THE PILLARS OF THE HOUSE

OR

UNDER WODE, UNDER RODE

BY

CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

VOL. I

ILLUSTRATED BY HERBERT GANDY

CONTENTS TO VOL. I. 

CHAP. 

 I. THE BIRTH-DAY GIFT

 II. THE PICNIC

 III. FORTUNATUS' PURSE

 IV. TWILIGHT AND DAWN

 V. WORKING FOR BREAD

 VI. THE CACIQUE

 VII. THE CHESS-PLAYER'S BATTLE

 VIII. THE HOME

 IX. THE THIRTEEN

 X. THE FAMILY COBWEB ON THE MOVE

 XI. THE CHORAL FESTIVAL

 XII. GIANT DESPAIR'S CASTLE

 XIII. PEGASUS IN HARNESS

 XIV. WHAT IT MAY LEAD TO

 XV. WHAT IT LED TO

 XVI. THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT

 XVII. MIDSUMMER SUN

XVIII. BY THE RIVER

 XIX. THE HOUSE WITHOUT PILLARS

 XX. VALE LESTON

 XXI. A KETTLE OF FISH

 XXII. THE REAL THING AND NO MISTAKE

XXIII. SMOKE-JACK ALLEY

THE PILLARS OF THE HOUSE

OR

UNDER WODE, UNDER RODE

CHAPTER ITHE BIRTHDAY GIFT

'O I've got a plum-cake, and a feast let us make, Come, school-fellows, come at my call; I assure you 'tis nice, and we'll all have a slice, Here's more than enough for us all. ' JANE TAYLOR. 

'It is come! Felix, it is come!'

So cried, shouted, shrieked a chorus, as a street door was torn opento admit four boys, with their leathern straps of books over theirshoulders. They set up a responsive yell of 'Jolly! Jolly!' whichbeing caught up and re-echoed by at least five voices within, causeda considerable volume of sound in the narrow entry and narrowerstaircase, up which might be seen a sort of pyramid of children. 

'Where is it?' asked the tallest of the four arrivals, as he soberlyhung up his hat. 

'Mamma has got it in the drawing-room, and Papa has been in eversince dinner, ' was the universal cry from two fine-complexioned, handsome girls, from a much smaller girl and boy, and from a creaturerolling on the stairs, whose sex and speech seemed as yet uncertain. 

'And where's Cherry?' was the further question; 'is she there too?'

'Yes, but--' as he laid his hand on the door-- 'don't open the letterthere. Get Cherry, and we'll settle what to do with it. '

'O Felix, I've a stunning notion!'

'Felix, promise to do what I want!'

'Felix, do pray buy me some Turkish delight!'

'Felix, I do want the big spotty horse. '

Such shouts and insinuations, all deserving the epithet of the first, pursued Felix as he entered a room, small, and with all the contentsfaded and worn, but with an air of having been once tasteful, andstill made the best of. Contents we say advisedly, meaning not merelythe furniture but the inmates, namely, the pale wan fragile mother, working, but with the baby on her knee, and looking as if care andtoil had brought her to skin and bone, though still with sweet eyesand a lovely smile; the father, tall and picturesque, with straighthandsome features, but with a hectic colour, wasted cheek, andlustrous eye, that were sad earnests of the future. He was stillunder forty, his wife some years less; and elder than either in itsexpression of wasted suffering was the countenance of the little girlof thirteen years old who lay on the sofa, with pencil, paper, andbook, her face with her mother's features exaggerated into a look atonce keen and patient, all three forming a sad contrast to the solidexuberant health on the other side the door. 

Truly the boy who entered was a picture of sturdy English vigour, stout-limbed, rosy-faced, clear eyed, open, and straight-forwardlooking, perhaps a little clumsy with the clumsiness of sixteen, especially when conscience required tearing spirits to be subdued tothe endurance of the feeble. It was, however, a bright congratulatinglook that met him from the trio. The little girl started up, 'Yoursovereign's come, Felix!'

The father showed his transparent-looking white teeth in a merrylaugh. 'Here are the galleons, you boy named in a lucky hour! Howmany times have you spent them in fancy?'

The mother held up the letter, addressed to Master Felix ChesterUnderwood, No. 8 St. Oswald's Buildings, Bexley, and smiled as shesaid, 'Is it all right, my boy?'

'They want me to open it outside, Mamma!--Come, Whiteheart, we wantyou at the council. '

And putting his arm round his little sister Geraldine's waist, whileshe took up her small crutch, Felix disappeared with her, the motherlooking wistfully after them, the father giving something between alaugh and a sigh. 

'Then you decide against speaking to him, ' said Mrs. Underwood. 

'Poor children, yes. A little happiness will do them a great dealmore good than the pound would do to us. The drops that will filltheir little cup will but be lost in our sea. '

'Yes, I like what comes from Vale Leston to be still a festivematter, ' said Mrs. Underwood; 'and at least we are sure the dear boywill never spend it selfishly. It only struck me whether he would notenjoy finding himself able to throw something into the common stock. '

'He would, honest lad, ' said Mr. Underwood; 'but, Mamma, you are veryhard-hearted towards the rabble. Even if this one pound would provideall the shoes and port wine that are pressing on the maternal mind, the stimulus of a day's treat would be much more wholesome. '

'But not for you, ' said his wife. 

'Yes for me. If the boy includes us old folks in his festivity, itwill be as good as a week's port wine. You doubt, my sweet Enid. Hasnot our long honeymoon at Vale Leston helped us all this time?' Hername was Mary, but having once declared her to be a woman made of thesame stuff as Enid, he had made it his pet title for her. 

Mrs. Underwood's thoughts went far away into the long ago of ValeLeston. She could hardly believe that nine years only had passedsince that seven-years' honeymoon. She was a woman of the fewestpossible words, and her husband generally answered her face insteadof her voice. 

Vale Leston had promised to be an ample provision when EdwardUnderwood had resigned his fellowship to marry the Rector's niece andadopted daughter, his own distant cousin, with the assurance of beingpresented to the living hereafter, and acting in the meantime ascurate. It was a family living, always held conjointly with atolerably good estate, enough to qualify the owner for the dangerousposition of 'squarson, ' as no doubt many a clerical Underwood hadbeen ever since their branch had grown out from the stem of the elderline, which had now disappeared. These comfortable quarters hadseemed a matter of certainty, until the uncle died suddenly and witha flaw in his will, so that the undesirable nephew and heir-at-lawwhom he had desired to exclude, a rich dissipated man, son to abrother older than the father of the favourite niece, had stepped in, and differing in toto from Edward Underwood, had made his own sontake orders for the sake of the living, and it had been the effort ofthe young wife ever since not to disobey her husband by showing thatit had been to her the being driven out of paradise. 

ASSISTANT CURACY. --A Priest of Catholic opinions is needed at a townparish. Resident Rector and three Curates. Daily Prayers. ChoralService on Sundays and Holy-days. Weekly Communion. --Apply to P. C. B. , St. Oswald's Rectory, Bexley. 

Every one knows the sort of advertisement which had brought Mr. Underwood to Bexley, as a place which would accord with the doctrinesand practices dear to him. Indeed, apart from the advertisement, Bexley had a fame. A great rubrical war had there been fought out bythe Rector of St. Oswald's, and when he had become a colonial Bishop, his successor was reported to have carried on his work; and thebeauty of the restored church, and the exquisite services, were sogenerally talked of, that Mr. Underwood thought himself fortunate inobtaining the appointment. Mr. Bevan too, the Rector, was anexceedingly courteous, kindly-mannered man, talking in a soft lowvoice in the most affectionate and considerate manner, and with goodtaste and judgment that exceedingly struck and pleased the newcurate. It was the more surprise to him to find the congregationsthin, and a general languor and indifference about the people whoattended the church. There was also a good deal of opposition in theparish, some old sullen seceders who went to a neighbouringproprietary chapel, many more of erratic tastes haunted the places ofworship of the numerous sects, who swarmed in the town, and many morewere living in a state of town heathenism. 

It was not long before the perception of the cause began to grow uponMr. Underwood. The machinery was perfect, but the spring was failing;the salt was there, but where was the savour? The discourses he heardfrom his rector were in one point of view faultless, but the oldScottish word 'fushionless' would rise into his thoughts wheneverthey ended, and something of effect and point was sure to fail; theywere bodies without souls, and might well satisfy a certain excellentsolicitor, who always praised them as 'just the right medium, sober, moderate, and unexciting. '

In the first pleasure of a strong, active, and enterprising man, atfinding his plans unopposed by authority, Mr. Underwood had beendelighted with his rectory ready consent to whatever he undertook, and was the last person to perceive that Mr. Bevan, though objectingto nothing, let all the rough and tough work lapse upon his curates, and took nothing but the graceful representative part. Even then, Mr. Underwood had something to say in his defence; Mr. Bevan wasvaletudinarian in his habits, and besides--he was in the midst of acourtship--after his marriage he would give his mind to his parish. 

For Mr. Bevan, hitherto a confirmed and rather precise and luxuriousbachelor, to the general surprise, married a certain Lady Price, theyoung widow of an old admiral, and with her began a new regime. 

My Lady, as every one called her, since she retained her title andname, was by no means desirous of altering the ornamentalarrangements in church, which she regarded with pride; but she wasdoubly anxious to guard her husband's health, and she also had thesharpest eye to the main chance. Hitherto, whatever had been thedisappointments and shortcomings at the Rectory, there had been free-handed expenditure, and no stint either in charity or the expensesconnected with the service; but Lady Price had no notion of taking onher uncalled-for outlay. The parish must do its part, and it wascalled on to do so in modes that did not add to the Rector'spopularity. Moreover, the arrangements were on the principle ofgetting as much as possible out of everybody, and no official failedto feel the pinch. The Rector was as bland, gentle, and obliging asever; but he seldom transacted any affairs that he could help; and inthe six years that had elapsed since the marriage, every personconnected with the church had changed, except Mr. Underwood. 

Yet perhaps as senior curate, he had felt the alteration mostheavily. He had to be, or to refuse to be, my Lady's instrument inher various appeals; he came in for her indignation at wastefulness, and at the unauthorised demands on the Rector; he had to feel what itwas to have no longer unlimited resources of broth and wine to fallback upon at the Rectory; he had to supply the shortcomings of thenew staff brought in on lower terms--and all this, moreover, when hisown health and vigour were beginning to fail. 

Lady Price did not like him or his family. They were poor, and shedistrusted the poor; and what was worse, she knew they were betterborn and better bred than herself, and had higher aims. Gentle Mrs. Underwood, absorbed in household cares, no more thought of rivalrywith her than with the Queen; but the soft movement, the low voice, the quiet sweep of the worn garments, were a constant vexation to myLady, who having once pronounced the curate's wife affected, held toher opinion. With Mr. Underwood she had had a fight or two, and hadnot conquered, and now they were on terms of perfect respect andcivility on his side, and of distance and politeness on hers. Shemight talk of him half contemptuously, but she never durst showherself otherwise than civil, though she was always longing to bringin some more deferential person in his place, and, whenever illnessinterfered with his duties, she spoke largely to her friends of theimpropriety of a man's undertaking what he could not perform. 

One of her reductions had been the economising the third curate, while making the second be always a neophyte, who received his titlefor Orders, and remained his two years upon a small stipend. 

The change last Easter, which had substituted a deacon for a priest, had fallen heavily on Mr. Underwood, and would have been heavierstill, but that the new comer, Charles Audley, had attached himselfwarmly to him. The young man was the son of a family of rank andconnection, and Lady Price's vanity was flattered by obtaining hisassistance; but her vexation was proportionably excited by hispreference for the Underwood household, where, in truth--with all itspoverty--he found the only atmosphere thoroughly congenial to him inall the parish of St. Oswald's. 

Speedily comprehending the state of things, he put his vigorous youngshoulder to the wheel, and, full of affectionate love and admirationfor Mr. Underwood, spared himself nothing in the hope of saving himfatigue or exertion, quietly gave up his own holidays, was always athis post, and had hitherto so far lightened Mr. Underwood's toil, that he was undoubtedly getting through this summer better than thelast, for his bodily frame had long been affected by the increasedamount of toil in an ungenial atmosphere, and every access of coldweather had told on him in throat and chest attacks, which, withcharacteristic buoyancy, he would not believe serious. He neverdeemed himself aught but 'better, ' and the invalid habits that crepton him by stealth, always seemed to his brave spirit consequent on aday's extra fatigue, or the last attention to a departing cough. Alas! when every day's fatigue was extra, the cough alwaysdepart_ing_, never depart_ed_. 

Yet, though it had become a standing order in the house, that for anhour after papa came in from his rounds, no one of the childrenshould be in the drawing-room, except poor little lame Geraldine, whowas permanently established there; and that afterwards, even onstrong compulsion, they should only come in one by one, as quietly aspossible, he never ceased to apologise to them for their banishmentwhen he felt it needful, and when he was at ease, would renew themerriment that sometimes cost him dear. 

The children had, for the most part, inherited that precious heirloomof contentment and elasticity, and were as happy in nooks and cornersin bedroom, nursery, staircase or kitchen, as they could have been inextensive play-rooms and gardens. 

See them in full council upon the expenditure of the annual gift thatan old admiral at Vale Leston, who was godfather to Felix, was wontto send the boy on his birthday--that third of July, which had seemedso bright, when birthdays had begun in the family, that no name saveFelix could adequately express his parent's feelings. 

Mr. And Mrs. Underwood had fancies as to nomenclature; and thatstaircaseful of children rejoiced in eccentric appellations. To beginat the bottom--here sat on a hassock, her back against the wall, hersharp old fairy's face uplifted, little Geraldine, otherwise Cherry, a title that had suited her round rosiness well, till after the firstwinter at Bexley, when the miseries of a diseased ancle-joint had setin, and paled her into the tender aliases of White-heart, or Sweet-heart. She was, as might be plainly seen in her grey eyes, a cleverchild; and teaching her was a great delight to her father, and ofteninterested him when he was unequal to anything else. Her darkeyebrows frowned with anxiety as she lifted up her little pointedchin to watch sturdy frank-faced Felix, who with elaborate slownessdealt with the envelope, tasting slowly of the excitement it created, and edging away from the baluster, on which, causing it to contributefrightful creaks to the general Babel, were perched numbers 4, 6, 7, and 8, to wit, Edgar, Clement, Fulbert, and Lancelot, all threehandsome, blue-eyed, fair-faced lads. Indeed Edgar was remarkable, even among this decidedly fine-looking family. He had a peculiarlydelicate contour of feature and complexion, though perfectly healthy;and there was something of the same expression, half keen, halfdreamy, as in Geraldine, his junior by one year; while the grace ofall the attitudes of his slender lissome figure showed to advantagebeside Felix's more sturdy form, and deliberate or downrightmovements; while Clement was paler, slighter, and with ratherinfantine features, and shining wavy brown hair, that nothing everseemed to ruffle, looked so much as if he ought to have been a girl, that Tina, short for Clementina, was his school name. Fulbert, stout, square, fat-cheeked, and permanently rough and dusty, looked as if hehardly belonged to the rest. 

The four eldest were day-scholars at the city grammar-school; butLancelot, a bright-faced little fellow in knickerbockers, was a pupilof whoever would or could teach him at home, as was the little girlwho was clinging to his leg, and whose name of Robina seemed to havemoulded her into some curious likeness to a robin-redbreast, with herbrown soft hair, rosy cheeks, bright merry eyes, plump form, andquick loving audacity. Above her sat a girl of fifteen, with thefamily features in their prettiest development--the chiseled straightprofile, the clear white roseately tinted skin, the large well-openedazure eyes, the profuse glossy hair, the long, slender, gracefullimbs, and that pretty head leant against the knees of her own verycounterpart; for these were Wilmet and Alda, the twin girls who hadsucceeded Felix, and whose beauty had been the marvel of Vale Leston, their shabby dress the scorn of the day school at Bexley. And formingthe apex of the pyramid, perched astride on the very shoulders ofmuch-enduring Wilmet, was three years old Angela--Baby Bernard beingquiescent in a cradle near mamma. N. B. --Mrs. Underwood, though hergirls had such masculine names, had made so strong a protest againsttheir being called by boyish abbreviations, that only in one case hadnature been too strong for her, and Robina had turned into Bobbie. Wilmet's second name being Ursula, she was apt to be known as 'W. 'W. 

'Make haste, Felix, you intolerable boy! don't be so slow!'cried Alda. 

'Is there a letter?' inquired Wilmet. 

Yes, more's the pity!' said Felix. 'Now I shall have to answer it. '

'I'll do that, if you'll give me what's inside, ' said Edgar. 

'Is it there?' exclaimed Cherry, in a tone of doubt, that sent anelectric thrill of dismay through the audience; Lance nearly topplingover, to the horror of the adjacent sisters, and the grave rebuke ofClement. 

'If it should be a sell!' gasped Fulbert. 

'Suppose it were, ' said Felix gravely. 

'Then, said Edgar, 'you can disown the old rogue Chester. '

'What stuff!' interposed Clement. 

'I'd cut him out of my will on the spot, ' persisted Edgar. 

'But it is all right, ' said Cherry, looking with quiet certainty intoher brother's face; and he nodded and coloured at the same time. 

'But it is not a pretty one, ' said little Robina. 'Last year it wasgreen, and before that red; and this is nasty stupid black and white, and all thin crackling paper. '

Felix laughed, and held up the document. 

'What!' cried Fulbert. 'Five! Why, 'tisn't only five shillings! thehorrid old cheat!'

'It's a five-pound note!' screamed Cherry. 'I saw one when Papa wentto the bank! O Felix, Felix!'

A five-pound note! It seemed to take away the breath of those whoknew what it meant, and then an exulting shout broke forth. 

'Well, ' said Edgar solemnly, 'old Chester is a brick! Three cheersfor him!'

Which cheers having been perpetrated with due vociferation, the crybegan, 'O Felix, what will you do with it?'

'Buy a pony!' cried Fulbert. 

'A rocking-horse, ' chirped Robina. 

'Punch every week, ' shouted Lance. 

'A knife apiece, ' said Fulbert. 

'How can you all be so selfish?' pronounced Clement. 'Now a harmoniumwould be good to us all. '

'Then get some cotton, for our ears into the bargain, if Tina is toplay on it, ' said Edgar. 

'I shall take the note to mother, ' said the owner. 

'Oh!' screamed all but Wilmet and Cherry, 'that's as bad as nothaving it at all!'

Maybe Felix thought so, for it was with a certain gravity andsolemnity of demeanour that he entered the drawing-room, causing hisfather to exclaim, 'How now? No slip between cup and lip? Notinfelix, Felix?'

'No, papa, but it's this and I thought I ought to bring it. '

The dew at once was in the mother's eyes, as she sprang up and kissedthe boy's brow, saying, 'Felix, dear, don't show it to me. You weremeant to be happy with it. Go and be so. '

'Stay, ' said Mr. Underwood, Felix will really enjoy helping us tothis extent more than any private expenditure. Is it not so, my boy?Well then, I propose that the sovereign of old prescriptive rightshould go to his menus plaisirs, and the rest to something needful;but he shall say to what. Said I well, old fellow?'

'Oh, thank you, thank you!' cried Felix ardently. 

'Thank me for permission to do as you will with your own?' smiled Mr. Underwood. 

'You will choose, then, Felix?' said his mother wistfully, herdesires divided between port wine for papa and pale ale forGeraldine. 

'Yes, mamma, ' was the prompt answer. 'Then, please, let Wilmet andAlda be rigged out fresh for Sundays. '

'Wilmet and Alda!' exclaimed Mamma. 

'Yes, I should like that better than anything, please, ' said the boy. 'All our fellows say they would be the prettiest girls in all Bexley, if they were properly dressed; and those horrid girls at MissPearson's lead them a life about those old black hats. '

'Poor dears! I have found Alda crying when she was dressing forchurch, ' mused Mrs. Underwood; 'and though I have scolded her, Icould have cried too, to think how unlike their girlhood is to mine. '

'And if you went to fetch them home from school, you would know howbad it is, Mamma, ' said Felix. 'Wilmet does not mind it, but Aldacries, and the sneaking girls do it the more; and they are girls; soone can't lick them; and they have not all got brothers. '

'To be licked instead!' said Mr. Underwood, unable to help beingamused. 

'Well, yes, Papa; and so you see it would be no end of a comfort tomake them look like the rest. '

'By all means, Felix. The ladies can tell how far your benefactionwill go; but as far as it can accomplish, the twins shall beresplendent. Now then, back to your anxious clients. Only tell mefirst how my kind old friend the Admiral is. '

'Here's his letter, Father; I quite forgot to read it. '

'Some day, I hope, you will know him enough to care for himpersonally. Now you may be off. --Nay, Enid, love, your daughterscould not have lived much longer without clothes to their backs. '

'Oh, yes, it must have been done, ' sighed the poor mother; 'but Ifancied Felix would have thought of you first. '

'He thought of troubles much more felt than any of mine. Poorchildren! the hard apprenticeship will serve them all their lives. '

Meantime Felix returned with the words, 'Hurrah! we are to have thesovereign just as usual; and all the rest is to go to turn out Wilmetand Alda like respectable young females. --Hollo, now!'

For Alda had precipitated herself downstairs, to throttle him withher embraces; while Cherry cried out, 'That's right! Oh, do get thosedear white hats you told me about;' but the public, even there amany-headed monster thing, was less content. 

'What, all in girls' trumpery?' 'That's the stupidest sell I everheard of!' 'Oh, I did so want a pony!' were the cries of the boys. 

Even Robina was so far infected as to cry, 'I wanted a ride. '

And Wilmet reproachfully exclaimed, 'O Felix, you should have gotsomething for Papa. Don't you know, Mr. Rugg said he ought to have arespirator. It is a great shame. '

'I don't think he would have let me, Wilmet, ' said Felix, looking up;'and I never thought of it. Besides, I can't have those girls makingasses of themselves at you. '

'Oh no, don't listen to Wilmet!' cried Alda. 'You are the very bestbrother in all the world! Now we shall be fit to be seen at the breakup. I don't think I could have played my piece if I knew every onewas looking at my horrid old alpaca. '

'And there'll be hats for Cherry and Bobbie too!' entreated Wilmet. 

'Oh, don't put it into their heads!' gasped Alda. 

'No, I'll have you two fit to be seen first, said Felix. 

'Well, it's a horrid shame, ' grumbled Fulbert; 'we have always allgone shares in Felix's Birthday tip. '

'So you do now, ' said Felix; 'there's the pound all the same asusual. '

That pound was always being spent in imagination; and the voicesbroke out again. 

'Oh, then Papa can have the respirator!'

'Felix, the rocking-horse!'

'Felix, do get us three little cannon to make a jolly row everybirthday!'

'Felix, do you know that Charlie Froggatt says he would sell that bigNewfoundland for a pound? and that would be among us all. '

'Nonsense, Fulbert! a big dog is always eating; but there is aconcertina at Lake's. '

'Tina--tina--concertina! But, I say, Fee, there's Whiteheart beenwishing her heart out all the time for a real good paint-box. '

'Oh, never mind that, Ed; no one would care for one but you and me, and the little ones would spoil all the paints. '

'Yes, resumed Wilmet, from her throne, --'it would be the worry ofone's life to keep the little ones off them; and baby would bepoisoned to a dead certainty. Now the respirator--'

'Now the concertina--'

'Now Punch--'

'Now the dog--'

'Now the rocking-horse--'

'Now the cannon--'

'I'll tell you what, ' said Felix, 'I've settled how it is to be. We'll get John Harper's van, and all go out to the Castle, with ajolly cold dinner--yes, you, Cherry, and all; Ed and I will carryyou--and dine on the grass, and--'

A chorus of shouts interrupted him, all ecstatic, and rendered moreemphatic by the stamping of feet. 

'And Angela will go!' added. Wilmet. 

'And Papa, ' entreated Cherry. 

'And Mamma too, if she will, ' said Felix. 

'And Mr. Audley, ' pronounced Robina, echoed by Clement and Angela. 'Mr. Audley must go!'

'Mr. Audley!' grunted Felix. 'I want nobody but ourselves. '

'Yes, and if he went we could not stay jolly late. My Lady would makeno end of a row if both curates cut the evening prayers. '

'For shame, Edgar!' cried the three elder girls. 

While Wilmet added, 'We could not stay late, because of Papa and thelittle ones. But I don't want Mr. Audley, either. '

'No, no! Papa and he will talk to each other, and be of no use, ' saidGeraldine. 'Oh, how delicious! Will the wild-roses be out? When shallit be, Felix?'

'Well, the first fine day after school breaks up, I should say. '

'Hurrah! hurrah!'

And there was another dance, in the midst of which Mr. Underwoodopened the door, to ask what honourable member was receiving suchdeafening cheers. 

'Here! here he is, Papa!' cried Alda. 'He is going to take us all outto a picnic in the Castle woods; and won't you come, Papa?'

'O Papa, you will come!' said Felix. And the whole staircase bawledin accordance. 

'Come! to be sure I will!' said his father; 'and only too glad to beasked! I trust we shall prove to have found the way to get themaximum of pleasure out of Admiral Chester's gift. '

'If Mamma will go, ' said Felix. 'I wonder what the van will cost, andwhat will be left for the dinner. '

'Oh, let us two cook the whole dinner, ' entreated the twins. 

'Wait now, ' said Felix. 'I didn't know it was so late, Father. ' Andhe carefully helped his father on with his coat; and as a church bellmade itself heard, set forth with him. 

When the service was musical, Felix and his two next brothers bothformed part of the choir; and though this was not the case on thisevening, Felix knew that his mother was easier when he or Wilmetcould watch over Papa's wraps. 

And Mamma herself, with one at least of the twins, was busy enough ingiving the lesser ones their supper, and disposing of them in bed, sothat the discreet alone might remain to the later tea-drinking. 

And 'Sibby' must be made a sharer of the good news in her lowerregion, though she was sure to disbelieve in Alda and Wilmet'samateur cookery. 

Sibby was Wilmet's foster-mother. Poor thing! Mr. Underwood had foundher in dire need in the workhouse, a child herself of seventeen witha new-born babe, fresh from the discovery that the soldier-husband, as she thought, and who had at least gone before the praste withher, ' and brought her from her Kilkenny home, was previously husbandto another woman. She was tenderly cared for by Mr. Underwood'smother, who was then alive, and keeping house for the whole party atthe Rectory; and having come into the Vale Leston nursery, she neverleft it. Her own child died in teething, and she clung sopassionately to her nursling, that Mrs. Underwood had no heart toseparate them, Roman Catholic though she was, and difficult todispose of. She was not the usual talking merry Irishwoman; if evershe had been such, her heart was broken; and she was always meek, quiet, subdued, and attentive; forgetful sometimes, but tender andtrustworthy to the last degree with the children. 

She had held fast to the family in their reverses, and no morethought of not sharing their lot than one of their children. Indeed, it would not have been much more possible to send her out to shiftfor herself in England; and her own people seemed to have vanished inthe famine, for her letters, with her savings, came back from thedead-letter office. She put her shoulder to the burthen, and, withone small scrub under her, got through an amazing amount of work: andthough her great deep liquid brown eyes looked as pathetic as ever, she certainly was in far better spirits than when she sat in thenursery. To be sure, she was a much better nurse than she was a cook;but as both could not be had, Mrs. Underwood was content and thankfulto have a servant so entirely one with themselves in interests andaffections; and who had the further perfection of never wanting anysociety but the children's; shrinking from English gossips, and nevershowing a weakness, save for Irish tramps. Moreover, she was aprodigious knitter; and it was her boast that not one of the sixyoung gentlemen had yet worn stocking or sock, but what came from herneedles, and had been re-footed by her to the last extremity of wear. 

Meantime, Felix and Clement walked with their father to the church. There it was, that handsome church; the evening sun in slanting beamscoming through the gorgeous west window to the illuminated walls, andthe rich inlaid marble and alabaster of the chancel mellowed by thepure evening light. The east window, done before glass-painting hadimproved, was tame and ill-executed, and there was, evenaesthetically, a strange unsatisfactory feeling in looking at theheavy, though handsome, incrustations and arcades of dark marble thatformed the reredos. It was all very correct; but it wanted life. 

Mr. Bevan was not there, he had gone out to dinner, and thecongregation consisted of some young ladies, old men, and threelittle children. Mr. Audley read all, save the Absolution and theLessons; and the responses sounded low and feeble in the greatchurch, though there was one voice among them glad and hearty indedicating and entrusting the new year of his life with its unknownburthen. 

Felix had heard sayings and seen looks which, boldly as his sanguinespirit resisted them, would hang in a heavy boding cloud over hismind, and were already casting a grave shadow there. 

And if the thought of his fivefold gift swelled the fervour of his'Amen' to the General Thanksgiving, there was another deep heartfeltAmen, which breathed forth earnest gratitude for the possession ofsuch a first-born son. 

'That is a very good boy, ' the father could not help saying to Mr. Audley, as, on quitting the churchyard, Felix exclaiming, 'Papa, mayI just get it changed and ask about the van?' darted across thestreet, with Clement, into a large grocer's shop nearly opposite, where a brisk evening traffic was going on in the long daylight ofhot July; and he could not but tell of the birthday-gift, and how itwas to be spent. 'Res angusta domi, ' he said, with a smile, 'is athing to be thankful for, when it has such effects upon a lad. '

'You must add a small taste of example to the prescription, ' said Mr. Audley. 'Is this all the birthday present Felix has had?'

'Well, I believe Cherry gave him one of her original designs; butbirthdays are too numerous for us to stand presents. '

The other curate half-sighed. He was a great contrast--a much smallerman than his senior, slight, slim, and pale, but with no look of ill-health about him, brown eyed and haired, and with the indefinablelook about all his appointments and dress, that showed he had livedin unconscious luxury and refinement all his days. His thoughts wentback to a home, where the only perplexity was how to deal with anabsolute glut of presents, and to his own actual doubts what to sendthat youngest sister, who would feel slighted if Charlie sentnothing, but really could not want anything; a book she would notread, a jewel could seldom get a turn of being worn, a trinket wouldonly be fresh lumber for her room. Then he revolved the possibilitiesof making Felix a present, without silencing his father'sconfidences, and felt that it could not be done in any direct mannerat present; nay, that it could hardly add to the radiant happiness ofthe boy, who rushed across the road, almost under the nose of therailway-omnibus horses, and exclaimed--

'He will let us have it for nothing, Father! He says it would behiring it out, and he can't do that: but he would esteem it a greatfavour if we would go in it, and not pay anything, except just ashilling to Harris for a pint of beer. Won't it be jolly, Father?'

'Spicy would be more appropriate, ' said Mr. Underwood, laughing, asthe vehicle in question drew up at the shop door, with Mr. Harper'sname and all his groceries inscribed in gold letters upon the awning. 

'I'm so glad I thought of Harper's, ' continued Felix. 'I asked himinstead of Buff, because I knew Mamma would want it to be covered. Now there's lots of room; and we boys will walk up all the hills. '

'I hope there is room for me, Felix, ' suggested Mr. Audley. 

'Or, ' suggested Mr. Underwood, 'you might, like John Gilpin, "ride onhorseback after we. "'

'Felix looks non-content, ' said Mr. Audley. 'I am afraid I was not inhis programme. Speak out--let us have it. '

'Why, ' said Felix, looking down, 'our little ones all wanted to haveyou; but then we thought we should all be obliged to come home toosoon, unless you took the service for Papa. '

'He certainly ought not to go to church after it, ' said Mr. Audley;'but I can settle that by riding home in good time. What's the day?'

'The day after the girls' break-up, if you please, ' said Felix, stillnot perfectly happy, but unable to help himself; and manifestingquite enough reluctance to make his father ask, as soon as they hadparted, what made him so ungracious. 

'Only, Papa, ' said Felix frankly, 'that we know that you and he willget into some Church talk, and then you'll be of no use; and wewanted to have it all to ourselves. '

'Take care, Felix, ' said Mr. Underwood; 'large families are apt toget into a state of savage exclusiveness. '

Felix had to bear the drawback, and the groans it caused from Wilmet, Edgar, and Fulbert: the rest decidedly rejoiced. And Mr. Underwoodprivately confided the objection to his friend, observing merrilythat they would bind themselves by a promise not to talk shopthroughout the expedition. 

It was a brilliantly, happy week. Pretty hats, bound with dark bluevelvet, and fresh black silk jackets, were squeezed out of the fourpounds, with the help of a few shillings out of the intended hire ofthe van, and were the glory of the whole family, both of those whowere to wear them and those who were not. 

On Saturday evening, just as the four elder young people were aboutto sally forth to do the marketing for their picnic, a great hampermade its appearance in the passage, addressed to F. C. Underwood, Esq. , and with nothing to pay. Only there was a note fastened to theside, saying, 'Dear Felix, pray let the spicy van find room for mycontribution to your picnic. I told my mother to send me what wasproper from home. --C. S. A. '

Mrs. Underwood was dragged out to superintend the unpacking, whichshe greatly advised should be merely a surface investigation. Thatwas quite enough, however, to assure her that for Felix to lay in anyprovision, except the tea and the bread she had already promised, would be entirely superfluous. The girls were disappointed of theircookery; but derived consolation from the long walk with thebrothers, in which a cake of good carmine and a lump of gamboge werepurchased for Cherry, and two penny dolls for Robina and Angela. Whatwould become of the rest of the pound?

On Sunday, the offertory was, as usual on ordinary occasions, ratherscanty; but there was one half-sovereign; and Mr. Underwood wasconvinced that it had come from under the one white surplice that hadstill remained on the choir boys' bench. 

He stayed in the vestry after the others to count and take care ofthe offerings, and as he took up the gold, he could not but look athis son, who was waiting for him, and who flushed all over as he methis eye. 'Yes, Papa, I wanted to tell you--I did grudge it at first, 'he said hoarsely. 'I knew it was the tithe; but it seemed so muchaway from them all. I settled that two shillings was the tenth of myown share, and I would give that to-day; and then came Mr. Harper'skindness about the van; and next, when I was thinking how I couldsave the tenth part without stinting everybody, came all Mr. Audley'shamper. It is very strange and happy, Papa, and I have stillsomething left. '

'I believe, ' said Mr. Underwood, 'that you will find the consideringthe tithe as not your own, is the safest way of keeping poverty fromgrinding you, or wealth from spoiling you. '

And very affectionately he leant on his son's shoulder all the wayhome; while Mr. Audley was at luncheon at the Rectory with my Lady, and her twelve years old daughter. 

'Mamma, ' said Miss Price, 'did you see the Underwoods in new hats?'

'Of course I did, my dear. They were quite conspicuous enough; butwhen people make a great deal of their poverty, they always do breakout in the most unexpected ways. '

'They are pretty girls' said the Rector, rather dreamily, 'and Isuppose they must have new clothes sometimes. '

'You will always find, ' proceeded Lady Price without regard, 'thatpeople of that sort have a wonderful eye to the becoming--nothingeconomical for them! I am sorry for Mr. Underwood, his wife isbringing up a set of fine ladies, who will trust to their prettylooks, and be quite above doing anything for themselves. '

'Do you think Wilmet and Alda Underwood so very pretty, Mr. Audley?'inquired Miss Price, turning her precocious eyes upon him. 

'Remarkably so, ' Mr. Audley replied, with a courteous setting-downtone that was the only thing that ever approached to subduing MissPrice, and which set her pouting without an answer. 

'It is a great misfortune to girls in that station of life to havethat painted-doll sort of beauty, ' added my Lady; 'and what was it Iheard about a picnic party?'

'No party, my dear, ' replied the Rector, 'only a little fresh air forthe family--a day in Centry Park. Felix spends his birthday presentfrom his godfather in taking them. '

Ah! I always was sure they had rich friends, though they keep it soclose. Never let me hear of their poverty after this. '

Answers only rendered it worse, so my Lady had it her own way, andnot being known to the public in St. Oswald's Buildings, did nottrouble them much. Yet there was a certain deference to publicopinion there, when Alda was heard pouting, 'Felix, why did you go tothat horrid Harper? Just fancy Miss Price seeing us!'

'Who cares for a stuck-up thing like Miss Price!' growled Felix. 

'I don't care for her, ' said Edgar; 'but it is just as well to havesome notion of things, and Felix hasn't a grain. Why, all the fellowswill be asking which of us is pepper, and which Souchong! I wouldn'thave Froggatt or Bruce see me in it at no price. '

'Very well, stay at home, then, ' said Felix. 

'You could have had the waggonet from the Fortinbras Arms, ' saidAlda. 

'Ay--for all my money, and not for love. '

'For shame, Alda, ' said her twin sister; 'how can you be soridiculous!'

'You know yourself, Wilmet, it is quite true; if any of the girls seeus, we shall be labelled "The Groceries. "'

'Get inside far enough, and they will not see you. '

'Ay, but there'll be that disgusting little Bobbie and Lance sittingin the front, making no end of row, ' said Edgar; 'and the whole placewill know that Mr. Underwood and his family are going out for a spreein old Harper's van! Pah! I shall walk. '

'So shall I, ' said Alda, 'at least till we are out of the town; butthat won't do any good if those children will make themselves sohorridly conspicuous. Could not we have the thing to meet ussomewhere out of town, Felix?'

'And how would you get Cherry there, or Mamma! Or Baby!--No, no, ifyou are too genteel for the van, you may walk. '

CHAPTER II

THE PICNIC

'There, on a slope of orchard, Francis laid A damask napkin, wrought with horse and hound; Brought out a dusky loaf that smelt of home, And, half-cut down, a pasty costly made, Where quail and pigeon, lark and leveret lay, Like fossils of the rock, with golden yolks Imbedded and injellied; last, with these A flask of cider from his father's vats, Prime which I knew;--and so we sat and ate. ' TENNYSON. 

No. 8 St. Oswald's Buildings was a roomy house, which owed itscheapness to its situation, this being neither in the genteel nor thebusy part of Bexley. It was tall and red, and possessed a good manyrooms, and it looked out into a narrow street, the opposite side ofwhich consisted of the long wall of a brewery, which was joinedfarther on to that of the stable-yard of the Fortinbras Arms, theprincipal hotel, which had been much frequented in old posting days, and therefore had offices on a large scale. Only their side, however, was presented to St. Oswald's Buildings, the front, with its arched'porte cochere, ' being in the High Street, as it was still called, though it was a good deal outshone by the newer part of the town. 

The next-door neighbours of No. 8 were on the one hand a carpenter'syard, the view of which was charming to the children, and the noisesnot too obnoxious to their parents, and on the other the rectorygarden, which separated them from the churchyard, now of coursedisused. It had no entrance towards their lane, and to reach thechurch, it was necessary to turn the corner of the wall, and go inthrough the south porch, which opened close upon the High Street. 

In this old street lay the two buildings that chiefly concerned theyoung Underwoods, i. E. The two schools. That for boys was an oldfoundation, which had fallen into decay, and had been reformed andrevivified in nineteenth-century fashion, to suit the requirements ofthe town. The place, though in the south of England, had become notedas a pottery, owing partly to the possession of large fields of apeculiar clay, which was so bad for vegetable growth as to proclaimits destiny to become pots and pans, partly to its convenientneighbourhood to the rising seaport of Dearport, which was only anhour from it by railway. The old St. Oswald's school had been mouldedunder the influence of newcomers, who had upset the rules of thefounder, and arranged the terms on the broadest principles ofliberality, bringing, instead of the drowsy old clerical master, avery brisk and lively young layman, who had a knack of conveyinginstruction of multifarious kinds such as had never occurred to hispredecessor. 

Mr. Underwood had a certain liking for the man, and when tolerablywell, enjoyed the breaking a lance with him over his many crudeheterodoxies; but he did not love the school, and as long as he wasable had taught his boys himself, and likewise taken a few day-pupilsof the upper ranks, who were preparing for public schools. But whenhis failure of health rendered this impracticable, the positive evilof idleness was, he felt greater than any possible ones that mightarise from either the teaching or the associations of the townschool, and he trusted to home influence to counteract any suchdangers. Or perhaps more truly he dreaded lest his own reluctancemight partly come from prejudice in favour of gentlemen and publicschools: and that where a course seemed of absolute necessity, Providence became a guard in its seeming perils. Indeed, that whichhe disapproved in Mr. Ryder's school was more of omission thancommission. It was that secularity was the system, rather than thesubstance of that secularity. 

So Felix and Edgar went to school, and were in due time followed byClement and Fulbert; and their bright wits, and the educatedatmosphere of their home, made their career brilliant and successful. Mr. Ryder was greatly pleased to have got the sons of a man whom hecould not but admire and respect, and was anxious that the boysshould be the means of conquering the antiquated prejudices in favourof exclusiveness at school. 

Felix and Edgar were neck and neck, carrying off all the prizes ofthe highest form but one--Felix, those that depended on industry andaccuracy; Edgar, those that could be gained by readiness anddexterity. Both were to be promoted to the upper form; and Mr. Rydercalled upon their father in great enjoyment of their triumph, andlikewise to communicate his confident certainty that they would dohim and Bexley credit by obtaining the most notable scholarships ofthe University. Mr. Underwood was not a little delighted, gratefulfor the cordial sympathy, and he fully agreed that his own lads hadbenefited by the clear vigorous teaching they had received; butthough he smiled and allowed that they had taken no harm, he saidgood-humouredly that 'Of course, he must consider that as the proofof his own powers of counteraction. '

'Exactly so, ' said the schoolmaster. 'All we wish is, that each homeshould exercise its powers of counteraction. We do the teaching, youform the opinions. '

'Oh! are we parents still to be allowed to form the opinions?'

'If you _will_. Your house is your castle, and the dungeons there maybe what you will. '

'Well, I cannot have a quarrel with you to-day, Ryder! As long as Ican show up my boys as tokens of God's blessing on their home, youare welcome to them as instances of wits well sharpened by thoroughgood instruction. '

Mrs. Underwood had likewise had a congratulatory visit that was verygratifying. The girls' school, a big old red house, standing backfrom the road at the quietest end of the town, was kept by twodaughters of a former clergyman, well educated and conscientiouswomen, whom she esteemed highly, and who gave a real good groundingto all who came under their hands, going on the opposite principle toMr. Ryder's and trying to supply that which the homes lacked. 

And they did often succeed in supplying it, though their scholarscame from a class where there was much to subdue, and just at presenttheir difficulties had been much increased by their having beenhonoured by the education of Miss Price. Seven governesses insuccession had proved incapable of bearing with Lady Price; and theyoung lady had in consequence been sent to Miss Pearson's, notwithout an endeavour on her mother's part to obtain an abatement interms in honour of the eclat of her rank. 

There her airs proved so infectious, that, as Miss Pearson said, theonly assistance she had in lessening their evil influence was theperfect lady-likeness of the Underwood twins, and the warm affectionthat Wilmet inspired. Alda headed a sort of counter party againstCaroline Price, which went on the principle of requiting scorn withscorn, but Wilmet's motherly nature made her the centre of attractionto all the weak and young, and her uprightness bore many besidesherself through the temptation to little arts. Both sisters hadprizes, Alda's the first and best, and Miss Pearson further offeredto let Wilmet pay for her own studies and those of a sister, bybecoming teacher to the youngest class, and supervisor during themid-day recreation, herself and her sister dining at school. 

It was a handsome offer for such a young beginner, and the mother'seyes filled with tears of pleasure; and yet there was a but--

'Not come home to dinner!' cried the children. 'Can't it be Aldainstead of Wilmet? We do always want Wilmet so, and Alda would dojust as well at school. '

Alda too was surprised; for was not she more regular and more forwardthan her twin sister, who was always the one to be kept at home whenany little emergency made Mamma want the aid of an elder daughter?And the mother would almost have asked that Alda might be the chosengoverness pupil, if Mr. Underwood had not said, 'No, my dear, MissPearson must have her own choice. It is a great kindness, and must beaccepted as such. I suppose Robina must be the new scholar. My littlepupil will not leave me. '

Geraldine only heard of the alternative, to say, 'I'll be nobody'spupil but yours, Papa. '

While Robina was proportionably exalted by her preferment, and tookto teasing every one in the house to hear her spelling and hertables, that she might not fulfil Edgar's prediction by going down tothe bottom of the baby-class; and up and down the stairs she ran, chanting in a sing-song measure--

 'Twenty pence are one and eightpence, Thirty pence are two and sixpence, '

and so on, till her father said, smiling, 'Compensations again, Mother: the less you teach them the more they are willing to learn. The mother shook her head, and said the theory was more comfortablethan safe, and that she did not find Lancelot an instance of it. 

But there was a general sense of having earned the holiday, when thegrocery van came to the door, on a morning of glorious sunshine. Edgar and Alda, true to their promise, had walked on so far ahead asto avoid being seen in the town in connection with it; and Fulberthad started with them to exhale his impatience, but then had turnedback half-way, that he might not lose the delicious spectacle of thepacking of the vehicle. A grand pack it was: first, the precioushamper; then a long sofa cushion, laid along the bottom; thenGeraldine lifted in by Sibby and Felix, and folded up with shawls, and propped with cushions by Mamma, whose imagination foresaw moreshaking than did the more youthful anticipation; then Mamma herself, not with 'little baby, ' but with Angela on her lap, and Angela's feetin all manner of unexpected places; then a roll of umbrellas andwraps; then Wilmet, Fulbert, Lance, and Robina--nowhere inparticular, and lastly Papa, making room for Clement between himselfand the good-humoured lad of a driver, who had not long ago been amember of the choir, while Felix, whom nothing could tire on thatday, dived rapidly down a complication of alleys, declaring he shouldbe up with the walkers long before they were overtaken by the van. 

Next appeared Mr. Audley, with his pretty chestnut horse, offering inthe plenitude of his good-nature to give Lance a ride, whereuponvociferous '_me toos_' resounded from within the curtains; and thematter was compounded on ride and tie principles, in which theUnderwood juniors got all the ride, and Mr. Audley all the _tie_--ifthat consisted in walking and holding the bridle. 

By the time the very long and dull suburbs of Bexley were passed, with their interminable villas and rows of little ten-pound houses--the children's daily country walk, poor things! the two elder boysand their sister were overtaken, the latter now very glad tocondescend to the van. 

'Oh, how nice to get beyond our tiresome old tether!' she said, arranging herself a peep-hole between the curtains. 'I am so sick ofall those dusty black beeches, and formal evergreens. How can youstare at them so, Cherry?'

But Geraldine was in a quiet trance of delight; she had never spokena word since she had first found a chink in the awning, but hadwatched with avid eyes the moving panorama of houses, gardens, trees, flowers, carriages, horses, passengers, nursemaids, perambulators, and children. It was all a perfect feast to the long-imprisoned eyes, and the more charming from the dreamy silence in which she gazed. When Felix came up to the slit through which the bright eyes gleamed, and asked whether she were comfortable and liked it, her answer was along-drawn gasp from the wells of infinite satisfaction, such as sethim calculating how many drives in a bathchair the remnant of hisbirthday gift would yet produce. 

But there were greater delights, corn-fields touched with amber, woods sloping up hills, deep lanes edged with luxuriant ferns, greenery that drove the young folk half mad with delight, and madethem scream to be let out and gather--gather to their hearts'content. Only Mamma recommended not tiring themselves, but trustingthat Centry Park would afford even superior flowers to those theypassed. 

They reached the lodge gate at last. They were known, for the Castlehad been long untenanted, and they, like other inhabitants of Bexley, had from time to time enjoyed themselves in the Park, but to-daythere was a shadow of demur. The gentleman who was going to buy theplace was looking over it--but surely--

Horror began to spread over the inmates of the van. 

'But did you come by appointment, sir?' added the gatekeeper's wife, coming out; 'the gentleman's name is Mr. Underwood. '

Mr. Underwood was obliged to disclaim any appointment; but he lookedround at the children's blank faces, and saw lips quivering, and eyesgazing wistfully into the paradise of green shade, and added, 'If thegentleman has not actually bought it, he could not object. We do notwish to go near the house. '

'Maybe Mr. Audley, who was standing near the gate, added another moresubstantial argument, for 'Oh, certainly, sir, ' at once followed; andthe van was allowed to turn down a gravelled road, which skirted anextensive plantation. 

Every one now left it, except Mrs. Underwood, Cherry, and Angela; andthe children began to rush and roll in wild delight on the grassyslope, and to fill their hands with the heather and ling, shriekingwith delight. Wilmet had enough to do to watch over Angela in hertoddling, tumbling felicity; while Felix, weighted with Robina on hisback, Edgar, Fulbert, Clement, and Lance, ran in and out among theturf; and Alda, demurely walking by her papa, opined that it was'very odd that the gentleman's name should be Underwood. '

'Less odd than if it was Upperwood, ' said her father, as if to throwaside the subject; and then, after a few moments' thought, and an oddlittle smile, as if at some thought within himself, he began to handin flowers to Cherry, and to play with little Angela. Mr. Audley hadgone to put up his horse at the village inn, and did not join theparty again till they had reached what the children called PicnicHollow--a spot where a bank suddenly rose above a bright dimplingstream with a bed of rock, the wood opening an exquisite vista underits beech trees beyond, and a keeper's lodge standing convenientlyfor the boiling of kettles. 

Here the van was disposed of, the horses taken out and provided withfood, Cherry carried to a mossy throne under a glorious beech tree, and the hampers unpacked by Mamma and Wilmet, among much capering anddancing of the rest of the family and numerous rejected volunteers ofassistance. Felix and Alda were allowed to spread the table-cloth andplace the dishes, but Edgar was only entreated to keep the rest outof the way. 

Meanwhile, Geraldine sat under the silvery bole of her beech tree, looking up through its delicate light green leaves to the blue sky, not even wanting to speak, lest anything should break that perfectionof enjoyment. Her father watched the little pale absorbedcountenance, and as Mr. Audley came up, touched him to direct hisattention to the child's expression; but the outcry of welcome withwhich the rest greeted the newcomer was too much for even Cherry'strance, and she was a merry child at once, hungry with unwontedappetite, and so relishing her share of the magnificent standing-pie, that Mrs. Underwood reproved herself for thinking what the poor childwould be if she had such fare and such air daily, instead of ill-dressed mutton in the oppressive smoke-laden atmosphere. 

And meantime, Lance was crowing like a cock, and the other boys werelaughing at Robina for her utter ignorance of the white-fleshed bipedshe was eating. 

'No, Clem, chickens have got feathers and wings, and their long neckshang down! This can't be one of them. '

'Perhaps it is a robin-redbreast, ' said Felix. 

'No, nobody kills robin-redbreasts, because they covered the poorlittle children with leaves. '

'Will you cover me with leaves, if I am lost, Bobbie?' said Mr. Audley; but as soon as she found that his attention was gained, shereturned to the charge. 

'Please, did it come from your own home? and what is it, really?'

'Why, Bobbie, I am hardly prepared to say whether it is a Hamburg ora Houdan, or a more unambitious Dorking. Cannot you eat in comfortwithout being certified?'

'The species will be enough for her without the varieties, ' said herfather. 'You have given us a new experience, you see, Audley, and wemay make a curious study of contrasts--not of Audley and myselfMother dear, but of the two Underwoods who seem to be in this placetogether to-day. '

'Who is it?' was of course the cry, and the inquiry was in Mrs. Underwood's eyes, though it did not pass her quiet lips. It was toher that he answered, 'Yes, my dear--Tom; I have little doubt that itis he. He was a very rich man when last I heard of him. '

'Is that the man at Vale Leston?' whispered Alda to Felix. 

'Oh, I hope he is not coming here to insult us. '

'Bosh!' said Felix; 'that man's name is Fulbert. Listen, if you wantto hear. '

'Twenty years ago, ' continued Mr. Underwood, 'I thought myself aprodigiously fine fellow--with my arms full of prizes at Harrow, andmy Trinity scholarship--and could just, in the plenitude of mypresumption, extend a little conceited patronage to that unluckydunce, Tom Underwood, the lag of every form, and thankful for a highstool at old Kedge's. And now my children view a cold fowl as anunprecedented monster, while his might, I imagine, revel in 'patesde foie gras. '

'O Papa, but we like you so much better as you are!' cried Geraldine. 

'Eh, Cherry!' said Mr. Underwood, 'what say you? Shouldn't you likeme better if I were buying that king beech tree, and all the rest ofit?'

Cherry edged nearer, mastered his hand, and looked up in his facewith a whole soul of negation in her wistful eyes. 'No, no, no--justas you are, ' she whispered. 

Some mood of curiosity had come over him, and he turned aninterrogative look elsewhere. 

Alda spoke. 'Of course, it would be horrid not to be a clergyman; butit is a great shame. '

'No, ' said Wilmet, 'it can't be a shame for this cousin Tom to haveearned a fortune fairly--if he has; but'--and she pressed her handstightly together as she looked at the thin worn faces of her parents---'one can't help wishing. Why do things always go hard and wrong?'and the tears dimmed her bright eyes. 

'Because--they _don't_, ' said her father, with a half-seriousquaintness that vexed her, and forced her to turn away to letthe tear drop. 

Clement said, in his calm voice, 'How can you be all so repining andfoolish!'

And Mr. Underwood, almost in lazy mischief, pursued his experiment. 'Eh, Felix, you are the party most concerned--what say you?'

'Most concerned?' Felix looked up surprised, then recollectedhimself. 'I don't care, ' he said, with an appearance of gruffsullenness; but his father could not content himself withoutcontinuing in a semi-teazing tone, 'Don't care--eh? 'Why this CentryUnderwood once belonged to our family--that's the reason Tom is afterit. If I had not scouted old Kedge, you would be prancing about here, a Harrovian, counting the partridges. '

'Don't!' broke in Felix, with a growl. 

'Never fear, Fee'' cried Edgar, with his hand on his brother'sshoulder; if one man got on in life, another may. If one only wasgrown up and had the start----' and his blue eyes sparkled. 

'I did not know Care's clutch had been so tight, ' sighed Mr. Underwood, half to himself, half to his wife. It is not safe, mygentle Enid, to try such experiments. Eh!' rousing himself, what'sthat? Have the mob there a right to any sentiments?'

'Only, ' cried Clement, shouting with laughter, Lance thought you werewanted to hold a high stool for Jack Ketch. '

'For a green goose!' shouted Lance, indignantly. 

'Oh! cried Robina, in the tone of one who had made a scientificdiscovery, 'did the goose have a high stool to lay the golden eggs?'

'A most pertinent question, Bobbie, and much more reasonable thanmine, ' said Mr Underwood; while his colleague gravely answered, 'Yes, Bobbie, golden eggs are almost always laid by geese on high stools. '

'I've got a picture of one! It has got a long neck and long legs, quoth Bobbie. 

'It is only a flamingo, you little goose yourself, ' cried Clement. 

'Here is the golden egg of the present, ' said Mr. Underwood, replenishing the boy's plate with that delicious pie. 'What's thatbeverage, Wilmet? Any horrible brew of your own?'

'No, it is out of Mr. Audley's hamper. '

'The universal hamper. It is like the fairy gifts that producedunlimited eatables. I dreaded cowslip wine or periwinkle broth. '

'No, no, Papa, ' sighed Alda, 'we only once made cowslip tea at ValeLeston. '

'Vale Leston is prohibited for the day. --Master Felix ChesterUnderwood, your good health; and the same to the new Underwood ofCentry Underwood. '

'Shall we see him, Papa?' asked Alda. 

'If either party desires the gratification, no doubt it will comeabout. '

'Shall not you call on him, Papa?'

'Certainly not before he comes. Mother, some of the wonderful bottle---ay, you covetous miser of a woman, or I'll make a libation of itall. Audley, it must have wrung your father's butler's heart to havethrown away this port on a picnic. What did you tell him to deludehim?'

'Only what was true--that I was to meet a gentleman who was a judgeof the article. '

'For shame!' he answered, laughing. 'What right had you to know thatI knew the taste of Cape from Roriz?'

But his evident enjoyment of the 'good creature' was no smallpleasure to the provider, though it was almost choking to meet theglistening glance of Mrs. Underwood's grateful eyes, knowing, as shedid, that there were three more such bottles in the straw at thebottom of the hamper. And when baby Angela had clasped her fat hands, and, as 'youngest at the board, ' 'inclined the head and pronouncedthe solemn word, ' her father added, 'Gratias Deo, and Grazie alei. We must renew our childhood's training, dear Mary--make our bowand curtesy, and say "Thank you for our good dinner. "'

'Thank Felix for our pleasant day, ' said Mr. Audley. 'Come, boys, have a swing! there's a branch too good not to be used; and Ful hasalready hung himself up like a two-toed sloth. '

Then began the real festivity--the swinging, the flower and fernhunting, the drawing, the racing and shouting, the merry calls andexchange of gay foolish talk and raillery. 

Mr. Underwood lay back on a slope of moss, with a plaid beneath him, and a cushion under his head, and said that the Elysian fields musthave been a prevision of this beech-wood. Mrs. Underwood, with Felixand Wilmet, tied up the plates, knives, and forks, and then themother, taking Angela with her, went to negotiate kettle-boiling atthe cottage. Geraldine would fain have sketched, but the glory andthe beauty, and the very lassitude of delight and novelty, made hereyes swim with a delicious mist; and Edgar, who had begun when shedid, threw down his pencil as soon as he saw Felix at liberty, andthe two boys rushed away into the wood for a good tearing scrambleand climb, like creatures intoxicated with the freedom of thegreenwood. 

After a time they came back, dropping armfuls of loose-strife, meadow-sweet, blue vetch, and honey-suckle over delighted Cherry; andfalling down by her side, coats off, all gasp and laughter, andbreathless narrative of exploits and adventures, which somehow diedaway into the sleepiness due to their previous five-mile walk. Felixwent quite off, lying flat on his back, with his head on Cherry'slittle spreading lilac cotton frock, and his mouth wide open, muchtempting Edgar to pop in a pebble; and this being prevented by tenderCherry in vehement dumb show, Edgar consoled himself by a decidedlyuncomplimentary caricature of him as Giant Blunderbore (a namederived from Fee, Fa, Fum) gaping for hasty pudding. 

'That's a horrid shame!' remonstrated Geraldine. 'Dear old Fee, whenthe whole treat is owing to him!'

'It is a tidy little lark for a Blunderbore to have thought of, ' saidEdgar. 'Tis a good sort of giant after all, poor fellow!'

'Poor!' said Cherry indignantly. 'Oh, you mean what Papa said--thathe is the greatest loser of us all. I wonder what made him talk inthat way? He never did before. '

'I am sorry for _him_, ' said Edgar, indicating his brother. 'He isfamous stuff for a landlord and member of parliament--plenty of witsand brains--only he wants to be put on a shelf to be got at. Whereverhe is, he'll go on there! Now, a start is all I want! Give me my onestep--and then--O Gerald, some day I'll lift you all up!'

'What's that?' said Felix, waking as the enthusiastic voice wasraised. 'Edgar lifting us all! What a bounce we should an come downwith!'

We were talking of what Papa said at dinner, ' explained Cherry. 'Whatdid you think about it, Fee?'

'I didn't think at all, I wished he hadn't, ' said Felix, stretchinghimself. 

'Why not?' said Cherry, a little ruffled at even Felix wishing Papahad not. 

'There's no use having things put into one's head. '

'O Felix, you don't want to change?' cried Cherry. 

'No, ' he said; but it was a 'no' in a tone she did not understand. The change he saw that hardship was working was that from which herecoiled. 

'That's like you, Blunderbore, ' said Edgar. 'Now, the very reason Iam glad not to be born a great swell, but only a poor gentleman, isthat so much is open to one; and if one does anything great, it isall the greater and more credit. '

'Yes, ' said Felix, sitting up; 'when you have once got a scholarship, there will be the whole world before you. '

'Papa got a scholarship, ' said Cherry. 

'Oh yes!' said Edgar; 'but every one knows what happens to a man thattakes Orders and marries young; and he had the most extraordinaryill-luck besides! Now, as Ryder says, any man with brains can shine. And I am only doubting whether to take to scholarship or art! I loveart more than anything, and it is the speediest. '

The conversation was broken, for just then Wilmet was seen peeringabout with an anxious, careful eye. 

'What is it, my deputy Partlet?' asked her father. 'Which of yourbrood are you looking for!'

'I can't see Robina, ' said Wilmet anxiously. 'She was swinging justnow, but neither she nor Lance is with the big boys. 

'Flown up higher, ' said Mr. Underwood, pretending to spy among thebranches. 'Flapsy, come down! Bobbie, where are you!'

A voice answered him; and in another moment Robina and Lance stoodin the glade, and with them a girl newly come to her teens, whom theypulled forward, crying, 'She says she's our cousin!'

'Indeed, ' said Mr. Underwood: 'I am sure you are very much obliged toher. '

'I am Mary Alda Underwood, ' said the girl abruptly; 'and I'm surethere must be a very naughty boy here. He had put these poor littlethings up a tree, and run away. '

'No, no! He only put us up because Tina bothered about it!' screamedLance and Robina at once; 'he wasn't naughty. We were being monkeys. '

'Black spider-monkeys, ' added Robina. 

'And I swung about like a real one, Father, ' said Lance, 'and wastrying to get Bobbie down, only she grew afraid. '

'It was ten feet from the ground, ' said Mary Alda, impressively, 'andthey had lost their way; but they told me who they were. I'm comedown with my father to see the place. '

Mr. Underwood heartily shook hands with her, thanked her, and askedwhere her father was. 

'Gone out with the man to see a farm two miles off, ' she said. 'Hetold me I might stay in the house, or roam where I liked, and I sawyou all looking so happy; I've been watching you this long time. '

'Indeed!' said Mr. Underwood, 'till you captured two of us! Well, weare obliged for the introduction, especially if you are to be ourneighbour. '

'And my cousins will be friends with me, ' continued Mary Alda. 'I'mall alone, you know. '

'No, I did not know, ' said Mr. Underwood. 'Are you the only child?'

'Yes, ' she said, looking wistfully at the groups around her; 'and itis very horrid--oh dear! who is that pretty one? No, there's anotherof them!'

Mr. Underwood laughed heartily. 'I suppose you mean Wilmet and Alda, 'he said. 'Come, girls, and see your new cousin--Mary, did you say!--Your name backward, Alda Mary. '

'Mary, ' she repeated. 'Papa calls me Mary, but Mamma wants it to beMarilda all in one word, because she says it is more distinguished;but I like a sensible name like other people. '

Mr. Underwood was much amused. He felt he had found a character inhis newly-discovered cousin. She was Underwood all over in his eyes, used to the characteristic family features, although entirely devoidof that delicacy and refinement of form and complexion that was soremarkable in himself and in most of his children, who were all, except poor little Cherry, a good deal alike, and most of themhandsome. There was a sort of clumsiness in the shape of everyoutline, and a coarseness in the colouring, that made her like a baddrawing of one of his own girls; the eyes were larger, the red of thecheeks was redder, the lips were thicker, the teeth were irregular;the figure, instead of being what the French call elance, wasshort, high-shouldered, and thick-set, and the head looked too large. She was over-dressed, too, with a smart hat and spangled feather, awomanly silk mantle and much-trimmed skirt, from which a heavyquilling had detached itself, and was trailing on the ground; herhands were ungloved, and showed red stumpy fingers, but her face hada bright open honest heartiness of expression, and a sort of resolutestraightforwardness, that attracted and pleased him; and, moreover, there was something in the family likeness, grotesque as it was, thatcould not but arouse a fellow-feeling in his warm and open heart, which neither neglect nor misfortune had ever chilled. 

'I think I should have known you, ' he said, smiling. 'Here! let meintroduce you; here is our little lame white-hearted Cherry, and thetwins, as like as two peas. Wilmet, Alda--here!'

'Shall I mend your frock!' was Wilmet's first greeting, as she puther hand in her pocket, and produced a little housewife. 

'Oh, thank you! You've got a needle and thread! What fun!'

'The little ones are very apt to tear themselves, so I like to haveit ready. '

'How delicious! And you mend for them? I wish I had any one to mendfor. Please show me, and let me do it. I tried to tear the nastything off, but it would not come. I wish Mamma would let me wearsensible print like yours. '

'Are you laughing at us?' said Wilmet rather bluntly. 

'No, indeed, not a bit, ' said Marilda, or Mary Alda, eagerly. 'If youonly knew how tiresome it all is. '

'What is?'

'Why, being fine--having a governess, and talking French, andlearning to dance, and coming down into the drawing-room. ThenGrandmamma Kedge tells me how she used to run about in pattens, andfeed the chickens, and scrub the floor, and I do so wish I was her. Can you scrub, and do those nice things?'

'Not a floor, ' said Wilmet; 'and we live in the town. '

'So have we done till now; but Papa is going to get this place, because he says it is family property; and I hope he will, for theywill never be able to screw me up here as they do at home. I say, which is Fulbert! Won't your father punish him?'

'Oh, no! You should not have told, Marilda. We never tell Papa oflittle tricks of the boys. '

But the little darling might have broken her neck. '

'Oh! life in a large family is made up of _might haves_, ' said Alda. 

'Why, I do declare there's a smaller still! What a little duck!' andshe pounced upon Angela. 

'We have a smaller than that, said Wilmet--'Bernard, only we left himat home. '

'Tell me all your names!' cried Marilda, delighted. 

She was perfectly happy, and chattered on in great delight in herdownright voice, as much at ease as if she had known them all herlife. She shared their tea, and wanted Mr. Underwood to come and seeher father at the house; but as she could not promise his earlyreturn, and it was necessary to get the van under weigh before five, this could not be. 

However, she would not leave them till they were all packed into thevan, and then only parted with repeated kisses and auguries of manyfuture meetings; so that the children looked down a vista ofunlimited enjoyment of Gentry Park. Edgar, little gentleman as hewas, saw her as far back on the way as he could venture. 

CHAPTER III

FORTUNATUS' PURSE

'Out, base mechanical churl!'--SHAKESPEARE. 

Weeks went on, and nothing more was heard of 'Marilda' except thewishes and wonderings of the children. Alda decided that she was oneof the heartless fine ladies one heard of in books--and no wonder, when her father was in trade, and she looked so vulgar; while Wilmetcontended against her finery, and Cherry transferred theheartlessness to her cruel father and mother, and Robina never ceasedto watch for her from the window, even when Felix and Edgar for veryweariness had prohibited the subject from being ever mentioned, andfurther checked it by declaring that Marilda looked like a cow. 

There was plenty besides to think of; and the late summer and earlyautumn rolled cheerily away. The wonderful remnant of Felix'sbirthday gift was partly applied to the hire of a chair for Geraldineupon every favourable evening; and as the boys themselves were alwaysready to act as horses, they obtained it on moderate terms, whichmade the sum hold out in a marvellous manner. And not only were thesedrives delight unimaginable to the little maid, but the frequentbreaths of pure air seemed to give her vigour; she ate more, smiledmore, and moved with less pain and difficulty, so that the thought ofa partial recovery began to seem far less impossible. 

The children trooping about her, she used to be drawn to the nearestbit of greensward, tree, or copse, and there would occupy herselfwith the attempt to sketch, often in company with Edgar; and with afew hints from her father, would be busied for days after with thefinishing them, or sometimes the idealising them, and filling themwith the personages she had read of in books of history or fiction. She was a sensitive little body, who found it hard not to be fretful, when told that it was very ill-natured to object to having her paintsdaubed over her drawings by Lance, Robina, and Angel--an accusationoften brought against her by rough, kindly Sibby, and sometimes evenby Wilmet in an extremity: while Mamma's subdued entreaty, that shewould do something to please the little ones, if it could be withoutmischief to herself, always humiliated her more than anything else, and made her ready to leave all to their mercy, save for deference toEdgar, and gratitude to Felix. Robina would look on soberly enough inadmiration; but Lance's notions of art were comic, and Fulbert's werearbitrary, and both were imperiously carried out with due contemptfor the inferior sex, and were sure to infect both the littlesisters. 

Then, of course, so many holiday boys were hard to keep in order. Clement had a strong propensity in that direction; he was a grave, quiet boy, without much sense of the absurd, and was generally thevictim of Edgar's wit; but, on the other hand, he was much in thehabit of objecting to anything Edgar or Fulbert proposed, and therebygiving forbidden or doubtful amusements double zest. He was never_in_ mischief, and yet he was never an element of peace. 

All this, however, was mitigated when the holidays ended, and Lancewas allowed to follow his brothers to school, while Bobbieimportantly trotted in the wake of her sisters. Mamma and Cherry feltit no small comfort to have no one at home who did not sleep away twoor three of the morning hours; and the lessons that the little girldelighted to prepare for her father went on in peace--the arithmetic, the French, the Latin, and even the verses of Greek Testament, thathe always said rested him. 

And he was 'quite well, ' he said himself; and though his wife neverconfirmed this reply, he was everywhere as usual--in church, inschools of all kinds, in parish meetings, by sick-beds, or incottages, as bright and as popular as ever, perhaps the more so thathe was more transparently thin, and every stranger started at thesound of his cough, though the Bexley people had grown weary ofrepeating the same augury for four or five years, and began, like 'myLady, ' to call it 'constitutional. '

So came the autumn Ember Week; and Mr. Audley had to go to receivePriests' Orders, and afterwards to spend the next fortnight with hisparents, who complained that they had not seen him once since he hadsettled at Bexley. The last week was the break-up of summer weather, and Mr. Bevan caught cold, and was rheumatic, there were two funeralson wet and windy days, and when Mr. Audley, on Lady Price'sentreating summons, wrenched himself from a murmuring home, and, starting by an early train, arrived half through the St. Michael'sDay Service, it was to see Mr. Underwood looking indeed like someethereal ascetic saint, with his bright eyes and wasted features, andto hear him preach in extempore--as was his custom--a sermon on theblessedness of angel helps, which in its intense fervour, almostrapture, was to many as if it came from a white-winged angel himself. Mr. Audley glided into his own place, and met Felix's look of relief. The sermon was finished, and the blessing given; but before he coulddescend the steps, the cough had come on, and with it severehaemorrhage. They had to send one startled boy for Mrs. Underwood, and another for the doctor, and it was an hour before he could betaken home in a chair. No one ever forgot that sermon, for it was thelast he ever preached. He was very ill indeed for several days, butstill hopeful and cheerful; and as the weather mended, and the calmbrightness of October set in, he rallied, and came downstairs again, not looking many degrees more wan and hectic than before, with a mindas alert as usual, and his kind heart much gratified by the manyattentions of his parishioners during his illness. 

During the worst, Mrs. Underwood had been obliged to keep one of theelder girls at home--Wilmet at first, both by her own desire and thatof Alda; but it was soon made a special matter of entreaty by MissPearson, that the substitution might not take place; the little classwas always naughty under Alda, and something the same effect seemedto be produced on Angela and Bernard. They made so much lessdisturbance when entrusted to Cherry, that the mother often sent Aldato sit by papa, even though she knew he liked nothing so well as tohave his little pupil's soft voice repeating to him the Latin hymnsshe loved to learn on purpose. Alda read or sang to him veryprettily, and they were very happy together; but then Wilmet could dothat as well, and also mind the babies, or do invalid cookery, andsupplement Sibby's defects, and set the mother free for the oneoccupation she cared for most--the constant watching of that wastedcountenance. 

But all was better. He had been able to collect his children fortheir evening's Bible lesson and Sunday Catechism, and to resume thepreparation of Edgar and Geraldine for their Confirmation, though itwas at least a year distant, and even had spoken of sending forothers of his catechumens. Wilmet and Alda were both at school, thetwo babies out with Sibby, Mamma at work, Papa dreaming over aComment on the Epistle to the Philippians, which was very near hisheart, and he always called his holiday work, and Geraldine readingon her little couch when there was a sharp ring at the bell, andafter an interval, the girl who daily came in to help, announced'Lady Price. '

Even my Lady had been startled and softened by the reality of Mr. Underwood's illness, and remorseful for having coddled her husband athis expense; she had sent many enquiries, some dainties, and a goodmany recipes; and she had made no objection to Mr. Bevan's frequentand affectionate visits, nor even to his making it obvious thathowever little his senior curate might do that winter, he would notaccept his resignation for the present. 

It was enough to make Mr. Underwood feel absolutely warm and gratefulto his old tormentor, as he rose, not without some effort, held outhis hand to her, and cheerily answered her inquiries for his cough. She even discussed the berries in the hedges, and the prospects of amild winter, in a friendly, hesitating tone; and actually commendedMr. Underwood's last pupil-teacher, before she began--'I am afraid Iam come upon a disagreeable business. '

Mr. Underwood expected to hear of his own inefficiency; or perhapsthat Mr. Audley had adopted some habit my Lady disapproved, or thatthe schoolmaster was misbehaving, or that some Christmas dole was tobe curtailed, and that he would have to announce it because Mr. Bevanwould not. He was not prepared to hear, 'Are you aware that--inshort--perhaps you can explain it, but has not your son Felix beenspending a good deal of money--for him, I mean--lately?'

'Felix had a present from his godfather, ' said Mr. Underwood, not atall moved, so secure was he that this must be an exaggeration. 

'Last summer, I heard of that. It was laid out on a picnic, ' saidLady Price, severely. 

'It was intended to be so spent, ' said the curate; 'but people wereso good-natured, that very little actually went that way, and theremainder was left in his own hands. '

'Yes, Mr. Underwood, but I am afraid that remainder has been made tocover a good deal of which you do not know!'

Mrs. Underwood flushed, and would have started forward. Her husbandlooked at her with a reassuring smile. My Lady, evidently angered attheir blindness, went on, 'It is a painful duty, Mr. Underwood, especially in your present state; but I think it due to you, as thefather of a family, to state what I have learned. '

'Thank you. What is it?'

'Have you reckoned the number of times the chair has been hired?' andas he shook his head, 'That alone would amount to more than a pound. Besides which, your daughters have been provided with books andmusic--fruit has been bought--all amiable ways of spending money, nodoubt; but the question is, how was it procured?'

'Indeed, ' said Mr. Underwood, still pausing. 

'And, ' added the lady, 'the means can, I am afraid, be hardlydoubted, though possibly the boy may have done it in ignorance. Indeed, one of his sisters allowed as much. '

'What did she allow, Lady Price?'

'That--that it was won at play, Mr. Underwood. You know Mr. Froggattgives his boy an absurd amount of pocket-money, and when she wastaxed with this, your daughter--Alda is her name, I believe--allowedthat--'

'Papa, Papa!' breathlessly broke out Cherry, who had been forgottenon her little sofa all this time, but now dashed forward, stumpingimpetuously with her crutch--'Papa, it's all Alda, how can she be sohorrid?'

'What is it, my dear?' said Mr. Underwood. 'You can explain it, Isee. Tell Lady Price what you mean, Geraldine, ' he added gravely, tocompose the child, who was sobbing with excitement and indignation. 

'O Lady Price!' she cried, facing about with her hair over her face, 'he earned it--he earned every bit of it! How could any one think hedid not?'

'Earned it? What does that mean, little girl!' said Lady Price, stillseverely. 'If he did the boy's exercises for him--

'No, no, no, ' interrupted Geraldine, 'it was old Mr. Froggatt. Heasked Felix to look over the papers he had to print for the boys'work at the Grammar School, because it is all Latin and Greek, andCharles Froggatt is so careless and inaccurate, that he can't betrusted. '

The faces of the father and mother had entirely cleared; but LadyPrice coughed drily, saying, 'And you did not know of thisarrangement?'

Geraldine's eyes began to twinkle with tears. 'I don't know whatFelix will say to me for telling now, ' she said. 

'It must have come to light some time, though concealment is always aproof of shame, ' began Lady Price in a consoling tone that filled thelittle lame girl with a fresh passion, drawing up her head. 

'Shame! Nobody's ashamed! Only Mamma and Felix and Wilmet never willbear that Papa should know how terribly we do want things sometimes. '

And Geraldine, overpowered by her own unguarded words, ran into hermother's arms, and hid her face on her shoulder. 

'Thank you, Lady Price, ' said Mr. Underwood gravely. 'I am glad mylittle girl has been able to satisfy you that Felix has honestlyearned whatever he may have spent. '

'If you are satisfied, ' returned the lady, 'it is not my affair; butI must say I should like to know of such transactions among mychildren. '

'Sometimes one is glad to have a boy to be perfectly trusted, ' saidMr. Underwood. 

'But you will speak to him!'

'Certainly I shall. '

Lady Price felt that she must go, and rose up with an endeavour toretract. 'Well, it is a relief to Mr. Bevan and me to find your sonnot consciously in fault, for it would have been a most seriousthing. And in such a matter as this, of course you can do as _you_please. '

To this Mr. Underwood made no reply, as none was necessary, but onlysaw her out to the door in that extremely polite manner that alwaysmade her feel smallest, and then he dropped into his chair again, with a curl of the lip, and the murmur, 'not consciously!'

'O Papa, Papa!' cried Cherry. 

'Dear Felix!' said the mother, with tears in her eyes; 'but what canAlda have been saying?'

Cherry was about to speak again, but her father gently put her aside. A little quietness now, if you please, my dear; and send Felix to mewhen he comes in. Let me have him alone, but don't say anything tohim. '

There was no need to send Felix to his father, for he came in of hisown accord, radiant, with a paper containing a report of a publicmeeting on Church matters that his father had been wishing to see. 

'Thanks, my boy, ' said Mr. Underwood; 'where does this come from?'

'From Froggatt's father. It was only fourpence. '

'But, Felix, repeated fourpences must exhaust even that Fortunatus'purse of Admiral Chester's. '

Felix coloured. 'Yes, Papa, I wanted to tell you; but I waited tillyou were better. '

'You will hardly find a better time than the present, ' said MrUnderwood. 

'It is only this, ' said Felix, with a little hesitation. 'You knowthere's a good deal of printing to be done for the school sometimes--the questions in Latin and Greek and Algebra, and even when Mr. Ryderdoes have the proofs, it wants some one who really understands to seethat the corrections are properly done. Old Smith used to do it, byreal force of Chinese accuracy, but he has been ill for some time, and Mr. Froggatt can't see to do it himself, and Charlie won't, andcan't be trusted either. So one day, when I was reading in the shop, Mr. Froggatt asked me to see if a thing was right; and it went on: heasked me after a time to take anything I liked, and I did get someschool books we all wanted; but after that, just when you were ill, Icould not help telling him I had rather have the money. O Father!'cried the boy, struck by a certain look of distress, 'did I dowrong?'

'Not in the least, my boy. Go on; what does he give you?'

'Exactly at the rate he gave Smith for doing the same work, ' saidFelix: 'it always was an extra for being so troublesome. It was sevenshillings last week--generally it comes to three or four andsixpence. '

'And when do you do it?'

'I run in after I come out of school for half an hour. Last SaturdayI corrected a sheet of the Pursuivant, because Mr. Froggatt had togo out, and that made it more. And, Father, Mr. Froggatt says thatpoor old Smith will never be fit for work again. '

'Then I suppose these welcome earnings of yours will end when he hasa successor?'

Felix came nearer. 'Papa, ' he said, 'Mr. Froggatt told me that ifCharlie would only have taken to the work, he would have done withoutanother man in Smith's place, and got him gradually into editing thepaper too. He said he wished I was not a gentleman's son, for if Ihad not been so I should have suited him exactly, and should be wortha guinea a week even now. And, Father, do not you really think I hadbetter take it?'

'You, Felix!' Mr. Underwood was exceedingly startled for the moment. 

'You see, ' said Felix rather grimly, leaning his head on themantelshelf, and looking into the fire, 'any other way I can only bean expense for years upon years, even if I did get a scholarship. '

His face was crimson, and his teeth set. Mr. Underwood lay back inhis chair for some seconds; then said in a low voice, 'I see you knowall about it, Felix; and that I am going to leave you as heavy aburthen as ever lad took on willing shoulders. '

Felix knew well enough, but his father had never uttered a word ofdespondency to him before, and he could only go on gazing steadfastlyinto the fire with an inarticulate moan. 

Mr. Underwood opened the first leaf of a volume of St. Augustine, beside him, a relic of former days, the family shield and mottowithin--namely, a cross potent, or crutch-shaped, and the old Englishmotto, 'UNDER WODE, UNDER RODE. '

'Under wood, under rood, ' he repeated. 'It was once but sing-song tome. Now what a sermon! The load is the Cross. Bear thy cross, and thycross will bear thee, like little Geraldine's cross potent--Rod andRood, Cross and Crutch--all the same etymologically and veritably. '

'Don't call them a burthen, pray!' said Felix, with a sense both ofdeprecation and of being unable to turn to the point. 

'My boy, I am afraid I was thinking more of myself than of you. I aman ungrateful fool; and when a crutch is offered to me, I take holdof it as a log instead of a rood. I did not know how much pride therewas left in me till I found what a bitter pill this is!'

Felix was more crimson than ever. 'Ought I not--' he began. 

'The _ought_ is not on your side, Felix. It is not all folly, I hope;but I had thought you would have been a better parson than yourfather. '

There were tears in the boy's eyes now. 'There are the others; I maybe able to help them. '

'And, ' added Mr. Underwood, 'I know that to be a really poor priest, there should be no one dependent on one, or it becomes "Put me intoone of the priest's offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. " It islowering! Yes, you are right. Even suppose you could be educated, bythe time you were ordained, you would still have half these poorchildren on your hands, and it would only be my own story over again, and beginning younger. You are right, Felix, but I never saw thepossibility so fully before. I am glad some inward doubt held me backfrom the impulse to dedicate my first-born. '

'It shall be one of the others instead, ' said Felix in his throat. 

Mr. Underwood smiled a little, and put his finger on the verse in hisbeloved Epistle--'Look not every man on his own things but every manalso on the things of others. '

'You really wish this. Do you consider what it involves?' he said. 

'I think I do, ' said Felix in a stifled voice. 

'This is not as if it were a great publisher, ' continued Mr. Underwood, 'with whom there would be no loss of position or realsociety; but a little bookseller in a country town is a meretradesman, and though a man like Audley may take you up from time totime, it will never be on an absolute equality; and it will be moreand more forgotten who you were. You will have to live in yourselfand your home, depending on no one else. '

'I can stand that, ' said Felix, smiling. 'Father, indeed I thought ofall that. Of course I don't like it, but I don't see how it is to behelped. '

'Sit down, Felix: let us go over it again. I suppose you don't knowwhat our subsistence is at present. '

'I know you have 250 pounds a year from Mr. Bevan. '

'Yes, I had 200 pounds at first, and he added the 50 pounds when thethird curate was given up. That goes with me, of course, if notbefore. On the other hand, my poor good uncle, the wisest thing heever did, made me insure my life for 5000, pounds so there will be 150pounds a year to depend on, besides what we had of our own, only 2350pounds left of it now. I have had to break into it for the doctor'sbills, but at least there are no debts. Thank God, we have been savedfrom debt! I think, ' he continued, 'that probably it will have to bebrought down to twenty-two hundred before you have done with me. Onthe whole, then, there will be about 180 pounds a year for you all tolive upon. Are you understanding, Felix?'

For the boy's anxious look had gone out of his face, and given placeto a stunned expression which was only dispelled with a sudden startby his father's inquiry. 'Yes, yes, ' he said recalling himself. 

'I have left it all absolutely to your mother, ' said Mr. Underwood. 'She will depend more and more on you, Felix; and I have made up mymind to expect that no help will come to you but from yourselves. Except that I hope some of you may be educated by clergy orphanschools, but you are too old for that now. Felix, I believe it may beright, but it is very sore to break off your education. '

'I shall try to keep it up, ' said Felix, 'in case anything shouldever turn up'

'A guinea a week!' said Mr. Underwood, thoughtfully. 'It would makeyou all not much worse off than you are now, when I am out of theway. And yet--' A violent cough came on. 'We must wait, Felix, ' hesaid, when he had recovered himself. 'I must have time to think; Iwill speak to you to-morrow. '

Felix left him, very grave and subdued. He buried himself in histasks for the next day, hardly looked up or smiled at littleBernard's most earnest attempts at a game of play, and had not a wordfor even Cherry, only when Wilmet begged anxiously to know if hethought Papa worse, he answered that he believed not particularly so. 

Alda was sent to carry some tea to her father that evening. As sheset it down on the table before him, he said gently, 'My dear, I wantto know what has been passing among you and your school-fellows aboutFelix. '

'Oh, nothing, Papa, ' said Alda rather hastily. 'Some nonsense orother is always going on. '

'Very true, no doubt; nor do I wish to be informed of generalnonsense, but of that which concerns you. What have you been sayingor hearing said about Felix?'

'Oh, it's nonsense, Papa. Some of the girls will say anythingdisagreeable. '

'You need not have any scruples on Felix's account, Alda; I knowexactly what he has done. ' I want you to tell me what is being said--or you have allowed to be said--about it. '

'That horrible Miss Price!' was all the answer be got. 

He sat upright--laid on Alda's wrist a long bony burning hand, whoseclasp she did not forget for weeks, and forcing her to look at him, said, 'Did you allow it to be believed that your brother Felix was agambler?'

'Papa! I never said so!' cried Alda, beginning to sob. 

'Command yourself, Alda; I am not fit for a scene, and I may not beable to speak to you many times again. '

These words--far more new and startling to Alda than to her brother--appalled her into quietness. 

'What did you say, Alda? or was it the deceit of silence?'

She hung her head, but spoke at last. 

'I only said boys had ways and means! They did tease and plague so. Ido believe Carry Price counts every grape that goes into this house--and they would know how I got my new music--and little Robina wouldtell--and then came something about Mr. Froggatt; and if they knew--'

'If they knew what?'

'Papa, you have no idea how nasty some of them are. '

'My poor child, I am afraid I have some idea by seeing how nasty theyare making you! Gambling more creditable than honest labour!'

Alda had it on the tip of her tongue to say winning things was notgambling, but she knew that argument would be choked down; and shealso knew that though she had spoken truth as to her words, she hadallowed remarks to pass without protest on the luck and licence thatthe model boy allowed himself, and she was bitterly displeased withthe treachery of Miss Price. 

'These old rags of folly don't look pretty on other folk, ' he sighedpleasantly. 'Alda, listen to me. What I have heard today gives memore fears for you than for any one of my children. Did you everhear that false shame leads to true shame? Never shuffle again!Remember, nothing is mean that is not sin, and an acted falsehoodlike this is sin and shame both--while your brother's deed is anhonour. 

Alda was obliged to go away murmuring within herself, 'That's alltrue: it is very good of Felix, and I should not have equivocated, Iknow; but those stupid girls, how is one to live with them?'

Felix was not quite dressed the next morning when his mother came tothe door of the attic that he shared with Edgar and Fulbert. 

'He wants to speak to you before church, Felix. It has been a verybad night, and the sooner this is settled the better. '

'O Mother, I am very sorry--'

'It can't be helped, my dear boy. I think it will really be a greatrelief to him. '

'And you, Mother, do you mind?'

'Dear Felix, all minding, except to have you all well, and fed andclothed, was worn out of me years ago. I can't feel anything in itbut that it will keep you by me, my dear good helpful boy. '

Felix's heart leapt up, as it had not done for many a long day; butit soon sank again. The children had never been admitted to theirfather's room in the early morning, and Felix thought he must besuddenly worse when he saw him in bed propped by pillows, pale andwearied; but the usual bright smile made him like himself. 

'All right, old fellow, ' he said brightly. 'Don't come up to me. I'mincog. Till I'm up and dressed. Are you in the same mind?'

'Yes, Father. '

'Then ask Mr. Froggatt to do me the favour of coming to speak to meany time after eleven o'clock that may suit him. I must understandwhat he offers you. The nonsense is conquered, Felix; more shame forme that it has followed me so far: but the sense remains. I must tryto be sure that this sacrifice of yours is a right one to beaccepted. Any way, my boy, I thank and bless you for it, and God willbless such a beginning. There's the bell, be off, ' he concluded. 

And, Papa, ' blurted out Felix suddenly, 'would you _please_ bephotographed. I have the money for it. _Pray--_'

Mr. Underwood smiled. 'Very well, Felix; that is, if I am evercapable of getting up all the stairs to Coleman's sky-parlour. 

'Oh, thank you!' and Felix ran away. 

Mr. Froggatt came in due time. He was an elderly portly man, wellshaven and smooth-faced, intensely respectable, having been broughtup to inherit an old hereditary business as bookseller, stationer, and publisher of a weekly local paper, long before Bexley had brokenout into its present burning fever of furnaces. He was a very goodreligious man, as Mr. Underwood well knew, having been his greatcomforter through several family troubles, which had left him and hiswife alone with one surviving and woefully spoilt son, who hated thetrade, and had set his heart upon being a farmer--chiefly with a viewto hunting. Mr. Froggatt was conscious of having been too indulgent, but the mother and son were against him; and the superior tone ofeducation that the son had received at the reformed grammar schoolhad only set him above the business, instead of, as had beenintended, rendering him more useful in it. 

Good Mr. Froggatt, an old-fashioned tradesman, with a profoundfeeling for a real gentleman, was a good deal shocked at receivingMr. Underwood's message. He kept a reading-room, and was on terms ofa certain intimacy with its frequenters, such as had quite warrantedhis first requests for Felix's good-natured help, and it had beenreally as a sort of jesting compliment that he had told the younggentleman that he wished he would take Smith's place, littleexpecting to see how earnestly the words were caught up, how the boyasked whether he really meant it, and when, on further consideration, he allowed that it might be possible, begging him to wait till hisfather could be spoken to. 

Poor as he was, Mr. Underwood had never lost general respect. Something there was in his fine presence and gentlemanly demeanour, and still more in his showing no false shame, making no pretensions, and never having a debt. Doctors' bills had pressed him heavily, buthe had sacrificed part of his small capital rather than not pay hisway; and thus no one guessed at the straits of the household. Mr. Froggatt had never supposed he would entertain for a moment the ideaof letting his eldest son, a fine clever and studious lad, undertakea little country business, and yet the old bookseller had come towish it very much on his own account. As he explained to Mr. Underwood, he loved his old business, and knew that with moreeducation he should have been able to make more of it. His elder sonhad died just as intelligence and energy were opening up plans thatwould have made both the shop and the newspaper valuable andbeneficial; while Charles's desertion left them decline with hisfather's declining years, and in danger of being supplanted by somebrisk new light. Felix Underwood was indeed very young, but he hadalready proved his power of usefulness, and a very few years wouldmake him capable of being a right hand to the old man, and he mightin time make a position for himself. Mr. Froggatt would otherwise erelong be forced by his own infirmity, to dispose of the business at adisadvantage, and this would, he confessed, go to his heart. Mr. Underwood felt greatly reconciled to the project. There was realusefulness in the work, great means of influencing men for good, andthough there would be much of mechanical employment, for which it wasa pity to give up the boy's education, yet it was a stepping stone tosomething better, and it gave present and increasing means ofmaintenance. There was less temptation in this way of life than inalmost any that could be devised, and it would give Mrs. Underwoodthe comfort of a home with him. The great difficulty for the futurewas, that Felix was never likely to have capital enough to purchase, or become partner in the business; but Mr. Froggatt explained that ifhe gained experience in the editing of the Pursuivant, he would bealways able to obtain profitable employment, and that it was possiblethat he might eventually take the business, and pay an annual sum outof the profits to the Froggatt family, unless, indeed, somethingshould turn up which would keep him in his natural station. Such wasthe hope lurking in the father's heart, even while he thankfullyclosed with the offer; and Felix was put in the way of studying book-keeping till the New Year, when he was to enter upon his duties andhis salary. 

Mr. Audley was greatly troubled. It was with incredulous vivacitythat he inquired of Mr. Underwood if it were indeed true that Felixhad accepted such prospects. 

'Quite true. ' said Mr. Underwood. 'You need not argue it with me, Audley; my own mind has said all you could say seven times over. '

'I should not venture on interference; but could you not let me tryto do--something?'

'And welcome, my dear fellow: there are so many to be done for, thatit is well one can do for himself. '

'But Felix--Felix out of them all!'

'As the voice I want to silence has said a thousand times! No; Felixseems capable of this, and it is not right to withhold him, and throwhis education upon the kind friends who might be helping the otherboys--boys whom I could not trust to fend for themselves and others, as I can that dear lad. '

'What he might be--'

'Who knows whether he may not be a greater blessing in this work thanin that which we should have chosen for him? He may be a leaven forgood--among the men we have never been able to reach! My dear Audley, don't be a greater ass about it than I was at first!'

For the young curate really could not speak at first for a rush ofemotion. 

'It is not only for Felix's sake, ' said he, smiling at last, 'but theway you take it. '

'And now, I am going to ask you to do something for me, ' added Mr. Underwood. 'I have left this magnificent estate of mine entirely tomy wife, appointing her sole guardian to my children. But I havebegun to think how much has been taken out of her by that shock ofleaving Vale Leston, and by that wonderful resolute patience that--that I shall never be able to thank her for. I scarcely dare to lether know that I see it. And when I look on to the winter that isbefore her, ' he added, much less calmly, 'I think she may not be longafter me. I must add a guardian. Once we had many good friends. Wehave them still, I hope, but I cannot lay this on them. Our cousinTom Underwood does not seem disposed to notice us, and his care mightnot be of the right kind. Our only other relation is FulbertUnderwood. '

'Who drove you from Vale Leston?'

'Who did what he had every right to do with his own, ' said Mr. Underwood. 'But he is not the style of man to be asked, even if Icould saddle him with the charge. Probably twelve children to bringup on seven thousand pounds--a problem never put before us atCambridge. '

'Do you honour me by--' asked the younger man, much agitated. 

'Not by asking you to solve that problem! But let me add your name. What I want is a guardian, who will not violently break up the homeand disperse the children. I believe Felix will be a competent younghead if he is allowed, and I want you to be an elder brother to him, and let him act. '

'You cannot give me greater comfort. '

'Only, Audley, this must be on one condition. Never let thisguardianship interfere with any higher work that you may be calledto. If I thought it would bind you down to Bexley, or even toEngland, I should refrain from this request as a temptation. Mind, you are only asked to act in case the children should lose theirmother, and then only to enable Felix to be what I believe he can andwill be. Or, as it may be right to add, if he should fail them, youwill know what to do. '

'I do not think he will. '

'Nor I. But there are ways of failing besides the worst. However, Ido not greatly fear this illness of mine taking root in them. It hasnot been in the family before; and I am nearly sure that I know whenI took the infection, four or five years ago, from a poor man inSmoke-jack Alley, who would let no one lift him but me. They arehealthy young things, all but dear little Cherry, and I hope theyhave spirits to keep care from making them otherwise. You will say akind word to my little Cherry sometimes, Audley. Poor little woman, Iam afraid it may fall sorely on her, she is of rather too highlystrung a composition, and perhaps I have not acted so much for hergood as my own pleasure, in the companionship we have had together. '

So the will was altered, though without the knowledge of anyone butMrs. Underwood and the witnesses; and Mr. Audley felt himself boundto remonstrate no further against Felix's fate, however much he mightdeplore it. 

Nobody was so unhappy about it as Edgar. The boy was incredulous atfirst, then hotly indignant. Then he got a burnt stick, and aftershutting himself up in his attic for an hour, was found lying on thefloor, before an awful outline on the whitewash. 

'What is it, old fellow?' asked Felix. 'What a horrid mess!'

'I see, said Lance. 'It is Friday grinning at the savages. '

'Or a scarecrow on the back of a ditch, ' said Felix. 'Come, Ed, tellus what it is meant for. '

Edgar was impenetrable; but having watched the others out of thehouse, he dragged Geraldine up to see--something--

'Oh!' she cried. 'You've done it!'

'To be sure! You know it?'

'It is Achilles on the rampart, shouting at the Trojans! O Edgar--howbrave he looks--how his hair flies! Some day you will get him in hisgod-like beauty!'

'Do you think he has not got any of it, Cherry?' said Edgar, gazingwistfully. 'I did see it all, but it didn't come out--and now--'

'I see what you mean, ' said Cherry, screwing up her eyes; 'it is inhim to be glorious--a kind of lightning look. '

'Yes, yes; that's what I meant. All majesty and wrath, but no strain. O Cherry--to have such things in my head, and not get them out! Don'tyou know what it is?' as he rolled and flung himself about. 

'Oh, yes!' said Cherry from her heart. 'Oh! I should so like to doone touch to his face, but he's so big! You did him on a chair, and Icould not stand on one. '

'I'll lift you up. I'll hold you, ' cried Edgar. 

The passion for drawing must have been very strong in the twochildren; for Geraldine was most perilously, and not without pain, raised to a chair, where, with Edgar's arms round her waist, sheactually worked for ten minutes at Achilles' face, but his arm shedeclined. 'It is not right, Eddy! look--that muscle in his elbow cannever be so!'

'I can't see the back of mine, but you can, ' said Edgar, lifting herdown, and proceeding to take off his coat and roll up his shirt-sleeve. 

'That's the way. Oh! but it is not such an angle as that. '

'Achilles' muscles must have stood out more than mine, you know. I'llget a look at Blunderbore's. O Cherry, if I were but older--I know Icould--I'd save Felix from this horrible thing! I feel to want toroar at old Froggy, like this fellow at the Trojans. '

'Perhaps some day you will save him. '

'Yes; but then he will have done it. Just fancy, Gerald, if thatpicture was as it ought to be--as you and I see it!'

'It would be as grand as the world ever saw, ' said the little girl, gazing through her eye-lashes at the dim strokes in the twilight. OEdgar, many a great man has begun in a garret!'

'If it would not be so long hence! Oh! must you go down!'

'I heard some one calling. You will be a great artist, I know, Edgar!'

It was pleasanter than the other criticism, at bed-time. 

'Hollo! Man Friday does not look quite so frightful!' said Felix. 

'I'm sure I won't have him over my bed, ' said Fulbert, proceeding torub him out; and though, for the moment, Achilles was saved byviolent measures of Edgar's, yet before the end of the next day, Fulbert and Lance had made him black from head to foot, all but thewhites of his eyes and his teeth; Robina and Angela had peeped in, and emulated the terror of the Trojans, or the savages; and Sibby hadfallen on the young gentleman for being 'so bold' as to draw afrightful phooka upon their walls just to frighten the darlints. Indeed, it was long before Angela could be got past the door at nightwithout shuddering, although Achilles had been obliterated by everypossible method that Felix, Clement, or Sibby could devise, and somesilent tears of Cherry had bewailed the conclusion of this effort ofhigh art, the outline of which, in more moderate proportions, wascherished in that portfolio of hers. 

Another work of art--the photograph--was safely accomplished. Thephotographer caught at the idea, declaring that he had been so oftenasked for Mr. Underwood's carte, that he had often thought of beggingto take it gratis. And he not only insisted on so doing, but he camedown from his studio, and took Mr. Underwood in his own chair, underhis own window--producing a likeness which, at first sight, shockedevery one by its faithful record of the ravages of disease, unlightened by the fair colouring and lustrous beaming eyes, butwhich, by-and-by, grew upon the gazer, as full of a certain majestyof unearthly beauty of countenance. 

The autumn was mild, and Mr. Underwood rallied in some measure, so assometimes even to get to church at mid-day services on warm days. 

It was on St. Andrew's Day that he was slowly walking home, leaningon Felix's arm, with the two elder girls close behind him, when Aldasuddenly touched Wilmet's arm, exclaiming, 'There's MarildaUnderwood!'

There indeed was the apparition of Centry Park, riding a pretty pony, beside a large and heavily-bearded personage. The recognition wasinstantaneous; Marilda was speaking to her companion, and at the samemoment he drew up, and exclaiming, 'Edward! bless me!' was off hishorse in a moment, and was wringing those unsubstantial fingers in acrushing grasp. There was not much to be seen of Mr. Underwood, forhe was muffled up in a scarf to the very eyes, but they looked out oftheir hollow caves, clear, blue, and bright, and smiling as ever, andsomething like an answer came out of the middle of the folds. 

'These yours? How d'ye do'--How d'ye do'--Mary, you don't get offtill we come to the door!--Yes, I'll come in with you! Bless me!bless me! Mary has been at me ever so many times about you, but we'vebeen had abroad for masters and trash, and I left it till we weresettled here. '

It was not many steps to the door, and there Wilmet flew on prepareher mother and the room, while Alda stood by as her cousin wasassisted from her horse by the groom, and the newcomer followed insilence, while Felix helped his father up the steps, and unwound hiswraps, after which he turned round, and with his own sunny look heldout his hand, saying, 'How are you, Tom? I'm glad to see you--Howd'ye do, Mary Alda? we are old friends. --Call your mother, one ofyou. '

The mother was at hand, and they entered the drawing-room, where, asthe clergyman sank back into his arm-chair, the merchant gazed withincreasing consternation at his wasted figure and features. 

'How long has this been going on?' he asked, pointing to him andturning to Mrs. Underwood, but as usual her husband answered for her. 

'How long have I been on the sick list? Only since the end ofSeptember, and I am better now than a month ago. '

'Better! Have you had advice?'

'Enough to know how useless it is. '

'Some trumpery Union doctor. I'll have Williams down before you are aday older. '

'Stay, Tom. Thank you, most warmly, but you see yourself the bestadvice in the world could tell us no more than we know already. Areyou really master of old Centry Underwood? I congratulate you. '

'Ay. I'm glad the place should come back to the old name. Mrs. Underwood and myself both felt it a kind of duty, otherwise it wentagainst the grain with her, and I'm afraid she'll never take to theplace. 'Twas that kept us abroad so long, though not from want ofwishes from Mary and myself. The girl fell in love with yours atfirst sight. '

'To be sure I did, ' said the young lady. 'Do let me see the littleones, and your baby. '

'Take your cousin to see them in the dining-room, Alda, ' said themother; the order that Alda had been apprehending, for the dining-room was by many degrees more shabby than the drawing-room; however, she could only obey, explaining by the way that little Bernard, beingnearly two years old, was hardly regarded as a baby now. 

Wilmet was in effect making him and Angela presentable as to thehands, face, hair, and pinafore, and appeared carrying the one andleading the other, who never having closely inspected any one in ariding-habit before, hung back, whispering to know whether 'that manwas a woman. '

Marilda was in raptures, loving nothing so well as small children, and very seldom enjoying such an opportunity as the present; and thetwo babies had almost the whole of the conversation adapted to them, till Alda made an effort. 

'So you have been on the Continent?'

'Oh yes; it was such a horrid bore. Mamma would go. She said I musthave French masters, and more polish, but I don't like French polish. I hope I'm just as English as I was before. '

'That is undeniable' said Felix, laughing. 

'Didn't you care for it? Oh! I should like it so much!' cried Alda. 

'Like it? What, to hear French people chattering and gabbling allround one, and be always scolded for not being like them! There was apoor dog at the hotel that had been left behind by some Englishpeople, and could not bear the French voices, always snarled at them. I was just like him, and I got Papa to buy him and bring him home, and I always call him John Bull. '

'But wasn't it nice seeing places, and churches, and pictures?' askedGeraldine. 

'That was the most disgusting of all, to be bothered with staring atthe stupid things. Mamma with her Murray standing still at them all, and making me read it out just like a lesson, and write it after, which was worse! And then the great bare shiny rooms with nothing todo. The only thing I liked was looking at a jolly little old womanthat sold hot chestnuts out in the street below. Such dear littlechildren in round caps came to her! Just like that, '--endeavouring toconvert her pocket-handkerchief into the like head-gear for Robina. 

'I have always so wanted to come here, ' she continued, 'only I amafraid Mamma won't like the place. She says it's dull, and there's nogood society. Is there?'

'I am sure we don't know, ' said Wilmet. 

'Lots of people are coming to stay with us for Christmas, ' addedMarilda, and you must all of you come and have all the fun with us. '

'Oh, thank you! how charming!' cried Alda. 'If Papa will but be wellenough; he is so much better now. '

'He must come for change of air, ' said Marilda. 'You can't think howpleased my father was to hear I had met you. He talked all the wayhome of how clever your father was, and how wickedly Cousin Fulbertat Vale Leston had served him, and he promised me when I came here Ishould have you with me very often. I would have written to tell you, only I do so hate writing. This is much better. '

Marilda seemed to have perfectly established herself among thembefore the summons came to her; and as the children herded to thedoor, her father turned round and looked at the boys inquiringly. 'There, ' said Mr. Underwood, 'this is Felix, and this is Edgar, sixteen and fourteen. '

Bless me, what a number, and as much alike as a flock of sheep, 'again exclaimed the cousin. 'One or two more or less would not makemuch odds--eh, Edward?--Mary, what kissing all round?--D'ye know themall?--I'll look in to-morrow or next day, and you'll give me youranswer, Edward. '

They were off, and at Mr. Underwood's sign Felix followed him intothe sitting-room, to the great excitement of the exterior population, who unanimously accepted Alda's view, that one of them was going tobe adopted. Their notion was not so much out as such speculationsgenerally are, for Mr. Underwood was no sooner alone with Felix andhis mother, than he said, 'You are in request, Felix; here's anotheroffer for one of you--the very thing I once missed. What say you to aclerkship at Kedge Brothers?'

'For one of us, did you say, Father?'

'Yes; the answer I am to give to-morrow is as to which. You have thefirst choice. '

'Do you wish me to take it, Father?'

'I wish you to think. Perhaps this is the last time I shall have anydecision to make for you, and I had rather you should make your ownchoice; nor, indeed, am I sure of my own wishes. '

'Then, ' said Felix decidedly, 'I am sure I had better not. Edgarwould not, and must not, go to my work, there would be nothing comingin for ever so long, and it would be a shame to throw old Froggyover. '

'I rather expected this, Felix. I told Tom you were in a mannerprovided for, but when he found you had a turn for business, he wasthe more anxious to get you. '

'I've got no turn that I know of, ' said Felix rather gloomily; 'butwe can't all of us set up for gentlemen, and Edgar is the one of usall that ought to have the very best! Such a fellow as he is! He issure of the prize this time, you know! I only don't think this goodenough for him! He ought to go to the University. And maybe when Mr. Underwood sees--'

'Not impossible, ' said the sanguine father, smiling; 'and, at anyrate, to get put in the way of prosperity early may make his talentsavailable. It is odd that his first name should be Thomas. Besides, Ido not think your mother could get on without you. And, Felix, ' helowered his voice, ' I believe that this is providential. Not only assecuring his maintenance, but as taking him from Ryder. Some thingshave turned up lately when he has been reading with me, that havedismayed me. Do you know what I mean?'

'A little, ' said Felix gravely. 

'I know Ryder would be too honourable consciously to meddle with aboy's faith; but the worst of it is, he does not know what ismeddling, and he likes Edgar, and talks eagerly to him. And the boyenjoys it. '

'He does, ' said Felix, 'but he knows enough to be on his guard. Therecan't be any harm done. '

'Not yet! Not but what can be counteracted, if--Felix, you cannotguess how much easier it makes it to me to go, that Edgar will not beleft in Ryder's hands. As to the younger ones, such things do notcome down to the lower forms. And they will be eligible for clergyorphans. Audley spoke of a choristership for Clement in the clergy-house at Whittingtonia. Was there ever such a raising up of friendsand helpers? I am glad to have seen Tom Underwood, hearty, kindly--sure to be always a good friend to you all. What did you think of thegirl, Felix?'

'She is a jolly sort of girl, ' said Felix; 'not like ours, you know, Father, but not half a bad fellow. '

Mr. Underwood smiled thoughtfully, and asked, 'Have you seen enoughof her to judge how she is brought up?'

It was treating his son so much more as a friend than as a boy, thatFelix looked up surprised. 'I should think her mother wanted to makeher no end of a swell, ' he said, 'and that it would not take. '

Mr. Underwood lent back thoughtfully. In truth, his cousin had, inhis outburst of affection and remorse at long unconscious neglect, declared his intention of taking home one of the girls to be as asister to his Mary, and then, evidently bethinking himself of someinfluence at home, had half taken back his words, and talked of doingsomething, bringing his wife to see about it, etc. 

And when Mr. And Mrs. Underwood were again alone, they discussed theprobabilities, and considered whether if the offer were made theywould accept it. Mr. Underwood had only seen his cousin's wife once, in his prosperous days, when he had been at the wedding, and hisimpression was not that of perfect refinement. There was reason tothink from the words of her husband and daughter that there was agood deal of the nouveau riche about her, and Mrs. Underwood didnot know how to think of trusting a daughter in a worldly, perhapsirreligious household. But Mr. Underwood was a good deal touched byhis cousin's warmth and regret; he believed that the family kept upreligious habits; he thought that Providence had brought him friendsin this last hour, and his affectionate sanguine spirit would nothesitate in accepting the kindness that provided for another of thechildren he was leaving. She trusted him as sure to know best; and, after her usual mode, said no more, except 'Wilmet would be safestthere. '

'You could spare her least. '

'Yes, indeed, it would be losing my right hand; but poor Alda--'

Poor Alda! but consider if there is not worse evil in keeping heramong girls who hurt her, if they do not Wilmet. Beauty and woundedvanity are dangerous in a place like this. '

'Dangerous anywhere!'

'Less so in a great house, with that good honest Mary Alda, and Tom, who will look after her in the main, than here, or as a governess, with an inferior education. '

'It may be so. I know I can spare her better than her sister. '

'Wilmet is doing something for herself too--as Alda cannot, it seems. Justice settles the point, dearest, as it did between the boys--thatis, if we have the offer. '

Perhaps the mother still had a lurking hope that the offer would notbe made. Her instinct was to keep all her brood round her; but, silent and deferential woman that she was, she said nothing andresolved to be thankful for what so eased her husband's mind. 

The handsome carriage tore up to the door, and violet velvet andfeathers descended, Mary Alda sprang after, and then came her father, and hampers on hampers of game, wine, and fruits ensued; whileMarilda seized on Alda, and turned of herself into the dining-room, bearing a box of sweets. 'Where are the little ones? Little Bobbie, here; and all the rest. '

Not many calls were needful to bring a flock to share the feast, withcries of joy; but Marilda was not yet satisfied. 

'Where's the other of you?' she said to Alda. 'I don't know you wellapart yet. '

'Wilmet's in the kitchen, ' thrust in Lancelot, 'ironing the collarsfor Sunday. '

'Lance!' uttered Alda indignantly. 

'Oh! what fun I do let me go down and see! I should so like to iron. '

'But, Marilda--your Mamma--'

'Oh nonsense, come along, show me the way. That's right, Robins, onlyyour hands are so sticky. What, down here!--Oh, Wilmet, how d'ye do?what delicious work! do you always do it?'

'Generally, if Sibby is busy. '

'Do let me try. '

And she did try for ten minutes, at the end of which the mother'svoice was heard calling for Edgar, who, turning crimson, wentupstairs, leaving the others standing about the tidy kitchen, freshsanded for Saturday. 

What, not you!' said Marilda, pausing in her smoothing operations, and looking at Felix. 

'No, ' said he. 'I have got my work. '

'Oh? don't talk of it, ' said Alda. 'I can't bear it. I didn't thinkhe was in earnest, or that Papa would let him. '

Marilda turned full round. 'What, you won't go and be my father'sclerk, and be one of Kedge and Underwood, and make a fortune?'

Felix shook his head. 

'And what is your work instead?'

'Printing, ' said Felix stoutly. 'It gives present payment, and wecan't do without it. '

Both Marilda's hands seized on his. 'I like you!' she said. 'I wish Iwere you. '

They all laughed, and Felix coloured, more abashed than pleased. Lance--to make up for his ignominious rescue at their last meeting--performed a wonderful progress, holding on by his fingers and toesalong the ledge of the dresser; and Marilda, setting her back (abroad one) against the ironing-board, went on talking. 

'And do you know what besides?' looking round, and seeing they didnot. 'One of you girls is to come and live with me, and be my sister. I wanted to have this little darling Angela to pet, but Mammawouldn't have her, and I did so beg for Geraldine, to let her have asofa and a pony carriage! I do want something to nurse! But Mammawon't hear of anybody but one of you two great ones, to learn and doeverything with me; and that's not half the use. '

'But is it really?' cried Alda. 

'Yes, indeed! You'll be had up for her to choose from--that is, ifshe can. How exactly alike you are!'

'She won't choose me, ' said Wilmet. 'Hark, there's Edgar comingdown. '

Edgar ran in, with orders to the twins to go into the drawing-room. Wilmet hung back. 'I will not be the one, ' she said resolutely. 'LetAlda go alone. '

'No, ' said Felix, 'it is what you are told that you've got to do now. Never mind about the rest! Let us all come out of this place. ' And itwas he who took off his sister's ironing apron as they went up to thedining-room together, while Marilda cried eagerly, 'Well, Edgar?'

'Well, ' said Edgar, not in the enchanted voice she expected; 'it isvery good of your father, and what must be must. '

'Don't you like it!' said Marilda, half hurt; and Edgar, always a boyof ready courtesy, answered, 'Yes, yes, I'm no end of grateful. I'llget rich, and go abroad, and buy pictures. Only I did hope to paintthem. '

'Paint pictures!' cried Marilda. What, rather than be a merchant! dosuch stupid useless things, only to bother people with having tostare at them, when you could be making money?'

'There's no reason one should not make money with pictures, ' saidEdgar; 'but I'd rather make delight! But it can't be helped, and I amvery glad to have done with this stupid place. '

Meantime Wilmet and Alda found themselves before a large, florid, much-dressed lady, with a most good-natured face, who greeted themwith 'Good morning, my dears! Just as Marilda told me, so much alikeas to be quite romantic. Well, no doubt it is a pity to separatebetween you, but my Marilda will be a true sister. She has spoken ofnothing else. Are you willing, either of you, my dears?'

'Ay!' chimed in Mr. Thomas Underwood; 'we'll make you happy whicheverit is! You shall be in all respects like our own child; Mary wouldsee to that, if we didn't. '

As to choice, ' said the lady, 'there's none that I can see--prettygenteel girls both, that will do us credit, unless it is their ownfault. Excellent governess, London masters--you may be assuredeverything shall be done for her. '

'Shall we toss up which it shall be?' laughed her husband. 

'No, ' said Mr. Underwood gently. 'We think that this one, ' laying hishand on Alda's arm, 'will value these advantages, and is not quitesuch a home-bird as her sister. I hope you will find a grateful goodchild in Alda Mary, and a kind sister to Mary Alda. '

The tears came into Alda's eyes, as her father seemed thus making herover; a great rush of affection for all at home, and contempt forMary Alda in comparison with her own twin, seemed to take away anyelation, as Mr. And Mrs. Tom Underwood kissed her, and welcomed her, and declared they should like to take her home at once. 

'You shall have her soon, ' said Mr. Underwood. 'Let me keep her forChristmas Day. '

And for Christmas Day he did keep her, though at the bottom of Alda'sheart there were strong hopes of invitations to join the festivitiesat Centry Underwood. Indeed, such a party was insisted on by Marilda, one that was to include all the little ones, and make them happierthan ever they had been in their lives. It was to be on Twelfth Day, but Mrs. Underwood hinted to the twins that they had better not talkto the younger ones about it, for she scarcely believed they wouldgo. She had never before spoken out that conviction which had longcrushed her down, and Wilmet's whole soul seemed for the momentscared away by this fresh intimation of the condition in which theirfather stood; while Alda vehemently repeated the old declaration thathe was better. He said he was better. Alas! such a better as italways was. 

'How well you ought to be!' said Mr. Audley one day at thereiteration, 'better every day!'

'Yes, and best of all at last!' was the reply, with a sweet smile. 

For he was very happy. The partial provision for the four eldestchildren, two by their own exertions, two through friends, hadevidently been received by him as an earnest of protection and aidfor the rest, even to the babe whom he scarcely expected ever to seein this world. He said it would be ungrateful not to trust, and hedid trust with all his heart, cheered as it was by the tardycordiality of his cousin, and the indefinable love of kindred thatwas thus gratified. Thomas Underwood poured in good things of allkinds on the invalid and his house, fulfilled his promise of callingin further advice, and would have franked half the family to Torquay--Nice--Madeira--if the doctors had given the slightest encouragement. It could be of little ultimate avail; but the wine and soup did givesupport and refreshment bodily, and produced much gratitude andthankfulness mentally, besides lightening some of Mrs. Underwood'spresent cares. 

No one was more anxious to help than Mr. Ryder; he had been assiduousin his inquiries and offers of service ever since the attack atMichaelmas; and it was evident that he really venerated the Curate, while he was a severe and contemptuous judge of the Rector. But when, after a brilliant examination, he became aware that he was to loseboth the elder Underwoods at once, his mortification was great, hecame to call, and Mr. Underwood had again to undergo an expostulationon Felix's prospects, and an offer of keeping him free of expense. The school-fee was a mere trifle, but Mr. Ryder would willingly haveboarded and lodged the boy himself--for the benefit of his authority, as he said, over younger boarders. 

'I am afraid, ' said Mr. Underwood, kind and grateful as usual, 'thatthere are too many younger boarders here for Felix to be spared. No, thank you; I am sincerely obliged to you, but the hard cash is anecessary consideration. '

'And you can sacrifice such a boy's prospects--'

'Bread and cheese _must_ be earned, even at the cost of prospects. Hecannot afford to wait to make his labour skilled. '

'Forgive me, Mr. Underwood, but I cannot think it is right to throwaway his abilities. '

'You can allow that it is a less wrong than to leave the rest to debtor starvation. '

'You should trust--'

'I do trust; but I can do so better when I humble what is nothing butpride and vanity in me, after all. I was foolish enough about it atfirst, but I am quite content now that my boy should do his duty, without being curious as to where it is to be done. '

'You will tell me a schoolmaster's vanity is concerned; and I allowit is, for I looked to your sons to raise the reputation of theschool; but perhaps it is only put off a little longer. Will you letme have Clement or Fulbert, on the terms I proposed for Felix?'

'No, Ryder; with many, many thanks, much feeling of your generouskindness--it cannot be. '

'You do not trust me. ' This was said with as much indignation ascould be shown to a man in Mr. Underwood's condition. 

No. Your very kindness would make the tone I regret in you moreperilous. Do not think Felix ungrateful, Ryder; the desire is mine--and remember, it is that of a man who is dying, and who really lovesand values you greatly. It is that the younger boys should, as soonas may be, go to schools where older systems prevail. '

Mr. Ryder was exceedingly mortified, and though he tried hard toconceal the full extent of his annoyance, he could not help saying, 'You know how I respect your motives; but let me say that I doubtyour finding any place where the ideas you deprecate are not to befound. And--pardon me--may not the finding their progress obstructedby your scruples, the more indispose your sons to them?'

'I hope not, ' said Mr. Underwood, calmly. 'I hope it may show themhow strong the approach of death makes that faith--nay, ratherassurance--with which your party are tampering. '

'You are not doing me justice, Mr. Underwood. You know that my faithand hope are at the core the same as your own. All our question iswhat outworks are untenable. ' Again he spoke hotly, but Mr. Underwood's gentleness seemed to silence him. 

'And that there should be any such question proves--alas!--the utterdifference between our belief. Ryder, you are a young man, and as Ibelieve and trust verily in earnest; and some day, I think, you willunderstand what faith is. Meantime, your uncertainties are doing moremischief than you understand--they pervade all your teaching morethan you know. I dread what they may do to such as have not yourmoral sense to restrain them and bring them back, as I pray--I hopeever to pray--it may be with you. Thank you for all your kindness, actual and intended, to my boys. '

Then rising from his chair, while Mr. Ryder remained uncertain how tospeak, he signed to him to remain still while he sought in hisbookcase and returned with a small old copy of Jeremy Taylor's HolyLiving and Dying; then sitting down again, wrote the schoolmaster'sname in it, above his own 'Under-wode, Under-rode' stamp. 'Keep it, Ryder! I do not say that you will care for it now, but some day Ithink you will, and if I am allowed to know of it, it will be joy. '

Mr. Ryder could only wring the hand that held it out to him, and witha great effort say, 'Thank you. ' He saw that Mr. Underwood was toomuch tired to prolong the conversation; but he wrote a note of warmthanks that evening, promising to do whatever lay in his power forthe boys, that their father would not think dangerous for them; andhe added, that whatever he should for the future think or say, suchan example as he had now seen was a strong weight on its own side. Itwas warmly and tenderly put, and like everything that befell him, gratified Mr. Underwood. 

A very happy man he had been, as he sincerely told those who wouldhave grieved over him, and not without some remorse. 

'Yes, ' as he said to Mr. Audley, who watched him like a son, 'it isindeed the LORD who hath led me all my life through. I never had awant or a care unfulfilled till nine years ago. Then, just as I hadbecome sluggish and mechanical in fixed habits of easy country work, came this thorough change, break, and rousing. I tell you, I cannever be thankful enough for the mercy. Not to leave them allprovided for, as the saying is, would I go back to be such a priestas I was becoming. Happy--yes, I have been much happier here, sinceno choice was left me but working up to my strength. '

'And beyond it, ' said Mr. Audley, sadly. 

'If so--well; so much the better!' he said. 'It is a blessing to beallowed to be spent in that service. And for the children, I wishonly for work and goodness for them--and for that I may well trust mygood Master. '

CHAPTER IV

TWILIGHT AND DAWN

'Two Angels, one of Life and one of Death, Passed o'er the village as the morning broke; The dawn was on their faces; and beneath The sombre houses capped with plumes of smoke. LONGFELLOW. 

'Don't, Ful!'

'That's nothing to you, Clem. '

'I say, this won't do. I must have some light. '

'Indeed, Ed, we must not light a candle before five o'clock. '

'Pish!'

'Oh please, Edgar, don't stir the fire. If you knew how few coalsthere are!'

'Stuff''

'No, I won't have it done if Wilmet says not;' and Felix reared up inthe gloom, and struggled with his brother. 

Felix--Edgar--Oh, don't. '

'Hsh--sh-- Now, you girls are worse than all, screaming in that way. 'A few moments' silence of shame. It had been a weary, long, wet day, a trial under any circumstances to eleven people under seventeen, onthe 4th of January, and the more oppressive in St. Oswald'sBuildings, because not only had their father been in a much moresuffering state for some days past, but their mother, who had hopedto keep up for some weeks longer, had for the last two days beenquite unlike herself. In the sick-room she was as tender and vigilantas ever in her silent way, but towards her children a strange fretfulimpatience, a jealousy of their coming near their father, and anintolerance of the least interruption from them even for the mostnecessary cause. Moreover, the one friend and helper who had neverfailed them before, Mr. Audley, had not been seen since he had lookedin before early service; and altogether the wretchedness andperplexity of that day had been such, that it was no wonder that evenFelix and Wilmet had scarcely spirits or temper for the only taskthat seemed at present left them, the hindering their juniors frommaking themselves obnoxious. 

