THE THREE BRIDES

CHAPTER IThe Model And Her Copies

There is sure another Flood toward, that so many couples arecoming to the Ark. --As You Like It

"Ah! it is a pitiable case!"

"What case, boys?"

"Yours, mother, with such an influx of daughters-in-law. "

"I suspect the daughters-in-law think themselves more to be pitied. "

"As too many suns in one sphere. "

"As daughters-in-law at all. "

"There's a ready cure for that. Eh, Charlie?"

"The sight of the mother-in-law. "

"Safe up on the shelf? Ha, you flattering boys!"

"Well, each of the three bridegrooms has severally told us that hisbride was a strong likeness of the mother, so she will have theadvantage of three mirrors!"

"Ay, and each married solely for her benefit. I wonder which is thetruest!"

"Come, Baby Charles, don't _you_ take to being cynical andsatirical, " said the mother. "It would be more to the purpose toconsider of the bringing them home. Let me see, Raymond and hisCecil will be at Holford's Gate at 5. 30. They must have thecarriage in full state. I suppose Brewer knows. "

"Trust the ringers for scenting it out. "

"Julius and Rosamond by the down train at Willansborough, at 4. 50. One of you must drive old Snapdragon in the van for them. They willnot mind when they understand; but there's that poor wife ofMiles's, I wish she could have come a few days earlier. Her friend, Mrs. Johnson, is to drop her by the express at Backsworth, at 3. 30. "

"Inconvenient woman!"

"I imagine that she cannot help it; Mrs. Johnson is going far north, and was very good in staying with her at Southampton till she couldmove. Poor little thing! alone in a strange country! I'll tell youwhat! One of you must run down by train, meet her, and either bringher home in a fly, or wait to be picked up by Raymond's train. Takeher Miles's letter. "

The two young men glanced at one another in dismay, and the eldersaid, "Wouldn't nurse do better?"

"No, no, Frank, " said the younger, catching a distressed look ontheir mother's face, "I'll look up Miles's little African. I'verather a curiosity that way. Only don't let them start the bellsunder the impression that we are a pair of the victims. If so, Ishall bolt. "

"Julius must be the nearest bolting, " said Frank. "How heaccomplished it passes my comprehension. I shall not believe in ittill I see him. There, then, I'll give orders. Barouche for thesquire, van for the rector, and the rattling fly for the sailor'swife. So wags the course of human life, " chanted Frank Charnock, ashe strolled out of the room. 

"Thanks, Charlie, " whispered his mother. "I am grieved for thatpoor young thing. I wish I could go myself. And, Charlie, wouldyou cast an eye round, and see how things look in their rooms? Youhave always been my daughter. "

"Ah! my vocation is gone! Three in one day! I wonder which is thebest of the lot. I bet upon Miles's Cape Gooseberry. --Tired, motherdarling? Shall I send in nurse? I must be off, if I am to catchthe 12. 30 train. "

He bent to kiss the face, which was too delicately shaped and tintedto look old enough to be in expectation of three daughters-in-law. No, prostrate as she was upon pillows, Mrs. Charnock Poynsett didnot look as if she had attained fifty years. She was lady ofCompton Poynsett in her own right; and had been so early married andwidowed, as to have been the most efficient parental influence herfive sons had ever known; and their beautiful young mother had beenthe object of their adoration from the nursery upwards, so that shelaughed at people who talked of the trouble and anxiety of rearingsons. 

They had all taken their cue from their senior, who had always beenmore to his mother than all the world besides. For several years, he being as old of his age as she was young, Mr. And Mrs. CharnockPoynsett, with scarcely eighteen years between their ages, had oftenbeen taken by strangers for husband and wife rather than son andmother. And though she knew she ought to wish for his marriage, shecould not but be secretly relieved that there were no symptoms ofany such went impending. 

At last, during the first spring after Raymond Charnock Poynsett, Esquire, had been elected member for the little borough ofWillansborough, his mother, while riding with her two youngest boys, met with an accident so severe, that in two years she had neverquitted the morning-room, whither she had at first been carried. She was daily lifted to a couch, but she could endure no furthermotion, though her general health had become good, and hercheerfulness made her room pleasant to her sons when the rest of thehouse was very dreary to them. 

Raymond, always the home son, would never have absented himself butfor his parliamentary duties, and vibrated between London and home, until, when his mother had settled into a condition that seemedlikely to be permanent, and his two youngest brothers were at home, reading each for his examination, the one for a Governmentclerkship, the other for the army, he yielded to the generalrecommendation, and set out for a journey on the Continent. 

A few weeks later came the electrifying news of his engagement tohis second cousin, Cecil Charnock. It was precisely the mostobvious and suitable of connections. She was the only child of thehead of the family of which his father had been a cadet, and therewere complications of inheritance thus happily disposed of. Mrs. Poynsett had not seen her since her earliest childhood; but she wasknown to have been educated with elaborate care, and had been takento the Continent as the completion of her education, and thereRaymond had met her, and sped so rapidly with his wooing, that hehad been married at Venice just four weeks previously. 

Somewhat less recent was the wedding of the second son CommanderMiles Charnock. (The younger sons bore their patronymic alone. )His ship had been stationed at the Cape and there, on a huntingexpedition up the country, he had been detained by a severe illnessat a settler's house; and this had resulted in his marrying theeldest daughter, Anne Fraser. She had spent some months at Simon'sBay while his ship was there, and when he found himself under ordersfor the eastern coast of Africa, she would fain have awaited him atGlen Fraser; but he preferred sending her home to fulfil the missionof daughterhood to his own mother. 

The passage had been long and unfavourable, and the consequences toher had been so serious that when she landed she could not traveluntil after a few days' rest. 

The marriage of the third son had been a much greater surprise. Compton Poynsett was not a family living; but the patron, hearing ofJulius Charnock as a hard-working curate in a distant seaport, wroteto offer it to him; and the same letter to Mrs. Poynsett to offer itto him; and the same letter to Mrs Poynsett which conveyed thisgratifying intelligence, also informed her of his having proposed tothe daughter of the commanding officer of the regiment stationed atthe town where lay his present charge. Her father enjoyed thebarren honours of the Earldom of Rathforlane, an unimprovable estatein a remote corner of Ireland, burthened with successive families ofnumerous daughters, so that he was forced to continue in theservice, and the marriage had been hastened by the embarkation ofthe regiment for India only two days later. The Rectory had, however, been found in such a state of dilapidation, that demolitionwas the only cure; and thus the Reverend Julius and Lady RosamondCharnock were to begin their married life in the family home. 

The two youngest sons, Francis and Charles, stood on the other sideof a gap made by the loss of two infants, and were only twenty-oneand nineteen. Frank had passed through Oxford with credit, and hadbeen promised a Government office; while Charles was intended forthe army; and both had been reading with a tutor who lived atWillansborough, and was continually employed in cramming, beingreported of as the best 'coach' in the country. Charlie, however, had passed a week previously, and was to repair to Sandhurst inanother fortnight. 

At half-past four there was a light tap at Mrs. Poynsett's door, andCharlie announced, "Here's the first, mother!" as he brought in agray-cloaked figure; and Mrs. Poynsett took a trembling hand, andbestowed a kiss on a cheek which had languor and exhaustion in thevery touch. 

"She was tired to death, mother, " said Charlie, "so we did not waitfor the train. "

"Quite right!" and as the newcomer sank into the chair he offered--"My dear, you are sadly knocked up! You were hardly fit to come. "

"Thank you, I am quite well, " answered the fagged timid voice. 

"Hark!" as the crash of a peal of bells came up. "Dear child, youwill like to rest before any fresh introductions. You shall go toyour room and have some tea there. "

"Thank you. "

"Charlie, call Susan. --She is my boys' old nurse, now mine. Onlytell me you have good accounts from my boy Miles. "

"Oh yes;" and the hand tightly clasped the closely-written letterfor which the mother's eyes felt hungry. "He sent you his love, andhe will write to you next time. He was so busy, his firstlieutenant was down in fever. "

"Where was he?"

"Off Zanzibar--otherwise the crew was healthy--the 12th of August, "she answered, squeezing out the sentences as if constrained by themother's anxious gaze. 

"And he was quite well when you parted with him?"

"Quite. "

"Ah! you nursed my boy, and we must nurse you for him. "

"Thank you, I am quite well. " But she bit her lip, and spokeconstrainedly, as if too shy and reserved to give way to the rush ofemotion; but the coldness pained Mrs. Poynsett, whose expansivenesswas easily checked; and a brief silence was followed by Charlie'sreturn to report that he could not find nurse, and thought she wasout with the other servants, watching for the arrival; in anothermoment, the approaching cheers caused him to rush out; and aftermany more noises, showing the excitement of the multitude and theadvance of the bridal pair, during which Mrs. Poynsett lay withdeepening colour and clasped hands, her nostrils dilating withanxiety and suppressed eagerness, there entered a tall, dark, sunburnt man bringing on his arm a little, trim, upright, girlishfigure; and bending down, he exclaimed, "There, mother, I've broughther--here's your daughter!"

Two little gloved hands were put into hers, and a kiss exchanged, while Raymond anxiously inquired for his mother's health; and shebroke in by saying, "And here is Anne--Miles's Anne, just arrived. "

"Ah, I did not see you in the dark, " said Raymond. "There, Cecil, is a sister for you--you never had one. "

Cecil was readier with greeting hand and cheek than was Anne, but atthe same moment the tea equipage was brought in, and Cecil, quitenaturally, and as a matter of course, began to preside over the lowtable, while Raymond took his accustomed chair on the further sideof his mother's sofa, where he could lean over the arm and study hercountenance, while she fondled the hand that he had hung over theback. He was describing the welcome at the station, and all throughthe village--the triumphal arches and shouts. 

"But how they _did_ miss you, mother, " said Charlie. "Old Gurnetwrung my hand in tears as he said, 'Yes, sir, 'tis very fine, but itbeats the heart out of it that madam bain't here to see. '"

"Good old Gurnet!" responded Raymond. "They are famously loyal. The J. C. P. Crowned all above all the Cs and Rs, I was happy tosee. "

"J. Was for Julius--not Julia, " said the mother. 

"No; J. H. C. And R. C. Had a separate device of roses all tothemselves. Hark! is that a cheer beginning again? Had we notbetter go into the drawing-room, mother? it will be so many for youall together. "

"Oh no, I must see you all. "

The brothers hurried out with their welcome; and in another minute, a plump soft cheek was pressed to the mother's, devouring kisseswere hailed on her, and a fuller sweeter tone than had yet beenheard answered the welcome. 

"Thank you. So kind! Here's Julius! I'll not be in your way. "

"Dearest mother, how is it with you?" as her son embraced her. "Rose has been longing to be with you. "

"And we've all come together! How delicious!" cried Rosamond, enfolding Anne in her embrace; "I didn't know you were come!--See, Julius!"

But as Julius turned, a startled look came over Anne's face; and sheturned so white, that Rosamond exclaimed, "My dear--what--she'sfaint!" And while Cecil stood looking puzzled, Rosamond had her armround the trembling form, and disappeared with her, guided andassisted by Nurse Susan. 

"Isn't she--?" exclaimed Julius, in a voice of triumph that made allsmile. 

"Full of sweet kindness, " said Mrs. Poynsett; "but I have only seenand heard her yet, my dear Julius. Susan will take her to her room--my old one. "

"Oh, thank you, mother, " said Julius, "but I hardly like that; itseems like your giving it up. "

"On the contrary, it proves that I do not give it up, since I put intemporary lodgers like you. --Now Cecil is housed as you preferred, Raymond--in the wainscot-rooms. "

"And where have you put that poor Mrs. Miles?" asked Raymond. "Shelooks quite knocked up. "

"Yes, she has been very ill on the voyage, and waited at Southamptonto gather strength for the journey. --I am so grateful to your goodRose, Julius. --Why, where is the boy? Vanished in her wake, Ideclare!"

"His venerable head is quite turned, " said Frank. "I had to getinside alone, and let them drive home outside together to avoidseparation. "

Raymond repeated his question as to the quarters of Miles's wife. 

"I had the old schoolroom and the bedroom adjoining newly fittedup, " answered Mrs. Poynsett. "Jenny Bowater was here yesterday, andgave the finishing touches. She tells me the rooms look very nice. --Cecil, my dear, you must excuse deficiencies; I shall look to youin future. "

"I hope to manage well, " said Cecil. "Had I not better go up now?Will you show me the way, Raymond?"

The mother and her two younger sons remained. 

"Haven't I brought you home a splendid article?" was Frank'sexclamation. "Julius has got the best of it. "

"I back my Cape Gooseberry, " returned Charles. "She has eyes andhair and skin that my Lady can't match, and is a fine figure of awoman besides. "

"Much you know of Rosamond's eyes!"

"Or you either, boxed up in the van. "

"Any way, they have made roast meat of his Reverence's heart! Theother two take it much more easily. "

"She's a mere chicken, " said Charlie. "Who would have thought ofRaymond being caught by a callow nestling?"

"And so uncommonly cool, " added Frank. 

"It would take much to transform Raymond, " interposed the mother. "Now, boys, away with you; I must have a little quiet, to repairmyself for company after dinner. "

Charlie settled her cushions with womanly skill, and followed hisbrother. "Well, Frank, which is the White Cat? Ah, I thought so--she's yet to come. "

"Not one is fit to hold a candle to _her_. You saw that as plain asI did, Charlie; Eleonora beats them all. "

"Ah, you're not the youngest brother, remember. It was he whobrought her home at last. Come, you need not knock me down; I shallnever see any one to surpass the mother, and I'll have no one till Ido. "

CHAPTER IIThe Population of Compton Poynsett

He wanted a wife his braw hoose to keep, But favour wi' wooin' was fashous to seek. --Laird o' Cockpen

In the bright lamplight of the dining-table, the new populationfirst fully beheld one another, and understood one another's looks. 

There was much family resemblance between the five brothers. Allwere well-grown well-made men, strong and agile, the countenancepleasing, rather square of mould, eyebrows straight and thick, nosewell cut and short, chin firm and resolute-looking, and thecomplexion very dark in Raymond, Frank, and the absent Miles. Frank's eyes were soft, brown, rather pensive, and absent inexpression; but Raymond's were much deeper and darker, and had asteadfast gravity, that made him be viewed as formidable, especiallyas he had lost all the youthful glow of colouring that mantled inhis brother's olive cheek; and he had a short, thick, curly brownbeard, while Frank had only attained to a black moustache, thatmight almost have been drawn on his lip with charcoal. 

Charlie was an exception--fair, blue-eyed, rosy, and with a softfeminine contour of visage, which had often drawn on him reproachesfor not being really the daughter all his mother's friends desiredfor her. 

And Julius, with the outlines of the others, was Albino, withtransparent skin mantling with colour that contrasted with his snowyhair, eyebrows, and the lashes, veiling eyes of a curious coral hue, really not unpleasing under their thick white fringes, but mostinconveniently short of sight, although capable of much work; infact, he was a curiously perfect pink-and-white edition of his darkand bronzed brother the sailor. 

The dark eyes came from the father's side; Cecil had them, and veryobserving orbs they seemed to be, travelling about from one face toanother, and into every corner of the room, scrutinizing everypicture or piece of plate, and trying to see into the conservatory, which had a glass door opening from one end of the room. She wasthe youngest of the brides, and her features and form seemed hardlydeveloped, nor had she attained the air of a matron; her fashionabledress of crisp white worked muslin with blue trimmings, and blueribbons in her brown hair, only gave her the air of a young girl ather first party, in spite of her freedom from all shyness as she satat the head of the table in contented self-possession, her littleslender figure as upright as a perfect spine could make it. 

Very different was the bride on Raymond's right hand. She was ofmiddle height, soft, round, and plump, carrying her head a littletenderly on one side with a delightful degagee kind of ease, and airof vivacious indolence. Her complexion was creamy and colourless, her nose rather retrousse, her lips full and parting in a deliciousroguish smile, answering to the sleepily twinkling eyes, whoseirides seemed to shade so imperceptibly into the palest gray, thatthere was no telling where the pupils ended, especially as the lidswere habitually half closed, as if weighed down by the black lengthof their borders. The habit of arching up one or other of theeyebrows, in surprise or interrogation, gave a drollery to theotherwise nonchalant sweetness of the countenance. The mass ofraven black hair was only adorned by a crimson ribbon, beneath whichit had been thrust into a net, with a long thing that had once beena curl on the shoulder of the white tumbled bodice worn over a grayskirt which looked as if it had done solitary duty for the fiveweeks since the marriage, and was but slightly relieved by a crimsonsash. 

Rosamond made some apology when she saw Cecil's dainty equipment. "Dressed, you correct little thing! You put me to shame; but I hadno notion which box my evening things are in, and it would have beenserious to irritate the whole concern. "

"And she was some time with Anne, " added Julius. 

"Ah! with my good will Anne should not have been here!" rejoinedRosamond. "Didn't I meet old Mrs. Nurse at your threshold, with aninvitation from Mrs. Poynsett to dine with her in her room, anddidn't we find the bird flown at the first stroke of the gong?"

"Oh, I am very well!" repeated Anne. 

Yet she was far more colourless than Julius, for her complexion wasnot only faded by sickness, but was naturally of the whitest blondetint; the simple coils of her hair "lint white, " and her eyes of thelightest tint of pure blue. The features were of Scottish type, allthe more so from being exaggerated by recent illness; but they werehandsome enough to show that she must have been a bonnie lassie whenher good looks were unimpaired. Her figure far surpassed in heightthat of both the other ladies, and was very slender, bending withlanguor and fatigue in spite of her strenuous attempts to straightenit. She was clad in a perfectly plain, almost quaker-looking lightdove-coloured silk dress, fitting closely, and unrelieved by anyribbon or ornament of any description, so that her whole appearancesuggested nothing but the words "washed out. "

It was clear that to let her alone was merciful, and there was nolack of mutual communications among the rest. Frank and Charliegave their account of the condition of the game. 

"Do you let your tenants shoot rabbits?" exclaimed Cecil, as ifscandalized. "We never do at Dunstone. "

"It prevents an immense amount of discontent and ill-will andunderhand work, " said Raymond. 

"My father never will listen to any nonsense about rabbits, "proceeded Cecil. "If you once begin there is no end to it, they aresure to encroach. He just sends them a basket of game at thebeginning and end of the season. "

"By the bye, " said Raymond, "I hope ours have all been sent out asusual. "

"I can answer for a splendid one at our wedding breakfast, " saidRosamond. "The mess-man who came to help was lost in admiration. Did you breakfast on ortolans, Cecil?"

"Or on nightingales' tongues?" added Charlie. 

"You might as well say fatted dormice and snails, " said Frank. "Onewould think the event had been eighteen hundred years ago. "

"Poor Frank! he's stuffed so hard that it is bursting out at all hispores!" exclaimed Charlie. 

"Ah! you have the advantage of your elder, Master Charles!" saidRaymond, with a paternal sound of approbation. 

"Till next time, " said Frank. "Now, thank goodness, mine is oncefor all!"

The conversation drifted away to Venice and the homeward journey, which Raymond and Cecil seemed to have spent in unremitting sight-seeing. The quantities of mountains, cathedrals, and pictures theyhad inspected was quite appalling. 

"How hard you must have worked!" exclaimed Rosamond. "Had you nevera day's rest out of the thirty?"

"Had we, Cecil? I believe not, " said Raymond. 

"Sundays?" gasped Anne's low voice at his elbow. 

"Indeed, " triumphantly returned Cecil, "between English service andHigh Mass, and Benediction, and the public gardens, and listening tothe band, we had not a single blank Sunday. "

Anne started and looked aghast; and Raymond said, "The opportunitywas not to be wasted, and Cecil enjoyed everything with unweariedvigour. "

"Why, what else should we have done? It would have been very dulland stupid to have stayed in together, " said Cecil, with a world ofinnocent wonder in her eyes. Then turning to her neighbour, "Surely, Julius, you went about and saw things!"

"The sea at Filey Bridge, and the Church Congress at Leeds, " heanswered, smiling. 

"Very shocking, is it not, Cecil?" said Rosamond, with mock gravity;"but he must be forgiven, for he was tired to death! I used tothink, for my part, that lovers were a sort of mild lunatics, neverto be troubled or trusted with any earthly thing; but that's one ofthe things modern times have changed! As he was to be going, allthe clerical staff of St. Awdry's must needs have their holiday andleave him to do their work; indeed, one was sent off here. For sixweeks I never saw him, except when he used to rush in to say hecouldn't stay; and when at last we were safe in the coupe, he fairlywent to sleep before we got to the first station. --Hush! you _know_you did! And no wonder, for he had been up two nights with somesort of infidel who was supposed to be dying. Then that first weekat Filey, he used to bring out his poetry books as the proper sortof thing, and try to read them to me on the sands: but by the timehe had got to the bottom of a page, I used to hear the wordsdragging out slower and slower--

Whereon the--lily--maid--of--AstolatLay--smiling--like--a--star-fish--fast--asleep. "

Wherewith Rosamond dropped her head and closed her eyes; while thebrothers shouted with mirth, except Frank, whose countenance was 'ofone hurt on a vulnerable side. '

"Disrespect to Elaine? Eh, Frank?" said Charlie; "how many pegs hasJulius gone down in your estimation?"

Frank would not commit himself, but he was evidently at the era ofsensitiveness on the poetical side. Cecil spoke for him. "How veryprovoking! What did you do to him, Rosamond?"

"I kept off the sand-flies! I can't say but I was glad of a littlerest, for I had been packing up for the whole family for ten dayspast, with interludes of rushing out into the town; for whatever wehad not forgotten, the shops had not sent home! Oh! what a paradiseof quiet it was under the rocks at Filey--wasn't it, Julius?"

"We will go there again next time we have a chance, " said Julius, looking blissful. 

"I would never go again to the same place, " cried Cecil. "That'snot the way to acquire new ideas. "

"We are too old to acquire new ideas, my dear, " drawled Rosamond, sleepily. 

"What did you go to the Church Congress for!" asked Charlie. 

"I hope Julius was awake by that time, " said Frank. 

"Not if we are to have all the new ideas tried on us, " said Raymond, dryly. 

"I went to a Congress once!" exclaimed Cecil. 

"Indeed!" said her husband, surprised. 

"Yes. We thought we ought to encourage them. It was the Congressof Sunday-school managers for our archdeaconry. "

"Did you acquire any new ideas?" asked Frank; while Rosamond's veryeyelashes seemed to curl with suppressed diversion. 

"Oh yes. We explained our system of tickets, and the Arch-deaconsaid it was a very good one, and ought to be adopted everywhere. "

This mode of acquisition of new ideas was quite too much for Juliusand Charlie, who both exploded; but Frank retained composure enoughto ask, "Did you explain it in person?"

"No. We made Mr. Venn. "

"The schoolmaster?" said Julius. 

"No. He is _our_ clergyman, and he always does as _we_ tell him;and _so_ Dunstone is quite the model parish of the archdeaconry. "

Julius could not help making an odd little bend of the head, halfdeferential, half satirical; and Raymond said, "Cecil, I believe itrests with you to make the move. " An ingenuous girlish blushmantled on her cheek as she looked towards Rosamond and moved. 

The drawing-room adjoined the dining-room, and likewise had a glassdoor leading into the conservatory; but this, like the otherwindows, was concealed by the pale-blue damask curtains thatdescended from cornices gilded like the legs of the substantialchairs and sofas. There was, however, no lack of modern light caneand basket seats round the fire, and it looked cheery andcomfortable. Rosamond put an arm round Anne's waist--"Poor tireddear, come and lie on the sofa. "

"Oh no, I couldn't. The gentlemen will come in. "

"All brothers! What, will you only be satisfied with an easy-chair!A charming room, and a charming fire!"

"Not so nice as a library, " said Cecil, stabbing the fire with thepoker as a sort of act of possession. "We always sit in the libraryat Dunstone. State rooms are horrid. "

"This only wants to be littered down, " said Rosamond. "That's myfirst task in fresh quarters, banishing some things and upsettingthe rest, and strewing our own about judiciously. There are theinevitable wax-flowers. I have regular blarney about their being solovely, that it would just go to my heart to expose them to theboys. "

"You have always been on the move, " said Cecil, who was standing bythe table examining the ornaments. 

"You may say so! there are not many of Her Majesty's garrisons thatI have not had experience of, except my native country that I wasn'tborn in. It was very mean of them never once to send us toIreland. "

"Where were you born?" said Cecil, neither of the two catching atthe bull which perhaps Rosamond had allowed to escape by way oftrying them. 

"At Plymouth. Dick and I were both born at Plymouth, and Maurice atScutari; then we were in the West Indies; the next two were born allup and down in Jamaica and all the rest of the Islands--Tom andTerry--dear boys, I've got the charge of them now they are left atschool. Three more are Canadians; and little Nora is the onlyIrish-born one amongst us. "

"I thought you said you had never been in Ireland. "

"Never quartered there, but on visits at Rathforlane, " saidRosamond. "Our ten years at home we have been up and down theworld, till at last you see I've ended where I began--at Plymouth. "

"Oh, what a lovely Florentine mosaic!" exclaimed Cecil, who hadtaken but slight interest in this itinerary. "It is just like aweight at Dunstone. " Then opening a miniature-case, "Who is this--Mrs. Poynsett when she was young?"

"Most likely, " said Rosamond. "It is like her now, and very likeCharlie. "

"Yes. Charles is quite unlike the family. "

"What family?" said Rosamond. 

"The Charnocks, of course. Raymond is a perfect Charnock!"

"A vast advantage, " murmured Rosamond. 

"Of course, " said Cecil, taking it quite seriously. "No one elsecould be the same thing to us. Papa said there was not a match inthe whole world that could have gratified him so much. "

"How old are you, Cecil?" quoth Rosamond, with a ripple in hervoice. 

"Oh, his age was no matter. I don't like young men. That's not thedrawback; no, it is that horrid Poynsett at the end of the name. "

"You see you had better have waived your objections to youth, andtaken a younger son. "

"I couldn't, " said this naive young person. "Besides, there is muchmore of a field for me here than at Dunstone since papa's marriage. "

Whatever Rosamond had on the tip of her tongue was averted by theentrance of the three younger brothers. Julius seated himselfbeside her in the cushioned fireside corner; and Cecil asked whereRaymond was. 

"Just stepped in to see my mother, " said Frank. "This room opensinto hers. Will you come to them?"

"Not yet, " said Cecil. "I want you to tell me about theneighbourhood. "

"Just what I want, " said Rosamond. "Whenever I ask, Julius alwayssays there's Dr. Easterby. "

Frank and Charlie burst out laughing. 

"Dr. Easterby is one of the greatest men in the English Church, "said Julius. 

"Precisely! But what is the regiment at Backsworth?" and as Charlienamed it, "Oh, what fun! That's where Laurie Cookson exchanged. Hewill be sure to send us cards for everything. "

"At Dunstone we never used to go to garrison gaieties, " said Cecil, gravely. 

"Oh! I'm a military pariah, " said Rosamond, hastily. 

"Who are the land-owners?" continued Cecil. "There was a place Isaw from the line, but Raymond didn't hear when I asked whose itwas. Close to the station, I mean. "

"That is Sirenwood, " said Charles. "Sir Harry Vivian's. He is justcome back there with his two daughters. "

"I thought Emily Vivian was dead, " said Julius. "You don't mean_that_ women!"

"_That_ woman?" laughed his wife. "What has she done to be a _that_woman?"

"Offended his Reverence, " said Frank, in that sort of jocose tonewhich betrays annoyance. 

"A heartless mischievous woman!" said Julius. 

Rosamond cocked up her left eyebrow with an ineffably droll look, which encouraged Charlie to say, "Such fierceness can only beprompted by personal experience. Look out, Rosamond!"

"Come 'fess, Julius, " said she, merrily. "'Fess and make it up. "

"I--I have nothing to confess, " said Julius, seriously. 

"Hasn't he indeed?" said she, looking at the brothers. 

"Oh! don't ask us, " said Charlie. "His youthful indiscretions wereover long before our eyes had risen above the horizon!"

"Do you mean that they have really come home to live here?" demandedJulius, with singular indifference to the personal insinuations. 

"I am sorry it is so painful to you, " said I Frank, somewhatironically; "but Sir Harry thinks it right to return and end hisdays among his own people. "

"Is he ill, then?"

"I can't gratify you so far, " returned Frank; "he is a fine oldfellow of sixty-five. Just what humbugging papers call a regularspecimen of an old English gentleman, " he added to Cecil. 

"Humbugging indeed, I should hope, " muttered Julius. "The oldEnglish gentleman has reason to complain!"

"There's the charity of the clergy!" exclaimed Frank. "Noforgiveness for a man who has spent a little in his youth!"

"As an essential of the old English gentleman?" asked Julius. 

"At any rate, the poor old fellow has been punished enough, " saidCharlie. 

"But what is it? Tell me all about it, " said Cecil. "I am sure myfather would not wish me to associate with dissipated people. "

"Ah! Cecil, " said Rosamond. "You'll have to take refuge with themilitary, after all!"

"It is just this, " said Charlie. "Sir Harry and his only son werealways extravagant, one as bad as the other--weren't they, Julius?Phil Bowater told me all about it, and how Tom Vivian lost fifteenthousand pounds one Derby Day, and was found dead in his chambersthe next morning, they said from an over-dose of chloroform forneuralgia. Then the estate was so dipped that Sir Harry had to giveup the estate to his creditors, and live on an allowance abroad orat watering-places till now, when he has managed to come home. Thatis to say, the house is really leased to Lady Tyrrell, and he is ina measure her guest--very queer it must be for him in his ownhouse. "

"Is Lady Tyrrell _that_ woman?" asked Rosamond. 

"I conclude so, " said Charlie. "She was the eldest daughter, andmarried Lord Tyrrell, who died about two years ago. She has nochildren, so she has taken the family in charge, patches up SirHarry's affairs with her jointure, and chaperons her sister. "

"What is she like?"

"Ask Frank, " said Charlie, slyly. 

"No!" said Frank, with dignity. "I shall say no more, I only exciteprejudice. "

"You are right, Frank, " said Julius, who had evidently recoveredfrom the shock. "It is not fair to judge people now from what theywere eleven years ago. They have had some terrible lessons, and maybe much changed. "

"Ay, " said Frank; "and they have been living in an atmospherecongenial to you, at Rockpier, and are hand and glove with all theSt. Chrysostom folk there. What do you say to that, Julius? I cantell you they are enchanted with your curate!"

"They are not in this parish. "

"No, but they turn up here--the ladies, at least--at all theservices at odd times that Bindon has begun with. "

"Ah! by the bye, is Herbert Bowater come?"

"Yes, the whole family came over to his installation in Mrs. Hornblower's lodgings. "

"I saw him this morning, poor old Herbs, " added Frank, "lookinguncommonly as if he felt himself in a strait waistcoat. "

"What, are there two curates?" demanded Cecil, in a tone ofreprobation. 

Julius made a gesture of assent, with a certain humorous air ofdeprecation, which, however, was lost upon her. 

"We never let Mr. Venn have one, " continued Cecil, "except onewinter when he was ill, and then not a young one. Papa says idleyoung clergymen are not to be encouraged. "

"I am entirely of Mr. Charnock's opinion. But if I have exceededthe Dunstone standard, it was not willingly. Herbert Bowater is theson of some old friends of my mother's, who wanted to keep their sonnear home, and made it their request that I would give him a title. "

"And the Bowaters are the great feature in the neighbourhood, " addedFrank. "Herbert tells me there are wonderful designs forentertaining the brides. "

"What do they consist of?" asked Rosamond. 

"All the component parts of a family, " said Frank. "The eldestdaughter is a sort of sheet-anchor to my mother, as well as her own. The eldest son is at home now. He is in the army. "

"In the Light Dragoons?" asked Rosamond. "Oh! then I knew him atEdinburgh! A man with yellow whiskers, and the next thing to astutter. "

"I declare, Julius, she is as good as any army list, " exclaimedCharlie. 

"There's praise!" cried Frank. "The army list is his one book!What a piece of luck to have you to coach him up in it!"

"I dare say Rosamond can tell me lots of wrinkles for my outfit, "said Charles. 

"I should hope so, having rigged out Dick for the line, and Mauricefor the artillery!"

Charlie came and leant on the mantel-shelf, and commenced aconversation sotto voce on the subject nearest his heart; whileCecil continued her catechism. 

"Are the Bowaters intellectual?"

"Jenny is very well read, " said Julius, "a very sensible person. "

"Yes, " said Frank; "she was the only person here that so much astried to read Browning. But if Cecil wants intellect, she hadbetter take to the Duncombes, the queerest firm I ever fell in with. He makes the turf a regular profession, actually gets a livelihoodout of his betting-book; and she is in the strong-minded line--woman's rights, and all the rest of it. "

"We never had such people at Dunstone, " said Cecil. "Papa alwayssaid that the evil of being in parliament was the having to be civilto everybody. "

Just then Raymond came back with intelligence that his mother wasabout to go to bed, and to call his wife to wish her good night. All went in succession to do the same. 

"My dear, " she said to Anne, "I hoped you were in bed. "

"I thought I would wait for family worship. "

"I am afraid we don't have prayers at night, my dear. We mustresume them in the morning, now Raymond and Julius are come. "

Poor Anne looked all the whiter, and only mumbled out a few answersto the kind counsels lavished upon her. Mrs. Poynsett was left tothink over her daughters-in-law. 

Lady Rosamond did not occupy her much. There was evidently plentyof good strong love between her and her husband; and though hertraining might not have been the best for a clergyman's wife, therewas substance enough in both to shake down together in time. 

But it was Raymond who made her uneasy--Raymond, who ever since hisfather's death had been more than all her other sons to her. Shehad armed herself against the pang of not being first with him, andnow she was full of vague anxiety at the sense that she still heldher old position. Had he not sat all the evening in his own placeby her sofa, as if it were the very kernel of home and of repose?And whenever a sense of duty prompted her to suggest fetching hiswife, had he not lingered, and gone on talking? It was indeed ofCecil; but how would she have liked his father, at the honeymoon'send, to prefer talking of her to talking with her? "She has beenmost carefully brought up, and is very intelligent and industrious, "said Raymond. His mother could not help wondering whether a Romanson might not thus have described a highly accomplished Greek slave, just brought home for his mother's use. 

CHAPTER IIIParish Explorations

 A cry more tuneableWas never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn, In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly:Judge, when you hear. --But, soft; what nymphs are these?Midsummer Night's Dream

It was quite true that Cecil Charnock Poynsett was a veryintelligent industrious creature, very carefully brought up--nay, ifpossible, a little too much so. "A little wholesome neglect" hadbeen lacking. 

The only child of her parents who had lived to see a second birthdaywas sure to be the centre of solicitude. She had not been spoilt inthe usual acceptation of the word, for she had no liberty, fewerindulgences and luxuries than many children, and never was permittedto be naughty; but then she was quite aware that each dainty or eachpleasure was granted or withheld from a careful consideration of herwelfare, and that nothing came by chance with her. And on her rareebullitions of self-will, mamma, governess, nurse, nay even papa, were all in sorrowful commotion till their princess had been broughtto a sense of the enormity of her fault. 

She lost her mother at fourteen, but the same anxious training wascarried on by her father; and after three years he married hermother's most intimate friend, avowedly that the perfect systemmight be continued. Cecil's gaieties as a come-out young lady wereselected on the same judicious principles as her childishdiversions; and if ever the Dunstone family favoured anentertainment not to their taste, it was after a debate on the needof condescension and good-nature. She had, however, never had aseason in London--a place her father hated; but she was taken abroadas soon as she was deemed old enough thoroughly to appreciate whatshe was to see there; and in Switzerland her Cousin Raymond, who hadat different times visited Dunstone, overtook the party, and erelong made his proposals. He was the very man to whom two or threecenturies ago Mr. Charnock would have betrothed the heiress in herinfancy; and Cecil had never liked any one so well, feeling that herdestiny came to a proper culmination in bestowing her hand on themost eligible Charnock, an M. P. , and just a step above her father inrank and influence. 

Her step-mother was under orders to spend the winter in Italy andthe wedding had therefore taken place in Venice, so that Cecil mightfinish her journey as a wife. She had been very happy and fullyoccupied; Raymond, being younger and stronger than her parents, wasmore competent to escort her to every height or depth to which shewished to go, hunted up information for her, and was her mostobedient servant, only resisting any prolongation of the journeybeyond the legitimate four weeks; nor indeed had Cecil been desirousof deferring her introduction to her new sphere. 

There she stood, her hair and pretty Parisian winter dress arrangedto perfection, contemplating with approval the sitting-room that hadbeen appropriated to her, the October sunshine lighting up the many-tinted trees around the smooth-shaven dewy lawn, and a bright fireon the hearth, shelves and chiffoniers awaiting her property, andpiles of parcels, suggestive of wedding presents, awaiting her hand. She was standing at the table, turning out her travelling-bag withthe comfortable sensation that it was not to be immediately re-packed, and had just disinterred a whole library of note-books, whenher husband opened the door. "I believe Jenkins is waiting for yourappearance to bring in the urn, my dear. "

"I'm coming; but surely there ought to be a bell or gong to assemblethe family. "

"It might disturb my mother. What sleep she gets is in the morning. I never go to her till eleven o'clock, unless I am going out for theday. "

"And what will she want me to do for her?" asked Cecil, glancing ather empty shelves. 

"A woman's tact will soon find out. All I wish is that she shouldbe your first object. "

It was a much larger _all_ than could be realized by the son whosehappiest moments had been spent in devotion to her, and who thoughtthe motherless girl must rejoice doubly in such a mother. 

"But I am free till eleven, " said Cecil. 

"Free always, I hope, " he returned, with a shade of vexation. Therewith they descended the broad stairs into the panelled hall, where a great fire was blazing on the hearth, and Rosamond and thetwo young brothers were standing chatting merrily before it. 

Julius, she said, had his primary sermon heavy on his mind, and hadrisen before day to attack it; and she sped away to summon him fromMrs. Poynsett's beautiful old dressing-room, where he sat writingamid all the old associations. Anne was discovered hanging over thedining-room fire, looking whiter and more exhausted than the nightbefore, having indeed been the first to come down-stairs. She wasrebuked for fatiguing herself, and again murmured something aboutfamily worship. 

"We must begin to-morrow, " said Raymond. "We have got a chaplainnow. "

Julius, however, on entering excused himself, saying that afterSunday he should be at Matins at nine o'clock; whereupon Anne lookedat him in mute astonishment. 

Raymond, feeling that he ought to cultivate the solitary sister-in-law, began asking about Miles; but unlike the typical colonist, shewas very silent, and her replies were monosyllabic, till Rosamondcreated a diversion by talking to Frank; and then Raymond elicitedthat Glen Fraser was far up the country--King Williamstown nearerthan any other town. They had sent thither for a doctor for Miles, and he stayed one night, but said that mother's treatment was quiteright; and as it was thirty miles off he did not come again. Thirtymiles! what sort of roads? Not bad for wagons. It only took twodays to get there if the river was not in flood. Had she not beenmarried there? Yes, they all rode in thither for the purpose. Wasit the nearest church, then? There was one only nine miles off, towhich papa went when there was service--one Sunday in three, "for heis an Episcopalian, you know. "

"And not your mother?" asked Cecil. 

"I don't think she was at home, " said Anne. 

"Then had you a Presbyterian Kirk?" asked Cecil, remembering that inScotland gentle blood and Anglicanism did not go together asuniformly as she believed them to do in England. 

"There was one at Schneyder's Kloof, but that was Dutch. "

"Then did you go nowhere?" asked Cecil. 

"There was Mr. Pilgrim's. "

"A clergyman?"

"No, a settler. He used to pray and expound every Sunday. "

"What does he call himself?" said Cecil, growing more severe. 

"I don't know, " said Anne. "He gathers together a little flock ofall denominations, who only care to hear the word. "

"Such a voice in the wilderness as often does good service, " saidJulius, with a perception that the side with which he least agreedbest deserved support. 

He and Rosamond were bent on a tour of parochial inspection, as wereRaymond and Cecil on a more domestic one, beginning with thegardens. 

Cecil was the first lady down-stairs, all in claret colour trimmedwith gray fur, with a little fur and velvet cap upon her head. 

"There! it is a clear morning, and you can see the view, " saidRaymond, opening the hall door. 

"Very prettily undulating ground, " she said, standing on the steps, and looking over a somewhat rapid slope scattered with trees to theopposite side of the valley, where a park with a red mansion in themidst gleamed out among woods of green, red, orange, and browntints. "How you are shut in! That great Spanish chestnut must be aperfect block when its leaves are out. My father would never let itstand so near the house. "

"It is too near, but it was planted at the birth of my mother'sbrother. "

"Who died?"

"Yes, at seven years old. It was her first grief. "

"Then it would vex her if you cut it. "

Raymond laughed. "It is hers, not mine. "

"I forgot. " There was a good deal in the tone; but she added, "Whatis that place opposite?"

"Sirenwood. It belongs to Sir Harry Vivian; but he does not livethere. "

"Yes, he does, " said Cecil. "Your brothers say he has come backwith his two daughters. "

"There is only one unmarried. "

"There is a widow come to keep house for him--Lady Tyrrell. "

"Very likely, " said Raymond; "my mother only writes with difficulty, so I hear little when I am from home. "

"Is it true that they are horrid people, very dissipated, and notfit for me to associate with?"

"That is putting it strongly, " said Raymond, quietly. "They are notlikely to be very desirable acquaintances for you, but there is noreason you should not associate with them on ordinary terms ofcourtesy. "

"Ah! I understand--as member's wife. "

"I don't see what that has to do with it, " said Raymond. "Ah!Rosamond!" as she came down in a Galway cloak over her blackvelveteen, "on the way to view your domain?"

"Yes, and yours, " she said, nodding to Cecil. "You appreciate suchEnglish apple-pie order. It looks as if you never suffered a strayleaf to dance without an old woman to hunt it down. And what's thatred house smiling across the valley?"

"Sirenwood, " repeated Raymond; then to Julius he said, "Did you knowit was inhabited again?"

"Frank said so, " answered Julius, without further remark, giving hisarm to his wife, who clasped both hands on it; while the othercouple looked on as if doubtful whether this were a trying dutyincumbent on them. 

"What is it all about?" said Rosamond, as they walked down theavenue of walnuts leading to the iron gates in the oppositedirection from Sirenwood. "Which of you was _that woman's_ victim?Was it a sailor love of Miles's? I hope not! That poor littleAfrican might not stand a gay ghost cropping up again. "

"Miles is far removed from the conventional sailor. "

"Then it is reduced to the grave Raymond. "

"I wish I had betrayed nothing. "

"Now you may as well proceed to betray the rest, instead of leavingme to exercise my fancy. "

"It is no secret, only such things are best not brought up again. Camilla Vivian was poor Raymond's grande passion, and you mayimagine what a grief that was to my mother, especially as the poorbrother was then living--one of the most fascinating, dangerous menI ever saw; and the whole tone of the place was ultra gay andthoughtless, the most reckless extravagance. However, he was setupon it, and my mother was forced to consent to the engagement. Sheseemed equally devoted to him, till she met Lord Tyrrell at somecountry house, and then a quarrel was picked, either by her motheror herself, about my mother retaining the headship of her own house. It was a palpable excuse, but it served to break the affair off, andRaymond was cruelly cut up. My mother made herself everything tohim from that moment, gave up all her former habits to be with him, sent the little boys to school, and fairly dragged him through thetrouble!"

