hand to the Colonel, and quietly said, "Thankyou, " in a subdued manner that really touched him, as he retreatedquickly and left them together. Then Rachel sat down on a footstoolclose to Ermine, and looked up to her. "Oh, it is so good of you to cometo me! I would not have dared to think of it, but I just said Iwished to get out for nothing but to go to you; and then he--CaptainKeith-would go and fetch you. " "As the nearest approach to fetching the moon, I suppose, " said Ermine, brightly. "It was very kind to me, for I was longing to see you, and Iam glad to find you looking better than I expected. " For in truth Rachel's complexion had been little altered by her illness;and the subdued dejected expression was the chief change visible, exceptin the feebleness and tremulousness of all her movements. "Yes, I ambetter, " she said. "I ought to be, for he is so good to me. " "Dear Rachel, I was so very glad to hear of this, " said Ermine, bendingdown to kiss her. "Were you? I thought no one could be that cared for him, " said Rachel. "I cared more for him the week that you were ill than ever I had donebefore. " "Grace tells me of that, " said Rachel, "and when he is here I believeit. But, Miss Williams, please look full at me, and tell me whethereverybody would not think--I don't say that I could do it--but if everyone would not think it a great escape for him if I gave him up. " "No one that could really judge. " "Because, listen, " said Rachel, quickly, "the regiment is going toScotland, and he and the mother have taken it into their heads that Ishall get well faster somewhere away from home. And--and they want tohave the wedding as soon as I am better; and they are going to writeabout settlements and all that. I have never said I would, and I don'tfeel as if--as if I ought to let him do it; and if ever the thing is tobe stopped at all, this is the only time. " "But why? You do not wish--" "Don't talk of what I wish, " said Rachel. "Talk of what is good forhim. " Ermine was struck with the still resolute determination of judging forherself--the self-sufficiency, almost redeemed by the unselfishness, andthe face was most piteously in earnest. "My dear, surely he can be trusted to judge. He is no boy, in spite ofhis looks. The Colonel always says that he is as much older than his agein character as he is younger in appearance. " "I know that, " said Rachel, "but I don't think he ought to be trustedhere; for you see, " and she looked down, "all the blindness of--of hisaffection is enhanced by his nobleness and generosity, and he has nobodyto check or stop him; and it does seem to me a shame for us all to catchat such compassion, and encumber him with me, just because I am markedfor scorn and dislike. I can't get any one to help me look at it so. My own people would fancy it was only that I did not care for him;and he--I can't even think about it when he is here, but I get quitedistracted with doubts if it can be right whenever he goes away. And youare the only person who can help me! Bessie wrote very kindly to me, andI asked to see what she said to him. I thought I might guess her feelingfrom it. And he said he knew I should fancy it worse than it was if hedid not let me see. It was droll, and just like her--not unkind, but Icould see it is the property that makes her like it. And his uncle isblind, you know, and could only send a blessing, and kind hopes, and allthat. Oh, if I could guess whether that uncle thinks he ought! What doesColonel Keith think? I know you will tell me truly. " "He thinks, " said Ermine, with a shaken voice, "that real trustworthyaffection outweighs all the world could say. " "But he thinks it is a strange, misplaced liking, exaggerated by pityfor one sunk so low?" said Rachel, in an excited manner. "Rachel, " said Ermine, "you must take my beginning as a pledge of myspeaking the whole truth. Colonel Keith is certainly not fond of youpersonally, and rather wonders at Alick, but he has never doubted thatthis is the genuine feeling that is for life, and that it is capable ofmaking you both better and happier. Indeed, Rachel, we do both feelthat you suit Alick much more than many people who have been far betterliked. " Rachel looked cheered. "Yet you, " she faltered, "you have been aninstance of resolute withstanding. " "I don't think I shall be long, " murmured Ermine, a vivid colourflashing forth upon her cheek, and leading the question from herself. "Just suppose you did carry out this fierce act of self-abnegation, whatdo you think could come next?" "I don't know! I would not break down or die if I could help it, " addedRachel, faintly after her brave beginning. "And for him? Do you think being cast off would be so very pleasant tohim?" Rachel hung her head, and her lips made a half murmur of, "Would not itbe good for him?" "No, Rachel, it is the very sorest trial there can be when, even in thecourse of providence, kind intentions are coldly requited; and it wouldbe incalculably harder when therewith there would be rejection of love. " "Ah! I never said I could do it. I could not tell him I did not care forhim, and short of that nothing would stop it, " sobbed Rachel, "only Iwished to feel it was not very mean--very wrong. " She laid her wearyhead on Ermine's lap, and Ermine bent down and kissed her. "So happy, so bright and free, and capable, his life seems now, "proceeded Rachel. "I can't understand his joining it to mine; and ifpeople shunned and disliked him for my sake!" "Surely that will depend on yourself. I have never seen you in society, but if you have the fear of making him unpopular or remarkable beforeyour eyes, you will avoid it. " "Oh, yes, I know, " said Rachel, impatiently. "I did think I should nothave been a commonplace woman, " and she shed a few tears. Ermine was provoked with her, and began to think that she had beenarguing on a wrong tack, and that it would be better after all for Alickto be free. Rachel looked up presently. "It must be very odd to you tohear me say so, but I can't help feeling the difference. I used to thinkit so poor and weak to be in love, or to want any one to take care ofone. I thought marriage such ordinary drudgery, and ordinary opinionsso contemptible, and had such schemes for myself. And this--and thisis such a break down, my blunders and their consequences have been sounspeakably dreadful, and now instead of suffering, dying--as I felt Iought--it has only made me just like other women, for I know I could notlive without him, and then all the rest of it must come for his sake. " "And will make you much more really useful and effective than ever youcould have been alone, " said Ermine. "He does talk of doing things together, but, oh! I feel as if I couldnever dare put out my hand again!" "Not alone perhaps. " "I like to hear him tell me about the soldiers' children, and what hewants to have done for them. " "You and I little thought what Lady Temple was to bring us, " saidErmine, cheerfully, "but you see we are not the strongest creatures inthe world, so we must resign ourselves to our fate, and make the best ofit. They must judge how many imperfections they choose to endure, and wecan only make the said drawbacks as little troublesome as may be. Now, Ithink I see Miss Curtis watching in fear that I am over-talking you. " "Oh, must you go? You have really comforted me! I wanted an externalopinion very much, and I do trust yours! Only tell me, " she added, holding Ermine's hand, "is this indeed so with you?" "Not yet, " said Ermine, softly, "do not speak about it, but I think youwill be comforted to hear that this matter of yours, by leading to thematron's confession, may have removed an obstacle that was far moreserious in my eyes than even my own helplessness, willing as Colin wasto cast both aside. Oh, Rachel, there is a great deal to be thankfulfor. " Rachel lay down on her sofa, and fell asleep, nor did Alick find anyoccasion for blaming Grace when he returned the next day. The effectof the conversation had been to bring Rachel to a meek submission, verytouching in its passiveness and weary peacefulness. She was growingstronger, walked out leaning on Alick's arm, and was even taken out byhim in a boat, a wonderful innovation, for a dangerous accident to Mr. Curtis had given the mother such a horror of the sea that no boatingexcursions had ever taken place during her solitary reign, and thepresent were only achieved by a wonderful stretch of dear Alexander'sinfluence. Perhaps she trusted him the more, because his maimed handprevented him from being himself an oarsman, though he had once beendevoted to rowing. At any rate, with an old fisherman at the oar, manyhours were spent upon the waters of the bay, in a tranquillity that wasbalm to the harassed spirit, with very little talking, now and then somereading aloud, but often nothing but a dreamy repose. The novelty andabsence of old association was one secret of the benefit that Rachelthus derived. Any bustle or resumption of former habits was a trial toher shattered nerves, and brought back the dreadful haunted nights. Thefirst sight of Conrade, still looking thin and delicate, quite oversether; a drive on the Avoncester road renewed all she had felt on the waythither; three or four morning visitors coming in on her unexpectedly, made the whole morbid sense of eyes staring at her recur all night, andwhen the London solicitor came down about the settlements, she shrankin such a painful though still submissive way, from the sight of astranger, far more from the semblance of a dinner party, that the motheryielded, and let her remain in her sitting-room. "May I come in?" said Alick, knocking at the door. "I have something totell you. " "What, Alick! Not Mr. Williams come?" "Nothing so good. In fact I doubt if you will think it good at all. Ihave been consulting this same solicitor about the title-deeds; thatcheese you let fall, you know, " he added, stroking her hand, andspeaking so gently that the very irony was rather pleasant. "Oh, it is very bad. " "Now wouldn't you like to hear it was so bad that I should have to sellout, and go to the diggings to make it up?" "Now, Alick, if it were not for your sake, you know I should like--" "I know you would; but you see, unfortunately, it was not a cheese atall, only a wooden block that the fox ran away with. Lawyers don't putpeople's title-deeds into such dangerous keeping, the true cheese issafe locked up in a tin-box in Mr. Martin's chambers in London. " "Then what did I give Mauleverer?" "A copy kept for reference down here. " Rachel hid her face. "There, I knew you would think it no good news, and it is just athunder-clap to me. All you wanted me for was to defend the mother andmake up to the charity, and now there's no use in me, " he said in adisconsolate tone. "Oh, Alick, Alick, why am I so foolish?" "Never mind; I took care Martin should not know it. Nobody is awareof the little affair but our two selves; and I will take care the foxlearns the worth of his prize. Only now, Rachel, answer me, is there anyuse left for me still?" "You should not ask me such things, Alick, you know it all too well. " "Not so well that I don't want to hear it. But I had more to say. ThisMartin is a man of very different calibre from old Cox, with a head andheart in London charities and churches, and it had struck him as itdid you, that the Homestead had an easier bargain of it than that goodnamesake of yours had ever contemplated. If it paid treble or quadruplerent, the dear mother would never find it out, nor grow a geranium theless. " "No, she would not! But after all, the lace apprenticeships are poorwork. " "So they are, but Martin says there would be very little difficulty ingetting a private bill to enable the trustees to apply the sum otherwisefor the benefit of the Avonmouth girls. " "Then if I had written to him, it would have been all right! Oh, myperverseness!" "And, Rachel, now that money has been once so intended; suppose itkept its destination. About £500 would put up a tidy little industrialschool, and you might not object to have a scholarship or two for someof our little --th Highlander lassies whose fathers won't make orphansof them for the regular military charities. What, crying, Rachel! Don'tyou like it?" "It is my dream. The very thing I wished and managed so vilely. IfLovedy were alive! Though perhaps that is not the thing to wish. But Ican't bear taking your--" "Hush! You can't do worse than separate your own from mine. This is nopart of the means I laid before Mr. Martin by way of proving myselfa responsible individual. I took care of that. Part of this isprize-money, and the rest was a legacy that a rich old merchant put medown for in a transport of gratitude because his son was one of the sickin the bungalow where the shell came. I have had it these three or fourmonths, and wondered what to do with it. " "This will be very beautiful, very excellent. And we can give theground. " "I have thought of another thing. I never heard of an industrial schoolwhere the great want was not food for industry. Now I know the Coloneland Mr. Mitchell have some notion floating in their minds about gettinga house for convalescents down here, and it strikes me that this mightsupply the work in cooking, washing, and so on. I think I might try whatthey thought of it. " Rachel could only weep out her shame and thankfulness, and when Alickreverently added that it was a scheme that would require much thoughtand much prayer, the pang struck her to the heart--how little she hadprayed over the F. U. E. E. The prayer of her life had been for actionand usefulness, but when she had seen the shadow in the stream, herhot and eager haste, her unconscious detachment from all that wasnot visible and material had made her adhere too literally to thatmisinterpreted motto, laborare est orare. How should then her eyes beclear to discern between substance and shadow? CHAPTER XXIV. THE HONEYMOON. "Around the very place doth brood A calm and holy quietude. "--REV. ISAAC WILLIAMS. The level beams of a summer sun, ending one of his longest careers, weretipping a mountain peak with an ineffable rosy purple, contrastingwith the deep shades of narrow ravines that cleft the rugged sides, andgradually expanded into valleys, sloping with green pasture, or clothedwith wood. The whole picture, with its clear, soft sky, was retraced onthe waters of the little lake set in emerald meadows, which lay beforethe eyes of Rachel Keith, as she reclined in a garden chair before thewindows of a pretty rustic-looking hotel, but there was no admiration, no peaceful contemplation on her countenance, only the same weary air ofdepression, too wistful and startled even to be melancholy repose, andthe same bewildered distressed look that had been as it were stamped onher by the gaze of the many unfriendly eyes at the Quarter Sessions, andby her two unfortunate dinner parties. The wedding was to have been quietness itself, but though the bridegroomhad refused to contribute sister, brother-in-law, or even uncle to thenumbers, conventionalities had been too strong for Mrs. Curtis, and"just one more" had been added to the guests till a sufficient multitudehad been collected to renew all Rachel's morbid sensations of distressand bewilderment with their accompanying feverish symptoms, and she hadbeen only able to proceed on her journey by very short stages, takenlate in the day. Alick had not forgotten her original views as to travelling, and as theywere eventually to go to Scotland, had proposed beginning with Dutchreformatories and Swiss cretins; but she was so plainly unfit for extrafatigue and bustle, that the first few weeks were to be spent in Wales, where the enjoyment of fine scenery might, it was hoped, be beneficialto the jaded spirits, and they had been going through a course ofpasses and glens as thoroughly as Rachel's powers would permit, for anyover-fatigue renewed feverishness and its delusive miseries, and theslightest alarm told upon the shattered nerves. She did not easily give way at the moment, but the shock always tookrevenge in subsequent suffering, which all Alick's care could notprevent, though the exceeding charm of his tenderness rendered even theindisposition almost precious to her. "What a lovely sunset!" he said, coming to lean over the back of herchair. "Have you been watching it?" "I don't know. " "Are you very much tired?" "No, it is very quiet here. " "Very; but I must take you in before that curling mist mounts into yourthroat. " "This is a very nice place, Alick, the only really quiet one we havefound. " "I am afraid that it will be so no longer. The landlord tells me he hasletters from three parties to order rooms. " "Oh, then, pray let us go on, " said Rachel, looking alarmed. "To-morrow afternoon then, for I find there's another waterfall. " "Very well, " said Rachel, resignedly. "Or shall we cut the waterfall, and get on to Llan--something?" "If you don't think we ought to see it. " "Ought?" he said, smiling. "What is the ought in the case? Why are wegoing through all this? Is it a duty to society or to ourselves?" "A little of both, I suppose, " said Rachel. "And, Rachel, from the bottom of your heart, is it not a trying duty?" "I want to like what you are showing me, " said Rachel. "And you are more worried than delighted, eh?" "I--I don't know! I see it is grand and beautiful! I did love my ownmoors, and the Spinsters' Needles, but--Don't think me very ungrateful, but I can't enter into all this! All I really do care for is yourkindness, and helping me about, " and she was really crying like a childunable to learn a lesson. "Well, " he said, with his own languor of acquiescence, "we areperfectly agreed. Waterfalls are an uncommon bore, if one is not in aconcatenation accordingly. " Rachel was beguiled into a smile. "Come, " he said, "let us be strong minded! If life should ever becomepainful to us because of our neglect of the waterfalls, we will set outand fulfil our tale of them. Meantime, let me take you where you shallbe really quiet, home to Bishopsworthy. " "But your uncle does not expect you so soon. " "My uncle is always ready for me, and a week or two of real rest therewould make you ready for the further journey. " Rachel made no opposition. She was glad to have her mind relievedfrom the waterfalls, but she had rather have been quite alone withher husband. She knew that Lord and Lady Keith had taken a house atLittleworthy, while Gowanbrae was under repair, and she dreaded thereturn to the bewildering world, before even the first month was over;but Alick made the proposal so eagerly that she could not help assentingwith all the cordiality she could muster, thinking that it must be awretched, disappointing wedding tour for him, and she would at least notprevent his being happy with his uncle; as happy as he could be witha person tied to him, of whom all his kindred must disapprove, and especially that paragon of an uncle, whom she heard of like anintensification of all that class of clergy who had of late been mostalien to her. Alick did not press for her real wishes, but wrote his letter, andfollowed it as fast as she could bear to travel. So when the train, asuccession of ovens for living bodies disguised in dust, drew up at theLittleworthy Station, there was a ready response to the smart footman'sinquiry, "Captain and Mrs. Keith?" This personage by no means accordedwith Rachel's preconceived notions of the Rectory establishment, but shenext heard the peculiar clatter by which a grand equipage announces itsimportance, and saw the coronetted blinkers tossing on the other side ofthe railing. A kind little note of welcome was put into Rachel's hand asshe was seated in the luxurious open carriage, and Alick had never feltbetter pleased with his sister than when he found his wife thus sparedthe closeness of the cramping fly, or the dusty old rectory phaeton. Hospitality is never more welcome than at the station, and Bessie'sletter was complacently accepted. Rachel would, she knew, be too muchtired to see her on that day, and on the next she much regretted havingan engagement in London, but on the Sunday they would not fail to meet, and she begged that Rachel would send word by the servant what time Megshould be sent to the Rectory for her to ride; it would be a kindness toexercise her, for it was long since she had been used. Rachel could not help colouring with pleasure at the notion of ridingher own Meg again, and Alick freely owned that it was well thought of. He already had a horse at his uncle's, and was delighted to see Rachelat last looking forward to something. But as she lay back in thecarriage, revelling in the fresh wind, she became dismayed at thesuccession of cottages of gentility, with lawns and hedges of variouspretensions. "There must be a terrible number of people here!" "This is only Littleworthy. " "Not very little. " "No; I told you it was villafied and cockneyfied. There, " as the horsestried to stop at a lodge leading to a prettily built house, "that'sTimber End, the crack place here, where Bessie has always said it washer ambition to live. " "How far is it from the Parsonage?" "Four miles. " Which was a comfort to Rachel, not that she wished to be distant fromBessie, but the population appalled her imagination. "Bishopsworthy is happily defended by a Dukery, " explained Alick, ascoming to the end of the villas they passed woods and fields, a bit ofheathy common, and a scattering of cottages. Labourers going home fromwork looked up, and as their eyes met Alick's there was a mutual smileand touch of the hat. He evidently felt himself coming home. The treesof a park were beginning to rise in front, when the carriage turnedsuddenly down a sharp steep hill; the right side of the road bounded bya park paling; the left, by cottages, reached by picturesque flightsof brick stairs, then came a garden wall, and a halt. Alick called out, "Thanks, " and "we will get out here, " adding, "They will take in thegoods the back way. I don't like careering into the churchyard. " Rachel, alighting, saw that the lane proceeded downwards to a rivercrossed by a wooden bridge, with an expanse of meadows beyond. To herleft was a stable-yard, and below it a white gate and white railingsenclosing a graveyard, with a very beautiful church standing behind amushroom yew-tree. The upper boundary of the churchyard was the clippedyew hedge of the rectory garden, whose front entrance was throughthe churchyard. There was a lovely cool tranquillity of aspect as theshadows lay sleeping on the grass; and Rachel could have stood andgazed, but Alick opened the gate, and there was a movement at the seatthat enclosed the gnarled trunk of the yew tree. A couple of villagelads touched their caps and departed the opposite way, a white setterdog bounded forward, and, closely attended by a still snowier cat, agentleman came to meet them, so fearlessly treading the pathway betweenthe graves, and so youthful in figure, that it was only the "Well, uncle, here she is, " and, "Alick, my dear boy, " that convinced her thatthis was indeed Mr. Clare. The next moment he had taken her hand, kissedher brow, and spoken a few words of fatherly blessing, then, whileAlick exchanged greetings with the cat and dog, he led her to the archedyew-tree entrance to his garden, up two stone steps, along a flaggedpath across the narrow grass-plat in front of the old two-storied house, with a tiled verandah like an eyebrow to the lower front windows. Instead of entering by the door in the centre, he turned the cornerof the house, where the eastern gable disclosed a window opening on asloping lawn full of bright flower-beds. The room within was linedwith books and stored with signs of parish work, but with a refinedorderliness reigning over the various little ornaments, and almostbetokening feminine habitation; and Alick exclaimed with admiration of alarge bowl of fresh roses, beautifully arranged. "Traces of Bessie, " said Mr. Clare; "she brought them this morning, and spent nearly an hour in arranging them and entertaining me with herbright talk. I have hardly been able to keep out of the room since, theymake it so delicious. " "Do you often see her?" asked Alick. "Yes, dear child, she is most good-natured and attentive, and I take itmost kindly of her, so courted as she is. " "How do you get on with his lordship?" "I don't come much in his way, he has been a good deal laid up withsciatica, but he seems very fond of her; and it was all her doing thatthey have been all this time at Littleworthy, instead of being in townfor the season. She thought it better for him. " "And where is Mr. Lifford?" asked Alick. "Gone to M---- till Saturday. " "Unable to face the bride. " "I fear Ranger is not equally shy, " said Mr. Clare, understanding acertain rustle and snort to import that the dog was pressing hischin hard upon Rachel's knee, while she declared her content with thehandsome creature's black depth of eye; and the cat executed a promenadeof tenderness upon Alick. "How are the peacocks, Alick?" added Mr. Clare; "they, at least, areinoffensive pets. I dreaded the shears without your superintendence, butJoe insisted that they were getting lop-sided. " Alick put his head out at the window. "All right, sir; Joe has been alittle hard on the crest of the left-hand one, but it is recovering. " Whereupon, Rachel discovered that the peacocks were creatures ofyew-tree, perched at either end of the garden fence. Mr. Clare had foundthem there, and preserved them with solicitous fidelity. Nothing could be less like than he was to the grave, thin, stoopingascetic in a long coat, that she had expected. He was a tall, well-mademan, of the same youthful cast of figure as his nephew, and a farlighter and more springy step, with features and colouring recallingthose of his niece, as did the bright sunny playful sweetness of hismanner; his dark handsome eyes only betraying their want of sight bya certain glassy immobility that contrasted with the play of theexpressive mouth. It was hard to guess why Bessie should have shunnedsuch an uncle. Alick took Rachel to the bedroom above the library, and, like it, with two windows--one overlooking churchyard, river, andhay-fields, the other commanding, over the peacock hedge, a view of theplayground, where Mr. Clare was seen surrounded by boys, appealing tohim on some disputed matter of cricket. There was a wonderful sense ofserenity, freshness, and fragrance, inexpressibly grateful to Rachel'swearied feelings, and far more comfortable than the fine scenery throughwhich she had been carried, because no effort to look and admire wasincumbent on her--nay, not even an effort to talk all the evening. Mr. Clare seemed to have perfectly imbibed the idea that rest was what shewanted, and did not try to make small talk with her, though she satlistening with pleased interest to the conversation between him and hisnephew--so home like, so full of perfect understanding of one another. "Is there anything to be read aloud?" presently asked Alick. "You have not by chance got 'Framley Parsonage?'" "I wish I had. I did pick up 'Silas Marner, ' at a station, thinking youmight like it, " and he glanced at Rachel, who had, he suspected, thoughthis purchase an act of weakness. "Have you met with it?" "I have met with nothing of the sort since you were here last;" thenturning to Rachel, "Alick indulges me with novels, for my good curatehad rather read the catalogue of a sale any day than meddle with one, and I can't set on my pupil teacher in a book where I don't know what iscoming. " "We will get 'Framley, '" said Alick. "Bessie has it. She read me a very clever scene about a weak youngparson bent on pleasing himself; and offered to lend me the book, but Ithought it would not edify Will Walker. But, no doubt, you have read itlong ago. " "No, " said Rachel; and something withheld her from disclaiming suchempty employments. Indeed, she was presently much interested in theadmirable portraiture of "Silas Marner, " and still more by the keen, vivid enjoyment, critical, droll, and moralizing, displayed by a man whoheard works of fiction so rarely that they were always fresh to him, andwho looked on them as studies of life. His hands were busy all the timecarving a boss for the roof of one of the side aisles of his church--thelast step in its gradual restoration. That night there was no excitement of nerve, no morbid fancy to troubleRachel's slumbers; she only awoke as the eight o'clock bell soundedthrough the open window, and for the first time for months roseless weary than she had gone to rest. Week-day though it were, thedescription "sweet day, so calm, so cool, so bright, " constantlyrecurred to her mind as she watched the quiet course of occupation. Alick, after escorting his uncle to a cottage, found her searching amongthe stores in the music stand. "You unmusical female, " he said, "what is that for?" "Your uncle spoke of music last night, and I thought he would like it. " "I thought you had no such propensity. " "I learnt like other people, but it was the only thing I could not doas well as Grace, and I thought it wasted time, and was a young ladyism;but if can recover music enough to please him, I should be glad. " "Thank you, " said Alick, earnestly. "He is very much pleased with yourvoice in speaking. Indeed, I believe I first heard it with his