'Wilmet, do you think we shall go to the party at Centry Park?'reiterated Fulbert. 

'Do hold your tongue about that. I don't believe there's the leastchance, ' said Alda fretfully. 

'And I don't know how you can think of such a thing, ' added Cherry. 

'I want to see Cousin Marilda's Christmas tree, ' whined Robina. 

'Do ask Mamma again, ' entreated another voice. 

'I shall do no such thing, ' said Wilmet, with absolute crossness inher tone. 

Robina began to cry. 

'Come here, Bobbie, ' said Cherry's voice in the dark end of the room;'I'll tell you a story. '

'I know all Cherry's stories, and they're rubbish, ' said Fulbert. 

'This is quite a new one. There was once a little match-girl--'

'Bosh! I know that little brute, and I hate her, ' broke in Fulbert. 

'Hold your tongue, ' said Clement; 'but--'

'Oh no, don't let us have the match-girl, ' cried several voices. 

'Why can't you be good? There was once an old giant that lived in acave--'

'I hate old giants, ' said Cherry's critical public; and her voicegrew melancholy. 

'But this one had but one eye. Come, _do_ listen; papa told me. Hewas in an island--' but the voice grew mournful, and was broken by acry. 

'Oh! Fulbert hurt me!'

'Fulbert, for shame! What is it, Angel dear?'

'I only laid hold of her pudding arm, ' growled Fulbert. 'Oh! I say, Felix, that's too bad!'

'Hold your row, I say, ' said Felix, after his application of fistlaw. 'Hollo! what's that?' and he sprang to his feet with Angela inhis arms, as the door was opened by a hand groping, and Mr. Audley'svoice said, 'Darkness visible. '

There was a general scrambling up all over the floor, and Edgarrushed across to light a candle. Wilmet alone had not stirred, asBernard lay asleep across her lap. The flash of the match revealed amass of light disordered heads, and likewise a black figure in thedoorway. 

'Here is a kind helper for you, Wilmet, ' said Mr. Audley, 'from St. Faith's, at Dearport. You must call her Sister Constance. '

Wilmet did rise now, in some consternation, lifting her littlebrother, whose hand was still in the locks, the tangling of which hadbeen his solace. There was a sweet warm kiss on her brow, and herlost net was picked up, her hair coiled into it by a pair of readytender hands, but she faltered, 'Oh, thank you. Does Mamma know?'

'She was there when I got a sort of consent from your father, ' saidMr. Audley. 

'She has not said a word, ' said Alda, half resentfully. 'We havehardly been in all day except just to fetch and carry. '

'Never mind, ' said the Sister, 'it is much better that she did notthink about it. Now, my dear, don't! I won't have anything done forme. You don't know how we Sisters sleep on nothing when we do sleep. '

'But you'll have some tea, ' said Alda, the only smooth-haired one ofthe party. 

'When you do, perhaps, thank you. Will you come to me, my dear!'relieving Felix from Angela. 'What is your name?' and the child, though ordinarily very shy, clung to her at once; while she, movingover to Cherry, found her in tears, shook up her cushion, arrangedher rug, and made her comfortable in a moment. A sense came over themall that they had among them a head on whom they might rest theircares; and as the black bonnet and veil were taken off, and they sawa sweet fair, motherly face beaming on them from the white plain-bordered cap, they gathered round with an outpouring of confidence, small and great, while Mr. Audley went upstairs to announce what hehad done. He presently returned, saying, 'All right! Perhaps you hadbetter come up at once. '

There they sat, on either side of the hearth, he pillowed up and in adressing-gown, more entirely the sick man than he had ever beforegiven up himself to be. Mrs. Underwood rose, and with tears in hereyes, mutely held out her hand, while her husband at once recognisedSister Constance as Lady Herbert Somerville, the wife of the laterector of Dearport. He had last met her when, some six or seven yearsbefore he had been invited to preach at festivals at Dearport, andhad seen her the sunbeam of her house. He knew that her husband, whowas a connection of Mr. Audley's, had since died of the same maladyas his own, and had left her, a childless widow, together with allelse he had to leave, to the Sisterhood they had already founded inthe seaport town. But his greeting was, 'This is _very_ good in you;but surely it must be too painful for you. '

'The Superior saw how much I wished it, ' she said. 

'You are like Alexandrine de la Ferronays, ' he said, remembering herlove for tending a consumptive priest for her husband's sake. 

'I am always wishing that I were!' she said. 

So they perfectly understood each other, and poor Mrs. Underwood, whohad, in her new and extraordinary petulance, fiercely resisted thedoctor's recommendation of a nurse, found herself implicitly relyingon and trusting Sister Constance with a wonderful sense of relief--arelief perhaps still greater to the patient himself, who had silentlyendured more discomforts and made more exertions than she knew, rather than tire her or vex her by employing even son or daughter, and who was besides set free from some amount of anxiety. 

Indeed the widow had too perfect a sympathy to interfere with thewife's only comfort. When it could safely be done, she left the twoalone together, and applied herself to winning the hearts andsoothing the spirits of the poor children downstairs, and suggestingand compounding new nourishing delicacies. 

She even persuaded Mrs. Underwood to go to the next room for anight's rest while she sat up, and learnt--what the silent wife hadnever told any one--how trying the nights were even to that spirit!At first the patient liked to talk, and drew out much of the hiddentreasure of her spirit respecting her husband, who, though ailing foryears, had finally passed away with only the immediate warning of aweek--the final cause being harass from the difficulties from thoseabove and below him that beset an earnest clergyman of his way ofthinking. 

What struck her, as it did all, was Mr. Underwood's perfect absenceof all care, and conviction that all the burthen was taken off hishands. Her own husband had, as she could not help telling him, foundit hard to resign himself to leaving his plans half carried out toinstruments which he had but half formed. He had wished with all hismight to live, and though he had resigned himself dutifully, it hadbeen with a real struggle, and a longing for continued service ratherthan rest, a hope that he should more efficiently serve, and muchdifficulty in refraining from laying all about him under injunctionsfor the future. 

Mr. Underwood half smiled. 'I am neither head nor principal, ' hesaid. 'Plans have been over long ago. I am only tired out, too tiredto think about what is to follow. If I live three days longer I shallhave just had my forty years in the wilderness, and though it hasblossomed like a rose, I am glad to be near the rest. '

And then he asked for the Midnight Office; and afterwards came fitfulsleep, half dreamy, half broken by the wanderings of slightfeverishness and great weakness; but she thought her attendance wouldnot be very brief, and agreed mentally with what Mr. Audley had toldher, that the doctor said that the end might yet be many weeks away. When in the dark winter's mornings the wife crept back again to herpost, and all that could be done in those early hours had beeneffected, Sister Constance went to the half-past seven o'clockservice with Felix and Clement, imparting to them on the road thatthe Superior of St. Faith's was expecting to receive some of theleast of the children in the course of the day, to remain there forthe present. 

Both boys declared it would be an infinite relief, but they doubtedexceedingly whether either father or mother would consent to losesight of them, since the former never failed to see each child, andgive it a smile and kiss, if no more. If they were to be sent, Felixsupposed there was no one but himself to take them; nobody with whomthey would be happy could be spared, nor did he show any repugnanceto the notion of acting pere de famille to three babies on therailway. 

It was quickly settled. Mr. Underwood at once confessed the exceedingkindness, and declared it to be much better for everybody. 'Do younot feel it so, Mother?'

She bent her head in assent, as she did to all he said. 

'Having them back will be good for you, ' he added persuasively; andagain she tried to give a look of response. So they were brought--Robina, Angela, and Bernard--and each stood for a moment on a chairat his bedside. The two little ones he merely kissed and blessed, butto Robina he said a few more words about being good, and mindingMamma and Felix. 

'Oh yes, papa! And they'll have a Christmas tree! and I'll save allmy bon-bons to make your cough well. '

He watched wistfully as the bright heads passed out of sight, and thelong struggling cough and gasping that followed had all the pangs ofparting to add to their burthen. Half the family escorted Felix andhis charge to the station, and in the quiet that followed, SisterConstance had a good sleep on Wilmet's bed, as much, she said, as sheever required; and she came from it all freshness and brightness, making the dinner-time very charming to all the diminished party, though Wilmet felt greatly lost without the little ones; andafterwards she earned the warmest gratitude from Edgar and Geraldineby looking over their drawings and giving them some valuable hints--nay, she even devised the new and delightful occupation of ship-building for those three inconvenient subjects, Clement, Fulbert, andLancelot. Upstairs or down, all was gentle cheerfulness and patiencewherever she went. 

Felix came home about five o'clock, and his mother was persuaded togo to lie down while he amused his father with the account of thechildren's exemplary behaviour, and of their kind welcome at St. Faith's, where he had been kept to dine, feeling, as he said, 'uncommonly queer' at first, but at last deciding, to the greatdiversion of his father, that the sisters were a set of jolly oldgirls, but not one equal to '_our_ Sister Constance. ' Then he hadseen the church, and was almost bewildered with the beauty of thedecorations; and Mr. Underwood, though saying little, evidently muchenjoyed his boy's refreshment and pleasure. He certainly seemed noworse, and Mr. Audley was allowed, what he had often asked before, tosit up with him. 

But there was much to render it a long, anxious, restless night of asort of semi-consciousness, and murmuring talk, as if he fanciedhimself at Vale Leston again. However, when Felix crept in, aboutfour o'clock in the morning, anxious at the sounds he heard, he foundhim asleep, and this lasted for two or three hours; he wokerefreshed, and presently said, 'Epiphany! put back the curtain, thatI may see the bright and morning star. '

The morning star was shining in the delicate dawn full in view, andhe looked at it with quiet pleasure. 'Mother, ' he said, thenrecollecting himself; 'ah, she is resting! Thank you, Audley. '

At that moment a little cry through the thin wall made him start andflush. 

'Is it so?' he murmured; 'thank God! That is well!' But his chestheaved grievously as he panted with anxiety, and his two watchershesitated what to do, until the door was slightly opened, and beforethe intended sign could be made to Felix, the breathless exclamation, 'How? what?' brought Sibby's half-scared mournful countenanceforward. 

'How is she, Sibby? don't fear to say, ' he said, more collectedly. 

'Nicely, sir, as well as can be expected; but--'

'The baby? Alive--I heard--'

'Yes, sir; that is--O Sir, it is two; and it would be a mere mercy ifthey are taken, as they look like to be--twins, and coming likethis!' Perhaps Sibby was a little more lamentable, because, insteadof looking shocked, he clasped his hands in eager thanksgiving, as helooked upwards. 

Sister Constance followed at the same moment, saying in a far moreencouraging voice, 'She is doing very well. '

'It is another great mercy, ' he said. 'Much better than longerwaiting on me. Will these Twelfth-day gifts live? Or do I take themwith me? At least, let me baptize them--now, at once, ' he spokeearnestly. 'My full twelve, and one over, and on Twelfth-day. '

Sister Constance had better hopes of the babes than Sibby, but thiswish of his was one not to be withstood for a moment; and she went tomake ready, while Mr. Audley went down for the little Parian font, and Felix and Sibby arranged the pillows and coverings. Mr. Underwoodlooked very bright and thankful. 'Birthday gifts, ' he said, 'what arethey? You have not told me, Sibby. '

'Boy and girl, sir, ' she said, 'poor little dears!'

'Jealous for your old twins, Sibby?' he said, smiling. 

'Ah! sir, they came in a better time. '

'Better for them, no doubt, but this is the best for these, ' heanswered brightly. 'See, Sibby, can't you be thankful, like me, thatyour mistress is sheltered from what would try her? I can bear it allbetter without her to see. '

Sibby's only reply was a gush of tears, and presently all was madeready; Geraldine was quietly helped into the room by Edgar, andplaced in her usual station by the pillow, and the boys stood againstthe wall, while the two babes, tiny and scarcely animate things, werecarried, each by one of the elder pair and the father, as whitelyrobed as if he had been in his surplice, held out his hands, andsmiled with his kindly lips and clear shining blue eyes full ofwelcome. 

'Has your mother any wishes about names?' he asked. 'Wilmet--what--?'

'No, Papa, I think not;' but her eyes were brimming over with tears, and it was plain that something was suppressed. 

'My dear, let me hear, I am not to be hurt by such things. '

'It is--it is only--she did say, when we came for them, that we werethe children of joy--these are the children of sorrow, ' murmuredWilmet, uttering the words with difficulty. 

'I thought so, ' he said; then after a brief pause, 'Now, Audley--'

For Mr. Audley said all the previous prayers, though with a voice ashard to control as Wilmet's had been. Then Wilmet held her chargeclose to her father, for, almost inappreciable as the weight was, hecould only venture to lay one arm round that grasshopper burthen, aswith his long thin fingers he dashed the water. 'Theodore Benjamin, Ibaptize thee. ' Alda brought the other. 'Stella Eudora. ' Then the twohands were folded over his face, and they all knelt round till hemoved and smiled. 

'Give them to me again, ' he said. 

It was for the father's kiss and blessing now. 

'They look life-like, ' he said. 'You will keep them. Now mind me. Charge _her_ never to think of them as children of sorrow, but ofjoy. She will remember how nearly you were called Theodore, Felix. Take him as God's gift and mine--may he be a son of your right handto you. '

The boy did take the babe, and with a deep resolve in his heart, thathis duty to these helpless ones should be his first thought on earth. He did not speak it, but his father saw the steadfast wistful gaze, and it was enough. 

Alda ventured to ask, 'Is Eudora a gift too, Papa?'

'Yes. A happy gift. For so she is! Let her be a little Epiphany Starto you all! Tell Mother that I call them a double joy, a doublecomfort! Poor little maid!' and he kissed her again, 'will no onewelcome her, but the father who is leaving her?'

'O Papa! You know how we will love them, ' sobbed Wilmet. 

'I think I do, my dear;' and he smoothed the glossy hair; but withlove comes joy, you know. '

'It is very hard now, ' broke from the poor girl. 

'Very, he said tenderly; 'but it will if you make the burthen ablessing--the cross a crutch--eh, my Cherry? Now, a kiss and go, I amtired. '

He was tired, but not apparently worse. 

Edgar and his three juniors started off directly after church inquest of ice where they might behold skating, and practise sliding;and Wilmet, with a view to quiet, actually ventured on theextravagance of providing them with a shilling, that they mightforage for themselves, instead of coming home to dinner. 

She regretted Edgar's absence, however, for when Mr. Bevan came in tohold the Epiphany Feast in the sick chamber, her father asked forEdgar and Geraldine, and looked disappointed that the boy was gone. But he murmured, 'Maybe it is best!' and when the little girl camein, flushed and awe-struck, he took her hand, and said, 'May not Ihave this little one--my last pupil--to share the feast with me?Willing and desirous, ' he smiled as he held her, and she colouredintensely, with tears in her eyes. 

There could be no denial, and his judgment at such a moment couldonly be accepted by the Rector; and the child herself durst not sayone word of her alarm and awe. Papa knew. And never could she forgetthat he held her hand all the time that she leant--for she could notkneel--by his bed. Her elder brother and sisters were there too, andhe kissed and blessed each tenderly afterwards, and Sister Constancetoo knelt and asked his blessing. Then he thanked Mr. Bevan warmly, and called it a most true day of brightness. They heard himwhispering to himself, 'Arise, shine, for thy Light is come;' and thepeaceful enjoyment seemed so to soothe him, that he was not, asusual, eager to get up. 

It was only towards the early dusk that a restlessness came on, andan increase of the distress and oppression of breath, which hethought might be more bearable in his chair; and Mr. Audley, who hadjust come in, began with Felix to dress him, and prepare to move him. But just as they were helping him towards the chair, there was a sortof choke, a gasping struggle, his head fell on Felix's shoulder, theboy in terror managed to stretch out a hand and rang the bell; but inthat second felt that there was a strange convulsive shudder, and--

'Felix!' Mr. Audley's low voice sounded strange and far, away. 'I dobelieve--'

The figure was entirely prone as they lifted it back to the bed. Theyneeded not the exclamation of Sibby to reveal the truth. It was onlyan exclamation, it would have been a shriek if Felix had not graspedher wrist with a peremptory grasp. But that bell had been enough;there had been a sound of dismay in the very tinkle, and SisterConstance was in the doorway. 

'Felix, ' she said, understanding all, 'you must go to her. She heard---she is calling you. You cannot conceal it; be as quick and quiet asyou can, ' she added, as the stunned boy went past her, only hearing, and that as through a tempest, the feeble voice calling his name. Hestood by the bedside; his mother looked into his white face, and heldout her hands; then as he bent down, clasped both round his neck. 'Hetrusted you, ' she said. 

He sank on his knees as she relaxed her grasp, and hid her headbeneath the clothes. A few holy words of commendation of the souldeparted sounded from the other room; then at Sister Constance'stouch of his hand, he quitted the room. 

Presently after, Felix was sitting in the large arm-chair in thedining-room, with his sister Geraldine on his lap, his arms roundher, her arms tightly clasped round his neck, her hair hangingloosely down over his shoulder, her head against him, his face overher, as he rocked himself backwards and forwards with her, eachstraining the other closer, as though the mechanical action andmotion could allay the pain. The table was all over baby-things, which numerous neighbours had sent in on the first news of the twinsthat morning, and which the girls had been inspecting; but no one--nothing else was to be seen when Mr. Thomas Underwood, on his wayfrom the station, finding his knock unheard, and the door ajar, foundhis way to the room. 

'What is this? How is your father?'

Felix raised his face, still deeply flushed, and rising, placed hissister in the chair. 

'What, worse! You don't say so, ' said Mr. Underwood, advancing. 

'He is gone!' said Felix, steadily, but in an unnatural voice. 'Quitesuddenly. Not very long ago, ' he began, but he felt unable to guessfor what space of time he had been rocking Cherry there. 

'Dead! Edward Underwood! Bless me!' said Mr. Underwood, taking offhis hat, passing his hand over his forehead, and standing horror-struck. 'I had no idea! You never sent over to say he was worse. '

'He was not; it came on just now, ' said Felix, holding by themantelpiece. 

He groaned. 'Poor Edward! Well, ' and he was forced to put hishandkerchief to his eyes. He spoke more gently after that. 'Well, this is a sudden thing, but better than lingering on. Your poormother, would she like to see me?'

'She was confined last night. '

Bless me! bless me! What a state of things! Have you got any one tobe with you?'

'Yes; a lady from Dearport, ' said Felix. 

'Humph? Which are you? not my boy?'

'No, I am Felix. O poor Edgar!' he added, still bewildered. 

It was at this moment that trampling steps were heard, making Felixspring forward with an instinct to silence them; but the thresholdthe sight of his face brought conviction to Edgar, and with a louduncontrollable cry, tired and hungry as he was, he seemed to collapseinto his brother's arms, and fainted away. 

'_My_ poor boy!' exclaimed his cousin, coming to Felix's help, andhimself lifting Edgar to the sofa. Of the other boys, Clement ran forwater, Fulbert rushed out of sight, and Lancelot laid his head on achair choking with tears. 

Felix and Clement were, poor children! used enough to illness toattend to their brother with a collectedness that amazed theircousin; and without calling for help, Edgar came shuddering andtrembling to himself, and then burst into silent but agonising sobs, very painful to witness. He was always--boy as he was--the mosteasily and entirely overthrown by anything that affected himstrongly; and Mr. Thomas Underwood was so much struck and touched byhis exceeding grief, especially now that he looked on him as his ownproperty, that after putting in some disjointed sentences of 'There--there--You'll always have a father in me--Don't, my boy--I tell you, you are my son now, '--which to Felix's mind made it more intolerable, he said, 'I'll take him home now--it will be all the better for himand for every one, poor lad! So many--'

'The three younger ones were sent to Dearport yesterday, ' said Felix;'but Edgar--'

'To Dearport! Eh! To whom?'

'The Sisters, ' said Felix. 

A gruff sound followed. 'Come, come, my dear lad, 'tis bad enough, but I'll do my best to make up to you. It will be much the best wayfor you to come out of this, ' he added, glancing round the drearyfireless room, which his entrance had reminded Felix to darken. 

'Thank you, ' began Felix, not in the least supposing Edgar could go;'but now--'

'It is not like a stranger, ' added his relation. 'Be a sensible lad. One out of the way is something under the circumstances. Stay--whomcan I see? I will give orders for you, ' he added. 

'Mr. Audley and Sister Constance are seeing about things, thank you, 'said Felix. 'I'll fetch Mr. Audley, ' he added, as another tryinggrunt at the other name fell on his ear, and he put his arm roundGeraldine, and helped her away. 

Mr. Audley came, having just parted with the doctor, who hadexplained the sudden termination as what he had of late not thoughtimprobable, and further shown that it had been most merciful, sincethere might otherwise have been weeks, if not months, of much severersuffering. He had just looked in at the wife, but she had hardlynoticed him, and he saw no dangerous symptoms about her, except analmost torpid calmness. 

Mr. Thomas Underwood saw Mr. Bevan, and made it clearly understoodthat he made himself responsible for all expenses, including mourningfor the whole family. He even offered to have the funeral at ValeLeston, 'if it were only to shame Fulbert Underwood;' but the wifewas in no state to be asked, and the children shrank from theremoval, so it was decided that Edward Underwood should sleep amongthose for whom he had spent his life, and where his children's lotfor the present would be cast. 

The cousin carried Edgar back to Centry with him; the boy seemed toounhappy not to be restless, and as if he were ready to do anything toleave his misery behind him. 

The others remained with their preparations, and with suchconsolation as the exceeding sympathy and kindness of the whole towncould afford them. Their mother remained in the same state, exceptwhen roused by an effort; and then there was an attention andpresence of mind about her that gave anxiety lest excitement shouldbe bringing feverishness, but she always fell back into her usualstate of silence, such that it could be hardly told whether it weretorpid or not. 

They looked out that half-finished comment on the Epistle to thePhilippians. It stopped at the words--'Yea, and if I be offered uponthe sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with youall. '

Mr. Audley took those words for his text on the Sunday, and, notwithout breaking down more than once, read as much of the comment asthere was time for, as the happy-hearted message of the late pastor, for whom indeed there were many tears shed. It seemed to suit withthat solemn peace and nobleness that seemed like the 'likeness of theResurrection face, ' bringing back all the beauty of his countenanceas he lay robed in his surplice, with a thorny but bright-fruitedcross of holly on his breast, when his children looked their last, ere parting with what remained of that loved and loving father. 

Poor little Geraldine spent that worst hour of her life sitting byher mother's bed. She had been helped by Felix to that Feast whichhad been spread for the mourners in the church in early morning; butafterwards she was forced to remain at home, while the white-robedchoir, the brother clergy of all the neighbourhood, and the greaterpart of the parish met their pastor for the last time in the church. 

There the first part of the service took place; and then--Cherrycould just fancy she could hear the dim echo of the Dies Irae, asit was sung on the way to the cemetery. It was a very aching heart, poor child! full of the dull agony of a longing that she knew couldnever be satisfied again, the intense craving for her father. 

She missed him more really than any of them, she had been so much hiscompanion; and she was the more solitary from the absence of Edgar, who had always been her chief partner in her pursuits. His departurehad seemed like a defection; and yet she had reproached herself forso feeling it when he had run upstairs, on arriving with Mr. Underwood, looking paler, more scared and miserable, than any ofthem; and he was sobbing so much when he took his place in theprocession, that Wilmet had made Felix take Alda, that she mightsupport him. None of his mother's steady reserve and resolutestillness had descended to him, he was all sensibility andnervousness; and Geraldine, though without saying this to herself, felt as if 'poor Edgar' might really have been nearly killed by thelast few days of sadness, he could bear depression so little. Shecould hardly have gone through them but for Sister Constance'skindness, and that rocking process from Felix, which she and hecalled 'being his great baby. ' And now, when her mother looked up ather, held out a hand, and called her Papa's dear little Cherry, drawing her to lay her cheek by hers on the pillow, there was muchsoothing in it, though therewith the little girl felt a painful doubtand longing to know whether her mother knew what was passing; andeven while perfectly aware that she must not be talked to nordisturbed, was half grieved, half angry, at her dropping off into aslumber, and awakening only upon little Stella's behalf. Those fewwords to Geraldine had been the only sign that day of perception ofany existence in the world save that of the twins. 

So the time went by, and the little bustle of return was heard;Sister Constance came in, kissed Geraldine, and helped her down thatshe might be with Edgar, who was to return with the cousin, whispering to her by the way that it had been very beautiful. It wasa day of bright sunshine, high wind, and scant sparkling featherystars of snow, that sat for a moment shining in their pureperfectness of regularity on the black, and then vanished. 'So likehimself, ' Sister Constance said. 

Geraldine found her four elders and the three little boys alltogether in the dining-room; and while Wilmet anxiously asked afterMother, the others, in a sort of sad elation, told of the crowdspresent, the number of clergy--Mr. Ryder, too, came home from hisholiday on purpose--the sobbing people, and the wreaths of camelliasand of holly, that loving hands had made, and laid upon the coffin. And then the last hymn had been so sweet and beautiful, they allseemed refreshed and comforted except Edgar, who, coming fresh backto the desolation of the house, was in another paroxysm of grief. 

'But, Edgar, ' said Alda timidly, 'you like being there, don't you?'

'As if one could like anything now!'

'Well! but, Eddy dear, you know what I mean. It is not bad beingthere. '

'Not so bad as being at home. Oh!' and a terrible fit of sobbing cameon, which made the other children stand round rather appalled; whileFelix, hesitating, said, 'It is no good going on in this way, Edgar. Father would say it wasnot right; and you are upsetting poor little Cherry. '

'It is worse for him, because he has been away, said Cherry fondlinghim. 

'Yes, ' said Edgar between his sobs 'It did not seem _so_ there. '

'And are they kind?'

'Oh, yes. Marilda let me sit in the school-room, and I had books, andthings to copy; such an angel, Cherry, I'll bring it to you nexttime--my copy, I mean. '

Here there was a summons from the other room for Felix. 

'Yes, ' said Edgar, a good deal reinvigorated by having something totell; 'I suppose they are going to tell him what is settled. Mr. Underwood wrote to the man at Vale Leston, and he won't do anythingfor us; but they are going to try for the Clergy Orphan for one ofyou two little boys. '

'Oh!' there was a great gasp. 

'And about me?' asked Alda. 

'You are to come when we all go to London--to meet us at the station. There's a new governess coming, and you will start both together withher; and I think you'll beat Marilda, for she knows nothing, andwon't learn. '

'I hope she won't be jealous. '

'I don't think it is in her! She's very jolly. '

'But I can't go till Mamma is better. '

Wilmet felt they were falling into a gossiping kind of way thatjarred on her, and was glad of a summons upstairs. 

Mr. Thomas Underwood saw Alda before he returned home, told her shewas his other daughter, and should join them on their way to London;and he further made arrangements about the christening, contingent, of course, on the mother's consent, and on the possibility of takingthe very small delicate babies to the church. He made very extensivepromises of patronage for the future, with a full and open heart, andlooked as if he should like to adopt the whole family on the spot. 

 *** *** ***

For the convenience of our readers we subjoin the first page of thefamily Bible. 

Edward Fulbert Underwood married August 1st, 1837--Mary WilmetUnderwood. 

 Felix Chester . . . Born, July 3d, 1838. Wilmet Ursula ) Alda Mary ). . . " Aug. Llth, 1839. Thomas Edgar. . . . " Oct. 6th, 1840. Geraldine. . . . . " Oct. 25th, 1841. Edward Clement . . . " Nov. 23d, 1842. Fulbert James . . . " Jan. 9th, 1844. Lancelot Oswald. . . " May 16th, 1846. Robina Elizabeth . . " Feb. 20th, 1848. Angela Margaret. . . " Sept. 29th, 1851. Bernard . . . . . " Dec. 1st, 1852. Stella Eudora ) Theodore Benjamin). . " Jan. 6th, 1854. 

CHAPTER V

WORKING FOR BREAD

'Parson's lass 'ant nowt, an' she weant 'a nowt when 'e's dead; Mun be a guvness, lad, or summut, an' addle her bread. ' TENNYSON. 

'Tell, little one, ' said Mr. Rugg, the doctor, as he found Geraldineon the landing-place outside her mother's room, and spoke to her in avoice that to her reluctant ears, as well as to those of SisterConstance, who followed him, sounded all the more vulgar because itwas low, wheedling, and confidential; 'you are always about thehouse, you know everything--what accident has your mamma met with?'

Cherry's face grew set. 

'She has, then, ' said the doctor, looking at Sister Constance. 'Ithought so. Now, be a good child, and tell us all about it. '

'I cannot, ' she said. 

'Come, don't be silly and sulk. No one will punish you: we know itwas an accident; out with it. '

'My dear, ' said Sister Constance, 'this is a pity. Much may depend onyour speaking. '

Cherry began to cry very piteously, though still silently. 

'Yes, yes, we see you are sorry, ' said Mr. Rugg, 'but there's nothingfor it now but to let us hear the truth. '

She shook her head violently, and brow and neck turned crimson. 

Mr. Rugg grew angered, and tried a sharper tone. 'Miss Geraldine, this is regular naughtiness. Let me hear directly. '

The flush became purple, and something like 'I won't' came frombehind the handkerchief. 

'Leave her to me, if you please, ' said Sister Constance gently; 'Ithink she will tell me what is right to be told. '

'As you please, Lady Somerville, ' said Mr. Rugg, who, since he haddiscovered her title, was always barbarously misusing it; 'but thething must be told. It is doing Mrs. Underwood a serious injury tolet childish naughtiness conceal the truth. '

Constance put her arm round the little girl, a tiny weight forthirteen years old, and took her into the room where she had lastseen her father. She was sobbing violently, not without passion, andthe more distressingly because she carefully stifled every sound, andthe poor little frame seemed as if it would be rent to pieces. 'Cherry, dear child, don't, ' said Constance, sitting down andgathering her into her arms; 'do try and calm yourself, and think--'

'He--he--I won't tell him!' sobbed the child. 'He's a bad man--hetells stories. He said he would not hurt me--when he knew he shouldmost terribly. Papa said it was very wrong. Papa was quite angry--hecalled it deceiving, he did! I won't tell him!'

'My dear child, is there anything to tell? Don't think about him, think about what is good for your mother. '

'She told me not, ' sobbed Cherry, but not with the anger there hadbeen before. 'No, no, don't ask me; she told me not. '

'Your mother? My dear little girl, whatever it is, you ought to sayit. Your dear mother seems to be too ill and confused to recollecteverything herself, and if it is not known whether she has been hurt, how can anything be done for her?'

Cherry sat upon her friend's lap, and with a very heaving chest said, 'If Felix says I ought--then I will. Papa said we should mind Felix--like him. '

'I will call Felix, ' said Sister Constance. 

Mr. Rugg looked very impatient of the delay; but Felix, who had justcome in to dinner, was summoned. He came at once, and was soonstanding by Geraldine's chair. 

'Yes, Geraldine, I think you ought to tell, ' he said as the loyallittle thing gazed up at her new monarch. 'What did happen?'

'It was on the day after New Year's Day, ' said Geraldine, nowspeaking very fast. 'You were all at church, and she came out of--this room with Bernard in her arms--and called to me that I mightcome and sit with--him, because she was going down to the kitchen tomake some beef-tea. And just then she put her foot into a loop ofwhip-cord, and fell. She could not save herself at all, because ofBernard; but she went backwards--against the steps. '

'Did she seem hurt at the time?'

'I did not think so. She pulled herself up by the baluster before Icould get up to help her, and she never let Bernard go all the time--he did not even scream. She only said, "Now mind, Cherry, do not sayone word of this to Papa or anybody else, " and she told me she wasn'thurt. Oh! was she really?' as the Sister left the room. 

'I wonder whose the string was, ' said Felix vindictively. 

'Oh, never mind! He'll be so sorry! Oh! I hope she won't be very muchvexed at my telling!'

'She will not mind now!' said Felix; 'it was only not to frightenPapa. '

And Felix had his little sister in that one position where she felt asort of comfort--like a baby in his arms to be rocked--when SisterConstance returned with the doctor. He spoke without either the angeror the persuasive tone now, and Cherry could bear it better, thoughshe slipped off her brother's lap instantly, and stood up in dignity. 

'So your Mamma told you to conceal this mishap. That is some excuse. Now, tell me, how far did she fall?'

'Not more than four steps, I am sure--I think three. '

'And backwards?'

'Yes. '

'Do you think she struck her head?'

'Yes, the back of it. '

'Ah! And she spoke and moved at once, not like one stunned?'

'Oh no, not at all. She got up and made the beef-tea. '

'The 2d of January? That must have been about the time you began toobserve that change of manner--the irritability your sisterremarked, ' said the doctor, turning to Felix. He nodded, angry as hehad been with Alda for remarking it. All that the doctor further saidwas, that he must have another examination now that he knew a littlemore about the case; and he went away with Sister Constance, sayingto her, 'Mrs. Underwood is a lady of wonderful fortitude andresolution, and really they are the worst kind of patients. '

It was now more than a fortnight since that 6th of January which sawthe birth of the twins and the death of their father, and Mrs. Underwood still lay quiet and almost torpid in her bed, seldomspeaking, hardly ever originating anything, and apparently taking nointerest whatsoever in anything outside her room; and yet there wasno symptom unfavourable to her recovery to be detected. Within thelast day or two they had tried to rouse her; papers had been broughtto her to sign, and she did so obediently, but she did not follow thesubject: she did not refuse, but did not second, any proposal for herbeginning to sit up; and this was the more remarkable, as, being awoman of much health and energy in her quiet way, she had alwaysrecovered rapidly, and filled her place in the family alarminglysoon. The nurse had begun to suspect that besides the torpor of mindthere was some weakness of limb; and with the new lights acquired, Mr. Rugg had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that there wasa slight concussion of the spine, causing excitement at first, andnow more serious consequences; and though he did not apprehendpresent danger, he thought complete recovery very doubtful. 

'So they are almost worse than orphans, ' said Sister Constance, whenthe Curate went down from reading to the invalid, and she could tellhim the verdict. 

'Do they know?'

'The fact? There is no need to lay the future on the shoulders of thepresent. '

'A very dark present. I feel as if a great bright sun, warming andinvigorating, had gone out of my life. Yet I knew him but two years. '

'I can understand it, though I knew him but two days. '

'I hope he may have been the making of me, ' sighed Mr. Audley. 'Heought to be. '

'I think he has been, ' said she, smiling. 'There is some differencebetween you and the boyish young deacon that came here two yearsago. '

'Who thought life without shooting barely endurable by the help ofcroquet! I trust so! He was very patient and tolerant--made holidaysfor me that first summer which it cuts me to recollect. '

'To live and share in a great sorrow does make a great step in life, 'said Constance, thoughtfully looking at the much graver and moreearnest brow of her husband's young cousin; 'and you were a comfortto them all as no one else could be. '

'Must you go?' he said. 'I wanted to consult you. I am thinking ofgiving up my present lodgings to this Mowbray Smith, who is coming ascurate, and coming here. '

'Here! My dear Charles!'

'I thought I had heard legends of twelve foot square?'

'Not with thirteen children. Besides, we were seasoned!'

'Stay; you don't understand. There are three rooms on this floor. Poor Mrs. Underwood will hardly want to occupy these two just yet. Itake them, and put in some furniture--live to myself, but let themboard and lodge me. They may as well have what is to be made by it asany one else. '

'But can they? And, forgive me, Charles, are you prepared for thecookery here? Really, some of those children have appetites so small, that I can't bear to see them at dinner. '

'That's the very point. They all say the invaluable Sibby is as gooda nurse as she is bad as a cook. Now, if they have no help, Wilmetmust stay at home to look after her mother and the twins; and that isnot fit for such a young girl. Now, my coming might enable them toget some one who knows the use of meat and fires, and would sendupstairs the only woman who would undertake such a charge as thatmust be. '

'I don't like to say a word against it. It seems excellent for them. '

'I would not live with them, but I should be there to help. I couldkeep Felix up in his Latin, and--'

Only one suggestion more, Charles. If you do not stay here long?'

Well--if not, every week I am here is so much tided over; and just atthis time the charge must be heaviest. Those boys may be disposed ofafter a time. '

'I wish we could keep those two little girls at St. Faith's, butthere is no place yet for children of their class. I am wanted therethis day week, and I cannot say but that I shall be glad to leave youhere. Only I recollect your mother's feelings. '

'Mothers must draw in the horns of their feelings when their sons areordained, ' he said, laughing. 'I shall consult that notable person, Wilmet. '

'Wilmet started and blushed with pleasure. It would be so much lessdreary; and, poor girl! she was feeling as if she were half rentasunder at the thought of Alda's going. So good for Felix, too. Onlyshe must ask Mamma. And she did ask Mamma, and, to her greatpleasure, Mrs. Underwood listened, and said, 'It is very kind. '

'And shall it be, Mamma?'

'I shall like for you to have some one in the house. Yes, my dear, Ithink--' then she paused. 'My dear, you and Sibby and SisterConstance had better talk it over. I do not seem able to consider it. But Sister Constance will tell you. My dear Wilmet, I am afraid youmust have a great deal laid on you. '

'Oh, never mind, Mamma; I like doing things. Besides, you are so muchbetter. '

'I'll try to help you more, ' added Mrs. Underwood wistfully. 'Whichroom did you say?'

And she listened, and even made a few suggestions, as Wilmetexplained how she thought of making a sitting-room upstairs, andgiving the two downstairs front ones to Mr. Audley, using the backroom for the boys and children; she was altogether so much more opento comprehension, and ready to speak, that Wilmet was full of hopeand assurance that she was really mending. 

When Sister Constance came in, the readiness to converse continued. She consulted her friend on the scheme, and its expedience for Mr. Audley, saying that she feared he would be uncomfortable; but shecould not reject so great a help for her children. She had eventhought of the advantage of keeping Sibby upstairs to attend on thebabies and herself--work not fit to rest entirely on Wilmet, thoughthe good girl had fully counted on giving up her work at school. 

It was evident that the examination by the doctor and Wilmet'sconsultation had thoroughly roused her, and she was as clear-headedas ever. Indeed, it seemed to Sister Constance that she was a littleexcited, and in that mood in which the most silent and reservedpeople suddenly become the most unreserved. 

She was asked at last what Mr. Rugg thought of her, and SisterConstance in reply asked whether she remembered her accident. Shethought a little. 'Why--yes--I believe I did slip on the stairs; butit did not hurt me, and I forgot it. Does he think anything of it?'

'I think he fears you gave yourself a shock. '

'Not unlikely, ' she said in an indifferent tone, and did not speakagain for some minutes; then said, 'Yes, I see! I am thankful it didnot tell on me sooner, ' and her look brought the tears intoConstance's eyes. 

'It told more than you did, ' said Constance, endeavouring at a smile. 

'Not on the babies, ' she said; 'and he never knew it, so there is noharm done! Thank God!'

She lay a little longer, and Constance thought her going into herusual state of torpor; but she roused herself to say, 'Would youkindly look into that desk? You will find a green book. '

'Yes. '

'Please tear out the leaves, and burn it for me. I would not have oneof the children see it on any account. '

Constance began to obey, and saw that it was a diary. 'Are you sureit ought to be done?' she asked. 'Might it not be better to wait tillyou are better?'

'I cannot tell that I shall be much less helpless. I know how thingslike this go, ' she said. 

Constance was still reluctant, and Mrs. Underwood added, 'I will tellyou. It is nothing good, I assure you. When we drove from the door atVale Leston, the home of all our lives, he turned to me and said, "Now, Mary, that page is shut for ever. Let us never speak a word tomake the children or ourselves feel turned out of paradise. " And Inever did; but, oh! I wrote it. There are pages on pages of repiningsthere--I could not let them see it!'

'Nay, but you were resigned. '

'Resigned! What of that? I held my tongue! It was all I could do! Inever knew things could be worse till I saw it was killing him, andthen all I could do was still to keep silence. '

There was an agony in her voice that Constance had never heard therebefore. 

Silence was, no doubt--as things were--an exceeding kindness to him, 'said Constance, 'and one that must have cost you much. '

'Once--once, so tenderly, with tears in his eyes, he did beg me as afavour not to complain, or talk of Fulbert Underwood! I did not; butI never could be the companion I was before to him. He was alwayshappy, he did believe me so; but I could often only smile. If Italked, it could only have been of his health and our cares. '

'You kept him happy by taking the weight so entirely to yourself. '

Perhaps; if he had only known how miserable it made me, we might havemoved to a healthier place; but after that one time, I never couldvex him or trust myself. To hear him console me and grieve for me, was worst of all. '

Constance began to see how the whole woman, brought up to affluence, had been suddenly crushed by the change; and almost the more so forher husband's high and cheerful resolution, which had forced back herfeelings into herself. Her powers had barely sufficed for the caresof her household and her numerous family, and her endurance hadconsisted in 'suffering, and being still. ' No murmur had escaped, butonly by force of silence. She had not weakened his energies by wordor look of repining; but while his physical life was worn out by toiland hardship, her mental life had almost been extinguished in care, drudgery, and self-control; and all his sweetness, tenderness, andcheerfulness had not been able to do more than just to enable her tohold out, without manifesting her suffering. Enid had been a verysuitable name for her; though without a Geraint in any respect toblame for what she underwent, she had borne all in the same silentand almost hopeless spirit, and with the same unfailing calm temper:but outside her own house, she had never loved nor taken realinterest in anything since the day she drove from the door of ValeLeston; she had merely forced herself to seem to do so, rather thandisappoint her eager husband and children. 

And now, how much of her torpor had been collapse, how much theeffect of the accident, could not be guessed. She herself was greatlyroused for the present, dwelt on the necessity of trying to get upthe next day, and was altogether in a state excitable enough to makethe Sister anxious. 

Other troubles too there were that evening, which made all feel thateven though Mr. Audley was to live to himself, his presence in thehouse would be no small comfort. 

Fulbert, never the most manageable of the party, had procured a pieceof wood from the good-natured carpenter, and was making a sparrow-trap on an improved plan, when Wilmet, impatient to have the roomclear for Mr. Audley to come for the final decision--as he was to doin the evening--anxious to clear away the intolerable litter, andwith more anxiety for Fulbert's holiday task than for the sparrows, ordered him to bed ten minutes too early, and in too peremptory atone. 

Fulbert did not stir. 

'Fulbert, I say, clear up that litter, and go to bed. '

'Don't you hear, Fulbert?' said Felix, looking up from his book. 

Fulbert gave a pull to the newspaper that was spread under his workson the table, and sent all his chips and sawdust on the ground. 

'O Fulbert! how naughty!' broke out Alda. 

'Fulbert, are you going to mind?' asked Wilmet. 'Please remember. '

'I shall go in proper time, ' growled Fulbert. 

'That is not the way to speak to your sister, ' interposed Felix, withauthority. 

Fulbert eyed him defiantly all over. 

Felix rose up from his chair, full of wrath and indignation. Therewas quite difference enough in their size and strength to give himthe complete mastery, for Fulbert was only ten years old; but Wilmet, dreading nothing so much as a scuffle and outcry, sprang up, imploring, 'O Felix! remember, Mamma is wide awake to-night. Let himalone--pray, let him alone. '

Felix was thoroughly angry, and kept his hands off with exceedingdifficulty. 'Little sneak, ' he said; 'he chooses to take advantage. '

'He always was a sneak; his nose is the shape of it, ' said Edgar. 

As Felix and Wilmet had the sense to let this amiable observationdrop, Edgar contented himself with making some physiognomicaloutlines of sneaks' noses on a slate; and silence prevailed till thechurch clock struck the half-hour, when Clement got up, and takingthe slate, where he had been solacing himself with imitating Edgar'scaricatures, he was about to make it an impromptu dust-pan, and wentdown on his knees to sweep up Fulbert's malicious litter, but wasrewarded with a vicious kick on the cheek. It was under the table, out of sight; and Clement, like a true son of his mother, made nosign, but went off to bed like a Spartan. 

'Fulbert, ' said Lance, rising to follow his example, 'it is timenow. '

He still sat on; and Felix, in intolerable wrath and vexation, foundhimself making such deep bites into a pencil, that he threw it fromhim with shame, just as Mr. Audley's bell sounded, and he ran down tolet him in. 

'Now, Ful, ' said Wilmet coaxingly, 'please go--or Mr. Audley willsee. '

'Let him. '

Mr. Audley was there in a moment, and the next, Alda, in all theruffle of offended dignity, was telling him that Fulbert was in oneof his tempers, and would attend to nobody. Fulbert's back looked it. It evidently intended to remain in that obstinate curve tillmidnight. 

'I am sorry, ' said Mr. Audley, 'I thought no one would have added tothe distress of the house! What is it, Fulbert?' he added, laying hishand on his shoulder, and signing to Alda to hold her peace. 

'They bother, ' said Fulbert, in the sulky tone; but still, as heregarded the newcomer as less of an enemy than the rest--'I'd havegone at half-past eight if they would let a fellow alone. '

'Then the fellow had better give them no right to bother, ' said Mr. Audley. 'Come, Fulbert, no ship can sail unless the crew obey. Nomutiny. Here's your captain ready to shake hands and wish you good-night. '

Fulbert could not face Mr. Audley's determined look, but he was notconquered. He took up his tools and his trap, gave a final puff tospread his sawdust farther, and marched off without a single good-night. 

'He has the worst temper of us all, ' cried Alda. 

'You should be very cautious of provoking him, said Mr. Audley. 

'I am afraid it was my fault, ' sighed Wilmet. 

'Nonsense, ' said Felix; 'he is an obstinate little dog. I wish I waslicking him. I hope he is not pitching into Clem!'

'Clem is the biggest, ' said Alda. 

'Yes, but he is much the meekest, ' added Wilmet. 

'Tina's meek sauce is aggravation, itself, ' observed Edgar. 'I shouldhope he was catching it!'

'He is certainly not slow to put in his oar, ' said Mr. Audley; 'didyou hear of his performance in the vestry the other day?'

'No. I hope he did not make an unusual ass of himself, ' said Felix. 

'He and Mowbray Smith had last Tuesday's Evensong nearly tothemselves, when Master Clem not only assisted Smith in putting onhis hood, but expressed his doubts as to the correctness of it(never, of course, having seen any bachelor's but Oxford orCambridge), and further gave him some good advice as to his manner ofintoning. '

'I hope he won't go on in that way at St. Matthew's!' exclaimedWilmet. 

'It is lucky he is going so soon, ' said Mr. Audley. 'I doubt ifMowbray Smith will ever get over it!'

'Regular snob that he is, ' said Edgar; 'just one of my Lady's sort!What did he do? Go crying to her?'

'O Edgar!' remonstrated Wilmet. 

'Well, Mettie, if even our spiritual pastors will be snobs, one musthave the relief of expressing one's opinion now and then. '

'I should say it was better to keep any such fact out of one's mindas much as might be, ' said Mr. Audley, feeling himself unable to denywhat had been so broadly expressed. 

'And we, at any rate, had better drop talking of snobs, ' said Felix. 

'Hollo, Felix! I am sure you for one would not be a snob if you hadturned chimney-sweeper, and let Tom Underwood nail me to his office;he'll never make one of me!'

'I trust so, ' said Felix; 'but it is not the way to keep from it tothrow about the word at other folks. '

'What's that?' cried Alda. 'Really, that boy must be falling uponsome of them. '

It was Lance, in great deshabille, who, opening a crack of the door, called cautiously, 'Wilmet, please come here. '

Wilmet hastily obeyed, saying anxiously, as the door was shut, 'Nevermind, dear Lance, he's in a horrid mood; but do bear it, and not makeFelix more in a rage. '

'Bosh about Ful, ' said Lance unceremoniously. 'It is Cherry; she iscrying so upstairs, and Clem and I can't get a word out of her. '

Cherry, though older than the boys, had to precede them in vanishingfor the night, as her undressing was a long operation dependent uponSibby. Wilmet ran up in haste, and did indeed find poor littleGeraldine with her face smothered under the clothes in an agony ofweeping, very serious for so frail a little creature. 

'Cherry! Cherry, dear, don't! Are you feeling solitary? Are youmissing him? Oh, don't! Yes, dear, 'tis so sad; but we all do loveyou so. '

Wilmet would have kissed and fondled her, but the child almost thrusther away. 

'Not that. Oh, not that! I wish it was. '

'My dear Cherry, you can't have been naughty!'

'Yes, yes! indeed I have. And now--'

'I can't think--O Cherry, if you would only tell me what you mean!'cried Wilmet, aghast. 

And with agonised sobs. Cherry whispered, 'Mr. Rugg--O Mettie--suchthings as I said about him to Sister Constance--I made sure I hadforgiven--long ago--and now--now, after _that_. '

If Wilmet had not known how deeply both Geraldine and her father hadresented what Mr. Rugg had meant as a little friendly gloss to saveterror before a painful operation, she would have been utterly at aloss. And now she found herself incapable by any argument or caressof soothing her sister's sense of heinous offence; for that rite, ofwhich she had partaken with her father, had required charity with allmen, and now she found she had been deceitful--she hated Mr. Rugg allthe time. Oh, what should she do! how could she be so wicked!

Wilmet tried to tell her that she had not known how it was at thetime, but this seemed no comfort; and it was plain that that day'ssolemnity had lessened the inequality between the two girls so much, that for Wilmet to console her as a child was vain; and indeed, herinvalid state and constant companionship with her father had renderedher religions feeling much more excitable, and more developed, thanwere as yet Wilmet's; and meantime, this piteous sobbing and weepingwas doing great bodily harm. 

Wilmet at last, hearing a door open as if the nurse were takingSister Constance's place, ran down to take counsel with that kindfriend on the way. She whispered her trouble on the stairs, and theSister was soon kneeling over the little bed; but her comfort was notpersuading the child to think less of the fault, but promising thatshe should tell all to Mr. Audley to-morrow. 

Nay, seeing that even this was too long hence for the 'weary soul, and burdened sore, ' to look forward to--indeed, that the preparationfor the interview would be sleep-destroying--she said, 'Then youshall see him at once, my dear. '

Wilmet opened her eyes in dismay. That little attic, bare of all butbeds, was her thought; but Sister Constance, ever an effective woman, had the little black frock, the shoes and stockings, on in no time, and throwing a shawl over all, actually gathered the small lightframe up into her arms, and carried her down to the fire in the roomnow vacated by the nurses and babies. And there she fetched Mr. Audley to her. 'It will not do, ' she whispered on the way to Wilmet, 'to treat her as a child _now_. '

'He always made so much of her, ' sighed Wilmet. 

'Yes; and now she is a Communicant. '

They left her to Mr. Audley, and presently, when the door openedagain, it was he who was carrying her upstairs again; and when SisterConstance had taken possession of her, she whispered, 'Yes, thankyou. He says I may come on Sunday, and I think it is forgiven. Ishall say a prayer about charity always now!' And with a deep sigh, the worn-out little penitent lay down to her sleep. 

'O Mr. Audley, it is plain we cannot do without you, ' sighed Wilmet, as she came down, not without tears in her eyes. 

And then came the conference upon ways and means, rooms andattendance. Mr. Audley had parted with his horse and groom in theautumn, observing that they ate their heads off; and the terms he nowproposed for lodging, board, and attendance were what Felix andWilmet would have known to be wondrously liberal but for theirinexperience, especially as he meant to send in some, at least, ofthe furniture. He was to have his meals, at his own times, in hissitting-room; and Sister Constance had a person in her eye atDearport, who was likely to do well in the kitchen, and not quarrelwith Sibby. 

Wilmet had made up her mind that she must remain at home all day, andhad even told Miss Pearson so; but that good lady had refused toaccept her resignation, and had come to Mr. Bevan about it: and nowboth the Sister and the Curate united in telling her that she oughtnot, as long as it was possible, to give up this means of improvingherself, as well as lessening the family burthen. To give up hereducation now would be to sink into a housewifely drudge, who wouldhardly be able to maintain herself when the younger ones would begetting out into the world; and as Geraldine must stay at home to bea companion to her mother, there was no need for her being alsoalways in attendance, while Sibby was equal to the charge. Indeed, Mrs. Underwood herself had said something that showed her tocontemplate Wilmet's remaining at school. 

'You must, ' said Felix decidedly. 'Why, you might as well turnnursery-girl at once. '

'I should like it, ' said Wilmet. 'I shall be miserable at school--always thinking something is going wrong. And Cherry can never bearwith the babies! Oh! please don't tell me I must. '

'I tell you to begin, ' said Sister Constance. 'You can always give itup if you feel that the need lies at home; but I think the few hours'change every day--for duty's sake, mind--will give you vigour not tobe worn down by the home cares. '

'But Cherry will have them always! She who cares for books anddrawing so much more than I!'

'Yes; but if you go on learning, you can teach her, ' said SisterConstance. 

'Oh!' cried Wilmet; 'Cherry knows more than I do. '

'Little Cherry is the cleverest of us all, ' added Felix. 

'Still, ' said the Sister, 'the mere going over your work with youwill give her change and interest. I do feel strongly convinced; dearWilmet, that to shut yourself up with her, without gathering anythingfrom elsewhere, would be very bad for both. '

'We must see how Mamma is, and how Cherry gets on, ' was all thatWilmet would say, but the arrangement was made, and was to takeeffect in ten days' time, when Mr. Mowbray Smith was coming to besecond curate, and Sister Constance must change places with the threeabsent children, and Alda would be gone to her adopted home. 

Then Mr. Audley took leave; and as Felix went to the front door withhim, he said, 'Forgive me, Felix; but I am a younger brother myself, and I do hope you do not mean to assert your authority by licking. '

Felix coloured a little; and though he spoke respectfully, it waswith some little annoyance. 'There is nothing else that does withFulbert. '

'Stay, Felix; I am not questioning that he may be the sort of boy forwhom flogging may be good from some one. '

'He is!' said Felix. 'He never will behave himself till he has felthis master! It has been so at school; and once, even my father madehimself quite ill for a week with having to flog Fulbert fordisobedience. It settled him; but he is not like the others--Clem andLance are not any trouble; but--I know it will come to it sooner orlater; Ful will never mind me or Wilmet till I have done it once. '

'And when his strength is equal to yours?'

'Then I hope he will have more sense. '

'Yes, Felix; but what if by forcing him into dogged submission byyour bodily strength you have lost his confidence, and have no moralpower over him? Things that can be borne from a father come verydifferently from a brother. '

Felix was quite crimson now. 'But what shall I do, Mr. Audley, whenhe defies Wilmet, and teases Cherry and the little ones?'

'Try all you can with his better sense, but don't anger him by tonesof authority. What you think needful rule may seem to himdomineering. And if necessary, call me. My blows will not leave theafter rankling that yours will, even if they are necessary. '

Felix sighed. He was not desirous of beating his brother in the main;but being unhappily master of the house, he was unwilling not to beso entirely. He wished Mr. Audley good-night, not in his mostperfectly cordial tone. 

However, the next morning he had brought himself to thank Mr. Audley. 

Thank you, Felix, ' said the Curate; 'it is a great relief to me. Iwas afraid you thought you were going to bring a meddling fellow inupon you. '

Felix coloured, and with an effort--for which Mr. Audley liked himthe better--said, 'I know I shall always deserve what advice you giveme, and I hope another time I may take it better than the last. '

Soon after, one train carried away four of the young Underwoods tobegin life elsewhere. The Thomas Underwoods had desired that Alda andEdgar should meet them at the station, and at Felix's entreaty hadalso undertaken to convoy Clement, who, thanks to Mr. Audley, was tobe a chorister, and live in the clergy-house at St. Matthew's, Whittingtonia. It would have been Fulbert, only unluckily he had noear, and so he was left at home, while Lady Price, Mrs. ThomasUnderwood, and all the ladies they could enlist in their service, canvassed desperately, and made the cards of 'Fulbert James andLancelot Oswald, sons of the Rev. Edward Fulbert Underwood, THIRTEENchildren, ' a weariness to every friend of a subscriber to clergyorphan schools. Robina was not quite old enough to stand for the likeelection; but Sister Constance had negotiated with a lady who haddevoted herself to educating children of better birth than means, andthe little girl was to be dropped at the nearest station to herschool at Catsacre. It had all been settled in a wonderfully shorttime, by Sister Constance and Mr. Audley, with full though helplessacquiescence from Mrs. Underwood. They felt it well to lessen thecrowd of children in the house, and the responsibilities of the elderones, and acted at once. 

As to Alda, she was too miserable at home not to be ready to followEdgar, though she had at first implored to stay and help Wilmet tilltheir mother was about again; but the Thomas Underwoods wereunwilling to consent to this--and after all, Alda was more apt to crythan to be of much real use. Sister Constance saw that she was onlyanother weight on her sister's hands, and that, terrible as thewrench would be between the twins, Wilmet would be freer when it wasonce over. Poor Wilmet! she had felt as if she could hardly havelived over these weeks save for fondling the younger twins, andwaiting on her mother. She was almost passive, and ran up anddownstairs, or prepared the wardrobes of the departing children, justas she was bidden, all in one quiet maze of grief. The tears seemedto be always in her eyes, very often dropping, and yet they neverhindered her, and she never uttered a word of deprecation orcomplaint; only she could not eat, and a kiss would bring down awhole shower; and at night, the two sisters would hold each othertight, and cry and kiss themselves to sleep. 

So had come the last day--the last for all four. Robina, who had onlyjust come back from St. Faith's, was grave, puzzled, and awestruck, clinging chiefly to Lancelot, and exchanging confidences in cornerswith him, in which they were probably much less childish than theyshowed themselves to the outer world. Clement was very grave andunhappy; but seemed to be most distressed at parting with Harry Lamb, a favourite school-fellow of his own quiet stamp, with whom he spentall available time. Alda and Wilmet were hand in hand at everypossible moment, and if possible cheek to cheek--each felt as ifherself was cut in two. 

Then Edgar, who had only come home for that farewell Sunday, hadanother of his paroxysms of sorrow at the changes at home, which hecontrived to forget when at Centry. All that was becoming in a mannerusual to the others was a shock to him, and he was so very miserablethe whole day, that he treated every attempt of the others to cheerhim as a mere token of their hardness of heart. He went in to see hismother, and was so overcome at finding her no better, that he rushedaway, and threw himself on a sofa as if he was going to faint; andwhen at church he saw his father's place filled up he fell into sucha fit of sobbing, that half a dozen smelling-bottles were handedacross the seats. 

However, he had recovered himself on Monday morning, and made it hisparticular request that nobody would come bothering to the station, to make them look like Fulbert's canvassing-card of the thirteenchildren--and as the mention of it always affronted Fulbert deeply, it was plain that he would be no good company. However, Felix hadbeen allowed an hour from his business for that very purpose, and hesimply said, 'Nonsense, Edgar, I shall take Robin down. ' Wilmetsubmitted, though with a great pang. She had no assurance that sheshould not break down, and a crying match at the station--oh no! Itmight make Bobbie roar all the way. 

So Alda clung round her neck and Geraldine's in their own littleparlour, and wished her mother good-bye, scarcely knowing whether itwere with a full understanding how many were parted from the wingthat now seemed unable to shelter them; and then Wilmet went up andquietly lay down by her mother on her bed, feeling as if there wasnothing she cared for in all life, and as if youth, hope, andhappiness were gone away from her for ever, and she were as muchwidowed as her mother. She was even past crying--she could do nothingbut lie still. But then her mother's hand came out and stroked her;and presently one of the babies cried, and Wilmet was walking up anddown the room with it, and all activity with her outward senses, though her heart felt dead. Meantime, the luggage went in theomnibus, the four children walked up together only escorted by Felix, and were passed on their way by the prancing and thundering carriagefrom Centry. 

But the sense of usefulness that came gave strength and energy toFelix and Wilmet Underwood as the first excitement passed away, andthey better understood their tasks. 

Of the absent ones they heard good accounts. Alda was altogether onewith her cousin's family, and seemed to be completely on an equalitywith Marilda; and Edgar had been sent by Thomas Underwood to acquiremodern languages under the care of an Englishman who took privatepupils at Louvaine, whence Edgar despatched most amusing letters andclever sketches. Clement was in great favour, both musically andmorally, at St. Matthew's; and little Robina was reported to havebewailed her home with floods of nightly tears, but to have soonsettled down into the bonnie little pet of the elder girls. 

Except for the separation, the cloud had hardly fallen on these, buttheir departure had made a great hole in the hitherto unbrokenfamily; and while Felix and Wilmet, by the loss of theircontemporaries, seemed placed at a point far away from the others, Geraldine was conscious of much loneliness. The twins had alwaysconsorted together, and regarded her as a mere child, and her chiefcompanions had been her father and Edgar, so that she seemed left atan equal distance both from the elder and younger party. 

Then the world around her was so busy, and she could do so little. She slept in a little inner room beyond the large nursery, whereWilmet kept guard over Angela and Bernard; and long before sixo'clock, she always heard the call pass between the eldest brotherand sister; and knew that as soon as he was dressed, Felix--it mustout--was cleaning the family boots, including those of the lodger, who probably supposed that nature did it, and never knew how much hisyoung landlord had done before joining him in his early walk to St. Oswald's. 

Meantime Wilmet conducted the toilette of the two little children, and gave the assistance that Cherry needed, as well as dischargingsome of the lighter tasks of the housemaid; leaving the heavier onesto Sibby and Martha, a stout, willing, strong young woman, whomSister Constance had happily found for them, and who wasdisqualified, by a loutish manner and horrible squint, from theplaces to which her capabilities might have raised her. 

Then Wilmet helped her sister downstairs, and a visit was paid to themother and the twins, who were Sibby's charge for the night. Mrs. Underwood was still in the same state. It was indeed possible torouse her, but at the expense of much suffering and excitement; andin general, she was merely tender, placid, and content, mechanicallybusied about her babies, and responding to what was said, butentirely incapable of any exertion of body, and as inactive in mindas in limb. Wilmet attended to her while Sibby went to her breakfast, returning with that of her mistress in time to send Wilmet down topreside at the family meal, a genuine Irish dish of stir-about--forwhich all had inherited a taste from their father's Irish mother. Only Cherry was too delicate for such food, and was rather ashamed ofher cup of tea and slice of bread. 

However, this was one of the few times when she could hope she wasuseful; for when Felix was gone to the printing-office, the boys tothe grammar-school, and Wilmet, first to the kitchen, and then toMiss Pearson's, she remained with bowl and cloth to wash up, in herown peculiarly slow and dainty way, never breaking but alwaysdreaming, while Angela carried them one by one, first to her, then tothe kitchen. 

'Now, Cherry. '

Mr. Audley's door opened, he would step forward and take the well-worn books in one hand, and hold the doors open with the other asCherry tardily hopped in, and perched herself by the table. Herconfirmation studies had been left in his charge, and then followed alittle Greek, some Latin, a page or two of French, the revision of anexercise, and some help in Euclid and fractions--all studies begunwith her father, and both congenial and useful to her, as theoccupation that (next to drawing) best prevented her from feeling thedreary loneliness of her days; for though he could seldom give hermore than an hour, the preparation--after he had helped her upstairs---occupied her during the whole period of tranquillity while theyounger children slept. Angela appeared first, and did some smalllessons, cat-and-dog readings, and easy hymns, then was generallycontent to sit on the floor in Mamma's room, admiring or amusing thetwins. Then Cherry, according to her sense of duty, drew or worked. There was a horrible never-ending still-beginning basket of mendingin the family, which Wilmet replenished every Saturday; and thoughMrs. Underwood's instinct for piecing and darning had revived as soonas she was taken out of bed, her work now always needed a certainrevision to secure the boys from the catastrophe of which Wilmetoften dreamt--appearing in public in ragged shirt-sleeves! Geraldineknew that every stitch she left undone would have to be put in by hersister in late evening or early morning, and therefore often wrenchedherself from the pencil and paints that best beguiled her thoughtsfrom the heartache for her father, and the craving for Edgar, or themere craving for light, air, liberty, and usefulness. Her only excuseto her own conscience for allowing herself her chief pleasure was, that it was her way of helping an old woman who kept a stall of smallwares on market days, and could sometimes dispose of little pictureson domestic and Scriptural subjects, if highly coloured, glazed withgum, and bound with bright paper--pickings and stealings, as Felixcalled them, gleaned from advertisements and packing-boxes at Mr. Froggatt's; but these did not allow much scope for the dreams of herfancy. 

Nor had she much choice when Bernard once awoke and came down, in allthe unreasoning tyranny of two years old, when it was an even chancewhether he would peaceably look at the old scrap-book, play withAngela, or visit Mamma; or be uproarious, and either coalesce withAngela in daring mischief, fight a battle-royal with her, or beviolent with and jealous of the twins. 

The urchin had found out that when once Cherry's crutch was out ofher reach she could not get at him; and he had ridden off upon it sooften, before committing any of his worst misdemeanours, that Cherryalways lay down on it to secure it. After all, he was a fine, affectionate, impetuous little fellow, but with a very high, proud, unmanageable will; and she was very fond and proud of him; but nevermore so than when he slept till dinner-time. 

That was the hour which brought Felix home to help Sibby to carry hismother into the sitting-room, pay a little court to the babies, andenliven Cherry with any chance scrap of news or occupation. Best ofall were the proofs of that unfinished comment on the Epistle toPhilippi, which was being printed by subscription of thecongregation, and the clergy of the diocese. It always did Mrs. Underwood good to have these read aloud to her by her littledaughter, and she could sometimes find a clue to the understanding ofsentences that had puzzled even Mr. Audley. 

The two school-boys never appeared till dinner was imminent; andthen--one unuttered wish of poor Cherry was that Mr. Audley couldhave dined with them; but he kept to his own hours, and they werelate. 

Whereby dinners on five days of the week were apt to be something onthis fashion. Bell-ringing--Felix helping Geraldine to her seat, Angela trotting after: a large dish of broth, with meat and rice, andanother of mashed potato; no sign of the boys; Angela lisping grace;Sibby waiting with a tray. 

Felix filled a soup-plate for his mother, and a basin for Bernard. 'We must begin, I suppose, ' and he helped his sisters and himself. 

'Here, Angel, push over your plate; I'll cut that. --How did you geton to-day?'

'Very well; the only mistake I made I found out before Smith saw it. I know all the stationery and steel pens apart now, and haven't madea mistake for a week. Yesterday Bartlett junior came in. He stoodlike a post before Mr. Froggatt till he caught sight of me, and thenhe shouted out, "O Blunderbore, you know! What is it that Colliswants?"'

'And did you?'

'When he said it was a horrid sum-book all little a's and b's. --Whathave you been doing, Cherry?'

'I have begun an abstract of the first Punic--'

The door flew open with a bounce, and two hot, wild-locked boys, dusteverywhere except in their merry blue eyes, burst in, and tumbled ontheir chairs. 'I say--isn't it a horrid sell? we ain't to have aholiday for Squire's wedding. --Come, Fee, give us some grub. '

'You have not said grace, ' said Cherry. 

Lance, abashed, stood up and bowed; Fulbert looked grim, and mumbledsomething. 

'You have not washed your hands, ' added Felix. 

'What's the good?' said Fulbert. 

'They'll be as jolly dirty again directly, ' said Lance. 

'But you would be more decent company in the meantime, ' said Felix. 

At that moment there was a splash in his plate, a skip-jack made ofthe breast-bone of a chicken had alighted there with a leap. 

'There's Felix's master come after him, ' cried Fulbert, and Lancewent off into choking laughter. 

'Boys, how can you?' broke out Cherry. 

'Look at Blunderbore fishing out his master!' was Fulbert's answer. 

 'The frog is in the bog, And Felix is squeamish, '

chanted Lance. 

'Bad rhyme, Lance, ' said Felix, who could bear these things muchbetter from the younger than the elder. Indeed, he scarcely durstnotice them in Fulbert, lest he should be betrayed into violence byletting out his temper. 

'I say!' cried Lance, struck by a new idea, 'what prime stuff it isfor making a fort!' and he began to scrape the more solid parts ofhis plateful to one side. 

'Oh, I say, isn't it?' echoed Fulbert: 'but I've eaten up the bestpart of my castle;' and he grasped at the ladle. 

'No, I thank you, ' said Felix, putting it on the other side. 'While Iam here, you don't play tricks with that. '

Fulbert swallowed a spoonful in a passion, but a bright thoughtstruck Lance, who always cared much more for fun than for food. 'I_say_, we'll empty it all into one, and eat it down. '

'You horrid boys!' plaintively exclaimed Cherry, almost crying--forthis return to savage life was perfect misery to her. 'I can't bearit. '

'I will not have Cherry tormented, ' said Felix, beginning to be veryirate. 

'We ain't doing anything to Cherry, ' said Lance, amazed. 

'Don't you know it spoils Cherry's appetite to see you sodisgusting?'

'Then she'll have the more next time, ' said Fulbert. 'Get along, Captain--you've splashed my face!'

'Hurrah! the red-hot shot! The rice is the cannon-balls! Where's somebread?'

'O Lance!' entreated Cherry; 'no waste--think of Wilmet and thebills. '

'We'll eat it every bit up, ' asseverated Lance; but Fulbert growled, 'If you bother any more, I shall crumble the whole lot out atwindow. '

'It is wicked to waste bread, ' lisped Angela, and Martha at thatmoment appeared to fetch the tureen for the kitchen dinner. 

'Can't you eat any more, Cherry ?' asked Felix gloomily. 

'Not a bit, thank you, ' she said. 

'We've not done!' shouted the boys, seizing on her scarcely-tastedand half-cold plate. 

'You must finish after. Come, Cherry!' Then, as they left the room, and she laid her head on his shoulder--'Little ruffians!' he saidunder his breath. 

'Oh, never mind, Felix. I don't--at least I ought not to mind--theydon't mean it. '

'Lance does not, but I think Fulbert does. He'll make me thrash himwithin two inches of his life before he has done. And then there's noone to take me in hand for it. It is horridly bad for them, too, tolive just like young bears. '

But he smoothed his brow as he came into the room where his motherwas, and amused her till his time was up. 

Mr. Froggatt had explained to his father long ago that Felix's workwould not be that of a clerk in a great publishing house, butveritably that belonging to the country bookseller and printer, andthat he must go through all the details, so as to be thoroughlyconversant with them. The morning's work was at the printing-house, the afternoon's at the shop. The mechanical drudgery and intenseaccuracy needed in the first were wearisome enough; and moreover, hehad to make his way with a crusty old foreman who was incredulous ofany young gentleman's capabilities, and hard of being convinced thathe would or could be useful, but old Smith's contempt was far lessdisagreeable to him than the subdued dislike he met with fromRedstone, the assistant in the shop, a sharp, half-educated youngman, who had aspired to the very post of confidence for which Felixwas training--and being far less aware of his own utter unfitness forit than was Mr. Froggatt, regarded the lad as an interloper; andthough he durst not treat him with incivility, was anxious to exposeany deficiency or failure on his part. Having a good deal ofquickness and dexterity, he could act as a reporter, draw up articlesof a certain description for the newspaper, and had, since the deathof Mr. Froggatt's eldest son, been absolutely necessary to him incarrying on the business; and now, it was a matter of delicatediscretion on the master's part to avoid hurting the feelings of theassistant, whom a little more would have made his tyrant, and a dreadof the appearance of favouritism made it needful to keep Felixthoroughly in a subordinate post, till real superiority of mind andeducation should assert itself over elder years and mere familiaritywith detail. This reserved ill-will of Redstone's had much increasedthe natural discomfort of appearing behind the counter to formeracquaintance, and had rendered the learning the duties there doublytroublesome and confusing; though, in recalling the day's doings, there was some amusement in contrasting the behaviour of differentpeople, some--of whom Mr. Ryder was the type--speaking to him freelyin his own person, others leaving him as an unrecognised shop-boy;and a third favouring him with a horrid little furtive nod, which heliked least of all. But though awkward and embarrassed at first, usesoon hardened him, and made the customers indifferent, so that by thespring he had begun to be useful, and to feel no particularexcitement about it. 

The worst of his business was that it kept him so late, that he hadbut a very short evening, and no time for exercise. He was on hisfeet most of the day, but indoors, and his recreation chieflyconsisted in choir-practice twice a week. Not that he missed morepositive amusement; the cares of life and Edgar's departure seemed tohave taken the boyish element of frolic out of him; and left himgravely cheerful indeed, but with no greater desire of entertainmentthan could find vent in home conversation, or playing with the littleones. 

Wilmet and the two boys were at liberty full two hours before him. The latter generally stayed out as long as light and hungerpermitted. Mr. Audley continually stumbled on them playing atmarbles, racing headlong in teams of pack-thread harness with theirfellows, upsetting the nerves of quiet folk--staring contentedly atsuch shows as required no outlay, or discontentedly at the outside ofthose that demanded the pennies they never had. They were thoroughlittle street-boys; and all that he could do for them was to enforcetheir coming in at reasonable hours, and, much to their sister'srelief, cause their daily lessons to be prepared in his room. Otherwise their places in their classes would have been much lesscreditable. 

Wilmet's return was always Geraldine's great relief, for theafternoon of trying to amuse her mother, and keep the peace betweenthe children, was almost more than she was equal to; though, on finedays, Sibby always took out the two elder babies, with an alternatetwin, for an hour's air, and Mr. Audley daily visited the invalid. Mr. Bevan did so twice a week, with a gentle sympathising tone andmanner that was more beneficial than Lady Price's occasionalendeavours to make her 'rouse herself. ' Miss Pearson and a fewhumbler friends now and then looked in, but Mrs. Underwood had beenlittle known. With so large a family, and such straitened means, thepart of the active clergyman's wife was impossible to her; she hadshrunk from society, and most people knew nothing more of her thanthat the faded lady-like figure they used to see among her littleflock at church, was Mrs. Underwood. 

Wilmet's coming home was always a comfort; and though to her it wasrunning from toil to care, the change was life to her. To have beeneither only the teacher or only the house-wife might have weighedover-heavily on her, but the two tasks together seemed to lighteneach other. She had a real taste and talent for teaching, and she andher little class were devoted to one another, while the elder girlsloved her much better since Alda had been away. The being with them, and sharing their recreation in the middle of the day, was no doubtthe best thing to hinder her from becoming worn by the depressingatmosphere around her mother. She always brought home spirits andvigour for whatever lay before her, brightening her mother's face, dispelling squabbles between Angela and Bernard, and taking a load ofcare from Geraldine. 

There was sure to be some anecdote to enliven the home-keepers, orsome question to ask Cherry, whose grammar and arithmetic stood onfirmer foundations than any at Miss Pearson's, and who was alwayspleased to help Wilmet. The evening hours were the happiest of theday, only they always ended too soon for Cherry, who was ordered upby Sibby as soon as her mother was put to bed, and had, inconsequence, a weary length of wakeful solitude and darkness--onlyenlivened by the reflection from the gas below--while Felix andWilmet sat downstairs, she with her mending, and he either reading, or talking to her. 

On Saturday, which she always spent at home, and in very activeemployment in the capacities of nurse, housemaid, or even a slighttaste of the cook and laundress, the evening topic was always theaccounts--the two young heads anxiously casting the balance--proudand pleased if there were even a shilling below the mark, but seriousand sad under such a communication as, 'There's mutton gone upanother halfpenny;' or, 'Wilmet, I really am afraid those boots ofmine cannot be mended again;' or again, 'See what Lance has managedto do to this jacket. If one only could send boys to school insacking!'

'Are not there a few pence to spare for the chair for Cherry? Shewill certainly get ill, if she never goes out now spring is comingon. '

'Indeed, Felix, I don't know how! If there is a penny over, it iswanted towards shoes for Bernard; and Cherry begs me, with tears inher eyes, not to let her be an expense!'

Poor Geraldine! the costing anything, and the sense of uselessness, were becoming, by the help of her nightly wakefulness, a mostterrible oppression on her spirits. Her father was right. His roomhad been a hot-bed to a naturally sensitive and precocious character, and the change that had come over her as time carried her farther andfarther away from him, affected her more and more. 

Her brother and sister, busy all day, and scarcely ever at home, hardly knew what was becoming a sore perplexity to Mr. Audley. 

A young tutor, not yet twenty-six, could not exactly tell what to dowith a girl not fourteen, who fell into floods of tears on thesmallest excuse. 

'No, no, Cherry--that is not the nominative. '

The voice faltered, struggled to go on, and melted away behind thehandkerchief. Then--'O Mr. Audley, I am so sorry--'

'That's exactly what I don't want you to be, Cherry. '

'Oh, but it was so careless, ' and there was another flood. 

Or, 'Don't you see, Cherry, you should not have put the negative signto that equation. My dear Cherry, what have I said?'

'Oh, oh--nothing. Only I did think--'

'We shall have you a perfect Niobe, if you go on at this rate, Cherry. Really, we must not have these lessons, if they excite you somuch. '

'Oh! that would be the worst punishment of all!' and the weepingbecame so piteously violent, that the Curate looked on in distressedhelplessness. 

'I know it is very tiresome of me; I would help it, if I could--indeed I would. ' And she cried the more because she _had_ cried. 

Or, as he came in from the town, he would hear ominous sounds, thathis kind heart would not let him neglect, and would find Cherrysitting on the landing-place in a paroxysm of weeping. She alwayscrept out of her mother's room on these occasions, for the sight oftears distressed and excited Mrs. Underwood; and the poor child, quite unable, in her hysterical condition, to drag herself alone upthat steep stair, had no alternative but to sit, on what Mr. Audleycalled her stool of repentance, outside the door, till she had sobbedherself into exhaustion and calm--or till either Sibby scolded her, or he heard her confession. 

She had been 'so cross' to Bernard, or to Angel--or, once or twice, even to Mamma. She had made an impatient answer when interrupted inher lessons or in a dream over a drawing, she had been reluctant toexert herself when wanted. She had scolded fretfully--or snatchedthings away angrily, when the little ones were troublesome; and everyoffence of this sort was bewailed with an anguish of tears, that, byweakening her spirits and temper, really rendered the recurrence morefrequent. 'The one thing they trust to me, I fail in!'

He was very kind to her. He did not yield to the mannish loathing forgirlish tears that began to seize on him, after the first two orthree occasions. He thought and studied--tried comfort, and fanciedit relaxed her--tried rebuke, and that made it worse; tried theshowing her Francois de Sales' admirable counsel to Philothee, to be'doux envers soi, ' and saw she appreciated and admired it; but shewas not an atom more douce envers soi when she had next spokenpeevishly. 

At last he fairly set off by the train, to lay the case before SisterConstance. 

'What is to be done, when a child never does anything but cry?'

Sister Constance listened to the symptoms, and promptly answered, 'Give her a glass of port wine every day, before you let her out ofyour room. '

'If I can!'

'Tell her they are my orders. Does she eat?'

'I imagine not. I heard Felix reproaching her with a ghoul's dinnerof a grain of rice. '

'Does she sleep?'

'She has told me a great deal of midnight meditation on her owndeficiencies. '

'She must be taken out of doors somehow or other! It is of no use toreason with her; the tears are not temper, or anything else! PoorCharlie! it is an odd capacity for you to come out in, but I supposeno one else can attend to her. '

'No, poor child, she is rather worse than motherless! Well--I willfind some excuse for taking her out for a drive now and then; I don'tknow how to speak to the others about having the chair for her, forthey are barely scraping on. '

'Poor children! Well, this year is probably the worst. Either theywill get their heads above water, or there will be a crisis. But theydo scrape?'

'Yes. At Lady-day there was great jubilation, for the rent was paid, the taxes were ready, there was not a debt; and there was sevenpenceover, with which Felix wanted to give Cherry a drive; but Wilmet, whois horribly prudent, insisted that it must go to mend Fulbert'sbroken window. '

'Well--poor Wilmet! one can't blame her. How does she treat Cherry'stears?'

'I don't think she has much pity for them. Felix does much betterwith Cherry; he rocks her and pets her; though, indeed, she hardlyever breaks down when he is there; but even his Sundays are a gooddeal taken up--and I always hunt him out for a walk on the Sundayafternoons. '

'Is he still in the choir and teaching at the Sunday school?'

'Yes--though it is not Mowbray Smith's fault. '

'What, is your colleague what you apprehended?'

'My Lady could not have found a curate more to her mind, or moreimbued with her dislike to all that bears the name of Underwood. Iown it is hard to have one's predecessor flung constantly in one'steeth, and by the very people who were the greatest thorns to dearUnderwood himself. Then Clem, who was a born prig, though a very goodboy, gave some of his little interfering bits of advice before hewent away, and it has all been set down to Felix's account! OneSunday, Smith made a complaint of Felix having the biggest boys inthe school. It was the consequence of his having taken them wheneverhis father could not, till it came to his having them entirely. Healways took great pains with them, and there was a fellow-feelingbetween him and them that could hardly be with an older person. Isaid all this--too strongly, most likely--and the Rector put in amild word, as to his goodness in coming at all. Smith thought therewas nothing wonderful in liking what ministered to his conceit; andat last it came out that a baker's boy had met Felix and Smithconsecutively in the street, and only touched his hat to one, andthat the wrong one. '

'I should have been only thankful that he touched his hat toanybody. '

'That is the very remark by which I put my foot in it, but my Ladywas horrified, and the consequence was, that it fell to me to adviseFelix to resign the class. I never hated a piece of work so much inmy life, for he had worked the lads well, and we both knew that therewould be an end of them. Moreover, Felix has some of the true Britonabout him, and he stood out--would give up the class if the Rectorordered him, but would relinquish Sunday-school altogether in thatcase; and the two girls were furious; but, after one Sunday, he cameto me, said that he found hostility poisoned his teaching, gave up, and accepted the younger ones. '

'Of course the boys deserted. '

'Which has not softened Smith, though it has made him tolerate Felixin the choir. His voice is of very little use at present; but he issuch an influence, that we should be glad of him if he could not singa note, and he clings to it with all his heart. I believe music isabout the only pleasure he has, and it excites his mother too much tohave any at home. We have little Lance in the choir now, with a voicelike a thrush in a dewy morning. '

Mr. Audley acted on the port-wine prescription, to the horror anddismay of Cherry, who only submitted with any shadow of philosophy onbeing told that the more she cried the more necessary she renderedit; but on the Saturday, Sister Constance suddenly knocked at Mr. Audley's door. She had been talking the matter over with theSuperior; and the result was, that she had set off on a mission tosee for herself, and if she thought it expedient, to bring Geraldineback with her. She had chosen Saturday as the time for seeing Wilmet, and was prepared to overlook that the stairs were a Lodore of soap, this being Sibby's cleaning day, while Wilmet kept guard over themother and the twins. 

Geraldine was in the sitting-room, writing a Latin exercise, with agreat pucker in her forehead whenever Angela looked up from herwooden bricks to speak to her. And though the sharp little pinchedface was all one beam of joy as the visitor came in, Sister Constancesaw at once that the child's health had deteriorated in these lastmonths. She sat down, and with Angela on her lap, questionedanxiously. Cherry had no complaints--she always was like this in thespring. How was her foot? As usual, a falter. Was it _really_? Well, yes, she thought so. And then, as the motherly eyes looked into hers, there came a burst of the ready tears; and 'Oh, _please_ don't talkabout it--_please_ don't ask. '

'I know what you are afraid of, ' said Sister Constance, rememberingher horror of the Bexley medical attendant, 'but is it right toconceal this, my dear child?'

'I don't think I do, ' said Cherry pitifully. 'You know Sibby _does_it every night, and it only aches a little more now. And if they didfind it out, then they would have _him_, and there would be adoctor's bill, and, oh! that would be dreadful!'

Sister Constance saw that the question of right or wrong would beinfinitely too much for Geraldine, and drew off her mind from it totell of the good accounts of Robina from Catsacre, and Clement fromWhittingtonia; but when presently Wilmet was so far free as to comein with _only_ the boy-baby in her arms, and take the guest up totake off her bonnet, it was the time for entering on the subject. 

'Cherry? do you think her looking ill? She always is poorly in thespring, you know. '

'I do not like what I hear of her appetite, or her sleep, or herspirits. '

'Oh! but Cherry is always fanciful, you know. Please, please don'tput things in her head. '

'What kind of things do you mean?'

'Fancying herself worse, I mean, or wanting things. You know we mustbe so careful, and Mamma and the babies--'

'My dear, I know you have many to care for, and it is hard to strikethe balance; but somehow your voice sounds to me as if Geraldine werethe one you most willingly set aside. '

Wilmet did not like this, and said a little bit hastily, 'I am sureGeraldine has everything we can give her. If she complains, it isvery wrong of her. '

'She has not said one word of complaint. Her grief and fear is onlyof being a burden on you. What brought me here was, that Mr. Audleywas anxious about her. '

Wilmet was silent, a little abashed. 

'Did you know that her ankle is painful again?'

'Sister Constance, ' said Wilmet, 'I don't think you or Mr. Audleyknow how soon Cherry fancies all sorts of things. She does get intowhiny states, and is regularly tiresome; and the more you notice her, the worse she is. I know Mamma thought so. '

'My dear, a mother can venture on wholesome neglect when a sister'sneglect is not wholesome. I am not accusing you of neglect, mind;only you want experience and sympathy to judge of a thing with aframe like Cherry's. Now, I will tell you what I want to do. I amcome to take her back with me, and get her treated by her kind doctorfor a month or so, and the sea air and rest will send her back, mostlikely, in a much more cheery state. '

'Indeed!' cried Wilmet, startled; 'it is very good, but how could wedo without her? Mamma and the children! If she could only wait tillthe holidays. '

'Let her only hear you say that, Wilmet, and it will do her more goodthan anything. '

'What--that she is of use? Poor little thing, she tries to be; but ifMarilda could have had her way, and taken her instead of Alda, itwould have been much better for her and all. Ah! there's Felix. May Icall him in?'

Felix, dashing up to wash his hands, smooth his hair, and dresshimself for the reading-room work instead of the printing-office, hadmuch rather these operations had been performed before he was calledto the consultation in the nursery; but he agreed instantly andsolicitously, knowing much better than Wilmet what the dinners wereto Cherry, and talking of her much more tenderly. 

'Yes, poor little dear, she always breaks down more or less in thespring; but I thought she would mend when we could get her out more, 'he said. 'Do you think her really so unwell, Sister Constance?'

'Oh, no, no!' cried Wilmet, fearfully. 

'Not very unwell, but only so that I long to put her under our gooddoctor, who comes to any one in our house, and who is such a fatherlyold gentleman, that she would not go through the misery the thoughtof Mr. Rugg seems to cause her. '

'Dr. Lee?' asked Felix. 'Tom Underwood sent him to see my fatheronce. I remember my father liked him, but called it waste forhimself, only longed for his opinion on Cherry. Thank you, I am sureit is the greatest kindness. '

'But, Felix, how can she before the holidays?' cried Wilmet. 

'Well, Mamma does not want her before dinner; and as to the kids, whycan't you take Angel to school with you? Oh, yes, Miss Pearson willlet you. Then Mr. Audley, or Mr. Bevan, is always up in theafternoon, and you come home by four. '

'Perhaps I could earlier on days when the girls go out walking, ' saidWilmet. 'If it is to do Cherry good, I don't like to prevent it. '

Wilmet had evidently got all her household into their niches, and thedisarrangement puzzled her. A wonderful girl she was to contrive asshe did, and carry out her rule; but Sister Constance feared that alittle dryness might be growing on her in consequence, and that, likemany maidens of fifteen or sixteen, while she was devoted to thelittle, she was impatient of the intermediate. 

So when they went down, and Cherry heard of the scheme, and imploredagainst it in nervous fear of leaving home and dread of new faces, Wilmet, having made up her practical mind that the going wasnecessary, only made light of that value at home which was Cherry'sone comfort, and which made herself feel it so hard to part with her, that this very want of tact was all unselfishness. 

Felix was much more comfortable to Cherry when he made playful facesat the bear-garden that the dining-room would become without her, andshowed plainly that he at least would miss her dreadfully. Still shenourished a hope that Mamma would say she should not go; but Mammaalways submitted to the decrees of authority, and Wilmet and Felixwere her authorities now. Sister Constance felt no misgiving lestWilmet were hardening, when she heard the sweet discretion andcheerful tenderness with which she propounded the arrangement to thesick mother, without giving her the worry of decision, yet stilldeferentially enough to keep her in her place as the head of thefamily. 

Yet it was with unnecessarily bracing severity that Wilmet observedto Geraldine, 'Now, don't you go crying, and asking questions, andworrying Mamma. '

'I suppose no person can be everything at once, far less a girl offifteen, ' thought Sister Constance, as she drove up to the station inthe omnibus with Cherry, who was too miserable and bewildered to crynow; not that she was afraid of either the Sister or the Sisterhood, but only because she had never left home in her life, and feltexactly like a callow nestling shoved out on the ground with a brokenwing. 

In two months more the omnibus was setting her down again, muchnearer plumpness, with a brighter face and stronger spirits. She hadbeen very full of enjoyment at St. Faith's. She had the visitor'sroom, with delightful sacred prints and photographs, and a windowlooking out on the sea--a sight enough to fascinate her for hours. She had been out every fine day on the shore; she had sat in thepleasant community-room with the kind Sisters, who talked to her as awoman, not a baby; she had plenty of books; one of the Sisters hadgiven her daily drawing lessons, and another had read Tasso with her;she had been to the lovely oratory constantly, and to the beautifulchurch on Sunday, and had helped to make the wreaths for the greatMay holidays; she had made many new friends, and among them thedoctor, who, if he had hurt her, had never deceived her, and hadreally made her more comfortable than she had ever been for the lastfive years, putting her in the way of such self-management as mightvery possibly avert some of that dreadful liability to be cross. 

But with all this, and all her gratitude, Geraldine's longing hadbeen for home. She was very happy, and it was doing her a great dealof good; but Mamma, and Felix, and Wilmet, and Sibby, and the babies, were tugging at her heart, and would not let it go out from them. Shewas always dreaming that Felix's heels were coming through hisstockings, that Mamma was calling and nobody coming, or that Bernardwas cutting off the heads of the twins with the blunt scissors. Andwhen Dr. Lee's course of treatment was over, and Felix had a holidayto come and fetch her home, it is not easy to say which was happiest. For she was so glad to be at home amid the dear faces, troubling andtroublous as they often were, and so comfortable in the old wheel-ruts of care and toil, that it really seemed as if a new epoch of joyhad begun. Felix openly professed how sorely he had missed her, andshe clung to his arm with exulting mutual delight; but it was almostmore triumphant pleasure to be embraced by Wilmet with the words:'Dear, dear Cherry, there you are at last. You can't think how wehave all wanted you! I never knew how useful you are. '

'I suppose, ' said Felix quaintly, 'the world would rather miss itsaxis, and yet that does not move. '

'Yes, it does, ' said Cherry, 'it wobbles. I suppose Wilmet saysrotates, just about as much as I am going to do now I have got backinto my own dear sphere again. 

CHAPTER VI

THE CACIQUE

'Devouring flames resistless glow, And blazing rafters downward go, And never halloo, "Heads below!" Nor notice give at all. ' Rejected Addresses. 

It was a warm night in September, and Wilmet had laid herself down inbed in her nursery with a careful, but not an oppressed heart. Aboutmany matters she was happier than before. Her mother had revived insome degree, could walk from her bed-room to the sitting-room, andtook more interest in what was passing; and this the hopeful spiritsof the children interpreted into signs of recovery. Geraldine'shealth and spirits had evidently taken a start for the better. Fulbert, too, was off her mind--safe gone to a clergy-orphanfoundation; and though Lancelot had not yet been elected, owing, Mr. Audley imagined, to Lady Price's talk about their fine friends, Wilmet could not be sorry, he was such a little fellow, and the housewould be so dull without his unfailing merriment and oddities. Andthough there had been sore disappointment that Mrs. Thomas Underwoodhad chosen to go to Brighton instead of coming home, there was thepromise of a visit from Alda before Christmas to feed upon. LittleRobina had come home for the summer holidays, well, happy, andimproved, and crying only in a satisfactory way on returning toschool. Moreover, Wilmet's finances had been pleasantly increased byan unexpected present of five pounds at the end of the half year fromMiss Pearson, and the promise of the like for the next; increasing asher usefulness increased; and she was also allowed to bring Angela toschool with her. The balance of accounts at Midsummer had beensatisfactory, and Felix had proudly pronounced her to be a brick of ahousekeeper. And thus altogether Wilmet did not feel that the weightof care was so heavy and hopeless as when it first descended uponher; and she went to bed as usual, feeling how true her father'swords of encouragement and hope had been, how kind friends were, howdear a brother Felix was, and above all, how there is verily a Fatherof the fatherless. And so she fell fast asleep, but was ere longwaked by a voice from the inner room where Cherry slept with the dooropen. 

'Wilmet, Wilmet, what is it?'

Then she saw that the room was aglow with red light from the window, and heard a loud distant hubbub. Hurrying out of bed, she flew to thewindow of Cherry's room, and drew up the blind. 'O Wilmet, is itfire?'

'Yes, ' low and awe-struck, said Wilmet. 'Not here. No. There'snothing to be frightened at Cherry. It is out--out there. I think itmust be the Fortinbras Arms. Oh, what a sight!'

'It is dreadful!' said Cherry, shrinking trembling to the foot of herlittle bed, whence she could see the window. 'How plain one can seeeverything in the room! Oh! the terrible red glow in the windows! Iwonder if all the people are safe. Wilmet, do call Felix. '

'I will, ' said Wilmet, proceeding in search of her clothes; but herhands shook so that she could hardly put them on. They longed forFelix as a protection, and yet Cherry could hardly bear to let hersister go out of sight!

'I only hope Mamma does not hear, ' said Wilmet. 

'How lucky her room looks out the other way! but, oh! Wilmet, don'tfires spread?'

'Felix, and Mr. Audley will see about us in time, if there is anyfear of that, ' said Wilmet trembling a good deal as she wrapped ashawl round Cherry, who sat in a heap on her bed, gazing fascinatedat the red sky and roofs. Felix slept at the back of the house; herknock did not waken him, but her entrance startled both him andLance. 

'Felix, the Fortinbras Arms is on fire. --Hush, Lance; take care; thelittle ones and Mamma! O Felix, do come to our room. '

They followed her there in a few seconds, but they had only glancedfrom the window before they simultaneously rushed away, to theincreased dismay of their sisters, to whom their manly instinct ofrushing into the fray had not occurred. 

'I'll go down. I'll try to catch them, ' said Wilmet; and she too wasgone before Cherry could call to her. She found that Felix and Mr. Audley were in the act of undoing the front door, and this gave herjust time to fly down with the entreaty that Felix would not leavethem. It was a great deal more to ask of him than she knew. 

'To the end of the street I must go, Wilmet, ' he said. 

'Oh! but Cherry is so frightened! and if Mamma wakes, ' she said, gasping. 

'It is all quiet in her room, ' said Felix. 

'Tell Cherry there is no danger at all here now, ' said Mr. Audley;'but if it makes her happier you may dress her. Don't disturb yourmother. If needful, we will carry her out in her bed; but I do notthink it will be. '

'We can only see out in the street, ' added Felix, opening the door ashe spoke; and that moment out flew Lance, before anybody had thoughtof stopping him, and the necessity of pursuing the little fellow intothe throng, and keeping him out of danger, made both Felix and Mr. Audley dash after him; while Wilmet, abashed at the men hurrying by, could not even gaze from the door, but fled upstairs in terror lestthe two little ones should be awake and crying at the appalling redlight and the din, which seemed to her one continuous roar of 'Fire!fire!'

To her great relief, they were still asleep, but Cherry was in achilled agony of trembling prayer for the 'poor people, ' and thesisters crouched up together shivering in each other's arms as theywatched the rush of flames streaming up into the sky over the brew-house opposite to them. 

Presently Wilmet heard feet again downstairs. 'Cherry dear, I must godown, they may want me. Indeed, I don't think there is real danger aslong as that brew-house is safe. '

There was a scuffle of feet that frightened her very much. Sheremembered it last Michaelmas when her father was brought home fromchurch, and as she stood on the stairs--one choking petition in herheart, 'Let it not be Felix!' she saw that the figure, whatever itwas, was carried by Mr. Audley and a strange man. And so great ahorror came over her, that, regardless of her toilette, and the hairthat had fallen over the jacket on her shoulders, she dropped at onceamong them as they were bearing the senseless form into Mr. Audley'sbed-room, with a low but piteous cry, 'Felix! Felix! oh, what hashappened?'

'It is not Felix, my dear, ' said Mr. Audley; 'he is safe--he is gonefor the doctor. This poor boy has fallen from a window. You can helpus, Wilmet; call Martha, and get some water made hot. The fire isgetting under. '

Wilmet needed no second hint. She was up, reassuring Cherry at onemoment; then breaking into Martha's heavy slumbers, impressing uponher the necessity of not shrieking, then downstairs again, revivingthe dying kitchen fire, and finding that, as usual, there was somewater not yet cold. For, as she now saw, it was not yet one o'clock. She durst not go to her mother's room, where ready means of heatingfood were always to be found. As she brought the jug to the door, Felix came in with Mr. Rugg, who, living in a street out of sight, and having ears for no sound but his own night-bell, had been readyat once to obey the call. Felix told his sister the little he knew. 

'It was a terrible sight. Just as we got to that one big window--apassage one, I believe, which looks out into this street--we saw thispoor boy and a black man up on the sill, with all the glare of lightbehind them, screaming out for help. '

'But where was everybody?'

'In the High Street, round the corner. Crowds there; and here in ourstreet only ourselves and a few men that hurried up after us. Mr. Audley shouted to them that we would get a ladder, but whether theycould not hold on any more, or they thought we were going quite away--O Wilmet! I didn't see; but there was the most horrible thump andcrash on the pavement. '

'What! down from that window?'

'Yes, ' said Felix, leaning against the wall, and looking very pale. 'And there was that good black man, he had got the boy in his arms, as if he had wound himself round to keep him from harm. '

'Oh! And he?'

'Killed--quite killed. Don't ask me about it, Wilmet. It is much toodreadful to hear of;' and he shuddered all over. 

'But this boy's head was safe at least, and as there seemed no one toattend to anything, Mr. Audley said he would bring him here, and Iwent for Mr. Rugg. '

'And where's Lance? Did he go with you?'

'Lance! Is not he in? I never saw or thought of him, I must go andseek for him, ' exclaimed Felix, darting off in haste and alarm at thethought of little nine-year-old Lance alone among the midnight crowd, just as Mr. Audley opened the door to try to find a messenger to Mr. Rugg's surgery. He paused to tell Wilmet that it was a lad aboutFelix's age, moaning some word that sounded like Diego, and with abroken leg and ribs, and then, as Martha was in attendance, she feltherself obliged to return to Cherry, whom indeed she could not leaveagain, for though the fire had sunk, and only thick clouds of smokeshowed the play of the engines, the effects of the terror were not soquickly over in the tender little frame, which was in a quiveringhysterical state, so deadly cold, that Wilmet was frightened, andwent once more down to warm some flannel; and get some hot drink forher. She intended tea, but meeting Mr. Audley again, he sent up aglass of wine. Even with this in hot water, Cherry could hardly bewarmed again, and Wilmet lay down, clasping her round, and not daringto let her know of her own continued anxiety about the two brothers. At last, however, when the red light had almost faded quite away, thecautious steps were heard coming up the stairs, and Felix called intothe room in a low voice--

'All right, Wilmet. '

'Oh! come in, ' the sisters called. 'Where did you find him, Fee? Ishe safe?'

'O Cherry, you never saw such a lark!' cried Lance in a gustywhisper. 'Wouldn't Fulbert have given his ears to have seen it? Tosee the engines pouring down, and the great hose twining about likejolly old sea-serpents spouting. '

'Hush, Lance; how can you? How could you! Does Mr. Audley know he issafe?'

'Yes, ' said Felix, 'he opened the door, and said he might have knownLance was too much of a gamin to come to grief. '

'What's a gamin?' said Lance. 

'A street ragamuffin at Paris, ' said Wilmet. 'But really, Lance, itwas a terrible thing to do. '

'And where do you think I found him?' said Felix. 'In between littleJacky Brown and that big old coal-heaver who was so impudent aboutthe blanket-club, hanging like a monkey upon the rails of theterrace, and hallooing as loud as they. '

''Twas the coal-heaver that helped me up, ' said Lance. 'He's a jollygood fellow, I can tell you. He said, "You be one of ParsonUnderwood's little chaps, baint you? A rare honest gentleman of theright sort war he--he war!" and he pulled down another boy and put meup instead, and told me all about the great fire at Stubbs's factory. You can't think what fun it was. Roar, roar, up went the flame. Swish, wish, went the water--such a bellowing--such great clouds ofsmoke!'

'Was everybody saved?' whispered Cherry's tremulous murmur. 

There was a silence, then Lance said, 'Weren't they?' and Cherry hadanother shuddering fit. 

'Who?' Wilmet asked. 

'Poor Mr. Jones's youngest child and his nursemaid were in an atticroom where nobody could get at them, ' said Felix in a hurried andawe-struck voice, causing Cherry to renew that agony of trembling andsobbing so convulsive and painful that her elder brother and sistercould only devote themselves to soothing her, till at last she laystill again in Wilmet's arms, with only a few long gasps comingquivering up through her frame. Then Wilmet implored Felix to go awayand make Lance go to bed, and finding this the only means of reducingthe little excited fellow to quiet, he went. And though all were surethey should not sleep, they overslept themselves far into Sundaymorning, except Wilmet, who was wakened by the clamours of theundisturbed Angela and Bernard, and succeeded in dressing themwithout disturbing the other three. 

Very tired and stiff, and very anxious she felt, but she was obligedto go down as soon as she was dressed, since she always took chargeof her mother before breakfast on Sunday while Sibby went to mass. Itwas so late that she could only listen in vain at the top of thestairs before she went into the room, where she found Sibby veryindignant at having missed all the excitement of the night past. 'Asif she could not have been trusted not to have wakened the mistress. She believed they would have let her alone till they all were burntin their beds!'

It was not till breakfast, which took place unusually late, thatWilmet heard much. Felix and Lance had just come downstairs, ratherashamed of having overslept themselves, and Mr. Audley came in andbegged for a cup of tea. 

He told them that the father and uncle of the boy had arrived. Theywere American merchants or speculators of some kind, he thought, named Travis, and they had gone on business to Dearport the daybefore, meaning to dine there, and return by the mail train in thenight, and leaving the boy with the black servant in the unfortunatehotel. 

On arriving, at about three o'clock, not long after Felix had broughtLance home, they had telegraphed to Dearport for a doctor and nurse, who were momentarily expected to arrive. The patient was only halfconscious, and though he knew his father, continued to murmur forDiego. Martha was sitting with him whenever she could, for his fatherdid not seem to understand nursing, and it would be a great reliefwhen a properly-trained person arrived. 

She came, and so did the doctor, but not till close upon church-time, and little but stray reports from the sick-room reached thepopulation upstairs all that day, as Mr. Audley, whenever he was notat church, was obliged to be in attendance on his strange guests. Allthat reached the anxious and excited young people was the tidings ofthe patient being not unlikely to do well, though he was in greatpain and high fever, and continually calling for the poor negro whohad saved his life at the expense of his own. 

This was the last bulletin when the household parted to go theirseveral ways on Monday morning, not to be all collected again andfree to speak till seven o'clock in the evening, when they met roundthe table for tea. 

'Mamma looks cheery, ' said Felix, coming into the little back roomwhere Wilmet was spreading bread and butter. 

'Yes, ' said Wilmet, 'I think she has cared to hear about the fire. Somany people have come in and talked, that it has enlivened her. '

'And how is the boy?'

'A little better, Martha heard; but he keeps on talking of Diego, andseems not to care about any one else. '

'No wonder. His father must be an unmitigated brute, ' said Felix. 'Hecame to the inquest, and talked just as if it had been an oldNewfoundland dog; I really think he cared rather less than if it hadbeen. '

Tell us about the inquest, Felix, ' said Lance. 'I wish they'd havewanted me there. '

'I don't see why, Lance, ' said Felix gravely; 'it was a terriblething to see poor Mr. Jones hardly able to speak for grief, and themother of that poor young nurse went on sobbing as if her heart wasbreaking. '

'Nobody knows the cause of the fire, do they?' asked Cherry. 

'Lady Price said it was the gas. '

'No; no one knows. Way, the waiter, saw a glare under the door of thegreat assembly-room as he was going up very late to bed, and theinstant he opened the door the flame seemed to rush out at him. Isuppose a draught was all it wanted. He saw this poor Diego safedownstairs once, but he must have gone back to save his young master, and got cut off in coming back. Poor fellow! he is a Mexican negro, belonging to an estate that came to Mr. Travis's wife, and he hasalways clung to her and her son just like a faithful dog. '

'But he could not be a slave in England, ' said Cherry eagerly. 

'No; but as this Travis said, his one instinct was the boy: he didnot know how to get rid of him, he said, and I do believe he thinksit a lucky chance. '

'I wish it had been he!' said Lance. 

'Sibby has asked leave to go to the burial, ' added Wilmet. 

'I hope you gave it, ' said Felix. 'Mr. Macnamara came and asked if hewere not a Roman Catholic, and those two Travises laughed a littleoffensively, and said they guessed he was so, as much as a nigger wasanything; and the Papists were welcome to his black carcase, onlythey would not be charged for any flummery. "I won't be made a foolof about a nigger, " one said. And then, I was so glad, Mr. Audleybegged to know when the funeral would be, and said he would goanywhere to do honour to faithfulness unto death. '

'Well done, Mr. Audley!' cried Lance. 'Won't we go too, Fee!'

'It will be at nine to-morrow, ' said Felix; at which Lance made aface, since of course he would be in school at the time. 

'Maybe I shall have to go, ' added Felix; 'for only think, as my goodluck would have it, Redstone went on Saturday night to see his motheror somebody, and only came back this morning; and Mr. Froggatthimself was "out at his box, " as he calls it, so he told me thismorning to write the account of the fire for the paper, and he wouldpay me for it extra, as he does Redstone. '

'Well, and have you done it?'

'I was pretty much at sea at first, till I recollected the letter Ibegan to Edgar yesterday night, and by following that, I made what Ithought was a decent piece of business of it. '

'Oh, did you put in the way they threw the things out at window atJessop's without looking what they were!' cried Lance; 'and the jollysmash the jugs and basins made, and when their house was never onfire at all: and how the coal-heaver said "Hold hard, frail tradethere!"'

'Well, ' said Felix quaintly, 'I put it in a different form, you see. I said the inhabitants of the adjacent houses hurled their furniturefrom the windows with more precipitation than attention to thefragility of the articles. And, after all, that intolerable ass, Redstone, has corrected fire every time into "the devouring element, "and made "the faithful black" into "the African of sable integument, but heart of precious ore. "'

'Now, Felix!'

'Bald, sir, bald, ' he said, with such a face. '"Yes, Mr. Underwood, "even good old Froggy said, when he saw me looking rather blue, "youand I may know what good taste and simplicity is; but if we sent outthe Pursuivant with no mouth-filling words in it, we should be cutout with some low paper in no time among the farmers and mechanics. "'

'Is he so led by Mr. Redstone?' asked Wilmet. 

'Not exactly; but I believe there's nothing he dreads more thanRedstone's getting offended and saying that I am no use, as he wouldany day if he could. O, Mr. Audley, are you coming to stay?'

'Will you have a cup of tea?' said Wilmet. 

'Thank you, yes; I've got to dine with these fellows at the RailwayHotel at eight, but I wanted to speak to you first, Wilmet, ' said Mr. Audley, sitting down as if he were weary of his day. 

'How is the boy?'

'Better. He has been quite sensible ever since he woke at twelveo'clock to-day, only he was dreadfully upset about poor Diego--aboutwhom his father told him very abruptly--without the least notion hewould feel it so much. '

'I wish I had the kicking of that father, ' observed Felix, drivingthe knife hard into the loaf. 

'He is not altogether such a bad fellow, ' said Mr. Audleythoughtfully. 

'Not for an American, perhaps. '

'He is not an American at all. He was born and bred in my owncountry, and took me by surprise by calculating that I was one of theAudleys of Wrightstone Court, and wanting to know whether my fatherwere Sir Robert or Sir Robert's son. Then he guessed that I mighthave heard of his father, if I was not too young, and by-and-by itdawned on me that whenever there is any complication about businessmatters, or any one is in bad circumstances, my father alwaysvituperates one Travis, who, it seems, was a solicitor greatlytrusted by all the country round, till he died, some twenty yearsago, and it appeared that he had ruined everybody, himself included. These men are his sons. They went out to America, and got up in theworld. They told me the whole story of how they had knocked abouteverywhere, last evening, but I was too sleepy to enter into it much, though I daresay it was curious enough; successful speculations andhair's-breadth escapes seemed to come very thick one upon another, but all I am clear about is that this poor boy, Fernando's mother wasa Mexican heiress, they--one of them, I mean--managed to marry, herfather English, but her mother old Spanish blood allied to the oldCaciques, he says; whether it is a boast I don't know, but the boylooks like it--such a handsome fellow; delicate straight profile, slender limbs, beautifully made, inky-black hair and brows, pureolive skin--the two doctors were both in raptures. Well, they thoughtaffairs in Mexico insecure, so they sold the poor woman's estate andcarried her off to Texas. No; was it? I really can't remember where;but, at any rate, Diego stuck to her wherever she went, and when shedied, to her child; nursed him like an old woman, and-- In short, itwas that touching negro love that one sometimes hears of. Now theyseem to have grown very rich--the American Vice-Consul, who came overthis morning from Dearport, knew all about them--and they came homepartly on business, and partly to leave Fernando to be made into anEnglish gentleman, who, Mr. Travis says, if he has money to spend, does whip creation. He's English enough for that still. Well, theyhave got a telegram that makes them both want to sail by the nextsteamer. '

'That's a blessing. But the boy?

'He cannot be moved for weeks. It is not only the fractures, but thejar of the fall. He may get quite over it, but must lie quite stillon his back. So here he is, a fixture, by your leave, my ladyhousekeeper. '

'It is your room, Mr. Audley, ' said Wilmet. 'But can his fatherreally mean to leave him alone so very ill, poor boy?'

'Well, as his father truly says, he is no good to him, but rather thereverse; and as the Travis mind seems rather impressed by finding anAudley here, I am to be left in charge of him now, and to find atutor for him when he gets better. So we are in for that!'

'But what is to become of you?' asked Wilmet. 'The nurse has got thelittle back study. '

'I have got a room at Bolland's to sleep in, thank you, ' he answered;'and I have been representing the inconvenience to the house of thislong illness, so that the Travises, who are liberal enough--'

'I thought them horrid misers, ' said Felix. 

'That was only the American conscience as to negroes. In othermatters they are ready to throw money about with both hands; so Ihope I have made a good bargain for you, Wilmet. You are to have fiveguineas a week, and provide for boy and nurse, all but wine and beer, ice and fruit. '

'Five guineas!' murmured Wilmet, quite overpowered at the munificentsum. 

'I am afraid you will not find it go as far as you expect, for hewill want a good deal of dainty catering. '

'And your room should be deducted, ' said Wilmet. 

'Not at all. Mrs. Bolland said she did not take lodgers, but shouldesteem it a favour if I would sleep there while her son is away. Itis all safe, I think. He has given me orders on his London banker, and they say here at the bank that they are all right. It is astrange charge, ' he added thoughtfully; 'we little thought what wewere taking on ourselves when we picked up that poor fellow, Felix;and I cannot help thinking it will turn out well, there was somethingso noble about the poor lad's face as he lay insensible. '

It was about three weeks later, that one Sunday evening, when Mr. Audley came in from church, Felix followed him to his sitting-room, and began with unusual formality. 'I think I ought to speak to you, sir. '

'What's the matter?'

'About Lance, and him in there. I have had such a queer talk with_him_!'

'As how?'

'Why he wanted us to stop from church, asked me to let off the poorlittle coon; and when I said we couldn't, because we were in thechoir, wanted to know what we were paid, then why we did it at all;and so it turned out that he thinks churches only meant for women andpsalm-singing niggers and Methodists, and has never been inside onein his life, never saw the sense of it, wanted to know why I went. '

'What did you tell him?'

'I don't know; I was so taken aback. I said something about our dutyto God, and it's being all we had to get us through life; but I knowI made a dreadful mess of it, and the bell rang, and I got away. Buthe seems a sheer heathen, and there's Lance in and out all day. '

'Yes, Felix, I am afraid it is true that the poor lad has beenbrought up with no religion at all--a blank sheet, as his fathercalled him. '

'Wasn't his father English?'

'Yes; but he had lived a roving, godless life. I began, when I foundthe boy must stay here, by asking whether he were of his father's orhis mother's communion, and in return heard a burst of exultationthat he had never let a priest into his house. His father-in-law hadwarned him against it, and he had carried his wife out of their reachlong before the child's birth; he has not even been baptized, but yousee, Felix, I could not act like Abraham to the idolater in theTalmud. '

Felix did not speak, but knocked one foot against the other invexation, feeling that it was his house after all, and that Mr. Audley should not have turned this young heathen loose into it tocorrupt his brother, without consulting him. 

'I told Travis, ' continued the Curate, 'that if I undertook thecharge as he wished, it must be as a priest myself, and I must try toput some religion into him. And, to my surprise, he said he left itto me. Fernando was old enough to judge, and if he were to be anEnglish squire, he must conform to old-country ways; besides, I wasanother sort of parson from Yankee Methodists and Shakers or Popishpriests--he knew the English clergy well enough, of the right sort. '

'So he is to learn religion to make him a squire?'

'I was thankful enough to find no obstruction. '

'And have you begun?' asked Felix moodily. 

'Why--no. He has been too ill and too reserved. I have attemptednothing but daily saying a short prayer for him in his hearing, hoping he would remark on it. But you know the pain is still veryabsorbing at times, and it leaves him exhausted; and besides, I fancyhe has a good deal of tropical languor about him, and does not noticemuch. Nothing but Lance has roused him at all, '

'I would never have let Lance in there by himself, if I had known, 'said Felix. 'He is quite bewitched. '

'It would have been difficult to prevent it. Nor do I think that muchharm can be done. I believe I ought to have told you, Felix; but Idid not like denouncing my poor sick guest among the children, or itsgetting round all the town and to my Lady. After all, Lance is a verylittle fellow; it is not as if Edgar or Clem were at home. '

'I suppose it cannot be helped, ' sighed Felix; 'but my father--' andas he recollected the desire to take his brothers away from Mr. Ryder, he felt as if his chosen guardian had been false to his trust, out of pity and enthusiasm. 

'Your father would have known how to treat him, ' sighed Mr. Audley. 'At any rate, Felix, we must not forget the duties of hospitality andkindness; and I hope you will not roughly forbid Lance to go nearhim, without seeing whether the poor fellow is not reallyinoffensive. '

'I'll see about it, ' was all that Felix could get himself to say; formuch as he loved Mr. Audley, he could not easily brook interferencewith his brothers, and little Lance, so loyal to himself, and sodroll without a grain of malice, was very near to his heart. 'A youngpagan, ' as he thought to himself, 'teaching him all the blackguardtricks and words he has learnt at all the low schools in north orsouth!' and all the most objectionable scenes he had met with inAmerican stories, from Uncle Tom onwards, began to rise before hiseyes. 'A pretty thing to do in a fit of beneficence! I'll order Lanceto keep away, and if he dares disobey, I'll lick him well to show himwho is master. '

So he felt, as he swung himself upstairs, and halted with someintention of pouring out his vexed spirit to Wilmet, because Mr. Audley had no business to make it a secret; but Wilmet was puttingher mother to bed, and he went on upstairs. There he found all thedoors open, and heard a murmuring sound of voices in Geraldine'sroom. In a mood to be glad of any excuse for finding fault, he strodeacross the nursery, where Angela and Bernard slept, and saw thatLance, who ought to have gone at once to bed on coming in, wasstanding in his sister's window, trying to read in the ray of gas-light that came up from a lamp at the brew-house door. 

'Go to bed, Lance, ' he said; 'if you have not learnt your lessons inproper time, you must wake early, or take the consequences. I won'thave it done on Sunday night. '

Lance started round angrily, and Cherry cried, 'O Felix, it is nosuch thing! Only would you tell us where to find about the king andhis priests that defeated the enemy by singing the "mercy endurethfor ever" psalm?'

'In the Bible!' said Felix, as if sure it was a blunder. 'There's nosuch story. '

'Indeed there is, ' cried Lance, 'for Papa (the word low andreverently) took out his blue poly-something Bible and read it out inthe sermon. Don't you remember, Fee, a hot day in the summer, when hepreached all about those wild robbers--horrid fellows with longspears--coming up in the desert to make a regular smash of the Jews?'

'Lance!' cried Cherry. 

'Well, he did not say that, of course, but they wanted to; and howthe king sent out the priests without a fighting man, only all inwhite, praising God in the beauty of holiness, and singing, "Hismercy endureth for ever. " I saw him read that, though he told us allthe rest without book; how all the enemy began to quarrel, and allkilled one another, and the Jews had nothing to do but to pick up thespoil, and sing another psalm coming back. '

'I remember now, ' said Felix, in a very different tone. 'It wasJehoshaphat, Lancey boy. I'll find it for you in the book ofChronicles. Did you want it for anything?'

Lance made an uneasy movement. 

'It was to show poor Fernando Travis, wasn't it?' said Cherry; and asLance wriggled again, she added, 'He seems to have been taughtnothing good. '

'Now, Cherry, ' broke out Lance, 'I told you to say not a word. '

'I know a little about it, Lance, ' said Felix, sitting down on thewindow-seat and lifting Lance on his knee, as he said, in a tone veryunlike his intended expostulation, 'You must not let him do you harm, Lance. '

'He wouldn't; but he does not know anything about anything, ' said thelittle boy. 'They never taught him to say his prayers, nor singhymns, nor chant, and he thinks it is only good for niggers. So Itold him that singing psalms once beat an army, and he laughed; and Ithought Cherry was sure to know where it was--but girls will alwaystell. '

'Indeed you never told me not, ' said Cherry, humbly. 

'She has done no harm, ' said Felix. 'Mr. Audley has just been talkingto me about that poor boy. He really is as untaught as that littlescamp at the potteries that we tried to teach. '

'He's a stunning good fellow, ' broke in Lance; 'he has seen analligator, and ridden mustangs. '

'Never mind that now, Lance; I dare say he is very amusing, but--'

'Don't hinder me from going to him, ' broke in the younger boyvehemently. 

'If, ' said Felix gravely, 'you can be quite sure my Father would notmind it. '

Lance was nestling close up to him in the dark, and he was surprisedto find that round face wet with tears. 'Papa would not let him liedull and moped all day long, ' he said. 'O Fee, I can't keep away; Iam so sorry for him. When that terrible cramp comes, it is of no useto say those sort of things to him. '

'What sort of things?'

'Oh, you know; verses such as Papa used to have said to him. Theyweren't a bit of good. No, not though I did get the book Papa markedfor Cherry. '

'You did!' gasped Cherry, who little thought that sacred possessionof hers was even known to Master Lance. 

'You'd have done it yourself, Cherry, ' said the little boy, 'if youhad only seen how bad he was; he got quite white, and had great dropson his forehead, and panted so, and would not let out a bit of a cry, only now and then a groan; and so I ran to get the verse Papa used tosay over and over to you when your foot was bad. And I'm sure it wasthe right one, but--but--it did him no good, for, oh! he didn't knowwho our Saviour is;' and the little fellow clung to his brother in apassion of tears, while Felix felt a pang at the contrast. 

'Have you been telling him, Lancey?' he asked. 

'I wanted him to ask Mr. Audley, but he said he was a parson, and hisfather said that there would be no parsons if men were not fools. Now, Fee, I've told you, but don't keep me away. '

'It would be hard on a poor sick fellow, ' said Felix, thoroughlysoftened. 'Only, Lance, you know I can't be with you; will youpromise to go away if ever you think Papa would wish it?'

'Oh yes, one has to do that, you know, when our own fellows getblackguardly, ' said little Lance, freely; whereat Cherry shudderedsomewhat. 'And, Fee, ' he added, 'if you would only come and make himunderstand about things. '

'Mr. Audley must do that, ' said Felix; 'I can't. '

'You teach the boys in the Sunday-school, ' said Lance. 'And he'd mindyou, Blunderbore. He says you are the grandest and most splendiferousfellow he ever did set eyes on, and that he feels something like, when you've just looked in and spoken to him. '

'You little ass, he was chaffing you. '

'No, no, _indeed_ he wasn't. I told him all about it, because heliked your face so much. And he does care so very much when you lookin. Oh! _do, do_, Fee; he is so jolly, and it is so lonely and horridfor him, and I do so want Papa for him;' and the child criedsilently, but Felix felt the long deep sobs, and as Geraldine, muchmoved, said, 'Dear little Lancey, ' he carried him over to her as shesat up in bed, and she kissed and fondled him, and murmured in hisear, 'Dear Lance, I'm sure he'll get good. We will get Mr. Audley totalk to him, you know, and we will say a prayer every day for him. '

Lance, beginning to recover, put his arms round Cherry's neck, gaveher a tremendous hug, released himself from his brother's arms, andran off to bed. Felix remained a few moments, while Cherryexclaimed, 'Oh! the dear good little fellow!'

'Better than any of us, ' said Felix. 'I was quite savage with Mr. Audley when I found out about it. I must go down and tell him. Inever thought all that was in the little chap! I'm glad he came toyou, Cherry. Good-night. '

'And you will try to teach this poor boy, Felix?'

'I don't say that. I don't in the least know how; but I shall notdare to hinder Lance, now I see how he goes on. '

On his way down he heard voices in the sitting-room, where, in fact, Mr. Audley had joined Wilmet, to explain to her how vexed he was tohave so much annoyed Felix, and perhaps also something of his ownannoyance at the manner in which Felix took it. Wilmet, partly fromher 'growing on the sunny side of the wall, ' partly from her earlyauthority, was in some ways older than her brother, and could seethat there was in him a shade of boyish jealousy of his prerogative;and as she sat, in her pretty modest gravity, with her fair hair andher Sunday frock, she was softly but earnestly telling Mr. Audleythat she was sure Felix would not mind long, and that he was verysorry for the poor boy really, only he was so anxious about Lance, and he did like to be consulted. Both looked up, startled, as Felixopened the door, and they saw that his eyes were full of tears. Hecame up to Mr. Audley, and said, 'I beg your pardon, sir; I'd nobusiness to grumble, and that little fellow has been--'

'Beforehand with us?' asked Mr. Audley, as Felix broke down. 'Thenurse has been just telling me how he sat on his bed saying bits ofpsalms and verses to him when he had that bad fit of cramp, "sopretty, " she said; but I was afraid it must have been rather like aspell. '

Felix told his story, feeling it too much not to make it lame, andwith the tearfulness trembling in his voice and eyes all the time. 