"How long ago was it?"

"Ten years--yes, ten years. So far as ceasing to care a straw for aheartless woman like that, he has got over it, no doubt; but it hasmade a graver man of him for life, and I doubt whether, but for mymother's accident, he ever would have married. "

"Did you marry for your mother's sake, Julius, or only tell her so?"

"For shame, my Lady Mischief!"

"And do you think the fair Camilla returned with plans that shefinds disconcerted?"

"How can I tell? I have not seen her since I was a lad ofeighteen. --Ah! how d'ye do, Betty?" in a tone of relief; "you've notseen my wife. "

This was the first of a long series of introductions. ComptonPoynsett was a straggling village, with the church, schools, andRectory, ten minutes' walk from the park gates. It had not beenneglected, so that Julius had not the doubtful satisfaction ofcoming like a missionary or reformer. The church, though notexactly as with his present lights he would have made it, was inrespectable order, and contained hardly anything obnoxious to histaste; the schools were well built, properly officered, and thechildren under such discipline that Rosamond declared she could nomore meddle with them than with her father's regiment. 

The Rectory was at that moment level with the ground, and Juliusexplaining the plans, when up came the senior curate. Mr. Bindon, whom she, as well as Julius, greeted as an old friend, was thetypical modern priest, full of his work, and caring for nothingbesides, except a Swiss mountain once a year; a slight, spare, small, sallow man, but with an enormous power of untiring energy. 

Scarcely had Rosamond shaken hands with him, standing where herdrawing-room rug was to be in future days, when a merry whistle camenear, and over the wall from the churchyard leapt first a blackretriever, secondly a Skye terrier, thirdly a bull ditto, fourthly ayoung man, or rather an enormous boy, who for a moment stood amazedand disconcerted at the unexpectedly worshipful society into whichhe had jumped!

"Ha! Herbert! is that you?" laughed Julius. 

"I beg your pardon!" he breathlessly exclaimed. "I was just takingthe short cut! I had no idea--Here, Mungo, you ruffian!" as theSkye was investigating Lady Rosamond's boot. 

"Oh, I like him of all things! I am glad to welcome you to ourfuture house!" as she held out her hand to the Reverend HerbertBowater, the junior curate, a deacon of a fortnight's standing, whose round open happy blue eyes, ruddy cheeks, merry lips, andcurly light hair, did not seem in keeping with the rigidly straightcollar and waistcoat, and the long black coat, at presentplentifully streaked with green tree-moss, while his boots andtrousers looked as if they had partaken of the mud-bath which hisdogs had evidently been wallowing in. 

"Off! off!" were his words, as he shook hands with his rectoress. "Get away, Rollo!" with an energetic shove of the foot to the bigdog, who was about to shake his dripping coat for the ladies'special benefit. "I saw you arrive last evening, " he said, in theconversational tone of a gentlemanly school-boy; "didn't you find itvery cold?"

"Not very. I did not see you, though. "

"He was organizing the cheers, " said Mr. Bindon. "You shone inthat, Bowater. They kept such good time. "

"You were very good to cheer us at all, " said Julius, "coming in thewake of the Squire as we did. "

"The best of it was, " said the junior, "that Charlie was so awfullyafraid that he and poor Miles's wife would be taken for the Squire, that he dashed in on his way to warn me to choke them off. If shehadn't been ill, I must have set the boys on for a lark! How isshe, though?" he asked in a really kind tone. 

"She looks very ill, poor thing, " said Julius. 

Here the bull terrier became assiduous in his attentions toRosamond; and between his master's calls and apologies, and hercaresses and excuses, not much more was heard, till Julius askedwith mock gravity, "And are these all you've brought over, Herbert?"

"Yes, all; I'd half a mind to bring the two greyhounds, but myfather thought they would get into trouble in the preserves, andthere isn't room at Mrs. Hornblower's place, " he answered, withapologetic simplicity. 

"What a pity Durham has been reduced!" said Mr. Bindon, dryly. "Itwould have been the right preferment for Bowater. The Bishop wasobliged by statute to keep a pack of hounds. "

"But, sir, " expostulated the deacon, turning to the Rector, colouring all over his honest rosy face, "you don't object! Youknow, of course, I've given up sport, " he added ruefully; "but onlyjust as companions!--Ain't you, Rollo?" he added, almost with tearsin his eyes, and a hand on the smooth black head, belonging to sucha wise benignant face, that Rosamond was tempted to pronounce thedog the more clerical looking of the two. 

"You are very welcome, " said Julius, laughing, "provided you canmanage with the old women's cats. I should find such companionsrather awkward in pastoral visits. "

"I'll teach them, sir! You may depend on it! We did have a littleflare-up yesterday, but I showed them the sense of it. You mightteach those dogs anything!--Ha! what then, Tartar! Halloo, Mungo!Rats, rats, rats!"

A prodigious scratching and snorting was audible in what had been acellar of the quondam Rectory; and Rollo, becoming excited, dashedup to the scene of action, with a deep bass war-cry, while, toRosamond's great amusement, "rats" was no less a peal to Rector andsenior; and for the next quarter of an hour the three clergymenmoved bricks, poked with their sticks, and cheered on the chase tillthe church clock struck one, the masons began to return from dinner, and the sounds of the bell at the Hall recalled the party to order. 

"There, Rose! Our first day!" said Julius, aghast. 

"You'd better come to lunch at my rooms, " said the young curate, eagerly. "Do! Mother has brought the jolliest hamper! Game-pie, and preserved magnum-bonums, and pears off the old jargonelle. --Come, Lady Rosamond, do. --Come along, Bindon! There's such a dishof damson-cheese! Do!"

That "_do_, " between insinuation and heartiness, was so boyish, thatit was quite irresistible to the lady, who consented eagerly, whileJulius wrote a word or two on a card, which he despatched to theHall by the first child he encountered. In a few minutes theyreached the nice clean bay-windowed room over the village shop, comically like an undergraduate's, in spite of the mother's andsister's recent touches. 

There ensued a resolute quieting of the dogs, and a vigorousexertion of hospitality, necessitating some striding up and downstairs, and much shouting to Mrs. Hornblower and her little niece, who rejoiced in the peculiar name of Dilemma; while Rosamond pettedTartar upon her lap, and the two elder clergymen, each with an elbowagainst the window-frame and a knee on the seat, held council, basedon the Rector's old knowledge of the territory and the curate'srecent observations during his five weeks' sojourn. 

The plans to be put in force next week were arranged during themeal, and the junior observed that he would walk home to-night andback on Saturday evening, since after that he should be tied prettyfast. 

And he started with Julius and Rosamond on their further progress, soon, however, tumbling over another stone wall with all his dogs, and being only heard hallooing to them as they yelped after thelarks. 

"That is a delicious boy!" said Rosamond, laughing merrily. "A nicefellow--but we mustn't make it a custom to be always going in topartake of his hampers, or we shall prey inordinately on Mrs. Bowater's preserves. "

"He was just like the hero of

"Oh, I have a plum-cake, And a rare feast I'll make. "

I do like a boy with a sweet tooth!"

"Like him! Of course I do. The Bowaters are like one's ownkindred! I only hope I shall not spoil him. "

"Hasn't his mother done that for you?"

"I wish he had spent a year or two at Cuddesdon! I ought to haveseen him before consenting to give him a title at once, but hisfather and Jenny wished it so much. Ah! come in here. Bindon saidLucy Martin was a case for a lady. "

Rosamond's hearty good-nature was much more at ease among ailing oldwomen than prim school-children, and she gave great satisfaction inthe cottages. 

Julius did not of course come as a stranger, and had a generalimpression as to names and families; but he had been absent, excepton short visits, for five years, so that Rosamond declared that thiswas a staple of his conversation: "Then it was Tom Deane--no, itwas John Deane that married Blake's son--no, it was Blake's daughterthat died who is living in the next house. "

They finished with a long and miry lane, lying along the valley, andleading to the cottages of a little clan, the chief of whom seemedto be a large-boned lively-eyed old dame, who, after minuteinquiries after "the Lady Poynsett, " went on, "And be it true, Master Julius, as that young gentleman of Squire Bowater's is one ofyour passons?"

Julius admitted the fact. 

"And be ye going to put he up in the pulpit to preach to we? 'Ponmy word of honour, says I to Sally when her telled I, we shall havelittle Dick out of the infant-school next!"

"We're all young, Betty! Can't you put up with any one that is notolder than yourself! I'm afraid he would hardly be able to get upthe pulpit stair. "

The Rector's reply delighted Betty; but she returned to the charge. "No, no, sir, I be coming to hear ye next Sunday. Sally have turnedmy black bonnet a purpose. It be one of the Lady Poynsett's, as hergave I when my old gentleman was took two years after the Squire--when bonnets was bonnets, you know, ma'am. Now tell me true, be yeto preach morning or arternoon, sir?"

"In the morning, I hope, Betty. "

"Then I'll be there, Master Julius, to the third seat from thefront; but it ain't becoming for a woman of my age, seventy-ninecome Christmas, to sit under a slip of a lad as hasn't got the tasteof the birch off his back. "

"That's too bad, Betty, " broke in Rosamond, speaking out ofconviction. "Mr. Bowater isn't so young as he looks, and he was toogood a boy ever to need the birch. "

"All the wuss for he, " retorted the undaunted Betty. "Spare therod, and spile the child. "

The village wit was left triumphant, and Julius proposed to returnby a cross-road leading into the plantations. Suddenly a scud ofrain mixed with whirling yellow leaves sent them hurrying into acart-shed, where, with a sudden start, they found themselves rushingin on some one. Who was it? A girl--a young lady. That wasevident, as Rosamond panted out, "I beg your pardon!" and the nextmoment there was the exclamation, "Mr. Julius Charnock! You don'tremember me? Eleonora Vivian!"

"Miss Vivian! you have the advantage of me, " said Julius, a littlestiffly. "Let me introduce my wife. "

The hands met, and Rosamond perceived in the failing light a veryfine-looking maiden, with a superbly carried head and neck, simplydressed in gray cloth. "Are you sheltering here, or are yousketching?" she asked, seeing some paper and drawing materials. 

"I was giving a lesson. See, " exhibiting some bold outlines onlarge paper. "Does not my pupil do me credit?"

"Very spirited, " said Rosamond. "Where is she?"

"_He_ is gone to fetch me his grandmother's umbrella. He is thelittle Gurth of these parts. "

"Of whom you are making a Giotto?" asked Julius, thawing a little. 

"Exactly; I found him drawing on a barn-door with such zeal andspirit, that I could not help offering him some lessons. Only see, does he not get on? I wish I could get him to the school ofdesign. "

"May I ask what becomes of his pigs?" demanded Julius. 

"Don't you hear?" as sundry grunts and squeals of those eminentlyconversational animals were audible through the walls. "They aredriven home to this rick-yard, so here I meet the boy. "

"Who is he?" asked the Rector. 

"I only know that he answers to the name of Joe. And here hecomes, " as a boy about ten years old came lumbering up in big boots, with a heavy plaid shawl on one arm, and an immense green umbrellain the other. 

"Thank you, Joe. Make your bow to the lady and gentleman. "

This was a pull of the flaxen forelock; for Joe was a slender, pretty, fair boy, of that delicately-complexioned English type whichis not roughened till after many years of exposure. 

"That's right, my man, " said Julius, kindly. "What is your name?"

"Please, sir, Joshua Reynolds. "

"Instinct, " whispered Rosamond. 

"Or influence of a name, " returned Miss Vivian. 

"Are you one of Dan Reynolds's boys, or Tim's?" proceeded

"No, I bides with granny. "

Julius made no further attempt at disentangling the pedigree butinquired about his employments. Did he go to school?

"When there ain't nothing to be done. "

"And what can be done by such a mite?" asked Rosamond. 

"Tell the lady, " said the Rector; "what work can you do?"

"Bird-starving. "

"Well!"

"And stoon-picking, and cow-herding, and odd jobs up at FarmerLight's; but they won't take I on for a carter-boy not yet 'cause Ibean't not so lusty as some on 'em. "

"Have you learnt to read?"

"Oh yes, very nicely, " interposed Miss Vivian. 

"Did you teach him?" said Rosamond. 

"No! He could read well before I came to the place. I have onlybeen at home six weeks, you know, and I did not know I was poachingon your manor, " she added sotto voce to Julius, who could not butanswer with warm thanks. 

It was discovered that the rain had set in for the night, and anamicable contest ensued between the ladies as to shawl and umbrella, each declaring her dress unspoilable, till it ended in Eleonorahaving the shawl, and both agreeing to share the umbrella as far asthe Sirenwood lodge. 

However, the umbrella refused to open, and had to be given to theboy, who set his teeth into an extraordinary grin, and so dealt withthe brazen gear as to expand a magnificent green vault, with alesser leathern arctic zone round the pole; but when he had handedit to Miss Vivian, and she had linked her arm in Lady Rosamond's, itproved too mighty for her, tugged like a restive horse, and wouldfairly have run away with her, but for Rosamond's holding her fast. 

"Lost!" they cried. "Two ladies carried away by an umbrella!"

"Here, Julius, no one can grapple with it but you, " called Rosamond. 

"I really think it's alive!" panted Eleonora, drawn up to her tip-toes before she could hand it to Julius, who, with both clinging tohis arm, conducted them at last to the lodge, where Julius couldonly come in as far as it would let him, since it could neither belet down nor left to itself to fly to unknown regions. 

A keeper with a more manageable article undertook to convey MissVivian home across the park; and with a pleasant farewell, husbandand wife plodded their way home, along paths the mud of which couldnot be seen, only heard and felt; and when Rosamond, in the light ofthe hall, discovered the extent of the splashes, she had to leaveJulius still contending with the umbrella; and when, in spite of theunited efforts of the butler and footman, it still refused to comedown, it was consigned to an empty coach-house, with orders thatlittle Joe should have a shilling to bring it down and fetch it homein the morning!

CHAPTER IVShades In Sunshine

My friends would be angered, My minnie be mad. --Scots Song

"Whom do you think we met, mother?" said Julius, coming into herroom, so soon as he had made his evening toilette, and finding thereonly his two younger brothers. "No other than Miss Vivian. "

"Ah! then, " broke in Charlie, "you saw what Jenkins calls theperfect picture of a woman. "

"She is very handsome, " soberly returned Julius. "Rose is quitedelighted with her. Do you know anything of her?"

"Jenny Bowater was very fond of poor Emily, " rejoined the mother. "I believe that she had a very good governess, but I wish she werein better hands now. "

"I cannot think why there should be a universal prejudice for thesake of one early offence!" exclaimed Frank. 

"Oh, indeed!" said Julius, amazed at such a tone to his mother. 

"I only meant--mother, I beg your pardon--but you are only going byhearsay, " answered Frank, in some confusion. 

"Then you have not seen her?" said Julius. 

"I! I'm the last person she is likely to seek, if you meanCamilla. "

"She inquired a great deal after you, mother, " interposed Frank, "and said she longed to call, only she did not know if you could seeher. I do hope you will, when she calls on Cecil. I am sure youwould think differently. Promise me, mother!"

"If she asks for me, I will, my boy, " said Mrs. Poynsett, "but letme look! You aren't dressed for dinner! What will Mistress Cecilsay to you! Ah! it is time you had ladies about the house again. "

The two youths retreated; and Julius remained, looking anxiously andexpressively at his mother. 

"I am afraid so, " she said; "but I had almost rather he werehonestly smitten with the young one than that he believed inCamilla. "

"I should think no one could long do that, " said Julius. 

"I don't know. He met them when he was nursing that poor youngScotsman at Rockpier, and got fascinated. He has never been quitethe same since that time!" said the mother anxiously. "I don'tblame him, poor fellow!" she added eagerly, "or mean that he hasbeen a bit less satisfactory--oh no! Indeed, it may be my fault forexpressing my objection too' plainly; he has always been reservedwith me since, and I never lost the confidence of one of my boysbefore!"

That Julius knew full well, for he--as the next eldest at home--hadbeen the recipient of all his mother's perplexities at the time ofRaymond's courtship. Mrs. Poynsett had not been a woman of intimatefemale friends. Her sons had served the purpose, and this wasperhaps one great element in her almost unbounded influence withthem. Julius was deeply concerned to see her eyes glistening withtears as she spoke of the cloud that had risen between her andFrank. 

"There is great hope that this younger one may be worthy, " he said. "She has had a very different bringing up from her sister, and I didnot tell you what I found her doing. She was teaching a little pig-herd boy to draw. "

"Ah! I heard Lady Tyrrell was taking to the education of the peopleline. "

"I want to know who the boy is, " said Julius. "He called himselfReynolds, and said he lived with granny, but was not a son ofDaniel's or Timothy's. He seemed about ten years old. "

"Reynolds? Then I know who he must be. Don't you remember apretty-looking girl we had in the nursery in Charlie's time? His'Fan-fan' he used to call her. "

"Ah, yes, I remember; she was a Reynolds, for both the little boyscould be excited to fury if we assumed that she was a fox. Youdon't mean that she went wrong?"

"Not till after she had left us, and seemed to be doing well inanother place; but unfortunately she was allowed to have a holidayin the race week, and a day at the course seems to have done themischief. Susan can tell you all about it, if you want to know. She was as broken-hearted as if Fanny had been her own child--muchmore than the old mother herself, I fear. "

"What has become of the girl?"

"Gone from bad to worse. Alas! I heard a report that she had beenseen with some of the people who appear on the race-course withthose gambling shooting-galleries, or something of that sort. "

"Ah! those miserable races! They are the bane of the country. Iwish no one would go near them. "

"They are a very pleasant county gathering. "

"To you, mother, and such as you; but you could have your countymeeting without doing quite so much harm. If Raymond would onlywithdraw his subscription. "

"It would be as much as his seat is worth! Those races are the onegreat event of Wil'sbro' and Backsworth, the harvest of all thetradespeople. Besides, you know what is said of their expedience asfar as horses are concerned. "

"I would sacrifice the breed of horses to prevent the evils, " saidJulius. 

"_You_ would, but--My boy, I suppose this is the right view for aclergyman, but it will never do to force it here. You will lose allinfluence if you are over-strained. "

"Was St. Chrysostom over-strained about the hippodrome?" saidJulius, thoughtfully. 

Mrs. Poynsett looked at him as he leant upon the chimney-piece. Here was another son gone, in a different way, beyond her reach. She had seen comparatively little of him since his University days;and though always a good and conscientious person, there had beennothing to draw her out of secular modes of thought; nor had she anyconnection with the clerical world, so that she had not, as it were, gone along with the tone of mind that she had perceived in him. 

He did not return to the subject, and they were soon joined by hiselder brother. At the first opportunity after dinner, Frank gotRosamond up into a corner with a would-be indifferent "So you metMiss Vivian. What did you think of her?"

Rosamond's intuition saw what she was required to think, and beingexperienced in raving brothers, she praised the fine face and figureso as to find the way to his heart. 

"I am so glad you met her in that way. Even Julius must beconvinced. Was not he delighted?"

"I think she grew upon him. "

"And now neither of you will be warped. It is so very strange in mymother, generally the kindest, most open-hearted woman in the world, to distrust and bear a grudge against them all for the son'sdissipation--just as if that affected the ladies of a family!"

"I did not think it was entirely on his account, " said Rosamond. 

"Old stories of flirtation!" said Frank, scornfully; "but what arethey to be cast up against a woman in her widowhood? It is soutterly unlike mother, I can't understand it. "

"Would not the natural conclusion be that she knew more, and had herreasons?"

"I tell you, Rosamond, I know them infinitely better than she does. She never saw them since Lady Tyrrell's marriage, when Eleonora wasa mere child; now I saw a great deal of them at Rockpier last year. There was poor Jamie Armstrong sent down to spend the winter on thesouth coast; and as none of his own people could be with him, we--his Oxford friends, I mean--took turns to come to him; and as I hadjust gone up for my degree, I had the most time. The Vivians hadbeen living there ever since they went on poor Emily's account. They did not like to leave the place where she died you see; andLady Tyrrell had joined them after her husband's death. Such apleasant house! no regular gaieties, of course, but a few friends ina quiet way--music and charades, and so forth. Every one kneweverybody there; not a bit of our stiff county ways, but meeting allday long in the most sociable manner. "

"Oh yes, I know the style of place. "

"One gets better acquainted in a week than one does in seven yearsin a place like this, " proceeded Frank. "And you may tell Julius toask any of the clerics if Lenore was not a perfect darling with theVicar and his wife, and her sister too; and Rockpier is a regulartip-top place for Church, you know. I'm sure it was enough to makea fellow good for life, just to see Eleonora walking up the aislewith that sweet face of hers, looking more like heaven than earth. "

Rosamond made reply enough to set him off again. "Lady Tyrrellwould have been content to stay there for ever, she told me, but shethought it too confined a range for Eleonora; there was no formationof character, though I don't see how it could have formed better;but Lady Tyrrell is a thoroughly careful motherly sister, andthought it right she should see a little of the world. So theybroke up from Rockpier, and spent a year abroad; and now LadyTyrrell is making great sacrifices to enable her father to come andlive at home again. I must say it would be more neighbourly towelcome them a little more kindly!"

"I should think such agreeable people were sure to win their way. "

"Ah! you don't know how impervious our style of old squire andsquiress can be! If even mother is not superior to the oldprejudice, who will be? And it is _very_ hard on a fellow; forthree parts of my time is taken up by this eternal cramming--Ishould have no heart for it but for her--and I can't be going overto Sirenwood as I used to go to Rockpier, while my mother vexesherself about it, in her state. If she were up and about I shouldnot mind, or she would know better; but what can they--Lenore, Imean--think of me, but that I am as bad as the rest?"

"Do you mean that anything has passed between you?"

"No, not with Lenore. Her sister spoke to me, and said it was notright when she had seen nothing but Rockpier; but she as good aspromised to stand my friend. And when I get to the office, in twoyears, I shall have quite enough to begin upon, with what my motherallows us. "

"Then you hope she will wait for that?"

"I feel sure of it--that is, if she is not annoyed by thisabominable usage from my family. Oh! Rosamond, you will help uswhen you get into your own house, and you will get Julius to see itin a proper light. Mother trusts to him almost as much as toRaymond; but it is our misfortune to be so much younger that shecan't believe us grown up. "

"O, Frank, " said Charlie, coming in, "here's Price come up about thepuppies. --What, Rosamond, has he got hold of you? What a blessingfor me! but I pity you. "

Frank and Charlie went off together; and Julius was in the act ofbegging Cecil to illuminate a notice of the services, to be framedand put into the church porch, when Raymond came in from the otherroom to make up a whist-table for his mother. Rosamond gladlyresponded; but there was a slight accent of contempt in Cecil'svoice, as she replied, "I never played a game at cards in my life. "

"They are a great resource to my mother, " said Raymond. "Anne, youare too tired to play?--No, Julius, the pack is not there; look inthe drawer of the chiffonier. "

Julius handed the list he had been jotting down to Cecil, andfollowed his brother, with his hands full of cards, unconscious ofthe expression of dismay, almost horror, with which Anne was gazingafter him. 

"Oh! let us be resolute!" she cried, as soon as the door was shut. "Do not let us touch the evil thing!"

"Cards?" said Cecil. "If Mrs. Poynsett cannot be amused withoutthem, I suppose we shall have to learn. I always heard she was suchan intellectual woman. "

"But we ought to resist sin, however painful it may be, " said Anne, gathering strength; "nay, even if a minister sets the example ofdefection. "

"You think it wicked, " said Cecil. "Oh no, it is stupid and silly, and an absurd waste of time, but no more. "

"Yes, it is, " said Anne. "Cards are the bane of thousands. "

"Oh yes, gambling and all that; but to play in the evening to amusean invalid can have no harm in it. "

"An invalid and aged woman ought to have her mind set upon betterthings, " said Anne. "I shall not withdraw my testimony, and I hopeyou will not. "

"I don't know, " said Cecil. "You see I am expected to attend toMrs. Poynsett; and I have seen whist at Dunstone when any dull oldperson came there. What a troublesome crooked hand Julius writes--just like Greek! What's all this? So many services--four onSunday, two every day, three on Wednesdays and Fridays! We neverhad anything like this at Dunstone. "

"It is very superstitious, " said Anne. 

"Very superfluous, I should say, " amended Cecil. "I am sure myfather would consent to nothing of the kind. I shall speak toRaymond about it. "

"Yes, " said Anne; "it does seem terrible that a minister should tryto make up for worldly amusements by a quantity of vain ceremonies. "

"I wish you would not call him a minister, it sounds like adissenter. "

"I think ministers their best name, except pastors. "

"Both are horrid alike, " said Cecil. "I shall teach all the peopleto call Julius the Rector. That's better than Mr. Charnock--whatRaymond ought to be. "

Anne was struck dumb at this fearful display of worldliness; andCecil betook herself to the piano, but the moment her husbandappeared she showed him the list. 

"He has cut out plenty of work, " said Raymond, "but three of themmust want a field for their energies. "

"It is preposterous. I want you to speak to him about it. "

"You are not expected to go to them all, " Raymond made answer. 

"Then there's no sense in having them, " responded Cecil. "Eveningservices are very bad for the people, bringing them out late. Youought to tell him so. "

"He is Rector, and I am not, " said Raymond. 

"Mr. Venn did nothing without papa's consent, " exclaimed

"My dear Cecil, don't let your loyalty make a Harry the Eighth ofyour father, " said Raymond; "the clergyman ought to be a freeagent. "

"You don't approve?"

"I don't approve or disapprove. It is not a matter I know anythingabout. "

"But I assure you it has been all thought over at Dunstone. "

"Come, my mother wants to go to bed, and you are keeping herwaiting. "

Cecil was silenced for the moment, but not daunted; for was it notthe foremost duty of the lady of the manor to keep the clergyman inorder, more especially when he was her own husband's youngerbrother? so she met her brother-in-law with "Julius, when Iundertook that notice, I had no notion you were going to have somany services. "

"Is there more than you have time to paint? Then Bindon can do it, or Jenny Bowater. "

"No! it is not time or trouble; but I do not think such a number ofservices desirable. "

"Indeed!" said he, looking amused. 

"Yes. An over number of services frequented by no one only bringsthe Church into contempt. I heard papa say so. We only had regularSunday and Saint's Day services, and I am sure Dunstone was quite asreligious a place as there is any need to be. "

"I am glad to hear it, " said Julius, an odd look flickering abouthis face; "but as I am afraid Compton is not as religious a place asthere is need to be, I must try, by your leave, all means of makingit so. Good night. "

He was gone, and Cecil was not sure that he had not presumed tolaugh at her. 

CHAPTER VA Sunday of Excitement

Strangers in court do take her for the queen. --Shakespeare

The first Sunday of Julius Charnock's ministry was spent in anunexpected manner. In the darkness of the autumn morning there wasa knock at the door, and a low hurried call in Anne's voice at thebedroom door: "Rosamond! Julius, pray look out! Isn't there agreat fire somewhere?"

"Fire! Here?" cried Rosamond, springing up. 

"No, not here. A great way off. You could beat it back. "

Rosamond had by this time rushed to the window which looked out thewrong way, found her dressing-gown, and scrambled into it in thedark ere joining Anne in the gallery, from the end window of whichthe lurid light in the sky, with an occasional flame leaping up, wasplainly visible. When Julius joined them he declared it to be atWillansborough, and set off to call up the coachman and despatch thefire-engine, his wife calling after him to send for the soldiers atBacksworth. 

Frank and Charlie came rushing down in gratified excitement, declaring that it was tremendous--the church at least--and exultingin the attainment of their life-long ambition, the riding out on thefire-engine. Servants bustled about, exclaiming, tramping, orwhisking on the stairs; and Raymond presently appeared to askwhether his mother were ill, and, when reassured on that score, hurrying to ascertain whether she were alarmed, before he startedfor the scene of action. 

"Let me come and stay with her, " said Rosamond, a striking figure, in a scarlet dressing-gown, with a thick plait of black hair hangingdown to her waist on either side. 

"Thank you, it will be very kind, " said Raymond, running down beforeher, and meeting Susan waddling out in a fringe of curl-papers, forsome mysterious instinct or echo had conveyed to her and hermistress that there was fire somewhere--perhaps at home. Mrs. Poynsett was not a nervous woman, and from the time she saw hereldest son come in, all fright was over, and she could have borne tohear that the house over her head was burning, in the perfect trustthat he would save her from all peril; nor had he any difficulty incommitting her to Rosamond, when he hurried away to finish dressingand repair to the spot. 

Nothing could be seen from her room, but the little ante-roombetween it and the drawing-room had an excellent view, as the groundfell away from it, and there was an opening among the trees. 

"We must get you there!" exclaimed Rosamond, in her excitement, helping her into some garments, and then running out as she heard astep--"Here, Julius, help me;" and without more ado, the mother wastransported between them to the broad low couch under the window, and there bestowed in a nest of pillows, shawls, and rugs, thatseemed to grow up under Rosamond's touch. 

Then following Julius out into the hall as he met his brother, Rosamond clung to him, entreating, "Please, please don't run intoany dangerous places. "

"Never fear, dearest; I am not likely. "

"Don't let him, pray!" she said, turning to Raymond. "Make himremember how blind he is. "

"I'll take good care of him, Rosamond, " said the elder brotherkindly; "I'm used to it. "

"And send for the ---th, " she added. "There is nothing likesoldiers at a fire. "

"The glare must have given notice, " said Julius, "but we'll send ifneedful. Let go, you foolish girl; I'm not leading a forlorn hope. "

Did Raymond, as he mounted his horse, turning from the contact ofthe white and black heads, admire the reasonableness of the Cecilwho had never shown any fears for his safety, nor any tendency torun about the passages in her robe de chambre, though she was nowdressing with all speed?

The women-folk had to depend on their own eyes for intelligence, forevery male, not only of the household but of the village, betweenthe ages of five and seventy, started for Wil'sbro', and a good manyfemales followed their example, including the cook and her suite. 

However, Susan remained, to find her mistress flown, and in herfright, give Lady Rosamond as round a scolding as if she had beenCharlie, for her rashness in attempting a transit, which Dr. Hayterhad pronounced to be as much as her mistress's life was worth. Having thus relieved her mind, and finding that Mrs. Poynsett wasreally very comfortable, or else too eager and anxious to find outif she was not, the good woman applied herself to the making ofcoffee. 

Anne and Cecil had found their way to the leads, and were thencesummoned to partake of this hasty meal, after which they proposedgoing to look from the brow of the hill; and Mrs. Poynsett insistedthat Rosamond should not stay behind on her account; and, glad toappease the restlessness of anxiety, out went the ladies, to findthe best view of the town, --usually a white object in the distance, but now blurred by smoke thick and black in the daylight, and nowand then reddened by bursts of flame. 

Anne had been reassured as to the need of beating out the fire andtrampling down a place to isolate it, as in the bush-fires of herexperience; and Rosamond related the achievements of the regiment inquenching many a conflagration in inflammable colonial cities. 

It occurred to her that the best place whence to see it was thetower of the church, which, placed upon a little knoll, was standingout in full relief against the lurid light. She found the key atthe sexton's, and led the way up the broken stone stair to the trap-door, where they emerged on the leads, and, in spite of the coldwind and furious flapping of the flag above their heads, stoodabsorbed in the interest of the sight. 

There was a black mass in the open space, whence rose fitful cloudsof smoke, the remnants of the fire, which had there done its worst;and beyond was a smoky undefined outline, with tongues of flamedarting up, then volumes of dense white smoke, denoting a rush ofwater from the engines. Black beings flitted about like ants rounda disturbed nest; Rosamond hoped she detected some scarlet amongthem, and Cecil lamented over not having brought her opera-glass. Even without this, it was possible to make out two long lines of menbetween the fire and the river, and at times they fancied they heardthe shouting, but the wind generally carried it away. The cold wasbitter, and they had to hold together and keep a tight grip upontheir garments against the gusts that seemed to rock the tower; butthey could not bear to turn away, though the clock beneath pealedout hour after hour; for still, as the flames were subdued in oneplace they broke out in another; but gradually smoke becamepredominant, and then grew thinner, and as some of the black specksbegan to straggle into the road as if returning to Compton, thedesire to hear became more pressing than that to see, and the threeladies began to descend--a slow and weary process, cutting them offfrom the view, and lasting so long, that the road was no longerdeserted when they finally emerged into the churchyard. 

Young Mr. Bowater, grimed, dusty, hatless, and his hair on end, andRollo following with his feathery tail singed, hurried up at once. "I'm not fit to touch, Lady Rosamond, " as he showed a black hand, and bowed to the others. 

"Where's Ju--where's my husband?" exclaimed Rosamond. 

"Just behind, riding home with Raymond and the rest of them. Wasn'tit a magnificent flare-up? But there was no loss of life; and thisdog was of as much use as two men--carried whatever I told him. "

"Good old man! You've suffered too!" said Rosamond. "Pah! you'relike a singed horse; but never mind, you're a hero. "

"And where is Mr. Charnock Poynsett?" said Cecil, retreating fromthe dog, which her sisters-in-law were vehemently patting. 

"He was arranging with the mayor. Church, paper-mills, and town-hall got the worst of it. It was well he came down; old Briggs, themayor, lost his head, and Fuller never had one. Every one gavecontrary orders till he came down, and then, didn't we work!"

The curate stretched his stalwart limbs, as if they were becomingsensible of the strain they had undergone. 

"Did you say the church was burnt?" asked Cecil. 

"Yes; and a very good thing too! Hideous place, where you couldn'tdo right if you died for it! The fire began there--stoves no doubt--and there it would have stopped if any one had had any sense; butthere they would run and gape, and the more I tried to get them toform a chain and drench the warehouses, the more they wouldn't doit. And when the flame once got hold of the paper--did you see it?--it was not a thing to forget. I verily believe the whole townwould have gone if the Charnocks hadn't come and got a littlediscipline into the asses. It was just life and death work, fighting the fire to hinder it from getting across Water Lane, andthen it would have been all up with High Street. The tongues brokeout like live things ready to lick up everything; and it was likekilling dragons to go at them with the hose and buckets. I declaremy arms are fit to drop out of their sockets. And the Rectordevoted himself to carrying out bed-ridden old women. I forgot totell you, Lady Rosamond, he has broken his--There now, I never meantto frighten you--broken his spectacles. "

"You did it on purpose, " she said, laughing at her own start. 

"No, indeed, I did not. "

"And is it quite out now?"

"Yes; when the Backsworth engines and the soldiers came up, it waslike the Prussians at Waterloo. "

"Oh, then it was done, " said Rosamond. "Take care! my grandfatherwas in the Light Division. "

"And my uncle in the Guards, " said the curate. But before theWaterloo controversy could be pursued, four or five figures onhorseback came round the knoll, and Raymond and Julius sprang offtheir horses, introducing the three officers who followed theirexample. 

One was Rosamond's old acquaintance, the Colonel, a friend of herfather; but she had little attention to spare for them till she hadsurveyed her husband, who looked nothing worse than exceedinglydusty, and at fault without his spectacles. 

Inquiries were made for Frank and Charlie. They were walking home. They had worked gallantly. The flames were extinguished, but theengines must go on playing on them for some time longer. No liveslost, and very few casualties, but the paper-mills were entirelydestroyed, and about twenty tenements, so that great distress was tobe apprehended. 

Such intelligence was being communicated as the party stood togetherin a group, when there was a light tinkling of bells, and two ladiesin a light open carriage, drawn by two spirited ponies, dashed roundthe knoll; and at the moment something must have gone wrong withthem, for there was a start, a pull, a call of "Raymond! Raymond!"

Throwing his bridle to Herbert Bowater, he sprang to the horses'heads. 

"Mr. Poynsett! Thank you! I beg your pardon, " said the lady, recovering herself; and Rosamond instantly perceived that she mustbe Lady Tyrrell, for she was young-looking, very handsome, and inslight mourning; and her companion was Miss Vivian. Julius, holdinghis surviving glass to his eye, likewise stepped forward. "Thankyou, it was so stupid, " the lady ran on. "Is not there somethingwrong with the traces? I don't know how they got themselvesharnessed, but there was no keeping at home. "

"I think all is right, " said Raymond, gravely, making theexamination over to a servant. "Let me introduce my wife, LadyTyrrell. "

The lady held out her hand. "I hope we shall be excellentneighbours. --My sister. --You remember little Lena, " she added to thebrothers. "She stole a march on us, I find. I heard of yourencounter on Friday. It was too bad of you not to come in and letus send you home; I hope you did not get very wet, Lady Rosamond. --Ah! Mr. Strangeways, I did not know you were there, " she proceeded, as the youngest of the officers accosted her; "come over and see us. You're better provided now; but come to luncheon any day. I am sureto be at home at half-past one; and I want so much to hear of yourmother and sisters. " And with a universal bow and smile shenourished her whip, her ponies jangled their bells, and the ladiesvanished. 

"Stunning pair that!" was young Strangeways' exclamation. 

"Most beautiful!" murmured Cecil, in a low voice, as if she wasquite dazzled. "You never said she was like that, " she addedreproachfully to Julius. 

"Our encounter was in the dark, " he answered. 

"Oh, I did not mean the young one, but Lady Tyrrell. She is justlike a gem we saw at Firenze--which was it?"

"Where?" said Raymond, bewildered. 

"Firenze--Florence, " she said, deigning to translate; and findingher own reply. "Ah, yes, the Medusa!" then, as more than oneexclaimed in indignant dismay, she said, "No, not the Gorgon, butthe beautiful winged head, with only two serpents on the brow andone coiled round the neck, and the pensive melancholy face. "

"I know, " said Julius, shortly; while the other gentlemen enteredinto an argument, some defending the beauty of the younger sister, some of the elder; and it lasted till they entered the park, whereall were glad to partake of their well-earned meal, most of thegentlemen having been at work since dawn without sustenance, excepta pull at the beer served out to the firemen. 

Cecil was not at all shy, and was pleased to take her place asrepresentative lady of the house; but somehow, though every one wascivil and attentive to her, she found herself effaced by the morefull-blown Rosamond, accustomed to the same world as the guests; andshe could not help feeling the same sense of depression as when shehad to yield the head of her father's table to her step-mother. 

Nor could she have that going to church for the first time in statewith her bridegroom she had professed to dread, but had reallyanticipated with complacency; for though Julius had bidden the bellsto be rung for afternoon service, Raymond was obliged to go back toWil'sbro' to make arrangements for the burnt-out families, and shehad to go as lonely as Anne herself. 

Lady Tyrrell and her sister were both at Compton Church, andovertook the three sisters-in-law as they were waiting to be joinedby the Rector. 

"We shall have to take shelter with you, " said Lady Tyrrell, "poorburnt-out beings that we are. "

"Do you belong to Wil'sbro'?" said Rosamond. 

"Yes; St. Nicholas is an immense straggling parish, going four milesalong the river. I don't know how we shall ever be able to go backagain to poor old Mr. Fuller. You'll never get rid of us fromCompton. "

"I suppose they will set about rebuilding the church at once, " saidCecil. "Of course they will form a committee, and put my husband onit. "

"In the chair, no doubt, " said Lady Tyrrell, in a tone that soundedto Rosamond sarcastic, but which evidently gratified Cecil. "But wewill have a committee of our own, and you will have to preside, andpatronize our bazaar. Of course you know all about them. "

"Oh yes!" said Cecil, eagerly. "We have one every year for theInfirmary, only my father did not approve of my selling at a stall. "

"Ah! quite right then, but you are a married woman now, and that isquite a different thing. The stall of the three brides. What anattraction! I shall come and talk about it when I make my call infull form! Good-bye again. "

Cecil's balance was more than restored by this entire recognition tobe prime lady-patroness of everything. To add to her satisfaction, when her husband came home to dinner, bringing with him both thecurates, she found there was to be a meeting on Tuesday in theAssembly-room, of both sexes, to consider of the relief of the work-people, and that he would be glad to take her to it. Moreover, asit was to be strictly local, Rosamond was not needed there, thoughRaymond was not equally clear as to the Rector, since he believedthat the St. Nicholas parishioners meant to ask the loan of ComptonPoynsett Church for one service on a Sunday. 

"Then I shall keep out of the way, " said Julius. "I do not want tohave the request made to me in public. "

"You do not mean to refuse?" said Cecil, with a sort of self-identification with her constituents. 

"The people are welcome to attend as many of our services as theylike; but there is no hour that I could give the church up to Mr. Fuller on a Sunday. "

"Nor would the use of St. Nicholas be very edifying for our people, "added Mr. Bindon. 

His junior clenched it by saying with a laugh, "I should think not!Fancy old Fuller's rusty black gown up in our pulpit!"

"I rejoice to say that is burnt, " rejoined Mr. Bindon. 

"What bet will you take that a new one will be the first thingsubscribed for?" said the deacon, bringing a certain grave look onthe faces of both the elder clergy, and a horror-stricken one uponAnne's; while Cecil pronounced her inevitable dictum, that atDunstone Mr. Venn always preached in a gown, and "we" should neverlet him think of anything nonsensical. 

Rosamond was provoked into a display of her solitary bit ofecclesiastical knowledge--"A friar's gown, the most Popish vestmentin the church. "

Cecil, thoroughly angered, flushed up to the eyes and bit her lips, unable to find a reply, while all the gentlemen laughed. Frankasked if it were really so, and Mr. Bindon made the well-knownexplanation that the Geneva gown was neither more nor less than themonk's frock. 

"I shall write and ask Mr. Venn, " gasped Cecil; but her husbandstifled the sound by saying, "I saw little Pettitt, Julius, thisafternoon, overwhelmed with gratitude to you for all the care youtook of his old mother, and all his waxen busts. "

"Ah! by the bye!" said Charlie, "I did meet the Rector staggeringout, with the fascinating lady with the long eyelashes in one arm, and the moustached hero in the other. "

"There was no pacifying the old lady without, " said Julius. "I hadjust coaxed her to the door, when she fell to wringing her hands. Ah! those lovely models, that were worth thirty shillings each, withnatural hair--that they should be destroyed! If the heat or thewater did but come near them, Adolphus would never get over it. Icould only pacify her by promising to go back for these idols of hisheart as soon as she was safe; and after all, I had to dash at themthrough the glass, and that was the end of my spectacles. "

"Where was Pettitt himself?"

"Well employed, poor little fellow, saving the people in those threecottages of his. No one supposed his shop in danger, but the firetook a sudden freak and came down Long Street; and though the houseis standing, it had to be emptied and deluged with water to save it. I never knew Pettitt had a mother till I found her mounting guard, like one distracted, over her son's bottles of perfumery. "

"And dyes?" murmured Raymond under his breath; but Frank caught thesound, and said, "Ah, Julius! don't I remember his inveigling youinto coming out with scarlet hair?"