ears. " "This is a thorough lady's collection of music, " said Rachel, lookingthrough it to hide her blush of pleasure. "Altogether the house has nota bachelor look. " "Did you not know that he had been married? It was when he first had theliving twelve years ago. She was a very lovely young thing, half Irish, and this was the happiest place in the world for two years, till herlittle brother was sent home here from school without proper warning ofa fever that had begun there. We all had it, but she and her baby werethe only ones that did not recover! There they lie, under the yew-tree, where my uncle likes to teach the children. He was terribly struckdown for years, though he went manfully to his work, and it has beenremarkable how his spirits and sociability have returned since he losthis sight; indeed, he is more consistently bright than ever he was. " "I never saw any one like him, " said Rachel. "I have fallen in withclergy that some call holy, and with some that others call pious, but heis not a bit like either. He is not even grave, yet there is a calming, refreshing sense of reverence towards him that would be awe, only it isso happy. " Alick's response was to bend over her, and kiss her brow. She had neverseen him so much gratified. "What a comfort your long stay with him must have been, " she saidpresently, "in the beginning of his blindness!" "I hope so. It was an ineffable comfort to me to come here out ofLittleworthy croquet, and I think cheering me did him good. Rachel, youmay do and say what you please, " he added, earnestly, "since you havetaken to him. " "I could not help it, " said Rachel, though a slight embarrassment cameover her at the recollection of Bessie, and at the thought of the narrowviews on which she expected to differ. Then, as Alick continued tosearch among the music, she asked, "Will he like the piano to be used?" "Of all things. Bessie's singing is his delight. Look, could we get thisup?" "You don't sing, Alick! I mean, do you?" "We need not betray our talents to worldlings base. " Rachel found her accompaniment the least satisfactory part of theaffair, and resolved on an hour's practice every day in Mr. Clare'sabsence, a wholesome purpose even as regarded her health and spirits. She had just sat down to write letters, feeling for the first time as ifthey would not be a toil, when Mr. Clare looked in to ask Alick to referto a verse in the Psalms, quoting it in Greek as well as English, andafter the research had been carried to the Hebrew, he told Rachel thathe was going to write his sermon, and repaired to the peacock path, where he paced along with Ranger and the cat, in faithful, unobtrusiveattendance. "What, you can read Hebrew, Alick?" "So can you. " "Enough to appreciate the disputed passages. When did you study it?" "I learnt enough, when I was laid up, to look out my uncle's texts forhim. " She felt a little abashed by the tone, but a message called him away, and before his return Mr. Clare came back to ask for a reference to St. Augustine. On her offer of her services, she was thanked, and directedwith great precision to the right volume of the Library of the Fathers, but spying a real St. Augustine, she could not be satisfied without aflight at the original. It was not, however, easy to find the place; shewas forced to account for her delay by confessing her attempt, andthen to profit by Mr. Clare's directions, and, after all, her falsequantities, though most tenderly and apologetically corrected, must havebeen dreadful to the scholarly ear, for she was obliged to get Alick toread the passage over to him before he arrived at the sense, and Rachelfelt her flight of clever womanhood had fallen short. It was quite newto her to be living with people who knew more of, and went deeper into, everything than she did, and her husband's powers especially amazed her. The afternoon was chiefly spent in the hay-field under a willow-tree;Mr. Clare tried to leave the young people to themselves, but they wouldnot consent; and, after a good deal of desultory talk and description ofthe minnows and water-spiders, in whom Mr. Clare seemed to take a deepinterest, they went on with their book till the horses came, and Alicktook Rachel for a ride in Earlsworthy Park, a private gate of which, just opposite to the Rectory, was free to its inhabitants. The Duke wasan old college friend of Mr. Clare, and though much out of health, andhardly ever able to reside at the Park, all its advantages were at theRector's service, and they were much appreciated when, on this sultrysummer's day, Rachel found shade and coolness in the deep arcades of thebeech woods, and freshness on the upland lawns, as she rode happily onthe dear old mare, by whom she really thought herself fondly recognised. There was something in the stillness of the whole, even in the absenceof the roll and plash of the sea waves beside which she had grown up, that seemed to give her repose from the hurry and throb of sensationsand thoughts that had so long preyed upon her; and when the ride wasover she was refreshed, not tired, and the evening bell drew her to theconclusion most befitting a day spent in that atmosphere of quietude. She felt grateful to her husband for making no remark, though the onlytime she had been within a church since her illness had been at theirwedding, he only gave her his arm, and said she should sit in the nookthat used to be his in the time of his lameness; and a most shelterednook it was, between a pillar and the open chancel screen, where no eyescould haunt her, even if the congregation had been more than a Saturdaysummer evening one. She only saw the pure, clear, delicately-toned hues of the east window, and the reverent richness of the chancel, and she heard the blindpastor's deep musical voice, full of that expressive power alwaysenhanced by the absence of a book. He led the Psalms with perfectsecurity and a calm fervour that rendered the whole familiar servicelike something new and touching; the Lessons were read by Alick, and Rachel, though under any other circumstances she would have beenstartled to see him standing behind the Eagle, could not but feel allappropriate, and went along with each word as he read it in a tone wellworthy of his uncle's scholar. Whether few or many were present, Rachelknew not, thought not; she was only sensible of the fulness of calmjoy that made the Thanksgiving touch her heart and fill her eyes withunbidden tears, that came far more readily than of old. "Yet this can't be all, " she said to herself, as she wandered among thetall white lilies in the twilight; "is it a trance, or am I myself?I have not unthought or unfelt, yet I seem falling into a very sweethypocrisy! Alick says thought will come back with strength. I don'tthink I wish it!" The curate did not return till after she had gone to bed, and in themorning he proved to be indeed a very dry and serious middle-aged man, extremely silent, and so grave that there was no knowing how much toallow for shyness. He looked much worn and had a wearied voice, andMr. Clare and Alick were contriving all they could to give him the restwhich he refused, Mr. Clare insisting on taking all the service thatcould be performed without eyes, and Alick volunteering school-work. This Rachel was not yet able to undertake, nor would Alick even let hergo to church in the morning; but the shady garden, and the echoes of theAmens, and sweet, clear tones of singing, seemed to lull her on in thissame gentle, unthinking state of dreamy rest; and thence, too, in theafter part of the day, she could watch the rector, with his Sundayclass, on his favourite seat under the yew-tree, close to the cross thatmarked the resting-place of his wife and child. She went to church in the evening, sheltered from curious eyes in hernook, and there for a moment she heard the peculiar brush and sweep ofrich silk upon pavement, and wondered at so sophisticated a sound in thelittle homely congregation, but forgot it again in the exulting, joyousbeauty of the chants and hymns, led by the rector himself, and, oh, howdifferent from poor Mr. Touchett's best efforts! and forgot it stillmore in the unfettered eloquence of the preaching of a man of greatnatural power, and entirely accustomed to trust to his own inwardstores. Like Ermine Williams, she could have said that this preachingwas the first that won her attention. It certainly was the first thatswept away all her spirit of criticising, and left her touched andimpressed, not judging. On what north country folk call the loosing ofthe kirk, she, moving outwards after the throng, found herself closebehind a gauzy white cloak over a lilac silk, that filled the wholebreadth of the central aisle, and by the dark curl descending beneaththe tiny white bonnet, as well as by the turn of the graceful head, sheknew her sister-in-law, Lady Keith, of Gowanbrae. In the porch she wasmet with outstretched hands and eager greetings-- "At last! Where did you hide yourself? I had begun to imagine diremischances. " "Only in the corner by the chancel. " "Alick's old nook! Keeping up honeymoon privileges! I have kept yoursecret faithfully. No one knows you are not on the top of Snowdon, oryou would have had all the world to call on you. " "There are always the Earlsworthy woods, " said Alick. "Or better still, come to Timber End. No one penetrates to my morningroom, " laughed Bessie. "Now, Uncle George, " she said, as the rector appeared, "you have hada full allowance of them for three days, you must spare them to meto-morrow morning. " "So it is you, my lady, " he answered, with a pleased smile; "I heard asort of hail-storm of dignity sailing in! How is Lord Keith?" "Very stiff. I want him to have advice, but he hates doctors. What isthe last Avonmouth news? Is Ermine in good heart, and the boys wellagain?" She was the same Bessie as ever--full of exulting animation, joined toa caressing manner that her uncle evidently delighted in; and to Rachelshe was most kind and sisterly, welcoming her so as amply to please andgratify Alick. An arrangement was made that Rachel should be sent forearly to spend the day at Timber End, and that Mr. Clare and Alickshould walk over later. Then the two pretty ponies came with her littlelow carriage to the yew-tree gate, were felt and admired by Mr. Clare, and approved by Alick, and she drove off gaily, leaving all pleased andamused, but still there was a sense that the perfect serenity had beenruffled. "Rachel, " said Alick, as they wandered in the twilight garden, "I wonderif you would be greatly disappointed if our travels ended here. " "I am only too glad of the quiet. " "Because Lifford is in great need of thorough rest. He has not been awayfor more than a year, and now he is getting quite knocked up. All hedoes care to do, is to take lodgings near his wife's asylum, poor man, and see her occasionally: sad work, but it is rest, and winds him upagain; and there is no one but myself to whom he likes to leave myuncle. Strangers always do too little or too much; and there is a youngman at Littleworthy for the long vacation who can help on a Sunday. " "Oh, pray let us stay as long as we can!" "Giving up the Cretins?" "It is no sacrifice. I am thankful not to be hunted about; and ifanything could make me better pleased to be here, it would be feelingthat I was not hindering you. " "Then I will hunt him away for six weeks or two months at least. It willbe a great relief to my uncle's mind. " It was so great a relief that Mr. Clare could hardly bring himself toaccept the sacrifice of the honeymoon, and though there could be littledoubt which way the discussion would end, he had not yielded when theponies bore off Rachel on Monday morning. Timber End was certainly a delightful place. Alick had railed it acockney villa, but it was in good taste, and very fair and sweet withflowers and shade. Bessie's own rooms, where she made Rachel charminglyat home, were wonderful in choiceness and elegance, exciting Rachel'ssurprise how it could be possible to be so sumptuously lodged in sucha temporary abode, for the house was only hired for a few months, whileGowanbrae was under repair. It was within such easy reach of London thatBessie had been able from thence to go through the more needful seasongaieties; and she had thought it wise, both for herself and Lord Keith, not to enter on their full course. It sounded very moderate and prudent, and Rachel felt vexed with herself and Alick for recollecting a certainhint of his, that Lady Keith felt herself more of a star in her own oldneighbourhood than she could be in London, and wisely abstained from afull flight till she had tried her wings. It was much pleasanter to goalong with Bessie's many far better and more affectionate reasons forprudence, and her minutely personal confidences about her habits, hopes, and fears, given with a strong sense of her own importance andconsideration, yet with a warm sisterly tone that made them tokens ofadoption, and with an arch drollery that invested them with a sort ofgrace. The number of engagements that she mentioned in town and countrydid indeed seem inconsistent with the prudence she spoke of with regardto her own health, or with her attention to that of her husband; but itappeared that all were quite necessary and according to his wishes, and the London ones were usually for the sake of trying to detach hisdaughter, Mrs. Comyn Menteith, from the extravagant set among whom shehad fallen. Bessie was excessively diverting in her accounts ofher relations with this scatter-brained step-daughter of hers, andaltogether showed in the most flattering manner how much more thoroughlyshe felt herself belonging to her brother's wife. If she had ever beenamazed or annoyed at Alick's choice, she had long ago surmounted thefeeling, or put it out of sight, and she judiciously managed to leapover all that had passed since the beginning of the intimacy that hadarisen at the station door at Avoncester. It was very flattering, andwould have been perfectly delightful, if Rachel had not found herselfwearying for Alick, and wondering whether at the end of seven months sheshould be as contented as Bessie seemed, to know her husband to be inthe sitting-room without one sight of him. At luncheon, however, when Lord Keith appeared, nothing could beprettier than his wife's manner to him--bright, sweet, and with a touchof graceful deference, at which he always smiled and showed himselfpleased, but Rachel thought him looking much older than in theautumn--he had little appetite, stooped a good deal, and evidently movedwith pain. He would not go out of doors, and Bessie, after following himto the library, and spending a quarter of an hour in ministering to hiscomfort, took Rachel to sit by a cool dancing fountain in the garden, and began with some solicitude to consult her whether he could be reallysuffering from sciatica, or, as she had lately begun to suspect, fromthe effects of a blow from the end of a scaffold-pole that had been runagainst him when taking her through a crowded street. Rachel spoke ofadvice. "What you, Rachel! you who despised allopathy!" "I have learnt not to despise advice. " And Bessie would not trench on Rachel's experiences. "There's some old Scotch doctor to whom his faith is given, and that Idon't half believe in. If he would see our own Mr. Harvey here it wouldbe quite another thing; but it is of no use telling him that Alick wouldnever have had an available knee but for Mr. Harvey's management. Hepersists in leaving me to my personal trust in him, but for himself hewon't see him at any price! Have you seen Mr. Harvey?" "I have seen no one. " "Oh, I forgot, you are not arrived yet; but--" "There's some one, " exclaimed Rachel, nervously; and in fact a young manwas sauntering towards them. Bessie rose with a sort of annoyance, and"Never mind, my dear, he is quite inoffensive, we'll soon get rid ofhim. " Then, as he greeted her with "Good morning, Lady Keith, I thoughtI should find you here, " she quickly replied. "If you had been proper behaved and gone to the door, you would haveknown that I am not at home. " He smiled, and came nearer. "No, I am not at home, and, what is more, I do not mean to be. My unclewill be here directly, " she added, in a fee-faw-fum tone. "Then it is not true that your brother and his bride are arrived?" "True in the same sense as that I am at home. There she is, yousee--only you are not to see her on any account, " as a bow necessarilypassed between him and Rachel. "Now mind you have not been introduced toMrs. Keith, and if you utter a breath that will bring the profane crowdin shoals upon the Rectory, I shall never forgive you. " "Then I am afraid we must not hope to see you at the bazaar for theidiots. " "No, indeed, " Bessie answered, respecting Rachel's gesture of refusal;"no one is to infringe her incog, under penalty of never coming hereagain. " "You are going?" he added to Bessie; "indeed, that was what broughtme here. My sisters sent me to ask whether they may shelter themselvesunder your matronly protection, for my mother dreads the crush. " "I suppose, as they put my name down, that I must go, but you know Ihad much rather give the money outright. It is a farce to call a bazaarcharity. " "Call it what you will, it is one device for a little sensation. " Rachel's only sensation at that moment was satisfaction at the suddenappearance of Ranger's white head, the sure harbinger of his master andAlick, and she sprang up to meet them in the shrubbery path--all hermorbid shyness at the sight of a fresh face passing away when her handwas within Alick's arm. When they came forth upon the lawn, Alick's browdarkened for a moment, and there was a formal exchange of greetings asthe guest retreated. "I am so sorry, " began Bessie at once; "I had taken precautions againstinvasion, but he did not go to the front door. I do so hope Rachel hasnot been fluttered. " "I thought he was at Rio, " said Alick. "He could not stand the climate, and was sent home about a month ago--aregular case of bad shilling, I am afraid, poor fellow! I am so sorryhe came to startle Rachel, but I swore him over to secrecy. He is not tomention to any living creature that she is nearer than Plinlimmon tillthe incog, is laid aside! I know how to stand up for bridal privileges, and not to abuse the confidence placed in me. " Any one who was up to the game might have perceived that the sisterwas trying to attribute all the brother's tone of disapprobation to hisanxiety lest his wife should have been startled, while both knew aswell as possible that there was a deeper ground of annoyance which wasimplied in Alick's answer. "He seems extremely tame about the garden. " "Or he would not have fallen on Rachel. It was only a chance; he justbrought over a message about that tiresome bazaar that has been dinnedinto our ears for the last three months. A bazaar for idiots they maywell call it! They wanted a carving of yours, Uncle George!" "I am afraid I gave little Alice Bertie one in a weak moment, Bessie, "said Mr. Clare, "but I hardly durst show my face to Lifford afterwards. " "After all, it is better than some bazaars, " said Bessie; "it isonly for the idiot asylum, and I could not well refuse my name andcountenance to my old neighbours, though I stood out against taking astall. Lord Keith would not have liked it. " "Will he be able to go with you?" asked Alick. "Oh, no; it would be an intolerable bore, and his Scottish thrift wouldnever stand the sight of people making such very bad bargains! No, I amgoing to take the Carleton girls in, they are very accommodating, and Ican get away whenever I please. I am much too forbearing to ask any ofyou to go with me, though I believe Uncle George is pining to go and seeafter his carving. " "No, thank you; after what I heard of the last bazaar I made up my mindthat they are no places for an old parson, nor for his carvings either, so you are quite welcome to fall on me for my inconsistency. " "Not now, when you have a holiday from Mr. Lifford, " returned Bessie. "Now come and smell the roses. " All the rest of the day Alick relapsed into the lazy frivolous youngofficer with whom Rachel had first been acquainted. As he was driving home in the cool fresh summer night, he began-- "I think I must go to this idiotical bazaar!" "You!" exclaimed Rachel. "Yes; I don't think Bessie ought to go by herself with all this Carletoncrew. " "You don't wish me to go, " said Rachel, gulping down the effort. "You! My dear Rachel, I would not take you for fifty pounds, nor could Igo myself without leaving you as vice deputy curate. " "No need for that, " said Mr. Clare, from the seat behind; "young peoplemust not talk secrets with a blind man's ears behind them. " "I make no secret, " said Alick. "I could not go without leaving my wifeto take care of my uncle, or my uncle to take care of my wife. " "And you think you ought to go?" said Mr. Clare. "It is certainly betterthat Bessie should have a gentleman with her in the crowd; but youknow this is a gossiping neighbourhood, and you must be prepared foramazement at your coming into public alone not three weeks after yourwedding. " "I can't help it, she can't go, and I must. " "And you will bring down all the morning visitors that you talk ofdreading. " "We will leave you to amuse them, sir. Much better that, " he addedbetween his teeth, "than to leave the very semblance of a secret trustedby her to that intolerable puppy--" Rachel said no more, but when she was gone upstairs Mr. Clare detainedhis nephew to say, "I beg your pardon, Alick, but you should be quitesure that your wife likes this proposal. " "That's the value of a strong-minded wife, sir, " returned Alick; "she isnot given to making a fuss about small matters. " "Most ladies might not think this a small matter. " "That is because they have no perspective in their brains. Rachelunderstands me a great deal too well to make me explain what is betterunspoken. " "You know what I think, Alick, that you are the strictest judge thatever a merry girl had. " "I had rather you continued to think so, uncle; I should like to thinkso myself. Good night. " Alick was right, but whether or not Rachel entered into his motives, she made no objection to his going to the bazaar with his sister, beingabsolutely certain that he would not have done so if he could havehelped it. Nor was her day at all dreary; Mr. Clare was most kind and attentive toher, without being oppressive, and she knew she was useful to him. Shewas indeed so full of admiration and reverence for him, that onceor twice it crossed her whether she were not belying another of herprinciples by lapsing into Curatocult, but the idea passed away withscorn at the notion of comparing Mr. Clare with the objects of suchdevotion. He belonged to that generation which gave its choicest inintellectual, as well as in religious gifts to the ministry, when afresh tide of enthusiasm was impelling men forward to build up, insteadof breaking down, before disappointment and suspicion had thinned theranks, and hurled back many a recruit, or doctrinal carpings had taughtmen to dread a search into their own tenets. He was a highly cultivated, large-minded man, and the conversation between him and his nephew was aconstant novelty to her, who had always yearned after depth and thought, and seldom met with them. Still here she was constantly feeling howshallow were her acquirements, how inaccurate her knowledge, how devoidof force and solidity her reasonings compared with what here seemed tobe old, well-beaten ground. Nay, the very sparkle of fun and merrimentsurprised and puzzled her; and all the courtesy of the one gentleman, and the affection of the other, could not prevent her sometimes feelingherself the dullest and most ignorant person present. And yet the sensewas never mortifying except when here and there a spark of the oldconceit had lighted itself, and lured her into pretensions where shethought herself proficient. She was becoming more and more helpful toMr. Clare, and his gratitude for her services made them most agreeable, nor did that atmosphere of peace and sincerity that reigned round theRectory lose its charm. She was really happy all through the solitaryWednesday, and much more contented with the results than was Alick. "Asickening place, " he said, "I am glad I went. " "How glad Bessie must have been to have you!" "I believe she was. She has too much good taste for much of what went onthere. " "I doubt, " said Mr. Clare, laughing, "if you could have been anagreeable acquisition. " "I don't know. Bessie fools one into thinking oneself always doing hera favour. Oh, Rachel, I am thankful you have never taken to beingagreeable. " CHAPTER XXV. THE HUNTSFORD CROQUET. "Une femme egoiste, non seulement de coeur, mais d'esprit, ne pentpas sortir d'elle-meme. Le moi est indelible chez elle. Une veritableegoiste ne sait meme pas etre fausse. " --MME. E. DE GIRARDIN. "I am come to prepare you, " said Lady Keith, putting her arm into herbrother's, and leading him into the peacock path. "Mrs. Huntsford is onher way to call and make a dead set to get you all to a garden party. " "Then we are off to the Earlsworthy Woods. " "Nay, listen, Alick. I have let you alone and defended you for a wholemonth, but if you persist in shutting up you wife, people won't standit. " "Which of us is the Mahometan?" "You are pitied! But you see it was a strong thing our appearing withoutour several incumbrances, and though an old married woman like me maydo as she pleases, yet for a bridegroom of not three weeks' standing toresort to bazaars solus argues some weighty cause. " "And argues rightly. " "Then you are content to be supposed to have an unproduceably eccentricmelancholy bride?" "Better they should think so than that she should be so. She has beenvictimized enough already to her mother's desire to save appearances. " "You do not half believe me, Alick, and this is really a very kind, thoughtful arrangement of Mrs. Huntsford's. She consulted me, sayingthere were such odd stories about you two that she was most anxiousthat Rachel should appear and confute them; and she thought that anout-of-door party like this would suit best, because it would be early, and Rachel could get away if she found it too much for her. " "After being walked out to satisfy a curious neighbourhood. " "Now Alick, do consider it. This sort of thing could remind her ofnothing painful; Uncle George would enjoy it. " "And fall over the croquet traps. " "No; if you wanted to attend to him, I could take care of Rachel. " "I cannot tell, Bessie, I believe it is pure goodnature on Mrs. Huntsford's part, but if we go, it must be from Rachel's spontaneousmovement. I will not press her on any account. I had rather the worldsaid she was crazy at once than expose her to the risk of one of thedreadful nights that haunted us till we came here to perfect quiet. " "But she is well now. She looks better and nicer than I ever saw her. Really, Alick, now her face is softer, and her eyes more veiled, and herchin not cocked up, I am quite proud of her. Every one will be struckwith her good looks. " "Flattery, Bessie, " he said, not ill pleased. "Yes, she is much better, and more like herself; but I dread all this being overthrown. If sheherself wishes to go, it may be a good beginning, but she must not bepersuaded. " "Then I must not even tell her that she won't be required to croquet, and that I'll guard her from all civil speeches. " "No, for indeed, Bessie, on your own account and Lord Keith's, youshould hardly spend a long afternoon from home. " "Here's the war in the enemy's quarters! As to fatigue, dawdling aboutMrs. Huntsford's garden, is much the same as dawdling about my own, andmakes me far more entertaining. " "I cannot help thinking, Bessie, that Lord Keith is more ill than yousuppose. I am sure he is in constant pain. " "So I fear, " said Bessie, gravely; "but what can be done? He will see noone but his old surgeon in Edinburgh. " "Then take him there. " "Take him? You must know what it is to be in the hands of a clever womanbefore you make such a proposal. " "You are a cleverer woman than my wife in bringing about what you reallywish. " "Just consider, Alick, our own house is uninhabitable, and this one onour hands--my aunt coming to me in a month's time. You don't ask me todo what is reasonable. " "I cannot tell, Bessie. You can be the only judge of what is regard ofthe right kind for your husband's health or for yourself; and see, thereis Mrs. Huntsford actually arrived, and talking to my uncle. " "One moment, Alick: I am not going to insult myself so far as to supposethat poor Charlie Carleton's being at home has anything to do with yourdesire to deport me, but I want you to know that he did not come hometill after we were settled here. " "I do not wish to enter into details, Bessie, " and he crossed the lawntowards the window where Mr. Clare and Rachel had just received Mrs. Huntsford, a goodnatured joyous-looking lady, a favourite with everyone. Her invitation was dexterously given to meet a few friends atluncheon, and in the garden, where the guests would be free to come andgo; there might perhaps be a little dancing later, she had secured somegood music which would, she knew, attract Mr. Clare, and she hoped hewould bring Captain and Mrs. Keith. She knew Mrs. Keith had not