'Our little gamin has the most of the good Samaritan in him, ' saidMr. Audley. ''Tis not quite the end I should have begun at, butperhaps it may work the better. '

'Dear little boy, that he should have remembered that sermon!'exclaimed Wilmet. 

'I am afraid it is more than I do, ' said Felix; 'all last summer themore I tried to listen, the more I saw how he was changing. Do youremember it, Wilmet?'

'Yes; the text was, "The joy of the Lord is your strength, " and hesaid how praising God, and going on thinking about His goodness andthankfulness, was the way to make our adversaries dissolve before us, and never trouble us at all, just like the bands of the Moabites andAmmonites before Jehoshaphat. '

'I recollect it well, and how I thought it such a likeness ofhimself, ' said Mr. Audley; 'he was walking over his troubles, scarcely seeing them, as if they could not dim the shine of hisarmour while he went on looking up and being thankful. I fancy littleLance has a good deal of that kind of bright fearless way. '

'He has, ' said Felix in a grave thoughtful tone that made the Curatelook at him and sigh to think how early care and grief had come tomake that joyous buoyancy scarce possible to the elder boy, littlemore than seventeen though he was. 

'He is very idle, though, ' added Wilmet; 'such caricatures as thereare all over his books! Edgar's were bad enough, but Lance puts pig-tails and cocked hats to all Edgar's. '

So Lance's visits to the sick stranger remained unobstructed. He hadno notion of teaching him; but the foreign boy in his languor andhelplessness curiously fascinated him, perhaps from the very contrastof the passive, indolent, tropical nature with his own mercurialtemperament. The Spaniard, or perhaps the old Mexican, seemed topredominate in Fernando, as far as could be guessed in one so weakand helpless. He seemed very quiet and inanimate, seldom wanting orseeking diversion, but content to lie still, with half-closed eyes;his manner was reserved, and with something of courteous dignity, especially when Lady Price came to visit him; and the Yankeeisms thatsometimes dropped from his tongue did not agree with the polish ofthe tone, and still less with the imperious manner in which hesometimes addressed the nurse. He seemed, though not clever, to betolerably well cultivated; he had been at the schools of whatevercities his father had resided in, and his knowledge of languages wasof course extensive. 

However, he never talked freely to Mr. Audley. He had bitterlyresented that gentleman's interference, one day when he wasperemptorily commanding the nurse to place him in a position that hadbeen forbidden, and the endeavour to control him had made himfearfully angry. There was a stormy outbreak of violent language, only checked by a severe rebuke, for which he did not forgive theCurate; he was coldly civil, and accepted the attentions he could notdispense with in a grave formal manner that would have been sulky inan English lad, but had something of the dreary grandeur of theSpanish Don from that dark lordly visage, and made Mr. Audley halfprovoked, half pitying, speak of him always as his Cacique. He onlyexpanded a little even to Lance, though the little boy waited on himassiduously, chattering about school doings, illustrating them on aslate, singing to him, acting Blondin, exhibiting whatever he couldlay his hands on, including the twins, whom he bore down one afterthe other, to the great wrath of Sibby, not to say of little Stellaherself, while Theodore took the exhibition with perfect serenity. 

As to Felix, he was, as Lance said, the subject of the sick lad'sfervent admiration. Perhaps the open, fair, cheerful, though gravecountenance, fresh complexion, and strong, steadfast, upright bearinghad something to do with the strange adoration that in his silent wayFernando paid to the youth, who looked in from time to time, bringinga sort of air of refreshment with his good-natured shy smile, evenwhen he least knew what to say. Or else it was little Lance's ferventaffection for Felix which had conduced to the erection of the elderbrother into the idol of Fernando's fancy; and his briefest visit wasthe event of the long autumnal days spent in the uncurtained iron bedin the corner of the low room. The worship, silent though it was, wasmanifest enough to become embarrassing and ridiculous to the subjectof it, whose sense of duty and compassion was always at war with hisreluctance to expose himself to it. Not another word passed on anyreligious subject. Mr. Audley was not forgiven enough to venture onthe attempt; the Rector was shy and frightened about it, and couldmake no beginning; and Mr. Mowbray Smith, who found great fault withthem for their neglect, had been fairly stared down by the greatblack eyes, which, when the heavy lids were uplifted, proved to be ofan immense size and force; and Felix was so sure that it could not behis business while three clergymen were going in and out that he hadnever done more than describe the weather, or retail any fresh bit ofLondon news that had come down to the office. 

At last, however, one November day, he found Fernando sitting up inbed, and Lance, perched on the table, talking so earnestly as not toperceive his entrance, until Fernando broke upon his words: 'There!it's no use!'

'Yes, it is, ' cried Lance, jumping down. 'O Fee, I am glad you arecome; I want you to tell him the rights of it. '

'The rights of what, Lance?'

'Tell him that it is all the devil's doing, and the men he has got onhis side; and that it was the very thing our Saviour came for to setus free, only everybody won't, ' said Lance clinging to his brother'shand and looking up in his face. 

'That's about right, Lance, ' said Felix, 'but I don't quite know whatyou are talking about. '

'Just this, ' said Fernando. 'Lance goes on about God being mercifuland good and powerful--Almighty, as he says; but whatever women maytell a little chap like that, nobody can think so that has seen thethings I have, down in the West, with my own eyes. '

'Felix!' cried Lance, 'say it. You know and believe just as I do, aseverybody good does, men and all. '

'Yes, indeed!' said Felix with all his heart. 

'Then tell me how it can be, ' said Fernando. 

Felix stood startled and perplexed, feeling the awful magnitude andimportance of the question, but also feeling his own incompetence todeal with it; and likewise that Wilmet was keeping the tea waitingfor him. He much wished to say, 'Keep it for Mr. Audley, ' but hefeared to choke the dawning of faith, and he likewise feared theappearance of hesitation. 

'Nobody can really explain it, ' he said, 'but that's no wonder. Onecannot explain a thunderstorm, but one knows that it is. '

'That's electricity, ' said Fernando. 

'And what's electricity?'

'A fluid that--'

'Yes; that's another word. But you can't get any farther. God madeelectricity, or whatever it is, and when you talk about explainingit, you only get to something that is. You know it is, and you can'tget any farther, ' he repeated. 

'Well, that's true; though science goes beyond you in America. '

'But no searching finds out _all_ about God!' said Felix reverently. 'All we know is that He is so infinitely great and wise, that ofcourse we cannot understand why all He does is right, any more than aprivate soldier understands his general's orders. '

'And _you--you_, ' said Fernando, 'are content to say you don'tunderstand. '

'Why not?' said Felix. 

There was a silence. Fernando seemed to be thinking; Lance gazed fromone to the other, as if disappointed that his brother was not moreexplicit. 

'And how do you know it is true?' added Fernando. 'I mean, what Lancehas been telling me! What makes you sure of it, if you are?'

'_If_ I am !' cried Felix, startled into indignation. 'To be sure Iam!'

'But how?'

'I _know_ it!' said Felix. 

'How?'

'The Bible!' gasped Lance impatiently. 

'Ay; so you have said for ever, ' broke in Fernando; 'but whatauthenticates that?'

'The whole course of history, ' said Felix. 'There is a great chain ofevidence, I know, but I never got it up. I can't tell it you, Fernando, I never wanted it, never even tried to think about theproofs. It is all too sure. '

'But wouldn't a Mahometan say that?' said Fernando. 

'If he did, look at the Life of our Lord and of Mahomet together, andsee which must be the true prophet--the Way, the Life, the Truth. '

'That one could do, ' said Fernando thoughtfully. 'I say' as Felixmade a movement as if he thought the subject concluded, 'I want toknow one thing more. Lance says it is believing all this that makesyou--any one I mean--good. '

'I don't know what else should, ' said Felix, smiling a little; thequestion seemed to him so absurd. 

'Is it really what makes you go and slave away at that old boss's ofyours?'

'Why, that's necessity and my duty, ' said Felix. 

'And is it what makes this little coon come and spend all his play-hours on a poor fellow with a broken leg? I've been at many schools, and never saw the fellow who would do that. '

'Oh! you are such fun!' cried Lance. 

'All that is right comes from God first and last, ' said Felixgravely. 

'And you--you that are no child--you believe all that Lance tells meyou do, and think it makes you what you are!'

'I believe it; yes, of course. And believing it should make me muchbetter than I am! I hope it will in time. '

'Ah!' sighed Fernando. 'I never heard anything like it since myfather said he'd take the cow-hide to poor old Diego, if he caughthim teaching me nigger-cant. '

They left him. 

'Poor fellow!' sighed Felix; 'what have you been telling him, Lance?'

'Oh, I don't know; only why things were good and bad, ' was Lance'slucid answer; and he was then intent on detailing the stories he hadheard from Fernando. He had been in the worst days of Southernslavery ere its extinction, on the skirts of the deadly warfare withthe Red Indians; and the poor lad had really known of horrors thatcurdled the blood of Wilmet and Geraldine, and made the latter lieawake or dream dreadful dreams all night. 

But the next day Mr. Audley was startled to hear the two friends inthe midst of an altercation. When Lance had come in for his mid-dayrecreation, Fernando had produced five shillings, desiring him to goand purchase a Bible for him; but Lance, who had conceived the ideathat the Scriptures ought not to be touched by an unchristened hand, flatly refused, offering, however, to read from his own. Now Lance'sreading was at that peculiar school-boy stage which seems calculatedto combine the utmost possible noise with the least possibledistinctness; and though he had good gifts of ear and voice, and hisreciting and singing were both above the average, the moment a bookwas before him, he roared his sentences between his teeth in horriblemonotony. And as he began with the first chapter of St. Matthew, andwas not perfectly able to cope with all the names, Fernando couldbear it no longer, and insisted on having the book itself. Lanceshook his head and refused; and matters were in this stage when Mr. Audley, not liking the echoes of the voices, opened the door. 'Whatis it?' he asked anxiously. 

'Nothing, ' replied Fernando, proudly trying to swallow his vexation. 

'Lance!' said Mr. Audley rather severely; but just then, seeing whatbook the child was holding tight under his arm, he decided to followhim out of the room and interrogate. 

'What was it, Lance?'

'He ought not to touch a Bible--he sha'n't have mine, ' said Lanceresentfully. 

'Was he doing anything wrong with it?'

'Oh no! But he ought not to have it before he is christened, and Iwould have read to him. '

Mr. Audley knew what Lance's reading was, and smiled. 

'Was that all, Lance? I like your guardianship of the Bible, my boy;but it was not given only to those who are Christians already, or howcould any one learn?'

'He sha'n't touch mine, though, ' said Lance, with an odd sturdiness;stumping upstairs with his treasure, a little brown sixpenny S. P. C. K. Book, but in which his father had written his name on his lastbirthday but one. 

Mr. Audley only waited to take down a New Testament, and presenthimself at Fernando's bedside, observing gladly that there was muchmore wistfulness than offence about his expression. 

'It was a scruple on the young man's part, ' said Mr. Audley, smiling, though full of anxiety; 'he meant no unkindness. '

'I know he did not, ' said Fernando quietly, but gazing at the purplebook in the clergyman's hands. 

'Did you want this?' said Mr. Audley; 'or can I find anything in itfor you?'

'Thank you;' and there was a pause. The offended manner towards Mr. Audley had been subsiding of late into friendliness under hisconstant attentions, and Fernando's desire for an answer prevailed atlast. 'Felix told me to read the Life of Christ, ' he said, notirreverently, 'and that it would show me He must be True. '

'I hope and trust that so it may be, ' said Mr. Audley, more movedthan he could bear to show, but with fervour in his voice far beyondhis words. 

'Felix, ' said Fernando, resting on the name, 'Felix does seem as ifhe must be right, Mr. Audley; can it be really as he says--and Lance---that their belief makes them like what they are?'

'Most assuredly. '

'And you don't say so only because you are a minister?' asked the boydistrustfully. 

'I say so because I know it. I knew that it is the Christian faiththat makes all goodness, long before I was a minister. '

'But I have seen plenty of Christians that were not in the least likeFelix Underwood. '

'So have I; but in proportion as they live up to their faith, theyhave what is best in him. '

'I should like to be like him, ' mused Fernando; 'I never saw such afellow. He, and little Lance too, seem to belong to something brightand strong, that seems inside and outside, and I can't lay hold ofwhat it is. '

'One day you will, my dear boy, ' said Mr. Audley. 'Let me try to helpyou. '

Fernando scarcely answered, save by half a smile, and a long sigh ofrelief: but when Mr. Audley put his hand over the long brown fingers, they closed upon it. 

CHAPTER VII

THE CHESS-PLAYER'S BATTLE

'Dost thou believe, he said, that Grace Itself can reach this grief? With a feeble voice and a woeful eye-- "Lord, I believe, " was the sinner's reply, "Help Thou mine unbelief. "' SOUTHEY. 

By the beginning of the Christmas holidays, Fernando Travis was ableto lie on a couch in Mr. Audley's sitting-room. His recovery was eventardier than had been expected, partly from the shock, and partlyfrom the want of vigour of the tropical constitution: and he stillseemed to be a great way from walking, though there was no reason tofear that the power would not return. His father wrote, preparing fora journey to Oregon, and seemed perfectly satisfied, and he wasbecoming very much at home with his host. 

He was much interested in that which he was learning from Mr. Audley, and imbibing from the young Underwoods. The wandering life he hadhitherto led, without any tenderness save from the poor old negro, without time to make friends, and often exposed to the perception ofsome of the darkest sides of human life, in the terrible lawlessnessof the Mexican frontier, had hitherto made him dull, dreary, andindifferent, with little perception that there could be anythingbetter; but first the kindness and then the faith he saw at Bexley, had awakened new perceptions and sensations. His whole soul wasopening to perceive what the love of God and man might be; and thesense of a great void, and longing to have it satisfied, seemed tofill him with a constant craving for the revelation of that innerworld, whose existence had just dawned upon him. 

After a little hesitation, Mr. Audley decided on reading withGeraldine in his presence after he had come into the sitting-room, explaining to her how he thought it might be helpful. She did notmuch like it, but acquiesced: she used to hop in with her sweetsmile, shy greeting, and hand extended to the invalid, who used tolie looking at her through his long eyelashes, and listening to herlow voice reading or answering, as if she were no earthly creature;but the two were far too much in awe of one another to go anyfarther; and he got on much better with Wilmet, when she looked in onhim now and then with cheery voice and good-natured care. 

Then Fulbert and Robina came home; and the former was halfsuspicious, half jealous, of Lance's preoccupation with what he choseto denominate 'a black Yankee nigger. ' He avoided the room himself, and kept Lance from it as much as was in his power; and one day Lanceappeared with a black eye, of which he concealed the cause soentirely, that Felix, always afraid of his gamin tendencies, entreated Fulbert, as a friend, to ease his mind by telling him itwas not given in a street row. 

'I did it, ' said Fulbert; 'he was so cocky about his Yankee that Icould not stand it. '

'Why shouldn't he be kind to a poor sick fellow?'

'He has no business to be always bothering about Fernando here--Fernando there--Fernando for ever. I shall have him coming up toschool a regular spoon, and just not know what to do with him. '

'Well, Fulbert, I think if you had a broken leg you'd wish some oneto speak to you. At any rate, I can't have Lance bullied for his goodnature; I was very near doing it myself once, but I was shamed out ofit. '

'Were you--were you, indeed?' cried Fulbert, delighted at thisconfession of human nature; and Felix could not help laughing. Andthat laugh did much to bring him down from the don to the brother. Atany rate, Fulbert ceased his persecution in aught but word. 

Robina, always Lance's companion, followed him devotedly, and onlyhung about the stairs forlorn when he went to Fernando without her;or if admitted, she was quite content to sit serenely happy in herbeloved Lance's presence, expecting neither notice nor amusement, only watching their occupation of playing at draughts. Sometimes, however, Lance would fall to playing with her, and they would roll onthe floor, a tumbling mass of legs, arms, and laughter, to theintense diversion of Fernando, to whom little girls were beings of anunknown order. 

So came on Christmas, with the anniversaries so sweet and so sad, andthe eve of holly-dressing, when a bundle of bright sprays was left bysome kind friend at No. 8, and Lance and Bobbie were vehement tointroduce Fernando to English holly and English decking. 

Geraldine suggested that they had better wait for either Mr. Audleyor Wilmet to come in, but for this they had no patience, and ran downwith their arms full of the branches, and their tongues going withthe description of the night's carols, singing them with their sweetyoung voices as they moved about the room. Fernando knew now whatChristmas meant, but the joy and exhilaration of the two children, seemed to him strange for such a bygone event. He asked them if theywould have any treat. 

'Oh no! except, perhaps, Mr. Audley said he should drink tea oneday, ' said Robina. And then she broke out again, 'Hark! the heraldangels, ' like a little silver bell. 

Suddenly there was a cry of dismay. She had been standing on a chairover the mantelpiece, sticking holly into the ornaments, behind andunder which, in true man's fashion, a good many papers and lettershad accumulated. One of these papers--by some unlucky movement--fell, and by a sudden waft of air floated irrevocably into the hottestplace in the fire. 

'O dear! oh dear!' wailed Robina. 

'That's a pretty go, ' cried Lancelot. 

'That comes of your open fires, ' observed Fernando. 

'What was it?' asked Lance. 

'I don't know. I think it was a list of names! Oh! how vexed he'llbe, and Wilmet; for she told me never to get on a chair over thefender, and I forgot. ' Bobbie's round face was puckering for a cry. 

'No, no, don't cry, Bob; I told you to get up, and I'll say so, ' saidLance, smothering her in his arms after the wont of consolingbrothers. 

'I dare say he'll not miss it, ' said Fernando good-naturedly; 'hevery seldom meddles with those things. '

Bobbie's great round gray eyes came out over Lance's shoulder, andflashed amazement and wrath at him. 'I'm not going to tell stories, 'she said stoutly. 

'No, ' said Lance, equally scandalised; 'I thought you had learntbetter, Fernando. '

Robina, be it observed, was ignorant of Fernando's untaught state. 

'I only said you could hold your tongue, ' was of course Fernando'srejoiner. 

'That's just as bad, ' was the little girl's response. 

'But, Lance, you held your tongue about your black eye. '

'That's my affair, and _nobody else's_, ' said Lance, flushing up andlooking cross at the allusion. 

'And Fulbert told!' added Robina. 

'Will they punish you?' asked Fernando. 

'I think Wilmet will, because it was disobedience! I don't thinkshe'll let me have any butter at tea, ' Bobbie nearly sobbed. 'Mr. Audley won't punish! But he'll look--' and she quite cried now. 

'And do you like that better than not telling?' said Fernando, stillcurious. 

She looked up, amazed again. 'I must! I don't like it! But I couldn'tever have a happy Christmas if I didn't tell! I wish they would comethat I might have it over. '

The street door opened at the moment, and Mr. Audley and Wilmet camein together from Lady Price's convocation of the parish staff. Fernando heard the sobbing confession in the passage, and Lance'sassurance that he had been art and part in the disobedience, andWilmet gravely blaming the child, and Mr. Audley telling her not tothink so much about the loss as the transgression; and then the doorwas shut, and he heard no more, till Mr. Audley came in, examined thechimney-piece, and performed the elegy of the list in a long lowwhistle. 

'Is much harm done?' Fernando asked. 

'Not much; only I must go and get another list made out, and I amafraid I shall not be able to come in again before church. '

'I hope they have not punished her?'

'Wilmet recommended not taking the prize prayer-book to church, andshe acquiesced with tears in her eyes. A good child's repentance is abeautiful thing--

 "'O happy in repentance' school So early taught and tried. "'

These last words were said to himself as he picked up his variousgoods, and added, 'I must get some tea at the Rectory. I am sorry toleave you, but I hope one of them will come down. '

They did not, except that they peeped in for a moment to wish himgood-night, and regretted that they had not known him to be alone. 

As Felix was going out to begin the Christmas Feast in the darknessof morning, he looked in as he usually did, since Mr. Audley, sleeping out of the house, never came in till after early church. Thenurse, who still slept in the room, was gone to dress; there was onlya flickering night-light, and the room looked very desolate andforlorn, still more so the voice that called out to him, 'Felix! oh, Felix! is that you?'

'Yes. A happy Christmas to you, ' said Felix. 

'Happy--! there was a sort of groan. 

'Why, what's the matter? have you had a bad night? Aren't you sowell?'

'I don't know. Come here, I must speak to you. '

Felix was, as usual, in a great haste, but the tone startled him. 

'Felix, I can't stand this any longer. I must let you know what afrightful, intolerable wretch I've been. I tried to teach Lance tobet. '

'Fernando!' He was so choked with indignation, he could not say more. 

'He wouldn't do it. Not after he understood it. It seems he tried itwith another little boy at school, and one of the bigger ones boxedhis ears and rowed him. '

'Ay; Bruce promised me to look after him. '

'So he refused. He told me he was on his honour to you not to stay ifI did anything your father would have disapproved. He did leave meonce, when I would not leave off. '

'But how could you?'

'I was so bored--so intolerably dull--and it is the only thing onearth that one cares to do. '

'But Lance had nothing to stake. '

'I could lend him! Ah! you don't know what betting is; why, we all doit--women, boys and all!' His voice became excited, and Felix inconsternation broke in--'When did you do this?'

'Oh! weeks ago. Before I was out of bed. When I found my dice in mypurse; but I have not tried it since, with him!'

'With whom, then?'

'Why--don't fall on him--with Fulbert. He knew what it meant. Now, Felix, don't come on him for it. Come on me as much as you please. I've been a traitor to you. I see it now. '

'Anything but that!' sighed Felix, too much appalled for immediateforgiving, dejected as was the voice that spoke to him. 

'Yes, yes, I know! I see. The worst thing I could do, ' said Fernando, turning his face in on the pillow, in so broken-hearted a manner thatFelix's kindness and generosity were roused. 

'Stay, don't be so downcast, ' he said. 'There's no harm done withLance, and you being so sorry will undo it with Fulbert! I do thankyou for telling me, _really_, only it upset me at first. '

'Upset! Yes, you'll be more so when you hear the rest, ' saidFernando, raising his head again. 'Do you know who set that inn onfire?'

'Nobody does. '

'Well, I did. '

'Nonsense! You've had a bad night! You don't know what you aretalking about, ' said Felix, anxiously laying hold of one of the hothands--perceiving that his own Christmas Day must begin with mercy, not sacrifice, and beginning to hope the first self-accusation wasalso delirious. 

'Tell me. Didn't the fire begin in the ball-room? Somebody told meso. '

'Yes, the waiter saw it there. '

'Then I did it; I threw the end of a cigar among the flummery in thegrate, ' cried Fernando, falling back from the attitude into which hehad raised himself, with a gesture of despair. 

'Nobody can blame you. '

'Stay. It was after father and uncle had gone! I was smoking at thewindow of our room, and the landlord came in and ordered me not, because some ladies in the next room objected. He told me I mightcome down to the coffee-room; but I had never heard of such meddling, and I jawed him well; but he made me give in somehow. Only when I sawthat big ball-room all along the side of the building, I just took aturn in it with my cigar to spite him. Poor Diego came up and beggedme not, but you know the way one does with a nigger. Oh!'

Felix did not know; but the voice broke down in such misery andhorror, that his soul seemed to sink within him. 'Have you had thison your mind all this time?' he asked kindly. 

'No, no. It didn't come to me. I think I've been a block or a stone. The dear faithful fellow, that loved me as no one ever did. I've beenfeeling the kiss he gave me at the window all to-night. And then I'vebeen falling--falling--falling in his black arms--down--down to hellitself. Not that he is there; but I murdered him, you know--and someone else besides, wasn't there?'

'This is like delirium, really, Fernando, ' said Felix, putting hisarms round him to lay him down, as he raised himself on his elbow. 'Imust call some one if you seem so ill. '

'I wish it was illness, ' said Fernando with a shudder. 'Oh! don't go---don't let me go--if you can bear to touch me--when you know all!'

'There can't be any worse to know. You had better not talk. '

'I must! I must tell you all I really am, though you will never letyour brothers come near me, or the little angels--your sisters. I'dnot have dared look at them myself if I had known it, but thingsnever seemed so to me before. '

Felix shivered at the thought of what he was to hear, but he gavehimself up to listen kindly, and to his relief he gathered from theincoherent words that there was no great stain of crime, as he hadfeared; but that the boy had come to open his eyes to the evils ofthe life in which he had shared according to his age, and saw them intheir foulness, and with an agonised sense of shame and pollution. Felix could not help asking whether this had long dwelt on histhoughts. 

'No, ' he said, 'that's the wonder! I thought myself a nice, gentlemanly, honourable fellow. Oh!' with a groan. 'Fancy that! Inever thought of recollecting these things, or what they have mademe. Only, somehow, when those children seemed so shocked at myadvising them to hold their tongues about their bit of mischief--Ithought first what fools you all were to be so scrupulous, and then Irecollected the lots of things I have concealed, till I began tothink, Is this honour--would it seem so to Lance--or Felix? And thencame down on me the thought of what you believe, of God seeing itall, and laying it up against one for judgment; and I know--I know itis true!' and there came another heavy groan, and the great eyesshone in the twilight in terror. 

'If you know that is true, ' said Felix, steadfastly and tenderly, 'you know something else too. You know Whom He sent into the worldfor our pardon for these things. '

There was a tightening of the grasp as if in acquiescence andcomfort; but the nurse came back to tidy the room, and still Fernandoclung to Felix, and would not let him go. She opened the shutters, and then both she and Felix were dismayed to see how ill and spenther patient looked; for she had slept soundly through his night ofsilent anguish and remorse--misery that, as Felix saw by his face, was pressing on him still with intolerable weight. 

By the time the woman had finished Mr. Audley came in, and seeing atonce that Felix's absence was accounted for by Fernando's appearance, he stepped up at once to the bed, full of solicitude. Felix hardlyknew whether to reply or escape; but Fernando's heart was too fullfor his words not to come at once. 

'No, I am not worse, but I see it all now. --Tell him, Felix; I cannotsay it again. '

'Fernando thinks--' Felix found he could hardly speak the wordseither--'Fernando is afraid that it was an accident of his own--'

'Don't say an accident. It was passion and spite, ' broke in Fernando. 

'That caused the fire at the Fortinbras Arms, ' Felix was obliged tofinish. 

'Not on purpose!' exclaimed Mr. Audley. 

'Almost as much as if it had been, ' said Fernando. 'I smoked to spitethe landlord for interfering, and threw away the end too angry toheed where. There!' he added grimly; 'Felix won't tell me how many Imurdered besides my poor old black. How many?'

'Do not speak in that way, my poor boy, ' said Mr. Audley. At least, this is better than the weight you have had on your mind so long. '

'How many?' repeated Fernando. 

'Two more lives were lost, ' said Mr. Audley gently, 'Mr. Jones's babyand its nurse. But you must not use harder words than are just, Fernando. It was a terrible result, but consequences do not make theevil. '

He made a kind of murmur, then turning round, uneasily said, 'That isnot all; I have seen myself, Mr. Audley. '

Mr. Audley looked at Felix, who spoke with some difficulty andperplexity. 'He has been very unhappy all night. He thinks thingswrong that he never thought about before. '

Mr. Audley felt exceedingly hopeful at those words; but he wasalarmed at the physical effect on his patient, and felt that thepresent excitement was mischievous. 'I understand in part, ' he said. 'But it seems to me that he is too restless and uncomfortable tothink or understand now. It may be that he may yet see the joy of to-day; but no more talk now. Have you had your breakfast?'

He shook his head, but Felix had to go away, and breakfast anddressing restored Fernando to a more tranquil state. He slept, too, wearied out, when he was placed on his couch, while Felix was atChristmas service, singing, as he had never sung before, --

 'Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. '

Oh! was the poor young stranger seeing the way to thatreconciliation? and when Lancelot's sweet clear young notes rose upin all their purity, and the rosy honest face looked upwards with anexpression elevated by the music, Felix could not help thinking thatthe boy had verily sung those words of truth and hope into the poordark lonely heart. Kindness, steadfastness, truth, in that merry-hearted child had been doing their work, and when Lance marched awaywith the other lesser choristers, the elder brother felt as if theyounger had been the more worthy to 'draw near in faith. '

Fernando was more like himself when Felix came in, but he was a gooddeal shaken, and listened to the conventional Christmas greeting likemockery, shrinking from the sisters, when they looked in on him, withwhat they thought a fresh access of shyness, but which was a feelingof terrible shame beside the innocence he ascribed to them. 

'I wish I could help that poor boy, ' sighed Wilmet. 'He does look sovery miserable!'

And Geraldine's eyes swam in tears as she thought of the lonelinessof his Christmas, and without that Christmas joy that even hermother's dulled spirit could feel--the joy that bore them through therecollections of this time last year. 

Lance's desire to cheer took the more material form of acting asFernando's special waiter at the consumption of the turkey, which Mr. Audley had insisted on having from home, and eating in company withthe rest, to whom it was a 'new experience, ' being only a faintremembrance even to Felix and Wilmet; but Fernando had no appetite, and even the sight of his little friend gave him a pang. 

'Do you want any one to stay with you!' asked Lance. 'If Cherry_would_ do--for Felix said he would take Fulbert and me out for ajolly long walk, to see the icicles at Bold's Hatch. '

'No, I want no one. You are better without me. '

'I'll stay if you do want it, ' said Lance, very reluctantly. 'I don'tlike your not having one bit of Christmas. Shall I sing you oneChristmas hymn before I go?' And Lance broke into the 'Herald Angels'again. 

 'Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. '

Fernando's face was bathed in tears; he held out his arms, and tolittle Lance's great amazement, somewhat to his vexation, he held himfast and kissed him. 

'What did you do that for?' he asked in a gruff astonished voice. 

'Never mind!' said Fernando. 'Only I think I see what this day canbe! Now go. '

Presently Mr. Audley came softly in. The lad's face was turned in tohis cushion, his handkerchief over it; and as the young priest stoodwatching him, what could be done but pray for the poor strugglingsoul? At last he turned round, and looked up. 

'I saw it again, ' he said with a sigh. 

'Saw what!'

'What you all mean. It touched me, and seemed true and real whenLance was singing. What was it--"Born to save the sons of earth"? Oh!but such as I am, and at my age, too!'

And with a few words from Mr. Audley, there came such a disburtheningof self-accusation as before to Felix. It seemed as if the terribleeffects of his wilfulness at the inn--horrified as he was at them--were less oppressive to his conscience than his treachery to his hostin his endeavour to gamble with the little boys. He had found a pairof dice in his purse when looking for the price of a Bible, and thesight had awakened the vehement hereditary Mexican passion forbetting, the bane of his mother's race. His father, as a clever manof the world, hated and prohibited the practice; but Fernando hadwhat could easily become a frenzy for that excitement of the lazysouth, and even while he had seen it in its consequences, the intensecraving for the amusement had mastered him more than once, whenloathing the dulness and weariness of his confinement, and shrinkingfrom the doctrines he feared to accept. He knew it was dishonourable---yet he had given way; and he felt like one utterly stained, unpardonable, hopeless: but there was less exaggeration in his stateof mind than in the early morning, and when Mr. Audley dwelt on theHope of sinners, his eyes glistened and brightened; and at thefurther words that held out to him the assurance that all these sinsmight be washed away, and he himself enabled to begin a new life, hislooks shone responsively; but he shook his head soon--'It went awayfrom him, ' he said; poor boy! 'it was too great and good to be true. '

Then Mr. Audley put prayer before him as a means of clinging evenblindly to the Cross that he was barely beginning to grasp, and theboy promised. He would do anything they would, could he but hope tobe freed from the horrible weight of sense of hopeless pollution thathad come upon him. 

For some days he did not seem able to read anything but the Gospelsand the Baptismal Service; and at length, after a long silence, hesaid, 'Mr. Audley, if your sermon is finished, can you listen to me?May I be baptized?'

Then indeed the Curate's heart bounded, but he had to keep himselfrestrained. The father's consent he had secured beforehand, but hethought Fernando ought to write to him; and it was also needful toconsult the Rector as to the length of actual preparation andprobation. 

Then, when the question came, 'Can I indeed be like Felix andLancelot' the reply had to be cautious. 'You will be as entirelypardoned, as entirely belonging to the holiness within and without, as they; but how far you will have the consciousness, I cannot tell;and it is very probable that your temptations may be harder. Guiltmay be forgiven, while habits retain their power; and they have beenguarded, taught self-restraint, and had an example before them intheir father, such as very few have been blessed with. '

Fernando sighed long and sadly, and said, 'Then you do not think itwill make much difference. '

'The difference between life and death! But you must expect to haveto believe rather than feel. But go on, and it will all be clear. '

The Rector was at first anxious to wait for definite sanction fromthe father; but as Mr. Audley was sure of the permission he hadreceived, and no letter could be had for several months, he agreed toexamine the lad, and write to the Bishop--a new Bishop, who had beenappointed within the last year, and who was coming in the spring fora Confirmation. 

Mr. Bevan was really delighted with the catechumen, and wrote warmlyof him. The reply was, that if the Baptism could take place the daybefore the Confirmation, which was to be in a month's time, theBishop himself would like to be present, and the youth could beconfirmed the next day. There was much that was convenient in this, for it gave time for Fernando to make progress in moving about. Hehad made a start within the last week or two, was trying to usecrutches, and had been out on fine days in a chair; and once or twiceLady Price had taken him for a drive, though she had never thought ofdoing so by Geraldine. The doctor said that change of air wouldprobably quite restore his health; and he had only to wait to be alittle less dependent before he was to go to a tutor, an old friendof the Audley family. 

Everything promised well; but one wet afternoon, in the interimbetween the end of Lance's and that of Fulbert's holidays, Mr. Audley, while coming down from a visit to Mrs. Underwood, fancied heheard an ominous rattle, and opening the door suddenly, foundFernando and Fulbert eagerly throwing the dice and with severalshillings before them. 

Both started violently as he entered, and Fulbert put his arm andhand round as if to hide the whole affair; while Fernando tried tolook composed. 

All that the Curate said in his surprise was one sharp sentence. 'Fernando Travis, if you are to renounce the devil, you will have tobegin by throwing those dice into the fire. '

Fernando's eyes looked furious, and he swept the dice and the moneyinto his pocket--all but three shillings. Fulbert stole out of theroom quietly. No doubt these were his winnings, which he did not dareto touch. 

Mr. Audley took up a book and waited, fully expecting that sorrowwould follow; but Fernando did not speak; and when at length he didon some indifferent matter, it was in his ordinary tone. Well, theremust be patience. No doubt repentance would come at night! No; theevening passed on, and Fernando was ready for all their usualoccupations. Perhaps it would come with Felix, or in the dawn after atroubled night. Alas! no. And moreover, Felix, to whom it wasnecessary to speak, was exceedingly angry and vexed, and utterlyincredulous of there being any good in the character that could be sofickle, if not deceitful and hypocritical. His own resolute temperhad no power of comprehending the unmanliness of erring against thebetter will; he was absolutely incapable of understanding thehorrible lassitude and craving for excitement that must have temptedFernando, and he was hard and even ashamed of himself for having everbelieved in the lad's sincerity. 

This anger, too, made him speak with such a threatening tone toFulbert as to rouse the doggedness of the boy's nature. All thatcould be got out of Fulbert was that 'his going there was all Felix'sdoing, ' and he would not manifest any sign of regret, such as wouldbe any security against his introducing the practice among the clergyorphans, or continuing it all his life. He was not a boy given toconfidences, and neither Wilmet nor Cherry could get him beyond hisglum declaration that it was Felix's fault, he only wanted to keepout of the fellow's way. They could only take comfort in believingthat he was really ashamed, and that he suffered enough within to bea warning against the vice itself. 

As to Fernando, he made no sign, he went on as if nothing hadhappened; and nothing was observable about him, but that he showedhimself intensely weary of his present mode of life, put on at timesthe manners that were either those of the Spanish Don or of theIndian Cacique, and seemed to shrink from the prospect of the Englishtutor. Yet he continued his preparation for baptism, and Mr. Bevanwas satisfied with him; but Mr. Audley was perplexed and unhappy overthe reserve that had sprung up between them, and could not decidewhether to make another attempt or leave the lad to himself. 

One afternoon, only ten days from the time fixed for the Bishop'svisit, Mr. Audley returned from a clerical meeting to find anunexpected visitor in the room--namely, Alfred Travis, Fernando'suncle, a more Americanised and rougher person than his brother. Herose as he entered. 'Good morning, Mr. Audley; you have taken goodcare of your charge. He is fit to start with me to-morrow. See asurgeon in town--then to Liverpool--'

'Indeed!' Mr. Audley caught a deprecating look from Fernando. 'Do youcome from his father?'

'Well--yes and no. His father is still in the Oregon; but he and Ihave always been one--and opening the boy's letters, and finding himready to move, I thought, as I had business in England, I'd come andfetch him, and just settle any claim the fellow at yonder hotel mayhave cheek enough to set up, since Fernan was green enough to let itout. '

'May I ask if you have any authority from his father?'

'Authority! Bless you! William will be glad to see his boy; we don'tgo by authority between brothers. '

'Because, ' continued Mr. Audley, 'I heard from your brother that hewished Fernando to remain with me to receive an English education. '

'All sentiment and stuff! He knew better before we had sailed! AnEnglish squire in this wretched old country, forsooth! when the newrepublic is before him! No, no, Mr. Audley, I'll be open with you. Isaw what you were up to when I got your letter, and Fernan--Got hislesson very well, he had. And when I came down, a friend in Londongave me another hint. It won't do, I can assure you. That style ofthing is all very well for you spruce parsons of good family, as youcall it in the old country; but we are not going to have a risingyoung fellow like this, with a prospect of what would buy out allyour squires and baronets in the old country, beslobbered andbefooled with a lot of Puseyite cant. You've had your turn of him; itis time he should come and be a man again. '

Mr. Audley was dizzy with consternation. Fernando was no child. Hewas full sixteen, and he was so far recovered that his health formedno reason for detaining him. If he chose to go with his uncle, he_must_. If not--what then? He looked at Fernando, who sat uneasily. 

'You hear what your uncle says?' he asked. 

'I told him, ' said Fernando, 'I must wait for a fortnight. ' He spokewith eyes cast down, but not irresolutely. 

His uncle broke out--He knew what that meant; it was only that hemight be flattered by the Bishop and all the ladies, and made agreater fool of than ever. No, no, he must be out again by May, andhe should just have time to take Fernan to one of the gay boarding-houses at Saratoga, and leave him there to enjoy himself. 

'I have letters from my father, ' said Fernando, looking up to Mr. Audley, 'before he went to Oregon. He said nothing. '

'Do you wish to stay?' said Mr. Audley, feeling that all depended onthat, and trying to hide the whirl of anxiety and disappointment hefelt. 

The answer was not what he expected. Fernando sat upright in hischair, looked up to him and then at his uncle, and said low butresolutely, 'I will stay. '

'Then you shall stay, ' said Mr. Audley. 

'You have worked upon him, I see, sir, with your old-world prejudicedsuperstition, ' said Alfred Travis, evidently under the delusion thathe was keeping his temper. 'A proper fool my brother was to leave himto you. But you do it at your peril. I shall see if there's powereven in this old country to keep a boy from his own relations. You'llsee me again, Fernan. You had better make ready. '

The words were not unaccompanied with expletives such as had neverbeen personally uttered to Charles Audley before, and that broughtthe hot colour to his cheek. When he looked round, Fernando's facewas covered with his hands. 'Oh! Mr. Audley, ' he cried, as his unclehastily shut the door, 'is he going to send for the police?'

'I do not believe he can do any such thing, ' said Mr. Audley, seeingthat Fernando was in great nervous agitation. 'I have authority fromyour father, he has none; and you are old enough to make your owndecision. You really mean and wish to stay?' he added. 

'I told him so from the first, ' said Fernando. 

'Then he has no power to force you away. '

Fernando was silent. Then he said, 'If I could have gone after myBaptism. '

'Would you have wished that?' said Mr. Audley, somewhat disappointed. 

The tears were now on the long black lashes. 

'Oh, don't think me ungrateful, or-- But this English life does comeover me as intolerably dull and slow. No life nor go in it. SometimesI feel sick of it; and going back to books and all, after what I havebeen used to. If my uncle could wait for my Baptism, or, ' morehesitating, 'if I could be baptized at once. Men do lead Christianlives out there. I would try to keep from evil, Mr. Audley. I seeyour face! Is this another temptation of the devil?'

'I think it is an attempt of his, ' said Mr. Audley, sadly. 'Even hereyou have not been able to abstain entirely from giving way to yourold passion, when you had little temptation, and felt your honourbound. What will it be when you have comparatively no restraint?'

'I am resolved not to go unbaptized, ' said Fernando. 'I said so fromthe first, but he will not wait! Yet if my father sends for me, Imust go. '

'Then it will be your duty, and you will have more right to look forhelp. Besides, a summons from your father could not come for three orfour months, and in that time you would have had time to gainsomething in Christian practice and training. '

'Oh, there is the bell! Must you go, Mr. Audley? He will come back!'

'I wish I could stay, but Smith is gone to Dearport, and I do notknow whether the Rector is in. Besides, this must be your own doing, Fernan, not mine. I shall pray for you, that you well know. Pray foryourself, for this is a real crisis of life. God bless you, my dearboy. ' He laid his hand on the head, and Fernando looked upgratefully, then said, 'You never did that before. May Lance come tome, if he has not gone?'

'I will call him, ' said Mr. Audley, seeing that he really dreadedbeing alone. The little boy was on the stairs with something in hishand. 'Go in to Fernan, ' he was told, 'he wants you. What have yougot there?'

'This queer drawing. Cherry found it in an old portfolio, and hasbeen copying it. '

It was Ketzsch's outline of the chess-player, and it almost startledMr. Audley by its appropriateness. He went out to Evensong, and neverwas more glad to get back to reinforce the feeble garrison. 

Lance opened the front door to him. 'I'm so glad you are come!' hesaid. 'Mr. Bruce is there. '

'Not the uncle?'

'No, only Mr. Bruce. '

Mr. Bruce was a lawyer, and a very respectable man, in whom Mr. Audley felt confidence. He rose at the clergyman's entrance, andasked to speak to him in another room, so he was taken into thelittle back dining-room, and began--'This is a very unpleasantbusiness, Mr. Audley; this gentleman is very much annoyed, andpersuaded that he has a right to carry off his nephew; but as I toldhim, it all turns upon the father's expressions. Have you any writtenauthority from him?'

Mr. Audley had more than one letter, thanking him, and expressingfull satisfaction in the proposed arrangements for Fernando; and thisMr. Bruce thought was full justification, together with the youth'sown decided wishes. The words were likewise clear, by which WilliamTravis had given consent to his son's Baptism, but there was nowitness of them. Mr. Bruce explained that Alfred Travis, who seemedto regard Fernando as the common property of the brothers, had cometo him in what he gently termed 'a great state of excitement, 'complaining of a Puseyite plot. He had evidently taken umbrage at thetone of the letters he had opened for his brother, and had beenfurther prejudiced by some Dearport timber merchant he had met atLiverpool, who had told him how the parson had got hold of hisnephew, and related a farrago of gossip about St. Oswald's. He wasfurious at the opposition, and could not understand that law in theold country was powerless in this case, because he was neither fathernor guardian. In fact he seemed to be master of his brother; and Mr. Bruce told Mr. Audley that it was quite to be considered whetherthough law was on his side now, the father might not be brought overto the brother's side, be very angry at the detention of the boy, andrefuse the payment, which, while he was in America, could not beforced from him. Of that Mr. Audley could happily afford to run therisk; and Mr. Bruce said he had also set before the young gentlemanthat he might have to suffer much displeasure from his father for hispresent refusal, although his right to make it was incontestable. Tothis Fernando had likewise made up his mind; and Mr. Bruce, who hadnever seen him before, thought he looked utterly unfit for a longjourney and sea voyage, so that the uncle had taken nothing by hisapplication to the law. 

Fernando was flushed and panting, but more resolute, for resentmentat the attempt at force had come to back him up, and rouse the spiritof resistance. Not half an hour had elapsed before there was anotherring at the door. The uncle and lawyer were come together now. It wasto make a last offer to Fernando; Mr. Alfred Travis offered to takehim up to London the next day, and there to have advice as to thesafety of the voyage, in the meantime letting him be baptized, ifnothing else would satisfy him, but by some London clergyman--not oneof the Bexley set whom the uncle regarded with such aversion. 

Fernando drew himself up, and stood, leaning on the end of the sofa. 'Thank you, uncle, ' he said, 'I cannot. I am obeying my father now, and I will not leave those to whom he trusted me. '

There followed a volley of abuse of his English obstinacy and Spanishpride and canting conceit, which made Mr. Bruce stand aghast, andFernando look up with burning cheeks and eyes glowing like hot coals;but with the Indian impassibility he did not speak till Alfred Travishad threatened him not only with his father's displeasure, but withbeing cast off by both, and left to his English friends' charity. 

'My father will not!' said Fernando. 'If he sends for me I willcome. ' But there his strength suddenly collapsed, and he was forcedto sit down and lean back. 

'Well, Fernan, ' said his uncle, suddenly withdrawing his attempt whenhe found it vain, 'you seem hardly in marching order, so I'm off bythe night train; but if you change your mind in the next week, writeto me at Peter Brown's--you know--and I'll run down. I will save youthe coming out by yourself. Good-bye. '

Mr. Bruce tarried one moment to aver that he was unprepared for hisclient's violence, and that he thought the nephew had done quiteright. 

The door was shut, and Mr. Audley came back holding out his hand, butFernando did not take it. He was occupied in supporting himself bythe furniture from the sofa to the fireplace, where, holding by themantelpiece with one hand, he took his dice from his pocket with theother, and threw them into the reddest depth. Then he held the handto Mr. Audley, who wrung it, and said, 'It has been a hard fight, myboy. '

Fernando laid his weary head on his shoulder, and said, 'If my fatheris not poisoned against me!'

'Do not fear that, Fernando. You are where he left you. You havegiven up something for the sake of your new Lord and Master; you willhave his armour another time. '

Fernando let himself be helped to sit down, and sighed. He wasthoroughly worn out, and his victory was not such as to enliven hisspirits. He took up the drawing that lay on the table, and gazed onit in a sort of dreamy fascination. 

'You have checked him this time, ' said Mr. Audley. 

'Here or there, I will never bet again, ' said Fernan solemnly. 

'God help me to keep the resolution! It is the one thing that I carefor, and I know I should have begun the first day I was away fromyou. '

'I think that with those tastes you cannot make too strong aresolution against it, ' said Mr. Audley. 

Their dinner was brought in, but Fernando had no appetite. He soonreturned to his chess player, and seemed to be playing over the game, but he was too much tired for talk, and soon went to bed; where aftera short sleep feverishness set in, bringing something approaching todelirium. The nurse had gone a fortnight previously; but as he wasstill too helpless to have no one within call, Felix slept on the bedin the corner of the room. 

When he came down the opening of the door was greeted by 'Don't lethim come! Is Mr. Audley there!'

'Yes, he is not gone. '

Then he knew Felix, but soon began again to talk of the game atchess, evidently mixing up his uncle with the personage with the longfeather. 

'He has been checked once. I've taken one piece of his. He is gonenow. Will he come back after my Baptism? No; I shall go to him. '

This lasted till past midnight, when, as they were deliberatingwhether to send for Mr. Rugg, he fell soundly asleep, and awoke inthe morning depressed, but composed and peaceful; and this state ofthings continued. The encounter with his uncle, and the deliberatechoice, had apparently given some shock to his nerves; and whenevernight recurred, there came two or three hours of misery, andapparently of temptation and terror. It took different forms. Sometimes it was half in sleep--the acting over again of one or twohorrible scenes that he had partly witnessed in the Southern States, when an emancipator had been hunted down, and the slaves who hadlistened to him savagely punished. In spite of his Spanish blood, thehorror had been ineffaceable; and his imagination connected it withthe crowd of terrors that had revealed themselves to his awakenedconscience. He seemed to think that if he lost in the awful game oflife, he should be handed over to that terrible slave-master; andthere were times when Diego's fate, and his own lapses, so fastenedon his mind, as to make him despair of ever being allowed to quitthat slave-master's dominions; and that again joined with alarm lesthis uncle should return and claim him. 

Sometimes, likewise, the old wandering life, with the flashes ofrollicking mirth and excitement, rather glimpsed at and lookedforward to than really tasted, would become so alluring a contrast tothe flat and tasteless--nay, as it seemed to him, tedious andtoilsome--future sketched out for him, and the restraints andconstant watchfulness of a Christians life appeared so distressing abondage, that his soul seemed to revolt against it, and he would talkof following his uncle at once to London while yet it was time, andwriting to him the next morning. This state was sure to be followedby a passion of remorse, and sheer delirious terror lest he should begiven up to the enemy, who seemed now to assume to his fancy the formof his uncle. A great deal was no doubt delirious, and this betrayedthe struggles which he had been for weeks fighting out in silence andapparent impassiveness; but it was impossible not to feel thattherewith was manifested the wrestling with the Prince of Darkness, ere his subject should escape from his territory, and claim theransom of his manumission. Mr. Audley--after the second night--wouldnot let Felix remain, but took the watch entirely on himself, andfought the battle with the foe by prayer and psalm. Sleep used tocome before morning; and by day Fernando was himself again, verysubdued and quiet, and, in fact, having lost a good deal of ground asto health. 

Strange to say, the greatest pleasure he had at this time was sittingin the upstairs parlour. The custom had begun in consequence of hisnervous shuddering at being left alone lest his uncle should return, and Felix and Geraldine had then proposed taking him to their mother, who was rather interested than annoyed by his presence, and indeedall her gentle motherly instinct was drawn out by his feebleness andlameness; she talked to him kindly and quite rationally, and he waswonderfully impressed and soothed by her tenderness. It was soutterly unlike anything he had ever even seen, that he watched herwith a sort of awe; while Cherry worked, read aloud, or drew, andfelt proud of being able to fetch what was beyond the capacity of herlittle errand boy, Bernard. 

The children, too, entertained him; he was a little afraid ofBernard's roughness, but delighted in watching him, and he and littleStella were intensely admiring friends. She always knew him, cooed athim, and preferred the gold of his watch-chain to all things innature or art. Then when Wilmet, Angela, and Lance came home, andfamily chatter began, the weary anxious brain rested; and even inthat room, so sad to most eyes, Fernando began to realise whatChristian peace and cheerfulness could be. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE HOME

'Within those walls each fluttering guest Is gently lured to one safe nest; Without, 'tis moaning and unrest. ' KEBLE. 

A great delight came to Wilmet and Geraldine the day of the Bishop'svisit, no other than Alda's being able to spend a week with them. Miss Pearson spared Wilmet that whole afternoon, that she might go upto meet her at the station, whither she was escorted by a maid goingdown to Centry. 

There she was, in her pretty black silk, with violet trimmings, looking thoroughly the grown young lady, but clinging tight to hertwin in an overflow of confused happiness, even while they stoodtogether to get their first glance of the Bishop, who came down bythe same train, and was met by Mr. Bevan with the carriage. 

'I'm glad it is so nice and warm; it is better for Fernan, and Cherrycan go!' said Wilmet, ready for joy about everything. 

'Nice and warm! 'Tis much colder than in London, ' said Alda, with ashiver. 'Has Cherry kept well this winter?'

'Quite well. She walks much better. And Marilda?'

'Oh, Marilda is always well. Rude health, her mother calls it. Whatdo you think she has sent you, Wilmet? A darling little watch! justlike this one of mine!'

'O Alda, you should not have let her. It is too much. Fernan wantedto give Lance a watch, but Felix would not let him. '

'Yes, but he is not like Uncle Thomas, and it makes you like me. '

'That we shall never be quite again, ' sighed Wilmet. 

'Oh! a little setting off, and trimming up! I've brought down lots ofthings. Aunt Mary said I might. What is this youth like, Wilmet--ishe a boy or a young man?'

'I don't know, ' said Wilmet; 'he is younger than Felix, if that helpsyou. '

'Well, Americans are old of their age. I have met some at Mr. Roper's. Oh, and do you know, Mrs. Roper told Aunt Mary that theseTravises are quite millionaires, and that this youth's mother was aprodigious Mexican heiress. Aunt Mary wants to ask him to KensingtonPalace Gardens, when he comes up to town! I'm glad I am in time forthe christening. Doesn't he have godfathers and godmothers?'

'Yes; he would have nobody but Felix and Mr. Audley, and Lady Pricechose to be his godmother; indeed, there was nobody else. '

'You could not well be, certainly, ' laughed Alda. 'Oh! and I'vebrought a dress down. I thought some of us might be asked to theRectory in the evening. '

'My dear Alda, as if such a thing ever happened!'

'Ah! you see I have been so long away as to forget my Lady'smanners. '

'Mr. Audley is going, and Fernan was asked, but he is not anythinglike well enough. So when Mamma and the little ones go to bed, we areto come down and spend the evening with him. '

'Fancy, Wilmet, I have quite been preparing Marilda for herConfirmation. She had hardly been taught anything, and never couldhave answered the questions if she had not come to me. She is alwaysasking me what Papa said about this and that; and it is quiteawkward, she will carry out everything so literally, poor dear girl. '

'She must be very good. '

'Oh! to be sure she is! But just fancy, she keeps a tithe of herpocket-money to give to the Offertory so scrupulously; she wouldreally not buy something she wanted because it would have been just ashilling into her tenth. I'm so glad she is confirmed. I never knewwhat to do at church before. I couldn't go home by myself, and now aservant always waits for us. Oh! how fast the poor hotel is buildingagain! It will brighten our street a little! Dear me, I did not knowhow dingy it was!'

Nothing could look dingy where two such fair bright faces were; butAlda's became awe-struck and anxious as she went up to her mother'sroom. Indeed Mrs. Underwood looked up at her rather confused, andscarcely knowing the fashionable young lady, and it was only when theplumed hat was laid aside, and the two heads laid together, theirfair locks mingling, that she knew she had her elder twins again, andstroked their faces with quiet delight. 

There was scarcely more than time to kiss the little ones, andcontend with Stella's shyness, before first Lance hurried in and thenFelix, excused from his work two hours earlier. He could only justrun up and dress before he convoyed Geraldine to church, she havingthe first turn of the chair, helped her to her seat near the Font, and then came back for Fernando, who was under his special charge. 

Fernando sat looking very pale, and with the set expression of themouth that always made Cherry think of Indians at the stake Hislittle new prayer-book was in his hand, and he was grasping itnervously, but he said nothing, as Felix helped him up and Lance heldhis crutch for him. It was his first entrance into a place ofworship. They had intended to have accustomed him a little to thesights and sounds, but the weather and his ailment had preventedthem. He was drawn to the porch, and there Felix partly lifted himout and up the step, while Lance took his hat for him, and as theywere both wanted for the choir procession that was to usher theBishop into church, they had to leave him in his place underGeraldine's protection. 

He had not in the least realised the effect of the interior of achurch. St. Oswald's was a very grand old building, with a deepchancel a good deal raised, seen along a vista of heavy columns andarched vaults, lighted from the clerestory, and with a magnificentchancel-arch. The season was Lent, and the colouring of thedecorations was therefore grave, but all the richer, and the lightcoming strongly in from the west window immediately over thechildren's heads, made the contrast of the bright sunlight and of thesoft depths of mystery more striking, and, to an eye to whicheverything ecclesiastical was absolutely new, the effect was almostoverwhelming. That solemnity and sanctity of long centuries, thepeaceful hush, the grave beauty and grandeur, almost made him afraidto breathe, and Cherry sat by his side with her expressive facecomposed into the serious but happy look that accorded with the wholescene. 

He durst not move or speak. His was a silent passive nature, exceptwhen under strong stimulus, and Cherry respected his silence a greatdeal too much to break upon it by any information. She was half sorrywhen the noise of steps showed that the congregation were beginningto drop in, chiefly of the other young Confirmation candidates. Thenpresently Alda came, and whispered to her that Wilmet could not leaveMamma; and presently after, Lady Price bustled in with her daughter, looked severely at Alda under the impression that she was Wilmet veryimproperly tricked out, and pressed Fernando's hand before going onto her own place. Then came the low swell of the organ, another newsensation to one who had only heard opera music; then the approachingsound of the voices. Geraldine gave him the book open at theprocessional psalm, and the white-clad choir passed by, one of thefirst pair of choristers being Lance, singing with all his might, andthat merry monkey-face full of a child's beautiful happy reverence. And again could be recognised Felix, Mr. Audley, Mr. Bevan, all whomthe poor sick stranger had come to love best, all to his presentperception glorified and beautiful. They had told him it would be allfaith and no sight, but he seemed to find himself absolutely withinthat brighter better sphere to which they belonged, to see themwalking in it in their white robes, to hear their songs of praise, and to know whence came that atmosphere that they carried about withthem, and that he had felt when it was a riddle to him. 

And so the early parts of the service passed by him, not so muchattended to or understood as filling him with a kind of dreamyrapturous trance, as the echoes of the new home, to which he, withall his heavy sense of past stain and present evil propensity, wasgaining admission and adoption. For the first time he was reallysensible of the _happiness_ of his choice, and felt the compensationfor what he gave up. 

When the Second Lesson was ended, and the clergy and the choir, intheir surplices, moved down to encircle the Font, it was as if theycame to gather him in among them. Felix came and helped him up. Hecould stand now with one support, and this was his young godfather'sright arm, to which he held tightly, but without any nervousconvulsiveness--he was too happy for that now--during the prayersthat entreated for his being safely gathered into the Ark, and theGospel of admission into the Kingdom. He had an impulse to loose hisclasp and stand alone at the beginning of the vows, but he could not;he had not withdrawn his hand before he was forced again to lean hisweight upon the steady arm beside him. 

Nothing had been able to persuade Lady Price that she was not to makeall the vows as for an infant, but luckily nobody heard her excepther husband and the other sponsors, for it was a full, clear, steadfast voice that made reply, 'I renounce them all!' and as thedark deep eyes gazed far away into the west window, and Felix feltthe shudder through the whole frame, he knew the force of thatrenunciation; and how it gave up that one excitement that the ladreally cared for. And when that final and carefully-guarded vow ofobedience was uttered, the pressure on his arm seemed to show thatthe moral was felt of that moment's endeavour to stand alone. 

The sound of prayer, save in his own chamber, was so entirely new, that no doubt the force of the petitions was infinitely enhanced, andthe entreaty for the death of the old Adam had a definite applicationto those old habits and tastes that at times exerted their force. Theright hand was ready and untrembling when the Rector took it; thestream of water glittered as it fell on the awe-struck brow and jettyhair, and the eyes shone out with a deep resolute lustre as'Ferdinand Audley' was baptized into the Holy Name, and sworn afaithful soldier and servant. 

He had begged to be baptized by the English version of his name; theSpanish one had grown up by a sort of accident, and had always beenregretted by his father. He had wished much to take the name ofFelix, but they were so certain that this would not be approved, thatthey had persuaded him out of it. He was soon set down again byGeraldine's side, and she put out her hand and squeezed his hard, looking up into his face with tearful eyes of welcome. 

When the last sounds of the voluntary had died away, and thecongregation had gone, she ventured again to look up at him and say, 'I am so glad!'

'Why did you never tell me it was like this?' he said. 'I shouldnever have hung back one moment. Now nothing can touch me, since Ibelong to _this_. '

'Nothing can _really_, ' said Geraldine softly. 'Above all, when it issealed to us to-morrow. '

Then there came a movement from the vestry, and the Rector and Mr. Audley were seen following the Bishop, who came down to where the twolame children still sat together, and putting his hand uponFerdinand's head with the hair still wet, gave him his blessingbefore he spoke further. It was only a word or two of congratulation, but such as to go very deep; and then, seeing that the boy looked notexcited, but worn and wearied, he added, 'You are going home to rest. I shall see you to-morrow after the Confirmation;' and then he shookhands with him and with Geraldine, asking if she were the little girlof whom he had been told. 

'She is very young, ' said Mr. Bevan, strongly impressed with thelittleness of the figure;' but she has been a Communicant for morethan a year, and she is--a very good child. '

'I can believe so, ' said the Bishop, smiling to her. 'I have heard ofyour father, my dear, and of your brother. '

Cherry coloured rosy red, but was much too shy to speak; and theRector and Bishop went away, leaving only Mr. Audley. 

'Are you very much tired, Fernan?'

'I don't know, ' he half smiled. 

'I think he is; he is too happy to know it, ' said Geraldine. 

'Please let him go home first. '

So Mr. Audley helped him out to the chair, where Felix, Alda, andLance were waiting; and he said, 'Thank you, ' and held out his hand, while Lance eagerly shook it, saying, 'Now it is right at last; andhere's Alda--isn't she a stunner?'

'I thought it was Wilmet, ' said Fernan; and Alda went into church tokeep Cherry company, thinking how curiously blind the male sex werenot to distinguish between her dress and poor dear Wilmet's. 

Mr. Audley was more than satisfied, he was surprised and comforted. He had prepared to meet either disappointment or excitement in hischarge; he found neither--only a perfect placid content, as of onewho had found his home and was at rest. The boy was too much tired, after his many bad nights and the day's exertion, to say or thinkmuch; all he did say was, 'I shall mind nothing now that I know whatit is to be one of you. '

Mr. Audley tried to remember that there must be a reaction, but hecould not bring himself to fear or to warn, or do anything but enjoythe happiest day of his three years' ministry. 

He had to go to the Rectory dinner-party, and leave his neophyte tothe tendance of the Underwoods. Felix sat with his friend in a greatcalm silence, while the rest were taken up by the counter-attractionupstairs, where Alda was unpacking an unrivalled store of presentsfrom herself and Marilda, useful and ornamental, such as seemed aperfect embarras de richesses to the homely, scantily-endowedchildren. That little gold watch was the prize and wonder of all. Itwas the first in the family, except that Felix wore his father's, andAlda knew how an elder girl was scorned at school if she had none;but Wilmet, though very happy with hers, smiled, and would not agreeto having met with disrespect for want of it. Then there weredrawing-books for Cherry, and a knife of endless blades for Lance, and toys for the little ones; and dresses--a suit for Wilmet likeAlda's plainest Sunday one, and Alda's last year's silk forGeraldine, and some charming little cashmere pelisses--Aunt Mary'sspecial present to the two babies--things that would lengthenWilmet's purse for many a day to come; and a writing-case for Felix;and all the absent remembered, too. Uncle Thomas had given Alda afive-pound note to buy presents, and Marilda had sent every onesomething besides, mostly of such a matter-of-fact useful type thatAlda stood and laughed at them. And Mrs. Underwood was pleased withthe exhibition, and smiled and admired, only her attention was tiredout at last, and she was taken early to her own room. 

The elder ones went down to sit round the fire in Mr. Audley's room, where Ferdinand insisted on leaving his sofa to Geraldine, andbetaking himself to the easy-chair, where he leant back, content andhappy to watch the others through his eye-lashes. Alda was a littleon her company manners at the first, but all the others were atperfect ease, as they sat in the dim light. Felix on the floor byCherry, who delighted in a chance of playing fondling tricks with hishair and fingers; the twins in Mr. Audley's big chair, where theycould lean against each other; and Lance cross-legged on the hearth-rug roasting chestnuts, of which a fellow chorister had given him apocketful, and feeding every one in turn. 

Geraldine gave a sigh to the wish that poor dear Edgar were there. 

'He is very happy!' said Alda. 

'Oh yes, but I wish he had not missed being here to-morrow. I wonderwhen he will come home. '

'I cannot guess; Aunt Mary wants to go down the Rhine next summer(only she is not quite sure it is not the Rhone), and if so, Isuppose he would join us there. '

'It is a whole year since we have set eyes on him, ' said Felix. 

'But I believe he writes more to Cherry than anybody, does not he?'

'Oh yes, and sends me lovely photographs to copy. Such a beauty ofhimself! Have you seen it?'

'I should think I had! They have set it up in a little gold frame onthe drawing-room table, and everybody stands and says how handsome itis; and Aunt Mary explains all about him till I am tired of hearingit. '

'And Clem?'

'Oh, Clem came to luncheon yesterday. He is very much grown, andlooks uncommonly demure, and as much disposed to set everybody torights as ever. '

But Alda did not enter much more into particulars; she led away theconversation to the sights she had seen in their summer tour; and asshe had a good deal of descriptive power, she made her narratives sointeresting that time slipped quickly past, and the young company wasas much surprised as Mr. Audley was when he came home and found themall there, not yet gone to bed. They were greatly ashamed, and afraidthey had done Ferdinand harm, and all were secretly very anxiousabout the night; but, though the wakeful habit and night feverishnesswere not at once to be broken through, yet the last impression wasthe strongest, and the long-drawn aisle, the 'dim religious light, 'and the white procession, were now the recurring images, all joyful, all restful, truly as if the bird had escaped out of the snare of thefowler. Real sleep came sooner than usual, and Fernan rose quiteequal to the fatigue of the coming day, the Confirmation day, whenagain Geraldine had to sit beside him--this newly admitted to theuniversal brotherhood, instead of being beside that dear Edgar of herown, for whom her whole heart craved, as she thought how theirpreparation had begun together beside her father's chair. 

Their place was now as near the choir as possible, and they werebrought in as before, very early, so that Fernan gazed with the sameeager, unsated eyes into the chancel and at the altar, admitted as hewas farther into his true home. 

The church was filled with candidates from the villages round as wellas from the town, and the Litany preceded the rite which was to sealthe young champions ere the strife. The Bishop came down to the twolame children, and laid his hands on the two bent heads, ere he gavehis final brief address, exhorting the young people to guardpreciously, and preserve by many a faithful Eucharist, that markwhich had sealed them to the Day of Redemption, through all thisworld's long hot trial and conflict. 

There was holiday at both schools, and Felix had been spared to takehis place in the choir, but Mr. Froggatt could not do without himafterwards, as the presence of so many of the country clergy in thetown was sure to fill the reading-room and shop; and he was obligedto hurry off as soon as he came out of church. Now, the Bishop hadthe evening before asked Lady Price 'whether that son of poor Mr. Underwood's' were present among the numerous smart folk who throngedher drawing-room, to which my lady had replied, 'No; he was a nice, gentlemanly youth certainly, but, considering all things, and howsadly he had lowered himself, she thought it better not. In fact, some might not be so well pleased to meet him. '

The Bishop took the opportunity of trying to learn from the nextperson he fell in with, namely, Mr. Ryder, how Felix had loweredhimself; and received an answer that showed a good deal of theschoolmaster's disappointment, but certainly did not show any senseof Felix's degradation. And what he said was afterwards amplified byMr. Audley, whom the Bishop took apart, and questioned him with muchinterest upon both Ferdinand Travis and the Underwood family, of whomhe had only heard, when, immediately after his appointment, his votefor the orphan school had been solicited for the two boys, and he hadbeen asked to subscribe to the Comment on the Philippians. Mr Audleyfelt that he had a sympathising listener, and was not slow to tellthe whole story of the family--what the father had been, what Felixnow was, and how his influence and that of little Lancelot had toldupon their young inmate. The Bishop listened with emotion, and said, 'I must see that boy! Is the mother in a state in which she wouldlike a call from me?' but there an interruption had come; and whenthe country clergy came in the morning, Mr. Audley had thought itfittest not to swell the numbers unnecessarily, and had kept himselfout of the way, and tried to keep his fellow-curate. 

So he had seen no more of the Bishop, until, some little time afterhe and Fernan had lunched, and were, it must be confessed, making upfor their unrestful nights by having both dropped asleep, one on hischair, the other on the sofa, there came a ring to the door, andLance, who had a strong turn for opening it, found himself face toface with the same tall gray-haired gentleman at whom he had gazed inthe rochet and lawn-sleeves. He stood gazing up open-mouthed. 

'I think I have seen you in the choir, and heard you too, ' said theBishop, kindly taking Lance's paw, which might have been cleaner, hadhe known what awaited it. 'Mr. Audley lives here, I think. '

Lance was for once without a word to say for himself, though hismouth remained open. All he did was unceremoniously to throw wide Mr. Audley's door, and bolt upstairs, leaving his Lordship to usherhimself in, while Mr. Audley started up, and Ferdinand would havedone the same, had he been able, before he was forbidden. 

There was a kindly talk upon his health and plans, how he was toremain at Bexley till after Easter and his first Communion, and thenMr. Audley would take him up to London to be inspected by a first-rate surgeon before going down to the tutor's. The tutor proved to bean old school-fellow and great friend of the Bishop; and what Fernanheard of him from both the friend and pupil would have muchdiminished his dread, even if he had not been in full force of thefeeling that whatever served to bind him more closely to the newworld of blessing within the Church must be good and comfortable. 

This visit over the Bishop asked whether Mrs. Underwood would like tobe visited, and Mr. Audley went up to ascertain. She was a woman whonever was happy or at rest in an untidy room, or in disorderedgarments, and all was in as fair order as it could be with the oldfurniture, that all Wilmet's mending could not preserve from theverge of rags. Her widow's cap and soft shawl were as neat aspossible, and so were the little ones in their brown-holland, Theodore sitting at her feet, and Stella on Wilmet's lap, where shewas being kept out of the way of the more advanced amusement of afeast of wooden tea-things, carried on in a corner between Angela andBernard, under Lance's somewhat embarrassing patronage. 

Alda sprang up, stared about in consternation at the utter unlikenessto the drawing-room in Kensington Palace Gardens, and exclaimed, 'Oh!if Sibby had only come to take the children out! Take them away, Lance. '

'Sibby will come presently, or I will take them to her, ' whisperedWilmet. 'I should like them just to have his blessing. '

'So many, ' sighed Alda, but meantime Mr. Audley had seen that allwas right at the first coup d'oeil, had bent over Mrs. Underwood, told her that the Bishop wished to call upon her, and asked her leaveto bring him up; and she smiled, looked pleased, and said, 'He isvery kind. That is for your Papa, my dears. You must talk to him, youknow. '

The Bishop came up almost immediately, and the perfect tranquillityand absence of flutter fully showed poor Mrs. Underwood's old high-bred instinct. She was really gratified when he sat down by her, after greeting the three girls, and held out his hands to makefriends with the lesser ones, whom their sisters led up, Angelasubmissive and pretty behaved, Bernard trying to hide his face, andStella in Wilmet's arms staring to the widest extent of eyes. Thesisters had their wish--the fatherless babes received the pastoralblessing; and the Bishop said a few kind words of real sympathy thatmade Mrs. Underwood look up at him affectionately and say, 'Indeed Ihave much to be thankful for. My children are very good to me. '

'I am sure they are, ' said the Bishop. 'I cannot tell you how much Irespect your eldest son. '

The colour rose in the pale face. 'He is a very dear boy, ' she said. 

'I should like to see him before I go. Is he at home?'

'Lance shall run and call him, ' said Alda; but the Bishop had askedwhere he was, and Wilmet had, not unblushingly, for she was red withpleasure, but shamelessly, answered that he was at Mr. Froggatt's, offering to send Lance in search of him. 

'I had rather he would show me the way, ' said the Bishop. 'Will you, my boy?'

The way to Mr. Froggatt's was not very long, but it was long enoughto overcome Lance's never very large amount of bashfulness; and hehad made reply that he went to the Grammar School, and was in thesecond form, that he liked singing in the choir better than--no, notthan _anything_--anything except--except what? Oh a jolly good snow-balling, or a game at hockey. Did he like the school? Pretty well, onthe whole; but he did not suppose he should stay there long, hisbrother at the Clergy Orphan said there was such a lot of cads, andthat he was always grubbing his nose among them; but now, 'do youreally think now that cads are always such bad fellows?'

His Lordship was too much diverted to be easily able to speak, but heobserved that it depended on what was meant by a cad. 

'That's just it!' exclaimed Lance. 'I'm sure some that he calls cadsare as good fellows as any going. '

'And what does your eldest brother say?'

'Felix! Oh! he does not mind, as long as one does not get into a realscrape. '

'And then?'

'Oh, then he minds so much that one can't do it, you know. '

'What, does he punish you ?'

'N--no--he never licks any of us now--but he is so horridly sorry--and it bothers him so, ' said Lance. 'Here's old Froggatt's, ' heconcluded, stopping at the glass door. 'My eyes! what a sight ofparsons!' (Lance had pretty well forgotten whom he was talking to. )'There, that's Felix--no, no, not that one serving Mr. Burrowes, that's Redstone; Felix is out there, getting out the sermon paper forthat fat one, and that's old Froggy himself, bowing away. Shall I goand call Felix? I suppose he will not mind this time. '

'No, thank you, I will go in myself. Good-bye, my little guide, andthank you. '

And Lance, when his hand came out of the Bishop's, found something init, which proved to be a tiny Prayer-book, and moreover a half-sovereign. He would have looked up and thanked, but the Bishop andthat 'fat one' were absorbed in conversation on the step; and when heturned over the leaves of the little blue morocco book, with itsinlaid red cross, he found full in his face, in the first page, thewords, 'Lancelot Underwood, March 15th, 1855, ' and then followed aninitial, and a name that utterly defeated Lance's powers, so thatperceiving the shop to be far too densely full of parsons for him tohave a chance there, he galloped off at full speed to Cherry, whohappily could interpret the contracted Latin by the name of the See, and was not _quite_ so much astonished as Lance, though even moregratified. 

Meantime, the Bishop had made his way to the bowing Mr. Froggatt andasked to speak with him in his private room, where he mentioned hiskindness to young Underwood, and was answered by a gratifieddisclaimer of having done anything that was not of great advantage tohimself. The good man seemed divided between desire to do justice toFelix and not to stand in his light, and alarm lest he should have tolose an assistant whom he had always known to be above his mark, andwho was growing more valuable every month; and he was greatlyrelieved and delighted when the Bishop only rejoiced at his characterof Felix, and complimented the Pursuivant by being glad that apaper of such good principles should be likely to have such a youthon its staff; it had been well for the lad to meet with so good afriend. Mr. Froggatt could not be denied an eulogium on the father, for whose sake he had first noticed the son; and when the Bishop hadexpressed his sorrow at never having known so bright a light as alldescribed the late Curate to have been, he courteously regretted theinterruption on a busy day, but he begged just to see the young man. He had little time himself, but if he could be spared to walk up tothe station--'

Mr. Froggatt bustled out with great alacrity, and taking the chargeof the customer on himself, announced, for the benefit of all whomight be within earshot, 'Mr. Underwood, his Lordship wishes to speakwith you. He wishes you to walk up to the station with him. You hadbetter go out by the private door. '

Felix was red up to the ears. His eight years' seniority to Lancewere eight times eight more shyness and embarrassment, but he couldonly obey; and at his first greeting his hand was taken--'hoped tohave seen you sooner, ' the Bishop said; 'but you had always escapedme in the vestry. '

'I had to go to help my sister, my Lord, ' said Felix. 

'And your friend, said the Bishop. 'That is a good work that has beendone in your house. '

Felix coloured more, not knowing what to say. 

'I wish to see you, ' continued the Bishop, 'partly to tell you howmuch I honour you for the step you have taken. I wish there were morewho would understand the true uprightness and dutifulness of thinkingno shame of an honest employment. I am afraid you do sometimes meetwith what may be trying, ' he added, no doubt remembering Lady Price'stone. 

'I do not care now, not much. I did at first, ' said Felix. 

'No one whose approval is worth having can consider yours really aloss of position. You are in a profession every one respects, and youseem to have great means of influence likely to be open to you. '

'So my father said, when he consented, ' said Felix. 

'I shall always regret having just missed knowing your father. Somepassages in that book of his struck me greatly. But what I wished tosay was to ask whether there is any way in which I can be useful toyou in the education of any of the younger ones, or--'

'Thank you, my Lord, ' said Felix. 'I think you kindly voted for mybrothers last year for the Clergy Orphan school. Only one got in, andif you would vote again for little Lancelot--'

'My droll little companion, who Mr. Audley tells me did so much forthat poor young American. '

'Indeed he did, ' said Felix. 'I doubt if any of us would have got athim but for Lance, who did not mean anything but good-nature all thetime. '

'He is just the boy I want for our Cathedral school. ' And then hewent on to explain that a great reformation was going on. There was afoundation-school attached to the Cathedral, with exhibitions at theUniversity, to which the Cathedral choristers had the first claim. There had been, of course, a period of decay, but an excellentPrecentor had been just appointed, who would act as head master; andthe singing-boys would be kept on free of expense after their voicesbecame unavailable, provided that by such time they had passed acertain examination. Such a voice as Lance's was sure to recommendhim; and besides, the Bishop said with a smile, he wanted to raisethe character of the school, and he thought there was the stuff herethat would do so. 

Felix could only be thankful and rejoiced; but it was a pang to thinkof Lance being as entirely separated from home as was Clement; withno regular holidays, and always most needed at his post at the greatfestivals. There was something in his tone that made the Bishop say, 'You do not like to part with him?'

'No, my Lord; but I am glad it should be so. My father was not happyabout--things here, and charged me to get my brothers away when Icould. '

'And as to holidays, you are near at hand, and most of the choir areof our own town. I think he may generally be spared for a good termat each holiday time. The organist is very considerate in givingleave of absence, even if he should turn out to have a dangerouslygood voice for solos. I will let you know when to send him up forexamination, which he will pass easily. Good-bye. You must write tome if there is anything for me to do for you. One month more, andyour father would have been one of my clergy, remember. '

Felix went back, flushed with gratification, and yet, to a certaindegree, with confusion, and not exactly liking the prospect of beinginterrogated as to what the Bishop had said to him: indeed, he nevertold the whole of it to any one but Cherry. Somehow, though Wilmetwas his counsellor and mainstay, Geraldine was the sharer of allthose confidences that came spontaneously out of the full butreserved heart. 

Besides, Wilmet was at present in such a trance of enjoyment of hertwin sister, that she seemed scarcely able to enter into anythingelse. She went through her duties as usual, but with an effort toshake off her absorption in the thought of having Alda at home; andevery moment she was not in sight of her darling seemed a crueldiminution of her one poor fortnight. Indeed it was tete-a-tetesthat her exclusive tenderness craved above all; and she was oftendisappointed that Alda should be willing to go and visit FernanTravis when they might have had a quarter of an hour together alone. How much more selfish she must have grown than Alda in this last halfyear!

Alda's talk was indeed full of interest, and gave a much betternotion of her way of life than her letters did. She seemed to havebeen fully adopted as a daughter of the house, and to enjoy all thesame privileges as Marilda; indeed, she had a good deal more creditwith all varieties of teachers, since she learnt rapidly and eagerly;and Marilda, while encouraging her successes, without a shade ofjealousy, made no attempt to conquer her own clumsiness andtardiness. Even 'Aunt Mary, ' as Alda called Mrs. Thomas Underwood, often had recourse to Alda for sympathy in her endeavours to betasteful, and continually held her up as an example to Marilda. 

'And poor dear good woman, ' said Alda, 'she has such a respect forUnderwood breeding and our education, that I believe I could persuadeher into anything by telling her it was what she calls "comifo. "Even when she was going to get the boudoir done with apple-greenpicked out with mauve, enough to set one's teeth on edge, and Marildawould do nothing but laugh, she let me persuade her into a lovelypale sea-green. '

'Is not sea-green too delicate for her?' asked Cherry. 

'Why, it was very wicked of Edgar, to be sure, but he said that itwas to suit the nymph reining in the porpoises. He made a sketch, andMarilda was delighted with it; she really is the most good-naturedcreature in the world. '

'She must be!' ejaculated Wilmet; 'but surely she ought not to likelaughing at her mother. '

'Oh, everybody laughs at Aunt Mary, and she hardly ever finds it out, and when she does, she does not mind! Even old Mrs. Kedge, hermother, does nothing but laugh at her for trying to be fine. OldGranny is not a bit by way of being a lady, you know; she lives in alittle house in the city with one maid, and I believe she rubs herown tables. I am sure she goes about in omnibuses, though she haslots of money; and Marilda is so fond of her, and so like her, onlynot so clever and shrewd. '

'But why does she live in such a small way?'

'Because she never was used to anything else, and does not like it. She hates grand servants, and never will come to Kensington PalaceGardens; but she really is good-natured. She told Clement to drop inon her whenever he likes, and bring any of his friends; and shealways gives them a superb piece of plum-cake, and once she took themto the Tower, and once to the Zoological Gardens, for she thinks thatshe cannot do enough to make up to them for being bred up to belittle monks, with cords and sandals, and everything popish. '

'You don't let her think so?'

'Well, really when she has got a thing into her head nothing willuproot it; and, after all, they do carry things very far there, andClement goes on so that I don't wonder. '

'Goes on how?'

'Why, just fancy, the other day when Uncle Thomas fetched him in hisbrougham because I was coming home, there he sat at luncheon andwould not eat a scrap of meat. '

'Ah! it was a Wednesday in Lent, ' said Cherry. 

'Only a Wednesday, you know; and _there_, with four or five strangepeople, too. One of them asked if he was a Catholic, and of courseClement looked very wise, and greatly pleased, and said, "Yes, hewas;" and that brought down Aunt Mary with her heavy artillery. "Bless me, Clement, you don't say so. Is Mr. Fulmort really goneover?" "Yes, " said Clem. (I know he did it on purpose. ) "He is goneover to preach at St. Peter's. " And then one of the gentlemen askedif Clem meant Mr. Fulmort of St. Matthew's, Whittingtonia, and whenhe said "Yes, he lived in the clergy house, " he began regularly toplay him off, asking the most absurd questions about fasts and feastsand vigils and decorations, and Clem answered them all in his primlittle self-sufficient way, just as if he thought he was on the high-road to be St. Clement the Martyr, till I was ready to run away. '

'Couldn't you have given him a hint?' asked Wilmet. 

'My dear, have you lived twelve years with Clem without knowing thathints are lost on him?'

'Dear Clem, he is a very good steady-hearted little fellow, ' saidCherry. 'It was very nice of him. '

'Well, I only hope he'll never come to luncheon again in Lent. Thereare times and seasons for everything, and certainly not for display!And to make it worse, Marilda is the most literal-minded girl. Fasting was quite a new mind to her, for she never realises what shedoes not see; and she got Clem into a corner, where I heard him goingon, nothing loth, about days of abstinence, out of Mr. Fulmort's lastcatechising, I should think; and ended by asking what Cousin Edwarddid, so that I fully expected that I should find her eating nothing, and that I should be called to account. '

'And what did you tell her then?'

'Oh, you know I could say quite truly that he did not. '

'I don't think that was quite fair, ' said Wilmet gravely. 'You knowit was only because he really could not. '

'You don't know how glad I was to have an answer that would hinderthe horrid commotion we should have had if Marilda had taken tofasting. And, after all, you know, Papa would have said minding hermother was her first duty. '

'Why did not you tell her that?'

'I have, dozens of times; but you know there are mothers and mothers, and nobody can always mind Aunt Mary, good soul! Marilda has justmade herself, with her own good rough plain sense. I wish she was aman; she would be a capital merchant like her father; but it is hardto be a great heiress, with nothing she really likes to do. She isalways longing to come down to Centry, and tramp about the lanesamong the cottages. '

'Oh! I wish they would!'

'I don't think Aunt Mary will ever let them, she hates the country;and though she likes to have a place for the name of the thing, shedoes not want to live there, especially where there are so many ofus; and then, Felix's situation!'

'For shame, Alda!'

'Well, I did not say anything myself. It is only Aunt Mary--it isvery foolish of people, but, you see, they _will_. As to Marilda, Ibelieve she would like to stand behind the counter with him thisminute. '

'Marilda is the oddest and best girl I ever heard of!'

'You may say that. And so ignorant she was! She had a great velvet-and-gold Church Service, and hardly guessed there was any Bible orPrayer-Book besides. I am sure Felix cannot have had more work toteach that youth than I have had with Marilda. Such a jumble as shehad picked up! She really had only little baby prayers to say, tillshe saw my book. '

'What a blessing you must be to her!' said Wilmet, fondly looking ather sister. 

'Well, I do hope so. You must know she was regularly struck with dearPapa. I am sure he is the first saint in her calendar, and everythingis--"What did Cousin Edward say?" And when once she has made up hermind that a thing is right, she will blunder on through fire andwater, but she will do it. '

'Then, ' said Cherry, 'she ought to try and learn, and not to beawkward because of obedience. '

Alda burst out laughing. 'People can only do what they can. Marildatrying to be graceful would be worse than Marilda floundering her ownway. But she really is the best and kindest girl living, and she getson much better for having me to keep her out of scrapes. '

Wilmet went to bed that night thankful to have Alda's head on thepillow beside her, and most thankful for the tokens that she watchedamong her brothers and sisters, which showed how much her father'sinfluence was extending beyond his short life. 

CHAPTER IX

THE THIRTEEN

'They closed around the fire, And all in turn essayed to paint The rival merits of their saint; A theme that ne'er can tire A holy maid, for be it known That their saint's honour is their own. ' SCOTT. 

The thirteen Underwoods did not meet again in the same house for manya long day, and when they did, it was on a grey misty morning in theChristmas week of the year following; and the blinds were down, andthe notes of the knell clashing out overhead, as the door was openedto Edgar, Alda, and Clement, as they arrived together, having beensummoned late on the previous night by a telegram with tidings thattheir mother had been struck by a paralysis. They knew what to expectwhen Felix, with one of the little ones on his arm, came quietly downthe stairs and admitted them. All they had to ask, was 'when, ' and'how, ' and to hear, that the long living death had ended in peacefulinsensibility at last. Then they followed him upstairs to the roomwhere the others sat, hushed, over their pen or their books, whereWilmet, her eyes gushing with quiet tears, held Alda in her embrace, and Geraldine, after her first eager kiss, gazed wistfully at Edgaras though there must be comfort in the very sight of him, if shecould only feel it; while the very little ones opened their puzzledeyes on the newcomers as strangers. 

And so they were: Clement had indeed been at home in September, butAlda not for a year and three-quarters, nor Edgar since he first leftit three years before. The absence of the two latter was not by theirown choice, a doctor who had ordered Mrs. Thomas Underwood to spendthe summer months, year after year, at Spa was partly the cause, andmoreover, during the autumn and winter of 1856 Bexley had been aperfect field of epidemics. Measles and hooping-cough had run riot inthe schools, and lingered in the streets and alleys of the potteries, fastening on many who thought themselves secured by former attacks, and there had been a good many deaths, in especial Clement's chieffriend, Harry Lamb. Nobody, excepting the invalid mother, throughoutthe Underwood household, had escaped one or other disorder, and bothfell to the lot of the four little ones, and likewise of Mr. Audley, who was infinitely disgusted at himself, and at the guarded childhoodfor which he thus paid the penalty pretty severely. When matters wereat the worst, and Felix was laid up, and Wilmet found herselfsuccumbing, she had written in desperation to Sister Constance, whosepresence in the house had made the next three weeks a time of verypleasant recollections. Finally she had carried off Geraldine, Angela, and Bernard, to the convalescent rooms at St. Faith's, wheretheir happiness had been such that the favourite sport of the littleones had ever since been the acting of Sisters of Mercy nursing sickdolls. The quarantine had been indefinitely prolonged for theproteges of Kensington Palace Gardens; for the three at school, though kept away till all infection was thought to be over, hadperversely caught the maladies as soon as they came home for thesummer holidays; and indeed the whole town and neighbouring villageswere so full of contagion, that Mrs. Thomas Underwood had not far toseek for a plea for avoiding Centry. 

All this time, from day to day, the poor mother had been growing morefeeble, and it had been fully purposed that on Edgar's return atChristmas, on the completion of his studies at Louvaine, he and Aldashould make some stay at home; but the brother and sister were bothso useful and ornamental that their adopted home could not spare themuntil after a series of Christmas entertainments; and Clement hadbeen in like manner detained until the festival services at St. Matthew's no longer required him. Indeed, when he had been at home inthe autumn, he had been scarcely recognised. 

For the last week, however, Mrs. Underwood had been much clearer inmind, had enjoyed the presence of her holiday children, and had for ashort time even given hopes that her constitution might yet rally, and her dormant faculties revive. She had even talked to Mr. Audleyand Geraldine at different times as though she had some suchpresentiment herself, and had made some exertions which proved muchincreased activity of brain. Alas! though their coming had thus beenrendered very happy, the brightening had been but the symptom andprecursor of a sudden attack of paralysis, whence there was nosymptom of recovery, and which in a few hours ended in death. 

For the present, the hopes that had been entertained gave poignancyto the sudden disappointment and grief, and the home children couldnot acquiesce in the dispensation with the same quiet reasonablenessas those who had been so long separated from them as not to miss thegentle countenance, or the 'sweet toils, sweet cares, for ever gone. 'Indeed Wilmet was physically much exhausted by her long hours ofanxiety, and went about pale-cheeked and tear-stained, quietlyattending to all that was needful, but with the tears continuallydropping, while Geraldine was fit for nothing but to lie still, unable to think, but feeling soothed as long as she could lay herhand upon Edgar and feel that he was near. 

So the whole thirteen were together again; and in the hush of theorphaned house there was a certain wonder and curiosity in theirmutual examination and comparison with one another and with thebeings with whom they had parted three years ago, at the period oftheir first separation. All were at a time of life when such aninterval could not fail to make a vast alteration in externals. EvenGeraldine had gained in strength, and though still white, and withfeatures too large for her face, startlingly searching grey eyes, andbrows that looked strangely thick, dark, and straight, in contrastwith the pencilled arches belonging to all the rest, she was lessweird and elfin-like than when she had been three inches shorter, anddressed more childishly. As Edgar said, she was less Riquet with atuft than the good fairy godmother, and her twin sisters might havebeen her princess-wards, so far did they tower above her--straight asfir-trees, oval faced, regular featured, fair skinned, blue eyed, andbright haired. During those long dreary hours, Edgar often beguiledthe time with sketches of them, and the outlines--whether ofchiselled profiles, shapely heads, or Cupid's-bow lips--were stillalmost exactly similar; yet it had become impossible to mistake onetwin for the other, even when Alda had dressed the tresses onWilmet's passive head in perfect conformity with her own. Looking attheir figures, Alda's air of fashion made her appear the eldest, andWilmet might have been a girl in the schoolroom; but comparing theirfaces, Wilmet's placid recollected countenance, and the sobernessthat sat so well on her white smooth forehead and steady blue eyes, might have befitted many more years than eighteen. There were notnearly so many lights and shades in her looks as in those of Alda andGeraldine. The one had both more smiles and more frowns, the othermore gleams of joy and of pain; each was more animated and sensitive, but neither gave the same sense of confidence and repose. 

As usually happens when the parents are of the same family, theinventory of the features of one of the progeny served for almost allthe rest. The differences were only in degree, and the primespecimens were without doubt the two elder twins and Edgar, with likepromise of little Bernard and Stella. 

Edgar had grown very tall, and had inherited his father's advantagesof grace and elegance of figure, to which was added a certaindistinguished ease of carriage, and ready graciousness, too simple tobe called either conceit or presumption, but which looked as if hewere used to be admired and to confer favours. Athletics had been thefashion with him and his English companions, and his complexion wasembrowned by sun and wind, his form upright and vigorous: and byforce of contrast it was now perceived that Felix seemed to havealmost ceased growing for the last three years, and that his indooroccupations had given his broad square shoulders a kind of slouch, and kept his colouring as pink and white as that of his sisters. LikeWilmet, he had something staid and responsible about him, that, evenmore than his fringe of light brown whiskers, gave the appearance offull-grown manhood; so that the first impression of all the newcomerswas how completely he had left the boy behind him, making it aneffort of memory to believe him only nineteen and a half. But theyall knew him for their head, and leant themselves against him. And inthe meantime, Edgar's appearance was a perfect feast of enjoyment, not only to little loving Geraldine, but to sage Felix. Theyrecreated themselves with gazing at him, and when left alone togetherwould discuss his charms in low confidential murmurs, quite awarethat Wilmet would think them very silly; but Edgar was the greatromance of both. 

Edgar observed that Clement had done all the growth for both himselfand Felix, and was doing his best to be a light of the Church byresembling nothing but an altar-taper. When they all repaired to theback of the cupboard door in Mr. Audley's room to be measured, hishead was found far above Edgar's mark at fourteen, and therewith hewas lank and thin, not yet accustomed to the length of his own legsand arms, and seeming as if he was not meant to be seen undraped byhis surplice. His features and face were of the family type, but alittle smaller, and with much less of the bright rosy tinting;indeed, when not excited he was decidedly pale, and his eyes and hairwere a little lighter than those of the rest. It was a refined, delicate, thoughtful face, pretty rather than handsome, and its onlyfault was a certain melancholy superciliousness or benignant pity forevery one who did not belong to the flock of St. Matthew's. 

Regular features are always what most easily lose individuality, andbecome those of the owner's class; and if Clement was all chorister, Fulbert and Lancelot were all schoolboy. The two little fellows werea long way apart in height, though there were only two years betweenthem, for Lance was on a much smaller scale, but equally full ofruddy health and superabundant vigour; and while Fulbert was the morerough and independent, his countenance had not the fun and sweetnessthat rendered Lance's so winning. Their looks were repeated inRobina, who was much too square and sturdy for any attempt at beauty, and was comically like a boy and like her brothers, but with muchfrank honesty and determination in her big grey darkly-lashed eyes. Angela was one of the most altered of all; for her plump cherubcheeks had melted away under the glow of measles, and the hoopingprocess had lengthened and narrowed her small person into a demurelittle thread-paper of six years old, omnivorous of books, a pet andpickle at school, and a romp at home--the sworn ally, offensive anddefensive, of stout, rough-pated, unruly Bernard. Stella was theloveliest little bit of painted porcelain imaginable, quite capableof being his companion, and a perfect little fairy, for beauty, gracefulness, and quickness of all kinds. Alda was delighted with herpretty caressing ways and admiration of the wonderful new sister. Shewas of quieter, more docile mood than these two, though aspiring totheir companionship; for it was startling to see how far she had leftTheodore behind. He was still in arms, and speechless, a little paleinanimate creature, taking very little notice, and making no soundexcept a sort of low musical cooing of pleasure, and a sad whiningmoan of unhappiness, which always recurred when he was not in thearms of Sibby, Wilmet, or Felix. It was only when Felix held out hisarms to take him that the sound of pleasure was heard; and once onthat firm knee, with his shining head against that kind heart, he wassatisfied, and Felix had accustomed himself to all sorts ofoccupations with his little brother in his left arm. Even at night, there was no rest for Theodore, unless Felix took him into his room. So often did the little fretting moan summon him, that soon the cribtook up his regular abode beside his bed. But Felix, though of coursespared from the shop, could not be dispensed with from the printing-house, where he was sub-editor; and in his absence Theodore wasalways less contented; and his tearless moan went to his sister'sheart, for the poor little fellow had been wont to lie day and nightin his mother's bosom, and she had been as uneasy without him as henow was without her. All her other babes had grown past her helplessinstinctive tenderness, and Theodore's continued passiveness had beenhitherto an advantage, which had always been called his 'goodness andaffection. '

Alda was the first to comment on the wonderful interval between thetwins, when Wilmet accounted for it by Theodore's having been quitekept back for his mother's sake, and likewise by his having been morereduced by measles and hooping-cough than Stella had been; but tofresh observers it was impossible to think that all was thusexplained, and Edgar and Alda discussed it in a low voice when theyfound themselves alone. 

'The fact is plain, ' said Edgar; 'but I suppose nothing can be done, and I see no use in forcing it on poor Wilmet. '

'I don't understand such blindness. '

'Not real blindness--certainly not on Felix's part. He knows thatload is on his back for life. Heigh-ho! a stout old Atlas we have inBlunderbore; I wonder how long I shall be in plucking the goldenapples, and taking a share. '

'I thought it was Atlas that gathered the apples. '

'Don't spoil a good simile with superfluous exactness, Alda! It isbase enough to compare the gardens of the Hesperides to a merchant'soffice! I wonder how many years it will take to get out of thedrudgery, and have some power of enjoying life and relieving Felix. One could tear one's hair to see him tied down by this large familytill all his best days are gone. '

'Some of the others may get off his hands, and help. '

'Not they! Clem is too highly spiritualised to care for anything somaterial as his own flesh and blood; and it is not their fault iflittle Lance does not follow in his wake. Then if Ful has any brains, he is not come to the use of them; he is only less obnoxious thanTina in that he is a boy and not a church candle, but boys arecertainly a mistake. '

If ever the mature age of seventeen could be excused for so regardingboyhood, it was under such circumstances. All were too old for anyoutbreaks, such as brought Angela and Bernard to disgrace, anddisturbed the hush of those four sad days; but the actual loss hadbeen so long previous, that the pressure of present grief was not socrushing as to prevent want of employment and confinement in thatsmall silent house from being other than most irksome and tedious. 

Clement would have done very well alone; he went to church, read, told Angela stories, and discoursed to Cherry on the ways of St. Matthew's; but, unfortunately, there was something about him thatalways incited the other boys to sparring, nor was he alwaysguiltless of being the aggressor, for there was no keeping him inmind that comparisons are odious. 

Church music might seem a suitable subject, but the London choristercould not abstain from criticising St. Oswald's and contemning theold-fashioned practices of the Cathedral, which of course Lanceconsidered himself bound to defend, till the very names of Gregoriansand Anglicans became terrible to Cherry as the watchwords of awrangling match. Fulbert, meantime, made no secret of his contemptfor both brothers as mere choristers instead of schoolboys, andexalted himself whenever he detected their ignorance of any choicemorceau of slang; while their superior knowledge on any other pointwas viewed as showing the new-fangled girlish nonsense of theireducation. 

This Lance did not mind; but he was very sensitive as to the dignityof his Cathedral, and the perfections of his chosen friend, one BillHarewood; and Fulbert was not slow to use the latter engine for'getting a rise' out of him, while Clement as often, though with lessdesign, offended by disparagement of his choir; nor could Edgarrefuse himself the diversion of tormenting Clement by ironicalquestions and remarks on his standard of perfection, which mode oftorture enchanted Fulbert, whenever he understood it. Thus these fourbrothers contrived to inflict a good amount of teasing on oneanother, all the more wearing and worrying because deprived of itsonly tolerable seasoning, mirth. 

Clement had indeed a refuge in Mr. Audley's room, where he could findbooks, and willing ears for Mr. Fulmort's doings; but he availedhimself of it less than might have been expected. Whether frominclination to his brothers' society, desire to do them good, orinnate pugnacity, he was generally in the thick of the conflict; andbefore long he confided to Felix that he was seriously uneasy aboutEdgar's opinions. 

'He is only chaffing you, ' said Felix. 

'Chaff, _now_!' said Clement. 

'Well, Clem, you know you are enough to provoke a saint, you bore sointolerably about St. Matthew's. '

The much disgusted Clement retired into himself, but Felix was notsatisfied at heart. 

_One_ was lacking on the cold misty New Year's morning, when evenGeraldine could not be withheld from the Communion Feast of theliving and departed. Each felt the disappointment when they foundthemselves only six instead of seven, but it was Clement who, as theboys were waiting for breakfast afterwards, began--

'Have not you been confirmed, Edgar?'

'How should I?'

'I am sure there are plenty of foreign Confirmations. I see them inthe British Catholic. '

'Foreign parts isn't all one, ' said Edgar; and the younger boyssniggled. 

'If one took any trouble, ' persisted Clement. 

'Yes, but _one_, ' dwelling with emphasis on the awkward impersonal, 'one may have scruples about committing an act of schism byencouraging an intruding bishop performing episcopal functions inanother man's diocese. Has not your spiritual father taught you thatmuch, Tina?'

'I--I must find out about that, ' said Clement thoughtfully; 'but, atany rate, the Lent Confirmations are coming on in London, and if Iwere to speak to the Vicar, I have no doubt he would gladly prepareyou. '

'Nor I, ' answered Edgar. 

'Then shall I?' eagerly asked Clement. 

'Not at present, thank you. '

Clement stood blank and open mouthed, and Fulbert laughed, securethat the joke, whatever it might be, was against him. 

'Of course, ' burst out Lance, 'Edgar does not want you to speak forhim, Clem; he has got a tongue of his own, and a clergyman too, Isuppose. '

Clement proceeded to a disquisition, topographical and censorial, upon the parish and district to which Edgar might be relegated, andfinally exclaimed, 'Yes, he is not much amiss. He has some notions. He dines with us sometimes. You can go to him, Edgar, and I'll getthe Vicar to speak to him. '

'Thank you, I had rather be excused. '

'You cannot miss another Confirmation. '

'I can't say I am fond of pledges, especially when no one can tellhow much or how little they mean. 

Whether this were in earnest, or a mere thrust in return forClement's pertinacity, was undecided, for Wilmet came in, looking sosad and depressed that the brothers felt rebuked for the tone inwhich they had been speaking. 

Mr. Thomas Underwood soon arrived, having come to Centry the nightbefore; and after a few words had passed between him and Edgar, thelatter announced his intention of returning with him to London thatevening. 

'Very well, ' said Felix, much disappointed at this repetition ofEdgar's willingness to hurry from the house of mourning, 'but we havehad very little of you; Clement must go on the day after Twelfth Day, and we shall have more room. It will be a great blow to Cherry. '

'Poor little Cherry! I'll come when I can see her in greater peace, but I must buckle to with the beginning of the year, Fee. '

There was no further disputing the point, but Edgar was always agreat loss. To every one except Clement he was so gentle andconsiderate that it was impossible not to think that the strangethings reported of him were not first evoked and then exaggerated bythe zeal of the model chorister: and indeed he led Geraldine to thatinference when he went to her in the sitting-room, where, as before, she had to remain at home. 

'My Cherry, I find I must go back with old Tom. Don't be vexed, myWhiteheart, I am not going back to Belgium, you know: I can often rundown, but my work ought to begin with the year. '

'You cannot even stay over the Epiphany!'

'Well, I would have made an effort, but I am really wanted; and thenif I am long with that light of the church, Tina, he will get me intoeverybody's black books. Never mind, old girl. I'll be for everrunning down. Is any one going to stay with you?'

'Bernard is coming presently; I must try to make him recollectsomething about it. '

'You don't mean that child Angel is going. '

'She wishes it, and it seems right. '

'Right to leave a black spot in her memory! If children could butbelieve people were sublimated away!'

'Children can believe in the Resurrection of the body as well as we, 'said Cherry reverently. 

'Better, too, by a long chalk, ' he muttered; then perceiving herdismayed expression, he added, 'No, no--I'm not talking to Tina, onlyhe has put me in the humour in which there is nothing he could notmake me dispute--even my Cherry being the sweetest morsel in theworld. There, good-bye for the present, only don't afflict that poorlittle Bernard and yourself into too great wretchedness, out of asense of duty. '

'No, I do not really grieve, ' said Cherry. 'Tears come forthankfulness. The real sorrow came long ago; we grew up in it, and itis over now. '

'Right, little one. The mortal coil was very heavy and painful theselast years, and no one can help being relieved that the end has come. It is the conventionalities that are needlessly distressing. Whatearthly purpose can it serve save the amusement of the maids andchildren of Bexley, that nine of us should present ourselves apitiful spectacle all the way up to the cemetery in veils andhatbands?'

'Don't talk so, Edgar; you do not know how it jars, though I know youmean no disrespect. '

'Well, it must be a blessed thing to end by drowning or blowing up, to save one's friends trouble. '

'Edgar, indeed I cannot bear this! Recollect what a treasure thatdear shattered earthen vessel has held. What a wonderful life ofpatient silent resignation it was!'

'Indeed it was, ' said Edgar, suddenly softened. 'No lips could tellwhat the resolution must have been that carried her through thoseyears, never murmuring. What must she not have spared my father! Suchdevotion is the true woman's heritage. '

Cherry was soothed as she saw the dew on his eye-lashes, but justthen Felix came in to fetch him, and, stooping down, kissed her, andsaid in his low and tender but strong voice, 'We leave her with him, dear child. Recollect--

 '"The heart may ache, but may not burst: Heaven will not leave thee, nor forsake. "'

Much as Geraldine had longed for Edgar, his words brought vagueyearning and distress, while Felix's very tone gave support. Howcould Edgar say patient, silent, self-devotion was not to be foundexcept in woman?

So the worn-out body that once had been bright smiling Mary Underwoodwas borne to the church she had not entered since she had knelt therewith her husband; and then she was laid beside him in the hillsidecemetery, the graves marked by the simple cross, for which there hadbeen long anxious saving, the last contribution having been a quarterof the Bishop's gift to Lancelot. The inscription was on the edges ofthe steps, from which the cross rose--

 UNDER WODE, UNDER RODE. 

 EDWARD FULBERT UNDERWOOD, NINE YEARS CURATE of THIS PARISH, EPIPHANY, 1855, AGED 40. 

 'Thy Rod and Thy Staff comfort me. '

There was room enough for the name of Mary Wilmet, his wife, to beadded at the base of the Rood, that Cross which they had borne, theone so valiantly, the other so meekly, during their 'forty years inthe wilderness. '

Many persons were present out of respect not only to the formerCurate, but to his hard-working son and daughter, and not only thedaughter's holly-wreath, but one of camellias sent by SisterConstance, lay upon the pall. When the mourners had turned away, Mr. Audley saw a slender lad standing by, waiting till the grave wassmoothed to lay on it a wreath of delicate white roses and ferns. There was no mistaking the clear olive face; and indeed Mr. Audleyhad kept up a regular correspondence with Ferdinand Travis, and knewthat the vows made two years ago had been so far persevered in, andwithout molestation from father or uncle. He had written an accountof Mrs. Underwood's death, but had received no answer. 

'This is kind, Ferdinand, ' he said, 'it will gratify them. '

'May I see any of them?' the youth asked. 

'Felix and Lance will be most glad. '

'I only received your letter yesterday evening. Dr. White forwardedit to me in London, and I persuaded my father to let me come down. '

'You are with your father?'

'Yes; he came home about a fortnight ago. I was going to write toyou. O Mr. Audley, if you are not in haste, can you tell me whetherI can see my dear Diego's grave?'

'The Roman Catholic burial-ground is on the other side of the town. Ithink you will have to go to Mr. Macnamara for admittance. Come homewith me first, Fernan. '

'Home!' he said warmly. 'Yes, it has always seemed so to me! I havedreamt so often of her gentle loving face and tender weak voice. Shewas very kind to me;' and he raised his hat reverently, as he placedthe flowers upon the now completed grave. 'I saw that all were hereexcept the little ones and Geraldine, ' he added. 'How is she?'

'As well as usual. Wilmet is a good deal worn and downcast, but allare calm and cheerful. The loss cannot be like what that of theirfather was. '

'Will they go on as they are doing now?'

'I trust so. I am going down to the family consultation. The Londoncousin is there. '

'Then perhaps I had better not come in, ' said Ferdinand, lookingrather blank. 'Shall I go down to Mr. Macnamara first?'

'Had you rather go alone, or shall I send Lance to show you the way?'

'Dear little Lance, pray let me have him!'

'It is a longish walk. Is your lameness quite gone?'

'Oh yes, I can walk a couple of miles very well, and when I give outit is not my leg, but my back. They say it is the old jar to thespine, and that it will wear off when I have done growing, if I getplenty of air and riding. This will not be too much for me, but Imust be in time for the 3. 30 train, I promised my father. '

'Is he here alone?'

'Yes, my uncle is in Brazil. My father is here for a month, and isvery kind; he seems very fairly satisfied with me; and he wants me toget prepared for the commission in the Life Guards. '

'The Life Guards!'

'You see he is bent on my being an English gentleman, but he has somedislike to the University, fancies it too old-world or something;and, honestly, I cannot wish it myself. I can't take much to books, and Dr. White says I have begun too late, and shall never make muchof them. '

'If you went into the Guards, my brother might be a friend to you. '

'My back is not fit for the infantry, ' said Ferdinand, 'but I canride anything; I always could. I care for nothing so much as horses. '

'Then why not some other cavalry regiment?'

'Well, my father knows a man with a son in the Life Guards, who haspersuaded him that it is the thing, and I don't greatly care. '

'Is he prepared for the expensiveness?'

'I fancy it is the recommendation, ' said Ferdinand, smiling with alittle shame; 'but if you really see reason for some other choiceperhaps you would represent it to him. I think he would attend to youin person. '

'Have you positively no choice, Fernan?'

'I never like the bother of consideration, ' said Ferdinand, 'and inLondon I might have more chance of seeing you and other friendssometimes. I do know that it is not all my father supposes, but hethinks it is all my ignorance, and I have not much right to beparticular. '

'Only take care that horses do not become your temptation, ' said Mr. Audley. 

'I know, ' gravely replied Ferdinand. 'The fact is, ' he added, as theyturned down the street, 'that I do not want to go counter to myfather if I can help it. I have not been able to avoid vexing him, and this is of no great consequence. I can exchange, if it should notsuit me. '

'I believe you are right, ' said the Curate; 'but I will inquire andwrite to you before the application is made. Wait, and I will sendout Lance. But ought you not to call at the Rectory?'

'I will do so as I return, ' said Ferdinand; and as Mr. Audley enteredthe house, he thought that the making the Cacique into an Englishgentleman seemed to have been attained as far as accent, mind, andmanner went, and the air and gesture had always been natural in him. His tone rather than his words were conclusive to the Curate that hisheart had never swerved from the purpose with which he had stood atthe Font; but the languor and indolence of the voice indicated thatthe tropical indifference was far from conquered, and it was ananxious question whether the life destined for him might not beexceptionally perilous to his peculiar temperament of nonchalance andexcitability. 

Consideration was not possible just then, for when Mr. Audley openedthe door, he found that he had been impatiently waited for, andbarely time was allowed to him to send Lance to Ferdinand Travis, before he was summoned to immediate conference with Thomas Underwood, who, on coming in, had assumed the management of affairs, and oncalling for the will, was rather displeased with Felix's protestagainst doing anything without Mr. Audley, whom he knew to have beennamed guardian by his father. The cousin seemed unable to credit thestatement; and Wilmet had just found the long envelope with the blackseal, exactly as it had lain in the desk, which had never beendisturbed since the business on their father's death had beenfinished. 

There was the old will made long before, leaving whatever there wasto leave unconditionally to the wife, with the sole guardianship ofthe children; and there was the codicil dated the 16th of October1854, appointing Charles Somerville Audley, clerk, to theguardianship in case of the death of the mother, while they shouldall, or any of them, be under twenty-one, and directing that in thatcontingency the property should be placed in his hands as trustee, the interest to be employed for their maintenance, and the capital tobe divided equally among them, each receiving his or her share oncoming of age. All this was in Edward Underwood's own handwriting, and his signature was attested by the Rector and the doctor. 

Thomas Underwood was more 'put out, ' than the management of such aninsignificant sum seemed to warrant. He was no doubt disappointed ofhis cousin's confidence, as well as of some liberal (if domineering)intentions; and he was only half appeased when Edgar pointed to thedate, and showed that the arrangement had been made before therenewal of intercourse. 'It was hardly fair to thrust a charge upon astranger when there was a relation to act. Poor Edward, he ought tohave trusted, ' he said. There was genuine kindness of heart in thedesire to confer benefits, though perhaps in rather an overbearingspirit, as well as disappointment and hurt feeling that his cousinhad acquiesced in his neglect without an appeal. However, afterasking whether Mr. Audley meant to act, and hearing of his decidedintention of doing so, he proceeded to state his own plans for them. The present state of things could not continue, and he proposed thatWilmet and Geraldine should go as half boarders to some school, to beprepared for governesses. Felix--could he write shorthand? 'Oh yes;but--' Then he knew of a capital opening for him, a few years, and hewould be on the way to prosperity: the little ones might be boardedwith their old nurse till fit for some clergy orphan schools; if themeans would not provide for all, there need be no difficulty made onthat score. 

Mr. Audley saw Felix's start of dismay and glance at him, but knowingas he did that the lad was always more himself when not interferedwith, and allowed to act for himself, he only said, 'It is very kindin you, sir, but I think Felix should be consulted. '

'It is impossible!' began Felix hastily. 

'Impossible! It is quite impossible, I would have you to understand, that a lot of children like you should keep house together, and onsuch an income as that. Quite preposterous. '

'As for that, ' said Felix, still unsubmissively, 'it is only what wehave been doing, except for the name of the thing, for the last threeyears on the same means. '

'You don't mean to tell me that you have kept things going on suchmeans without a debt?'

'Of course we have! We never let a bill run, ' said Felix, slightlyindignant. 

'Now mind, I'm not insulting you, Felix, but I know what the womenare and what they tell us. Are you sure of that? No debts--honourbright?'

'None at all!' said Felix, with an endeavour at calmness, but glowinghotly. 'I help my sister make up her books every Saturday night. Wealways pay ready money. '

'Humph, ' said Mr. Underwood, still only half convinced. 'Living mustbe cheap at Bexley. '

'You had better explain a little, Felix, ' said Mr. Audley. 

Felix did bring himself to say, 'I am sub-editor now, and get 100pounds a year, besides being paid for any article I write. Wilmet has25 pounds a year and her dinner, and Angela's at school, so there areonly five of us constantly dining at home, and with Mr. Audley's twoguineas a week we can do very well. '

'What, you lodge here?'

'Did not you know that?' said Felix surprised. 

Mr. Underwood gave a whistle, and the Curate felt his cheeks growingredder and redder, as he perceived that seven-and-twenty was notconsidered as so very much older than eighteen. Edgar understood andsmiled, but Felix only thought he was suspected of making a goodthing of his lodger, and was beginning something awkward about, 'Itis all kindness, ' when Mr. Audley broke in--

'Of course nothing is settled yet, but--but I believe I shall changemy quarters. A smaller house would be better for them; but I thinkthe children should keep together. Indeed, my dear friend said hechiefly appointed me that Felix might be kept at their head. '

Thereupon Mr. Underwood began to expostulate against the sacrifice ofposition and talent that Felix was making for the sake of bearing theburthen of a family that would have pressed heavily on a man doublehis age. It was what Felix already knew, much better than when atsixteen he had made his first venture. He had experienced the effectsof change of station, as well as of exertion, drudgery, and of thehome hardship that no one except Mr. Audley had tried to sweeten. Hesaw how Edgar had acquired the nameless air and style that he waslosing, how even Clement viewed him as left behind; and, on the otherhand, he knew that with his own trained and tested ability andapplication, and his kinsman's patronage, there was every reasonablechance of his regaining a gentleman's position, away from that half-jealous, half-conceited foreman, who made every day a trial to him, and looked at him with an evil eye as a supplanter in the post ofconfidence. But therewith he thought of his father's words, that tohim he left this heavy burthen, and he thought what it would be tohave no central home, no place of holiday-meeting, no rallying-pointfor the boys and girls, and to cast off the little ones to hiredservice, this alternative never seriously occurred to him, for werethey not all bound to him by the cords of love, and most closely theweakest and most helpless? Yet his first reply did not convey theweight of his determination. It was only 'Geraldine is too delicate. '

'Well, well, good advice and treatment might make a change. Or, ifshe be fit for nothing else, would not that Sisterhood at Dearporttake her on reasonable terms? Not that I can away with such nonsense, but your father had his fancies. '

'My father wished us not to break up the home. '

'That was all very well when your poor mother was alive. You havebeen a good son to her, but it is impossible that you and yoursister, mere children as you are, should set up housekeeping byyourselves. Mr. Audley must see it cannot be suffered; it is thebounden duty of your friends to interfere. '

Mr. Audley did not speak. He knew that Felix could reckon on hissupport; and, moreover, that the youth would show himself to greateradvantage when not interfered with. So after pausing to see whetherhis guardian would speak, Felix said, 'Of course we are in Mr. Audley's power, but he knows that we have made some trial, and exceptin name we have really stood alone for these three years. Wilmet canquite manage the house, and it would be misery for ever to us all tohave no home. In short--' and Felix's face burnt, his voice choked, and his eyes brimmed over with hot indignant tears, as he concluded, 'it shall never be done with my good will. '

'And under the circumstances, ' said Mr. Audley, 'I think Felix isright. '

'Very well, ' said Thomas Underwood, much displeased. 'I have no powerhere, and if you and that lad think he can take charge of a house anda dozen children, you must have it your own way. Only, when they haveall gone to rack and ruin, and he is sick of being a little tradesmanin a country town, he will remember what I said. '

Felix forced back his resentful feelings, and contrived to say, 'Yes, sir, I know it is a great disadvantage, and that you only wish forour good; but I do not think anything would be so bad for thechildren as to be all cast about the world, with no place to go to, and becoming strangers to one another; and since there is this way ofkeeping them together, it seems right. '

The steadiness of his manner struck Mr. Underwood, and the reply wasnot unkind. 

'You are a good boy at bottom, Felix, and mean well, and I am onlysorry not to be able to hinder you from throwing yourself away forlife by trying to do what is morally impossible, in a foolish spiritof independence. Do not interrupt. I warn you that I am not to beappealed to for getting you out of the difficulties you are plunginginto; but of course your brother and sister will be mine as before;and as I promised myself to do the same by your mother as by yourfather--my near cousins both--here is to cover necessary expenses. '

It was a cheque for 150, pounds the same as he had given on the formeroccasion; and though Felix had rather not have taken it, he hadlittle choice, and he brought himself to return cold but respectfulthanks; and Mr. Underwood did not manifest any more displeasure, butshowed himself very kind at the meal that was spread in Mr. Audley'ssitting-room, and even invited Wilmet to accompany Alda, when shejoined the family in a week's time at Brighton, so as to have sea airfor the remainder of her holidays. 

Nothing could be more reluctant than was Wilmet at first, but therewas a chorus of persuasions and promises; and the thought of being alittle longer in Alda's presence made her waver and almost consent. 

Ferdinand Travis came in, but had only time for a greeting and ahasty meal, before Mr. Underwood's carriage came round; and, nothingloth, he gave a lift to the Mexican millionaire to the station withhim and Edgar. So, for the last time, had all the thirteen been athome together. 

CHAPTER X

THE FAMILY COBWEB ON THE MOVE

'Oh! the auld house, the auld house, What though the rooms were wee; Oh! kind hearts were dwelling there, And bairnies full of glee. ' Lady Nairn. 

Every one except Edgar would, it was hoped, stay at home till afterthe Epiphany, that most marked anniversary of birth and death. 

Clement at first declared it impossible, for St. Matthew's could notdispense with him on the great day; and Fulbert grinned, and nudgedLance at his crest-fallen looks, when he received full leave ofabsence for the next three weeks. 

But Lance was bursting with reverse troubles. The same post hadbrought him a note from his organist; and that 'stupid old Dean' ashe irreverently called him, had maliciously demanded 'How beautifulare the feet, ' with the chorus following, and nobody in the choir wasavailable to execute the solo but Lance. He had sung it once or twicebefore; and if he had the music, and would practise at home, he needonly come up by the earliest train on the Epiphany morning; if not, he must arrive in time for a practice on the 5th; he would be wantedat both the festival and Sunday services, but might return as earlyas he pleased on Monday the 9th. 

Lance did not receive the summons in an exemplary spirit. It is notcertain that he did not bite it. He rolled on the floor, andcontorted himself in convulsions of vexation; he 'bothered' the Dean, he 'bothered' the Precentor, he 'bothered' the Organist, he'bothered' Shapcote's sore throat, he 'bothered' Harewood's wool-gathering wits, he 'bothered' his own voice, and thereby causedClement to rebuke him for foolish murmurs instead of joy in his gift. 

'A fine gift to rejoice in, to make one be whipped off by an oldfogey, when one most wants to be at home! I thank my stars I can'tsing!' said Fulbert. 

'I should thank mine if Bill Harewood had any sense, ' said Lance, sitting up in a heap on the floor. 'He can go quite high enough whenhe pleases; only, unluckily, a goose of a jackdaw must needs get intothe cathedral just as Bill had got to sing the solo in "As pants thehart;" and there he stood staring with his mouth wide open--and nowonder, for it was sitting on the old stone-king's head! Wasn't Milesin a rage; and didn't he vow he'd never trust a solo to Harewoodagain if he knew it! Oh, I say, Wilmet--Fee, I know! Do let me bringBill back with me on Monday morning; and he could go by the sixo'clock train. Oh, jolly!'

'But is he really a nice boy, Lance?' asked Wilmet, doubtfully. 

'Oh, isn't he just? You'll see! His father is a Vicar-choral, youknow, lives in our precincts; his private door just opposite ours, and 'tis the most delicious house you ever saw! You may make as muchrow as you please, and nobody minds!'

'I know who Mr. Harewood is. Librarian too, is he not?' said Felix. 'I have heard people laughing about his good-natured wife. '

'Aren't they the people who were so kind to you last year, Lance, 'asked Cherry, 'when you could not come home because of the measles?'

'Of course. Do let me bring him, Fee, ' entreated Lance; 'he is no endof a chap--captain of our form almost always--and such a brick atcricket! I told him I'd show him the potteries, and your press, andour organ, and everything--and it is such a chance when we are all athome! I shall get the fellows to believe now that my sisters beat alltheirs to shivers. '

'Can you withstand that flattering compliment, Wilmet?' said Felix, laughing. 'I can't!'

'He is very welcome, ' said Wilmet; 'only, Lance, he must not stay thenight, for there really is not room for another mouse. '

The little girls had heard so much about Bill Harewood, that theywere much excited; but their sympathy kindly compensated for the lackof that of the elder brothers. Fulbert pronounced that a cathedralchorister could never be any great shakes; and Clement could notforgive one who had been frivolous enough to be distracted by ajackdaw; but Lance, trusting to his friend's personal attractions toovercome all prejudice, trotted blithely off to the organist-schoolmaster, to beg the loan of the music, and received a promise ofa practice in church in the evening. Meantime, he begged Clement toplay the accompaniment for him on the old piano. Neither boy knewthat it had been scarcely opened since their father's hand had lastlingered fondly upon it. Music had been found to excite their motherto tears; Geraldine resembled Fulbert in unmusicalness, and Wilmethad depended on school, the brothers on their choir-practice, so thatthe sound was like a new thing in the house; nor was any one preparedeither for the superiority of Clement's playing, or for the exceedingbeauty and sweetness of Lance's singing. No one who appreciated therare quality of his high notes wondered that he was indispensable;Geraldine could hardly believe that the clear exquisite proclamation, that came floating as from an angel voice, could really come from thelittle, slight, grubby, dusty urchin, who stood with clasped handsand uplifted face; and Clement himself--though deferring thecommunication till Lance was absent, lest it should make him vain--confided to Wilmet that they had no such voice at St Matthew's, andit was a shame to waste him on Anglicans. 