"I don't think I've seen him since, " said Julius, laughing. "Ibelieve he couldn't resist such an opportunity of practising hisart. And for my part, I must say for myself, that it was in ourfirst holidays, and Raymond and Miles had been black and blue thewhole half-year from having fought my battles whenever I was calledeither 'Bunny' or 'Grandfather. ' So when he assured me he couldturn my hair to as sweet a raven-black as Master Poynsett's, Ithought it would be pleasing to all, forgetting that he could notdye my eyes, and that their effect would have been some degrees morecomical. "

"For shame, Julius!" said Rosamond. "Don't you know that oneafternoon, when Nora had cried for forty minutes over her sum, shedeclared that she wanted to make her eyes as beautiful as Mr. Charnock's. Well, what was the effect?"

"Startling, " said Raymond. "He came down in shades of every kind ofcrimson and scarlet. A fearful object, with his pink-and-white faceglowing under it. "

"And what I had to undergo from Susan!" added Julius. "She washedme, and soaped me, and rubbed me, till I felt as if all thethreshing-machines in the county were about my head, lecturing meall the time on the profanity of flying against Scripture by tryingto alter one's hair from what Providence had made it. Nothing woulddo; her soap only turned it into shades of lemon and primrose. Iwas fain to let her shave my head as if I had a brain fever; and Iwas so horribly ashamed for years after, that I don't think I haveset foot in Long Street since till to-day. "

"Pettitt is a queer little fellow, " said Herbert. "The mosttruculent little Radical to hear him talk, and yet staunch in hisvotes, for he can't go against those whose hair he has cut off fromtime immemorial. "

"I hope he has not lost much, " said Julius. 

"His tenements are down, but they were insured; and as to his stock, he says he owes its safety entirely to you, Julius. I think hewould present you with both his models as a testimonial, if youcould only take them, " said Raymond. 

Cecil had neither spoken nor laughed through all this. She wasnursing her wrath; and after marching out of the dining-room, lay inwait to intercept her husband, and when she had claimed hisattention, began, "Rosamond ought not to be allowed to say suchthings. "

"What things?"

"Speaking in that improper way about a gown. "

"She seems to have said what was the fact. "

"It can't be! It is preposterous! I never heard it before. "

"Nor I; but Bindon evidently is up in those matters. "

"It was only to support Rosamond; and I am quite sure she said itout of mere opposition to me. You ought to speak to Julius. "

"About what?" said Raymond. 

"Her laughing whenever I mention Dunstone, and tell them the properway of doing things. "

"There may be different opinions about the proper way of doingthings. " Then as she opened her eyes in wonder and rebuke, hecontinued, in his elder-brotherly tone of kindness, "You know I toldyou already that you had better not interfere in matters concerninghis church and parish. "

"We always managed things at Dunstone. "

Hang Dunstone! was with some difficulty suppressed; but in an extragentle voice Raymond said, "Your father did what he thought hisduty, but I do not think it mine, nor yours, to direct Julius inclerical matters. It can only lead to disputes, and I will not havethem. "

"It is Rosamond. I'm sure I don't dispute. "

"Listen, Cecil!" he said. "I can see that your position may betrying, in these close quarters with a younger brother's wife withmore age and rank than yourself. "

"That is nothing. An Irish earl, and a Charnock of Dunstone!"

"Dunstone will be more respected if you keep it in the background, "he said, holding in stronger words with great difficulty. "Once forall, you have your own place and duties, and Rosamond has hers. Ifyou meddle in them, nothing but annoyance can come of it; andremember, I cannot be appealed to in questions between you and her. Julius and I have gone on these nine-and-twenty years without acloud between us, and I'm sure you would not wish to bring one now. "

Wherewith he left her bewildered. She did not perceive that he wastoo impartial for a lover, but she had a general sense that she hadcome into a rebellious world, where Dunstone and Dunstone's daughterwere of no account, and her most cherished notions disputed. Whatwas the lady of the manor to do but to superintend the church, parsonage, and parish generally? Not her duty? She had never heardof such a thing, nor did she credit it. Papa would come home, makethese degenerate Charnocks hear reason, and set all to rights. 

CHAPTER VIWedding Visits

Young Mrs. Charnock Poynsett had plenty of elasticity, and herrebuffs were less present to her mind in the morning than to that ofher husband, who had been really concerned to have to inflict anexpostulation; and he was doubly kind, almost deferential, givingthe admiration and attention he felt incumbent on him to thetasteful arrangements of her wedding presents in her own sitting-room. 

"And this clock I am going to have in the drawing-room, and theseSalviati glasses. Then, when I have moved out the piano, I shallput the sofa in its place, and my own little table, with my prettyFlorentine ornaments. "

Raymond again looked annoyed. "Have you spoken to my mother?" hesaid. 

"No; she never goes there. "

"Not now, but if ever she can bear any move it will be her firstchange, and I should not like to interfere with her arrangements. "

"She could never have been a musician, to let the piano standagainst the wall. I shall never be able to play. "

"Perhaps that might be contrived, " said Raymond, kindly. "_Here_you know is your own domain, where you can do as you please. "

"Yes; but I am expected to play in the evening. Look at all thosethings. I had kept the choicest for the drawing-room, and it issuch a pity to hide them all up here. "

Raymond felt for the mortification, and was unwilling to cross heragain, so he said, "I will ask whether my mother would object tohaving the piano moved. "

"This morning?"

"After eleven o'clock--I never disturb her sooner; but you shallhear before I go to Backsworth. "

"An hour lost, " thought Cecil; but she was too well bred to grumble, and she had her great work to carry on of copying and illustratingher journal. 

Mrs. Poynsett readily consented. "Oh yes, my dear, let her dowhatever she likes. Don't let me be a bugbear. A girl is never athome till she has had her will of the furniture. I think she willfind that moving out the piano betrays the fading of the rest of thepaper, but that is her affair. She is free to do just as she likes. I dare say the place does look antediluvian to young eyes. "

So Raymond was the bearer of his mother's full permission; and Cecilpresided with great energy over the alterations, which she carriedout by the aid of the younger servants, to the great disgust oftheir seniors. She expected the acclamations of her contemporaries;but it happened that the first of them to cross the room was Julius, on his way to his mother's room after luncheon, and he, having on apair of make-shift glasses, till the right kind could be procuredfrom London, was unprepared for obstacles in familiar regions, stumbled over an ottoman, and upset a table with the breakage of avase. 

He apologized, with much regret; but the younger brothers made anoutcry. "What has come to the place? Here's the table all overeverything!"

"And where are the bronzes?"

"And the humming-birds? Miles's birds, that he brought home afterhis first voyage. "

"And the clock with the two jolly little Cupids? Don't you rememberMiles and Will Bowater dressing them up for men-of-war's men?Mother could not bring herself to have them undressed for a year, and all the time the clock struck nohow!"

"This is an anatomical study instead of a clock, " lamented Frank. "I say, Cecil, do you like your friends to sit in their bones, likeSydney Smith?"

"I never saw such a stupid old set of conservatives!" broke inRosamond, feeling for Cecil's mortification. "In an unprejudicedeye the room looks infinitely better, quite revivified! You oughtto be much obliged to Cecil for letting you see all her beautifulthings. "

"Why don't you favour us with yours?" said Charlie. 

"I know better! Mine aren't fit to wipe the shoes of Cecil's! WhenI get into the Rectory you'll see how hideous they are!" saidRosamond, with the merriest complacency. "Couvre-pieds to set yourteeth on edge, from the non-commissioned officers' wives; and theawfullest banner-screen you ever saw, worked by the drum-major's ownhands, with Her Majesty's arms on one side, and the De Courcy oneson the other, and glass eyes like stuffed birds' to the lion andunicorn. We nearly expired from suppressed laughter under thepresentation. "

Then she went round, extorting from the lads admiration for Cecil'sreally beautiful properties, and winning gratitude for her owncordial praise, though it was not the artistic appreciation theydeserved. Indeed, Cecil yielded to the general vote for therestoration of the humming-birds, allowing that, though she did notlike stuffed birds in a drawing-room, she would not have banishedthem if she had known their history. 

This lasted till Charlie spied a carriage coming up the drive, whichcould be seen a long way off, so that there was the opportunity fora general sauve qui peut. Cecil represented that Rosamond ought tostay and receive her bridal visits; but she was unpersuadable. "Ohno! I leave all that for you! My time will come when I get intothe Rectory. We are going in the dog-cart to the other end of theparish. --What's its name--Squattlesea Marsh, Julius?"

"Squattlesford!" said Charlie. "If Julius means to drive you, lookout for your neck!"

"No, it's the other way, I'm going to drive Julius!--Come along, orwe shall be caught!"

Cecil stood her ground, as did Anne, who was too weary andindifferent to retreat, and Frank, who had taken another view of thecarriage as it came nearer. 

"I must apologize for having brought nothing but my father's card, "said Lady Tyrrell, entering with her sister, and shaking hands:"there's no such thing as dragging him out for a morning call. "

"And Mr. Charnock Poynsett is not at home, " replied Cecil. "Hefound so much county business waiting for him, that he had to go toBacksworth. "

"It is the better opportunity for a little private caucus with you, "returned Lady Tyrrell, "before the meeting to-morrow. I ratherfancy the gentlemen have one of their own. "

"Some are to dine here to-night, " said Cecil. 

"We ladies had better be prepared with our proposals, " said LadyTyrrell. 

At the same time Frank drew near Miss Vivian with a large book, saying, "These are the photographs you wished to see. "

He placed the book on the ottoman, and would thus have secured asort of tete-a-tete; but Eleonora did not choose to leave Mrs MilesCharnock out, and handed her each photograph in turn, but could onlyelicit a cold languid "Thank you. " To Anne's untrained eye thesetriumphs of architecture were only so many dull representations of'Roman Catholic churches, ' and she would much rather have listenedto the charitable plans of the other two ladies, for the houselessfactory women of Wil'sbro'. 

The bazaar, Lady Tyrrell said, must be first started by the Member'swife; and there should be an innermost committee, of not more thanthree, to dispose of stalls and make arrangements. 

"You must be one, " said Cecil. "I know no one yet. "

"You will, long before it comes off. In fact, I am as great astranger as yourself. Ah! there's an opportunity!" as the bellpealed. "The Bowaters, very likely; I saw their Noah's ark as Ipassed the Poynsett Arms, with the horses taken out. I wonder howmany are coming--worthy folks!"

Which evidently meant insufferable bores. 

"Is there not a daughter?" asked Cecil. 

"You need not use the singular, though, by the bye, most of them aremarried. "

"Oh, pray stay!" entreated Cecil, as there were signs of leave-taking. 

"I should do you no good. You'll soon learn that I am a sort ofLoki among the Asagotter. "

Cecil laughed, but had time to resume her somewhat prim dignitybefore the lengthened disembarkation was over, and after all, produced only four persons; but then none were small--Mrs. Bowaterwas a harsh matron, Mr. Bowater a big comely squire, the daughtersboth tall, one with an honest open face much like Herbert's, onlywith rather less youth and more intelligence, the other a brightdark glowing gipsy-faced young girl. 

Eleonora Vivian, hitherto gravely stiff and reserved, to poorFrank's evident chagrin, at once flashed into animation, and met theelder Miss Bowater with outstretched hands, receiving a warm kiss. At the same time Mr. Bowater despatched Frank to see whether hismother could admit a visitor; and Lady Tyrrell observed, "Ah! I wasabout to make the same petition; but I will cede to older friends, for so I suppose I must call you, Mr. Bowater--though myacquaintance is of long standing enough!"

And she put on a most charming smile, which Mr. Bowater receivedwith something inarticulate that might be regarded as a polite formof 'fudge, ' which made Cecil think him a horribly rude old man, andevidently discomposed his wife very much. 

Frank brought back his mother's welcome to the Squire; but by thistime Eleonora and Miss Bowater had drawn together into a window, inso close and earnest a conversation that he could not break into it, and with almost visible reluctance began to talk to the youngersister, who on her side was desirous of joining in the bazaardiscussion, which had been started again in full force; until therewas a fresh influx of visitors, when Lady Tyrrell decidedly tookleave with her sister, and Frank escorted them to their carriage, and returned no more. 

In the new shuffling of partners, the elder Miss Bowater foundherself close to Anne, and at once inquired warmly for Miles, withknowledge and interest in naval affairs derived from a sailorbrother, Miles's chief friend and messmate in his training andearlier voyages. There was something in Joanna Bowater's mannerthat always unlocked hearts, and Anne was soon speaking without herfence of repellant stiffness and reserve. Certainly Miles was lovedby his mother and brothers more than he could be by an oldplayfellow and sisterly friend, and yet there was something inJoanna's tone that gave Anne a sense of fellow-feeling, as if shehad met a countrywoman in this land of strangers; and she even toldhow Miles had thought it right to send her home, thinking that shemight be a comfort to his mother. "And not knowing all that wasgoing to happen!" said poor Anne, with an irrepressible sigh, bothfor her own blighted hopes, and for the whirl into which her soreheart had fallen. 

"I think you will be, " said Joanna, brightly; "though it must bestrange coming on so many. Dear Mrs. Poynsett is so kind!"

"Yes, " said Anne, coldly. 

"Ah! you don't know her yet. And Lady Rosamond! She isdelightful!"

"Have you seen her!"

"We met them just now in the village, but my brother is enchanted. And do you know what was Julius's first introduction to her? It wasat a great school-feast, where they had the regimental children aswell as the town ones. A poor little boy went off in an epilepticfit, and Julius found her holding him, with her own hand in hismouth to hinder the locking of the teeth. He said her fingers werebitten almost to the bone, but she made quite light of it. "

"That was nice!" said Anne; but then, with a startled glance, and inan undertone, she added, "Are they Christians?"

Joanna Bowater paused for a moment between dismay and desire forconsideration, and in that moment her father called to her, "Jenny, do you remember the dimensions of those cottages in Queckett'sLane?" and she had to come and serve for his memory, while he wasindoctrinating a younger squire with the duties of a landlord. 

Meanwhile Mrs. Bowater was, for the tenth time, consulting her oldfriend upon Mrs. Hornblower's capabilities of taking care ofHerbert, and betraying a little disappointment that his first sermonhad not yet been heard; and when his voice was complimented, shehoped Julius would spare it--too much exertion could not be good forso young a man, and though dear Herbert looked so strong, no onewould believe how much sleep he required. Then she observed, "Wefound Camilla Vivian--Lady Tyrrell I mean--calling. Have you seenher?"

"No. "

"Well, she really seems improved!"

"Mr. Bowater has been telling me she is handsomer than ever!"

"Oh yes! That's all gentlemen think of; but I meant in other ways. She seems full of the rebuilding of St. Nicholas, and to be makinggreat friends with your new daughter. You don't think, " loweringher voice, "that Raymond would have any objection to meeting her?"

"Certainly not!"

"I did not suppose he would, but I thought I would just ask you. Itwould be rather marked not to invite him for the 3rd, you know; andJenny was always so fond of poor Emily, kept up a correspondencewith her to the last. It was the first time she had met the littleone since they came back. Not that she is little now, she is verytall and quite handsome _even_ by the side of Edith. We just sawLady Rosamond--a sweet face--and Herbert perfectly raves about her!"

"She is a most unselfish warm-hearted creature!" said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"I am so glad! And Miles's wife, I hope she will come. Poor thing, she looks very poorly. "

"Yes, I am very anxious about her. If she is not better in a day ortwo, I shall insist on her having advice. "

"Poor dear, I don't wonder! But she had better come to Strawyers;Jenny will cheer her if any one can, and we shall have a nice livelyparty, I hope! She will only mope the more if she never goes out. "

"I am afraid she is hardly equal to it; besides, poor child, " addedMrs. Poynsett, "she seems to have been strictly brought up, and tothink our ways rather shocking; and Miles wrote to me not to pressher to go into society till he comes home. "

"Ah! well, I call that a mistake!" puffed out good-humoured Mrs. Bowater. "Very bad for the poor girl's spirits. By the bye, I hopeJulius does not object to Herbert's dancing--not at a public ball, you know, but at home--for if he did, I would try to arrangesomething else, it would be so hard for the poor boy to have to lookon. "

"I don't know, I don't think he could, " said the mother, considering. 

"You see, we thought of a dinner-party for as many as possible. Frank and Charlie won't mind dining in the schoolroom, I know, andhaving the rest for a dance in the evening; but if Julius did thinkit unclerical--Jenny says he won't, and papa laughs, and says, 'Poh!poh! Julius is no fool;' but people are so much more particularthan they used to be, and I would not get the dear boy into a scrapefor the world. "

Mrs. Poynsett undertook to ascertain his opinions on this knottypoint, and to let her know if they were adverse; and then she beggedfor a visit from Jenny, whose brother had no accommodation for herin his lodgings. She could not be spared till after theentertainment on the 3rd, nor till a visit from her married sisterwas over; but afterwards, her mother was delighted that she shouldcome and look after Herbert, who seemed as much on the maternal mindas if he had not batted his way through Eton, and boated it throughOxford. 

Mrs. Poynsett obtained her word with Julius in good time thatevening. He laughed a little. "Poor Herbs! when will peopleunderstand that it is the spirit of the thing, the pursuit, not theindividual chance participation in any particular amusement, that isunclerical, as they are pleased to call it?"

"What do you think of Herbert?"

"A boy, and a very nice boy; but if he doesn't get his healthfulplay somehow, he will burst out like a closed boiler some day. "

"A muscular Christian on your hands?"

"Not theoretically, for he has been well taught; but it's a greatanimal that needs to work off its steam, and if I had known it, Iwould not have undertaken the problem of letting him do that, without setting up bad habits, or scandalizing the parish andBindon--who is young the other way, and has no toleration. We hadthis morning's service in a state of siege from all the dogs. Herbert thought he had shut them safely up, but they were all at hisheels in the churchyard; and though he rated them home, and shut allthe doors, we heard them whining and scratching at each in turn. "

"I thought I should have died of it, " said Rosamond, entering. "Hisface grew red enough to set his surplice on fire, and Mr. Bindonglared at him, and he missed his verse in the Psalm; for there wasthe bull terrier, crouching and looking abject at the vestry-door, just restrained by his eye from coming further. "

"What shall you do about it, Julius?" asked his mother, much amused. 

"Oh, that will remedy itself. All dogs learn to understand thebell. "

And then the others began to drop in, and were told of theinvitation that was coming. 

"I say, Rosamond, " cried Charlie, "can brothers and sisters-in-lawdance together?"

"That depends on how the brothers-in-law dance, " returned Rosamond. "Some one, for pity's sake, play a waltz!--Come along Charlie! thehall is a sweet place for it!--Whistle, Julius!--Frank, whistle!"

And away she whirled. Frank, holding out his hands, was to hissurprise accepted by Cecil, and disappeared with her into the hall. Julius stood by the mantelpiece, with the first shadow on his browhis mother had seen since his arrival. Presently he spoke in adefensive apologetic tone: "She has always been used to this styleof thing. "

"Most naturally, " said the mother. 

"Not that they ever did more than their position required, and LadyRathforlane is a truly careful mother. Of course some things mightstartle you stay-at-home people; but in all essentials--"

"I see what you mean. "

"And what seems like rattle is habit. "

"Simple gaiete de coeur!"

"So it is better to acquiesce till it subsides of itself. You seeit is hard, after such a life of change and variety, to settle downinto a country parsonage. "

"What are you saying there?" said Rosamond, tripping in out ofbreath. 

"That I don't know how you are to put up with a pink-eyed parson, and a hum-drum life, " said Julius, holding out a caressing hand. 

"Now that's hard, " pleaded she; "only because I took a frolic withBaby Charles! I say, Julius, shall we give it up altogether andstay at home like good children? I believe that is what would suitthe told Rabbit much better than his kid gloves, "--and her sweetface looked up at him with a meek candid gaze. 

"No, " he said, "that would not do. The Bowaters are our oldestfriends. But, Rosie, as you _are_ a clergyman's wife, could you notgive up round dances?"

"Oh no, no! That's too bad. I'd rather never go to a dance at all, than sit still, or be elbowed about in the square dances. You nevertold me you expected that!"--and her tones were of a child petulantat injustice. 

"Suppose, " he said, as a delightful solution, "you only gratifiedFrank and Charlie by waltzing with them. "

She burst into a ringing laugh. "My brothers-in-law! How veryridiculous! Suppose you included the curates?"

"You know what I mean, " he said gravely. 

"Oh, bother the parson's wife! Haven't I seen them figuring away byscores? Did we ever have a regimental ball that they were not thekeenest after?"

"So they get themselves talked of!" said Julius, as Anne's quietentrance broke up the dialogue. 

Mrs. Poynsett had listened, glad there was no appeal to her, conscious that she did not understand the merits of the case, andwhile she doubted whether her eldest son had love enough, somewhatafraid lest his brother had not rather too much for the good of hislawful supremacy. 

CHAPTER VIIUnfruitful Suggestions

"Raymond! Can you spare me a moment before you go into yourmother's room?"

It was Rosamond who, to his surprise, as he was about to go down-stairs, met him and drew him into her apartment--his mother's owndressing-room, which he had not entered since the accident. 

"Is anything the matter?" he said, thinking that Julius might havespared him from complaints of Cecil. 

"Oh no! only one never can speak to you, and Julius told me that youcould tell me about Mrs. Poynsett. I can't help thinking she couldbe moved more than she is. " Then, as he was beginning to speak, "Doyou know that, the morning of the fire, I carried her with only oneof the maids to the couch under the tent-room window? Susan wasfrightened out of her wits, but she was not a bit the worse for it. "

"Ah! that was excitement. "

"But if it did not hurt her then, why should it hurt her again?There's old General M'Kinnon, my father's old friend, who runs abouteverywhere in a wheeled-chair with a leg-rest; and I can't think whyshe should not do the same. "

Raymond smiled kindly on her, but rather sadly; perhaps he wasrecollecting his morning's talk about the occupancy of the drawing-room. "You know it is her spine, " he said. 

"So it is with him. His horse rolled over him at Sebastopol, and hehas never walked since. I wanted to write to Mary M'Kinnon; butJulius said I had better talk to you, because he was only at homefor a fortnight, when she was at the worst, and you knew more aboutit. "

"Yes, " said Raymond, understanding more than the Irish tongue fullyexpressed. "I never saw a woman sit better than she did, and shelooked as young and light in the saddle as you could, till that day, when, after the rains, the bank where the bridle-path to SquattlesEnd was built up, gave way with the horse's feet, and down she wenttwenty feet, and was under the horse when Miles and I got down toher! We brought her on a mattress to that room, not knowing whethershe were alive; and she has never moved out of it! It was agony toher to be touched. "

"Yes but it can't be that now. Was not that three years ago?"

"Not so much. Two and a half. We had Hayter down to see her, andhe said perfect rest was the only chance for her. "

"And has not he seen her lately?"

"He died last winter; and old Worth, who comes in once a week tolook at her, is not fit for more than a little watching andattention. I dare say we all have learnt to acquiesce too much inher present state, and that more might be done. You see she hasnever had a lady's care, except now and then Jenny Bowater's. "

"I do feel sure she could bear more now, " said Rosamond, eagerly. "It would be such a thing if she could only be moved about thatdown-stairs floor. "

"And be with us at meals and in the evening, " said Raymond, his facelightening up. "Thank you, Rosamond!"

"I'll write to Mary M'Kinnon to-morrow, to ask about the chair, "cried Rosamond; and Raymond, hearing the door-bell, hurried down, tofind his wife standing alone over the drawing-room fire, not verycomplacent. 

"Where have you been, Raymond?"

"I was talking to Rosamond. She has seen a chair on which it mightbe possible to move my mother about on this floor. "

"I thought--" Cecil flushed. She was on the point of saying shethought Rosamond was not to interfere in her department any morethan she in Rosamond's; but she kept it back, and changed it into"Surely the doctor and nurses must know best. "

"A fresh eye often makes a difference, " said Raymond. "To have heramong us again--!" but he was cut short by the announcement of Mr. And Miss Fuller. 

"Poor Mr. Fuller, " as every one called him, was the incumbent of St. Nicholas, Willansborough, a college living always passed by theknowing old bachelor fellows, and as regularly proving a delusion tothe first junior in haste for a wife. Twenty-five years ago Mr. Fuller had married upon this, which, as Mr. Bindon said, was rathera reason for not marrying--a town with few gentry, and a pettyunthriving manufacture, needing an enormous amount of energy to workit properly, and getting--Mr. Fuller, with force yearly decreasingunder the pressure of a sickly wife, ill-educated, unsatisfactorysons, and unhealthy, aimless daughters. Of late some assistance hadbeen obtained, but only from Mr. Driver, the 'coach' or crammingtutor, who was directing the studies of Frank and half a dozen moreyouths, and his aid was strictly limited to a share in the Sundayservices. 

The eldest daughter accompanied the Vicar. Her mother had nothealth (or perhaps clothes) for a dinner-party, and it was the firsttime she had ever been in the house. Very shy and in much awe shewas! Cecil viewed her as a constituent, and was elaborately civiland patronizing, doing the honours of all the photographs andillustrations on which she could lay hands, and only elicitingalternately 'Very nice, ' and 'How sweet!' A little more was made ofthe alarms of the fire, and the preparations for clearing the house, and there was a further thaw about the bazaar. It would be such arelief from plain work, and she could get some lovely patterns fromher cousin who had a missionary basket; but as to the burnt-outfamilies, the little knowledge or interest she seemed to have aboutthem was rather astounding, unless, as Rosamond suspected, shethought it 'shop, ' and uninteresting to the great ladies of Compton-Poynsett Hall. 

Meanwhile, her father made the apprehended request for the loan ofCompton Church during the intervals of services, and when the Rectorexplained how brief those intervals would be, looked astonished, anddryly complimented him on his energy and his staff, somewhat as ifthe new broom were at the bottom of these congratulations. 

The schools were to be used for services until a temporary ironchurch could be obtained, for which Julius, to make up for hischurlishness in withholding his own church, made the handsomerdonation, and held out hopes of buying it afterwards for the use ofSquattles End. Then, having Mr. Fuller's ear to himself, heventured to say, though cautiously, as to one who had been aclergyman before he was born, "I wish it were possible to dispensewith this bazaar. "

Mr. Fuller shrugged his shoulders. "If every one subscribed in thestyle of this family. "

"They would be more likely to do so, without the appeal to secondarymotives. "

"Try them, " said the elder man. 

"Exactly what I want to do. I would put up the four walls, beginwith what you get from the insurance, a weekly offertory, and addimprovements as means came in. This is not visionary. I have seenproof of its success. "

"It may serve in new-fashioned city missions, but in an old-established place like this it would create nothing but offence. When you have been in Orders as long as I have, you will find thatthere is nothing for it but to let people do what they will, notwhat one thinks best. "

"Mr. Fuller, " said Julius, eagerly, "will you try an experiment?Drop this bazaar, and I promise you our collection every Sundayevening for the year, giving notice of it to my people, and to suchof yours as may be present. "

"I do not despise your offer, " said Mr. Fuller, laying his hand uponhis arm. "You mean it kindly, and if I were in your place, or hadonly my own feelings to consider, I might attempt it. But it wouldbe only mischievous to interfere with the bazaar. Lady Tyrrell--allthe ladies, in fact--have set their minds on it, and if I objectedthere would instantly be a party cry against me, and that is the onething I have always avoided. "

His tone of superior wisdom, meek and depressed as he always was, tried the Rector's patience enough to make his forehead burn andbring out his white eyebrows in strong relief. "How about ablessing on the work?" he asked, suppressing so much that he hardlyknew this was spoken aloud. 

Again Mr. Fuller smiled. He had been a bit of a humorist when hewas an Oxford don. "Speak of that to Briggs, " he said, "and hewould answer, 'Cash for me, and the blessing may take care ofitself. ' As to the ladies--why, they deafen you about blessings ontheir humble efforts, and the widow's mite. "

"Simply meaning that they want their amusement a little--"

"Buttered over, " said Mr. Fuller, supplying the word. "Though youare hard on them, Charnock--I don't know about the fine ladies; butthere are quiet folk who will work their fingers to the bone, andcan do nothing else. "

"That's true, " said Julius; "and one would gladly find a safe outletfor their diligence. "

"You do not trust to it for bringing the blessing, " said Mr. Fullerin a tone that Julius liked even less than the mere hopeless faint-heartedness, for in it there was sarcasm on faith in aught butpounds s. D. 

The two brothers held another discussion on this matter later thatnight, on the stairs, as they were on their way to their rooms. 

"Won't you come to this meeting to-morrow, Julius?" asked Raymond. 

"I don't see that I should be of any use, unless--"

"Unless what?"

"Unless you would make what seems to me the right proposal, and Icould be any support in it. "

"What's that?"

"To use the insurance to put up the mere shells and plainindispensable fittings of the church and town-hall, then make thedrainage of Water Lane and Hall Street the first object for therates, while the church is done by subscription and voluntaryeffort. "

"You put the drainage first--even before the church?" said Raymond, smiling, with an elder brother's satisfaction in such an amount ofcommon sense. 

"Of course I do, " said Julius. "An altar and four walls and chairsare all that ought to be sought for. Little good can be done topeople's souls while their bodies are in the feverish discomfort offoul air and water. This is an opportunity not to be wasted, whileall the houses are down, town-hall and all. "

"The very thing I told Briggs and the others this morning, " saidRaymond; "but I could not get a hearing; they said there never hadbeen any illness worth mentioning, and in fact scouted the wholematter, as people always do. "

"Yes, they take it as a personal insult when you mention theodorous--or odious, savours sweet, " said Julius. "I heard a gooddeal of that when we had the spell of cholera at St. Awdry's. "

"I shall work on at it, and I trust to get it done in time, " saidRaymond; "but it will not be at once. The subject is too new tothem, and the irritation it produces must subside before they willhear reason. Besides, the first thing is to employ and feed thesepaper-makers. "

"Of course. "

"That will pretty well absorb this first meeting. The ladies willmanage that, I think; and when this is provided for, I will try whatI can do at the committee; but there is no good in bringing itforward at this great public affair, when every ass can put in hisword. Everything depends on whom they choose for the new mayor. IfWhitlock comes in, there is some chance of sense and reason beingheard. Good night. "

As Raymond said, the more immediate object of the meeting fixed forthe ensuing day, was to provide for the employment of the numerouswomen thrown out of employment by the destruction of the paper-mills. A subscription was in hand, but not adequate to the need;and moreover, it was far more expedient to let them maintainthemselves. 

How this was to be done was the question. Cecil told her husbandthat at Dunstone they made the women knit stockings; and he repliedby recommending the suppression of Dunstone. How strange it wasthat what she had been used to consider as the source of honourshould be here held in what seemed to her disesteem!

Lady Tyrrell's ponies were tinkling up to the door of the hotelwhere the meeting was to be held, and her gracious smile recalledCecil's good-humour; Raymond saw them to their seats, and then hadto go and take the chair himself on the platform--first, however, introducing his wife to such of the ladies present as herecollected. 

She thought he wanted her to sit between melancholy white faced Mrs. Fuller and a bony spinster in a poke-bonnet whom he called MissSlater; but Cecil, concluding that this last could have no vote, andthat the Vicarage was secure, felt free to indulge herself bygetting back to Lady Tyrrell, who had scarcely welcomed her beforeexclaiming, "Mrs. Duncombe, I did not know you were returned. "

"I came back on the first news of your flare-up, " said the newcomer. "I only came down this morning. I would not have missed thismeeting for anything. It is a true woman's question. A fairmuster, I see, " looking round with her eye-glass, and bowing toseveral on the platform, especially to Raymond, who returned the bowrather stiffly. 

"Ah! let me introduce you, " said Lady Tyrrell. "Mrs. RaymondCharnock Poynsett. "

"I am very glad to see you embarked in the cause, " said the lady, frankly holding out her hand. "May we often meet in the samemanner, though I honestly tell you I'm not of your party; I shouldgo dead against your husband if we only had a chance. "

"Come, you need not be so aggressive, " laughed Lady Tyrrell; "youhaven't a vote yet. You are frightening Mrs. Poynsett. " It wastrue. Even Cecil Charnock was born too late to be one of the youngladies who, in the first decades of the reformed Parliament, used tolook on a Liberal as a lusus naturae, whom they hardly believed tobe a gentleman. But a lady who would openly accost the Member'sbride with a protest against his politics, was a being beyond herexperience, and the contemplation fairly distracted her from herhusband's oratory. 

She would have taken Miss Slater for the strong-minded female farrather than this small slim person, with the complexion going withthe yellower species of red hair and chignon, not unlike a gold-pheasant's, while the thin aquiline nose made Cecil think of QueenElizabeth. The dress was a tight-fitting black silk, with agorgeous many-coloured gold-embroidered oriental mantle thrownloosely over it, and a Tyrolean hat, about as large as thepheasant's comb, tipped over her forehead, with cords and tassels ofgold; and she made little restless movements and whispered remarksduring the speeches. 

There was to be a rate to renew the town-hall. The rebuilding ofthe paper-mills and dwelling-houses was fairly covered by theinsurance; but the Vicar, in his diffident apologetic voice, statedthat the church had been insufficiently insured, and moreover, thatmany more sittings were needed than the former building hadcontained. He then read the list of subscriptions already promised, expressed hopes of more coming in, invited ladies to take collectingcards, and added that he was happy to announce that the ladies ofthe congregation had come forward with all the beneficence of theirsex, and raised a sum to supply a new set of robes. 

Here the chairman glanced at his wife, but she was absorbed inwatching Mrs. Duncombe's restless hands; and the look wasintercepted by Lady Tyrrell's eyes, which flashed back sympatheticamusement, with just such a glance as used to pass between them inold times; but the effect was to make the Member's face grave andimpassive, and his eyes fix on the papers before him. 

The next moment Cecil was ardently gazing at Mr. Fuller as heproceeded to his hopes of the bazaar to be held under the mostdistinguished patronage, and of which he spoke as if it were thesubject of anticipations as sanguine as any the poor man could everappear to indulge in. And there was, in fact, the greatest stampingand cheering there had yet been, perhaps in compliment to the M. P. 'syoung bride--at least, so Lady Tyrrell whispered, adding thateverybody was trying to see her. 

Then Mr. Charnock Poynsett himself took up the exposition of thethird branch of the subject, the support of the poor families thrownout of work at the beginning of winter. There could be noemployment at the paper-mills till they were repaired; and after theheavy losses, they could not attempt to keep their people togetherby any payment. It had been suggested that the readiest way ofmeeting the difficulty, would be to employ the subscriptions alreadypromised in laying in a stock of material to be made up intogarments, and then dispose of them out to the women at their homes;and appointing a day once a week when the work should be received, the pay given, and fresh material supplied, by a party of volunteerladies. 

This was, in fact, what he had been instructed to propose by thekindly souls who ordinarily formed the St. Nicholas bureau decharite, who had instructed him to be their mouthpiece. There wasdue applause as the mayor seconded his resolution; but in the midsta clear, rather high-pitched voice rose up close to Cecil, saying, "Mr. Chairman, allow me to ask what sale is anticipated for thesegarments?"

"I am told that there is a demand for them among the poorthemselves, " said Raymond, judiciously concealing how much he wastaken aback by this female interference. 

"Allow me to differ. A permanent work society numbering a few womenotherwise unemployed may find a sufficient sale in the neighbourhoodunder the patronage of charitable ladies; but when you throw inninety-five or one hundred pair of hands depending on their work fortheir livelihood, the supply must necessarily soon go beyond anydemand, even fictitious. It will not do to think of these womenlike fancy knitters or embroiderers whose work is skilled. Most ofthem can hardly mend their own clothes, and the utmost that can beexpected of them is the roughest slop work. "

"Do you wish any expedient to be proposed?" asked the chairman, in asort of aside. 

"Yes, I have one. I spent yesterday in collecting information. "

"Will Captain Duncombe move it?" suggested Raymond. 

"Oh no! he is not here. No, it is no use to instruct anybody; Iwill do it myself, if you please. "

And before the astonished eyes of the meeting, the gold-pheasanthopped upon the platform, and with as much ease as if she had beenQueen Bess dragooning her parliament, she gave what even theastounded gentlemen felt to be a sensible practical exposition ofways and means. 

She had obtained the address of a warehouse ready to give such roughwork as the women could be expected to do; but as they wereunaccustomed to work at home, and were at present much crowded fromthe loss of so many houses, and could besides be little depended onfor working well enough without superintendence, her plan was tohire a room, collect the women, and divide the superintendencebetween the ladies; who should give out the work, see that it wasproperly done, keep order, and the like. She finished off in fullorder, by moving a resolution to this effect. 

There was a pause, and a little consultation among the gentlemen, ending by Raymond's absolutely telling Mr. Fuller that it was a verysensible practical arrangement, and that it _must_ be seconded;which the Vicar accordingly did, and it was carried withoutopposition, as in truth nothing so good had been thought of; and thenext thing was to name a committee of ladies, a treasurer andauditor of accounts. There would be no work on Saturdays, so if theladies would each undertake half a day once a fortnight, thesuperintendence need not be a burthen. 

Mrs. Duncombe and Miss Slater undertook the first start andpreliminary arrangements, then each would take her half day inrotation. Lady Tyrrell and her sister undertook two, Cecil twomore, and others were found to fill up the vacant space. Thechairman moved a vote of thanks to the lady for her suggestion, which she acknowledged by a gracious bow, not without triumph; andthe meeting broke up. 

Some one asked after Captain Duncombe as she descended into privatelife. "There's a wonderful filly that absorbs all his attention. All Wil'sbro' might burn as long as Dark Hag thrives! When do Iexpect him? I don't know; it depends on Dark Hag, " she said in atone of superior good-natured irony, then gathered up the radiantmantle and tripped off along the central street of the little old-fashioned country town, with gravelled not paved side-walks. 

"Isn't she very superior?" said Cecil, when her husband had put heron horseback. 

"I suppose she is very clever. "

"And she spoke capitally. "

"If she were to speak. What would your father think of her?"

But for the first time Cecil's allegiance had experienced a certainshock. Some sort of pedestal had hitherto been needful to herexistence; she was learning that Dunstone was an unrecognizedelevation in this new country, and she had seen a woman attain to apinnacle that almost dazzled her, by sheer resource and good sense. 

All the discussion she afterwards heard did not tend to shake heropinion; Raymond recounted the adventure at his mother's kettle-drum, telling of his own astonishment at the little lady'sassurance. 

"I do not see why she should be censured, " said Cecil. "You wereall at a loss without her. "

"She should have got her husband to speak for her, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"He was not there. "

"Then she should have instructed some other gentleman, " said Mrs. Poynsett. "A woman spoils all the effect of her doings by puttingherself out of her proper place. "

"Perfectly disgusting!" said Julius. 

Cecil had decidedly not been disgusted, except by the present stronglanguage; and not being ready at repartee, she was pleased whenRosamond exclaimed, "Ah! that's just what men like, to getinstructed in private by us poor women, and then gain all the creditfor originality. "

"It is the right way, " said the mother. "The woman has much powerof working usefully and gaining information, but the one thing thatis not required of her is to come forward in public. "

"Very convenient for the man!" laughed Rosamond. 

"And scarcely fair, " said Cecil. 

"Quite fair, " said Rosamond, turning round, so that Cecil only nowperceived that she had been speaking in jest. "Any woman who isworth a sixpence had rather help her husband to shine than shineherself. "

"Besides, " said Mrs. Poynsett, "the delicate edges of true womanhoodought not to be frayed off by exposure in public. "

"Yes, " said Raymond. "The gain of an inferior power of man inpublic would be far from compensated by the loss in private of thatwhich man can never supply. "

"Granted, " said Rosamond slyly though sleepily, "that it always isan inferior power of man, which it does not seem to have been in theactual case. "

"It was a point on which she had special knowledge and information, "said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"And you were forced to thank her, " said Cecil. 

"Yes, in common civility, " said Raymond; "but it was as much as Icould do to get it done, the position was a false one altogether. "

"In fact, you were all jealous, " said Rosamond. 

At which everybody laughed, which was her sole intention; but Cecil, who had said so much less, really thought what Rosamond said in mereplay. Those extorted thanks seemed to her a victory of her sex in afield she had never thought of; and though she had no desire toemulate the lady, and felt that a daughter of Dunstone must remembernoblesse oblige, the focus of her enthusiasm was in an odd state ofshifting. 

CHAPTER VIIIUnsatisfactory

On the evening of the party at Strawyers, Mrs. Poynsett lay on hersofa, thinking, with a trying recurrence, of that unfortunate andexcellent German Dauphine, who was pronounced by the Duchess ofOrleans to have died of her own stupidity. 

After a fortnight had brought no improvement, but rather thereverse, to poor Anne's wan looks and feeble languid deportment, Mrs. Poynsett had insisted on her seeing the doctor; and had beenassured by him that there was nothing amiss, and that if Mrs MilesCharnock could only be roused and occupied she would be perfectlywell, but that her pining and depression might so lower her tone asto have a serious effect on her health. 

There was no hope of her husband's return for at least a year, likely eighteen months. What was to be done with her? What couldbe a more unpropitious fate than for a Colonial girl, used to anactive life of exertion and usefulness, and trained to all domesticarts, to be set down in a great English household where there wasreally nothing for her to do, and usefulness or superintendencewould have been interfering; besides, as Miles had thoughts ofsettling at the Cape, English experience would serve her little. 

She had not cultivation enough for any pursuit to interest her. Shewas not musical, could not draw; and when Mrs. Poynsett had, by wayof experiment, asked her to read aloud an hour a day, and selectedthe Lives of the Lindsays, as an unexceptionable and improving book, full of Scottish history, and even with African interest, shedutifully did her task as an attention to her invalid mother-in-law, but in a droning husky tone, finding it apparently as severe apenance as it was to her auditor. 

The doctor's chief prescription was horse exercise; but what would aconstitutional canter be to one accustomed to free rides through theBush? And she would generally be alone; for even if Charlie, hernearest approach to an ally, had not been going away from home in afew weeks, it could not be expected that he could often ride withher. 

It was plain that every one of the whole family was giving continualshocks to Mr. Pilgrim's disciple, even when they felt most innocent;and though the mother was sometimes disposed to be angry, sometimesto laugh at the little shudder and compression of the lips she beganto know, she perceived what an addition this must be to theunhappiness of the poor lonely stranger. 

"She must be set to some good work, " thought Mrs. Poynsett; "Juliusmight let her go to his old women. She might get on with thembetter than with the old women here. And there's Cecil's workingaffair, it would be just the thing to give her an object. I think Ican get through this evening. I've made Susan bring my desk, withall Miles's letters from his first voyage. Shall I suppress theball?"