beenwell, but she promised her a quiet room to rest in, and she wantedto show her a view of the Devon coast done by a notable artist inwater-colours. Rachel readily accepted--in fact, this quiet month hadbeen so full of restoration that she had almost forgotten her morbidshrinking from visitors; and Bessie infused into her praise andcongratulations a hint that a refusal would have been much againstAlick's reputation, so that she resolved to keep up to the mark, eventhough he took care that she should know that she might yet retract. "You did not wish me to refuse, Alick, " said she, struck by his gravecountenance, when she found him lying on the slope of the lawn shortlyafter, in deep thought. "No, not at all, " he replied; "it is likely to be a pleasant affair, andmy uncle will be delighted to have us with him. No, " he added, seeingthat she still looked at him inquisitively, "it is the old story. Mysister! Poor little thing! I always feel as though I wore more unkindand unjust to her than any one else, and yet we are never togetherwithout my feeling as if she was deceiving herself and me; and yet itis all so fair and well reasoned that one is always left in the wrong. I regretted this marriage extremely at first, and I am not the lessdisposed to regret it now. " "Indeed! Every one says how attentive she is to him, and how nicely theygo on together. " "Pshaw, Rachel! that is just the way. A few words and pretty ways passwith her and all the world for attention, when she is wherever her fancycalls her, all for his good. It is just the attention she showed myuncle. And now it is her will and pleasure to queen it here among herold friends, and she will not open her eyes to see the poor old man'sprecarious state. " "Do you think him so very ill, Alick?" "I was shocked when I saw him yesterday. As to sciatica, that is allnonsense; the blow in his side has done some serious damage, and if itis not well looked-to, who knows what will be the end of it! And then, agay young widow with no control over her--I hate to think of it. " "Indeed, " said Rachel, "she is so warm and bright, and really earnest inher kindness, that she will be sure to see her own way right at home. Idon't think we can guess how obstinate Lord Keith may be in refusing totake advice. " "He cut me off pretty short, " said Alick. "I am afraid he will see noone here; and, as Bessie says, the move to Scotland would not be easyjust now. As I said, she leaves one in the wrong, and I don't like thefuture. But it is of no use to talk of it; so let us come and see if myuncle wants to go anywhere. " It was Alick's fate never to meet with sympathy in his feeling of hissister's double-mindedness. Whether it were that he was mistaken, orthat she really had the gift of sincerity for the moment in whatevershe was saying, the most candid and transparent people in theworld--his uncle and his wife--never even succeeded in understanding hisdissatisfaction with Bessie's doings, but always received them ather own valuation. Even while he had been looking forward, with hopedeferred, to her residence with him as the greatest solace the worldcould yet afford him, Mr. Clare had always been convinced that herconstant absence from his Rectory, except when his grand neighbourswere at home, had been unavoidable, and had always credited the outwardtokens of zealous devotion to his church and parish, and to all that wasuseful or good elsewhere. In effect there was a charm about her which noone but her brother ever resisted, and even he held out by an exertionthat made him often appear ungracious. However, for the present the uneasiness was set aside, in the dailyavocations of the Rectory, where Alick was always a very differentperson from what he appeared in Lady Temple's drawing-room, constantlyengaged as he was by unobtrusive watchfulness over his uncle, and activeand alert in this service in a manner that was a curious contrast to hisordinary sauntering ways. As to Rachel, the whole state of existencewas still a happy dream. She floated on from day to day in the tranquilactivity of the Rectory, without daring to look back on the past or tothink out her present frame of mind; it was only the languor and restof recovery after suffering, and her husband was heedfully watching her, fearing the experiment of the croquet party, though on many accountsfeeling the necessity of its being made. Ermine's hint, that with Rachel it rested to prevent her unpopularityfrom injuring her husband, had not been thrown away, and she nevermanifested any shrinking from the party, and even took some interest inarraying herself for it. "That is what I call well turned out, " exclaimed Alick, when she camedown. "Describe her dress, if you please, " said Mr. Clare, "I like to hear howmy nieces look. " Alick guided his hand. "There, stroke it down, a long white feather ina shady hat trimmed with dark green, velvet; she is fresh and rosy, you know, sir, and looks well in green, and then, is it Grace's taste, Rachel? for it is the prettiest thing you have worn--a pale buff sort ofsilky thing, embroidered all over in the same colour, " and he put a foldof the dress into his uncle's hand. "Indian, surely, " said Mr. Clare, feeling the pattern, "it is toointricate and graceful for the West. " "Yes, " said Alick, "I remember now, Grace showed it to me. It was onethat Lady Temple brought from India, and never had made up. Poor Gracecould get no sympathy from Rachel about the wedding clothes, so she wasobliged to come to me. " "And I thought you did not know one of my things from another, " saidRachel. "Do you really mean that you care?" "Depend upon it, he does, my dear, " said Mr. Clare. "I have heard himseverely critical on his cousins. " "He has been very good in not tormenting me, " said Rachel, nestlingnearer to him. "I apprehended the consequences, " said Alick, "and besides, you nevermounted that black lace pall, or curtain, or whatever you call it, uponyour head, after your first attempt at frightening me away with it. " "A cap set against, instead of at, " said Mr. Clare, laughing; andtherewith his old horse was heard clattering in the yard, and Alickproceeded to drive the well-used phaeton about three miles throughEarlsworthy Park, to a pleasant-looking demesne in the village beyond. As they were turning in at the gate, up came Lady Keith with her twobrisk little Shetlands. She was one mass of pretty, fresh, flutteringblue and white muslin, ribbon, and lace, and looked particularly welland brilliant. "Well met, " she said, "I called at the Rectory to take up Rachel, butyou were flown before me. " "Yes, we went through the Park. " "I wish the Duke would come home. I can't go that way now till I havecalled. I have no end of things to say to you, " she added, and herlittle lively ponies shot ahead of the old rectorial steed. However, shewaited at the entrance. "Who do you think is come? Colin Keith madehis appearance this morning. He has safely captured his Ouralian bear, though not without plenty of trouble, and he could not get him onto Avonmouth till he had been to some chemical institution about aninvention. Colin thought him safe there, and rushed down by the train tosee us. They go on to-morrow. " "What did he think of Lord Keith?" said Alick, in the more haste becausehe feared something being said to remind Rachel that this was the assizeweek at Avoncester. "He has settled the matter about advice, " said Bessie, seriously; "youcannot think what a relief it is. I mean, as soon as I get home, towrite and ask Mr. Harvey to come and talk to me to-morrow, and see ifthe journey to Edinburgh is practicable. I almost thought of sending anapology, and driving over to consult him this afternoon, but I didnot like to disappoint Mrs. Huntsford, and I thought Rachel would feelherself lost. " "Thank you, " said Rachel, "but could we not go away early, and go roundby Mr. Harvey's?" "Unluckily I have sent the ponies home, and told the close carriage tocome for me at nine. It was all settled, and I don't want to alarm LordKeith by coming home too soon. " Alick, who had hitherto listened with interest, here gave his arm toRachel, as if recollecting that it was time to make their entree. Bessietook her uncle's, and they were soon warmly welcomed by their kindhostess, who placed them so favourably at luncheon that Rachel was toomuch entertained to feel any recurrence of the old associations with"company. " Afterwards, Bessie took her into the cool drawing-room, wherewere a few ladies, who preferred the sofa to croquet or archery, andLady Keith accomplished a fraternization between Rachel and a plainlydressed lady, who knew all about the social science heroines of whomRachel had longed to hear. After a time, however, a little girl dartedin to call "Aunt Mary" to the aid of some playfellow, who had met witha mishap, and Rachel then perceived herself to have been deserted byher sister-in-law. She knew none of the other ladies, and they made noapproaches to her; an access of self-consciousness came on, and feelingforlorn and uncomfortable, she wandered out to look for a friend. It was not long before she saw Alick walking along the terrace abovethe croquet players, evidently in quest of her. "How is it with you?" heanxiously asked; "you know you can go home in a moment if you have hadenough of this. " "No, I want nothing, now I have found you. Where is your uncle?" "Fallen upon one of his oldest friends, who will take care of him, andwell out of the way of the croquet traps. Where's my Lady? I thought youwere with her. " "She disappeared while I was talking to that good Miss Penwell! You mustbe pleased now, Alick, you see she is really going to see about going toScotland. " "I should be better pleased if she had not left that poor old man alonetill nine o'clock. " "She says that when he has his man Saunders to read to him--" "Don't tell me what she says; I have enough of that at first hand. " He broke off with a start. The terrace was prolonged into a walk beyondthe screen of evergreens that shut in the main lawn, and, becoming ashrubbery path, led to a smooth glade, on whose turf preparations hadbeen made for a second field of croquet, in case there should have beentoo many players for the principal arena. This, however, had not beenwanted, and no one was visible except a lady and gentleman on a seatunder a tree about half-way down on the opposite side of the glade. The lady was in blue and white; the gentleman would hardly have beenrecognised by Rachel but for the start and thrill of her husband's arm, and the flush of colour on his usually pale cheek, but, ere he couldspeak or move, the lady sprang up, and came hastening towards themdiagonally across the grass. Rachel saw the danger, and made a warningoutcry, "Bessie, the hoop!" but it was too late, she had tripped overit, and fell prone, and entirely unable to save herself. She wasmuch nearer to them than to her late companion, and was struggling todisengage herself when Alick reached her, lifted her up, and placed heron her feet, supporting her as she clung fast to him, while he asked ifshe were hurt. "No, no, " she cried. "Don't let him come; don't let him call any one, don't, " she reiterated, as Mr. Carleton hovered near, evidently muchterrified, but not venturing to approach. Alick helped her to another garden chair that stood near. She had beenentangled in her dress, which had been much torn by her attempt to rise, and hung in a festoon, impeding her, and she moved with difficulty, breathing heavily when she was first seated. "I don't know if I have not twisted myself a little, " she said, inanswer to their anxious questions, "but it will go off. Rachel, howscared you look!" "Don't laugh, " exclaimed Rachel, in dread of hysterics, and she plungedher hand into Alick's pocket for a scent-bottle, which he had put thereby way of precaution for her, and, while applying it, said, in her full, sedate voice, keeping it as steady as she could, "Shall I drive youhome? Alick can walk home with his uncle when he is ready. " "Home! Thank you, Rachel, pray do. Not that I am hurt, " she added in hernatural voice, "only these rags would tell tales, and there would be anintolerable fuss. " "Then I will bring the carriage round to the road there, " said Alick. "Itold Joe to be in readiness, and you need not go back to the house. " "Thank you. But, oh, send him away!" she added, with a gasping shudder. "Only don't let him tell any one. Tell him I desire he will not. " After a few words with Mr. Carleton, Alick strode off to the stables, and Rachel asked anxiously after the twist. "I don't feel it; I don't believe in it. My dear, your strong mind isall humbug, or you would not look so frightened, " and again she wason the verge of hysterical laughing; "it is only that I can't stand achorus of old ladies in commotion. How happy Alick must be to havehis prediction verified by some one tumbling over a hoop!" Just then, however, seeing Mr. Carleton still lingering near, she caught hold ofRachel with a little cry, "Don't let him come, dear Rachel; go to him, tell him I am well, but keep him away, and mind he tells no one!" Rachel's cold, repellent manner was in full force, and she went towardsthe poor little man, whose girlish face was blanched with fright. She told him that Lady Keith did not seem to be hurt, and only wishedto be alone, and to go home without attracting notice. He stammeredout something about quite understanding, and retreated, while Rachelreturned to find Bessie sitting upright, anxiously watching, and shewas at once drawn down to sit beside her on the bench, to listen to theexcited whisper. "The miserable simpleton! Rachel, Alick was right. Ithought, I little thought he would forget how things stand now, buthe got back to the old strain, as if--I shall make Lord Keith go toScotland any way now. I was so thankful to see you and Alick. " Sheproceeded with the agitated vehemence of one who, under a great shock, was saying more than she would have betrayed in a cooler and moreguarded mood, "What could possess him? For years he had followed meabout like a little dog, and never said more than I let him; and nowwhat folly was in his head, just because I could not walk as far as theruin with the others. When I said I was going to Scotland, what businesshad he to--Oh! the others will be coming back, Rachel, could we not goto meet the carriage?" The attempt to move, however, brought back the feeling of the strain ofwhich she had complained, but she would not give way, and by the helpof Rachel's arm, proceeded across the grass to the carriage-drive, where Alick was to meet them. It seemed very far and very hot, and heralternately excited and shame-stricken manner, and sobbing breath, much alarmed Rachel; but when Alick met them, all this seemed to passaway--she controlled herself entirely, declaring herself unhurt, andgiving him cheerful messages and excuses for her hostess. Alick put thereins into Rachel's hands, and, after watching her drive off, returnedto the party, and delivered the apologies of the ladies; then went insearch of his uncle. He did not, however, find him quickly, and then hewas so happy with his old friend among a cluster of merry young people, that Alick would not say a word to hasten him home, especially asRachel would have driven Bessie to Timber End, so that it would only bereturning to an empty house. And such was Mr. Clare's sociableness anddisability of detaching himself from pleasant conversation, that theuncle and nephew scarcely started for their walk across the park in timefor the seven o'clock service. Mr. Clare had never been so completelybelated, and, as Alick's assistance was necessary, he could only augurfrom his wife's absence that she was still at Timber End with hissister. CHAPTER XXVI. THE END OF CLEVERNESS. "Where am I? O vanity, We are not what we deem, The sins that hold my heart in thrall, They are more real than all. "--Rev. I. WILLIAMS. As the uncle and nephew came out of church, and approached the yew-treegate, Rachel came swiftly to meet them. "Oh, Alick! oh, uncle!" shesaid breathlessly. "Bessie says she is shocked to have turned your houseupside down, but we could not go any further. And her baby is born!"Then in answer to exclamations, half-dismayed, half-wondering, "Yes, itis all right, so Nurse Jones says. I could not send to you, for wehad to send everywhere at once. Mr. Harvey was not at home, and wetelegraphed to London, but no one has come yet, and now I have justwritten a note to Lord Keith with the news of his son and heir. And, uncle, she has set her heart on your baptizing him directly. " There was some demur, for though the child had made so sudden a rushinto the world, there seemed to be no ground for immediate alarm; andMr. Clare being always at hand, did not think it expedient to give thename without knowing the father's wishes with regard to that hereditaryAlexander which had been borne by the dead son of the first marriage. A message, however, came down to hasten him, and when--as he had oftenbefore done in cottages--he demanded of Nurse Jones whether privatebaptism were immediately necessary, she allowed that she saw no pressingdanger, but added, "that the lady was in a way about it, " and thisboth Rachel and her maid strongly corroborated. Rachel's maid wasan experienced person, whom Mrs. Curtis had selected with a view toRachel's weak state at the time of her marriage, and she showed herselfanxious for anything that might abate Lady Keith's excitement, to whichthey at length yielded, feeling that resistance might be dangerousto her. She further insisted that the rite should be performed in herpresence; nor was she satisfied when Rachel had brought in her uncle, but insisted on likewise calling in her brother, who vaguely anxious, and fully conscious of the small size of the room, had remaineddown-stairs. Mr. Clare always baptized his infant parishioners, and no one wasanxious about his manner of handling the little one, the touch of whosegarments might be familiar, as being no other than his own parish babylinen. He could do no otherwise than give the child the name reiteratedby the mother, in weak but impatient accents, "Alexander Clare, " herbrother's own name, and when the short service was concluded, she calledout triumphantly, "Make Alick kiss him, Rachel, and do homage to hisyoung chieftain. " They obeyed her, as she lay watching them, and a very pretty sight shewas with her dark hair lying round her, a rosy colour on her cheeks, and light in her eyes; but Mr. Clare thought both her touch and voicefeverish, and entreated Rachel not to let her talk. Indeed Alick longedto take Rachel away, but this was not at present feasible, since hermaid was occupied with the infant, and Nurse Jones was so entirelya cottage practitioner that she was scarcely an available attendantelsewhere. Bessie herself would by no means have parted withher sister-in-law, nor was it possible to reduce her to silence. "Alexander!" she said joyfully, "I always promised my child that heshould not have a stupid second son's name. I had a right to my ownfather's and brother's name, and now it can't be altered, " then catchinga shade of disapproval upon Rachel's face, "not that I would havehurried it on if I had not thought it right, poor little fellow, but nowI trust he will do nicely, and I do think we have managed it all withless trouble than might have been expected. " Sure by this time that she was talking too much, Rachel was glad to hearthat Mr. Harvey was come. He was a friendly, elderly man, who knew themall intimately, having attended Alick through his tedious recovery, andhis first measure was to clear the room. Rachel thought that "at herage" he might have accepted her services, rather than her maid's, butshe suspected Alick of instigating her exclusion, so eagerly did hepounce on her to make her eat, drink, and lie on the sofa, and sosupremely scornful was he of her views of sitting up, a measure whichmight be the more needful for want of a bed. On the whole, however, he was satisfied about her; alarm and excitementhad restrung her powers, and she knew herself to have done her part, sothat she was ready to be both cheerful and important over the eveningmeal. Mr. Clare was by no means annoyed at this vicissitude, but ratheramused at it, and specially diverted at the thought of what would be Mr. Lifford's consternation. Lord Keith's servant had come over, reportinghis master to be a good deal worn out by the afternoon's anxiety, andrecommending that he should not be again disturbed that night, so hewas off their minds, and the only drawback to the pleasantness of theevening was surprise at seeing and hearing nothing from Mr. Harvey. TheLondon doctor arrived, he met him and took him up-stairs at once; andthen ensued a long stillness, all attempts at conversation died away, and Alick only now and then made attempts to send his companions tobed. Mr. Clare went out to the hall to listen, or Rachel stole up to theextemporary nursery to consult Nurse Jones, whom she found very gruff athaving been turned out in favour of the stranger maid. It was a strange time of suspense. Alick made Rachel lie on the sofa, and she almost heard the beating of her own heart; he sat by her, tryingto seem to read, and his uncle stood by the open window, where thetinkle of a sheep bell came softly in from the meadows, and now and thenthe hoot of the owl round the church tower made the watchers start. Towatch that calm and earnest face was their great help in that hour ofalarm; those sightless eyes, and broad, upraised spiritual brow seemedso replete with steadfast trust and peace, that the very sight wassoothing and supporting to the young husband and wife, and when the longstrokes of twelve resounded from the church tower, Mr. Clare, turningtowards them, began in his full, musical voice to repeat Bishop Ken'snoble midnight hymn-- "My God, now I from sleep awake, The sole possession of me take; From midnight terrors me secure, And guard my soul from thoughts impure. " To Rachel, who had so often heard that hour strike amid a tumult ofmidnight miseries, there was something in these words inexpressiblygentle and soothing; the tears sprang into her eyes, as if she had foundthe spell to chase the grisly phantoms, and she clasped her husband'shand, as though to communicate her comfort. "Oh may I always ready stand, With my lamp burning in my hand; May I in sight of Heaven rejoice, Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice. " Mr. Clare had just repeated this verse, when he paused, saying, "Theyare coming down, " and moved quickly to meet them in the hall. Alickfollowed him to the door, but as they entered the dining-room, after amoment's hesitation, returned to Rachel, as she sat upright and eager. "After all, this may mean nothing, " he said. "Oh, we don't make it better by fancying it nothing, " said Rachel. "Letus try to meet it like your uncle. Oh, Alick, it seemed all this time asif I could pray again, as I never could since those sad times. He seemedso sure, such a rock to help and lean on. " He drew her close to him. "You are praying for her!" he murmured, his soul so much absorbed in his sister that he could not admit otherthoughts, and still they waited and watched till other sounds wereheard. The London doctor was going away. Alick sprang to the door, andopened it as his uncle's hand was on the lock. There was a mournful, solemn expression on his face, as they gazed mutely up in expectation. "Children, " he said, "it is as we feared. This great sorrow is coming onus. " "Then there is danger, " said Alick with stunned calmness. "More than danger, " said his uncle, "they have tried all that skill cando. " "Was it the fall?" said Alick. "It was my bad management, it always is, " said Rachel, ever affirmative. "No, dear child, " said Mr. Clare, "there was fatal injury in the fall, and even absolute stillness for the last few hours could hardly havesaved her. You have nothing to reproach yourself with. " "And now!" asked Alick, hoarsely. "Much more exhausted than when we were with her; sometimes faint, butstill feverish. They think it may last many hours yet, poor dear child, she has so much youth and strength. " "Does she know?" "Harvey thought some of their measures alarmed her, but they soothedand encouraged her while they saw hope, and he thinks she has no realfears. " "And how is it to be--" said Alick. "She ought--" "Yes; Harvey thinks she ought, she is fully herself, and it can make nodifference now. He is gone to judge about coming up at once; but Alick, my poor boy, you must speak to her. I have found that without seeing theface I cannot judge what my words may be doing. " Rachel asked about poor Lord Keith, and was told that he was to be leftin quiet that night, unless his wife should be very anxious for him atonce. Mr. Harvey came down, bringing word that his patient was askingurgently for Mrs. Keith. "You had better let me go in first, " said Alick, his face changed by thefirm but tender awe-struck look. "Not if she is asking for me, " said Rachel, moving on, her heart feelingas if it would rend asunder, but her looks composed. Bessie's face was in shade, but her voice had the old ring of coaxingarchness. "I thought you would stay to see the doctors off. They hadtheir revenge for our stealing a march on them, and have prowled aboutme till I was quite faint; and now I don't feel a bit like sleep, thoughI am so tired. Would Alick think me very wicked if I kept you a littlewhile? Don't I see Alick's shadow? Dear old fellow, are you come to wishme good-night? That is good of you. I am not going to plague you anymore, Alick, I shall be so good now! But what?" as he held back thecurtain, and the light fell on his face, "Oh! there is nothing wrongwith the baby?" "No, dear Bessie, not with the baby, " said Alick, with strong emphasis. "What, myself?" she said quickly, turning her eyes from one face to theother. Alick told her the state of the case. Hers was a resolute character, orperhaps the double nature that had perplexed and chafed her brother wasso integral that nothing could put it off. She fully comprehended, butas if she and herself were two separate persons. She asked how much timemight be left to her, and hearing the doctor's opinion, said, "Then Ithink my poor old Lord Keith had better have his night's rest inpeace. But, oh! I should like to speak to Colin. Send for him, Alick;telegraph, Alick; he is at the Paddington Hotel. Send directly. " She was only tranquillised by her brother beginning to write atelegraphic message. "Rachel, " she said, presently, "Ermine must marry him now, and see toLord Keith, and the little one--tell her so, please, " then with herunfailing courtesy, "he will seem like your own child, dear Rachel, andyou should have him; but you'll have a wandering home with the dearold Highlanders. Oh! I wonder if he will ever go into them, there mustalways be a Keith there, and they say he is sure of the Victoria Cross, though papa will not send up his name because of being his own son. "Then passing her hand over her face, she exclaimed--"Wasn't I talkinggreat nonsense, Rachel? I don't seem able to say what I mean. " "It is weakness, dearest, " said Rachel, "perhaps you might gain a littlestrength if you were quite still and listened to my uncle. " "Presently. O Rachel! I like the sound of your voice; I am glad Alickhas got you. You suit him better than his wicked little sister ever did. You have been so kind to me to-night, Rachel; I never thought I shouldhave loved you so well, when I quizzed you. I did use you ill then, Rachel, but I think you won Alick by it just by force of contrast, "--shewas verging into the dreamy voice, and Rachel requested her to rest andbe silent. "It can't make any difference, " said Bessie, "and I'll try to be quietand do all right, if you'll just let me have my child again. I do wantto know who he is like. I am so glad it is not he that was hurt. Oh! Idid so want to have brought him up to be like Alick. " The infant was brought, and she insisted on being lifted to see itsface, which she declared to resemble her brother; but here her realself seemed to gain the mastery, and calling it a poor little motherlessthing, she fell into a fit of violent convulsive weeping, which ended ina fainting fit, and this was a fearfully perceptible stage on her way tothe dark valley. She was, however, conscious when she revived, and sent for her uncle, whom she begged to let her be laid in his churchyard, "near thewillow-tree; not next to my aunt, I'm not good enough, " she said, "but Icould not bear that old ruined abbey, where all the Keiths go, and Alickalways wanted me to be here--Alick was right!" The dreamy mist was coming on, nor was it ever wholly dispelled again. She listened, or seemed to listen, to her uncle's prayers, but wheneverhe ceased, she began to talk--perhaps sensibly at first, but soon losingthe thread--sometimes about her child or husband, sometimes going backto those expressions of Charles Carleton that had been so dire a shockto her. "He ought not! I thought he knew better! Alick was right! Comeaway, Rachel, I'll never see him again. I have done nothing that heshould insult me. Alick was right!" Then would come the sobs, terrible in themselves, and ending infainting, and the whole scene was especially grievous to