Wilmet hardly entered into this enormity. She had made a discoverywhich interested her infinitely more. Little Theodore, hitherto soinanimate, had sat up, listened, looked with a dawning of expressionin the eyes that had hitherto been clear and meaningless as blueporcelain, and as the music ceased, his inarticulate hummingscontinued the same tune. Could it be that the key to the dormantsenses was found? His eyes turned to the piano, and his fingerpointed to it as soon as he found himself in the room with it, andthe airs he heard were continually reproduced in his murmuringsounds; that 'How beautiful!' which had first awakened the gleam--hisown birthday anthem--being sure to recur at sight of Lance; while adoleful Irish croon, Sibby's regular lullaby, always served for her, and the 'Hardy Norseman' for Felix, who had sometimes whistled it tohim. Wilmet spent every available moment in awaking the smile on thelittle waxen face that had never responded before; it seemed to bejust the cheering hope she needed to revive her spirits, only she wasalmost ready to renounce her journey with Alda for the sake ofcultivating the new-found faculty. 

No one would permit this; and indeed, so far from waiting to beexhibited to Lance's friend, the two sisters received their billetde route on the very day he was expected; and there was no appeal, since a housekeeper was to travel from Centry, who would take chargeof them to London, whence they would go down with Mr. Underwood. PoorWilmet was much dismayed at leaving Geraldine to what they bothregarded as the unprecedented invasion of a strange boy; indeed, thewhole charge made Cherry's heart quail, though she said little of herfears, knowing the importance of Wilmet's having and enjoying herholiday; and Mr. Audley promised extra aid in keeping order among theboys. 

But as they came in that evening from the practice at the church, towhich Clement had insisted on their coming to hear Lance, Mr. Audleybeckoned Felix to his room with the words, 'There's a thing I want totalk over with you. '

Felix recollected those ominous words to Mr. Underwood, and stoodwarming his hands in dread of what might be coming. It was all hefeared. 

'I wanted to say--I wanted to tell you--' began Mr. Audley. 'I wouldnot have chosen this time, but that I think it may save Wilmetsomething to be able to tell her friends that the present arrangementis to cease. '

'Wilmet!' exclaimed Felix; then bethinking himself. 'Was _that_ whatTom Underwood meant? But you will not trouble yourself about suchrubbish. '

'Well, you see, ' began the Curate, with heightening colour, 'it can'tbe denied that your sister _has_ grown up, and that things arechanged. '

'Mrs. Froggatt _did_ ask me if you were going on here, ' said Felix, still unconvinced; 'but can't we leave people to be _stoopid_ withoutinterfering with us?'

'Felix, you ought to be a better protector to your sisters. You wouldnot like to have my Lady remonstrating--nay, maybe writing to mymother: she is quite capable of it. '

Felix's cheeks were in a flame. 'If people would mind their ownbusiness, ' he said; 'but if they _will_ have it so--'

'They are right, Felix, ' said the Curate quietly; 'appearances mustbe carefully heeded, and by you almost more than by any one. Yourslowness to understand me makes me almost doubtful about my furtherdesign. '

'Not going away altogether!'

'Not immediately; but things stand thus--Dr. White, my old tutor, youknow, and Fernan's, is nearly sure of the new Bishopric in Australia, and he wants me. '

Felix hardly repressed a groan. 

'Any way I should not go immediately; but when your father spoke tome about the guardianship, he made me promise not to let it stand inthe way of any other call. I fancied he had mission work in his mind, and it disposes me the more to think I ought not to hold back; butwhile your dear mother lived, I would not have gone. '

'Yes, you have been very good to us, ' was all Felix could say. 'Butwhen?'

'Not for some time; but I am not going this moment. Three months'notice Mr. Bevan must have, and if he requires it, six; I must spendsome time at home, and very like shall not be off till you are ofage--certainly not if I find there is any difficulty in handing themanagement of things over to you. How long I remain with you mustdepend on circumstances. How much notice must you give before leavingthis house?'

'I do not know--half a year, I fancy. You think we ought to give itup? I suppose it is too large for us now. '

'And you could take no lodger but one of the old-lady type. '

'Horrid!' said Felix. 'Well, we will see; but it will be a greatstroke on poor Cherry--she can remember nothing before this house. '

'It will be very good for her to have no old associations to sitbrooding over. '

'My poor little Cherry! If I saw how to cheer up her life; butwithout your lessons it will be more dreary for her than ever!'

'Give her all you can to do, and do not be over-careful to keep youranxieties from her knowledge. She is very much of a woman, and if youleave her too much to herself, she will grow more introspective. '

'Wilmet and I have always wanted to shelter her; she never seems fitfor trouble, and she is so young!'

'Compared with you two venerable people!' said Mr. Audley, smiling. 'But her mind is not young, and to treat her as a child is the way tomake her prey upon herself. I wish her talent could be morecultivated; but meantime nothing is better for her than the care ofBernard and Stella. I hope you will not be in a hurry to promote themout of her hands. '

'Very well; but she will miss you sorely. '

'I hope to see her brightened before I am really gone, and I am notgoing to decamp from this house till some natural break comes. To dothat would be absurd!'

There was a silence; and then Felix said with a sigh, 'Yes, a smallerhouse, and one servant. I will speak to Wilmet. '

'Perhaps you had better, so that she may have an answer in case sheis attacked. '

Wilmet was aghast at first, but a hint from Alda made her acquiesce, not with blushing consciousness, but with the perception that the wayof the world was against the retention of the lodger; and sorry asshe was to lose Mr. Audley, her housewifely mind was not consoled, but distracted, by calculations on the difference of expenditure. Again she tried to beg herself off from her visit, in the dread thatFelix would go and take some impracticable house in her absence--someplace with thin walls, no cupboards, and no coal-hole; and she wasonly pacified by his solemn promise to decide on no house withouther. She went away in an avalanche of kisses and tears, leavingGeraldine with a basketful of written instructions for every possiblecontingency, at which the anxious maiden sat gazing anxiously, tryingto store her mind with its onerous directions. 

'Shall I give you a piece of advice, Cherry?' said the Curate, as hesaw the dark eyebrows drawn together. 

'Oh, do!' she earnestly said. 

'Put all that in the fire!'

'Mr. Audley!'

'And go by the light of nature! You have just as many senses asWilmet, and almost as much experience; and as to oppressing yourselfwith the determination to do the very, thing she would have doneunder all circumstances, it is a delusion. People must act accordingto their own nature, not some one else's. '

'Certainly, ' said Geraldine, smiling. 'I could never walk stately inand say, "Now, boys!"--and much they would care for it if I did. '

'It seems to be a case for "Now, boys!" at this moment, ' said Mr. Audley; 'what can all that row be?'

'Oh, it must be that dreadful strange boy, Lance's friend, ' sighedGeraldine, almost turning pale. Then, trying to cheer up, 'But it isonly for the day, and Lance wished it so much. '

As she spoke, the shout of 'Cherry, here's Bill!' came nearer, andthe whole of the younger half of the family tumbled promiscuouslyinto the room, introducing the visitor in the midst of them. To theelders, 'no end of a chap' appeared, as Mr. Audley said, to mean allends of shock hair, and freckles up to the eyes; but when Fulbert andLance had whirled him out again to see the lions of Bexley, Robinaand Angela were overheard respectfully pronouncing that he was niceand spotty like the dear little frogs in the strawberry-beds atCatsacre, and that his hair was just the colour Cherry painted thatof all the very best people in her 'holy pictures. '

The object of their admiration was seen no more till the middle ofdinner, when all three appeared, immoderately dusty; and no wonder, for the organist had employed them to climb, sweep fashion, into thebiggest organ-pipe to investigate the cause of a bronchial affectionof long standing, --which turned out to be a dead bat caught in atenacious cobweb. 

Shortly after, the guest was found assisting Angela in a tableau, where a pen-wiper doll in nun's costume was enacting the exorcism ofthe said bat, in a cave built of wooden bricks. 

Clement was undecided whether to condemn or admire; and Geraldine, towhom Edgar had lent some volumes of Ruskin, meditated on thegrotesque. 

Before there had been time for the fanciful sport to become roughcomedy, Lance had called off his friend to see the potteries; and topoor Cherry's horror, she found that Robina had been swept off in thetorrent of boyhood. Clement, pitying her despair and self-reproach, magnanimously offered to follow, and either bring the little maidback, or keep her out of harm's way; and for some time Cherry reposedin the conviction that 'Tina was as good as a girl any day. '

But at about a quarter to six, a little tap came to Mr. Audley'sdoor, and Angela stood there, saying, with a most serious face, 'Please, Mr. Audley, Cherry wants to know whether you don't thinksomething must have happened. ' And going upstairs, he found the pooryoung deputy in a nervous agony of despair at the non-return of anyof the party, quite certain that some catastrophe had befallen them, and divided between self-reproach and dread of the consequences. 

'The very first day Wilmet had gone!' as she said. 

It was almost time for Harewood's train, which made it all the morestrange. Mr. Audley tried to reassure her by the probability that thewhole party were convoying him to the station, and would appear whenhe was gone; but time confuted this pleasing hypothesis, and Cherry'smisery was renewed. She even almost hinted a wish that Mr. Audleywould go out and look for them. 

'And then, ' he said, smiling, 'in an hour's time you would be sendingFelix to look for me. No, no, Cherry, these waiting times are oftenhard, no doubt; but, as I fear you are one of those destined to"abide by the tents" instead of going out to battle, you had betterlearn to do your watching composedly. '

'O Mr. Audley! how can I? I know it must be very wrong, but how can Inot care?' And verily the nervous sensitive girl was quivering withsuspense. 

'"He will not be afraid of any evil tidings, for his heart standethfast and believeth in the Lord, "' answered Mr. Audley. 'I see thatdoes not tell you how not to be afraid; but I imagine that a fewtrusting ejaculations in the heart, and then resolute attention tosomething else, may be found a help. '

Cherry would have sighed that attention was the most impossible thingin the world; but before she had time to do so, Mr. Audley had begunto expound to her his Australian scheme. It excited her extremely;and as a year and a half seemed an immense period of time to herimagination, the dread of losing him was not so immediate as to dampher enthusiasm. They had discussed his plans for nearly an hourbefore Cherry started at the sound of the door, and then it was onlyFelix who entered. He was irate, but not at all alarmed; andpresently the welcome clatter of steps approached, and in dashed thewhole crew, mired up to the eyes, but in as towering spirits as ever. 

Their delay had, it appeared, been caused by a long walk that ensuedupon the visit to the potteries, and a wild venture of Will Harewoodupon impracticable ice, which had made him acquainted with the depthsof a horse-pond. There was none of the dignity of danger, for thedepths were shallows and the water only rose to his waist; but themud was above his ankles, and he had floundered out with somedifficulty. He wanted to walk back with no more ceremony than awater-dog; but the Underwoods had made common cause against him, andhad dragged him to a cottage, where he had the pleasing alternativeof an old woman's blankets and petticoats while his garments weredrying. He was as nearly angry as a Harewood could be, Lanceobserved, declaring that they should never have got him into thecottage without fighting him, if Tina had not been so tall, and ifRobin had not nearly cried; while he, throwing off all responsibility, ascribed all his lateness to his friend's 'maggots. ' No more trainsstopped at Bexley till after midnight, but as to his absence causingany uneasiness at home, he laughed at the notion, and was corroboratedby Lance in averring that they had too much sense; listening withundisguised amazement to the elaborate explanations and apologies aboutRobina, which Clement was scrupulously pouring forth to his brother andsister, saying that he would have brought her home at once, but that hereally did not like to trust those boys alone. 

Whereat Lance held up his hands with a dumb show of amazement thatconvulsed Fulbert, Bill Harewood, and Robina herself, with agonies ofhalf-suppressed merriment. The boy had come in, prepared to be graveand quiet, as knowing how lately affliction had come to the family, and having been warned by Lance, that 'as to going on as we do in theprecincts, why it would make Cherry jump out of her skin. '

But by some extraordinary influence--whether it were the oddity ofWilliam Harewood's face, or the novelty of his perfect insouciancein the household whither care had come only too early--some infectionseized on the young Underwoods, and before the end of the eveningmeal, if the 'goings on' were not equal to those in the precincts, they were, at any rate, not far short of it. 

Lance presently incited his friend to show 'how he had mesmerisedLucy. ' Clement made a horrified protest; and Geraldine looked alarmedat her eldest brother, who began, 'Indeed, Lance, we can have nothingof that sort here. '

'But, Felix, I do assure you there is no harm. '

'Upon my word and honour, there's not a spice of anything theArchbishop of Canterbury could stick at, ' added Will Harewood. 

'It is impossible there should not be harm, ' interposed Clement; butthe boys, including Fulbert, were in such fits of laughter, thatFelix began to suspect the seriousness of the performance; and whenLance sprang at him, exclaiming, 'I'll go to Mr. Audley! Fee--Cherry---will you be satisfied if Mr. Audley says we may?' Felix and Cherryboth consented; and Lance rushed off to make the appeal, and returnednot only with full sanction, but with Mr. Audley himself, come to seethe operation. This perfectly satisfied Felix, who even consented, onthe entreaty of his brothers, to become the first subject; and Cherryknew that where the Curate and Felix had no scruples, she need havenone; but, for all that, she was more than half frightened anduncomfortable--above all, when Clement, amid shouts of mirth from thethree schoolboys, indignantly marched away to shut himself up in hiscold bedroom. 

By and by, after some unseen preparation--all the more mystifyingbecause carried on in the kitchen, where Sibby always used to keepTheodore in a cradle till Felix was ready for him--Will Harewoodcaused Felix to stand exactly opposite to him and to the spectators, with a dinner-plate in his hand, and under injunctions to imitate theoperator exactly. Armed with another plate, William rubbed his ownfinger first on the under side of the plate, and then, after somepasses and flourishes, on his own forehead, entirely without effectso far as he himself was concerned; but his victim, standing meeklygood-natured and unconscious, was seen by the ecstatic audience tobe, at each pass, painting his own face with the soot from a flameover which his plate had been previously held. The shrieks ofamusement redoubled at the perplexity they occasioned him, till theypenetrated the upper rooms: and suddenly a cry of horror made allturn to the door and see a little white bare-footed figure standingthere, transfixed with fright, which increased tenfold when Felixhurried towards it, not yet aware of the condition of his visage, until a universal shout warned him of it; while Lance, darting inpursuit, picked up Bernard, and by his wonderful caressing arts, andpartly by his special gift of coaxing, partly as the object of thelittle fellow's most fervent adoration, made the scattered sensestake in that it was 'all play, ' and even carried back the littlewhite bundle, heart throbbing and eyes staring, but still secure inhis arms, to admire Felix all black, and then to be further relievedby beholding the restoration of the natural hue at the pump belowstairs. 

Then amid Sibby's scoldings and assurances that the child would catchhis death of cold, Bernard was borne upstairs again by Felix, whofound Clement in the nursery comforting the little girls, andpreventing them from following the example of their valiant pioneer. Felix, now thoroughly entering into the spirit of the joke, entertained for a moment the hope of entrapping Clement; but ofcourse Bernard could not be silenced from his bold and ratherdoubtful proclamation, that 'The funny boy made Felix black his ownface, and I wasn't afraid. '

'Naughty boy!' commented Stella. 'Poor Fee!'--and she reared up tokiss him, and stroke the cheeks that had suffered such an indignity. 

'What! It was only a trick?' said Clement slowly, as if halfmystified. 

'Of course, ' said Felix; 'could not you trust to that?'

'I don't know. Cathedrals are very lax, and it had a questionablename. '

'O Clem! if it had not been in you before, I should wish you hadnever gone to St. Matthew's. Come down now, don't let us disturb thelittle ones any longer. --Good-night, Angel; good-night, little star;we'll not make a row to wake you again. '

Clement, in a severe mood, followed Felix downstairs; but somewonderful spirit of frolic was on all the young people that night--areaction, perhaps, from the melancholy that had so long necessarilyreigned in that house, for though the fun was less loud, it was quiteas merry: a course of riddles was going on; and Clement, who reallywas used to a great deal of mirth among the staff of St. Matthew's, absolutely unbent, and gloried in showing that even more conundrumswere known there than by the house of Harewood. He was not strong inguessing them; but then Will Harewood made such undaunted andextraordinary shots at everything proposed, that the spirit ofrepartee was fairly awakened, and Cherry's bright delicate wit beganto play, so that no one knew how to believe in the lateness of thehour, and still less that this was the same house that grave Wilmethad left that morning. 

'Poor dear little Cherry!' said Felix to Mr. Audley, after helpingher upstairs, 'she is quite spent with laughing; indeed my jaws ache, and she is ready to cry, as if it had been unfeeling. '

'Don't let her fancy that. We certainly were surprised into it to-night; but I only wish for her sake--for all your sakes--that youcould keep the house merrier. '

Felix sighed. He too felt as if he had been betrayed into unbecominglevity; and though he would not dispute, his heart had only becomethe heavier. However, he did not forget, and when Cherry againbreathed a little sigh as to what Wilmet would think of their firstday, he stoutly averred that there was no use in drooping, and noharm in liveliness, and that no one had ever been so full ofjoyousness as their father. 

She owned it. 'But--'

And that _but_ meant the effects of the three years that she hadspent as the companion of her mother's mournful widowhood, and of thecares of life on her elder brother and sister. 

It was true, as Mr. Audley said, that the associations of the roomswere not good for her spirits in her many lonely hours and confinedlife; and this reconciled Felix more than anything else to theproposed change. He was keeping his promise to Wilmet of not seekinga house till her return, when Mr. And Mrs. Froggatt, whose minds hadbeen much relieved by hearing that the lodger would consult theproprieties, communicated to him their own scheme of taking up theirresidence at a village named Marshlands, about two miles from Bexley, where they already spent great part of the summer in a pleasantcottage and garden which they had bought and adorned. Mr. Froggattwould drive in to attend to the business every day, but the charge ofthe house was the difficulty, as they did not wish to let the rooms;and they now proposed that the young Underwoods should inhabit themrent-free, merely keeping a bedroom and little parlour behind theshop for Mr. Froggatt, and providing firing in them. With much morediffidence, at his wife's earnest suggestion, the kindly modest oldman asked whether Miss Underwood would object to his coming in totake a piece of bread and cheese when he was there in the middle ofthe day. 

It was an excellent offer, and Felix had no hesitation in gratefullyclosing with it, even without consulting Wilmet. Her reply showedthat a great weight was taken off her mind; and she was only longingto be at home again, contriving for the move, which was to take placeat Lady Day. She was burning to study the new rooms; nevertheless, asby kind Marilda's contrivance, she was taking lessons in German everyday from a superior Fraulein who had once been her cousin'sgoverness, and was further allowed to inspect the working of a goodschool, her stay was extended, by Miss Pearson's entreaty, a fullfortnight beyond what had been intended. Nor had anything gone wrongin her absence. Even the overlooking of the boys' linen, which shehad believed impossible without her, was safely carried on by Cherry, and all were sent off in sound condition. No catastrophe occurred;and the continual occupation and responsibility drove away all thelow spirits that so often had tried the home-keeping girl. She _did_enjoy those tete-a-tete evenings, when Felix opened to her morethan he had ever done before; and yet it was an immense relief tohave the day fixed for Wilmet's return, and how much more to have herwalking into the room with all the children clinging about her inincoherent ecstacy, which had not subsided enough for muchcomprehension when Felix came joyously in. 'Hurrah, Wilmet! Mr. Froggatt sent me home a couple of hours before time!'

'How very good! I met him in the street, just now. Really, he is thekindest old gentleman in the world!'

'I believe you dazzled him, Mettie; he says he did not know you tillyou spoke to him, and if he had realised what a beautiful andmajestic young lady you were, he should hardly have ventured topropose your taking up your abode under his humble roof. '

'That must be the effect of living with Alda, ' said Wilmet merrily;'but, oh! I am glad to be at home again!'

'And I never was so glad of anything in my life, ' said Geraldineeagerly. 

'I am longing to go over the house, and know what to do aboutfurniture, ' continued Wilmet. 

'There! now W. W. Is herself again!' said Felix. 

'Mrs. Froggatt came and called on me, ' said Geraldine. 'She talked ofleaving us the larger things that will not go into the cottage. '

'Which is well, ' said Felix; 'for how much of ours will survive theshock of removing is doubtful. '

'All the things that came from Vale Leston are quite solid, ' saidWilmet, bristling up. 

'That carpet is solid darn, ' said Felix. 'We tried one evening, andfound that though the pattern of rose-leaves is a tradition, no oneyounger than Clem could remember having seen either design orcolour. '

'You should not laugh at it, Felix, ' said Wilmet, a little hurt: forindeed her mother's needle and her own were too well acquainted withthe carpet for her to like to hear it contemned. 

Felix and Cherry both felt somewhat called to order, as if theirmistress had come home again; and Cherry was the first to breaksilence by inquiring after Wilmet's studies at Brighton. 

'Oh yes, ' said Wilmet, 'I do hope I am improved. That was allMarilda's kindness. She quite understood how I missed everybody andeverything; and at last, one day, when I was wishing I couldpronounce German like Alda, and that Alda had time to give me somelessons--'

'Alda hasn't time!'

'Oh, you don't know how useful she is! She writes all the notes. Marilda devised getting this Fraulein--such a good-natured woman! andwhen she heard what I wanted, she got leave for me to come every dayto study the working of the school. I do believe I shall teach muchbetter now, if only I were not so ignorant. I never had any notionbefore how little I knew!'

However, Wilmet's value had really risen so much in consequence ofthese instructions, that Miss Pearson arranged that she should laythe French and German foundations, and prepare the scholars, andshould receive half a sovereign a half year from each girl whom shethus instructed, being the moiety of 'extra. ' Moreover, the headteacher talked of retiring, and her succession was promised toWilmet--a brilliant prospect, that the sight of Alda's grandeur didnot make her contemn. 

Wilmet's anxious mind was well satisfied by her inspection of the newquarters, which, among other conveniences, had that of shortening byten minutes her walk to school. The family apartments were allupstairs, the space below being entirely taken up by the business, and the kitchens were under ground. The chief sitting-room upstairswas unfortunately towards the street, and had a northern aspect; itwas a spacious room, with three large windows filled with boxes offlowers, and contained a big table and two sofas, which, with thecarpet and curtains, would remain well covered up. Folding-doors ledinto a smaller room, with a south window towards the little garden, where Mrs. Froggatt generally sat, and which had been used for thedining-room. There were two bedrooms besides on the same floor, oneof which would remain untouched for Mr. Froggatt; and above these, there was a large nursery, and more rooms than had been everfurnished. Rent, rates, taxes, and repairs, all off her mind! Wilmetfelt as if prosperity were setting in; and she was the first to makethe audacious statement that they need not part with Martha, andindeed, that the house could not be kept in order, nor dinners cookedfit for Mr. Froggatt, by Sibby single-handed. And Cherry made up hermind that they were like a family of caterpillars moving their cobwebtent; Angela, seeing such an establishment of young tortoise-shells, in their polished black, under their family web, had asked, 'Whichwas their brother Felix?' and the name was adopted. 

So a time of much business and excitement set in, and the lengtheningspring evenings were no sinecure to Wilmet, as the flitting dayapproached, being rather hurried on by the old bookseller, who wantedto be at Marshlands in time to admire his hyacinths and sow hisannuals. Mr. Audley would take rooms at the Fortinbras Arms for theremainder of his stay at Bexley; and indeed, there was a good deal tobreak the old habit of constantly depending on him, for his brother'syoung wife was slowly dying in London, and the whole family seemedinstinctively to turn to him for comfort and advice, so that he wasobliged to be continually going backwards and forwards. 

On the 24th of March, when he came down by an afternoon train, hefound the house door open, the steps scattered with straw, and afterlooking in and seeing his own parlour intact, and with a cheerfulfire, he pursued his way upstairs, and there found the sitting-roombare except for a sort of island consisting of the sofa, on whichGeraldine lay rolled in cloaks and shawls, trying to amuse the twinsby a feeble attempt to sing

 'Weel may the boatie row, '

while making paper boats for Stella to drag by strings upon thesmooth boards. 

'Eh, Cherry, are you the Last Man, or the Last Rose of Summer ?'

'The last of the caterpillars, ' said Cherry, smiling, but witheffort. 'Do you see Stella's fleet--just thirteen?'

'Making omens, foolish child!' but though Stella was eagerly pointingand explaining, 'Tat Tella's boat--tat Tedo's--tat brothers--tatAngel, ' and so on, the word _foolish_ was not directed to the littleone, but to the gray eyes heavy with unshed tears, that restedwistfully upon a wreck that had caught upon a nail and lay rent andragged. 

'Pray don't look which it is, ' said she. 

'Certainly not; I hate auguries. '

'Do you think there is nothing in them?'

'I think there is nothing in this room but what ought to be in mine. Do you expect me to stand discussing superstition in this horribleraw emptiness? Here, ' picking up Theodore, 'I'll come back for you. '

'Oh no, thank you, let me get down by myself; he cannot be left alonein a room. '

'Come, Stella, and take care of him. '

'That's worse, she leads him into mischief. We are fox, goose, andcabbage. Please give me my crutch; Wilmet put it out of reach becauseshe said I was destroying myself. '

'You are tired to death. '

'Oh no; but one can't sit still when so much is going on. Oh, howdelicious!' as after an interval she arrived, and found Mr. Audleywinding up a musical box, which Theodore was greeting with its owntunes, and Stella with a dance and chant of 'Sing box--sing box;' andthen the two sat listening to the long cycle of tunes which wouldhold Theodore entranced for any length of time. 

After a short inquiry and a reply as to the sister-in-law's state, and a few words on the progress of the flitting, there was a silencewhile Mr. Audley read the letters that had come for him in hisabsence, and Cherry's face became more and more pensive. At last, when Mr. Audley laid down his letters, and leant against thechimneypiece, she ventured to say, 'Is it wrong?'

'Is what wrong?' said the Curate, who had quite forgotten thesubject. 

'To care about omens. '

'That depends. To accept them is sometimes necessary; to look out forthem is generally foolish and often wrong. '

'Sometimes necessary?' said Cherry eagerly. 

'Sometimes experience seems to show that in good Providence amerciful preparation is sent not so much to lead to anticipations, asto bring the mind into keeping with what is coming, and, as it were, attune it. '

'So that little things may be constantly types of great future ones?'

'My dear Cherry, I said not constantly. '

'Just let me tell you. Sibby says that the very day we all came intothis poor old house, just as the omnibus stopped, there was the knellringing overhead, and a funeral coming up the street. She knew it wasa token, and burst out crying; and dear Mamma, who you know nevershed tears, turned as white as a corpse, as if she was struck to theheart. '

'And your father?'

'Oh! Sibby said he just stood in the doorway, lifted his hat as thefuneral passed and then well-nigh carried Mamma, with the baby (thatwas Fulbert) in her arms, over the threshold, and smiled at her, saying, "Well, mother, what better than to have found our home tilldeath!" So you see he did believe in it. '

'I see he wanted to cheer her spirits, not by saying "stuff andnonsense, " but reminding her that there are worse things than death. Have you an omen on your mind, Cherry? Have it out; don't let it sinkin. '

'Only please don't laugh at me. Indeed, it was not my own doing, butStella's fancy to have a boat for each of us, when she was launchingthem; and I could not help recollecting how we are all starting outand away from our first home. '

'Stella's was not a very perilous ocean. '

'That was a comfort at first; and Stella tried to draw all thethirteen lines together, but they tangled, and one thread broke, andthat boat was left behind; and one poor crooked ill-made thing fellover, and was left at home because hindering all the rest, and evenStella knew that was me, and--'her voice quivered, 'one was caught ona nail, and torn into a wreck! Now, can I help thinking, thoughyou'll just call them newspaper-boats, dragged by a baby on a drydusty floor?'

'Watched by a weary fanciful damsel, ' said Mr. Audley, sitting downby her, 'who does not know a bit more than she did before, that allare launching on a sea, and if it is a rougher one, there's a betterGuiding Star than Stella Eudora to lead them, and they have compassesof their own--ay, and a Pilot. And if there are times when He seemsto be asleep in the ship--why, even the owner of the unseaworthy boatleft at home can show the Light, and pray on till the others areroused to awaken Him. 

'I wish there had not been that wreck, ' she sighed. 

'What seems a wreck need not be really one, ' said Mr. Audley. 'It maybe the very way of returning to the right course. And by and by weshall see our Master standing on the shore in the morning light. '

At that moment there was a sound at the door--Felix had accompaniedCherry's chair, to bring her and Theodore to the new home. There wastoo much haste for the wistful last looks she intended: she wasdeposited in the chair with Theodore on her knee, Stella trottingafter, with Felix and Mr. Audley who was coming to see theinauguration. St. Oswald's Buildings were left behind, and she wasdrawn up to the green private door, beside the shop window; Wilmethurried down and took Theodore from her; Felix helped her out, and upthe narrow steep staircase, which certainly was not a gain, but whenlanded in the drawing-room, the space seemed to her magnificent. Andtheir own furniture, the two or three cherished portraits broughtfrom Vale Leston, their father's chair, their mother's sofa, the silkpatchwork table-cover that had been the girl's birthday present toMamma, the bookcase with Papa's precious books, made it seem home-like. 

'The mantelpiece is just the same!' cried Cherry, delighted, as sherecognised all the old ornaments. 

The next moment her delight was great at the flower-stands, which Mr. Froggatt had kindly left full of primulas, squills, and crocuses; andwhen she looked out from the back room into the little garden, whereMr. Froggatt's horticultural tastes had long found their soleoccupation, and saw turf, green laurels, and bunches of snowdrops andcrocuses, she forgot all Stella's launch!

CHAPTER XI

THE CHORAL FESTIVAL

'And with ornaments and banners, As becomes gintale good manners, We made the loveliest tay-room upon Shannon shore. ' THACKERAY. 

'Of course, after _this_, ' said Lady Price, 'Miss Underwood did notexpect to be visited. '

Otherwise the gain was great. The amusement of looking out of windowinto the High Street was alone a perpetual feast to the little ones, and saved Geraldine worlds of anxiety; and the garden, where theycould be turned out to play, was prized as it only could be by thosewho had never had any outlet before. It was a pleasant little longnarrow nook, between the printing-house on the west, and such anothergarden on the east, a like slip, with a wall masked by ivy andlilacs, and overshadowed by a horse-chestnut meeting it on the south. It was not smoky, and was quite quiet, save for the drone and stampof the steam-press; there was grass, a gum-cistus and some flower-beds in the centre, and a gravel-walk all round, bordered by narrowedgings of flowers, and with fruit trees against the printing-housewall, and a Banksia and Wisteria against that of the house. Mr. Froggatt was quite touched at the reverence with which Angela andStella regarded even the daisies that had eluded his perpetual spud;and when he found out the delight it was to Cherry to live withflowers for the first time in her life, he seldom failed to send hera bunch of violets or some other spring beauty as soon as he arrivedin the morning, and kept the windows constantly supplied with plants. 

The old bookseller was at first very much afraid of his new inmates. To Felix he was used, but he looked on the sisters as ladies, and toladies, except on business-terms, he was much less accustomed than togentlemen. Besides, being a thorough gentleman himself at heart, hehad so much delicacy as to be afraid of hurting their feelings byseeming at home in his own house, and he avoided being there atluncheon for a whole week, until one afternoon Felix ran up to saythat he was sure Mr. Froggatt had a cold, and would be glad if a cupof tea appeared in his parlour. Gratitude brought him in to face theenemy; and after he had been kept at home for a day or two by thecold, his wife's injunctions and Felix's entreaties brought him tothe dinner. 

It happened to be one of Wilmet's favourite economical stews; butthese were always popular in the family, though chiefly composed ofscraps, pot-liquor, rice, and vegetables, and both for its excellenceand prudence it commanded Mr. Froggatt's unqualified approbation. Allthat distressed his kind heart was to see no liquor but water, exceptCherry's thimbleful of port; he could not enjoy his glass of porter, and shook his head--perhaps not without reason--when he found thathis young assistant's diet was on no more generous scale, and was notsatisfied by Felix's laughing argument that it was impossible to bemore than perfectly healthy and strong. 'False economy, ' said the oldman in private; but Felix was not to be persuaded into what hebelieved to be an unnecessary drain on the family-finances, and wasstill more stout against the hint that if Redstone discovered thisprudential abstinence, it might make him 'disagreeable. ' Felix hadgone his way regardless of far too many sneers for poverty and so-called meanness to make any concession on their account, though theveiled jealousy and guarded insolence of that smart 'gent' theforeman had been for the last three years the greatest thorn in hisside. And at least he made this advance, that the errand-boy cleanedthe shoes!

Geraldine, though shy at first from the utter seclusion in which shehad lived, put forth a pretty bashful graciousness that perfectlyenchanted Mr. Froggatt, who was besides much touched by her patienthelplessness. He became something between her grandfather and herknight, loading her with flowers, giving her the run of thecirculating library, and whenever it was fine enough, taking her fora mile or two in his low basket-carriage either before or after hisday's business in the shop. It was not exactly like being with heronly other friend, Mr. Audley; but he was a thoroughly kind, polite, and by no means unlettered old man; and Geraldine enjoyed and wasgrateful, while the children were his darlings, and were encouragedto take all manner of liberties with him. 

Among the advantages of the change was the having Felix always athand; and though she really did not see him oftener in the course ofthe day than at St. Oswald's Buildings, still the knowing him to bewithin reach gave great contentment to Cherry. The only disadvantagewas that he lost his four daily walks to and fro, and hardly ever hadsufficient fresh air and exercise. He was indeed on his feet for themost of the day, but not exerting his muscles; and all taste for theactive sports in which his kind old master begged him to join seemedto have passed away from him when care fell upon him. He tried not tohold his head above the young men of his adopted rank, many of whomhad been his school-fellows; but, except with the members of thechoir and choral society, he had no common ground, and there werenone with whom he could form a friendship. Thus he never had any realrelaxation, except music, and his Sunday walks, besides his eveningswith his sisters and of play with the children. It was not a naturallife for a youth, but it seemed to suit with his disposition; forthough not given to outbursts of animal spirits, he was always fullof a certain strong and supporting cheerfulness. 

Indeed, though they did not like to own it to themselves, the youngpeople had left behind them much of the mournfulness of the widowedhousehold, which had borne down their youthful spirits; and thoughthe three elders could never be as those who had grown up withoutcare or grief, yet their sunshine could beam forth once more, andhelped them through the parting with their best friend. For Mr. Audley's sister-in-law died in the beginning of June, and his fatherentreated him to go abroad with his brother, so that he was hurriedaway directly after midsummer, after having left his books in Felix'scharge, and provided for the reception of the dividends in hisabsence. 

His successor was a quiet amiable young Mr. Bisset, not at alldisinclined to cultivate Felix as a link with the tradesfolk; only hehad brought with him a mother, a very nice, prim, gentle-mannered, black-eyed lady, who viewed all damsels of small means as perilous toher son. Had she been aware that Bexley contained anything so whiteand carnation, so blue-eyed and straight-featured, so stately, and sopenniless as Wilmet Underwood, he would never have taken the Curacy. She was a kind woman, who would have taken infinite pains to servethe orphan girls; and she often called on them; but when the Rector'swife had told her that such a set had been made at Mr. Audley that hecould bear it no longer, it was but a natural instinct to cherish herson's bashfulness. 

That autumn Wilmet came home elevated by the news that the headteacher was going to retire at Christmas, and that she was to bepromoted to her place of forty pounds a year. Her successor wascoming immediately to be trained, being in fact the daughter of MissPearson's sister, who had married an officer in the army. She hadbeen dead about three years, and the girl had been living in Londonwith her father, now on half pay, and had attended a day-school untilhe married again, and finding his means inadequate to his expenses, and his wife and daughter by no means comfortable together, hesuddenly flitted to Jersey to retrench, and made over his daughter ofseventeen to her aunts to be prepared for governess-ship. 

This was the account Miss Pearson and Miss Maria gave to Wilmet, andWilmet repeated to Geraldine, who watched with some interest for thefirst report of the newcomer. 

'She is rather a nice-looking little thing, ' was the first report, 'but I don't know whether we shall get on together. '

The next was, 'Miss Maria has been begging me to try to draw her out. They are quite distressed about her, she is so stiff and cold in herways with them, and they think she cries in her own room. '

'Poor thing, how forlorn she must be! Cannot you comfort her, Mettie?'

'She will have nothing to say to me! She is civil and dry, just asshe is to them. '

'I think she can talk, ' said Angela. 

'How do you know anything about it, little one? said Wilmet. 

'I heard her talking away to Lizzie Bruce in the arbour at dinner-time. Her face looked quite different then from what it does inschool. '

'Then I hope she is settling down to be happier, ' said Wilmetthoughtfully; but, having watched Angela out of hearing, she added, 'Not that I think Lizzie Bruce a good friend; she is rather a weakgirl, and is flattered by Carry Price making a distinction betweenher and some of the others. '

'When is Carry Price ever going to leave school?'

'When she can play Mendelssohn well enough to satisfy Mr. Bevan. Iwonder Lady Price does keep her on here, but in the meantime we canonly make the best of her. '

A day or two later, Wilmet and Angela came in from school eager, indignant, and victorious. 

'You did manage it well! the younger was saying. 'I was so glad yousaw for yourself. --Just fancy, Cherry, there were Carry Price andLizzie Bruce turning out all the most secret corners of MissKnevett's work-box, laughing at them, and asking horrid impertinentquestions, and she was almost crying. '

'And you fetched Wilmet?'

'She was sitting out in the garden, showing some of the little oneshow to do their crochet--it was the play-time after dinner--and Ijust went to her and whispered in her ear, and so she strolledquietly by the window. '

'Yes, ' added Wilmet, 'and before I came to it Edith was saying toJane Martin, on purpose for me to hear, that she thought it would bea good thing if Miss Underwood would look into the school-room. SoAngel was not getting into a scrape. '

'I should not have minded if I had, ' said Angel; 'it was such ashame, and she looks such a dear--'

'There she was, ' said Wilmet, 'her fingers shaking, and her eyes fullof tears, trying to do some work, while Carry Price went on in herscoffing voice, laughing over all the little treasures and jewels, and asking who gave them to her, and what they cost. All I could dowas to put my hand on her shoulder and say I saw she did not like it;and then Lizzie Bruce looked ashamed, but Miss Price bristled up, anddeclared that Miss Knevett had unlocked the box herself. Then thepoor child burst out that she had only said she would show herMaltese cross; she had never asked them to turn everything out, andmeddle with it; and Carry tossed her head, just like my Lady, andsaid, "Oh, very well, they did not want to see her trumpery, sinceshe was so cross about it. I suppose you mean to show the things oneby one to the little girls! A fine exhibition!" She cried out, "Exhibit! I don't mean to exhibit at all; I only showed it to you asmy friend!" Whereupon Carry Price flounced off with, "As if I weregoing to make a friend of an underteacher!" and she went into atremendous fit of crying, like what you used to have, Cherry, exceptthat it was more passionate!'

'I'm sure I never had anything like that to cry for. What did you dowith her? How lucky she had you!'

'Why, when she went on sobbing, "I'll not stay here, " "I won't beinsulted. " "I'll tell my aunts, " my great object was to get herupstairs, and to silence her, for I was sure Miss Pearson woulddislike nothing so much as having a regular complaint from her aboutCarry; and, besides that, all the girls, who pity her now, would beturned against her, and think her a mischief-maker. I did get her upat last, and, oh dear! what a scene we had! Poor thing, I suppose shehas been a spoilt child, going to a lady's fashionable institute, asshe calls it, where she was a great girl, and rather looked up to, for the indulgences she got from her father--very proud, too, ofbeing a major's daughter. Then came the step-mother; what things shesaid about her, to be sure! No end of misery, and disputes--whosefault, I am sure I don't know; then a crisis of debts. She says itwas all Mrs. Knevett's extravagance; but Miss Pearson told me beforethat she thought it had been going on a long time; and at last, whenthe father and his wife and her child go off to Jersey, this poorgirl is turned over to the aunts she never saw since her mother died, twelve years ago. '

'I dare say it is the best thing for her. '

'If she can only think so; but she fancies the being a teacher themost horrid thing in the world. '

'Oh, Wilmet!' interrupted Angela; 'why, you like teaching: and Robinmeans to be a real governess, and so do I, if I am not a Sister!'

'Me too, ' called out Stella. 

'But you see this unlucky girl can't understand that teaching may bea real way of doing good; she fancies it a degradation. She says sheand her friends at her institute hated and despised the teachers, andplayed all manner of tricks upon them. '

'How foolish the teachers must have been!'

'She did say something about their being low and mean. She did me thefavour to say not like me, and that she was quite shocked to find Iwas one of this dreadful race. It was quite amazing to her when Itold her how Robina's dear Miss Lyveson keeps school withoutnecessity, only to be useful. You may imagine what it is to her to beplunged all on a sudden into this unhappy class. She began by tryingto take her old place as an officer's daughter, and to consort withthe girls; but I think if she and Carry Price were left to oneanother, she would very soon sink as low as any of the poor houndedteachers she describes. '

'She must be very silly and conceited. '

'No, I think she is sensible, and loving too, at the bottom, ' saidWilmet, 'only every one is strange here. I think she will understandbetter soon; and in the meantime she has quite forgiven me for beinga teacher. She clung about me, and called me all sorts of prettynames--her only friend, and so forth. '

'Perhaps she can forgive you for being a teacher, in consideration ofyour being a twin, ' said Cherry. 

'There, Cherry, you understand her better already than I do! I'llbring her to you, I have not time for such a friendship. '

'Poor thing! I should like to try to comfort her, if she is strangeand dreary; but I think she must be rather a goose. What's her name?'

'Alice; but in school Miss Pearson is very particular about havingher called Miss Knevett. We have exchanged Christian names inprivate, of course. '

'You horrid old prosy thing of four U's, ' said Geraldine. 'You aresitting up there, you great fair creature, you, for the poor child toworship and adore, and not reciprocating a bit!'

'Of course, ' said Wilmet, 'if she can't be happy without beingpetted, I must pet her, and let her be nonsensical about me; but Ithink it is all great stuff, and that you will suit her much betterthan I ever shall. '

'Do you never mean to have a friend, Mettie?'

'Oh no, I haven't time; besides, I've got Alda. '

Geraldine had, however, many dreams about the charms of friendship. She read of it in the books that Felix selected for her; and Robinahad a vehement affection for a schoolfellow whose hair and whosecarte she treasured, and to whom she would have written dailyduring the holidays but for the cost of stamps. The equality andfreedom of the letters she received always made Cherry long for thelike. Since Edgar had left her, she had never been on those equalterms with any one; Wilmet was more like mother or aunt than sister;and though Felix had a certain air of confidence and ease when withher, and made her his chief playfellow, he could not meet all hertastes or all her needs; and there was a sort of craving within herfor intimacy with a creature of her own species. 

And though Wilmet's description of Alice Knevett did not soundparticularly wise, Cherry, in her humility, deemed her the moresecure of being on her own level, not so sensible and intolerant oflittle dreams, fancies, and delusions as those two sensible people, the twin sisters. So she watched impatiently for the introduction;and at last Wilmet said, 'Well, she is coming to tea to-morrowevening. Little ridiculous chit, she bridled and doubted, but as youwere an invalid, she supposed she might, only it was not what she hadbeen used to, and Papa "might object. "'

'What? To the shop? Well, I really think she had better not come!I'll have nobody here that thinks it a favour, and looks down onFelix. '

'My dear, if she contrives to look down on Felix after she has seenhim, she will deserve anything you please. Just now, I believe thefoolishness is in her school, and not in herself. '

Nevertheless, Geraldine's eagerness underwent a great revulsion. Instead of looking forward to the visit, she expected it with dread, and dislike to the pert, conceited, flippant Londoner, who despisedher noble brother, and aspired to the notice of Carry Price. Hernervous shrinking from strangers--the effect of her secluded life--increased on her every moment of that dull wet afternoon; her feetgrew cold, her cheeks hot, and she could hardly find temper orpatience for the many appeals of Bernard and Stella for herattention. 

Her foolish little heart was palpitating as if a housebreaker wereentering instead of Wilmet, conducting a dainty cloud of fresh lilacmuslin, out of which appeared a shining black head, and a smilingsparkling face, with so much life and play about the mouth and eyesthat there was no studying their form or colour, and it was onlyafter a certain effort that it could be realised that Alice Knevettwas a glowing brunette, with a saucy little nose, retrousse, thoughvery pretty, a tiny mouth full of small pearls, and eyes of blackdiamond. 

In spite of her gracious manner, and evident consciousness of her owncondescension, the winsomeness of the dancing eyes fascinated Cherryat once. Indeed, the simplicity and transparency of her littledignities disarmed all displeasure, they were so childish; and theyvanished in a moment in a game at play with Bernard and Stella. WhenWilmet brought out Geraldine's portfolio, her admiration wasenthusiastic if not critical. 

A sketch of Wilmet and Alda enchanted her; she had never seenanything so lovely or so well done. 

'No, no, ' said Cherry, rather shocked, 'you must have seen the RoyalAcademy. '

'Oh, but I am sure this ought to be in the Royal Academy; I never sawanything there that I liked half so much. How clever you must be!'

Cherry could not but laugh at the extravagant compliment. 'My brotherEdgar draws much better than that, ' she said, producing a capitalwater-colour of a group of Flemish market-women. 

'I shall always like yours best. Oh! and what is this?'

'I did not know it was there, ' said Cherry, colouring, and trying totake it away. 

'Oh, let me look. What! Is it a storm, or a regatta, or fishingboats? What is that odd light? What is written under? "The waves ofthis troublesome world. " Why, that is in the Bible, is not it?'

'Thirteen boats, Cherry, ' said Wilmet; 'is that a device of yourown?'

'What, not copied? Oh dear! I wish I was so clever!'

'It is the sea of this life, isn't it?' said Angela, coming up. 'Isit ourselves, Cherry, all making for the golden light of Heaven, andthe star of faith guiding them?'

'She reads it like a book, ' exclaimed Alice. 'And those two closetogether--that means love, I suppose!'

'Love and help, the weak and the strong, ' said Geraldine, in herearnest dreamy voice. 

'Do pray make a picture of my boat on a nice smooth sea of light; Idon't like rocks and breakers, such as you have done there. '

'There always must be a last long wave, ' said Cherry. 

'Oh, but don't let us think about horrid things. I like the summersea. Aren't there some verses--

 '"Youth at the prow, and pleasure at the helm?"'

'That would not be a pleasant augury, ' said Cherry. 'Do you know whatthis is meant for, bad as it is? Longfellow's verses--'

'The phantom host that beleaguered the walls of Prague? How can youdraw such things?'

'So I say, ' observed Wilmet. 

'They come and haunt me, and I feel as if I must. '

'Who is this kneeling on the wall? He looks like a knight watchinghis armour. '

'So he is, ' said Cherry. 

'But there is nothing about him in the poem. Did you make him foryourself?'

'Why, he is Ferdinand Travis!' exclaimed Wilmet. 

'What, is it a real man? I thought it was somebody in a story. '

'I see! said Angela quietly. 'He is watching his armour the nightbefore he was baptized. '

For the child had never forgotten the adult baptism, though she hadbeen little more than four years old at the time; but she was one ofthose little ones to whom allegory seems a natural element, withwhich they have more affinity than with the material world. 

However, the mention of Ferdinand Travis led to the history of thefire at the hotel, and of his recovery, Alice declared that'everything nice' seemed to happen at Bexley, and was laughed at forher peculiar ideas of niceness; but there was something in thefeminine prattle that was wonderfully new and charming to Geraldine, while, on the other hand, the visitor was conscious of a stimulus andcharm that she had never previously experienced; and the eagertongues never flagged till Felix came in. He had evidently takenpains with his toilette, in honour of the unusual event; and themeasured grave politeness of his manners renewed Alice's scaredpunctilious dignity of demeanour, and entire consciousness that shewas a major's daughter and he a bookseller. 

But Felix had brought in some exciting Eastern news; and Alice put onan air capable, as one connected with India and the army, but shesoon found out the deficiency of her geography, and was grateful forthe full clear explanations, while her amour propre was gratifiedby finding that her familiarity with a few Indian terms was valuable. Before the end of the evening all were at ease, and she was singingwith Felix and Wilmet at the old piano. 

No sooner had the door shut on her when the maid came to fetch her, than a storm fell on Wilmet. 

'So that's what you call rather nice-looking?'

'Well, she is under-sized and very brown, but I did think you wouldhave allowed that she was rather pretty. '

'Rather!' exclaimed Cherry indignantly. 

'That's what it is to be a handsome woman!' said Felix. 

'Do you mean to say that you think her anything remarkable?' saidWilmet. 

'Say no more, my dear W. W. , ' laughed Felix. 'I never understoodbefore why negroes don't admire white people. '

'I am sure I don't know what you are talking about, ' said Wilmet, betaking herself to her darning with great good-humour. 'AliceKnevett is prettier than I thought she was when she was all tears andairs; but I can't see any remarkable beauty to rave about. '

'No, _you_ can't, ' said Geraldine merrily. 'You look much too highover her head, but you see I don't; and such a little sparklingdiamond beetle is a real treat to me. '

And Geraldine often enjoyed the treat. 

In a very short time the green door and steep stairs were as familiarto Alice as to the Underwoods themselves, for her aunts were thankfulto have her happy and safe, and she was rapturously fond ofGeraldine, reflecting and responding to most of her sentiments. Mostof the Underwoods had the faculty of imprinting themselves upon thecharacters of their friends, by taking it for granted that they feltalike; and Alice Knevett had not spent six weeks at Bexley before shehad come to think it incredible that she had thought either teachingor the Underwoods beneath her. She was taking pains to do her workwell, and enjoying it, and was being moulded into a capitalsubordinate to Wilmet; while with Geraldine she read and talked overher books, obtained illustrations for the poetry she wrote out in heralbum, and brought in a wholesome air of chatter, which made Cherrymuch more girl-like than she had ever been before. It was animportation of something external, something lively and interesting, which was very refreshing to all; and even Felix, in his gravepoliteness and attention to his sister's friend, manifested that sofar from being in his way, as they had feared, he found her a veryagreeable element when she joined the home party or the Sunday walk. 

Indeed, there was a certain tendency to expansion about the life ofthe young people; the pinch of poverty was less griping thanpreviously, and their natural spirits rose. In January Lance wasallowed to bring his friend Harewood to a concert of the choralsociety; and on the following evening Alice Knevett came to tea, andthere was a series of wonderful charades, chiefly got up by Clementand Robina, and of comic songs by Lance and Bill Harewood--all withsuch success, that Alice declared that she had never seen anything sodelightful in all her experience of London Christmases!

The young people really seemed to have recovered elasticity enoughthat year to think of modest treats and holidays as they had neverventured to do since that memorable sixteenth birthday of Felix's. Here was his twenty-first not very far off; and when it was announcedthat this identical 3rd of July had been fixed on for a grand choralmeeting at the Cathedral, at which the choir of Bexley was to assist, there was such a spirit of enterprise abroad in the family, thatGeraldine suggested that Wilmet might take Robina to see theCathedral and hear Lance. 

'Lance will be just what will not be heard, ' said Felix. 'They willnot show off their solos; but the Robin ought to have the pleasure, if possible; and as I go in two capacities, press and choir, I hopewe can manage it for her. '

He came in full early for the evening. 'All right, ' he said. 'Twotickets are come for the Pursuivant, and Mr. Froggatt says he wouldnot go at any price; and besides, each of the choir may take afriend--so that's three. '

'Am I to be reporter or friend?' asked Wilmet. 

'Reporter, I think, for you will have to do audience. '

'Nay, Cherry ought to be the gentleman connected with the press, 'said Wilmet, for in fact Geraldine did sometimes do copying andcorrecting work for her brother; 'and, indeed, I do not see why sheshould not. We could go home directly after morning service, andleave you there. '

'Oh no, impossible, ' said Geraldine, 'it would never do; it wouldonly spoil everybody's pleasure, and be too much for me. '

'I think you are wise, ' said Felix; and somehow it struck her with aprick that he had rather the proposal had not been made. 'There issure to be a great crush, and I may be obliged to be with the choir. '

'I am quite able to take care of her, I can always lift her, ' saidWilmet, surprised. 

'I would not go on any account, ' protested Cherry. 'I should be likethe old woman in that Servian proverb, who paid five dollars to go tothe fair, and would have paid ten to be safe at home again. '

'There might be no getting a bench fit for you to sit upon, ' addedFelix, who, as a gentleman of the press, was not devoid ofexperience. 'I could not be easy about you, my dear; it is much safernot. '

'Perhaps so, ' owned Wilmet, disappointed; 'but Angel is too littlefor such a long day, and Cherry is so much stronger, that Ithought--'

'Oh, but could not Alice Knevett go?' put in Cherry. 

'A very good suggestion, ' said Felix. 'She hardly ever has anyamusements. Well thought of, Whiteheart!'

I believe he thought of it from the first, felt Geraldine, angry withherself that this conviction gave a prick like the point of a needle. She threw her energies into the scheme, and was begging Wilmet to goand make the proposal, when there was a sudden peal of the bell, aheadlong trampling rush, a dash open of the door--Theodore began tohum the anthem 'How beautiful, ' the other three small ones hailed'Lance' at the top of their voices, and his arms were round the neckof the first sister who came in his way. 

'What, Lance! how came you here?'

'Our organ is tuning up its pipes--man comes to-morrow--Prayers inthe Lady Chapel and not choral, and it's a holiday at school, so Igot off by the 5. 20, and need not go back till the 6. 10 to-morrow. Weare practising our throats out to lead you all on the 3rd. You knowyon are coming, the whole kit of you. '

'Do we?' said Wilmet. 'It is only for the last ten minutes that wehave known that any of us were coming. '

'All right; that's what I'm come about. Robina must be got home. 

'She will be come. She comes on the 1st. '

'That's right; then there's to be a great spread in Bishop's Meadsbetween services. Everybody sends provisions, and asks their friends;but Cherry is to go and rest at the Harewoods'. The governor will gether in through the library into the north transept as quiet as alamb, no squash at all. It is only along the cloister--a hop, step, and lump; and Miles has promised me the snuggest little seat for her. Then the Harewood sofa--'

'It is too much, Lance, ' began Cherry. 'Mrs. Harewood--'

'Don't be absurd; she wishes it with all her heart. She won't want aticket if Mr. Harewood smuggles her in, but I can get as many as youwant. How many--Wilmet, Cherry, Robin, Angel, and Miss Knevett. She'll come, won't she?'

'We were thinking of going to ask her. '

'I'll do it; I've brought my own ticket for a friend for her; here itis, with L. O. U. In the corner. I'll run down with it before any oneelse cuts in. '

'Hold hard, ' said Felix; 'we shall not get her if you set about it inthat wild way!'

'Oh, but I'll promise Wilmet shall take her in tow, and if anythingwill pacify the old girls, that will. '

'You had better let me come with you, ' said Wilmet. 

'Look sharp then. Is it a practising night? Yes, that's well; Milesis in a state of mind at the short notice, and has crammed me choke-full of messages; he says it will save his coming down; come along, then, W. W. , and soft-sawder the venerable aunts. '

No more of this operation was necessary than the assurance that MissUnderwood was going, and that Mrs. Harewood would be a sort ofchaperon. Alice Knevett was happy and grateful; and if anything werewanting to the universal enthusiasm of anticipation, it was suppliedby Lance. The boy, with his musical talent, thorough trustworthinessand frank joyous manners, was a favourite with the organist, and waswell versed in the programme; and his eagerness, and fulness ofdetail, were enough to infect every one. Geraldine thought it wasgreat proof of his unspoilableness, that he took quite as muchpleasure in bringing them to these services, where he would be but aunit in the hundreds, as if it had been one of the anthems, of whichevery one said, 'Have you heard little Underwood?' In the charm ofthe general welcome and the congratulation on Lance's arrangement, Geraldine had quite forgotten both her alarms and her tiny pang ofsurprise at not having been Felix's prime thought. Lance, by dint ofa judicious mixture of hectoring and coaxing, obtained leave forAngela to be of the party, though against Wilmet's judgment; andBernard and Stella were to spend the day with Mrs. Froggatt, whichthey regarded as an expedition quite as magnificent as that to St. Mary's Minster. 

Mr. Froggatt was almost as eager about this pleasure for 'his youngpeople, ' as he called them, as they could be. He came in early todrive Geraldine to the station, and looked with grandfatherlycomplacency at the four sisters, who had ventured on the extravaganceof white pique and black ribbons, and in their freshness looked aswell-dressed as any lady in the land. 

He entertained Cherry all the way with his admiration of Wilmet'sbeauty and industry, and when arrived at the station, waited therewith her till first the three girls came up with Alice Knevett, whitewith pink ribbons, and then the choir arrived, marching with thebanner with the rood of St. Oswald before them, each with a bluesatin bow in his button-hole, and the bag with his surplice under hisarm, the organist, the schoolmaster, and the two curates, bringing upthe rear. Mr. Bevan, my Lady, and Miss Price, whirled up in thecarriage, the omnibus discharged the friends of the choir, and twowaggon loads of musical talent from the villages came lumbering andcheering in! The very train roared and shrieked in with a sound ofcheering from its vertebrae, and banners were projecting from thewindows, amid nodding heads and waving handkerchiefs of all colours;the porters ran about distracted, and Geraldine began to be alarmed, and to think of the old woman of Servia, but behold, Felix had her onone side, Mr. Froggatt on the other, a solid guard held open thedoor, and protected her from the rush, and before she well knew whatthey were doing with her, she was lying on the seat of the carriage, with her sisters and Alice all in a row in front of her; the recentlycrowded platform was empty of all but a stray porter, thestationmaster, and Mr. Froggatt kissing his hand, and promising tocome and fetch her on her return. 

The train seemed hardly to have attained its full speed before itslackened again, and another merry load was disposed of within itsjoints. Another start, another arrival; and before the motion wasover, a flash of sunny looks had glanced before the sisters' eyes. There was Lance, perfectly radiant, under his square trencher cap--hair, eyes, cheeks, blue bow, boots, and all, seeming to sparkle withdelight as he snatched open the door. 

'Hurrah! there they are. Give her out to me, Wilmet!' (as if she hadbeen a parcel). 

'Stay, wait for Felix. You can't---'

Felix rushed up from his colleagues of the choir, and Geraldine wasset on her foot and crutch. 'Come along! I've got Ball's chair foryou, and Bill Harewood is sitting in it for fear any one should boneit. Where's your ticket?'

'Lance, take care! Don't take her faster than she can go!' as hewhisked her over the platform; and Wilmet was impeded by the seekingfor Alice's parasol and Angela's cloak. They were quite out of sightwhen Lance had dragged Cherry through the crowd at the door, andbrought her to the wheeled chair just in time to find Bill Harewoodglaring out of it like the red planet Mars, and asseverating that hewas the lame young lady it was hired for. 

In went Geraldine, imploring to wait for Wilmet, but all in vain; offwent the chair, owner and escort alike in haste, and she was sweptalong, with Lance and Will with a hand holding either side of thechair, imparting breathless scraps of information, and exchangingremarks: 'There goes the Archdeacon. ' 'The Thorpe choir is not come, and Miles is mad about it. ' 'That's the Town Hall. ' 'There's whereJack licked a cad for bullying. ' 'There's a cannon-ball of OliverCromwell's sticking out of that wall. ' 'That's the only shop fit toget gingerbeer at!' 'That old horse in that cab was in the Crimea. ''We come last in the procession, and if you see a fellow like a sheepin spectacles, that's Shapcote. ' 'Hurrah! what a stunning lot! whereis it from?' 'Bembury? My eyes, if that big fellow doesn't mean tobawl us all down. Down that way--that's the palace. Whose carriage isit stopping there! Now, here's the Close. '

'Is that the Cathedral? Oh!'

'You may well say so! No, not that way. ' And on rattled poor amazedGeraldine through an archway, under some lime trees, round a corner, round another comer, to another arched doorway, with big doorsstudded with nails, with a little door for use cut out of one of thebig ones. 

'You must get out here, ' said Lance, 'we are close by, ' and he helpedher out, and paid and thanked the man with the chair. 'Here's ourdomain, ' he continued, as he introduced Cherry through the opendoorway into a small flagged court, with two houses, gray and old-fashioned, forming one side, and on the other an equally old long lowbuilding with narrow latticed arched windows. Opposite to theentrance was a handsome buttressed Gothic-looking edifice, behindwhich rose the gable of the north transept of the Cathedral, beautiful with a rose window, and farther back, far, far above, thenoble tower. 

Already everything was very wonderful to Geraldine. 'That's ourkennel, ' said Lance, pointing to the low buildings to the right. 'School's behind; but we boarders are put up in one of the old monks'dormitories, between court and cloister. '

'Is it really!' exclaimed Geraldine. 

'So my father says, ' said Will. 'Here's our door. ' Another stone-arched passage, almost dark, with doors opening on either side, seemed common to both houses; and Will was inviting them to enter, but Lance held back. 'No time, ' he said; 'better call your father. '

'The others, ' sighed Geraldine. 

'Bother the others! That's right: here he is!'

'Halloo, Father!' cried Will; 'we've got Cherry. '

'By which unceremonious designation I imagine you to mean tointroduce Miss Underwood, ' said a figure, appearing from beneath thearchway, in trencher cap, surplice, and hood, with white hair, and asort of precision and blandness that did not at all agree withCherry's preconceived notions of the Harewood household. 'I am veryglad to see you. My ladies, as usual, are unready. Will you have aglass of wine? No?--What do you say, Lancelot?--Very well, we willtake you in at once. You will not object to waiting there, and thisis the quiet time. --Boys, you ought to be with the choir. '

'Oceans of time, Dad, ' coolly answered Will; 'none of the fellows upthere are under weigh. '

Mr. Harewood offered his arm, but perceived that Cherry preferredLance and her crutch; advancing to the door opposite that by whichthey had entered, he unlocked it, and Geraldine found herself passingthrough a beauteous old lofty chamber, with a groined Tudor roof, allfans, and pendants, and shields; tall windows stained with armorialbearings, parchment charters and blazoned genealogies against thewalls, and screens upon screens loaded with tomes of all ages, writing-tables and chairs here and there, and glass-topped tablescontaining illuminations and seals. 'Here is my paradise, ' said thelibrarian, smiling. 

'I think it must be, ' said Geraldine, with a long breath of wonderand admiration. 

'Ah! would you not like to have a good look, Cherry?' said Lance. 'That's Richard Coeur de Lion's seal in there. '

'Don't begin about it--don't set him on, ' whispered Willie, with asign of his head towards his father, who was fitting the key into theopposite door, 'or we shall all stay here for the rest of the day. '

This low door open, Mr. Harewood and the boys bared their heads asthey entered, and Geraldine felt the strange solemn sensation offinding herself in a building of vast height and majesty, full of awonderful stillness, as though the confusion of sounds she had beenin so recently were far, far off. 

'Where now, Lancelot?' asked Mr. Harewood, in a hushed voice; 'do youwant me any further?'

'No, thank you, sir, I'll just take her across the choir to Mr. Miles, and then join the rest of us at the vestry. '

'Good-bye for the present, then, ' said Mr. Harewood kindly. 'You arein safe hands. Your brother comes round every one. _I_ could not dothis. '

Through the side-screen, into the grandly beautiful choir, archinghigh above, with stall-work and graceful canopies below, and richglass casting down beams of coloured light--all for 'glory and forbeauty, ' thought Geraldine. 

'You must not stop; you must look when you are settled. That's myside, ' pointing to one of the choristers' desks. 'It will be only wethat sing in here; the congregation is in the nave--a perfect sea ofchairs. I'll come for you when it is over. Here is Mr. Miles. Mysister, sir. '

A pale gentleman in spectacles, with a surplice and beautiful bluehood, was here addressed. He too greeted Geraldine, very shyly butkindly, and she found herself expected to ascend some alarming-looking stone steps. The organ was on the choir screen, and to theorganist's little private gallery was she to ascend. It was adifficult matter, and she had in her trepidation despairinglyrecognised the difference between Lance's good will and Felix'spractised strength; but at last she was landed in an admirable littlecushioned nook, hidden by two tall painted carved canopies--exactlyover the Dean's head, her brother told her--and where, as she satsideways, she could see through the quatrefoils into the choir on theright hand, and the nave on the left. 'Delightful! Oh, thank you, howkind! If I am only not keeping any one out. '

'No, ' said Lance, smiling, and whispering lower than ever, 'he has noone belonging to him. He hates women. Never a petticoat was herebefore in his reign. Have you a book?'

'They are robing, Underwood, ' said the misogynist in the organ-loft;and Lance hurried away, leaving Geraldine alone, palpitating a gooddeal, but almost enjoying the solitude, in the vast structure, wherethe sanctity of a thousand years of worship seemed to fill the veryair, as she gazed at the white vaultings and bosses carved withemblems above, at the vista of clustered columns terminating in thegreat jewelled west window, or at the crown-like loveliness thatencompassed the sanctuary. All was still, except a deep low tone ofthe organ now and then. Mr. Miles looked in after the first, to hopeshe did not feel it uncomfortably, and to assure her that though shewas too near his organ, she need not fear its putting forth its fullpowers; it was to be kept in subordination, and only guide thevoices. This was great attention from a woman-hater, and Geraldineventured to reiterate her thanks; at which he smiled, and said, 'Whenone has such a boy as your brother, there is pleasure in doinganything he wishes. You are musical?'

'I never was able to learn to play. '

'But you can read music?'

'Oh yes, ' for she had often copied it. 

So he brought her whole sheets of music, and put her in the way offollowing and understanding, perceiving, as he went, that she wasfull of intelligence and perception. 

When he went back to his post, a few groups, looking very small, werecreeping in by transept doors--by favour, like herself: then a littlewhite figure flitted across to the desks, opened and marked thebooks, took up something, and disappeared; and in another momentLance, in his broad white folds, was at her side. 'Here's the music. Oh, you have it! I've seen Fee, ' he whispered; 'they are at Mrs. Harewood's, all right!' and he was gone. 

Here she sat, her attention divided between the sacred impressions ofthe place, its exceeding beauty, and the advance of the multitudeinto the nave, as the doors were open, and they surged up the spaceleft in the central aisle, and occupied the ranks of chairs preparedfor them. Then came a long pause; she scanned each row in search ofher sisters, and only was confused by the host of heads; felt lostand lonely, and turned her eyes and mind to the silent grandeur tothe east, rather than the throng to the west. 

At last there came the sweet floating sound of the chant, growing inpower like the ocean swell as it approached, and the first brightbanner appeared beneath the lofty pointed archway; and the doublewhite file came flowing on like a snowy glacier, the chant becomingclear and high as the singers of each parish marched along to theirplaces, each ranked under a bright banner with the symbol of theirchurch's dedication. St. Oswald's rood helped Geraldine to make outthat of Bexley better than their faces, though she did make out hereldest brother's fair face, and trace him to his seat. The cathedralsingers came at last, and that kenspeckle red head of Will Harewood'sdirected her to the less conspicuous locks belonging to Lance, whoseown clear thrush-like note she could catch as he passed beneath thescreen. Then came the long train of parish clergy, the canons, theDean, and lastly the Bishop, the sight of whom recalled so much. 

The unsurpliced contribution had meantime been ushered in by the sidedoors, and filled seats in the rear of the others, so as to add theirvoices without marring the general effect--the perfection of whichGeraldine enjoyed--of the white-robed multitude that seemed to fillthe whole chancel. 

The sight seemed to inspire her whole soul with a strange yearningjoy, as though she were beholding a faint earthly reflex of the greatvision of the Beloved Disciple; and far more was it so at the sound, which realised in a measure the words, 'As the voice of mightywaters, and as the voice of thunder. '

These were the very words that had been selected for the SecondLesson, and the First consisted of those verses in which we hear ofDavid's commencement of the continual chant of psalms at thesanctuary; and both, unwonted as they were, gave a wonderful thrillto the audience, as though opening to them a new comprehension oftheir office as singers of the sanctuary. 

There is no need to dwell on the wonderful and touching exhilarationderived from the harmony of vast numbers with one voice attuned topraise. It is a sensation which is so nearly a foretaste of eternity, that participation alone can give the most distant perceptionthereof. To the entirely unprepared and highly sensitive Geraldine itwas most overpowering, all the more because she was entirely out ofsight, and without power of taking part by either gesture or posture--she was passive and had no vent for her emotion. 

Lance, who made his way to her round through the transept the momenthe had disrobed, found her pale, panting, tearful, and trembling, with burning cheeks, so that his exaltation turned to alarm. 'Are youdone up, Cherry? It is too hot up here? Ill try to find Felix orWilmet, which?'

'Neither! I am quite well, only--O Lance, I did not know anythingcould be so heavenly. There seemed to be the sweeping of angels'wings all round and over me, and Papa's voice quite clear. '

'I know, ' said Lance; 'it always does come in that Te Deum. '

The sister and brother were silent, not yet able for the criticaldiscussion of single points; only, as he put his arm round her tohelp her to rise, she said, with a sigh, 'O Lance, it is a greatthing to be one of them! Thank you. I think this is the greatest dayof all my life. '

The getting her down, what with Lance's inexperience and want ofheight and strength, was anxious work; and just as it had been safelyaccomplished, the rest of their party were seen roaming the aisle indistress and perplexity. Geraldine was very glad of Felix'ssubstantial arm, but she had rather he had omitted that rebuke forventuresomeness in dealing with her, which would have affrontedFulbert, but never seemed to trouble Lance, who was only triumphantin his success; and her perfect contentment charmed away the vexationwhich really arose from a slight sense of having neglected her. 

The others had been perfectly happy in their several ways, and madeeager comments on their way to the house of Harewood, whither Lancepiloted them--this time by the front way, through the garden, whichlay behind the close--entering, in spite of the mannerly demurs ofthe elder ones, through the open door, into a hall whence a voice ofhearty greeting at once ensued. 'Here you are at last; and how's thepoor darling your sister! not over-tired?'

And Cherry, before she was aware, found herself kissed, and almostsnatched away from Felix, to be deposited on a sofa; and while thelike kisses were bestowed on the two little girls, and hospitableoffers showered on all, she was amused by perceiving that good Mrs. Harewood was endowed with exactly the same grotesque order ofugliness as her son William; but she was even more engaging, from anindescribably droll mixture of heedlessness, blundering, and tendermotherliness. 

'There, now, you'll just leave her to me, the poor dear; and Lancewill take you down to the Mead, and find Papa and the girls for you. '

'Oh, thank you, I could not think of your staying. Now pray--'

'Now prays' were to no purpose; Mrs. Harewood professed only to wantan excuse for staying at home--she did not want to be done up withrunning after her girls to the four ends of the Mead, when it was along step for her to begin with. Off with them. 

So when Wilmet was satisfied that Geraldine was comfortable, the fivemoved off--Felix and Alice, Angel in Wilmet's hand, and Lance's andRobina's tongues wagging so fast that the wonder was how eithercaught a word of what the other was saying. 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Harewood, tossing her bonnet and gloves aside, inperfect indifference to the exposure of the curious structure of redand gray hair she thus revealed, lavished meats and drinks upon herguest, waiting on her with such kindness, that in spite of allweariness and craving for quiet after these deep and wonderfulimpressions, it was impossible not to enjoy that warmth of heart. There was exactly the tender motherliness that even Wilmet and SisterConstance could not give. 

It was charming to hear how fond Mrs. Harewood was of Lance, and howthe having such a companion had made it possible to keep her Willieat the cathedral school, where the mixture of lads was great, but themaster first-rate. He thought highly of the promise of both; 'but totell the truth, ' said Mrs. Harewood, as she sat and fanned herselfwith her husband's trencher cap, looking more than ever like a frogin a strawberry bed, 'though my Willie is the cleverest boy in theschool, little good his cleverness would have done him, and he wouldhave been harum-scarum Bill more than ever, if it were not for Lance. So say his father and brother Jack; so that they will not be for hisgoing to a public school unless Lance were sure of it too. '

'Will not they be able to stay on here?'

Mrs. Harewood explained that the year that the barristers--choristersshe meant--were sixteen, when their voices were usuallyunserviceable, they, together with those of like age in the school, were subjected to an examination, and the foremost scholar obtainedan exhibition, in virtue of which he could remain free of expense foranother two years, and then could try for one of the Minsterhamscholarships at one of the colleges at Cambridge. Those who failed, either had to pay like the ordinary schoolboys, or left the school. 

Dear Mrs. Harewood was a perfect Malaprop, and puzzled Geraldine bycontinually calling the present occasion the rural meeting, and otherlike slips, uncommonly comical in a well-educated woman with thewords she knew best. 

All this, and a great deal more--about the shy woman-hating organist, and the unluckiness of the dissenter--no, precentor--having a sickwife, and the legal difficulties that prevented building a betterhouse for the boarders than the queer long room where they lodged, between the cloister and the Bailey--the proper name of the littlecourt by which Geraldine had come--was poured out; and kind as itwas, there was a certain sense of having been talked to death. 

A whole flood of Harewoods, Underwoods, and untold numbers besides, swept into the room as the bell began to ring for Evensong. Mostsincere were Cherry's entreaties that she might be left alone. Shecould not go back to her coign of vantage, 'it had been too beautifulfor her to bear more, ' she said; and she severally declined offers ofcompanionship from three female Harewoods and two sisters, tellingWilmet at last that all she wanted was to be still and alone. 

Alone she was, but not still, for there was nothing to hinder themagnificent volume of sound that surged around the Cathedral fromcoming to her; and she could trace the service all along--in chant, pealing mighty Amens, with the hush between, in anthem, and injubilant hymn. She was more calmly happy than in the oppressivegrandeur of the morning, as she lay there, in the cool drawing-room, with the open window veiled by loose sprays of untrimmed roses, andsacred prints looking down from the walls. 

The solitude lasted rather too long, when she had heard the hum andbuzz of the host pouring out of the Cathedral, and still no one came. They were to go home by the 5. 10 train, and every time she countedthe chimes she became more alarmed lest they should be too late. Minutes dragged on. Five! It was five! Was she forgotten? Should shebe only missed and remembered at the station, too late? Tired, nervous, unused to oblivion, she found tears in her eyes, and was toosorrowful and angry with her own impatience even to think of the oldwoman of Servia. Hark! a trampling? Had they remembered her? But oh, it would be late for the train!

In burst Lance, in his cap and little short quaint black gown. 

'O Lance, I shall be too late!'

'You don't go by this train. '

'Oh dear! oh dear! Mr. Froggatt was to meet me;' and the tearsstarted from her eyes. 'How could Felix forget?'

'Never mind, there's sure to be a fly or something. '

'Yes, but Mr. Froggatt waiting!'

'Never mind, ' repeated Lance, ''tis a fine evening to air the oldboss. '

'Don't, Lance; you none of you have any proper regard for Mr. Froggatt;' which, as far as Lance was concerned, was unjust, and itwas well for Cherry that it was not addressed to either of thebrothers who better deserved it. 

What Lance did was to execute one of his peculiar summersaults, andthen, making up a dismal face, to say, 'Alas! I commiserate thevenerable citizen disappointed of the pleasure of driving my LadyGeraldine home from the wash as well as hisself. '

She was past even appreciating the bathos. 'It is no laughing matter, she said; 'it is so uncivil, when he is so kind. I can't imagine whatFelix is thinking of?'

'Croquet, ' said Lance briefly, then seeing the flushed, quivering, mortified face, he added, 'Wilmet has not forgotten you one bit, Cherry; but Alice Knevett and Robin did so want to see the fun in themead--there's running in sacks, and all sorts of games--that there'sno getting any one away; and the W's are in charge, and can't leavethem to their own devices, so she said perhaps you would be morerested by lying still than rattling home. 

'Oh, I dare say Wilmet is as sorry as anybody, ' said Cherry ratherquerulously, for the needle point was pricking her again. 

'And as to your dear old Froggy, ' continued Lance, 'she says he toldher he did not in the least expect you back by this train, and if youdid not come by it, he'll stay in town for the 8. 50. '

'How very good of him!' said Cherry, beginning to be consoled. 'AndFelix at croquet!'

'Alice is teaching him. You never did see such a joke as oldBlunderbore screwing up his eyes at the balls, and making at themwith his mallet like a sledge-hammer. He and Alice and Robin and thatBisset curate are playing against Bill, two of the girls, andShapcote--Bexley against Minsterham, and little Bobbie's a real out-and-outer. She'll make her side win by sheer cool generalship. '

'And poor little Angel?' The needle point was a pang now. 

'Oh, Angel is happier than ever she was in her life. The Bishop'sdaughter has a turn for little kids, and has got all the small onestogether in the pleached alley, playing at all manner of things. '

'Run back, Lance, to the fun. I shall do very well, ' said poorGeraldine. 

'I should think so, when I get you so often!' scornfully ejaculatedLancelot, drawing a dilapidated brioche from under the sofa, andsquatting on it, with his dancing eyes close to her sad ones. 

An effusion of spirits prompted her to lay her hands on hisshoulders, kiss him on each cheek, and cry, 'O Lance, you are thevery sweetest boy!'

'Sweetest treble, you mean, ' said Lance quaintly; 'if you had onlyheard me! You should see how the old ladies in the stalls peep andwhisper, and how Bill Harewood opens his mouth rather wider than itwill go, and they think it is he. '

'Not for fun, Lance?'

'Well, I believe all their jaws are hung on looser than otherpeople's. But I say, ain't you dying of thirst?'

'Perhaps Mrs. Harewood will give us some tea when she comes in. '

'If you trust to that--'

'O Lance!' she cried, alarmed at seeing him coolly ring the bell. 

'Bless you, she's forgotten all about you and tea and everything!They are drinking it by the gallon in the tents; and by and by she'llroll in, ready to cry that you've had none, and mad with herself andme for giving you none; and the fire will be out, and the kettle willboil about ten minutes after you are off by the train. We'll havesome this minute. '

'But, Lance--'

'But, Cherry, ain't I a walking Sahara with roaring at the tiptop ofmy voice to lead the clod-hoppers? How they did bellow! I owe it as aduty to the Chapter to wet my whistle. '

'One comfort is, nobody knows your coolness. Nobody comes for allyour ringing. '

'Reason good! Every living soul in the house is in the Bishop'smeadow, barring the old cat; I seen 'em with their cap-stringsflying. But that's nothing. I know where Mother Harewood keeps hertea and sugar;' and he pounced on a tea-caddy of Indian aspect. 

'Lance, if you did that to Mettie--'

'Exactly so. I don't;' and he ran out of the room, while Cherry satup on her sofa, her petulance quite banished between amusement anddesperation at such proceedings in a strange house. He came backpresently with two cups, saucers, and plates, apparently picked up athap-hazard, as no two were alike. 'My dear Lance, where have youbeen?'

'In the kitchen. Such a jolly arched old hole. Bill and I have doneno end of Welsh rabbits there. Once when we were melting some lead, Bill let it drop into the pudding, and the Pater got it at dinner, and said it was the heaviest morsel he ever had to digest. '

'But wasn't it poison?'

'I suppose not, for you see he isn't dead. Another time, when we weremelting glue, we upset a whole lot of fat, and the chimney caughtfire; and wasn't that a go? Bill got a pistol out of Jack's room, andfired it up the chimney to bring the soot down; and down it came witha vengeance! He was regularly singed, and I do think the place wouldhave been burned if it had not been too old! All the Shapcotes ranout into the court, hallooing Fire! and the engine came, but therewas nothing for it to do. Oh, the face Wilmet would make to see thatkitchen. Kettle's biling--I must run. '

He came back with an enormous metal tea-pot in one hand, and aboiling kettle in the other, a cloud of vapour about his head. 

'You appear in a cloud, like a Greek divinity, ' said Cherry, beginning to enter into the humour of the thing. 

'Bringing nectar and ambrosia, ' said Lance, depositing the kettleamid the furbelows of paper in the grate, and proceeding to brew thetea. 'Excuse the small trifles of milk and cream, and as to bread, Ican't find it, but here are the cakes you had for luncheon, shuntedoff into the passage window. Sugar, Cherry! Fingers were made beforetongs. Now I call this jolly. '

'I only hope this isn't a great liberty. '

'If you fired off a cannon under Mrs. Harewood's nose, she would notcall it a liberty. '

'So it appears. But Mr. Harewood does not look--like that. '

'Oh, he's well broken in. He is the pink of orderliness in his ownstudy and the library, but as long as no one meddles there, he mindsnothing. It just keeps him alive; but I believe the Shapcotes thinkthis house a mild lunatic asylum. '

'Who are the Shapcotes?'

'He's registrar. They live in the other half of this place--the oldinfirmary, Mr. Harewood calls it. Such a contrast! He is a tremendousold Turk in his house, and she is a little mincing woman; and they'vemade Gus--he's one of us, you know--a horrid sneak, and think it'sall my bad company and Bill's. By-the-by, Cherry, Gus Shapcote askedme if my senior wasn't spoony about--'

'I nope you told him to mind his own business!' cried Geraldine, witha great start of indignation. 

'I told him he was a sheep, ' said Lance. 'But, I say, Cherry, I wantto know what you think of it. '

'Think? I'm not so ready to think nonsense!'

'Well, when the old giant was getting some tea for _her_, I saw twoladies look at one another and wink. '

'Abominably ill-mannered, ' she cried, growing ruddier than thecherry. 

'But had you any notion of it?'

'Impossible!' she said breathlessly. 'He is only kind and civil toher, as he is to everybody. Think how young he is!'

'I'm sure I never thought old Blunderbore much younger thanMethuselah. Twenty-one! Isn't it about the age one does such things?'

'Not when one has twelve brothers and sisters on one's back, ' sighedGeraldine. 'Poor Felix! No, there can't be anything in it. Don't letus think of foolish nonsense this wonderful day. What a glorious hymnthat was!'

Lance laid his head lovingly on the sofa-cushion, and discussed theenjoyment of the day with his skilled appreciation of music. Geraldine's receptive power was not inferior to his own, though shehad none of that of expression, nor of the science in which he wastrained. He was like another being from the merry rattle he was atother times; and she had more glimpses than she ever had before ofthe high nature and deep enthusiasm that were growing in him. 

'Hark! there's somebody coming, ' she cried, starting. 

'Let him come. Oh, it is the Pater. --Here is some capital tea, Mr. Harewood. Have some? I'll get a cup. '

'You are taking care of your sister. That is right. A good colonistyou would make. --Come in, Lee, ' said Mr. Harewood, who, to Cherry'sincreased consternation, was followed by another clergyman. 'We arebetter off than I dared to expect, thanks to this young gentleman. Miss Geraldine Underwood--Mr. Lee. --You knew her father, I think. '

'Not poor Underwood of Bexley? Indeed! I knew him. I always wished Icould have seen more of him, ' said Mr. Lee, coming up and heartilyshaking hands with Cherry, and asking whether she was staying there, etc. 

Meantime Lance had fetched a blue china soup-plate, a white cup andpink spotted saucer; another plate labelled 'Nursery, ' a coffee-cupand saucer, one brown and the other blue, and as tidily as if he hadbeen lady of the house or parlour-maid, presented his provisions, Mr. Harewood accepting with a certain quiet amusement. His remarkabletrim neatness of appearance, and old-school precision of manner, madehis quiet humorous acquiescence in the wild ways of his household allthe more droll. After a little clerical talk, that reminded Cherry ofthe old times when she used to lie on her couch, supposed not tounderstand, but dreamily taking in much more than any one knew--itappeared that Mr. Lee wanted to see something in the Library, and Mr. Harewood asked her whether she would like to come and see Coeur deLion's seal. 

She was fully rested, and greatly pleased. Lance's arm was quitesufficient now, and she studied the Cathedral and its precincts in asuperexcellent manner. Mr. Harewood, who had spent almost his wholelife under its shadow, and knew the history of almost every stone orquarry of glass, was the best of lionisers, and gave her muchattention when he perceived how intelligent and appreciative she was. He showed her the plan of the old conventual buildings, and she beganto unravel the labyrinth through which she had been hurried. TheClose and Deanery were modernised, but he valued the quaint oldcorner where he lived for its genuine age. The old house now dividedbetween him and Mr. Shapcote had been the infirmary; and the longnarrow building opposite, between the Bailey and the cloister, hadbeen the lodgings either of lay-brothers or servants. There being fewboarders at the Cathedral school, they had always been lodged in thelong narrow room, with the second master in a little closet shut offfrom them. Cherry was favoured with a glance at Lance's littlecorner, with the old-fashioned black oak bedstead, solid but unsteadytable and stool, the equally old press, and the book-case he had madehimself with boards begged from his friend the carpenter. Aphotograph and drawing or two, and a bat, completed the plenishing. She thought it very uncomfortable, but Lance called it his castle;and Mr. Harewood, pointing to the washing apparatus, related that inhis day the cock in the Bailey was the only provision for suchpurposes. The boys were safely locked in at eight every night whenthe curfew rang, and the Bailey door was shut, there being no otheraccess to the rooms, except by the Cathedral, through the Library, and the private door that led into the passage common to theHarewoods and Shapcotes. 

The loveliness of the Cloister, the noble vault of the Chapterhouse, the various beauties and wonders of the Cathedral, and lastly thecuriosities of the Library--where Mr. Harewood enthroned her in hisown chair, unlocked the cases, brought her the treasures, and turnedover the illuminated manuscripts for her as if she had been aprincess--made Geraldine forget time, weariness, and anxiety, until, as the summer sun was at last taking leave, a voice called at thewindow, 'Here she is! I thought Papa would have her here!' and thefreckled face of a Miss Harewood was seen peering in. 

There the truants were, eager, hurried, afraid for the train, full ofcompunction, for the long abandonment: Alice, most apologetic;Wilmet, most quiet; Felix, most attentive; Robina, still ecstatic;and Angela, tired out--there they all were. It was all one hastyscramble to the crowded station, and then one merry discussion andcomparison of notes all the way home, Geraldine maintaining that shehad enjoyed herself the best of all; and Alice incredulous of thepleasure of sitting in a musty old library with an old gentleman ofat least sixty; while Felix was so much delighted to find that shehad been so happy, that he almost believed that the delay had beensolely out of consideration for her. 

Mr. Froggatt was safe at the station in his basket, full of delightat the enjoyment of his young people, and of anecdotes of Bernard andStella; and Geraldine found herself safely deposited at home, butwith one last private apology from Wilmet as she was putting her tobed. 'I did not know how to help it, ' she said; Alice was so wildwith delight, that I could not get her away; and Felix was enjoyinghis holiday so thoroughly, I knew that you would be sorry it shouldbe shortened. '

'Indeed I am very glad you stayed. It would be too bad to encumberyou. '

'I wanted to come and see after you, but I had promised Miss Pearsonnot to lose sight of Alice. And then Lance offered to take care ofyou. '

'O Wilmet, I never half knew what a dear boy Lance is! What boy wouldhave come, when all that was going on, to stay with a lame crossthing like me? And how nice for him to have such kind friends as theHarewoods!'

'They seem very fond of him, ' said Wilmet; 'but I wish he had takenup with the Shapcotes. I never saw such a house. It is enough to ruinall sense of order! But they were very kind to us; and if you werewell off, it was all right. I never saw Felix look so like his brightold self as to-day; and it is his birthday, after all. '

So Wilmet was innocent of all suspicions--wise experienced Wilmet!That was enough to make Cherry forget that little thorn of jealousy, especially as things subsided into their usual course, and she had nomore food for conjecture. 

CHAPTER XII

GIANT DESPAIR'S CASTLE

'Who haplesse and eke hopelesse all in vaine, Did to him pace sad battle to darrayne; Disarmd, disgraste, and inwardly dismayde, And eke so faint in every ioynt and vayne, Through that fraile fountaine which him feeble made. ' SPENSER. 

Felix's majority made no immediate difference. His thirteenth part ofhis father's small property remained with the rest, at any rate untilhis guardian should return from his travels in the East; but in thecourse of the winter his kind old godfather, Admiral Chester, died, and having no nearer relation, left him the result of his smallsavings out of his pay, which would, the lawyer wrote, amount toabout a thousand pounds, but there was a good deal of business to betransacted, and it would be long before the sum was made over to him. 

Wilmet and Geraldine thought it a perfect fortune, leading to theUniversity, and release from trade; and they looked rather crestfallenwhen they heard that it only meant 30 pounds per annum in the funds, or 50 pounds in some risky investment. Mr. Froggatt's wish was that heshould purchase such a share in the business as would really give himstanding there; but Wilmet heard this with regret; she did not likehis thus binding himself absolutely down to trade. 

'You are thinking for Alda, ' said Felix, smiling. 'You areconsidering how Froggatt and Underwood will sound in her ears. '

'In mine, too, Felix; I do not like it. '

'I would willingly endure it to become Redstone's master, ' saidFelix, quietly. 

'Is he still so vexatious?' asked Geraldine: for not above once insix months did Felix speak of any trials from his companions inbusiness. 

'Not actively so; but things might be better done, and much ill bloodsaved. I cannot share W. W. 's peculiar pride in preferring to be anassistant instead of a partner. '

'Then this is what you mean to do with it?'

'Wait till it comes, ' he said, oracularly. 'Seriously, though, Idon't want to tie it all up. The boys may want a start in life. '

Neither sister thought of observing that the legacy was to one, notto all. Everybody regarded what belonged to Felix as common property;and the 'boys' were far enough into their teens to begin to maketheir future an anxious consideration. Clement was just seventeen, and though he had outgrown his voice, was lingering on as a sort ofadopted child at St. Matthew's, helping in the parish school, andreading under one of the clergy in preparation for standing for ascholarship. He tried for one in the autumn, but failed, so much tohis surprise and disgust, that he thought hostility to St. Matthew'smust be at the bottom of his rejection; and came home with somewhatof his martyr-like complacency at Christmas, meaning to read so hardas to force his way in spite of prejudice. He was very tall, fair, and slight; and his features were the more infantine from a certainmelancholy baby-like gravity, which music alone dispersed. He reallyplayed beautifully, and being entrusted with the organ during theschoolmaster's Christmas holidays, made practising his chiefrecreation. That Lance would often follow him into church for astudy, and always made one of the group round the piano when AliceKnevett came to sing with them, was a great grievance to Fulbert, whonever loved music, and hated it as a rival for Lance's attention. 

These two were generally the closest companions, and were alike inhaving more boyishness, restlessness, and enterprise than theirbrothers. This winter their ambition was to be at all the meetswithin five miles, follow up the hunt, and be able to report thefox's death at the end of the day. Indeed, their appetite forwhatever bore the name of sport was as ravenous as it wasindiscriminate; and their rapturous communications could not bechecked by Clement's manifest contempt, or the discouragingindifference of the rest--all but Robina, who loved whatever Lanceloved, and was ready to go to a meet, if Wilmet had not interferedwith a high hand. 

Before long Felix wished that his authority over the male part of thefamily were as well established as that in her department. 

One hunting day the two brothers came in splashed up to the eyes, recounting how they had found a boy of about their own age in aditch, bruised and stunned, but not seriously hurt, how withconsolation and schoolboy surgery they had cheered him, and found hewas Harry Collis, whom they had known as a school-fellow at Bexley;how they had helped him home to Marshlands Hall, and had been amazedat the dreariness and want of all home comfort at the place, so thatthey did not like to leave him till his father came home; and howCaptain Collis had not only thanked them warmly, but had asked themover to come and shoot rabbits the next day. 

There was nothing to blame them for, but Felix had much rather it hadnever happened. Captain Collis was one of a race of squires who hadnever been very reputable, and had not risen greatly above thefarmer. He had been in the army, and had the bearing of a gentleman;but ever since his wife's death, he had lived an unsatisfactory sortof life at the Hall, always forward in sport, but not well thoughtof, and believed to be a good deal in debt. His only child, thisHarry Collis, had been sent somewhat fitfully to the St. Oswald'sGrammar School, and had been rather a favourite companion of Lance's;but separation had put an end to the intimacy, and this renewal wasnot at all to the taste of their eldest brother. 

'It can't be helped this time, ' he said, when he heard of theinvitation; 'I suppose you must go to-morrow, but I don't fancy theconcern. '

Fulbert's bristles began to rise, but Lance chatted gaily on. 'But, Fee, you never saw such a place! Stables for nine hunters. Onlythink! And a horse entered for the Derby! We are to see him to-morrow. It is the jolliest place. '

'Nine hunters!' moralised Clement; 'they cost as much as three timesnine orphans. '

'And they are worth a dozen times as much as the nasty littlebeggars!' said Fulbert. 

On which Angela put in the trite remark that the orphans had souls. 

'Precious rum ones, ' muttered Fulbert; and in the clamour thus raisedthe subject dropped; but when next morning, in the openness of hisheart, Lance invited Clement to go with them to share the untold joysof rabbit-shooting, he met with a decisive reply. 'Certainly not! Ishould think your Dean would be surprised at you. '

'Oh, the Dean is a kind old chap, ' answered Lance, off-hand;'whenever he has us to sing at a party, he tips us all round, thanksus, and tells us to enjoy ourselves in the supper-room, like agentleman, as he is. '

'Do you know what this Collis's character is?'

'Hang his character! I want his rabbits. '

And Lance was off with Fulbert; while Clement remained, to makeGeraldine unhappy with his opinion of the temptations of MarshlandsHall, returning to the charge when Felix came in before dinner. 

'Yes, ' said Felix briefly, 'Mr. Froggatt has been telling me. It mustbe stopped. '

'Have you heard of the mischief that--'

'Don't be such a girl, Tina. I am going to do the thing, and there isno use in keeping on about it. '

Felix had not called Clement Tina since he had been head of thefamily, and irritability in him was a token of great perplexity; forindeed his hardest task always was the dealing with Fulbert; and hewas besides very sorry to balk the poor boys of one of their fewchances of manly amusement. 

He would have waited to utter his prohibition till the excitementshould have worked off, but he knew that Clement would never hold hispeace through the narrative of their adventures; so, as they had notcome in when his work was over, he took Theodore on his arm, andretreated to the little parlour behind the shop, where he lay inwait, reading, and mechanically whistling tunes to Theodore, till heheard the bell, and went to open the door. 

The gas showed them rosy, merry, glorious, and bespattered, onewaving a couple of rabbits, and the other of pheasants, and trying totickle Theodore's cheeks with the long tails of the latter, of coursefrightening him into a fretful wail. 

'Take Theodore upstairs, if you please, Lance, ' said Felix, 'and thencome down; I want you. '

'The Captain was going to dine at Bowstead's, ' said Fulbert, 'so hedrove us in his dog-cart. If the frost holds, we are to go out andskate on Monday. '

Felix employed himself in putting away his papers, without answering. 

'I had very good luck, ' continued Fulbert, 'four out of six;wonderful for so new a hand, the Captain said. '

'Such a lovely animal you never saw, ' said Lance, swinging himselfdownstairs. 'You must walk out and see it, Fee, for you'll have it inthe Pursuivant some Saturday. '

'Lance, I am very sorry, ' said Felix, standing upright, with his backto the exhausted grate. 'Just attend to me, both of you. '

'Oh!' said Lance, hastily, 'I know there's a lot of old women'sgossip about Collis; but nobody minds such stuff. Harry is as good alad as ever stepped; and there was no harm to be seen about theplace;--was there, Ful?'

'The old Frog has been croaking, ' hoarsely muttered Fulbert. 

Boys of sixteen and fourteen were incapable of coercion by a youth ofone-and-twenty, and the only appeal must be to conscience and reason, so Felix went on speaking, though he had seen from the first thatFulbert's antagonism rendered him stolid, deaf, and blind; andLancelot's flushed cheeks, angry eyes, impatient attempts tointerrupt, and scornful gestures told of scarcely repressed passion. 

'You may have seen no harm, I find no fault' (Fulbert scowled); 'butif I had known what I do now I should not have let you go to-day. Myfather would rather have cut off his right hand than have allowed youto begin an acquaintance which has been ruinous to almost all theyoung men who have been in that set. '

'But we are not young men, ' cried Lance, 'it is only for theholidays; and we only want a little fun with poor Harry, he is solonely--and just to go out rabbiting and skating. It is very hard wecan't be let alone the first time anything worth doing has turned upin this abominable, slow place. '

'It is very hard, Lance. No one is more concerned than I; but if thisintimacy once begins, there is no guessing where it will lead; and Ido not speak without grounds. Listen--'

'If it comes from old Frog, you may as well shut up, ' said Lance. 'There's been no peace at Marshlands since he took that cottage--aregular old nuisance and mischief-maker, spiting the Captain becauseone of the dogs killed his old cock, and bothering Charlie to no endabout him. '

'I have heard from others as well, ' said Felix; and he brieflymentioned some facts as to the scandals of the dissipated household, some of the imputations under which Captain Collis lay, and named twoor three of the young men whose unsatisfactory conduct was ascribedto his influence. 

He saw that both lads were startled, and wound up with saying, 'Therefore it is not without reason that I desire that you do not gothere again. '

With which words, he opened the door, turned off the gas, and walkedupstairs, hearing on the way a growl of Fulbert's--'That's what comesof being cad to a stupid brute of an old tradesman;' and likewise abouncing, rolling, and tumbling, and a very unchorister-likeexpletive from Lance, but he hurried up, like the conclave from thevault at Lindisfarn, only with a sinking heart, and looks that madehis sisters say how tired he must be. The boys were seen no more, butsent word by Bernard that they were wet through, they should notdress, but should get some supper in the kitchen, and go to bed. 

On Sunday Lance had recovered himself and his temper, but in theevening he made another attempt upon Felix in private. His heart wasgreatly set upon Marshlands, and he argued that there was no evil atall in what they had been doing, and entreated Felix to be contentwith the promise both were willing to make, to take no share inanything doubtful--not even to play at billiards, or cards--if thatwould satisfy him, said Lance, 'but we will promise anything youplease against playing, or betting, or--'

'I know, Lance, you once made such a promise, and kept it. I trustyou entirely. But before, it would have been cruel to keep you fromthat sick boy; now this would be mere running into temptation foryour own amusement. '

'Harry is not much better off than Fernan was, ' said Lancelot, wistfully. 

'Poor fellow! very likely not; but it would be more certain harm toyourself than good to him. Any way, no respectable person wouldchoose to be intimate there, or to let their boys resort there; andit is my duty not to consent. '

'Ful is in such an awful way, ' said Lance, disconsolately. 'Fee, youdon't know how hard it is, you always were such a muff. '

'That is true, ' said Felix, not at all offended, 'and I had my fatherand Edgar; but indeed, Lance, nothing ever was so hard to me to do asthis. I cannot say how sorry I am. '

'You do really order me not?' said Lance, looking straight up at him. 

'I do. I forbid you to go into Captain Collis's grounds, or to domore than exchange a greeting, if you meet him. '

'I will not. There's my word and honour for it, since--since you areso intolerably led by the nose by old Frog;' and Lance flung away, with the remains of his passion worked up afresh, and was as glum ashis nature allowed the rest of the evening; but Felix, though muchannoyed, saw that the boy had set up voluntarily two barriers betweenhimself and his tempted will--in the command and the promise. 

But the command that was a guard to the one, was a goad to the other;for Fulbert had never accepted his eldest brother's authority, andcould not brook interference. Still his school character was good, and there was a certain worth about him, which made him sometimeswithdraw his resistance, though never submit; and Felix had some hopethat it would be so in the present case, when, while speeding tochurch in the dark winter Monday morning, he overheard Lance say toClement, 'I say, Clem, 'tis a jolly stinging frost. If you'll takeyour skates and give us a lesson, we'll be off for the lake atCentry. '

One of the Whittingtonian curates had taken the boys to the ice inthe parks, and taught them so effectively, that Clement was one ofthe best skaters in Bexley; but he was too much inclined to thenayward not to reply, 'I have to practise that anthem for Wednesday. '

'Oh, bother the practice!'

(Which Felix mentally echoed. )

'I can play that anthem, if that's all, ' said Lance; 'and I believeyou know it perfectly well. Now, Clem, don't be savage; I think, ifyou will come, we might put that other thing out of Ful's head. '

'Well, if you think it is to be of use----'

'That's right! Thank you, ' cried Lance. 'And you won't jaw us all theway? He can't stand that, you know. '

Clement winced; but in compensation, apparently, for this forbiddenlecture, he observed, 'I am glad you at least take it properly, Lance, though it would be worse in you than in him, considering your--'

'Bother it!' unceremoniously broke in Lance; and the words of wisdomwere silenced. 

Lance did his best to organise his party, but it was a failure;Fulbert said he had made an engagement, and would not break it; hewas not bound to toady old Froggy, nor in bondage to any old fogeysof a dean and chapter; and he walked off the faster for Clement'sprotest, leaving Lance to roll on the floor and climb the balustersbackwards to exhale his desire to follow. He was too much upset evento follow Clement to the organ, or to settle to the drawing whichCherry was teaching him, and was a great torment to himself and hissisters till dinner-time, when Clement had done his organ and hisGreek, and was ready for a rush for the ice; and Robina went joyouslywith them. 'Between two young ladies one can't well run into harm'sway, ' said Lance. 

So things went on for a fortnight. Fulbert never shuffled, he wentopenly to Marshlands Hall; and though not boasting of hisexpeditions, did not treat them as a secret. Wilmet and Geraldineeach tried persuasion, but were silenced rudely; and Felix, unable toenforce his authority, held his tongue, but was very unhappy, bothfor the present and for the future. He did not believe much harm wasdoing now, but the temptation would increase with every vacation asthe boys came nearer to manhood; and he seemed to have lost allinfluence and moral power over Fulbert. 

Good old Mrs. Froggatt gave a small children's party, to which, withmany apologies, she invited the lesser Underwoods, under charge ofWilmet. They were to sleep at the cottage, and Wilmet having offeredto help in dressing the Christmas-tree, they set out early in the dayto walk, escorted by the three brothers. That the trio did not returnto tea did not alarm Felix and Geraldine, who suspected that thedislike the two elder expressed to the whole house of Froggatt hadmelted before the pleasure of working at the tree. 

The evening was taken up in the discussion of a letter of Edgar's, more than usually discontented with his employment; and another ofAlda's, who had been laid under orders to write to her eldestbrother, and desire him to remonstrate with Edgar on his inattention, laziness, and pleasure-seeking. The anxiety had long been growing up;Felix had come to write his difficult letter by the light ofGeraldine's sympathy, and they were weighing what should be said, when the door-bell rang, some sounds puzzled them, and just as Felixwas getting up to see what was the matter, Fulbert put his head in atthe door, and said, low but earnestly, 'Step here, Felix, please. '

He thought there must have been some terrible accident; but when fromthe top of the stairs he beheld Clement's aspect under the gas in thepassage, and heard the thick tones in which he was holding forthaccording to instinct, his consternation was almost greater than atany injury. Fulbert looked pale and astounded. 'I can't get himupstairs, ' he said. 

However, sense enough remained to Clement to give effect to hiseldest brother's stern words, 'Be quiet, and come up;' and theydragged him stumbling upstairs without more words. 

'Where's Lance?' then asked Felix. 

'Stayed at the Froggatts'. I wish he hadn't. He will walk home by andby. '

'Now, Ful, run and tell Cherry that nobody is hurt. Do not let herget frightened. '

Felix spoke resolutely, but he felt so full of dismay and horror, that he hardly knew what he was doing till Fulbert had returned, andrepressing all poor Clement's broken moralities, they had depositedhim safely in bed, and shut the door on him. Then Fulbert gazed up atFelix with eyes full of regret and consternation, and he gatheredbreath to enter his own room, and say, 'What is the meaning of this?'

'His head must be ridiculously weak: or there was some beastly trick. Nobody else was the least queer!'

'Marshlands Hall?'

'Well, he had gone on at me so, that when Lance let himself bepersuaded into staying to hang up the lamps, it struck me what a larkit would be to take Tina across the Hall lands, and then tell him hehad been on the enemy's ground. So I told him of the old chantry thatis turned into a barn, and of course he must go and see it, and takesketches of the windows for his clergy. While he was doing it, upcomes young Jackman. You know young Jackman at the Potteries--aregular clever fellow that knows everything?'

'Yes, I know him. '

'Well, they got into early pointed, and late pointed, and billets anddog-tooths, and all the rest, and Clem went on like a house on fire;and by that time we had got to the big pond, where Collis and half adozen more were, and he had got his skates, and I believe he didsurprise them; they called it first rate. '

'Did he know where he was?'

'Not at the beginning of the skating. I only wanted to get him downfrom his altitudes, and never thought it would come to this. Youbelieve that, Felix?'

'Yes, I do. Go on. '

'It was fine moonlight, and we stayed on ever so long, while Jackmanand Clem and two more danced a quadrille on the ice; and when it wasover everybody was horribly cold, and Captain Collis said we must allcome in and have something hot; and Jackman said he was going todrive home to dinner at eight, and would take us, but every one gottalking, and it was half-past eight before we started. It was all insuch a scramble, that I had no notion there was anything amiss tillClem began to talk on the way home. '

'What were they drinking?'

'Various things--brandy-and-water chiefly. I don't like it, and hadsome ale; but I was playing with Harry's puppies, and not muchnoticing Clem. '

'Do you think it was a trick?'

'I can't tell. He is so innocent, he would have no notion how stiffto make it. If any one meant mischief, it was Jackman; and I didthink once or twice he had found out Tina, and was playing him off. On the way home, when I was trying to hinder poor Clem from fallingoff, he went on chaffing so, that I longed to jump off, and lay thewhip about his ears. '

'Poor Clem!' said Felix, more grieved and shocked than angry, and notinsensible to Fulbert's being even more appalled, and quitefrightened out of his sulkiness. 

'It is a bad business, ' he sighed. 'It was all Lance's fault forletting himself be lugged into that baby party. '

Even this was a great admission, and Felix would not blight it by aword. 

'It is well the girls are not at home, ' was all he said. 

'I only told Cherry that Clem wasn't well. I can't face her; I shallgo to bed. I would not have had this happen for the world. '

'I shall say nothing to her, ' said Felix, dejectedly, turning toleave the room, under a horrible sense of disgrace and stain on thewhole family; but at the door he was caught hold of by Fulbert, wholooked up at him with a face quite unlike anything he had ever seenin the lad. 

'Felix, I never was so sorry in my life. I wish you would give me agood rowing. '

Felix half smiled. 'I could not, ' he said. 'You did not know what youwere doing. Good-night. '

Fulbert gazed after him as he went downstairs, and went back, with agroan, to his own room. 

Felix had never before felt so hopeful about Fulbert; but still hewas too much overset to talk to Cherry, and hurried her off to bed, soon following her example, for he had not the heart to see Lancethat night. 

Of course, the first hours of the morning had to be spent inattending on the victim, whose misery, mental and bodily, wasextreme, and was aggravated by his engagement to the organ. Lancecould supply his place there, and was sent off to do so, but lookingas subdued and guilty as if he had been making Fulbert's confessioninstead of hearing it, and stumbling uncomfortably over theexplanation that Clement was not well, and that Felix could not leavehim. 

For there was a fragility about Clement's long lank frame that madeany shock to it very severe, and he was ill enough to alarm hishappily inexperienced brothers, and greatly increase Fulbert'spenitence; but by the time Mr. Froggatt drove the sisters home, andWilmet wondered that she could not go out for a night without someone being ill, he had arrived at a state which she could be left toattribute to Mrs. Froggatt's innocent mince-pies. 

He burrowed under his blankets, and feigned sleep and discomfortbeyond speech, whenever she came into the room, begging only that thelight might be kept out, and that nobody would speak to him. He wastoo utterly miserable for anger with Fulbert, but only showed a sortof broken-hearted forgiveness, which made Fulbert say in desperationto Lance, 'I wish you would just fall upon me. I shall not be myselfagain till I've been blown up!'

'I suppose you are doing it for yourself, and that is worse, ' saidLance. 

'And you know it was all your doing, for going to that disgusting oldPhilistine's tea and cake. '

'What, you and Clem wanted me to lead you about, like two dogs in astring?' said Lance. 

'No; Tina would have kept the baby-bunting out of harm's way. '

'More likely he would have bored me into going. Poor Tina! I shouldalmost like to hear him jaw again! After all, you and he neverpromised, and I did. '

'I wish I had, ' said Fulbert; 'I am awfully afraid they are gettinghold of it in the town. '

'So am I. Mowbray Smith looked me all over, and asked me afterClement, when I met him just now in the street, as if he had somemalice in his head. '

'What did you tell him?'

'I said he was in a state of collapse, and that serious fears wereentertained for his life and reason; and then he warned me againstthe nineteenth-century manners, and I thanked him and made a bow, andnow I suppose he is gone to tell my Lady. 

When Felix was free in the evening, he found Clement dressed, andsitting over the fire in his room--so well indeed, that he might havebeen downstairs, but that he shrank from every one; and that fire hadbeen the fruit of such persevering battles of Wilmet and Sibby withthe smoke and soot, that it would have been a waste of good labour tohave deserted it. 

'Well, Clem, you are better?'

'Yes, thank you. '

'Headache gone?'

'Nearly, ' with a heavy sigh. 

Felix drew an ancient straw-bottomed chair in front of the firebackwards, placed himself astride on it, laid his arms on the top andhis forehead on them, and in this imposing Mentorial attitude began, 'After all, Clem, I don't see that you need be so desperately broken-hearted. It was mere innocence and ignorance. Water-drinkers at homeare really not on a level with other people. I always have to be veryguarded when I have to dine with the other reporters. '

'No, ' said Clement, sadly; 'I do not regard the disgrace as the sinso much as the punishment. '

It was more sensible than Felix had expected. He was conscious of notunderstanding Clement, who always seemed to him like a girl, but iftreated like one, was sure to show himself in an unexpected light. 

'You did not know where you were going?'

'Not at first. I found out long before I came off the ice; and then, like an absurd fool as I was, I thought myself showing how to dealcourteously and hold one's own with such people. '

'You are getting to the bottom of it, ' said Felix. 

'I have been thinking it over all day, ' said Clement, mournfully. 'Isee that such a fall could only be the consequence of long continuederror. Have I not been very conceited and uncharitable of late, Felix?'

'Not more than usual, ' said Felix, intending to speak kindly. 

'I see. I have been treating my advantages as if they were merits, condemning others, and lording it over them. Long ago I was warnedthat my danger was spiritual pride, but self-complacency blinded me. 'And he hid his face and groaned. 

Felix was surprised. He could not thus have discussed himself, evenwith his father; but he perceived that if Clement had no one else topreach to he would preach to himself, and that this anatomicalexamination was done in genuine sorrow. 

'No humility!' continued Clement. 'That is what has brought me tothis. If I had distrusted and watched myself, I should have perceivedwhen I grew inflated by their flattery, and never--egregious foolthat I was--have thought I was showing that one of our St. Matthew'schoir could meet worldly men on their own ground. '

Felix was glad that his posture enabled him to conceal a smile; butperhaps Clement guessed at it, for he exclaimed, 'A fit consequence, to have made myself contemptible to everybody!'

'Come, Clem, that is too strong. Your censorious way was bad foryourself, and obnoxious to us all, and it was very silly to go tothat place after what you had heard. '

'After telling Lance it was unworthy of a servant of the sanctuary, 'moaned Clement. 

'Very silly indeed, ' continued the elder brother, 'very wrong; but asto what happened there, it is not reasonable to look at it as morethan an accident. It will be forgotten in a week by all but Fulbertand yourself, and you will most likely be the wiser for it all yourlives. I never got on so well with Ful before, or saw him reallysorry. 

Clement only answered by a disconsolate noise; and Felix was becominga little impatient, thinking the penitence overstrained, when hebroke silence with, 'You must let me go up to St. Matthew's!'

'Really, Clement, it is hardly right to let you be always living uponMr. Fulmort now your occupation is ended, and it would be braver notto run away. '

'I do not mean that!' cried Clement. 'I will not stay there. I wouldnot burthen them; but see the Vicar I _must_! I will go third class, and walk from the station. '

'The fare of an omnibus will not quite break our backs, ' said Felix, smiling. 'If this is needful to settle your mind, you had better go. '

'You do not know what this is to me, ' said Clement, earnestly; 'Iwish you did. ' Then perceiving the recurrence to his old propensity, he sighed pitifully and hung his head, adding, 'It is of no use tillSaturday, the Vicar is gone to his sisters. '

'Very well, you can get a return ticket on Saturday--that is, if theorganist is come back. '

'Lance must play; I am not worthy. '

'You have no right to break an engagement for fancies about your ownworthiness, ' said Felix. 'Rouse yourself up, and don't exaggerate thething, to alarm all the girls, and make them suspicious. '

'They ought to know. I felt myself a wicked hypocrite when Wilmetwould come and read me the Psalms, and yet I could not tell her. Tellthem, Felix; I cannot bear it without. '

'No, I shall not. You have no right to grieve and disgust them justbecause you "cannot bear it without. " Cannot you bear up, instead ofdrooping and bemoaning in this way? It is not manly. '

'Manliness is the great temptation of this world. '

'You idiot!' Felix, in his provocation, broke out; then gettinghimself in hand again, 'Don't you know the difference between trueand false manliness?'

'I know men of the world make the distinction, ' said Clement; 'I amnot meaning any censure, Felix. Circumstances have given you adifferent standard. '

Felix interrupted rather hotly: 'Only my father's. I have heard himsay, that if one is not a man before one is a parson, one brings theministry into contempt. The things the boys call you Tina for are notwhat make a good clergyman. '

'I don't feel as if I could presume to seek the priesthood afterthat. '

'Stuff and nonsense!' cried Felix. 'If no one was ordained who hadever made a fool of himself and repented, we should be badly off forclergy. You were conceited and provoking, and have let yourself beled into a nasty scrape--that's the long and short of the matter; butit is only hugging your own self-importance to sit honing and moaningup here. Come down, and behave like a reasonable being. '

'Let me stay here to-night, Felix, I do need it, ' said Clement, withtears in his eyes; 'if I am alone now, I think I can bring myself tobear up outwardly as you wish. '

The affected tone had vanished, and Felix rose, and kindly put hishand on his shoulder, and said, 'Do, Clem. You know it is not only myworldliness--mere man of business as I am--that bids us to hide griefwithin, and "anoint the head and wash the face. "'

Just then an exulting shout rang through the house, many feetscuttled upstairs, knocks hailed upon the door, and many voicesshouted, 'Mr Audley! Felix, Clem, Mr. Audley!'

'Won't you come, Clem?'

'Not to-night; I could not. '

Clement shut the door, and Felix hastened down among the dancingexulting little ones. 'I thought you were at Rome!' he said, as thehands met in an eager grasp. 

'I was there on Christmas Day; but Dr. White's appointment issettled, and he wants me to go out with him in June. My brother isgone on to London, and I must join him there on Saturday. '

'I am glad it is to-day instead of yesterday, ' said Wilmet. 'We wereall out but Felix and Cherry, and poor Clement was so ill. '

'Clement ill? Is he better?'

'He will be all right to-morrow, ' said Felix. 

Mr. Audley detected a desire to elude inquiry, as well as a meaninglook between the two younger boys, and he thought care sat heavier onthe brow of the young master of the house than when they had partedeighteen months before. 

His travels were related, his photographs admired, his lodgingarranged in Mr. Froggatt's room, and after the general goodnight, hedrew his chair in to the fire, and prepared for a talk with his ex-ward. 

'You look anxious, Felix. Have things gone on pretty well?'

'Pretty fairly, thank you, till just now, when there is rather anugly scrape, '--and he proceeded to disburthen his mind of lastnight's misadventure; when it must be confessed that the narrative ofClement's overweening security having had a fall provoked a smilefrom his guardian, and an observation that it might do him a greatdeal of good. 

'Yes, ' said Felix, 'if his friends do not let him make much of hispenitence, and think it very fine to have so important a thing torepent of. '

'I don't think they will do that. You must not take Clement asexactly the fruit of their teaching. '

'There's no humbug about him, at least, ' said Felix. 'He is reallycut up exceedingly. Indeed all I have been doing was to get him tomoderate his dolefulness. I believe he thinks me a sort of heathen. '

'Well, ' said Mr. Audley, laughing, 'you don't seem to have taken theline of the model head of the family. '

'The poor boys were both so wretched, that one could not say a wordto make it worse, ' said Felix. 'This satisfies me that Fulbert is allright in that way. He would not have been so shocked if he had everseen anything like it before; but though he is very sorry now, I amafraid it will not cut the connection with those Collises. '

'You do not find him easier to manage?'

'No; that is the worst. He is not half a bad boy--nay, what is calleda well-principled boy--only it is his principle not to mind me. I donot know whether I am donnish with him, or if I bullied him too muchwhen he was little; but he is always counter to me. Then he is one ofthose boys who want an out-of-door life, and on whom the being shutup in a town falls hard. The giving up sporting is real privation tohim and to Lance, and much the hardest on him, for he does not carefor music or drawing, or anything of that sort. '

'How old is he?'

'Just sixteen. '

'Suppose I were to take him out to Australia?'

'Fulbert!'

'Yes; I always intended to take one if I went, but I waited till myreturn to see about it, and I thought Clement was of a moreinconvenient age, but you must judge. '

'Poor Tina!' said Felix, smiling, 'he would hardly do in a colony. Heis heart and soul a clergyman, and whether he will ever be more of aman I don't know; but I don't think he could rough it as amissionary. '

'Is he going to get a scholarship!'

'He has tried at Corpus, and failed. He is full young, and I supposehe ought to go to a tutor. I am afraid he learnt more music thanclassics up at that place. '

'Can the tutoring be managed!'

'I suppose a hundred out of that thousand will do it. '

'Is that thousand to go like the famous birthday five?'

'Five hundred is to be put into the business; but the rest I meant tokeep in reserve for such things as this. '

'If all are to be helped at this rate, your reserve will soon come toan end. '

'Perhaps so; but I have always looked on Clement as my ownsubstitute. Indeed, I held that hope out to my father, when itdistressed him that I should give it up. So Clem is pretty wellsettled, thank you. Besides I am not afraid of his not going on wellhere; but I do believe Fulbert will do the better for being moreindependent, only it seems to me too much to let you undertake forus. '

'They are all my charge, ' said Mr. Audley; 'and as I am leaving youthe whole burthen of the rest, and my poor little godson is notlikely to want such care, you need have no scruple. One of theSomervilles is going out to a Government office at Albertstown, andperhaps may put me in the way of doing something for him. '

Felix mused a moment, then said, 'The only doubt in my mind would bewhether, if it suited you equally, it might not be an opening forEdgar. 

'Edgar! Surely he is off your hands?'

'I am greatly afraid his present work will not last. He always hatedit, and I believe he always had some fancy that he could persuade TomUnderwood into making a gentleman of him at once, sending him to theUniversity or the like, and they petted and admired him enough toconfirm the notion. Mrs. Underwood makes him escort her to all herparties; and you know what a brilliant fellow he is--sure to bewanted for all manner of diversions, concerts, private theatricals, and what not; and you can fancy how the counting-house looks to himafter. Tom Underwood declares he requires nothing of him but what hewould of his own son; and I believe it is true; but work is work withhim, and he will not be trifled with. Here is a letter about it, oneof many, I was trying to answer last night; only this affair of poorClem's upset everything. '

'Six brothers are no sinecure, Felix. '

'They are wonderfully little trouble, ' said Felix, standing on theirdefence. 'They are all good sound-hearted boys, and as to Lance, there's no saying the comfort that little fellow always is. He hasthat peculiar pleasantness about him--like my father and Edgar--thatone feels the moment he is in the house; and he is so steady, withall his spirits. The other two both say all this could not havehappened with him. '

'High testimony. '

'Yes, as both are inclined to look down on him. But think of thatboy's consideration. He has never once asked me for pocket-moneysince he went to the Cathedral. He gets something when the Dean andCanons have the boys to sing, and makes that cover all littleexpenses. '

'What do you mean to do with him?'

'If he gets the scholarship, a year and a half hence, he will stay ontwo years free of expense. Unluckily, he says that young Harewood iscleverer than he, and always just before him: but I have some hope inthe hare-brains of Master Bill. If he do not get it--well, we mustsee, but it will go hard if Lance cannot be kept on to be educatedproperly. '

Mr. Audley took the letters, and presently broke into an indignantexclamation; to which Felix replied--

'The work is not good enough for him, that is the fact. '

'If you are weak about any one, Felix, it is Edgar. I have nopatience with him. His work not _good_ enough, forsooth, consideringwhat yours is!'

'Mine has much more interest and variety; and he is capable of muchmore than I am. '

'Then let him show it, instead of living in the lap of luxury, andmurmuring at a few hours at the desk. '

'I ascribe that to his temperament, which certainly has a good dealof the artist; that desk-work is peculiarly irksome. '

'Very likely; but it is his plain duty to conquer his dislike. No, Felix; I wish I could take him away with me, for I am afraid he willbe a source of trouble. '

'Never! Edgar is too considerate. '

'But he is exactly what Australia is over-stocked with already--adiscontented clerk. If he be spoilt by luxury here, do you think hewould bear with a rude colony? No. Fulbert is a gruff, obstinate boy, but not idle and self-indulgent; and I am not afraid to undertakehim, but I should be of Edgar. '

Felix had flushed up a good deal, for his love for Edgar was lesspaternal and more sensitively keen than that for any of the others;but he was more reasonable, and had more control of temper now, thanwhen Mr. Audley had last crossed him; and he made answer, 'I believeyou are right, and that Edgar could not be happy in a colony. Anyway, you are most kind to Fulbert. But I am afraid I must go now, orTheodore will wake. '

'Do you still have him at night?'

'He is not happy with any one else. You have not seen him yet? I amsure he is improving! There's his voice! Good-night. ' And Felixhurried away, leaving Mr. Audley feeling that though here and therethe young pillar of the house might be mistaken, the dailyunselfishness of his life was a beautiful thing, and likewiseimpressed by his grave air of manly resolution and deliberation. 