Therewith Cecil made her entrance, in glossy white satin and deeplace, beautiful to behold, set off with rainbow glistening opals. She made a quiet complacent show of herself, as one not vain of fineclothes, but used to an affectionate family appreciation of her bestattire; and it was the most friendly childlike bit of intimacy thathad yet been attained between her and Mrs. Poynsett. 

And when she sat down to wait for the others, Mrs. Poynsett venturedon telling her the prescription and her own perplexity, hoping for avoluntary offer to employ Anne at Willansborough; but Cecil onlypitied her for having 'no resources'; and when Mrs. Poynsettventured to suggest finding a niche for her in the work-room, theanswer was--"Our days are all disposed of. "

"You have two, I think?"

"True; but it would never do for me to give up one of my times. IfI seemed to slacken, every one else would. "

"What will you do when the Session begins?"

"I shall make some arrangement. I do not think Anne could ever takemy place; she would have no authority. "

Anne herself here entered, took her knitting, and sat down, apparently unaware of the little pluming gesture by which Cecilunconsciously demanded attention to her bridal satin. One white-gloved gentleman after another dropped in, but none presumed on aremark; Jenkins announced the carriages; but Rosamond had notappeared, and after an excursion up-stairs, Julius returned, declaring that the first carriage must not wait for her, they wouldcome afterwards in the van, for there was something amiss in thedress, she had not had it on since the wedding. 

"And she came in so late, " said Cecil. 

"That was my fault, " he said. "We came through the village to leavea message at the doctor's;" and he then insisted that the other pairshould set off, taking Frank and Charlie, and prevent dinner frombeing kept waiting; at which the boys made faces, and declared thatit was a dodge of his to join Jenny's party in the schoolroom, instead of the solemn dinner; but they were obliged to submit; andit was not till twenty minutes later, that in glided somethingwhite, with blue cashmere and swan's-down over it, moving, as usual, with languid grace. 

"Poor Julius!" smiled Rosamond with her dawdling dignity. "Everysingle thing turned out a misfit! As it is, there's a monstroushole in my glove, which demands the benevolent fiction of my havingtorn it by the way. There, one second for the effect!--Good-bye, dear Mrs. Poynsett;--good-bye, Anne. Come, you monument of patienceand resignation!"

For one moment she had slipped back her little mantle, then drawn iton, as, taking her husband's arm, she left the room; but that momenthad set Anne's cheeks aflame, and left Mrs. Poynsett in a startledstate of uncertainty, hoping her glance had been mistaken, wonderingwhat could have been _more_ amiss, and feeling incapable of enteringon the subject with that severe young judge, of narrow experience. 

Never had her eldest son failed to come and bid her good night onhis way to his own room: it was the great break in her longsleepless hours, and she used to call it a reversal of the relationsof those days when he used to watch for her kiss on her way to bed. Nor did he fail her now, but came and stood over her with hisfragmentary tidings. 

"An immense party--oh yes, there was he persuading them not to wait. Mr. Bowater took Rosamond in to dinner, Cecil went with Sir HarryVivian. Yes, Lady Tyrrell was there, wonderfully handsome, but herexpression strikes me as altered; there is the sort of pathetic lookthat, as Cecil said, is like the melancholy Medusa--I wonder if itis genuine. She seems greatly disposed to cultivate Cecil--I wonderwhat she does it for. "

"Is Cecil attracted? I fancied she was. "

"Yes, a good deal; and I fear the Wil'sbro' business will throw themtogether. It is unlucky on Frank's account likewise. I see weshall have it all over again there. "

"I have great hope in his office taking him away. How was it withthem to-night?"

"What I should call arrant coquetry, such as even Camilla neverindulged in. The girl kept out of his way--was absolutely chill andrepelling half the evening--throwing herself at the officers fromBacksworth, till at last Frank obtained a waltz, and after that theywere perfectly inseparable. "

"If she coquets, she will soon disgust him! Did Cecil enjoyherself?"

"Oh yes: Phil Bowater opened the ball with her, and she dances verynicely--so quietly, Mrs. Bowater remarked it. As to Rosamond, shewas in her native element--_is_ indeed, for she would not hear ofcoming away when we did. "

"And Julius?"

"Standing in a doorway, with others of his kind, absently talking, and watching Rosamond out of the tail of his eye. I say, mother, "lowering his voice, "can't you give Rosamond a hint about her dress?Cecil says she can't go out with her again like _that_. Ah, " as heheard a sigh, "I should not have worried you at night. "

"No, you have not. Tell Cecil I will see about it. Rosamond willtake it best from an old woman like me. "

Mrs. Poynsett was quite conscious that Cecil had more high breedingand refinement than Rosamond, who was essentially the IrishColonel's daughter, and that the cold temperament of the oneirritated the warm nature of the other. More than one flash hadrevealed Rosamond's contempt for Cecil's assumptions and intolerancefor her precision--besides, she was five years older, and had not anideal in Dunstone. 

After revolving what form of remonstrance would be least offensiveduring half the night and day, Mrs. Poynsett was not prepared forthe appearance, about noon, of her son Julius, when, coming to whatshe termed the confidential side of her couch, he askedhesitatingly, and colouring, "Mother, I want you to tell me, wasthere anything amiss in Rose's dress last night?"

"You did not perceive--"

"I'm not used to the style of thing. Is it not the way with whatyou call full dress?"

"To a certain degree--" she began. 

He caught her up. "And here has Cecil been putting my poor Roseinto a perfect agony! It is only woman's censorious nonsense, isn'tit, mother? Mere folly to think otherwise! I knew you would set mymind at rest; and if you would tell Cecil that you will not haveRosamond insulted, it would be as well. "

"Stay, Julius, " as he was walking off complacently, "I grieve, but Imust confess that I was going to speak to Rosamond myself. "

He looked very blank. 

"Mind, I am certain that it is only an innocent following of whatshe has been brought up to;" and as he signed a sort of hurtacquiescence, as if trying to swallow the offence, she added, "Whendo you go out again?"

"Not till Monday, when we dine at Colonel Ross's. He is an oldfriend of Lord Rathforlane. "

"Then I am inclined to let it cool. Sometimes advice that has beenresented does its work. "

"You don't think the interference justifiable?"

"Not from that quarter. "

"And can it be needful to attend to it?"

"My dear Julius, it is not a style of dress I could ever have worn, nor have let my daughters have worn, if I had had any. "

"Conclusive, that!" said Julius, getting up, more really angeredwith his mother than he had been since his childhood. 

However, he conquered himself by the time he had reached the door, and came back to say, "I beg your pardon, mother, I know you wouldnot say so without need. "

"Thank you, my boy!" and he saw tears in her eyes, the first time hewas conscious of having brought them. As he bent down to kiss her, she rallied, and cheerfully said, "I have no doubt it will all comeright--Rosamond is too nice not to feel it at once. "

No such thing; Rosamond was still furious. If he disapproved, shewould submit to him; but he had seen nothing wrong, had he?

"My dear Rose, I told you I was no judge: you forget what my eyesare; and my mother--"

"You have been to your mother?"

"My dear, what could I do?"

"And you think I am going to insult my own mother and sisters toplease any woman's finical prudish notions'? Pray what did Mrs. Poynsett say?"

The excuse of custom, pleaded by Mrs. Poynsett, only made Rosamondfiercer. She wished she had never come where she was to hear thather own mother was no judge of propriety, and her husband could nottrust her, but must needs run about asking everybody if she were fitto be seen. Such a tempest Julius had never seen outside a backstreet in the garrison town. There seemed to be nothing she wouldnot say, and his attempts at soothing only added to her violence. Indeed, there was only one thing which would have satisfied her, andthat was, that she had been perfectly right, and the whole worldbarbarously wrong; and she was wild with passion at perceiving thathe had a confidence in his own mother which he could not feel inhers. 

Nor would he insist that Raymond should force Cecil to apologize. "My dear, " he said, "don't you know there are things easier to askthan to obtain?"

To which Rosamond replied, in another gust, that she would neveragain sit down to table with Cecil until she had apologized for theinsult, not to herself, she did not care about that, but to themother who had seen her dresses tried on: Julius must tell Raymondso, or take her away to any cottage at once. She would not staywhere people blamed mamma and poisoned his mind against her! Shebelieved he cared for them more than for her!

Julius had sympathized far longer with her offended feeling thananother could have done; but he was driven to assert himself. "Nonsense, Rose, you know better, " he said, in a voice ofdispleasure; but she pouted forth, "I don't know it. You believeevery one against me, and you won't take my part against that nastylittle spiteful prig!"

"Cecil has behaved very ill to you, " said Julius, granting herrather over much; "but she is a foolish conceited child, who doesnot deserve that Raymond should be worried about her. I foreseeplenty of grievances from her; but, Rosie, we must and will not lether come between us and Raymond. You don't know what a brother hehas been to me--I hardly think I could have got through my firstyear at school but for him; and I don't think my sweet Rose couldwish to do me such an ill turn as to stir up a feud with such abrother because his wife is provoking. "

The luncheon-bell began to sound, and she sobbed out, "There then, go down, leave me alone! Go to them, since you are so fond of themall!"

"I don't think you could come down as you are, " said Julius, gravely; "I will bring you something. "

"It would choke me--choke me!" she sobbed out. 

Julius knew enough of the De Lancy temperament to be aware thatwords carried them a long way, and he thought solitude would be sobeneficial, that he summoned resolution to leave her; but he had notthe face to appear alone, nor offer fictions to excuse her absence, so he took refuge in his dressing-room, until he had seen Cecil andAnne ride away from the hall door together. 

For the two sisters-in-law had held a little indignation meeting, and Rosamond's misdemeanour had so far drawn them together, thatCecil had offered to take Anne to see the working party, and let herassist thereat. 

The coast being clear, Julius went down, encountering nothing worsethan the old butler, who came in while he was cutting cold beef, andto whom he said, "Lady Rosamond is rather knocked up; I am going totake her something up-stairs. "

Jenkins received this as the result of a dance, but much wanted tofetch a tray, which Julius refused, and set off with an ale-glass inone hand, and in the other the plates with the beef and appliances, Jenkins watching in jealous expectation of a catastrophe, having noopinion of Mr. Julius's powers as a waiter. He was disappointed. The downfall was deferred till the goal was reached, and was thenmost salutary, for Rosamond sprang to pick up the knife and fork, laughed at his awkwardness, refused to partake without him, producedimplements from her travelling-bag, and was as merry as she had beenmiserable. 

Not a word on the feud was uttered; and the pair walked down to thevillage, where she was exemplary, going into all those moredistasteful parts of her duties there, which she sometimes shirked. 

And on her return, finding her long-expected letter from MissM'Kinnon awaiting her, she forgot all offences in her ardour toindoctrinate everybody with the hopes it gave of affording Mrs. Poynsett a change of room, if not even greater variety. Unfortunately, this eagerness was not met with a correspondingfervour. There was in the household the acquiescence with long-established invalidism, that sometimes settles down and makes anewcomer's innovations unwelcome. Raymond had spoken to the olddoctor, who had been timid and discouraging; Susan resented theimplication that the utmost had not been done for her dear mistress;and Mrs. Poynsett herself, though warmly grateful for Rosamond'saffection, was not only nervously unwilling to try experiments, buthad an instinctive perception that there was one daughter-in-law towhom her increased locomotion would scarcely be welcome, and by nomeans wished to make this distaste evident to Raymond. Cecil wouldnot have been so strong against the risk and imprudence, if herwishes had been the other way. Moreover, she had been warned offfrom interference with the Rector's wife in the village, and she didnot relish Rosamond's making suggestions as to her province, as sheconsidered the house--above all, when she viewed that lady as in astate of disgrace. It was nothing less than effrontery; and Cecilbecame stiffer and colder than ever. She demanded of her mother-in-law whether there had been any promise of amendment. 

"Oh! Julius will see to all that, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"It is a woman's question, " returned Cecil. 

"Not entirely. "

"Fancy a clergyman's wife! It Mrs. Venn had appeared in that way atDunstone!"

"You would have left it to Mr. Venn! My dear, the less said thesooner mended. "

Cecil was silenced, but shocked, for she was far too young andinexperienced to understand that indecorous customs complied with asa matter of course, do not necessarily denote lack of innatemodesty--far less, how they could be confounded with homeallegiance; and as to Anne, poor Rosamond was, in her eyes, only toolike the ladies who impeded Christiana on her outset. 

So her ladyship retreated into languid sleepy dignity towards bothher sisters-in-law; and on Monday evening showed herself, for amoment, more decolletee, if possible, than before. Mrs. Poynsettfeared lest Julius were weak in this matter; but at night she had avisit from him. 

"Mother, " he said, "it will not happen again. Say no more. "

"I am only too thankful. "

"What do you think settled it? No less than Lady Tyrrell'sadmiration. "

"What could she have said?"

"I can't make out. Rose was far too indignant to be comprehensible, when she told me on the way home; but there was something aboutadopting the becoming, and a repetition of--of some insolentpraise. " And his mother felt his quiver of suppressed wrath. "IfRose had been what that woman took her for, she would have beendelighted, " he continued; "but--"

"It was horrible to her!" said his mother. "And to you. Yes, Iknew it would right itself, and I am glad nothing passed about itbetween us. "

"So am I; she quite separates you from Cecil and Anne, and indeedall her anger is with Lady Tyrrell. She will have it there wasmalice in inciting her to shock old friends and annoy you--a sort ofattempt to sympathize her into opposition. "

"Which had a contrary effect upon a generous nature. "

"Exactly! She thinks nothing too bad for that woman, and declaresshe is a serpent. "

"That's dear Rosamond's anger; but I imagine that when I occur toCamilla's mind, it is as the obstructive old hag, who once stood inher way; and so, without any formed designs, whatever she says of meis coloured by that view. "

"Quite possible; and I am afraid the sister is just such another. She seems quite to belong to Mrs. Duncombe's set. I sat next her atdinner, and tried to talk to her, but she would only listen to thatyoung Strangeways. "

"Strangeways! I wonder if that is Susan Lorimer's son?"

"Probably, for his Christian name is Lorimer. "

"I knew her rather well as a girl. She was old Lord Lorimer'syoungest daughter, and we used to walk in the Square gardenstogether; but I did not see much of her after I married; and after agood while, she married a man who had made a great fortune bymining. I wonder what her son is like?"

"He must be the man, for he is said to be the millionaire of theregiment. Just the match that Lady Tyrrell would like. "

"Ah! that's well, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"From your point of view, " said Julius, smiling. 

"If he will only speak out before it has had time to go deep withFrank!"

CHAPTER IXCold Heart

At that very moment the two sisters in question were driving home inthe opposite corners of the carriage in the dark. 

"Really, Lenore, " was Lady Tyrrell saying, "you are a veryimpracticable girl. "

There was a little low laugh in answer. 

"What blast has come and frozen you up into ice?" the elder sisteradded caressingly; but as she felt for Eleonora's hand in the dark, she obtained nothing but the cold handle of a fan. "That's justit!" she said, laughing; "hard ivory, instead of flesh and blood. "

"I can't help it!" was the answer. 

"But why not? I'm sure you had admiration enough to turn any girl'shead. "

No answer. 

Lady Tyrrell renewed her address still more tenderly--"Lenore, darling, it is quite needful that you should understand yourposition. "

"I am afraid I understand it only too well, " came in a smotheredvoice. 

"It may be very painful, but it ought to be made clear before youhow you stand. You know that my father was ruined--there's no wordfor it but ruined. "

"Yes. "

"He had to give up the property to the creditors, and live on anallowance. "

"I know that. "

"And, of course, I can't bear speaking of it; but the house isreally let to me. I have taken it as I might any other house tolet. "

"Yes, " again assented Eleonora. 

"And do you know why?"

"You said it was for the sake of the old home and my father!" saidthe girl, with a bitter emphasis on the _said_. 

"So it was! It was to give you the chance of redeeming it, andkeeping it in the family. It is to be sold, you know, as soon asyou are of age, and can give your consent. I can't buy it. Mine isonly a jointure, a life income, and you know that you might as wellthink of Mary buying Golconda; but you--you--with such beauty asyours--might easily make a connection that would save it. "

There was only a choked sound. 

"I know you feel the situation painfully, after having been mistressso long. "

"Camilla, you _know_ it is not that!"

"Ah, my dear, I can see farther than you avow. You can't marry tillyou are twenty-one, you know; but you might be very soon engaged, and then we should see our way. It only depends on yourself. Plenty of means, and no land to tie him down, ready to purchase andto settle down. It would be the very thing; and I see you are athoroughly sensible girl, Lena. "

"Indeed! I am not even sensible enough to know who is to be thispurchaser. "

"Come, Lena, don't be affected. Why! he was the only poor creatureyou were moderately gracious to. "

"I! what do you mean?"

Lady Tyrrell laughed again. 

"Oh!" in a tone of relief, "I can explain all that to you. All theStrangeways family were at Rockpier the winter before you came, andI made great friends with Margaret Strangeways, the eldest sister. I wanted very much to hear about her, for she has had a great dealof illness and trouble, and I had not ventured to write to her. "

"Oh! was that the girl young Debenham gave up because her motherworried him so incessantly, and who went into a Sisterhood?"

"It was she who broke it off. She found he had been forced into itby his family, and was really attached elsewhere. I never knew therights of it till I saw the brother to-night. "

"Very praiseworthy family confidence!"

"Camilla, you know I object to that tone. "

"So do most young ladies, my dear--at least by word. "

"And once for all, you need have no fancies about Mr. LorimerStrangeways. I am civil to him, of course, for Margaret's sake; andLady Susan was very kind to me; but if there were nothing elseagainst him, he is entirely out of the question, for I know he runshorses and bets on them. "

"So does everybody, more or less. "

"And you! you, Camilla, after what the turf has cost us, can wish meto encourage a man connected with it. "

"My dear Lena, I know you had a great shock, which made the moreimpression because you were such a child; but you might almost aswell forswear riding, as men who have run a few horses, or staked afew thousands. Every young man of fortune has done so in his turn, just by way of experiment--as a social duty as often as not. "

"Let them, " said Eleonora, "as long as I have nothing to do withthem. "

"What was that pretty French novel--Sybille, was it?--where thechild wanted to ride on nothing but swans? You will be like her, and have to condescend to ordinary mortals. "

"She did not. She died. And, Camilla, I would far rather die thanmarry a betting man. "

"A betting man, who regularly went in for it! You little goose, tothink that I would ask you to do that! As you say we have hadenough of that! But to renounce every man who has set foot on acourse, or staked a pair of gloves, is to renounce nine out of tenof the world one lives in. "

"I do renounce them. Camilla, remember that my mind is made up forever, and that nothing shall ever induce me to marry a man whomeddles with the evils of races. "

"Meddles with the evils? I understand, my dear Lena. "

"A man who makes a bet, " repeated Eleonora. 

"We shall see, " was her ladyship's light answer, in contrast to thegrave tones; "no rules are without exceptions, and I only ask for_one_. "

"I shall make none. "

"I confess I thought you were coming to your senses; you have beenacting so wisely and sensibly ever since you came home, about thatyoung Frank Charnock. "

Lady Tyrrell heard a little rustle, but could not see that it wasthe clasping of two hands over a throbbing heart. "I am very gladyou are reasonable enough to keep him at a distance. Poor boy, itwas all very well to be friendly with him when we met him in a placelike Rockpier, and you were both children; but you are quite rightnot to let it go on. It would be mere madness. "

"For him, yes, " murmured the girl. 

"And even more so for you. Why, if he had any property worthspeaking of, it would be a wretched thing to marry into that family!I am sure I pity those three poor girls! Miles's wife looksperfectly miserable, poor thing, and the other two can't conceal thestate of things. She is just the sort of woman who cannot endure adaughter-in-law. "

"I thought I heard Lady Rosamond talking very affectionately ofher. "

"Very excitedly, as one who felt it her duty to stand up for herout-of-doors, whatever she may do indoors. I saw victory in thoseplump white shoulders, which must have cost a battle; but whateverLady Rosamond gains, will make it all the worse for the others. No, Eleonora, I have known Mrs. Poynsett's rancour for many years, and Iwould wish no one a worse lot than to be her son's fiancee, exceptto be his wife. "

"She did not seem to object to these marriages. "

"The sons took her by surprise. Besides, Raymond's was the veryparti mothers seek out for their sons. Depend upon it, she sent himoff with her blessing to court the unexceptionable cousin with thefamily property. Poor Raymond, he is a dutiful son, and he has donethe deed; but, if I am not much mistaken the little lady is made ofsomething neither mother nor son is prepared for, and he has notlove enough to tame her with. "

"That may be seen at a glance. He can't help it, poor fellow; hewould have had it if he could, like anything else that is proper. "

There was a moment's silence; then the exclamation, "Just lookthere!"

One of the hats was nodding on the box in a perilous manner. 

"It is _only_ James, " said Lady Tyrrell; "as long as it is not thecoachman, it matters the less. There's no danger. "

"You will not keep him, though!"

"I don't know. He is much the best looking and handiest of the men;and your page, Master Joshua, is no great acquisition yet. "

"I wish you would not call him mine; I wish you would send him backto his grandmother. I can't bear his being among those men. "

"Very complimentary to my household! They are not a bit worse thanthe company he came from! You don't believe in rural simplicity, eh?"

"I believe that taking that boy from his home makes us responsible. "

"And do I hinder you from catechizing him to your heart's content?or sending him to the school of design?"

Again Eleonora was silent. Perhaps the balancing of the footman'shead occupied her mind. At any rate, no more was said till thesisters had reached their home. Then, at the last moment, whenthere was no time left for a reply, Eleonora cleared and steadiedher voice, and said, "Camilla, understand two things for truth'ssake. First, I mean what I say. Nothing shall ever induce me tomarry a man who bets. Next, I never have forgotten Frank Charnockfor one moment. If I have been cold and distant to him, it isbecause I will not draw him near me to be cruelly scorned anddisappointed!"

"I don't mind the why, if the effect is the same, " were LadyTyrrell's last words, as the door opened. 

Eleonora's little white feet sped quickly up the steps, and with ahasty good night, she sped across the hall, but paused at the door. "Papa must not be disappointed, " she whispered to herself, anddashed her hand over her eyes; and at the moment the lock turned, and a gray head appeared, with a mighty odour of smoke. "Ah! Ithought my little Lena would not pass me by! Have you had apleasant party, my dear? Was young Strangeways there?"

She had nestled in his arms, and hoped to avoid notice by keepingher head bent against him, as she hastily responded to hisquestions; but he detected something. 

"Eh? Camilla been lecturing? Is that it? You've not been crying, little one? It is all right, you know! You and I were jolly enoughat Rockpier; but it was time we were taken in hand, or you wouldhave grown into a regular little nun, among all those black coats. "

"I wish I were. "

"Nonsense! You don't know life! You'll tell another story one ofthese days; and hark childie, when you've married, and saved the oldplace, you'll keep the old room for the old man, and we'll have ourown way again. "

She could but kiss him, and hide her agitation in caresses, erehurrying up the stairs she reached her own rooms, a single bed-chamber opening into a more spacious sitting-room, now partiallylighted by the candles on the toilette-table within. 

She flung herself down on a chair beyond the line of light, andpanted out half aloud, "Oh! I am in the toils! Oh for help! Ohfor advice! Oh! if I knew the right! Am I unfair? am I cold andhard and proud? Is she telling me true? No, I know she is not--notthe whole truth, and I don't know what is left out, or what isfalse! And I'm as bad--making them think I give in and discardFrank! Oh! is that my pride--or that it is too bad to encourage himnow I know more? He'll soon scorn me, and leave off--whatever heever thought of me. She has taken me from all my friends--and shewill take him away! No one is left me but papa; and though shecan't hurt his love, she has got his confidence away, and made himjoin against me! But that one thing I'll never, never do!"

She started up, and opened a locked purple photograph-album, with'In Memoriam' inscribed on it--her hands trembling so that she couldhardly turn the key. She turned to the likeness of a young man--apainful likeness of a handsome face, where the hard verities of sun-painting had refused to veil the haggard trace of early dissipation, though the eyes had still the fascinating smile that had made herbrother Tom, with his flashes of fitful good-nature, the idol of hislittle sister's girlhood. The deadly shock of his sudden death hadbeen her first sorrow; and those ghastly whispers which she hadheard from the servants in the nursery, and had never forgotten, because of the hushed and mysterious manner, had but lately startedinto full force and meaning, on the tongues of the plain-spokenpoor. 

She gazed, and thought of the wrecked life that might have been sorich in joys; nay, her tenderness for her father could not hide fromher how unlike his old age was from that of Mr. Bowater, or of anymen who had done their service to their generation in all nobleexertion. He had always indeed been her darling, her charge; butshe had never known what it was to look up to him with the ferventbelief and enthusiasm she had seen in other girls. To have himamused, loitering from reading-room to parade or billiard-room, hadbeen all that she aspired to, and only lately had she unwillinglyawakened to the sense how and why this was--and why the family werealiens in their ancestral home. 

"And Camilla, who knew all--knew, and lived through the full forceof the blight and misery--would persuade me that it all meansnothing, and is a mere amusing trifle! Trifle, indeed, that breakshearts and leads to despair and self-destruction and dishonour! No, no, no--nothing shall lead me to a gamester! though Frank may belost to me! He will be! he will be! We deserve that he should be!I deserve it--if family sins fall on individuals--I deserve it! Itis better for him--better--better. And yet, can he forget--any morethan I--that sunny day--? Oh! was she luring him on falsepretences? What shall I do? How will it be? Where is mycounsellor? Emily, Emily, why did you die?"

Emily's portrait--calm, sweet, wasted, with grave trustful eyes--wasin the next page. The lonely girl turned to it, and gazed, anddrank in the soothing influence of the countenance that had neverfailed to reply with motherly aid and counsel. It rested thethrobbing heart; and presently, with hands clasped and head bent, Eleonora Vivian knelt in the little light closet she had fitted asan oratory, and there poured out her perplexities and sorrows. 

CHAPTER XA Truant

Since for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine. --COWPER

"How like Dunstone you have made this room!" said Raymond, enteringhis wife's apartment with a compliment that he knew would beappreciated. 

Cecil turned round from her piano, to smile and say, "I wish papacould see it. "

"I hope he will next spring; but he will hardly bring Mrs. Charnockhome this winter. I am afraid you are a good deal alone here, Cecil. Is there no one you would like to ask?"

"The Venns, " suggested Cecil; "only we do not like them to leavehome when we are away; but perhaps they would come. "

Raymond could not look as if the proposal were a very pleasing one. "Have you no young-lady friends?" he asked. 

"We never thought it expedient to have intimacies in theneighbourhood, " said Cecil. 

"Well, we shall have Jenny Bowater here in a week or two. "

"I thought she was your mother's friend. "

"So she is. She is quite young enough to be yours. "

"I do not see anything remarkable about her. "

"No, I suppose there is not; but she is a very sensible superiorperson. "

"Indeed! In that commonplace family. "

"Poor Jenny has had an episode that removes her from thecommonplace. Did you ever hear of poor Archie Douglas?"

"Was not he a good-for-nothing relation of your mother?"

"Not that exactly. He was the son of a good-for-nothing, I grant, whom a favourite cousin had unfortunately married, but he was anexcellent fellow himself; and when his father died, she had Mrs. Douglas to live in that cottage by the Rectory, and sent the boy toschool with us; then she got him into Proudfoot's office--thesolicitor at Backsworth, agent for everybody's estates hereabouts. Well, there arose an attachment between him and Jenny; the Bowatersdid not much like it, of course; but they are kind-hearted and good-natured, and gave consent, provided Archie got on in his profession. It was just at the time when poor Tom Vivian was exercising a greatdeal more influence than was good among the young men in theneighbourhood; and George Proudfoot was rather a joke for imitatinghim in every respect--from the colour of his dog-cart to the curl ofhis dog's tail. I remember his laying a wager, and winning it too, that if he rode a donkey with his face to the tail, Proudfoot woulddo the same; but then, Vivian did everything with a grace andoriginality. "

"Like his sister. "

"And doubly dangerous. Every one liked him, and we were all moretogether than was prudent. At last, two thousand pounds of mymother's money, which was passing through the Proudfoots' hands, disappeared; and at the same time poor Archie fled. No one who knewhim could have any reasonable doubt that he did but bear the blameof some one else's guilt, most likely that of George Proudfoot; buthe died a year or two back without a word, and no proof has everbeen found; and alas! the week after Archie sailed, we saw his namein the list of sufferers in a vessel that was burnt. His motherhappily had died before all this, but there were plenty to grievebitterly for him; and poor Jenny has been the more like one ofourselves in consequence. He had left a note for Jenny, and shealways trusted him; and we all of us believe that he was innocent. "

"I can't think how a person can go about as usual, or ever get oversuch a thing as that. "

"Perhaps she hasn't, " said Raymond, with a little colour on hisbrown cheek. "But I'm afraid I can't make those visits with you to-day. I am wanted to see the plans for the new town-hall atWil'sbro'. Will you pick me up there?"

"There would be sure to be a dreadful long waiting, so I willluncheon at Sirenwood instead; Lady Tyrrell asked me to come overany day. "

"Alone? I think you had better wait for me. "

"I can take Frank. "

"I should prefer a regular invitation to us both. "

"She did not mean to make a formal affair. "

"Forms are a protection, and I do not wish for an intimacy there, especially on Frank's account. "

"It would be an excellent match for Frank. "

"Indeed, no; the estate is terribly involved, and there are threedaughters; besides which, the family would despise a younger son. An attachment could only lead to unhappiness now, besides thepositive harm of unsettling him. His tutor tells me that as it ishe is very uneasy about his examination--his mind is evidentlypreoccupied. No, no, Cecil, don't make the intercourseunnecessarily close. The Vivians have not behaved well to mymother, and it is not desirable to begin a renewal. But you shallnot lose your ride, Cecil; I'll ask one of the boys to go with youto the Beeches, and perhaps I shall meet you there. "

"He talks of my lonely life, " said Cecil, to herself, "and yet hewants to keep me from the only person who really understands me, allfor some rancorous old prejudice of Mrs. Poynsett's. It is veryhard. There's no one in the house to make a friend of--Rosamond, amere garrison belle; and Anne, bornee and half a dissenter; and assoon as I try to make a friend, I am tyrannized over, and this MissBowater thrust on me. "

She was pounding these sentiments into a sonata with great energy, when her door re-opened, and Raymond again appeared. "I am lookingfor two books of Mudie's. Do you know where they can be? I can'tmake up the number. "

"They are here, " said Cecil; "Lanfrey's Vie de Napoleon; but I havenot finished them. "

"The box should have gone ten days ago. My mother has nothing toread, and has been waiting all this time for the next part ofMiddlemarch, " said Raymond. 

"She said there was no hurry, " murmured Cecil. 

"No doubt she did; but we must not take advantage of herconsideration. Reading is her one great resource, and we must socontrive that your studies shall not interfere with it. "

He waited for some word of regret, but none came; and he was obligedto add, "I must deprive you of the books for the present, for shemust not be kept waiting any longer; but I will see about gettingthem for you in some other way. I must take the box to the stationin the dog-cart. " He went without a word from her. It was anentirely new light to her that her self-improvement could possiblybe otherwise than the first object with everyone. At home, fatherand mother told one another complacently what Cecil was reading, andnever dreamt of obstructing the virtuous action. Were her studiesto be sacrificed to an old woman's taste for novels?

Cecil had that pertinacity of nature that is stimulated toresistance by opposition; and she thought of the Egyptian campaign, and her desire to understand the siege of Acre. Then sherecollected that Miss Vivian had spoken of reading the book, andthis decided her. "I'll go to Sirenwood, look at it, and order it. No one can expect me to submit to have no friends abroad nor booksat home. Besides, it is all some foolish old family feud; and whata noble thing it will be for my resolution and independence to forcethe two parties to heal the breach, and bridge it over by givingMiss Vivian to Frank. "

In this mood she rang the bell, and ordered her horses; not howevertill she had reason to believe the dog-cart on the way down theavenue. As she came down in her habit, she was met by Frank, returning from his tutor. 

"Have I made a mistake, Cecil! I thought we were to go out togetherthis afternoon!"

"Yes; but Raymond was wanted at Willansborough, and I am going tolunch at Sirenwood. I want to borrow a book. "

"Oh, very well, I'll come, if you don't mind. Sir Harry asked me todrop in and look at his dogs. "

This was irresistible; and Frank decided on riding the groom'shorse, and leaving him to conduct Anne to the rendezvous in theafternoon--for Charlie had been at Sandhurst for the last week--running in first to impart the change of scheme to her, as she wasperforming her daily task of reading to his mother. 

He did so thus: "I say, Anne, Cecil wants to go to Sirenwood firstto get a book, so Lee will bring you to meet us at the Beeches at2. 30. "

"Are you going to luncheon at Sirenwood?" asked Mrs. Poynsett. 

"Yes; Cecil wants to go, " said the dutiful younger brother. 

"I wish you would ask Cecil to come in. Raymond put himself intosuch a state of mind at finding me reading Madame de Sevigne, that Iam afraid he carried off her books summarily, though I told him Iwas glad of a little space for my old favourites. "

Cecil was, however, mounted by the time Frank came out, and theycantered away together, reaching the portico of Sirenwood in abouttwenty minutes. 

Cecil had never been in the house before, having only left her card, though she had often met the sisters. She found herself in acarpeted hall, like a supplementary sitting-room, where twogentlemen had been leaning over the wide hearth. One, a handsomebenignant-looking old man, with a ruddy face and abundant whitewhiskers, came forward with a hearty greeting. "Ah! young Mrs. Poynsett! Delighted to see you!--Frank Charnock, you're come ingood time; we are just going down to see the puppies beforeluncheon. Only I'll take Mrs. Poynsett to the ladies first. Duncombe, you don't know Mrs. Raymond Poynsett--one must not saysenior bride, but the senior's bride. Is that right?"

"No papa, " said a bright voice from the stairs, "you haven't it atall right; Mrs. Charnock Poynsett, if you please--isn't it?"

"I believe so, " replied Cecil. "Charnock always seems my rightname. "

"And you have all the right to retain it that Mrs. Poynsett had tokeep hers, " said Lady Tyrrell, as they went up-stairs to herbedroom. "How is she?"

"As usual, thank you; always on the sofa. "

"But managing everything from it?"

"Oh, yes. "

"Never was there such a set of devoted sons, models for theneighbourhood. "

Cecil felt a sense of something chiming in with her sources ofvexation, but she only answered, "They are passionately fond ofher. "

"Talk of despotism! Commend me to an invalid! Ah! how delightfullyyou contrive to keep your hair in order! I am always scoldingLenore for coming in dishevelled, and you look so fresh and compact!Here is my sanctum. You'll find Mrs. Duncombe there. She droveover in the drag with her husband on their way to Backsworth. I amso glad you came, there is so much to talk over. "

"If our gentlemen will give us time, " said Mrs. Duncombe; "but I amafraid your senator will not be as much absorbed in the dogs as mycaptain. "

"I did not come with my husband, " said Cecil; "he is gone toWillansborough to meet the architect. "

"Ah, about the new buildings. I do hope and trust the opportunitywill not be wasted, and that the drainage will be provided for. "

"You are longing to have a voice there, " said Lady Tyrrell, laughing. 

"I am. It is pre-eminently a woman's question, and this is a greatopportunity. I shall talk to every one. Little Pettitt, the hair-dresser, has some ground there, and he is the most intelligent ofthe tradesmen. I gave him one of those excellent little hand-bills, put forth by the Social Science Committee, on sanitary arrangements. I thought of asking you to join us in ordering some down, and neverletting a woman leave our work-room without one. "

"You couldn't do better, I am sure, " said Lady Tyrrell; "only, what's the use of preaching to the poor creatures to live in goodhouses, when their landlords won't build them, and they must livesomewhere?"

"Make them coerce the landlords, " said Mrs. Duncombe; "that's theonly way. Upheave the masses from beneath. "

"But that's an earthquake, " said Cecil. 

"Earthquakes are sometimes wholesome. "

"But the process is not so agreeable that we had not rather avertit, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"All ours at Dunstone are model cottages, " said Cecil; "it is myfather's great hobby. "

"Squires' hobbies are generally like the silver trough the lady gaveher sow, " said Mrs. Duncombe; "they come before the poor areprepared, and with a spice of the autocrat. "

"Come, I won't have you shock Mrs. Charnock Poynsett, " said LadyTyrrell. "You illogical woman! The poor are to demand betterhouses, and the squires are not to build them!"

"The poor are to be fitly housed, as a matter of right, and fromtheir own sense of self-respect, " returned Mrs. Duncombe; "not a fewfavourites, who will endure dictation, picked out for the modelcottage. It is the hobby system against which I protest. "

"Without quite knowing what was conveyed by it in this instance?"said Lady Tyrrell. "I am sure there is nothing I wish more thanthat we had any power of improvement of the cottages here; butinfluence is our only weapon. "

"By the bye, Mrs. Poynsett, " continued Mrs. Duncombe, "will you givea hint to Mrs. Miles Charnock that it will never do to preach to thewomen at the working-room? I don't mean holding forth, " she added, seeing Cecil's look of amazement; "but improving the occasion, talking piously, giving tracts, and so forth. "

"I thought you gave sanitary tracts!" said Lady Tyrrell. 

"That is quite different. "

"I doubt whether the women would see the distinction. A little book_is_ a tract to them. "

"I would abstain rather than let our work get a goody reputation forindoctrinating sectarianism. It would be all up with us; we mightas well keep a charity school. "

"I don't think the women dislike it, " said Cecil. 

"Most likely they think it the correct thing, the grain which theymust swallow with our benefits; but for that very reason it injuresthe whole tone, and prevents them learning independence. Put it inthat light; I know you can. "

"I don't think Anne would understand, " said Cecil, somewhatflattered. 

"I doubt whether there are three women in the neighbourhood whowould, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"People always think charity--how I hate the word!--a means offorcing their own tenets down the throats of the poor, " said Mrs. Duncombe. "And certainly this neighbourhood is as narrow as any Iever saw. Nobody but you and--shall I say the present company?--hasany ideas. I wonder how they will receive Clio Tallboys and herhusband?"

"Ah! you have not heard about them, " said Lady Tyrrell. "Mostdelightful people, whom Mrs. Duncombe met on the Righi. He is aCambridge professor. "

"Taillebois--I don't remember the name, " said Cecil, "and we know agreat many Cambridge men. We went to a Commencement there. "

"Oh, not Cambridge on the Cam! the American Cambridge, " said Mrs. Duncombe. "He is a quiet, inoffensive man, great on politicaleconomy; but his wife is the character. Wonderfully brilliant andoriginal, and such a lecturer!"

"Ladies' lectures _would_ startle the natives, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"Besides, the town-hall is lacking, " said Mrs. Duncombe; "but whenthe Tallboys come we might arrange a succession of soirees, whereshe might gather her audience. "

"But where?" said Lady Tyrrell. "It would be great fun, and youmight reckon on me; but where else? Mrs. Charnock Poynsett has tothink of la belle mere. "

"She has given up the management of all matters of society to me, "said Cecil with dignity; "you may reckon on me. "

"No hope of the Bowaters, of course, " said Mrs. Duncombe. 

"Miss Bowater is coming to stay with us, " volunteered Cecil. 

"To be near that unlucky Life Guardsman manque, " said Mrs. Duncombe. 

"Come, I'll not have honest Herbert abused, " said the other lady. "He is the only one of the Bowaters who has any go in him. "

"More's the pity, if he can't use it. Is his sister coming to helpthe Reverend Julius to drill him?"

"On Mrs. Poynsett's account too, I fancy, " said Lady Tyrrell; "JennyBowater is her amateur companion. Indeed, I believe it was noslight disappointment that her sons' appreciation did not quitereach the pitch of the mother's. "

"Indeed!" asked Mrs. Duncombe; "I thought there had been a foolishaffair with poor young Douglas. "

"Cela n'empeche pas. By the bye, have you finished Fleurange?"

"Oh, you are quite welcome to it. It is quite as goody as anEnglish tale in one volume. "

This opened the way to Cecil's desire to borrow Lanfrey, notconcealing the reason why; and she was gratified by the fullsympathy of both ladies, who invited her in self-defence to join intheir subscription to Rolandi, to which she eagerly agreed, andwould have paid her subscription at once if there had not been aterm to be finished off first. 

The gong summoned them to luncheon, and likewise brought down MissVivian, who shook hands rather stiffly, and wore a cold, gravemanner that did not sit badly on her handsome classical features. The countenance was very fine, but of the style to which early youthis less favourable than a more mature development; and she was lessuniversally admired than was her sister. Her dress was a darkmaroon merino, hanging in simple, long, straight folds, and therewas as little distortion in her coiffure as the most moderatecompliance with fashion permitted; and this, with a high-bred, distinguished deportment, gave an air almost of stern severity. This deepened rather than relaxed at the greeting from Frank--who, poor fellow! had an uncontrollably wistful eager look in his face, asort of shy entreaty, and was under an incapacity of keeping up aconversation with anybody else, while trying to catch the least wordof hers. 

She, however, seemed to have more eyes and ears for her father thanfor any one else, and he evidently viewed her as the darling andtreasure of his life. His first question, after performing theduties of a host, was, "Well, my little Lenore, what have you beendoing?"

"The old story, papa, " raising her clear, sweet voice to reach hisrather deaf ears. 

"Got on with your drawing?--The child is competing with a club, youmust know. "

"Not exactly, papa: it is only a little society that was set onfoot at Rockpier to help us to improve ourselves. "

"What is your subject this month?" Frank asked. 

"A branch of blackberries, " she answered briefly. 

"Ah!" said Lady Tyrrell, "I saw your pupil bringing in a deliciousfestoon--all black and red fruit and crimson and purple leaves. Heis really a boy of taste; I think he will do you credit. "

"The new Joshua Reynolds, " said Frank, glad of an excuse to turntowards Eleonora. "Rosamond mentioned her discovery. "

"You might have seen him just now figuring as Buttons, " said LadyTyrrell. "Degradation of art, is it not? But it was the only wayto save it. Lenore is teaching him; and if his talent prove worthit we may do something with him. Any way, the produce of nativegenius will be grand material for the bazaar. "

"Card-board prettinesses!" said Mrs. Duncombe; "you spoil him withthem; but that you'll do any way--make him fit for nothing but aflunkey. "

"Unappreciated zeal!" said Lady Tyrrell, glancing at her sister, whoflushed a little, and looked the more grave. 

"Eh, Lenore, " said her father, "wasn't it to please you that Camillamade me take your pet to make havoc of my glasses?"

"You meant it so, dear papa, " said Eleonora, calling up a smile thatsatisfied the old gentleman. "It was very kind in you. "

Fresh subjects were started, and on all the talk was lively andpleasant, and fascinated Cecil, not from any reminiscence ofDunstone--for indeed nothing could be more unlike the tone thatprevailed there: but because it was so different from that ofCompton Poynsett, drifting on so unrestrainedly, and touching solightly on all topics. 

By the close of the meal, rain had set in, evidently for theafternoon. Frank offered to ride home, and send the carriage forCecil; but the Duncombes proposed to take her and drop her at home;and to this she consented, rather to Frank's dismay, as he thoughtof their coach appearing at his mother's door. 