Alick, evenmore than to either of the others, for as her perception failed her, association carried her back to old arguments with him, and sometimesit was, "Alick, indeed you do like to attribute motives, " sometimes, "Indeed it is not all self-deception, " or the recurring wail, "Alick isright, only don't let him be so angry!" If he told her how far he wasfrom anger, she would make him kiss her, or return to some playfulrejoinder, more piteous to hear than all, or in the midst would come onthe deadly swoon. Morning light was streaming into the room when one of these swoons hadfallen on her, and no means of restoration availed to bring her back toanything but a gasping condition, in which she lay supported in Rachel'sarms. The doctor had his hand on her pulse, the only sounds outsidewere the twittering of the birds, and within, the ticking of the clock, Alick's deep-drawn breaths, and his uncle's prayer. Rachel felt a thrillpass through the form she was supporting, she looked at Mr. Harvey, and understood his glance, but neither moved till Mr. Clare's voicefinished, when the doctor said, "I feared she would have suffered muchmore. Thank God!" He gently relieved Rachel from the now lifeless weight, and they knelton for some moments in complete stillness, except that Alick's breathbecame more laboured, and his shuddering and shivering could no longerbe repressed. Rachel was excessively terrified to perceive that hiswhole frame was trembling like an aspen leaf. He rose, however, bent tokiss his sister's brow, and steadying himself by the furniture, made forthe door. The others followed him, and in a few rapid words Rachel wasassured that her fears were ungrounded, it was only an attack of his oldIndian fever, which was apt to recur on any shock, but was by no meansalarming, though for the present it must be given way to. Indeed, histeeth were chattering too much for him to speak intelligibly, when hetried to tell Rachel to rest and not think of him. This of course was impossible, and the sun had scarcely risen, before hewas placed in his old quarters, the bed in the little inner study, andRachel watched over him while Mr. Clare had driven off with the doctorto await the awakening of Lord Keith. Rachel had never so much needed strength. It was hard to believe theassurances of Alick, the doctor, and the whole house, that his conditionwas not critical, for he was exceedingly ill for some hours, the ailmenthaving been coming on all night, though it was forced back by theresolute will, and it was aggravated by the intensity of his grief, which on the other hand broke forth the more violently from the failureof the physical powers. The brother and sister had been so long alonein the world together, and with all her faults she had been so winning, that it was a grievous loss to him, coming too in the full bloom of herbeauty and prosperity, when he was conscious of having dealt severelywith her foibles. All was at an end--that double thread of brilliantgood-nature and worldly selfishness, with the one strand of soundprinciple sometimes coming into sight. The life was gone from theearth in its incompleteness, without an unravelling of its complicatedtexture, and the wandering utterances that revealed how entirely thebrother stood first with her, added poignancy to his regret forhaving been harsh with her. It could hardly be otherwise than that hiscensures, however just, should now recoil upon him, and in vain didRachel try to point out that every word of his sister's had proved thather better sense had all along acquiesced--he only felt what it mighthave been if he had been more indulgent and less ironical, and gavehimself infinitely harder measure than he ever could have shown to her. It was long before the suffering, either mental or bodily, by any meansabated, and Rachel felt extremely lonely, deserted, and doubtful whethershe were in any way ministering to his relief, but at last a gleam ofsatisfaction came upon her. He evidently did like her attendance on him, and he began to say something about Bessie's real love and esteem forher--softer grief was setting in, and the ailment was lessening. The summer morning was advancing, and the knell rung out its two deepnotes from the church tower. Rachel had been dreading the effect on him, but he lay still, as if he had been waiting for it, and was evidentlycounting the twenty-three strokes that told the age of the deceased. Then he said he was mending, and that he should fall asleep if Rachelwould leave him, see after the poor child, and if his uncle should notcome home within the next quarter of an hour take measures to silencethe bell for the morning service; after which, he laid his injunctionson her to rest, or what should he say to her mother? And the approach toa smile with which these last words were spoken, enabled Rachel to obeyin some comfort. After satisfying herself that the child was doing well, Rachel wasobliged to go into her former room, and there to stand face to face withthe white, still countenance so lately beaming with life. She was gladto be alone. The marble calm above all counteracted and drove aside thepainful phantom left by Lovedy's agony, and yet the words of that poor, persecuted, suffering child came surging into her mind full of peace andhope. Perhaps it was the first time she had entered into what it isfor weak things to confound the wise, or how things hidden from theintellectual can be revealed to babes; and she hid her face in herhands, and was thankful for the familiar words of old, "That we mayembrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. " The continued clang of the bell warned her. She looked round at thestill uncleared room, poor Bessie's rings and bracelets lying mingledwith her own on the toilet table, and her little clock, Bessie's owngift, standing ticking on as it had done at her peaceful rising onlyyesterday morning. She took out her hat, and was on her way to silence the bell-ringer, when Mr. Clare was driven up to the churchyard gate. Lord Keith had been greatly shocked, but not overpowered, he had spokencalmly, and made minute inquiries, and Mr. Clare was evidently a littledisappointed, repeating that age and health made a difference, and thatpeople showed their feelings in various ways. Colonel Keith had beenmet at the station, and was with his brother, but would come to makearrangements in the course of the day. Rachel begged to stop the bell, representing that the assembled congregation included no male personcapable of reading the lessons; but Mr. Clare answered, "No, my dear, this is not a day to do without such a beginning. We must do what wecan. Or stay, it is the last chapter of St. John. I could hardly fail inthat. Sit near me, and give me the word if I do, unless you want to bewith Alick. " As Rachel knelt that day, the scales of self-conceit seemed to havegone. She had her childhood's heart again. Her bitter remorse, herafterthoughts of perplexity had been lulled in the long calm of therespite, and when roused again, even by this sudden sorrow, she woke toher old trust and hope. And when she listened to the expressive thoughcalm rehearsal of that solemn sunrise-greeting to the weary darklingfishers on the shore of the mountain lake, it was to her as if the formso long hidden from her by mists of her own raising, once more shoneforth, smoothing the vexed waters of her soul, and she could say with anew thrill of recognition, "It is the Lord. " Once Mr. Clare missed a word, and paused for aid. She was crying toomuch to be ready, and, through her tears, could not recover the passageso as to prompt him before he had himself recalled the verse. Perhaps asense of failure was always good for Rachel, but she was much concerned, and her apologies quite distressed Mr. Clare. "Dear child, no one could be expected to keep the place when there wasso much to dwell on in the very comfort of the chapter. And now if youare not in haste, would you take me to the place that dear Bessie spokeof, by the willow-tree. I am almost afraid little Mary Lawrence's gravemay have left too little space. " Rachel guided him to a lovely spot, almost overhanging the stream, withthe dark calm pools beneath the high bank, and the willow casting along morning shadow over it. Her mind went back to the merry drive fromAvoncester, when she had first seen Elizabeth Keith, and had littledreamt that in one short year she should be choosing the spot for hergrave. Mr. Clare paced the green nook and was satisfied, asking if itwere not a very pretty place. "Yes, " said Rachel, "there is such a quiet freshness, and thewillow-tree seems to guard it. " "Is there not a white foxglove on the bank?" "Yes, but with only a bell or two left at the top of the side spikes. " "Your aunt sowed the seed. It is strange that I was very near choosingthis place nine years ago, but it could not be seen from my window, which was an object with me then. " Just then his quick ear detected that some one was at the parsonagedoor, and Rachel, turning round, exclaimed with horror, "It is thatunhappy Mr. Carleton. " "Poor young fellow, " said Mr. Clare, with more of pity than of anger, "Ihad better speak to him. " But they were far from the path, and it was not possible to guide theblind steps rapidly between the graves and head stones, so that beforethe pathway was reached young Carleton must have received the sad replyto his inquiries, for hurrying from the door he threw himself on hishorse, and rode off at full speed. By the afternoon, when Colonel Keith came to Bishopsworthy, Alick waslying on the sofa with such a headache that he could neither see norspell, and Rachel was writing letters for him, both in the frame of mindin which the Colonel's genuine warm affection and admiration for Bessiewas very comforting, assisting them in putting all past misgivings outof sight. He had induced his brother to see Mr. Harvey, and the resulthad been that Lord Keith had consented to a consultation the next daywith an eminent London surgeon, since it was clear that the blow, notthe sciatica, was answerable for the suffering which was evidentlybecoming severe. The Colonel of course intended to remain with hisbrother, at least till after the funeral. "Can you?" exclaimed Alick. "Ought you not to be at Avoncester?" "I am not a witness, and the case is in excellent hands. " "Could you not run down? I shall be available tomorrow, and I could bewith Lord Keith. " "Thank you, Alick, it is impossible for me to leave him, " said Colin, so quietly that no one could have guessed how keenly he felt the beingdeprived of bringing her brother to Ermine, and being present atthe crisis to which all his thoughts and endeavours had so long beendirected. That assize day had long been a dream of dread to Rachel, and perhapseven more so to her husband. Yet how remote its interest actuallyseemed! They scarcely thought of it for the chief part of the day. Alicklooking very pale, though calling himself well, went early to TimberEnd, and he had not long been gone before a card was brought in, with anurgent entreaty that Mrs. Keith would see Mrs. Carleton. Rachel longedto consult Mr. Clare, but he had gone out to a sick person, and shewas obliged to decide that Alick could scarcely wish her to refuse, reluctant and indignant as she felt. But her wrath lessened as she sawthe lady's tears and agitation, so great that for a moment no words werepossible, and the first were broken apologies for intruding, "Nothingshould have induced her, but her poor son was in such a dreadful state. " Rachel again became cold and stern, and did not relent at thedescription of Charlie's horror and agony; for she was wondering at theaudacity of mentioning his grief to the wife of Lady Keith's brother, and thinking that this weak, indulgent mother was the very person tomake a foolish, mischievous son, and it was on her tongue's end thatshe did not see to what she was indebted for the favour of such a visit. Perhaps Mrs. Carleton perceived her resentment, for she broke off, andurgently asked if poor dear Lady Keith had alluded to anything that hadpassed. "Yes, " Rachel was is forced to say; and when again pressed asto the manner of alluding, replied, that "she was exceedingly distressedand displeased, " with difficulty refraining from saying who had doneall the mischief. Mrs. Carleton was in no need of hearing it. "Ah!"she said, "it was right, quite right. It was very wrong of my poorboy. Indeed I am not excusing him, but if you only knew how he blameshimself. " "I am sure he ought, " Rachel could not help saying. Mrs. Carleton hereentreated her to listen, and seized her hand, so that there was noescape. The tale was broken and confused, but there could be littledoubt of its correctness. Poor Bessie had been the bane of youngCarleton's life. She had never either decidedly accepted or repelled hisaffection, but, as she had truly said, let him follow her like a littledog, and amused herself with him in the absence of better game. He wasin his father's office, but her charms disturbed his application tobusiness and kept him trifling among the croquet lawns of Littleworthy, whence his mother never had the resolution to banish her spoilt child. At last Miss Keith's refusal of him softened by a half-implied hope, sent him forth to his uncle at Rio, on the promise that if he did hisutmost there, he should in three years be enabled to offer Miss Keithmore than a competence. With this hope he had for the first time appliedhimself to business in earnest, when he received the tidings of hermarriage, and like a true spoilt child broke down at once in resolution, capacity, and health, so that his uncle was only too glad to ship himoff for England. And when Lady Keith made her temporary home in her oldneighbourhood, the companionship began again, permitted by her in goodnature, and almost contempt, and allowed by his family in confidenceof the rectitude of both parties; and indeed nothing could be more truethan that no harm had been intended. But it was perilous ground; ladies, however highly principled, cannot leave off self-pleasing habits all atonce, and the old terms returned sufficiently to render the barrier butslightly felt. When Lady Keith had spoken of her intention of leavingTimber End, the reply had been the old complaint of her brother'sharshness and jealousy of his ardent and lasting affection, and reproofhad not at once silenced him. This it was that had so startled her as tomake her hurry to her brother's side, unheeding of her steps. As far as Rachel could make out, the poor young man's grief and despairhad been poured out to his mother, and she, unable to soothe, hadcome to try to extract some assurance that the catastrophe had beenunconnected with his folly. A very slight foundation would have servedher, but this Rachel would not give, honestly believing him the cause ofthe accident, and also that the shock to the sense of duty higher thanhe could understand had occasioned the excitement which had destroyedthe slender possibility of recovery. She pitied the unhappy man morethan she had done at first, and she was much pained by his mother'sendeavours to obtain a palliative for him, but she could not be untrue. "Indeed, " she said, "I fear no one can say it was not so; I don't thinkanything is made better by blinking the reality. " "Oh, Mrs. Keith, it is so dreadful. I cannot tell my poor son. I don'tknow what might be the consequence. " Tears came into Rachel's eyes. "Indeed, " she said, "I am very sorry foryou. I believe every one knows that I have felt what it is to be guiltyof fatal mischief, but, indeed, indeed I am sure that to realize it allis the only way to endure it, so as to be the better for it. Believe me, I am very sorry, but I don't think it would be any real comfort toyour son to hear that poor Bessie had never been careful, or that I wasinexperienced, or the nurse ignorant. It is better to look at it fairly. I hear Mr. Clare coming in. Will you see him?" she added suddenly, muchrelieved. But Mrs. Carleton did not wish to see him, and departed, thinking AlickKeith's wife as bad as had ever been reported, and preparing an accountof her mismanagement wherewith to remove her son's remorse. She was scarcely gone, and Rachel had not had time to speak to Mr. Clare, before another visitor was upon her, no other than Lord Keith'sdaughter, Mrs. Comyn Menteith; or, as she introduced herself, "I'mIsabel. I came down from London to-day because it was so very shockingand deplorable, and I am dying to see my poor little brother and uncleColin. I must keep away from poor papa till the doctors are gone, so Icame here. " She was a little woman in the delicately featured style of sandyprettiness, and exceedingly talkative and good-natured. The rapidtongue, though low and modulated, jarred painfully on Rachel's feelingsin the shaded staircase, and she was glad to shut the door of thetemporary nursery, when Mrs. Menteith pounced upon the poor little baby, pitying him with all her might, comparing him with her own children, and asking authoritative questions, coupled with demonstrations of herintention of carrying him off to her own nursery establishment, whichhad been left in Scotland with a head nurse, whose name came in withevery fourth word--that is, if he lived at all, which she seemed tothink a hopeless matter. She spoke of "poor dear Bessie, " with such affection as was implied in"Oh, she was such a darling! I got on with her immensely. Why didn't yousend to me, though I don't know that Donald would have let me come, " andshe insisted on learning the whole history, illustrating it profuselywith personal experiences. Rachel was constantly hoping to be releasedfrom a subject so intensely painful; but curiosity prevailed throughthe chatter, and kept hold of the thread of the story. Mrs. Menteithdecidedly thought herself defrauded of a summons. "It was very odd ofthem all not to telegraph for me. Those telegrams are such a dreadfulshock. There came one just as I set out from Timber End, and I made surelittle Sandie was ill at home, for you know the child is very delicate, and there are so many things going about, and what with all thisdreadful business, I was ready to faint, and after all it was only astupid thing for Uncle Colin from those people at Avoncester. " "You do not know what it was?" "Somebody was convicted or acquitted, I forget which, but I know it hadsomething to do with Uncle Colin's journey to Russia; so ridiculous ofhim at his age, when he ought to know better, and so unlucky for all thefamily, his engagement to that swindler's sister. By-the-bye, did he notcheat you out of ever so much money?" "Oh, that had nothing to do with it--it was not Miss Williams'sbrother--it was not he that was tried. " "Wasn't he? I thought he was found guilty or something; but it is veryunfortunate for the family, for Uncle Colin won't give her up, thoughshe is a terrible cripple, too. And to tell you a secret, it was hisobstinacy that made papa marry again; and now it is of no use, this poorlittle fellow will never live, and this sharper's sister will be LadyKeith after all! So unlucky! Papa says she is very handsome, and poorBessie declares she is quite ladylike. " "The most superior person I ever knew, " said Rachel, indignantly. "Ah, yes, of course she must be very clever and artful if her brother isa swindler. " "But indeed he is not, he was cheated; the swindler was Maddox. " "Oh, but he was a glass-blower, or something, I know, and her sister isa governess. I am sure it is no fault of mine! The parties I gave toget him and Jessie Douglas together! Donald was quite savage about thebills. And after all Uncle Colin went and caught cold, and wouldnot come! I would not have minded half so much if it had been JessieDouglas; but to have her at Gowanbrae--a glass-blower's daughter--isn'tit too bad?" "Her father was a clergyman of a good Welsh family. " "Was he? Then her brother or somebody had something to do with glass. " Attempts at explanation were vain, the good lady had an incapacity ofattention, and was resolved on her grievance. She went away at lastbecause "those horrid doctors will be gone now, and I will be able tosee poor papa, and tell him when I will take home the baby, though Idon't believe he will live to be taken anywhere, poor dear little man. " She handled him go much more scientifically than Rachel could do, thatit was quite humiliating, and yet to listen to her talk, and think ofcommitting any child to her charge was sickening, and Rachel alreadyfelt a love and pity for her little charge that made her wretched at thethoughts of the prognostic about him. "You are tired with your visitors my dear, " said Mr. Clare, holding outhis hand towards her, when she returned to him. "How do you know?" she asked. "By the sound of your move across the room, and the stream of talk Iheard above must be enough to exhaust any one. " "She thinks badly of that poor child, " said Rachel, her voice trembling. "My dear, it would take a good deal to make me uneasy about anything Iheard in that voice. " "And if he lives, she is to have the charge of him, " added Rachel. "That is another matter on which I would suspend my fears, " said Mr. Clare. "Come out, and take a turn in the peacock path. You want air morethan rest. So you have been talked to death. " "And I am afraid she is gone to talk Alick to death! I wonder when Alickwill come home, " she proceeded, as they entered on the path. "She saysColonel Keith had a telegram about the result of the trial, but she doesnot know what it was, nor indeed who was tried. " "Alick will not keep you in doubt longer than he can help, " said Mr. Clare. "You know all about it;" said Rachel. "The facts every one must know, but I mean that which led to them. " "Alick told me you had suffered very much. " "I don't know whether it is a right question, but if it is, I shouldmuch like to know what Alick did say. I begged him to tell you all, orit would not have been fair towards you to bring me here. " "He told me that he knew you had been blind and wilful, but that yourconfidence had been cruelly abused, and you had been most unselfishthroughout. " "I did not mean so much what I had done as what I am--what I was. " "The first time he mentioned you, it was as one of the reasons that hewished to take our dear Bessie to Avonmouth. He said there was a girlthere of a strong spirit, independent and thorough-going, and thinkingfor herself. He said, 'to be sure, she generally thinks wrong, butthere's a candour and simplicity about her that make her wildestblunders better than parrot commonplace, ' and he thought your realitymight impress his sister. Even then I gathered what was coming. " "And how wrong and foolish you must have thought it. " "I hoped I might trust my boy's judgment. " "Indeed, you could not think it worse for him than I did; but I was illand weak, and could not help letting Alick do what he would; but I havenever understood it. I told him how unsettled my views were, and he didnot seem to mind--" "My dear, may I ask if this sense of being unsettled is with you still?" "I don't know! I had no power to read or think for a long time, and now, since I have been here, I hope it has not been hypocrisy, for going onin your way and his has been very sweet to me, and made me feel as Iused when I was a young girl, with only an ugly dream between. I don'tlike to look at it, and yet that dream was my real life that I made formyself. " "Dear child, I have little doubt that Alick knew it would come to this. " Rachel paused. "What, you and he think a woman's doubts so vague andshallow as to be always mastered by a husband's influence?" Mr. Clare was embarrassed. If he had thought so he had not expected herto make the inference. He asked her if she could venture to look back onher dream so as to mention what had chiefly distressed her. He could notsee her frowning effort at recollection, but after a pause, she said, "Things will seem to you like trifles, indeed, individual criticismsappear so to me; but the difficulty to my mind is that I don't see theseobjections fairly grappled with. There is either denunciation or weakargument; but I can better recollect the impression on my own mind thanwhat made it. " "Yes, I know that feeling; but are you sure you have seen all thearguments?" "I cannot tell--perhaps not. Whenever I get a book with anything in it, somebody says it is not sound. " "And you therefore conclude that a sound book can have nothing in it?"he asked, smiling. "Well, most of the new 'sound' books that I have met are just what mymother and sister like--either dull, or sentimental and trashy. " "Perhaps those that get into popular circulation do deserve some of yourterms for them. Illogical replies break down and carry off some who havepinned their faith to them; but are you sure that though you have readmuch, you have read deep?" "I have read more deeply than any one I know--women, I mean--or thanany man ever showed me he had read. Indeed, I am trying not to say itin conceit, but Ermine Williams does not read argumentative books, andgentlemen almost always make as if they knew nothing about them. " "I think you may be of great use to me, my dear, if you will help me. The bishop has desired me to preach the next visitation sermon, and hewishes it to be on some of these subjects. Now, if you will help me withthe book work, it will be very kind in you, and might serve to clearyour mind about some of the details, though you must be prepared forsome questions being unanswered. " "Best so, " replied Rachel, "I don't like small answers to greatquestions. " "Nor I. Only let us take care not to get absorbed in admiring theboldness that picks out stones to be stumbled over. " "Do you object to my having read, and thought, and tried?" "Certainly not. Those who have the capability should, if they feeldisturbed, work out the argument. Nothing is gained while it is feltthat both sides have not been heard. I do not myself believe that ahumble, patient, earnest spirit can go far wrong, though it may for atime be tried, and people often cry out at the first stumbling block, and then feel committed to the exclamations they have made. " The conversation was here ended by the sight of Alick coming slowly andwearily in from the churchyard, looking as if some fresh weight wereupon him, and he soon told them that the doctors had pronounced thatLord Keith was in a critical state, and would probably have much tosuffer from the formation that had begun where he had received theneglected bruise in the side. No word of censure of poor Bessie had beenbreathed, nor did Alick mention her name, but he deeply suffered underthe fulfilment of his own predictions, and his subdued, dejected mannerexpressed far more than did his words. Rachel asked how Lord Keithseemed. "Oh, there's no getting at his feelings. He was very civil to me--askedafter you, Rachel--told me to give you his thanks, but not a single wordabout anything nearer. Then I had to read the paper to him--all thatdinner at Liverpool, and he made remarks, and expected me to know whatit was about. I suppose he does feel; the Colonel says he is exceedinglycut up, and he looks like a man of eighty, infinitely worse than lasttime I saw him, but I don't know what to make of him. " "And, Alick, did you hear the verdict?" "What verdict?" "That man at Avoncester. Mrs. Menteith said there had been a telegram. " Alick looked startled. "This has put everything out of my head!" hesaid. "What was the verdict?" "That was just what she could not tell. She did not quite know who wastried. " "And she came here and harassed you with it, " he said, looking at heranxiously. "As if you had not gone through enouqh already. " "Never mind that now. It seems so long ago now that I can hardly thinkmuch about it, and I have had another visitor, " she added, as Mr. Clareleft them to themselves, "Mrs. Carleton--that poor son of hers is insuch distress. " "She has been palavering you over, " he said, in a tone more likedispleasure than he had ever used towards her. "Indeed, Alick, if you would listen, you would find him very much to bepitied. " "I only wish never to hear of any of them again. " He did not speak likehimself, and Rachel was aghast. "I thought you would not object to my letting her in, " she began. "I never said I did, " he answered; "I can never think of him but ashaving caused her death, and it was no thanks to him that there wasnothing worse. " The sternness of his manner would have silenced Rachel but for herstrong sense of truth and justice, which made her persevere in saying, "There may have been more excuse than you believe. " "Do you suppose that is any satisfaction to me?" He walked decidedlyaway, and entered by the library window, and she stood grieved andwondering whether she had been wrong in pitying, or whether he were tooharsh in his indignation. It was a sign that her tone and spirit hadrecovered, that she did not succumb in judgment, though she felt utterlypuzzled and miserable till she recollected how unwell, weary, andunhappy he was, and that every fresh perception of his sister's errorswas like a poisoned arrow to him; and then she felt shocked at havingobtruded the subject on him at all, and when she found him leaning backin his chair, spent and worn out, she waited on him in the quietest, gentlest way she could