By the morning, Clement had recovered his tone, so as not to obtrudehis penitence or to be much more subdued in manner than usual. Mr. Audley made him bring his books to the dining-room after breakfast, and the examination quite exonerated the authorities at Oxford fromany prejudice except against inaccuracy, and showed that a thoroughcourse of study was needful before he could even matriculate; andClement in his present lowliness was not incredulous of anydeficiency at St. Matthew's, but was only meek and mournful. 

'What shall I do?' he asked. 'Perhaps some school would take me toteach and study at the same time. Or I might get an organist's place, and read so that I might be ordained as a literate at last. It wouldcome when I was fit, I suppose. '

Mr. Audley only said he would inquire, and talk to Felix; and Clementpleased him by answering that he could not bear to be an expense toFelix. The good principle in the boys was quite to be traced, whenpresently after it was necessary to put Fulbert to a severe trial. Ongoing to pay his respects at the Rectory, Mr. Audley found Mr. Mowbray Smith there, and after some preliminaries, he was askedwhether he knew how the young Underwoods had been going on of late;of course, though, it would be concealed from him: but it was right, etc. Then Mr. Bevan feebly suggested that he did not believe therewas any truth in it, and was sharply silenced; and Miss Carolineobserved that she was always sure that Clement Underwood was a greathumbug; whereupon, between the mother, daughter and curate, thepopular version of the Marshlands Hall affair was narrated--or ratherversions, for all were beautifully entangled and contradictory. 

Some one had been in the street, and had seen poor Clement's exitfrom young Jackman's dog-cart, and reported indiscriminately that itwas 'young Underwood. ' Lance had not been able to put a sufficientlybold face on his morning's report of Clement's indisposition andFelix's absence; and this, together with the boys' huntingpropensities, and Fulbert's visits to Marshlands, had all beenconcocted into a very serious accusation of the whole of thebrothers, including Felix, of having entered into a dangerousfriendship with Captain Collis, and underhand enjoying thedissipations of the Hall, which had been the bane of many a young manof Bexley. 

There were different measures of indignation. Miss Price expected agrand series of denunciations--to Mr. Froggatt--to Miss Pearson, 'whose niece was always there--most imprudent;'--nay, perhaps to theDean, and to the Vicar of St. Matthew's. The least excitement sheexpected, was Felix Underwood's expulsion from the choir. 

Lady Price merely believed it all, and thought the friends ought tointerfere, and save the poor young things while there was time forany of them. She would never mention it so as to injure them, butnothing else could be expected. 

Mr. Mowbray Smith supposed there must be some exaggeration, but hehad been surprised at Lancelot's manner, and he did not think Felix'sabsence accounted for; he did seem steady--but-- And there wassomething unnatural in the way of life at St. Matthew's, that wouldmake him never trust a lad from thence. 

Yes; and even Mr. Bevan did not like St. Matthew's (because it wasnot slack or easy), and he too could believe anything of Clement. Nodoubt poor Felix found those great brothers getting too much for him. 

Mr. Audley was standing by the window. He saw Fulbert with Lance andlittle Bernard going down the street, and by one of the sudden dashesthat had often puzzled the Rectory, he flew out at the door, and thenext moment had his hand on Fulbert's shoulder. 

'Fulbert, they have made a terrible scandal of this affair atMarshlands Hall. They fancy Felix had something to do with it. '

'Felix! I should like to punch their heads. '

'You can do better. You can contradict it. '

'But, Sir--'

However, Fulbert, while still following to plead with Mr. Audley, found himself where he never recollected to have been in his lifebefore, among the cushions, arm-chairs, and tables covered withknick-knacks, of the Rectory drawing-room. Mr. Bevan in an easy-chair; Mr. Smith standing before the fire; Lady Price at work, looking supercilious; and her daughter writing notes at a davenport. 

Mr. Bevan half rose and held out his hand, the others contentedthemselves with a nod, while the big, stout lad stood rather like agreat dog under the same circumstances, very angry with everybody, and chiefly with Mr. Audley--to whom, nevertheless, he trusted forgetting him safe out again. 

'Fulbert, ' said Mr. Audley, 'Mr. Bevan would be better satisfied ifhe could hear what intimacy there has been between your brothers andthe Collises. '

'None at all, ' said Fulbert, bluntly. 

'My boy, ' said the gentle Rector, deprecatingly, 'nobody eversuspected your eldest brother. '

'I should think not!' exclaimed Fulbert, with angry eyes. 'All heever did was to warn us against going. More fools not to mind him!'

'Then, ' said my Lady, 'it has been the insubordination and wilfulnessof you younger boys that has nearly involved him in so grave animputation. '

'Of nobody's but mine, ' returned Fulbert. 'The others would havenothing to do with it. '

'That cannot be the literal fact, ' said Mr. Smith, in a low voice, toLady Price. 'There were certainly two of them. '

Fulbert heard, and turning to the Rector, as if he thought every oneelse beneath his notice, said, 'The long and short of it is this:Lance and I picked young Collis out of a ditch, and took him home. Then Captain Collis asked us rabbit-shooting. Lance never went again, because Felix did not choose it. I did; and, just by way of a joke, Itook Clement there without his knowing what place it was. We fell inwith them skating, and went into the house, the day before yesterday. That is, ' said Fulbert, concluding as he had begun, 'the long andshort of it. Whatever happened was my fault, and no one else's. '

'A very honest confession!' said kind Mr. Bevan, pleased to havesomething to praise. 

'And I hope it will act as a warning, ' said Lady Price. 

'But, ' said Mr. Smith, partly incited by Carry's looks, 'it was truethat you--two of you were brought home by young Jackman. '

'Yes, ' said Fulbert, growing crimson, 'he drove Clement and me home!'

'And, ' said Mr. Audley, 'it was Clement's great distress that keptFelix at home the next morning. '

'Yes, ' said Fulbert, 'there was nobody else but me, and Clem couldhardly bear the sight of me, because I had led him into it. Wethought no one in the house would know it--and I don't believe theydo. '

'Ah!' said Lady Price, 'it is false kindness to attempt concealment. '

'From lawful authority it is, ' said Mr. Audley; 'but in this case itwas only from children and servants. However, Fulbert, I think youhave fully satisfied Mr. Bevan as to the amount of intercoursebetween your brothers and Marshlands. '

'Entirely, ' said Mr. Bevan, 'in fact, you may assure your brotherthat I never believed anything to his discredit. '

'I shall say nothing about it, said Fulbert, not choosing to see thehand held out to him. 'I should be ashamed!--May I go now, Sir?' toMr. Audley; and with an odd sort of circular bow, he made his escape, and Mr. Audley, having remained long enough to ascertain that theworst that could be said of him was that he was a cub, and that itwas a terrible thing to see so many great hulking lads growing upunder no control, took his leave, and presently came on the threeboys again, consulting at the ironmonger's window over the knifeon which Bernard was to spend a half-crown that Mrs. Froggatt hadgiven him. 

'Can Lance and Bernard settle that? I want you a moment, Fulbert. Notto confront the Rectory again, ' he added, smiling. 'It was a horridbore for you, but there was no helping it. '

'I suppose not, ' said Fulbert, gloomily, as if he did not forgive theunpleasant moments. 

'It was not about that I wanted to speak to you, though, ' said Mr. Audley. 'I wanted to know whether you have any plans or wishes forthe future. '

'I?' said Fulbert, looking up blank. 

'Yes, you. You are growing up, Fulbert. '

'I suppose I must take what I can get, ' said Fulbert, in the samesulky, passive voice. 

'That may be a wise determination, but have you really no choice?'

'Well, when I was a little chap, and knew no better, I used to thinkI would be a soldier or a farmer--but that's all nonsense; and Isuppose I must have some abominable little clerkship, ' said Fulbert, with a certain steadiness for all the growl of his tone. 

'Well, Fulbert, have you a mind to try whether the other side of theworld would suit you better?'

Fulbert looked up. 'You don't mean that you would take me out?'

'Yes, I do, if you are inclined to come and try for work atAlbertstown. '

Fulbert, instead of answering, quickened his pace to a walking run, dashed on, nearly upsetting half a dozen people, and was only checkedby a collision with a perambulator. Then he stood still till Mr. Audley came up to him, and then again muttered under his breath, 'Goout to Albertstown!'

They walked on a little way, and then the boy said, 'Say it again, please. '

Mr. Audley did say it again, in more detail; and Fulbert this timeexclaimed, 'It is the very thing! Thank you, Mr. Audley;' and hisface clearing into a frank, open look, he added, 'I'll try to do mybest there. I wonder I never thought of it before. I would haveworked my way out as a cabin boy if I had. Where is Lance? Does Felixknow?'

There was no sentiment about Fulbert. He jumped at the offer asinstinctively as a young swallow would prepare to migrate, seemed tobrighten all over, and shake off his dull, defiant mood, and gave nosign of feeling about brother or sister--except that he said hebelieved Felix would get on better without him; and that he toldLance that they would have splendid fun together when he was bigenough to come out and ride a buck-jumper. 

CHAPTER XIII

PEGASUS IN HARNESS

'Fear not on that rugged highway Life may want its lawful zest, Sunny glens are on the mountain, Where the weary heart may rest. ' CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY. 

There was much relief and comfort in that visit of Mr. Audley's. Forone thing, Geraldine was able to pour out all her troubles, as shehad been used to do ever since her father had left her in his charge--her repentance for the stirrings of her naturally fretful, plaintivetemper, for her fits of impatience and her hard judgments, and, whatsurprised him chiefly, for jealousy. 

'Yes, ' she repeated, at his word of surprise, 'I am jealous!'

'Indeed!'

'I never knew it till the choral festival. I used to be very fond ofher, but-- I'm sure it is jealousy; I don't like to see her moreeagerly attended to than myself. Not that there is anything tocomplain of. He never neglected me in his life. '

Mr. Audley smiled. 'People would tell you it is the natural lot ofsisters. 

Then she saw that he knew all about it; for, in fact, Felix had, rather to the general surprise, observed that the Miss Pearsons wouldlike to meet Mr. Audley, and the trio had spent a musical eveningwith the Underwood party. 

'Oh, ' she cried, 'is it all my own horridness? Or is it really--'

'My own horridness or my own discernment?' said he, taking the wordsout of her mouth. 'My dear, such an affair as this would be generallythe family jest. '

'Oh!'

'It is just as well it should not be so here, ' continued Mr. Audley, 'for nonsense is not always a cure, and the talk would bemischievous; besides, I think both are unconscious. '

'He is, I believe, ' said Cherry. 

'At any rate, he is more than ordinarily full of sense and self-control, and may safely be trusted to do nothing imprudent. She ispretty and attractive, and of course he likes to be with her; but Ishould think it very unlikely it would go farther. Has any one elseobserved it?'

'Not Wilmet, only Lance. '

'And has not made fun of it? That speaks well for Master Lance'sdiscretion. Yet you all feel the weight of life too heavily. I hadrather have found you amused by these little prepossessions, thanweighing them seriously, and wearing yourself to fritters. '

'I _will_ try not to mind, but I can't help being afraid for him! Itmust be very wrong to be almost turned against her because he likesher; and yet, what is all very well as my friend does not seem enoughfor Felix. '

'Nor will it be. My dear Cherry, such things come on and go offtwenty times in a man's life. You will treat the symptoms morelightly before you have done with your seven brothers. Meantime, don't fret your conscience over fancies, unless you have spoken oracted unkindly or fretfully. '

'O Mr. Audley, what shall I do when you are quite gone? All this timeI have felt as if I were without my pilot. '

Mr. Audley, too, had been thinking this over, and wished to put hermore formally under the spiritual charge of Mr. Willoughby of St. Faith's, feeling that the morbid and sensitive nature needed externalsupport, and that it was not right to deprive it of what the Churchsanctions. 

Her only doubt was Felix's approval. His nature did not readilyaccept progress beyond that to which he had been bred up; and inborder lands like these, an unfavourable medium made much differenceto the clearness of the sight. Clement's contempt for what hadsatisfied his father annoyed him: and his mind was self-reliant, hissoul accustomed to find its requirements met by the system aroundhim, and his character averse to intermeddling, so that it wasagainst the grain with him that spiritual guidance should be soughtoutside the family, or, at any rate, outside the parish. He thoughtsuch direction weakened the nature, and Mr, Audley, after warning himagainst taking the disease for the effect of the remedy, had to laughat him as a British householder. After all, he yielded, because hethought Mr. Audley had a certain right over Geraldine, and that itwas proper to defer to his judgment; while his guardian trusted to asight of St. Matthew's for the overthrowal of the prejudices thatClement had managed to excite. 

Before leaving England, Mr. Audley was resolved that little Theodoreshould be shown to some London physician. The child was five yearsold, but looked no more than three. He could totter in an uncertainrun, and understood a few simple sentences, but came no nearer tolanguage than the appropriation of a musical sound to every one whomhe knew. There was nothing unpleasant about him, except his constantpurring and humming; he was perfectly docile, loved music, and couldbe amused by simple recurring games. His affections seemed to havegone out chiefly to Felix and to Sibby; and as to his twin-sister, heseemed lost without her, and she seemed to view him as the complementof herself--like a sort of left hand, giving him things to hold inhis feeble grasp, saying her lessons to him, and talking as if to adoll. There was something sad in the very resemblance; for their eyeswere of the same shade of deep blue, their long soft hair of the sameflaxen tint, their faces equally fair, but while hers was allcolour, light, and life, his was pale and vacant, and scarcely everstirred into expression. 

Mr. Audley thought it right to ascertain whether treatment could beof any use; and finding that his father's London house was onlyoccupied by his brother the Captain, he arranged that Felix shouldcome up to town with the child and Sibby, when the law business couldbe arranged, and there would be an opportunity of his seeingsomething of the world. 

He had never had a holiday before, and Mr. Froggatt rivalled hisguardian in his desire that it should not be too short. The firstcall was by appointment on the doctor. He was not used to havepatients like Theodore brought by youths of Felix's age, and wastouched by the care and tenderness of the young man, as he tried toovercome the alarm that was rendering the little one impracticable, when it was desirable to exhibit his slender store ofaccomplishments. His nearest approach to his natural state was whenperched on his brother's knee, with his back to the strange faces, listening as Felix whistled the tunes he loved best. 

After all, little was gained by the consultation, except theassurance that the poor little fellow was as well situated as waspossible. A few directions for treatment and discipline were given, but very little hope was held out of any important change for thebetter. 

The verdict disappointed Felix to an extent that surprised Mr. Audley, who had better understood the hopelessness of the case. Ofall the family, Felix had the most of the parental instinct for themost helpless; and while he warmly thanked his friend, he looked somournfully at the child who clung to him, that Mr. Audley said in avoice of sympathy, 'It is a burthen, but one that will never bringthe sting of sin. '

'Not a burthen, ' said Felix. 'No; as my father said when he gave himto me, he is the Gift of God, the son of my right hand. May it alwaysbe able to work for you!' he murmured, as he bent his head over thelittle one. 

'And I think the gift will bring a blessing!' said Mr. Audley. 

Theodore was sent home with Sibby, thus restoring Stella to herself, for she had been greatly lost without her speechless companion: butFelix remained in London for a week of business and pleasure. CaptainAudley was very good-natured and friendly, and abetted his brother inall his arrangements for showing Felix as much of life as waspossible in a week, assuring him that every new experience was a dutyto the Pursuivant--a plea that Felix, with his lover-like devotionto every detail of his paper, admitted with a smile. Edgar was ofalmost all their expeditions, and dined with them nearly every day. That young gentleman's peculiar pleasantness had very nearly avertedthe remonstrances with which his brother and his guardian had come uparmed. There he was, finding his work real, and not a royal road toimmediate wealth, idling, lounging, and gratifying his taste for artand music; and when his employer stormed and threatened, listeningwith aggravating coolness, and even sweetness, merely hinting thathis occupation was a mistake; and living all the time as a son of thehouse, with a handsome allowance, and free access to society andamusement. Thus, when Mr. Audley talked to him, he smiled with acertain resignation, and observed that he was concerned for poor oldTom, to have been unlucky enough to have drawn such a fellow ashimself. Probably it was a judgment on him for not having comeforward sooner, when he might have had Felix! And when Mr. Audleyupheld Felix as an example of hearty sacrifice of taste andinclination, it was to obtain an enthusiastic response. Nobodybreathed equal to dear old Fee, and it was the most ardent desire ofEdgar's heart to take some of the burthen from his shoulders! When itwas hinted that such an allowance as Tom Underwood gave afforded theopportunity, Edgar smiled between melancholy and scorn, saying, 'Times must have altered since your time, Mr. Audley. --No, I forgot. Expense is the rule in our line. Swells can do as they please. '

However, there things rested; Mr. Underwood treated him exactly likean idle son, storming at him sometimes, but really both fond andproud of him, and very gracious to Felix, whom he invited once to avery dull and dazzling dinner, and once sent to the opera with hisladies. 

Felix's Sunday was chiefly spent at St. Matthew's, which he was veryglad to see without Tina's spectacles. He was amazed to find so muchmore good sense and reality than the effect on Clement had led him toexpect; and Mr. Fulmort, who struck him as one of the most practical-looking men he had ever seen, spoke in high terms of Clement'ssteadiness and wish to do right; but added, 'I am afraid we haverather spoilt him. He came up to us so unlike the kind of boy wegenerally get, that we may have made rather too much of him atfirst. '

Felix smiled. 'Perhaps we had knocked him about, and made too littleof him at home, ' he said. 

'Besides, esprit de corps in so small a place as this is apt tobecome so concentrated as not to be many removes from egotism. Idaresay we have been a terrible bore to you. '

Felix laughed. 'We have always been very grateful to you, Sir. '

'I understand. I am glad he is going farther a-field. He will be muchimproved by seeing other places, and having his exclusiveness andconceit shaken out of him; but we shall always regard him as thechild of the house, and I only hope he may end by working among us. '

'Poor fellow! Conceit has been pretty well shaken out for thepresent, ' said Felix. 

'I hope it may last. He was rather hurt at my not making hismisfortune of more importance: but it seems to have been accident, all except the priggish self-confidence that led to it. '

Felix increased much in cordiality towards Mr. Fulmort, and at thesame time mounted many stages in Clement's estimation on thediscovery that, however behindhand his ecclesiastical advantagesmight be, the Vicar was exceedingly impressed by his excellence. 

A day or two after Felix's arrival, Ferdinand Travis was firstencountered riding a spirited horse in the park, looking remarkablyhandsome, though still of the small-limbed slender make that recalledhis Indian blood. His delight in the meeting was extreme, and heseemed to be as simple and good as ever. He was in deep mourning, having newly heard of his father having been killed in an Americanrailway accident, and though his uncle seemed proud of him, andcontinued his liberal allowance, the loss and blank were greatlyfelt--all the more that he had not found it easy to make friendsamong his brother officers in the Life Guards. His foreign air wassomehow uncongenial; he had no vivacity or cleverness, and beinglittle inclined to some of the amusements of his contemporaries, andon his guard against others, he seemed to find his life rather dulland weary. He did not seem to have anything to love except hishorses, especially the creature he was then riding, Brown Murad. Hehad obtained it after such competition, that he viewed the purchaseas an achievement; while Felix heard the amount with an incredulousshudder, and marvelled at Mr. Audley's not regarding it as wildlypreposterous. It was a dangerous position; and though Mr. Audleycertified himself, through his soldier brother, that Travis wassteadiness itself--neither betted, gamed, nor ran into debt--yetwhile he seemed personally acquainted with all the horses that ran, and apparently entered into no literature but the Racing Calendar, it was impossible not to be anxious about him, even though he seemedperfectly happy to be allowed to be with his two godfathers, andfollowed them everywhere, from the Houses of Parliament to St. Matthew's. 

This was not the last expedition Felix had to make to London thatspring. After many appointments of the time, and as many delays, atelegram suddenly summoned him in the beginning of May to bringFulbert up to London, when the business would be wound up, andCaptain Audley would take his brother and the boy in his yacht toAlexandria, there to join the overland passengers. 

So Fulbert's farewells were made in the utmost haste, and mixed upwith Wilmet's solicitous directions for his proper use of all herpreparations for his comfort on the voyage; and Lance could only beseen for the brief moments of halt at the Minsterham Station, duringwhich neither spoke three words, but Lance hung on the step till thetrain was in motion, and then was snatched back, and well shaken andreprimanded, by a guard; while Fulbert leant out after him at evengreater peril of his life, long after the last wave of the trenchercap had ceased to be visible. 

Felix believed that this parting was more felt than that with all theother eleven, and while Fulbert subsided into his corner, the elderbrother felt much oppressed by the sense that it was his duty to givesome good advice, together with great perplexity what it should be, how it should be expressed, and whether it would be endured. He wouldhave been thankful for some of Clement's propensity for preachingwhen he found himself tete-a-tete with Fulbert in a cab; but whilehe was still considering of the right end by which to take thisdifficult subject, he was startled by his beginning, 'Felix, I say, I'm glad you are going to get shut of me. '

'I believe it is for your good, ' said Felix. 

'You'll get on better without me, ' repeated Fulbert; then, with aneffort, 'Look here. It isn't that I don't know you're a brick and allthat, but somehow nothing riles me like your meddling with me. '

'I know it, ' answered Felix. 'I wish I could have helped it; but whatcould be done, when there was nobody else?'

'Ay, ' responded Fulbert, 'I know I have been a sulky, nasty brute toyou, and I should do it again; and yet I wish I hadn't. '

'I should be as bad myself if I were a junior, ' was the moralreflection Felix produced for his brother's benefit. 'Only, Ful, ifyou try that on with Mr. Audley out there, you'll come to grief. '

'I don't mean to, ' said Fulbert. 

'And you'll keep in mind what my father meant us to be, Ful--that wehave got to live so as to meet him again. '

Fulbert nodded his head emphatically. 

'It is his name you have to keep unstained in the new country, ' addedFelix, the fresh thought rising to his lips; but it was met by a gushof feeling that quite astonished him. 

'Ay, and yours, Felix! I do--I do want to be a help, and not a dragto you. I _really_ don't think so much of any of them--not evenLance--as of you. I _hope_ I shouldn't have been better to my fatherthan I have been to you; and when--when I'm out there, I do hope toshow--that I do care. '

The boy was fighting with very hard sobs, and for all the frightfulfaces he made the tears were running down his cheeks. Felix's eyeswere overflowing too, but with much of sudden comfort andthankfulness. 

'I always knew you were a good fellow, Ful, ' he said, with his handon his brother's knee, 'and I think you'll keep so, with Mr. Audleyto keep you up to things, and show you how to be helped. '

All after this was bustle and hurry. Fulbert had to be sent alone totake leave of Alda, while his brother and Mr. Audley transacted theirbusiness. Edgar came back with him; and after some hurried rushingsout in search of necessaries forgotten, the last farewells werespoken, and Fulbert, with the two Audley brothers, was out of sight;while Felix, after drawing a long, deep sigh, looked at his watch, and spoke of going to see Alda. 

'Don't run your head into a hornet's nest, ' said Edgar; 'it's all upwith me there. Come this way, and I'll tell you all about it. '

'All up with you!'

'There are limits to human endurance, and Tom and I have overpassedeach other's. I don't blame him, poor man; he wanted raw material toserve as an importer of hides and tallow, but you, the genuinearticle, were bespoken, and my father was not in a state for thepleading of personal predilections. '

'What is it now?'

'Only a set of etchings from Atalanta in Caledon. That was the strawthat broke the camel's back, ' said Edgar, so coolly as to make Felixexclaim--

'How much or how little do you mean?'

'Separated on account of irreconcilable incompatibility. '

'Impossible!'

'Possible, because true. '

'Why did you not tell before Mr. Audley was gone?'

'It would have been bad taste to obtrude one's own little affairs, and leave him with vexatious intelligence to ruminate on his voyage. Nay, who knows but that he might have thought it his duty to wait tocompose matters, and so a bright light might have been lost to theAntipodes. '

'You actually mean me to understand that you have broken with TomUnderwood?'

'The etchings were the text of an awful row, in which the oldgentleman exposed himself more than I am willing to repeat, andcalled on me to choose between his hides and tallow and what he waspleased to call my tomfoolery. '

Felix groaned. 

'Exactly so. You are conscious that his demand was not onlytyrannical but impracticable. One can't change the conditions ofone's nature. '

'Are you absolutely dismissed?'

'Nothing can be more so. '

'And what do you mean to do?' demanded Felix, stung, though to acertain degree reassured, by his tranquillity. 

'Study art. '

'And live--?'

'On my own two hundred. You will advance it? I only want sixteenmonths of years of discretion, and then I'll pay it back with morethan interest. '

'I must know more first, ' said Felix. 'I must understand what termsyou are on with Tom Underwood, and whether you have any reasonable ordefinite plans. '

'Spoken like an acting partner! Well, come to Renville, he willsatisfy you as to my plans. I am to be his pupil; he teaches at theSouth Kensington Museum, and is respectability itself. In fact, herequires my responsible brother to be presented to him. Come along. '

'Stay, Edgar. I do not think it right by Tom Underwood to see any onebefore him. I shall go to him before anything else is done. '

'Do not delude yourself with the hope of patching up matters likeAudley last winter, losing me five months of time and old Tom oftemper. '

'How long ago was this?'

'The crisis was yesterday. I was just packing to come home whenFulbert burst upon the scene. '

Nothing could be worse news, yet Edgar's perfect self-possessiongreatly disarmed Felix. Never having thought his brother and the workwell suited, he was the less disposed to anger, especially as theyoke of patronage was trying to his character; but he persisted inseeing Thomas Underwood before taking any steps for Edgar's futurecareer, feeling that this was only due to the cousin to whom hisfather had entrusted the lad. So Edgar, with a shrug, piloted him tothe Metropolitan Railway, and then to the counting-house where, inthe depths of the City, Kedge and Underwood dealt for the produce ofthe corrals of South America. 

Edgar, as he entered the office full of clerks, nodded to their bald-headed middle-aged senior in a half-patronising manner. 'Don't beafraid, Mr. Spooner; I'm not coming back on your hands, whatever thisgood brother of mine may intend. Is the Governor in?'

'Mr. Underwood is in his room, Mr. Edgar, ' was the very severeanswer; 'but after this most serious annoyance, I would not answerfor the consequences. '

'Wouldn't you indeed?' said Edgar quietly, in a nonchalant tone thatmade the younger lads bend down to sniggle behind their desks, whilehe moved on to the staircase. 

Mr. Spooner and he were visibly old foes; but the senior devoured hiswrath so far as to come forward and offer a chair to Felix, repeating, however, 'Mr. Underwood is very seriously annoyed. '

Before Felix could attempt an answer, Edgar had re-descended, newspaper in hand. 'Go up, Felix, ' he said, threw himself into thechair, and proceeded to read the paper; while Felix obeyed, and foundthe principal standing at his door, ready to meet him. 

'What, Felix Underwood! Glad to see you. This intolerable affaircan't have brought you up already, though?'

'No, Sir; I was telegraphed for late last night, to bring up mybrother Fulbert to start with Mr. Audley. '

'Oh, ay. Well, I hope he'll have a better bargain of him than I'vehad in Edgar. You've heard his impudence?'

'I am exceedingly sorry--'

Then Mr. Underwood broke out with his account of Edgar's folly andingratitude, after all the care and expense of his education. He hadtaken up with a set of geniuses for friends, was always rehearsingfor amateur performances with them, keeping untimely hours; andcoming late to the office, to cast up accounts, or copy invoices inhis sleep, make caricatures on his blotting-paper, or still worse, become 'besotted' with some design for a drawing or series ofdrawings, and in the frenzy of execution know no more what was saidto him than a post. Finally, 'the ladies' being as mad as himself, asMr. Underwood said, had asked him to draw for a bazaar, and in hisfrenzy of genius over the etchings he had entirely forgotten animportant message, and then said he could not help it. On being toldthat if so he was not fit for his profession, he merely replied, 'Exactly so, the experiment had been unsuccessful;' and when hismeekness had brought down a furious tempest of wrath, and threats ofdismissal, he had responded, 'with his intolerable cool insolence, 'that 'this would be best for all parties. '

'This is the offence?' anxiously asked Felix. 

'Offence? What greater offence would you have?'

'Certainly nothing can be much worse as to business, ' said Felix. 'But when he told me what had happened, I was afraid that he might berunning into temptation. '

'Oh! as to that, there's no harm in the lad--Spooner allows that--nothing low about him. '

'And his friends?'

'How should I know! Raffs those fellows always are, sure to bring himto the dogs!'

'Did you ever hear of an artist named Renville?'

'Ay?' meditatively. 'He was the master the girls had at one time, wasn't he?'

'Then he is respectable! I ask because Edgar wants to study underhim. '

'Eh! what!' demanded Mr. Underwood, in manifest astonishment. 'Is thelad gone crazy?'

'I thought you had dismissed him, Sir. '

'Well, well, said Mr. Underwood, taken aback, 'I told him only whathe deserved, and he chose to take it as final. I thought you werecome to speak for him. '

'You are very kind, Sir, but I doubt whether he would resume his workhere, or indeed if it would not be an abuse of your kindness toinduce him. '

'Eh! what?' again exclaimed Thomas. 'You give in to his ungratefulfolly! Felix Underwood, I thought you at least were reasonable!'

The imperious passionate manner, rather than the actual words, madeFelix side the more with the wayward genius, and feel that havingsacrificed himself for the good of the family, he might save hisbrother from the gloomy office and piles of ledgers and bills below-stairs. 'Sir, ' he said, 'I am sorry Edgar has not been better fittedto return the timely help you have given us, but I am afraid thatsuch unwilling work as his could never be of service to you. '

'Why on earth should it be unwilling? Better men than he have sat ata desk before now! I've no patience with young men's intolerableconceit. There have I done everything for this young fellow, and heis unwilling, _unwilling_ indeed, to give his mind to the simplestbusiness for six hours a day. '

'It is wrong, ' said Felix, 'but his powers lie in such a differentline. '

'Fiddling and daubing! Pah! If anything could be moreincomprehensible than his not being able to cast up an account ortake a message; it is your backing him up!'

'I am afraid he is too old for coercion. '

'No coercion like having not a penny in the world. Pray, how is he tolive?'

'His own means will help him through his studies. '

'His own--200 pounds! About as much as he has made ducks and drakesof in a year. Besides, he is not of age. '

'No; but I have something of my own to advance for him. '

Wherewith there began a fresh storm. Thomas Underwood was greatlymortified at the desertion of one brother, and still more at theacquiescence of the other. He would no doubt have been ready toretain the handsome engaging youth, grumbling and enduring, as a sortof expensive luxury; and in his wrath, disappointment, and sense ofingratitude at finding that his restive protege was not to be drivenback to him, he became so abusive, that Felix could hardly keep histongue or temper in check; but when he declared that if any supportwere given to Edgar's lunatic project, the whole family except Aldashould be left to their own resources for the rest of their lives, itwas with quiet determination that the reply was made, with studied, though difficult, respectfulness:--

'Sir, we are much obliged for what you have done for us, but we hopeto be able to work for ourselves and for one another without becomingdependent. You cannot suppose that such a consideration would affectmy opinion respecting Edgar. ' (N. B. --If Mr. Underwood _had_ supposedit, he felt as if it were impossible, as all his cousin Edward's highspirit glowed in that young man's eyes, and strengthened thestudiously calm voice. ) 'I think, ' continued Felix, 'that no one canbe doing right whose work is not thorough. If Edgar cannot or willnot apply himself in earnest to your business, he will be doingbetter by studying art with a will than in pretending to work here, and abusing your forbearance. That would be so improper towards you, and so wrong in him, that it would be simply unjustifiable in me totry to persuade you into allowing it. '

Somehow, Mr. Underwood had not at all expected such a reply; and asluckily want of breath had forced him to wait and really hear it, asensation came over him of old times when Edward Underwood had arguedwith him; and it was with much less heat that he returned, with aneffort at irony, 'And so you take the bread out of the mouths of theothers to support my fine gentleman in his absurd nonsense?'

'No, Sir; what I advance is entirely my own. '

'Oh, ay; didn't I hear something about a legacy?'

'Yes, from Admiral Chester. A thousand pounds. It has only just beenpaid to me. '

'That you may throw it away on this young scamp's fancies?'

'No, Sir, I hope not. Half of it goes into the business at Bexley. Wesign the deed of partnership next week. It will make a greatdifference to me. The rest is ready for emergencies. '

'Tomfooleries, ' muttered Mr. Underwood. 'Pray, what are the plans forthis making a new Michael Angelo? Am I expected to give him the runof my house? I shall do no such thing!'

'No, Sir, it would not be proper to ask it. This Renville takespupils for the Royal Academy, and Edgar would board and lodge there;but I hope you will still be good enough to allow him to call onAlda, and not let him be entirely left to himself. He is much toblame, but it is not as if he had run into bad dissipation. '

'That's true, ' said Mr. Underwood. 'A terrible disappointment thatyoung dog has been to me, Felix Underwood; but as you put it, there'san honesty in the thing! Where is my fine gentleman?'

'Downstairs, Sir. '

Mr. Underwood breathed through a mysterious tube, and Edgar appeared, with his usual easy grace, and with a sharp glance at Felix as if toinquire whether there were to be any attack on his newly-foundliberty. 

'Look here, Edgar, ' was the address. 'Your brother--a much better onethan you deserve--'

'Thrue for you, ' muttered Edgar between his teeth. 

'--Says what has some sense in it, that "nothing is so ruinous asdoing things by halves, " and that you ought to be ashamed of hangingabout here doing nothing--'

A quick glance passed between the brothers. 

'--So he is for letting you have your way; and if he chooses tosupport you, and you choose to rob him--for I think it nothing lessthan robbery--why there--I can't help it. So I put it to you for thelast time: will you buckle steadily to your work here like a rationalbeing, or cast yourself loose to live as a beggarly artist on whatyour brother can give you by pinching the rest?'

'Thank you, Sir; I hope the sooner to help him to feed the rest, bytaking the plunge you think so desperate, ' said Edgar, with moregravity than usual. 

'Oh, indeed!' sneered Mr. Underwood. 'Remember, not a farthing ofmine goes to such folly! I don't understand it. I thought once you'dhave been as good as a son to me, ' he added in a very different tone, as he looked at the fine young man in whom he yearned to take pride. 

'I wish I could, Sir, ' said Edgar, with real feeling. 'I wish you hadhit upon any one of us but my unlucky self. You've been very good tome, but what a man can't do, he can't; and if I gave in now, it wouldonly be the same over again. But we don't part in anger, Uncle, hecontinued, with a trembling of voice. 

'Anger! No, my boy. I'm only vexed at the whole thing; but I don'twant to lose sight of you altogether. You'll stay with us till you'vefound decent lodgings, and you'll be welcome to look in on a Sunday. 'Mr. Underwood spoke in a tone between asking and granting a favour. 

'Thank you, Sir, with all my heart, ' said Edgar. 

'And you'll come to dine and sleep?' he added to Felix. 'You've notseen your sister. '

'No, thank you, Sir, I cannot to-day; I must be at home tonight. '

They shook hands cordially: but as Edgar crossed the counting-house, he paused to open his own desk and pocket some of the contents, saying lightly as he did so, 'There's promotion in store for some ofyou youngsters--I congratulate you, Mr. Spooner; you're free of aburthen to your spirit. '

'Indeed, Mr. Edgar, I'm very sorry if--'

'Don't throw away your sorrow, Mr. Spooner; I was foredoomed yoursoul to cross, and I bear no malice to you for having been crossed. Shake hands, and wish me success as a painter. '

'I wish you success, Mr. Edgar; but it will not be met with in anyprofession without application and regularity. '

Edgar forbore from any reply but a low and deferential bow, such asto provoke another smothered laugh from the other young clerks, towhom Felix suspected, as he looked round, the favoured kinsman wassubject of jealousy, admiration, or imitation, according tocharacter. However, Edgar shook hands with each, with some littleword of infinite but gracious superiority, and on coming outexclaimed, 'Ban, ban, Caliban! You who are emancipated from aRedstone, congratulate me!'

Felix neither observed on the vast difference between the excellentconfidential Spooner and pettily jealous Redstone, nor on theextremely dissimilar mode of emancipation. He was more occupied withthe momentous responsibility of having assisted to cut his brotherloose from the protection to which his father had confided him. Mr. Audley's warning that he was inclined to be weak where Edgar wasconcerned, came before him. Yet the life of luxury and unfulfilledduties was in his eyes such a wrongful course, that he felt justifiedin having put an end to it; and his heart warmed with hope andexultation as he recollected how Etty's success had been owing to hisbrother's aid, and felt himself putting Edgar's foot on the firstround of the ladder, and freeing his ascent from all that hadhitherto trammelled it. Such bright visions haunted him when talkingwas impossible on the omnibus, outside which Edgar had exalted him--he did not well know why till on descending at Charing Cross, hefound he was to have an interview with Mr. Renville, who was copyinga picture in the National Gallery, and whom he found, to his greatrelief, to be no wild Bohemian, but a simple painstaking business-like man, who had married a German hausfrau, and lodged a few artstudents with unexceptionable references. Knowing Edgar already, hehad measured his powers, and assured Felix that his talent wasundoubted, though whether that talent amounted to genius could onlybe decided when the preliminary studies were accomplished; but evenif it were not of the very highest order (a supposition that ratherhurt Felix's feelings), the less aspiring walks of the professionwould afford sufficient security of maintenance to justify theexpense of the study. He talked with sense and coolness; and hischarges, though falling severely on such funds as were at thedisposal of the young pillar of the house, were, Edgar declared, andFelix could well believe, very moderate. The time was to be furtherdecided after reference to Mrs. Renville. 

'Will you not come home first?' asked Felix, as they descended thesteps. 

'Not in the character of the discarded! Who knows the effect it mighthave on old Froggy? By the by, I hope this advance does not make anydifference to the terms of your bondage. 

'Nothing important. '

'Draw bills to any amount on the R. A. Of the future!'

The light hopeful tone contrasted with Clement's grave thankfulness, and sorrow at being an expense; but Felix really preferred it, as farless embarrassing. 

'Could you come down in a month's time?' he continued. 'Lance is tobe confirmed at the Cathedral, and it might be an opportunity foryou. '

'I cannot lose this month's work at the Academy, it is the mostimportant in the year. '

'It might be arranged for you to come down for the day. You could seeany one you pleased here. '

'Has Tina excited you to consign me to the Whittingtonian Fathers?'

'No. ' Felix had almost rested there, but presently added, gravely, 'Iconstantly feel the impossibility of getting through this world andkeeping straight without help--the help that is provided for us, ' headded, lamely enough. 

'Dear old Blunderbore, ' said Edgar, affectionately; 'what comesnaturally to you, No. 1, letter A, in a flock of girls and boys, can't be the same when one has got out into this wicked world. Go onin your own groove, and leave me to my aberrations. Don't vexyourself, old fellow. A popular journalist must have got far enoughto know that men don't concern themselves about these little affairsin one another. '

'Brothers do. '

'Not unless they partake of the sister. Come! You have had nosustenance since breakfast at six o'clock, have you? Come in here, and learn what soup means. '

'There's no time. The train is at five. '

'Time! You don't mean to walk?'

'I do; and get something to eat at the station. '

'I declare, Fee, your unsophistication would be refreshing if it werenot a disgrace to your profession. Why are you not reporter to theTeetotal Times? No wonder if the Pursuivant has a flavour of weaktea!'

Felix smiled rather sadly, aware that this was meant to lead him awayfrom the last subject. He perceived that the door between hisfavourite brother's soul and his own was closed, and that knockingwould only cause it to be bolted and barred. It might be true, as Mr. Audley had told him, that Edgar's was not so much real scepticism asthe talk of the day, and the regarding the doubts of deeper thinkersas a dispensation from all irksome claims; but this was poor solace, while his brother rattled on: 'My dear Blunderbore, the hasty-puddingon which you characteristically breakfast is a delusion as toeconomy. Renville's little Frau will keep us better and at lessexpense than ever Wilmet conceived. You wrap yourself in your virtue, and refuse to spend a couple of shillings, as deeming it robbery ofthe fry at home. You wear out at least a shilling's worth of bootleather, pay twopence for a roll and fourpence for a more villainouscompound called coffee; come home in a state of inanition, cram downa quartern loaf and a quarter of a pound of rancid butter, washeddown with weak tea; and if self-satisfaction and exhaustion combinedare soporific, it is only to leave you a prey to nightmare. Then, tosay nothing of poorness of blood producing paucity of ideas, it isfearful to think of the doctor's bill you are laying up!'

'Nonsense, Edgar; I am in perfect health. '

Edgar went off into a learned dissertation on the qualities of foodand liquor, and the expedience of enriching the blood, and givingsubstance to the constitution. He was, in fact, much more robust andathletic, as well as much taller than his brother, who looked likeone who led an indoor life without cultivating his strength, but hadno token of lack of health or activity. Always of small appetite, hedid not care how long he fasted, and was so much used to be on hisfeet, that the long walk through the streets seemed to fatigue himless than Edgar, who nevertheless kept with him, as finding realpleasure in his company. 

The only pauses were at the sight of an accordion in a shop windowlabelled at so low a price, that Felix ventured on it for Theodore;and again when Edgar insisted on stuffing his pockets with bon-bonsfor the babes, as antidotes, he said, to the Blunderbore diet. 

'I beg to observe, it was not Blunderbore that lived on hasty-pudding. That was the Welsh giant, ' said Felix. 

'Ay! Blunderbore had three heads, and was buried up to the neck, completing the resemblance! Well, some day I'll give you all a hoist, old fellow, and then you'll be immortalised for having developed thePresident of the Royal Academy out of his slough of hides andtallow. '

Felix went home through the summer twilight, tired and heavy-hearted, to find Wilmet sitting up over a supper not much less rigorouslyfrugal than Edgar had foretold. Telling Wilmet was perhaps the worstof it to Felix. True, she forbore to reprove or lament when sheunderstood that the deed was actually accomplished, and saw that hewas fatigued and out of spirits; but her 'Indeed! Oh! Felix!' and herinvoluntary gesture and attitude of dismay, went as far as a volumeof reproach and evil augury. He was weary beyond vindicating himselfor Edgar; but the next morning, when Wilmet and Angela had startedfor school, there was a sense that the cat was away, and Geraldinelooking up under her long black eyelashes, whispered, 'Oh! it is sonice in you to have let him loose, dear Fee! It was such cruel wasteto pin him down there!'

'It was mockery for him to pretend to work there against the grain, and live in all that ease and luxury, ' said Felix, greatlyappreciating her sympathy. 'That must be so clearly wrong, that themore I think it over, the more I trust I did right in not trying tomake it up again, as Mr. Audley did. '

'It was only a pity he did!' said Cherry; 'but of course it was foryour sake, that you might not have him thrown back on your hands. '

'And for Edgar's own protection too, ' said Felix; 'but I cannot thinklazy insufficient work, and constant amusement, otherwise than sounworthy, that I am sure Mr. Audley would think it more honest andright to put an end to them, even at some risk. '

'Risk!' said the little sister, ruffling up her feathers; 'he is sureto succeed, and you know it. '

'I did only mean risk in that sense, ' said Felix, gravely; 'but Ihope he is safely and satisfactorily placed. Renville seems anexcellent person, and more trustworthy perhaps because he onlycommits himself to Edgar's capability. 

'Capability!' contemptuously repeated Cherry. 'No one but you and Ireally understand what Edgar can do!'

'I could have shaken the fellow for his coldness, ' said Felix, smiling; 'but no doubt it was right of him, and Edgar will soonshow--'

'That he will! Only look at the beauty and freedom of this outline, 'as she opened her portfolio. 

'Don't beguile me, Cherry; I can't stay. I've all yesterday's work tomake up. '

'Here are all the proofs, ready. Only just look at the sentence Imarked for you. O Felix, how lucky Edgar has you for a brother, tosave him from being blighted and crushed!'

'Is that head yours or his? Yours! I should say he was lucky to havesuch an unenvious sister. You would draw as well as he if you onlyhad the teaching. '

'Oh no, don't say that! It spoils his! Though I do wish my drawingcould be of some use. '

'Never mind about use. You are our pleasure, ' as he saw herdissatisfied; 'besides, what would Pur (the household abbreviationof Pursuivant) do without the sub?'

This was much pleasanter! Cherry smiled at his kiss, and he randownstairs, exulting--like herself--in their artist brother's futurefame. 

When he returned to the sitting-room in the evening twilight, thefirst voice he heard, through Theodore's humming, was Wilmet's, as inmitigation--'I daresay he is well educated, and not vulgar. '

'Oh! but the sound of it!' cried Alice Knevett's voice. 'A meretradesman!'

'Who is the unfortunate?' asked Felix, coming forward. 

'O Mr. Underwood, how you do steal upon one! Yes, I'm furious! Here'smy old friend Florence Spelman--the dearest girl in the world, and sopretty--gone and engaged herself to young Schneider, of Schneider andCo'. , on the tailor's advertisements, you know! It is one of thefirst houses in London, and he's very rich and handsome and all that;but isn't it dreadful? All her friends will have to drop her! And Iwas so fond of her. '

'Is it trade itself, or the kind of trade, that outrages yourfeelings?' asked Felix, in a tone of raillery. 

'Oh, a tailor is too horrible! As if all trade wasn't bad enough, 'said Alice, laughing, then recollecting herself she turned, blushingand confused, to Cherry--'At least--I mean--your brother makes oneforget. He isn't in the least like _that_!'

'I never wish to forget anything he is!' said Cherry, proudly lookingup to him. 

'Ah! you don't know what is in my pocket!' said Felix, leaning hisback against the mantleshelf. 

'Oh! what!' cried Alice and Geraldine both together; while Wilmetlooked at him as if she wished to put him in mind of the presence ofa stranger. 

'Guess!' he said. 

'Somebody has left you a fortune! Oh! delightful!' cried Alice, clasping her hands. 

'Mr. Thomas Underwood will take Edgar's art study on himself, 'exclaimed the more moderate Geraldine. 

'You burn, Cherry. It comes from that quarter. Here's a letter by theevening's post to offer me, if I have not closed with Mr. Froggatt, to invest in Kedge and Underwood's concern, and begin with 300 poundsa year as clerk. '

'It can't be possible, ' said Wilmet, the only one to speak, as theother two girls looked rather blank. 

'Just so far that the deed of partnership here is not signed. '

'What is the business?' asked Alice. 

'He is a South American merchant, and deals with Rio for hides andtallow, if you prefer that to books and stationery, ' said Felix, in awould-be light tone. 

'Oh, but a South American merchant! That sounds quite delightful!'cried Alice. 'And you'll have to live in dear, dear London! How Ienvy you!'

'That must be the effect you had upon him, Felix, ' said Cherry, proudly. 

'Well, I thought I had been a specimen of the obstinate, ' observedFelix. 'Here is his letter. '

He gave it as of right to Wilmet, but other eyes remarked the addressto F. C. Underwood, Esquire, an unusual thing, since, as Mr. Froggatthad never aspired to the squirehood, Felix made all his brothers andsisters write only the Mister, and thus entirely deprived himself ofthe pleasure of Alda's correspondence. 

'Where will you live? Oh! you'll let me come and stay with yousometimes!' cried Alice. 

Felix smiled as he answered, 'I'm afraid our house is not built yet. '

'Miss Pearson's maid for Miss Alice, ' said Martha, at the door. 'Ohdear, how tiresome! but you'll tell me all about it tomorrow. Howhorrid it will be here when you are all gone!'

'We are not gone yet, ' said Wilmet, repressively. 'And if you please, Alice, do not talk of this. '

'No, ' said Felix, 'it must be entirely a family matter. I know we cantrust to you. '

'Thank you. I'm so glad I was there. It is so nice to have a secretof yours--and this is a beauty! Why, you'll be a great man with ahouse in London, just like Mr. Underwood of Centry. '

'Pleasing ambition, ' Cherry could not help muttering, with anironical smile, as Alice laughed and nodded herself away. 

'Ready sympathy is a pleasant thing, ' returned Felix. 

'You don't mean that you think this feasible?' said Wilmet, with anegative inflection in her voice. 

'I think it ought to be considered before it is absolutely too late. '

Both were surprised, having always thought that he considered hisdestiny as fixed; and as Geraldine looked on while the other twodiscussed pounds, shillings, and pence, it was plain to her that hehad an inclination to the change. The probability of rising, thebenefit of lodging Edgar, the nearness to Alda, the probable openingsfor the younger lads, were advantages; but against these Wilmet setthe heavy London house-rent, rates and taxes--from which they werefree--the expense of living, the loss of her present situation, thedangers of deterioration of health. As to Edgar, his habits must beformed, he was already in a respectable family, and Lance and Bernardought not to be risked for his sake. In fact Wilmet looked on Londonwith a sage country girl's prudent horror of the great and wickedcapital; and when that experienced man of the world, Felix, tried toprove that she did it injustice, he was met with a volley of alarminganecdotes. He hinted that ladies' schools might need teachers there, but was met by the difficulty of forming a new connection; and whenhe suggested that Cherry's talent might be cultivated, Wilmet hotlyexclaimed, 'She could never go about to classes and schools of art!'

'Not alone, certainly, said Cherry, ' wistfully. 

'Edgar is as good as nobody, and I should be of no use in places likethat, ' added Wilmet. 

'I'm afraid you don't look very chaperonish, ' said Felix, contemplating the fair exquisitely-moulded face, the more Grecian forthe youthful severity that curved the lip and fixed the eye. 'If wecould only turn her inside out, Cherry, she would be a dozen duennasin one!'

'And then the Pursuivant. You would not like to desert poor Pur, 'added Cherry. 

'I could do that better in town in some ways. '

'Mr. Underwood would think that as bad as Edgar's drawing, ' saidWilmet. 'No, no, Felix, you have learnt one business thoroughly, andit would be foolish to begin a fresh one now. Besides, how about Mr. Froggatt?'

'Of course I should do nothing in such haste as to inconvenience Mr. Froggatt, ' said Felix;' and no one is more anxious for our realbenefit, if this were possible. '

'But you see it won't do, ' reiterated Wilmet. 

'Perhaps not, ' he answered, with more of a sigh than his sistersexpected. 

Rather nettled, Wilmet set to work with pencil and paper to calculateexpenses, Geraldine looked up at Felix, who had taken up a book, andbegan to whistle, 'For a' that, an' a' that. '

Presently Wilmet, by way of making assurance sure, went off for heraccount-book; when he looked up and said, ' How should you have likedthis, Cherry?'

'I don't know. I've not thought. Did you?'

'I hadn't time before our Pallas Athene settled it; and I believe sheis right, if she would not lay it in quite so hard. It only seemed apity to lose our last chance of a lift in life without at leastconsidering it. '

'I thought you did not care about lifts in life. '

'I ought not. But when it is brought home that we have slipped downtwo degrees in the social scale, it is tempting to step up one again!However, it plainly cannot be. '

Yet when Wilmet mustered her irrefragable figures to prove how muchpoorer they would be in London than on their present income atBexley, he would not go into details, saying that he wanted to hearno more about it, in a tone that a little hurt her. He was souniformly gentle and gracious, that what would have passed unnoticedin most brothers, was noticed anxiously in him; and as Wilmet darnedhis shirt sleeve, a glistening came between her eyes and her needle, as she felt the requital of her prudence rather hard. Must all menpant to be out in the world, and be angry with women for withholdingthem?

Nor was Geraldine devoid of the old prick, when she thought of thedegrees in the social scale in connection with the words abouttradesmen and merchants. 

Wilmet was not quite happy without knowing that the letter of refusalwas written, and was more vexed than she liked to show when Felixlaughed at her for supposing he could have made time to write it on abusy Saturday, even if there had been any London post to send it by. Poor Alice Knevett got a considerable snubbing for bursting in to askthe decision, and lamenting over it when she had heard it; but shestood her ground with a certain pertinacity of her own: and so latein the evening, that Wilmet had gone up to put Stella to bed, Felixcame up with the letter in his hand. It was so carefully expressed, that Cherry could not help saying saucily that it was worthy of theeditor of the Pursuivant; while Alice, much impressed by the longwords, enthusiastically broke out, 'It is a most beautiful letter, only it ought to have said just the other thing!'

'Why, what would you have done without Cherry?' said Felix. 

'I'd have come to stay with her! And it is such a pity! A merchant isa gentleman, and I am sure you could get to be anything--a member ofParliament, or a baronet, or--' as if her imagination could not gofarther; but she looked up at him with a dew of eagerness glisteningin her bright hazel eyes. 'I was telling Cherry it does seem such adreadful horrible pity that you should be nailed down in this littlehole of a place for life. '

Felix smiled--a man's superior, gratified, but half melancholy smile--as he answered, 'At any rate, you won't lose the pleasures ofimagination or of pity. '

'But I want to see you have the spirit to try, ' cried Alice, eagerly. 'I know you could. '

'It would not be right, ' said Felix, sitting down by her, and in fullearnest gentleness and gravity setting before her the reasons thatCherry had hardly thought it worth while really to explain--namely, the impossibility of their being able to pay their way and meet theneedful expenses, and the evils of the young, inexperienced householdresiding in London, resigning security for dependence. 

Alice, flattered by being treated as a sensible person, said, 'Yes, 'and 'I see, ' at all the proper places; then drew a sigh, saying, 'Itis very good in you. '

'I knew you would see it in the right light, ' replied Felix. 

'Oh!' but the sigh recurred. 'I can't help being sorry, you know. '

'There is nothing to be sorry for, ' he said gratefully. 'I wasdisappointed at first myself; but for sheer usefulness to one'sneighbour, I believe that this present position, if I have sense tomake use of it rightly, is as good as any; and the mere desire ofstation and promotion is--when one comes to look at it properly--nonsense after all. '

She opened her eyes in amazement, and made a little exclamation. 

'They may be well when they come, ' said Felix in answer: 'but I havethought it over well to-night, and I see that to do anythingdoubtfully right for their sake would be a risk for all that I haveno right to run. '

Alice hung her head, overcome by the pure air of the region where hewas lifting her; and in a sort of shyness at the serious tone inwhich he had spoken, he added, smiling, 'Then you'll forgive the "sound of it. "'

'O Mr. Underwood, ' she said, in the simplest and most earnest voicethat Cherry had ever heard from her, 'I'm ashamed to recollect thatnonsense!'

CHAPTER XIV

WHAT IT MAY LEAD TO

'I never was so berhymed since I was an Irish rat, which I can scarcely remember. '--As You Like It. 

'Dim memories haunt the child, Of lives in other beings led-- Other, and yet the same. ' KEBLE. 

In the autumn Alda made a visit at home. She had, as usual, gone withMr. And Mrs. Underwood to their German baths, and had there fallen inwith a merry set of her intimates in London, who had persuaded her tojoin them in an expedition to the Tyrol, which lasted till the end ofSeptember. On her return, she was dropped at Bexley, where hersisters were greatly edified by her sketch-book, a perfect journal inclever scenes and groups, like the 'Voyage en zig-zag. ' Two of thegentlemen seemed always in waiting on the graceful outline that didduty for Alda; and indeed, she gave Wilmet to understand that onlythe skill that played them off one against the other had averted anoffer from each, hundreds of miles from home, when it would have beenso very inconvenient! Every morning Wilmet considered how her dinnerwould appear if one or both should suddenly drop in to pursue hiscourtship. 

Even Felix, though he had pooh-poohed the mysterious whisper from hissisters, was startled at the apparition of a picturesque figure; inTyrolese hat, green knickerbockers, belt, knapsack, loose velvetcoat, and fair moustache, marching full into the shop; and while thecustomers who were making it a rendezvous gazed in doubt betweengamekeepers and stage banditti, holding out a hand too fair anddainty for either character, and exclaiming, 'How are you, Mr. Froggatt! Hollo, Felix!'

Mr. Froggatt was amazed beyond measure, and it was only on hearingthe ring of the mirthful laugh that he exclaimed, 'Mr. Edgar This isan alteration. You will find the young ladies up-stairs. '

Felix was disengaged at the moment, and could take him through theparlour, too glad to have him there at all to utter the faintest wishthat he would have rung at the private door; and he ushered him intothe drawing-room with the words, 'Here's the artist who has begunwith himself;' and then retreated. 

'Edgar! oh, you wonderful boy!' cried happy Geraldine, as he threwhis arms round her; while Alda asked: 'Is that the thing now, Edgar?'

'Quite comifo, ' he answered. 'Ha, little ones, have you forgottenme?'

'Stella says you're the clarionet in the brass band, ' said Bernard. 'What have you got in that pack?'

'Munitions of war!' he answered, unstrapping his bag, and producingpackets of French bon-bons, bought on his way home, from thesketching tour Mr. Renville always made with sundry of his pupils inearly autumn. 'Gobble them up, little mice, before the cat comeshome. '

Stella paused with a dutiful 'May I?' and Cherry had to interferebetween the little maiden's scruples, Bernard's omnivorousinclination, and Theodore's terror at any new article of food; whileAlda and Edgar exchanged eager question and answer:

'You've been at home. You've seen them all?'

'I dined there on Sunday--might do so any day; they can't do withoutme, that's a fact. '

'Nor me, I imagine, ' said Alda. 'I suppose I am to go back with you?'

'So Madam proposed; but the fact is, that Molly has done uncommonlywell without you this time. '

'What do you mean ?' asked Alda, sharply. 

'What think you of a friend of Cherry?'

'I haven't got any friends. '

'Think again! Not the great convert, the Cacique of all the Mexicos?'

'Ferdinand Travis! You don't mean it?'

'_I_ don't; but the elders mean it, and the youngers will do it. '

'Do tell me! I can't understand, ' cried Alda, much excited. 'We havenever met him. '

'The uncle or father--which?

'The uncle. '

'Well, the uncle has been in England, and fraternised with ourgovernor at Peter Brown's; there was a banqueting all round, and hisnephew was carried at his chariot wheels. If I am not much mistaken, gold and timber jingled to silver and bullock-hide, and concluded aprospective union in the persons of my nephew and my daughter. I'msorry. I have long been persuaded that a very small effort on thepart of our respected Blunderbore might have redeemed the familyfortunes in the person of Polly. '

'How could you think of anything so absurd?' said Alda. 

'As if my uncle would consent!'

'If Tom has any sentiment, it is for my father and the name ofUnderwood, ' said Edgar. 'You remember he was sorely disappointed thatFelix would not step into my shoes. '

'And very angry and hurt, ' said Alda, 'as well he might be. '

'Yes; but that anger proved the vastness of his good intentions. Besides there's something about our old giant--steadiness andbreeding, I believe--that uniformly makes Tom knock under to him; andthere's a peculiar affinity of good sense between him and Marilda, that ought to have ripened under favourable circumstances. '

'And is he really cut out!' said Alda. 'I don't know how to believethis! How far has it gone?'

'Hanger on and oyster in love, ' promptly answered Edgar. 

'Honest Polly has the most comical look of anxious coyness on herjolly face, and holds her elbows squarer than ever; and a few pacesoff stands Montezuma, magnificent and melancholic; and Edgar assumedthe posture. 

'Melancholy, no wonder, ' said the conscious beauty; 'Edgar he must beover head and ears in debt. '

'So it struck me; but he must have managed it uncommon quietly, forthey call him the Mexican Muff, he's hand and glove with all theirholinesses up at Clement's shop, and the wildest orgie he has beendetected at was their magic-lantern. '

'Then it is real goodness that draws them together!' exclaimedCherry, looking up from her presidency over the comfits. 

'Goodness and a balance, ' said Edgar. 

'Did you know, ' said Cherry, 'that as soon as he came of age, he paidthe Insurance all the money for the Fortinbras Arms? The agents werequite overwhelmed, and wanted to put it in the Pursuivant. '

She was cut short by the return of Wilmet and Angela, accompanied byMiss Knevett. The effect of Edgar's appearance was startling. Alicegave a little scream of surprise, Angela crept behind her sisters, and Wilmet stood for a moment like a stag at gaze; then, as he said, 'Well, Mettie, are you going to send for the police?' exclaimed, 'You, Edgar! What a figure you have made of yourself!'

'See how our eldest crushes me!' said Edgar. 'Such a face as yours, Mettie, ought not to be wedded to the commonplace. '

'I suppose it is like German artists, ' said Wilmet, trying to resignherself. 

'It is such a beautiful becoming dress, ' whispered Alice toGeraldine; while Edgar rattled on--'No wonder there is adeterioration in taste from living in the very tents of thePhilistines. Why, Cherry, how do you bear existence surrounded bysuch colours as these?'

'The paper?' asked Wilmet, surprised. 'It is rather a large pattern, to be sure. '

'I call it cruelty to animals to shut Cherry up among the eternalabortive efforts of that gilded trellis to close upon those bluedahlias, crimson lilacs, and laburnums growing upwards, tied withhuge ragged magenta ribbons. They would wear out my brain. '

'Well, I think when you remember our old paper, you might bethankful!' said Wilmet. 

'Precisely what I do, and am not thankful. What our paper may havebeen in its earlier stages of existence, I am not prepared to say, but since I can remember, that hateful thing, the pattern, could onlybe traced by curious researches in dark corners, and the wallpresented every nuance of purplish salmon or warm apricot. '

'Dear old paper!' cried Cherry. 'Yes, wasn't it soft, deepening offin clouds and bars, sunsets and storm-clouds, to make stories about?'

'Where it was most faded and grimy, ' said Wilmet. 'It is allaffectation not to be glad to have clean walls. '

'Clean!' cried Edgar, in horror. 'Defend me from the clean! Bare, bald, and frigid, with hard lines breaking up and frittering yourbackground. If walls are ornamented at all, it should not be in apoor material like paper, but rich silk or woollen tapestryhangings. '

'We couldn't have tapestry now, ' said Alice, in a puzzled voice. 

'Then, '"Comrades, take warning by my fall, And have it strong or not at all. "'

'Not walls, ' laughed Cherry. 

'Let them be of natural, or, at any rate, uniform tint; and coverthem with your own designs of some character and purpose, notpatterns bought by the yard. '

'Oh! I see what you would be at, ' said Wilmet quaintly. 

'You are bewailing the loss of your great Man Friday. '

'Achilles, I beg your pardon. '

'He never would come out, ' said Angela; 'he came through thewhitewash after the measles. '

'I wonder what the present inhabitants think of him, ' said Cherry. 'One comfort is, if he is a bogy now, they may show him some day asan early effort of Sir Edgar Underwood, President of the RoyalAcademy. '

'Oh dear! I must go!' cried Alice. 'I only came to fetch a patternfor Aunt Maria, and she is waiting for it; but you are all sodelightful here. '

'What pretty little thing have you picked up there?' asked Edgar, asshe went. 

'Have we not told you of Miss Pearson's niece?'

'You should take her likeness, Cherry, as a relief from theclassically severe. '

Cherry opened her portfolio, and showed two or three water-coloureddrawings of the graceful little head and piquant features. Edgarcriticised, and promised a lesson; and the sitter, nothing loth, though rather coy, was caught. She blushed and smiled, and tookexception at little personalities, and laughed her forgiveness, goingthrough a play of countenance very perplexing to the pupil, but muchrelished by the master, as he called up the pout and smile by turns, and played with her little airs. 

He took Alda back on Monday, but promised to come home for Christmas, and kept his word. Perhaps the Renville wirthschaft afforded lesscontrast with home than did the Underwood menage; and, in spite ofthe Philistine furniture, the rooms in the High Street agreed betterwith his tastes than the old house in St. Oswald's Buildings. He wasabove objecting to the shop; and whereas Clement carefully avoidedthe public precincts, he was often there, hunting up books, readingnewspapers, gossiping with Mr. Froggatt or with Redstone, and alwaysensuring himself a welcome by the free bright sweetness of his mannerand his amusing talk. 

It was a prosperous winter; Felix, as partner and acknowledgededitor, was in a more comfortable position both as to income andauthority. Other matters were going well. Fulbert, to the generalsurprise, turned out a capital letter-writer, and sent home excellentaccounts of himself, working heartily in a situation in the post-office, which Mr. Audley's Somerville interest had managed to securefor him. Moreover, all close scholarships had not been abolished, andFelix's opportunities in the newspaper line had enabled him todiscover one at St. Cadoc's, a small college at Cambridge, to becompeted for by the natives of the county where Clement hadfortunately been born. A letter to the parish clerk of Vale Leston, to ask for the baptismal register of Edward Clement Underwood, produced a reply from a well-remembered old Abednego Tripp, whodeclared himself 'horned and rejoiced' at hearing from Master Felix, and at being able to do anything for one of the Reverend Mr. Edward'ssons. The competition was not very severe; Clement obtained thescholarship, and therewith his maintenance for three years to come;and he was at the same time able to exercise a bit of patronage onhis sisters' behalf, more gratifying to his own feelings than theirs. Mr. Fulmort's unmarried sisters had lived in the country with aformer governess, until on the death of the elder, the survivordecided on employing her very considerable fortune in establishing aschool where girls of small means might be prepared for becomingfirst-rate governesses, with special openings for the daughters ofpoor clergy and of missionaries. 

One of the first families thought of was that of the favouritechorister; so Angela, now ten years old, was nominated at once, tothe relief of Wilmet, who did not think her romping intimacies withthe girls at Miss Pearson's very desirable. Moreover, after acorrespondence between Miss Fulmort and Miss Lyveson, it was decidedthat Robina should be transferred to the new school at Brompton withher sister, partly by way of infusing a trustworthy element, andpartly that her studies might be perfected by London masters. Robina, whose allegiance to Miss Lyveson was most devoted, was greatlygrieved, but she was a reasonable, womanly little being, aware thatgoverness-ship was her profession, and resolute to qualify herself;so though she came home with tell-tale spots under her eyes, shereplied to all condolences with, 'I know it's right what must bemust;' and her spirits rose when Lance came home, bound only toreturn during the holidays on two or three special days when hisvoice was indispensable at the cathedral. 

Edgar and he together kept the house in continual merriment, so thatthe sober pillars of the house found themselves carried along, theyknew not whither. 

'I have had a serious application, ' said Felix one evening. 'A solemnknock came to the office door, and an anxious voice came in--"Please, brother, I want to speak to you. " There stood the little Star! Ithought at least she had broken the chandelier, but no such thing. Itwas, "Please, brother, mayn't I have a birthday?"'

'Poor little darling!' cried some voices. 

'What could have put it into her head?' said Wilmet. 

'She said all little girls had birthdays, and Ellen Bruce had toldAngel all about the dance in honour of hers. '

'Ah!' said Wilmet, 'we'll have Angel out of the way of that kind ofchatter. '

'Poor little maid! of course I had to quench her, ' said Felix, as faras her own day was concerned. I told her more about it than she hadever heard, but then she took me aback by saying Father was happy, and she thought he would like her to be happy. '

'You didn't consent!' exclaimed Wilmet. 

'I represented that it was Theodore's birthday as well, and thatstrangers would make him miserable. She was really very good, and Iwant you just to consider whether we could not do something--ofcourse on a different day--but in the course of the holidays, by wayof treat. Surely you could invite some of Miss Pearson's pupils. '

'I don't like to begin, Felix, ' said Wilmet; 'there would bereciprocity, and no one knows where it might lead to. '

'A few white muslin frocks--eh, W. W. ? I think we could stand them. '

'That is not all I mean, ' said Wilmet; 'it is the sort of style ofthing. It would be all very well to have a few little girls here, butthey would all ask us again, and I could not answer for what mighthappen at their homes. '

'It is out!' said Edgar. 'Now we know the sort of style of thing itmight lead to. Minerva under a mistletoe bough. '

'Hurrah!' burst out Lance, in convulsions of mirth, which infectedFelix and Cherry; while Wilmet, as simple as she was discreet, blushed up to the tips of her ears, and tried to defend herself. 

'They tell me of doings at their parties that are what I should notlike for our little girls, and I don't think you would, Felix. '

'Forfeits, to wit?' asked Edgar. 'Or cards, or waltzing. You may aswell be explicit, Mettie. '

'No, no, ' said Felix, 'Mettie shall not be teased: she is right inthe main. ' But his tone was that he always used when her prudence wastoo much for him. 

'And the family refinement is to be secured by sitting in ashes allChristmas, ' said Edgar. 'Slightly unchristian, it strikes me. '

'But, ' continued Felix, 'out of these domestic ashes, we must get upsome sport for the children. I stand committed to Stella. '

'Shall I get Bill Harewood, and do Box and Cox?' suggested Lance. 

'Might we not get up something they could take part in themselves?'said Cherry; 'Cinderella, or some such little play?--Edgar, you knowhow to manage such things. 

'Wilmet doesn't know where they would lead to, ' gravely respondedEdgar. 

'To Lance's going off with a circus, ' said Felix. 

'I always had a great mind to do so, ' responded Lance. 'To sing comicsongs on one leg on a spotted horse's back, and go about day andnight in a yellow van drawn by elephants--I call that life!'

'Secure a berth for me as scene-painter!' cried Edgar. 'See how I'ddraw a house by the very outline of Mazeppa outside!'

'And Felix will print all our advertisements gratis!'

'Oh!' broke in Cherry, 'I have a notion. Couldn't we make a play ofthe conjuror in disguise? It is Dr. Knowall in German popular tales, Robin the Conjuror in English. '

'Nothing foolish, I hope?' seriously asked Wilmet. 

'Oh no. Don't you recollect? The story is, that a set of thievessteal a jewel, a man comes shamming conjuror and offering to find itfor the owner, intending to trust to chance, and feast at her expenseas long as he is not found out. '

'I remember!' exclaimed Lance, you used to tell us the story. Somebody suspects him, and brings a creature shut up in a covereddish to ask him to tell what it was--and it happens to be a robin; sowhen he cries out, "Oh, poor Robin!" thinking himself done for, outhops the bird, and the enemy is sold. '

'Yes; and then he counts his dinners every day, and the thieves whohave come to look on think he is counting them, and throw themselveson his mercy. '

'It has capabilities, ' said Edgar. 

'But the moral!' said Wilmet. 

'What! Not the lesson against dealing with conjurors? demanded Edgar. 'I'll undertake to arm your pupils against spirit-rapping for ever. '

'In that point of view--' said Wilmet doubtfully. 

'In that point of view, ' said Felix, laughing, 'it has my vote. '

'I don't like deception to succeed, ' said Wilmet; 'but at leastthere's none of the worst sort of nonsense. '

Lance leapt up and performed a pas seul, insisting that BillHarewood must come and be a robber; and Edgar and Cherry instantlyhad their heads together as playwrights and managers. 

'Never mind, Wilmet, ' said Felix at their bedroom doors that night. 'Remember, Father never was a man for all work and no play. '

'I don't mind play, but I don't know what this may lead to;' then, asFelix laughed merrily at the repetition, she followed him into hisroom, saying, 'I mean, I have no trust in Edgar's discretion, orLance's either, and all sorts of things may be put into thechildren's heads. '

'You can't keep children's heads a blank, ' said Felix, 'and Edgar'sgood taste ought to be trusted in his own home, for his own sisters. Even you might stretch a few points to keep him happy and occupiedwith Cherry. Besides, I believe we do live a duller life than can bereally good for any one. It can't be right to shut up all these youngthings all their holidays without any pleasure. '

'I thought, ' said Wilmet, her eyes growing moist, 'it was pleasureenough to be all at home together. '

'So it is, to staid old fogies like you and me, ' said Felix, kissingher; 'but the young ones want a lark now and then, and I confess Ishould be immensely disappointed if this fun didn't come off. No, no, W. W. , I can't have you an old cat; you are much too young andpretty. '

The levity of this conclusion shocked Wilmet beyond remonstrance. WasFelix falling from his height of superiority, or was her strictnesswearisome?

Meantime, Geraldine's brain was ringing with doggrel rhymes, andwhirling with stage contrivances, in the delight of doing somethingwith Edgar, whether versifying or drawing; and as Felix said, to keephim happy at home for Christmas was no small gain, even though itbrought a painful realisation that their feast was not his feast. 

Geraldine suffered in silence, for a word from her was always putdown by some tender jest, avowing as much inferiority in goodness assuperiority in intellect. As to Clement, Edgar's sport was to startlehim with jokes, dilemmas, and irreverences, and then to declinediscussion on the ground that he never argued with _sisters_, andthat Clement would understand when he went to Cambridge. Otherwise, the subject was avoided at home, but Edgar consorted a good deal withMr. Ryder, calling him the only person in the town, except Cherry, who knew the use of a tongue, and one day, when Felix was assistinghis old master in a search through old newspapers in the reading-room, Mr. Ryder said, 'By-the-by, your brother Edgar has a good dealmore of the talk of the day than you can be prepared for. '

'I am afraid so, sir, ' said Felix; 'but he does not put it forth muchat home. '

'So I hoped. It would have startled your father a good deal; but Ibelieve myself acting in the spirit of his wishes in letting him talkout his crudities. '

'Thank you, sir, ' said Felix, not quite knowing how to take this. 

'It is a phase to be passed through, ' said Mr. Ryder. 'Indeed, a gooddeal of it is fashion and vanity. '

'Mr. Audley thinks so, ' replied Felix. 'He said he thought poor Edgardid not think enough to have real doubt, but that he considered otherpeople's a dispensation from attending to the subject at all. '

'Exactly, ' said Mr. Ryder, 'except so far as repeating what he hascaught up seems to him knowing, and according to the spirit of thetime, fit to dazzle us down here. Whatever may deepen him willprobably change all that--I do not say into what you or your fatherwould wish; but what is jargon now will pass away into something morereal, for better or--'

'For worse?' asked Felix anxiously, as he paused. 

'I do not say so, ' returned Mr. Ryder. 'Perhaps what I chiefly wishedat this moment was to clear myself in your eyes of treachery to yourfather. '

'No, sir, that I never could suspect. '

But the conversation might well leave heaviness behind it. Was itcome to Edgar's views being such as to startle Mr. Ryder! who, forthat matter, had of late shown much less laxity of opinion than inhis younger and more argumentative days; and there was little comfortin supposing that these were not real honest doubts at all, onlyapologies for general carelessness and irreligion. 

Yet with even this trouble in the recess of the heart, this was themerriest winter the Underwood household had known since theirfather's time. 

Edgar chose to frame the play upon the Italian form of the story, where the impostor is a starveling poet, nicknamed Signor Topo, orMaster Ratton, because his poverty had brought him to live in a hay-loft. This character he assumed, and no doubt it fitted him betterthan either the English cobbler or the German doctor; besides, as hesaid, sham court costume is always the easiest to contrive: butCherry was by no means prepared to find the Rat-like poet the secretadmirer of a daughter of the Serene Highness who owned the jewel. 

'Such a monstrous interpolation, ' quoth Geraldine. 

'Interpolations are the beauty of the thing. It would be as flat as apancake without. '

'And Wilmet won't like it. '

'Wilmet must be brought to the level of ordinary human nature. '

'I don't feel as if this were using her well. You know she expresslyconsented to this "because there was no nonsense in it. "'

'I. E. If it had been Cinderella, it would have been improper; if theSleeping Beauty, highly scandalous. Eh, Cherie?'

'You know I think Mettie _does_ carry her scruples pretty far, ' saidGeraldine, trying not to laugh, 'but I won't be a party to cheatingher; and if this young princess is to come in, she must be told ofit. '

'Or she will take out her Gorgon's head in the midst, and petrify hersubjects! Maybe it will be safest to prepare her. You see, suchdiscipline reigns here, that a poor Bohemian like me doesn't knowwhere to be. '

Accordingly, Edgar said in his airy way, 'O Mettie, by-the-by, wehave put in a part for little Miss Knevett. '

'Indeed! I thought it was to be all among ourselves. Have you spokento her?'

'Of course; and she is in the ecstatic state of preparation ofspangles and coronets. '

'I wish you had spoken before. It would be hard to disappoint hernow. What is she to be?'

'Nothing less than heroine. There must be some sort of conventionalcatastrophe, or the whole concern falls flat. '

'I don't see why it should not fall flat, ' said Wilmet, with a soberair that drove Cherry into an uncontrollable convulsion of laughter;'it would amuse the children just as well. '

'The children of six, maybe, ' said Edgar gravely, 'but hardly thechildren of sixteen. Have you no mercy on them, my venerable sister?'

Wilmet had arrived at such a pass of resignation as to perceive that'a fuss' on her part might be more mischievous than any 'nonsense' inwhich Edgar was likely to indulge in public, especially withGeraldine as his coadjutor. She tried to obtain some reassurance thatthere was 'nothing more silly than needful in this play of yours. '

'No, indeed. There is just a little mock courtship; but as that isthe case with nine-tenths of the stories in the world, I don't thinkyou gain much by turning it out. '

'I did hope for once in a way we ourselves might be quit of it. '

'It is hard on you, ' said Cherry, smiling; 'but it would make a greatuproar to disturb all now. '

'At any rate, I have found the old receipt for tea-cakes, ' respondedWilmet, whose mind was almost as much preoccupied with theentertainment of the body as her sister's with that of the mind. 

She had relented so far as to invite two little girls and theirwidowed mother, from whom there was no danger of reciprocities, Lancehad prevailed to have Will Harewood as one of the robbers; and theMiss Pearsons were coming to behold their niece; besides which, Stella having imparted the great secret to Mr. Froggatt, Felix foundthe good old gentleman and his wife burning to have an invitation. Thus the party would be the largest Wilmet had ever contemplated; andthe mysteries of tea and supper were so congenial to her housewifelysoul, that she did not distress herself about the frequent rehearsalsin Miss Pearson's empty school-room, the transformations of garmentsunder the needles of Cherry and Robina, nor even the wildness andecstacy of all the children from Lance downwards, all bursting withsecrets, and letting them out at every corner of their grinningmouths. 

It must soon be over, and Felix seemed to be enjoying it thoroughly;and Wilmet could tolerate a great deal when either Felix or Aldaenjoyed. He was much too busy with Christmas accounts to undertakeany part that needed learning, but he was pressed into the service asa courtier, only with a dispensation from either speaking orrehearsing; while Wilmet utterly scouted any idea of taking any sharein the drama, having enough to do in her own character. 

And in that character she was left alone to entertain the guests, foreven Cherry was in request as prompter and assistant dresser--nay, with the assistance of Theodore's accordion, formed the whole band ofmusicians at the ball which opened the performance, and whichrequired the entire corps dramatique. Robina, as the ElderlyPrincess, demonstratively dropped her bracelet, with a ruby about asbig as a pigeon's egg (being the stopper of a scent-bottle), andafter the dancers had taken some trouble not to step on it, theyretired, and it was stolen by the gang of robbers, cloaked up totheir corked eyebrows and moustaches. 

Then appeared in his loft--supplied with straw culled from packagesat the printing-house--the poet, well got up in his knickerbockersand velvet smoking-cap, scarf and guitar, soliloquising in burlesquerhyme on his fallen state and hopeless admiration, and looking veryhandsome and disconsolate, until startled by the cry behind thescenes--

 'O yes! O yes! O yes! By command of her Highness! Lost, stolen, or strayed, Gone to the dogs or mislaid, Her Highness' splendid ruby. Whoso finds it--wit or booby, Tinker, tailor, soldier, lord-- Let him ask what he will, he shall have his reward. '

Thereupon the poet, communicating his designs in a stage soliloquy, disguised himself in a tow wig and beard, and a railway rug turned upwith yellow calico; and the scene shifting to the palace, heintroduced himself to the Elderly Princess as the greatest ofspiritualists--so great, that--

 'Detective police are an ignorant fable: No detective can equal a walnut-wood table. '

But he required as a medium a maiden fair and lovely, but with aheart as yet untouched, otherwise the spirits might be offended. Theonly lady who was available was, of course, the youthful princessFiordespina, whose alarm and reluctance had been contrived so as tobe highly flattering to the disguised poet. 

The dinner scenes, at which the robbers presented themselves in turn, and imagined that they heard themselves counted, went off in dueorder; also the test, when the courtiers tried to pose thespiritualist with making him divine what they brought him in acovered dish, and were disconcerted by his sighing out, 'Alas! alas! see envy batten On the unhappy Master Ratton!'

while the rat leaped out from beneath the lid!

Then came the avowal by the robber: but the conclusion was so farvaried, that the jewel having been judiciously hidden, the poet madeuse of his voice and his guitar to throw the Lady Fiordespina into amesmeric sleep before the court, and then to cause a table to rap outthe letters, which she interpreted so as to lead to the spot. 

It was the prettiest scene of all, his music and song were sograceful; and in spite of some suppressed giggling, the attitude andcountenance of Fiordespina were so very pretty in her trance. Nothingmore was left save the restoration of the ruby, the claiming of thereward, and the final tableau, in which Ratton and Fiordespina, intheir native good mien, had their hands joined by the benignantElderly Princess; while, to the equal amusement and confusion of all, good old Mrs. Froggatt fairly burst out crying with excitement andadmiration!

Mrs. Vincent, the young widow, was likewise enchanted, and so wasMiss Maria Pearson; but Wilmet could not quite fathom the tone of theelder and graver sister, or decide whether it were her owndissatisfaction that made her think Miss Pearson had not expected tosee such a role bestowed upon her niece. 

The doors between the drawing-room and the theatre were opened again;the boys handed round negus and lemonade; and Felix, standing overCherry, said, 'Lance's circus speculation would not be a bad one. There's plenty of dramatic talent in the family. '

'Did you like it, Felix!'

'I could tell exactly which parts were yours and which Edgar's, ' wasthe ambiguous answer, as he turned to secure the Princess Fiordespinafor the dance that was to crown the performance. 

'O Mr. Underwood! Oh yes, thank you! but--'

'Is it part of the programme that wizard and medium should dancetogether?'

'Oh no! Only it seems so funny to think of your dancing. '

'What, you thought a stationer must be stationary?'

'O Mr. Underwood, what a shocking pun!' and she was led off sparklingwith pretty laughter; while the conjuror muttering, 'The gouty oak began to move And flounder into hornpipes, '

turned graciously on little Susie Vincent, and scared as much as heelevated her, by claiming her as his partner. 

Will Harewood, dashing across the room, and looking earnestly withhis bold and now flushed face up to Wilmet, blurted out, 'MissUnderwood, now please, let me dance with you. '

'Thank you, ' she said graciously; 'but I believe I must play forthem. '

'I'll do that, ' said Clement, over her head. 

'The Dead March in Saul?' murmured Edgar. 

'Nonsense!' broke out Mrs. Vincent, starting up; 'what am I good forbut to play?'

So Clement, who thought he had found an escape, was reduced to thenecessity of asking the other little Vincent; and Wilmet's smile ofconsent so elated Bill Harewood, that he could not help flying acrossto that very happy and well-matched pair, the Elderly Princess andFirst Robber, to tell them, 'I've got her. '

'Who?'

'Why, your sister. '

'You've never been and made up to Wilmet!' said Lance, as if thisinstance of valour crowned his merits. 

'Yes, I have; and she will. You see there ain't another gentleman outof the family except the old Froggy, and the little one has got him. Well, I always wished beyond anything to dance with Miss Underwood!'

'Did you?' said Robina. 'I never should have thought of that. '

'Most likely not, ' said Bill; 'but she is the most beautiful woman Iever did or shall see in all my life;' and he flew back to her side. 

'Is she?' said Robina, altogether amazed. 

'Well, perhaps, ' said Lance; 'you know one might go a long waywithout finding any one so handsome. '

'Then I wish people wouldn't say so. It seems making our Wilmetcommon, like any other girl, to care for her being pretty. '

'So Froggy's dancing with Stella, ' observed Lance. I declare I'll tryif Mrs. Frog won't stand up with me. Some one ought. You'll not mindwaiting, Bobbie. It is not often one has the chance to dance with acap like that. '

Bobbie resigned herself amicably, and Lance, with his bright archface, made his bow and half polite, half saucy addresses to Mrs. Froggatt in her magnificent head-gear, making her laugh herselfalmost to tears again as she declined. He held the Miss Pearsons ingreater awe, and ventured on neither; so that Robina had him for SirRoger de Coverley, where the sole contretemps arose from Angel andBear being in such boisterous spirits that Wilmet decreed that theymust not be partners again. Of the rest, some had a good deal ofdancing-master experience; Mrs. Harewood's impromptu merry-makingshad afforded plenty of practice to the two choristers; even Clementhad had a certain school-feast training; and Felix, with a good ear, ready eye, and natural ease of movement, acquitted himself to MissKnevett's eagerly expressed admiration. 

'Take care, Master Ratton will be jealous, ' said Edgar, as he claimedher for the next dance, a quadrille. 

'Jealous! oh no! Some people one never thinks of complimenting. '

Cherry caught the words, and wondered what they meant. 

A few more dances, and then came Wilmet's anxiously contrived supper. 

'I say, ' observed Will Harewood to Lance, 'why can't we have thingslike this at home?'

''Tisn't their nature to, ' judiciously responded Lance. 

'This cream is quite up to the grub we get after a crack let-off inthe Close, ' added Will; for requisitions for their voices at privateconcerts had made the choir connoisseurs in the relics of feasts. 

'Better, I should say, ' returned Lance. 'Mettie doesn't make it ofsoap, or arsenic, or verdigris, like old Twopenny. '

'What! you don't mean that she made it herself!'

'Of course! who else should?'

'My eyes! And to see her looking like that!' Then, with a deep sigh, 'If I could only book her for my wife on the spot!'

Whence it may be inferred, that Stella's birthday party was not onlya brilliant success, but might, in Wilmet's phrase, 'lead tosomething. ' All it seemed to have led to at present was a discoveryon the part of the good Miss Pearsons, that the household they hadbeen wont to pity as small orphan children, now contained three fineyoung men. 

At least Geraldine connected this with the desire they expressed thatAlice might enjoy the same opportunities as Robina of giving heracquirements a final polish, up to diploma pitch. A correspondencecommenced, resulting in Miss Knevett being engaged as teacher, beingremunerated by lessons in languages and accomplishments. Thearrangement gave universal satisfaction; Cherry could not detect anyregret on the part of Felix; Alice would still spend her holidayswith her aunts; and the sense that her departure was near made theintercourse between the two houses more frequent and familiar than ithad ever yet been. 

One evening Cherry, while looking up a quotation for Felix inSouthey's Doctor, lit on his quaint theory of the human soul havingpreviously migrated through successive stages of vegetable and animallife, and still retaining something characteristic from eachtransmigration. Her brothers were a good deal tickled with the idea;and Lance exclaimed, 'I know who must have been rhubarb, queen-wasp, and a hen-harrier. '

'Oh, that's too bad!' cried Robina. 

'Why a hen-harrier?' asked Felix, recognising, like almost all theothers. 

'One of the birds of prey where the female is bigger than her mate, 'drily observed Edgar. 

'Besides, ' said Cherry, ' recollect the hen-harrier's countenance inpictures, with beady eyes, and a puffed supercilious smile about thebeak. '

'Why, that's Lady Price!' chimed in Alice, making the discovery atlast. 

Lengthily and gravely Edgar uttered the words, 'Puzzle-monkey, praying mantis, sacred stork, howler. '

Lance and Robin roared with merriment, and after one glance atClement's half virtuous, half offended countenance, Felix and Cherryfell into like convulsions; while Alice exclaimed, 'But who is it?'and Angel shouted the sufficiently evident answer, 'Clement, oh! thehowler, the black preaching monkey in a natural surplice!'

'I can't think how you do it!' exclaimed Alice. 

'I object to the mantis, ' Cherry struggled to say. 'Nastyhypocritical creature that eats things up. '

'Praying for its living, eh, Cherry?' said wicked Edgar. 'If you hadever seen the long thin animal, with head back, hands joined, andpious attitude, you couldn't doubt. '

And as he spoke he sketched his mischievous likeness, at which themirth grew more furious; while Cherry, always the most easilyexcited, uttered in a strangled voice, 'A parsnip, a barn-door hen, adilapidated Guernsey cow, an old mother whale. '

'O Cherry, Cherry, you've immortalised yourself!' shouted Lance. 'Howdid you hit off the parsnip? the very thing that had stumped me. '

'The colour, and the odd sort of sweetness, ' said Cherry. 

'Won't we have fun with it when I go back!' cried Lance. --'Not tell?Nonsense! Why, no one will enjoy it like Mother Harewood herself. '

'Only don't say I made it. There, Edgar has got one. '

'Touch-me-not balsam, blister-fly, bantam-cock (full strut), blackterrier. '

He did not caricature this time except with the muscles of his face, and with these he contrived to put on four different aspects, each soexactly like Mr. Mowbray Smith that not even Alice required theproclamation of the name; and Wilmet gravely said, 'I do not thinkthis is a proper sort of game. It must be ill-natured or irreverent. '

'That depends, ' said Geraldine, now thoroughly in the swing. -- Here!Hawthornden apple-tree, stickleback, goldfinch, beaver. '

 'The hardy Norseman's house of yore Was on the foaming wave, '

sang out Lance, recalling Theodore's substitute for Felix's name. 

'Exactly like--figures, tastes, and all, ' said Edgar, scanning Felix'sclear, bright, fresh face, glossy hair, and rather short figure, atonce trim and sturdy. 'The goldfinch hit him off exactly, but I don'tsee the force of the apple-tree. '

'You would, ' said Cherry, 'if you were properly acquainted with ourthree trees and their individualities. The Hawthornden is a resolutelooking fellow, but it indulges in the loveliest pink and whiteblossoms, and waxen, delicate, peachy fruit. '

'Uncommonly sour! Thank you, Cherry, ' said Felix. 

'Not in a pie, ' suggested Alice. 

'Properly treated and sweetened, eh ?' asked he, smiling on her. 

'But why is Felix like a stickleback?' said Angela. 

'Don't you know?' said Cherry; 'a beautiful bright little fish, andthe good male one swims up and down taking care of the nest. '

'I do like the beaver, ' allowed Wilmet. 'It always was my favouritebeast. '

'It hits off the respectable householder element, ' added Edgar. 'Three flaps of his broad tail rule beaverdom like Jupiter's nod. '

'I have one, ' interposed Robina. --'Bella-donna lily, working bee, menura--'

'Hold hard!' called Lance; 'is a menura fish, flesh, or fowl?'

'Fowl: the lyre-tailed pheasant, that makes a shelter for its nestwith its own tail. '

'Decided liar tale, ' muttered Edgar. 

'Go on, Bobbie, ' Felix encouraged her. The pheasant suits both thetwins as well as the bella-donna. Any more?'

'Perhaps the leading stag of the herd. '

'Don't make us like that proud, cowardly, tyrannical beast, 'exclaimed Wilmet. 

'I have seen you look exactly like one, ' said Geraldine. 'That andthe pheasant both give the notion of your neck. '

'Such a set of trumpery gaudy things!' grumbled Wilmet. 'Nothing butthe bee is tolerable. '

'I did think of a speckled Hamburg hen, and a nice quiet she-goat, 'said Robina; 'but they are all dowdy, and would not suit Alda. '

'There's something in the theory, ' said Edgar. 'That belladonnaapproves itself perfectly--so delicate and stately, and yet soessentially unpoetical. '

'That Mettie takes as a compliment, ' said Felix, 'only she wouldrather have been a potato, or a cabbage. '

'Now, ' said Cherry, 'you will all know--bell-heather, thegrasshopper, the lark, and the squirrel. '

'Is this the lark's crest, or the squirrel's tail!' said Felix, giving an elder brother's pull to the boy's highest wave of hair. 

'Or the grasshopper's leap?' cried Lance, springing on him for a boutof buffeting and skirmishing; in the midst of which Alice was heardwondering how the riddles, as she thought them, were either made orguessed. 

'They come, ' said Geraldine. 'I am only afraid we shall fall into atrick of making them for everybody. '

'I wonder what you would make for me. '

Geraldine had it on her tongue's end that Alice would be difficult, for want of anything distinctive, but Felix and Edgar were bothjotting something down, and Robina was before-hand with either--'Scarlet pimpernel, tortoiseshell butterfly, budgerigar, marmoset. '

No one answered, for Felix had pushed a slip of paper over to Alice, on which she read--"'Forget-me-not, ladybird, linnet, kitten. " Idon't think I ever saw a linnet. Isn't it a little brown bird?'

'With a rich glow of red, and a beautiful song, ' said Felix, smiling;and the red glowed redder on her cheek, as she said, laughing, 'Kitten for mischief, eh? For shame, Mr. Underwood!--What, another!Dear me, I shall not know myself!'

This had been slipped into her hand; and Cherry suspected that herexclamation had been a mistake of which she was conscious, as thecolour deepened on her already blushing cheeks, and her eyes werecast down, while a demure smile played on her lips. The incautiousexclamation had betrayed her, and the young ones clamoured to hearEdgar's view of her transmigration; but there was a little coystruggle of 'Oh no, she wouldn't, and she couldn't. '

 'She smiled and blushed, and oft did say Her pretty oath by yea or nay. '

And in the midst came the message that the maid was arrived to takeher home; and this being a cross stiff personage, who might never bekept waiting, she had to hurry away; and had no sooner gone thanAngela burst out with, 'Here it is! I've got it! Listen to it: "Say, Lady--"'

'Stay, Angela, ' interrupted Felix. 'You have no business with that. '

'Not Edgar's fun!' she exclaimed. 'Why, where is he?'

'Surely he is not going home with her!' said Wilmet in some dismay. 

'Oh, but it is such fun, ' went on Angela, 'only I can't make it out. You read it, Lance. '

'Did she give it you?' said Felix. 

'No, I whipped it up when she dropped it. There's something aboutRatton in it. '

Felix quietly took the paper out of her hand, folded it, and put itinto an envelope. 'You take it back to her the first thing to-morrow, ' he said. 'Now go to bed. '

Angela durst not oppose that tone, so unusually serious andauthoritative; but she contrived to prolong her good-nights, and theputting away of her goods, with a kind of half droll, half sullenresignation; and just as Wilmet was hurrying her off, Edgar returned. He always spoilt Angela a little, and she sprang to him with a kindof droll pout. 'You'll not be cross, Edgar. You'll let us hearAlice's transmigrations. Look! here's Felix bottled them up in anenvelope, and won't let us peep at them! But you'll let me hear. Youwon't order me off to bed. '

Cherry fancied she saw a disconcerted look on his face when he sawthe envelope held up to him; but if so, it instantly gave place tothe mischievous entertainment of defeating a lesson on discretion. --'The heads of the family must assert themselves sometimes, my dear, even about nothing, ' he said consolingly. 

'Indeed, ' said Wilmet, bristling in defence of Felix, 'of course weknew it was nothing. It was only very ill-mannered and wrong ofAngela to go prying into what was not meant to be shown. 

'I'm sure, ' said Edgar most ungratefully, 'it might be posted on thechurch door for what I care, except for its intrinsic vileness. '

'Oh, let's have it! let's have it!' burst out Lance and Robina, whohad been burning with curiosity all the time. 

'Don't let us have them murdered, whatever they are, ' said Edgar, taking them into his own hand. 'Pity the sorrows of a poor wretchseduced into one of your horrid jeux d'esprit--a lady's excuse forfishing for compliments that sound more than they mean. Here goes, then:--

 'Say, Lady, what existence past Thine essence hath enfolded; What humble antecedent cast Thy present self hath moulded. 

 The hawthorn bush, with blossom white Veiling her branches pricking; The painted lady, fluttering light, The rash pursuer tricking. 

 Grass paraquit, who loves to sit In clustering rows and chat on; Caressing, purring, traitor kit, Fatal to Master Ratton. 

There, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you are satisfied, ' he concluded, letting his performance float into the fire; 'the metaphors, to saythe least, are startling, but that is the fault of the game. '

'I don't enter into it all, ' said Cherry. 

'Not likely another of the grass paraquits would, my dear, ' saidEdgar. 

'And it is exactly what Robin made her, ' said Angela; 'both that andthe butterfly; and Felix, the kitten. You didn't borrow of course. How funny!'

'But I didn't make her inconstant, ' said Robin; 'that is not fair. '

'Not when you made her a butterfly, and the shepherd's weather-glasstoo!'

'I never thought of that, only their being both bright, dark, sparkling things; and Felix has the forget-me-not, by way ofantidote. '

'I do not think such things are wise, ' pronounced Wilmet. 

'And, by the by, Edgar, it has always been the custom that nobodyshould walk home with Alice. Miss Pearson would not like it, and itwould make a talk. '

Edgar laughed. 'Dear W. W. , let it not trouble you! What it may leadto is a bugbear to you. You can't think how much younger and moreagreeable you will be when you have learnt that there can be passagesthat lead to nothing. '

Geraldine went to bed uncomfortable and perplexed. Before she wasdressed in the morning, Alice darted in. 'Cherry, I'm so vexed; Idropped that paper. Do you think it is here?'

'No; Angel picked it up, and Edgar read us the verses, and then threwthem into the fire. '

'Burnt them!'

'Yes; he said the worst of such games was that they force one to paycompliments that may be taken to mean more than they do. '

Cherry spoke under a stern sense of virtue doing a service to Alice;and when the quick answer came, 'He didn't say that, I'm sure it wasWilmet, ' she asseverated, 'Indeed he did. I don't confuse in thatway. It is a very good warning not to dwell on what gentlemen may sayin mere play. '

'Who told you I did?' said Alice sharply. 'You've no business to saysuch things!'

Happily there was an interruption. Cherry felt as if she had had ataste of the claws; but she feared she had been malicious, and shewas penitent. 

CHAPTER XV

WHAT IT LED TO

'Then out and spak the popinjay. '--Old Ballad. 

Geraldine was hard at work on a drawing. Edgar's teaching hadimproved her so much that, under a sore longing to obtain some goodstudies, she had ventured to place in the shop one of her bestimaginary groups, and to her surprise and delight, it had brought herin fifteen shillings, and an order for a companion. 

Vistas of hope began to rise before her, only obscured by herconsciousness of the want of knowledge and skill. It took someresolution not to attend exclusively to her art, and she was forcedto make it a rule never to touch a pencil till the lessons of Bernardand Stella were both over for the day. 

They were finished, the children in the garden, and Cherry was inthat world of joy and something like inspiration known to spiritsimbued with any of the constructive poetry of art, alwaysendeavouring to fulfil an ideal, never indeed satisfying themselves, but never so at rest as in the effort. 

Presently she was startled by a step on the stairs. Nothing short ofthe Fall of Delhi had ever been known to bring Felix upstairs inbusiness hours; and he was especially bound to his work at present, since Mr. Froggatt was detained at home by a serious attack ofrheumatism. She looked up amazed at the eager question, 'Is there aletter from Alda?'

'I believe there is, waiting for Wilmet. What is the matter?'

'The most astonishing thing. Here is Ferdinand Travis writing to tellme of his engagement to Alda. '

'To Alda?'

'To Alda! I looked twice to be sure that there was no confusionbetween the names, but it is my sister Alda beyond a doubt. He wouldnot ask my consent if it were Marilda. Here's the letter, as good andnice as possible, dear good fellow. '

'Then what Edgar told us must have been pure imagination. '

'Not the old folks' wishes, most likely. For the rest, Edgar can makea good story. One can't wonder at the preference, and there's nodenying that it is a brilliant chance for Alda. '

'And what a blessing that he should be so good!'

'Infinite! No one could be so welcome! How pleased Mr. Audley willbe! But I must go, and try not to look too much disposed to stand onthe counter and crow. '

Whatever Felix did below, upstairs Cherry found drawing impossible. Ferdinand a brother! The pleasure was enhanced by the affectionatesimplicity of his letter, the outcome of so good a heart, greatly inlove, but very conscientious, and utterly unpresuming on his wealth, but showing all his old affection and reverence for Felix. What adelightful wonder that Alda should bring in a connection so faithfulto Felix!

Yet, what would not Cherry have given to be as unsuspicious as Felixor Wilmet? Why would misgivings come into her head such as nevertroubled theirs? Why must she be haunted by Alda's intimations abouther travelling companions, and her manner, half scornful, halfnettled, when Edgar described the terms on which Mr. Travis stood?

She read Ferdinand's letter a second time, and was convinced that helooked at the whole with such artless seriousness as to preclude allnotion of his having been consciously playing fast and loose; but shewas ready to torture herself for the involuntary doubt whether herown sister were equally to be trusted. 

However, when Wilmet came home, her genuine wholesome overflow ofundoubting rapture could not but sweep Cherry along in the tide. Ferdinand combined the apparently impossible advantages of beingthoroughly one of themselves, and yet of being able to give Alda theluxuries to which she had become accustomed; and Wilmet's joy wasbeyond expression. The contrast between the twins--one admired, praised, followed, esteemed, as one of the brightest ornaments ofLondon society; the other toiling in an obscure poverty-strickenhome, a teacher in a small third-class school, her beauty unheeded orviewed as a real disadvantage--all this never occurred for one momentto Wilmet, she only felt elevated in her sister. 

Two days passed before more letters were received, and these came bythe first instead of the second post, before breakfast was over. Four--besides one unheeded, being only in Robina's childishhandwriting--Alda to Wilmet, Thomas Underwood and Ferdinand both toFelix, Edgar to Geraldine. There was a simultaneous opening of theletters, then a general starting and looking into one another's eyes, and Geraldine faintly murmured, 'Then it was really so!'

'So? what do you mean?' broke forth Wilmet. 'These selfish people aretreating my poor Alda most cruelly among them; and Felix must go andfetch her home to be married from her own brother's house as sheought to be. '

'I shall have to fetch her home, ' said Felix thoughtfully; 'but Iwish I were quite clear that she has been dealing kindly by Marilda. '

'You are not believing that man Thomas rather than your own sister!'cried Wilmet. 'If Alda does happen to be prettier than his daughter, she can't help it. I'm sure I should be glad enough not to be pretty, but it is a trial, and one must do the best one can. '

'That is just what I fear Alda has been doing, ' said Felix betweenhis teeth, as he frowned over his letter. 

'Read her letter, poor dear girl, ' cried Wilmet, 'and see if youaren't ashamed of such a judgment! No. Some is only meant for me, butlisten--"Your letter of sisterly joy has come on troubled waters. Ialways knew I was the poor relation upon sufferance, but I have beentaught to feel it now. " She does not know how she could bear it, butfor the security of Ferdinand's strength; and they will not let hersee him--say she must give him up or them--Mrs. Underwood's violenceinconceivable, and all because of a chimerical fancy. '

'What does Ferdinand himself say?' asked Cherry, as Wilmet looked onfor further selections. 

'He says, ' said Felix, reading, 'that our greeting was especiallywelcome, from the contrast to what he met with from Mr. Underwood. The angry opposition took him by surprise, having always thought theyregarded Alda as a daughter; but of course nothing makes anydifference to him, and he would much rather come to us for her thanto a stranger. His uncle is at New Orleans, and he is writing to him;he is afraid they ought to wait for the answer, though there can beno doubt about it, and he owes him no obedience. --Now, Cherry, thereis just time for Edgar's account before we go our several ways. '

'O Felix, ' cried Wilmet, 'aren't you going to fetch her home, poordear?'

'Not possible to-day, Mettie. I shall have much ado to get away to-morrow. Don't be so unhappy, you know she could come alone or withEdgar, if it were so very dreadful; or if you are so fierce, you hadbetter go yourself and encounter "Man Thomas. "'

Wilmet looked so much hurt, that Geraldine thought to defend Felix byreading aloud at once. 

'MA CHERIE--Such a bear-garden never was seen! Madame furious, Tomabusive, Alda injured innocence, Montezuma heroism, and poor Pollymagnanimous--though the least said about her, the soonest mended. Isaw when I went back that the crisis could not be far off. The factis, that our dear sister cannot see any one else treated as "anobject, " and has so persuaded herself that she is the proverbialmaltreated poor relation, as to think everything fair. '

'Geraldine!' exclaimed Wilmet, 'how can you read? Felix, how can youlisten to such things about your own sister?'

'It is only what she said herself, ' said Felix drily. 'Go on, Cherry. '

'It must be owned that it was hard, when for once Polly had fallen inwith something alike palatable to self and parents, and able toswallow her broad visage! If Madame had had any wit, she would havekept Alda away till the fish was hooked, when, it is my belief, hewould have had no eyes for aught beyond; but the good creature is toosure of the charms of her own goose, to dread the admission of anyswan whatsoever to her pond. While the Cacique being yet uncommitted, small blame to him if he saw the differ, especially as he attaches toAlda all the sanctity of Bexley, which is to him at the least whatSt. Matthew's is to Clem. To have been reared on the other--or indeedeither side of the Atlantic, our intended brother-in-law is curiouslysimple. He accepted the intimation that Alda's face is her fortunewith superb indifference; whether it will be the same with his uncle, remains to be seen; and I am afraid he is a good deal dependent onhim, his mother's Mexican property having been speculated away. Idon't like the look of the business; but if any one can do any goodit is Marilda herself. Tom is in a towering rage, and his wife worse--neither perceiving that the noise they make is small mercy to theirdaughter. She looks all manner of colours, but stands out gallantlythat she is glad, and that all is as it should be; and I believethat, left to herself, she will set things straight. Felix had betterkeep out of the fray except upon compulsion. '

'Here is compulsion, ' said Felix. 'Tom Underwood summons me; I can'tsay I like the errand. '

'You ought not to let yourself be led by Edgar's unkind joking way!'

'We ought to be off now, at any rate, ' said Felix, glad to close thediscussion. 'I'll write to get Fernan to meet me at the station to-morrow. '

Accordingly, when he arrived, there was Ferdinand Travis driving amagnificent horse, the whole turn--out very far from looking like aconnection of Froggatt and Underwood. He had certainly developed intoa splendidly handsome fellow, though still lithe and slight ratherthan robust, and his dignified bearing giving the idea of greaterheight than his inches testified to. His greeting was warmlyaffectionate, with all his old wishful reverence towards his younggodfather, and even with a sort of doubt of his thinking him worthyof his sister. As to the disturbance created by the avowal of theobject of his attentions, he seemed amazed at it, and entirelyunconscious of any supposed change on his part. 

'I knew my uncle wished me to be an intimate with the family, ' hesaid, 'and I was rejoiced to fall in with any one who bore your name, and knew how to appreciate you; but I had reason to think that--thatthere were other views--for--' and here the olive cheeks grewcrimson, and he stammered himself into a hopeless entanglement, whence Felix recalled him charitably to an account of the explosionas it had affected himself. 

It appeared that his proposal had not been mentioned to the familytill Felix's answer had been received, Ferdinand feeling that no oneought to hear of it before the eldest brother. The lovers had metthat night at a ball, and their consultation over the letters hadtaken place in the conservatory, where they had been surprised, andpartly overheard, by Mrs. Underwood. When Ferdinand arrived the nextmorning, he was received with denunciations of underhand ways, andhis explanation only made matters worse. A thunderstorm aboutingratitude and treachery was launched forth, and he was told thatthe connection was so contrary to any intentions of his uncle, thatMr. Underwood could not hear of it, and that Alda must renounce itentirely, on peril of being cast off by the family. That Ferdinandregarded her brother as the true head of her house, was onlyadditionally provoking; and Mr. Underwood had given him warning, which he only hinted at to Felix, that the engagement could not becarried on with impunity. 

Therewith they reached Kensington Palace Gardens, and being in ameasure forbidden the house, Ferdinand drove about waiting for Felix, who on giving his name, found himself ushered into the room where thewhole party were finishing breakfast. 

Alda, looking meek and pensive, but very lovely, exquisitely dressedin white and blue ribbons, flew into his arms as if her protectorwere come; Mr. Underwood, without getting up, acknowledged him by agrunt, and hand held out; Marilda came round, and put a cold handinto his, clasping it tight; and her mother greeted him with, 'So, Felix Underwood, you are come up about this unlucky business?'

'There is no reason it should be anything but a very happy one, ' saidMarilda stoutly. 'Come, Mamma, we had better leave Papa and Felix;'and she set the example, but Mrs. Underwood did not stir. 

'You hear the dear girl!' she said. 'It ought to go to Alda's heart!'

'It is of no use talking before the ladies, ' said Mr. Underwood, getting up. 'That is, unless you have the good sense to join with mein telling Alda that she must give up this wild affair. The fellowhas next to nothing of his own, and his uncle would see him atJericho before he consented to a match like this!'

'I am hardly prepared to do that, Sir, ' said Felix, as Alda clung tohis arm, and looked appealingly in his face, 'unless the objectionwere more personal. '

'Objection!' burst forth the lady of the house, 'when he has beenmaking his way underhand--deceiving us all along. '

'Alda, my dear, ' said Felix in her ear, 'don't you think you hadbetter go upstairs?'

But Alda seemed as little disposed as Mrs. Underwood to quit thescene of conflict. 'O Felix, I don't know what she means, nor what wehave been doing, for them all to turn against me. '

'Don't tell me, Miss Innocence, ' retorted Mrs. Underwood, theartificial polish giving way, and the native scolding Polly Kedgebreaking out in a storm of words. 'Wasn't the young man doing just ashis uncle meant him, and my poor dear girl fancying him as I neversaw her do any one before, till you came home with your sly, artfulways--you that owed us the very clothes on your back?'

'Hush, Mary!' ejaculated her husband; but he might as well have triedto stop a torrent. 'Ay, I know. She comes round every man of you withher smooth tongue and pretty face, till you--you are ready to takeher part against your own child, Underwood. When my poor girl's laidin her coffin, then you will know what a serpent you've beenfostering. '

To Felix's surprise and annoyance, Alda must needs answer: 'I'm sureit's very hard! If people will look at me, I can't help it; and I'veas much right to be spoken to as Marilda. She that has goteverything, and poor me--'

Luckily her tears stopped her voice. 

'Come along, Felix, ' said the master of the house, opening the door;and he, perceiving that escape alone could put an end to this mosthumiliating scene, whispered again his recommendation to Alda to goto her room, and saw her hurrying up the stairs before his kinsmanshut the door of his private room with a bounce, exclaiming, 'There!Now we are out of the way of the women's tongues, we can hearourselves speak. I am afraid it is an awkward business, FelixUnderwood. '

'I am afraid it is, Sir. '

'And the ladies make it worse by making such a din about it, ' saidTom, who after all was an Underwood, and whose better breeding hadcome to the perception how these ravings compromised his daughter'sdignity. 'How far any one is to blame, I can't tell. The truth is, that it would have been very satisfactory both to Alfred Travis andto me if the lad and my girl could have made it up together, and theyseemed ready enough to like each other. My girl has got rather a turnfor your new-fashioned sort of saints, and he seemed just her style. Everything does go contrary at times; and when your sister came home, with her pretty face and way, my wife declares now she saw a changefrom the first, but to tell the truth I never did, and I doubt herdoing so; but you may guess how amazed we were when she came on themwhispering together, and it came out that he had been writing to youto sanction his proposing for Alda, as if he were ashamed to come tome, who had always been a father to her. '

'He meant no slight to you, Sir, ' said Felix, eagerly; 'but you knowwe were his first acquaintance, and he had a feeling that an elderbrother came nearest. I am sure he felt no shame; he was conscious ofno change of intention. '

'Well, well, he is a little bit of an ass. Between ourselves, Felix, Idon't blame him half as much as Alda. The girl is sharp enough; shehas swarms of lovers; men come about her like wasps to a lump ofsugar; and there's 5000 pounds ready for her the day she marries; butwhen there was one my poor Mary liked for once, we liked for her, andwas in the way of liking her--Mary, who has shared everything with herlike a sister--she might have let him alone. Indeed, her aunt gave hera hint, but it only served to make her carry it on on the sly. '

Felix wished he had not known of Alda's hearing Edgar's report. Hecould only say sadly, 'If so, she is quite indefensible. '

What would Wilmet have thought of his fight with 'Man Thomas?'

'Of course, ' proceeded that gentleman, 'we know the less we say ofthat part of the story the better. Some day, Mary will know she'swell rid of a coxcombical foreign-looking fellow. She can afford tolook farther, but for your sister, this is the maddest thing in theworld. William Travis made a regular mull with his wife's fortune, and depend on it, the young man has next to nothing, and would cometo beggary if he offended his uncle. There is nothing for it but forthem to give one another up!'

'I do not think there is much chance of their doing so, ' repliedFelix. 

'Not as they are now, in the height and fury of the thing, but youare a sensible lad, Felix; you will do your best to show them theutter folly of the thing. '

'We do not know whether Ferdinand can afford it yet, ' said Felix. 

'Don't delude yourself with fancying Alfred Travis will swallow this!Not he! Why, he's set on that young Spanish don making a great match---hardly thought my Mary's hundred thousand good enough. '

'Very likely he will refuse consent, ' returned Felix; 'but, in themeantime, I see nothing to be done but for Alda to go home with meand wait. '

'To very little purpose, ' ejaculated Mr. Underwood, 'except thatmaybe a taste of your way of life may bring her to her senses, andserve her right. I must say, ' he added, 'it is hard that both thisboy and girl should be thrown back on your hands for no fault ofyours. I wish I could help it, but you see there wouldn't be amoment's peace if Alda stayed here without giving him up. '

'It is not fit that she should, ' said Felix. 

'I like the girl, too, indeed, she's almost like my own, ' continuedMr. Underwood; 'the house will be dull without her, and I believethose pretty young women can't help flirting, and think one another'sbeaux fair game. Eh? Well, we'll send for her and put it to her--willshe give up Travis and stay here, or hold him to it and go home withyou?'

Felix could make no objection, though he had no question what thedecision would be; so the bell was rung, Alda was summoned, and soonappeared with burning cheeks and moist eyes. 

'Now, Alda, ' said her adopted uncle, 'your brother and I have talkedit over, and I am ready to overlook what has gone by--that is, ifyour aunt will--and to let all be as it was before, on this onecondition, that you break off this foolish concern. Listen to me. Youwill find that he has little enough to call his own, and his unclecan cut off his allowance any day. It is mere insanity to think hewill consent to such a match as you would be; and you would be doingthe best thing for the young man and yourself to tell him it is allnonsense, and you've thought better of it. '

'O Uncle, I couldn't do that!'

'If not--you have the choice--I can't abet what Travis neverintended, your aunt couldn't stand it either. There's nothing for itbut that you should leave this house. Choose between us and him!'

'That can't help being done, Uncle, ' said Alda, with streaming eyesand a choked voice. 'You have been very good to me, but he must comefirst;' and she moved towards Felix, who put his arm round herkindly, and kissed her, saying, 'Then, Alda, I will leave you to prepare; I must go and see thechildren and Edgar. I will come back for you in time for the half-past five train. '

Alda's tears flowed too fast again for words, and she turned to leavethe room. 

'I shall see you again, ' said Mr. Underwood. 'Can I give you a liftanywhere, Felix?'

'No, thank you, Sir; Travis is waiting for me. '

'Ay, ay, very fine with his thorough-bred; but when his allowance isdocked, how is he to live on his pay?'

The brougham had long been waiting for Tom Underwood, and he leftthem together. Alda hung on her brother. 'O Felix, is it notdreadful?'

'I thought him very kind and forgiving, ' said Felix. 

'Is that what you call forgiving? And oh! if you could hear AuntMary! You little think what I have gone through!'

'It will be over soon, ' said Felix, kindly. 'You are going home, youknow, and Wilmet is wild to have you. '

'But, Felix, you don't think they mean to do more than frighten me?Ferdinand must have a real right to his own father's money; andbesides, he can't properly object to me; Uncle Tom promised me my5000 pounds whatever happened!'

'I cannot stay to discuss that now, Alda, ' said Felix. 'I have agreat deal to do, and Fernan is waiting for me. I shall come back intime. '

'Oh, I wish I could come with you now! Dear Fernan! Tell him I haveborne it all for his sake, but it is such an age since I saw him!'

'No doubt he will meet us at the station, ' said Felix, escaping atlast, and finding Ferdinand not many yards off in the road outside. 

'Well, Fernan, to Brompton, if you please. Mr. Underwood is reallymuch kinder than I expected; but as things stand, you can't carry iton in their house, so Alda comes home with me to-night. '

'Then the dear girl is really banished for my sake! I mean, no placeis like Bexley to me. But it is very noble of her!' exclaimedFerdinand, curiously divided between regard for Felix and sense ofAlda's sacrifice. 

'It is the proper place in which for her to wait for your uncle'sanswer, ' said Felix; 'but indeed, Fernan, it is a question whether weought to let you risk all your prospects. '

Ferdinand's vehement demand what Felix took him for, and equallyeager protest that his uncle must know he had no right to withholdthe means that were in all equity due to him, lasted through all thebrief transit to the farther end of Brompton, where a great old houseand grounds, once quite in the country, had been adapted andrevivified by Miss Fulmort. 

'Might I not come in and see the little girls?' asked Ferdinand, wistfully. 

'I should rather suppose not, ' said Felix, smiling. 'Life-Guardsmenare not exactly the visitors expected in establishments for youngladies. You had better not wait for me; I cannot give the childrenless than an hour. '

'I would wait if it were ten hours. '

'But how about your horse? He isn't in love!'

Ferdinand would not, however, be denied; and when at length arendezvous was agreed on, Felix, free of the dashing equipage, ofwhich he was, to tell the truth, slightly ashamed, rang at the gates, arrived at the house door, announced himself as Mr. Underwood, askedto see his sisters; and after a long labyrinth of matted passages, found himself in a pretty countrified room, where a wiry, elderly, sensible lady, with grey hair and a keen face, gave him a friendlyreception, drew a favourable, but not enthusiastic, picture ofRobina's steadiness and industry, and said that Angela was a moredifficult character. By this time Robina came into the room with herhat on, eagerly, but with her face flushed and her eyes ratherfrightened, and as she received her brother's kiss, she said, 'Thelittle ones are not come in yet. --May I take my brother into thegarden, Miss Fennimore?'

Permission was given, and Robina held his hand with an unusuallytight grasp as she led him to the wide, square, walled garden, with abroad gravel-walk around an old-fashioned bowling-green. He thoughtthe round face looked anxious and perplexed, and was rather uneasy ashe began by saying, 'I hope not to lose Angel. Do you always walk soearly in the day?'

'On Herr Muller's days, because he only comes in the afternoon, ' saidRobina; 'but I am rather glad; I wanted to speak to you, Felix. '

'Is anything wrong?' said Felix, seeing that the child's face hadbecome crimson, and hearing effort in her voice. 'You are happy here?Don't be afraid to tell me anything, my dear. Remember, there is noone so bound to watch over you. '

'I know, ' said Robina, looking up into those kind eyes. 'I want totell you--' but she panted, and he encouraged her by putting hisother hand over hers caressingly. 'Edgar comes every Sunday, ' cameout at last. 

'And what of that? Isn't it a pleasure?'

'It--it would be--but he and Alice ought not to send each other notesand messages. '

'What?' very low. 

'Indeed they do; and I can't tell what to do. '

'What sort of notes and messages?' asked Felix, in a half reprovingvoice, as though he thought the solemnity of thirteen was takingalarm needlessly. 

'O Felix, love notes, ' half whispered the girl, hanging her burninghead. 

'Nonsense, child; you have misunderstood some joke. '

'No, ' said Robina, looking full in his face with sturdy offendeddignity. 'They both were in earnest when they told me about it. '

'About what?' said he, still severely, as he sat down on a bench, unheeding February damp. 

'About--' she was not far from tears, as she faltered out, 'theirengagement. '

'Theirs! he wrung the hand that he still retained; 'Edgar and--'

'And Alice Knevett, ' said Robin. 'I would not promise not to tell. Ihope it is not treachery!'

'How long?' asked Felix, hoarsely. 

'Ever since the holidays. They used to walk together when MissPearson thought she was with us, but none of us ever knew it then. '

'You are certain? Remember, this is a graver matter than perhaps youunderstand. '

'I think I do understand, and it is that which makes me so unhappy;but, indeed, it can't be fancy. I have seen her ring, emerald andamethyst, for Edgar and Alice, and the locket with their hairstwisted together. The very first Sunday we were here, he gave me anote for her, and when I told him it was not allowed, he triedquizzing me at first, and at last told me I was a silly child who didnot know what was proper between engaged people. So I said, 'continued Robina, with dignity, 'that I could allow much to be properin that case, but I wanted to know whether this was only kept from mebecause I was a baby, and was known to you and the grown-up people. '

'Right, Robin, ' muttered Felix, feeling that she neededencouragement. 

'Then he laughed at me more than ever about expecting things to beproclaimed on the market-cross, and tried to puzzle me out of mysenses, till I could only stick to one thing, that I couldn't takehis notes unless somebody knew. And after all I found the thing in myjacket pocket. He must have put it in when I was not looking. '

'And what did you do with it!'

'Oh! the dreadful thing! I felt as if it would bite me all the weeklong, but I didn't think it would be honourable to tear it or burnit, and I kept it. Luckily Alice didn't ask if I had a note, onlywhether he had said anything; and when she found I knew, she told meall about it, and said all sorts of things about my being unkind andmean to stand out, but I never promised to keep the secret. '

'Are you still keeping this note!'

'No. I gave it back to Edgar on Sunday, and told him to play no suchtricks. I thought he would have been in a rage, but he was--oh! soprovoking! just as if he didn't care for a little spite in a naughtychild. '

'Then is this intercourse checked!'

'No, that's the worst of it. When I would not, they took to Angel. You know she got very fond of Edgar in the winter, and was alwaysrunning after him and waiting on him. So she did what he told herquite innocently at first, till I found out what was going on, andtried to stop her; but she doesn't care for me as she does for Edgar, and thinks it grand to be in all their secrets, when I am too cross. And then there's a class that goes to the South Kensington Museum, and Alice is one of them, and Edgar is about there. I'm sure MissFulmort ought not to be deceived as they are doing; it's all nonsenseabout school-mistresses being designed by nature to be hoodwinked. Itmakes me so miserable, I don't know what to do; and when I heard youwere come, it was as if you had been sent on purpose to help me. '

'Poor child!' said Felix, with a heavy sigh. 'You have kept this allto yourself. '

'I could not tell any one. I could have told Miss Lyveson, becauseshe is one's friend; but it would only be being a tell-tale andinformer here. And one's own brother, too! And I could not write, forthey look over all the letters that are not to fathers and mothers. 

'They must make an exception for me!' said Felix, in an indignanttone. 