Lady Tyrrell took her up to resume her hat; and on the way, moved bydistaste to her double surname, and drawn on by a fresh access ofintimacy, she begged to be called Cecil--a privilege of which shehad been chary even in her maiden days; but the caressing manner hadwon her heart, and spirit of opposition to the discouragement athome did the rest. 

The request was reciprocated with that pensive look which was sotouching. "I used to be Camilla to all the neighbourhood, and hereI find myself--miles'--no, leagues further off--banished toSiberia. "

"How unjust and unkind!" cried Cecil. 

"My dear, you have yet to learn the gentle uncharitableness ofprejudice. It is the prevailing notion that my married life was acareer of dissipation. Ah! if they only knew!"

"The drag is round, " said Mrs. Duncombe's voice at the door, in allits decisive abruptness, making both start. 

"Just ready, " called Lady Tyrrell; adding, in a lower tone, "Ah! sheis startling, but she is genuine! And one must take new friendswhen the old are chilly. She is the only one--"

Cecil's kiss was more hearty than any she had given at Compton, andshe descended; but just as she came to the door, and was onlydelaying while Frank and Captain Duncombe were discussing the meritsof the four horses, the Compton carriage appeared in the approach, and Raymond's head within. Lady Tyrrell looked at Cecil, and saw itwas safe to make a little gesture with the white skin of her fairbrow, expressing unutterable things. 

Mrs. Duncombe lost no time in asking if any steps were being takenfor improving the drainage; to which Raymond replied, "No, that wasnot the business in hand. This was the architecture of the town-hall. "

"Splendour of municipality above, and fever festering below, " saidMrs. Duncombe. 

"Wilsborough is not unhealthy, " said Raymond. 

She laughed ironically. 

"The corporation have been told that they have an opportunity, " saidRaymond; "but it takes long to prepare people's minds to believe inthe expedience of such measures. If Whitlock could be elected mayorthere would be some chance, but I am afraid they are sure to takeTruelove; and as things are at Wilsborough, we must move all at onceor not at all. Individual attempts would do more harm than good. "

"Ah! you fear for your seat!" said the plain-spoken lady. 

Raymond only chose to answer by a laugh, and would not pursue thesubject so treated. He was politeness itself to all; but hewithstood Lady Tyrrell's earnest entreaties to come in and see someFlorentine photographs, growing stiffer and graver each moment, while his wife waxed more wrathful at the treatment which she knewwas wounding her friend, and began almost to glory in havingincurred his displeasure herself. Indeed, this feeling caused theexchange of another kiss between the ladies before Sir Harry handedCecil into the carriage, and Raymond took the yellow paper booksthat were held out to her. 

Looking at the title as they drove off, he said quietly, "I did notmean to deprive you, Cecil; I had ordered Lanfrey from Bennet foryou. "

She was somewhat abashed, but was excited enough to answer, "Thankyou. I am going to join Lady Tyrrell and Mrs. Duncombe in asubscription to Rolandi's. "

He started, and after a pause of a few moments said gently, "Are yousure that Mr. And Mrs. Charnock would like to trust your choice offoreign books to Mrs. Duncombe?"

Taking no notice of the point of this question, she replied, "If itis an object to exchange books at home faster than I can read themproperly, I must look for a supply elsewhere. "

"You had better subscribe alone, " he replied, still without manifestprovocation. 

"That would be uncivil now. "

"I take that upon myself. "

Wherewith there came a silence; while Cecil swelled as she thoughtof the prejudice against her friend, and Raymond revolved all he hadever heard about creatures he knew so little as women, to enable himto guess how to deal with this one. How reprove so as not to makeit worse? Ought not his silent displeasure to suffice? And in suchmusings the carriage reached home. 

It had been an untoward day. He had been striving hard against thestream at Willansborough. The drainage was not only scouted as anabsurd, unreasonable, and expensive fancy, but the architect whom hehad recommended, in the hope that he would insist on ground-workwhich might bring on the improvement, had been rejected in favour ofa kinsman of Mr. Briggs, the out-going mayor, a youth of the lowerwalk of the profession--not the scholar and gentleman he haddesired, for the tradesman intellect fancied such a person would beexpensive and unmanageable. 

Twin plans for church and town-hall had been produced, which toRaymond's taste savoured of the gimcrack style, but which infinitelydelighted all the corporation; and where he was the only cultivatedgentleman, except the timid Vicar, his reasonings were all in vain. The plan was accepted for the town-hall, and the specifications wereordered to be made out for competition, and a rate decided on. Thechurch was to wait for subscription and bazaar; the drains, forreason in Wil'sbro', or for the hope of the mayoralty of Mr. Whitlock, a very intelligent and superior linendraper. 

CHAPTER XIRosamond's Apologue

Pray, sir, do you laugh at me?--Title of Old Caricature

Was Cecil's allegiance to Dunstone, or was it to the heiress ofDunstone? Tests of allegiance consist in very small matters, and itis not always easy to see the turning-point. Now Cecil had alwaysstood on a pinnacle at Dunstone, and she had found neither itsclaims nor her own recognized at Compton. One kind of allegiancewould have remained on the level, and retained the same standard, whether accepted or not. Another would climb on any pinnacle thatany one would erect for the purpose, and become alienated fromwhatever interfered with such eminence. 

So as nobody seemed so willing to own Cecil's claims to countysupremacy as Lady Tyrrell, her bias was all towards Sirenwood; andwhereas such practices as prevailed at Dunstone evidently wereviewed as obsolete and narrow by these new friends, Cecil waswilling to prove herself superior to them, and was far moreirritated than convinced when her husband appealed to her formerhabits. 

The separation of the welfare of body and soul had never occurred tothe beneficence of Dunstone, and it cost Cecil a qualm to accept it;but she could not be a goody in the eyes of Sirenwood; and besides, she was reading some contemporary literature, which made it plainthat any religious instruction was a most unjustifiable interferencewith the great law, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and so, when she metAnne with a handful of texts neatly written out in printing letters, she administered her warning. 

Cecil and Anne had become allies to a certain extent, chieflythrough their joint disapproval of Rosamond, not to say of Julius;and the order was so amazing that Anne did not at first take it in;and when she understood that all mention of religion was forbidden, she said, "I do not think I ought to yield in this. "

"Surely, " said Cecil, "there is no connection between piety andcutting out. "

"I don't know, " said Anne; "but it does not seem to me to be rightto go on with a work where my Master's Name is forbidden. "

"Religion ought never to be obtruded, " said Cecil. 

"The Word ought to flavour everything, in season or out of season, "said Anne, thoughtfully. 

"Oh! that's impossible. It's your narrow view. If you thrustpreaching into everything, we can never work together. "

"Oh, then, " said Anne, quickly, "I must give it up!" And she turnedaway with a rapid step, to carry her texts back to her room. 

"Anne!" called Cecil, "I did not mean _that_!"

Anne paused for a moment, looked over the baluster, and repeatedfirmly, "No, Cecil; it would be denying Christ to work where HisName is forbidden. "

Perhaps there was something in the elevation and the carved railthat gave the idea of a pulpit, for Cecil felt as if she was beingpreached at, and turned her back, indignant and vexed at what shehad by no means intended to incur--the loss of such a usefulassistant as she found in Anne. 

"Such nonsense!" she said to herself, as she crossed the hall alone, there meeting with Rosamond, equipped for the village. "Is not Annegoing to-day?" she said, as she saw the pony-carriage at the door. 

"No. It is so vexatious. She is so determined upon preaching tothe women, that I have been obliged to put a stop to it. "

"Indeed! I should not have thought it of poor Anne; but no one cantell what those semi-dissenters think right. "

"When she declared she ought to do it in season or out of season, what was one to do?" said Cecil. 

"I thought that was for clergymen, " said Rosamond, hitting the rightnail on the head in her ignorance, as so often happened. 

"She sees no difference, " said Cecil. "Shall I drive you down?" sheadded graciously, according to the fashion of uniting with onesister-in-law against the other; and Rosamond not only accepted, butasked to be taken on to Willansborough, to buy a birthday presentfor her brother Terry, get stamps for an Indian letter, and performa dozen more commissions that seemed to arise in her mind with theopportunity. Her two brothers were to spend the Christmas holidayswith her, and she was in high spirits, and so communicative aboutthem that she hardly observed how little interest Cecil took inTerry's achievements. 

"Who is that, " she presently asked, "with those red-haired children?It looked like Miss Vivian's figure. "

"I believe it was. Julius and I often see her walking about thelanes; but she passes like--like a fire-flaught, whatever that is--just bows, and hardly ever speaks. "

"She is a strange girl, " said Cecil. "Lady Tyrrell says she cannotdraw her into any of her interests, but she will go her own way. "

"Like poor Anne?"

"No, not out of mere moping and want of intellect, like Anne. ButLady Tyrrell says she feels for her; she was brought a great dealtoo forward, and was made quite mistress of the house at Rockpier, being her father's darling and all, and now it is trying to her, though it is quite wholesome, to be in her proper place. It is apity she is so bitter over it, and flies off her own way. "

"That boy!" said Rosamond; "I hope she does something for his good. "

"She teaches him, I believe; but there's another instance of herstrange ways. She was absolutely vexed when Lady Tyrrell took himinto the house, though he was her protege, only because it was notdone in _her_ way. It is a great trial to Camilla. "

"I could fancy a reason for that, " said Rosamond. "Julius does notlike the tone of the household at all. " But she added hastily, "Whocould those children be? They did not look _quite_ like poorchildren. "

"Ah! she is always taking up with some odd person in her own away, "said Cecil. "But here we are. Will you drive on to the hotel, orget out here?"

When, at the end of two hours, the sisters-in-law met at the work-room, and Rosamond had taken a survey of the row of needle-women, coming up one by one to give their work, be paid and dismissed, there was a look of weariness and vexation on Cecil's face. She hadfound it less easy to keep order and hinder gossip, and had hardlyknown how to answer when that kind lady, Mrs. Miles Charnock, hadbeen asked after; but she would have scorned to allow that she hadmissed her assistant, and only politely asked how Rosamond had sped. 

"Oh! excellently. People were so well advised as to be out, so Ipaid off all my calls. "

"You did not return your calls without Julius?"

"There's nothing he hates so much. I would not have dragged himwith me on any account. "

"I think it is due to one's self. "

"Ah! but then I don't care what is due to myself. I saw a friend ofyours, Cecil. "

"Who?"

"Mrs. Duncombe, " said Rosamond. "I went to Pettitt's--the littleperfumer, you know, that Julius did so much for at the fire; andthere she was, leaning on the counter, haranguing him confidentiallyupon setting an example with sanatory measures. "

"Sanitary, " corrected Cecil; "sanitas is health, sano to cure. People never know the difference. "

"Certainly I don't, " said Rosamond. "It must be microscopic!"

"Only it shows the difference between culture and the reverse, " saidCecil. 

"Well, you know, I'm the reverse, " said Rosamond, leaning sleepilyback, and becoming silent; but Cecil was too anxious forintelligence to let her rest, and asked on what Mrs. Duncombe wassaying. 

"I am not quite sure--she was stirring up his public spirit, Ithink, about the drainage; and they were both of them deploring theslackness and insensibility of the corporation, and canvassing forMr. Whitlock, as I believe. It struck me as a funny subject for alady, but I believe she does not stick at trifles. "

"No real work can be carried out by those who do, " said Cecil. 

"Oh!" added Rosamond, "I met Mrs. And Miss Bowater, and they desiredme to say that Jenny can't come till the dinner-party on the 20th, and then they will leave her. "

"How cool to send a message instead of writing!"

"Oh! she has always been like one of themselves, like a sister tothem all. "

"I can't bear that sort of people. "

"What sort?"

"Who worm themselves in. "

"Miss Bowater could have no occasion for worming. They must bequite on equal terms. "

"At any rate, she was only engaged to their poor relation. "

"What poor relation? Tell me! Who told you?"

"Raymond. It was a young attorney--a kind of cousin of the Poynsettside, named Douglas. "

"What? There's a cross in the churchyard to Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of Francis Poynsett, and wife of James Douglas, and at thebottom another inscription to Archibald Douglas, her son, lost inthe Hippolyta. "

"Yes, that must be the man. He was flying from England, having beensuspected of some embezzlement. "

"Indeed! And was Jenny engaged to him? Julius told me that Mrs. Douglas had been his mother's dearest friend, and that this Archiehad been brought up with them, but he did not say any more. "

"Perhaps he did not like having had a cousin in an attorney'soffice. I am sure I had no notion of such a thing. "

Rosamond laughed till she was exhausted at the notion of Julius'ssharing the fastidious objections she heard in Cecil's voice; andthen, struck by the sadness of the story, she cried, "And that makesthem all so fond of Miss Bowater. Poor girl, what must she not havegone through! And yet how cheerful she does look!"

"People say, " proceeded Cecil, unable to resist the impulse toacquire a partaker in her half-jealous aversion, "that it was agreat disappointment that Mrs. Poynsett could not make her sons likeher as much as she did herself. "

"Oh!" cried Rosamond, "how little peace we should have if we alwaysheeded what people say!"

"People that know, " persisted Cecil. 

"Not very wise or very kind people to say so, " quoth Rosamond;"though, by the bye, the intended sting is happily lost, consideringthat it lies among five. "

"Why should you assume a sting?"

"Because I see you are stung, and want to sting me, " said Rosamond, in so merry a tone that the earnestness was disguised. 

"I! I'm not stung! What Mrs. Poynsett or Miss Bowater may haveschemed is nothing to me, " said Cecil, with all her childishdignity. 

"People talk of Irish imagination, " said Rosamond in her lazymeditative tone. 

"Well?" demanded Cecil, sharply. 

"Only it is not _my_ Irish imagination that has devised thisdreadful picture of the artful Jenny and Mrs. Poynsett spinningtheir toils to entrap the whole five brothers. Come, Cecil, take myadvice and put it out of your head. Suppose it were true, smallblame to Mrs. Poynsett. "

"What do you mean?" said Cecil, in a voice of hurt dignity. 

"I may mean myself. " And Rosamond's peal of merry laughter was mostamazing and inexplicable to her companion, who was not sure that shewas not presuming to laugh at her. 

There was a silence, broken at last by Rosamond. "Cecil, I havebeen tumbled about the world a good deal more than you have, and Inever found that one got any good by disregarding the warnings ofthe natives. There's an immense deal in the cat and the cock. "

"I do not understand, said Cecil. 

Whereupon Rosamond, in a voice as if she were telling the story to asmall child, began: "Once upon a time there was a wee bitmousiekie, that lived in Giberatie O--that trotted out of her holeupon an exploring expedition. By and by she came scuttling back ina state of great trepidation--in fact, horribly nervous. 'Mother, mother!' said the little mouse, 'I've seen a hideous monster, with ared face, and a voice like a trumpet, and a pair of spurs. '"

"Of course, I know that, " broke in Cecil. 

"Ah, you haven't heard all. 'I should have died of terror, ' saidthe little mouse, 'only that I saw a dear sweet graceful creature, with a lovely soft voice, and a smooth coat, and the most beautifuleyes, and the most exquisite pathetic expression in her smile; andshe held out her velvet paw to me, and said, 'Dear little mousiekie-pousie, you're the loveliest creature I ever met, quiteunappreciated in these parts. That horrid old cock is terriblyvulgar and commonplace; and never you believe your mother if shetells you he is better worth cultivating than one who has such adeep genuine love and appreciation of all the excellences of allmice, and of you in particular with your dun fur. '"

Rosamond could not for her very life help putting in that word dun;and Cecil, who had been driving straight on with her eyes fixed onher pony's ears, and rather a sullen expression of forced endurance, faced about. "What you mean by all this I don't know; but if youthink it applies to me or my friends, you are much mistaken. "

"I told you, " said Rosamond, with the same languor, looking outunder her half-shut eyes, "that I apply things to myself. I've metboth sorts in my time. "

And silence reigned for the rest of the way. Cecil had read manymore books, knew much more, and was altogether a far more cultivatedpersonage than the Lady Rosamond; but she was not half so ready incatching the import of spoken words; and all this time she was by nomeans certain whether all this meant warning or meant mockery, though either was equally impertinent, and must be met with the samelady-like indifference, which Cecil trusted that she had nevertransgressed. 

Neither of them, nor indeed any other living creature, knew of alittle episode which had occurred about eighteen months previously, when Joanna Bowater had been taking care of Mrs Poynsett duringRaymond's first absence from home after her accident. Of course hetook her back to Strawyers as soon as he arrived; and about half-way, after a prolonged and unusual silence, he said, "Jenny, Ibelieve we know one another's histories pretty well. It would be agreat happiness and blessing if you could bring yourself to sink thepast so far as to take me, and become indeed my mother's daughter. Do not answer me in haste. Think it over, and tell me if it ispossible. "

Jenny let him drive on more than a mile before she spoke; and whenshe did, the tears stood on her cheek, and it was quite an effortthat her voice was made steady. "No, Raymond, I am very sorry, butit will not do. Two griefs will not make one joy. "

"Yes, they would, to my mother. "

"Ah! there it lies! Indeed, Raymond, I do feel for you all so much, especially your dear mother, that I would bring myself to it, if Icould; but the very thought brings Archie up so vividly before methat I cannot! He has almost seemed to be sitting by me all thistime. It seems as though beginning again would kill my right tothink of him foremost of all. "

"I could bear with that and trust to time, " said Raymond. "Think itover, Jenny. I will be candid with you. The old delusion was toostrong for any repetition of that kind, as you may see by the lameperformance I am making now. "

Jenny gave a little agitated laugh, and ejaculated, "Dear Raymond!"then added, "It is not on your account, but mine. "

"But, " he added, "my marriage is becoming a necessity, if only formy mother's sake; and you stand far before any other woman with me, if that would but satisfy you. I verily believe that in a shorttime we should be just as comfortable together as if we could startwith more romance. "

"I dare say we should, dear Raymond, " said Jenny; "but I cannot feelthat it is the right thing, while I have not _that_ feeling for youwhich overpowers everything else; it seems to me that I ought not togive up my place at home. Papa depends on me a good deal, and theyboth will want me more and more. "

"Less than my mother. "

"I don't know; and they are my first duty. I can always come toyour mother when I am wanted, and I know in your secret soul youprefer me on those terms. "

He made no answer, only when passing the lodge he said, "Will youconsider it a little longer, Jenny?"

But this only resulted in a note:--

"DEAR RAYMOND, --Considering only shows me that I must be ArchieDouglas's now and for ever. I can't help it. It is better foryou; for you can find some young girl who can wake your heartagain, as never could be done by your still affectionate J. B. "

Raymond and Jenny had met so often since, that the matter wasentirely past, and no one ever guessed it. 

At any rate, Rosamond, the most ready to plunge into counsel toCecil, was the least likely to have it accepted; Rosamond hadfoibles of her own that Cecil knew of, and censured freely enoughwithin herself. 

That never-ending question, whether what became the Colonel'sdaughter became the clergyman's wife, would crop up under endlessforms. Rosamond, in all opinions, was good-natured and easy, andalways for pardon and toleration to an extent that the Compton codecould not understand. She could not bear that anybody should bepunished or shut out of anything; while there was no denying that, now the first novelty was passing, she was very lazy as to herparochial work, and that where her feelings were not stirred she wasof little use. 

Julius seemed shamefully tolerant of her omissions, and likewise ofher eagerness for all gaieties. He would not go himself, would notaccept a dinner invitation for any of the three busy nights of theweek, and refused all those to dances and balls for himself, thoughhe never hindered Rosamond's going. 

She used absolutely to cry with passionate entreaties that he wouldrelent and come with her, declaring that he was very unkind, he knewit took away all her pleasure--he was a tyrant, and wanted her notto go. And then he smiled, and owned that he hoped some day shewould be tired of it; whereat she raged, and begged him to forbidher, if he really thought her whole life had been so shocking, declaring in the same breath that she would never disown her family, or cast a slur on her mother and sisters. 

It always ended in her going, and though never again offending as byher bridal gown, she seldom failed to scandalize Cecil by an excessof talking and of waltzing, such as even Raymond regretted, andwhich disabled her for a whole day after from all but sofa, sleep, novels, and yawns. 

Was this the person whose advice the discreet heiress of Dunstonewas likely to follow?

It may be mentioned here, among other elements of difficulty, thatCecil's maid Grindstone was a thorough Dunstonite, who 'kept herselfto herself, ' was perfectly irreproachable, lived on terms of distantcivility with the rest of the household, never complained, butconstantly led her young mistress to understand that she wasenduring much for her sake. 

Cecil was too well trained, and so was she, for a word of gossip orcensure to pass between them; but the influence was not the lessstrong. 

CHAPTER XIIPastoral Visiting

A finger's breadth at hand may marA world of light in heaven afar;A mote eclipse a glorious star, An eyelid hide the sky. --KEBLE. 

The dinner was over, and Cecil was favouring the audience with aseverely classical piece of music, when, under cover thereof, a lowvoice said to Julius, "Now, really and truly, tell me how he isgetting on?"

"Really and truly, Jenny?"

"Well, not as you would tell mamma, for instance; but as you thinkin your secret soul. "

"I am sorry you think me so duplex. "

"Come, you understand how anxious I am about the boy. "

"Exactly. " And they both laughed. 

"Is that all?" said Joanna Bowater. 

"_Really and truly_ it is! Rose can manage him much better than Ican. "

"He is very fond of her; but does he--is he--is his heart in hiswork?" asked the sister, looking with her honest eyes earnestly atJulius, her contemporary and playfellow as a child, and afterwardsthe companion with whom she had worked out many a deep problem, rendering mutual assistance that made each enter in no common degreeinto the inner thoughts of the other. 

Julius smiled. "I doubt whether he has come to his heart yet. "

"Why should he be so young? Think what you were at twenty-three. "

"I never had Herbert's physique; and that makes an immensedifference. I had no taste or capacity for what is a greatprivation to a fine young fellow like him. Don't look startled! Heattempts nothing unfitting; he is too good and dutiful, but--"

"Yes, I know what that _but_ means. "

"Nothing to be unhappy about. You know how blameless he has alwaysbeen at Eton and Oxford; and though he may view his work rather in aschool-boy aspect, and me as a taskmaster, as long as he is doingright the growth is going on. Don't be unhappy, Jenny! His greatclear young voice is delightful to hear; he is capital at choralpractices, and is a hero to all the old women and boys, the more sofor the qualities that earnestness cannot give, but rather detractsfrom. "

"You mean that he is not in earnest?"

"Don't pervert all I say! He is not past the time of life when allappointed work seems a task, and any sort of excuse a valid causeagainst it; but he is conscientious, and always good-humoured undera scolding, --and Rosamond does not spare him, " he added, laughing. 

"Then you don't think there has been a mistake about him?" saidJenny, in a low voice of alarm. 

"I have little doubt that when anything develops his inner life, soas to overcome the great strong animal that demands play andexercise, he will be a most useful clergyman. "

"Perhaps he is too young, though I don't see how it could be helped. Papa always intended it, because of the living; and Herbert neverwished anything else. I thought he really desired it, but now Idon't know whether he did not only take it as a matter of course. "

"Obedience is no unwholesome motive. As things stood, to delay hisordination would have been a stigma he did not deserve; and thoughhe might have spent a year with advantage in a theological college, pupilage might only have prolonged his boyhood. It must beexperience, not simply years of study, that deepens him. "

"Ah, those studies!"

"To tell the truth, that's what I am most uneasy about. I take carehe should have two hours every forenoon, and three evenings everyweek, free; but when a man is in his own neighbourhood, and sopopular, I am afraid he does not get many evenings at home; and Ican't hinder Bindon from admonishing him. "

"No, " said the sister; "nothing will stir him till the examinationis imminent; but I will try what I can do with him for the present. Here he comes, the dear old idle fellow!"

"Joanie, here you are at last, in conclave with the Rector. LadyRose wants me to sing, and you must accompany me. No one is sojolly for picking one up. "

'Picking one up' was apt to be needed by Herbert, who had a good earand voice, but had always regarded it as 'bosh' to cultivate them, except for the immediately practical purposes that had of late beenforced on him. The choral society had improved him; but Jenny wastaken aback by being called on to accompany him in Mrs. Brown'sLuggage; and his father made his way up to him, saying, "Eh, Herbert! is that the last clerical fashion?"

"'Tis my Rectoress who sets me on, sir, " was Herbert's merry answer, looking at her. "Now, Lady Rose, you'll keep me in countenance! Myfather has never heard you sing Coming through the Rye. "

"No, no, Herbert, my singing is only to amuse little boys. Here'sthe higher order of art!"

For Cecil was leading a young lady to the piano, and looking as ifshe by no means approved of such folly, though everybody hadlistened to the Poor Old Cockatoo, laughed and applauded heartily;and the ensuing performance seemed to be unappreciated by any oneexcept Raymond and Cecil themselves. 

Anne was sitting in a corner of the sofa, with a straight back andweary face, having been driven out into the throng by the oldfriends who came to sit with Mrs. Poynsett; but she brightened asMiss Bowater took a seat beside her, and accepted her inquiries forCaptain Charnock far more graciously than the many which hadpreceded them. Was not her likeness in his album? And had he notspoken of her as one whom Anne would like?

Soon Joanna had led her to tell not only of Miles's last letter, butof those from Glen Fraser, of which she had spoken to no one, underthe impression that nobody cared. She even spoke of the excellentfarm and homestead which Mr. Van Dorp wanted to sell before going tothe Free State, and which her father thought would exactly suitMiles. 

"Does he mean to settle there?"

"Oh, yes; he promised me to leave the navy and take me home as soonas this voyage is over, " said Anne, eagerly. "If the Salamanca onlyputs in for long enough, he might run up to Glen Fraser, and seeBocksfeld Stoop, and settle it all at once. I am sure he would bedelighted with it, and it is only two miles from Mr. Pilgrim's. "

"I'm afraid you can never feel this like home, " said Jenny. 

"Miles wanted me to know his family, and thought I should be usefulto his mother, " said Anne; "but she does not want anything I coulddo for her. If she has Raymond, she seems to need nobody else. "

"And have you nothing to do?"

"I have letters to write to Miles and to them all at home; and I ammaking a whole set of shirts and stockings for papa and the boys--itwill spare mamma and Jeanie, and I have plenty of time. "

"Too much, I am afraid! But Herbert said you were very useful atthe Work Society at Wil'sbro'. "

"Not now. "

"Indeed!"

"No, " in the old cold dry tone. But while Jenny was doubtingwhether to inquire further, innate sympathy conquered, and Anneadded, "I wonder whether I did wrong!"

"As how?" asked Joanna, kindly. 

"They said"--she lowered her voice--"I must never speak on religioussubjects. "

"How do you mean? What had you done?"

"One day I found a woman crying because her husband had gone away toseek work, so I told her my husband was further away and repeatedthe texts I like. She was so much comforted that I printed them ona card for her. "

"Was that all?"

"No; there was another poor dear that was unhappy about her baby;and when I bade her pray for it, she did not know how, so I had totell her a little. There is one who does know her Saviour, and Idid love to have a few words of peace with her. "

"And was that what was objected to?"

"Yes; they said it would change the whole character of theinstitution. "

"Who did?"

"Cecil--Mrs. Charnock Poynsett. I think Lady Tyrrell and Mrs. Duncombe desired her. I thought it was no place for me where Imight not speak one word for Christ, and I said so; but since I havewondered whether the old Adam did not speak in me, and I ought tohave gone on. "

"My wonder, " said Jenny, indignantly, "would be what right they hadto stop you. This was private interference, not from the Vicar orthe committee. "

"But I am not a real visiting lady. I only go to help Cecil. "

"I see; but why didn't you ask Julius what was right? He would havetold you. "

"Oh, no, I could not. "

"Why not?"

"It would seem like a complaint of Cecil. Besides--"

"Besides?"

"I don't think Julius is a Christian. "

The startling announcement was made in so humble and mournful avoice as almost to disarm Jenny's resentment; and before she hadrecovered enough for a reply, she was called to take leave of herparents. 

Her brother was the professed object of her visit, and she was onlyat the Hall because there was no accommodation at his lodgings, sothat she had no scruple in joining the early breakfast spread forthe Rector and his wife, so as to have the morning free for him; butshe found Julius alone, saying that his wife was tired after theparty; and to Jenny's offer to take her class, he replied, "Thankyou, it will be a great kindness if you will teach; but Rose has noregular class. Teaching is not much in her line; and it is a pityshe should have to do it, but we have to make the most of the singlehour they allow us for godliness. "

"Don't you utilize Mrs. Charnock? or is she not strong enough forearly hours?"

"Poor Anne! The truth is, I am afraid of her. I fancy all herdoctrine comes out of the Westminster Catechism. "

"Could Calvinism be put in at seven years old? Would not it be apouring of stiff glue into a narrow-necked phial?"

"Result--nil. "

"A few pure drops might got in--and you could give her books. "

"It had struck me that it might be wholesome work for her; but thechildren's good must stand first. And, timid and reserved as sheseems, she insisted on preaching at the work-room, so that Cecil hadto put a stop to it. "

"Are you certain about that preaching?"

"Rose heard of it from Cecil herself. "

"Did she ask what it amounted to?"

"I don't know; perhaps I had better find out. I remember it cameafter that ride to Sirenwood. By the bye, Jenny, I wish Cecil couldbe hindered from throwing herself into that oak of Broceliande!"

"Are not you so suspicious that you see the waving arms and magiccircles everywhere?"

"A friendship with any one here is so unnatural, that I can't butthink it a waving of hands boding no good. And there is worse thanfriendship in that quarter too. "

"Oh, but Lenore is quite different!"

"A Vivienne still!" said Julius, bitterly. "If she costs poor Franknothing more than his appointment, it will be well. "

"I don't understand!"

"She caught him in her toils two years ago at Rockpier; and now sheis playing fast and loose with him--withdrawing, as I believe; andat any rate keeping the poor foolish boy in such an agitation, thathe can't or won't settle to his reading; and Driver thinks he willbreak down. "

"I can't think it of Lenore. --Oh! good morning, Raymond!"

"Good morning! May I come to breakfast number one? I have to go toBacksworth. "

"Yes, " said Jenny; "we told papa it was too bad to put you on thePrison Committee. What does your wife say?"

"My wife has so many occupations, that she is very sufficient forherself, " said Raymond. "I hope you will get on with her, Jenny. If she could only be got to think you intellectual!"

"Me? O, Raymond! you've not been telling her so?" exclaimed Jenny, laughing heartily. 

"A very superior coach in divinity, &c. , " said Julius, in a tonehalf banter, half earnest. 

But Jenny exclaimed in distress, "No, no, no; say nothing aboutthat! It would never do for Herbert to have it known. Don't lethim guess that you know. "

"Quite right, Jenny; never fear, " said Julius; "though it istempting to ask you to take Frank in hand at the same time. "

"Have you seen anything of the Vivians?" asked Raymond. 

"Very little. I hoped to see something of Eleonora from hence. "

"I can't understand that young lady, " said Julius. "She was veryfriendly when first we met her; but now she seems absolutelyrepellant. "

"Tant mieux, " Raymond

"They seem inclined to take up all the good works in hand, " saidJenny. "By the bye, what is all this story about Raymond affrontingWil'sbro' by stirring up their gutters? Papa has been quite in astate of mind for fear they should take offence and bring in Mr. Moy. "

"Julius only thinks I have not stirred the gutters enough, " saidRaymond. "And after all, it is not I, but Whitlock. I was in hopesthat matters might have been properly looked after if Whitlock hadbeen chosen mayor this year; but, somehow, a cry was got up that hewas going to bring down a sanitary commission, and put the town togreat expense; and actually, this town-council have been elected_because_ they are opposed to drainage. "

"And Truelove, the grocer, is mayor?"

"Yes; one of the most impracticable men I ever encountered. Onecan't get him so much as to understand anything. Now Briggs doesunderstand, only he goes by pounds s. D. "

"Posterity has done nothing for me, and I will do nothing forposterity, is his principle, " said Julius. "Moreover, he is aBaptist. "

"No chance for the Church in his time, " said Jenny. 

"There's the less harm in that, " said Raymond, "that the plan isintolerable. Briggs's nephew took the plan of what he calls aGerman Rat-house, for the town-hall, made in gilt gingerbread; andthen adapted the church to a beautiful similarity. If that could bestaved off by waiting for the bazaar, or by any other means, theremight be a chance of something better. So poor Fuller thinks, though he is not man enough to speak out at once. "

"Then the bazaar is really fixed?"

"So far as the resolution goes of the lady population, though Juliusis sanguine, and hopes to avert it. After all, I believe thegreatest obstructive to improvement is Moy. "

"Old Mr. Proudfoot's son-in-law?" said Jenny. "I know he hasblossomed out in great splendour on our side of the county, and hisdaughter is the general wonder. Papa is always declaring he willset up in opposition to you. "

"Not much fear of that, " said Raymond. "But the man provokes me, hehas so much apparent seriousness. "

"Even to the persecution of Dr. Easterby, " put in Julius. "And yethe is the great supporter of that abominable public-house in WaterLane, the Three Pigeons--which, unluckily, escaped the fire. Heowns it, and all those miserable tenements beyond it, and nothingwill move him an inch towards doing any good there!"

"I remember, " said Jenny, "papa came home very angry on thelicensing day; the police had complained of the Three Pigeons, andthe magistrates would have taken away the license, but that Mr. Moymade such a personal matter of it. "

"You don't mean that he is a magistrate!" exclaimed Julius. 

"Yes, " said Raymond. "He got the ear of the Lord-Lieutenant. "

"And since he has lived at the Lawn, they have all quite set up forcounty people or anything you please, " said Jenny, a littlebitterly. "Mrs. Moy drives about with the most stylish pair ofponies; and as to Miss Gussie, she is making herself into a proverb!I can't bear them. "

"Well done, Jenny!" exclaimed Julius. 

"Perhaps it is wrong, " said Jenny, in a low voice. "I dare say I amnot just. You know I always did think Mr. Moy could have clearedArchie if he would, " she added, with a slightly trembling tone. 

"So did I, " said Raymond. "I gave him the opportunity after GeorgeProudfoot's death; but when the choice lay between two memories, onecould hardly wonder if he preferred to shield his brother-in-law. "

"Or himself!" said Jenny, under her breath. 

"Come, Jenny, " said Julius, feeling that the moment for interruptionhad come, "it is time we should be off. Methinks there are soundsas if the whole canine establishment at Mrs. Hornblower's wereprancing up to meet us. "

So it proved; and Jenny had to run the gauntlet through theecstasies of all the dogs, whose ecclesiastical propriety was quiteoverthrown, for they danced about her to the very threshold of thechurch, and had to have the door shut on their very noses. Thatdrop of bitterness, which her sad brief story could not fail to haveleft in poor Joanna's heart, either passed out of mind in whatfollowed, or was turned into the prayer, "And to turn their hearts;"and she was her bright self again for her promised assistance at theschool. 

Then Herbert's address was, "Come, Joan, I promised to take you tosee the Reeves's pheasant at the Outwood Lodge. Such a jolly oldwoman!"

"The pheasant?"

"No; the keeper's mother. Tail a yard long! I don't see why weshouldn't turn them out at home. If father won't take it up, Ishall write to Phil. "

"Thank you, Herbs. Hadn't you better secure a little reading first?I could wait; I've got to write to Will. "

"The post doesn't go till five. "

"But I want to get it done. The mail goes to-morrow. "

"You'll do it much better after a walk. I can't understand anythingafter the fumes of the school, unless I do a bit of visiting first;and that pheasant is a real stunner. It really is parish work, Jenny. Look here, this is what I'm reading her. "

"_Learn to die_!" said Jenny, laughing heartily. "Nothing could bemore appropriate, only you should have begun before October. "

"You choose to make fun of everything!" answered Herbert, gruffly;and Jenny, deciding that she would see a specimen day, made herpeace by consenting to share in the pastoral visit, whether topheasant or peasant. Indeed, a walk with Herbert was one of theprime pleasures of her life--and this was delightful, along broadgravelled drives through the autumnal woods with tinted beech-leavesabove, and brackens of all shades of brown, green, and yellowbeneath. And it was charming to see Herbert's ways with the oldwoman--a dainty old dame, such as is grown in the upper ranks ofservice, whom he treated with a hearty, bantering, coaxing manner, which she evidently enjoyed extremely. His reading, for he _did_come to more serious matters, was very good--in a voice that withouteffort reached deaf ears, and with feeling about it that did a greatdeal to reassure his sister that there was something behind the bigbright boy. 

But by the time he had done the honours of all the pheasants, andall the dogs, and all the ferrets, and all the stuffed birds, andall the eggs (for the keeper was a bit of a naturalist), and haddiscussed Mr. Frank's last day's shooting, it was so late, thatJenny had only just time to walk back to the Hall at her best pace, to see Mrs. Poynsett for a few minutes before luncheon; and herreception was, "Is that Herbert's step? Call him in, my dear!--Youmust make the most of your sister, Herbert. Come in to all mealswhile she is here. "

He heard with gratitude--his sister with consternation. If forenoonpastoral visits were to be on that scale, and he dined out wheneverhe was not at school or at church, how would his books fare? and yetshe could not grudge his pleasure. She could not help looking halffoolish, half sad, when she met the Rector's eye. 

Julius thought so much of her advice, as to knock at Cecil'ssitting-room door, and beg to ask her a question; and as she likedto be consulted, she welcomed him hospitably into that temple, sacred to culture and to Dunstone--full of drawings, books, andchina. 

"I was thinking, " he said, "of offering Anne some parish work. Iwanted to know if you saw any objection?"

"Certainly not; I have not been able to make acquaintance yet withall our tenants, but they seem quite to understand the difference inour positions, " said Cecil, with due deliberation. 

Julius choked his amusement, and waived that point. "But did younot feel obliged to decline her services at the Wil'sbro' work-room?"

"That was quite another thing. What was most undesirable in such aninstitution would be all very well for your old women. "

"What kind of thing?"

"Talking piously, giving away texts, and so on; just the way to makethe women think we intended to impose religious instruction and givea sectarian character, defeating our own object. "

"Was there any flaw in what she said?"

"I can't tell what she said. It was just a little murmur over thework. "

"Not preaching?"

"Not in that sense, " said Cecil, with a little compunction. 

"I am glad to hear it; it makes a great difference. "

"You see, " said the lady, "our institution is merely intended tosupport these women in the time of want; and if we were to coupleour assistance with religion we should just sink into a mothers'meeting, and make the women think--"

"Think that you prize the soul more than the body, " said Julius, asshe halted in search of a word. "I understand, Cecil; you would notbe in the prevailing fashion. I don't want to argue that point, only to understand about Anne. "

So saying, he went at once to Anne's abode, the old schoolroom, which, like everything else belonging to Mrs. Miles Charnock, had asad-coloured aspect, although it had been fitted up very prettily. The light was sombre, and all the brighter pictures and ornamentsseemed to have been effaced by a whole gallery of amateurphotographs, in which the glories of the African bush wererepresented by brown masses of shade variegated by blotches ofwhite. Even in Miles's own portrait on the table, the gold seemedoverwhelmed by the dark blue; and even as Julius entered, she shutit up in its brown case, as too sacred for even his brother's eyes. 

However, a flush of pleasure came to her pale face at the invitationto take a class, and to read to a good old woman, whom in his secretsoul he thought so nearly a dissenter, that she could not be mademore so. She promised her help with some eagerness for as long asshe should remain in England, and accepted the books he gave herwithout protest. Nay, that same evening she took Jenny off into hergray abode, to consult her whether, since she must now join theearly breakfast, she could go to daily service without becomingformal. 

She even recurred to her question, whether Julius was a Christian, without nearly as much negation in her tones as before; and Jenny, taking it as it was meant, vouched for his piety, so as might renderit a little more comprehensible to one matured on Scottish Calvinismand English Methodism, diluted in devout undogmatic minds, with noprinciple more developed than horror of Popery and of worldliness. Turned loose in solitude, reserve, and sadness, on her husband'sfamily, who did nothing but shock her with manifestations of thelatter, she could hardly turn even to the clerical portion of it, while Julius, as well as his curates, bore all the tokens by whichshe had been taught to know a Papist. Daily intercourse was perhapsdrawing her a little towards her brother-in-law; but Herbert Bowaterunited these obnoxious externals to a careless tongue, and joyouseasy-going manner, and taste for amusement, which so horrified Anne, that she once condoled with his sister, and proposed to unite inprayer for his conversion; but this was more than Joanna could bear, and she cried, "I only wish I were as good a Christian as dearHerbert!"

For indeed, the sister's heart intensely esteemed his sweetness, honesty, and simplicity, even while she found it an uphill task tocoax him to steady work. After that first morning he was indeedashamed to let her see the proportion between his pastoral visitsand his theological reading; but the newspapers (he had two or threeweekly ones) had a curious facility of expansion, and there was aperilous sound in "I'll just see where the meet is, "--not that hehad the most distant idea of repairing thither; it was pure filialinterest in learning where his father and Edith would be. 

Jenny could not tell whether her presence conduced to diligence orto chatter, but he minded her more than any one else, and alwaysstuck close to her, insisting on her admiring all his proteges. There was one with whom he was certainly doing a work, which, asJulius truly said, no one more clerical could have done so well--namely, the son of his landlady, a youth who held a small clerkshipin an office at Willansborough, and who had fallen this year underthe attraction of the Backsworth races, so as to get into seriousdifficulties with his master, and narrowly escape dismissal for thesake of his mother. 

The exceeding good-nature and muscular Christian side of thelodger's character was having a most happy effect on the lad. Hehad set up a regular hero-worship, which Herbert encouraged byalways calling for him when going to the choral practices, gettinghim into the choir, lending him books, and inviting him to read inhis room in the evening. How much they played with the dogs was notknown; but at any rate, Harry Hornblower was out of mischief, andhis mother was so grateful to Mr. Bowater, that she even went thelength of preferring his sermons to those of both his seniors. 

The discovery that most vexed Jenny was that Sirenwood had so muchof his time. He seemed to be asked to come to dinner whenever SirHarry saw him, or a chair was left vacant at a party; and though hisRector was inexorable as to releasing him on casual notice from theparish avocations of three nights in the week, the effect wasgrumbling as savage as was possible from so good-humoured a being;and now and then a regular absence without leave, and a double growlat the consequent displeasure. It was true that in ten minutes hewas as hearty and friendly as ever to his colleagues, but that mightbe only a proof of his disregard of their reproofs, and their smalleffect. 

Eleonora Vivian was not the attraction. No; Herbert thought her aproud, silent, disagreeable girl, and could see no beauty in her;but he had a boy's passion for the matured splendour of her sister'sbeauty; and she was so kind to him!

What could Jenny mean by looking glum about it? She was stunninglygood, and all that. She had done no end of good with clubs andmothers' meetings at her married home; and it was no end of a pityshe was not in Compton parish, instead of under poor wretched oldFuller, whom you could not stir--no, not if you tied a firebrand tohis tail. 