accomplish, and tried to show that she had putthe subject entirely aside. However, when they were next alone together, he turned his face away and muttered, "What did that woman say to you?" "Oh, Alick, I am sorry I began! It only gives you pain. " "Go on--" She did go on till she had told all, and he uttered no word of comment. She longed to ask whether he disapproved of her having permitted theinterview; but as he did not again recur to the topic, it was making areal and legitimate use of strength of mind to abstain from tearing himon the matter. Yet when she recollected what worldly honour would oncehave exacted of a military man, and the conflicts between religion andpublic opinion, she felt thankful indeed that half a century lay betweenher and that terrible code, and even as it was, perceiving the stronghold that just resentment had taken on her husband's silently determinednature, she could not think of the neighbourhood of the Carleton familywithout dread. CHAPTER XXVII. THE POST BAG. "Thefts, like ivy on a ruin, make the rifts they seem to shade. "-- C. G. DUFFY. "August 3d, 7 A. M. "My Dear Colonel Keith, --Papa is come, and I have got up so early in themorning that I have nothing to do but to write to you before we go in toAvoncester. Papa and Mr. Beechum came by the six o'clock train, and LadyTemple sent me in the waggonette to meet them. Aunt Ailie would notgo, because she was afraid Aunt Ermine would get anxious whilst she waswaiting. I saw papa directly, and yet I did not think it could be papa, because you were not there, and he looked quite past me, and I do notthink he would have found me or the carriage at all if Mr. Beechum hadnot known me. And then, I am afraid I was very naughty, but I could nothelp crying just a little when I found you had not come; but perhapsLady Keith may be better, and you may come before I go into courtto-day, and then I shall tear up this letter. I am afraid papa thought Iwas unkind to cry when he was just come home, for he did not talk to menear so much as Mr. Beechum did, and his eyes kept looking out as if hedid not see anything near, only quite far away. And I suppose Russiancoats must be made of some sort of sheep that eats tobacco. " "August 3d, 10 A. M. "Dearest Colin, --I have just lighted on poor little Rosie'sbefore-breakfast composition, and I can't refrain from sending you herfirst impressions, poor child, though no doubt they will alter, as shesees more of her father. All are gone to Avoncester now, though withsome doubts whether this be indeed the critical day; I hope it may be, the sooner this is over the better, but I am full of hope. I cannotbelieve but that the Providence that has done so much to discoverEdward's innocence to the world, will finish the work! I have littleexpectation though of your coming down in time to see it, the copyof the telegraphic message, which you sent by Harry, looks as bad aspossible, and even allowing something for inexperience and fright, things must be in a state in which you could hardly leave your brother, so unwell as he seems. "2 p. M. I was interrupted by Lady Temple, who was soon followed by Mrs. Curtis, burning to know whether I had any more intelligence than hadfloated to them. Pray, if you can say anything to exonerate poor Rachelfrom mismanagement, say it strongly; her best friends are so engagedin wishing themselves there, and pitying poor Bessie for being in hercharge, that I long to confute them, for I fully believe in hersense and spirit in any real emergency that she had not ridden out toencounter. "And I have written so far without a word on the great subject of all, the joy untold for which our hearts had ached so long, and which weowe entirely to you, for Edward owns that nothing but your personalrepresentations would have brought him, and, as I suppose you alreadyknow--he so much hated the whole subject of Maddox's treachery thathe had flung aside, unread, all that he saw related to it. Dear Colin, whatever else you have done, you have filled a famished heart. Could youbut have seen Ailie's face all last evening as she sat by his side, you would have felt your reward--it was as if the worn, anxious, almoststern mask had been taken away, and our Ailie's face was beaming outas of old when she was the family pet, before Julia took her away to befinished. She sees no change; she is in an ecstasy of glamour that makesher constantly repeat her rejoicings that Edward is so much himself, sounchanged, till I almost feel unsisterly for seeing in him the tracesthat these sad years have left, and that poor little Rose herself hasdetected. No, he is not so much changed as exaggerated. The livingto himself, and with so cruel a past, has greatly increased the olddreaminess that we always tried to combat, and he seems less able thanbefore to turn his mind into any channel but the one immediately beforehim. He is most loving when roused, but infinitely more inclined to falloff into a muse. I am afraid you must have had a troublesome charge inhim, judging by the uproar Harry makes about the difficulty of gettinghim safe from Paddington. It is good to see him and Harry together--theold schoolboy ways are so renewed, all bitterness so entirely forgotten, only Harry rages a little that he is not more wrapped up in Rose. To saythe truth, so do I; but if it were not for Harry's feeling the same, Ishould believe that you had taught me to be exacting about my rosebud. Partly, it is that he is disappointed that she is not like her mother;he had made up his mind to another Lucy, and her Williams face took himby surprise, and, partly, he is not a man to adapt himself to a child. She must be trained to help unobtrusively in his occupations; theunknowing little plaything her mother was, she never can be. I am afraidhe will never adapt himself to English life again--his soul seems to bein his mines, and if as you say he is happy and valued there--though itis folly to look forward to the wrench again, instead of rejoicing inthe present, gladness; but often as I had fashioned that arrival in myfancy, it was never that Harry's voice, not yours, should say the 'Herehe is. ' "They all went this morning in the waggonette, and the two boys withMiss Curtis in the carriage. Lady Temple is very kind in coming in andout to enliven me. I am afraid I must close and send this before theirreturn. What a day it is! And how are you passing it? I fear, even atthe best, in much anxiety. Lady Temple asks to put in a line. --Yoursever, E. W. " "August 3d, 5 P. M. "My Dear Colonel, --This is just to tell you that dear Ermine is verywell, and bearing the excitement and suspense wonderfully. We were alldreadfully shocked to hear about poor dear Bessie; it is so sad herhaving no mother nor any one but Rachel to take care of her, thoughRachel would do her best, I know. If she would like to have me, or ifyou think I could do any good, pray telegraph for me the instant you getthis letter. I would have come this morning, only I thought, perhaps, she had her aunt. That stupid telegram never said whether her baby wasalive, or what it was, I do hope it is all right. I should like to sendnurse up at once--I always thought she saved little Cyril when he was soill. Pray send for nurse or me, or anything I can send: anyway, I knownobody can be such a comfort as you; but the only thing there is to wishabout you is, that you could be in two places at once. "The two boys are gone in to the trial, they were very eager about it;and dear Grace promises to take care of Conrade's throat. Poor boys!they had got up a triumphal arch for your return, but I am afraid I amtelling secrets. Dear Ermine is so good and resolutely composed--quitean example. --Yours affectionately, "F. G. Temple. " "Avoncester, August 3d, 2 P. M. "My Dear Colonel Keith, --I am just come out of court, and I am to waitat the inn, for Aunt Ailie does not like for me to hear the trial, butshe says I may write to you to pass away the time. I am sorry I left myletter out to go this morning, for Aunt Ailie says it is very undutifulto say anything about the sheep's wool in Russia smelling of tobacco. Conrade says it is all smoking, and that every one does it who has seenthe world. Papa never stops smoking but when he is with Aunt Ermine, he sat on the box and did it all the way to Avoncester, and Mr. Beechumsaid it was to compose his mind. After we got to Avoncester we had along, long time to wait, and first one was called, and then another, andthen they wanted me. I was not nearly so frightened as I was that timewhen you sent for me, though there were so many more people; but it wasdaylight, and the judge looked so kind, and the lawyer spoke so gentlyto me, and Mr. Maddox did not look horrid like that first time. I thinkhe must be sorry now he has seen how much he has hurt papa. The lawyerasked me all about the noises, and the lions, and the letters of light, just as Mr. Grey did; and they showed me papa's old seal ring, and askedif I knew it, and a seal that was made with the new one that he got whenthe other was lost! and I knew them because I used to make impressionson my arms with them when I was a little girl. There was another lawyerthat asked how old I was, and why I had not told before; and I thoughthe was going to laugh at me for a silly little girl, but the judgewould not let him, and said I was a clear-headed little maiden; and Mr. Beechum came with Aunt Ailie, and took me out of court, and told me tochoose anything in the whole world he should give me, so I chose thelittle writing case I am writing with now, and 'The Heroes' besides, soI shall be able to read till the others come back, and we go home. --Youraffectionate little friend, "Rose Ermine Williams. " "The Homestead, August 3d, 9 P. M. "My Dear Alexander, --You made me promise to send you the full account ofthis day's proceedings, or I do not think I should attempt it, when youmay be so sadly engaged. Indeed, I should hardly have gone to Avoncesterhad the sad intelligence reached me before I had set out, when I thoughtmy sudden return would be a greater alarm to my mother, and I knew thatdear Fanny would do all she could for her. Still she has had a verynervous day, thinking constantly of your dear sister, and of Rachel'salarm and inexperience; but her unlimited confidence in your careof Rachel is some comfort, and I am hoping that the alarm may havesubsided, and you may be all rejoicing. I have always thought that, withdear Rachel, some new event or sensation would most efface the terriblememories of last spring. My mother is now taking her evening nap, andI am using the time for telling you of the day's doings. I took with meFanny's two eldest, who were very good and manageable, and we met Mr. Grey, who put us in very good places, and told us the case was justcoming on. You will see the report in detail in the paper, so I willonly try to give you what you would not find there. I should tell youthat Maddox has entirely dropped his alias. Mr. Grey is convinced thatwas only a bold stroke to gain time and prevent the committal, so asto be able to escape, and that he 'reckoned upon bullying a dense oldcountry magistrate;' but that he knew it was quite untenable before abody of unexceptionable witnesses. Altogether the man looked greatlyaltered and crest-fallen, and there was a meanness and vulgarity in hisappearance that made me wonder at our ever having credited his accountof himself. He had an abject look, very unlike his confident mannerat the sessions, nor did he attempt his own defence. Mr. Grey kept onsaying he must know that he had not a leg to stand upon. "The counsel for the prosecution told the whole story, and it wasvery touching. I had never known the whole before; the sisters are soresolute and uncomplaining: but how they must have suffered when everyone thought them ruined by their brother's fraud! I grieve to think howwe neglected them, and only noticed them when it suited our convenience. Then he called Mr. Beechum, and you will understand better than I canall about the concern in which they were embarked, and Maddox coming tohim for an advance of £300, giving him a note from Mr. Williams, askingfor it to carry out an invention. The order for the sum was put intoMaddox's hands, and the banker proved the paying it to him by an orderon a German bank. "Then came Mr. Williams. I had seen him for a moment in setting out, andwas struck with his strange, lost, dreamy look. There is something veryhaggard and mournful in his countenance; and, though he has naturallythe same fine features as his eldest sister, his cheeks are hollow, hiseyes almost glassy, and his beard, which is longer than the Colonel's, very grey. He gave me the notion of the wreck of a man, stunned andcrushed, and never thoroughly alive again; but when he stood in thewitness-box, face to face with the traitor, he was very different; helifted up his head, his eyes brightened, his voice became clear, and hislanguage terse and concentrated, so that I could believe in his havingbeen the very able man he was described to be. I am sure Maddox musthave quailed under his glance, there was something so loftily innocentin it, yet so wistful, as much as to say, 'how could you abuse myperfect confidence?' Mr. Williams denied having received the money, written the letter, or even thought of making the request. They showedhim the impression of two seals. He said one was made with a seal-ringgiven him by Colonel Keith, and lost some time before he went abroad;the other, with one with which he had replaced it, and which heproduced, --he had always worn it on his finger. They matched exactlywith the impressions; and there was a little difference in the hair ofthe head upon the seal that was evident to every one. It amused theboys extremely to see some of the old jurymen peering at them with theirglasses. He was asked where he was on the 7th of September (the date ofthe letter), and he referred to some notes of his own, which enabled himto state that on the 6th he had come back to Prague from a village witha horrible Bohemian name--all cs and zs--which I will not attempt towrite, though much depended on the number of the said letters. "The rest of the examination must have been very distressing, forMaddox's counsel pushed him hard about his reasons for not returning todefend himself, and he was obliged to tell how ill his wife was, and howterrified; and they endeavoured to make that into an admission that hethought himself liable. They tried him with bits of the handwriting, andhe could not always tell which were his own;--but I think every one musthave been struck with his honourable scrupulosity in explaining everydoubt he had. "Other people were called in about the writing, but Alison Williams wasthe clearest of all. She was never puzzled by any scrap they showed her, and, moreover, she told of Maddox having sent for her brother's address, and her having copied it from a letter of Mrs. Williams's, which sheproduced, with the wrong spelling, just as it was in the forgery. Thenext day had come a letter from the brother, which she showed, sayingthat they were going to leave the place sooner than they had intended, and spelling it right. She gave the same account of the seals, andnothing ever seemed to disconcert her. My boys were so much excitedabout their 'own Miss Williams, ' that I was quite afraid they wouldexplode into a cheer. "That poor woman whom we used to call Mrs. Rawlins told her sad storynext. She is much worn and subdued, and Mr. Grey was struck withthe change from the fierce excitement she showed when she was firstconfronted with Maddox, after her own trial; but she held fast to thesame evidence, giving it not resentfully, but sadly and firmly, as ifshe felt it to be her duty. She, as you know, explained how Maddoxhad obtained access to Mr. Williams's private papers, and how she had, afterwards, found in his possession the seal ring, and the scraps ofpaper in his patron's writing. A policeman produced them, and the sealperfectly filled the wax upon the forged letter. The bits of papershowed that Maddox had been practising imitating Mr. Williams'swriting. It all seemed most distinct, but still there was some sharpcross-examination of her on her own part in the matter, and Mr. Greysaid it was well that little Rose could so exactly confirm the facts shementioned. "Poor, dear little Rose looked very sweet and innocent, and not so muchfrightened as at her first examination. She told her story of the savageway in which she had been frightened into silence. Half the people inthe court were crying, and I am sure it was a mercy that she was notdriven out of her senses, or even murdered that night. It seems that shewas sent to bed early, but the wretches knowing that she always woke andtalked while her mother was going to bed, the phosphoric letters wereprepared to frighten her, and detain her in her room, and then Maddoxgrowled at her when she tried to pass the door. She was asked how sheknew the growl to be Maddox's, and she answered that she heard himcough. Rachel will, I am sure, remember the sound of that little drycough. Nothing could make it clearer than that the woman had spoken thetruth. The child identified the two seals with great readiness, and thenwas sent back to the inn that she might not be perplexed with hearingthe defence. This, of course, was very trying to us all, since the bestthe counsel could do for his client was to try to pick holes inthe evidence, and make the most of the general acquiescence in Mr. Williams's guilt for all these years. He brought forward letters thatshowed that Mr. Williams had been very sanguine about the project, andhad written about the possibility that an advance might be needed. Someof the letters, which both Mr. Williams and his sister owned to be inhis own writing, spoke in most flourishing terms of his plans; and itwas proved by documents and witnesses that the affairs were in such astate that bankruptcy was inevitable, so that there was every motive forsecuring a sum to live upon. It was very miserable all the time this wasgoing on, the whole interpretation, of Mr. Williams's conduct seemedto be so cruelly twisted aside, and it was what every one had allalong believed, his absence was made so much of, and all these littlecircumstances that had seemed so important were held so cheap--one knewit was only the counsel's representation, and yet Alison grew whiterand whiter under it. I wish you could have heard the reply: drawing thepicture of the student's absorption and generous confidence, and hisagent's treachery, creeping into his household, and brutally playing onthe terrors of his child. "Well, I cannot tell you all, but the judge summed up strongly for aconviction, though he said a good deal about culpable negligence almostinviting fraud, and I fear it must have been very distressing to theWilliamses, but the end was that Maddox was found guilty, and sentencedto fourteen years' penal servitude, though I am afraid they will notfollow Conrade's suggestion, and chain up a lion by his bed every nightof his life. "We were very happy when we met at the inn, and all shook hands. Dr. Long was, I think, the least at ease. He had come in case thisindictment had in any way failed, to bring his own matter forward, sothat Maddox should not get off. I do not like him very much, he seemedunable to be really hearty, and I think he must have once been harsh andnow ashamed of it. Then he was displeased at Colonel Keith's absence, and could hardly conceal how much he was put out by the cause, as if hethought the Colonel had imposed himself on the family as next heir. Ihardly know how to send all this in the present state of things, but Ibelieve you will wish to have it, and will judge how much Rachel willbear to hear. Good night. --Your affectionate Sister, "Grace Curtis. " "Gowanbrae, Avonmouth, August 3d, 11 P. M. "Dear Keith, --Before this day has ended you must have a few lines fromthe man whom your exertions have relieved from a stigma, the full miseryof which I only know by the comfort of its removal. I told you therewas much that could never be restored. I feel this all the more in thepresence of all that now remains to me, but I did not know how muchcould still be given back. The oppression of the load of suspicion underwhich I laboured now seems to me to have been intolerable since I havebeen freed from it. I cannot describe how changed a man I have felt, since Beechum shook hands with me. The full blackness of Maddox'streachery I had not known, far less his cruelty to my child. Had I beenaware of all I could not have refrained from trying to bring him tojustice; but there is no need to enter into the past. It is enough thatI owe to you a freed spirit, and new life, and that my gratitude is notlessened by the knowledge that something besides friendship urged you. Ermine is indeed as attractive as ever, and has improved in health farmore than I durst expect. I suppose it is your all-powerful influence. You are first with all here, as you well deserve, even my child, whois as lovely and intelligent as you told me, has every thought pervadedwith 'the Colonel. ' She is a sweet creature; but there was one who willnever be retraced, and forgive me, Keith, without her, even triumph mustbe bitterness. --Still ever most gratefully yours, "Edward Williams. " "August 3d, 11 P. M. "Dearest Colin, --The one sound in my ears, the one song in my heart is, 'Let them give thanks. ' It is as if we had passed from a dungeon intosunshine. I suppose it would be too much if you were here to share it. They sent Rose in first to tell me, but I knew in the sound of theirwheels that all was well. What an evening we have had, but I must notwrite more. Ailie is watching me like a dragon, and will not rest till Iam in bed; but I can't tell how to lose one minute of gladness in sleep. Oh, Colin, Colin, truest of all true knights, what an achievement yourshas been!" "August 4th. "That was a crazy bit that I wrote last night, but I will not make awaywith it. I don't care how crazy you think me. It would have been a pitynot to have slept to wake to the knowledge that all was not a dream, butthen came the contrast with the sorrow you are watching. And I have justhad your letter. What a sudden close to that joyous life! She was oneof the most winning beings, as you truly say, that ever flashed acrossone's course, and if she had faults, they were those of her day and hertraining. I suppose, by what you say, that she was too girlish to be allthe companion your brother required, and that this may account for hisbeing more shocked than sorrow-stricken, and his child, since he candwell on the thought, is such a new beginning of hope, that I wonderless than you do at his bearing up so well. Besides, pain dulls thefeelings, and is a great occupation. I wish you could have seen thatdear Bessie, but I gather that the end came on much more rapidly thanhad been expected. It seemed as if she were one of those to whom evensuffering was strangely lightened and shortened, as if she had met onlythe flowers of life, and even the thorns and stings were almost lost intheir bright blossoms. And she could hardly have lived on without mucheither of temptation or sorrow. I am glad of your testimony to Rachel'seffectiveness, I wrote it out and sent it up to the Homestead. Therewas a note this morning requesting Edward to come in to see Maddox, andAilie is gone with him, thinking she may get leave to see poor Maria. Think of writing 'Edward and Ailie again! Dr. Long and Harry are gonewith them. The broken thread is better pieced by Harry than by theDoctor; but he wants Ailie and me to go and stay at Belfast. Now I musthear Rose read, in order to bring both her and myself to our reasonablesenses. " "5 P. M. "They have been returned about an hour, and I must try to give youEdward's account of his interview. Maddox has quite dropped his mask, and seems to have been really touched by being brought into contact withEdward again, and, now it is all up with him, seemed to take a kind ofpleasure in explaining the whole web, almost, Edward said, with vanityat his own ingenuity. His earlier history was as he used to represent itto Edward. He was a respectable ironmonger's son, with a taste for art;he was not allowed to indulge it, and then came rebellion, and breakingaway from home. He studied at the Academy for a few years, but wantedapplication, and fancied he had begun too late, tried many things andspent a shifty life, but never was consciously dishonest till after hehad fallen in with Edward; and the large sums left uninquired for in hishands became a temptation to one already inclined to gambling. His owndifficulties drove him on, and before he ventured on the grand stroke, he had been in a course of using the sums in his hands for his ownpurposes. The finding poor Maria open to the admiration he gave herbeauty, put it into his head to make a tool of her; and this was not thefirst time he had used Edward's seal, or imitated his writing. No wonderthere was such a confusion in the accounts as told so much againstEdward. He told the particulars, Edward says, with the strangest mixtureof remorse and exultation. At last came the journey to Bohemia, and hisfrauds became the more easy, until he saw there must be a bankruptcy, and made the last bold stroke, investing the money abroad in his ownname, so that he would have been ready to escape if Edward had comehome again. He never expected but that Edward would have returned, andfinding the affairs hopeless, did this deed in order to have a resource. As to regret, he seemed to feel some when he said the effects had gonefarther than he anticipated; but 'I could not let him get into thatsubject, ' Edward said, and he soon came back to his amused complacencyin his complete hoodwinking of all concerned at home, almost thankingEdward for the facilities his absence had given him. After this, he wentabroad, taking Maria lest she should betray him on being cast off; andthey lived in such style at German gambling places that destitutionbrought them back again to England, where he could better play thelecturer, and the artist in search of subscriptions. Edward could nothelp smiling over some of his good stories, rather as 'the lord' mayhave 'commended the wisdom of his unjust steward. ' Well, here he came, and, as he said, he really could hardly have helped himself; he hadonly to stand still and let poor Rachel deceive herself, and the wholeconcern was in a manner thrust upon him. He was always expecting to beable to get the main sum into his hands, as he obtained more confidencefrom Rachel, and the woodcuts were an over-bold stroke for the purpose;he had not intended her to keep or show them, but her ready credulitytempted him too far; and I cannot help laughing now at poor Edward'sreproofs to us for having been all so easily cheated, now that hehas been admitted behind the scenes. Maddox never suspected ourneighbourhood, he had imagined us to be still in London, and though heheard Alison's name, he did not connect it with us. After all, what youthought would have been fatal to your hopes of tracing him, was reallywhat gave him into our hands--Lady Temple's sudden descent upon their F. U. E. E. If he had not been so hurried and distressed as to be forced toleave Maria and the poor child to her fate, Maria would have held byhim to the last and without her testimony where should we have been?But with a summons out against him, and hearing that Maria had beenrecognised, he could only fly to the place at Bristol that he thoughtunknown to Maria. Even when seized by the police, he did not know itwas she who directed them, and had not expected her evidence till heactually saw and heard her on the night of the sessions. It was allColonel Keith's doing, he said, every other adversary he would havedespised, but your array of forces met him at every corner where hehoped to escape, and the dear little Rosie gave him check-mate, likea gallant little knight's pawn as she is. 