'I knew you would say so. O Felix, tell them so! I do feel likehaving Papa now I have you. '

'If you only had!' sighed Felix. 'My poor Bob, it is a grievousbusiness, but you have been very upright and considerate, as far as Ican see. '

'I'm so glad you don't want me to have told!' she said, with a sighof relief, as unlike his as that of one who throws off a burden is tothat of him who takes it up. 

'Not if it can be helped. It would be a mischievous and cruelexposure, and would be hard on one who has been led into it, ' hesaid, with breaks and pauses, half for breath, half for considering. 'It is most reckless, most unjustifiable, in Edgar!' He knit hisbrows, so that she gazed at him in awe and wonder, as havingsomething in his countenance that she did not comprehend. Then, aftera silence, he said, 'Robin, I will speak to Edgar, and if you do notfind that this is stopped after one communication, which of coursethere must be, write to me. These ladies must make an exception infavour of such as we are!'

'O Felix, it is so nice to hold you and feel you! Only I wish I hadnot had to grieve you so much!'

'Dishonourable conduct is not what I was prepared for!' he said, setting his teeth. 

'And will you speak to Angel? I hear them coming in, ' said Robina. 

'Yes. Let me have her alone at first. Come back in ten minutes'time. '

He was still sitting on the bench, with his elbows on his knees, andhis hands over his brow, when Angela came towards him. She was of thesame long-limbed make as Clement, was nearly as tall as the squaresturdy Robina nearly three years older, and had Clement's small, almost baby mould of features, relieved only by such arch deep blueeyes as shone in Edgar's face. She looked such a mere child, thatwhen her step and exclamation caused Felix to raise his head, itseemed absurd to imagine her to be knowingly engaged as go-between ina clandestine correspondence, and with a sort of pity and compunctionfor the blame he had intended, he held out his arms to her. 

'O Felix, how cold you are! Your face is like marble. Now if I was tosit there, in this weather, wouldn't they be at me like wild cats?'

Thus reminded, Felix rose, and certainly shivered after the exerciseof his privilege. 'Are you happy here, Angel?' he asked in aconstrained tone. 

'Yes, it is jollier than Miss Pearson's. There are more girls, and wedo have such fun!'

'I hope you are good and steady, and very careful of all the rules. '

Angela fidgeted, as if she didn't like the style of the conversation. 

'You know, ' he continued, 'there may be rules that you may not seethe use of, but that must be obeyed for all that. '

'What a tiresome dry old Blunderbore you are!' broke out Angela, withill-assured sauciness; 'this isn't the way Edgar goes on when hecomes to see us. '

Felix could not check a sort of groan or grunt; and Angela, whosepertness was defensive, quailed a little. She had driven him out ofthe due sequence of his discourse, but he resumed it. 'Angel, I musttell you; if anybody asks you to break rules--by giving letters--youmust not'

Angela kicked pebbles about. 

'Have you ever been asked to do so?'

She hung her head, and a pout came over her face. 

'Angel, ' he said, in a voice from the sadness of his heart, 'I willnot ask any questions, in case you have made promises not to betraysecrets; but you must never make such promises again. Tell me youwill never do--this thing again. '

She was silent. 

'Angela!' he said, reprovingly. 

'I don't know why I should promise you more than Edgar, ' broke outAngela, petulantly. 'He is my brother too, and he isn't cross; and Ilove him, and _will_ keep his secret. '

Between this flat defiance of his authority, and his scruple aboutinterfering with the child's sense of honour, Felix was in no slightperplexity even as to this interview with his little sister. Hisdisclaimer came first. 'I ask about no one's secret, ' he said, 'but, Angel, I must have you understand this. If you break the rules thatforbid the giving of notes from any person outside the school, itwill be doing more harm than you can understand. I shall put a stopto it at once, and most likely you will be sent away in disgrace. '

She was somewhat awed, but she did not speak. 

'Whatever any one may say to you, ' said Felix, 'recollect that it isdishonesty and treachery to do anything underhand, and the greatestpossible mischief to those you wish to be kind to. Don't you see, itis no kindness to help any one to do wrong?'

She began to cry. 'They don't want to do wrong. It is very nasty andmean of Bobbie to have told. '

'You will know some day how good and trustworthy it is in Bobbie, 'said her elder brother. 'You cannot understand the rights and wrongsin such a manner as this, at your age, Angel. ' (To tell the childthis was a mistake, if he had but known it. ) 'You must be satisfiedwith knowing that whatever breaks rules and must be kept secret isnecessarily disobedient and deceitful, and may have terribleconsequences. Do you believe me? Then give me your word to have nomore to do with it. '

She muttered something among her tears like 'I won't, ' and Felix wassatisfied, for the exaction of promises had necessarily been thechief mode of government with the two youthful pillars of the house, who spent so much time apart from their dominions; and it was almostunprecedented that such a promise was not observed. 

Robina was lingering near, and as they joined her Felix found thathis time was up. He was taken back to the drawing-room, where hefound himself in presence of the lady he had seen, and of a muchyounger smaller person, with a slight cast in her eye, and a peculiarjerking manner such as he could well believe would frighten away ayoung girl's confidence. When he made his request for freecorrespondence from his little sisters, there was no demur; only MissFulmort said, half vexed, 'It ought to have been mentioned before;she did not know why the children had not told her. ' And then shemade a point of ascertaining Felix's individual address; for shesaid, 'A great deal of undesirable stuff may be scribbled to brothersand sisters. '

Felix possessed no card, unless such might be reckoned theannouncement of photographs and stationery, etc. , which was wont tobe put up with parcels for strangers; and when he tried to write 'Mr. F. C. Underwood, ' the shivering chill so affected his fingers that hecould hardly guide the pencil. He took leave, and soon found theassiduous Ferdinand, who presently asked, shyly, 'What the littleones thought of it?'

Felix bethought himself. 'Really, Fernan, it was put out of my head;and, moreover, perhaps it had better not be known more widely thanneedful. '

'You do not doubt--'

All the ground that had been gone over before was argued out onceagain by the eager Mexican before they reached the National Gallery, the appointed place of meeting with Edgar. He was not within, butwithout, and, throwing away his cigar, hailed them as Fernan drew uphis horse. 

'At last! The storm must have been pitiless, to judge by the effects!You are blue with cold, Felix. '

'Ferdinand, thank you, ' said Felix, getting out. 'I am sorry, but Imust have Edgar alone a little while. '

'Look here, Travis, ' said Edgar, seeing his blank look, 'we'll giveyou the honour of giving us a spread. You go on and order it at --'s, and I'll walk this fellow there. Curry soup that will astonish him, and warm the cockles of his heart, mind. '

Ferdinand nodded, and drove off, perfectly satisfied with thiscompensation. 

'Let's see if we can walk a little life into you, ' said Edgar, takinghis brother's arm. 'Bless thy five wits, Tom's a cold! Was it Madame!I always thought she could not be many generations fromBillingsgate. '

'I have been to Brompton. '

'That tragical hoarseness would lead me to conclude something. Eh!has that Robin been chirping out her fancies? And do you mean to saythat you are struck all of a heap by the awful discovery of aboarding-school mystery?'

'It is naturally distressing to find you acting such a part. '

'Then I am afraid you have a good deal to go through in the course ofyour life. If every little flirtation on the part of yourGeschwister is to produce this effect, there won't be much left ofyou by the time it comes to Stella. '

'What meaning do you attach to the words "little flirtation?"'

'When the head of the family puts the question in that solemn tone, how is it to be answered? Bless me, Blunderbore, such a countenancecan only proceed from being smitten yourself! To be sure, when therewas only one girl you ever spoke to, it was no wonder. Poor oldfellow! I'd never have poached on your manor, but how was I toimagine a pillar of the house giving way to such levities?'

'This is mere bravado, Edgar, ' was the grave answer, in a tone notdisconcerted, but full of repression, and with a pale but steadycountenance. 'Gloss it over as you will, a correspondence such as youhave begun is unjustifiable. It risks damaging for ever theprospects, at once not only of--of the object--but those of yourlittle sisters. '

'O Felicissimo mio, how green a spot is Bexley! As though secrets andmysteries were not the elixir of life to the boarding-school. '

'Have you ever considered what a discovery must involve?'

'I need not, it seems, since you had not the sense to box thatchild's ears for a meddlesome tell-tale. Did the scene equal Madame'sperformance?'

'You do not imagine that I mentioned it. '

'Oh! The revered prop of the state soars so far above my head that Idid not know what he might regard as his duty. '

'You shall know it now, Edgar. There are two choices. If you arereally engaged to this young lady' (Edgar made a nod of impatientscornful acquiescence, but certainly of acquiescence), 'then ask herhonourably from her friends, and let whatever you do be open!Otherwise, give it up as an impossible imprudence, but drop allattempt at what is clandestine. Unless you do one or other of these, I warn you that I shall speak to Miss Pearson. '

'If you were a reasonable and experienced paterfamilias, instead ofonly a poor conscientious over-harassed prig of a boy, with morebrothers and sisters than he knows what to do with, I'll tell you, incandid unprejudice, what you would do. Just let it alone! There areas many of such little affairs going as there are midges in asunbeam; and they never do any one any harm, unless the higher powersmake an unadvised hubbub. '

'Am I to understand that as an avowal that you know yourself to betrifling?'

'I know nothing about it. I don't live in the heroics, like some ofmy friends. In the rural seclusion of Bexley I saw a pretty livelygirl, who, not to put too fine a point upon it, made quite as much upto the romantic young artist as ever the young artist did to her. Ofcourse, there was an exchange of prettinesses, and life on eitherside became a blank when she was immured at Brompton, and the onlysolace left was the notes that so outrage your and Bobbie's unitedsense of propriety. '

'And what is to follow?'

'Is it to lead to?' he corrected, with a mimicry of Wilmet's tone. 'That depends. If you make the explosion, I shall have to rise to theoccasion--keep the slip-knot ready and patent, and as soon as I getmy head above water, have a wife and family on my back to keep medown, and hinder me from coming to your rescue. If not--why, it willtake its chance, and we shall have a reasonable chance of tryingwhether we get tired of one another--the best thing that could happento us, by the by--though she is such a saucy little darling, thatwere that picture of mine painted, I should be fool enough to marryher to-morrow. '

'And why--may I ask--seeing these things so clearly, did you draw thepoor child into an engagement!

Edgar shrugged his shoulders. 'You had better ask why she drew me. Ifyou didn't know it before, my dear Felix, "'Tis human natur to befools. "'

'Allowing it to be folly, you do not mean to persist?'

'As if a poor fellow must always have a meaning! Life is not worthhaving if one is to be always so awfully in earnest. '

'I have the misfortune to be in earnest, ' said Felix, with theformality of one past patience, but resolved to keep his temper inhand, 'when I warn you, that if I find that this intercourse iscontinued, unless you choose to ask her properly of her father, itwill be my duty to let Miss Pearson know. 

'So be it, ' was the answer, in a tone of half mocking, halfcompassionate submission, that was more provoking than all, exceptfor the sudden change to the gay kindliness that followed, as Edgarthrew aside his own affairs, to laugh over Ferdinand Travis's honestsimplicity of adoration of Alda and all her household, declaring thatit had been as much for his delight, as to be rid of him, that hehimself had devised that commission of the luncheon. 'What a spreadit will be!' Edgar chuckled to himself; 'and how it will be thrownaway on the present company! not that there ever was a man who wantedit more!' he added, as he saw how white his brother's face was. 'You've been and got a chill!'

Felix did not deny it; and if his unsophisticated palate did notappreciate all that Ferdinand had ordered on the principle thatnothing could be too good for him either in his individual capacityor as Alda's brother, he at least submitted to what his twocompanions required of him in the way of hot soup, and even of oneglass of wine, before he grew restive, and insisted on carrying thehead that their solicitude had succeeded in rendering heated andflushed to burning pitch, to do the business in the City that alwayssprang up whenever any one had to go to town. 

Edgar bade him adieu; and the faithful Ferdinand drove him whereverhe had to go, and finally to Kensington Palace Gardens, where he wasushered into the drawing-room, to find Marilda, resolved uponunconsciousness, but only succeeding in a kind of obstreperouscordiality and good will, which, together with the hot room, made himquite dizzy; and his answers were so much at random, that he sentFulbert to an examination at Cambridge, and Clement prospecting inAustralia. Neither Mr. Nor Mrs. Underwood made their appearance; butwhen Felix spoke of getting a cab, Marilda said the carriage wasordered. Then Alda was explicit about the boxes that were to follow, but on the whole she was behaving very prettily and unobtrusively. Marilda kissed her warmly, and detained Felix a moment to say, 'Thiswill blow over, and then she will come back, unless things havesettled themselves better. If I can do any good, write to me. '

So Alda quitted her adopted home; but the change might be lightenedto her by being handed out of the carriage at the station by amilitary-looking figure, who announced that he wanted to see a fellowat Aldershot, and meant to dine there. It was not his fault that hegot out at Farnborough. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT

'Peace, brother, be not exquisite, To cast the fashion of uncertain evils; For, grant they be so, while they rest unknown, What need a man forestall his date of grief?' MILTON. 

Wilmet was so devoted to Alda and her hopes and fears, that she letFelix escape with less reproof than usual, for the cold that satheavily upon him after the last day's chill. He did not give way toit. There might have been some temptation to sit over the fire ifGeraldine had been alone there; but Alda, when Wilmet was out ofreach, engrossed Cherry's ears with descriptions of her feelings, andcravings for sympathy in her suspense, treating every other subjectas futile, and the interruption of the children's lessons as aninsult. No one might talk of anybody but Ferdinand; and Cherry didnot wonder that Felix looked wearied and harassed, and alwaysbetrayed some anxiety to come first into possession of the morningpost. One day, nearly a fortnight after his visit to London, hecalled Wilmet away from the breakfast table into the sitting-room:'Wilmet, ' he said, 'I must go and see Miss Pearson before schoolhours. '

'You! Is there anything the matter with Alice?' asked Wilmet, startled at his tone. 

'Had they--had you--any notion of anything between her and Edgar?'

'No! Miss Pearson has taken to saying, "My dear, your brothers arequite grown into young men, " and I thought she did not like theplay. '

'Ah! that play! It threw them together!'

'Is it really so? I suppose nothing is too foolish and provoking forEdgar!'

'The fact of admiration is not wonderful, ' said Felix, rather in atone of defence; 'but the worst of it is, that he has been trying tocommunicate with her through those poor girls at school. '

Wilmet's horror was surpassing; and when she found that he had knownit all this fortnight, she was so indignant, that to his reply thatit was not fair to leave both parties the chance of actinghonourably, she replied with scorn for his weakness in expectinganything from Edgar, and exposing the children to the chance ofexpulsion, which might be a lasting blight, such as merely in thoughtput her into a perfect agony. Nevertheless, angry and excited as shewas, she flew at him when he gave her the letters, and was off toMiss Pearson's--'Go there without breakfast, in the sleet, sittingand still with that bad cold not half gone!' and she dragged him backreluctantly to the other room, where, ignominiously ordering offBernard and Stella to finish their stir-about elsewhere, she insistedon his breakfasting while she told the story. She was far too loyalto blame him except tete-a-tete, but she burst on him now and then. 

'You are not eating, Felix!'

'A cup of tea, then, please, Cherry. No one can swallow stir-about inhot haste but Wilmet herself. ' He spoke good-humouredly, but with aforce upon himself that Cherry detected, and she further saw that hetook nothing but that one cup and a fragment of bread, and thenhurried off, saying that he must catch Miss Pearson for the littlegirls' sake. 

The letters he had left were Robina's and another enfolding itcontaining these words:

Dear Sir--According to my promise, I have refrained from opening thisletter, though I own that the discovery of the purpose for which freecorrespondence was asked, has been no small amazement to me. In thefirst shock, I will not trust myself to say more, until afterconsultation with my brother; but you shall hear from me againrespecting your sisters. --I remain, your obedient servant, R. M. FULMORT. 

The letter within was--

MY DEAR FELIX--It has all come out. There is a dreadful uproar, andnobody will believe me. If only Miss Lyveson was here! This was theway. Edgar came yesterday and took us for a long walk in KensingtonGardens, and afterwards I saw Angela going towards Alice Knevett'sroom; and as we are not allowed to run into other people's bedrooms, I stopped her and put her in mind of what you said; but she began tocry and struggle with me, and Alice came out, and made a fuss to getthe note Angel had for her, till I got into a passion, and spoke soloud that Miss Fennimore came out upon us. Angel did not know whatshe was about by that time, and cried, saying that I was unkind, andwas hurting her; and Alice took her part, accusing me of tyrannisingand being jealous, so that I faced round and told all on the spot. Miss Fennimore took us all straight down to Miss Fulmort, and it wasa dreadful business. They are frightfully angry with us all, and methe most, for having told you instead of them. They cannot understandthe difference between you and any common brother. They think I havenot told the whole truth, and it is very hard. Nobody ever distrustedme before. We are just living on sufferance till Mr. Fulmort comes tosee about it, and then I think we shall be sent away. I hope so, forI know my own dear Miss Lyveson will believe me and take me back tojustice and confidence. Here the girls are as angry with me fortelling as the ladies are for not telling; they have no idea of suchloyalty and love as we had at Catsacre. There is a report that MissPearson has been sent for. If we are sent home with her, it will be ahorrid shame and injustice; but I shall not be able to be sorry onebit, for I know you will stand by me. --Dear, dear brother Felix, youraffectionate sister, BOBBIE. 

When the three sisters had made out all that could be understood, Geraldine owned herself less amazed than Wilmet; and Alda laughed atboth for not being aware that Edgar was a universal flirt. All thatsurprised her was his having let it proceed to such dangerousextremities; but of course that was the girl's own fault--he wouldgive it up when it came to the point. 

'Why should you expect Edgar to be more inconstant than Ferdinand?'asked Cherry. 

Both twins turned on her, and told her she was a child and knewnothing about it--their favourite way of annihilating her; and thenAlda, in her excitement, walked with Wilmet to the school, leavingCherry, as usual, to wash up the breakfast things. She felt aconviction that all this accounted for the weary oppressed look, broken by occasional starts of vivacity, which ever since Felix's dayin London had been laid to the score of the cold he had brought home. 

She was glad she was still alone, when Felix looked in for a momentto say, 'Miss Maria goes up by the 11. 30 train. I am going to send aletter by her, and I think she will save Robin. Angel is so mere achild, that it matters less. '

'How can they all be so unjust?'

'They have not had time to know the child. '

'I did not mean Robina, but you. '

'I don't mind that, ' he said, with a smile, 'though I am glad thereis one lady who does not scold me;' and he bent down to kiss her. 

'Did the Miss Pearsons?'

'They allowed that I meant to act for the best, and you know whatthat means. However, ' he added, ' they are earnest to save the littlegirls, which is more to the purpose. Wilmet or I would have gone up, but Miss Maria thinks she can do better than either, and I believethey are more likely to trust an old schoolmistress, who is theinjured party besides. I must write my letter. Shall I help you intothe other room?'

'No, thank you; I have the lessons here, for they tease Alda. If youwould only send Theodore to me as you go. '

'Does Alda never help you?'

'Only by criticising my French pronunciation. She is much toorestless. O Felix, what a cough! You have made your throat worse. '

'It is only this black east wind. '

'You ought to stay upstairs and be taken care of. Can't you, and letRedstone call if you are wanted?'

'I _am_ wanted. It is quite as warm in the office as here, when thedoor is shut. What I want is, only to be twenty years older. Good-bye. 

Cherry's ponderings were divided between that sigh and the possiblesighs of the wind if that door were not shut, until her own door wasopened by Felix's hand, to admit a little figure still in petticoats, with the loose flaxen curls, tottering feet, limp white fingers, andvacant blue eyes, whom she daily put through a few exercises to trainhis almost useless fingers and tongue. The sight of this, Aldadeclared, made her ill; though the little boy was as docile as he washelpless; but it was quite true that to nerves and ears not inuredfrom the first, Theodore's humming and his concertina were a trialfrom their perpetuity. 

Late that evening came a message to beg Mr. And Miss Underwood wouldstep up; and they stepped, though the east wind was blacker thanever. They found that in great tribulation Miss Maria had broughtAlice Knevett home, and sent her to bed all tears and exhaustion, butthat Robina and Angela were forgiven--a word so offensive to Felix asrelating to the former, that he sorely lamented that prudence forbadetheir removal, but was somewhat consoled by a letter that Miss Mariabrought him from the Vicar of St. Matthew's, who had had a privateinvestigation of the whole subject. He wrote to Felix that his sisterwas new to the management of the girls, and was a good deal annoyedat the secrecy observed towards herself, not making full allowancefor Robina's exceptional circumstances; but that, for his own part, he was convinced of the girl's genuine uprightness and unselfishforbearance; and though he feared her position must be unpleasantjust now, he thought it would be for the good of all if she had thepatience to live it down, and earn the good opinion he was sure shedeserved. Miss Maria reported that Miss Fennimore had been broughtround by his opinion, though Miss Fulmort remained persuaded thatRobina had 'come over him' in some way; and while yielding to hisstringent desire that, as he said, 'one of the worthiest of her girlsshould not be unjustly expelled, ' only let the child herself knowthat she was tolerated in consideration of her youth, her orphanhood, and her relationship to Clement. Poor Robin! No one could helpgrieving for the tempest that had fallen on her guiltless head, andhope that all would result in her final good; but the sorrows of anabsent school-girl could hardly occupy even her dearest friends, inthe full and present crisis of two love affairs. 

For Edgar and Major Knevett both arrived, the lover as dispassionateas the father was the reverse. Edgar did, however, as he hadundertaken, rise to the position. He joked at it a little in private, to the annoyance and perplexity of Cherry, and, even of Felix; but hewas perfectly steady in maintaining his perfect right to address MissKnevett, in avowing his engagement, and in standing by it. 

To Major Knevett, the affair appeared outrageous impudence on thepart of a beggarly young painter out of a country bookseller's shop, encouraged by the egregious folly of the aunts. What was said ofclergyman's sons and good old family went for absolutely nothing; andEdgar's quiet assurance of success in his profession was scoffed atwith incredulity not altogether unpardonable. In the encounter thatFelix had the misfortune to witness, since it took place in his ownoffice-parlour, he could not help thinking that Edgar, with hisperfect temper, unfailing courtesy, calm self-respect, and steadysense of honour towards the young lady, showed himself the truegentleman in contrast with the swaggering little Major, who seemed toexpect that he could bluster the young man out of his presumption, and was quite unprepared for Edgar's cool analysis of his threats. But instead of, like Tom Underwood, cooling down into moderation andkindness so soon as his bolt was shot, the finding it fall short onlychafed him the more, and rendered him the more inveterate against allconciliation. 

There was an appeal all round to Felix, but he was not so practicableas the universal compliments to his good sense showed to be expected. He had expressed his opinion that it was a rash engagement, hithertoimproperly carried on; but he could not be brought to advise hisbrother to break it off on his side while the lady held to it onhers. It might be best to give it up by mutual consent; but as longas one party was bound, so was the other; and he thoroughly sidedwith Edgar in not being threatened out of it whilst Alice persisted. Still more flatly did he refuse Miss Pearson's entreaty that he wouldsee the wilful girl, and persuade her how hopeless was herresistance, and how little prospect of the attachment beingprosperous. Nothing but despair and perplexity could have promptedthe good aunts to try such a resource, but they were at their wits'end. They really loved their niece, and they dreaded the tendermercies of her father, who had indeed petted Alice as a young child, but had made her mother suffer greatly from his temper. If she wouldyield, they hoped to procure for her a home at York, with theirbrother's widow, and to save her from a residence in Jersey with thestep-mother; but Alice, upheld by a secret commerce of notesingeniously conveyed, felt herself a heroine of constancy, and keptup her spirits by little irritations to whoever tried to deal withher. She could deftly insinuate, on the one hand, that her aunts hadalways preached up the Underwood perfections; and on the other, hintto her father that if her home had still remained what it was, sheshould never have looked out of it; and whenever he flew into a rage, or used violent language, she would look up under her eyelids andwhisper something about 'real gentlemen. ' Those thorns and claws thathad figured in the scale of her transmigration were giving a goodmany little scratches, which did her feelings some good, but hercause none at all, by the vexation they produced. 'If she could onlybe made to understand, ' said poor Miss Pearson, 'how little she gainsby irritating her father, and that he is really a very dreadfulperson when he is thoroughly offended! Poor child! my heart aches forher. '

So Wilmet was turned in upon her, and before she could utter a wordwas hugged and kissed all over because she was the very image ofdarling Edgar, and his dear violet eyes were exactly the same colour. 

Unsentimental Wilmet extricated herself, saying, 'Eyes can't beviolet coloured. Don't let us go into that silly talk, Alice; thingsare too serious now. '

'You are come to help me and be a dear!' cried Alice, clasping herhands. 'How does he look? the dear boy!'

'The same as usual, ' said Wilmet, coolly. 'But, Alice, if you thinkthat I am come to--'

'Does he--really and truly? I saw him out of the little passagewindow, and I thought he looked quite thin! And Lizzie Bruce saidMrs. Hartley asked who that handsome young man was who looked sodelicate. '

'He is particularly strong and healthy. Alice, I want to set it allbefore you as a reasonable being--'

'Only do tell me; has he got his appetite? For you know he is used tolive where everything is recherche, and when one's out of spirits_things_ do make a difference--'

Was that the claw in the velvet paw?

'He eats three times as much as Felix any day, ' said Wilmet, with acertain remembrance of the startling nudity of the bone ofyesterday's leg of mutton. 'He is doing very well. You need not beafraid for him; but it seems to me that you should consider whetherit can be right--'

'Come, Wilmet, you were my first friend; you can't help being kind tome. '

'I want to show you true kindness. '

'True kindness means something horridly cross! Now don't, Wilmet. Iget ever so much kindness as it is! I know what you are going to say. It is very naughty of people to like each other when neither of themhas got a sixpence; but if they can't help it, what then? Must theyleave off liking, eh?'

'They ought to try to prevent their liking from leading todisobedience and concealment. '

'Ah! but if they can't?'

'People always can. '

'Were you ever tried?' asked Alice, slyly, for all the simplicity. 

'I hope never to be, if deceiving my friends and making othersdeceive is to be the consequence. '

'Well, luckily there isn't much chance, ' crept out of the demurelips. It was intended as the thorn beneath the mayflower, but it wasno such thing. Wilmet was quite ready to accept the improbability asvery fortunate. 

'That has nothing to do with it, ' she said. 'The question is, what itis right to do now. It seems hard for me to say so, being your friendand his sister--'

'Oh, never mind that. People's sisters never do like the girls theyare fond of. '

Decidedly Wilmet could not get on. Her mouth was stopped either by alittle rapture about Edgar, or a little velvet-pawed scratch toherself, whenever she tried in earnest to set the matter beforeAlice; and when, being a determined person, she at last talked onthrough all that Alice tried to thrust in, and delivered her mind ofthe remonstrance she had carefully thought over, and balanced betweenkindness, prudence, and duty, and all the time with the convictionthat not one word was heeded! If it was not English malice it wasFrench malice that pointed the replies and sent Wilmet away as muchprovoked as pitying, and not at all inclined to be examined by Edgaron her interview, and let him gather that she had not had the best ofit. Poor Alice! what were these little triumphs of a sharp tongue incomparison with the harm she did herself by exacerbating whoevertried to argue with her? There was one person she did profess to wishto see, namely, Geraldine; but the flying rheumatic pains, excited bythe black east wind with sleet upon its blast, could not be trifledwith; and Major Knevett's wrath put an effectual stop to Alice'sentering the house during the Saturday and Sunday of his stay atBexley. Perhaps Cherry was not sorry. She could not have pleadedagainst Edgar, in spite of her disapprobation of both; and moreover, the thought at the bottom of her heart was, 'How could any one whohad been the object of such tones of the one brother's voice be wonby the showy graces of the other? Edgar could easily have thrown offa disappointment; but Felix came first--and oh! can he shake it offin the same light way?'

She had not the comfort of talking it over. Felix made no sign, andEdgar's line was to treat the whole complication as a matter ofpleasantry, pretending that he had only gone into it to please Felix!and yet, as came to their knowledge, privately exchanging billets andcatch-words with Alice, while he openly declared his engagement andresolution to work his way up and lay his laurels at her feet. 

He went away the very same morning as Major Knevett carried off hisdaughter to Jersey, audaciously following them to the station, wherehe exchanged a grasp of the hand with her in the very sight of the'grey tyrant father, ' who actually gnashed his teeth, in hisinability either to knock him down or give him in charge. 

There was no time to breathe between the departure of this pair oflovers and the arrival of Alda's splendid Life Guardsman, who, horsesand all, took up his abode at the Fortinbras Arms, and spent his daysin felicity with Alda. A very demonstrative pair they were. ToGeraldine, often unwillingly en tiers, they seemed to spend theirtime chiefly in sitting hand in hand, playing with one another'srings and dangles, of which each seemed to possess an inexhaustiblevariety. Ferdinand's dressing-case and its contents were exquisite intheir way, and were something between an amusement and a horror toWilmet, who could not understand Felix's regard for so extravagantand wasteful a person, who gave away sovereigns where half-crownswould have been more wholesome, half-crowns instead of shillings, shillings instead of pence, and who moreover was devoted to horse-flesh. His own favourite steed, Brown Murad, had been secured at afabulous price; and the possession of him seemed to be the crowningtriumph over a certain millionaire baronet in the same corps, evidently his rival. What was even more alarming was that everydetail about races and horses in training was at his fingers' ends, so that he put Felix up to a good deal of knowledge useful to theracing articles in the Pursuivant; but he declared that he neverbetted. His was a perilous position, homeless and friendless as hestood; and this rendered him doubly grateful for the brotherlywelcome he received. Yet the days would have been long to any butlovers, in spite of the rides and walks, one even to Minsterham tosee Lance. Ferdinand liked to recur to the old remembrances of hisconvalescence; but in these Alda had no part, and they seemed to jaron her. She might sometimes seem half fretted by his impetuoussouthern love, but she could not bear a particle of his attention tobe bestowed on aught save herself; and when Geraldine would haveutilised his fine straight profile as an artistic study, the monopolywas so unpleasing that the portrait had to be dropped. The odd thingwas that Alda should have a lover whose most congenial spirit wasClement. He was a great frequenter of St. Matthew's, and had nointerest save in kindred subjects. Felix always found them alikedifficult to converse with, from a want of any breadth of sympathywith subjects past or present, such as would have occupied him evenwithout the exigencies of his profession. They seemed to talk, notchurch, but shop, as if they did not look beyond proximateecclesiastical details, which they discussed in technical termsstartling to the uninitiated; and yet Felix trusted that Clement'ssoul was a good deal deeper and wider than his tongue, and thatFerdinand's, if narrow, was thoroughly resolute, finding in hisenthusiasm for these details a counterpoise for the temptations ofhis position. 

His seemed to be a nature that would alternate between apatheticindolence and strong craving for excitement. He could go on for dayswith a patient, almost silent, round of mechanical occupationsperformed well, nigh in his sleep, and then, when once stirred upbecame possessed with a vehement restlessness, as if there were stilla little about him of the panther of the wilderness. 

At first he awaited his letter from his uncle much morephilosophically than did Alda, but when it tarried still, he becameso eager that he made two journeys to London to meet the mail, andpestered every one with calculations as to time and space. 

The letter came, and was all that every one else had expected. AlfredTravis had always detested the family into which his nephew had beenthrown by his accident, and the tidings that the heiress had beenrejected for the sake of one of these designing girls could not bewelcome. So he gave notice that nothing more could be expected fromhim if his nephew stooped thus low. This, however, did not muchconcern Ferdinand. He curled his black moustache, and quietly saidhis uncle would not find that game answer. The affairs of thebrothers had always been mixed together, and Ferdinand had beencontent to leave the whole in his uncle's hands, only drawing for hisown handsome allowance; but the foundation had been his mother'sfortune, and he had only to claim his own share of the capital, anddisentangle it from the rest, either to bring his uncle to terms atonce, or to be able to dispense with his consent. The delay wasvexatious, but it could be but brief; and in the meantime Bexley wasfelicity. Yes, in spite of the warning he received at the Rectory, which my Lady followed up by a remonstrance to Felix--over thecounter, for in vain he tried to get her into the office. He couldonly tell her that he much regretted Edgar's conduct, but as to Alda, there was no disobedience, and the young man's character was high. Hewas just as impracticably courteous as his father and Lady Priceshrugged her shoulders and hoped. 'For, Felix Underwood, ' she said, 'I am convinced that after all you are a very well-meaning youngman. '

This was her farewell, for Mr. Bevan had been more ailing than usual, and had obtained permission to leave his parish for a year, to bespent partly in the south of France, partly at the German baths. 

Well was it for those who could get away! Never had the spring beensourer; Easter came so early as itself to seem untimely, and theWednesday of its week was bleakness itself, as Lance and Robina stoodon the top of the viaduct over the railway, looking over the parapetat the long perspective of rails and electric wires their facesscrewed up, and reddened in unnatural places by the bitter blast. Felix had asked at breakfast if any one would be the bearer of a noteto Marshlands; Lance had not very willingly volunteered, because noone else would; then Robina joined him, and they had proceededthrough the town without a syllable from either of the usually livelytongues, till as they stood from force of habit watching for a train, the following colloquy took place, Robina being the first speaker. 

'What is it?'

'What is what?'

'What is the matter?'

'What is the matter with what?'

'With it all?'

There came a laugh, but Robina returned to the charge. 'Well, butwhat is it? Is it east wind?'

'Something detestable--whatever it is, ' grunted Lance. 

'You've found it so too, ' said Robina; for Lance had only come homeafter evening cathedral the day before. 

'Haven't I, though!'

He said no more, being a boy of much reserve as to his privatetroubles; and Robina presently said, --

'I say, Lance, did Alda use to be nice, or is it love?'

'Never nice, like Wilmet or Cherry. '

'I am sure, ' proceeded the girl, 'I thought love was the mostbeautiful and romantic thing--too nice to be talked about, for fearit should turn one's head, but here it seems to be really nothing butplague and bother and crossness. '

'Poor Bob!' said Lance, 'you got the worst of it up at Brompton. '

'I got it every way, ' said Robina. 'There was Edgar treating me likea little contemptible baby, and Alice sometimes coaxing me andsometimes spiting me, and Angel poisoned against me; and when Ithought I must be acting for the best in telling Felix, somehow thatturned out altogether horrid. '

'I suppose a girl must be telling some one, ' said Lance; 'and if itwas to be done, Felix was the right one. '

'So I made sure, ' said poor Robin; 'but Miss Fulmort and MissFennimore seemed to think it no better than if I had told you. Theysay I am forgiven, but I hate their forgiveness. I've done nothingwrong, and yet they don't like or trust me; and they seem to grudgeme all my marks and prizes. "For proficiency, not for conduct, " theysay, in that hard cold voice. And then the girls nod and whisper. Angel and all, think me a nasty spiteful marplot. Alice set half ofthem against me before she went!'

'Poor Bob. And you can't have a good set to, and punch their headsall round! That's the way to have it out, and get comfortable andfriendly. '

'For choir boys? O Lance!'

'Choir boys ain't girls, I thank my stars. '

'Well, ' continued Robina, glad to pour out her troubles, even forsuch counsel as this, 'when I came home last week, I did think itwould be made up. '

'Well, ' said Lance, as Robin grew rather choky, and drew the back ofa woolly glove across her eyes, not much to their benefit. 

'Clem looks black, because he says his sisters were meant to raisethe tone of the school. '

'Confound the tone of the school! I know what that is! But who caresfor Tina?'

'Then Wilmet says I ought to have asked leave to write to her, andshe could have managed it quietly, and kept everybody out of ascrape. '

'Whew--w--w--' whistled Lance; but at the melancholy tone, heabsolutely took his red hand out of its comfortable nest in hispocket, to draw his sister's arm into his. It was well, for her voicewas far more trembling now. 'I could bear it all if it were not forFelix himself. I know he is angry with me, but he won't talk, nortell me how; he only said, "We both meant to act for the best; but itis a painful affair, and we had better not discuss it, " and then hebegan to whistle to Theodore. If any one did know how I hate beingtold I meant to act for the best!'

'Something is come over Felix, ' said Lance. 'I never knew him givesuch a jaw as he has to me. To be sure, he was set on to it. '

'Set on?'

'Yes, by Wilmet for one! You should have seen the way she was in--asif I hadn't a right to do what I please with my own money. '

'What?'

'My violin! Ferdinand Travis tipped me when he rode over to theCathedral, and by good luck it was the day before the auction at oldSpicer's. Bill and I went in to see the fun, and by all that islucky, there was a violin routed out of an old cupboard. Nobody bidagainst me but Godwin, the broker, and it was knocked down to me fortwenty-two and six. Bill lent me the half-crown; and Poulter, our layvicar, who is at a music-shop, says 'tis a real bargain, he's mad tohave missed it himself, but he showed me how to put my fingers on it, and I can play Mendelssohn's "Hirtenlied. " You shall hear by and by, Robin. Well; Wilmet comes on it when she was unpacking my shirts. I'msure I wish she'd let me unpack them myself, instead of poking hernose there; and if she wasn't in a way! Wasting my money, when Iought to be saving it up to buy a watch; and wasting my time and allthe rest of it--till one would think 'twas old Scratch himself I'dbrought home!'

'Oh don't, Lance. And did she set on Felix?'

'Ay; and then, you know, our new Precentor, Beccles, isn't onequarter the man Nixon was; and he has been and written a letter toFee that any schoolmaster in creation should be licked for writing, to go and pison a poor chap's home--all about those cards. '

'What cards?'

'The pack Jones found in the middle of the north transept ten daysago. '

'Of the Cathedral! How shocking! But why should he write to Felix?'

'Because the big-wigs make sure some one out of the Bailey must havedropped them, getting into the town through the Cathedral at night'

'But they don't suspect you?'

'No; but Beccles got into an awful way, and swears--'

'You don't mean really swears!'

'No, no--stuff--vows--that unless he gets to the bottom of it, notone of us shall have the good-conduct prize. Now I did think I mighthave had that--though I'm not a church candle like Tina--for I neverwas had up for anything; and it is precious hard lines! Such abeauty, Robin, the Bishop gives it--all the Cathedral music, bound inred morocco; and this beggar hinders us all this very last chance!And then, he is dirty enough to write and tell Felix to get out of mewho has been getting out through the Cathedral, and dropping thecards. '

'Do you know?'

'Hold your tongue; I thought you had a little sense! Felix had that;he saw I could not tell him, and said it must be as I pleased aboutthat; but then he rowed me, as he never did before, for wasting time, and not mugging for the exhibition--as if that was any use. '

'Why shouldn't t you get the exhibition?'

'Put that out of your head, ' said Lance, angrily; 'Harewood is sureof that! A fellow that construes by nature--looks at a sentence, andspots the nominative in a moment--makes verses--rale, superior, iligant articles. '

'But I thought he wasn't always accurate. Can't you catch him out? OLance, don't look so fierce! I only said so because he can't want theexhibition as much as you. He can go to some other school, or be paidfor. '

'Not conveniently, ' said Lance, 'they are not at all well off, andJack helps them. Besides, I wouldn't get the thing in a sneaking way;and besides, Bill could no more make a mull in construing out ofcarelessness than I could a false note--it's against nature. I can'tbeat him, except in arithmetic. My birthday comes at such an unluckytime. I should get another year if I'd only been born in July insteadof June! I might be second, for Shapcote is only dogged by hisfather; but that's no good for the exhibition: and then there's anend of Cathedral and all!'

'What should you do then, Lance?'

'Whatever costs least! I'd as lief work my way out to Fulbert, ifthis is to go on. '

'Oh, don't! don't do that, whatever you do!' cried Robina, clingingto his arm. 

'I don't see why not, if everybody is to be as savage as a bear whenone comes home. One always trusted to Felix to see sense, if nobodyelse did; but what with his jawing one about the exhibition, andWilmet about the tin and every spot on one's clothes, and Aldagrowling at whatever one does in the parlour, I'm sure I wish I'dstayed at Bexley. '

The boy and girl had never before been tried by want of sympathy, andwhat seemed to them injustice, when they had thus descended into theperturbed atmosphere of what they were used to regard as a happyhome. There was a long mutual communication of grievances--irritablespeeches--inattention from their elders--fancies and complaints ofAlda's enforced peremptorily by Wilmet--appeals to Felix eitherquashed or unheeded; the strange thing was, in how short a time somuch had managed to go wrong with them, except that they added thevexations of the last quarter to the present discomfort, real orfancied; and though they were both good children, each had the strongfeeling that there was not as much encouragement as usual togoodness, and that it could not have been much worse if they had beenseriously to blame. One had expected to be caressed for her endurancein a good cause; the other had not expected to be severely rebukedfor what he scarcely viewed as faults. It was the first time thisyounger half of the family had ever suffered anything approaching toneglect or injustice from their seniors, and the moment was perilous. The discussion was forming their discontents into a dangerouslyavowed state, if it had the beneficial effect of raising theirspirits by force of sympathy. At any rate, they were in no gloomymood when they reached the tidy little villa, with its beds of open-hearted crocuses defying the cold wind, and admitting the sun to theutmost depths of their purple and golden bosoms, as they laughedtheir cheery greeting. 

No less cheerful was the welcome from kind old Mrs. Froggatt, who metthem at the door. 'Master Lancelot, Miss Robina, this is an unlooked-for pleasure, to be sure! My dear Miss Robina!' as the girl gave herhearty embrace. 

They were the prime favourites next to Felix, and were the moregladly hailed that Mr. Froggatt was anxious about the business onwhich they came, and had been trying to get leave from his wife toperil his rheumatics by coming in to Bexley about it. They must stayto luncheon; and while Mr. Froggatt went off to answer his note, theywere made much of over the fire, in the way that had of late becomeso abhorrent to Bernard, with difficulty avoiding a pre-luncheon ornooning of cake and wine within an hour of the meal of the day. 

'And how is Mr. Underwood?' asked Mrs. Froggatt, when Robina had beendivested of her wraps, placed close to the fire, screened andfootstooled, and when Lance had transferred the big white cat fromthe arm-chair to his own knee. 

'Oh, very well, thank you, ' said Robina, rather surprised that thelengthy catechism on the family health did not as usual start from'poor dear Miss Geraldine. '

'He was looking so thin, and had such a cough, I was quite concernedwhen he walked out here on Good Friday afternoon, ' continued Mrs. Froggatt. 'I hope he is taking care. '

'Wilmet is always at him about it, ' said Lance. 

'That is right. And I hope he minds to keep the office-door shut. Itis such a draughty place! Does he wear flannel, do you know, mydear?'

'I think so, ' said Robina. 'Sister Constance told Wilmet he ought, when he had that long cough after the measles. '

'Ay. You know--you'll excuse me, my dears, a cough is not to betrifled with in your dear family. '

'You should write to the clerk of the weather-office, Mrs. Froggatt, 'said Lance, rather gruffly. 

And as Mrs. Froggatt was not good at understanding jokes, but wasalways ready to accept Mr. Lance's, she thought he meant AdmiralFitzroy; and much explanation and banter followed, which the childrenmade the louder from dread of the subject. Mrs. Froggatt was by nomeans the cultivated person her husband was; but, being of a good oldplain farmer stock, she was quite as unassuming, and her manners withthe young Underwoods were a good deal like those of a superior oldhousekeeper, only perhaps less authoritative and familiar; but shewas not to be kept away from the subject of her real anxiety. 'I wishI could see your sister, and speak to her; he ought to have someadvice rather than let it run on in this way. I'm sure Mr. Froggattwould be willing to do anything. It has been a great concern to himto have to leave such a heavy charge to him this spring, and with allthe family cares on his head too, at his age. Miss Alda's wedding putoff too--is it? And is the young gentleman here still?'

'No; his leave was over last Monday, ' said Robina, 'a week after Icame home. '

'I should like to have seen him! Your brother says he is grown upsuch a fine-looking young man, and quite got over his lameness. Ahandsome couple they will be! I did see them ride through the place, but Miss Alda didn't see me. '

'You saw his horse?' broke in Lance, who considered Brown Murad as asuperior specimen to either of the lovers, and Mrs. Froggatt, whosefather had bred horses, and whose son was much more addicted to themthan was for his good, was a much more intelligent auditor of theperfections now dilated on than could have been expected. 

Yet nothing could keep off the dreaded subject, and even at table, Lance's disappointing deficiency in schoolboy voracity became thecause of a lamentation over his brother's small appetite, and anexamination of Robina, resulting in her allowing that Felix seldomgave himself time to do more than snatch a crust of bread in themiddle of the day, and did not always make up for it at tea-time. Mr. Froggatt shook his head and looked distressed, and his good lady wenton discoursing about the basin of soup she always used to keepprepared for him, evidently longing, though not quite daring, to senda lecture to Wilmet on taking care of her brother. But what made moreimpression on both the children was, that after they had been intoMr. Froggatt's little conservatory with him, and had received intotheir charge a basket of camellias, violets, and calycanthus, with apot of jonquils in the middle for Geraldine, the old gentleman said, as he bade them good-bye, 'Tell your sister, that if she thinks a dayor two of laying by would be good for your brother, I should be readyand glad to change places with him. A little change might take awayhis cough; and I don't like his looks--no, I don t. He ought to becareful;' this to himself, with a long sigh. 

Then the children got out into the garden, and with the naturalimpatience of the evil omen, exclaimed at the same moment--

 'Croak, croak, croak, went the frogs, '

and

 'Were there ever such a pair of good old coddles?'

But then they walked on for a full quarter of a mile before eithersaid another word; and then it was, 'You don't think Felix lookingill, do you, Lance?'

'I never thought about his looks at all, ' said Lance. 

'No more did I, ' said Robina, 'but he does cough; I hear him throughthe wall in the morning. Do you think there is anything in it, Lance?'

'How long has it been going on?'

'Ever since he came up to London. He got a chill in our garden when Iwas telling him about--' said Robina, stopping short of what shehated to mention. 

'Then that's it!' said Lance, turning round with a face of one whohad made a great discovery. 

'It? What is the matter with him?'

'Yes, ' said Lance. 'Hold your tongue, Robina; but Cherry and Ithought long ago that he fancied that little Knevett himself. Then Imade sure it was all a mistake; but now, depend upon it, that's whathe is so cut up about''

It carried conviction to the hearer, perhaps because it fitted inwith a girl's love of romance. 'Then that's why he won't talk to me!'

'Of course!'

And then they began putting together all the tokens of inclinationwhich their small experience and large imagination could suggest, till they had pretty well decided the point in their own belief, andhad amused themselves considerably; but the anxiety came back again. 

'Do people get over such things, Lance? There was Ophelia, and therewas Wilfred in Rokeby--only she was a woman, and he was pipy. Didyou ever know of anybody really and truly?'

Lance meditated, but his experience reached no farther than thesurgeon's assistant at Minsterham, who was reported to be continuallyin love, but who did not look greatly the worse for it. 

And then Robina suggested that she did not remember that eitherWilfred or Ophelia had a cough. 

'But my father had, ' said Lance in the depths of his throat. 'Don'tyou know, Robin, it was hard work and trouble and poverty that--_didit_?'

'Was it?' awe-struck, for she had been so young as to have no clearideas. 

'I've heard it told often enough. My Lady cut off the third curate;and that--and all the rest of it--helped to bring on the decline. '

'But, Lance! At least, that wasn't--love. '

'Nonsense, Robin! Don't you see, whatever takes the heart and spiritout of a man, makes him ready for illness to get hold of?' Lanceplucked desperately at the hazels in the hedge, and his eyes werefull of tears. 

'O Lance, Lance, what can we do?'

'I don't know! I'd let him pitch into me from morning till night ifthat would do him any good!'

'I'm sure I am very sorry I grumbled. We'll give Wilmet Mr. Froggatt's message, and see what she thinks. '

Poor children! their consternation was such, that they must judge bytheir own eyes of Felix without loss of time; so they both marchedinto the shop with Mr. Froggatt's note, and there felt half baffledto see Felix looking much as usual, very busy trying to content alady with nursery literature, and casting a glance at Robin as if shehad no business there. 

Wilmet received Mr. Froggatt's message without excitement. Shethought it would be a very good thing, but she did not believe Felixwould consent; and Alda broke out, 'Then we should have Mr. Froggattinflicted on us all the evening!'

Nor did Felix consent. He said it was very kind, but his cold wasalmost gone, and he did not need it. Moreover he had his privatedoubts whether Alda would be decently gracious to Mr. Froggatt; andWilmet, whose one object in life was to keep her sister contented andhappy at home, could press nothing so disagreeable to her. Altogether, the reception of their hints at home was so prosaicallyplacid, that they were both rather ashamed of the alarm into whichthey had worked themselves up. Even when Robina privately askedCherry whether she thought Felix looking well, the answer was eager. 

'Oh, very--very well! He looked pulled down when his cold was bad, but he is quite well now. '

'Mrs. Froggatt thought--'

'Oh, you've been talking to Mrs. Froggatt! She thinks nothing so kindas to say one is looking poorly. I said, "How well you are looking, Mrs. Froggatt, " one day, and I assure you she only swallowed it by anact of Christian forgiveness. She is fondest of Felix, so of coursehe looks the worst. '

Robina got no more out of Geraldine, whose fears at that moment werein the form of utterly denying themselves. Commonplace life greatlyreassured the two young things, and of the alarm there chieflyremained a certain shame at their own former discontent, and doublytender feeling towards their fatherly elder brother. Now that theyguessed something to be amiss with him, they had no irritation forhim--and indeed he gave them no cause for any; the discomfort waspartly indeed occasioned by the lack of his usual quiet mirth, butfar more by Alda's fastidiousness, and Wilmet's vigilance lest sheshould be annoyed. This caused restrictions that weighed more heavilyon the younger ones than on Lance and Robina, and had the effect ofmaking Angela and Bernard rebellious. They had neither the principlenor the consideration of their two seniors; to them every one seemedsimply 'cross, ' and against this crossness there was a constantstruggle, either of disobedience or of grumble. 

Both were at rather an insubordinate age. Angela, having begun schoollife with getting into a scrape greater than she understood, hadacquired a naughty-girl reputation, of the kind that tempts the youngmind to live up to it; and her high spirits, boisterous nature, and'don't care' system made her irrepressible by any one but Wilmet, whose resolute hand might be murmured at, but was never relaxed. While Bernard, hitherto very fairly amenable to Cherry, and a capitallittle scholar, became infected with the spirit of riot andinsubordination. Whatever fastidiousness the children took for fine-ladyism in Alda they treated unmercifully, and resented in their ownfashion her complaints, and Wilmet's enforcement of regard to hertastes: nor was Lance always blameless in the tricks played upon her. 

It was strange to see the difference made by one incongruous element. A few sneers at Cherry's pronunciation, an injudicious laugh when shewas rebuking, and a general habit of making light of her, on Alda'spart, upset all Bernard's habits of deference to the sister who hadtaught him all he knew. His lessons grew into daily battles--miseriesto himself and far greater miseries to his teacher, and sufficientmisery to the spectator to induce her to do that which the othersisters could scarcely have brought themselves to do on anyprovocation, namely to complain to Felix, and by and by make arepresentation, for the general good, she said, that it was a merefarce to leave the boy under Cherry's management. 

Cherry, with bitter tears, was forced to own that she could no longerkeep him in order nor make him learn, and there was no alternativebut to send him to Mr. Ryder's. He had no voice nor ear, so that hecould not follow in Lance's steps; and for the present, Bexley wasthe only resource. 

Of course Cherry charged the whole of this upon her poor little self;and some amount of the trouble certainly was due to her incapacitynot to show in voice and manner when she was under fret, anxiety, ordepression; and now, poor child! all three at once had come upon her. Whether Alda's conversation or the children's naughtiness fretted hermost, it would be hard to tell; she was in a continual state ofunuttered, vague, and therefore most wearing anxiety on Felix'saccount, and the physical discomfort of the ungenial spring told onher whole frame and spirits. Alda's talk, when good-humoured, openedsuch vistas of brightness, amusement, conversation, and above all ofbeautiful scenes, that they awoke longings and cravings that Cherryhad hardly known before. The weariness of the grinding monotony ofhome seemed to have infected her. She knew it for discontent, and wasthe more miserable over her want of power to control it, because ofthe terror that hung over her lest repinings might bring on them allthe judicial punishment of a terrible break-up of the home she loved, even while the tedium of the daily round oppressed her. Alternateplaintiveness and weary sharpness of course aggravated both Alda andBernard, and they knew nothing of the repentant wretchedness thatrather weakened than strengthened her. 

Little Stella's unfailing docility and sweetness were her greatsolace. Even Alda was exceedingly fond of Stella, and would havespoilt her if the child had not been singularly firm in her intenselove and loyalty to the heads of the family. Angel and Bear were toorough for her, and alarmed her sense of duty; but Lance was her hero;and the happiest moments of those holidays were spent in a certainloft above a warehouse in the court of the printing-office, onlyattainable by a long ladder. Here, secure that none but favoured earscould hear, Lance practised on his beloved violin, at every hour hecould steal, emulating too often Mother Hubbard's dog 'fiddling tomice, ' but his audience often including his three younger sisters. Hehad had scarcely any hints, but his was the nature that could pickmusic out of anything; and Angela, much more than Robin, was ecstaticin all that concerned the sixth sense, and watched and criticisedwith rapture, wanted to learn, and pouted at being told that it wasnot fit for a woman. Among those stacks of paper in the dusty loft, with the stamp and thud of the press close at hand, it was possibleto forget, in creating sounds and longing to fulfil the dream of thespirit, that Alda was exacting and trying, Wilmet blind to theannoyances she caused, Cherry striving hard, and not alwayssuccessfully, with the fretfulness of anxiety, and Felix--they durstnot think in what state. That loft and that violin made their fairy-land, and one that rendered it most unusually hard for Lance to learnhis holiday task. 

'I'll tell you what, Lance, ' said Robina at last, when he had vainlybeen trying to repeat it to her, with his eye on a sheet of music allthe time, 'you can't do two things at once. If I were you, I wouldlock up that violin till the summer examination is over. '

He turned on her quite angrily. 'Very fine talking! Lock up all thepleasure I have in life! Thank you!'

'I'm quite sure you'll never get the exhibition if you have your headin this. '

'I shan't get the exhibition any way. '

'But if you do your utmost for it?'

'I shall do my utmost!'

'You can't if you have these tunes always running in your head, andare always wild to be picking them out. '

'Well, Robin, I sometimes think I should do more good with music thananything else. '

'Maybe, ' said Robina, a sensible little woman; 'but you'll do no goodby half and half. If you don't do well in the examination, Felix willbe horribly vexed, and you'll always hate the thought of it. '

'I tell you I shall be as dull as ditch-water, and as stupid asShapcote, if I don't have any pleasure. '

'I only don't want you to be stupider. '

Lance chucked up a pen-wiper and caught it. 

'The fact is, ' said Robina, 'all we've got to do is our best. If wedon't, it is wrong in us, and it makes us more a weight on Felix; andI think it is our real duty to keep everything out of the way thathinders us, if it is ever so nice. '

'Is that Cock Robin, or Parson Rook with his little book?' saidLance, throwing the pen-wiper in her face. 

But the week after, when Robina was at school again, she was calledto receive a letter which had something hard in it. 

'Did you leave a key behind you?' she was asked a littlesuspiciously, for there was nothing about it in the brief note. 

'No, Miss Fennimore; but my brother has sent it to me to keep forhim. It is the key of his violin-case, and he is not going to touchit till he is past his examination. '

From that time Miss Fennimore entertained a better opinion of RobinaUnderwood; but little recked Robina. She only felt secure that afterthis act of heroism Lance could not but gain the exhibition. 

CHAPTER XVII

MIDSUMMER SUN

'For Phoebus' awful self encountered him Amid the battle throng invisible, In thickest darkness shrouded all his face; He stood behind, and with extended palm Dealt on Patroclus' neck and shoulder broad A mighty buffet. ' Iliad, Book xvi. (EARL OF DERBY. )

Warmer weather came at last, and brought Mr. Froggatt back to hisdaily work, lifting a weight of responsibility from his youngpartner's shoulders. 

The cough mended too, but did not entirely cease; and when June camein with an unusual access of summer heat, there were those who feltit as trying as the sharp wind had been. One evening, when the homeparty had been sitting in the garden, and the fall of the dew sentCherry indoors, Felix, as usual, gave her his arm, and lifted herstep by step up the stairs. She felt, all over her frame, that whatused to be almost nothing to the boy was a severe exertion to theman. 

'You should not do it!' she said, as they both stood resting at thetop, he leaning back against the wall, and wiping his forehead, wherethe big blue V of the veins stood out prominently. 

'Having so often carried the calf--I should be able to carry--thecow, ' he said, the smile not disguising the panting of his voice. 

'You are to be at the agricultural meeting at Dearport tomorrow. Iwish you would just go and see Dr. Lee. '

'I think I shall. ' And there they were interrupted. 

Poor Geraldine! What worlds of apprehension were founded on thatquiet assent, his first intimation that he believed himself unwell!She kept absolute silence. She could not have uttered her terrors forten thousand worlds. 

She was on her couch under the apple-tree, in the late afternoon, trying to force her thoughts out of miserable possibilities, when shesaw Felix come out of the house, flushed, heated, dusty, tired; butsomehow she gathered hope from his air, as he threw himself down onthe grass by her side, saying, 'Mr. Froggatt sent me out to cool. '

'Stella, dear, ' to the little one, who had her story-book at hand, 'run and ask Sibby to bring Felix out a cup of tea. ' Then she triedto guess at his face, but durst not look at him fully. 'Are you verytired?'

'Rather! That place was a mere oven of roaring! Well, Cherry, 'pulling off his neck-tie, and settling himself, with an elbow on hercouch, and his back against the tree, 'there's nothing amiss with mylungs. '

She shuddered all over, and almost bounded; then put her handtenderly on his shoulder. 

'Your doctor is a clever man, I can see, ' he continued. 'He seemed toguess about me directly. He sounded my chest, and says it is allright now, but that there had been a little damage; he thought thelong cough I had after the measles had left traces that this winterhas told upon. '

'Ah!' A great gasp. 

'But there's no active disease--none at all; nor likely, if I canshake off this remnant of cough, and get into condition before thewinter. '

Cherry sighed again at the white hand, and the network of blue veinson both it and the temple that was propped against it. 'You must_indeed_!' she wistfully said. 

'I _must_, ' said Felix, sighing too, as with little mind for thestruggle. 'I've brought home a detestable bottle of cod-liver oil onthe spot, and am to take to all the good living I can swallow. Won'tthat delight Mr. Froggatt s good old soul? Then the worst of it isthat I am to go away to some sea place for the hottest of theweather. '

'Oh, I'm so glad!'

'He taxed me with not taking food enough; and when I allowed that Ihad no turn for eating, insisted on this sea plan: but he laughed meto scorn when I asked whether I might not get a room at Dearport, andrun backwards and forwards. "Ay, " he said, "you have a good deal onyour mind;" and I fell into the trap, and told him my partner hadbeen ill, and we had a great deal to work up. And he went on to askif I had not the charge of the family, and was not apt to get anxiousabout them; and he turned round on me, and ordered me to get athorough holiday, and turn my back on everybody and everything; forthere's nothing the matter with me but overwork and harass--'Something that did not amount to _and_ finished the sentence. 

'O Felix, I know, I have felt, ' she said, the tears standing in hereyes, and the colour rushing into her face at this first venture. 

'Have you--little foolish thing?' he answered, but shifting hand andelbow so that nothing of his face could be seen but a bit of brow andtemple, and that was crimson to the roots of his hair. 'Don't take itfor more than it ever was, ' he muttered. 

'It was enough to hurt you grievously, ' whispered the sister. 

'It ought not, ' he said. 'It was only the putting out of a vainfoolish hope I had no right to indulge. Eh, Cherry!' as she made alittle sound, 'tell me one thing; was it all imagination and follythat she--she could have--liked me?' He bent his head with almost asmuch suppressed emotion as if it had been a matter of present hope. 

'Certainly not, ' said Cherry. 'She liked your--your attentions; and Ithought sometimes you were quite pulling her up to your level. If noone else--'

'I did not imagine it was visible, ' he interrupted. 'I tried to bevery guarded, but one does not know--'

'You were. Somehow one feels more than one sees. '

'And you thought she did? Then at least I was not quite a fool? Ifancied that there was response enough to what seems to have shown inspite of me to warrant the dream that if ever a time came--!'

'If she had had depth enough!'

'But, of course, ' said Felix in a tone of defence, 'she never reallyknew; he guessed still less. '

'No, I am sure he never guessed. There is that comfort, ' said Cherry. 

'It is the greatest I have had all along, ' said Felix. 'For the rest, it was no wonder. '

'No, ' said Cherry; 'but it all managed to fall in the very hardestway on you. No wonder it was too much for you!'

'It is odd, ' mused Felix, 'how this one dream has seemed to take allthe heart and soul out of one; there seemed no elasticity to meetother things. I must say all this doctor's advice has been seeming anamazing amount of trouble for what is not very well worth having inthe end. '

'O Felix, Felix you will--'

'My Cherie, you don't think I'd drop off the coach while you are init if I can help it, to say nothing of the rest! I suppose every onehas something of the sort in his turn, and I'll take good care not tobe let in for it again. Thank you, Cherry, ' he added presently, andnow looking at her, 'I am very glad to have had this out with you. Ithink I can make a fresh start now. What, silly little thing! crying, when I thought I had brought you good news!'

'You are quite sure you have told me all Dr. Lee said?' she demanded, holding his hands tight, and gazing into the face, which certainly, with the still heightened colour, looked both delicate and weary. 'You have been so much worse than you told!'

'No, indeed, I have felt very little but weariness and want ofenergy; but I am better now than I have felt for weeks. And what ismore, Cherry, I don't feel like getting worse. I mean to set myselfto live to get through the work my father left me. '

'Taking care of all of us! Is that all you care to live for, Felix?'

'All, just now. Don't look shocked, Cherry. You know it is all veryfresh' ('Five months--poor Felix!' thought she), 'and there is thecontinual pain of knowing how wretched those people make the poorchild. When she is happier, perhaps the shade will lighten. Don't beafraid, you dear little thing' (he was answering her piteous eyes), 'there's plenty of time to recover it. I suppose I am really veryyoung still. '

'Not quite three and twenty! Oh, Felix! I am sure God will give youback happiness, you are so good and patient! Where will you go, andwhen?'

'How I wish you could go with me! Dr. Lee said he should like to sendme to Switzerland; but as he might as well have said the moon, hesaid any sea place would do. Rest and good air are all thatsignifies; so I thought of Ewmouth, and then I might see Vale Lestonagain. I believe you want it as much as I. You are a little washed-out rag. '

'I shall be all right when I know you are better. ' Then as Sibbybrought out the tea, and Stella the toast she had insisted on making, he began to look at his short-hand notes. 'Never mind those. You areto rest, you know. --Stella, little one, run to the office, and if Mr. Froggatt is not busy, get him to come and have some tea. '

This was always a mission to Stella's taste; and Mr. Froggatt wassoon installed in the only basket-chair that would hold him, and wasprofessing his relief and satisfaction that Mr. Underwood had beenwise enough to take advice at last. He had better go any day, thesooner the better; and even his desire to take the newspaper workwith him would have been overruled, but for the simple fact thatthere was nobody else capable of it, in the present state of Mr. Froggatt's eyes. 

Alda had been lying down in her own' room. Her cup of tea--aninstitution that for any one else Wilmet would have deemed sinfulwaste--had been rung for, when she saw from the window that Mr. Froggatt was one of the party in the garden, and whereas Sibby didnot choose to hear or attend to her whims, she came down full ofwrath and indignation, as soon as she saw that Cherry was left aloneunder her tree, and Wilmet coming out to her with the step of one whowas glad her day's work was over. 

'Really, Sibby's inattention was shameful! Not choosing to bring thetea upstairs when it was rung for!'

'You forget how much Sibby has to do, Alda. '

'You have quite spoilt Sibby. I would not have such a servant on anyaccount. I'm sure I don't know why the tea was so early, either. Cherry ordered it, I believe. '

'Yes, ' said Cherry, 'because Felix came in so hot and tired. '

'He could have waited, I suppose, ' began Alda; but Wilmet was askinganxiously, 'Is he so very tired? Where is he? I was afraid he wouldbe knocked up, he looked so pale when he set off. '

'He is gone to write out his notes, ' said Cherry; 'I think he isrested now. And, Mettie, ' she added, knowing that he had rather nothave to begin the subject again, ' I am glad to say he has been to seeDr. Lee. And he says that his lungs are all safe, only he must becareful, and go away for a change. '

'Just as I say, ' exclaimed Alda; 'no one can be well, living in sucha hole! When are we to go?'

'My dear Alda, ' said Wilmet, 'you forget. No one can possibly go butFelix; and it will be hard enough to manage for him. '

'Then I do think it is very selfish in him, ' said Alda, 'when everyone of us wants change! I'm as languid as possible; and look atCherry. '

Felix selfish! Even Wilmet could not stand that, and answered withher most severely gentle manner, 'Nothing but necessity will induceFelix to do so. I beg you will say nothing of the sort again. '

Cherry was alarmed lest Wilmet might not be convinced of thenecessity, and might think more of present pounds than future health;but in fact, Wilmet was as much relieved as Cherry herself by themedical opinion, for she had charged the failure of health entirelyto the constitution instead of the heart, and moreover never wastroubled with misgivings and heart-sinkings for the future. So, asfor a needful and infallible cure, she set herself to arrange, writing again to Abednego Tripp, the Vale Leston clerk, whosepossession of a market boat kept him conversant with Ewmouth, and whorecommended rooms in the house of a former servant at the Rectory whohad married a sailor. 

Felix only waited to put his business in train, and make overTheodore to the care of Clement, who had just come home fromCambridge. The quantity of work and bustle had not been beneficial, and his sisters did not feel at all happy in sending him off byhimself; while Alda was inclined to think the time a particularlycruel one, just as all the most unquiet spirits of the householdwould be coming home for the holidays, and his authority would bemost wanted. 

However, Wilmet was free first of all, and she was a more efficientguardian of the peace than ever Felix could be downstairs. Lance wasto come on the evening of the 26th of June, after the examination forthe exhibition, which, as he had told every one, he was quite surenot to gain. And then what was to be done with him, small and boyishas he still was?

The question was sighed over on that day by the three sisters as theysat endeavouring to be cool, and looking out at the glowing streetwhere the few passengers seemed to be crawling like flies on awindow-pane. 

Presently a rather hesitating knock at the door was followed by theentrance of Mr. Froggatt, ushering in no other than Mr. Harewood. 

In the moment of shaking hands, Cherry had foreboded enough to sether pulses throbbing so violently as to deafen her ears. Lance hadfailed, had run away in despair, to go to Fulbert rather than be aburthen; Felix would go in search of him--break a blood-vessel--and--

Nay--what was it? Lance! It really was Lance! Was not Wilmet talkingof going! Mr. Harewood saying something about trains? She made agreat effort to clear her senses, and the first thing she reallydistinguished was Wilmet saying, 'Thank you, I will put a few thingstogether. '

Then she hurried away, and Cherry found Mr. Froggatt standing overher, saying kindly, 'Dear Miss Geraldine, don't be alarmed. There isoften no bad result. '

'How was it? I don't understand, ' said Alda. 

Mr. Harewood owned himself not perfectly informed, but he feared thetrouble had been in great part occasioned by his own poor boyWilliam's carelessness. The two boys had strolled out the eveningbefore, along the bank of the river, and had compared the copies ofverses which were to be shown up at the examination. Afterwards theyhad bathed, and Will had left his verses meantime in the hollow of atree, never remembering them till he found himself in his place inthe Cathedral on the very morning of the examination. When he cameout, not only did his duties as senior chorister chain him to thespot, but he had put off to the last moment the fair copying of hisalgebraic exercises, and his chance of the exhibition was as good aslost (the very loop-hole that Robina had predicted his carelessnesswould make), had not Lance, whose preparations were all made, as soonas he understood the difficulty, dashed headlong off, bare-headed ashe stood at the school door, without waiting to fetch his cap, andlaid the verses on his rival's desk just in time for them to be shownup. He had been absent about twenty minutes, and had scarcely beenmissed; but when his turn came, a few moments later, to bring hispapers to the examiners, as soon as he stood up, he staggered, gazedround, cried out, and fell forward on his desk insensible. A doctor, who like Mr. Harewood himself had been present to hear a son'sperformance, had helped to raise him, and pronounced it to be a caseof sunstroke; nor, when, half an hour later, the librarian set off tofetch his sister, had there been any sign of consciousness. 

Mr. Harewood tried to be calm, but he was evidently in greatdistress; and Mr. Froggatt could not restrain large tears fromdropping. 

As to Cherry, she could only tremble, unable to speak or cry; and Mr. Froggatt called out to Alda to do something for her, when Alda saidshe would call Wilmet, which made Cherry burst out with 'Don't, don't!' and shudder the more with tearless sobs; but happily, Clementcoming down, fetched her remedies, and did more by whispering a fewkind words of hope and comfort. 

He was going with Wilmet, who was as usual the self-possessed one;and while passively allowing Mr. Froggatt to give her biscuits andeven wine, she left her few parting directions. 'Alda, take care ofthem all. --Stella, try to keep Tedo happy. --Cherry, don't give wayand fancy things. --Above all, don't write to Felix! He must not behurried home without necessity. I could telegraph if there was--' andthere her steady voice faltered, she drew down her veil and turned towalk to the station, Clement carrying her bag, and Mr. Froggattaccompanying them to the train. 

Very little was said on the way, before they reached the town whoselast associations were so joyous. Mr. Harewood would have givenWilmet his arm, dreading the tidings that might meet her; but she waswalking straight on, with head erect, as though neither needing norseeking support. 

They reached the low wicket-door of the Bailey, and as they enteredthe little court and passed the window, they saw that people werestill standing about the bed in the corner. Everything was open, toadmit such air as might stir that sultry heat. Some one came to thedoor, and said, 'No change. '

Then Wilmet and Clement advanced to the narrow old dark oak bed, andMrs. Harewood made way for them, fresh tears starting at theirpresence. There he lay, their bright agile boy, with eyes half closedand fixed, and circled half way down his cheeks with livid purple, like bruises, the purple lips emitting a heavy breath, his crest ofsunny hair hanging dank with the melting of the ice on his head. 

Clement's lips trembled, and he dropped on his knees, hiding his faceand stifling his sobs in his hands. Wilmet, after looking forpermission to a gentleman at the foot of the bed, whom she took forthe doctor, laid her hand on the helpless fingers, and bent to kissthe brow, saying softly and steadily, 'Lance, dear Lancey!'

The eyelids moved, the hand closed, there was a struggling stifledutterance: 'Wilmet, Wilmet, bring me back! Oh, bring me back!'

She looked up, and read in the watchers' faces that they were glad. 'Yes, dear Lance, ' she said, in her soft steady voice, 'I am here. You will soon be better. '

He clung to her, as if blindly struggling with some terribleoppression, and the effort ended in violent sickness, exhausting himinto unconsciousness again; but just then the real doctor came in, having been summoned by a message at the first symptom of change fromthe state of stupor. At the same time the Cathedral bell began toring for evening prayer, and Lance at once was roused to endeavour toobey it, and when he was gently held back, murmured on about findingthe places, and seeing Bill was not late. Mr. Harewood had to go, butwhispered that he would ask the prayers of the congregation. It wascomfortable to remember that Lance was thought of there, when, as thedeep roll of the organ vibrated round the building, psalm, chant, anthem, and response came thronging thick and confusedly on thoseunconscious lips. 

Dr. Manby, however, told Wilmet not to be too much alarmed at thisdelirium, for the most immediate danger had passed when the lethargyhad given way, and that though fever was probably setting in, therewas fair hope that so healthy a boy would be able to struggle throughit without permanent harm. There was a gentleness and considerationin his manner quite new to her after her dealings with Mr. Rugg, andshe felt at the same time that he was not concealing the truth fromher. She told how it was with her eldest brother, asking whether heought to be sent for; and it was a great lightening of present fearto be told that there was now no need for haste, and that any changefor the worse would give full time to bring him; moreover, that newfaces were to be avoided. Should a nurse be sent from the hospital?Wilmet raised her steady sensible eyes, and said she could manage, she was well used to nursing. 

'I see you are, ' he answered, well satisfied, since there werebesides the Precentor's housekeeper, who was used to act as matron tothe boarding choir-boys, and apparently an unlimited power ofHarewoods. 

As to the place, Lance had at first been carried to his own bed, andeven if there had been a regular infirmary, he was in no state tobear being moved. The other boys' goods had been removed, and theyall were going home that evening; so that it was as cool and as quieta place as could be had, since there was no doubt that the soundsfrom the Cathedral would be hushed for so critical a case. 

Indeed, just as Dr. Manby had said this, both the Dean and thePrecentor were seen coming through the Bailey on the way out ofchurch to ask after the patient; and the former promised Wilmet thatthe bells and organ should both be silenced, and that the dailyservice should be in the Lady Chapel. 

It appeared there had been little but the instrumental music thatevening, and strangers who had heard the praises of the Minsterhamchoir must have been disappointed; for the psalms so entirelyovercame the senior chorister that he could do nothing but sob, andat last was fain to stuff half the sleeve of his surplice into hismouth to hinder a howl such as the least of the boys actually burstout with. Most of the other lads were far past singing, and even twoor three of the men, and such voices as did uplift themselves werenone of the best or clearest. 

That poor senior chorister--he crept back after his father into theroom. It was his first entrance, for he had been kept all day at theexamination, with what power of attention may be guessed; and whensome half-recognition of him set the sufferer off into wanderingsthat showed habitual vigilance over his carelessness, he was so muchdistressed that he rushed out, and was heard crying so piteously inthe court, that his mother went out to hush and comfort him. Neverstrong, the shock, anxiety, and exertion had so worn her out, thather family would not let her come back; but their attention to thenurses did not relax--they were viewed as guests both by Mr. Becclesand the Harewoods; and when it was found that neither would come awayto another house to dine, a little table was prepared in the court, close to the door, and the sister and brother, coaxed one by one, andmade to eat and drink; while, as Clement could not bear to go home, anote was written, the delivery of which to the sisters Mr. Becclesundertook to secure. All the evening, Mr. Harewood or his eldest son, the engineer captain, the same whom Wilmet had taken for the doctor, sat at the other end of the room; while Lance lay, sometimes babblingschool tasks mixed with anthems and hymns, sometimes in somethingbetween sleep and torpor, but always moaning and fevered. 

This strange temporary infirmary, of which Wilmet was made free, consisted of two long narrow rooms, each with a row of quaint blackoak beds and presses, between the double row of narrow latticewindows, looking into the court on one side, and the cloister on theother. There was a smaller room dividing these two chambers, andopening into both, which the under-master had vacated, and where thematron installed Miss Underwood's little bag. 

Clement was a good deal impressed with the place, in the grand quietshadow of the old Cathedral; and the room itself told much of hisbrother's daily life, in his own little section of it. The deepwindow-seat and old oak chest were loaded with piles of Punch, sheets of music, school-books, and grotesque sketches; bat, hockey-stick, and fishing-rod were in the corner; trencher cap and littleblack gown hung on their peg on the white-washed walls, and pinnedbeside them lists of the week's music, school-work, etc. In thecorner by the press was a little rough deal table, covered with anold white shawl that Clement remembered as his mother's; and on itlay Lance's old brown Bible, the Prayer-book given him by the Bishop, Steps to the Altar, and Ken's Manual; over it hung the photographof his father, and next above, an illumination of Cherry's, 'The joyof the LORD is your strength;' while above was a little print of theGood Shepherd. Nor was it a small testimony to the boy who had beensenior in the room, that Clement found one or two other such littletables, evidently for private prayer. He had never believed suchthings could be out of St. Matthew's, nor where the books were notmore of his own exclusive type than were Lance's; and perhaps therewas some repentance for harsh judgment in his spirit as he knelt onby that little table long after Mr. Harewood, near midnight, had reada few prayers and gone to his house. 

When Clement stood up, his sister made him lie down, as well as hislong legs would permit, on one of the other beds, where he soon fellasleep; while she sat on, where she could see the spire rising aloftinto the pale blue of the summer night's sky, while the perfectstillness was only broken by the quarterly chiming of the clock, re-echoed from its fellow in the town-hall. Every window and door wasopen, but the air was heated and oppressive till the early dewycoolness before dawn crept in, making her bend over Lance to coverhim less slightly. Then she met his eyes, heavy and bloodshot, butwith himself in them. 

'Wilmet, is that you?' he said, in a wondering tone. 

'Yes, here I am, dear Lance. '

'Is it night or morning?'

'Morning. There, it is striking three-quarters past two. '

'Oh!' a long sigh. 'I'm so thirsty!'

She brought some drink; but as he tried to raise his head, thedistressing sickness returned in full force, and in the midst thegasping cry, 'My head, my head!'

'Some more ice, Clem, ' said Wilmet; but Clement looked up from theice-pail in despair, for all was melted; and she could only steephandkerchiefs in the water and in eau-de-cologne, and lay them on thehead, while Clement wondered if he could find a shop; but where wasthe use at three in the morning? and poor Lance rolled round wearily, sighing, 'Oh, I did not know one's head could ache so!'

Just then a step crossed the court, and a low voice said, 'Is heawake? I have brought some more ice. '

'O Jack, thank you!' faintly breathed Lance. 

'Thank you!' fervently added Wilmet; 'we did not know what to do forsome more!'

'I thought you must want some by this time. I have a little ice-machine for Indian use, ' he added, as Clement looked at him like asort of wizard. 

He was small, sandy, and freckled after the Harewood fashion, and wasbesides dried up by Eastern suns, but one who brought such succourcould not fail to be half celestial in the sister's eyes; and as hesaid, 'You are getting better, ' her response was fervent in itsquietness, though poor Lance, conscious only of oppression andsuffering, merely replied with a groan, and seemed to be dozing againinto torpor in the relief the ice had given. 

Clement and Captain Harewood besought Wilmet to rest--the latterdeclaring himself to be too much of an East Indian to sleep at dawn;and she consented to lie down in the little room, where she hadenough of wakeful slumber to strengthen her for the heat of the day, when the fever ran high, and all the most trying symptoms returned. 

The doctor continued to forbid despondency, building much on thelucid interval in the cool of the morning, and ascribing much of theexcitement of brain to the excessive, almost despairing, study thatLance had been attempting in the last weeks before the examination. There had, too, been a concert given by one of the great ladies ofthe Close, for which there had been a good deal of practice, harassedby certain amateur humours, and the constant repetition of one poorlittle shallow song in the delirious murmur greatly pained thePrecentor, and made him indulge in murmurs that boded ill to theladies' chances with the choir-boys. The sultry weather was likewisea great enemy, and could hardly be mitigated by the continual fanningkept up chiefly by poor Bill Harewood, who seemed to have no comfortexcept in working the fan till he was ready to drop, and his brotheror Clement took it from him. 

Mrs. Harewood was quite knocked up, and her daughters were curiouslyinefficient people. Their father came and went all day; but theserviceable person was the engineer, with his experience of sun-strokes, his devices for coolness, and his cheerful words, stillingthe torrent of rambling restlessness, so that Wilmet depended uponhim as much as on the doctor himself. 

On Saturday, the third day of the fever, which had rather increasedthan diminished, Wilmet begged Clement to go home for the night, tocarry a report to the sisters, and fetch some things she wanted. Helingered, grieving and reluctant; while the heated atmosphere waslike a solid weight on the sufferer, who lay, now and then murmuringsome distressed phrase, as though labouring with some forgotten task;and Wilmet shunned touching the pulse again lest the reckoning shouldbe higher than the last, and strove to construct a message conveyingthe hope that seemed to faint in the burthen of the day, insisting, above all, that guarded accounts should be sent to Felix, keepingcarefully to Dr. Manby's report. 

'I can be here before nine, ' said Clement; 'I wish I could helpgoing. I feel as if something must happen!'

'A thunderstorm, ' said Captain Harewood in a reproving voice, as heplied the fan, with heat-drops on his brow; 'a thunderstorm, whichwill prove the best doctor. Take care, you will miss the train. '

Clement stooped to kiss the unconscious face, as though he had neverprized his little brother before, and as some association of thetouch of the lips awoke the murmur, 'Mamma, Mamma!' he sped away witheyes full of tears. 

Before he could have reached the station, the storm was coming--greatrounded masses of cloud, with silver-foamed edges and red luridcaverns, began to climb slowly up the sky, distant grumbles ofthunder came gradually nearer, a few fitful gusts of wind came likesirocco, adding to the stifling heat, and were followed by exceedingstillness, broken by the first few big drops of rain, the visibleflashes, and the nearer peals of thunder, till a sudden glare andboom overhead startled Lance into a frightened bewildered state, thatso occupied Wilmet that she hardly heard the roaring, pattering hail-drops on the roofs and pavements; but when a sweet fresh wind blewaway the hail, the weary head was more at rest, the slumber moretranquil, the breathing freer and softer than it had been since thatWednesday. 

Some two hours later she saw him looking at her with a sort ofperplexed smile and the first words upon his tongue were, 'Is Billfirst?'

'Nothing is settled till the Bishop comes home, ' Captain Harewoodanswered. 

'What time is it?' then asked Lance. 

'Half-past eight. '

'It seems always half dark, said the boy, dreamily, 'and yet there'sno curfew. '

'They have been so kind as not to ring the bells, ' said Wilmet. 

'Not ring the bells!' repeated Lance, in a feeble voice of amazement. 

'No, nor play the organ, ' said Wilmet; 'you have had to be so quiet, you know. '

'No organ! and for me!' repeated Lance, impressed almost as if the'unchanging sun his daily course' had 'refused to run;' but it ratherfrightened him, for he added, 'Am I very ill, then?'

'Not now, I hope, ' said Wilmet, tenderly, and possessing herself ofhis wrist; 'you are so much better to-night. '

He looked wistfully into her face. 'What's the matter with me?' hesaid. 'What does make my head go on in this dreadful way?'

'Dear Lance! It was that running in the hot sun. '

'Oh!' (a sort of sigh of discovery) 'I hope he had the verses. '

'Yes, indeed you gave them. '

'Then he must be first, ' said Lance; and then, as his thankful nurseswere preparing to give him some nourishment, he spoke again. 'Mettie, please come here;' and as she bent over him, 'is this being veryill?--like dying, I mean. '

'Not now, dearest, ' said Wilmet, kissing him. 'You must be throughwith the worst, thank God. '

He asked no more, for his voice was low and faint, the pain anddizziness still considerable; and the being fed without raisinghimself occupied him till the doctor came for his evening visit, andconfirmed the sister's comfort in his improvement. She sat gazing ashe fell asleep again, till Captain Harewood reminded her that herletter to Ewmouth must be sent before the mail closed. She turned tothe window, where still lay her anxiously-worded bulletin, not yetclosed; but as she took the pen, the blinding tears fell thick andsoft as the summer rain outside. 

'This will be a happy ending, ' said John Harewood, as he saw hersilently striving to clear her sight. 

'Would you be so very kind as to write it for me?' she answered, pointing to the paper, with a lovely smile through her tears. 'Hewill believe it all the more. '

And as he took the pen, she retreated in quiet swiftness to herlittle room; but came back as he finished the few freshly hopefullines; then going to the door with him, looked up with the same sweettremulous smile. 'Thank you! What thankfulness it is! What a mercifulrain this is! If you knew the relief it is to send this report toFelix! You cannot guess what this dear little fellow is to him. '

'I think I can, a little, ' said John Harewood, with his heart in hisvoice; and Wilmet smiled again, her stately but usually rather severebeauty wonderfully softened and sweetened by emotion. 

The improvement continued when Clement arrived on the Sunday morning;and though fevered, confused, and beset by odd fancies, especiallyabout the silence of the Cathedral, Lance knew his brother, smiled athim, and returned his greeting. Clement had a more cheerful task thanusual in what seemed to be his day's work--answering inquiries at thedoor, and taking in presents of fruit. All the Chapter and half thetown seemed to call, or send, at least once a day; and little boysused to hang about the court, too shy to come to the door, butwaiting to collect tidings from the attendants, and mutually usingstrong measures upon one another when either was betrayed into noise. 

Clement called his sister aside to ask whether she could spare him, since she had the help of the matron and the Harewoods. 'I should bevery glad to stay, ' he averred, 'but somebody is really wanted athome. '

Wilmet had not been so much accustomed to consider Clement in thelight of 'somebody, ' as greatly to care whether he went or stayed, and only said, 'I can get on very well. No one is of so much use asCaptain Harewood. '

'Just so, ' said Clement; 'and I think I am doing more good at home. Imagine my finding all the windows open in that pouring rain, andCherry sitting shivering. '

'Very foolish of Cherry, ' said Wilmet. 

'Poor Cherry! she could not help herself, and was only thankful whenI had the courage to shut them in Alda's face. Then they don't knowwhat to do with Theodore. '

'Poor Tedo--that's the worst of it!'

'You see he is used to a man's hand and voice. He is very good withme, but Sibby has had dreadful work with him every night till I camehome. And, Wilmet, couldn't you send a message who is to be mistresswhile you are away?'

'Alda, of course. '

'Alda doesn't seem to understand, and she will not let Cherry tellher. '

'Cherry always does bother Alda. I can't help it, Clem, they must rubon somehow and if you can make Theodore happy, the rest does not somuch signify. '

Not signify! Clement did not know whether he was standing on his heador his heels, and never guessed that not only was she too muchabsorbed in the present thoroughly to realise the absent, but thatshe would not venture to send orders based on his report, which inher secret soul she qualified by his love of importance andinterference. However, he went away, and was not seen again all theensuing week--the early part of which was very trying, for the feverrecurred regularly about noon and midnight, and always broughtrambling, which since that conversation with Wilmet, had taken theturn of talking about being buried in a surplice, and of continuallyrecurring to the 134th Psalm, which, it was now remembered, Lance hadshortly before taken part in, over the grave of an old lay-vicar, who, boy and man, had served the Cathedral for nearly sixty years. Often, too, the poor little fellow seemed struggling with some senseof demerit--whether positive disgrace, or suspicion, or the generalChristian feeling of unworthiness, Wilmet and John Harewood couldnever make out; and they did not choose to speak of these wanderingseither to Will or to Mr. Beccles. In the intervals of consciousness, the thought of danger and death seemed to be lost in the weakness ofexhaustion, and the dread of whatever brought back the pain, fromwhich there was no respite except in cool air and perfect quiet. Theleast movement intensified it, and brought on the sickness thatshowed the brain to be still affected; and still worse was anyendeavour to attend to the shortest and simplest devotions, when Mr. Harewood attempted them. Yet all the time there was amendment; thefever was every day less severe, the intervals longer, the sleepcalmer, the doctor more securely hopeful; and by the end of a weekfrom the time of the accident, recovery was beginning sensibly to setin. 

Clement, meanwhile, did not appear; nor was he seen till the ensuingMonday, when he stood on the threshold of the open door at theBailey, bewildered at the emptiness of the bed where he had last seenhis brother--till a weak voice said, 'Here, Clem, ' and he saw onanother of the little old beds a small figure, in a loose soft whitesilk Indian robe de chambre, the face shrunken into nothing butoverhanging brow and purple haloed eyes, though the eyes themselveswere smiling welcome in all their native blueness and clearness, andtwo thin white hands were held out. 

'Out of bed, Lance! That is getting on!'

'Yes. They thought I should be cooler, and sleep better for it. '

'And are you all alone?' said Clement, hanging over him. 

'The maids are about somewhere. Wilmet is gone to the Cathedral, while Jack got me up. '

'Then you must be a great deal better. '

'Oh yes; I haven't had any of that horrid fever since Friday. '

'And the pain?'

'Better, if I lie quite still and it is not hot, but I couldn't standa bit when I tried. I hardly know how Jack carried me here. '

'You are little and light enough, ' said Clement; 'but I'll help tocarry you back. I am sorry not to have been here more, Lance, but Iwas so much wanted at home. '

'Thank you, I didn't want any one. Jack is such a fellow; and Wilmet---somehow, Clem, I never seem to have cared enough about W. W. '

'Nor I, till I saw what home is like without her, ' murmured Clement. 

'And isn't she beautiful, too?' added Lance; 'it is quite nice to lieand look at her at work. Don't you think her much better looking thanAlda?'

'If handsome is that handsome does, ' said Clement. 'You wouldn't likeme to stay with you instead of Mettie, old chap?'

The helplessly alarmed look of illness came into Lance's eyes. 'Ohno, no; I couldn't spare Wilmet yet. She doesn't want to go?'

'No; I have said nothing to her; but Cherry is not well, andeverything is at sixes and sevens; but there, never mind, ' as thetears started into the sick boy's eyes, 'we'll manage; I should nothave said anything about it. '

'Please don't, ' said Lance. 'If she ought to go, let her, and don'ttell me. I can't help it, Clem; I'm afraid to think if it ought tobe, or I should make my head rage, and I should begin to talknonsense again, and that s worst of all. '

'Do you know when you are talking nonsense?' said Clement, surprised, and eager to lead off from the subject he felt he ought not to havebroached. 

'Oh, yes, I know that it is not the right thing, and the right thingwon't come; and the worst of it is, ' lowering his already feeblevoice, 'saving one's prayers is hardest of all; I can't remember whatI know best. I couldn't so much as go through the Magnificat if youwere to shoot me. '

'But holloa! They don't generally come out of the Cathedral this way, do they?'

'Who?'

'The Bishop! Ay, and the Dean! Speaking to Wilmet. I believe they arecoming here. Lie still, Lance. '

'I must, ' he acquiesced, after half raising himself and falling back. 'Oh, can it be about the prize? Some of that stuff on my forehead, please, Clem. '

Wilmet came in first, ascertained that all was ready, put anarranging touch to Lance's pillows, and ushered in the twodignitaries, who shook his languid hand, and asked after him kindly. 

'You have put the Chapter into great difficulties by disablingyourself and Harewood, ' said the Bishop. 'What! did you not know thatthe poor fellow entirely broke down?' as the eager eyes inquired. 

'Nobody would tell me anything about it, ' said Lance. 

'It could not be helped, ' continued the Bishop, 'but the examinerssaid they felt it a great cruelty when they saw how utterly astraydistress rendered him. However, his papers and yours were both sogood--his verses especially, and your arithmetic--that it wasimpossible to reject them, so the decision was put off till my returnon Saturday. '

'We think, ' said the Dean, who was very old, very gentle, and veryslow of speech--'we think, my little fellow, that though there is nodoubt that Shapcote did best in the examination, and ought to havethe exhibition, yet under the peculiar circumstances, you andHarewood can be retained as choir scholars for another year, so as totry again. You don't look sixteen, I'm sure, and we should be sorryto lose your voice. '

'I'm only just turned sixteen, ' said Lance, 'only on the 14th ofJune. Thank you, sir;--thank you, my Lord;' and his face beamed joy, though his words faltered. 

'Moreover, ' proceeded the Bishop, 'I have the greatest pleasure ingiving the good-conduct prize where, so far as I am able to judge, ithas been well deserved. '

A perilous flush of joy overspread the pale face; he started up onhis elbows, and his eyes danced rapture, as some one at the doorhanded in the beautiful red morocco quarto of the Cathedral music;and the Bishop, with a fatherly hand making him lie down again, laidthe book beside him, as he gasped out something like thanks. 

'We are quite convinced that you have deserved it, ' repeated theDean, again shaking hands with him, and then taking leave; but theBishop remained, talking kindly to Clement about Cambridge, andinquiring for Felix; while Wilmet helped Lance's feeble fingers toturn the thick creamy pages on which he durst not fix his eyes. 

Presently the Bishop sat down again, and said, 'I have acted on myown judgment in giving you this, my boy. I have seen enough of ourchoir these six years to know that what caused so much displeasurewas certainly not to be laid to your charge. '

Lance made an uneasy movement, became alarmingly red, and said in achoked voice, 'I don't know but what it might, my Lord. '

'You mean that you knew of this custom of getting out at nightthrough the Cathedral!'

'Yes, my Lord; I found out the way. '

There was a silence. 

Then the Bishop said, 'After this, I can only leave it to your ownconscience whether you ought to keep this book; but I think you woulddo wisely to let me know, remembering that I have no authority in theschool. '

Lance brightened, and he answered, 'My Lord, I did get out once, butonly once, and I don't think I did wrong. It was a long time ago--inthe autumn. '

'Last autumn! Was it not then that there was a report of a choristerin his shirt sleeves being seen at the Green Man at eleven o'clock atnight?'

'That was I, my Lord. '

Clement was ready to start forward, under the impression that Lancewas talking his 'nonsense;' but the Bishop said, 'You were named, butnobody believed it for a moment. '

'One of our little fellows was very ill, my Lord, ' said Lance, excitement restoring something of his natural briskness. 'We thoughthe was going to have the cholera, and I went to get something forhim. The chemists' shops were shut, so I went in there. '

'May I ask the question, ' said the Bishop, rather as if taking aliberty, 'why did you not call up Mr. Stokes?'

'We couldn't, my Lord, for it was all Mr. Shapcote's swans' eggs. Hecaught them--three of our least fellows, I mean--jumping at thebranches that hung over the river wall, and he blackguar--abused themso that they got into a rage and vowed he shouldn't have a plum lefton the tree. We seniors knew nothing about it; but they got over thewall at dark, and one ate eighty-five and the other eighty-one; but, little Dick--one of them, I mean--could only get down nineteen, andbrought the rest in his pockets. It was the first time such a thinghad happened, and it put me in a proper rage. The little one was theone I found out first; and I thought he was sulky, so I licked himtill he howled, so that I was afraid I'd done him some dreadful harm, like a regular brute; and when I found it was his inside instead ofhis outside, I was so glad, I could have done anything for him. Butwe couldn't call Stokes, or the poor little chap would have sufferedfor it three times over. '

'That would have been hard measure! And did your remedy succeed?'

'Yes; I think a good deal was fright. He went to sleep on the brandy, and was all right next day. '

'And the gentlemen with 'the eighty-five and eighty-one suffered noinconvenience, of course!' said his Lordship, much amused. 'May Ihear how you got out?'

'With Mr. Harewood's key, ' said Lance. 'He used to keep it on a nailinside the study door, which opens into the passage leading into thiscourt, and is never locked. '

'That is the key of the Cathedral library. '

'Yes, my lord; it unlocks the outer door, and the door into the northtransept. '

'And after that--'

'You can shoot the bolt on the inside of the little side-door at thewest front, and climb over the railing. '

'Boys are animals not to be kept in, that is certain! So you werepioneer! But you had nothing to do with those cards?'

'No, my Lord. But I ought not to have told how I got out, for therewere some who would do it afterwards. However, those cards were noneof ours. '

'Whose were they!'

'Walter Shapcote's, my Lord. He is gone now, so it does not signify. '

'That nephew Mr. Shapcote had in his office?'

'Yes, my Lord; he had got the command of poor Gus, because he hadlent him money for some debt that Gus was afraid to let his fatherknow of, and made him get the key, and let him out and in. '

'You all knew of this?'

'Yes, my Lord; but poor Gus was sure that his father would be sodreadful, that we durst not let out a word. Mr. Shapcote makes everysoul afraid of him. '

'The young man is gone?'

'Yes, my Lord, to London. '

'And there is no danger of the like with Gus?'

'Oh no, my Lord. He's too like a sheep! and now his debt is paid--after the last concert--he's sure not to get into the same scrapeagain. '

'Thank you very sincerely, ' said the Bishop. 'It is a great relief tome to know all this; and it is safe with me. I am only afraid I havemade you talk more than is good for you. '

'And may I keep this, my Lord?' he wistfully asked. 

'Indeed you may, my dear boy. If you have transgressed the letter ofdiscipline, you have kept the spirit of charity. I am glad to keepyou, as well as your voice. But I have tired you out. '

And laying a hand of blessing on his brow, the Bishop took leave, Wilmet going to the door with him, to answer his fears that theinterview had been too much for her patient, with assurances that therelief and gratification must do good in the end. 

He told her that the threat of the withholding of the prize had notbeen made by his authority, and that he had much regretted it. Justas the tidings of the sun-stroke and its cause had reached him, hehad been with Mr. Nixon, the former Precentor, who had spoken warmlyof Lance, saying that the whole tone of the boys had improved sincehis coming, though he was too much of a pickle ever to get thecredit. Wilmet's pleasure was great; but before she could get back, Lance was nervously calling for her. The excitement was still great, his head was aching violently, and yet he could not leave off eagertalking, which, as feverishness came on, began to degenerate intosuch rambling as terribly frightened Clement lest a relapse should becoming on. He wanted to hurry off to the doctor at once; but Wilmet, well knowing he would not be at home, repressed him, and quietly saidshe had some draughts ready, and knew what to do. While she was outof sight, preparing them, a great alarm came over the patient lestshe should have left him; and all the rest of those noonday hourswere spent in a continual restless desire to keep her in view, holdher hand, and elicit her assurances that she was not going home, norgoing to leave him--no, not on any account. The very presence of hisbrother seemed to increase the uneasiness; and in the deepesthumiliation and despair, Clement allowed himself to be invited awayby Captain Harewood to see the process of ice-making, and be so farcomforted that the Bishop's visit was probably far more likely tohave done the mischief than his own rash suggestion, and that therewas no reason to fear it would last many hours. In fact, Lance wasrecovering favourably, and had had few drawbacks. 'So I telleverybody, ' said John Harewood, 'especially poor Bill, who is stillready to break his heart every time Lance has a headache, and wouldchatter him to death when he is better. And that's the way with themall! There seems no one that can be tender and reasonable both atonce, except your sister. '

Clement did full justice to that tenderness, when, out of sighthimself, he had watched Wilmet's soothing firmness and patientreassuring softness, at last calming the feverish agitation into asleep, which he was allowed to see for himself was gentle andwholesome. Only then--towards four o'clock--could Captain Harewoodpersuade her to let him keep guard, while she went to take the foodthat had been long waiting for her, and over which she could hearClement's penitent explanation of his own unlucky proposal. 

'I thought he seemed so well--able to get up and all; and they dothink me a good nurse at St. Matthew's. I nursed Fred Somers almostentirely when he had the scarlet fever. ' (Wilmet looked as if shepitied St. Matthew's. ) 'But of course I see now that it is out of thequestion. '

'Entirely so, ' said Wilmet, too kind to remind him of thequalifications he had evinced. 

'And you cannot guess when he can come home?'

'Not in the least. Even if he could be moved, think of the noisinessof our house!'

Clement groaned. 'It was very wrong in me to speak to him before you, Wilmet, ' he said; 'but I should be thankful if you could tell me whatis to be done! Cherry was thoroughly chilled that evening of thethunderstorm, and has been very poorly ever since. '

'She always feels changes of weather. '

'That's what Alda tells you. She won't believe there is anything thematter; but poor Cherry has had rheumatic pain all over her, and herbad ankle seems to have a bit of bone coming out. Sibby thinks so. Now, ought she not to have her doctor?'

'Well! if--I wish I could be quite sure! It is such an unlucky thingthat she has that dislike to Mr. Rugg. '

'Wilmet! You are as bad as Alda!'

'Clement, ' she answered gently, 'you do not know what it is to haveto reckon the expense. There is Felix's journey; and what thisillness may cost, I cannot guess; and now Cherry! It is not that Igrudge it; but I don't see what is to become of any of us if we spendunnecessarily--or necessarily either, for that matter. '

'I thought her doctor didn't charge. '

'He did not when she was at St. Faith's, but at home it is adifferent thing; but, of course, if it be really needful it cannot behelped. '

'And you couldn't come home and see--even for one hour?'

'Not yet, most certainly. '

'I think I had better write to Sister Constance!'

'If you really do find it impossible to get on, and Cherry is morethan just ailing, and--and fractious' (the word came out at last); 'Idon't like always calling for help, it seems presuming on kindness, and Robina will be helpful when she comes home; but no doubt Aldadoes not know what to do, ' she added, in a deliberating tone. 

'Then you authorise me?'

'I don't know what you mean by authorising. '

'Only that Alda will neither do anything herself, nor let any oneelse do it. '

'Poor Alda! It is a hard time for her, and she is not used to it. Iam afraid she is out of her element among you all. Don't be vexed, Clem; you all ought to make allowances for her. '

'I make allowances from morning to night, ' said Clement. 'I wonderhow many Travis will have to make!'

Wilmet had finished her hasty meal, and wanted to get back to herpatient, so she only protested by a reproving look and shake of thehead; while Clement stood disconcerted, but less surprised than if hehad not been familiar with the part of the family Cassandra. 

CHAPTER XVIII

BY THE RIVER

'And Lancelot look'd, and was perplext in mind; And being weak in body, said no more. ' TENNYSON. 

It was a lovely afternoon, and the sun shone outside the greentracery of a hornbeam alley in the Deanery garden, leading from thecloister to the river. Here lay Lancelot, on the long cushion of asofa, while Wilmet sat stitching at the last of the set of collarsthat would always bring so many recollections. For this was aSaturday afternoon, and on the Monday Lance was to go to Ewmouth tojoin Felix, who was to have his holiday extended another month onthat account. Alda, who had had a quarter's allowance from her uncle, had made this possible; and Wilmet was doubly gratified by its havingbeen her twin's gift and thought. 

Wilmet would of course go home, and she found herself almostregretting the close of a time that had of late been very pleasant. She had not felt, as Geraldine would have done, the romance of livingin the old monastic buildings, in the calm shadow of the grand oldminster; yet something of the soothing of the great solemn quietrested upon the spirit that had--since six years old--never knownfreedom from responsibility, and--since fifteen--had borne theburthen of household economies and of school teaching. It was astrange novelty to have meals provided without care of her own, noshortcomings of servants to make up, no claimant for her attentionsave a solitary patient, and that one with Lance's temper. Wilmet hadundergone a good deal from Alda's clashes with the rest, even Felix'swas only a temper well in hand, and alternate fretfulness andpenitence were regarded by her as part and parcel of Geraldine'sailments; so that it was almost a surprise that her presentconvalescent never visited his discomforts upon her, but was alwayspatient and good-humoured, smiling whenever he could, like his fatherbefore him, as if, according to the pretty Spanish saying, the sunhad shone on his cradle at his birth. His unselfish nature had madehim a little uneasy when with cooler senses he remembered Clement'shint, while love and instinct alike made him feel utterly unable todispense with his motherly sister, but when she had assured him thatnothing could make him leave him as yet, and when Sister Constancewas known to be at Bexley, he threw it from his mind, and wasperfectly happy and contented. 

He could still exert no attention, could neither read nor be read to, nor occupy himself in any way; but he was amused by talk around him, and companionship was never lacking. Wilmet, whose forte had neverbeen conversation, found herself in a stream of small talk withinquiring friends of all degrees in the hierarchy; but was most ather ease when the female Harewoods were prattling good-humouredinconsequent chatter. Willie lying on the grass murmuring with Lance, or John lured into stories of Indian surveying adventures in thecause of the Ordnance Map. And when she was carried off to have hermeals with the family, she had put herself so entirely at the mercyof circumstances, that she never seemed scandalised by their crazyunpunctuality, their wonderful free and easy ways, and customs ofputting things to every use but the right, did not censure Grace orLucy for dawdling and gossiping whole mornings away, and took itnaturally when their mother inquired after her eldest brother by thealternate names of Festus and Frank, and when she mentioned Lance'sdisaster as his coup d'etat. And here was the last of these pleasantafternoons, full of still sweet sounds, midsummer hum above, the softripple of the water close by, the cawing of the rooks in the Close--all such peace, that her heart quailed as she looked forward to thedin of the High Street at Bexley, and she strangled a sigh half wayup her throat. 

The click of the cloister door was heard, and Lance awoke from adoze, saying, 'Is that Bill?--You've not been here since morning, youvagabone. '

'See what I've got for you, ' said Bill. 'What do you say for that, now?'

For Lance, with sparkling eyes, was rising to his feet. 'Hurrah!Robin herself! O Robin a Bobbin, isn't this jolly?' and Robina wasentangled in that wonderful embrace peculiar to their own two selves, too ecstatic for a word between them, though as she received hersister's kiss, she spoke rather pleadingly--'Cherry and SisterConstance said I might, Wilmet; and Mrs. Harewood was so very kind asto send Willie to fetch me to spend Sunday. Do you mind, Wilmet?'

'Mind! Of course she doesn't, ' said Lance. 'I was hungry to see you, Bob. '

'It was very kind in Mrs. Harewood, ' said Wilmet. 'I must go andthank her. Only, first, how is Cherry?'

'Much better. She has been out for a drive with Mr. Froggatt. It willbe all right now you are coming home, Mettie! Oh! and Dr. Lee isdelighted to hear of Lance's going to Ewmouth to make Felix staylonger there. Oh! if ever anything was so delightful as this place!only I must see your prize, Lancey. '

As the two children linked their arms round one another's waists towalk along the alley, all-sufficient to one another, maybe there shota little pang across Wilmet's breast. No one had raptures for her. She was Felix's housekeeper, and represented mother to all; but sinceAlda had been taken from her, she had ceased to be any one's perfectequal and delight. She might be valued, but only like air, or bread, or any other necessary of life, but she was foremost with no one. Lance had been everything to her, and she to Lance, for full fourweeks; but she should never awaken the look on his face she had seenfor Robin. Such thoughts as these had never troubled her before; ithad been quite enough to know herself indispensable to all, and therewas no time for sentiment; but this strange time of nursing hadinspired a new sensation of yearning, a softness and melancholy, thatshe strove against vainly as weak and unnatural. 

The change had not been unperceived by Lance; for as his littlesister, looking at his sunken cheeks, and feeling his thin bony hand, poured out her pity, he answered, 'I've had rather a jolly time of itof late; Mettie is so delicious, you can't think how her very voiceand eyes seemed to do me good. I'm sure that the bella-donna lily, cold hard painted thing, was a mistake; she must have been somethingmuch sweeter. What do you think of a honeysuckle? That's bright redand white, and its leaves come out when nothing else does. '

'But it trails about, and doesn't stand alone. '

'It has got a good stout hard stem, that can make a bush of its ownwhen it hasn't anything to twine upon. I say, Robin, that's just whatyou women-folk should be, always ready to twine, and yet able tostick up for yourselves when you've got nothing to hang upon. '

'Well, if Wilmet was the honeysuckle, I'm sure Alda wasn't. O Lance, it has been so horrid coming home without any one I wanted, and allso queer and uncomfortable. I would as soon have been at school, orsooner, for there I had home to think about. '

'The last holidays weren't first-rate, ' said Lance. 

'No; but then I'd got you!'

'I wish Dr. Manby would prescribe you to come with me, ' said Lance. 

'It's something to have this little sight! And here! I wanted to givethis back, Lance. '

'Ah!' as he took the key of the violin-case, 'We'll take a look ather, Robin, to see if she's quite well; but I couldn't make herspeak, it would be like sticking daggers through my head. '

'Poor little key! I looked at it so often when you were so bad, andgrieved to think you had missed all that pleasure. Only it was acomfort to know you had been so good about it. '

'I am glad you took it, Robin; I know I should have grown idle if Ihad had it. Depend on it, 'twas that gave me this year of grace andthe Bishop's prize. '

'Oh! come and show me that! I hope it is not packed up. '

'No; I wanted to take it to show Felix, but Mettie says it is toobig, and would come to grief. What prizes have you, Robin?'

'Three. General good marks, catechism, and history--beautiful books. '

'Then the avenging harpies have forgiven you?'

'Pretty well; and they were very kind when you were ill, and thegirls are much nicer; I am glad we stayed on, except for Angel'ssake. Do you know, Lance, I really am afraid she is going in fornaughtiness. '

'Give a dog an ill name--' quoted Lance. 'Is that it?'

'I do believe it is that! She is such a Tom-boy! Fancy! Oneafternoon, there was an awful uproar, and her class were all foundplaying at races, some riding astride with handkerchiefs round theforms, which they had named after the real horses; and the otherspretending to bet on them, with their books in their hands, shoutingout at the top of their voices. '

'Go it, Angel, ' said Lance, laughing; 'that's the way Clem's sistersimprove the tone of the school. '

Robina still looked distressed, but that was soon forgotten invisiting Lance's quarters, and admiring his books, peepingrespectfully at his silent violin, and being lionised as far as hisstrength would permit. They were hand in hand the whole evening, tillbe was sent to bed, and his sisters were claimed by the Harewoods. 

The Cathedral was resuming its usual voices on the Sunday morning, and when the early bell brought Wilmet from her room, she found Lanceup and dressed, his little black gown on, and his trencher cap in hishand. 

'That's nice!' he said in admiration, as she advanced in her freshwhite pique and blue ribbons. 'O Mettie, I'm so glad this isn't mylast time here!' and he added, as she bent over him and kissed him, not quite able to speak, 'Please, Mettie, I beg your pardon for allthe times I have been tiresome or cross. '

'My dear little boy--' She broke down, and finished with anotherkiss, for Robina was at hand, shy in her thankfulness, and clingingto Lance's hand; but as Will Harewood followed, grave and subdued, Lance went up to him, and put his arm into his. Mr. Harewood, theCaptain, and Lucy, were all likewise there; but the greetings weresilent, and then Mr. Harewood led them all through the library, andwas followed by the two boys to the sacristy; for though thecelebration was not choral, all those of the choir who were presentwere always robed. Wilmet hardly liked not to keep her boy besideher, but she could not be sorry when she saw the two friends oncemore heading the little procession together; and with such happygrave faces, though so different: one broad, ruddy, sandy; the otherfair, wasted, delicate, the hollow cheeks scarcely more coloured thanthe white linen, and yet with a pure fresh air of bright hope andrecovery. 

The Cathedral was nobly and calmly beautiful in the summer morning;the sunbeams high up in the slender brilliant windows that crownedthe east, and the voice sounding low and solemn in the distance atthe Altar. To Wilmet and Robina it was a great deal more than thejoyous festival they had last shared in there, even though then theyhad exulted in their brother's jubilant notes; and now he scarcelybreathed a faint response, left his book unopened, and knelt in thedreamy passiveness of one incapable of actions of the mind, but toosimply happy and thankful to doubt of his welcome. In his place, Clement would have distressed himself and his advisers over thisinability to perform his usual mental exercises of devotion; butLance never seemed to question but that he ought to lay himselfbefore the Altar in thankfulness as soon as he was able, as certainof being welcomed there, as by the kind hands that shook his in thesacristy. 

He came to breakfast afterwards at the Harewoods', to put an end tohis invalid ways; but the clatter soon was too much for him; and hespent the chief part of the day lying on his bed, able now to followdreamily the echoes from the minster, the full glories of which hissisters were enjoying. There was afterwards a rush of his choir matesto shake hands with him; and little Dick Graeme, a delicate, sallow, black-eyed boy, in whom Wilmet believed she recognised the hero ofthe swans' eggs, could not be got rid of the whole day. He lived at afarm three miles off, and had been sent in to take his part on theSunday; indeed, he had often been at the door to inquire, but hadonly been allowed momentary glimpses of Lance, whom he followed aboutlike a little dog, till at last, late in the evening, the proposalwas started of walking him down to the river, along which lay thepath leading to his home. 

It was a charming summer evening when they set forth; the threeUnderwoods, the two Harewood brothers, and little Graeme, slowlymoving along, Robina in ecstasies with the loose-strife and forget-me-nots, and the boys absorbed in fish and water-rats, till Bill, holding Robin a little back, pointed to a pollard, and told her in alow hoarse voice, 'That was where I left those verses. '

'There!' Robina tried to measure with her eye the distance, whichlooked immense for such a run. She could not speak; but little Dickturned--

'Ay, 'twas a jolly run in the time. Spyers and I tried it, and bothgot blown; but nobody runs like Underwood. '

'Well, it does look a goodish distance, ' said Lance. 'And Robin, doyou know, it all came of this fellow being too good a poet. Hethought it was the Tiber, you know. '

'The subject was the Tiber, wasn't it?'

'Ay; and Bill here got to spouting about Horace Cocles till he didn'tknow, nor I either, whether we were heathen Romans or not. It was amercy he didn't go home in Cocles' costume. '

Bill did not laugh. He seemed to forget everything, bystanders andall, and threw his arm round his friend's neck. 'O Lancey, don't saya word more. If you only could guess what--what this month has beenlike to me! And now to see you standing here, like your dear old selfagain! Oh! if I could only--' and he broke off and rushed away behindthe tree, where they heard him sobbing. 

Lance shrugged his shoulders. 'Poor old Bill! he _will_ treat himselfas if he did it on purpose, but he'll be better now he's had it out. But d'ye see, I can't go no farther now. So you, Dick, be off. Sparethe feelings of your dutiful parents, and get home in Christianabletime. '

'I say please, Underwood, may I have the bed by yours next half?'

'That's not as it pleases Underwood, but Mrs. Drake; but look here, Graeme, there's a little brat of a new treble coming into ourdormitory. You stand his friend, and speak to Harewood if Bolt takesto bullying him. '

'But you'll be back?' said the child, his face all consternation. 

'I hope so; but for fear of accidents, you know. Good night, Dick, and thank your mater for those stunning raspberries. '

'That's a good dodge, ' said Will Harewood, emerging, 'to keep thelittle ape from bullying the little one himself. But you will be ableto come back, Lance; 'tis as dull as ditch-water without you. '

'I shall be glad enough to come back, ' said Lance, 'and make the mostof this year. I didn't know how I cared for this place. There'snothing like it!' and he leant against a tree, looking back at theCathedral, where the sunbeams were 'weaving a parting crown' for thetall tower, and the soft grey of the exquisite stone-work of thechapter-house contrasted with the fresh green of the trees, rising upfrom the sparkling river and emerald meadows. Presently he burst out, 'You beautiful old thing, and did you hush your grand glorious oldvoice only for me? I should like to be your own, and to serve you forever!'

The other two felt a little awed at the outburst, and possibly Lancea little ashamed, for he suddenly started from his tree trunk, crying, 'I'm sure we ought to go home. However there are Jack andMettie on beyond ever so far. ' And he elevated his voice in a coo-ee, after what he believed to be Australian fashion; but his weaknessprevailed, and he laughed at his own want of power to shout muchabove his breath. 'You do it, Bill. '

'Not I! Coo-ee indeed? 'Tis coo-coo there, river and moonlight andall. '

At one and the same moment, Lance exclaimed, 'Jack and Mettie!Thunder and ages!' and Robina, 'For shame, Willie!' while thatpersonage cut a caper, at once expressive of affirmation andamusement at their surprise. 

'After all, ' sagaciously observed Lance, 'I'm not so much surprised. I think I've made a pretty good Cupid. '

'You believe it, then?' cried Robina. 

'Bless you, ' affirmed Willie, 'we've been roasting Jack about it forthe last fortnight--only the pater was so awfully afraid of yoursister's hearing it, that he said any one who breathed the ghost of ajoke near her should be shipped off to old Aunt Grace that instant. '

'Well, they have my consent and blessing, ' said Lance. 

'Amen, ' responded his friend. 

'Ho!' continued Lance, 'that's the meaning of old W. W. Being sojolly. I wondered whether it was only that I thought so because I hadnothing to do but to look at her. '

'Oh, you know she is a real true beauty and no mistake, ' said Bill, beginning to feel a personal pride in her; 'there's Miles ravingabout her, and every one runs about saying, "Have you seen littleUnderwood's handsome sister?" Half the folks that came to ask afteryou did it to get a look at her; and if she stayed a week longer, shemight have a dozen offers, only luckily Jack cut in first. '

'Well, I'm glad she is even with Alda, ' was Lance's next sentiment. 

'That's the one that is booked for the Red Indian you converted, ain't it?' asked Bill. 'Fact, Robina; we heard a new fellow wascoming who had converted a Cherokee, and that the Bishop hadchristened him in his war paint and feathers. Mrs. Shapcote sent outinvitations to a missionary tea in honour of him. '

'What, of the Cherokee?'

'No, no, of the little brute of a missionary chap, and we made up ourminds to tar and feather him before he converted us; but long beforewe had found out which of the new trebles was the model Christian, old Shapcote had caught us two pitching into one another, because Isaid Bexley was a snobbish place full of pots and pans. '

'And that founded your friendship?'

'No, not quite, for we had a worse fight because I shut his Bible upin his face when he tried to look over the Lessons in the Cathedral. '

'Why, you all do, ' said Robina. 

'Yes, now; but before Nixon came we were a horrid set of littleruffians. Do you remember, Lance, how Roper offered you a bull's-eyein the Cathedral, and thrashed you afterwards because you wouldn'thave it?'

'O Lance! but that was persecution!' cried Robina. 'Who would havethought you went through things like that?'

'Ay, ' said Bill, 'you believed in the little cherub chorister boys, that sing and look out of their great violet eyes, till they die ofdeclines. '

'Ah!' said Lance, who was leaning on his arm rather wearily, 'Jackwill do for himself if he tells Wilmet her eyes are violet; it islike a red rag to a bull. '

'Yes, ' said Robina, 'she says nobody ever had eyes the colour ofviolets, and they would be hideous if they were. '

'I have seen them, ' said Willie, gravely. 

'Oh! where?' cried Robina. 'Darker blue than Edgar's?'

'It's generally only one at a time. '

'After a cricket match, eh?' suggested Lance. 

'But, depend upon it, ' said Bill, while Robina was recovering herlaughing disgust, 'he may tell her her eyes are any colour he pleasesby this time. '

'How do you know that?' sharply protested Robin; 'as if she wouldcare for him more than for all of us, who can't spare her either!'

'I thought you were thick and plenty up the country?'

'Not of that sort, ' said Lance. 

'I don't believe it, ' insisted Robina; 'why, she had never seen him afew weeks ago; she can't have had time to get to like him. '

'That's your simplicity, ' said Bill. 'Now ain't that oracular--I meanocular--demonstration? There they are, very moral of people makingfools of themselves in books. '

I wish they'd have done with it, then, ' sighed Lance; 'my legs won'thold out much longer. '

'Yes, you must go in, ' said Robin, bringing her sturdy shoulders forhis other arm to rest on. 

'But those two!' said Lance. 'Some one must stay to make itrespectable. Don't laugh, you vagabone, you shake up the marrow of mybones; I'm her brother, and bound to see to her. '

'I'll stay out with Willie if that will make it right, ' said Robina, 'only you must go to bed, and you have to be up so early too. '

So they saw him to the Bailey door, beyond which he declined furtherassistance, saying he could tumble into bed alone, and leaving themto their pleasant task of making propriety. 

It was made after this sort. Bill delivered himself of a deep sigh, and observed, 'Well! if she's done for, I suppose I must take up withyou; and after all, you're the jolliest. '

'I shall never be jolie, like Wilmet, if that's what you mean, 'said Robina, not quite understanding whether it were jest or earnest. 

'Well, if you ain't a regular stunner like her, it doesn't muchmatter. I never did see a face that I liked better than your roundone, and I know I shall like it more and more. Won't you have me, Robina, one of these days?'

'O Willie! oughtn't one to wait till we are old enough to think aboutit?'

'I don't see why. I shall always be thinking I'm working for you, andI don't see why you shouldn't think the same of me. Won't you?' againhe repeated. 'At least, of course I shall do all the work for you. '

'Oh no! I should not like that. I had rather be doing something foryou, Willie. Look here, I am learning all I can now, and when I goout--'

'Go out?'

'For a governess. '

'Murther! I'll hinder that!'

'But, Willie, you can't make a fortune in five years, and I shall goout at eighteen. I think I shall begin the fortune soonest;' and shelaughed merrily. 

'Mother didn't make a fortune. '

'I didn't mean that exactly; but I'm learning all the superiorbranches, and if I got a hundred a year! Think of that, Will! If Iwent on with that till you are a clergyman and have a living, hownice it would be! There would be plenty to give away; and if we werepoor, I would take girls to teach. '

'Do you think I shall ever let you do all the work that way?' saidWill, strong in boyhood's infinite possibilities. 'I don't know howit's to be, but I'll keep you out of slaving, though you're a deargirl to think of it. Any way, Robin, you and I will hold together--always. '

'I am sure I shall never like anybody half so much, ' said Robin. 

'Shall we break a sixpence and keep the halves? That's the thing, ain't it? I believe I've got one--or fourpence, which is all thesame. '

'No, no, ' said Robina, backing; 'I don't think Mettie would like it. It doesn't seem right. '

'But aren't you in earnest. Robin?'

'Oh yes, indeed, indeed I am;' from the depths of a very earnestchildish heart that little knew to what it pledged itself. 

'And so am I! I'll never care for any one else, Robina--never. '

'Nor I, William. Here they come!'

The other two had not got near so far, though Captain Harewood wastalking, and Wilmet listening, as would never have been the casewithout the influence Willie asserted; but the special charm thatenchained Wilmet was entirely unapprehended by her, till just as thefirst star brightened, and the hues faded from the landscape, shebethought her of her patient, and perceived that he had gone in. 'Howlate it must be! I must go and see after him. I hope he is equal tothe journey. '

'I will come and bring you an account of him on my way home, if Imay. '

'Oh, thank you; but it is taxing your goodness too--too much. '

'Cannot you believe how glad I am to have a good excuse?' and thetone gave Wilmet a sudden thrill, so that she answered not; and hecontinued, 'I am going to beg leave to be sometimes at Bexley. '

'When Felix is at home, ' faltered Wilmet. 

'I can hardly afford to wait. My time at home is so short. I shall, Ihope, make friends with him to-morrow, and perhaps you will neitherof you forbid me to come again. I am asking nothing now, onlyopportunity to try to make you--'

'Oh, don't!' hurriedly broke in Wilmet, standing still inconsternation. 

'Nay, ' he said in a pleading voice, 'I know it would be presumptionto think so short an acquaintance could suffice, but you see I haveso little time, and all I want is leave to use it in coming to seeyou. '

'Oh, don't!' she repeated. 'Indeed you had better not. It would beonly pain. I couldn't! and I can't have Felix worried, ' and there wasa startled sob in her voice; but he answered with the strength andsweetness that had upheld her in Lance's most suffering moments. 

'I would not distress you or Felix for more than words can utter! Iwould not have breathed a hint of this most earnest wish of my hearttill you had had some preparation, if it were not so impossibleotherwise to have any chance of being with you and striving--'

'Please, ' entreated Wilmet, 'that is just what should be avoided; itcan never come to anything, and the sooner it is stopped the better. '

'Why should it never come to anything?' he asked, encouraged bydetecting tears in her voice. 