CHAPTER XIIIWithered Leaves and Fresh Buds

Lady Rosamond and Joanna Bowater could not fail to be good friends;Herbert was a great bond of union, and so was Mrs. Poynsett. Rosamond found it hard to recover from the rejection of her schemeof the wheeled-chair, and begged Jenny to become its advocate; butMrs. Poynsett listened with a smile of the unpromising kind--"Youtoo, Jenny?"

"Why not, dear Mrs. Poynsett? How nice it would be to see you inyour own corner again!"

"I don't think my own corner remains. "

"Oh! but it could be restored at once. "

"Do you think so? No, no, Jenny my dear; cracked china is betterleft on the shelf out of the way, even if it could bear the move, which it can't. "

Then Jenny understood, and advised Rosamond to bide her time, andwait till the session of parliament, when the house would bequieter; and Rosamond nodded and held her peace. 

The only person who held aloof was Cecil, who would not rise to thebait when Raymond tried to exhibit Miss Bowater as a superiorintellectual woman. 

Unluckily, too, Jenny observed one evening at the five o'clock tea, "I hear that Mrs. Duncombe has picked up some very funny people--alady lecturer, who is coming to set us all to rights. "

"A wonderful pair, I hear!" said Frank. "Mrs. Clio Tallboys, shecalls herself, and a poor little husband, whom she carries about toshow the superiority of her sex. "

"A Cambridge professor and a great political economist!" observedCecil, in a low but indignant voice. 

"The Yankee Cambridge!" quoth Frank. 

"The American Cambridge is a distinguished university, " returnedCecil. 

"Cecil is right, Master Frank, " laughed his mother; "Cam and Isisare not the only streams of learning in the world. "

"I never heard of him, " said Jenny; "he is a mere satellite to thegreat luminary. "

"They are worth seeing, " added Frank; "she is one of those regularAmerican beauties one would pay to get a sight of. "

"Where did you get all this information?" asked Cecil. 

"From Duncombe himself. They met on the Righi; and nothing is morecomical than to near him describe the ladies' fraternization overfemale doctors and lawyers, till they rushed into each other's arms, and the Clio promised to come down on a crusade and convert youall. "

"There are two ways of telling a story, " said Cecil. 

"No wonder the gentlemen quake!" said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"I don't, " said Frank, boyishly. 

"Because you've no wife to take you in hand, " retorted Jenny. 

"For my part, " said Mrs. Poynsett, "I can't see what women want. Ihave always had as many rights as I could exercise. "

"Ah! but we are not all ladies of the manor, " said Jenny, "nor do weall drive coaches. "

"I observe, " said Cecil, with dignity, "that there is supposed to bea license to laugh at Mrs. Duncombe and whatever she does. "

"She would do better to mind her children, " said Frank. 

"Children! Has she children?" broke in Anne and Rosamond, both atonce. 

"Didn't you know it?" said Jenny. 

"No, indeed! I didn't think her the sort of woman, " said Rosamond. "What does she do with them?"

"Drops them in the gutter, " said Frank. "Literally, as I came home, I heard a squeak, and found a child flat in a little watercourse. Ipicked it out, and the elder one told me it was Ducky Duncombe, orsome such word. Its little boots had holes in them, mother; itslegs were purple, and there was a fine smart foreign woman flirtinground the corner with young Hornblower. "

"Boys with long red hair, and Highland dresses?" exclaimed Rosamond. "Yes, the same we saw with Miss Vivian!"

"Exactly!" said Frank, eagerly. "She is quite a mother to thosepoor little wretches; they watch for her at the Sirenwood gate, andshe walks with them. The boy's cry was not for mother or nurse, butfor Lena!"

"Pray, did she come at his call?"

"No; but when I carried the brat home, poor Duncombe told me almostwith tears, how good she is to them. I fancy he feels theirmother's neglect of them. "

"I'm sure I gave her credit for having none, " said Rosamond. 

"Ah!" said Jenny, "you should have heard her condolences with mysister Mary on her last infliction. Fancy Mary's face!"

"No doubt it was to stem a torrent of nursery discussions, " saidCecil. "Such bad taste!"

"Which?" murmured Rosamond under her breath, with an arched eyebrow. 

"Plain enough, " said Frank: "if a woman is a woman, the bad tasteis to be ashamed of it. "

"Yes, " said Cecil, "that is the way with men; they would fain keepus down to the level of the nursery. "

"I thought nurseries were usually at the top of the house. "

"Perhaps, " said Mrs. Poynsett, disregarding this mischievoussuggestion, "they mean that organization, like charity, should beginat home. "

"You say that meaningly, " said Rosamond. "I have heard very oddstories of domestic affairs at Aucuba Villa, and that she can't geta servant to stay there. "

"That man, Alexander, has always been there, " said Frank. 

"Yes; but he has occasionally to do all the work of the house. Yes, I can't help it, Cecil, Susan will regale me with cook-storiessometimes; and I have heard of the whole establishment turning outon being required to eat funguses. "

"I shall beware of dining there!" said Rosamond. 

"Don't they dine here to-morrow?" asked Frank. 

"No, they are engaged to the Moys, " said Cecil. 

"But the Vivians come?"

"Oh yes. "

Every one knew that already; but Frank could not help having itrepeated. It was a mere formal necessity to ask them, and had beenaccepted as such; but there was some amazement when Cecil broughthome Lady Tyrrell and Miss Vivian to lunch and spend the afternoon. It might be intended as one of her demonstrations; for though it wasunderstood that any of the inmates were free to bring home friendsto luncheon, it was not done--except with a casual gentleman--without notice to the mistress of the house. Cecil, however, comported herself entirely as in that position, explaining that LadyTyrrell was come to give her advice upon an intended fernery, andwould perform her toilette here, so as to have plenty of time. Frank, little knowing what was passing, was working the whole day athis tutor's for the closely imminent examination; Julius and Raymondwere gravely polite; Eleonora very silent; and as soon as the mealwas over, Rosamond declared that she should not come out to standplanning in the cold; and though Herbert would have liked nothingbetter in that company, his Rector carried him off to arrange anAdvent service in a distant hamlet; Anne's horse came to the door;and only Joanna remained to accompany the gardening party, exceptthat Raymond came out with them to mark the limits of permissiblealteration. 

"How unchanged!" exclaimed Lady Tyrrell. "Time stands still here;only where is the grand old magnolia? How sweet it used to be!"

"Killed by the frost, " said Raymond, shortly, not choosing toundergo a course of reminiscences, and chafing his wife by hisrepressive manner towards her guest. When he had pointed out thebed of Americans that were to be her boundary, he excused himself ashaving letters to finish; and as he went away Cecil gave vent to herdistaste to the old shrubs and borders, now, of course, at theirworst--the azaleas mere dead branches, the roses with a few yellownight-capped buds still lingering, and fuchsias with a scanty bellor two. 

Jenny fought for their spring beauty, all the more because LadyTyrrell was encouraging the wife to criticize the very things shehad tried to sentimentalize over with the husband; but seeing thatshe was only doing harm, she proposed a brisk walk to Eleonora, whogladly assented, though her sister made a protest about damp, andher being a bad walker. The last things they heard was Cecil'ssigh, "It is all so shut in, wherever there is level ground, thatthe bazaar would be impossible. "

"I should hope so!" muttered Jenny. 

"What do you mean to do about this bazaar?" asked Eleonora, as theysped away. 

"I don't know. Those things so often go off in smoke, that I don'tmake up my mind till they become imminent. "

"I am afraid this will go on, " said Eleonora. "Camilla means it andshe always carries out her plans; I wish I saw the right line. "

"About that?"

"About everything. It seems to me that there never was any one socut off from help and advice as I am;" then, as Joanna made somemute sign of sympathy, "I knew you would understand; I have beenlonging to be with you, for there has been no one to whom I couldspeak freely since I left Rockpier. "

"And I have been longing to have you. Mamma would have asked you tostay with us before, only we had the house full. Can't you comenow?"

"You will see that I shall not be allowed. It is of no use to thinkabout it!" said the girl, with a sigh. "Here, let us get out ofthis broad path, or she may yet come after us--persuade Mrs. Charnock Poynsett it is too cold to stand about--anything to breakup a tete-a-tete. "

Jenny saw she really was in absolute fear of pursuit; but hardly yetunderstood the nervous haste to turn into a not very inviting side-path, veiled by the trees, whose wet leaves were falling. 

"Do you mind the damp?" asked the girl, anxiously. 

"No, not at all; but--"

"You don't know what it is never to feel free, but be like a Frenchgirl, always watched--at least whenever I am with any one I care tospeak to. "

"Are you quite sure it is not imagination?"

"O, Joanna, don't be like all the rest, blinded by her! You knewher always!"

"Only from below. I am four years younger; you know dear Emily wasmy contemporary. "

"Dear Emily! I miss her more now than even at Rockpier. But you, who were her friend, and knew Camilla of old, I know you can help meas no one else can. "

Jenny returned a caress; and Eleonora spoke on. "You know I wasonly eight years old when Camilla married, and I had scarcely seenher till she came to us at Rockpier, on Lord Tyrrell's death, andthen she was most delightful. I thought her like mother and sisterboth in one, even more tender than dear Emily. How could I havethought so for a moment? But she enchanted everybody. Clergy, ladies, and all came under the spell; and I can't get advice fromany of them--even from Miss Coles--you remember her?"

"Your governess? How nice she was!"

"Emily and I owed everything to her! She was as near being a motherto us as any one could be; and Camilla could not say enough ofgratitude, or show esteem enough, and fascinated her like all therest of us; but she never rested till she had got her off to asituation in Russia. I did not perceive the game at the time, but Isee now how all the proposals for situations within reach of me werequashed. "

"But you write to her?"

"Yes; but as soon as I showed any of my troubles she reproved me forself-will and wanting to judge for myself, and not submit to mysister. That's the way with all at Rockpier. Camilla has goneabout pitying me to them for having to give way to my marriedsister, but saying it was quite time that she took charge of us; andon that notion they all wrote to me. Then she persuaded papa to goabroad; and I was delighted, little thinking she never meant me togo back again. "

"Did she not?"

"Listen! I've heard her praise Rockpier and its church to the skiesto one person--say Mr. Bindon. To another, such as our own Vicar, she says it was much too ultra, and she likes moderation; she tellsyour father that she wants to see papa among his old friends; and toMrs. Duncombe, I've heard her go as near the truth as is possible toher, and call it a wearisome place, with an atmosphere of incense, curates, and old maids, from whom she had carried me off before Igrew fit for nothing else!"

"I dare say all these are true in turn, or seem so to her, or shewould not say them before you. "

"She has left off trying to gloss it over with me, except so far asit is part of her nature. She did at first, but she knows it is ofno use now. "

"Really, Lenore, you must be going too far. "

"I have shocked you; but you can't conceive what it is to live withperpetual falsity. No, I can't use any other word. I am alwaysmistrusting and being angered, and my senses of right and wrong getso confused, that it is like groping in a maze. " Her eyes were fullof tears, but she exclaimed, "Tell me, Joanna, was there everanything between Camilla and Mr. Poynsett?"

"Why bring that up again now?"

"Why did it go off?" insisted Lenore. 

"Because Mrs. Poynsett could not give up and turn into a dowager, asif she were not the mistress herself. "

"Was that all?"

"So it was said. "

"I want to get to the bottom of it. It was not because Lord Tyrrellcame in the way. "

"I am afraid they thought so here. "

"Then, " said Eleonora, in a hard, dry way, "I know the reason of ourbeing brought back here, and of a good deal besides. "

"My dear Lena, I am very sorry for you; but I think you had betterkeep this out of your mind, or you will fall into a hard, bitter, suspicious mood. "

"That is the very thing. I am in a hard, bitter, suspicious mood, and I can't see how to keep out of it; I don't know when oppositionis right and firm, and when it is only my own self-will. "

"Would it not be a good thing to talk to Julius Charnock? You wouldnot be betraying anything. "

"No! I can't seem to make up to the good clergyman! Certainly not. Besides, I've heard Camilla talking to his wife!"

"Talking?"

"Admiring that dress, which she had been sneering at to your mother, don't you remember? It was one of her honey-cups with venom below--only happily, Lady Rosamond saw through the flattery. I'm ashamedwhenever I see her!"

"I don't think that need cut you off from Julius. "

"Tell me _truly_, " again broke in Lenore, "what Mrs. Poynsett reallyis. She is a standing proverb with us for tyranny over her sons;not with Camilla alone, but with papa. "

"See how they love her!" cried Jenny, hotly. 

"Camilla thinks that abject; but I can't forget how Frank talked ofher in those happy Rockpier days. "

"When you first knew him?" said Jenny. 

They must have come at length to the real point, for Eleonora beganat once--"Yes; he was with his sick friend, and we were so happy;and now he is being shamefully used, and I don't know what to do!"

"Indeed, Lenore, " said Jenny, in her downright way, "I do notunderstand. You do not seem to care for him. "

"Of course I am wrong, " said the poor girl; "but I hoped I was doingthe best thing for him. " Then, as Jenny made an indignant sound, "See, Jenny, when he came to Rockpier, Camilla had been a widowabout three months. She never had been very sad, for Lord Tyrrellhad been quite imbecile for a year, poor man! And when Frank came, she could not make enough of him; and he and I both thought the twofamilies had been devotedly fond of each other, and that she wasonly too glad to meet one of them. "

"I suppose that was true. "

"So do I, as things stood then. She meant Frank to be a sort ofconnecting link, against the time when she could come back here; butwe, poor children, never thought of that, and went on together, notexactly saying anything, but quite understanding how much we cared. Indeed, I know Camilla impressed on him that, for his mother's sake, it must go no farther then, while he was still so young; and nextcame our journey on the Continent, ending in our coming back herelast July. "

Jenny remembered that Raymond's engagement had not been made knowntill August, and Frank had only returned from a grouse-shootingholiday a week or two before the arrival of the brides. 

"Now, " added Eleonora, "Camilla has made me understand that nothingwill induce her to let papa consent; and though I know he would, ifhe were left to himself, I also see how all this family must hateand loathe the connection. "

"May I ask, has Frank ever spoken?"

"Oh no! I think he implied it all to Camilla when she bade him waittill our return, fancying, I suppose, that one could forget theother. "

"But why does she seem so friendly with him?"

"It is her way; she can't be other than smooth and caressing, andlikes to have young men about; and I try to be grave and distant, because--the sooner he is cured of me the better for him, " sheuttered, with a sob; "but when he is there, and I see those grievedeyes of his, I can't keep it up! And papa does like him! Oh! ifCamilla would but leave us alone! See here, Jenny!" and she showed, on her watch-chain, a bit of ruddy polished pebble. "Is it wrong tokeep this? He and I found the stone in two halves, on the beach, the last day we were together, and had them set, pretending to oneanother it was only play. Sometimes I think I ought to send mineback; I know he has his, he let me see it one day. Do you think Iought to give it up?"

"Why should you?"

"Because then he would know that it must be all over. "

"But _is_ it all over? Within, I mean?"

"Jenny, you know better!"

"Then, Lenore, if so, and it is only your sister who objects, notyour father himself, ought you to torment poor Frank by actingindifference when you do not feel it?"

"Am I untrue? I never thought of that. I thought I should besacrificing myself for his good!"

"His good? O, Lenore, I believe it is the worst wrong a woman cando a man, to let him think he has wasted his heart upon her, andthat she is trifling with him. You don't know what a bad effectthis is having, even on his prospects. He cannot get his brain orspirits free to work for his examination. "

"How hard it is to know what is right! Here have I been thinkingthat what made me so miserable must be the best for him, and wouldit not make it all the worse to relax, and let him see?"

"I do not think so, " returned Jenny. "His spirits would not be wornby doubt of _you_--the worst doubt of all: and he would feel thathe had something to strive for. "

Eleonora walked on for some steps in silence, then exclaimed, "Yes, but there's his family. It would only stir up trouble for themthere. They can't approve of me. "

"They don't know you. When they do, they will. Now they only seewhat looks like--forgive me, Lena--caprice and coquetry; they willknow you in earnest, if you will let them. "

"You don't mean that they know anything about it!" exclaimedEleonora. 

Jenny almost laughed. "Not know where poor Frank's heart is? Youdon't guess how those sons live with their mother!"

"I suppose I have forgotten what sincerity and openness are, " saidEleonora, sadly. "But is not she very much vexed?"

"She was vexed to find it had gone so deep with him, " said Jenny;"but I know that you can earn her affection and trust by beingstaunch and true yourself--and it is worth having, Lena!"

For Jenny knew Eleonora of old, through Emily's letters, and had nodoubt of her rectitude, constancy, and deep principle, though shewas at the present time petrified by constant antagonism to suchuntruthfulness as, where it cannot corrupt, almost always hardensthose who come in contact with it. And this cruel idea of self-sacrifice was, no doubt, completing the indurating process. 

Jenny knew the terrible responsibility of giving such advice. Shehad not done it lightly. She had been feeling for years past that"'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved atall;" and she knew that uncertainty of the right to love and trustwould have been a pang beyond all she had suffered. To give poorEleonora, situated as she now was, admission to the free wholesomeatmosphere of the Charnock family, was to her kind heartirresistible; and it was pleasant to feel the poor girl clinging toher, as people do to those who have given the very counsel the heartcraved for. 

It was twilight when the walk was over, and the drawing-room wasempty; but Anne came to invite them to Mrs. Poynsett's tea, sayingthat Cecil had Lady Tyrrell in her own sitting-room. Perhaps Mrs. Poynsett had not realized who was Jenny's companion, for she seemedstartled at their entrance; and Jenny said, "You remember LenoreVivian?"

"I must have seen you as a child, " said Mrs. Poynsett, courteously. "You are very like your sister. "

This, though usually a great compliment, disappointed Eleonora, asshe answered, rather frigidly, "So people say. "

"Have you walked far?"

"To the Outwood Lodge. "

"To-day? Was it not very damp in the woods?"

"Oh no, delightful!"

"Lena and I are old friends, " said Jenny; "too glad to meet to heedthe damp. "

Here Raymond entered, with the air of a man who had just locked up aheavy post-bag at the last possible moment; and he too was amazed, though he covered it by asking why the party was so small. 

"Rosamond has gone to meet her husband, and Cecil has her guest inher own domains. "

Then Jenny asked after his day's work--a county matter, interestingto all the magistracy, and their womankind in their degree; andEleonora listened in silence, watching with quiet heedfulnessFrank's mother and brother. 

When Frank himself came in, his face was a perfect study; and thecolour mantled in her cheeks, so that Jenny trusted that both weretouched by the wonderful beauty that a little softness and timiditybrought out on the features, usually so resolutely on guard. Butwhen, in the later evening, Jenny crept in to her old friend, hopingto find that the impression had been favourable, she only heard, "Exactly like her sister, who always had the making of a finecountenance. "

"The mask--yes, but Lena has the spirit behind the mask. Poor girl!she is not at all happy in the atmosphere her sister has broughthome. "

"Then I wish they would marry her!"

"Won't you believe how truly nice and good she is?"

"That will not make up for the connection. My heart sank, Jenny, from the time I heard that those Vivians were coming back. I keptFrank away as long as I could--but there's no help for it. It seemsthe fate of my boys to be the prey of those sirens. "

"Well, then, dear Mrs. Poynsett, do pray believe, on my word, thatEleonora is a different creature!"

"Is there no hope of averting it? I thought Camilla would--poorFrank is such insignificant game!"

"And when it does come, don't be set against her, please, dear Mrs. Poynsett. Be as kind to her--as you were to me, " whispered Jenny, nestling up, and hiding her face. 

"My dear, but I knew you! You were no such case. "

"Except that you all were horribly vexed with us, because wecouldn't help liking each other, " said Jenny. 

"Ah! my poor child! I only wish you could have liked any one else!"

"Do you?" said Jenny, looking up. "Oh no, you don't! You would nothave me for your supplementary child, if I had, " she addedplayfully; then very low--"It is because the thought of dear Archie, even ending as it did, is my very heart's joy, that I want you tolet them have theirs!"

And then came a break, which ended the pleading; and Jenny wasobliged to leave Compton without much notion as to the effect of heradvice, audacious as she knew it to have been. 

CHAPTER XIVNeither Land Nor Water

A light that never was on sea or land. --WORDSWORTH

Nothing could be prettier than Rosamond's happiness in welcoming herschool-boy brothers, and her gratitude to Mrs. Poynsett for invitingthem, declaring that she liked boys. Her sons, however, dreaded theinroad of two wild Irish lads, and held council what covers and whathorses could most safely be victimized to them, disregarding alltestimony in their favour from interested parties. When, therefore, Terence and Thomas de Lancey made their appearance, and were walkedin for exhibition by their proud and happy sister, there was somesurprise at the sight of two peculiarly refined, quiet boys, withcolourless complexions, soft, sleepy, long-lashed, liquid browneyes, the lowest of full voices, and the gentlest of manners, as ifnothing short of an explosion could rouse them. 

And it was presently manifest that their sister had said rather toolittle than too much of Terry's abilities. Not only had he broughthome a huge pile of prizes, but no sooner was the seance afterdinner broken up, than he detained Julius, saying, in a very meekand modest tone, "Rose says you know all the books in the library. "

"Rose undertakes a great deal for me. What is this the prelude to?"

"I wanted to ask if I might just look at any book about the physicalgeography of Italy, or the History of Venice, or the Phoenicians. "

"Why, Terry?"

"It is for the Prize Essay, " explained the boy; "the subject is theeffect of the physical configuration of a country upon the characterof a nation. "

Julius drew a long breath, astounded at the march of intellect sincehis time. "They don't expect such things of fellows like you!" hesaid. 

"Only of the sixth, but the fifth may go in for it, and I want toget up to the Doctor himself; I thought, as I was coming to such ajolly library, I might try; and if I do pretty well, I shall be putup, if any more fellows leave. Do you think I may use the books?I'm librarian, so I know how to take care of them. "

"You can be trusted for that, you book-worm, " said Julius; "here'sthe library, but I fear I don't know much about those modernhistories. My mother is a great reader, and will direct us. Let uscome to her. "

Quiet as Terry was, he was neither awkward nor shy; and when Juliushad explained his wishes, and Mrs. Poynsett had asked a few good-natured questions, she was charmed as well as surprised at thegentle yet eager modesty with which the low-pitched tones detailedthe ideas already garnered up, and inquired for authorities, inwhich to trace them out, without the least notion of the remarkablepowers he was evincing. She was delighted with the boy; Juliusguided his researches; and he went off to bed as happy as a king, with his hands full of little dark tarnished French duodecimos, andwith a ravenous appetite for the pasture ground he saw before him. Lower Canada had taught him French, and the stores he found wererevelry to him. 

Cecil's feelings may be better guessed than described when thereturn of Mudie's box was hastened that he might have Motley's DutchRepublic. She thought this studiousness mere affectation; but itwas indisputable that Terry's soul was in books, and that he neverwas so happy as when turned loose into the library, dipping here andthere, or with an elbow planted on either side of a folio. 

Offers of gun or horse merely tormented him, and only his sistercould drag him out by specious pleas of need, to help in thoseChristmas works, where she had much better assistance in Anne andthe curates--the one for clubs and coals, the other for decorations. 

Mrs. Poynsett was Terry's best friend. He used to come to her inthe evening and discuss what he had been reading till she was almostas keen about his success as Frank's. He talked over his ambition, of getting a scholarship, becoming a fellow, and living for everamong the books, for which the scanty supply in his wanderingboyhood had but whetted his fervour. He even confided to her whatno one else knew but his sister Aileen, his epic in twenty-fourbooks on Brian Boromhe and the Battle of Clontarf; and she wasmother enough not to predict its inevitable fate, nor audibly todetect the unconscious plagiarisms, but to be a better listener thaneven Aileen, who never could be withheld from unfeeling laughter atthe touching fate of the wounded warriors who were tied to stakesthat they might die fighting. 

Tom was a more ordinary youth, even more lazy and quiet in thehouse, though out of it he amazed Frank and Charlie by his dash, fire, and daring, and witched all the stable-world with noblehorsemanship. Hunting was prevented, however, by a frost, whichfilled every one with excitement as to the practicability ofskating. 

The most available water was a lake between Sirenwood and Compton;and here, like eagles to the slaughter, gathered, by a sort ofinstinct, the entire skating population of the neighbourhood on thefirst day that the ice was hard enough. Rosamond was there, ofcourse, with both her brothers, whom she averred, by a bold figureof speech, to have skated in Canada before they could walk. Annewas there, studying the new phenomena of ice and snow under good-natured Charlie's protection, learning the art with unexpectedcourage and dexterity. Cecil was there but not shining so much, forher father had been always so nervous about his darling venturing onthe ice, that she had no skill in the art; and as Raymond had beensummoned to some political meeting, she had no special squire, asher young brother-in-law eluded the being enlisted in her service;and she began to decide that skating was irrational and unwomanly;although Lady Tyrrell had just arrived, and was having her skatesput on; and Eleonora was only holding back because she was takingcare of the two purple-legged, purple-faced, and purple-hairedlittle Duncombes, whom she kept sliding in a corner, where theycould hardly damage themselves or the ice. 

Cecil had just thanked Colonel Ross for pushing her in a chair, andon his leaving her was deliberating whether to walk home with herdignity, or watch for some other cavalier, when the drag drew up onthe road close by, and from it came Captain and Mrs. Duncombe, withtwo strangers, who were introduced to her as 'Mrs. Tallboys and theProfessor, just fetched from the station. '

The former was exquisitely dressed in blue velvet and sealskin, andhad the transparent complexion and delicate features of an American, with brilliant eyes, and a look of much cleverness; her husband, small, sallow, and dark, and apparently out of health. "Are youleaving off skating, Cecil?" asked Mrs. Duncombe; "goodness me, Icould go on into next year! But if you are wasting your privileges, bestow them on Mrs. Tallboys, for pity's sake. We came in hopessome good creature had a spare pair of skates. Gussie Moy offered, but hers were yards too long. "

"I hope mine are not too small, " said Cecil, not quite creditingthat an American foot could be as small as that of a Charnock; butshe found herself mistaken, they were a perfect fit; and as theywere tried, there came a loud laugh, and she saw a tall girlstanding by her, whom, in her round felt hat and thick rough coatwith metal buttons, she had really taken for one of the Captain'smale friends. 

"I wouldn't have such small feet, " she said; "I shouldn't feelsecure of my understanding. "

"Mrs. Tallboys would not change with you, Gussie, " said CaptainDuncombe. "I'd back her any day--"

"What odds will you take, Captain--"

But Mrs. Duncombe broke in. "Bless me, if there aren't those littledogs of mine! Lena Vivian does spoil them. Send them home, forpity's sake, Bob. "

"Poor little kids, they are doing no harm. "

"We shall have them tumbling in, and no end of a row! I can't standa swarm of children after me, and they are making a perfect victimof Lena. Send them home, Bob, or I shall have to do it. "

The Captain obeyed somewhat ruefully. "Come, my lads, Bessie saysyou must go home, and leave Miss Vivian in peace. "

"O, Bob, please let us stay; Lena is taking care of us--"

"Indeed I like nothing so well, " protested Lenore; but the Captainmurmured something about higher powers, and cheerfully saying hewould give the boys a run, took each by an unwilling hand, and racedthem into a state of frightened jollity by a short cut, by which hewas able to dispose of them in the drag. 

The Professor, meanwhile, devoted himself to Mrs. Charnock Poynsett, took her chair for a whirl on the ice; described American sleighingparties; talked of his tour in Europe. He was really a clever, observant man, and Cecil had not had any one to talk Italy to herfor a long time past, and responded with all her full precision. The Professor might speak a little through his nose, but she hadseldom met any one more polite and accomplished. 

Meantime, a quadrille was being got up. Such a performance and suchpartners had never been seen in light that shone on water or onland, being coupled by their dexterity in the art. They were ledoff by Mrs. Duncombe and the Reverend James Bindon. Mrs. Tallboyspaired with Terry De Lancey, Lady Tyrrell with Herbert Bowater, LadyRosamond with one of the officers. Tom was pounced on by the great'Gussy Moy, ' who declared, to his bitter wrath, that she preferredlittle boys, turning her back on Mr. Strangeways and two or threemore officers, as she saw them first solicitous to engage EleonoraVivian--who, however, was to skate with Charlie. 

A few wistful glances were cast towards the Wil'sbro' road, forFrank had been obliged by the cruel exigencies of the office todevote this magnificent frosty day to the last agonies of cram. This, however, had gone on better for the last fortnight--owing, perhaps, to some relaxation of Eleonora's stern guard over hercountenance in their few meetings since Jenny's departure. 

"And after all, " as Charlie said, with the cheeriness of one who haspassed his own ordeal, "a man who had taken such a degree as Frankcould not depend on a few weeks of mere cramming. "

Frank did come speedily up the road just as the quadrille was infull force; and perhaps the hindrance had stood him in good stead;for when the performance ceased in the twilight, and voices wereeagerly talking of renewing it as a fackel-tanz in the laterevening, and only yielding at the recollection of dinnerengagements, it was not Charlie who was taking off Eleonora'sskates; and when, after fixing grand plans for the morrow, LadyTyrrell mounted her pony-carriage and looked for her sister, sheheard that Miss Vivian was walking home. 

Yes, Miss Vivian was walking home; and there was a companion by herside feeling as if that dark, hard gravelled road were the pebblybeach of Rockpier. 

"When do you go to London?" she asked. 

"To-morrow afternoon. Wish me well through, Lenore. "

"Indeed I do. "

"Say it again, Lenore! Give me the elixir that will give me powerto conquer everything. "

"Don't say such exaggerated things. "

"Do you think it is possible to me to exaggerate what a word fromyou is to me?" said Frank, in a low voice of intense feeling. 

"O Frank! it is wiser not to say such things. "

"Wise! what is that to me? It is true, and you have known it--andwhy will you not allow that you do, as in those happy old days--"

"That's what makes me fear. It would be so much better for you ifall this had never begun. "

"It has begun, then!" murmured Frank, with joy and triumph in thesound. "As long as you allow that, it is enough for me. "

"I must! It is true; and truth must be somewhere!" was whispered ina strange, low, resolute whisper. 

"True! true that you can feel one particle of the intensity--Oh!what words can I find to make you understand the glow and tendernessthe very thought of you has been!"

"Hush, hush!--pray, Frank. Now, if I do own it--"

"It--what? Let me hear! I'm very stupid, you know!" said Frank, ina voice of exulting comprehension, belying his alleged stupidity. 

"What you have been to me--"

"Have been--eh?" said this cruel cross-examiner. 

"Do not let us waste time, " said Eleonora, in a trembling voice;"you know very well. "

"Do I?"

"Now, Frank!"

"If you only knew what it would be worth to me to hear you say it!"

"I'm afraid it would be only worth pain and grief to you, and angerfrom every one, " said she, in a low dejected voice, "far more than Iam worth. "

"You? Trust me to judge of that, Lenore. Would not you be worthall, and more than all, that flesh or spirit could feel! I couldface it all for one look from you!" said Frank, with fervour fromhis heart of hearts. 

"You make me more and more afraid. It is all too wretched to leadany one into. Since I knew the whole truth, I have tried to spareyou from it. "

"That is why you have been so cold, and held so cruelly aloof allthis time, so that if I had not caught one ray now and then, youwould have broken my heart, Lenore; as it is, I've been wretchedbeyond description, hardly able to sleep by night or speakrationally by day. How had you the heart to serve me so, like astony Greek statue?"

"I thought it must be right. It seemed to break my own heart too. "

"That's the woman's way of showing a thing is right; but why I can'tsee. If you did hate me, it might be all very well to throw meover; but if not, why torture two as well as one? Are you afraid ofmy people? I'll manage them. "

"You little know--"

"Know what?"

"All that made it cruel in Camilla to throw us together. "

"Cruel! when it was the crowning joy of my past life, and is to bethe crowning joy of the future?"

"How can it? Frank, you must know the causes your mother has forabhorring any connection with our unhappy family. "

"My mother has too much sense to think a little extravagance amongthe men of a family can affect the daughters. I know the outerworld is afraid of her, but she is the tenderest and most indulgentof mothers to us. No fear of her!"

"Ah! but that's not all. "

"You mean that she has not taken much to your sister. I know; andI'm very sorry; but bring them together, and it would soon be gotover. Besides, it is not your sister, but you. What do you mean?"rather disconcerted. 

"Then you really did not know of the old engagement between Camillaand your eldest brother?"

"Oh, oh! So she consented once! Then she will do so again. "

"Listen! Camilla broke it off because your mother could not resignher position to her. "

He gave a whistle of dismay, then recovering himself with a laugh, said, "Fourth sons don't have such expectations founded on them. Don't fear, dearest; that can't be all the story, though no doubt itwas part of it. My mother would rather go into a hermitage thanstand in the way of Raymond's happiness. Some one must have mademischief. "

"It was not all, " said the girl; "it was Lord Tyrrell's coming inthe way. Yes, my father told me so; he held it up to me as anexample of what one ought to do for one's family. "

"Then she was coerced?"

"I don't know; but such a marriage for me, with some one who wouldredeem the property, is their scheme for me. Even if your motherand brother could tolerate the thought of one of us, my poor dearfather will never dare to consent as long as she is with him. "

"Nay, Lenore; have I not often heard her say she prefers happinessto ambition? Whatever she may have done, she has come to thinkdifferently. She has well-nigh told me so. "

"Yes, at Rockpier, " sighed Eleonora. "Hark!" The sound of theponies' bells and hoofs was heard; Lenore put her hand on his arm, and drew him aside on the grass, behind a clump of trees, hushinghim by a silent pressure as he tried to remonstrate. He clasped herhand, and felt her trembling till the tinkling and tramp were goneby. 

"You frightened darling!" were his first words, when she let himspeak. "Who would have thought you would be so shy? But we'll haveit out, and--"

"It is not that, " interrupted Lenore, "not maidenly shyness. That'sfor girls who are happy and secure. No; but I don't want to have itall overthrown at once--the first sweetness--"

"It can't be overthrown!" he said, holding arm and hand in theintense grasp. 

"Not really, never; but there is no use in attempting anything tillI am of age--next autumn, the 7th of November. "

"Say nothing till then!" exclaimed Frank, in some consternation. 

"We are only where we were before! We are sure of each other now. It will be only vexation and harass, " said she, with the instinct ofa persecuted creature. 

"I couldn't, " said Frank. "I could not keep it in with mother! Itwould not be right if I could, nor should I feel as if I were actingfairly by your father. "

"You are right, Frank. Forgive me! You don't know what it is tohave to be always saving one's truth only by silence. Speak whenyou think right. "

"And I believe we shall find it far easier than you think. I'm notquite a beggar--except for you, my Lena. I should like to go homethis minute, and tell mother and Charlie and Rose, that I'm--I'mtreading on air; but I should only be fallen upon for thinking ofanything but my task-work. So I'll take a leaf out of your book, you cautious Lenore, and wait till I come down victorious, happy andglorious--and I shall now. I feel as if you had given me power toscale Olympus, now I know I may carry your heart with me. Do youremember this, Lena?" He guided her hand to the smooth pebble onhis chain. She responded by putting her own into his. 

"My talisman!" he said. "It has been my talisman of success many atime. I have laid my hand on it, and thought I was working for you. Mine! mine! mine! Waters cannot quench love--never fear. "

"Hush!" as the light of the opening hall door was seen, and LadyTyrrell's voice was heard, saying, "I thought we passed her; I amsure she was near. "

Eleonora withdrew her arm, patted Frank back, waved him intosilence, and went forward, saying, "Here I am, Camilla; I walkedhome. "

Her voice was calm and self-contained as ever--the unassailabledignity just as usual. The hall was full of officers, standingabout the fire and drinking tea, and Eleonora's well-worn armour wasinstantly on, as her sister asked where she had been, since othershad walked home and had not overtaken her. 

"I came by the lower road, " said she. 

"Indeed! I never saw you. "

"I saw you pass--or rather heard you. "

"And did not let me pick you up! Did you hide yourself?"

"It was much warmer to walk. "

"So you seem to have found it, to judge by your cheeks, " said LadyTyrrell. 

And Mr. Strangeways and one or two others could not restrain amurmured exclamation on the exceeding loveliness of that deepenedcolour and brightened eye; but Lenore only knew that an equallybright and keen eye was watching her heedfully, and knew that shewas suspected, if not read through and through. 

She mingled in the discussion of the skating, with those outwardsociety-senses that she learnt to put on, and escaped as soon aspossible to her own room. 

Again she almost fell on the ground in her own little oratorychamber, in a tumult of gladness that was almost agony, and fearthat was almost joy. 

She wanted to give thanks that Frank had become so wholly andavowedly hers, and for that deep intense affection that had gone on, unfed, uncherished, for years; but the overflow of delight waschecked with foreboding--there was the instinctive terror of abasilisk eye gazing into her paradise of joy--the thanksgiving raninto a half-despairing deprecation. 

And she knew that Frank was under Camilla's spell, and admired andtrusted her still; nor had she been able to utter a word of cautionto undeceive him. Should she have the power on the morrow? Camillareally loved skating, and surrounded as she was sure to be, therewas hope of escaping her vigilant eye once more. To-morrow therewould be another meeting with Frank! perhaps another walk with him!

That anticipation was soothing enough to bring back the power ofjoyful gratitude, and therewith of hopeful prayer. 

CHAPTER XVPlot and Counterplot

A lady a party of pleasure made, And she planned her scheme full well, And day and night the party filled The head of the demoiselle. --FABER

Though Frank had no reason to expect that the tidings of his successwould be hailed with much satisfaction at home, yet his habit ofturning to his mother for sympathy would have been too much for hisprudence, but for the fact that Terry De Lancey had dragged into herroom a massive volume of prints from the Uffizi Gallery, and waslooking it over with her, with a zest she had not seen since thedays when her father gloried in his collection. 

His victory could only be confided to Charlie, who might laugh, butfully appreciated the repose of mind with which he could nowencounter the examiners, and promised to do his part to cover themeetings of the lovers the next day. But even then the chances ofanother performance on the lake, or of a walk among the iciclesafterwards, were departing. Thaw was setting in and by breakfast-time there was a down-pouring rain. Frank lingered about Cecil inhopes of a message to serve as an excuse for a rush to Sirenwood;but she proved to be going to drive to the working-room, and then tolunch at Mrs. Duncombe's, to meet the Americans and the ladies fromSirenwood, according to a note sent over in early morning at firstsight of the wet. 

Thereupon Frank found he had a last reference to make to his tutor, and begged for a lift. A touch of warmth in Cecil would have openedthe flood-gates of his confidence, but she was exercised about amistake in the accounts, and claimed his aid in tracking a defectiveseven-pence. When she heard him utter the monstrous statement thata hundred and five farthings were almost nine shillings, she lookedat him with withering compassion, as sure to fail, and a small lossto Her Majesty; nor would she listen to any of his hints that he wasvery curious to see her working-room. 

His question to the tutor judiciously lasted till twelve, when hedropped in to consult Captain Duncombe about horse-hire in London;and that gentleman, who had been undergoing a course of politicaleconomy all the morning, eagerly pounced on him for a tour of hisstables, which lasted till luncheon was due, and he could casuallyenter the dining-room, where Lady Tyrrell held out her hand good-naturedly to him, laughing at the blankness he could not entirelyconceal. "Only me!" she said. "It can't be helped! Poor Lenorecaught such a dreadful sore throat last night, that I have shut herup in her room with a mustard poultice. "

"Indeed! I am very sorry. "

"You may well look horrified! You were the guilty party, I suspect. Taking her all across the park under those dank trees!"

He coloured up to the eyes, little expecting to be thus convicted;but Mrs. Duncombe came to his aid. "My impartiality would imputethe damage to her standing about with those wretched little dogs ofmine. "

"It is your climate, " said Mrs. Tallboys. "In our dry atmospherethere would be no risk with a far lower temperature. "

"I hope it is nothing serious, " said Frank, anxiously. 

"I hope so too, " said Lady Tyrrell, looking archly into his face, which had not learnt such impenetrability as poor Lenore's. 

"No; but really?" he said, in anxiety that would not be ralliedaway. 

"This is the way, " said Lady Tyrrell. "Young gentlemen persuadeyoung ladies to do the most imprudent things--saunter about in thecold after skating, and dawdle under trees, and then wonder whenthey catch cold. --Do they do such things in your country, Mrs. Tallboys, and expect the mammas and elder sisters to be gratified?"

"Mammas and elder sisters are at a discount with you, are not they?"said Mrs. Duncombe. 

"Our young women are sufficient to protect themselves without ourshowing tacit distrust, and encumbering them with guardianship, "returned the Professor. 

"Mr. Charnock wishes we had reached that point, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

She had put him completely out of countenance. He had not supposedher aware of his having been Lenore's companion, and was not certainwhether her sister had not after all confided in her, or if hehimself had not been an unconscious victim. The public banterjarred upon him; and while Cecil was making inquiries into theextent of the young ladies' privileges in America, he was mentallycalculating the possibilities of rushing up to Sirenwood, trying tosee Lenore in spite of her throat, and ascertaining her position, before his train was due; but he was forced to resign the notion, for Raymond had made an appointment for him in London which must notbe missed; and before luncheon was over the dog-cart, according toagreement with Charlie, called for him. 

"Good-bye, Mr. Frank, " said Mrs. Duncombe; "will you have an oldshoe thrown after you for luck?"

"The time is not come for that yet, " said Cecil, gravely. 

"Tending in that direction. Eh, Charnock?" said the Captain. "Here's to your success--now, and in what's to come!"

"Thank you, Captain, " said Frank, shaking his hand, liking thehearty voice. "Lady Tyrrell, won't you give me your good wishes?"he asked, half diffidently. 

"For the examination--yes, certainly, " she replied. "It is safernot to look too far into your wishing-well. "

"And--and will you give my--my best regards to Le--to Miss Vivian, and say I grieve for her cold, and trust to her--to her good wishes--" he uttered, quick and fast, holding her hand all the time. 

"Yes, yes, " she said quickly; "but last messages won't do whentrains are due. "

"Not due yet, " said Frank; "but I must go home. I've not seen mymother to-day, and I shall not have a moment. --Good-bye, Cecil; haveyou any commands for Raymond?"

"No, thank you, " said Cecil, gravely; and with a bow to theAmericans, he was gone. 

"That is one of your products of the highest English refinement?"said Mrs. Tallboys, whom in his preoccupation he had scarcelynoticed. 

"How does he strike you?" said Cecil. "He is my brother-in-law, butnever mind that. "

"He looks fitted for the hero of a vapid English novel. I long toforce him to rough it, and to rub off that exquisite do-nothing air. It irritates me!"

"Frank Charnock has done a good deal of hard work, and is not tolead the life of an idle man, " said Captain Duncombe. "I know Ishould not like to be in his shoes if he succeeds--grinding away inan office ten months out of the twelve. "

"In an office! I should like to set him to work with an axe!"