'Who could have guessed thatchild would have such a confounded memory?' he said, for Edward hadlistened with a sort of interest that had made him quite forget that hewas Rose's father, and that this wicked cunning Colonel was workingin his cause. So off he goes to penal servitude, and Edward is so muchimpressed and touched with his sharpness as to predict that he will bethe model prisoner before long, if he do not make his escape. As topoor Maria, that was a much more sad meeting, though perhaps less reallymelancholy, for there can be no doubt that she repents entirely, shespeaks of every one as being very good to her, and indeed the oldinfluences only needed revival, they had never quite died out. Even thatpoor child's name was given for love of Ailie, and the perception ofhaving been used to bring about her master's ruin had always preyedupon her, and further embittered her temper. The barbarity seemed like adream in connexion with her, but, as she told Ailie, when she once begansomething came over her, and she could not help striking harder. Itreminded me of horrible stories of the Hathertons' usage of animals. Enough of this. I believe the Sisterhood will find a safe shelter forher when her imprisonment is over, and that temptation will not againbe put in her way. We should never have trusted her in poor dear Lucy'shousehold. Rose calls for the letters. Good bye, dearest Colin andconqueror. I know all this will cheer you, for it is your own doing. Ican't stop saying so, it is such a pleasant sound--Your own, "E. W. " CHAPTER XXVIII. VANITY OF VANITIES. "Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all. " TENNYSON. The funeral was very quiet. By Colonel Keith's considerate arrangementthe attendants met at Timber End, so that the stillness of the Parsonagewas not invaded, a measure the more expedient, as Alick was sufferingfrom a return of his old enemy, intermitting fever, and only was able toleave his room in time to join the procession. Many were present, for poor Bessie had been a general favourite, and heruntimely fate had stirred up feelings that had created her into a saintupon earth; but there was no one whose token of respect she would havemore esteemed than Colonel Hammond's, who in all the bustle of theremove to Edinburgh had found time to come to Bishopsworthy to do honourto the daughter of his old commanding officer. A flush of gratitude cameover Alick's pale face when he became aware of his colonel's presence, and when the choristers' hymn had pealed low and sweetly over thetranquil meadows, and the mourners had turned away, Alick paused at theParsonage gate to hold out his hand, and bring in this one guest to hearhow near to Bessie's heart the father's Highland regiment had been inall the wanderings of her last moments. The visit was prolonged for nearly an hour, while recollections ofAlick's parents were talked over, and Rachel thought him more cheeredand gratified than by any other tribute that had been paid to hissister. He was promised an extension of leave, if it were required onaccount of Lord Keith's state, though under protest that he would havethe aguish fever as long as he remained overlooking the water meadows, and did not put himself under Dr. M'Vicar. Through these meadowsColonel Hammond meant to walk back to the station, and Alick and Rachelconducted him far enough to put him into the right path, and in goingback again, they could not but go towards the stile leading to thatcorner of the churchyard where the sexton had finished his work, andsmoothed the sods over that new grave. Some one was standing at the foot--not the sexton--but a young manbending as with an intolerable load of grief. Rachel saw him first, whenAlick was helping her down the step, and her start of dismay made himturn and look round. His brow contracted, and she clutched his arm withan involuntary cry of, "Oh, don't, " but he, with a gesture that at onceawed and tranquillized her, unclasped her hold and put her back, whilehe stepped forward. She could hear every word, though his voice was low and deep withemotion. "Carleton, if I have ever been harsh or unjust in my dealingstowards you, I am sorry for it. We have both had the saddest of alllessons. May we both take it as we ought. " He wrung the surprised and unwilling hand, and before the youth, startled and overcome, had recovered enough to attempt a reply, he hadcome back to Rachel, resumed her arm, and crossed the churchyard, stillshivering and trembling with the agitation, and the force he had puton himself. Rachel neither could nor durst speak; she only squeezed hishand, and when he had shut himself up in his own room, she could nothelp repairing to his uncle, and telling him the whole. Mr. Clare's "Godbless you, my boy, " had double meaning in it that night. Not long after, Alick told Rachel of his having met poor young Carletonin the meadows, pretending to occupy himself with his fishing-rod, buttoo wretched to do anything. And in a short time Mrs. Carleton againcalled to pour out to Mrs. Keith her warm thanks to the Captain, forhaving roused her son from his moody, unmanageable despair, and made himconsent to accept a situation in a new field of labour, in a spirit ofmanful duty that he had never evinced before. This was a grave and subdued, but not wholly mournful, period atBishopsworthy--a time very precious to Rachel in the retrospect--thoughthere was much to render it anxious. Alick continued to suffer fromrecurrences of the fever, not very severe in themselves after the firsttwo or three, but laying him prostrate with shivering and headache everythird day, and telling heavily on his strength and looks when he calledhimself well. On these good days he was always at Timber End, wherehis services were much needed. Lord Keith liked and esteemed him as asensible prudent young man, and his qualities as a first-rate nurse wereof great assistance to the Colonel. Lord Keith's illness was tediousand painful, the necessity of a dangerous operation became increasinglymanifest, but the progress towards such a crisis was slow and the painand discomfort great; the patient never moved beyond his dressing-room, and needed incessant attention to support his spirits and assist hisendeavours to occupy himself. It was impossible to leave him for longtogether, and Colonel Keith was never set at liberty for exercise orrest except when Alick came to his assistance, and fortunately thisyoung brother-in-law was an especial favourite, partly from Lord Keith'sesteem for his prudence partly from his experience in this especialspecies of suffering. At any rate the days of Alick's enforced absencewere always times of greater restlessness and uneasiness at Timber End. Meantime Rachel was constantly thrown with Mr. Clare, supplying Alick'splace to him, and living in a round of duties that suited her well, details of parish work, walking with, writing for, and reading to MrClare, and reaping much benefit from intercourse with such a mind. Many of her errors had chiefly arisen from the want of some one whosesuperiority she could feel, and her old presumptions withered up tonothing when she measured her own powers with those of a highly educatedman, while all the time he gave her thanks and credit for all she hadeffected, but such as taught her humility by very force of infection. Working in earnest at his visitation sermon, she was drawn up into thereal principles and bearings of the controversy, and Mr. Clare failednot to give full time and patience to pick out all her difficulties, removing scruples at troubling him, by declaring that it was good forhis own purpose to unwind every tangle even if he did not use everythread. It was wonderful how many puzzles were absolutely intangible, not even tangled threads, but a sort of nebulous matter that disperseditself on investigation. And after all, unwilling as she would havebeen to own it, a woman's tone of thought is commonly moulded by themasculine intellect, which, under one form or another, becomes themaster of her soul. Those opinions, once made her own, may be actedand improved upon, often carried to lengths never thought of by theirinspirer, or held with noble constancy and perseverance even when hehimself may have fallen from them, but from some living medium they arealmost always adopted, and thus, happily for herself, a woman's effortsat scepticism are but blind faith in her chosen leader, or, at theutmost, in the spirit of the age. And Rachel having been more thanusually removed from the immediate influence of superior man, had beenaffected by the more feeble and distant power, a leading that appearedto her the light of her independent mind; but it was not in the natureof things that, from her husband and his uncle, her character shouldnot receive that tincture for which it had so long waited, strongand thorough in proportion to her nature, not rapid in receivingimpressions, but steadfast and uncompromising in retaining and workingon them when once accepted, a nature that Alick Keith had discerned andvalued amid its worst errors far more than mere attractiveness, of whichhis sister had perhaps made him weary and distrustful. Nor, indeed, under the force of the present influences, was attractiveness wanting, and she suited Alick's peculiarities far better than many a morecharming person would have done, and his uncle, knowing her only by herclear mellow voice, her consideration, helpfulness, and desire to thinkand do rightly, never understood the doubtful amazement now and thenexpressed in talking of Alick's choice. One great bond between Racheland Mr. Clare was affection for the little babe, who continued to beRachel's special charge, and was a great deal dearer to her already thanall the seven Temples put together. She studied all the books on infantmanagement that she could obtain, constantly listened for his voice, and filled her letters to her mother with questions and details on hishealth, and descriptions of his small person. Alick was amused wheneverhe glanced at his strong-minded woman's correspondence, and now and thenused to divert himself with rousing her into emphatic declarations ofher preference of this delicate little being to "great, stout, coarsecreatures that people call fine children. " In fact, Alick's sensitivetenderness towards his sister's motherless child took the form ofavoiding the sight of it, and being ironical when it was discussed; butwith Mr. Clare, Rachel was sure of sympathy, ever since the afternoonwhen he had said how the sounds upstairs reminded him of his own littledaughter; and sitting under the yew-tree, he had told Rachel all thelong stored-up memories of the little life that had been closed a fewdays after he had first heard himself called papa by the baby lips. Hehad described all these events calmly, and not without smiles, and hadsaid how his own blindness had made him feel thankful that he had safelylaid his little Una on her mother's bosom under the church's shade; butwhen Rachel spoke of this conversation to her husband, she learnt thatit was the first time that he had ever talked of those buried hopes. Hehad often spoken of his wife, but though always fond of children, fewwho had not read little Una's name beneath her mother's cross, knew thathe was a childless father. And yet it was beautiful to see the pleasurehe took in the touch of Bessie's infant, and how skilfully and tenderlyhe would hold it, so that Rachel in full faith averred that the littleAlexander was never so happy as with him. The chief alarms came fromMrs Comyn Menteith, who used to descend on the Rectory like a whirlwind, when the Colonel had politely expelled her from her father's room atTimber End. Possessed with the idea of Rachel's being very dull atBishopsworthy, she sedulously enlivened her with melancholy prognosticsas to the life, limbs, and senses of the young heir, who would neverlive, poor little darling, even with the utmost care of herself and hernurse, and it was very perverse of papa and the doctors still to keephim from her--poor little darling--not that it mattered, for he wascertain not to thrive, wherever he was, and the Gowanbrae family wouldend with Uncle Colin and the glassblower's daughter; a disaster onwhich she met with such condolence from Alick (N. B. The next heir)that Rachel was once reduced to the depths of genuine despair by theconviction that his opinion of his nephew's life was equally desponding;and another time was very angry with him for not defending Ermine'sgentility. She had not entirely learnt what Alick's assent might mean. Once, when Mrs. Menteith had been besetting her father with entreatiesfor the keys of Lady Keith's private possessions, she was decisivelysilenced, and the next day these same keys were given to Alick, with arequest that his wife would as soon as possible look over and taketo herself all that had belonged to his sister, except a few heirloomjewels that must return to Scotland. Alick demurred greatly, but theold man would not brook contradiction, and Rachel was very unwillinglydespatched upon the mission on one of Alick's days of prostration athome. His absence was the most consoling part of this sad day's work. Any way it could not be otherwise than piteous to dismantle what hadbeen lately so bright and luxurious, and the contrast of the presentstate of things with that in which these dainty new wedding presents hadbeen brought together, could not but give many a pang; but beside this, there was a more than ordinary impression of "vanity of vanities, allis vanity, " very painful to affection that was striving to lose theconviction that it had been a self-indulgent, plausible life. Theaccumulation of expensive trinkets and small luxuries, was as surprisingas perplexing to a person of Rachel's severely simple and practicaltastes. It was not only since the marriage; for Bessie had always hadat her disposal means rather ample, and had used them not exactlyfoolishly, but evidently for her own gratification. Everything hadsome intrinsic worth, and was tasteful or useful, but the multitudewas perfectly amazing, and the constant echo in Rachel's ears was, "heheapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them. " Lord Keithcould hardly have found an executrix for his poor young wife, to whomher properties would have done so little harm. Rachel set many asidefor the cousins, and for Mrs. Menteith, others she tried to persuadethe Colonel to call Gowanbrae belongings, and failing in this, she hopedthrough Grace, to smuggle some of them into his Gowanbrae; but when allwas done, there was a mass of things that Lord Keith never wished to seeagain, and that seemed to Rachel to consist of more ornaments than shecould ever wear, and more knick-knacks than a captain's wife could evercarry about with her. She was putting aside the various packets of letters and papers tobe looked over more at leisure, when the Colonel knocked at themorning-room door, and told her that his brother would like to see her, when her work was done. "But first, " he said, "I must ask you to be kindenough to look over some of these papers, and try to find receipts forsome of those bills. " "Here they are, " said Rachel, "I was going to look them over at home. " "If you have time to examine them here with me, " said Colonel Keith, gently, "I think it might save Alick some pain and vexation. " Rachel was entirely unaware of his meaning, and supposed he only thoughtof the mere thrilling of the recent wound; but when he sat down and tooka long account out of a tradesman's envelope, a chill of dismay cameover her, followed by a glow of hope as she recollected a possibleexplanation: "Have these wretched tradesmen been sending in bills overagain at such a time as this?" she exclaimed. "I should be very glad to find their receipts, " returned the Colonel. They opened the most business-like looking bundles, all of them, thoughneatly kept, really in hopeless confusion. In vain was the search, andnotes came forth which rendered it but too plain that there had been aconsiderable amount of debt even before the marriage, and that she hadmade partial payments and promises of clearing all off gradually, butthat her new expenses were still growing upon her, and the few payments"on account, " since she had been Lady Keith, by no means tallied withthe amount of new purchases and orders. No one had suspected her moneymatters of being in disorder, and Rachel was very slow to comprehend;her simple, country life had made her utterly unaware of thedifficulties and ways and means of a young lady of fashion. Even thedirect evidence before her eyes would not at first persuade her thatit was not "all those wicked tradesmen;" she had always heard thatfashionable shops were not to be trusted. "I am afraid, " said Colonel Keith, "that the whole can scarcely beshifted on the tradesmen. I fear poor Bessie was scarcely free fromblame in this matter. " "Not paying! Going on in debt! Oh she could not have meant it;" saidRachel, still too much astonished to understand. "Of course one hears ofgay, thoughtless people doing such things, but Bessie--who had so muchthought and sense. It must be a mistake! Can't you go and speak to thepeople?" "It is very sad and painful to make such discoveries, " said ColonelKeith; "but I am afraid such things are not uncommon in the set she wastoo much thrown amongst. " "But she knew so well--she was so superior; and with Alick and her uncleto keep her above them, " said Rachel; "I cannot think she could havedone such things. " "I could not think, but I see it was so, " said Colonel Keith, gravely. "As I am obliged to understand these things, she must have greatlyexceeded her means, and have used much cleverness and ingenuity inkeeping the tradesmen quiet, and preventing all from coming to light. " "How miserable! I can't fancy living in such a predicament. " "I am much afraid, " added the Colonel, looking over the papers, "that itexplains the marriage--and then Keith did not allow her as much as sheexpected. " "Oh, Colonel Keith, don't!" cried Rachel; "it is just the one thingwhere I could not bear to believe Alick. She was so dear and beautiful, and spoke so rightly. " "To believe Alick!" repeated the Colonel, as Rachel's voice broke down. "I thought--I ought not to have thought--he was hard upon her--buthe knew better, " said Rachel, "of course he did not know of all thisdreadful business!" "Assuredly not, " said the Colonel, "that is self-evident, but as yousay, I am afraid he did know his poor sister's character better than wedid, when he came to warn me against the marriage. " "Did he? Oh how much it must have cost him. " "I am afraid I did not make it cost him less. I thought he judged herharshly, and that his illness had made him magnify trifles, but thoughour interference would have been perfectly useless, he was quite rightin his warning. Now that, poor thing, she is no longer here to enchantus with her witcheries, I see that my brother greatly suffered frombeing kept away from home, and detained in this place, and that she lefthim far more alone than she ought to have done. " "Yes, Alick thought so, but she had such good reasons, I am sure shebelieved them herself. " "If she had not believed them, she could not have had such perfectsincerity of manner, " said the Colonel; "she must have persuaded atleast one half of herself that she was acting for every one's goodexcept her own. " "And Mr. Clare, whom Alick always thought she neglected, never felt it. Alick says he was too unselfish to claim attention. " "I never doubted her for one moment till I came home, on that unhappyday, and found how ill Keith was. I did think then, that consideringhow much she had seen of Alick while the splinters were working out, she ought to have known better than to talk of sciatica; but she mademe quite believe in her extreme anxiety, and that she was only goingout because it was necessary for her to take care of you on your firstappearance. How bright she looked, and how little I thought I shouldnever see her again!" "Oh, she meant what she said! She always was kind to me! Most kind!"repeated Rachel; "so considerate about all the dreadful spring--not oneword did she say to vex me about the past! I am sure she did go out onthat day as much to shelter me as for anything else. I can't bear tothink all this--here in this pretty room that she had such pleasurein; where she made me so welcome, after all my disagreeableness andfoolishness. " The Colonel could almost have said, "Better such foolishness than suchwisdom, such repulsion than such attraction. " He was much struck byRachel's distress, and the absence of all female spite and triumph, made him understand Ermine's defence of her as really large-minded andgenerous. "It is a very sad moment to be undeceived, " he said; "one would ratherhave one's faults come to light in one's life than afterwards. " They were simple words, so simple that the terrible truth with whichthey were connected, did not come upon Rachel at the first moment; butas if to veil her agitation, she drew towards her a book, an ivory-boundPrayer-book, full of illuminations, of Bessie's own doing, and her eyefell upon the awful verse, "So long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee. " It was almost more than Rachel couldbear, sitting in the midst of the hoards, for which poor Bessie had soldherself. She rose up, with a sob of oppressive grief, and broke out, "Oh! at least it is a comfort that Alick was really the kindest andrightest! Only too right! but you can settle all this without him, " sheadded imploringly; "need he know of this? I can't bear that he should. " "Nor I, " said Colonel Keith, "it was the reason that I am glad you arehere alone. " "Oh, thank you! No one need ever know, " added Rachel. "I fear my brother must see the accounts, as they have to be paid, butthat need not be immediately. " "Is there anything else that is dreadful?" said Rachel, looking at theremaining papers, as if they were a nest of adders. "I don't like totake them home now, if they will grieve Alick. " "You need not be afraid of that packet, " said the Colonel; "I see hisfather's handwriting. They look like his letters from India. " Rachel looked into one or two, and her face lighted up. "Oh!" sheexclaimed, "this is enough to make up for all. This is his letter totell about Alick's wound. Oh how beautifully he speaks of him, " andRachel, with no voice to read, handed the thin paper to her companion, that he might see the full commendation, that had been wrung from thereserved father's heart by his son's extremity. "You must be prepared to hear that all is over, " wrote the father tohis daughter; "in fact, I doubt whether he can live till morning, thoughM'Vicar declares that nothing vital has been touched. Be it as it may, the boy has been in all respects, even more than I dared to wish, and the comfort he has been ever since he came out to me has beenunspeakable. We must not grudge him such a soldier's death after hisjoyous life. But for you, my poor girl, I could only wish the same formyself to-morrow. You will, at least, if you lose a brother's care, havea memory of him, to which to live up. The thought of such a dead brotherwill be more to you than many a living one can ever be to a sister. " Rachel's heart beat high, and her eyes were full of tears of exultation. And the Colonel was well pleased to compensate for all the pain hehad inflicted by giving her all the details he could recollect of herhusband's short campaign. They had become excellent friends over theirmournful work, and were sorry to have their tete-a-tete interrupted whena message was brought that his Lordship was ready, if Mrs. Keith wouldbe so good as to come into his sitting-room. She wiped away the tears, and awe-struck and grave, followed theColonel; a great contrast to Lord Keith's more frequent lady-visitor, asshe silently received the polished greeting, its peculiar stateliness ofcourtesy, enhanced by the feeble state of the shattered old man, unableto rise from his pillowed chair, and his face deeply lined by suffering. He would not let her give him any account of her labours, nor refer anyquestion to him, he only entreated that everything might be taken away, and that he might hear nothing about it. He spoke warmly of Alick'skindness and attention, and showed much solicitude about hisindisposition, and at last he inquired for Rachel's "little charge, "hoping he was not clamorous or obnoxious to her, or to Mr. Clare'shousehold. Her eager description of his charms provoked a look ofinterest and a sad smile, followed by a request, that weather and doctorpermitting, she would bring the child to be seen for a few minutes. Thenext day there was an appointment, at which both the Colonel and Alickwere wanted, but on the following one, the carriage should be sent tobring her and the little one to Timber End. The effect of this invitation amused Alick. The first thing he heard inthe morning was a decided announcement from Rachel that she must go upto London to procure equipments for the baby to be presented in! "You know I can't go with you to-day. " "Of course, but I must make him fit to be seen. You know he has beenwearing little Una's things all this time, and that will not do out ofthe nursery. " "A superior woman ought to know that his Lordship will never find outwhat his son has on. " "Then it is all the more reason that I should not let the poor dearlittle fellow go about wrapped up in somebody's old shawl!" "What will you do then--take your maid?" "Certainly not. I can't have him left. " "Then take him with you?" "What, Alick, a little unvaccinated baby! Where have you ever lived! Idon't see the least reason why I should not go alone. " "You need not begin beating about the world yet, Rachel. How many timesdid you say you had been in London?" "Three; once with my father when I was a child, once in the time of theGreat Exhibition, and passing through it now with you. But any one ofcommon sense can manage. " "If you will wait till five o'clock I will come with you, " said Alick, wearily. "No, indeed, I had rather not go, than that you should, you are quitetired out enough at the end of the day. " "Then do not go. " "Alick, why will you have no proper feeling for that poor dear child!"said Rachel with tears in her eyes. If he winced he did not show it. "My proper feeling takes the directionof my wife, " he said. "You don't really mean to forbid me to go, " she exclaimed. "I don't mean it, for I do so, unless you find some one to go with you. " It was the first real collision that had taken place, but Alick's quiet, almost languid tone had an absolute determination in it from the veryabsence of argument, and Rachel, though extremely annoyed, felt theuselessness of battling the point. She paused for a few moments, thensaid with an effort, "May I take the housekeeper?" "Yes, certainly, " and then he added some advice about taking a brougham, and thus lightened her heart; so that she presently said humbly, "Have I been self-willed and overbearing, Alick?" He laughed. "Not at all; you have persevered just where you ought. Idare say this is all more essential than shows on the surface. And, " headded, with a shaken voice, "if you were not myself, Rachel, you knowhow I should thank you for caring for my poor Bessie's child. " He wasgone almost as he spoke the words, but Rachel still felt the kiss andthe hot tears that had fallen on her face. Mr. Clare readily consented to spare his housekeeper, but thehousekeeper was untoward, she was "busied in her housewife skep, "and would not stir. Alick was gone to Timber End, and Rachel was justtalking of getting the schoolmaster's wife as an escort, when Mr. Claresaid-- "Pray are you above accepting my services?" "You! Oh, uncle; thank you, but--" "What were your orders? Anybody with you, was it not? I flatter myselfthat I have some body, at least. " "If Alick will not think I ought not!" "The boy will not presume to object to what I do with you. " "I do wish it very much, " said candid Rachel. "Of course you do, my dear. Alick is not cured of a young man's notionthat babies are a sort of puppies. He is quite right not to let you runabout London by yourself, but he will be quite satisfied if you findeyes and I find discretion. " "But is it not very troublesome to you?" "It is a capital lark!" said Mr. Clare, with a zest that only the slangword could imply, removing all Rachel's scruples, and in effect Mr. Clare did enjoy the spice of adventure in a most amusing way. He knewperfectly well how to manage, laid out the plan of operations, gaveorders to the driver, went into all the shops, and was an effectiveassistant in the choice of material and even of embroidery. His touchand ear seemed to do more for him than many men's eyes do for them;he heard odd scraps of conversation and retailed them with so muchcharacter; he had such pleasant colloquies with all in whose way hefell, and so thoroughly enjoyed the flow and babble of the full streamof life, that Rachel marvelled that the seclusion of his parsonage wasbearable to him. He took her to lunch with an old friend, a lady who haddevoted herself to the care of poor girls to be trained as servants, andRachel had the first real sight of one of the many great and good worksset on foot by personal and direct labour. "If I had been sensible, I might have come to something like this!" shesaid. "Do you wish to undo these last three months?" "No; I am not fit to be anything but an ordinary married woman, with anAlick to take care of me; but I am glad some people can be what I meantto be. " "And you need not regret not being useful now, " said Mr. Clare. "Whereshould any of us be without you?" It had not occurred to Rachel, but she was certainly of far morepositive use in the world at the present moment than ever she had beanin her most assuming maiden days. Little Alexander was arrayed in all that could enhance his baby dignity, and Rachel was more than ever resolved to assert his superiority over"great frightful fine children, " resenting vehemently an innocentobservation from Alick, that the small features and white skin promisedsandiness of hair. Perhaps Alick delighted in saying such things for thesake of proving the "very womanhood" of his Clever Woman. Rachel hungback, afraid of the presentation, and would have sent her maid into theroom with the child if Colonel Keith had not taken her in himself. Evenyet she was not dexterous in handling the baby, her hands were bothoccupied, and her attention absorbed, and she could not speak, she feltit so mournful to show this frail motherless creature to a father morelike its grandfather, and already almost on the verge of the grave. Shecame up to Lord Keith, and held