'Because you know--no, you don't know, or you never could think ofsuch a thing--how wrong and impossible it would be for me!'

'No, I don't know. That is what I want to have the opportunity ofknowing. '

'I can tell you before, ' she answered, faintly. 'Oh, if you would buttake my word for it, it would save so much--'

'No, that I cannot do, ' he repeated. 'I must see for myself yourpreciousness at home. '

She broke in again. 'Please, please, I'm saying what I ought not; butit is to hinder distress. Don't want to let us get to like each otherany better, for as yet it can't be more than what could be got over, and it is only making pain to let it grow. '

'That I deny. So far as I am concerned, the thing is done. If youwanted to save me that pain, you should have turned me out the momentI saw you call the boy back to life. A month like this is not soeasily got over. '

Wilmet dropped her head, and made no answer. 

'So, since you see, ' he continued, 'you will spare me nothing byholding me aloof, will you not let me come and gladden myself while Imay in your presence? And then when my time is up it may be morepossible to judge--' (there was a faint 'Oh no, ' but he heeded itnot) '--whether you can bear such an ugly fellow enough to let himlook to the time when home claims may be less pressing. I look for noanswer. I only want to be able to ask for one three months hence, andI shall beg your brother to put it into my power so to do. '

'Ah! but to have Felix disturbed and worried is just what must notbe. It has made him ill already; and if he thought--'

'I promise not to harass him, ' said Captain Harewood, gently. 'Youmay trust me to take care that what I shall say will not cause himany very trying perplexity. '

'If you knew--' sighed Wilmet. 

'I hope to know, ' he replied. 'I do know enough already to be awarethat you stand in no common relation to the rest; and if you have myheart, Wilmet, it must follow that somehow I share in your self-devotion. Do not fear my trying to make you less yourself. I want notto take you away from your burthens, but to share them. '

'Yes, you--that is your goodness; but would it be right in us?' shefaltered. 

'Leave your brother and me to judge of that, ' he said. 

They were already at the Bailey door, in the shadow of the buildings, the flood of moonlight lying on the tower above, and one littlemysterious lamp under the deep brow of the archway of the passage. Nomore passed but one 'good-night' from each, he had not even seen herface, under her shady hat; while she hastened to her little room, glad to ascertain that Lance was fast asleep, and with a rush of newsensations bursting on her, against which she was strengthening allthe dykes of her resolute nature. 'He--he--that it should be he! howgood! how generous! how kind! Oh, it would be so happy! It _will_make me happy that he only just thought of it, but it won't do, it isno use. I'm not in love with him; I won't be, I'm not, I'm not!'

And as ardently as Wilmet had ever prayed for Lance's life and reasonby that little bed, did she beseech not to be tempted to desert herduties; and all night she lay between sleep and waking, everrepeating to herself. 'I'm not in love, I'm not, I'm not!'

CHAPTER XIX

THE HOUSE WITHOUT PILLARS

'And who save she could soothe the boy, Or turn his tears to tears of joy?' SAMUEL ROGERS. 

Lance's train was at six o'clock, and that by which the sisters wereto return to Bexley so little later, that they would await it at thestation, so the household was betimes more or less afoot. There was afrenzied scramble of maids and young ladies in hasty toilette; yetbreakfast was only forthcoming by personal exertion on the part ofthe Captain, who made the coffee, boiled the eggs, and sent hisbrother foraging into the kitchen. Then a message came that mothermust see the sweet girl to bid her good-bye; and Wilmet was draggedup to find the paddy good natured face in bed, in an immense frillednightcap, whence two horn-like curl papers protruded. She was kissed, cried over, and told she was the dearest girl, and Jack the best boy, in the four kingdoms; and while her head was turning round betweendizziness at all that this cordiality implied, and a governess'sconfusion whether these were the four kingdoms of Ireland, orEngland, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, a demand followed for thedarling boy; but when she had gravely told the Captain that hismother wanted him, the result was to send him down laughing. 'No, no, I'm not the only darling boy in the world! 'Tis you, Lance. You knowthe way. '

Between finding her in bed, and being powerfully embraced, Lance'ssense of decorum brought him down with his blanched cheeks so rosyred, that the family were choking with suppressed mirth when theomnibus called for the luggage, and the party set forth to walk tothe station, Lance in a grass hat, enfolded by the Captain's hands inan ample puggery, and provided with a natty blue umbrella, presentedby the Librarian, 'as a shield against the far-darting Apollo. '

'If this had been in my day, ' he said, 'some wit would have produceda neat epigram on Phoebus playing his old tricks out of jealousy ofWill's verses, but dainty feats of scholarship are gone out of date. Well, Patroclus, when we have you back again, I think we shall noneof us mourn over the effects of your generous action. '

Wilmet was near enough to hear, and colour. She had imagined the lastnight's conversation unknown to all; but Underwood reticence was soincapable of guessing at Harewood communicativeness, that it neverentered her brain to suspect the topic of conversation between thethree juniors as they walked up the drowsy street. 

Thanks to the difficulties of getting under weigh from the Harewoodhouse, there was barely time for John and Lance to take their places, while Mr. Harewood got their tickets, and they were whirled off, leaving the others to promenade the platform, just then a completesolitude. 

Mr. Harewood, with the attention of the old school, backed bysomething warmer, gave Wilmet his arm. He and his son John neverseemed to belong to so ramshackle a household as the rest, and he wasso gentle and fatherly, that when Wilmet found him aware of all, itwas a relief to tell her objections without being answered by alover. After all, she could only repeat that leaving home was soimpossible for her, that, as she murmured, 'He had better not get tolike me any more, it would be such a pity for him. '

'That, ' said Mr. Harewood, with his air of old-fashioned gallantry, 'depends on the esteem in which wealth or merit is held. '

'And station, ' said Wilmet, in an undertone. 

'For that, my dear, one would be a fool not to honour you and yourbrother; besides, it may make you more at ease to hear that my fatherwas an apparitor, and I went to Oxford as a servitor, so that inbirth you have the advantage of us. Of course, I do not mean thatevery one does not in the abstract prefer prosperous matches, butJohn has a fair independent competence, and can afford to do as hepleases; and, for my part, I should be very sorry if this were notwhat he pleased. '

'You are so very kind, but surely if--even if--it must be such longwaiting, and you would not like that for him. '

'Let us arrive at the _if_ before we settle about the waiting, ' saidMr. Harewood. 'In truth, I have long looked on John as so much themost sensible person in my house, that all I feel called on to do isto hope for his success. I know both you and he will be wise enoughnot to be either selfish or unselfish in the wrong place. '

Wilmet did not quite understand, but she carried away the convictionthat she need have no scruple as to the parents' cordial approbation;and she had had her cure from yesterday's sense of want of individualaffection. As to the future? Of course it swelled her heart to thinkof such love and generous kindness, but she tried to believe that shewas as much touched by the goodness of the father as by that of theson, and she would be on her guard against herself unless she sawsome reasonable hope that home would ever dispense with her. DearWilmet; would she not at any other time have thought it an outrage tothink of such a possibility? At any rate, she thought, nobody butFelix need ever know. 

Little guessed she, as Robina sat opposite, kept silent by thepresence of two stout old females, that the child was revolving thequestion whether she might tell Cherry. She knew that Wilmet wouldnot like her affairs to be discussed without her own permission; butit seemed unfair that when all the Harewoods were open-mouthed, herown sister should know nothing. After all, much would depend on thechances of a tete-a-tete. 

At the station stood Clement: 'That's right! I thought you would comeby this train. What a comfort! How is Lance?'

'Almost well. How are you getting on?'

'You will soon see for yourself, ' in an ominous tone. 

Just then she was accosted by Mr. Ryder, who was waiting for his owntrain; and after courteous and anxious inquiries, said, 'I wasthinking of writing to your eldest brother, but perhaps a word fromyou would do as well. '

'About Bernard?'

'Why, yes, I don't quite see my way about him. He is a sharp littlefellow, and very well taught; in fact, he can afford to do nothingbut waste time. Somehow, a boy will now and then seem to come intoschool with the wrong foot foremost. '

'Has he fallen in with idle boys?'

'So I fear. I placed him in a form high for his age, but where thelags have got hold of him, and make him think idleness the thing. SoI gather. I conclude he is not to remain here?'

'Do you mean that you wish him to be taken away?' asked Wilmet, inconsternation. 

'No, no; don't understand it in that sense, ' said Mr. Ryder, anxiously. 'I only meant that he is doing no good here, and thatpossibly a change, or the stimulus of preparing for an examination, might rouse him. Good-bye. '

And there Mr. Ryder had to rush off to secure his seat. 

'Oh! good morning, Miss Underwood!' This was from Mr. Mowbray Smith, a few steps beyond the station. 'I am glad to see you back. So yourpatient is gone to join your eldest brother? But we shall have youhere on Sunday? Then there's the less occasion to name it; but somenotice should be taken of the behaviour yesterday evening. '

'It was very sad, ' interposed Clement, 'but when once set off by thechristening, they could not stop themselves. '

'Scarcely a valid excuse, ' said Mr. Smith, severely, as he made hisparting bow. 'You know this was not all. '

Clement shrugged his shoulders, exclaiming, 'So he made that into apersonality! You must know there was an unusually squalling baby, whose godmother went on giving its name as Huggeny; and there was afive minutes' exchange of "What?" on Mr. Smith's side, and Huggeny onhers, till a whisper came all along--forwarded from the mother, Isuppose--"Same as they does their 'air"; and then Mr. Smith lookedmore mystified than ever; some one suggested, "Same as the Empress ofthe French. "'

'Something might be excused on such provocation, ' owned Wilmet, laughing. 

'If that had been all, ' said Clement; 'but Angel and Bernard chooseto go and sit by themselves, and I could see, from Felix's place inthe choir, that they were tittering long after. I shook my head, butNares must needs make up an odious imitation; and Bernard not onlytouches Angel to make her look, but grins impudently at me. I foundmyself growing burning hot with shame, and whenever they looked at metheir heads went down and their shoulders worked. '

'Naughty children, ' said Wilmet, but with more than usual lenience tothe combined effects of Huggeny and of Clement's severe countenancein producing one of those paroxysms of giggle that seem invincible inproportion to their unbecomingness. The door was reached andinstantly opened, Stella springing into her arms in ecstasy. 'Sister's come!--O Sister, Sister, Sister, don't ever go away anymore. '

There was a great deal of confused kissing and embracing as she madeher way upstairs. 'But oh, my Tedo, what has happened?' for shebeheld a fine sample of Bill Harewood's violet eye. 

'It was Bernard's stick went into his eye when we were playing athockey, ' said Stella. 'He did cry terribly, but Sister Constance putsuch nice stuff--'

'Sister Constance! oh, thank you! but hockey in the garden?'

'I thought it rather a remarkable proceeding, ' quietly observed theSister. 

'I must hear more about it, ' said Wilmet. 'My poor dear little man, can't he let Sister go for one instant?--Cherry dear, how are you?'

'All right now you are come. But dear little Lance, how is helooking?'

'Not much worse than you do, my Cherry, ' said Wilmet, as she saw thatthe wizened old fairy look was come back. 'You have been worse than Iknew. '

'Oh, I am all right now; and I have had such a treat of SisterConstance. '

'I want to take her back with me, ' said the Sister. 'Dr. Lee wouldlike to have her under his eye; and if you can spare her, I wouldwrite to-day, and she could go with me to-morrow. '

'It is very kind; it might be better for her. '

'Of course, ' interrupted Alda, 'it is good for any one to be awayfrom this horrid smell of baked earth, and all these riotouschildren. '

'Ah!' said Wilmet; 'didn't I see the shade of the lamp in thelanding-place broken? How was that!'

'Oh! the children, of course, ' said Alda. 

But neither child spoke; and Wilmet perceived that only the twinswere in the room, both hanging upon her, while she swallowed herhurried second breakfast. 

'No one will tell, ' said Clement. 'It was done the day I went over toMinsterham. I did all I could to find out. '

'Yes; and made them more obstinate than before, ' said Alda. 

Another catastrophe here suddenly struck Wilmet, namely, a long andvery badly-mended rent in Stella's spotted pink frock, which, to saythe truth, did not look as if it were Monday morning. 

'Yes, ' said Stella, 'I did try to mend it as well as I could, Sister, but there wasn't another work-a-day frock clean. '

'Your mending!' exclaimed Wilmet; 'but how did you tear it?'

'When I tumbled into the brambles, and was lost. '

'Lost, my dear? What does she mean?'

'It is quite true, ' said Cherry. 'Angela and Bernard took her outfishing to Ball's hatch on Saturday, and lost her, only luckily wedid not know anything about it till she was safe at home again, dearlittle darling!'

'But, Stella, how was it?' cried the horrified Wilmet, clasping herthe closer. 

'I could not bear to see the poor worms, ' said Stella. 'Bear wouldcut them up to stick on his hook, so I got away out of sight of them, and gathered the dear little wild roses and honeysuckles; and when Iwanted to find them again I couldn't, and nobody heard me when Icalled, and a robin looked at me, and I thought he wanted to bury me, and I ran away, and a great bush caught hold of me and scratched mylegs, and tore out a great piece of the rim of my hat; and just thena good lady came by, and helped me up and to look for them, but wecould not see them anywhere; so she took me to her house--such a dearlittle house all over roses--and she mended my hat, and I mended myfrock, and she gave me some tea and plum-cake, and two dear littleponies came to the door, and a carriage, and she brought me home. '

'Who was she?'

'Miss Crabbe; she is new to the place, ' said Cherry. 'Mr. Froggattsaid she had only been once in the shop before. Tell Sister how youtold her about yourself, Stella. '

'She asked my name, ' said the child, 'and she said it was a veryfunny one, and she could not understand it; and then she wanted toknow whose little girl I was, and I said, "Brother Felix's;" and thenshe said, "Have you no papa or mamma?" So I told her I hadn't a papaor mamma, but a father and mother up in heaven, and she said, "Ishould think so, poor little dear, if there is no one to take morecare of you. " I really did think she wanted to take me and keep mefor an adopted child, so I told her that I had lots of dear goodbrothers and sisters that wanted me very much indeed, and I must gohome to H. Froggatt and F. C. Underwood, High Street, Bexley. '

'I fancy, ' said Cherry, 'that she thought Mr. Froggatt was Stella'sgrandfather, for she made him quite a speech about the neglect of thechild--"such a nice-mannered little girl, " she said; but she wouldnot come in, nor let Alda be called. '

'Nor should I have gone down if Mr. Froggatt had thought proper tocall me, ' said Alda. 'Imagine me in his office!'

'I can't imagine not going anywhere to thank the person that broughthome my little Star, ' said Wilmet, holding her arm close round thechild, and kissing her repeatedly. 'But what became of the othertwo?'

'I went out after them, ' said Clement, 'and found them rushing wildlyabout after her, afraid to come home. To do them justice, I believethey were almost out of their minds, thinking she must have tumbledinto the river. '

'Oh, indeed, ' said Alda. 'That's your account of it. '

'Yes, ' said Cherry eagerly, 'all that pretending not to care, andthat it was a trick of Stella's, was nothing but reaction. And then, you know, Clem, you _did_ improve the occasion. '

'There!' exclaimed Alda, ' you see how it is, Wilmet; nothing butvindication of those two intolerable children! Now, just come, Wilmet, and see if they are to be backed up in this. '

But as Wilmet, perfectly bewildered, and feeling no hope ofcomprehension among so many, followed Alda from the room and up thestairs, Stella came plunging after, with a cry, 'Alda, Alda, don'thurt them!' just as from a housemaid's closet half way up, Alda wasbringing to light a basin containing a dozen tadpoles twirling theirshadowy tails. 

'Now, Wilmet, ' she solemnly said, 'do you approve of all those horridbrutes swimming in my bath?'

'They aren't in the well, I hope, ' said Wilmet. 

'How can you be so absurd, Wilmet? That's the way those childrenshowed their sorrow that Clement talks about. I'll never believe buthe helped them. '

'To weep them, ' said a voice above; and Angela's face was seenlooking out of her bush of hair over the balusters of the top storey. 'They _are_ just like black heraldic tears. '

'You don't mean that they put them in?' asked Wilmet. 

'What else should I mean?'

'And didn't she squall?' shouted Bernard; and then came a duet--

 'Dame, dame, what makes your ducks to squall, Duck to squall, duck to squall, duck to squall? Meeting o' pollywogs! Meeting wi' pollywogs?'

'Hush, children, this is shocking, ' said Wilmet, in the lowimpressive voice by which she could always still a tumult. 'How couldyou take advantage of my absence to do this?'

'Because Alda deserved it, ' cried Angela, bouncing downstairs. 'There, Alda! I said I should tell of you if you told of us. '

'Angela, that is not the way to speak to your elder sister. '

'She isn't like an elder sister!' exclaimed Angel. 'Stella would beashamed to do like her, eating up the strawberries Mr. Froggattbrought for poor Cherry when she was ill. '

'I'm sure you had your share!' retorted Alda. 

'You would have them in for dessert, and you helped us, only SisterConstance and Clem left all theirs for Cherry, and then you went byyourself and ate them all up. '

The very fact of shouting out such a charge showed a state ofinsubordination such as might make Wilmet's hair stand on end, andshe simply disbelieved so childish an accusation against her ownequal in age. 'You should not say such things, Angela, ' she answered, in her low tone of reproof; 'there must be a mistake. '

'I am afraid it is quite true, ' said Clement's quiet voice, as hestood arrested on his way by the block upon the landing-place. 

'The children make such an uproar, ' said the exasperated Alda. 'I'msure I thought Geraldine's had been taken long before, and in thisparching weather fruit is quite a necessity to me. '

Wilmet was too much aghast at the admission to speak. It was astrange tangle: Clement standing straight and still on the landing-place; Wilmet, with Theodore humming to himself, as innocent of thefray as the tadpoles that Stella was cherishing in the cupboarddoorway; Alda, flushed and angry; and on the upper flight, Angela andBernard dancing and roaming in vehement excitement between anger andalarm. 'Well that Lance was not in this hubbub! thought deafened andamazed Wilmet. 

'What has this to do with the tadpoles?' she asked, in an endeavourto comprehend. 

'We said she should be served out, ' sung Bernard, 'with a polly--polly--pollywog bath. '

'But, Bernard, hush!--Angel! don't you see it was no business ofyours if Alda did forget?'

She was unprepared for the outbreak this brought on her. 'You, too, Wilmet! Every one backs up those children in their behaviour to me!Lady Herbert Somerville, and Clement, and all! If only Ferdinand sawit!'

'Just step up, Wilmet, ' said Clement gently, 'and see whether thechildren are in league with me. '

He followed Wilmet up to the door of the barrack, an attic that heshared with Lance and Bernard, and showed the long beam that crossedit pasted with a series of little figures cut out in paper, representing a procession in elaborate vestments; and at the end along-backed individual kneeling before the chair of a confessor, whobore a painful resemblance to the Vicar of St. Matthew's. 

'We only wanted to make Tina feel at home, ' giggled Angela. 

'It would be no matter, ' pursued Clement, 'if it were merely quizzingmyself. I am used to that; but this is trenching on sacred ground. '

'Bless me, your old white beam!' exclaimed Angela, with an affectedstart. 

'It is exceedingly improper and irreverent, ' said Wilmet. 'I amashamed that such a thing should have been done in this house. '

'Really, ' said Alda, 'it seems to me very droll and clever, with noharm in it at all; only people like Clement never can take a joke. '

'You can't mean to justify such a one as this, ' said Wilmet; but, toher still greater astonishment, Alda broke out, 'There! You are turning against me! You are taking Clement's part, though you didn't care what they did to me--not if it had been snakesand adders!'

This, decidedly in Mrs. Thomas Underwood's style, elicited a peal oflaughter from the two naughty children, and the corners of Clementsmouth relaxed, bringing Alda to a gush of tears. 'You never used tobe like this to me, Wilmet. '

'I never saw you like this, dear Alda, ' said Wilmet, low and gently, but in decided repression. 'Come into our room, and let me try tounderstand. '

So began a morning of mutual complaints, as if everybody were againsteverybody, agreeing in nothing but in appealing to the elder sister. First, there was Alda's story. Never had there been such a miserabletime--with Geraldine interfering, fussy, fretful, fault-finding;Clement intolerable in primness and conceit, only making the childrenworse when he pretended to keep them in order, and making such a fussabout Geraldine, when nothing ailed her but change of weather, incurring the expense of the Dearport doctor, and bringing down theSister upon them, so awkward to have her in the drawing-room in thatdress, but Sisters always thrust themselves into families. She hopedshe had shown my Lady that she was not to be overawed by a title--such affectation, not using it! No consideration for her; theservants regularly spoilt, both of them; Martha a vulgar insolentcreature, and Sibby disgustingly familiar and slovenly, no good atall, not even to keep Theodore out of the way. At which Theodore, knowing no more than his own name and Alda's displeasure, set up adismal howl; and as Wilmet chose to coax and fondle him into silenceinstead of scolding and turning him out, Alda went off in a huff, muttering about asylums and proper places; and Wilmet descended tothe kitchen, the little weak hand clasped tight into hers. 

A sore sight awaited her below; the bills of this month for luxuriesof sinful extravagance in her economical eyes! Chicken and asparagus, ducks and peas, even in the height of their season, were enormitiesto such housekeeping as hers, and had raised the sum total to fourtimes the amount that her foreboding soul had dreaded. It exceededher present supplies, and was a grave addition to the expenses of thetwo illnesses, that were serious enough already. 

Martha was eloquent, not to say defiant, in self-defence. 'You see, Miss Underwood, if I'd been let alone, or Miss Cherry had been theone to take my orders from, which we could have made it out to yoursatisfaction; but with Miss Halder, which expects everything to bejust like what it was in the fammerly up in London, which it standsto reason as it can't; which she hasn't got no more notion than ababy of prices, nor seasons, nor nothink; which is very determined, too, which won't suffer a word from nobody; which if you hadn't beencoming home, Miss Underwood, I'd have given warning, which havealways given you satisfaction. '

Wilmet's satisfaction was not increased when she encountered Sibby. 'Ah, my darling Missie dear, ye're the jewel that's been longed for!The whole house has been mad entirely, and lost widout you; thechildren rampaging and playing pranks, and Miss Cherry dwining andpining to a skeleton, so that but for Master Clem and that holywoman, the Sisther, 'tis scarce alive ye'd have found her. Miss Alda, she's the very wonder of the worruld for jealousy and unfeelingness. I up and told her at last there was well-nigh as much differ betweenyou and she, as between Stella and this blessed lamb that she spites;for if you have not carried off all the wit and understanding, sure'tis you that has got all the heart, and the head, and the hands. '

'And the partial old nursey, Sibby! You see I had no time nor thoughtbut for poor Lance, and Alda was so new to it. '

'Ah, Missie dear, you were always the one to vindicate her, but 'tisno use! Newness! 'Twasn't newness that makes her turn the back of herhand to this darling innocent, till he cries if he's left a momentwith her. --Ay, my precious, what would have become of you and me butfor Masther Clem?--I tell you, Miss Wilmet, I never thought that longboy the aquil of his brothers till I saw him in time of need. Yerfather himself--Heaven be his bed!--couldn't have been tenderer withTheodore nor Miss Cherry, by night or by day, an' never a cross wordwhen he was bothered past his life with Miss Alda's ugliness an' thechildren's boldness. 

'Oh, those children! What is come to them, Sibby?'

'Only funning and merriment, Missie dear. They'd never have had to befaulted if Miss Alda had let Miss Cherry deal with them; but shecould neither rule them herself, nor bear to see them ruled; andthough she was like a mad cow if they played their pranks on her, shebacks them up if Miss Cherry, or Master Clem, or even the Sisther, dobut say a word to them, so 'tis no wonder if the poor dears have beena bit off their heads, but they'll be as quiet as doves now ye'reback again. Oh, Missie dear, my own child, but it's you that are thelight of my eyes, looking the blooming beauty that you are. '

The foster-mother's genuine compliment could not lighten the loadthat had grown every moment heavier, and more compunctious for thedeaf ear she had turned to Clement. Wilmet said a word or two ofapology to him when she met him on the stairs, loaded with books tostudy in the garden. 

'Never mind, ' he magnanimously answered, 'it is all right now you arecome, and it was impossible before. Only, please do say somethingwarm to Sister Constance, for Alda is barely civil to her. '

'I am very sorry; I did not think Alda had that sort of prejudice, 'said Wilmet, whose instinct of defence of Alda had wonderfullydiminished. 

'The chief prejudice came of my sending for her, ' said Clement. 

'Besides, Sister Constance spoke out very sharply about thestrawberries and when we had a couple of chickens, and Alda scoldedme for helping her to a leg instead of a wing, Sister Constance said, "Oh, I supposed you had them on Geraldine's account;" and she givesthe children leave to do anything Sister Constance objects to. Thesethings are hardly their fault. But, I say, Mettie, now you are come, and it is all right, do you think I might go to St. Matthew's? TheVicar and Mr. Sterling are alone, while the other curates areholiday-making, and they say I could really be of some use to them, and they would give me some help with this reading for myexamination. Somers is there too, and I have not seen him sinceChristmas. '

'Indeed, ' said Wilmet, 'no one has deserved a holiday more than you, Clement! You have done your best. '

This--almost the first home praise or thanks that had fallen to hislot--elicited that real grace of humility for which poor self-conscious Clement really strove. 'I have tried, Mettie, ' he said, with tears in his eyes; 'but it was not as if it had been one of theothers. There must be something very wrong about me, to make me sodisagreeable. '

'You have gained two hearts, ' said Wilmet, 'Sibby's and this littlefellow's. '

For Theodore had attached himself limpet fashion to Clement, who withdifficulty piled his books so as to leave a hand free for him. 

'He had better come with me, ' said Wilmet; 'your reading must havebeen dreadfully interrupted. '

'It has, rather, ' said Clement, whose examination was in alarmingproximity; 'but I don't mind him, I can work to his tunes as well asFelix can; and all is right now you are come. '

That was the burthen of every one's song. It came next from Cherry, whom she found in her own room; 'There was so much bustle in thesitting-room, ' she said. 

'My dear, you have gone through a great deal!'

'"There's nae luck about the house when our gude man's awa', "' saidCherry. 'Clem played and whistled that so often, that Alda beggednever to hear it again; but unluckily Tedo had caught it, and I don'tthink she quite believes he doesn't hum it on purpose! But now, howdelicious it is to have got at least our gude woman! And, oh dear!Wilmet, I beg your pardon; but you do look so lovely, I can't helptelling you so! or is it the pleasure of seeing you?'

'My poor Cherry! I did not think half enough about you. '

'That would have done no good. Most of this rose out of my owncrossness and horridness. If I could only be anxious without beingpeevish!'

'Now, Cherry, don't waste time in telling me it was your own fault; Iknow all about that! I really want to understand how it has all beenwith Alda and Clement. I am afraid Alda has not been behavingnicely. '

To hear Wilmet allow Alda to be other than impeccable so amazedCherry, that she could scarcely answer. 'O Mettle, I never knew whatyou and Felix must be. I have so often thought of a house dividedagainst itself, one against two, and two against three. We have beenall _to wrongs_, and Clem and I have said we would not be a party;and yet we could not help it, for we always had to stand up together!Then Angel and Bear were against every one, and Alda set them againstClem, and fancied he did against her, which was not true. I shouldhave minded nothing if Alda had not been so angry at Clement'ssending for Sister Constance. You did give him leave, though?'

'Yes, and I should have done so much more decidedly if I had known. '

At that moment Sister Constance knocked at the door, with her work inher hand, and Wilmet inferred that this was the refuge from Alda andthe drawing-room. To Cherry's surprise, Wilmet, instead of ignoringeverything unsatisfactory, began at once, 'Please come in, SisterConstance; I wanted to thank you, and tell you how sorry and ashamedI am! I am afraid you have not been treated as--'

'Don't say any more, my dear, ' as the tears were in her eyes; 'don'tthink about it. '

'I ought to think!' said Wilmet. 'I have been trying to understandthings ever since I came home; but everybody except Cherry and Clemblames everybody, and they only blame themselves! I can't understandthe rights of anything!'

'My dear, ' said Sister Constance, 'I think it would be impossible togo into the details of all that has happened. Shall I tell you how itseemed to me?'

'Pray do!'

'I thought that the authority of an elder reared in so different aschool necessarily was producing a few collisions. There was someignorance, and a good deal of dislike of interference, and theyounger ones would not have been human not to take advantage of it;but it is over now you are come home, and I strongly recommend an actof oblivion. '

'Oh! I don't want to punish the poor children, ' said Wilmet. 

'Oblivion, I said, not only amnesty;' and as she did not see perfectcomprehension in Wilmet's face, she added, 'I mean, not only that thechildren should be forgiven, but that their elders should not gohunting for causes, and thinking how this or that could have beenprevented. '

'I suppose not, ' said Wilmet. 'It is all plain enough;' and the sighthat followed quite amazed Cherry, who smiled up in her face, saying, 'Plain enough that we can't do without you. '

'No, ' said Wilmet, kissing Cherry's uplifted face ere leaving theroom; but it was with such an effort at a responding smile, thatCherry exclaimed, 'Oh dear! how dreadfully we have vexed her!' AndSister Constance thought the more. 

Yet again Wilmet had to hear another testimony to the anarchy in herabsence. Those formidable bills had obliged her to apply to Alda foran advance of the sum she had offered for Lance's journey; and this, after some petulance and faltering, elicited that some old forgottenLondon bills had come down and swamped this Midsummer quarter'sallowance, so that the promise must stand over till--till Michaelmas;or it might be that Ferdinand's matters were arranged, and then whatwould such a paltry sum be? Wilmet turned away in shame and disgustat having trusted for a moment to such offers. She could only do whatshe had never done before--apply to Mr. Froggatt for an advance onFelix's account: and she detained him after dinner for the purpose. 

He was as kind as possible, assuring her that he should have beenhurt if she had not come to him. And then, in his blandest way, hethought it right to hint that 'Young people were sometimes a littleunguarded. ' She was prepared for the story of the loss of Stella, butshe was not prepared to hear of a gossipping intercourse over thenewly arrived Punches, etc. , carried on in the early morning withRedstone, not only by Bernard but Angela. She was but eleven yearsold, so it was no worse than the taste of childish underhand coquetryand giggling; there was no fear of its continuance after Felix'sreturn, and, indeed, good old Mr Froggatt had kept guard by coming intwo hours earlier ever since the discovery; but the propensitydismayed Wilmet more than all that had yet happened, and on this headshe thought it right to reprove Angela seriously. 

'Dear me, Wilmet, you are always telling us not to think ourselvesabove our station. Mr. Redstone is just as fit to speak to as Felixwas before he was a partner. '

'Should you like Felix to have found you gossipping in the reading-room?'

'Well, ' said audacious Angela, 'half the fun in things is the chanceof being caught. '

'My dear, you don't know what you are saying, ' replied Wilmetdejectedly, as if exhausted beyond the power of working out herreproof! and Angela had to fight hard against any softening, tellingBernard that W. W. Was a tremendous old maid, who had no notion of alark. 

Robina, who stood in the peculiar position of neither accusing norbeing accused, would not add her voice to the chorus of welcome, anddid not wonder that every hour wore off something from the radianceof the beautiful bloom brought from the Bailey. Indeed, the unusualgravity and reserve of the younger sister struck Cherry's observanteyes, and made her think at first that she had been much pained byhaving to part with Lance in his weak half-recovered state; but whenat tea-time the whole history of the illness was inquired into indetail by the assembled family, the downcast eyes and cheeks withwhich Robin encountered every mention of Captain Harewood's goodoffices led to the inference that she had in her excitement forgottenthe bounds where the brook and river meet, and was in an anguish ofshame; Wilmet meantime looking flushed with the fag of her vexatiousday, and speaking plentifully of this same Captain, proving toherself all the while that she was doing so with ordinary gratitudeand composure. 

Robina was quartered upon Geraldine in the holiday crowding of thehouse; and somewhere about four o'clock on the summer morning, Cherry, wakening as usual, and reaching for her book, heard a voicefrom the corner asking if she wanted anything. 'No, thank you, Bobbie. Go to sleep again. '

'I can't; I've been thinking about it all night. I think he's comingto-day. '

'Who?'

'Captain Harewood. He promised to come and tell us how Lance andFelix are. '

'I am very glad; but Wilmet never said so. '

'No, but-- O Cherry, I wish we could contrive some nice quiet place, but nothing is ever quiet in this house. '

'No, ' said Geraldine, who was but too well aware of the fact, 'thoughI can't imagine that any Harewood can be distressed on that score. '

'Oh, but--' said Robina, to whom the communication began to feel somomentous, that she could not help toying round it before coming tothe point--'I know; at least, I am sure he will want to see herparticularly. '

'You Robin, what have you got into your head?' said Cherry, trying tomisunderstand, but feeling a foreboding throb of consternation. 

'It is not my head. Willie told me. ' And as she detected a sigh ofrelief, 'And it is no nonsense of his either. He did it on Sundayevening by the river-side. '

'He did it?' repeated Geraldine, willing to take a moment's refuge inthe confusion of antecedents, though too well aware what must becoming. 

'You know what I mean. He--Jack--John--Captain Harewood, had it outwith her when we were all walking together. '

'My dear, impossible!'

'I mean, we were out of hearing, but we saw them at it, and walked upand down till Lance got tired out, and Willie and I stayed to make itproper. '

Geraldine relieved herself by a little laugh, and said, in a superiortone of elderly wisdom, 'But, my dear, there might be a walk evenwithout what you call doing it. '

'Yes, ' reiterated Robina; 'but I know, for the Captain shut himselfup with Mr. Harewood when we came in, and Bill heard his fathertelling his mother about it at night through the wall. '

'For shame, Robin!'

'Oh! he told them long ago that he could hear, and they don't care;besides, Mrs. Harewood told him _himself_ when he went in to wish hergood morning, and she kissed me and Lance too about it, and said theyhadn't their equals. And poor Mettie thinks no one knows of it buttheir two selves, and maybe Mr. Harewood!'

'But, Robin, I don't know how to understand it. I think she wouldhave told Alda, at least. '

'Perhaps she has to-night, ' said Robina; 'but, you see, she didn'taccept him. '

'Oh! then it doesn't signify. '

'Not out and out, I mean; and it is only because of us. At least, weare sure she likes him. '

'We! You and Willie!'

'And Lance. He saw it all the time he was getting well. Besides, theCaptain told his father that she wouldn't listen to him, and wouldhave hindered his going to Felix if Lance had been fit to travelalone. '

'Then it is not an engagement now?'

'No, she won't let it be. '

'And he is coming to-day?'

'Yes, after he has seen Felix. O Cherry! he is so nice, kind andbright, like all the Harewoods, and not ridiculous; and Lance doeslike him so!'

'Does Wilmet?'

'We are almost sure. As Lance says, she has never looked so bright, or so sweet, or so pretty. Do you think it is love, Cherry?'

'We shall see, ' said Cherry. 'If she tells us nothing, we can judge;and if--if--'

Her voice died away into contemplation; and after waiting in vain formore, Robina somewhat resentfully decided that 'she had fallen asleepin her very face. '

No more was said till dressing-time, when there were a fewspeculations whether Alda knew; and Cherry could not help auguringthat something had opened Wilmet's eyes to her twin's possibledeficiencies. Sister Constance came, and seeing her patient'spaleness, accused the sisters of untimely bedroom colloquies; and asthey pleaded guilty, Robin was struck by the air of fixed resolutionon Cherry's thin white face. 

There was no sign of any confidence having been made to Alda. Wilmetplunged into her long-deferred holiday task of inspecting the familylinen; and when she came back with a deep basket, an announcementthat every one must mend and adapt, and portions of darning andpiecing for Geraldine and Robina, they began to feel as if themorning's conversation was a dream. 

But just as dinner was near its close, there were steps on thestairs; the drawing-room door was opened and shut, and Sibby, unnecessarily coming through the folding leaves, announced over thehead of Clement, 'Captain Harewood. '

'Come to tell about Lance!' cried Angela, leaping up, and followed byBernard, Alda, and even Mr. Froggatt; indeed, in the existingconnection of chairs, tables, and doors, a clearance of that side ofthe table was needful before any one else could stir. Wilmet movedafter them, and Clement was heard exclaiming, 'You are pinning medown, Bobbie!'

'I know! Oh, shut the door! There are more than enough therealready. '

'True, ' said Sister Constance, signing to Clement to obey. 'I meantto go to my room, but Cherry wants to hear of her brothers. '

'No, she doesn't!' cried Robina. 'At least-- Oh! will nobody get theothers out, and leave them to themselves!'

'Why, Bobbie, what nonsense is this?' said Clement. 'One would thinkyou took them for Ferdinand and Alda. '

'It is all the same!--Stella, you run out to the garden--by thatdoor, you child!' And then it all came out to the two fresh auditors, who listened with conviction. 'And now, ' concluded Robina, 'there isnot a place where he can so much as speak to her! What shall we do toget them away?'

'You do not know yet that she wishes it, ' said Sister Constance, whohad been a wife before she was a Sister, and saw that it was matronlytact and tenderness that the crisis needed; 'but I'll tell you whatyou can safely and naturally do. Go in and fetch Cherry's foldingchair, and call the children to carry her appurtenances down to thegarden. That will make a break, and Wilmet can take advantage of itif she sees fit. '

'Alda is worse than ten children, ' said Clement; 'she has aninordinate appetite for captains in the absence of her own. '

'It can't be helped. Better do too little than too much. '

And finding Robina shy and giggling, and Clement shy and irresolute, Sister Constance herself made the diversion by opening the door, whenWilmet's nervous look and manner was confirmation strong. 'LadyHerbert Somerville--Captain Harewood, ' was Alda's formal introductionin her bad taste; while the Sister, after shaking hands, bade Bernardtake Geraldine's chair to the lawn. 

'Oh, are we to go out?' said Alda. 'A good move. Of all things Idetest in summer, a town house is the worst. I'll just fetch a hat, Iwant to show my pet view. --Our brothers are always fighting abouttheir churches, Captain Harewood. '

The thing was done; Mr. Froggatt was already gone, and as Alda'strappings were never quickly adjusted, it needed very littlecontrivance to leave a not unwilling pair on one side of the doors, and cut off the rest. Robina, too much excited to stand still, flewabout the stairs till Alda appeared in a tiny hat fluttering withvelvet tails. 

'Are they gone out?'

'Yes;' for quite enough to constitute a 'they' were gone; and whenAlda reached them, they sedulously set themselves to detain her, andthereby betrayed the reason. 

'Nonsense! How absurd! That horrid little fright of a red-haired man!No doubt poor dear Wilmet only wants me to go and put an end to it. '

Strictly speaking, this was self-assertion. She had not the assuranceto intrude, and she contented herself with keeping Cherry on thornsby threatening to go in, and declaring that the whole must be untrue, since Wilmet had not told her. 

Time went on very slowly; and at last Wilmet, about four o'clock, wasseen advancing, with Theodore in one hand and her great basket ofmending in the other. And before Alda had time to rise from herchair, Robina darted across the grass, with flaming cheeks and low, hurried, frightened confession--'Wilmet, please, it is honest to tellyou; Willie Harewood knows, and told me, and I couldn't help it; Itold them to keep away. '

'It always happens so, ' said Wilmet, less discomposed than Robinaexpected, though she had evidently been shedding tears. 'Not thatthere is anything to tell. '

'Nothing!' cried Robina, looking blank. 

'Of course not. He came to bring me a note from Felix. I hope no oneknows but those three. '

'And Sister Constance. '

'Then take care no one does. '

'But, O Wilmet, please! You have not put an end to it all?'

'No, ' said Wilmet. 'They will not let me, though I think it wouldhave been wiser. I do not know how it is to be, except that it isutterly impossible for the present. '

With this much from the fountain-head, Robina was forced to contentherself; and she had tact enough not to join the trio under the tree, but to betake herself to Clement, who had gone off with his books. 

'So, ' said Alda lightly, 'you have cheated us of another view of yourconquest, Mettie. '

'He wanted to catch the 3. 45 train, ' said Wilmet gravely. 

'You must have been very unmerciful to despatch him so soon. Ithought you must want me to come to your rescue, but those romanticchildren wouldn't let me. '

'Thank you, ' said Wilmet. 

'My dear! You don't mean that you are smitten? Well! I can't flatteryou as to his beauty. And yet, after all, situated as you are, it isa catch--that is, if he has anything but his pay; but of course hehasn't. '

'Yes, ' said Wilmet abstractedly, 'his father told me he had--what didhe call it?--"a fair independent competence of his own. " Oh! they areso kind!'

'Then, O Wilmet, is it really so?' asked Geraldine, with eager eyes, clasped hands, and quivering frame, infinitely fuller of visibleemotion than either of the handsome twins. 

'I--don't know. '

'My dear Wilmet, ' cried Alda, excited, 'you can't surely haveanything better in view!'

'No, ' said Wilmet, even now keeping herself blind to theoffensiveness of Alda's suggestion; 'but as it is utterly impossiblefor me to think of--leaving home, I did think it would have beenwiser to put a stop to it while there wa--is time, ' and the tearsbegan to gather again. 

'And have you?

'They won't let me. '

'Who?'

'_He_--and his father, and Felix, ' said Wilmet, speaking steadily, but the tears rolling down her cheeks. 

'Felix! Oh, what does he say?'

'You may see;' and she held out a letter, which Alda and Cherry readtogether, while she rested her elbow on her knee, her brow on herhand, and let fall the tears, which with her were always soft, free, and healthy outlets of emotion, not disabling, but rather relieving. 

Mrs. Pettigrew's Lodgings, North Beach, East Ewmouth, 20th July, 10 P. M. 

MY DEAREST WILMET--What I have heard to-day is a great satisfaction. I had hardly hoped that you could have been brought within the reachof any one so worthy of you. My only fear is that you are tooscrupulous and self-sacrificing to contemplate fairly, and withoutprejudice, what is best for us all. You will imagine yourself blindedby inclination, and not attend to common sense. Harewood tells me hetrusts you have no objection on personal grounds. (I hope this doesnot sound as if he were presuming; if so, it is my fault. Remember, Iam more used to writing 'summaries for the week' than letters ondelicate subjects. ) But at any rate, my Mettie, I see there is muchworth and weight in his affection, and that you could not manage tosnub him as entirely as you wanted to do. (Didn't you?) Now, it seemsto me, that if you two are really drawn to one another, both beingsuch as you are, it is the call of a Voice that you have no right toreject or stifle. I do not mean by this that anything immediate needtake place; but granting your preference, I think it would be wrongnot to avow it, or to refuse, because you scruple to keep him waitingwhile you may be necessary at home. If you imagine that by suchrejection you would be doing better for the children and me, I begleave to tell you it is a generous blunder. Remember that, as thingshave turned out, I am quite as much the only dependence for theothers as I was seven years ago. I felt this painfully in the spring, when I was doubtful what turn my health would take; and the comfortof knowing you would all have such a man to look to would beunspeakable--indeed, he has already lightened me of much care andanxiety. Do not take this as pressing you. Between this and the endof his leave, there will be time for consideration. Nothing need bedone in haste, least of all the crushing your liking under thedelusion of serving us. So do not forbid him the house; and unlessyour objection be on any other score, do not make up your mind tillyou have seen me. I should of course have been with you instead ofwriting, if it were not for Lance. Till I saw the dear little fellow, I had no notion how very ill he has been. The five hours' journey hadquite knocked him up, and he was fit for nothing but his bed when hecame; but he revived in the evening. I only hope I shall take as goodcare of him as the first-rate nurses he describes soenthusiastically. That month must have been worth years of commonacquaintance. I wish I knew what more to say to show you how glad Iam of this day's work, and to persuade you to see matters as I do. --Ever your loving brother, F. C. UNDERWOOD. 

P. S. --Lance is quite himself this morning, and was up to watch usbathing before six o'clock. 

'Oh! what did Captain Harewood say of Felix?' was Cherry's cry, almost with shame and pain at not having asked before. 

'You know, he had never seen him, ' said Wilmet; 'but he said he didnot seem to him in the least unwell--and he watched carefully, as Ihad begged him. He said he struck him as naturally delicate-looking;but that those blue veins in his temples do not show, and he has nocough at all, nor any difficulty in swimming, or walking up a steepcliff. He made me laugh, for he said he hardly believed his eyes whenLance tumbled himself out of the train on something so little biggeror older than himself. He says the way we all talk of "my eldestbrother" made him expect something taller than Clement, and moreimposing than the senior verger; but he understood it all when he sawhim and Lance together. They have two very nice rooms; and Felix hasput Lance into the bedroom, which is luckily cool, and sleeps on asofa bed in the parlour; and the landlady will do anything for them. '

'But how is it to be?' broke in Alda crossly. 'You and Felix seem tobe encouraging him to come dangling here, when we all agreed thatFerdinand must keep away in Felix's absence, though matters are insuch a different state. '

'So I told him, dear Alda, ' gently said Wilmet; 'but he declared hewould bring his sisters, or poor Mrs. Harewood herself, if nothingelse would satisfy me: and what could I do, after all theirkindness?'

'Umph!' muttered Alda; 'they are a queer set. '

'Now, Alda, ' said Wilmet earnestly, 'you must not talk withoutknowing. Till I went there, I never understood how much goodness andprinciple there could be without my stiffness and particularity. Iknow I have often been very unnecessarily disagreeable anddisapproving, and I hope I am shaken out of it in time. '

'Dear Mettie, no one is like you, ' cried Cherry, with a littleeffusion, stretching out her hand, and laying it on her sister'sshoulder. 'Oh, if we had not all been so vile while you were away!'

'It would not have made any difference, my dear! It would beimpossible to leave Felix without help. And think of Theodore!'

Alda muttered something, that no one would hear, about asylums; andthe tell-tale tears coming again, Wilmet sprang up, and bending downto kiss Cherry, declared in her most authoritative voice that nothingshould be said to the younger children, nor to any one out of thehouse; then picked up the tea-cups, and carried them in. 

Excitements were, however, not yet over for the day. A telegram wasput into Alda's hands, containing the words--

'A. T. Is an unmitigated brute. I sail for N. Y. To-night. All willbe right when I come back. '

The mysterious hint restored Alda at once to all the privileges ofthe reigning heroine!

CHAPTER XX

VALE LESTON

'The way to make thy son rich is to fill His mind with rest before his trunk with riches; For wealth without contentment climbs a hill, To feel those tempests that fly over ditches, But if thy son can make ten pounds his measure, Then all thou addest may be called his treasure. ' GEORGE HERBERT. 

'I say, Felix, you've not told me about Vale Leston. '

The two brothers were established under the lee of an old boat, beneath the deep shadow of the red earth cliffs, festooned with ivy, wild clematis, everlasting pea, thrift, and samphire. Not far off, niched beneath the same cliff, were two or three cottage lodging-houses, two-storied, with rough grey slate roofs, glaring whitewalls, and green shutters to the windows that looked out over theshingly beach to the lazily rippling summer sea. 

Ewmouth was a lazy place. Felix had felt half asleep through theearlier days of his stay, and Lance seemed to be lulled into acontinual doze whenever he was unoccupied, and that was almostalways. It had grieved his elder brother to see this naturallyvivacious being so inert and content with inaction, only strollingabout a little in early morning and late evening, and languid andweary, if not actually suffering, during the heat and glare of theday. He was now, with his air-pillow and a railway rug, lying on thebeach beside Felix, who with his safety inkstand planted in the sand, was at work condensing the parliamentary debates for thePursuivant, and was glad to perceive that he was so far alive as tobe leaning on his elbow, slowly shovelling the sand or smallerpebbles with the frail tenement of a late crab, and it was anothergood sign to hear his voice in a voluntary inquiry about Vale Leston. 

'I have not been there yet. '

'Not there?'

'No. Old Abednego Tripp comes over here every market day, and he'sthe only person I wanted to see. '

'I thought you came here because you wanted to see the place?'

'Yes; but I was not up to the walk when I came here; and while youwere ill I never durst go out of reach of the telegraph, and latterlyI waited for you. After all, I have not much mind to it. I don't seethe good of setting oneself a coveting one's neighbour's house. '

'It wouldn't be my house, any way, ' said Lance quaintly. 'How far isit?'

'Rather more than three miles. We'll get a boat some day and do it. '

'That will be jolly!' and after shovelling a little longer, Lanceadded, 'How came we to be turned out?'

'That's just what I can't tell. I was only seven, you know, and myfather never would talk of it. Sibby used to revile the mane nagur, Misther Fulbert, till it was current in the nursery that he was ablack man who expelled us vi et armis. One day, my father foundfour or five of us in a row slashing at an old black doll, by way ofkilling Misther Fulbert, and prohibited such executions. I think, too, that he quashed an attempt to call our own Fulbert by his othername. '

'I wonder what the nagur did?'

'By the light of maturer nature, I imagine that he may have succeededas heir-at-law, and that his maneness may have consisted in notgiving the living to my father; but I cannot tell. It always seemedmy father's great desire to put it out of our minds. I rememberbefore we left the place his catching me in a furious rage with someone who told me my pony was to be sold. He carried me off, and toldme it was all true, and we were going away, and he trusted to me tobe brave and make it as little hard to Mamma and the little girls ascould be. He said the place had belonged to old Uncle Underwood, andthat we had no right to stay there after his death. That was all theexplanation he gave me, first or last; and I don't think we thoughtmuch about it after the neck of the change was broken. '

'You remember it, though. '

'I believe I know every step of the house and garden. I have neverceased to dream of them; and I am as much afraid of disturbing oldimpressions as of reviving wishes. '

'Holloa! what's up?' exclaimed Lance, as the landlady was seen comingin quest of them. 'I thought I saw a tidy little tiger going in therejust now. '

'A note from Mr. Staples, if you please, Sir, and they wait for ananswer. '

'I didn't know you had any acquaintance here. '

'Mr. Staples is the solicitor who did the business about AdmiralChester's legacy. He is retired now, and only holds some countyoffice. He found me out last week, I believe, from some letters ofmine going wool-gathering to the other F. Underwood. He called andsaid he knew my father, and was very civil and friendly. He sent toinquire after you the day you came. This is what he says:--

MY DEAR MR. FELIX UNDERWOOD--Your relative at Vale Leston wishes meto dine with him to-morrow evening. If you and your brother wouldlike to accompany me on the drive, meet me at six o'clock on the topof the cliff. If you would prefer to return earlier than I do, I candirect you to a boatman to take you down by the river. --Believe me, yours truly, C. STAPLES. 

'Hurrah! that's not half a bad fellow for an attorney, ' cried Lance. 

'Shall not you be tired? Will it not be too hot for you?'

'Not a bit of it. He, ' indicating the sun, 'can only get at measquint by that time, and I'm a match for him with my blue umbrella. Come, fire away, you tardy Norseman. Say we are good for it. Fancyboating back!'

And Lance whistled a few bars of 'The Hardy Norseman, ' the liveliestthing he had done since his illness. 

At the appointed hour, the brothers were standing on the top of thecliff, with a broad estuary before them; on the opposite side ofwhich lay the town of Ewmouth at the foot of the old castle, withfresh modern fortifications towards the sea. The town, with itschurch towers and gas chimneys, sloped away from it; vessels throngedthe harbour; and a long weird-looking thready suspension-bridgespanned the broad tide-river to East Ewmouth, the village fastgrowing into a suburb. There had not been more than time to point outthe details to Lance before a waggonet drove up from one of the roadsthat branched among pleasant 'villa residences;' and in it appeared awhite-haired but hearty-looking gentleman, prepossessing and merry, very unlike Lance's notion of attorneys, who shook hands with themwarmly, and took care to put the boy under the shade of the driving-seat. 

It was a pretty drive, through rich meadows, shut in by the slopingwooded hills which gradually closed nearer; and by and by over theshoulder of one looked a very tall church tower, whereat Felixstarted with a thrill of responsive recognition, and suddenlyfaltered in the political discussion Mr. Staples had started, butdropped at once, looking at the young man's face with kindlyinterest. 

At the same time road and river both made a sudden turn into a muchnarrower and wilder valley, the hills beyond more rough and rocky;but the river still broad and smooth, and crossed by a handsome high-backed five-arched bridge, the centre arch grandly high and broad, the other two rapidly diminishing on either side. Over this thecarriage turned; and from the crown Lance beheld an almostcollegiate-looking mass of grey building, enclosing sunny lawns andflower-beds, and surrounded by park-like grounds and trees, allsloping towards the river, and backed by steep hills of wood andmoorland, whence a little brook danced with much impetus down to thecalm steady main stream of Ewe. The church and remnants of the oldpriory occupied the forefront of a sort of peninsula, the sweep ofthe Ewe on the south and east, and the little lively Leston on thenorth. There was slope enough to raise the buildings beyond damp, anddisplay the flower-beds beautifully as they lay falling away from thehouse. The churchyard lay furthest north, skirted by the two rivers, and the east end with the lovely floriated window of the Lady Chapelrising some thirty yards from the bank of the Ewe, the outline alittle broken by an immense willow tree that wept its fountain-likefoliage into the river. The south transept was cloistered, and joinedto the building beyond, a long low grey house with one row of windowsabove the sloping roof of the cloister, and this again connected witha big family mansion, built of the same gray stone with the rest, butin the style of the seventeenth century, and a good deal modernisedupon that. A great plate-glass window looked out on the river in theeast front, which projected nearly as far as did the Lady Chapel, thespace between being, as before said, laid out in a formal parterre, with stone steps leading down to the river. 

'Oh, what a place! what a place!' shouted Lance, starting up in thecarriage. 'It's like the minster, and the jolly old river besides!Two of them! Oh! what fishing there must be!'

'I did not know it was really so beautiful, ' said Felix in a lowvoice. 

'You remember it?' said Mr. Staples. --'I suppose you can't?' toLance. 

'Oh no! I wasn't born! More's the pity! Do the salmon come up here, Sir?'

'Yes, since the fisheries have been protected; but young Mr. Underwood is a great fisherman, and I fear it is not easy to get acard. '

'Oh, I wasn't thinking about leave, Sir, thank you. I've got notackle nor anything; but I _am_ glad _we_ have salmon, ' said Lance, as though he had acquired an accession of dignity. 

Descending from the bridge, they were in a road skirting the river, and on which presently opened the lodge gates of the Rectory. HereMr. Staples got out, telling his servant to drive the young gentlemenround to the village. 

'I say, Felix, ' said Lance, as they were whirled on along the lanewhich swept round the long wall overhung by trees, 'that old partymust know all about it. '

'Most likely, ' said Felix; 'but if there had been any good in myhearing, my father could have told me himself. How well I rememberhis giving me my first ride along this lane! Do you smell the beanfield? I don't believe I have thought of the scent since. '

Felix seemed absorbed in the pleasures of recognition; and Lance, amazed at the beauty and what seemed to him the splendour of theplace, looked up at his brother with a kind of romantic feeling for adisinherited knight, as he contrasted the scene with the counter andprinting-office. 

The lane led to the village street, a very pretty one slopingupwards, and lying on each side of the Leston, which rippled along asclear as crystal, crossed every here and there by footbridges, somewooden, some a single stone; while the cottages on the opposite sidewere perched on a high shelf or terrace, and were approached bycharming irregular flights of stairs with low walls or balustrades. Over the rail of one, smoking a pipe in summer evening enjoyment, wasseen Abednego Tripp, with long nose, brown parchment cheeks, and lankhair not yet grey--one of the genuine almost extinct species ofparish clerk. As the carriage stopped, he began to descend, keys inhand, for the church was a lion, and many carriages did stop there;but it was not till Felix jumped out and hailed him that he knew whowere his visitors. 

'Bless me, if it is not Master Felix after all! I did think you wasnever coming, Sir. And this is the young gentleman as has been soill. You're kindly welcome, Sir. I think he'd favour poor MasterEddard if he didn't look so nesh. '

'I shall get well here, ' said Lance. 'If it is not my native air, itought to be. '

'Will you come and rest a bit, Sir? or would you like to go to thechurch?'

'The church, ' they said. Felix first explained what he knew wouldgive pleasure--that they had come depending on him for a cup of tea, and a cast in his boat which was wont to convey the marketables ofVale Leston twice a week to Ewmouth. 

Abednego sped up his stairs like a lamplighter, to cause his grand-daughter to make preparations, and was speedily down again, delightedto hear Felix prove his memory by inquiries after the inhabitants ofthe old dwellings. 

'Ha! the Miss Hepburns!' said Felix, looking at a tall narrow housecompletely embowered in trailing roses, and with the rails of thebridge of entrance wreathed with clematis. 'Are they there still?'

'Oh yes. Sir, all the four on 'em; and a sight of good they does tothe poor!'

'I wonder whether I ought to call?' said Felix; 'they used to be verykind to me. '

'What, is that Rob's godmother, that never gave her anything but thatqueer name?' asked Lance. 

'I shouldn't think they were rich, ' said Felix. 'I fancy they used tobe very fond of my mother, and made her promise that the next girlshould be named for one of them. There was Miss Bridget, and MissMartha, and something else as bad, and Robina was the leastobjectionable of the lot. I think they used to write to my mother;but it is late in the day for calling. '

'Here comes Miss Bridget, ' said the clerk, as there appeared in sighta tall, rigid, angular figure, with a big brown hat and long straightcloak, and a decidedly charity-looking basket in her hand. 

Felix stepped forward with his hand to his hat. 'Miss Hepburn, Ibelieve. I must introduce myself--Felix Underwood'

The lady's first move had been a startled shy drawing herself up andinto herself, at being addressed by a stranger. Then she looked upwith an amazed 'Felix Underwood! Little Felix!' and as he smiled andbowed, she rumbled and put out a hesitating hand. 

'Yes. Tripp did tell us something--something of your being atEwmouth, but we were not sure. '

'We had not been able to come over before, ' said Felix, thinking shemeant to imply that he ought to have called. 'We came for health andhave not been equal to the walk. '

'Oh, indeed. Nothing infectious, I hope?'

'Oh no, ' he said, explaining in a few words the total want ofconnection between his case and Lance's. 

'I am glad. I'll--I'll tell my sisters. I'm glad to have seen you. '

There was something faltering and ill-assured in her manner, and in amoment she turned back with 'Mr. Underwood, where are you stopping?'

He answered; and with 'I'll tell my sisters, ' she parted with themagain. 

'That's Miss Bridget, ' commented old Tripp. 'She's the one as allyssays, "I'll tell my sisters. " They do say as Miss Isabella, she bethe master on 'em all. '

Felix and Lance smiled to one another the assurance that every familyhad it's Wilmet; but while the younger brother shrugged hisshoulders, the elder felt a certain chill in the contrast with thosedays of old, when the sugar-plums and picture-books of the wholesisterhood were all at his service, and bethought him that times werechanged. 

They entered the churchyard by a little side-gate. The church was agrand pile of every style of architecture that had prevailed sincethe Cistercians had settled in Vale Leston, and of every defacementthat the alternate neglect and good-will of the Underwoods couldperpetrate. The grand tower at the west end was, however, past theirpower to spoil, and they had not done much damage to the exterior, except in a window or buttress here and there. But within! Thebrothers, used to the heavy correctness of the St. Oswald'srestoration, stood aghast when Abednego admitted them by the door ofexcommunication, straight into the chancel, magnificently deep, butwith the meanest of rails, a reredos where Moses and Aaron kept guardover the Commandments in black and gold, and walls bristling withgenii and angels of all descriptions, weeping over Underwoods ofdifferent generations. Lance stood open-mouthed before a namesake ofhis own, whose huge monumental slab was upborne by the exertions of akind of Tartarean cherub, solely consisting of a skull and a pair ofbats' wings!

'My stars! where did that brute come from?' muttered Lance under hisbreath. 'He's got no trifle of a piece of work!'

However, Felix had taken in that the chancel had respectable poppy-headed benches, though the lower part of the church was completely'emparoked in pues, ' such as surprised Lance out of all bounds whenhe withdrew his eyes from the white marble death's head. 

'My stars!' again he said, 'this is what I've heard of, but neversaw. '

'Ay, Sir, ' said Mr. Tripp, 'every one that come here do be crying outupon the pews; and to be sure, I see the folk sleepin' in them as isshameful!'

'Well he might, for his place was the lowest in a lofty three-decker, against one pier of the chancel arch, surmounted by a golden angelblowing a trumpet, and with lettering round the sounding-board, recording it to have been the gift of the Reverend LancelotUnderwood, Rector and Vicar of this parish--the owner of the muralslab before mentioned. That angel recalled to Felix that the sight ofit had been his great pleasure in going to church, only marred by thefact that he was out of sight of it in the chancel. 

'Why, you weren't in the choir then?' said Lance. 

'Choir! no, Sir, ' said the clerk. 'They sits in the gallery. Thechancel is for Mr. Underwood's family--the Rector, Sir. They seatswas just put up instead of the red baize pew before old Mr. Underwoodas was then died, and your poor papa went away. And that there fontwas put, as 'tis there, just when the twin young ladies waschristened. '

'Where was I christened, then?'

'In the bowl as we used to have on the Communion, Sir. '

It was plain how far Edward Underwood had dared to work atrenovation, and that nothing had since been done. The Lady-chapel, with a wonderful ceiling of Tudor fans and pendants, was full ofbenches and ragged leaves of books for such Sunday schooling as tookplace there, the national school having been built half a mile off, that the children might not be obnoxious to the Rectory. The churchwas a good way behind the ordinary churches of 1861, and struck thetwo brothers the more from the system in which they had been broughtup. 

'What a state Clem would be in!' uttered Lance, as they came out. 

'It is of no use to think about it, ' said Felix. 'Let us enjoy thebeautiful exterior. '

'Ay, Sir, ' said old Tripp, 'parties do be saying as how it is amortial pity to see such a church go to wrack; and I do believe theSquire wouldn't be so hard to move if it warn't for the Passon--that's young Mr. Fulbert, the vicar. '

'I don't understand all these rectors and vicars, ' said Lance. 'Ithought they never hung out together. '

'Why, you see, Master Lancelot, as how this is what they calls a layrectory, as goes like a landed estate from father to son, withoutthere being any call for 'em to be clergy; and the Vicar, he is justput in to do Passon's work, only he gets his situation for life, likeI do, not like them curates. '

'I see, ' said Felix; 'and the rectors have generally taken HolyOrders, and presented themselves to the vicarage. '

'Yes, Sir, that's how it ought to be; only this here Squire--notbeing no Passon, though Rector he be--he puts in a gentleman to keepit warm till his son, young Mr. Fulbert, our Vicar as is, was growedup, and hard work they say it was to get him to bend his mind to it;nor he'd not have done it at last, but for his father's paying of hisbills, and giving consent to his marrying Miss Shaw. And since that, bless you, Sir, the curates have done nothing but change, change, change, till 'tis enough to ruin a good clerk. You knows what thatis, Master Felix, you that be one of the cloth. ' (For Felix allowedhimself no unprofessional coats. )

'It is only the cloth, Mr. Tripp; don't you see I sport a blue tie! Iam a bookseller. '

'A bookseller!' The old man recoiled. 'You'll not be passing yourjokes on me, Sir. A book-writer--I understands. '

'No, a bookseller in earnest. I have a share in a very good businessat Bexley; I've been at it ever since I was sixteen. '

The old clerk was quite overcome; he leant upon a headstone andstared at Felix without speaking, and then it was a sort ofsoliloquy. 'To think of poor dear Master Eddard's son being come tothat! and he looking a dozen times more like a clergyman and agentleman than ever this young Mr. Fulbert will!

'Never mind, Mr. Tripp, ' said Felix; 'there's one of us on the way tobe a clergyman--Edward Clement, you know, that I wrote to you about;and maybe this fellow too. Don't look so angry with me. I was obligedto do the best I could to bring in something for the thirteen of us. '

'And we're as proud of him as can be!' added Lance, affectionatelyand indignantly. 

'Ah, well, ' said the old aristocrat, 'that may be, for you never knewthem he came of. There was my old Lady Geraldine, as was his great-grandmother, who gave a new coat or new gown to every poor body inthe parish at Christmas, and as much roast beef as they could eat;and wore a shawl as come from the Injies and cost two hundred pounds!She was a lady! Bless me, what would she have said to see the day--'

'That she was glad to have a great-grandson good for something, 'stoutly answered Lance. 'I declare, Mr. Tripp, you'd have liked himbetter if he had come a begging!'

'So I do, ' said Felix; 'and what's more, Mr. Tripp is going to refuseme because he is too fine to sit down to tea with a tradesman!'

'No, no, sir, ' said old Tripp, with tears in his eyes. 'You'll not gofor to say that. If it was the last morsel I had, I'd be proud toshare it with one of Master Eddard's sons; but I can't but think ashow we rung the bells and drunk your health when you was born, justas we did for the Prince of Wales, and how proud poor Master Eddardlooked. No doubt he was spared the knowing of it. '

'No, ' said Felix, 'it was settled with his full consent. '

Abednego seemed more distressed than ever. 'Poor Master Eddard! hemust have been brought very low. Such a gentleman as he was! Neverspoke a proud or rude word, Sir, but used to hold up his head likethe first lord in the land, and fire and colour up and start like oneof young Mr. Fulbert's thoroughbreds if any one said an impudentword. '

'That no one ever ventured, ' said Felix. 'He was as much respected atBexley--yes, and is still--as ever he could be here. I wish you couldsee my brother Edgar, he is more like him than either of us. Ah, here's the old garden gate, I wish we could go into the shrubbery. 

Tripp was rather for trying it. He said the gardeners would be gonehome, and the elder master at dinner--the younger, with his wife, wasabsent; but Felix could not bear the sense of spying, though he didnot withhold Lance from a rush into the garden paths, where he didnot discover much. Then they looked into the eddy at the meeting ofthe waters; and turning back to Tripp's neatest of kitchens, werethere regaled upon shrimps, rashers hissing from the fire, and thepeculiar native species of hot-buttered cake, which Felix recollectedas viewed in the nursery as the ne plus ultra of excellence, probablybecause it was an almost prohibited dainty. Lance was in his element, delighting himself and Miss Kerenhappuch Tripp by assisting her totoast, to butter, and even to wash up, calling Felix to witness thathe always helped Cherry in the holidays; when just as they wererising to seek the boat, Mr. Staples came climbing up the steps. 

'I thought I should find you here, ' he said. 'Mr. Underwood very muchwishes you would come and spend the rest of the evening with him. '

'The old humbug!' burst out Lance. 'You won't go, will you, Felix?'

Felix thought a moment, then walked with Mr. Staples to the corner ofthe narrow ledge in front of the cottage. 'Mr. Staples, ' he said, 'Iknow nothing about it. I trust to you to tell me whether this mantreated my father so that I ought not to accept attention from him. '

'Hm? ha? I should not say so. He treated him unkindly, ungenerously, but he hardly knew how much so, and he had the letter of the law onhis side. I verily believe he regrets it, and that your father, beingwhat he was, would be the last to wish you to hold aloof. '

'Most likely, ' said Felix. 'I am sure he forgave whatever there wasto forgive. '

'It is not my doing, I assure you. He spoke of your letters that hadgone astray, and that led to more, till when he found you were in thevillage, he said he should like to see you. He is breaking up; hisson has given him a good deal of trouble, and I believe he isaltogether concerned for what has passed. '

'And he will not suppose we want anything from him?' said Felix, withsomething of the almost unavoidable pride of independent poverty. 

'Certainly not. I have guarded against that. '

'Then I suppose we must. --That is, how is your head? are you too muchtired, Lance?'

'No, ' said Lance, almost sulkily; for he was much inclined to makefatigue a plea for escaping the 'mane nagur' and enjoying the boat, and was rather unreasonably disposed to think it all a plot on thepart of Mr. Staples for spoiling the evening. Felix might have beenequally glad of the excuse, but he believed his father would havethought this act of conciliation a duty, and followed Mr. Staplesacross the churchyard, where all the little boys in the place seemedto be playing marbles on the flagged paths. Its neglected state was apainful contrast to the exquisitely laid-out shrubbery, as trim asgardeners could make it, and improved and altered beyond Felix'srecognition. 

Entering the house, Mr. Staples led the way to the dining-room, wherethere was a large empty table in the middle of the room, and in thedeep bay of the window a smaller one, laid out with wine and dessert, where sat 'old Fulbert. ' Having always heard him so called, thebrothers were surprised to find him no more than elderly. He musthave been originally a thorough florid handsome Underwood, and hadthe remains of military bearing, though with an air of feebleness andwant of health, and a good deal of asthmatic oppression on hisbreath. He did not rise, but held out his hand, saying, 'Goodevening. Thank you for coming to see a sick man. '

'I am sorry to see you so unwell, Sir. '

'Thank you, I'm on the mend. Sit down. Take a glass of wine--claret?'

Felix accepted, wondering if his father would regard it as an act ofpardon. 

'And you?'

'No thank you, Sir. '

'No wine? You are the one that has been so ill? No objection tomelon, eh?'

And Lancelot, whose illness had left a strong hankering for fruit, was considerably appeased by the first cut into the cool buff flesh. 

'Is he the next brother to you?'

'Oh no. There are three brothers and three sisters between us. '

'And what are they doing? There were one or two with Tom Underwood. Didn't the young fellow offend him and turn out idle?'

'Not that, Sir, ' said Felix, his colour rising: 'but he had no turnfor a clerkship, and a good deal for art. He is studying at the RoyalAcademy, but there never was any quarrel; he is often at ThomasUnderwood's. '

'And the rest?'

'One has the Ewshire Scholarship at St. Cadoc's; and there's one inAustralia. '

'And this lad--what's his name?'

'Lancelot. He is in the choir school at Minsterham Cathedral, andhopes to get a scholarship. '

'Is that all of you?'

'Two more boys, quite little, and the six girls. '

'Any of them able to do anything for themselves?'

'The eldest is a teacher in a school at Bexley, ' said Felix, notdelighted with the cross-examination; and Alda, the one that livedwith the Tom Underwoods, is engaged to a man of good fortune. Thentwo of the younger ones are at schools, where an allowance is madefor poor clergyman's daughters. '

'How long has your mother been dead?'

'Four years and a half. '

'And you have managed all single-handed?'

'With my eldest sister's help, Sir. '

'Taken to the press, have you?' (Mr. Staples must have made the bestof his vocation. ) 'What's your paper?'

'The Bexley Pursuivant. Most likely you never heard of it. It isonly a little county paper;' and then feeling that to stop there wasa subterfuge, he added, 'Our main business is the retail trade. '

Mr. Underwood was chiefly intent on the next question, the politicsof the paper, though he said he need hardly ask. 'All you youngstuck-up fellows run in one team--all destructives. '

'No, no, Sir, ' broke in Mr. Staples eagerly. 'Mr. Felix is staunch tothe back-bone. '

Felix was never more tempted to deny his principles than when hefound them brought forward as a recommendation; but he could onlyexplain that the Pursuivant was an old established county gentleman'sstyle of paper, in the agricultural interest. Whereupon the Squiremounted his political hobby in such sort and with such abusiveviolence, especially as to the local representatives of the adverseparty, that Felix could not help feeling that if such were indeed theopinions of his own side, he should certainly be on the other. Onegood effect was the sparing him any more personal catechising. Mr. Underwood shouted himself weary, without requiring any reply savewhat Mr. Staple's local knowledge supplied; and when the carriage wasannounced, the guests were dismissed with a hearty shake of thehands, and invitation to call again--'It was a comfort to talk ofpublic matters to a young man of sense;' and Lance found a sovereignin his hand. He was not sure that he was obliged. 

'Well, ' said Mr. Staples, rubbing his hands with satisfaction as theydrove off, 'what do you think of the Squire?'

'He talks very loud, ' said Felix, who had for some time been watchingthe increase of Lance's headache, and now was trying to give him arest on shoulder and arm. 

Mr. Staples gave what help he could towards making the tired boycomfortable, and then returned to the subject in all their minds. 'Soyour father never told you those particulars?'

'No; I think it was his great object not to dwell on them, nor let uslook back with regret or anger. '

'Just like him. I never saw such a case, never! I'll show you aremarkable letter of his. But, first, you ought to understand the waythe matter stood. To begin with the relationship. '

'I know nothing about them, only that my father and mother weresecond cousins; but I don't even know to which of them my great-uncleUnderwood was really uncle. '

'To your mother. He had very strong feelings as to the duty of thehead of a family, and made his house a home for all that needed it. When Miss Mary was sent home an orphan from India--James's, hisfavourite brother's, child--he asked his cousin's widow, Mrs. EdwardUnderwood, to bring her boy, superintend the house, and look afterthe little girl; and she was glad enough, for the captain had died ofhis wounds at Waterloo, and she had little but her widow's pension. '

'I know, ' said Felix. 'Then whose son is the Squire?'

'The son of Lancelot, who was the second brother, between the ReverendFulbert (your great-uncle) and James, your mother's father. So he washeir-at-law, but he was a wildish sort of lad, unfit to take HolyOrders; and there came to be an understanding that if his uncle wouldbuy his commission and purchase his steps, he would not look for theRectory and the estate. On that understanding your father took Ordersand married; but on old Mr. Underwood's death there was only a draughtof a will, which he had not been in a state to execute, leaving ahandsome legacy to Fulbert, but the whole property to your father andmother. It seemed a matter of course that, as the only compensation, Fulbert should have presented his cousin Edward to the vicarage--400pounds a year; but as ill-luck would have it, he took offence at somesermon--a Lent one about self-indulgence, I believe it was--swore hewouldn't have a Puseyite parson preaching at him, and went into such arage that it is thought to be partly by way of getting off giving himthe living, and getting it held for his son. '

'I see, said Felix. 

'It was a dirty trick; and I was a younger man at the time, and itstruck me that if your father chose to try the case, the testator'sintentions being clear, and instructions in his own hand extant, itwas ten to one it might be given in his favour. I even took acounsel's opinion, thinking that at any rate an intimation that thecase was to be tried before possession was given up might bringFulbert to terms with regard to the living. '

'And he would not?'

'No. I should like to show you his letter. Would you do me the honourof dining with me to-morrow?'

Felix was obliged to mutter something about ladies and no dress-coats, but this was silenced, and he made a promise contingent onLance's fitness. He was puzzled by the relations in which Mr. Staplesseemed to stand with the lay-rector; but he found that they were notof business, only that elections and county affairs brought themtogether, and that Mr. Underwood was regarded with a sort ofcompassion by the men of his own standing, who used to go and visithim whenever they could be secure of not encountering the coldwelcome and ill-breeding of his daughter-in-law--the grievance of hislife. 

'Did you see any one you remembered?' further asked Mr. Staples. 

'One of the Miss Hepburns, who did not seem very well to know whetherto acknowledge me or not. '

'Ha, ha!' chuckled Mr. Staples. 'Queer old girls they are. Very high. Very good to the poor. All the good that is done in Vale Leston is bythem; but anything between a swell and a pauper don't exist for them. They're as poor as Job, and their pride is all they have, so theymake the most of it. '

So, after all, the day had not been quite without mortification, andFelix felt it a little more than he thought it was worth. 

Lance was a good deal excited by the sight of his ancestral home. Hehad an eye for scenery, and longed to bask in it again; boatingseemed delightful; and he was amazed, not to say elated, by thegrandeur of the house, which exceeded any--save Centry Park--in hislimited experience. His mind was set on explorations there, and onthe whole history; while Felix, to whom all was less new and moresorrowful, was inclined to hang back from any unwise awakening ofunsettling regrets; but there was no declining Mr. Staples' kindness, and he had much desire to see the letter. So the two youths put ontheir Sunday coats, assisted one another's ties, and looked eachother well over before encountering the formidable mass of ladiesFelix had seen in church, and about whom he was far more shy thanLance, who had seen a good deal more of the species at Minsterham. 

It turned out very pleasant; the frank good-natured mother anddaughters made themselves very agreeable, and though no one was aspretty as Alice Knevett, they were all so far superior to her inmanner and cultivation that the mixing with them could not fail tosoften any sting of disappointment that might remain. Lance was mademuch of as an invalid, and very much liked the privileges that didnot hinder an evening game of croquet, since Mr. Staples evidentlyintended his conference with Felix to be tete-a-tete. 

It took place in a pleasant little study, fitted with green moroccoand walnut, that spoke well for the solicitor's taste and prosperity, and looking out on the pretty lawn, with the long shadows of thetrees, the croquet players flitting about, and the sea glittering inthe distance. 

The letter was ready, folded up lengthwise and docketed, businessfashion; but when opened, the familiar handwriting seemed to bringback the father, even to the sound of his voice. 

Vale Leston Rectory, 18th January. 

MY DEAR STAPLES--My wife and I feel greatly obliged, to you for yourgood-will and zeal on our behalf, and have not for a moment justifiedyour dread of being thought officious. In other circumstances, Imight be tempted to fight the battle; but it is impossible forseveral reasons. Were we the losers, we should be totally unable topay the costs, and a load either of debt or obligation would be aburthen we have no right to assume. Moreover, the uncertainty of ourposition pending the decision would be as mischievous to myself as tothe parishioners. It would destroy any fitness to be their Vicar, whether we gained or not. The holding the Rectory is in itself anabuse; and now that the grapes are sour, I am glad not to encounterthe question of conscience, and so shall not adopt any means--to mymind doubtful--for bringing it on myself. This being the case, youwill see that the idea of alarming Fulbert Underwood falls to theground. Supposing he were coerced into the compromise, what apleasing pair--squire and parson--would be the result! No, my kindfriend, be content to see things remain as they are. We carry with usthe certainty of our good uncle's kindness, and the non-fulfilment ofhis intentions is clearly providential. I have heard of a promisingcuracy, where I shall get the training I need after feeling my wilfulway as I have done here. My wife, being the expectant heiress andlay-rectoress, shall write to satisfy you that she is not sufferingfrom my coercion. --Yours, most sincerely obliged, E. F. UNDERWOOD. 

And on another sheet followed:--

DEAR MR. STAPLES--I think my husband is quite right, and that to goto law would only make things much worse. It is very kind in you, butI really do not care about anything so long as I have my husband andchildren, and can feel that my dear uncle meant all that was kind. Indeed, I really think my husband enjoys the prospect of a new andmore active kind of work. He is sure to be happy anywhere, and aslong as that is the case, all will be right; and he says that it willbe much better for the children not to grow up in luxury. With manywarm thanks. --Yours very truly, M. W. UNDERWOOD. 

'May I copy them?' asked Felix, looking up with his eyes fuller oftears than suited his reserved disposition. 

His father's letter, full of his constant brave cheerfulness in self-abnegation, had not overcome him like the few words that brought backthe lovely young mamma he now remembered at Vale Leston, but whom hehad too soon known only as the patient, over-tasked, drudging mother, and latterly in the faded helpless invalid. How little she hadguessed the life that was before her!

Mr. Staples readily supplied him with the materials, adding, 'I willtake care you have the letters by and by. I value them too much topart with them in my lifetime. ' And presently he interrupted Felix'swriting by saying, 'I much wished to have seen Mr. And Mrs. EdwardUnderwood again, but it seemed to me that they were unwilling to keepup a correspondence. '

'They were so busy, ' said Felix. 

'No doubt; and I thought they might feel a visit an intrusion. Otherwise, I often thought of running down from town. '

'My father would have been very glad. '

'I did wish to have seen him again--and your mother, almost a childas she was even at that time, with her flock of pretty children. Ishall never forget her--the beauty and darling of all theneighbourhood as she used to be. All we young men used to rave abouther long before she was out. ' Mr. Staples smiled at somerecollection, and added, 'I never spoke to her four times in my life;but I was as bad as any of them--presumptuous as you may think it. '

'I am glad you did not see her again, ' burst from Felix, the tearsstarting forth as he copied her hopeful words. 'She altered sadly. '

'Ah! indeed. '

The concerned tone forced Felix to add, 'It came so much more heavilyon her than on any of us, care and work and years of seeing myfather's health failing; and in the last week of his life she had afall, that brought on softening of the brain. '

Somehow, the whole had never struck him as so piteous before as inthe contrast with her youthful brightness, and when he saw Mr. Staples greatly affected. He could only write on through a mist oftears, while the solicitor walked about the room, blowing his noseviolently, and muttering sentences never developed; till at last hecame behind Felix's chair, and laying his hand on his shoulder, said, 'After all, it will come round. You are next heir. '

'Heir? There's Fulbert Underwood!' exclaimed Felix. 

'True; but he's been some years married, and there's no sign of afamily. Depend upon it, we shall see Vale Leston come back yet. '

'It would make no difference now, ' muttered Felix, as he traced hismother's fearless lines; nay, if he had a personal thought, it was ofwhat he might have ventured towards Alice Knevett. 

'Not to them, ' said Mr. Staples, 'but a good deal to you, my youngfriend. '

'Now, Mr. Staples, ' said Felix, smiling, 'aren't you doing our bestto unsettle a young man in business?'

'Well, well, you are too reasonable. A contingency--only acontingency. But I should like to show you. ' And he hastily sketcheda pedigree that had at least the advantage of showing Felix hisrelationships. 

Rev. Lancelot. |_________________________________________________ | | | |Rev. Fulbert. Lancelot | | | |Rev. Fulbert. _______Lancelot_____James U. Lancelot_________Thomasd 1843. | | | | | | | | Fulbert Mary Wilmet Thomas Rev. Edward | m. Edward U. M. Mary Kedge m. Mary Wilmet | | | Underwood Rev. Fulbert | | Felix, etc. Mary Alda Underwood

'There! Through your mother you stand next in the line--are heir-at-law, you see. May I live to see that day! That's all. '

The thought did not affect Felix much at the moment. He was too fullof what might have been, and the 'contingency' was such a remote one!So after answering to the best of his ability whether any of hissisters were like his mother, he was glad to get out, and forget itall in croquet. His musical capacities were discovered too; but theattempt to profit by them proved quite too much for Lance, to whosebrain the notes of the piano were absolute and severe pain. 

A formal little note came on the ensuing morning, in which 'theMisses Hepburn'--in the third person--requested the favour of thecompany of Mr. Felix Underwood and his brother at luncheon. Felixfelt a little stung. He could recollect warm passages between theladies and his mother, and had been their pet long enough to wonderat this cold reception, and question whether it were not moredignified to reject advances made in such a manner; but his heartyearned towards those who had been kind to him in his youth, and hebelieved that his mother would have wished him to renew theintercourse, and therefore decided upon going, but it was too hot andsunny a day for Lance to walk, and Felix so entirely expected thevisit to be wearisome and disagreeable, if not mortifying, that hecould only resolve on it as a duty, and would not expose his brotherto it. 

So he plodded off alone, and a curious visit he had. It was not easyfor him to guess at the sacredness of those traditions of gentilityand superiority that the 'Misses Hepburn' held--not so much for theirown sakes as in faithful loyalty to the parents many years dead, andto the family duty that imposed a certain careful exclusiveness onthem in deference to the noble lineage they could reckon, and thehead of the house, whom none of them had ever seen. He could not haveguessed the warm feeling towards 'dear Mary' that had struggled sohard with the sense of duty, and had gained the victory over thesoreness at the dropping of correspondence, and the idea that it wasa dereliction to bend to one 'who had lowered himself, ' as Mrs. Fulbert Underwood said he had. 

What he saw was a tiny drawing-room, full of flowers and gimcracks, and fuller of four tall angular women, in dark dresses in the rear ofthe fashion, and sandy hair. They had decided in council, or ratherMiss Isabella had decided for them, that since he was to be received, they would remember only his gentle blood; and therefore they shookhands with him, and the difference of the clasp alone could haveshown the difference of character--the patronising, the nervous, thetenderly agitated, the hearty. 

He found them better informed than the Squire had been as to thecondition of the family--at least, so he presumed from the text oftheir inquiries. Not a word did they say of his own employment--itwas to be treated as a thing not to be spoken of; but the welfare ofthe others was inquired after, and especially of Robina--who was thename-child of the eldest sister, the gentlest of the set, and themost in the background, quiet and tearful--pleased to hear that hergodchild was at school, and as Felix emphatically said 'a very goodgirl, ' anxious that he should take charge of 'a little token' forher. 

The little token turned out to be Ministering Children; and thisgave Felix a further hint, which prepared him for the tone in whichsome of his information was received, when he had only mentionedGeraldine as gone for health's sake to the St. Faith's Sisterhood. 

The ladies looked at one another, Miss Isabella cleared her throat, and he knew a warning was coming; so he quickly said, 'One of theladies, a clergyman's widow, was very kind to my father in hisillness, and is really the best friend we have left in England. '

'Your dear father was too much inclined to those specious doctrinesthat are only too fascinating to youth. I hope you do not outrunhim. '

'I hope not, ' said Felix, very sincerely; and he then succeeded ininteresting his monitor by speaking of Fulbert, and using him as abridge to lead to an account of Mr. Audley's Australian doings. 

It was altogether a stiff uncomfortable visit; the very politeness ofthe good ladies made Felix feel that they viewed his position asaltered, and he could not but feel a strong hope that he should neveragain have to make this offering at the shrine of ancient friendship. 

On coming home in the evening, Felix found a note on the table. 

'Croquet to wit?' asked Lance, as Felix tried to read it by thealmost vanished twilight. 

'What's this?'

'We hope you and your brother will join us in a picnic at Kitt's Headon Saturday. 

'Having discharged my ladies' commission, I proceed to that which Ihave authority from your relation for intimating to you--namely, thatfailing heirs of his own son, he has entailed the Vale Lestonproperty upon you, thus rendering its alienation by the ReverendFulbert impossible. I believe the arrangement was made within thelast week. Congratulations would hardly be suitable, but I cannotrefuse myself the pleasure of saying how sincerely I rejoice. '

'What--what?' cried Lance, jumping up. 'You to have thatsplendiferous river, and the salmon, and all. Won't you get amagnificent organ for that church?'

'My dear Lance, don't you see that all this means is, that if youngFulbert has no children, I shall come after him. '

'Oh, he won't! I'm sure he won't. Things always do come right. Oh, what a coup d'etat mine was after all! Things always do come right. You, that were born to it! Didn't old Tripp say how they had had thebells rung for you? I should like to set them going this minute!'

'They should be on your own cap, then!' said Felix, laughing and yetsharing in a castle or two--how Cherry should have a pony-carriage!how Clement should be turned loose upon the Church! how Lance shouldpursue the salmon at home and the humanities at the University! howBernard should have a real good gentleman's education--but Felix soonbrought himself back again. 'Remember, Lance, not a word of this athome or anywhere else. '

'Not tell any one ?' cried the boy, crest-fallen. 

'Don't you see, Lance, besides the impropriety of talking of whatinvolves two deaths, it would be the most senseless thing in theworld to let this make the least difference. Old Fulbert may changehis mind, or young Fulbert have a son; at any rate, he is not five-and-thirty, and just as likely as not to outlive me. '

'Fee! Fee! you are quite well, you wretched Norseman!'

'Oh! I didn't mean _that_; but anybody may outlive anybody for thatmatter. Anyway, there's no chance of any of these schemes coming topass while we are young enough to care, even if they ever do; and ifthey unsettle us now, it would be unmitigated damage. '

'I see that, ' said Lance; 'but as, by good luck, I'm No. 8, it can'tdo me much harm to think about it, and I don't see why the othersshould not. '

'Do you think some of them would be content to go on as we are doing, with this in their heads? And if any one in the town knew it, whatever I might do, people would think I was getting above mybusiness. I doubt whether even Froggy himself would have the samereliance on me. '

'Then shan't you even tell Wilmet and Cherry?'

'I hope not. I don't think Wilmet could keep it from Alda, or Cherryfrom Edgar; and just imagine what it would be to have it come roundthrough Kensington Palace Gardens that we were reckoning on it!Besides, it will make no earthly difference to anybody, unless, maybe, to Edgar's son. '

The mention of such a being brought Felix somehow to a suddensilence; and in the meantime supper and a candle were brought in, revealing a thick letter from Geraldine, which had at first escapednotice. There were two enclosures; but as Felix read her writing, hebroke out with an exclamation of consternation that startled Lance. 

'Hollo! What is it?' And as he received no answer--'Wilmet's notgiven up Jack? Eh? Nor Cherry fallen in love next? Clem hasn't turnedbare-footed friar?' crowding together the wildest suggestions hecould think of to force answer. 

'Hush! That dear child--'

'She doesn't want to be a sister? You'll tell her you'd see her atJericho first!'

'No. It is about her foot. '

'Not worse!'

'No; but, dear little thing, she wants to have it taken off, becauseshe fancies if she was more effective, it might be one difficulty outof Wilmet's way!'

'She's a blessed little brick! But would it be so?'

'Well, I remember in the time of the measles, the last time I everlet that fellow Rugg come near her, he thought proper to tellsomebody in her hearing that if she was in a fit state of health, itwould be the only remedy. She wasn't, and it was quite uncalled for, and it put the poor little thing in such an agony, that at last Sibbycame and wrapped me up in a blanket to sit by her, and talk very bigabout nobody being able to do it without my leave, and my notintending to consent to any such thing. I thought she had forgottenall about it, but it seems that she has not; and she imagines that, as she says, "with a cork foot that I could stand upon, instead ofalways keeping this one up in fear of hurting it, I could get aboutthe house with only a stick, and be of some use, and then dearMettie's happiness might not be so far off. "'

'And what does Mettie say?'

'She knows nothing; Cherry implores me not to tell her, for she saysthat it would be impossible for Mettie to come and nurse her, and shewould rather have Sister Constance than any one. '

'Than Mettie! Deluded child!' cried Lance. 

'Her great wish is to have it done now at St. Faith's. She toldClement before she left home, because she thought they would insiston some one at home knowing; but "Don't think me very sly, " she says;"I would not tell Sister Constance what was in my head till I camehere, for fear she should think it her duty to speak to Wilmet; andnow, they will not hear of it without your knowing. I did wish tohave surprised you all! About the cost I have thought. You know Dr. Lee attends me for nothing while I am here, and I told you thatSister Constance has sent up all my book of illustrations of QueenIsabel, and some of the water-coloured drawings, to her sister, LadyLiddesdale, and how much she has been getting for them--quite enoughto set me up with a foot that will not be half such a nuisance asthis old dead-alive one, which has never let me have any peace thesetwelve years. I am trying to be good; but indeed I feel as if itmight be wrong to try to be rid of my cross. So I abide by yourdecision, dear Felix. You are my king, and I put myself in yourhands; only you must not be anxious. You should have known nothing ifI could have helped it. "'

'Go on, ' grunted Lance, with his face hidden, as Felix paused. 

'That's all; but here are notes from Sister Constance and Dr. Lee. '

The Sister's explanation was that it had been entirely Geraldine'sown thought, and that her willingness and eagerness made a greatdifference in such a nature as hers. She told Felix not to think ofcoming--the fewer the better; and he could come in a few hours incase of need. It was advisable that the decision should be madequickly, since to nervous sensitiveness like Cherry's the very effortto bear suspense reacted on the bodily frame. 'If you know what Imean, ' concluded Sister Constance, 'heroism is likely to carry thelittle creature through what would be far more trying if this wereproposed to her for her own sake. '

And Dr. Lee's letter gave the medical view, decidedly inclining tothe opinion that the probabilities were in favour of the operation, and that the conditions were never likely to be more promising thanat present. 

'Dear child! I wish I were there!'

'Can't we go?'

'What, you? Think of the train. '

Lance shook his head. 'Couldn't I stay by myself, and you run up?'

'I don't think I can help it. 

But the excitement of the evening broke Lance's sleep, and the nextday he was quite ill; while Felix not only saw that he must not beleft, but perceived after the first that Sister Constance's warningought to be respected, and that an arrival would only agitateCherry's nerves. So he wrote his sanction with a very heavy heart, betraying as little emotion as was consistent with the tenderness soessential to support brave but fragile little Geraldine. 

The anxiety seemed to have swallowed up the recollection of Mr. Staples' message; indeed, it was not willingly that Felix answeredhis note, and made a half engagement to the picnic. 

Felix was struck by seeing how much, under the circumstances, Lancemissed the daily service to which he had been used all his life. 

'I didn't mind it at first, ' said the chorister, 'it seemed a part ofthe holiday; but somehow the day seems all stupid and astray withoutit. '

But there was no church with it to be heard of; and indeed oneattempt on Sunday at East Ewmouth resulted in Lance's collapsing intosome of his most distressing symptoms, caused, as he declared, by theoverpowering might and untuneableness of the singing, but quite badenough to make Felix resolve against permitting further experiments, and thus walk off by himself on the next Wednesday forenoon when heheard the bell. 

There was a long lecture that he had not bargained for, and when hecame out with a slightly impatient impulse, the first thing he sawwas a blue umbrella, a white hat, and a hand waving a paper. Insilence Felix read--

'Constance Somerville to Felix Underwood. --11. 30. Favourably over. Nocause for anxiety. '

They were rather grave and awe-struck, and scarcely spoke all the wayhome--indeed, Felix was chiefly thinking how to get Lance home out ofthe sun without hurrying or over-heating him, but after dinner came areaction; the boy went frantic with admiration of a beautiful yachtthat was standing into the bay, and Felix, with his letter to SisterConstance to write, one to Australia to finish, and his leadingarticles to draw up, was forced to command peace in something of theold rough-and-ready style; and even when Lance vanished, he was to beheard singing scraps of comic songs in the distance. 

By and by he came in carrying a board taller than himself. 'Pleaseyour Majesty, I'll be as mute as a mole; but I must do this here, forMrs. Pettigrew is baking. '

'What in the name of wonder, have you got there?' asked Felix, asLance proceeded to lay his board on the sofa (his day and Felix'snight--bed) and place on it a white and soppy mass. 

'A little dab out, as Sibby calls it, ' said Lance. 'It's my puggery. Ever since it fell overboard it has been a disgrace to human nature, so I have been washing it, and now I've got an iron heating. '

'What a mess you will make of it!' observed Felix, with a grimace ofdisgust, as Lance returned again from the kitchen, holding the ironscientifically near his cheek. '

'That's all you know about it! Why, I've ironed dozens of pocket-handkerchiefs--at least, not dozens, but my own, dozens of times--inthe Harewood tubs. '

'I thought the Chapter washed you?'

'So it does, in reason; but last spring there was a doom on mypocket-handkerchiefs. The Harewood puppy ate up one; one dropped intothe canal; I tied up a fellow that had got a cut with one, and thebeggar never returned it; and two or three more went I don't knowhow. I knew W. W. Would be in a dreadful state if I asked for a freshlot, so I used to wash out the last two by turns, till I got some tipand bought some fresh ones--such jolly ones, all over acrobats andBritish flags; and after all, didn't I catch it? Wilmet was no end ofdisgusted to miss her little stupid speckotty ones, vowed theseweren't decent for the Cathedral, and boned them all for Theodore!Now, hush! or I shall come to grief!'

Felix held his pen suspended to watch the dexterity that reduced thecrude mass to smooth muslin, which in its expanded state looked asimpracticable as before. 

'Now, do you mean to get Mrs. Pettigrew to put it on in those elegantfestoons?'

'You just mind your leader, Blunderbore! A man who has had women todo for him all his life is a pitiable being!'

And Lance, according to instructions obtained from John Harewood, wreathed his hat triumphantly in the white drapery, and completedFelix's surprise and amusement by producing a needle and thread, andsetting to work on various needful repairs of his own buttons and hisbrother's, over which he shook his head in amusement as he chuckledat the decay which had befallen the garments of so neat a personageas Felix, and which had been very distressing to himself. 

'Ah! thank you. I never knew what Robinson Crusoe felt like before!'said Felix, as Lance came on a wrist-band minus button. 

'Robinson Crusoe! You'd soon have been like Man Friday before hecaught him. '

'But doesn't the matron mend for you?'

'She pretends; but I should like to see her face if one brought her achance thing to do. My eyes! if that isn't old Staples! I mustabsquattilate. '

Which after all he had no time to effect, with all his works, beforetheir friend came to ask whether they were relieved about theirsister, and was amused at the handy little schoolboy's ingeniouspreparations. 'After all, I find it is to be more of an affair than Iexpected; I thought it was to be only ourselves and the Brandons, butthey are the kind of people who always pick up every one. '

'Does that yacht belong here?' eagerly asked Lance. 

'That! It is the Kittiwake--Captain Audley's. '

'Ha! That's what Fulbert went to Alexandria in! What fun!'

'He is the son of Sir Robert Audley. Do you know him?'

'His brother was my father's fellow-curate, ' said Felix, 'and is ourguardian and kindest friend. I have seen this one in London. Will hebe at this picnic?'

'Not likely. He is shy and uncertain, very hearty and friendly whenyou do meet him, but reluctant to go into society, and often takingno notice one day, when he has seemed like one's best friend the daybefore. They say he has never got over the loss of his wife; but Idon't like such manners. '

'Does he live here, then!'

'He rents the little Tudor cottage under the cliff year by year, forthe sake of his yachting--for he won't go near the regular stations. He's got his boy at school at Stoneborough, and stays here all thewinter. '

When the brothers were walking part of the way back with theirvisitor, they met the gentleman in question, with three boys afterhim, and he was evidently in a cordial mood; for after shaking handswith Mr. Staples, he exclaimed, 'I am sure I ought to know you!'

'Felix Underwood, ' said the owner of that name. 

'_Indeed_! Not staying with your worthy relations?'

'No, I am down here with my brother, who has been laid up by asunstroke, and wanted sea air. '

'I wish I had been at home' said the Captain, who had taken a greatfancy to Felix when they had been together in London two yearsbefore; 'but I've been giving my boy and his cousins, the two youngSomervilles, a trip to the Hebrides; and now, just as I am come home, I fall upon Mrs. Brandon, hounding me out to an abominable picnic, and my youngsters are wild to go. Are you in for it? I believe weshall go round to the cove in the yacht. Can I take you two?'

Felix gladly accepted, aware that their transport was a difficulty tothe Stapleses, and that the Kittiwake would be felicity to Lance, who had fraternised with the boys, and went off with them to see thevessel. He returned brimful of delight and fatigue, only just in timeto tumble into bed as fast as possible, and Felix was thus able toget his work off his mind by midnight. 

The morning's letters set them quite at rest. Sister Constance andClement both wrote: Geraldine had been calm and resolute from thetime Felix's consent arrived, and doubt was over, and Clement, thoughtender, and striving hard to be firm, had been chiefly useful incalling out her words of encouragement. He had spent the time of theoperation in the oratory, and there had been so entirely overcome bythe tidings that all was safely over, that he was hardly fit to go toCherry when he was sent for, and that was not soon, for the effect ofchloroform on her had indeed been to annihilate pain, but only halfto make her unconscious, for she went on talking to Felix about theexpedience all the time, ever repeating the old motto, 'Under Wode, Under Rode;' and the trance had lasted for a good while, though whenonce over, she remembered nothing of it, and was only so rejoiced andthankful that it was difficult to keep her calm enough. She sent herbrothers her love, and entreated them not to say a word at home. LadyLiddesdale had contrived the sale of the book of illustrations--awork that had been Cherry's delight of many years, so that she couldfeel that she herself had earned what would cover the expenseincurred, all but the medical attendance, freely given to an inmateof St. Faith's. 'Tell Felix I am as happy as a queen, ' was the finalmessage; 'tell him to give thanks for me. '

Felix's voice trembled, shook, and gave way, as he read; and at lasthe sprang up, and walked about the room, saying that no one ever hadsuch brothers and sisters as himself. There was something almostoppressive in the relief from so much anxiety, and it was some timebefore he roused his ordinary senses to say, 'Well! we must finishbreakfast, or we shan't be ready for the Captain. How round the worldis! Those boys must be Sister Constance's nephews--Lady Liddesdale'ssons. '

'Those boys, ' said Lance. 'What, Sum and Frank? Well, I did think itqueer that the sailors on board the Kittiwake called every one MyLord. '

'Sum, I imagine, must mean Lord Somerville. What did you think ofthem?'

'Nicish chaps of eleven and twelve. Nothing like such swells as TomBruce! The little one wanted to know where I was at school, and hissenior snubbed him; so I supposed he saw by the looks of me that Iwasn't upper-crust public school; and when I said I was a choir-boy, the other--Charley Audley--said, "Oh, then you're one of the awfullot my father always jaws about when he's out of sorts!" I told him Iwas very sorry, and it wasn't my fault, but yours; and then we got onlike a house on fire. '

CHAPTER XXI

A KETTLE OF FISH

'Our Pursuivant at arms will show Both why we came and when we go. ' SCOTT. 

The place of the picnic was a good way off, being the point of thepromontory that shut in the mouth of the river, a great crag, with along reef of rocks running out into the sea, playfully called theKitten's Tail, though the antiquarians always deposed that the headhad nothing to do with cats or kits, but with the disposition toerect chapels to St. Christopher on the points of land where theymight first greet the mariners' eyes. Beneath this crag, sheltered bythe first and larger joints of the Kitten's Tail, was a delightfulsandy nook, where appeared a multitude of smart hats, male andfemale, a great many strangers even to Captain Audley, who would fainhave recognised none of them. In a strong access of his almost morbidsilence, he devoted himself to Felix, and kept aloof from almostevery one. Even at the dinner, spread on a very sloping bit of beach, picnic exigencies enabled him to be nearly tete-a-tete with Felix, who found himself almost back to back to a lady in a brilliantforeign pheasant's plume, with glass dew-drops at the points. 

In a pause of their own conversation, they heard the inquiry, 'Do youknow who that boy is--that fair delicate-looking lad just opposite, with the white muslin round his hat?'

'Oh--that!' answered the pheasant lady; 'that is young LordSomerville, son to the Marquess of Liddesdale. He and his brother, Lord Francis, have been out yachting with Captain Audley. '

The Captain smiled as he looked at the boys. 'Ay, ' he observed, witha flash of his bright dark eyes, ' he has the advantage over Sum. '

For Lance had resumed his lark-like air, and it was perhaps the morestriking from the fragility and transparency that remained about hislooks; and he was full of animation, as he, with a reinforcement ofboys, clustered round a merry sunny-faced girl, full of joyousdrollery. 

'Very queer and eccentric--quite a bear, ' was the next thing theyheard; whereat Captain Audley nodded and smiled to Felix. After thegeneral turmoil caused by the change of courses had subsided, thatpenetrating voice was heard again. 'Yes, we came home sooner than wehad intended. The fact was, we found that old Mr. Underwood was beingbeset by some of those relations. You remember? Oh, yes; they havesunk very low--got into trade, absolutely got into trade! One of thema mere common singing-boy. Mr. Underwood is getting aged--quite past---and we did not know what advantage might be taken of him. '

'Your turn now, ' murmured Captain Audley, with a look of diversioncalculated to allay the wounded flush on his neighbour's cheek. 

'Do you mean Mr. Edward Underwood's sons?' said a voice on the otherside. 'I always understood them to be very respectable and wellconducted. '

'Oh, very likely! Only I do happen to know that one of them has beena great trouble and vexation to Tom Underwood; and we didn't want thesame over again with the poor old Squire. '

'Did I understand you that any of them were here?' added the othervoice; 'for I had just been struck by the likeness of that boyopposite, talking to my sister, to poor Mr. Edward Underwood, as Iremember him. '

'Oh no, Mrs. Rivers; I assure you that's young Lord Somerville!'

Captain Audley made an effort, rather difficult in his Turkishposition, to crane his head beyond the interposing figures, recognised and bowed to the speaker, who greeted him by name, andthus diminished the flow of Mrs. Fulbert Underwood's conversation byher awe of the high and mighty bear whom she scarcely knew by sight. He had no taste for scenes, and did not put either her or Felix topain by mentioning his name; but when the last act of the meal wasover, and people began to move, he made his way in the direction ofthe inquiring voice. 'Mrs. Rivers, let me introduce Mr. FelixUnderwood. '

'I am very happy--' and there was a cordial smile and a hand heldout. 'Are you here for long? My father would be so much pleased tosee you. '

It was a rather worn pale face; but the ease and sweetness of manner, and the perfect fitness of the dress, made a whole that gave Felix asense of the most perfect lady he had met with, except his mother andSister Constance. 

'I am at Ewmouth, with one of my brothers who has been ill. '

'Lord Somerville?' and all three burst out laughing. 'My sister hasfound him out, I see. She and your little boy are old friends, Captain Audley. '

'Yes, you have been very kind to him. But I am as much surprised tosee you here as you can be to see my friend. Are you from home?'

'We go back this evening. We slept at the Crewes' last night. Myhusband had business there; and when they asked us to this picnic, itwas a good opportunity for Gertrude to learn the beauties of hercounty. '

'Which she seems to be doing under full escort, ' laughed CaptainAudley, as the young lady and the young boy flock were seendescending to the rocks. 

'She has a strong taste for little boys, ' said the elder sister. 

'You have the Somerville boys here, haven't you, though?'

'Yes; there had been scarlatina or something or other in theirschool, and their mother was afraid of them among their sisters, tillI had purified them by a sea voyage. '

Probably Mrs. Fulbert never found out her mistake; for LordSomerville reported that he had never been so pitched into in hislife as by an old girl in a 'stunning tile, ' who found him washingout an empty pie-dish for the benefit of some maritime monsters thathe wanted to carry home to his sisters; but that when Lance came up, she was as meek as a mouse. Certainly, the two boys were littlesturdy fellows, burnt lobster-like up to the roots of their bleachedand rough hair; and their costumes were more adapted to the deck ofthe Kittiwake in all weathers than to genteel society. Theirsisters were in an aquarium fever, and their sport all through theirexpedition had been researches for what they had learnt in Scotlandto call 'beasts'; and now the collection was to be completed from themouth of the Ewe, and the scrambling and tumbling it involved wereenchanting. 

Kate Staples, who usually considered Lance her charge, was not sorryto see a croquet player disposed of among his own congeners, for thegame seemed such a necessary of life, that it was actually preparedfor on the sands, to the extreme contempt of the anemone hunters. 'Play at croquet, forsooth, when rocks aren't to be had to scrambleon every day!' And scramble ecstatically they did, up and overslippery stone and rock festooned with olive weed, peeping into poolsof crystal clearness, and admiring rosy fans of weed, and jewel-likeactinias embellished by the magic beauty of intense clear brightness. The boys took off shoes and stockings, turned up trousers, andscrambled and paddled like creatures to the manner born. 

'O dear! I wish I might!' sighed the young lady. 

'Why don't you?' said Charlie Audley. 'Kate and Em and Annie alwaysdo--don't they, Frank?'

'Of course they do, or how would they ever get on!'

'Come along then, Miss Gertrude, ' said Charlie. 'You can't think howjolly it is!'

And soon another pair of little white feet were dancing on the rocks. 'Oh dear! what a blunder of civilisation it is to wear shoes at all!How delicious a hold one gets!'

'I can't think why people do wear them! They never are anything but abother, ' said Lance. 

'To play at football with, ' suggested Somerville from the top of arock. 

'But women don't, ' said Gertrude. 

'I think women do it, and make us, that they may have something toworrit about, ' said Frank. 'Damp stockings are the bother of creationtill one goes to school; and then, isn't it Jolly!'

'Except the chilblains, ' called out Charlie. 

'I believe, ' said Lance, 'chilblains come of shoes. '

'No, they can't, ' argued Charlie, 'for one has them on one's hands. '

'Well, ' said Gertrude, 'let's form ourselves into a society for thesuppression of shoes and stockings!'

'Hurrah!' cried Lance. 'I know one person at least that it would be ablessing to. 

The question was, how the five bold reformers were to begin. Franksuggested drowning all the present stock, and pretended to be aboutto begin, but was of course prevented by a scream. 

'Public opinion must be prepared first, ' said Lance. 

'And that, ' said Gertrude, 'we'd better do by a great example! Here, well show what can be done. Why shouldn't we get out to the end ofthe Kitten's Tail?'

'One can't to the end, ' said Charlie; 'there's a place big enough fora gig to go through half way out. '

'And about the tide?' said Lance. 

'Tide, ' said Charlie, looking at his watch--'tide wouldn't think ofplaying us such a dirty trick as turning for an hour and a half. '

'And the jolliest beasts of all always live in places like that, 'added Somerville. 'Come on, President of the Society for theSuppression of Shoeses--to the front!'

On moved the august Society, now scrambling to a dry flat, nowthreading a mauvais pas, clinging to festoons of sea-weed; thethree little boys climbed like monkeys or sailors; but Lance, agileas he was, had not had the same amount of training, and felt besidesthat it was requisite to be ready to give a helping hand to MissGertrude. She got on very well, being full of lightness andspringiness, only she was a little inclined to be adventurous, and tochatter at critical moments. 

'We must have got out a quarter of a mile. '

'Oh no, not that!'

'No? I'm sure it is! How small they look on the beach! I wonder ifthey can see us! Hark! they're singing--'

'"Drink to me only with thine eyes:" that's Felix's crack glee, ' saidLance, 'what fun for him!'

'This is much better fun!' cried the general voice. 'They'll neversee us if we wave now!'

'No, no; don't let's wave now! Wait till we get to the farthestpoint. '

'And there we'll plant our ensign!'

'What shall we do for a flag? We haven't got the Britisher here!'

'No; it must be the flag of the SSSS's. '

'That ought to be a bit of bare skin. '

'No, no--a pair of feet--motto, "Off, vile lendings!"'

'I say, I don't think you can get any farther, ' interposedSomerville. 'I've been on four rocks farther, and I'm sure you willnever get back again if you go on. '

'Oh, that's base! I'm sure this one isn't so hard. '

She was creeping along a ledge, holding the sea-weed with one handand Lance by the other. 

'I really don't think it passable, ' he said; 'there's scarcely thewidth of one's foot beyond. '

'Hurrah!' shouted Frank. 'Here's the father of all the Daisianas!'

'Oh! oh! he's my cousin. I must see him!' cried Gertrude, with ascramble and a laugh, which ended in a sudden slip--luckily, not intothe open sea, but into a very steep-sided bath-like pool; and Lance, whom of course she gripped hard, was pulled after her, both over headand ears; and though they scrambled on their feet in a moment, therethey stood up to their shoulders in water. 

'Get the Daisiana now you are there!' shouted Frank. 

'How are we ever to get out?' said Gertrude, looking up the walls, six feet at least on the lowest side. 

'If we had a rope, ' said Charlie. 

'Make signals--call, ' said Somerville, all suiting the action to theword. 'No, they don't hear! they are all singing away. You, Franky, you're too little to be any good, make the best of your way to callsomebody. '

'The tide will come in!' said Frank. 'Mamma and Aunt Emmie were onceshut in by the tide, and Uncle Edwin. And there was a fellow who wasquite drowned--dead--and that was why I was named Francis. '

'That's what you may call a cheering reminiscence at a happy moment, 'said Lance, recollecting that he was far more nearly a man than anyone present, and instinctively feeling the need of brightening allinto cheerful activity, for the girl looked thoroughly frightened. 'Yes, Lord Frank, the best thing you can do is to go for somebody;but we'll be out long first. Can't we make a rope! Have you a sash oranything Miss Gertrude? Don't fear, we'll soon be out. '

Happily she had both a sash and a broad ribbon round her hat; andLance tore off his puggery. 

'I can do it best, ' called Charlie. 'I know all the sailors' knots. '

'It will never bear, ' said Gertrude. 

'Oh yes, it will. You'll not trust your whole weight to it. Is itdone?'

'Besides, how can they draw me up?'

'We'd best get behind that rock, Sum, ' suggested Charlie, 'then shewon't pull us in. '

Charlie's sailor experience was very useful; and he shouted advice toLance, who was tying the extemporary rope round Gertrude, not veryeasily, owing to the material, and to its being done under water. 

'Now, then, you do your best at climbing--here, ' he said. 'They'llpull you; and look! There, first my knee--yes--now my shoulder--now--' And standing for a moment on his shoulder, Gertrude was reallyable with a desperate grapple to surmount the wall of her prison, andscramble out beside the two cousins, whose pulls had been veryhelpful. 

Lance's clambering was a harder matter, for he did not venture totrust much to the rope, though the girl's strength was added to thatof the two boys; and it was a severe climb up the scarcely indented, slippery, moist, slimy rock, where his hands and feet could hardlyfind any hold; and when at length he reached the top, he was sopanting and dizzy, that Somerville at first held him to hinder hisslipping backward into the sea. No one could get at King or QueenDaisiana, so it was left in its glory; while the young peoplestruggled back over rocks that seemed much steeper, and pools fardeeper, than in their advance; Lance still trying to be helpful, butwith a mazed sense of the same sort of desperate effort with which hehad run back with Bill's verses; for not only had his small strengthbeen overtaxed, but the immersion in water was affecting his head. 

Lord Francis had made much quicker progress; and boy as he was, showed his breeding by not rushing open-mouthed on the party with hisintelligence, but seeking the Captain, who was smoking the pipe ofsolitude upon a rock apart. He at once sent Frank to the servants, who were enjoying the relics of the feast, to fetch some wine, andtell the boat's crew to make ready at once, and then went off himselfto seek Mrs. Rivers. Felix, who had spied the little messengerspeeding up to the Captain, was already on his way to the rocks, andreached the party in good time; for draggled, drenched, and withclinging garments, they were so slow in getting on, that it was nodelusion that the water was higher, and the rocks lower; and evenGertrude had neither breath nor spirits to gabble when that graveanxious face met her, and a strong careful hand lifted and helped, first her, then Lance, up and down every difficulty; and when sheperceived how the newcomer avoided point-blank looking at the bareancles that had sometimes to make long stretches, a burning red cameup into her face, half of shame, half of indignation at being madeashamed. And after all, when the place where her hose and shoon hadbeen left was reached, the niched shelf in the rock turned out tohave been surrounded by the tide, so that they were quiteunattainable either by herself or the little boys; and Felix, puttingthe arm by which Lance had held by him over Somerville's shouldertold them to go on before, and himself made two long strides and ascramble before he could reach the boots and stockings, and give themto the young lady, unable to help looking nearly as grave and vexedas if it had been Angela herself; indeed, he was vexed, for he had anideal of the young ladyhood of his mother's old native region, anddid not like it to be disturbed. He moved away far enough for her tothink he had left her to her fate, till she was on her feet andcoming on, and then there he was again, in a moment the attentivesquire. Revived by her short rest, and on less perilous ground, sheglanced at his face in readiness to disperse her discomfort withsomething saucy, but somehow, it would not do; and she was tamelyconducted to terra firma, where her sister saluted her with 'O Daisy!what a child you are to have charge of!'

That restored her enough to answer, 'I'm quite delighted somethingshould have happened under your keeping! No harm done. Salt waternever gives cold. '

'I don't mind it for you, ' said the elder sister; 'you have not beenill. --But indeed, Mr. Underwood, I am very sorry, ' she added. 'Whatwill be best for your brother?'

'Here!' said Captain Audley, taking from Frank a flask of sherry, andoverruling the objection made by the brothers that stimulants wereforbidden. He further insisted on taking Lance at once to his ownberth on board the yacht while Mrs. Rivers meant to conduct hersister to the preventive house. 

'So, ' said Lance, rather ruefully, as he shook hands, 'there ends theSSSS. '

'Not at all! Its use is proved. We should have been cooked by thistime in the Daisiana cauldron, if we had had great cumbrous bootson. '

It was a valiant effort, and she cast a glance out of the corner ofher eye at the elder brother, but it had not relaxed a muscle of hisgrave anxious face, which was in truth chiefly bent on watchingLance's involuntary shiverings; and she again turned crimson, perhapsfrom her share of the chill, and was dragged off, muttering, 'Whatintolerable folks guardian brothers are! Henry Ward was a mildspecimen compared to this one!'

About noon on the following day, Mrs. Pettigrew's little girlabruptly opened the parlour door, and with 'Please, ye're wanted, 'turned in a tall, thin, grey-haired, spectacled gentleman, who, asLance started up from the sofa, exclaimed, 'Don't disturb yourself; Icame to thank you, and inquire after you after the adventure my mad-cap daughter led you into. '

'I hope she is all right, ' said Lance, solicitously. 

'As right as Daisiana himself; more so than I fear you are. Let mesee you comfortable. Lie down again, pray. '

'Oh, I don't care about lying down, thank you, Sir; I only sleep forwant of something to do;' but though he did not put his feet up, hewas feeling far too languid not to relax his bolt-upright attitude, and lean back on his pillows. 

'That will do. Bad headache?'

'It is nearly gone off now, thank you, Sir; it was bad all night, butit is much better since I have been asleep. '

'Let me see, ' laying his left hand on the wrist that hung over theedge of the sofa. 'Ay, I hope that wicked little siren has done nogreat damage. Pulled you below, true mermaid fashion--eh?'

'I meant to have pulled her out. '

'Instead of which she made a lad into a ladder to climb out on. 'Which bad pun served the purpose of making the boy laugh enough to beat his ease. 'She is much indebted, and so am I. I like to meet anold friend's son. Are you alone?'

'My brother is only gone to the post-office. He will be in beforelong; but it saves a post to take the letters before twelve, and heought to be out as much as he can. '

'Is he here on his own account, or yours?'

'He came down first, before I was ill. It was bother and overwork anda cough. Everything always does come to worry him, whenever he oughtto have rest or pleasure. ' And Lance who was thoroughly weary anddispirited, was nearly ready to cry. 

'Even when he goes out for a picnic, young ladies must needs drownthemselves!'

This made Lance smile; but he added, with a quivering lip, 'He wouldnot go to bed till I could go to sleep last night, and that was nottill past two, and he looks quite done up this morning. '

'Is any one attending you?'

'Dr. Manby did at Minsterham--nobody here. '

'What's been amiss with you--fever?'

'Plenty of fever, but it was from sun-stroke. '

'Ah! you boys have thinner skulls than we used to have! How longago?'

'Seven weeks yesterday, ' said Lance, wearily. 

'And you are sadly weary of weakness?'

'I don't mind that so much;' and the kindness of face, voice, andgesture made the poor boy's eyes overflow; 'but I'm no good, and Ican't tell whether I ever shall be again!'

'It is a great deal too soon to trouble yourself about that. '

'That's what they all tell me!' cried Lance impatiently, and thetears rushed forth again. 'Manby only laughs, and tells me I shall bea Solon yet if I don't vex myself; and how can I tell whether hemeans it?'

'Well, dear boy, have it all out; I promise to mean whatever I say. '

'You are a doctor then, Sir?'

'What!' the boy doesn't know me, as sure as my name's Dick May!'

'Oh!' cried Lance, 'that was what I heard Felix saying to CaptainAudley--that he did so wish Dr. May could look at me!'

'That's all right, then. Come, then, what is weighing on you--weakness?'

'Just not weakness, ' said Lance. 'I didn't care so much when I couldscarcely get about; but now I can walk any distance, and still I havenot a bit more sense!'

'Is your memory gone?'

'I don't think so; only, if I fix my mind to recollect, and itdoesn't come by chance, I'm all abroad, and perfectly senseless andidiotic!'

'And it brings on pain?'

'Yes, if I try five minutes together. '

'You don't try to read or write?'

'I can't--and--' then came the tears again-- 'music is just like red-hot hammers to me. ' There was a great fight with sobs, ratherpuzzling to one who did not know what music was to the chorister. 'And what is to be the end of it?'

'That rest and patience will make you as well as ever. '

'Do you really think so? But, Sir, I have a little brother seven anda half years old, with no understanding at all--not able to speak;and if there were two of us on Felix's hands like that! If I couldonly be put away somewhere, so that Felix should not have the burthenof me!'

'My poor little fellow! Is this what is preying on you all thistime?'

'Not always--only when I am doing nothing, and that is most times, 'he said, dejectedly; but the Doctor smiled. 

'Then you may take the very anxiety as a proof that your brain isrecovering. You cannot expect to shake off the effects quickly; butif you are only patient with yourself, you will do perfectly well. Are you a son of the clergy?'

'No, I am a chorister at Minsterham. I have another year there, whenI can go back, if ever--'

'Don't say if ever! You will, if you only will keep from fretting andhurrying, and will accept that beautiful motto of the Underwoods. '

Lance smiled responsively, and said more cheerfully, 'You are quitesure, Sir. '

'As sure as any man can be, that there is no reason to anticipatewhat you dread. It is quite possible that you may be more or lessliable to bad headaches, and find it needful to avoid exposure tosummer sunshine; but I should think you as likely to do your work inthe world as any one I ever saw. '

The light on Lance's face did not wholly spring from this reply. With'There's Felix!' he had bounded out of the room the next moment, andhis incautious voice could be heard through the window--'Fee, Fee, here's her father! that brick of a Miss Gertrude's, I mean. He's asjolly as he ought to be, and knew all our people. But just--I say--how's Cherry?'

'All well; here's a note from the dear little thing herself, ' saidFelix; and in another moment, with his bag strapped over hisshoulder, he had brought the bright sedateness of his face into thelittle parlour. 'Dr. May! how very kind in you!'

'Not kindness, but common propriety, to come and see how muchmischief my naughty child had done. '

'I don't think there's any real mischief, ' said the elder brother, looking at the much-refreshed face. 

'I think not, and so am free to be glad of the catastrophe that hasbrought me in the way of an old friend. Yes, I may say so, for I musthave known you!'

'Yes, ' said Felix, 'we used to watch for you when you came to myuncle. You always had some fun with us. '

'I remember a pair of twins, who were an irresistible attraction. Ihope they have grown up accordingly. You look as if you ought to havepretty sisters. '

Felix laughed, and said the twins were reckoned as very pretty. 

'How many of you are there--was it not thirteen? Did not those boysget the clergy-orphan?'

'One did, thank you. He is on a farm in Australia now, and I amthinking whether to try for little Bernard; but I am afraid his casewould be a stale one, being of seven years' standing. '

'If you want it done, my daughter, Mrs. Rivers, is a dragon ofdiplomacy in canvassing; but why not send him to Stoneborough?Cheviot takes a selection of cleric's sons at 30 pounds, and wewould have an eye to him. '

'Thank you, if we can only manage it; but I must see what my sistersays--our financier. '

'One of those little apple-blossom twins? Let me look at you. Do youmean to tell me that this fellow has been the whole standby of thatlong family these seven years?' he added, turning to Lance. 

'To be sure he has!' cried Lance, eagerly. 