"Well, those dainty-looking curled darlings don't do badly in thebackwoods, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"Ah! I understand! You stand up for him because there's a littletendresse for your sister, " said the plain-spoken American. 

"Poor fellow! I am afraid he is far gone. It is an impossiblething, though, and the sooner he can be cured of it the better, "said Lady Tyrrell. "I am sorry that walk took place yesterday. --Didhe mention it at home, Cecil?"

"You are a very inconsistent woman, Lady Tyrrell, " broke in Mrs. Duncombe in her abrupt way. "Here you are come to uphold theemancipation of woman, and yet, when we come to your own sistertaking one poor walk--"

"I beg your pardon, Bessie, " said Lady Tyrrell, with her mostcourteous manner. "I never said I was come to uphold theemancipation of woman; only to subject myself to Mrs. Tallboys'influence--she has to make a convert of me. "

For, of course, Lady Tyrrell was only drawn into the controversy asa matter of amusement, and possibly as something speciallydistasteful to the house of Charnock Poynsett; and Cecil was a gooddeal influenced by the fascination of her example, as well as by theeagerness of Mrs. Duncombe and the charms of the Americans; andabove all, they conspired in making her feel herself important, andassuming that she must be foremost in all that was done. She didnot controvert the doctrines of Dunstone so entirely as to embracethe doctrines of emancipation, but she thought that free ventilationwas due to every subject, most especially when the Member's wife wasthe leading lady in bringing about such discussion. The oppositionmade in the town to Mrs. Duncombe's sanitary plans, and the contemptwith which they had been treated as ladies' fancies, had given apositive field of battle, with that admixture of right and wrong oneither side which is essential to championship. And in truth Cecilwas so much more under the influence of Camilla Tyrrell and BessieDuncombe than under that of any other person, that she was ready toespouse any cause that they did. 

How to arrange for the intended instruction was the difficulty, since Wil'sbro' was without a town-hall, and, moreover, theinhabitants were averse to all varieties of change, either as to theclaims of women, the inequality of social laws, the improvement ofeducation, or the comprehension of social science--the regularcourse which Mrs. Clio W. Tallboys was wont to lecture. 

The matter could only be managed by arranging a series of soirees atdifferent houses. Mrs. Duncombe's rooms were far too small; but ifsome person of more note--'some swell' as she said--would make thebeginning, there would be no difficulty in bringing others to followsuit. 

"You must do it, Lady Tyrrell, " said Mrs. Duncombe. 

"I! If there's nobody else; but it would come much better fromanother quarter, " nodding at Cecil. 

"Don't you wish you may get it?" muttered the slang-loving Bessie. 

"That's one point in which we leave you far behind, " said Mrs. Tallboys. "We issue our invitations quite independently of theother members of the household. Each has a separate visiting list. "

"There need be no difficulty, " said Cecil; "all matters of visitingare in my hands. It is necessary in our position; and if LadyTyrrell thinks it proper that I should give the first party, I willdo so. "

"Bravo, what fun!" cried Mrs. Duncombe, clapping her hands. "Youwon't get into a jolly row, though?" she added, anxiously. 

"I am perfectly sure of my ground, " said Cecil, with the dignity ofone to whom a 'row' was unheard of. "It is the simple duty of aMember to come forward in promoting free discussion of opinions. "

"You are a public-spirited woman, Cecil, " said Lady Tyrrell. "Whenyou have made the first move, I'll follow. Then whom shall we asknext?"

"Mrs. Moy, " said Bessie. "She is a nonentity herself, but if Gussiewere to be strongly bitten she could do more than any one else, andmake her father reform that nest of horrors in Water Lane!"

"I'm afraid the freedom side will bite her more than the sanitaryside, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"She is capital fun, though, and a great ally of ours, " said Mrs. Duncombe; "and the rooms at Proudfoot Lawn are worth anything!"

Other details were fixed, even to the day of Cecil's opening party, which must take place on the first practicable day; but there wasnone to be found till the Wednesday week, the day before Raymondwould return home. Cecil did not recollect this till the day hadbeen unanimously agreed on, and it was with a little alarm; butafter what she had asserted about her freedom of action, she couldnot retract before the eyes of the American lady; and, as she saidto herself, she could receive her own ladies' party, withoutinterfering with any one else, in the library, so that no one had aright to object. However, she had a certain anticipation ofopposition, which caused her to act before announcing her intention;and thus it was that Rosamond found her dropping a number of notesthrough the slit in the lid of the post-box. "Another dinner?" wasthe question. 

"No, this is a soiree in the library, entirely for ladies; Mrs. Tallboys is to explain her views in the evenings at the Principalhouses in the neighbourhood. She will begin here on Wednesdayweek. "

"Why, that's before Raymond comes back!"

"This is entirely for women. "

"Women! women's rights! How have you got Mrs. Poynsett to consent?"

"I have carte blanche in these matters. "

"Do you mean that you have not consulted her? Does Raymond know?Oh! Yes, I see I have no right to ask; but, Cecil, for your ownsake, I entreat you to consider what you are about, before runninginto such a frightful scrape!" and Rosamond impulsively caught thehand that was still putting in a letter; but Cecil stood still, notwithdrawing or moving a muscle, perfectly impassive. Rosamond wenton more eagerly, "Oh yes, I know you don't like me--I'm only a poorbattered soldier's daughter, quite an unworthy associate for aCharnock of the Charnocks; but I can't help begging you to considerthe consequences of sending out invitations to hear this strangewoman hold forth in Mrs. Poynsett's own house, in your husband'sabsence. "

"Thank you for your solicitude, " said Cecil, dropping in herenvelope the instant the obstructive hand was removed, and going onher way with dignified self-possession; while Rosamond, in a tumultof indignation, which made her scarcely comprehensible, rushed up toher husband at his writing, and poured out her story. 

Clio advocating female supremacy in Mrs. Poynsett's own house, without notice to her! Should she be warned in time to stop theletters? Should Raymond be written to? Rosamond was for both, Julius for neither. He said that either way would begin a systemthat could never be forgiven; and that they had better considerthemselves as practically at the Rectory, and not interfere. 

"How can you be so cold-blooded?" cried she. 

"I do not want to do worse harm. My mother will learn what is tohappen sooner or later; and then she can put a stop to it in any wayshe chooses. "

"I wish she would send in Mrs. Crabtree with her tawse!" saidRosamond. "But is it right by Raymond to let his wife bring thisYankee muse to talk her nonsense in his very rooms?"

"You have argued with her?"

"Or with a block--a stock--a stone!" raved Rosamond. 

"Then depend upon it, to inform against her would be far worse thanletting any amount of absurdity be talked. I should like to knowhow you would get over being so served!"

"Don't make comparisons, sir! Poor things! they would not be theworse for a little of our foolishness!"

Things settled themselves according to Julius's prediction; for Mr. Bowater, coming up with his son Herbert to see his old friend, said, "What grand doings are you having here? What is Raymond's wife upto? Ladies' conversazione--that's a new thing in these parts!"

"I gave such matters up to her, " said Mrs. Poynsett. "Young peoplelike a little freedom of action; and there are changes in theneighbourhood since I was laid up. " It was a temporizing speech, toavoid showing her total ignorance. 

Mr. Bowater cleared his throat. "Young folk may like freedom ofaction, but it don't always follow that it is good for them. I hopeshe won't get Raymond into a scrape, that's all--committing him andherself to a course of lectures by that Yankee woman on woman'srights. "

"It does not commit him; it is before he comes home, on Wednesday, "said Herbert. 

"Never mind that; what a woman does her husband does. Look here, Mrs. Poynsett, I brought over Jenny's note in my pocket; see, hereare two--one to accept, and one to refuse, just as you choose. "

"Oh! accept, by all means, " cried Mrs. Poynsett; "don't leave thewrong one!"

Then she changed the conversation, so decidedly, that Mr. Bowatercould not resume his warning; but after taking leave of her, he metRosamond in the avenue, and could not help saying, "Pray, was my oldfriend aware of Mrs. Raymond's doings?"

"Have you told her? Oh! I am so glad!"

"Then it is as you said, Herbert. Mrs. Raymond had left her inignorance! The impudent baggage! That's what the world is comingto!"

"But what regular game Mrs. Poynsett was!" said Herbert. "You couldnot make out in the least that she had been left in the lurch; andI'm sure she has a plan, by the way in which she desired Jenny andEdie to come. "

"Only make her understand that the Wil'sbro' folks are in a ticklishstate, " said Mr. Bowater; "they are sulking already, because theysay the ladies have been stirring him up to put them to expenseabout the drains. "

"Wil'sbro' isn't sweet, " said Herbert. 

"There's been nothing amiss in my time, " returned his father. "Perfectly healthy in all reason! Ay! you may laugh, young folks, but I never heard of any receipt to hinder people from dying; andlet well alone is a safe maxim. "

"If it be well, " said Rosamond. "However, Raymond says whatever isdone must be by general consent, and that small private attempts domore harm than good. "

"He had better take care what he says. If they fancy he is inleague with that ridiculous Duncombe woman against their pockets, Moy is on the watch to take advantage of it; and all the old familyinterest will not save his seat. "

When Rosamond reached home she found Anne beside her mother-in-law, provided with a quire of note-paper and pile of envelopes. "Mydear, I want your help, " she said. "Till my accident I always had achildren's party at Christmas; and now I have so many young peopleto manage it for me, I think we might try again, and combine it withCecil's ladies' party, on Wednesday. "

"Hurrah!" cried Rosamond. "You mean that we should have plenty offun--and, in fact, drum out the rights of woman. "

"At any rate, present a counter attraction. You and Charlie andyour brothers, with the Bowaters, might do something?"

"Trust me!" cried Rosamond. "Oh! I am so thankful to Mr. Bowater. Julius and I had our blood boiling; and I said as much or more toCecil than woman could, but she minded me no more than the old whitecockatoo; and Julius said our telling would only make moremischief. "

"He was quite right, " said his mother. "Let there not be one wordof opposition, you know; only swamp it. You could get up somecharades, and have something going on all the evening. "

"Trust me for that! Oh! if my darling Aileen were but here! ButTom is the very model of an actor, and Terry is grand, if only wecan keep him out of the high tragedy line. King Lear is the mildestthing he condescends to!"

"Could you manage a Christmas-tree? The taking up a room beforehandis inconvenient; but I should like to offer some little substantialbait, even to the grown-up;" and her eyes twinkled merrily. 

"I know a better thing, " said Rosamond; "an enchanted grove with abeneficent witch. We did it at St. Awdry's, with bon-bons andtrumpery, in a little conservatory, hardly large enough to turnround in. If I may have the key of the conservatory, I'll manage. "

"You shall have what you please; and perhaps you would kindly go andchoose the things at Backsworth. There is a very good fancy shopthere. "

"Thank you, thank you! How sweet!--Now, Anne, you will see what youshall see!"

"Is there to be dancing?" asked Anne, humbly yet resolutely. 

"There shall not be, my dear, if it will spoil the evening for you, "said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"I promised, " said Anne. 

At that moment the servants came in with the preparations for theafternoon tea, closely followed by the ever punctual Cecil. 

Mrs. Poynsett asked her whether she would require the barouche onthe morrow, since Rosamond and Anne would want it to go toBacksworth, to obtain requisites for a children's entertainment totake place on Wednesday. 

"Some friends of mine are coming on Wednesday, " said Cecil

"Indeed! In Raymond's absence?"

"This is not a dinner, but a ladies' party. "

"Then it will combine the better. "

"Certainly not, " replied Cecil. "Mine is simply intellectual--onlya few intelligent women to meet Mrs. Tallboys in the library. Itwill be quite apart from any amusements Rosamond may like to havefor the children in the drawing-room. "

"Pray, will they require nothing but this feast of reason and flowof soul?--for the housekeeper will need warning. "

"They will have dined. Nothing but coffee will be wanted. "

"For how many?"

"About twelve or fourteen, thank you. Excuse me--I have somethingto finish in my own room. "

They were very glad to excuse her, and the following note wasconcocted to serve both for those she might have invited and thoseshe might not; and it was copied by the two daughters for all theacquaintance who had young folks in their houses. An appearance ofwant of unanimity was carefully avoided, and it stood thus:--

"I am desired by Mrs. Poynsett to say that the ladies' party alreadyproposed for the 3rd is to undergo a little expansion, and that shemuch hopes to see you and ---, at 7 p. M. , disposed for a fewChristmas amusements. "

CHAPTER XVIThe Drive To Backsworth

She was betrothed to one now dead, Or worse, who had dishonoured fled. --SCOTT

The party set out for Backsworth early in the day. It includedJulius, who had asked for a seat in the carriage in order to be ableto go on to Rood House, where lived Dr. Easterby, whom he had notseen since he had been at Compton. 

"The great light of the English Church, " said Rosamond, gaily; whileAnne shuddered a little, for Miss Slater had told her that he wasthe great fountain-head of all that distressed her in Julius and hiscurates. But Julius merely said, "I am very glad of theopportunity;" and the subject dropped in the eager discussion of theintended pastimes, which lasted beyond the well-known Wil'sbro'bounds, when again Julius startled a Anne by observing, "No dancing?That is a pity. "

"There, Anne!" exclaimed Rosamond. 

"It was out of kindness to me, " said Anne: and then, with awonderful advance of confidence, she added, "Please tell me how you, a minister, can regret it?"

"Because I think it would be easier to prevent mischief than whenthere has to be a continual invention of something original. Thereis more danger of offence and uncharitableness, to speak plainly. "

"And you think that worse than dancing?" said Anne, thoughtfully. 

"Why is dancing bad at all, Anne?" asked Rosamond. 

Anne answered at once, "It is worldly. "

"Not half so worldly as driving in a carriage with fine horses, andliveries, and arms, and servants, and all, " said Rosamond from hercomfortable corner, nestling under Miles's racoon-skin rug; "Iwonder you can do that!"

"The carriage is not mine, " said Anne. 

"The worldliness would be in sacrificing a duty to the luxury andostentation of keeping one, " said Julius. "For instance, if Iconsidered it due to my lady in the corner there to come out in thisstyle, and put down a curate and a few such trifles with thatobject. To my mind, balls stand on the same ground; they areinnocent as long as nothing right is given up for them. "

"You would not dance?" said Anne. 

"Wouldn't he?" said Rosamond. "I've seen him. It was at St. Awdry's at a Christmas party, in our courting days. No, it wasn'twith me. Oh no! That was the cruel cut! It was with little MissMarks, whose father had just risen from the ranks. Such a figureshe was, enough to set your teeth on edge; when, behold! thisreverend minister extracts her from the wall-flowers, and goesthrough the Lancers with her in first-rate style, I assure you. Ithad such an effect, do you know, that what does my father do but goand ask her next; and I heard an old lady remarking that there wereonly two gentlemen in the room, Mr. Charnock and Lord Rathforlane. So you see it was all worldliness after all, Anne. "

"I suppose it was good-nature, " said Anne. 

"Indignation, I fancy, " said Julius. 

"Now, was he very wicked for it, Anne?"

"N--no, if dancing be not wrong. "

"But why should it?"

"All the bad people danced in the Bible. "

"Miriam--King David, eh?"

"That was part of their religious service. "

"The welcome to the prodigal son?" further suggested Julius. "Doesnot this prove that the exercise is not sinful in itself?"

"But you would not do it again?" repeated Anne. 

"I certainly should not make a practice of it, nor go to balls anymore than I would be a sportsman or a cricketer, because I am boundto apply my whole self to the more direct service; but this does notshow that there is evil necessarily connected with these amusements, or that they may not safely be enjoyed by those who have time, andwho need an outlet for their spirits, or by those who wish to guardthese pleasures by presiding over them. "

"Don't persuade me!" exclaimed Anne. "I gave my word to Mr. Pilgrimthat nothing should induce me to dance or play at cards. "

"Mr. Pilgrim had no right--" began Rosamond; but Julius hushed her, saying, "No one wishes to persuade you, Anne. Your retirementduring Miles's absence is very suitable and becoming. "

"Till we live in the Bush, out of the way of it all, " said Anne. 

"I wish you could have seen one of our real old Christmas parties;but those can never be again, without mother herself or Mrs. Douglas. "

"Do tell me about those Douglases, " said Rosamond. "Cecil hinted atsome romance, but seemed to think you had suppressed the connectionbecause he was an attorney. "

"Not exactly, " said Julius, smiling; "but it is a sad story, thoughwe have no doubt he bore the guilt of others. "

"Something about two thousand pounds!"

"Yes. It was the year that my mother and Raymond were abroad. Shehad been buying some property near, and sent home an order fromVevay. It did not come, and was inquired for; but as it was anorder, not a draft, it was not stopped at the bank; and in about afortnight more it was presented by a stranger, and paid withouthesitation, as it was endorsed "Proudfoot and Moy. " Old Proudfootwas away at Harrogate, and came home to investigate; young Proudfootdenied all knowledge of it, and so did his brother-in-law Moy; butRaymond, working at the other end, found that the waiter at thehotel at Vevay had forgotten to post the letter for more than aweek, and it was traced through the post to Wil'sbro', where thepostman remembered delivering a foreign-looking letter to ArchieDouglas at the door of the office. It came alone by the afternoonpost. His account was this: They were all taking it rather easy inold Proudfoot's absence; and when a sudden summons came to take theold farmer's instructions for his will, Archie, as the junior, wastold off to do it. He left George Proudfoot and Moy in a privateroom at the office, with Tom Vivian leaning over the fire talking, as he had a habit of doing in old Proudfoot's absence. As he openedthe office door the postman put the letter into his hand; andrecognizing the writing, he ran back, and gave it in triumph toGeorge Proudfoot, exclaiming that there it was at last, but he wasin danger of being late for the train, and did not wait to see itopened; and when he came back he was told that it had been merely aletter of inquiry, with nothing in it, and destroyed at once. Thatwas his account; but Proudfoot, Moy, and Vivian all denied anyknowledge of this return of his, or of the letter. The night ofthis inquiry he was missing. Jenny Bowater, who was with an aunt inLondon, heard that a gentleman had called to see her while she wasout for a couple of days; and a week later we saw his name among thepassengers lost in the Hippolyta off Falmouth. "

"Poor Jenny! Was she engaged to him?"

"On sufferance. On her death-bed Mrs. Douglas had wrung from Mr. Bowater a promise that if Archie did well, and ever had meansenough, he would not refuse consent; but he always distrusted poorArchie, because of his father, and I believe he sent Jenny away tobe out of his reach. If any of us had only been near, I think wecould have persuaded him to face it out, and trust to his innocence;but Raymond was abroad, Miles at sea, I at Oxford, and nothing likea counsellor was near. If Jenny had but seen him!"

"And has nothing happened to clear him?"

"No. Raymond hurried home, and did his best, but all in vain. George Proudfoot was indeed known to have been in debt to Vivian;but Moy, his brother-in-law, an older man, was viewed as a personwhose word was above all question, and they both declared thesignature at the back of the order not to be genuine. Archie'sflight, you see, made further investigation impossible; and therewas no putting on oath, no cross-examination. "

"Then you think those three had it?"

"We can think nothing else, knowing Archie as we did. Raymondshowed his suspicions so strongly, that old Proudfoot threw up allagencies for our property, and there has been a kind of hostilityever since. Poor Vivian, as you know, came to his sad end the nextyear, but he had destroyed all his papers; and George Proudfoot hasbeen dead four or five years, but without making any sign. Moy hasalmost risen above the business, and--see, there's Proudfoot Lawn, where he lives with the old man. He claims to compete with thecounty families, and would like to contest Wils'bro' with Raymond. "

"And Jenny?" asked Anne. "Did she bear it as a Christian? I knowshe would. "

"She did indeed--most nobly, most patiently. Poor girl! at her ownhome she knew she stood alone in her faith in Archie's innocence;but they were kind and forbearing, and kept silence, and theknowledge of our trust in him has bound her very close to us. "

"Was that call, when she did not see him, all she ever heard ofhim?"

"All! except that he left a fragment of paper with the servant, withthe one pencil scrawl, 'A Dieu!'--a capital D to mark the fullmeaning. She once showed it to me--folded so as to fit into theback of a locket with his photograph. "

"Dear Jenny! And had you traced him on board this ship?"

"No, but his name was in the list; and we knew he had strong fancyfor South Africa, whither the Hippolyta was bound. In fact he oughtto have been a sailor, and only yielded to his mother's wishes. "

"We knew a Mr. Archibald Douglas once, " said Anne; "he came andoutspanned by us when he was going north after elephants. He stayeda fortnight, because his wagon had to be mended. "

"O, Julius! if we could but find him for her again!" cried Rosamond. 

"I am afraid Archibald Douglas is not much more individual a namethan John Smith, " said Julius, sadly. 

"That tells as much against the Hippolyta man, " said Rosamond. 

"Poor Archie would not be difficult to identify, " said Julius; "forhis hair was like mine, though his eyes were blue, and not short-sighted. "

"That is all right, then, " cried Anne; "for we had a dispute whetherhe were young or old, and I remember mamma saying he had a lookabout him as if his hair might have turned white in a single night. "

"Julius! Now won't you believe?" cried Rosamond. 

"Had he a Scotch accent?" said Julius. 

"No; I recollect papa's telling him he never should have guessed himto be a Scot by his tongue; and he said he must confess that he hadnever seen Scotland. "

"Now, Julius!" pleaded Rosamond, with clasped hands, as if Jenny'sfate hung on his opinion. 

"How long ago was this?" asked he. 

"Four years, " said Anne, with a little consideration. "He came bothin going and returning, and Alick was wild to join him if he everpassed our way again. My father liked him so much that he wasalmost ready to consent; but he never came again. Ivory hunters gomore from Natal now. "

"You will trace him! There's a dear Anne!" exclaimed Rosamond. 

"I will write to them at home; Alick knows a good many hunters, andcould put Miles into the way of making inquiries, if he touches atNatal on his way home. "

"Miles will do all he can, " said Julius; "he was almost broken-hearted when he found how Archie had gone. I think he was even morehis hero than Raymond when we were boys, because he was moreenterprising; and my mother always thought Archie's baffled passionfor the sea reacted upon Miles. "

"He will do it! He will find him, if he is the Miles I take himfor! How old was he--Archie, I mean?"

"A year older than Raymond; but he always seemed much younger, hewas so full of life and animation--so unguarded, poor fellow! Heused to play tricks with imitating hand-writing; and these, ofcourse, were brought up against him. "

"Thirty-four! Not a bit too old for the other end of the romance!"

"Take care, Rosie. Don't say a word to Jenny till we know more. She must not be unsettled only to be disappointed. "

"Do you think she would thank you for that, you cold-bloodedanimal?"

"I don't know; but I think the suspense would be far more tryingthan the quiet resigned calm that has settled down on her. Besides, you must remember that even if Archie were found, the mystery hasnever been cleared up. "

"You don't think that would make any difference to Jenny?"

"It makes all the difference to her father; and Jenny will never bea disobedient daughter. "

"Oh! but it will--it must be cleared! I know it will! It isfaithless to think that injustice is not always set right!"

"Not always here, " said Julius, sadly. "See, there's the Backsworthrace-ground, the great focus of the evil. "

"Were racing debts thought to have any part in the disaster?"

"That I can't tell; but it was those races that brought GeorgeProudfoot under the Vivian influence; and in the absence of all ofus, poor Archie, when left to himself after his mother's death, hadbecome enough mixed up in their amusements to give a handle to thosewho thought him unsteady. "

"As if any one must be unsteady who goes to the races!" criedRosamond. "You were so liberal about balls, I did expect one littlegood word for races; instead of which, you are declaring a poorwretch who goes to them capable of embezzling two thousand pounds, and I dare say Anne agrees with you!"

"Now, did I ever say so, Anne?"

"You looked at the course with pious horror, and said it justifiedthe suspicion!" persisted Rosamond. 

"That's better, " said Julius; "though I never even said it justifiedthe suspicion, any more than I said that balls might not easily beoverdone, especially by _some_ people. "

"But you don't defend races?" said Anne. 

"No; I think the mischief they do is more extensive, and has lessmitigation than is the case with any other public amusement. "

"H'm!" said Rosamond. "Many a merry day have I had on the top ofthe regimental drag; so perhaps there's nothing of which you wouldnot suspect me. "

"I'll tell you what I more than suspect you of, " said Julius, "ofwearing a gay bonnet to be a bait and a sanction to crowds of younggirls, to whom the place was one of temptation, though not to you. "

"Oh, there would be no end to it if one thought of such things. "

"Or the young men who--"

"Well, " broke in Rosamond, "it was always said that our youngofficers got into much less mischief than where there was astraight-laced colonel, who didn't go along with them to give them atone. "

"That I quite believe. I remember, too, the intense and breathlesssense of excitement in the hush and suspense of the multitude, andthe sweeping by of the animals--"

"Then you've been!" cried his wife. 

"As a boy, yes. "

"Not since you were old enough to think it over?" said Anne eagerly. 

"No. It seemed to me that the amount of genuine interest in thesport and the animals was infinitesimal compared with the fictitiousexcitement worked up by betting. "

"And what's the harm of betting when you've got the money?"

"And when you haven't?"

"That's another question. "

"Do you approve it at the best?"

"It's a man's own concern. "

"That's arguing against your better sense. "

"Can't be helped, with two such solemn companions! There would beno bearing you if I didn't take you down sometimes, when you get sodidactic, and talk of fictitious excitement, indeed! And now youare going to Rood House, what will you be coming back?"

Rood House stood about two miles on the further side of Backsworth. It was an ancient almshouse, of which the mastership had been wiselygiven to Dr. Easterby, one of the deepest theological scholars, holiest men, and bravest champions of the Church, although he wastoo frail in health to do much, save with his pen, and in councilwith the numerous individuals who resorted to him from far and wide, and felt the beautiful old fragment of a monastic building where hedwelt a true court of peace and refreshment, whence they came forth, aided by prayer and counsel, for their own share of the combat. 

Julius Charnock had, happily for himself, found his way thither whenhis character and opinions were in process of formation, and hadever since looked to Rood House for guidance and sympathy. To beonly fourteen miles distant had seemed to him one great perfectionof Compton Poynsett; but of course he had found visits there a farmore possible thing to an unoccupied holiday son of the great housethan to a busy parish priest, so that this opportunity was veryvaluable to him. 

And so it proved; not so much for the details as for the spirit inwhich he was aided in looking at everything, from the mightyquestions which prove the life of the Church by the vehement emotionthey occasion, down to the difficulties of theory and practice thatharassed himself--not named, perhaps, but still greatly unravelled. 

Those perpetual questions, that have to be worked out again andagain by each generation, were before him in dealing with hisparish; and among them stood in his case the deeper aspects of thequestion that had come forward on the drive, namely, the lawfulnessand expedience of amusement. 

Granting the necessity of pastimes and recreation for most persons, specially the young, there opened the doubtful, because ever-varying, question of the kind and the quantity to be promoted orsanctioned, lest restraint should lead to reaction, and lestabstinence should change from purity and spirituality to morosenessor hypocrisy. And if Julius found one end of the scale representedby his wife and his junior curate, his sister-in-law and his seniorcurate were at the other. Yet the old recluse was far more inclinedto toleration than he had been in principle himself, though the spurof the occasion had led him to relaxations towards others in theindividual cases brought before him, when he had thought oppositionwould do more harm than the indulgence. His conscience had beenuneasy at this divergence, till he could discuss the subject. 

The higher the aspiration of the soul, the less, of course, would bethe craving for diversion, the greater the shrinking from those evilaccompaniments that soon mar the most innocent delights. Somespirits are austere in their purity, like Anne; some so fervent inzeal, as to heed nothing by the way, like Mr. Bindon; but most arein an advanced stage of childhood, and need play and pleasure almostas much as air or food; and these instincts require wholesomegratification, under such approval as may make the enjoyment brightand innocent; and yet there should be such subduing of their excess, such training in discipline, as shall save them from frivolity andfrom passing the line of evil, prevent the craving from growing to apassion, and where it has so grown, tone it back to the limits ofobedience and safety. 

Alas! perhaps there lay the domestic difficulty of which Juliuscould not speak; yet, as if answering the thought, Dr. Easterbysaid, "After all, charity is the true self-acting balance to many asweet untaught nature. Self-denials which spring out of love are agreat safeguard, because they are almost sure to be both humble andunconscious. "

And Julius went away cheered as he thought of his Rosamond's wellsof unselfish affection, confident that all the cravings for varietyand excitement, which early habit had rendered second nature, wouldbe absorbed by the deeper and keener feelings within, and that thesewould mount higher as time went on, under life's great training. 

Pleasant it was to see the triumphant delight of the two sistersover their purchases. Such a day's English shopping was quite a newexperience to Anne; and she had not been cautioned against it, soher enjoyment was as fresh and vivid as a child's; and they bothchattered all the way home with a merriment in which Julius fullyshared, almost surprised to see Anne so eager and lively, and--asher cheeks glowed and her eyes brightened--beginning to understandwhat had attracted Miles. 

Mrs. Poynsett had not had quite so pleasant a day, for Cecil knockedat her door soon after luncheon with an announcement that LadyTyrrell wished for admission. Expecting an exposition of the Clioscheme, she resigned herself, looking with some curiosity at thebeautiful contour of face and drooping pensive loveliness, that hadrather gained than lost in grace since the days when she had deemedthem so formidable. 

"This is kind, dear Mrs. Poynsett, " said the soft voice, while thehand insisted on a pressure. "I have often wished to come and seeyou, but I could not venture without an excuse. "

"Thank you, " was the cold reply. 

"I have more than an excuse--a reason, and I think we shall be fullyagreed; but first you must let me have the pleasure of one look torecall old times. It is such a treat to see you so unchanged. Ihope you do not still suffer. "

"No, thank you. "

"And are you always a prisoner here? Ah! I know your patience. "

"What was the matter on which you wanted to speak to me?" said Mrs. Poynsett, fretted beyond endurance by the soft, caressing tone. 

"As I said, I should hardly venture if I did not know we agreed--though perhaps not for the same reasons. We do agree in our loveand high opinion of your dear Frank!"

"Well!" repressing a shudder at the 'dear. '

"I am afraid we likewise agree that, under all circumstances, ourtwo young people are very unfortunately attached, and that we mustbe hard-hearted, and let it go no further. "

"You mean your sister?"

"My dear Lena! I cannot wonder! I blame myself excessively, for itwas all through my own imprudence. You see, when dear Frank came toRockpier, it was so delightful to renew old times, and they bothseemed such children, that I candidly confess I was off my guard;but as soon as I had any suspicion, I took care to separate them, knowing that, in the state of my poor father's affairs, it would bemost unjustifiable to let so mere a youth be drawn into anattachment. "

"Frank is no prize, " said his mother with some irony. 

"I knew you would say that, dear Mrs. Poynsett. Pecuniarilyspeaking, of course, he is not; though as to all qualities of theheart and head, he is a prize in the true sense of the word. But, alas! it is a sort of necessity that poor Lena, if she marry at all, should marry to liberal means. I tell you candidly that she has notbeen brought up as she ought to have been, considering herexpectations or no expectations. What could you expect of my poorfather, with his habits, and two mere girls? I don't know whetherthe governess could have done anything; but I know that it was quitetime I appeared. I tell you in confidence, dear Mrs. Poynsett, there was a heavy pull on my own purse before I could take them awayfrom Rockpier; and, without blaming a mere child like poor dear Lenayou can see what sort of preparation she has had for a smallincome. "

It is hard to say which tried Mrs. Poynsett's patience most, the'dears' or the candour; and the spirit of opposition probablyprompted her to say, "Frank has his share, like his brothers. "

"I understand, and for many girls the provision would be ample; butpoor Lena has no notion of economizing--how should she? I am afraidthere is no blinking it, that, dear children as they both are, nothing but wretchedness could result from their corning together;and thus I have been extremely sorry to find that the affair hasbeen renewed. "

"It was not an unnatural result of their meeting again. "

"Ah! there I was to blame again; but no one can judge whether anattachment be real between such children. I thought, too, thatFrank would be gone out into the world, and I confess I did notexpect to find that he had absolutely addressed her, and kept itsecret. That is what my poor father feels so much. Eleonora is hisspecial darling, and he says he could have overlooked anything butthe concealment. "

Maternal affection assumed the defensive; and, though the idea ofconcealment on the part of one of her sons was a shock, Mrs. Poynsett made no betrayal of herself, merely asking, "How did itcome to light?"

"I extorted the confession. I think I was justified, standing in amother's position, as I do. I knew my vigilance had been eluded, and that your son had walked home with her after the skating; andyou know very well how transparent young things are. "

The skating! The mother at once understood that Frank was onlypostponing the explanation till after his examination; and besides, she had never been ignorant of his attachment, and could not regardany display thereof more or less as deception towards herself. Thevery fact that Lady Tyrrell was trying to prejudice her beforehand, so as to deprive him of the grace of taking the initiative towardshis own mother, enlisted her feelings in his defence, so she coldlyanswered, "I am sorry if Sir Harry Vivian thinks himself unfairlytreated; but I should have thought my son's feelings had been aswell known in the one family as in the other. "

"But, _dear_ Mrs. Poynsett, " exclaimed Lady Tyrrell, "I am sure younever encouraged them. I am quite enough aware--whatever I may oncehave been--of the unfortunate contrast between our respectivefamilies. "

Certainly there was no connection Mrs. Poynsett less wished toencourage; yet she could not endure to play into Camilla' hands, andmade reply, "There are many matters in which young men must judgefor themselves. I have only once see Miss Vivian, and have no meansof estimating my son's chance of happiness with her. "

Her impenetrability ruffled Lady Tyrrell; but the answer was softerthan ever. "Dear Mrs. Poynsett, what a happy mother you are, to beable so freely to allow your sons to follow their inclinations!Well! since you do not object, my conscience is easy on that score;but it was more than I durst hope. "

To have one's approval thus stolen was out of the question and Mrs. Poynsett said, "Regret is one thing, opposition another. Sir HarryVivian need not doubt that, when my son's position is once fixed, hewill speak openly and formally, and it will then be time to judge. "

"Only, " said Lady Tyrrell, rising, "let this be impressed on yourson. Eleonora cannot marry till she is of age, and my father cannotsanction any previous entanglement. Indeed it is most unfortunate, if her affections have been tampered with, for me, who have outgrownromance, and know that, in her position, a wealthy match is anecessity. I have spoken candidly, " she repeated; "for I like Franktoo well to bear that he should be trifled with and disappointed. "

"Thank you!"

The ladies parted, liking one another, if possible, less thanbefore. 

Mrs. Poynsett's instinct of defence had made her profess much lessdistaste to the marriage than she really felt; she was muchconcerned that another son should be undergoing Raymond's sadexperiences, but she had no fear that Lady Tyrrell would ever allowit to come to a marriage, and she did not think Frank's poeticalenthusiasm and admiration for beauty betokened a nature that wouldsuffer such an enduring wound as Raymond's had done. 

So she awaited his return, without too much uneasiness for amusementin Rosamond's preparations. One opening into the conservatory wasthrough her room, so that every skilful device, or gay ornament, could be exhibited to her; and she much enjoyed the mirth that wenton between the queen of the revels and her fellow-workers. 

Cecil did not interfere, being indeed generally with her friends atSirenwood, Aucuba Villa, or the working-room, in all of which shehad the pleasure of being treated as a person of greatconsideration, far superior to all her natural surroundings, and onwhom hinged all the plans for the amelioration of Willansborough. 

Sometimes, however, it happens that the other side of a question ispresented; and thus it was on the day before the entertainment, whenRosamond had taken her brother Tom to have his hair cut, and tochoose some false moustaches, and the like requisites for theircharades. 

They went first to Pettitt's, the little hair-dresser, where Tom wasmarvellously taken with the two Penates, and could hardly be draggedinto the innermost recesses, where in the middle of a sheet, with apeignoir on his shoulders, he submitted to the clipping of hisraven-black locks, as Mr. Pettitt called them, on the condition ofhis sister looking on. 

Presently they heard some feet enter the outer shop, and Mrs. Duncombe's voice asking for Mr. Pettitt; while his mother repliedthat he would wait on her immediately, but that he was just nowengaged with the Honourable Mr. De Lancey. "Could she show themanything?"

"Oh no, thank you, we'll wait! Don't let us keep you, Mrs. Pettitt, it is only on business. "

"Ay!" said the other voice--female, and entirely untamed. "He'syour great ally about your gutters and drains, isn't he?"

"The only landowner in Wil'sbro' who has a particle of publicspirit!" said Mrs. Duncombe. 

Whereat good-natured Lady Rosamond could not but smilecongratulation to the hair-cutter, who looked meekly elevated, whileTom whispered, "Proverb contradicted. "

But the other voice replied, "Of course--he's a perfumer, learned insmells! You'd better drop it, Bessie! you'll never make anything ofit. "

"I'll never drop what the health and life of hundreds of my fellow-creatures depend on! I wish I could make you understand, Gussie!"

"You'll never do anything with my governor, if that's your hope--youshould hear him and the mum talking! 'It's all nonsense, ' he says;'I'm not going to annoy my tenants, and make myself unpopular, justto gratify a fashionable cry. ' 'Well, ' says mumsey, 'it is not whatwas thought the thing for ladies in my time; but you see, if Gussiegoes along with it, she will have the key to all the best countysociety. ' 'Bother the county society!' says I. 'Bessie Duncombe'sjolly enough--but such a stuck-up set as they all are at Compton, I'll not run after, behaving so ill to the governor, too!' However--"

"There's a proverb about listeners!" said Rosamond, emerging whenshe felt as if she ought to hearken no longer, and finding Mrs. Duncombe leaning with her back to the counter, and a tall girl, afew degrees from beauty, in a riding-habit, sitting upon it. 

They both laughed; and the girl added, "If you had waited a moment, Lady Rosamond, you would have heard that you were the only jolly oneof all the b'iling!"

"Ah! we shall see where you are at the end of Mrs. Tallboys'lectures!" said Mrs. Duncombe. 

"On what?" asked Rosamond. "Woman's rights, or sanitary measures?for I can't in the least understand why they should be coupled uptogether. "

"Nor I!" said Miss Moy. "I don't see why we shouldn't have our ownway, just as well as the men; but what that has to do with drainsand gutters, I can't guess. "

"I'm the other way, " said Rosamond. "I think houses and streetsought to be made clean and healthy; but as for woman's rule, I fancywe get more of it now than we should the other way. "

"As an instance, " said Mrs. Duncombe, "woman is set on cleansingWil'sbro'. Man will not stir. Will it ever be done till woman hasher way?"

"Perhaps, if woman would be patient, man would do it in the rightway, instead of the wrong!" quoth Rosamond. 

"Patient! No, indeed! Nothing is to be done by that! Let everywoman strive her utmost to get the work done as far as her powersgo, and the crusade will be accomplished for very shame!"

Just then Tom, looking highly amused, emerged, followed by Mr. Pettitt, the only enlightened landlord on whom Mrs. Duncombe hadbeen able to produce the slightest impression. He had owned a fewsmall tenements in Water Lane, which he was about to rebuild, andwhich were evidently the pivot of operations. 

At the door they met Cecil, and Rosamond detained her a moment inthe street to say, "My dear Cecil, is _that_ Miss Moy coming onWednesday?"

"Of course she is. We greatly want to move her father. He has thechief house property there. "

"It is too late now, " said Rosamond; "but do you think it can bepleasant to Jenny Bowater to meet her?"

"I know nothing of the old countrified animosities and gossipings, which you have so heartily adopted, " replied Cecil, proudly. "Firstly, I ignore them as beneath me; secondly, I sacrifice themall to a great cause. If Miss Bowater does not like my guests, lether stay away. "

Here Mrs. Duncombe stood on the step, crying out, "Well, Cecil, howhave you sped with Mrs. Bungay?"

"Horrid woman!" and no more was heard, as Cecil entered Mr. Pettitt's establishment. 

"That might be echoed, " said Tom, who was boiling over at the speechto his sister. "I knew that ape was an intolerable little prig of apeacock, but I didn't think she could be such a brute to you, Rosie!Is she often like that, and does your parson stand such treatment ofyou?"

"Nonsense, Tom!" said Rosamond; "it doesn't often happen, and breaksno bones when it does. It's only the ignorance of the woman, andsmall blame to her--as Mrs. M'Kinnon said when Corporal Sims's wifethrew the red herring's tail at her!"

"But does Julius stand it?" repeated Tom, fiercely, as if hesitatingwhether to call out Julius or Mrs. Charnock Poynsett. 

"Don't be so ridiculous, Tom! I'd rather stand a whole shower ofred herrings' tails at once than bother Julius about his brother'swife. How would you and Terry like it, if your wives took tosquabbling, and setting you together by the ears? I was dementedenough to try it once, but I soon saw it was worse than anything. "

"What? He took her part?"

"No such thing! Hold your tongue, Tommy, and don't talk of marriedfolk till you're one yourself!"

"Papa never meant it, " repeated the indignant Tom. "I've a greatmind to write and tell him how you are served!"

"Now, Tom, " cried Rosamond, stopping short, "if you do that, Isolemnly declare I'll never have you here again! What could papado? Do you think he could cure Raymond's wife of being a ridiculouslittle prig? And if he could--why, before your letter got toMeerut, she will be gone up to London; and by the time she comesback we'll be safe in our own Rectory. Here, come in, and get ourstring and basket at Mrs. Bungay's. "

"I'll pay her out!" muttered Tom, as he followed his sister intoMrs. Bungay's shop, one of much smaller pretensions, for the sale ofbaskets, brushes, mats, &c. 

The mistress, a stout, red-faced woman, looked as if she had been'speaking a bit of her mind, ' and was at first very gruff andungracious, until she found they were real customers; and moreover, Tom's bland Irish courtesy perfectly disarmed her, when Rosamond, having fixed her mind on a box in the very topmost pigeon-hole, theynot only apologized for the trouble they were giving, but Tomoffered to climb up and bring it down, when she was calling for theerrand-boy in vain. 

"It's no trouble, sir, thank you; I'd think nothing of that for you, my lady, nor for Mr. Charnock--which I'm sure I'll never forget allhe did for us at the fire, leading my little Alferd out like a lamb!I beg your ladyship's pardon, ma'am, if I seemed a bit hasty; butI've been so put about--and I thought at first you'd come in on thesame matter, which I'm sure a lady like you wouldn't ever do--aboutthe drains, and such like, which isn't fit for no lady to speak of!As if Water Lane weren't as sweet and clean as it has any call tobe, and as if we didn't know what was right by our tenants, whichare a bad lot, and don't merit no money to be laid out on them!"

"So you have houses in Water Lane, Mrs. Bungay? I didn't even knowit!"