the child to him in silence. He said, "Thank you, " and kissed not only the little one, but her own brow, andshe kept the tears back with difficulty. Colonel Keith gave her a chair and footstool, and she sat with the babyon her lap, while very few words were spoken. It was the Colonel whoasked her to take off the hood that hid the head and brow, and whochiefly hazarded opinions as to likeness and colour of eyes. Lord Keithlooked earnestly and sadly, but hardly made any observation, except thatit looked healthier than he had been led to expect. He was sure it owedmuch to Mrs. Keith's great care and kindness. Rachel feared he would not be able to part with his little son, andbegan to mention the arrangements she had contemplated in case he wishedto keep the child at Timber End. On this, Lord Keith asked with someanxiety, if its presence were inconvenient to Mr. Clare; and beingassured of the contrary, said, "Then while you are so kind as to watchover him, I much prefer that things should remain in their presentstate, than to bring him to a house like this. You do not object?" "Oh, no; I am so glad. I was only dreading the losing him. I thoughtMrs. Menteith wished for him when he is old enough to travel. " "Colin!" said Lord Keith, looking up sharply, "will nothing make theMenteiths understand that I would rather put out the child to nurse in aHighland hut than in that Babel of a nursery of theirs?" Colin smiled and said, "Isabel does not easily accept an answer shedislikes. " "But remember, both of you, " continued Lord Keith, "that happen whatmay, this poor child is not to be in her charge. I've seen enough ofher children left alone in perambulators in the sun. You will be inEdinburgh?" he added, turning to Rachel. "Yes, when Alick's leave ends. " "I shall return thither when this matter is over, I know I shall bebetter at home in Scotland, and if I winter in Edinburgh, may be wecould make some arrangement for his being still under your eye. " Rachel went home more elevated than she had been for months past. CHAPTER XXIX. AT LAST. "I bid thee hail, not as in former days, Not as my chosen only, but my bride, My very bride, coming to make my house A glorious temple. " A. H. HALLAM. "Timber End, Littleworthy, September 10th. "Dear Miss Williams, --I must begin by entreating your forgiveness foraddressing you in a manner for which perhaps you may be unprepared; butI trust you have always been aware, that any objections that I may haveoffered to my brother Colin's attachment to yourself have never beenpersonal, or owing to anything but an unfortunate complication ofcircumstances. These difficulties are, as no doubt he will explain toyou, in great measure removed by the present condition of my family, which will enable me to make such settlements as I could wish in theease of one so nearly connected with me; so that I am enabled to entreatof you at length to reward the persevering constancy so well deserved. I have a further, and a personal cause for wishing that the eventshould not be deferred, as regard for my feelings might have led you topropose. You are aware of the present state of my health, and thatit has become expedient to make immediate arrangements for the futureguardianship of my little boy. His uncles are of course his naturalguardians, and I have unbounded confidence in both; but AlexanderKeith's profession renders it probable that he may not always be athand, and I am therefore desirous of being able to nominate yourself, together with my brother, among the personal guardians. Indeed, Iunderstand from Alexander Keith, that such was the express wish of hissister. I mention this as an additional motive to induce you to consent. For my own part, even without so stringent a cause, all that I haveever seen or known of yourself would inspire me with the desire that youshould take a mother's place towards my son. But you must be aware thatsuch an appointment could only be made when you are already one of thefamily, and this it is that leads me to entreat you to overlook anyappearance of precipitancy on my brother's part, and return a favourablereply to the request, which with my complete sanction, he is about toaddress to you. "Yes, Ermine Williams, forgive all that is past, and feel for an old, it may be, a dying man, and for a motherless infant. There is much toforget, but I trust to your overcoming any scruples, and giving me allthe comfort in your power, in thinking of the poor child who has comeinto the world under such melancholy circumstances. "Yours most truly, "Keith of Gowanbrae" "Poor Keith, he has given me his letter open, his real anxiety has beentoo much at last for his dignity; and now, my Ermine, what do you say tohis entreaty? The state of the case is this. How soon this abscess maybe ready for the operation is still uncertain, the surgeons think itwill be in about three weeks, and in this interval he wishes to completeall his arrangements. In plain English, his strongest desire is tosecure the poor little boy from falling into Menteith's hands. Now, mineis a precarious life, and Alick and Rachel may of course be at the endsof the earth, so the point is that you shall be 'one of the family, 'before the will is signed. Alick's leave has been extended to the 1st ofOctober, no more is possible, and he undertakes to nurse poor Keithfor a fortnight from to-morrow, if you will consent to fulfil this samerequest within that time. After the 1st, I should have to leave you, butas soon as Keith is well enough to bear the journey, he wishes to returnto Edinburgh, where he would be kindly attended to by Alick and Rachelall the winter. There, Ermine, your victory is come, your consent hasbeen entreated at last by my brother, not for my sake, but as a personalfavour to himself, because there is no woman in the world of whom hethinks so highly. For myself I say little. I grieve that you should bethus hurried and fluttered, and if Ailie thinks it would harm you, shemust telegraph back to me not to come down, and I will try to teachmyself patience by preaching it to Keith, but otherwise you will see meby four o'clock to-morrow. Every time I hear Rachel's name, I think itought to have been yours, and surely in this fourteenth year, lesserobjections may give way. But persuasions are out of the question, youmust be entirely led by your own feeling. If I could have seen you inJuly, this should not have come so suddenly at last. "Yours, more thanever, decide as you may, "Colin A Keith. "P. S. --I am afraid Rose would hardly answer this purpose equally well. " Colonel Keith followed his letter at four o'clock, and entering hisown study, found it in a cloud of smoke, in the midst of which he dimlydiscerned a long beard and thin visage absorbed in calculation. "Edward! How is Ermine?" "Oh?" (inquiringly) "Keith!" (as taken by surprise) "ah! you were tocome home to-day. How are you?" "How is she? Has she had my letter?" "What letter? You write every day, I thought. " "The letter of yesterday. Have you heard nothing of it?" "Not that I know of. Look here, Keith, I told you I was sure theplatinum--" "Your brain is becoming platinum. I must go, " and the chemist remainedwith merely a general impression of having been interrupted. Next the Colonel met Rose, watching at his own gate, and this time hisanswer was more explicit. "Yes, Aunt Ermine said you were coming, and that I might meet you, butthat I must let you come in alone, for she had not seen you so long, that she wanted you all to herself. " "And how is she; how has she been?" "She is well now, " said Rose, in the grave, grown-up way she alwaysassumed when speaking of her aunt's health; "but she has been having agood deal of her nervous headache this summer, and Lady Temple wantedher to see Mr. Frampton, but Aunt Ailie said it was only excitement andwear of spirits. Oh, I am glad you have come back! We have so weariedafter you. " Nevertheless Rose duteously loosed the hand to which she had beenclinging till they came to the door; and as Colin Keith opened it, againhe was met by the welcoming glances of the bright eyes. This time he didnot pause till he was close to her, and kneeling on one knee beside her, he put his arm round her, and held her hands in his. The first words that passed were, "You had the letters?" "Colin, Colin, my one prayer has been, 'Make Thy way plain before myface. '" "And now it is?" "The suspicion is gone; the displeasure is gone; the doubts are gone;and now there is nothing--nothing but the lameness and the poverty; andif you like the old cinder, Colin, that is your concern;" and she hidher face, with a sort of sobbing laugh. "And even the haste; you consent to that?" "I don't feel it like haste, " she said, looking up with a smile, andthen crimsoning. "And Ailie gives leave, and thinks the hurry will not harm you?" "Ailie! O Colin, did you think I could tell any one of your letter, before you had had your answer?" "Then Edward is not so moonstruck as I thought him! And when shall itbe, dearest? Give me as much time as you can. I must go back this dayfortnight. " "I suppose your expectations are not high in the matter of finery, " saidErmine, with a certain archness of voice. "Those eyes are all the finery I ever see. " "Then if you will not be scandalized at my natural Sunday dress, I don'tsee why this day week should not do as well as any other time. " "Ermine, you are the only woman I ever met totally free from nonsense. " "Take care, it is very unfeminine and disagreeable to be devoid ofnonsense. " "Very, and therefore you are talking it now! Ermine, how shall I thankyou? Not only for the sake of the ease of mind to my poor brother; butin the scenes we are going through, a drop of happiness is wanted as astimulant. When I looked at the young couple at Bishopsworthy, I oftenfelt as if another half-year of suspense was more than I could bear, andthat I must ask you to help me through with at least a definite hope. " "Ah! you have gone through a great deal I am sure it has been a time ofgreat trouble. " "Indeed it has. The suffering has become unceasing and often mostsevere, and there is grievous depression of spirits; I could not haveleft him even for a day, if he had not been so fervently bent on this. " "Is he feeling his loss more acutely than at first?" "Not so much that, as for the poor little boy, who is a heavy burthen onhis mind. He has lived in such a state of shrewd distrust that he hasno power of confidence, and his complications for making all the boy'sguardians check one another till we come to a dead lock, and to makeprovision for Isabel out of Menteith's reach, are enough to distract thebrain of a man in health. " "Is he fond of the child?" "It is an oppressive care to him, and he only once has made up his mindto see it, though it is never off his mind, and it is very curious howfrom the first he has been resolved on your taking charge of it. It isthe most real testimony he could give you. " "It is very comfortable not to be brought in like an enemy in spite ofhim, as even a year ago I could have been proud to do. " "And I to have brought you, " he answered, "but it is far better as itis. He is very cordial, and wants to give up the Auchinvar estate to me;indeed, he told me that he always meant me to have it as soon as I hadwashed my hands of you--you wicked syren--but I think you will agreewith me that he had better leave it to his daughter Mary, who hasnothing. We never reckoned on it. " "Nor on anything else, " said Ermine, smiling. "You have never heard my ways and means, " he said, "and as a prudentwoman you ought, you know. See, " taking out his tablets, "here is mycalculation. " "All that!" "On the staff in India there were good opportunities of saving; then outof that sum I bought the house, and with my half-pay, our income will bevery fair, and there would be a pension afterwards for you. This seemsto me all we can reasonably want. " "Unless I became like 'die Ilsebill' in the German tale. After fouryears of living from hand to mouth, this will be like untold gold. To wish to be above strict economy in wheeled chairs has seemed likeperilous discontent in Rose and me. " "I have ventured on the extravagance of taking the ponies and littlecarriage off my brother's hands, it is low enough for you, and I shallteach Rose to ride one of the ponies with me. " "The dear little Rose! But, Colin, there is a dreadful whisper abouther going with her father, and Ailie too! You see now his character iscleared, he has been offered a really lucrative post, so that he couldhave them with him. " "Does he wish it?" "I dare not ask. I must be passive or I shall be selfish. You are allmy world, and Edward has no one. Make them settle it without me. Talk ofsomething else! Tell me how your brother is to be taken care of. " "There cannot be a better nurse than Alick Keith; and Ferguson, theagent, is there, getting directions from Keith whenever he can bear it. I am best out of the way of all that. I have said once for all that Iwill do anything for them except live at Gowanbrae, and I am sick ofdemonstrating that the poor child's existence is the greatest possiblerelief to me; and I hope now not to go back till the whole is settledand done with. " "You look regularly worn out with the discussions!" "It was an endless business! The only refreshment was in now and thengetting over to Bishopsworthy. " "What? to Rachel?" said Ermine archly. "Rachel is showing to great advantage. I did not think it was in her tobe so devoted to the child, and it is beautiful to see her and Mr. Claretogether. " "There's a triumph, " said Ermine, smiling. "Do you grant that the happymedium is reached, that Alick should learn to open his eyes and Rachelto shut hers?" "Well! Her eyes are better, but he, poor lad, has been in no spiritsto open his very wide. The loss of his sister went very deep, andthose aguish attacks, though they become much slighter, make him lookwretchedly ill. I should have doubted about leaving him in charge in hispresent state, but that he was urgent on me, and he is spared all thenight nursing. Any way, I must not leave him longer than I can help. Imay have one week with you at home--at our home, Ermine. " "And let us make the most of that, " said Ermine, quickly. Meanwhile Alison, sore and sick at heart, wandered on the esplanade, foreboding that the blow was coming that she ought to rejoice at, if herlove could only be more unselfish. At last the Colonel joined her, and, as usual, his tone of consideration cheered and supported her when inactual conference with him, and as he explained his plans, he added thathe hoped there would be scarcely any interruption to her intercoursewith her sister. "You know, " she said abruptly, "that we could go to Ekaterinburg. " "And what is your feeling about it? Remember, Ailie, that I am yourbrother too. " And as she hesitated, "your feelings--no doubt you are inmany minds!" "Ah, yes; I never settled anything without Ermine, and she will not helpme now. And she has been so worn with the excitement and anxiety of allthis long detention of yours, that I don't dare to say a word that couldprey on her. " "In fact, you would chiefly be decided by Edward's own wishes. " "If I were sure of them, " sighed poor Alison; "but he lives onexperiments, and can hardly detach himself from them even to attendto Ermine herself. I don't know whether we should be a comfort or aburthen, and he would be afraid to hurt our feelings by telling thetruth. I have been longing to consult you who have seen him at thatplace in Russia. " "And indeed, Ailie, he is so wedded to smoke and calculations, and soaverse to this sublunary world, that though your being with him might bebeneficial, still I greatly question whether the risk of carrying poorlittle Rose to so remote a place in such a climate, would be desirable. If he were pining to have a home made for him, it would be worth doing;as it is, the sacrifice would be disproportioned. " "It would be no sacrifice if he only wanted us. " "Where you are wanted is here. Ermine wants you. I want you. The Templeswant you. " "Now, Colin, tell me truly. Edward feels as I do, and Dr. Long spokeseriously of it. Will not my present position do you and Ermine harmamong your friends?" "With no friend we wish to make or keep!" "If I do remain, " continued Alison, "it must be as I am. I would notlive upon you, even if you asked me, which you have too much sense todo; and though dear Lady Temple is everything to me, and wants me toforget that I am her governess, that would be a mere shuffle, but if itis best for you that I should give it up, and go out, say so at once. " "Best for me to have eight Temples thrown on my hands, all in despair!To have you at Myrtlewood is an infinite relief to me, both on theiraccount and Ermine's. You should not suspect a penniless Scotsman ofsuch airs, Ailie. " "Not you, Colin, but your family. " "Isabel Menteith thinks a glass-blower was your father, and Maulevereryour brother, so yours is by far the most respectable profession. No, indeed, my family might be thankful to have any one in it who could doas you have done. " Alison's scruples were thus disposed of, and when Edward's brain cleareditself from platinum, he showed himself satisfied with the decision, though he insisted on henceforth sending home a sum sufficient for hisdaughter's expenses, and once said something that could be construedinto a hope of spending a quiet old age with her and his sister; but atpresent he was manifestly out of his element, and was bent on returningto Ekaterinburg immediately after the marriage. His presence was but a qualified pleasure. Naturally shy and absent, his broken spirits and removal from domestic life, and from society, had exaggerated his peculiarities; and under the pressure of misfortune, caused in a great measure by his own negligence, he had completely givenway, without a particle of his sister's patience or buoyancy, and hadmerely striven to drown his troubles in engrossing problems of hisfavourite pursuit, till the habit of abstraction had become tooconfirmed to be shaken off. When the blot on his name was removed, hewas indeed sensible that he was no longer an exile, but he couldnot resume his old standing, friendships rudely severed could not bere-united; his absorption had grown by indulgence; old interests hadpassed away; needful conformity to social habits was irksome, and evenhis foreign manner and appearance testified to his entire unfitness forEnglish life. Tibbie was in constant dread of his burning the house down, soincalculable and preposterous were his hours, and the Colonel, longingto render the house a perfect shrine for his bride, found it hard totolerate the fumes with which her brother saturated it. If he had beensure that opium formed no portion of Edward's solace, his counsel toAlison would have been less decisive. To poor little Rose, her fatherwas an abiding perplexity and distress; she wanted to love him, andfelt it absolute naughtiness to be constantly disappointed by hisinsensibility to her approaches, or else repelled and disgusted by thatvice of the Russian sheep. And a vague hint of being transported tothe Ural mountains, away from Aunt Ermine, had haunted her of late moredreadfully than even the lions of old; so that the relief was ineffablewhen her dear Colonel confided to her that she was to be his nieceand Aunt Ermine's handmaid, sent her to consult with Tibbie on her newapartment, and invited Augustus to the most eligible hole in the garden. The grotto that Rose, Conrade, and Francis proceeded to erect withpebbles and shells, was likely to prove as alarming to that respectablereptile as a model cottage to an Irish peasant. Ermine had dropped all scruples about Rose's intercourse with otherchildren, and the feeling that she might associate with them on equalterms, perhaps, was the most complete assurance of Edward's restoration. She was glad that companionship should render the little maiden moreactive and childlike, for Edward's abstraction had made her believe thatthere might be danger in indulging the dreaminess of the imaginativechild. No one welcomed the removal of these restraints more warmly than LadyTemple. She was perhaps the happiest of the happy, for with her therewas no drawback, no sorrow, no parting to fear. Her first impulse, whenColonel Keith came to tell her his plans, was to seize on hat and shawl, and rush down to Mackarel Lane to kiss Ermine with all her heart, andtell her that "it was the most delightful thing of her to have consentedat last, for nobody deserved so well to be happy as that dear Colonel;"and then she clung to Alison, declaring that now she should have her allto herself, and if she would only come to Myrtlewood, she would do hervery best to make her comfortable there, and it should be her home--herhome always. "In fact, " said Ermine, afterwards to the Colonel, "when you go toAvoncester, I think you may as well get a licence for the wedding ofAlison Williams and Fanny Temple at the same time. There has been quitea courtship on the lady's part. " The courtship had been the more ardent from Fanny's alarm lest thebrother should deprive her of Alison; and when she found her fearsgroundless, she thanked him with such fervour, and talked so eagerly ofhis sister's excellences that she roused him into a lucid interval, inwhich he told Colonel Keith that Lady Temple might give him an idea ofthe style of woman that Lucy had been. Indeed, Colin began to think thatit was as well that he was so well wrapped up in smoke and chemistry, otherwise another might have been added to the list of Lady Temple'shopeless adorers. The person least satisfied was Tibbie, who could notget over the speediness of the marriage, nor forgive the injury to MissWilliams, "of bringing her hame like any pleughman's wife, wantin' ahoneymoon trip, forbye providin' hersel' with weddin' braws conformable. Gin folk tak' sic daft notions aff the English, they'd be mair wise liketo bide at hame, an' that's my way o' thinkin'. " Crusty as she was, there was no danger of her not giving her warmestwelcome, and thus the morning came. Tibbie had donned her cap, withwhite satin ribbons, and made of lace once belonging to the only heiresswho had ever brought wealth to the Keiths. Edward Williams, all hisgoods packed up, had gone to join his sisters, and the Colonel, onlyperceptibly differing from his daily aspect in having a hat free fromcrape, was opening all the windows in hopes that a thorough draft wouldremove the last of the tobacco, when the letters were brought in, andamong them one of the black bordered bulletins from Littleworthy, whichordinarily arrived by the second post. It was a hurried note, evidentlydashed off to catch the morning mail. My Dear Colonel, --Alick tells me to write in haste to catch the morningpost, and beg you to telegraph the instant your wedding is over. Thedoctors see cause to hasten their measures, but your brother will havenothing done till the will is signed. He and Alick both desire you willnot come, but it is getting to be far too much for Alick. I would tellyou more if there were time before the post goes. Love to dear Ermine. Very sincerely yours, R. KEITH. There was so shocked and startled a look on Colin's face, that Tibbiebelieved that his brother must be dead, and when in a few almostinaudible words he told her that he must start for Bishopsworthy by theafternoon train, she fairly began to scold, partly by way of working offthe irritation left by her alarm. "The lad's clean demented! Heard yeever the like, to rin awa' frae his new-made wife afore the blessin'sbeen weel spoke; an' a' for the whimsie of that daft English lassie thatmade siccan a piece of work wi' her cantrips. " "I am afraid she is right now, " said the Colonel, "and my brother mustnot be left any longer. " "Hout awa, Maister Colin, his lordship has come between you and yourluve oft enough already, without partin' ye at the very church door. Yewould na have the English cast up to us, that one of your name did naken better what was fittin by his bride!" "My bride must be the judge, Tibbie. You shall see whether she bids mestay, " said Colin, a little restored by his amusement at her anxiety forhis honour among the English. "Now desire Smith to meet me at the churchdoor, and ride at once from thence to Avoncester; and get your faceready to give a cheerful welcome, Tibbie. Let her have that, at least, whatever may come after. " Tibbie looked after him, and shook her head, understanding from her ainladdie's pallid check, and resolute lip, nay, in the very sound of hisfootfall, how sore was his trial, and with one-sided compassion shemuttered, "Telegrafted awa on his vera weddin' day. His Lordship'll bethe death o' them baith before he's done. " As it was in every way desirable that the wedding should be unexpectedby Avonmonth in general, it was to take place at the close of theordinary morning service, and Ermine in her usual seat within thevestry, was screened from knowing how late was Colin's entrance, orseeing the determined composure that would to her eyes have betrayedhow much shaken he was. He was completely himself again by the time thecongregation dispersed, leaving only Grace Curtis, Lady Temple, and thelittle best man, Conrade, a goodly sight in his grey suit and scarlethose. Then came the slow movement from the vestry, the only reallybridal-looking figure being Rose in white muslin and white ribbons;walking timidly and somewhat in awe beside her younger aunt; whileher father upheld and guided the elder. Both were in quiet, soft, darkdresses, and straw bonnets, but over hers Ermine wore the small thoughexquisite Brussels lace veil that had first appeared at her mother'swedding; and thankful joy and peaceful awe looked so lovely on hernoble brow, deep, soft dark eyes, and the more finely moulded, becausesomewhat worn, features; and so beauteously deepened was the carnationon her cheek, that Mr. Mitchell ever after maintained that he had nevermarried any one to compare with that thirty-three years' old bride uponcrutches, and, as he reported to his wife, in no dress at all. Her brother, who supported her all the time she stood, was infinitelymore nervous than she was. Her native grace and dignity, and absenceof all false shame entirely covered her helplessness, and in herearnestness, she had no room for confusion; her only quivering of voicewas caught for one moment from the tremulous intensity of feeling thatColin Keith could not wholly keep from thrilling in his tones, as he atlast proclaimed his right to love and to cherish her for whom he had solong persevered. Unobserved, he filled up the half-written despatch with the same penwith which he signed the register, and sent Conrade to the door withit to his already mounted messenger. Then assuming Edward's place asErmine's supporter, he led her to the door, seated her in her wheeledchair, and silently handing Rachel's note as his explanation to Alison, he turned away, and walked alone by Ermine's side to his own house. Still silent, he took her into the bright drawing-room he had so longplanned for her, and seated her in her own peculiar chair. Then hisfirst words were, "Thank God for this!" She knew his face. "Colin, your brother is worse?" He bent his head, hecould not speak. "And you have to go to him! This very day?" "Ermine, you must decide. You are at last my first duty!" "That means that you know you ought to go. Tell me what it is. " He told the substance of the note, ending with, "If you could come withme!" "I would if I should not be a tie and hindrance. No, I must not do that;but here I am, Colin, here I am. And it is all true--it has all comeright at last! All we waited for. Nothing has ever been like this. " She was the stronger. Tears, as much of loving thankfulness as ofoverflowing disappointment, rushed into his eyes at such a fulfilment ofthe purpose that he had carried with him by sea and land, in battleand sickness, through all the years of his manhood. And withal her onethought was to infuse in its strongest measure the drop of happinessthat was to sustain him through the scenes that awaited him, to make himfeel her indeed his wife, and to brighten him with the sunbeam face thatshe knew had power to cheer him. Rallying her playfulness, she took offher bonnet, and said as she settled her hair, "There, that is being athome! Take my shawl, yes, and these white gloves, and put them out ofsight, that I may not feel like a visitor, and that you may see how Ishall look when you come back. Do you know, I think your being out ofthe way will be rather a gain, for there will be a tremendous femininebustle with the fitting of our possessions. " Her smile awoke a responsive look, and she began to gaze round andadmire, feeling it safest to skim on the surface; and he could notbut be gratified by her appreciation of the pains spent upon this, herespecial home. He had recovered himself again by the time these fewsentences had passed; they discussed the few needful arrangementsrequired by his departure, and Tibbie presently found them so cheerfulthat she was quite scandalized, and when Ermine held out her hands, saying, "What Tibbie, won't you come and kiss me, and wish me joy?" sheexclaimed-- "Wish ye joy! It's like me to wish ye joy an yer lad hurled awa fraeyer side i' the blink o' an ee, by thae wild telegrams. I