'Lance, ' said Felix, rather indignantly. 'You forget Wilmet. AndThomas Underwood entirely educated two of us. '

'And, ' said the Doctor, looking oddly but searchingly from one to theother, 'you've been the bundle of sticks in the fable. Never gonetogether by the ears? Ah!' as both brothers burst out laughing at thequestion, 'I'd not have asked if I had not seen how you could answer. I've seen what makes me so afraid of brothers in authority that itdoes me good to look at you two. '

Felix looked up. The Stoneborough murder case was about two yearsold, and of course he had to study and condense the details, and hadcome on the names of Dr. May and his son in the evidence. 

The further words met his sudden conjecture. 'Ay, boys, you littleknow what you may be spared by home peace and confidence! Well, andwhat may you be doing, Felix? Your bag looks as if you had turnedpostman to the district. '

'There's my chief business, Sir, coupled with bookselling andstationery, ' said Felix, as he pushed across a copy of thePursuivant that lay on the table. 'I have been well paid from thefirst, and am in partnership now, so we have got along very well. '

'Ay, ay! Very good trade, I should think? You must send me yourpaper, Felix; I want one I can trust to lie about the house. '

'You will find it very stupid and local, Sir. '

It was curious how what from Mr. Staples was answered with an effort, seemed from Dr. May to draw out confidence. One point was, that Mr. Staples never seemed sure how to treat him, and often betrayed a tearof hurting his feelings; while with Dr. May he was himself andnothing else. The Doctor stayed to share their dinner, such as it wasin consideration of their being lodgers as didn't give trouble--i. E. Some plain boiled fish, fresh indeed, but of queer name and quality, and without sauce, and some steak not distantly related to an oldshoe; but both seemed to think so little about it, that the Doctor, who was always mourning over the daintiness of the present day, approved them all the more. 

Just as they had finished Captain Audley came in with his boys, ontheir way to start off the Somervilles by the train, and it wasagreed that when he took his son back to school at Stoneborough, Felix and Lance should come with him and spend the day. 

And a pleasant day it was, as pleasant as the unsettled wanderings ofa long day in a strange place could be, and memorable for one curiousfact--namely, that for the first time in her life Gertrude May wasshy!

Not with Lance. She had a good deal of pastime with him in the coolgarden, while Felix was being walked over the schoolyards in the sun;and they were excellent friends, though Ethel certainly had a certainrepugnance to the discovery of how big a boy it was with whomGertrude had danced barefooted on the rocks. Of course Ethel was thekindly mistress of the house as usual, but she was worn and strainedin spirits just then, and disinclined to exert herself beyond theneedful welcome to her father's guests. So she let them all go out, and went on with her own occupations, thinking that it was well thatDaisy should take her part in entertaining guests, since 'that boy'was evidently a thorough little gentleman; and then shrinking alittle as she heard their voices over Aubrey's museum, including theCoombe Hole curiosities. 

No, it was not towards Lance that Daisy was shy; but when all satround the dinner-table, she was unusually silent, and listened to theconversation far more than was her wont, though it was chieflypolitical. When Felix spoke to her, she absolutely coloured rosy redand faltered, unable to conquer the shamefacedness that theirencounter had left her, and when the party had taken leave, and shewas standing in the twilight, Ethel, to her great surprise, found thechild quietly crying. 

'Nothing!' she said, angry at being detected. 

'It can't be nothing. '

'Yes it is. Only I do so hate--hate myself for being a tomboy!'

'One often does go on with that a little too long, and then comes thehorrible feel. '

'And that it should have happened with him of all people in theworld!'

'Ah, Daisy, I wish I had come out with you!'

'Fudge, Ethel! Not to-day. Do you think I care about that boy? Ishould think not! But--but--I wanted to think him a nasty prig, but Ican't!'

'Who?'

'Why, that eldest brother. When he found me scrambling about with mystockings off, he didn't speak, but he looked, as Richard might, surprised and sorry. I thought it was impertinent--at least I wantedto, but-- And now he'll always think me--nasty!'

'My dear, if one must have a lesson of that kind, it is as well itshould be from some one that one is never likely to see or hear ofagain. '

'Oh! but not from the very best and noblest of people one ever willhear of. Yes, Ethel, I'm not gone mad! That boy has been telling meall about his brother; and indeed I never did hear or know about anyone who was a real hero in a quiet way! No, whenever I hear of ahero, I shall think of Mr. Underwood. And, oh dear, that I shouldhave made such a goose of myself!'

It was quite unaffected--a spark of real reverence had lighted atlast on Gertrude's mind. 'To turn tradesman for the sake of one'sbrothers and sisters, that I do call heroic!' she said; andmaintained his cause, even to putting down F. U. As her 'favouritehero' in lists of likes and dislikes. 

But there was no great chance of Gertrude again encountering herhero, for the morning after their day at Stoneborough Lance wasbeginning to experiment on his powers by skimming newspapers, especially the Pursuivant, because he knew it before, all but thelast local items, that could only be added at the moment of going topress. Suddenly he broke out, 'Holloa! you never told me this!Mowbray Smith has put his foot in it this time. '

'What?' said Felix, pausing in the act of opening an envelope fromMr. Froggatt. 

'Pocketing the coal and school money--ay, and the alms. '

'Eh? Impossible! Let me look. '

'There. A letter signed "Scrutator. " There's a great deal more than Ican read, all about under-paid curates and sycophants. My Lady iscatching it, I should say! It must be true, or Froggy would not haveput it in. '

'He never admitted that!' said Felix, tearing open his letter. 'He isin utter dismay, asks whether I could have seen the thing, tells meto telegraph yes or no, that he may know whether to speak toRedstone. What's this about tribute to my father?'

'Here! "Once it was deemed well that the ecclesiastical staff shouldbe by birth and character, if not by pecuniary fortune, abovesuspicion; but the universal application of the general screw systemhas warned off all who had a predilection for an unfettered tongue, and we all know what hands accompany one in chains. "'

'Libellous!' cried Felix, running his eye over the article. 'It looksas if it had strayed out of the Dearport Hermes. I'd not have hadthis happen for ten thousand pounds! Clap-trap about fat rectors andstarved curates! Jackman's writing, I'd lay any wager!'

'You don't think he did it?'

'Smith? Muddled his accounts! Nothing more likely; charges like thisare not got up without some grounds of some sort; but as tointentional fraud, that's utter nonsense. Well, I'm off to thestation, and I hope in half an hour's time Master Redstone will bequaking. '

Ten days of the holiday still remained; and Captain Audley, with boatand yacht, greatly added to its pleasures, which both brothers wereable thoroughly to enjoy, living almost entirely out of doors, andvaluing each hour as they became fewer. 

This matter, however, made Felix very uneasy. He wrote to the curate, offering all the amends in his power, and undertaking that if Mr. Smith would send him an explanatory letter, he would back it up witha strong leading article; and he waited anxiously for furtherintelligence. 

Mr. Froggatt's letter came first. Redstone, fond of dabbling ineditorship, had taken reproof in great dudgeon, affecting greatsurprise at being blamed for inserting a letter from a respectablegentleman without submitting it to Mr. Froggatt, who had entirelydropped the editorship, or delaying it to another issue by sending itto Ewmouth. The respectable gentleman was young Jackman, who was nodoubt delighted to have such a firebrand to cast. It was a greatgrief and annoyance to Mr. Froggatt, who had always steered clear ofpersonalities, and been inoffensive if sometimes dull; and bothassault and defence were distressing to him--i. E. If defence werepossible, for he seemed doubtful whether silence would not lead tothe least scandal. Even Wilmet wrote: 'Every one seems to think Mr. Smith is to blame; and he is so huffy, that it looks only too much asif he were afraid of inquiry. '

This was too true a character of his replies. That intended for thepaper had not a line of real defence, but was a mere tirade on thedignity of his office, and the impudence of the charges. Felix dashedit away, enraged at its useless folly; nor was the private one moresatisfactory. It was but a half acceptance of Felix's totaldisclaimer; and the resentful wording made it difficult to discernwhether the imputation were bona fide regarded as not worthrefuting, or whether indignation were made an excuse for denialinstead of proof. A separate sheet seemed to have been added. 'Thewhole is to be subjected to the scrutiny of a parish meeting onTuesday, when, though the minute accuracy of a professionalaccountant is not to be expected of one whose province is not toserve tables, it will be evident that only malignity to the Churchcould have devised the attack to which your paper has givencurrency. '

'Well, ' broke out Lance, as Felix with a voice of ineffable disgustread the final sentence, 'if that is not being a knave, it is verylike a long-eared animal!'

'I'll tell you what, Lance, they'll take him between their teeth, andworry him till there's not an inch left whole of him. Jackman and hispack will tear him down; and even Bruce and Jones, and our own goodold Froggy, will give him up when they see his books won't balance. '

'Serve him right!' cried Lance. 'What fun to see his airs taken down, when he's served with the sauce he's so fond of for other people! Ionly wish they'd got my Lady too!'

'I must go home, that's all, ' said Felix. 'If I got there onWednesday, I might see if I could not get his accounts intopresentable order. 

'What?'

'If I don't, I am afraid no one else will. '

'He will not let you. '

'I think I can make him. '

'But such a cur as he has always been to you!'

'I don't think he will object now. I know he can't do the thinghimself; and if little Bisset could, depend upon it his mother wouldnot let him stir a finger for fear of being implicated. Now I do knowthe ways of those accounts. I've done them with my father and withMr. Audley. Any way, I must be at home for the meeting. ImagineRedstone reporting it! But you can stay out the week, and come homein the yacht. '

For Captain Audley had promised to take the brothers round toDearport, but Lance could not bear to be left behind; and it ended intheir walking up to the Tudor cottage to make their excuses, when thegood-natured captain declared that he could put to sea that verynight and land them at Dearport in good time. 

So after a hurried grateful farewell to the Staples family, theholiday closed with a voyage that both were able to enjoy to theutmost before they sailed into the harbour at Dearport, and walked upto St. Faith's. Captain Audley, who had not seen Sister Constancesince her husband's death, had an access of shyness and would notencounter the 'Lady Abbess, ' as he called her; but his last words toFelix were a promise that if Bernard went to Stoneborough, he wouldhave him out now and then for a holiday with his own boy. 

There had been time to send notice to Geraldine, and her brothers hadhoped to have taken her home with them; but though she looked clearand bright, she was not out of the doctor's hands, and was underorders to stay another week. The sight of her brothers made her veryhomesick, in spite of being the spoilt child of the Sisterhood, inthe pleasant matted room, with its sea view, its prints, andphotographs; but then she wanted to have her way prepared withWilmet. Her vision had been to walk in imposingly, and take them allby surprise; but that notion had vanished as the time drew nearer, and she found that her new art required practice, while the dread ofmaking a sensation grew upon her. She was ashamed of having eventhought of compensating for Wilmet's absence, and entreated Felix tocommunicate the fact, without a word of the presumption that hadnerved her courage. 

The three looked over one another, as if each had undergone muchsince the last meeting; but the sight of Felix greatly relievedCherry. He was sunburnt and vigorous, and his voice had resumed itsdepth of quiet content, instead of having that unconsciously wearysound of patience and exertion that had often gone to her heart. Lance, whom she had not seen since Easter, had assumed a look ofrapid growth; his features had lost their childish form, and weredisproportionate; and his complexion still had the fitful colouringof convalescence; but his eyes were dancing, and his talk ecstatic asto Vale Leston and the Kittiwake, where he was ready, at thatmoment, to become a cabin-boy. 

'O Cherry! Cherry! you never dreamt of anything so delicious as thatnight's fishing!'

'That, I will answer for, she never did, ' said Felix. 'When I saw theexquisite delight it afforded, not only to this Lance but to CaptainAudley, to fill the boat with slimy, flapping, uncomfortable dyingfishes, I felt that I was never made for a gentleman. 

'Do you mean that you didn't like it?' exclaimed Lance, turning roundaghast. 

'I should have been much happier balancing the books. '

'And he wasn't even sick!' said Lance, holding up his hands. 

'He hadn't that excuse, ' laughed Cherry. 'However, midnight fishingis not indispensable! I should like to have seen how he looked atVale Leston. '

Lance was in great hopes that Felix would betray the possibilities, and mayhap, but for his presence, prudence might have evaporatedbeneath the warm breath of Cherry's sympathy; but the answer was onlya discreet laugh and reply, 'Like a man who wanted his sister! I wishI could just fill your eyes with the loveliness of it, Cherry;' andin the midst of his description, in came Sister Constance, bringingwith her Sister Emmeline (sister in blood as well as religion), wanting to hear about the nephews, and the Kitten's Tail adventure, and amused to find Lance a little shy about it--certainly notdisposed to dwell on it with his usual unceremonious drollery ofnarrative. They would not let Felix go without an inspection by Dr. Lee, which was perfectly satisfactory as to the rally of theconstitution from the depression that had threatened disease, thoughit was impressed both on him and on Cherry that he must be carefulnext winter, and never neglect a cold; and with this promise thebrothers took the train, and in half an hour were at home--rather anempty home, for the schools were all in operation again, and Wilmetwas not at liberty for some little time after their arrival. 

When she did come in, she was disappointed not to find Geraldine, andthat Felix had become so absorbed in the business that had broughthim home, that he only sent in word that he was obliged to go intothe town, and tea must not wait for him. Lance remained, but theburthen of two secrets rendered him uncommunicative, when Wilmettried to understand the cause of Cherry's delay at St. Faith's; andAlda was curious about Vale Leston and Mrs. Fulbert, whom she hadseen at Kensington Palace Gardens. It did not take much acumen toexclaim, 'Still no children! Then there must be a chance for us!'

'That is not likely, ' said Wilmet: 'it must be all in their ownpower; and the Vicar must be quite a young man. Is he not, Lance?'

'How should I know?'

'Didn't you see him?'

'I saw his wife, and that was enough. '

'About five-and-thirty, ' said Alda. 'Of course it will all go toUncle Tom. Money always goes to money. '

'How flushed you are, Lance!' said Wilmet. 'Are you tired?'

'Rather. I am going out into the garden. '

There, however, he was pursued by Bernard with a war-whoop, and byTheodore with his concertina; and Stella presently reported that hewas gone up to bed. 

'And I am afraid his room is very hot and noisy, ' sighed Wilmet. 

'He is only tired and cross after his two nights at sea, ' said Alda. 

'Lance cross!'

'My dear Wilmet, it is very bad taste in families always to maintaineach other's impeccability!'

Alda was still the only person capable of defeating Wilmet, and shemanaged to render her very uncomfortable before the end of theevening, when hours passed and still Felix did not come in; and Aldasuggested, in the intervals of yawning, that Wilmet would soon learnhow green it was to sit up, now that Felix had got out of leading-strings, and set up bachelor habits. 

At first Wilmet was highly indignant; but when Alda persisted thatshe was rather glad to see Felix like other young men, and thatWilmet would know better when she was married, and then yawnedherself off to bed, there was a sense of great discomfort toaccompany the solitary vigil, which not only involved fancies ofpossible accidents, but was harassed by this assault on faith in thevirtue and sincerity of man. Could it really be the part of a wisewoman to wink at being deceived as an inferior creature, withimpossible expectations of truth and purity? Yet Alda knew the world!

How much heart-sickness was darned into Lance's impossible heelbefore the clock chimed two! A step, and not a policeman's, camealong the pavement and paused at the door, as, while the bell wascautiously pulled, down she flew!

'My dear Mettie, I am so sorry, so ashamed, of not having sent hometo tell you; but if I had made the least move, it might have upseteverything!'

'What _have_ you been about?'

'Going over Mowbray Smith's accounts. '

'Oh!'

'I am very sorry! How tired you must be! I was vexed not to be ableto give you notice, but you know what poor Smith is. '

'I don't know why you had to do it all, and at this time of night, 'said Wilmet, still a little hurt. 

'It is the only chance for him to-morrow at the meeting to have hisaccounts clear; so I called under the plea of seeing about the letterin Pur, and with much ado got him to realise a little more of hisposition, and let me look at the books. That was at five. '

'And you have been at it ever since? O Felix!' as he stretched hisarms and gave a vast yawn. 

'Ay! If I had shown any consciousness of the time, he would have shutup at once; and he would not let me take them home to do to-morrowmorning. '

'It _is_ to-morrow morning!'

'So it is! I must make haste, for I must try to see Mr. Ryder andJones before the meeting. Good-night, dear old W. W. I meant to havehad other talk. '

'But oh! you must have some supper!'

'I've had it--sumptuous! Stilton cheese!'

So Wilmet's faith in masculine nature rebounded as high as Alda hadstriven to sink it!

Patience was a good deal needed the next day; for Felix, had to rushaway from breakfast, and never appeared at all at dinner. He had tobe present at the very stormy meeting, though only to take notes, andthus had the annoyance of seeing Mr. Smith destroying his own causeby his incapacity to understand the statement so carefully drawn up, until Mr. Ryder (on whom the enemy had reckoned as a champion) tookthe papers out of the helpless hand, comprehended Felix's figures ata glance, and set them lucidly forth, such as they were; but eventhen there were blots which there were plenty of persons ready tohit. The truth was, that between Lady Price's economies, and theunwillingness to call vestry meetings, moneys intended for onepurpose had been used for another, and articles not within thedenomination of charities had been charged on funds raised for thatexclusive object. 

The assembly comprised the usual variety: the malicious foes ofreligion, headed by Jackman; the more numerous enemies, not of whatthey supposed religion, but of the Church; the adversaries, not ofthe Church, but of the Curate; and the few loyally unwilling tocondemn a clergyman, but disgusted at the affair, and staggered byhis management. Perhaps the rabid and ribald violence of the hostileparty did Mr. Smith good with the respectable; and there were many, too, whose dictum was--'Felix Underwood says it is all right!' At anyrate, though the Bishop was memorialised, it was in a much betterspirit than had been likely at first; and it was not to be donewithout notice to the Rector. And when this was over, every one asusual went to the rendezvous at 'Froggatt's, ' either to discuss orinquire; and the release of both partners on that summer evening waslater than ever it had been before. 

But then what a welcome upstairs! what a clamour of happy tongues!what an ecstatic humming of 'The Hardy Norseman!' what a clinging toand climbing on him! If he had the cares, he had much of the joys, ofthe goodman of the house! But presently he missed the voice usuallyblithest of all, and asked for Lance. 

'He was here a little while ago, ' said Wilmet, 'drinking his tea. Hemust have gone up to bed. '

'No, ' said Bernard; 'I've just been up to the barrack, and he isn'tthere. '

'You've not let him sleep in the attic!' exclaimed Felix. 'Why, underthe leads it is like an oven!'

'I am very sorry, ' said Wilmet, 'but I could not see how to help it. Your room is worse, with the glare of the setting sun; and so isCherry's at this time of the evening. '

'Then he must have Mr. Froggatt's. '

'I thought, ' said Alda, 'that you never took liberties with Mr. Froggatt?'

'Nonsense!' said Felix. 'There are only two bedrooms in this housefit for that boy in his present state--yours and Mr. Froggatt's. Which shall we have, Wilmet?'

'Mr. Froggatt's, ' she answered at once. 'If you will not have anothercup, I'll get it ready for him at once. '

'I've just done. I'll come and help you. But where can the boy be? Inthe garden?'

'No, ' said Wilmet, taking a survey from the window. 

'I have hardly seen him all day, ' added Alda. 'I suppose he haspursuits of his own. '

'Pursuits!' said Felix, looking really anxious; 'poor little chap, hecan't do without constant care and quiet!'

Wilmet made no answer, but rose and left the room; Alda mutteredsomething about his looking quite well, which Felix did not stay tohear, following his sister out with a word about looking for him. Atthe same moment a little soft hand was thrust into his, and Stella, as soon as the door was shut, said, 'Please, I know where Lance is, but it's a secret. '

'Not from me, I hope?' said Felix, catching her up in his arms. 

'I think not, ' said Stella meditatively. 'He only told me not to letBear and Tedo know, because they make a row. He is only up over theback warehouse, where he used to play the fiddle to us last Easter. '

'The only cool quiet place he could find!' said Felix, with more of alook of reproach than he had ever given Wilmet. 

It went to her heart. 'I did not know what to do, ' she said meekly. 'I wanted very much to go into the barrack ourselves, but Alda saidit would kill her, and you know it has always been a sore subjectthat we would not let her have Mr. Froggatt's room. I ought not tohave given way. '

'Alda's selfishness is a great power, ' muttered Felix; and Wilmet wastoo much ashamed to contradict him, except by 'She is vexed becauseshe has not heard from Ferdinand, ' as they hastily made their way tothe warehouse, which, being on the north side of higher buildings, never did get scorched through. 

Felix went up a step-ladder, Wilmet following; and there, sureenough, was Lance, lying in a nest of paper shavings, with head onhis air-pillow. 'Oh, you've unearthed me, have you? I wish you'd letme stay here all night!' he said, with some weary fretfulness; butthe next moment burst into a peal of laughter, as Wilmet's headappeared above the floor. 'Pallas Athene ascends! Oh! what a place itwould be to act a play--only then all the fry would find it out! Ihope they haven't! I told the Star not to tell!'

'My poor dear Lance, is this the only quiet place you could find? andyou let us all neglect you, and never complained!' exclaimed Wilmet, kissing his hot forehead. 

'Why, it's only my stupidity, ' said Lance, wearily but gratefully;'and you can't make places quiet or cool! If you would just let mesleep here!'

'No; but you shall have Mr. Froggatt's room. He will not want it now. Come along, Lance, we'll bring your things down. The barrack is agreat deal too hot for you to go into!'

He did not make any resistance; but as they landed from the ladder, threw his arm round Wilmet, and leant against her with a sort of lazymischievous tenderness, as he said, 'Isn't the Froggery wanted for--somebody else?' and tried to look up in her face. 

'Ferdinand always goes to the Fortinbras Arms, ' answered Wilmet, withadmirable composure. 

'Oh! that's a precedent, ' said Lance, ostentatiously winking atFelix, who was very glad the ice was broken. 'When is he coming, Mettie?'

'I think Alda hoped he might have run down to-night, on hearing ofyour return. '

There they paused while entering the house and going upstairs, but nosooner were they in the barrack, which was certainly insufferablyhot, than Lance returned to the charge. 

'But when is _he_ coming? Not Fernan--he's an old story. '

'Yes, said Felix, walking up to Wilmet to fold together the cornersof the sheets they were stripping from Lance's bed, and looking intoher eyes so archly as to bring up an incarnadine blush, 'I wantparticularly to improve my acquaintance, if you don't. --What shall wedo, Lance?'

'Advertise in Pur, ' suggested Lance. 'The editor returned. Youngmen may apply!'

'Don't, boys!' exclaimed Wilmet, in tones belonging to bygone days, when neither she nor Felix had been too serious to tease or beteased. 'He is much better than you, ' she added, with a prettyconfused petulance, when Felix put on a pleading inquisitive face. 'When he found we didn't like it he went away to visit his uncle. '

'Better than we! There, Lance!' said Felix, in a gratified provokingtone of discovery. 

'In one sense, ' said Wilmet, walking down before him. 

'I am very glad you have found it out, ' added Felix, as they enteredMr. Froggatt's cool well-blinded bedroom, the only well-furnished onein the house. 

'It is no laughing matter, ' said Wilmet seriously. 

'That's well, ' was the dry answer. 

But there Felix perceived that she was on the verge of tears, and hekindly and quietly helped her to despatch her arrangements for Lancebefore any more was said; only as they turned to bid the tired boygoodnight, he said, 'Where does the uncle live? I shall telegraph to-morrow, you cruel person!'

'Hush! silly boy--goodnight, ' said Wilmet, with a quivering voice, then, as she shut the door, 'Please don't go on this way, Felix--Iwouldn't have had it happen for any consideration. '

'I suppose not, ' said Felix, as they returned to the twilight garden;but as it has--Why, my Mettie, dear!' as she pressed close to him, and hid her face on his shoulder, with a strong craving for the helpand sympathy from which the motherless girl had hitherto beendebarred. 

'O Felix! I wish he would not be so good and kind! I wish you wouldnot try to make me give in!'

'My dear girl, ' said Felix, with his arm round her. 'You know I wouldnot if I did not see that you had given in. '

'No, I haven't!' she cried. 'Why should you want to persuade me?Isn't it very cruel and hard to let him give all himself to one thatcan't come to him? He will have to go out and live all dreary andlonely for years and years, and come home to find nothing but astupid old worn-out drudge, with all these pretty looks gone off!Felix, be reasonable, _please_! Can't you see that I ought not to letthings go that way?'

'Do you mean, ' said Felix, 'that you would be quite content to put anend to all this--let Harewood go away believing you indifferent, andnever see him again?'

'Felix, why do you--?' with tears in her eyes. 

'Because I am quite sure that the consideration you want to show himwould be no kindness. The pain of having his affection thrown over'(he spoke with a spasm in the throat) 'would be greater than youwould like to inflict, if you were forced by truth to own you did notcare for him; and if he be what I think, the carrying away securityof your feeling for him will be gladness enough. And as for thelooks, I have a better opinion of yours than to think they won'twear! Any way, dearest, it seems to me that you have won the heart ofa good man, and that if you like him, it is your duty to give him thecomfort of knowing it without thinking about to-morrows. '

'But I know so much more would come if I did just allow that much!And I might get to wish to leave you all, ' she said in an appalledvoice. 'And there seems to me not the slightest chance. You see Aldaand Cherry never will get on together; and Cherry seems glad of anexcuse to stay from home. I thought she would have cared to come backwhen you did. '

'Poor Cherry!' said Felix, hesitating, with a little of her ownnervous awe of broaching the subject. 

'You don't mean that there is anything seriously amiss!' she cried, startled. 

'Wilmet, do you remember what Rugg said would be the very best thingfor that poor child?'

She stood still, dismayed and angered. 'They aren't tormenting thepoor little thing about that?'

'It is not their doing, '

'It can't have become necessary! Sister Constance would have told me!Felix say she is not worse!'

'No, much better. But, Wilmet, what we could not bear to think of, she thought of for herself, and begged to have it done. '

'Then I must go to her. '

'There is no occasion. She knew you could not be spared. It was doneon the 10th, and she will soon walk better than she has done allthese years. '

'Done! without our knowledge?'

'She wished to spare us all, but that was not allowed. I was writtento, and told that her strong desire was such a favourable condition, that I had better consent, so as not to protract the strain ofspirits. She made a point of no one else knowing except Clement. '

'Ah!' Wilmet spoke as if under a weight, 'that was the day Clementwent down to Dearport, and came home so late! How could SisterConstance consent not to tell me?'

'You must forgive her, for it was the little one's desire! Of coursewe should have been fetched if anything had gone wrong; but she hasdone perfectly well; and there she is, very happy, and so full offun, that the Sisters say she keeps them all alive. '

'Done? I cannot fancy it!' said Wilmet. 'Do you know, I believe ithas been my bugbear for years past to think I might have to persuadeher to this?'

'To tell you the truth, so it has to me. '

'Little nervous timid thing, I can't even understand her thinking ofit!'

'She wanted me not to tell you, but I would not promise. She couldnot rest without trying not to be an obstacle to--'

Wilmet interrupted with a cry of pain. 

'Isn't it a noble little thing?'

'But it is so silly!' broke out Wilmet, not choosing her words amidher tears. 

'So she thinks now, poor child; she is quite ashamed of thepresumptuous notion that _did_ brace and carry her through. '

'I don't like her to be disappointed, ' said Wilmet; 'but it is quiteridiculous. '

'Only comfort her a little, Mettie dear, for she is very much afraidyou will think she has taken a great liberty with your property. '

'I only wish I could kiss her this moment. '

'Well, run down by the train to-morrow. They would all be delighted. '

'No, no, Felix, impossible. Think of the cost!'

'Half a crown! Sinful waste!' said Felix, in a tone of alarminglevity. 

'Felix, if you only knew what the housekeeping mounted up in thatunhappy month that I was away! I did not like to tell you before, but--'

'Well!' at the dreadful pause. 

'I had to get fifteen pounds from Mr. Froggatt's; and Alda finds, after all, that she cannot advance the money for Lance's journey. '

'So you are pinching it out by pence, my poor W. W. !'

'Nothing extra must be done till this is made up. '

'Yet it seems needful that Bernard should go to school. I wroteabout--'

'No, ' she resolutely interrupted. 'Bernard must wait over this year. Thirty pounds. Utterly out of the question!'

'Her tone gave Felix an unusual sense of chill penury, and broughtVale Leston before his eyes. He laughed rather bitterly, saying, 'Perhaps some day neither thirty pence nor thirty pounds may have sodireful a sound!'

'I never mean to learn to waste. '

'You may have to learn to spend. '

'That's enough to set me against it!' she exclaimed, with a good dealof pain; and he found how nearly he had broken his resolution, andhow her application of his words to herself had saved him. Hefollowed the lead. 

'Nay; you were glad of Alda's prosperity?'

'Oh yes; but poor Alda has been hindered from being like one of us, 'she said. 'We have fought it out together. And I should not mind somuch if _he_ were poor like us, and had to wait on his own account. '

'I appreciate that, ' said Felix; 'but at least you will let the poorfellow come and judge for himself?'

'If--if only, Felix, you will promise not to try to tempt me intodeserting you all, when I know it would be wrong. '

'If I will promise you not to cut my own throat, eh? Come, W. W. , putout of your head "what it may lead to, " confess that you are afraidof getting connected with such a mad harum-scarum set!'

'It isn't, ' broke out Wilmet. 'I never saw any one so thoughtful andconsiderate. They are all so kind and warm-hearted, that I grew quiteashamed of my own fidgetiness; and he--he always knew the right thingat the right time. You can't think how his look seemed to hold me up, when poor Lance was moaning and talking nonsense!'

Having thus let herself out as she had never dared, nor indeed beentempted to do, since the first dawn of the courtship, Wilmet at lastrelieved herself of some of the vast sense of emotion that she hadbeen forcing back for the last month. Hitherto the mistress of thehouse had seemed older than the master; but now the elder brothertook the place of both parents--ay, and of sister--as, all herfencing over, she poured out her heart, and let him sympathise, cheer, soothe, and encourage, more by kind tones than actual words. The harvest-moon shone over the house-tops, as a month before she hadshone by the river-side; and the Pillars of the House walked up anddown till Alda grew desperate, and sallied out to tell them that itwas past eleven. 

It was only such snatches of time that Felix could give to homeaffairs, for his hands were full of arrears of business, and theexcitement respecting Mr. Smith necessarily occupied him. Pending thearrival of letters from the Rector, every tongue was in commotion, and the reading-room was a focus of debate and centre ofintelligence. So many letters, either in assault or defence, wereaddressed to the editor of the Pursuivant, that only a supplementas big as the Times could have contained them. Every poor personwho had not had every demand supplied from the charities was runningabout, adding to the grievance at every encounter with tender-heartedlady or justice-loving gentleman, whose blood boiled over into aletter for the Pursuivant, which, when sifted and refused, wastransferred to the Dearport Hermes, or Erms, as most of itssupporters termed it. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE REAL THING AND NO MISTAKE

'With asses all his time he spent, Their club's perpetual president, He caught their manners, looks, and airs-- An ass in everything but ears. ' GAY. 

The master of the house was unable to contribute much more than hisname to the propriety of the arrival of the suitors, and this madeWilmet the more determined that Geraldine should precede them. Nor, since the half-crown must be disbursed on an escort for her, did thehousewifely conscience object to the expedition, for Wilmet could notbut long to thank the Superior and Sister Constance, and to obtainDr. Lee's advice as to future management. Her coming was great joy toCherry, who had dreaded the meeting almost with a sense of guilt, though still hoping Felix had been silent on her motive; and Wilmetdid not betray him, but only treated her sister with a mixture ofalmost shy tenderness and reverence. Nor did Cherry dare to ask aquestion as to Wilmet's own affairs, nor even about Ferdinand Travis, lest she should seem to be leading in that direction. However, Wilmet, in a persuasive tone, communicated that Ferdinand had beenlong without writing, and though Cherry tried to be sorry for Alda, her spirit quailed at the state of temper her sister evidently meantto prepare her for. 

But fate was more kind than she expected. That very Saturday broughtboth gentlemen, and by the same train. They made each other out asthey were leaving their bags at the Fortinbras Arms, and arrivedtogether in marked contrast--the tall, dark, regular-featured, soft-eyed Life-guardsman, and the little sandy, freckled, sun-driedengineer; and thus two courtships had to be carried on in the tworooms, only supplemented by the narrow parallelogram of a garden! ForFerdinand Travis was back again, rather amused at the familyastonishment at the rapidity of his journey to America, which to hisTransatlantic notions of travel was as nothing, and indeed had beenchiefly performed in a big steamer, where he could smoke to hisheart's content. 

For the first few days there was a good deal of restraint: Wilmet wasmore shy than in the unconscious days of Bexley, while John Harewoodwas devoid of his family's assurance and bonhomie, and sothoroughly modest and diffident as to risk nothing by precipitationin begging for a decision. Felix, inexperienced, and stronglysensible of his office as guardian of his sister's dignity, would nothint at the result of his investigations into Wilmet's sentiments;and it was to Geraldine that Captain Harewood's attentions werechiefly paid. Knowing Alda's resolute monopoly of her Cacique, Cherryat first held back, and restrained her keen enjoyment of realconversation; but she found Wilmet thankful to have the talk done forher, and content to sit at work, listening almost in silence, butproud that her Captain should be interested in her sister, andpleased to see Cherry's expressive face flash and sparkle all overfor him. While Wilmet was at Miss Pearson's, Cherry was his chiefresource; they read, drew, and talked, and in that half-hour's out-of-door exercise, which Dr. Lee had so strongly enjoined, his arm wasat her service. They were soon on the borders of confidence, thoughnever quite plunging over them. Perhaps the broad open-mouthedraillery at his home made the gentle reticence of the Underwoods themore agreeable to him; at any rate, he did not try to break throughit, nor to presume beyond the step he had gained. Alda, who couldbest perhaps have acted as helper, had her own affairs to attend to;and they were evidently unsatisfactory, for Ferdinand was more thanever the silent melancholy Don, and she was to domestic eyes visiblycross, and her half-year at home had rendered her much less capableof concealing ill-humour. Something was owing to wear and suspense, together with the effects of the summer heat and confined monotonouslife without change or luxury; but much was chargeable on themanifestations of temper to which she had given way in the homecircle. She told Wilmet the trouble, which Ferdinand wished to havekept from open discussion till he had received a final statement ofhis means to lay before Felix. He had received no remittances sincethe spring, and on demanding his own share of the capital andinvestments, had found it, instead of the lion's, a ridiculouslysmall portion. The whole fortunes of the house of Travis had beenbuilt on his mother's inheritance; but the accounts laid before himrepresented all the unprosperous speculations undertaken by hisfather, William, while the small ventures of his Uncle Alfred had, alongside of them, swelled into the huge wealth of which Ferdinandhad been bred to believe himself the heir! So palpably outrageous wasthis representation, that he had persuaded himself that personalinvestigation on the spot would clear it up, or perhaps more trulyhis blood was up, and he could not bear to be inactive. He had rushedover to New York, and of course he had been baffled. Exposure was ofno use where sympathy was for the lucky rather than the duped andluckless, and where the Anglicised Life-guardsman could expect itleast of all--at a time, too, when all business affairs wereconvulsed by the uncertainties of civil war. Alda could not believeat first that he had done his utmost, and seemed to have reproachedhim with weakness and mismanagement; but by her own account she hadroused the innate lion. He would not tell her what had passed in theinterview with his uncle, but he had shuddered over the remembrance;and when she upbraided him with not having gone far enough, heterrified her by the fierceness with which he had turned upon her, bidding her never recur to what she knew nothing about, and mutteringto himself, 'Far enough--thank God I went no further, or I should notbe here now!' and then falling into deep gloom. He had certainly madeAlda afraid of him, and she burst into tears as she told Wilmet, declaring herself the most miserable girl in the world. 

'No, that you can't be, Alda, while he is so good and true. '

'But he says he must sell out! Think of that! Never was anybody sotaken in as I have been!'

'Don't talk so, Alda. It is just as if you had engaged yourself to aLife-guardsman and nothing else. '

'I wonder how you would like to be buried in some horrid wild placein America, where you would never see anybody!'

'One would not want to see anybody but him. '

'That's your nonsense! How tired of it one would be!'

'There would be no time. It would be so nice to do everything for himoneself!'

'In some horrid uncivilised place, with no servants! I'm not going tobe a drudge. It is all very well for you, who like it, and have nonotion of society, but for me--! And there he is furious to take meout. Men grow so wild and rough too in such places. You never sawanything blaze like his eyes!'

'I don't understand you. Could not you trust yourself anywhere withhim?'

'You have no right to say such things, ' pouted Alda, 'only because Ihave a little common prudence. Some one must have it!'

There was no denying that life in the far west would be a foolishthing either for or with Alda; and Felix thought so when Ferdinandcame to him for consultation over the letters that made it finallyclear that Alfred Travis had appropriated everything available buthalf a block of unreclaimed land on the wrong side of America, and afew thousands invested in Peter Brown's firm; and what was worse, thesudden failure of the supplies had occasioned serious debts. Ferdinand's own plan was to clear these off with the price of hiscommission, and take Alda out with him to rule in American luxuryover the unbounded resources of the magnificent land, the very nameand scent of which had awakened in him his old prairie-landinstincts, and her absolute refusal and even alarm at his enjoymenthad greatly mortified him. 'She should not even have to rough it, ' hesaid. 'I could make her like a queen out there, if she would onlybelieve it. '

Felix could not but think Alda might be wise, though it was notpretty wisdom. Go out alone and make the fortune! Ferdinand did notseem to think the separation possible. He said he would rather go towork in Peter Brown's office, where he had already a hold; and hisfamiliarity with Spanish would secure him usefulness and promotion, and five or six years would bring them into a position to marry. Hedid not look fit for desk-work in London, but his mind was made up toany privation, so that he could be in reach of Alda, and hope to giveher what he had once thought easily within his grasp. 

Hearing this, Felix propounded an old longing of his--namely, to makethe Pursuivant a daily paper, and use means for promptitude ofintelligence, such as might neutralise the unpopularity it wasincurring on behalf of Mr. Smith. Rumours of a rival paper wereafloat; but if Ferdinand would throw in his capital, and undertakethe joint editorship and proprietorship, the hold that the Pursuivantalready had warranted quite success enough to permit an immediatemarriage. There would be no need to be concerned with the shop; theymight take a cottage in the country, and he need not ride in so oftenas every day. In fact, it was his capital rather than his personalassistance that was wanted. He caught at the notion. He was tooTransatlantic to have any dignities to stand upon, and he said almostwith tears in his eyes that he could never be so happy as in workingwith Felix; and he went off to the Fortinbras Arms, only lamentingthat it was too late to tell Alda; while Felix, on his side, couldnot help knocking at Geraldine's door. Within he found anotherauditor, Wilmet, who still always helped Cherry to bed. 'It will bethe making of the Pursuivant, ' he said. How often I have sighed, "If I had but capital, or Mr. Froggatt enterprise!"'

'Ah, Felicissimo mio, that Pursuivant is as dear to you as anybrother or sister of us all!'

'So it ought to be, for it has been the making of us. --Come Cherry, confess that you had rather see Pur triumph, than--'

'Than you at Vale Leston, ' said Cherry, not knowing what a bolt sheshot. 'It would be grand to steal a march on the enemy!'

'And safe?' asked Wilmet. 

Felix demonstrated to the comprehending ears of his sisters thecirculation that he could securely reckon upon. 

'There would be an immense deal more to do, ' said Cherry; but at thathe smiled, full of vigour. 

'True; but we should have a larger staff. There would be Fernan--'

'For the racing articles, ' said Cherry dryly. 

'And a good deal besides, which only needs application; and that hehas. '

'He has great resolution, ' said Cherry, 'but he always seems to me asort of Christian panther of the wilderness; and you seem to begetting him into a cage. '

'Not such a cage as Peter Brown's office; and besides it is only whenhe is lashed up that the panther leaps about his den. Generally he isa quiet determined animal, with the practical Yankee element strongin him. It may be true, as Edgar says, that he does not see an inchon either side of his nose, but that only makes him go right away inthe line he does see. I know he will work well. '

'If Alda--' said Cherry. 

'Oh, she will be willing. A cottage in the country! Besides, it isthe only reasonable possibility. '

'I should think it would satisfy her, ' said Wilmet. 

'And then--'

Everybody understood that 'And then. ' It was Alda's pretension to beat the head of the family that was the chief obstacle to Wilmet'sabdicating that post. Without her, Geraldine, stronger and less lame, might undertake the charge of the comparatively few permanently athome. Might indeed hardly expressed the amount of uncertainty as toher capability; and yet but for that 'And then, ' Wilmet would hardlyhave yielded as she did the next day. 

Stella had a blackberry fever. Possibly Wilmet's frugal regimenengendered a hankering for fruit, or it might have been the mere loveof enterprise that rendered her eagerly desirous of an expedition toa lane where splendid blackberries were reported to grow. Since theday she bad been lost, she had never been allowed to go out withBernard; but in Lance she had acquired a much more complaisantplayfellow, who not only promised his escort to the lane, but thepurchase of the sugar, and aid in the concoction of the jam; but hedurst not venture till late in the day, and thereupon John Harewoodsuggested, 'Would not your sister be at liberty by that time?'

'Lance can take care of me, ' said Stella; but in her eyes the wholeromance of the expedition was destroyed by his acquiescence. 'We'llcatch her as she comes out, and make her go with us. '

'Among all the girls?' laughed Cherry; and Captain Harewood coloured, shook his head, and shuddered. 

'The girls won't hurt me, ' said Lance, 'not if there were twentyhundred. I'll bring her from the very teeth of them. Jack may waitround the corner if he likes. '

The party waited till their patience was worn to a thread for theopening of the tall olive door, until Lance valiantly resolved on asingle-handed assault, and had just mounted the steps when itsuddenly opened, and he found himself obstructing the path of a swarmof little girls and big, who all stared, most giggled, and somegreeted him. To the least of these he confided that he wanted hissister, when she innocently piloted him to the school-room, whereWilmet, with her hat on, was keeping guard over three victimsdetained by unfinished tasks. Every one gazed at him as if he hadbeen a sort of Actaeon; but nothing daunted, he answered his sister'sanxious exclamation. 'Nothing is the matter; but we are going for awalk, and want you. --Miss Maria, ' he cried, as the sound of theunfeminine step and voice brought in one of the heads, 'please do letoff these impositions, we do so want her!'

'What, you here! This is an invasion!' she added good-humouredly. 'AmI to take it as a convalescent's privilege?'

'Thank you, Ma'am, ' said Lance, bowing with his audacious sweetness;'and please let me have Wilmet. I'd do the impositions myself, only Idon't know French. '

The victims tittered uncontrollably, and Miss Maria laughed, as onewho, like her neighbours, descried why Wilmet was in request. 'I willattend to these exercises, Miss Underwood, ' she said. 'You must notlose this fine evening for the idleness of these young ladies. '

'Indeed, Ma'am!' began Wilmet, in a blaze of colour. 'I never thoughtof such a thing. '

'I daresay not, my dear, ' said Miss Maria; 'but now you had better doit. I wish you a pleasant walk. '

'Lance, how could you?' broke out Wilmet, as they descended thesteps. 'I never was so ashamed in my life. '

'Never mind. We are going to get blackberries at Mile End Lane, and Ishall lose Stella to a dead certainty if you don't come and lookafter her. '

'My dear Lance, I can't go all that way without their knowing it athome. '

'Oh! that's all settled with Cherry. '

'And where's Alda?'

'Off somewhere with her Don. Come, W. W. , or who knows whether Steland I shall ever come home?'

By this time they had reached the corner where Captain Harewood andStella were lying perdu, and Wilmet made no more resistance, onlykeeping the little girl's not altogether willing hand till they cameto the stile leading to the field and woodland, and then Stella'sdurance ended, and her adventures with Lance became as free as thoughno grave 'sister' had been near. 

Perhaps, since Wilmet had perceived that surrender was her fate, shewas willing that the summons should be over and a mutualunderstanding reached, so as to waste no more of the time already soshort. However that might be, though the talk began with Lance'shealth and Cherry's talents, there was a tendency towards topicscloser still; nor did she start aside, but rather listened pensivelyas to a strain that touched her quiet soul more deeply than sheshowed in word or gesture. 

The blackberry lane was deep and hollow, the brambles outstretchingtheir arching wreaths, laden with heavy clusters of shining fruit, glossy black, scarlet, or green, sometimes with a lingering pearlyflower. A step-ladder stile led down into it from the field, and onthe topmost step, her back against the rail, sat Wilmet. On thelowest, turned at right angles to the first, was John Harewood, looking up to her; while scrambling on the bank, contending with thebrambles, were the younger ones; Lance, unable to help now and thensending a furtive glance through the tangle. 

It was a pretty sight. Sitting aloft, Wilmet was framed by an archwayof meeting branches, with nothing but the pale opal of the eveningsky behind the beautifully-shaped head and shoulders, and the clear-cut features, drooping just enough to enhance her own peculiar modestdignity, and give it a soft graciousness that had once been wanting. Her dress was the same in which Captain Harewood had first seen her--a plain black hat, a pale fawn-coloured skirt, and a loose openjacket over a white cambric vest and sleeves, only that now there hadbeen a budding forth of dainty fresh knots of rose-coloured ribbon atthe throat and down the front, as though a slight sensibility to thevanities as well as the cares of life had begun to dawn on the graveyoung house-mother. 

Leaning back against the rough rail to assist the hand of theclimber, John Harewood looked up with as much worship in hiscountenance as ever good man feels for the being he loves inall her maiden glory. Thus they had been for some moments, onlybroken by the children's distant calls, till the fervent words brokefrom him, 'May I not speak now?'

No word of reply sounded, but the delicate lips quivered and parted;the eyes were cast down, and seemed to swim in a soft mist ofbrightness; the queenly head bent, and the roseate tint on the cheekdeepened and spread, while something came over the face that causedthe low glad exclamation, 'You sweetest, I do believe you can loveme!'

A tremulous smile, a glitter of tears on the eye-lashes--a whisper, 'You won't let me be able to help it!'

Then the hands were clasped, and no words but 'Thank you' would cometo the young man's lips ; and then, and the sound reminded him, hebowed his head, adding, 'Thank God!'

'Thank God!' echoed Wilmet softly. 'For indeed, ' she added, as shelet her eyes fully meet his ardent gaze, 'I know you will help me todo whatever may be His Will. 

'He helping me, ' said John Harewood; and there was a reverent silenceof untold peace and bliss, first interrupted by his long sigh ofinfinite relief and joy, and then, as he looked and looked with allhis soul in his eyes, an exclamation, almost in spite of himself, 'You beautiful creature, you are mine indeed!'

Her colour deepened, but her lips moved into an odd little smile, outof which came the words, 'Isn't that rather foolish?'

'I couldn't help it--I beg your pardon, ' said he, reddening. 'You dolook so lovely! but indeed it is not the externals only, but whatlooks through. '

'And that is what makes me afraid, ' said Wilmet, as the dew gatheredon her eye-lashes. 'I don't think I'm so nice as you take me for. '

'Probably you don't, ' he said, smiling. 

'But just hear me, ' she said, laying her hand on his, as if tosilence him. 'You ought to know what all the others would tell you ifthey were not too kind. I know they all feel me strict, and managingand domineering! Yes, it makes you laugh, but I really am. I don'tthink you would have liked me at all if you had not seen me out of myusual life, with only Lance--' and as all she said only made himpress her hand the closer-- 'You see, I've always had to do things. Ever since I was a little girl I have had to keep order, great boysand all, and I know it has made me disagreeable;' then in answer tosome sound more incredulously negative than words, 'Yes indeed! Felixand all go to Cherry with whatever comes very near them. She hasn'tbeen hardened and sharpened and dried like me, and wasn't stupid tobegin with. '

'Cherry is very clever, but she is--not--'

'Now don't. I know how it is. I know I'm horribly pretty, and I'vebeen a wonder always for keeping the house going, and doing for themall, and so you fancy me everything charming, but I do so wish youcould really know, as my brothers do, how it takes out of one allthat is nice and sweet, and that people like. '

'People?' said John, smiling; but seeing that a mirthful even thougha loving answer was not what she wanted, he gravely said, 'I dounderstand, dearest, that you have had to be too much of an authorityto be altogether the companion and confidante that Geraldine is freeto be, but perhaps I feel that this renders you more wholly andaltogether my own. '

'Oh?'--a strange half sob--'do you know, I had just begun to know howsolitary I was when Lance was so happy to get Robina, when you--'

'And if I told you all, you would know that I was feeling a certainloneliness at home, and that if you had asked my sisters they wouldhave said that Jack was not the harmonious element he appeared. There--there's a pleasing prospect!'

'But you'll not let me be masterful?' said Wilmet earnestly. 

'Just as much as is good for me--for us, ' he said smiling. 

Then after a moment's silence, he took out of his pocket a littlebox, and making a table of her lap, took out a ring of twined rubyand diamonds, such as could not but startle the instincts of Wilmet'ssoul. 

'Oh, it is a great deal too beautiful! Please, I couldn't--'

'You must. It was my mother's. '

'Then she cannot like to part with it. '

'Did you not know that she died when I was five years old? Look!' andhe showed where within the lid of the box was written, 'For my LittleJohnny's Wife. August 1839. L. H. '

'Ought you not to keep it till--' faltered Wilmet, growing crimson asshe found what she was saying. 

'No, ' he said decidedly, 'not after this. When I spoke to my fatherthat Sunday evening, he unlocked his desk and gave me this, which Ihad not seen since I remember playing with it on my mother's bed. Youwill wear it, dearest. You will let me have the pleasure of knowingyou have it on. '

The answer was the drawing off of her glove, and he fitted it on, butit was rather loose. 'I am afraid it will want a guard, ' he said. 

'I'll ask Felix whether I may take one of Mamma's, ' she said. 

For the shapely notable fingers had never worn a ring before thisalmost sacred pledge; and the few jewels either too valuable or notvaluable enough for the parents to have parted with in times of needhad never been touched. 

'Do, ' he said; 'I shall like that. The year 1839. Was not that theyear a certain little girl was born?'

'The month. Our birthday is on the 19th. ' And the coincidence gaveall the foolish delight such facts do under the circumstances. 

'Was this long before she died?' asked Wilmet. 

'The last day of that August. You never saw her brass in thecloister?'

'No; I never guessed that you were not Mrs. Harewood's son, though Iwondered at your being so unlike the rest. '

'She has been kindness itself, ' he warmly said. 'My father did wellboth for himself and me in marrying. '

'Tell me of your own mother, ' said Wilmet, looking from the sparklingstones to the initials. 'L. -- What was her name?'

'Lucy. Lucy Oglandby. My father was tutor at Oglandby Hall. There wasa long attachment, through much opposition; and even when he was madepriest-vicar after waiting six years, her father could not consent. After six years more, when her health was failing, he gave a sort ofsanction on his death-bed. The rest of the family contrived to gether fortune so tied up that after her death it was of no use to anyone till I came of age. She only lived seven years after hermarriage, and then the Oglandbys wanted to take possession of me, andI fancy that drove my father into marrying. '

'Was it with them you went to stay?'

'Yes, my father makes a point of it; and they have a turn forpatronising me, if I would turn my back on home. '

'Now I understand better, ' said Wilmet. 

You understand how much you were wanting to me, ' he said, rightlyinterpreting the words. 'After five years' absence, while my sisterswere growing up, you can perceive that dear, fond, and hearty as ourhouse is, it did not fulfil all that perhaps I had been ratherunreasonable in expecting. O Wilmet, this time of leave would havebeen very different if you had not come to the precincts!'

And so they fell back on the exquisite time present, which neitherwished to disturb by looking beyond; and perhaps John felt as thoughhis bird had scarcely perched, and any endeavours to hold it mightmake it flutter loose, while she was too glad of the calm and reposeto renew the struggle between conflicting claims. 

At last, with basket laden with dark fruit, and lips vying with thebabes in the wood, Stella was launched on them by Lance, when hissense of time overpowered his half shy, half diverted respect fortheir bliss. He was very curious, but had to be satisfied withCaptain Harewood's manner of tossing Stella over the style, andbright look at himself. 

They did not get into the town till the chimes of half-past sevenwere pealing. Captain Harewood hurried into the hotel, to prepare forthe evening; and Wilmet was mounting the stairs, still under thespell of her newly-found joy, when she was startled by Alda's voicein a key of querulous anger. 

'Exactly like you, always laying out for attention. '

'What's this?' said Wilmet, as she saw Alda in her habit, standingwith her back to the open door, and Geraldine leaning on the table, trembling and tearful, crimson and burning even to passion in herpanting reply, 'I don't know--except that he helped me in from thegarden. '

'That's what I say, ' retorted Alda. 'She is always putting herselfforward to be interesting and get waited on. All affectation. I don'tknow such a flirt anywhere. '

'Hush, Alda! you are insulting Cherry, ' said Wilmet, in her tone ofcommand. 

'Take care of yourself, Wilmet, ' cried Alda; 'it is the way she goeson all day with Captain Harewood--reading poetry, and drawing, andall. '

'Captain Harewood knows, ' said Wilmet, coming to the support of thequivering Geraldine, 'that the kinder he is to Cherry the better Ilike it. '

'Oh, if you do, it is your own concern. I only spoke for your sake. And Alda marched off, while Wilmet's strong tender arms helped Cherryinto her own room, and tended her through one of those gusts, partrepentant, part hysterical, which had belonged to her earliergirlhood, though the present was now enhanced by the tumult ofinsulted maidenliness. Formerly, Wilmet had not treated these attackson the soft system, but now all her bracing severity was gone. Greatly incensed with Alda, she gave her whole self to sympathy withthe victim, showing herself so ineffably sweet and loving, thatCherry felt a thrill of delicious surprise; and as her eye lit on theglittering ring, a little ecstatic cry, still slightly hysterical, welcomed the token. 

'O Wilmet, oh! You have! You have--'

'To be sure I have, ' answered Wilmet, not in the lest heeding whatshe said in her anxiety to calm her sister. 'It is all right, if onlyyou will not go and be silly about it. '

The woman was so much more than her words, that their odd simplicity, coming from the grand-looking figure bending over her in tendersolicitude, touched Cherry the more, and she threw her arms round hersister's neck, whispering, 'Oh! I am so glad!'

Poor Wilmet! At that moment all her gladness had gone into a weightlike lead on her heart, though it only made her more gentle. 'DearCherry, ' she softly said, 'don't talk of anything to upset you. Willyou be good and lie quite still while I take off my things, and thenI'll come and dress you? You must not be knocked up to-night. '

'Oh! I had much rather stay here!'

'No indeed! John would be so disappointed. He does like you so much, and I always depend on you to make it pleasant for him. You can'tsend word that Alda has been scolding you. '

'Oh dear! why can't I behave decently to her the moment we are alonetogether?'

'Don't begin on that, for pity's sake, or you'll get crying again, 'broke out Wilmet, in her natural voice. ''Tis she can't behaveproperly to anybody--that's all; so don't think any more aboutanything, like a good child, but lie still till I come back. '

So up went Wilmet, not rejoicing in her room-mate, whom she found, asusual, all injured innocence and self-justification. 

'You have been petting Cherry all this time! She is quite spoiltamong you! It is quite true what I said, though she didn't like it. In society, I never saw a more arrant flirt, with her pathetic ill-used airs. Why, Ferdinand actually found fault to-day with my mannerto her!'

Save for the effects, Wilmet was glad to hear it. 'Well, Alda, it isnot always kind. '

'I only don't fuss and coax her; I see through her better than youdo. She is the sharp one. As I told Ferdinand, it is I who havereason to complain of his manner to her, only I know it is not hisfault. If there were no other objection to this preposterous schemeof Felix's, she would be a reason against it. '

'For shame, Alda! You don't consider what you are saying of yoursister. '

'I do!' said Alda. 'I have been more in the world than you, Wilmet, and I know what comes of sticking oneself down close to one's family, especially when there is that sort of spoilt invalid, backed up inall kinds of unreasonable expectations. I advise you to take care, Wilmet; you don't know what goes on in your absence. I should notwonder if it never came to an engagement after all. '

At that moment Felix's step and knock were at the door. Wilmet wentto it, and both her hands were clasped in her brother's. 'My Wilmet, my dear, this is well!'

Then Alda turned from her glass and understood. 'What? He has spoken?O Wilmet, and you never told me!'

'I had not time. '

'And what a splendid ring! but it is not a proper engaged-ring. Youcan't wear it. '

'I must! He wishes it. It was his mother's--Felix, may I have one ofMamma's for a guard?'

'May you!' said Felix, smiling. 

'I should like you to give it to me. Come in. '

He came to inspect the unlocking of the ponderous old inlaiddressing-case, with velvet-lined compartments mostly empty, or onlywith little labelled papers of first curls, down as far as 'EdwardClement, 1842, ' after which stern reality had absorbed sentiment--asad declension from the blue enamel shrine with a pearl cypher, whereFelix's downy flax reposed. 

To do Alda justice, there was no greed in her nature, and she evenoffered Wilmet a turquoise hoop of her own, instead of a littlebattered ring of three plaited strands of gold, which their motherhad worn till her widowhood, and they believed to be the ring of herbetrothal. And when Wilmet suggested that the locket would delightCherry, Alda's ready assent inspired the hope that she felt somecompunction for her jealous unkindness. 

The locket did prove a soothing charm, coupled with the littleconsultation as to the ribbon, and the capture of a smooth brown lockof the present to add to the original. And as the manly fingers dealtwith the hasp, and the kind smile welcomed her pleasure, Cherry'sheart felt that while she had her Felix, Alda need little comprehendher craving for attention from any one. 

Yet her greeting to John Harewood was shy, tame, and frightened, compared with Alda's pretty graceful cordiality, as she told him thatshe was delighted, and envied Lance his powers of diplomacy. In fact, it was Alda who kept up the conversation, and made things pleasant, with the ease of society; while Felix was shy, Wilmet longed forsilence, and Ferdinand looked like a picture of Spanish melancholy, such as had almost infected the whole table. 

'I believe I must ask you to bestow a little time on me, ' he said, assoon as the meal was over; and Alda made it evident that she meant tobe in the conclave, which took place in the back drawing-room. It wasat once made evident that the Pursuivant proposal was abhorrent toher; not that she behaved to Felix, nor indeed did she ever do so toany of his sex, as she permitted herself to do to Geraldine, but sheshowed great displeasure at the idea having been started. 

'Things are unfortunate enough already, ' she said, with somethinglike Wilmet's dignity; 'but I should never forgive such hopeless ruinto dear Ferdinand's prospects. '

'Have I not told you that no prospect is anything to me if you canonly be mine?'

'We know all that, ' said Alda, drawing herself away rather sharplyfrom the caressing hand, 'and therefore I must think for you, and Iwill not be the means of lowering your position in life. '

'Alda, dearest!' cried Ferdinand, glancing at Felix in such genuinedistress as made him interfere in pity. 

'We understand about position, Ferdinand; and you and Alda have beenable to observe how far life is enjoyable in this lowered position. '

'Felix, ' said Alda, who had evidently wound herself up for thiscrisis, 'you know very well that you stand quite out of common rules;but I am sure you can see that however valuable your work may be, itwould be wrong to draw Ferdinand to the same level. '

'As for that, ' said Ferdinand moodily, yet with the air of a banishedprince, 'Felix knows what my father was; and if I knew that mygrandfather was an honest man, it would be well. A stray wanderer, cast up at your door, has no right to talk of levels. '

'You are not to talk, ' said Alda, more affectionately. 'You are toogenerous to be allowed to think. '

'In plain English, Alda, ' said her brother, 'the objection is yours. '

'I cannot see him sacrifice himself for my sake, ' said Alda. 

'As though it could be a sacrifice!' exclaimed Ferdinand, 'when itopens the way to make you my own at once, my peerless beauty! Ifyou--'

'Come, we have had all this over before, ' said Alda, shrinking alittle petulantly as he hovered over her, speaking with the fervourof his Mexican nature, and his eyes glowing with eagerness; 'if youwill not have common sense, I must. '

'Common sense! It is not common sense I want! It is love!'

'If you doubt my affection--' said Alda, with dignity, drawing back. 

'No! no! no! I never was so profane. Only it drives me frantic tohear you so coolly willing to keep us apart for--'

'Because my affection is less selfish and narrow than yours, ' saidAlda, raising her voice as his became like a roll of distant thunder. 'I tell you I will not be the means of binding you to a pettyprovincial paper, that may give an immediate pittance, but will leadto nothing. Would that be love worth having? I appeal to Felix, hisscheme though it was. '

Felix was a very uncomfortable third party, especially as Alda'sappeal implied a certain accusation of himself. 'I own, ' he said, 'that this situation is not likely to lead to promotion, but it wouldbe competence. Ferdinand would be satisfied, but you--'

'I, who know what he is used to, cannot be satisfied for him. '

'As if you--' gasped the lover; but Alda would not let him go on. 

'No, ' she said, 'we must be patient. For him to remain in the Life-guards would be madness. But a few years at Mr. Brown's, with theinterest he already has in the business, will open a career to him. '

'And I can run down every Sunday, ' said Ferdinand. 'It is herdetermination; I suppose she is right, Felix, but I wish-- If I couldwish her otherwise, she should be less prudent!'

'I cannot see that she has any right to ask it of you, ' indignantlyexclaimed Felix. 

But he found this was putting his head into a hornet's nest. Ferdinand would not have contested her right to send him down amongthe lions, and would never have given her back her troth, like KnightDes Lorges. No, he hotly contended that Alda had a perfect right tomake her own terms, and still more hotly, though most inconsistently, that to work at Peter Brown's was his own free choice. 

It was incontestable that a South American merchant's career offeredmore possibilities of rising into opulence and consideration than theproprietorship of a country paper; and though Felix privately doubtedwhether desk-work would suit Ferdinand half as well as the work wherehe himself could have contributed wits, he could say no more. Ferdinand was greatly disappointed; but there was no sacrifice thathe would not make, and persist in with his silent Spanishperseverance, for Alda's sake. Indeed, he could not bear not to beginat once. He would return at once to his regiment, send in his papers, and dispose of his horses and equipments, making arrangements withPeter Brown to enter his house. He seemed to be in a fever till thematter was in train, and was entirely past remonstrance. And Felixrecognised that the lovers must act for themselves, and could onlyfeel thoroughly vexed with Alda, and equally vexed with himself forthe consternation with which he thought of having her at home threeyears longer!

It was the next evening; and not only had Alda's own lover departed, but Captain Harewood was missing, and with him Lance, and the onlyexplanation was from Bernard, that they were gone to Minsterham. Nodoubt Wilmet was sensible of a blank when she came home, though shewould not allow it, and stoutly defended her Captain's right of goingwhere and when he pleased without notice. She had to fight hisbattles, till late in the evening he walked in. 'Here we are! It islater than I expected. '

'Where's Lance?'

'He came in with me. Gone to his room, then. --Here, Geraldine, thislittle gentleman requests the honour of your leaning on him. '

'Oh, what a beauty! What a dear little ivory monster! Turbaned head, serpent's tail, and such a fascinating face!'

'Is the cane the right length! I measured yours. '

'You don't mean that he is for me! So smooth and so steady! Wheredoes he come from?'

'From Benares--I bought him at the great fair; and from the moment Isaw you, it was plain that in the eternal fitness of things he wasdestined to you. '

'To make a Pagan of her, ' said Felix. 'See her worshipping her littleidol!'

'Not my idol, but my prop and companion for life. '

'Your Lord Gerald, laughed Felix, as she walked triumphantly roundthe room, perhaps her first unnecessary promenade since she was sevenyears old. 

'This is just the time I didn't expect you, ' said Wilmet; 'is theseven o'clock train put on again?'

'We didn't come by the train. ' And Felix and Cherry smiled at oneanother as they detected that Wilmet's economical soul was vexed. 'Iwanted Lance to see his doctor again, and the railway seems so badfor his head that I drove. '

'How very kind!' exclaimed Wilmet. 

'I am afraid I have not managed it well. I would not make anappointment, lest it should be a glaring day; so Manby was out, andwe could only leave a message before going to the precincts. Lancewas in wild spirits, and the boys gave him such an uproariouswelcome, that old Canon Burley sent in to know what was the matter, and was told it was only little Underwood come back. He dined withus, but I am afraid I was off guard, for I never thought of his goingand taking a place in the Cathedral. '

'I should think not!' said Wilmet, 'except that it is in the natureof boys to be provoking, even about church-going. Then it has knockedhim up. '

'He was forced to come out in the Psalms; and Poulter, one of thelay-vicars, got anxious about him, and went after him when the Lessonbegan, found him with his head down on the table in the sacristy, andthought he had fainted, but he was only crying and entirely done up. Manby came just as Poulter brought him in, and gave him a proper goodlecture. '

'A very good thing, ' said Wilmet, 'if one could only get him tobelieve there is any need of care when his head is not actuallypainful. What did Mr. Manby think of him?'

'He says he is as well as could reasonably be hoped--quite recoveredfrom the fever; but the sun-stroke was as severe as any he has seenin England, and coming on the top of all that overwork, both studyand music, it has left an amount of irritability and excitability ofbrain that must not be trifled with. He made poor Lance confess allthe little experiments he has been trying on himself, and ordered himto leave off whatever he is about at the first threatening ofdizziness or pain. '

'Then there's not much chance of his going back?'

'Not before Christmas at soonest. One would think the poor littlefellow must have been aware of that; but the verdict cut him up verymuch. I thought he had better be quiet till the heat of the day waspast, so he lay on my bed till six o'clock, and then he said he wasbetter, but he hardly spoke all the way home. '

Wilmet went at once to see after him, and found him already in bed;but whether sleepy, suffering, or sorrowful, she could not make out, for he hid his eyes from the candle, and only muttered 'No, thankyou, ' in reply to whatever she offered, till she yielded to hisevident longing for darkness and silence. 

He was up and about in the morning; but when at noon Bernard rushedin from school, he was neither in the drawing-room, garden, noroffice, and the door of his--or rather Mr. Froggatt's--bedroom waslocked. Bernard bounced at it, calling, 'Let me in, I say; I'll notmake a row. '

'There aren't any more of you?' parleyed Lance. 

'No! Let me in, I say!'--kicking at the panels--'I must speak toyou!'

'I'm coming; hold your din!' And Lance revealed himself without coator boots. 

'Holloa--how dark! You were never asleep? I came, because one cannever catch you without a string of girls and babies after you. '

'Cut on, ' said Lance resignedly, shaking up his horse-hair pillow:while Bernard seated himself on the table, and in the half-light ofthe shuttered room began to disentangle some knotted twine. 

'Did you come here to do that?' said Lance, wanting to finish hisnap, and chiefly restrained by the trouble of the thing from kickingthe intruder out. 

'Only, I say, Lance, have you any tin?'

'Not the valley of a brass farthing!' (The last pence of the ValeLeston sovereign had gone into Stella's jam. )

'Wouldn't Felix give you some?'

'I don't know. ' (Very gruffly. )

'I wish you'd ask. '

'You have as many tongues as I. '

'Well, you see Felix is not half a bad fellow for one's governor, buthe doesn't know what's what; and Sims says he'll go to him if I don'tcome down with something before to-morrow. '

'Sims! Sims in Smoke-jack Alley? Is that your sort?' demanded Lance, in ineffable disgust. 

'He's been keeping a dog for me, ' said Bernard sulkily. 

'A dog!' Lance sat up in astonishment immeasurable. 

'Yes. Its the thing, and no mistake, ' said Bernard eagerly. 

'His name is Stingo; only we are not quite sure whether he is a bull-terrier or a short-haired King Charles. '

Lance dropped back, wriggling in suppressed convulsions, as hedemanded, 'Where did you steal this unmistakeable animal?'

'I bought him, ' said Bernard, with a certain magnificence intended tobe overawing. 

'Then where did you steal the money!'

'Travis, ' said Bernard, who considered Christian names unworthy ofmale lips. 'He always used to tip me a sovereign, and Ben Bowyer, thedog-fancier, said Stingo was worth thirty shillings any day, only helet me have him for eight and six, because he wanted to sell off hisstock. '

'I thought as much. And Sims keeps him for you?'

'At ninepence a week; but the brute is at me for ever, and says it istwelve weeks. '

'Pray, how were you to raise ninepence a week? By waiting onProvidence or turning coach-wheels?'

'I had some then; and Froggy sometimes gives one half a crown, butthe old beast hasn't lately, just because I wanted it--nor Traviseither, bad luck to him! quoth this grateful young man. 'I put themall off, making sure of him; and now he's cut and never tipped me atall! It's an abominable sell, and they are all at me. 

'All! what more? Have it out, ' grunted Lance, with a sound of bodilypain in his tone such as would have silenced any one above ten yearsold, and a bored contemptuous manner that would have crushed anyattempt at confidence--if he had been the right person to confess to. 

Nevertheless, Bernard mumbled, 'Shooting-gallery. And Mother Goldievowed she would lug me up to Wilmet if I don't fork out!'

'Mother Goldie! You little disgusting ape! You've been tucking inwhat you owed in pies and tarts! cried Lance, who was tooconstitutionally heedless of the palate to have any charity for itstemptations. 

'It's all Wilmet's fault, ' said Bernard. 'She never gives oneanything fit to eat. There was that beastly lamp out there went andgot broke, and what does she do but crib it out of our grub! Now, Lance, was any living soul served like that before? She gave us onlythat beastly stir-about at breakfast' (Bernard worked his singleadjective hard), ' no butter nor sugar at tea, and no pudding, exceptwhen there's that beastly mess of rice. '

'I'm sure I've seen pudding. '

'Oh! she came round when Felix came home. She knew he wouldn't standit. Alda used to buy marmalade and anchovy on her own hook, so Idon't see why I shouldn't. '

'Alda didn't go on tick, I suppose. '

'Serve Wilmet right if we all did. I don't believe there's a beggarso badly fed. Nares says--'

'You unnatural little sneak, you haven't been and gone and complainedto him!'

'No; but all the town is crying out upon her shabbiness. They say itis a perfect shame how little butcher's meat she gets. Nares's motherand sisters do nothing but laugh at it, and Nares says nothing willmake us comfortable but a bankruptcy. Hollo!'

For a well-aimed swing of the bolster laid him sprawling on thefloor. 

'Take that for mentioning such a word!'

'My eyes, Lance, is it swearing?' said Bernard, with a littleaffectation of innocence. 'How you have been and bumped my knees;'and he sat on the floor, pulling up his trousers to gain a view;'there'll be a bruise as big as half a crown! Well, but Nares says itwas a real blessing to them; for before it old Nares was always in arage, and his mother boohooing; and now it is over they live likefighting-cocks, on champagne, and lobster-salad, and mulli--what'shis name?--first chop; and the women dress in silks and velvets andfeathers, no end of swells! and they say it is regular stoopid topinch like that, for no one will believe we ain't going to smashwhile she is such a screw!'

'If you weren't nothing but a little donkey, ' said Lance, sittingcoiled up with his head on his knee, grimly contemplating him, 'you'dbe a show specimen of precocious depravity. '

'I declare, ' persisted Bernard, 'Nares says it is coming as sure asfate; for his governor, and Jackman, and Collis are going to stump upthe old Pursuivant with their new Bexley Tribune, and Redstone isto be sub-editor. '

'The black-hearted rascal!' cried Lance, bounding on his feet in arage. 'He ought to be kicked out of the shop this instant!'

'Now don't, Lance, ' entreated Bernard, 'for Nares will pitch into mefor telling. He says they've got an opening through the Pur backingup that mean beggar Smith; and Collis and Jackman will find the cash, and Nares's father is to be editor, and they vow Froggatt andUnderwood will be beat out of the field. '

'Catch them, ' said Lance, and he stood leaning against the solid oldcarved bed-post in silence, till Bernard returned to the insolvencyat present far more pressing. 

'Won't you help me about Stingo?' he said. 

'Do you want me to send him to the dog-show, ticketted "The RealAnimal and no mistake"?'

'Don't, Lance, ' said the boy peevishly. 'I thought you were good-natured, and would lend me some tin, or at least stop the blackguardfrom being such a baboon. He's found out that Travis has cut, and hesays he'll come to Felix this very day, ' ended he, not far fromcrying. 

'I can't anyhow, to-day, Bear, ' said Lance, more kindly. 'My head isvery bad, and you've not mended it. '

'It was well enough when you broke my knees, ' grumbled Bernard. 'Come, Lance, you used to be a fellow to help one. '

'I can't, I tell you, ' said Lance, hastily throwing himself back onthe bed, and shutting his eyes. 'It isn't that I won't, but I can't. I couldn't walk straight down the street for giddiness; and if I did, I don't suppose I could talk sense. '

Bernard was startled by the tone as well as the words; but he had notarrived at much pity for any one but himself, and he whined, 'Butwhat shall I do, then?' repeating it dolefully, as Lance lay for somemoments silent and with closed eyes. 

'Bother!' he broke out angrily at last. 'Look here. Tell theblackguard--let me see--I don't well know what I'm saying. Tell himyou've spoken to me--no, to your brother--mind, you needn't saywhich--and that he'll come and see about it. Now give me thatbolster, and take yourself off. Tell them I want no dinner, and don'tlet any one come! Get along, and shut the door. '

Bernard could extract no more, and departed as the dinner-bell rang, leaving him without energy even to lock the door. Presently Felix wasstanding anxiously over him; but he reiterated that he could not bearto think of food, and only wanted to be left alone; but just as hisbrother was leaving him, he said, 'Fee, do you know that Redstone isgoing over to the enemy?'

'The opposition paper? Nothing more likely. How did you hear?'

'Bear picked it up. I say, wasn't that little beggar to have gone toStoneborough?'

'Not possible, Lance, I've gone into it with Wilmet. She is introuble about household expenses, as it is; and with this rival paperon our hands, I can't undertake anything extra. Has he been botheringyou? I'm very sorry, but we must keep him here. '

Lance shut his eyes without reply; but no sooner was he left alonethan he rolled over, gave vent to a heavy groan from the bottom ofhis heart, and clenched his hands as he lay. Then followed some heavysobs, and a few great tears; but gradually a look of purpose and hopecame over his face, and he slept. He was lying between sleeping andwaking, when a quiet step and cautious knock made him call out, 'Comein, Jack. '

'Your sister wants to know if you are better, and ready for sometea. '

'Thank you, I'm mending. Is Wilmet come home?'

'Yes, but only to become the prey of an ancient female. '

'Mrs. Bisset! Come to inspect you!'

'She won't, then! Shall I get you some tea?'

'No, thank you. But, I say, Jack, do you see my big box that webrought home yesterday? Would you just dig into it for me?'

John Harewood applied himself to disentangle a frightful knot, observing, 'This looks like Bill's handiwork. '

'Ay! Bill put all my traps together when our other fellows cameback. '

'Together indeed!' said the Captain, looking at the heterogeneouscollection. 

'There's nothing to hurt, ' said Lance. 'Do you see a green box?'

'A fiddle-case, you boy?'

'A violin-case, ' said Lance, with dignity. 'Give it me. ' And takingout his purse, he produced its only contents--namely, the key--triedto sit up to unlock his treasure, but was forced by giddiness to lieback again with a gasp, and hold out the key to his friend. 

'Come, I should think a fiddle the last thing you could want justnow, ' said John. 

'Just so. I'm afraid it is. Only, just let me see if she is allright. Ay!' and then, after a gaze, a fond touch or two, anirrepressible sigh strangled in the midst, 'lock her up again! Youain't by any chance going home to-morrow?'

'Do you want anything?'

'Why, when I got her at old Spicer's sale for twenty-two andsixpence, Poulter was beside himself at my luck, and said she wasworth double that any day, and he would give it me if I got tired ofher. Now, if I'd only known yesterday, I could have done it myself, but I can't go, and I can't write--but if you could but send or takeit to Poulter, and get the money for me!'

'Do you feel bound to give Poulter the refusal! for if it is really agood instrument, it ought to be worth more than that. '

'Poulter has been very good to me. He taught me to play on it, ' saidLance; 'that is, he showed me a little; but Robin made me lock it upand give her the key all last spring, for fear of hindering mymugging; and I can't touch her now, so she has been very little useto me. I promised Poulter, and I think he should have her. Besides, Iwant the money slick at once. It's no good sticking it in a window towait for some one to give what it is worth. '

John marvelled what need of money could have come upon the boy in thelast twenty-four hours, but he was too discreet a friend to takeadvantage of necessity to ask questions, and said, 'The fact was, Iwas thinking of running up to town to get a sewing-machine for yoursister, but if I start by the earlier train, I can see Poulter on theway, and if he does not want it himself, he can tell me where todispose of it to the best advantage. '

'Only it must be ready money, ' said Lance; it must be owned withscarcely the alacrity of gratitude John deserved. 'If it didn't makemuch difference, I wish Poulter could have her, for then I shouldsometimes see her and handle her again, and I think he would use herwell. '

'Very well, I'll tell him. '

'And don't tell any one here, ' added Lance. 'You don't go and tell W. W. Everything, do you?' he added, wistful and perplexed. 

'Not other people's secrets, ' said John. 'Now I am going to fetch yousome food; you are looking quite faint, you have had nothing sinceyesterday's dinner. '

Poor Lance! when John was gone, he turned with another groan, oncemore took the violin in his arms, laid it on his shoulder, and madethe motions of playing, then kissed it, and whispering, 'Poulter willbe good to you, my pretty. It's not for that little beggar of a Bear!It's for Felix, for Felix--' and then at a sound of steps hastilyreplaced it, shut the box, and fell back again, dizzy and exhausted. 

The next day, he betook himself to a refuge more impregnable toBernard than even Mr. Froggatt's bedroom, namely the office, whichsuited his sociable nature, and where he was always welcome. He foundemployment there, too, in cutting out extracts from newspapers, labelling library books, and packing parcels, and sometimes also, itmust be owned, in drawing caricatures of the figures he spied throughthe chinks of the door. 

CHAPTER XXIII

SMOKE-JACK ALLEY

Launce. It is no matter if the ty'd were lost, for it is theunkindest ty'd that ever man ty'd. 

Panthino. What's the unkindest ty'd?

Launce. Why, he that's ty'd here--Crab, my dog. SHAKESPEARE. 

John Harewood returned, bringing with him what Alda took for adressing-case, and Cherry for a drawing-box, but which proved tocontain a wonderful genie to save the well-worn fingers many a prick. To Lance he first administered the magical words, 'All right, ' andthen making an opportunity, he put five sovereigns into his hand. Lance's first impulse was, however, not to thank, but to exclaim, 'Then Poulter has not got it?'

No, Poulter's conscience had forbidden him to purchase 'littleUnderwood's' treasure at what he knew to be so much beneath itsvalue; but he had given Captain Harewood his best advice andrecommendations, and by that means the violin had been taken at aLondon shop, still at a price beneath his estimate, but the utmostthat could be expected where ready money was the point. Lance oughtto have been delighted, and his native politeness made him repeat, 'Thank you'; but he could not quite keep down his regret--'Now Ishall never see or hear her again. '

However, the next day, when Bernard flew upon him at twelve o'clock, asseverating that there was shade all the way, he allowed himself tobe persuaded, prudently carrying with him only ten shillings, andtrusting to his blue umbrella rather than to Bernard's shade, whichcould hardly have been obtained by sidling against the walls. 

Bernard did not seem to have enjoyed much more of Stingo's societythan Lance of his violin's--the produce of the same bounty. Heconfessed that he had only ventured on taking the dog out three timesin a string, and on one of these occasions he had broken loose aftera cat, on another had fought with Nares's dog, and on the third hadsnapped at Angela. 

'You didn't take Angel into these places!'

'No, she came to meet me. '

'That's a sign of grace, but, Bear, I can't stand these diggings atall. I've a great mind to turn back. '

'You won't!' cried Bernard. 'You must have been here often when. Youwere a grammar-school fellow. '

'Not we! This is a cut below us! Fulbert would never have been caughthere!'

'But you are going to get me out of this fix?'

'Haven't I said I will? only hold your tongue, and let me alone tomanage the rascal. If you open your mouth, I've done with it. '

Bernard was forced to acquiesce, though Lance's manner vexed andirritated him. Popular and valuable as Lance had been with thechoristers, he was not dealing as well with his brother, perhapspartly because he was more consciously trying to influence him; andlikewise because the state of his health and his prospects so faraffected his manner, that though never ill-humoured, it had lost someof the easy careless sweetness of high spirits, and assumed anironical tone, exasperating to a child who could not brook ridicule. He was ashamed and dismayed at the place where Bernard was leadinghim, so low and disreputable that the boys of his time had neverhaunted it, and his own gamin propensities had never extended sofar. It was a tumble-down quarter; the houses, deplorable hovels, runup hastily for the workmen at the potteries, and every third orfourth a beershop; and in the midst dwelt Mr. Sims, a maimed poacher, who kept a large live-stock with which to trade on the sportingtastes of the youth of Bexley. 

Probably he was gratified to see that 'my brother' meant nothing moreimposing than the chorister; but Lance had so cultivated hisopportunities at Dick Graeme's home, as to be more knowing on thesubject than Felix would have been. Indeed, it did not take muchscience to estimate the value of the 'real animal, ' whose marketprice seemed to have fallen considerably. Lance, as he looked at thepied, bandy-legged, long-nosed cur, felt it impossible to set hiscost against his keep, nor was he designed by nature for drivingbargains; but Sims' expectations were founded on the probable, andthe debt was annulled for three-and-sixpence and Stingo himself. Muchcivility was expended on Lance; dogs, rabbits, and other curiositieswere exhibited, and an invitation given to come with the other younggents to admire the favourite terrier's exploits upon a cage of ratsshortly expected, admission free. 

'You will come, won't you?' cried Bernard eagerly, as they went out. 

'What? To all the vilest sports in the place!'

'But, Lance, you told me about the rat hunt at Mr. Graeme's. '

'What? Turning out the barn, with Mr. Graeme himself, and Bill, andall the rest? Do you think that's like letting a lot of wretchedbeasts out of a trap to be snapped up by a cur of a dog, with no endof drinking foul-mouthed blackguards betting on him?'

'You are always so savage, Lance; and now you've gone and paid awayall the money. '

'What more?'

'There's the shooting-gallery, you see. '

Lance did see a public-house called the Flying Stag, where Bernardhad contrived to incur a debt of a few shillings under Nares'spatronage. While inquiring after the amount, he saw Mr. Mowbray Smithcoming along the alley, and was more amused than shocked at theamazement his own presence there would cause the Curate; but justthen he perceived that men were standing scowling at their doors, andslovenly women thronging out like ants when their hill is disturbed:and asking an explanation from the damsel in earrings who attended tohim, he heard that 'the chaps are determined that that there Smithshall not have the impudence to show his face here again, for ahypocrite, defrauding of the poor. You'd best be away, young gents, there will be a fracaw!'

'A row!' cried Bernard, between excitement and alarm. 'Shall we stayand see it? Won't Smith spy us?'

Lance deigned no reply, but seeing the rough-looking men gathering asif to obstruct the Curate's way, he shot across the street to shakehands with him. 

'You! I am sorry to see you!' said Mr. Smith severely; at which Lancegave what under other circumstances would have been an impudentsmile, and asked, 'Have you anywhere here to go?'

'I am just come away from a sick man. But you know how wrong it is tobring your little brother here. Take him away, ' he added, trying toprevent them from joining him, and at the same time a voice shouted, 'Let him alone, young gents, he aint your sort;' and a hissing andhooting broke out all round, 'A parson as ought to have his gownpulled over his head!'

'What's gone of the coals?' 'How about the blankets?'

Bernard got a tight grip, out of sight, of Lance's coat; Mr. Smithgrew red and bit his lips; but Lance walked close to him, and as theybegan to be jostled, took his arm, holding the blue sunshade overboth their heads. Unsavoury missiles began to fly; but a womanscreeched, 'Bad luck to ye, ye vagabone! ye've ruinated the younggentleman's purty blue umberella!'

'Down with it, young chap, ' called another, 'or ye'll be served withthe same sauce!'

'Serve un right too!' was the rejoinder. ''Tis they Underwoods, asnever stands up for poor men's rights, and is all for the tyrants. '(All this full of abusive epithets. )

'Who said that?' broke out Lance, beginning hastily to close hisumbrella, and trying to wrench his arm from Mr. Smith; 'I'm ready forhim. '

But Mr. Smith, with an angry 'Are you mad?' held him fast; and hisstruggles provoked a good-humoured laugh at the little champion, still so white and slight. 

'No, no, ' said a big powerful man, collaring a great lad who had beenthrusting forward at Lance's defiance, 'we don't have no mills withnatomies like you! Go home and mind yer own business. Your father wasanother guess sort of parson, and I'll not see a finger laid on you. Be off, till we've given that other bad lot a bit of our mind. '

'Not I!' growled Lance. 'I'll have it out with that rascal there. --Nonsense, Mr. Smith; I can, I say--and I will!'

But the big man and Mr. Smith were perfectly in accordance this time;and without a word between them, the impulse of the coal-heaver'sweight somehow opened a path, where, shoved by the one, and draggedby the other, Lance was at the corner--then round it--the crowdfollowed no farther. 

'A plucky little chap that!' quoth the coal-heaver to Mr. Smith. 'Youmay thank your stars that he's his father's son, or it would havebeen the worse for you! And if ever you show the face of you hereagain, you know what to expect. '

'I expect nothing but what I am willing to receive in my Master'sservice, ' said Mr. Smith, firmly meeting his eyes. 'Meantime, thankyou for the help you have given me with these boys. Good morning. Youwill judge me more fairly another time. '

The man added another contemptuous oath to those with which he hadfreely laden his discourse; but Lance paused a moment to say, 'Thankyou too, you meant it well; but I wish you'd have let me have it outwith that foul-mouthed cad. '

'Wait till ye're a match for him, and welcome, ' said the man. 'Blessye! what could that fist do with Black Bill?'

'For shame, boys! come away, ' said the infinitely disgusted Curate, and not a word was spoken down the first street, Bernard was stilltrembling with excitement, and Lance, conscious perhaps that thoughhis interference had answered his purpose, he had been betrayed intowhat he now saw to have been absurd. 

At last the Curate spoke, his naturally harsh voice wavering a littlebetween reproach and acknowledgment. 'I am very sorry for all this, Lancelot Underwood. I believe you joined me out of a kind andgenerous feeling, of which I am sensible; otherwise, I should feel itmy duty to report to your brother where I met you. '

'You are quite welcome, ' said Lance, coolly. 

'And I must say, ' continued Mr. Smith, 'that if your whole training, as well as your recent severe illness, do not withhold you from suchassociations, at least I entreat you to pause before leading yourlittle brother into them. '

Lance made no answer, except to halt at a public drinking fountain, to wash away the damage his umbrella had sustained; and there, with aserious 'Take care!' the Curate left the brothers. 

'Catch me going to his help again!' exclaimed Bernard, entirelyunconscious that his own gratitude to Lance was on a par with Mr. Smith's. 'He may get out of the next row as he can!'

'Ah! Bear! You see how you are corrupting my innocent youth!'

'A meddling donkey! I wish he had a rotten egg in each eye! Now itwill all come out. '

'What will?'

'Where we have been. '

'That's the best thing that could happen. '

'You don't mean that you mean to let it out?'

'If you expect me to tell lies for you, you are out there. '

'But, Lance, Lance, ' in an agony, 'you wouldn't be such a sneak, whenI trusted you?'

Lance laughed. The bare idea of betrayal seemed so absurd, that hescarcely thought it worth removing. 

The two were slackening their pace as they saw Felix at the carriage-door of a lady customer; and Lance said gravely, 'I'll see to MotherGoldie; but now, Bear, that you are out of this scrape, I give youfair warning, that if I find you grubbing your nose into that sort ofthing again, I'll put a stop to it, one way or another. '

'I'm not a bit worse than the rest. All the other fellows do it. '

'Oh, I suppose, if you think Stingo the right thing in dogs, youthink Nares the right thing in fellows!'

At that moment the customer drove off, and Felix having spied theblue sunshade, tarried at the door to administer a remonstrance toLance on being so foolish as to venture into the noon-day sun. He wasnot able to come in to dinner till it was half over, and then it waswith a merry look and question, 'What's this, boys, about MowbraySmith being mobbed in Smoke-jack Alley and your making in to therescue?'

'Oh, ' said Lance, 'there was an attempt at getting up a shindy, butit was of the meanest description. No one knew how to set about it. There was only one Irishman there, and he was a woman. ' (This with awink to Sibby. )

'And you didn't offer to fight big Ben Blake?'

'Ben Blake, on the contrary, elbowed us all safe out, because myfather was another guess sort of parson!'

'And there was a horrible little cad making faces, ' exclaimedBernard, unable to resist claiming part of the glory, ' and I was justgoing to have pitched into him--'

'What--you saw the row getting up, and went to stand by Smith?' saidFelix. 

'Yes, ' said Bernard boldly; 'and nobody durst lay a finger on himwhen we were on each side of him!'

At which everybody burst out laughing, including Mr. Froggatt, andLance most of all. 'Who was it then, ' he struggled to say gravely, 'that pulled so hard at the back of my coat? I suppose it must havebeen some little cad. I thought it had been you. '

'Well, it was time to hold you back, when you were going to fightthat great lout!'

'For my part, ' said Lance, 'I think it must have been Smith and Ithat were holding the Great Bear back by his tail from fighting bigBen Blake. Eh?'

Bernard, never able to bear being laughed at, looked intensely sulky, and a true description of the affair being asked by Mr. Froggatt, Lance gave it, exactly enough, but with so much of the comic sidethat every one was in fits of merriment, all of which, in his presentmood, the younger boy imagined to be aimed at him. He was too full ofangry self-consequence really to attend, so as to see how entirelydisconnected with himself the laughter was; all he cared for was thatLance should not betray him; and to assure himself on this head, itmust be confessed that he hovered on the upper stairs out of sight, while Felix was lingering on the lower to say to Lance, 'Of course itwas only Smith's affair that took you into Smoke-jack Alley?'

'Not exactly, ' said Lance. 

Bernard trembled with resentment and alarm. 

'I don't want to ask questions, but you know it is not a nice placefor yourself or for Bernard. '

'My dear governor, I know that as well or better than you do, and itwon't be my fault if I go there again. '

'Don't let it be anybody's fault, ' returned Felix, and vanishedthrough the office door; while Lance, sighing wearily, was heardrepairing to his refuge in his own room, and Bernard grimly andmoodily swung himself downstairs on his way to afternoon school, believing himself a much aggrieved party. Here was Lance, whom he hadbelieved a fellow-inhabitant of the Alsatia of boyhood turned intoone of those natural enemies, moral police, who wanted to do himgood! True, Lance had helped him out of his scrape, and guarded hissecret; but Bernard could not forgive either his own alarm, or the'not exactly'; and the terms of confidence so evident between him andFelix seemed to place them in the same hateful category. Worse thanall, Lance had laughed at him, and Bernard was far too proud andself-important not to feel every joke like so many nettle-stings. Hehad expected an easy careless helper; he had found what he could notcomprehend, whether boy or man, but at any rate a thing with thatintolerable possession, a conscience, and a strong purpose of keepinghim out of mischief. 

To detect which purpose was to be resolved on thwarting it. Nor, itmust be allowed, was Lance's management perfect. He wanted to makehimself a companion such as would content the boy instead of theNareses, but to cross the interval of amusement between sixteen andten required condescension, that could not but be perceived andrejected, nor did he perceive that ridicule was an engine most fatalin dealing with Bernard. Of course nothing like all this passedthrough the boy's mind. Lance simply saw that his little brother wasgetting into mischief, and tried to play with him to keep him out ofit, but was neither well nor happy enough to do so naturally, andtherefore did not succeed. Yet if he had abstained from showingBernard a picture in the style of Punch, of the real animal and nomistake, and Bernard himself pointing to Felix and observing that thegovernor didn't know what's what, he might have prevailed to preventthe boy from eluding him and going to Mr. Sims' rat-hunt. 

Of all this Felix: knew nothing. He still had much lee-way to makeup, in consequence of his absence, and the excitement in the towntold upon the business. 

Mr. Bevan's reply had been a timid endeavour at peace-making whichfoes called shuffling, and friends could only call weakness, so thatit added to the general exasperation. Then came the Archdeacon'sinvestigation, which elucidated the Curate's moral integrity, butshowed how money subscribed for charity had gone in the churchexpenses, that ought to have been otherwise provided for. It wasallowed that the Rector had been only to blame in leaving the wholeadministration to the Curate under his wife's dominion, and as thelady could not be put forward, Mr. Smith was left to bear the wholebrunt of the storm. 

His obsequiousness to Lady Price had alienated his brother clergy, and his fellow-curate allowed himself to be kept aloof by his mother, in a manner that became ungenerous. Half petulant, and whollyungracious, as Mr. Smith's manner was in receiving assistance, onlystrong principle could lead any one to befriend him; and his fewadvisers found it difficult to hinder him from making a publicexposure of 'my Lady, ' or from throwing up his work suddenly andleaving the town, which would of course have been fatal to hisprospects. 

The Pursuivant had a difficult course to steer, Mr. Froggatt wouldfain have ignored the strife altogether, but the original note ofdefiance having been sounded by his trumpet, this was not possible, and the border line between justice and partisanship was not easy tokeep. Whether the young editor did keep it was a question. To Mr. Smith he seemed a tame, lukewarm supporter; to Mr. Froggatt, adangerously conscientious and incautious champion; and the vociferouspublic despised the dull propriety, and narrow partisanship, of theold country paper. Finally, on the first Saturday in October, thereappeared the first sheet of the Bexley Tribune, with a cuttingarticle on bloated dignitaries and blood-sucking parasites, and anequally personal review of all the Proudie literature. On the Mondaymorning one hundred and twenty-nine Pursuivants remained on hand. Redstone took the trouble to count them, and to look into the officeto ask Mr. Underwood where they should be stowed away. 

'I wish he was smothered in them, the malicious brute!' said Lance, grinding his teeth, when Felix had given a summary answer. 'What ablessing to see the ugly back of him on the 1st of November!'

'I'm not so sure of that, ' said Felix, as he sorted the letters ofthe Sunday post. 

'Do you think he can. Do us any harm?'

'No; but he seems a specimen of an article hard to supply at the sameprice. '

'Are those answers to your advertisement?'

'Yes, and very unpromising. '

Lance came to look them over with him, and to put aside those worthshowing to Mr. Froggatt; but it seemed that an assistant suitable inappearance and intelligence was so costly as to alarm their old-fashioned notions. He must be efficient, for Mr. Froggatt was equalto little exertion, and never came in on bad days; and to give anincreased salary when the paper was struggling with a rival wasserious; yet the only moderate proposal was from a father atDearport, who wanted his son boarded, lodged, and treated as one ofthe family. 

'That is impossible, ' said Felix, 'unless the Froggatts would do it. '

'Eighteen!' said Lance. 'I'm sixteen, and up to the ways of theplace! Why don't you set me to work before I have eaten my head off?'

'It would not do for you afterwards, ' said Felix; 'I don't like yourrushing out to serve. '

'But really, Felix, I mean it. I can do all Redstone does, exceptlifting some of the weights; and I am as old as you when you began. '

'No, no, Lance; your line is cut out for you. '

'It was, ' said Lance, 'but I'm off it, and no good as I am; and ifyou could save Redstone's salary, you might send Bear toStoneborough, instead of letting him stay here and go to the dogs. '

'Ah!' groaned Felix, 'it is hard that all this should come to upsethis chances. '

'Are you really afraid those rascals can do us much harm?'

'We have a sound county circulation beyond their reach, but everycopy they sell is so much out of our pockets; and there are so manypeople possessed with a love of the low and scurrilous, as well as somany who differ in politics, that it must thrive unless they stultifythemselves. Don't look so appalled, Lancey boy; we aint coming togrief, only it will be a close shave at home this winter. '

'Then, Felix, let me help! You don't know the comfort it would be. '

'Not so loud, ' said Felix, stepping into the shop. Lance stoodthoughtful, then hearing more footsteps, ran out, and found two orthree boys come for school materials, and some maids waiting tochange volumes for their ladies. He gave his ready help; and thereensued a lull, for it was a wet day, such as to make Mr. Froggatt'scoming doubtful. Felix took a second survey of the applications. 

'Now, Fee, do think about this; I am in earnest. '

'So am I, Lance; I am very thankful to you, but it is not to bethought of. '

'Why not? Am I too small? For that's mending. There's one good thingin being ill, it sets one growing. My thick go-to-meeting trousersthat I left at Minsterham are gone up to my ancles; I must ask Wilmetif Clem hasn't left a pair that have got too seedy for Cambridge. '

'It is not that, Lance, but the disadvantage it might be to you inafter-life. '

'If I took to it for good?'

'No, no, Lance; one is enough. '

'Stay. Don't shut me up that way. Recollect what this horriddonothingness is doing for me. I am losing all chance of theexhibition, and they can't keep me on at the Cathedral without, formy voice has got like an old crow's; and besides, if I can't read, what's the good of standing for scholarships?'

'You will feel very differently when your head is stronger. Besides, if there should be anything in what we were told at Ewmouth, it wouldbe a pity to get more involved with trade. '

'I thought that was never to be spoken of. '

'And this is my first time. Don't take it as a licence. '

'I could see the sense of that, if it were you, ' said Lance, 'but notfor No. 5. '

'No. 1 would have his place and work found for him, but No. 5 mightnot find it easy to turn to something else. '

'Well!' said Lance, considering, 'you said that possibility was notto make any difference to us. Wouldn't it be making the wrong sort ofdifference to let it keep a great lout like me in idleness whileBernard is going to the bad?'

'What do you mean about Bernard?' said Felix, now thoroughly roused. 'Is it worse than you and Fulbert were in your gamin days?'

'I am afraid so, ' said Lance. 'Ful took better care of himself thanhe seemed to do, and his friends were decent fellows, not like thelot that have hooked in poor little Bear. '

'I suppose it was some scrape of his that took you into Smoke-jackAlley. I thought you would get him out best without me. '

'The little dog, he was always after me when I didn't want him, butnow I can't get at him. In short, there's nothing for it but cuttingthe connection between him and Jem Nares. '

'Just tell me how far it goes. What has he been doing with him?'

'Taking him to see rat-killing at Sims' in Smoke-jack Alley. '

'You couldn't hinder it?'

'No. Indeed, Felix, I did my best, ' and the tears sprang into theboy's eyes; 'I did all but go after him, for I knew that would beworse than no good. '

'You need not apologise to me, ' said Felix, laying down his pen; 'Ihave been very wrong. Between this business of Smith's and all therest of it, I have hardly known which way to turn. I knew that I hadnot taken the right line with Fulbert, and interference made himworse, and I thought you had taken Bear in hand. Why, Lancey, I nevermeant to upset you. You have done all you could. '

'I did think I was good for that, ' said Lance ruefully, 'after allour old swells at Minsterham said about influence on the choir andbosh. That when it comes to one's own brother--'

The tears were almost girl-like, and Felix's comfort was in the tonethat suited them. 'Indeed, Lance, you may be doing him more good thanyou know. I thank you with all my heart; you are a much more realhelp and comfort to us all than you guess. '

'That's what you say to Cherry!' said Lance, impatiently. 'Now I canbe real help, if you would only let me, and then Bernard could go outof the way of these fellows. '

'That he shall do, if I have to dip into the Chester legacy again. '

'Better take my way, ' said Lance, reviving; 'a young man with goodreferences only wants board and lodging. 

'It is not possible, Lance. It would not be respectful to the Bishopor the Dean, who have strained a point to keep you. There--I hear Mr. Kenyon's voice in the shop. I must go. '

'Only one thing, Felix. Will you hear what Jack Harewood says to it?'

To this Felix readily assented. He was hurried and harassed nearly tothe extent of his time and capacity; he could not pause to give fullconsideration to his young brother's project, and was glad that theungracious task of silencing it should be imposed on one lessimmediately interested. 

John Harewood was always at Wilmet's side after four o'clock. Beforethat time he sometimes went to his home; he often spent the afternoonwith Geraldine, but he was not usually about the house in themorning. So Lance, in a fever of impatience, wandered till he huntedhim down writing letters in the coffee-room at the Fortinbras Arms. 

'Jack, I say, come and have a walk. '

'Pleasant weather!'

'You want to be watered, after all that parching in India. It isn'training now, and such a jolly cool day!'

'Jollier for you than a finer day, mayhap, ' said the good-naturedsoldier, who greatly commiserated Lance's enforced idleness, and onlywondered at his not making it a greater misery to every one else. Healso understood what the inured ears of the family never guessed, since Lance never complained, the distress of Theodore's constant humand concertina to sensitive ears and excited nerves; and had observedthat Lance had flagged ever since the journey to Minsterham, withless of vigour and more of sharpness. Sure that something was preyingon the boy, he deferred his least important letters, to splash awaywith him in mud and mist, and hear him explain his views, with thefullness often more possible towards friend than family. 

John was greatly surprised, but did not make any crushing objection, and listened with thorough sympathy. He doubted, however, whetherLance would be doing any real good, and not only throwing more, instead of less work upon Felix. Sensibly enough the boy went intothe matter. He said that when Felix began, the staff had alsoconsisted of Mr. Froggatt, Redstone, a lad called Stubbs, and a boy. Now Felix did much more than Mr. Froggatt had then done, and Stubbswas a useful piece of mechanism without a head, and Lance believedhimself quite able to fill the place Felix had taken at the same age;indeed, he had far less either to learn or to overcome, and thoughhis arithmetical powers were still in abeyance, he had ratherexcelled in that line at the Cathedral school. 

'I know, of course, ' said Lance, 'that a man from a London housewould be of more use; but there's this awful salary, and he wouldnever care to look after Felix. '

'I allow that; but even if you can be of much present use, is it notat the expense of greater usefulness by and by?'

'I am sick of that! Edgar and Clem both mean to be of use by and by, and what comes of it? Edgar has spent Felix's two hundred pounds thathe borrowed, and now has got his own, all to repay when he is a greatpainter. And he is six years older than I am! Now if I earned myguinea a week, as Felix did, it would be real good now, and I shouldbe learning the trade for the future. '

'That's the question. First, would the guinea a week make so muchappreciable difference?'

'Is that all you know about it, Jack? First, I should be earning mykeep, not eating my head off; and then Bernard might be sent safe offto school. '

'You don't mean to say that otherwise he could not?'

'It has been a terribly costly year. There's Edgar. Then Clemcouldn't settle in at Cambridge for nothing, there's been Alda turnedback on Felix's hands; there's been illness, and goodness knows whatthe doctors may charge; and there's Felix's outing and mine!'

John answered by opening his pocket-book and showing Dr. Manby'saccount receipted. 

'O Jack! You don't mean--'

'Considering that Will was the sole cause of the doctor being wantedat all, we could only wish to bear the damages. '

'I hope you have told Wilmet. It would be a ton weight off her mind. '

'I hope she would think the Chapter did it; but if you think she isanxious, let her know that it is all right. '

'You are a brick, John! But Felix himself said it would be a closeshave. I wish I could throttle that Bexley Tribune, and all itsdirty supporters!'

'Do you know, Lance, I am very much struck with your brother's--ay, and old Froggatt's conduct in this matter. '

Lance flushed with pleasure. 'Go ahead, Jack!'

'Of course, for a paper to keep its politics is nothing; but to takeup the cause of an unpopular man, whose slights have been marked--'

'Who has been a malicious little cad, ' chimed in the chorister. 

'To take up his cause simply as a matter of justice, and therewith ofthe Church, without truckling to public opinion, at absolute risk andloss, seems to me generosity and principle quite out of the commonway. '

'You're about right there, ' said Lance, intensely gratified; 'anddoesn't it make one burn to help the old fellow?'

'Quite true. The question is, which way to help him; and while Igrant you that the being idle at home just now is a terrible trial, whether it might not be better to be patient under it, than todisqualify yourself for a line in which you might do more--that is ifit does disqualify you. '

'What line do you mean?' said Lance. 

'Scholarship, the University. '

'That wasn't what I wanted most, ' said Lance; 'and as for that, I'mdisqualified enough by all this waste of time. '

'What was your wish, then?'

'I'll tell you, ' said Lance, with lowered voice. 'When I used to liecatching notes of the chanting, and knowing that the organ was quietfor me, I used to feel that if I got well, I must give up my life toit, and study music in full earnest, so as to be a real lift topeople's praise, perhaps in our own Cathedral. I thought maybe Icould get in as a lay-vicar when my year is up, and work at harmonyunder Miles, and take a musical degree. But then came that day whenthe organ seemed to be crushing and grinding my head to bits--and ofall Psalms in the world it was the forty-second! and Manby telling meon my life not to try to do anything for I can't tell how long. '

'Was that the reason you sold your violin?'

'No, of course not; except that it was a sin and a shame to keep itfor no good, when I thought a pound might pull that little apeBernard out of the mire. And I've been asking questions, and find itwould take huge time and cost to study music so as to be worthanything; and here am I, a great lout, not doing that or any othergood on the face of the earth--as much worse than Theodore as I ambigger. So if I can help Felix, when he is fighting the fight in thePursuivant for God's honour and good and right, wouldn't that be asort of service?'

'So undertaken, ' said John, with a huskiness in his voice. 'Well, Lance, I will talk it over with Felix, if you like. '

For John Harewood, not having any strong musical bias, did notgreatly appreciate the career that Lance had chalked out for himself;and while thrilled by the boy's devotional feeling, thought ittinged by enthusiasm, and had seen enough of Cathedral singing-men tohave no wish to see him among them. If the loss of time was toprevent a University career, he thought book-selling under Felix'seye the preferable occupation. 

Discussion was, however, deferred by the arrival of a home friend, who had sought him out at the hotel; and Lance had to go home withouthim, and wear through the day between dawdling, drawing, and playingwith Stella, as best he might, till after school-hours; when, eagerto turn to the account of his wardrobe these moments when Wilmet wasfree from her Captain, he drew her into his room. 

Presently after, Felix heard the most amazing noises to which hisfamily had ever treated him, and thankful that the wet day hadreduced the denizens of the reading-room to one deaf old gentleman, he hurried upstairs, and beheld through the open door of Mr. Froggatt's room, Bernard raying, roaring, dancing, and stamping, inan over-mastering passion, and tearing some paper up with teeth andhands. Just then Lance grasped his collar, and tried in vain torescue the paper; but he fought with fists, bites, and kicks, likesomething frantic, until Felix, with a bound forward, suddenlycaptured him, and dragged him back, still tearing and crunching thepaper. 

'For shame! Be quiet! You are heard all over the place. --Shut thedoor. '

The door was shut by Wilmet, while Bernard stood quailing under thestern face, strong hand, and tone of displeasure in which Felixdemanded, 'What is the meaning of this?'

'That Bernard refuses to wear Lance's outgrown clothes, ' said Wilmet. 

'Do you mean that this is the cause of this disgraceful outbreak?'

'I--don't see why--' growled Bernard, 'why I should wear everybody'sbeastly old things. '

'It is right you should hear the whole, Felix, ' said Wilmet. 'When Ishowed him that Lance would have some still shabbier clothes ofClement's altered for him, he said if Lance chose to be a snob, hewould not. Lance answered that it was a choice between that andpetticoats; and then he fell into this extraordinary state, when Ican only hope he did not know what he was saying or doing. '

'He was drawing me, ' bellowed Bernard, 'drawing me in his brute of abook!' and he was so infuriated, that words never before heard by hissister followed, as he quivered and stamped even under Felix's grasp, which at length forced him into desisting; but the command, 'Go up toyour room this instant, ' could only be carried out by main force, amid tremendous kicking and struggling, Felix carrying him, andWilmet following to unfasten the hands that clutched at the rail;while Lance stood aghast at one door, and Cherry in an agony atanother, and Stella crept into a corner and hid her face in terror. 

'Well, we never had the like of this before!' said Felix, comingdown, having locked him in, and heard him begin to bounce about thebarrack, like prisoners in the breaking-out frenzy. 'Can it be allabout the clothes?'

'I don't think you know what a grievance the having to take to oldones has always been to him, poor little boy!' said Cherry, verynearly crying, for Bernard was so much her own child that in spite ofhis having cast her off she was in full instinct of defence; 'and hedislikes Lance's most of all, because of the Cathedralpeculiarities. '

'Ah! you have always humoured him by taking off that chorister'sfrill, ' said Wilmet; 'but there could be no objection to thosetrousers. They were almost new when Fulbert left them, and Lance hasonly had them for best one winter. '

Felix could not help laughing. 'Long had she worn, and now Belindawears, ' he quoted. 'My dear Mettle, the effect is better than thedetail. You should spare us the pedigree, however respectable. '

'Well, I said nothing about it, ' said Wilmet. 'Was it what you saidabout petticoats, Lance?'

'Lance does tease and aggravate that child unbearably!' exclaimedCherry, too much vexed not to be relieved to turn her blame uponsomebody, 'and it is very unkind of him, for he knows Bernard cannotbear to be laughed at. '

'Hush! Cherry, ' said Wilmet; 'if Lance did, he didn't mean it. It hasbeen quite too much--'

'Indeed it has, said Felix. 'You had better lie down at once, Lance. '

A good deal more than Bernard's outbreak had gone to the pain anddizziness that prevented Lance from even attempting to reply toCherry's accusation, but made him turn quietly back into his room;while Felix was obliged to hurry downstairs again; and Alda made herfrequent remark that 'those boys were really unbearable. '

'Poor Lance! it was not his fault, said Wilmet. 

'You don't know, Wilmet!' said Cherry indignantly. 'I did hope thatwhen he came home, my poor little Bernard might get better managed--he used to be so fond of him; but he has done nothing but worry andlaugh at him, and I don't at all wonder it has come to this. I shallgo up and see about the poor little fellow. '

'Do you mean to let her go and pet him after such outrageousnaughtiness?' asked Alda, as Cherry moved to begin the difficultascent. 

'I should not do it myself, ' said Wilmet; 'but I daresay she will dohim good. '

Alda held up her hands in wonder. How many quarrels might have beengoing on at that moment, if three of the family at least had notexercised the forbearance she so little understood. 

Cherry and her Lord Gerald mounted the attic stairs. It was for thefirst time in her life, and she was so imperfect in the geography ofthe upper floor, that she had to open one or two doors before shefound 'the barrack, ' with Bernard lying kicking his heels fiercely atthe beam across the low room. The amazing presence of Geraldinesuspended this occupation. 'How did you come here?' he gasped. 

'I came to see you, Bear. My poor Bear! I am so sorry!' said Cherry, sitting down on one of the beds; 'how could you go on so?'

There was rebuke and pain in her voice, and Bernard resented it. 'They've no business to bait me, he said. 'I've no peace in my life!'

'But that doesn't make it right to fly into such dreadful passions. '

'I wouldn't do it if they'd let me alone. I don't see why I should bethe one to wear every one's nasty old clothes. '

'Why, Felix and Clement couldn't well wear yours!'

'It was all Lance's doing. Lance has bothered me out of existenceever since he came home. '

'But you should try to bear it, if he is a little cross and tiresome. You know he is not at all well yet, and all this has quite knockedhim up. '

'I'm glad of it!' said Bernard viciously. 'Served him right forsetting Wilmet on, and then drawing his abominable pictures; as if itwasn't enough to have spoilt all my pleasure, and sold Stingo!'

'What was Stingo?'

'Oh, just a dog--'

'A dog!'

'Yes, my dog; and Lance went and sold him, and then drew a beastlypicture of him and me. '

'But, Bernard, how could you have a dog?'

'Oh, I bought him with some money Travis gave me, and a cad down inthe town kept him for me; but then Travis didn't give me any more--'

'But, Bernard, you must have known you ought not. Did you get intodebt?'

'Ay, just for a few shillings; and the brute threatened me so that Ijust asked Lance--'

'Was he such a dangerous dog? O Bear!'

'No, no--the man that kept him. I thought Lance would tackle himwithout making a row. '

'And did he?'

'Ay. He said he hadn't got a penny, and he kept me waiting ever solong; but I fancy he got it from Harewood. He might as well have letme keep Stingo!'

Cherry's views of the relations between Lance and Bernard had begunto adjust themselves, and she began to reason on the impropriety ofkeeping the dog; but she soon perceived that this was only rangingherself on the side of the enemy, and exciting the obduracy of herfavourite, who was determined to be a victim. In truth, Bernard wasnot repentant enough to treat her with confidence, and his world wasso entirely beyond her knowledge, that she did not possess thethreads that would have led to it. All that she did perceive was, that much of Bernard's irritation was at the endeavour to keep himout of mischief, and that her own gentle persuasions were almost asdistasteful as Lance's jests. She sat on, arguing, talking, entreating, till it had long been quite dark; and Wilmet at last cameup to say that she must not stay any longer in the cold, and to askBernard whether he would say he was sorry. 

'I didn't want her to come here bothering, ' was Bernard's gratefulremark. 

'Well, I advise you to take care you are in a better mood beforeFelix comes, ' said Wilmet. --'Come, Cherry, it is not safe for you togo down alone. '

Cherry could only entreat, 'Do, Bear, do, ' and try to kiss theaverted cheek. 

She did not know that as soon as the door was shut on him and thelittle flicker of gas, Bernard fell into an anguish of sobs andtears, the work of her persevering love, softening and lessening theobstinate pride so far that the next visitors met with a much betterreception than they might have done. The first came stumbling up witha weary step, and pushed open the door, saying, 'Here, Bear, don'tbear malice. I'm awfully sorry I ever drew that thing! I'll never doyou again. So shake hands, and have done with it. '

'All right, ' returned Bernard, outstretching his hand as one who feltthat amends were made him, but could not receive them graciously; andLance's weary and confused senses were satisfied. He never perceivedhard lumps of offence unless he ran his head very hard against them, and even now little guessed the amount of annoyance his raillery hadgiven. 

And next came a quick, resolute tread that made the little fellowshiver with apprehension, never guessing at his brother's self-debatewhether obstinate impenitence ought not to bring the rod, andwondering recollection of his own displeasure when Mr. Audleyrecommended its disuse in the fatherless household. Felix held by thespirit rather than the letter, and had decided that unless he foundsubmission, signal punishment must ensue. 

It was an immense relief to him to detect by eye and ear that thechild had been crying, and to be able to say that seeing that he wassorry made it possible to attend to Lance's kind entreaty not to behard upon him. Absolute words of penitence Felix did not try toexact; but after a few words of sympathy, which Bernard had by nomeans expected, on the hardship of the second-hand wardrobe, and areminder of the necessity, he proceeded to rebuke for the passionatebehaviour, and above all for the language Bernard had used;expressing to the full how much it had shocked and appalled him, byshowing what sort of associates the boy must have chosen since he hadlearnt such words at all, and what a shame and disgrace he felt itthat one of the brothers should ever have uttered them. And Bernard--who had learnt that Satanic primer with a certain shame andrepugnance, under the strong desire to show himself neither girl, muff, nor choir-boy, and certainly would never in his right senseshave betrayed his proficiency at home--was a good deal impressed, andfinally began to cry again, and to promise to cure himself. 

Believed to have thus fulfilled the least pleasing of all his duties, Felix went down to his long-delayed evening meal, and therewith to afamily council. Lance was gone to bed, and his proposal was the morefreely discussed, as well as his relations with Bernard. 

'That boy must go at once to Stoneborough, ' said Felix. 'I shallwrite to Dr. Cheviot to-night. '

Wilmet sighed. 'I suppose I ought not to have objected, ' she said;'but I did think Lance would have kept him in order. '

'He has tried, ' said Felix. 

'O Felix!' cried Cherry, turning to him with tears in her eyes, 'I amafraid I was unjust to Lance just now, and I am so sorry! Do youknow, the naughty little fellow had been keeping a dog and got intodebt; and Lance paid all--I can't think how!'

'That I believe I can tell, ' said John Harewood, 'though I am afraidit is a breach of confidence. He sold his violin. '

'That violin that I was so angry with him for buying!' said Wilmet. 'Well, he is a dear little fellow!'

'And I scolded him for being unkind!' cried Cherry, in despair. 'Oh, is he asleep? I should like to beg his pardon, ' and her hand claspedLord Gerald. 

'About the worst thing you could do to the poor boy, Cherry, ' saidFelix, 'when he is only lying there trying to get his head quietenough to let him sleep. '

'Nor must you betray me, ' added John, smiling at poor conscience-stricken Cherry. 

'And it is a mercy the fiddle is gone!' said Alda. 'I used to hearhim playing it somewhere among the out-houses in the spring, and itwas enough to distract one, added to Theodore's dronings. '

'It must have been like parting with a bit of his life, ' sighedCherry; 'and yet Bernard would not mind him, and they did quarrel!'

'Boys who deal well with juniors at school do sometimes fail withlittle brothers, ' said John. 'Besides, I observe that where there ispride there is always a distaste and dread of those who have muchpower of ridicule. '

'I suspect, too, ' said Felix, 'that Lance has made the turn in lifewhen one gets superfluously earnest, and nothing so upsets influence. I have felt it myself. '

'So all this trouble and vexation has been weighing on the dearlittle fellow, ' said Wilmet. 'No wonder he is not half so well aswhen he came home!'

'No, ' said Felix; 'I wonder whether the Froggatts would let him cometo them for a week or two, or whether it would be too dull to be goodfor him. '

'If his mind were settled about the future, it would be rest ratherthan dullness, ' said John; 'but I think a good deal of his trouble iscaused by Manby's verdict, and for that perhaps the best cure wouldbe letting him have his wish. '

'You, John!' exclaimed Felix; 'I thought you would have put that outof his head!'

'On the contrary, he made me think there was a good deal in hisarguments. First, as regards you, would he be of any real use?'

'Never mind that, ' said Felix. 'I heard something to-day that wouldmake it practicable; but I can't have that boy wasted. '

'The point is, what is waste? Now his strongest aptitude never wasfor classical work; and if he is not to touch a Latin book tillChristmas, and then only cautiously, I do not see what chance hewould have, even if Will were out of the way. 

'And if not at Minsterham, so much the less anywhere else, ' saidWilmet. 'Besides, it might be a dreadful risk if his head were to beoverstrained. '

'And in the meantime, the being kept here doing nothing, and vexinghimself, is wearing his spirits, and hurting him more than any lightoccupation, especially what he felt to be a labour of love. '

'That is quite true again, ' said Felix. 'I quite believe he would bemuch happier if he began working with me to-morrow; but it might beletting a mere fit of impatience and despondency fix him for life inan uncongenial business. '

'I thought you preferred it!' exclaimed Wilmet. 

'Oh yes, ' said Felix, with a sort of half contempt in his tone; 'butthese boys of ours are a different sort of stuff, and we have seenthat it will never answer to pin them down to plod. '

'Lance would never be like Edgar!' exclaimed Wilmet; 'as if Edgarever thought of doing anything so unselfish in his life!'

'O Wilmet! indeed he _thought_!' cried Cherry. 

'Yes, but always of five or six years hence!' said Wilmet. 

'Lance is very like Edgar, ' said Felix. 'He has what I believebelongs to the artist temperament; and that he is the bravest, themost uncomplaining little fellow I ever came across, and probablywould never break off what he had begun, makes me the more anxiousnot to let this access of generosity--ay, and tedium--lead to takingany decided step while he is so young. '

'When you come to artist temperament, I don't understand, ' saidWilmet. 'Lance doesn't even draw anything like Cherry or Edgar--muchgood does that do! and as to his music, it would not be much of aliving. '

'I believe he thinks that the alternative, ' said John. 

'For goodness' sake!' cried Alda, 'he doesn't want to get taken on inLondon! To have him singing and fiddling in public would be worsethan anything. You put that out of his head, I hope, John. Even if hechanged his name--'

'It never was in his head, ' said John. 'He never thought of anythingbut his old line--Cathedral music: and the sacrifice to him is ofthat, not of the chance of the University. '

'That's not so bad, ' said Alda, 'because it is a great chance whetherany one ever heard of it. '

'But I doubt if it be a very desirable life, as things are at presentconstituted, ' said John. 'I am not sure that it is not better to givethe musical talent freely for that service, than to make it one'strade and livelihood. '

'I think you are right there, ' said Felix. 'I suppose there is alwayssome degree of disenchantment. '

'What did you say made his notion practicable?' said Wilmet. 

'I've had Mr. Lamb with me this evening--'

'Mr. Bruce's managing clerk, ' explained Wilmet to the Captain. 'Doeshe want you to have Ernest?'

'Yes. He has missed the exhibition from the grammar-school; and as hecan't go to Oxford, fancies (deluded youth!) that he will get morereading in this line than any other. He is ready to give a premiumwith him, and spoke what Mr. Froggatt would call very handsomelyabout our house being one where he could trust him. I believe Mr. Froggatt will be gratified, and accept him. '

'Ernest Lamb--Serious mutton, ' repeated Cherry; 'doesn't he look veryheavy?'

'Yes; he is bookish without being quick. I don't expect he will be ofmuch use just yet, but he is as steady as old Time; and though he andLance would neither of them do alone, yet together I think we couldget on. '

'Then, ' said John, 'does it not seem to you, Wilmet, that it would bea greater positive benefit to accept Lance's offer for the present--on trial, as one may say--than to leave him to the depression that iscertainly doing him harm?'

'And if Lance was there, ' said Wilmet, 'I should have some comfortthat Felix would be properly looked after. '

'Whatever happens, ' said Felix, I shall send Lance out to Marshlandsfor a fortnight, and see if he is in the same mind when he comesback. After all, it depends on Mr. Froggatt: and he will be afraidpeople will say we have turned in the whole Grammar-school behind thecounter. I wonder if Lance is safe not to laugh in the old ladies'faces when they ask--What number of what magazine, how many yearsago, had a receipt for washing anti-macassars?'

By which they knew him to be very much exhilarated. That fortnight atMarshlands was not wasted. Lance had faculties for never being dull. He pottered about with Mr. Or Mrs. Froggatt, fed their chickens, gathered their apples and nuts, petted their cats, tried to teachwords to their parrot and tricks to their dogs, played cribbage andback-gammon with them in the evening, never had a headache, never wasat a loss or upon their hands, gained their hearts completely, andcame home wonderfully benefited by the respite from noise and harass, and quite decided to stand by his proposal, to which the partners, with some hesitation, had finally acceded. 

END OF VOL. I