dinna see whatjoy's to come o't; it's clean again the Scripture!" "I told you I had left it to her to decide, Tibbie, " said the Colonel. "Weel, an what wad ye hae the puir leddy say? She kens what sorts ye, when the head of yer name is sick an lyin' among thae English loons thathae brocht him to siccan a pass. " "Right, Tibbie, " exclaimed Ermine, greatly amused at the unexpectedturn, purely for the sake of putting Maister Colin in the wrong. "If agentleman won't be content without a bride who can't walk, he must takethe consequence, and take his wedding trip by himself! It is my belief, Tibbie, as I have just been telling him, that you and I shall get thehouse in all the better order for having him off our hands, just atfirst, " she added, with a look of intelligence. "Deed, an maybe we shall, " responded Tibbie, with profound satisfaction. "He was aye a camsteary child when there was any wark on hand. " Colin could not help laughing, and when once this had been effected, Ermine felt that his depression had been sufficiently met, and thatshe might venture on deeper, and more serious sympathy, befitting thechastened, thankful feelings with which they hailed the crowning oftheir youthful love, the fulfilment of the hopes and prayers that theone had persisted in through doubt and change, the other had striven toresign into the All-wise Hands. They had an early meal together, chiefly for the sake of his wheelingher to the head of his table, and "seeing how she looked there, " andthen the inexorable hour was come, and he left her, with the echo of herlast words in his ear, "Goodbye, Colin, stay as long as you ought. Itwill make the meeting all the sweeter, and you have your wife to someback to now. Give a sister's love to your brother, and thanks forhaving spared you, " and his last look at the door was answered with hersunshiny smile. But when, a few minutes after, Edward came up with Alison for hisfarewell, they found her lying back in her chair, half fainting, and herstartled look told almost too plainly that she had not thought of herbrother. "Never mind, " said Edward, affectionately, as much to consoleAlison as Ermine for this oblivion; "of course it must be so, and Idon't deserve otherwise. Nothing brought me home but Colin Keith'stelling me that he saw you would not have him till my character wascleared up; and now he has repaired so much of the evil I did you, all Ican do is to work to make it up to you in other ways. Goodbye, Ermine, I leave you all in much better hands than mine ever were, you are rightenough in feeling that a week of his absence outweighs a year of mine. Bless you for all that you and he have done for my child. She, at least, is a comfort to you. " Ermine's powers were absolutely exhausted; she could only answer him byembraces and tears; and all the rest of the day she was, to use herown expression, "good for nothing but to be let alone. " Nor, though sheexerted herself that she might with truth write that she was well andhappy, was she good for much more on the next, and her jealous guardiansallowed her to see no one but soft, fondling Lady Temple, who insistedon a relationship (through Rachel), and whose tender pensive quietnesscould not fail to be refreshment to the strained spirits, and weariedphysical powers, and who better than anybody could talk of the Colonel, nay, who could understand, and even help Ermine herself to understand, that these ever-welling tears came from a source by no means akin togrief or repining. The whole aspect of the rooms was full of tokens of his love and thoughtfor her. The ground-floor had been altered for her accommodation, the furniture chosen in accordance with her known tastes or with oldmemories, all undemonstratively prepared while yet she had not decidedon her consent. And what touched her above all, was the collection oftreasures that he had year by year gathered together for her throughoutthe weary waiting, purchases at which Lady Temple remembered hermother's banter, with his quiet evasions of explanation. No wonderErmine laid her head on her hand, and could not retain her tears, as sherecalled the white, dismayed face of the youth, who had printed that onesad earliest kiss on her brow, as she lay fire-scathed and apparentlydying; and who had cherished the dream unbroken and unwaveringly, haddenied himself consistently, had garnered up those choice tokens whenignorant over whether she still lived; had relied on her trust, andcome back, heart-whole, to claim and win her, undaunted by her crippledstate, her poverty, and her brother's blotted name. "How can such loveever be met? Why am I favoured beyond all I could have dared to image tomyself?" she thought, and wept again; because, as she murmured to Fanny, "I do thank God for it with all my heart, and I do long to tell him all. I don't think my married life ought to begin by being sillier than everI was before, but I can't help it. " "And I do love you so much the better for it, " said Fanny; a bettercompanion to-day than the grave, strong Alison, who would have beenkind, but would have had to suppress some marvel at the break-down, andsome resentment that Edward had no greater share in it. The morning's post brought her the first letter from her husband, andin the midst of all her anxiety as to the contents, she could not butlinger a moment on the aspect of the Honourable Mrs. Colin Keith in hishandwriting; there was a carefulness in the penmanship that assured herthat, let him have to tell her what he would, the very inditing ofthat address had been enjoyment to him. That the border was black toldnothing, but the intelligence was such as she had been fully preparedfor. Colin had arrived to find the surgeon's work over, but the patientfast sinking. Even his recognition of his brother had been uncertain, and within twenty-four hours of the morning that had given Colin a homeof his own, the last remnant of the home circle of his childhood hadpassed from him. Still Ermine had to continue a widowed bride for full a fortnight, whilst the funeral and subsequent arrangements necessitated Colin'spresence in Scotland. It was on a crisp, beautiful October evening thatRose, her chestnut hair flying about her brow, stood, lighted up by thesunbeams in the porch, with upraised face and outstretched hands, and asthe Colonel bent down to receive her joyous embrace, said, "Aunt Erminegave me leave to bring you to the door. Then I am going to Myrtlewoodtill bed-time. And after that I shall always have you. " The open door showed Ermine, too tremulous to trust to her crutch, butleaning forward, her eyes liquid with tears of thankfulness. The patientspirits had reached their home and haven, the earthly haven of lovinghearts, the likeness of the heavenly haven, and as her head leant, atlast, upon his shoulder, and his guardian arm encircled her, there wassuch a sense of rest and calm that even the utterance of their inwardthanksgiving, or of a word of tenderness would have jarred upon them. Itwas not till a knock and message at the door interrupted them, that theycould break the blessed stillness. "And there you are, my Ermine!" said Colin, standing on the hearth-rug, and surveying her with satisfied eyes. "You are a queenly looking damein your black draperies, and you look really well, much better thanRachel led me to expect. " "Ah! when she was here I had no fixed day to look forward to. Andreceiving our poor little orphan baby was not exactly like receiving hisuncle, though Rachel seemed to think it ought to make up for anything. " "She was thoroughly softened by that child! It was a spirited thing herbringing him down here on the Monday when we started for Scotland, andthen coming all the way alone with her maid. I did not think Alick wouldhave consented, but he said she would always be the happier for havingdeposited her charge in your hands. " "It was a great wrench to her. I felt it like robbery when she put thelittle fellow down on my lap and knelt over him, not able to get herselfaway, but saying that she was not fit to have him; she could not bear itif she made him hate her as Conrade did! I am glad she has had his firstsmile, she deserves it. " "Is Tibbie in charity with him?" "Oh, more than in charity! She did not take the first announcement ofhis coming very amiably; but when I told her she was to reign in thenursery, and take care the poor little chief know the sound of a Scots'tongue, she began to thaw; and when he came into the house, pity orloyalty, or both, flamed up hotly, and have quite relieved me; for atfirst she made a baby of me, and was a perfect dragon of jealousy atpoor Ailie's doing anything for me. It was a rich scene when Rachelbegan giving her directions out of 'Hints for the Management ofInfants, ' just in the old voice, and Tibbie swept round indignantly, 'His Lordship, Lord Keith of Gowanbrae, suld hae the best tendance shecould gie him. She did na lippen to thae English buiks, as though shecouldna rear a wean without bulk learning. ' Poor Rachel nearly cried, and was not half comforted by my promising to study the book as much asshe pleased. " "It will never do to interfere with Tibbie, and I own I am much of heropinion, I had rather trust to her than to Rachel, or the book!" "Well, the more Rachel talked book, the more amiable surprise passedbetween her mother and Lady Temple that the poor little follow shouldhave lived at all, and I believe they were very angry with me forthinking her views very sensible. Lady Temple is so happy with him. Shesays it is so melancholy to have a house without a baby, that she comesin twice or three times a day to console herself with this one. " "Did you not tell me that she and the Curtises spent the evening withyou?" "Yes, it was rather shocking to receive them without you, but it was theonly way of being altogether on Rachel's one evening here; and it wasvery amusing, Mrs. Curtis so happy with her daughter looking well andbright, and Rachel with so much to tell about Bishopsworthy, till atlast Grace, in her sly odd way, said she thought dear Alexander had eventaught Rachel curatolatry; whereupon Rachel fired up at such an ideabeing named in connexion with Mr. Clare, then came suddenly, and veryprettily, down, and added, 'Living with Alick and Mr. Clare has taughtme what nonsense I talked in those days. '" "Well done, Rachel! It proves what Alick always said, that her greatcharacteristic is candour!" "I hope she was not knocked up by the long night journey all at onestretch. Mrs. Curtis was very uneasy about it, but nothing would moveher; she owned that Alick did not expect her, for she had taken care heshould not object, by saying nothing of her intention, but she was surehe would be ill on Wednesday morning, and then Mrs. Curtis not only gavein directly, but all we married women turned upon poor Grace forhinting that Alick might prefer a day's solitary illness to her beingover-tired. " "She was extremely welcome! Alick was quite done for by all he had gonethrough; he was miserably ill, and I hardly knew what to do with him, and he mended from the moment his face lightened up at the sight ofher. " "There's the use of strength of mind! How is Alick?" "Getting better under M'Vicar and Edinburgh winds. It was hard on him tohave borne the brunt of all the nursing that terrible last week, and infact I never knew how much he was going through rather than summon me. His sauntering manner always conceals how much he is doing, and poorKeith was so fond of him, and liked his care so much that almost thewhole fell upon him at last. And I believe he said more that was goodfor Keith, and brought in Mr. Clare more than perhaps I should ever havebeen able to do. So though I must regret having been away, it may havebeen the best thing. " "And it was by your brother's earnest wish, " said Ermine; "it was not asif you had stayed away for your own pleasure. " "No! Poor Keith repeatedly said he could not die in peace till he hadsecured our having the sole charge of his son. It was a strong instinctthat conquered inveterate prejudice! Did I tell you about the will?" "You said I should hear particulars when you came. " "The personal guardianship is left to us first, then to Alick andRachel, with £300 a year for the expenses. Then we have Auchinvar. Theestate is charged with an equivalent settlement upon Mary, a betterplan, which I durst not propose, but with so long a minority theestate will bear it. Alick has his sister's fortune back again, andthe Menteith children a few hundreds; but Menteith is rabid about theguardianship, and would hardly speak to Alick. " "And you?" "They always keep the peace with me. Isabel even made us a weddingpresent--a pair of miniatures of my father and mother, that I am veryglad to rescue, though, as she politely told me, I was welcome to them, for they were hideously dressed, and she wanted the frames for two sweetphotographs of Garibaldi and the Queen of Naples. " Then looking up as if to find a place for them-- "Why, Ermine, what have you done to the room? It is the old parsonagedrawing-room!" "Did not you mean it, when you took the very proportions of the baywindow, and chose just such a carpet?" "But what have you done to it?" "Ailie and Rose, and Lady Temple and her boys, have done it. I have satlooking on, and suggesting. Old things that we kept packed up haveseen the light, and your beautiful Indian curiosities have found theircorners. " "And the room has exactly the old geranium scent!" "I think the Curtises must have brought half their greenhouse down. Doyou remember the old oak-leaf geranium that you used to gather a leaf ofwhenever you passed our old conservatory?" "I have been wondering where the fragrance came from that made thelikeness complete. I have smelt nothing like it since!" "I said that I wished for one, and Grace got off without a word, andsearched everywhere at Avoncester till she found one in a corner of theDean's greenhouse. There, now you have a leaf in your fingers, I thinkyou do feel at home. " "Not quite, Ermine. It still has the dizziness of a dream. I have sooften conjured up all this as a vision, that now there is nothing totake me away from it, I can hardly feel it a reality. " "Then I shall ring. Tibbie and the poor little Lord upstairs aresubstantial witnesses to the cares and troubles of real life. " CHAPTER XXX. WHO IS THE CLEVER WOMAN? "Half-grown as yet, a child and vain, She cannot fight the fight of death. What is she cut from love and faith?" Knowledge and Wisdom, TENNYSON. It was long before the two Mrs. Keiths met again. Mrs. Curtis and Gracewere persuaded to spend the spring and summer in Scotland, and Alick'sleave of absence was felt to be due to Mr. Clare, and thus it was thatthe first real family gathering took place on occasion of the opening ofthe institution that had grown out of the Burnaby Bargain. This workhad cost Colonel Keith and Mr. Mitchell an infinity of labour andperseverance before even the preliminaries could be arranged, but theycontrived at length to carry it out, and by the fourth spring afterthe downfall of the F. U. E. E. A house had been erected for theconvalescents, whose wants were to be attended to by a matron, assistedby a dozen young girls in training for service. The male convalescents were under the discipline of Sergeant O'Brienand the whole was to be superintended by Colonel and Mrs. Keith. Ermineundertook to hear a class of the girls two or three times a week, and lower rooms had been constructed with a special view to her beingwheeled into them, so as to visit the convalescents, and give them herattention and sympathy. Mary Morris was head girl, most of the otherswere from Avonmouth, but two pale Londoners came from Mr. Touchett'sdistrict, and a little motherless lassie from the --th Highlanders wasbrought down with the nursery establishment, on which Mrs. AlexanderKeith now practised the "Hints on the management of Infants. " May was unusually propitious, and after an orthodox tea-drinking, thenew pupils and all the Sunday-schools were turned out to play on theHomestead slopes, with all the world to look on at them. It was a warm, brilliant day, of joyous blossom and lively green, and long laughingstreaks of sunlight on the sea, and no one enjoyed it more than didErmine, as she sat in her chair delighting in the fresh sweetness of theold thorns, laughing at the freaks of the scampering groups of children, gaily exchanging pleasant talk with one friend after another, and mostof all with Rachel, who seemed to gravitate back to her whenever anysummons had for a time interrupted their affluence of conversation. And all the time Ermine's footstool was serving as a table for thevarious flowers that two children were constantly gathering in the grassand presenting to her, to Rachel, or to each other, with a constantstream of not very comprehensible prattle, full of pretty gesticulationthat seemed to make up for the want of distinctness. The yellow-haired, slenderly-made, delicately-featured boy, whose personal pronouns werejust developing, and his consonants very scanty, though the elder ofthe two, dutifully and admiringly obeyed the more distinct, though lessconnected, utterances of the little dark-eyed girl, eked out bypretty imperious gestures, that seemed already to enchain the littlewhite-frocked cavalier to her service. All the time it was droll to seehow the two ladies could pay full attention to the children, while goingon with their own unbroken stream of talk. "I am not overwhelming you, " suddenly exclaimed Rachel, checking herselfin mid-career about the mothers' meetings for the soldiers' wives. "Far from it. Was I inattentive--?" "Oh no--(Yes, Una dear, very pretty)--but I found myself talking in thevoice that always makes Alick shut his eyes. "--"I should not thinkhe often had to do so, " said Ermine, much amused by this gentleremedy--("Mind, Keith, that is a nettle. It will sting--") "Less often than before, " said Rachel--("Never mind the butterfly, Una)--I don't think I have had more than one thorough fit of what hecalls leaping into the gulf. It was about the soldiers' wives marriedwithout leave, who, poor things, are the most miserable creatures in theworld; and when I first found out about them I was in the sort of moodI was in about the lace, and raved about the system, and was resolved toemploy one poor woman, and Alick looked meeker and meeker, and assentedto all I said, as if he was half asleep, and at last he quietly took upa sheet of paper, and said he must write and sell out, since I was benton my gulf, and an officer's wife must be bound by the regulationsof the service. I was nearly as bad as ever, I could have written anarticle on the injustice of the army regulations, indeed I did begin, but what do you think the end was? I got a letter from a good lady, whois always looking after the poor, to thank Mrs. Alexander Keith for thehelp that had been sent for this poor woman, to be given as if from thegeneral fund. After that I could not help listening to him, and then Ifound it was so impossible to know about character, or to be sure thatone was not doing more harm than--What is it, boys?" as three or fourTemples rushed up. "Aunt Rachel, Mr. Clare is going to teach us a new game, and he says youknow it. Pray come. " "Come, Una. What, Keith, will you come too? I'll take care of him, Ermine. " And with a child in each hand, Rachel followed the deputation, and hadscarcely disappeared before the light gracious figure of Rose glancedthrough the thorn trees. "Aunt Ermine, you must come nearer; it is sowonderful to see Mr. Clare teaching this game. " "Don't push my chair, my dear; it is much too heavy for you uphill. " "As if I could not drive you anywhere, and here is Conrade coming. " Conrade was in search of the deserter, but he applied himself heartilyto the propulsion of aunt Ermine, informing Rose that Mr. Clare wasno end of a man, much better than if he could see, and aunt Rachel wasgrown quite jolly. "I think she has left off her long words, " said Rose. "She is not a civilian now, " said Conrade, quite unconscious of Ermine'samusement at his confidences as he pushed behind her. "I did think ita most benighted thing to marry her, but that's what it is. Militarydiscipline has made her conformable. " Having placed the chair on a spotwhich commanded the scene, the boy and girl rushed off to take theirpart in the sport, leaving Ermine looking down a steep bank at the hugering of performers, with linked hands, advancing and receding to themeasure of a chanted verse round a figure in the centre, who madegesticulations, pursued and caught different individuals in the ring, and put them through a formula which provoked shouts of mirth. Erminemuch enjoyed the sight, it was pretty to watch the 'prononce' dressesof the parish children, interspersed with the more graceful forms of thelittle gentry, and here and there a taller lady. Then Ermine smiled torecognise Alison as usual among her boys, and Lady Temple's soft greysand whites, and gentle floating movements, as she advanced and recededwith Stephana in one hand, and a shy infant-school child in the other. But Ermine's eye roamed anxiously, for though Rachel's animated, characteristic gestures were fully discernible, and her little Una'sarch toss of the head marked her out, yet the companion whom she hadbeguiled away, and who had become more to Ermine than any other of thefrisking little ones of the flock, was neither with her not with hischief protector, Rose. In a second or two, however, the step that toher had most "music in't" of all footfalls that ever were trodden, wassounding on the path that led circuitously up the path, and the Colonelappeared with the little runaway holding his hand. "Why, baby, you are soon come away!" "I did not like it, --sit on mamma's knee, " said the little fellow, scrambling to his place then as one who felt it his own nest and throne. "He was very soon frightened, " said the Colonel; "it was only thatlittle witch Una who could have deluded him into such a crowd, and, assoon as she saw a bigger boy to beguile, she instantly deserted Keith, so I relieved Rachel of him. " "See Rachel now; Mr. Clare is interrogating her. How she is making themlaugh! I did not think she could ever have so entered into fun. " "Alick must have made it a part of her education. When the Invalidhas time for another essay, Ermine, it should be on the Benefits ofRidicule. " "Against Clever Womanhood? But then the subject must have Rachel'sperfect good humour. " "And the weapon must be in the most delicately skilful hands, " addedthe Colonel. "Properly wielded, it saves blunting the superior weapon byover-frequent use. Here the success is complete. " "It has been irony rather than ridicule, " said Ermine, "though, when hetaught her to laugh, he won half the battle. It is beautiful to see herholding herself back, and most forbearing where she feels most positive. I am glad to see him looking so much stronger and more substantial. Where is he?" "On the further bank, supposed by Mrs. Curtis to be asleep, but watchinguncle, wife, and child through his eyelashes. Did you ever see any oneso like his sister as that child?" "Much more so than this one. I am glad he may one day see such a shadowof his bright-faced mother. " "You are mother!" said the the little orphan, looking up into Ermine'sface with a startled, wistful look, as having caught more of her meaningthan she had intended, and she met his look with a kiss, the time wasnot yet come for gainsaying the belief more than in the words, "Yes, always a mother to you, my precious little man. " "Nor could you have had a bonnier face to look into, " added the Colonel. "There, the game breaks up. We should collect our flock, and get themthem back to Les Invalides, as Alick calls it. " "Take care no one else does so, " said Ermine, laughing. "It has beena most happy day, and chief of all the pleasures has been the sight ofRachel just what I hoped, a thorough wife and mother, all the more sofor her being awake to larger interests, and doing common things betterfor being the Clever Woman of the family. Where is she? I don't see hernow. " Where is she? was asked by more than one of the party, but the next tosee her was Alick, who found her standing at the window of her ownroom, with her long-robed, two-months' old baby in her arms. "Tired?" heasked. "No; I only sent down nurse to drink tea with the other grandees. Whata delightful day it has been! I never hoped that such good fruit wouldrise out of my unhappy blunders. " "The blunders that brought so much good to me. " "Ah! the old places bring them back again. I have been recollecting howit used to seem to me the depth of my fall that you were marrying me outof pure pity, without my having the spirit to resent or prevent it, andnow I just like to think how kind and noble it was in you. " "I am glad to hear it! I thought I was so foolishly in love, that I wasvery glad of any excuse for pressing it on. " "Are the people dispersing? Where is your uncle?" "He went home with the Colonel and his wife; he has quite lost his heartto Ermine. " "And Una--did you leave her with Grace?" "No, she trotted down hand in hand with his little lordship: promisingto lead her uncle back. " "My dear Alick, you don't mean that you trust to that?" "Why, hardly implicitly. " "Is that the way you say so? They may be both over the cliffs. If youwill just stay in the room with baby, I will go down and fetch them up. " Alick very obediently held out his arms for his son, but when Rachelproceeded to take up her hat, he added, "You have run miles enoughto-day. I am going down as soon as my uncle has had time to pay hisvisit in peace, without being hunted. " "Does he know that?" "The Colonel does, which comes to the same thing. Is not this boy justof the age that little Keith was when you gave him up?" "Yes; and is it not delightful to see how much larger and heavier heis!" "Hardly, considering your objections to fine children. " "Oh, that was only to coarse, over-grown ones. Una is really quite astall as little Keith, and much more active. You saw he could not play atthe game at all, and she was all life and enjoyment, with no notion ofshyness. " "It does not enter into her composition. " "And she speaks much plainer. I never miss a word she says, and I don'tunderstand Keith a bit, though he tells such long stories. " "How backward!" "Then she knows all her letters by sight--almost all, and Ermine cannever get him to tell b from d; and you know how she can repeat so manylittle verses, while he could not even say, 'Thank you, pretty cow, 'this morning, when I wanted to hear him. " "Vast interval!" "It is only eight months; but then Una is such a bright, forward child. " "Highly-developed precocity!" "Now, Alick, what am I about? Why are you agreeing with me?" "I am between the horns of a dilemma. Either our young chieftain must bea dunce, or we are rearing the Clever Woman of the family. " "I hope not!" exclaimed Rachel. "Indeed? I would not grudge her a superior implement, even if I hadsometimes cut my own fingers. " "But, Alick, I really do not think I ever was such a Clever Woman. " "I never thought you one, " he quietly returned. She smiled. This faculty had much changed her countenance. "I see, " shesaid, thoughtfully, "I had a few intellectual tastes, and liked to thinkand read, which was supposed to be cleverness; and my wilfulness made mefancy myself superior in force of character, in a way I could never haveimagined if I had lived more in the world. Contact with really cleverpeople has shown me that I am slow and unready. " "It was a rusty implement, and you tried weight instead of edge. Now itis infinitely brighter. " "But, Alick, " she said, leaving the thought of herself for that of herchild, "I believe you may be right about Una, for, " she added in lowvoice, "she is like the most practically clever person I ever saw. " "True, " he answered gravely, "I see it every day, in every saucy gestureand coaxing smile, when she tries to turn away displeasure in hernaughty fits. I hardly knew how to look on at her airs with Keith, it was so exactly like the little sister I first knew. Rachel, suchcleverness as that is a far more perilous gift to woman than yourplodding intellectuality could ever be. God grant, " he added, withone of the effusions which sometimes broke through his phlegmatictemperament, "that this little fellow may be a kinder, wiser brotherthan ever I was, and that we may bring her up to your own truth andunselfishness. Then such power would be a happy endowment. " "Yes, " said Rachel, "may she never be out of your influence, or be leftto untrustworthy hands. I should have been much better if I had hadeither father or brother to keep me in order. Poor child, she has awonderful charm, not all my fancy, Alick. And yet there is one whosereal working talent has been more than that of any of us, who has madeit effective for herself and others, and has let it do her only good, not harm. " "You are right. If we are to show Una how intellect and brilliant powercan be no snares, but only blessings helping the spirits in infirmityand trouble, serving as a real engine for independence and usefulness, winning love and influence for good, genuine talents in the highestsense of the word, then commend me to such a Clever Woman of the familyas Ermine Keith. "