"Yes, Lady Rosamond! My husband and I thought there was no betterinvestment than to buy a bit of land, when the waste was inclosed, and run 'em up cheap. Houses always lets here, you see, and thefire did no damage to that side. But of course you didn't know, Lady Rosamond; a real lady like you wouldn't go prying into whatshe's no call to, like that fine decked-out body Duncombe's wife, which had best mind her own children, which it is a shame to seestravaging about the place! I know it's her doing, which I toldyoung Mrs. Charnock Poynsett just now, which I'm right sorry to seeled along by the like of her, and so are more of us; and we all wishsome friend would give her a hint, which she is but young--and 'tisdoing harm to Mr. Charnock Poynsett, Lady Rosamond, which all of ushave a regard for, as is but right, having been a good customer, andfriend to the town, and all before him; but we can't have ladiescoming in with their fads and calling us names for not laying out onwhat's no good to nobody, just to satisfy them! As if Wil'sbro'hadn't been always healthy!"

Tom was wicked enough to put in a good many notes of sympathy, atthe intervals of the conjunctive whiches, and to end by declaring, "Quite right, Mrs. Bungay! You see how much better we've brought upmy sister! I say--what's the price of that little doll's broom?"

"What do you want of it, Tom?"

"Never you mind!"

"No mischief, I hope?"

CHAPTER XVIIThe Enchantments

"It seems a shame, " the Walrus said, "To play them such a trick, After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick. "The carpenter said nothing, but "The butter's spread too thick. "--LEWIS CARROLL

A telegram arrived from Frank, in the midst of the preparations onWednesday, announcing that 'he was all right, and should be atHazlitt's Gate at 8. 10 p. M. '

At 6. 30 children of all sizes, with manes of all colours, werearriving, and were regaled in the dining-room by Anne, assisted byJenny and Charlie. Anne had a pretty pink colour in her cheeks, herflaxen locks were bound with green ribbons, and green adorned herwhite dress, in which she had a gracious, lily-like look ofunworldly purity. She thoroughly loved children, was quite equal tothe occasion, and indeed enjoyed it as much as the recent Christmas-tree in the village school. 

Such of Cecil's guests as were mothers for the most part came withtheir children; but Lady Tyrrell, her sister, and others, who wereunattached, arrived later, and were shown to the library, where sheentertained them on the specified refreshment, biscuits and coffee, and enthroned Mrs Tallboys in the large arm-chair, where she lookedmost beautiful and gorgeous, in a robe of some astonishing sheenysky-blue, edged with paly gold, while on her head was a coronal ofsapphire and gold, with a marvellous little plume. The cost musthave been enormous, and her delicate and spirituelle beauty wasshown to the greatest advantage; but as the audience was far tooscanty to be worth beginning upon, Cecil, with a sigh at the follyof maternal idolatry, went to hunt up her ladies from gazing at thebabyish amusements of their offspring; and Miss Moy, in spite of herremonstrance, jumped up to follow her; while Mrs. Duncombe, the only_good_ mother in this new sense, remained, keeping guard lestcuriosity, and the echo of piano music, which now began to be heard, should attract away any more of the ladies. 

Cecil was by no means prepared for the scene. The drawing-room wascrowded--chiefly indeed with ladies and children, but there was afair sprinkling of gentlemen--and all had their faces turned towardsthe great glass doors opening into the conservatory, which wasbrilliantly lighted and echoing with music and laughter. Ceciltried to summon some of the ladies of her own inviting, announcingthat Mrs. Tallboys was arrived; but this appeared to have no effect. "Yes, thank you, " was all she heard. Penetrating a little farther, "Mrs. Tallboys is ready. " "Thank you, I'll come; but my littlepeople are so anxious to have me with them. "--"Mrs. Tallboys iswaiting!" to the next; who really did not hear, but only responded, "Did you ever see anything more charming?"

By this time Cecil could see over the heads of the front rank ofchildren. She hardly knew the conservatory. All the veterancamellia and orange-trees, and a good many bay and laurel boughsbesides, were ranged along the central alley, gorgeous with fairylamps and jewels, while strains of soft music proceeded from someunseen quarter. "Very pretty!" said Cecil, hastily, trying anotherof her intended guests with her intelligence. "Really--yes, presently, thank you, " was the absent answer. "There is somedelightful mystery in there. "

Cecil found her attempts were vain, and was next asked, as one ofthe household, what delicious secret was going on there; and as ithurt her feelings to be left out, she pressed into the conservatory, with some vague intention of ordering Anne, if not Rosamond, torelease her grown-up audience, and confine their entertainment tothe children; but she found herself at once caught by the hand by aturbaned figure like a prince in the Arabian Nights, who, with a lowsalaam, waved her on. 

"No, thank you. I'm looking for--"

But retreat was impossible, for many were crowding up in eagercuriosity; moreover, a muslin bandage descended-on her eyes. "Don't!" she expostulated; "I'm not at play--I'm--" but her wordswere lost. 

"Hush! the Peri's cave is near, No one enters scatheless here;Lightly tread and lowly bend, Win the Peri for your friend, "

sung a voice to the mysterious piano accompaniment; and Cecil foundboth hands taken, and was forced to move on, as she guessed thelength of the conservatory, amid sounds of suppressed laughter thatexceedingly annoyed her, till there was a pause and repetition ofthe two last lines with an attempt to make her obey them. She wastoo impatient and angry to perceive that it would have been muchbetter taste to enter into the humour of the thing; and she onlysaid with all her peculiar cold petulance, just like sleet, "Let mego, if you please; I am engaged. I am waited for. "

"Peri gracious, She's contumacious;Behold, every hair shall bristleWhen she hears the magic whistle!"

and a whistle, sharp, long, and loud, sounded behind her, amid pealsof merriment. She turned sharply round, but still the whistle wasbehind her, and rang out again and again, till she was halfdeafened, and wholly irate; while the repetition of

"Bend, bend, lowly bend, Win the Peri for your friend, "

forced on her the conviction that on no other condition should shebe set free, though the recognition of Terry's voice made thecommand doubly unpalatable, and as she made the stiffest and mostreluctant of courtesies, a voice said, "Homage done, you may beOf this merry company;"

and with a last blast of the whistle the bandage was removed, andshe found herself in the midst of a half circle of laughing childrenand grown people; in front of her a large opening, like a cavern, hung with tiny lamps of various colours, in the midst of which stoodthe Peri, in a Persian pink robe, white turban, and wide whitetrousers, with two oriental genies attendant upon her. 

A string was thrust into Cecil's hand, apparently fastened to her, and accounting for some sharp pulls she had felt during thewhistling. She drew it in front in sharp haste, to be rid of theobnoxious instrument; but instead of a whistle, she found in herhand a little dust-pan and brush, fit for a baby-house, drawnthrough a ring, while the children eagerly cried, "What have yougot? What have you got?"

"Some nonsense. I do not approve of practical jokes, " began Cecil;but the song only replied, "Away, away, In the cave no longer stay;Others come to share our play;"

and one of the genies drew her aside, while another blindfoldedvictim was being introduced with the same rites, only fare morewillingly. The only way open to here was that which led to thewindow of the dining-room, where she found Anne with the childrenwho had had their share, and were admiring their prizes. Anne triedto soothe her by saying, "You see every one is served alike. Theythought it would be newer than a tree. "

"Did you mean to _give_ me _this_?" asked a little girl, in whosehands Cecil had thrust her dust-pan, without a glance at it. 

"Oh the ring!" said Anne. "You must keep that, Mrs. Poynsettthought you would like it. It is a gem--some Greek goddess, Ithink. "

"Is this her arrangement?" asked Cecil, pointing to the dust-pan. 

"Oh no! she knew nothing about that, nor I; but you see every onehas something droll. See what Mr. Bowater has!"

And Herbert Bowater showed that decidedly uncomplimentary penwiper, where the ass's head declares "There are two of us;" while everychild had some absurdity to show; and Miss Moy's shrieks of delightwere already audible at a tortoise-shell pen-holder disguised as ahunting-whip. 

"I must go to my friends, " said Cecil, vouchsafing no admiration ofthe ring, though she had seen enough to perceive that it was abeautifully engraved ruby; and she hurried back to the library, butonly to find all her birds flown, and the room empty! Pursuing themto the drawing-room, she saw only the backs of a few, in therearmost rank of the eager candidates for admission to the magiccave. 

Lady Tyrrell alone saw her, and turned back from the eagermultitude, to say in her low, modulated voice, "Beaten, my dear. Able strategy on la belle mere's part. "

"Where's Mrs. Tallboys?"

"Don't you see her blue feather, eagerly expectant? Just after youwere gone, Edith Bowater came in, and begged us to come and see theconservatory lighted up; and then came a rush of the Brendenchildren after their aunt, exclaiming wildly it was delicious--lights, and a fairy, and a secret, and every one got something, ifthey were ever so old. Of course, after that there was nothing butto follow the stream. "

"It is a regular plot for outwitting us! Rosamond is dressed up forthe fairy. They are all in league. "

"Well, we must put a good face on it for the present, " said LadyTyrrell. "Don't on any account look as if you were not in perfectaccordance. You can show your sentiments afterwards, you know. "

Cecil saw she must acquiesce, for Mrs. Tallboys was full in themidst. With an infinitely better grace than her hostess, sheyielded herself to the sports, bowed charmingly to the Peri, whirledlike a fairy at the whistling, and was rewarded with a little enamelpadlock as a brooch, and two keys as ear-rings; indeed sheprofessed, with evident sincerity, that she was delighted with thesesports of the old country, and thought the two genies exquisitespecimens of the fair, useless, gentle English male aristocracy. 

Mrs. Duncombe, too, accepted the inevitable with considerable spiritand good-humour, though she had a little passage-at-arms withJulius; when showing him the ivory card-case that had fallen to herlot, she said, "So this is the bribe! Society stops the mouth oftruth. "

"That is as you choose to take it, " he said. 

"Exactly. When we want to go deep into eternal verities you silenceus with frivolous din and dainty playthings for fear of losing yourslaves. "

"I don't grant that. "

"Then why hinder an earnest discussion by all this hubbub?"

"Because this was not the right place or time. "

"It never is the right time for the tyrants to let their slavesconfer, or to hear home-truths. "

"On the contrary, my curiosity is excited. I want to hear Mrs. Tallboys' views. "

"Then when will you dine with us? Next Wednesday?"

"Thank you. Wednesday has an evening service. "

"Ah! I told you it was never the right time! Then Thursday? Andyou'll trust your wife with us?"

"Oh yes, certainly. "

"It is a bargain, then? Seven o'clock, or there will be no time. "

Julius's attention suddenly wandered. Was not a whisper pervadingthe room of a railway accident? Was not Frank due by that night'strain?

There were still so many eager to visit the magic cave, that Juliustrusted his wife would remain there sheltered from the report; JennyBowater was behind a stand of trees, acting orchestra; but whenTerry came to the outskirts of the forest in search of other knightsof the whistle, Julius laid a hand on him, and gave instructions incase any rumour should reach Rosamond to let her know how vague itwas, tell her that he was going to ascertain the truth, and beg herto keep up the game and cause no alarm. 

Next encountering Anne, he begged her to go to his mother and guardher from any alarm, until there was some certainty. 

"Can't we send all these people away?" she asked. 

"Not yet. We had better make no unnecessary disturbance. Therewill be time enough if anything be amiss. I am going down toHazlitt's Gate. "

Anne was too late. Charlie had not outgrown the instinct of rushingto his mother with his troubles; and he was despairingly telling thereport he had heard of a direful catastrophe, fatal to an unknownquantity of passengers, while she, strong and composed because hegave way, was trying to sift his intelligence. No sooner did hehear from Anne that Julius was going to the station, than he startedup to accompany him--the best thing he could do in his presentstate. Hardly, however, had he closed the door, before he returnedwith fresh tears in his eyes, leading in Eleonora Vivian, whom hehad found leaning against the wall outside, white and still, scarcedrawing her breath. 

"Come, " he said; and before she knew what he was doing, she was atMrs. Poynsett's side. "Here, mother, " he said, "take her. " And hewas gone. 

Mrs. Poynsett stretched out her arms. The hearts of the two womenwho loved Frank could not help meeting. Eleonora sank on her knees, hiding her face on the mother's breast, with two tender arms claspedround her. 

Anne was kneeling too, but she was no longer the meek, shy stranger. Now, in the hour of trouble, she poured forth, in a voice ferventand sweet, a prayer for protection and support for their belovedone, so that it might be well with him, whatever might be hisHeavenly Father's Will. 

As she paused, Mrs. Poynsett, in a choked voice, said, "Thank you, dear child;" when there were steps in the hall. Anne started up, Lenore buried her face on Mrs. Poynsett's bosom, the mother claspedher hands over her convulsively, then beheld, as the door opened, atall figure, with a dark bright face full of ineffable softness andjoy. Frank himself, safe and sound, with his two brothers behindhim. They stayed not to speak, but hastened to spread the gladtidings; while he flung himself down, including both his mother andLenore in one rapturous embrace, and carrying his kiss from one tothe other--conscious, if no one else was, that this first seal ofhis love was given in his mother's arms. 

Lenore did indeed extricate herself, and stand up as rosy red as shehad been pale; but she had no room for any thought beyond hismother's trembling "Not hurt, my dear?"

"Not hurt! Not a scratch! Thank God! Oh! thank God!" answeredFrank, quivering all over with thankfulness, though probably farmore at the present joy than the past peril. 

"Yes--oh, thanks for His mercy!" echoed Anne, giving fervent handand tearful cheek to the eager salutation, which probably would havebeen as energetic to Clio or old Betty at that moment!

"But there's blood on your wristband, " cried the mother. "You arehurt!"

"No; it's not mine. I didn't know it. It is from the poor fellow Ihelped to carry into the public-house at Knoll, just this sideBacksworth, a good deal hurt, I'm afraid. Something had got on thelines, I believe. I was half asleep, and knew nothing till I foundourselves all crushed up together in the dark, upside-down, my feetabove my head. There was but one man in my carriage, and we didn'tget foul of one another, and found we were all right, when wescrambled out of the window. So we helped out the others, and foundthat, besides the engineer and stoker--who I don't suppose can live, poor fellows!--there was only this man much damaged. Then, whenthere seemed no more to be done, I took my bag and walked acrosscountry, to reach home before you heard. But oh, this is worthanything!"

He had to bend down for another embrace from his mother whose heartwas very full as she held his bright young healthful face betweenher hands, though all she said was, "You have walked eleven milesand more! You must be half starved!--Anne, my dear, pray let himhave something. He can eat it here. "

"I'll see, " said Anne, hastening away. 

"Oh, don't go, Lenore, " cried Frank, springing up. "Stay, I've notseen you!--Mother, how sweet of you! But I forgot! You don't know!I was only waiting till I was through. "

"I understand, my dear boy. "

"But how? How did you find out? Was it only that you knew she wasthe precious darling of my heart? and now you see and own why, "cries Frank, almost beside himself with excitement and delight. 

"It was Lady Tyrrell who told me, " said Mrs. Poynsett, sympathizingtoo much with the lovers to perceive that her standpoint ofresistance was gone from her. 

"Yes, " said Lenore. "She knew of our walk, and questioned me soclosely that I could not conceal anything without falsehood. "

"After she met me at Aucuba Villa?" asked Frank. 

"Yes. Did you tell her anything?"

"I thought she knew more than I found afterwards that she did, " saidFrank; "but there's no harm done. It is all coming now. "

"She told my father, " said Eleonora, sadly, "and he cannotunderstand our delay. He is grieved and displeased, and thinks Ihave not been open with him. "

"Oh! that will be all right to-morrow, " said Frank. "I'll have itout with a free heart, now there's no fear but that I have passed;and I've got the dearest of mothers! I feel as if I could meet himif he were a dozen examiners rolled into one, instead of the goodold benevolent parent that he is! Ha! Anne--Susan--Jenkins--thankyou--that's splendid! May I have it here? Super-excellent! Onlyhere's half the clay-pit sticking to me! Let me just run up andmake myself decent. Only don't let her run away. "

Perhaps Clio would have scorned the instinct that made a Charnockunable to enjoy a much-needed meal in the presence of mother and oflove till the traces of the accident and the long walk had beenremoved. His old nurse hurried after--ostensibly to see that hislinen was at hand, but really to have her share of the petting andcongratulation; and Lenore stood a little embarrassed, till Mrs. Poynsett held out her arms, with the words, "My dear child!" andagain she dropped on her knee by the couch, and nestled close inthankful joy. 

Presently however, she raised herself, and said sadly, almostcoldly, "I am afraid you have been surprised into this. "

"I must love one who so loves my boy, " was the ardent answer. 

"I couldn't help it!" said the maiden, again abandoning herself tothe tenderness. "Oh! it is so good of you!"

"My dear, dear daughter!"

"Only please give me one mother's kiss! I have so longed for one. "

"Poor motherless child! My sweet daughter!"

Then after a pause Eleonora said, "Indeed, I'll try to deservebetter; but oh! pray forgive me, if I cost him much more pain andpatience than I am worth. "

"He thinks you well worth anything, and perhaps I do, " said MrsPoynsett, who was conquered, won over, delighted more than by eitherof the former brides, in spite of all antecedents. 

"Then will you always trust me?" said Eleonora, with clasped hands, and a wondrous look of earnest sincerity on her grave open brow andbeautiful pensive dark blue eyes. 

"I _must_, my dear. "

"And indeed I don't think I could help holding to _him_, because heseems my one stay and hope here; and now I know it is all right withyou, indeed it is such happiness as I never knew. "

She laid her head down again in subdued joy and rest: but the pausewas broken by Frank's return; and a moment after, in darted the Periin her pink cashmere costume, with a glow transforming her usuallycolourless face. "Dear, dear Frank, I'm so glad!" she cried, bestowing her kiss; while he cried in amazement, "Is it Rose? Isthere a fancy ball?"

"Only Aladdin's Cave. I'm just out of it; and while Jenny iskeeping up games, and Edith is getting up a charade, I could dash into see that Frank was all there, and more too. The exam, is safe, eh?"

"I trust so, " said Frank; "the list will not come just yet; but I amtold I am certain of a pass--indeed, that I stand high as tonumbers. "

"That's noble!--Now, Mrs. Poynsett, turn him out as soon as he haseaten his dinner. We want any one who can keep up a respectablekind of a row. I say, will you two do Ferdinand and Miranda playingat chess? You look just like it. "

"Must we go?" asked Frank, reluctantly; and there was something inthe expression of his face, a little paler than usual, that remindedhis mother that the young man had for the first time seen sudden andviolent death that day, and that though his present gladness was sogreat, yet that he had gone through too much in body and mind forthe revels of the evening not either to jar, or to produce avehement reaction, if he were driven into them. So she answered bypleading the eleven miles' walk; and the queen of the sports wasmerciful, adding, "But I must be gone, or Terry will be getting uphis favourite tableau of the wounded men of Clontarf, or Rothesay, or the Black Bull's Head, or some equally pleasing little incident. "

"Is it going on well?" asked Mrs. Poynsett. 

"Sweetly! Couldn't be better. They have all amalgamated and are inthe midst of the 'old family coach, ' with Captain Duncombe tellingthe story. He is quite up to the trick, and enjoys turning thetables on his ladies. "

"And Camilla?" asked Lenore, in a hesitating, anxious tone

"Oh! she's gone in for it. I think she is the springs! I heard herask where you were, and Charley told her; so you need not be afraidto stay in peace, if you have a turn that way. Good-bye; you'dlaugh to see how delighted people are to be let off the lecture. "And she bent over Lenore with a parting kiss, full of significanceof congratulation. 

She returned, after changing her dress, to find a pretty fairytableau, contrived by the Bowater sisters, in full progress, anddelighting the children and the mothers. Lady Vivian contrived toget a word with her as she returned. 

"Beautifully managed, Lady Rosamond. I tell Cecil she should enjoya defeat by such strategy. "

"It is Mrs. Poynsett's regular Christmas party, " said Rosamond, notdeigning any other reply. 

"I congratulate her on her skilful representatives, " said LadyTyrrell. "May I ask if we are to see the hero of the day? No?What! you would say better employed? Poor children, we must letthem alone to-night for their illusion, though I am sorry it shouldbe deepened; it will be only the more pain by and by. "

"I don't see that, " said Rosamond, stoutly. 

"Ah! Lady Rosamond, you are a happy young bride, untaught what isl'impossible. " Rosamond could not help thinking that no oneunderstood it better than she, as the eldest of a large family withmore rank and far more desires than means; but she disliked LadyTyrrell far too much for even her open nature to indulge inconfidences, and she made a successful effort to escape from herneighbourhood by putting two pale female Fullers into the place ofhonour in front of the folding doors into the small drawing-room, which served as a stage, and herself hovered about the rear, wishingshe could find some means of silencing Miss Moy's voice, which wasgrowing louder and more boisterous than ever. 

The charade which Rosamond had expected was the inoffensive, ifcommonplace, Inspector, and the window she beheld, when the curtaindrew up, was, she supposed, the bar of an inn. But no; on the boardwere two heads, ideals of male and female beauty, one with a waxedmoustache, the other with a huge chignon, vividly recalling Mr. Pettitt's Penates. Presently came by a dapper professor, in bluespectacles and a college cap, who stood contemplating, and indulgingin a harangue on entities and molecules, spirit and matter, affinities and development, while the soft deep brown eyes of thechignoned head languished, and the blue ones of the moustached onerolled, and the muscles twitched and the heads turned till, by astrong process of will explained by the professor, they bent theirnecks, erected themselves, and finally started into life and thecurtain fell on them with clasped hands!

It rose to show the newly-animated pair, Junius Brutus and Barberinahis wife, at the breakfast table, with a boar's head of brawn beforethem, while the Lady Barberina boldly asserted her claims to theheadship of the house. Had she not lately been all head?

The pathetic reply was, "Would it were so still, my dear. All headand no tongue, like our present meal. "

The lady heaved up the boar's head to throw at him, and the sceneclosed. 

Next, Brutus was seen awkwardly cleaning his accoutrements, havingenlisted, as he soliloquized, to escape from woman. 

Enter a sergeant with a rich Irish brogue, and other recruits, forming the awkward squad. The drill was performed with immensespirit, but only one of the soldiers showed any dexterity; but whilethe sergeant was upholding him as 'the very moral of a patthern tothe rest, ' poor Brutus was seized with agonizing horror at therecognition of Barberina in this disguise!

"Why not?" she argued. "Why should not woman learn to use the armsof which man has hitherto usurped the use?"

Poor Brutus stretched out his arms in despair, and called loudly forthe professor to restore him to his original state of silentfelicity in the barber's window. 

"Ye needn't do that, me boy, " quoth the sergeant with infinitescorn. "Be ye where ye will, ye'll never be aught but a blockhead. "

Therewith carriages were being announced to the heads of families;and with compliments and eager thanks, and assurances that nothingcould have been more delightful, the party broke up. 

Captain Duncombe, while muffling his boys, declared that he neversaw a cleverer hit in his life, and that those two De Lanceybrothers ought to be on the stage; while Miss Moy loudly demandedwhether he did not feel it personal; and Mrs. Tallboys, gracefullyshaking hands with Anne and Rosamond, declared it a grand challengewhere the truth had been unconsciously hit off. Cecil was nowhereto be seen. 

CHAPTER XVIIIDemonstrations

Nursing her wrath to keep it warm. --BURNS

The hours of the soiree had been early; but the breakfast was soirregular and undecided as to time, that no one took much notice ofan intimation which Jenkins had received from the grim Mrs. Grindstone that Mrs, Charnock Poynsett would take breakfast in herown room. Indeed, they all felt glad that her views of etiquettedid not bind them to their places; for Frank was burning to be offto Sirenwood, forgetting that it was far easier to be too early thantoo late for Sir Harry Vivian, who was wont to smoke till long aftermidnight, and was never visible till the midday repast. 

And thus it was Lady Tyrrell who came to Frank alone. "Earlyafoot, " she said; "you foolish, impatient fellow! You _will_ outrunmy best advice. "

"Ah! but I'm armed. I always told you we might trust to my mother, and it is all right. She loves Lenore with all her heart, andconsents freely and gladly. "

"Indeed! Well, the dear child has made her conquest!"

"I always knew she would when once reserve was broken down. "

"Did you get up the alarm on purpose?"

"Really, one would think I had done so. One such moment was worthyears of ordinary meetings! Half the battle is won!"

"Have you seen your mother this morning?"

"No; but she knew I was coming. "

"Then you do not know what her feelings are on cooler reflection?"

"My mother would never retract what she has once assured me of, "said Frank, haughtily. 

"Forgive me--of what has she assured you?"

"That she regards Eleonora as a dear daughter, and that impliesdoing the same for me as for my brothers. If Sir Harry would but beso good as to come and see her--'

"Stay, Frank, you have not come that length. You forget that if youhave, as you say, gained half the battle, there is another half; andthat my father very reasonably feels hurt at being the last to befavoured with the intelligence. "

"Dear Lady Tyrrell, you can see how it was. There was no helping itwhen once I could speak to Lenore; and then no one would have let meutter a word till I had gone through the examination. We nevermeant to go on a system of concealment; but you know how every onewould have raved and stormed if I had betrayed a thought beyond oldDriver, and yet it was only being at rest about Lenore that carriedme through without breaking down. Can't you see?"

"You special pleader! May you win over my father; but you mustremember that we are a fallen house, unable to do all we wish. "

"If I might see Sir Harry! I must make him forgive me. "

"I will see whether he is ready. "

Could Frank's eyes have penetrated the walls, he would have seenLady Tyrrell received with the words, "Well, my dear, I hope youhave got rid of the young man--poor fellow!"

"I am afraid that cannot be done without your seeing him yourself. "

"Hang it! I hate it! I can't abide it, Camilla. He's a nice lad, though he is his mother's son; and Lenore's heart is set on him, andI can't bear vexing the child. "

"Lena cares for him only because she met him before she knew whatlife is like. After one season she will understand what fivehundred a year means. "

"Well, you ought to know your sister best; but if the lad has spokento her, Lena is not the girl to stand his getting his conge sodecidedly. "

"Exactly; it would only lead to heroics, and deepen the mischief. "

"Hang it! Then what do you want me to say?"

"Stand up for your rights, and reduce him to submission bydispleasure at not having been consulted. Then explain how therecan be no engagement at once; put him on his honour to leave herfree till after her birthday in November. "

"What! have him dangling after her? That's no way to make herforget him. "

"She never will under direct opposition--she is too high-spiritedfor that; but if we leave it alone, and they are unpledged, there isa fair chance of her seeing the folly both for her and for him. "

"I don't know that. Lena may be high-flown; but things go deep withthe child--deeper than they did with you, Camilla!"

Perhaps this was a stab, for there was bitterness in the answer. "You mean that she is less willing to give up a fancy for the familygood. Remember, it is doubly imperative that Lena should marry aman whose means are in his own power, so that he could advancesomething. This would be simply ruin--throwing up the whole thing, after all I have done to retrieve our position. "

"After all, Camilla, I am growing an old man, and poor Tom is gone. I don't know that the position is worth so much to me as thehappiness to her, poor child!" said Sir Harry, wistfully. 

"Happiness!" was the scornful answer. "If you said 'her own way, 'it would be nearer the truth. A back street in London--going aboutin a cab--and occasional holidays on sufferance from Mrs. Poynsett. "

However little happiness either father or daughter had derived fromtheir chosen ways, this idea was abhorrent to both; and Lady Tyrrellpressed her advantage. "If we keep him waiting much longer he willbe rushing after Lena, and if you show the least sign of relentinghe will insist on dragging you to an interview with his mother. "

The threat was effectual; for Sir Harry had had passages-at armsenough with Mrs. Poynsett to make him dread her curt dry civilityfar more than either dun or bailiff, and he was at once roused tothe determination to be explicit. 

Frank met him, with crimson face and prepared speech. "Goodmorning, Sir Harry! I am afraid you may think that you have reasonto complain of my not having spoken to you sooner; but I trusted toyour previous knowledge of my feelings, and I was anxious toascertain my position before laying it before you, though I don'tbelieve I should have succeeded unless my mind had been set atrest. "

Soft-hearted Sir Harry muttered, "I understand, but--"

The pause at that 'but' was so long that Frank ventured on going on. "I have not had an official communication, but I know privately thatI have passed well and stand favourably for promotion, so that myincome will go on increasing, and my mother will make over to mefive thousand pounds, as she has done to Miles and Julius, so thatit can be settled on Eleonora at once. "

"There, there, that's enough!" said Sir Harry, coerced by hisdaughter's glances; "there's plenty of time before coming to allthat! You see, my dear boy, I always liked you, and had an immenserespect for your--your family; but, you see, Eleonora is young, andunder the circumstances she ought not to engage herself. She can'tany way marry before coming of age, and--considering all things--Ishould much prefer that this should go no further. "

"You ought both to be free!" said Lady Tyrrell. 

"That I can never be!"

"Nor do you think that she can--only it sounds presumptuous, " smiledLady Tyrrell. "Who can say? But things have to be proved; andconsidering what young untried hearts are, it is safer and happierfor both that there should be perfect freedom, so that no harmshould be done, if you found that you had not known your own minds. "

"It will make no difference to me. "

"Oh yes, we know that!" laughed Sir Harry. "Only suppose youchanged your mind, we could not be angry with you. "

"You don't think I could!"

"No, no, " said Lady Tyrrell; "we think no such thing. Don't yousee, if we did not trust your honour, we could not leave this insuspense. All we desire is that these matters may be left till itis possible to see our way, when the affairs of the estate are woundup; for we can't tell what the poor child will have. Come, don'trepeat that it will make no difference. It may not to you; but itmust to us, and to your mother. "

"My mother expects nothing!" said Frank, eagerly; but it was a falsestep. 

Sir Harry bristled up, saying, "Sir, my daughter shall go into nofamily that--that has not a proper appreciation of--and expectationsbefitting her position. "

"Dear papa, " exclaimed Lady Tyrrell, "he means no such thing. He isonly crediting his mother with his own romantic ardour anddisinterestedness. --Hark! there actually is the gong. Come and havesome luncheon, and contain yourself, you foolish boy!"

"I am sorry I said anything that seemed unfitting, " said Frank, meekly. "You know I _could_ not mean it!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I bear no malice; only one does not like to seeone's own child courted without a voice in the matter, and to hearshe is to be taken as a _favour_, expecting nothing. But, there, we'll say no more. I like you, Frank Charnock! and only wish youhad ten thousand a year, or were any one else; but you see--you see. Well, let's eat our luncheon. "

"Does she know this decision?" asked Frank, aside, as he held openthe door for Lady Tyrrell. 

"Yes, she knows it can go no further; though we are too merciful todeny you the beatific vision, provided you are good, and abstainfrom any more little tendresses for the present. --Ah!"--enter Cecil--"I thought we should see you to-day, my dear!"

"Yes; I am on my way to meet my husband at the station, " said Cecil, meeting her in the hall, and returning her kiss. 

"Is Raymond coming home to-day?" said Frank, as he too exchangedgreetings. "Ah! I remember; I did not see you at breakfast thismorning. "

"No!" and there was signification in the voice; but Frank did notheed it, for coming down-stairs was Eleonora, her face full of ablushing sweetness, which gave it all the beauty it had ever lacked. 

He could do no more than look and speak before all the rest; thecarriage was ordered for the sisters to go out together, and helingered in vain for a few words in private, for Sir Harry kept himtalking about Captain Duncombe's wonderful colt, till Cecil haddriven off one way, and their two hostesses the other; and he couldonly ride home to tell his mother how he had sped. 

Better than Rosamond, better even than Charlie, was his mother as aconfidante; and though she had been surprised into her affectionateacceptance of Eleonora, it was an indescribable delight to motherand son to find themselves once more in full sympathy; while hepoured out all that had been pent up ever since his winter atRockpier. She almost made common cause with him in the question, what would Raymond say? And it proved to be news to her that hereldest son was to be immediately expected at home. Cecil had notcome to see her, and had sent her no message; but ungraciousinattention was not so uncommon as to excite much remark from onewho never wished to take heed to it; and it was soon forgotten inthe praise of Eleonora. 

Cecil meanwhile was receiving Raymond at the station. He waspleased to see her there in her pony-carriage, but a little startledby the brief coldness of her reply to his inquiry after his mother, and the tight compression of her lips all the time they were makingtheir way through the town, where, as usual, he was hailed every twoor three minutes by persons wanting a word with him. When at lastthere was a free space, she began: "Raymond, I wish to know whetheryou mean me to be set at naught, and my friends deliberatelyinsulted?"

"What?"

A gentleman here hurried up with "I'll not detain you a minute. "

He did, however, keep them for what seemed a great many, to thechafing spirit which thought a husband should have no ears save forhis wife's wrongs; so she made her preface even more startling--"Raymond, I cannot remain in the house any longer with Lady RosamondCharnock and those intolerable brothers of hers!"

"Perhaps you will explain yourself, " said Raymond, almost relievedby the evident exaggeration of the expressions. 

"There has been a conspiracy to thwart and insult me--a regularconspiracy!"

"Cecil! let me understand you. What can have happened?"

"When I arranged an evening for my friends to meet Mrs. Tallboys, Idid not expect to have it swamped by a pack of children, and noisynonsensical games, nor that both she and I should be insulted bypractical jokes and a personal charade. "

"A party to meet Mrs. Tallboys?"

"A ladies' party, a conversazione. "

"What--by my mother's wish?"

"I was given to understand that I had carte blanche in visitingmatters. "

"You did not ask her consent?"

"I saw no occasion. "

"You did not?"

"No. "

"Then, Cecil, I must say that whatever you may have to complain of, you have committed a grave act of disrespect. "

"I was told that I was free to arrange these things!"

"Free!" said Raymond, thoroughly roused; "free to write notes, andorder the carriage, and play lady of the house; but did you thinkthat made you free to bring an American mountebank of a woman tohold forth absurd trash in my mother's own drawing-room, as soon asmy back was turned?"

"I should have done the same had you been there. "

"Indeed!" ironically; "I did not know how far you had graduated inthe Rights of Women. So you invited these people?"

"Then the whole host of children was poured in on us, and everythingimaginable done to interrupt, and render everything rationalimpossible. I know it was Rosamond's contrivance, she looked sotriumphant, dressed in an absurd fancy dress, and her whole traindoing nothing but turning me into ridicule, and Mrs. Tallboys too. Whatever you choose to call her, you cannot approve of a strangerand foreigner being insulted here. It is that about which I care--not myself; I have seen none of them since, nor shall I do so untila full apology has been made to my guest and to myself. "

"You have not told me the offence. "

"In the first place, there was an absurd form of Christmas-tree, towhich one was dragged blindfold, and sedulously made ridiculous; andI--I had a dust-pan and brush. Yes, I had, in mockery of ourendeavours to purify that unhappy street. "

"I should have taken it as a little harmless fun, " said Raymond. "Depend on it, it was so intended. "

"What, when Mrs. Tallboys had a padlock and key? I see you aredetermined to laugh at it all. Most likely they consulted youbeforehand. "

"Cecil, I cannot have you talk such nonsense. Is this all you haveto complain of?"

"No. There was a charade on the word Blockhead, where your brotherCharles and the two De Lanceys caricatured what they supposed to beMrs. Tallboys' doctrines. "

"How did she receive it?"

"Most good-humouredly; but that made it no better on their part. "

"Are you sure it was not a mere ordinary piece of pleasantry, withperhaps a spice of personality, but nothing worth resenting?"

"You did not see it. Or perhaps you think no indignity towards meworth resentment?"

"I do not answer that, Cecil; you will think better of those wordsanother time, " said Raymond, sternly. "But when you want your causetaken up, you have to remember that whatever the annoyance, youbrought it upon yourself and her, by your own extraordinaryproceeding towards my mother--I will not say towards myself. I willtry to smooth matters. I think the De Lanceys must have actedfoolishly; but the first step ought to be an expression of regretfor such conduct towards my mother. "

"I cannot express regret. I ought to have been told if there werethings forbidden. "

"Must I forbid your playing Punch and Judy, or dancing on the tight-rope?" cried Raymond, exasperated. 

Cecil bit her lip, and treated the exclamation with the silentdignity of a deeply injured female; and thus they reached home, whenRaymond said, "Come to your senses, Cecil and apologize to mymother. You can explain that you did not know the extent of yourpowers. "

"Certainly not. They all plotted against me, and I am the person towhom apology is due. "

Wherewith she marched up-stairs, leaving Raymond, horriblyperplexed, to repair at once to his mother's room, where Frank stillwas; but after replying about his success in the examination, theyounger brother retreated, preferring that his story should be toldby his mother; but she had not so much as entered on it when Raymonddemanded what had so much disturbed Cecil. 

"I was afraid she would be vexed, " said Mrs. Poynsett; "but we werein a difficulty. We thought she hardly knew what she had been ledinto, and that as she had invited her ladies, it would do less harmto change the character of the party than to try to get it givenup. "

"I have no doubt you did the best you could, " said Raymond, speakingwith more like censure of his mother than he had ever done since thehot days of his love for Camilla Vivian; "and you could have hadnothing to do with the personalities that seem to have been thesting. "

Mrs. Poynsett, true boy-lover that she was, had been informed of thesuccess of Tom's naughtiness--not indeed till after it was over, when there was nothing to be done but to shake her head and laugh;and now she explained so that her son came to a better understandingof what had happened. 

As to the extinguishing Women's Rights in child's play, he saw thatit had been a wise manoeuvre of his mother, to spare any appearanceof dissension, while preventing what she disapproved and what mighthave injured his interests; but he was much annoyed with the DeLanceys for having clogged the measure with their own folly; andjudging of cause by effect, he would hear of no excuse for Rosamondor her brothers, and went away resolved that though nothing shouldinduce him to quarrel with Julius, yet he should tell him plainlythat he must restrain his wife and her brothers from annoying Cecilby their practical jokes. He was, as usual, perfectly gentle to hismother, and thanked her for her arrangement. "It was not her faultthat it had not turned out better, " he said; and he did not seem tohear her exoneration of Rosamond. 

He had scarcely gone when Rosamond came in from the village, askingwhether he had arrived, as she had seen his hat in the hall. 

"Yes, Rosamond. You did not tell me of Cecil's vexation!"

"Cecil? Have I seen her since? No, I remember now. But is sheangry? Was it the dust-pan? Oh! Tom, Tom!"

"That and the Blockhead. Did Tom say anything very cutting?"

"Why it was an old stock charade they acted two years ago! I hadbetter tell her so. "

"If you would it would be an immense relief, my dear. Raymond isvery much annoyed; she says she will speak to nobody till she hashad an apology. "

"Then she can be as great a goose as I! Why, the Yankee muse andMrs. Duncombe took all in good part; but Cecil has not atom of funin her. Don't you think that was the gift the fairies left out atthe christening of the all-endowed princess?"

Mrs. Poynsett laughed, but anxiously. "My dear, if you can makepeace, it will be a family blessing. "

"I! I'll eat any dirt in the world, and make Tom eat it too, ratherthan you should be vexed, or make discord in the house, " criedRosamond, kissing her, and speeding away to Cecil's door. 

It was Raymond who opened it, looking perturbed and heated, but agood deal amazed at seeing his intended scapegoat coming thus boldlyto present herself. 

"Let me in, " she breathlessly said. "I am come to tell Cecil howsorry I am she was so much vexed; I really did not know it before. "

"I am ready to accept any proper apology that is offered me, " saidCecil, with cold dignity; "but I cannot understand your professionthat you did not know I was vexed. You could have intended nothingelse. "

"But, Cecil, you misunderstood--" began Rosamond. 

"I never misunderstand--"

"No human creature can say that!" interposed Raymond, immenselythankful to Rosamond--whatever her offence--for her overtures, andanxious they should be accepted. 

"I could not, " continued Cecil, "misunderstand the impertinentinsults offered to my friends and to myself; though if Lady Rosamondis willing to acknowledge the impropriety I will overlook it. "

Raymond's face and neck crimsoned, but Raymond's presence helped herto rein in her temper; and she thought of Julius, and refrained frommore than a "Very well. It was meant as a harmless joke, and--andif you--you did not take it so, I am very sorry. "

Raymond saw the effort, and looked at his wife for softening; but ashe saw none, he met the advance by saying kindly, "I am sure it wasso meant, though the moment was unfortunate. "

"Indeed it was so, " cried Rosamond, feeling it much easier to speakto him, and too generous to profess her own innocence and give upTom. "It was just a moment's idle fancy--just as we've chaffed oneanother a hundred times; and for the Blockhead, it is the boys' petold stock charade that they've acted scores of times. It was merethoughtlessness; and I'll do or say anything Cecil pleases, if onlyshe won't bother Julius or Mrs. Poynsett about our foolishness. "And the mist of tears shone in the dark lashes as she held out herhand. 

"I cannot suppose it mere thoughtlessness--" began Cecil; butRaymond cut her short with angry displeasure, of which she had notsupposed him capable. "This is not the way to receive so kind anapology. Take Rosamond's hand, and respond properly. "

To respond _properly_ was as little in Cecil's power as her will;but she had not been an obedient daughter for so large a proportionof her life without having an instinct for the voice of realauthority, and she did not refuse her hand, with the words, "If youexpress regret I will say no more about it. "

And Rosamond, thinking of Julius and his mother, swallowed theungraciousness, and saying "Thank you, " turned to go away. 

"Thank you most heartily for this, my dear Rosamond, " said Raymond, holding out his hand as he opened the door for her; "I esteem it avery great kindness. "

Rosamond, as she felt the strong pressure of his hand, looked up inhis face with a curious arch compassion in her great gray eyes. Heshut the door behind her, and saw Cecil pouting by the mantelpiece, vexed at being forced into a reconciliation, even while she knew shecould not persist in sending all the family except Frank toCoventry. He was thoroughly angry at the dogged way in which shehad received this free and generous peace-making, and he could notbut show it. "Well, " he said, "I never saw an apology made with abetter grace nor received with a worse one. "

Cecil made no reply. He stood for a minute looking at her with eyesof wondering displeasure, then, with a little gesture of amazement, left the room. 

Cecil felt like the drowning woman when she gave the last scissor-like gesture with her fingers. She was ready to fall into a chairand cry. A sense of desolateness was very strong on her, and thatlook in his dark eyes had seemed to blast her. 

But pride came to her aid. Grindstone was moving about ready todress her for dinner. No one should see that she was wounded, orthat she took home displeasure which she did not merit. So she heldup her head, and was chilling and dignified all dinner-time; afterwhich she repaired to Lady Tyrrell's conversazione. 

CHAPTER XIXThe Monstrous Regiment of Women

Descend, my muse!

Raymond had been invited by one of his fellow-guests to make a visitat his house, and this was backed up on the morning after his returnby a letter containing a full invitation to both himself and hiswife. He never liked what he called "doing nothing in otherpeople's houses, " but he thought any sacrifice needful that mightbreak up Cecil's present intimacies, and change the current of herideas; and his mother fully agreed in thinking that it would be wellto being a round of visits, to last until the Session of Parliamentshould have begin. By the time it was over Julius and Rosamondwould be in their own house, and it might be easier to make a newbeginning. 

The friends whom he could reckon on as sure to welcome him and hisbride were political acquaintances of mark, far above the Dunstonerange, and Cecil could not but be gratified, even while Mrs. Duncombe and her friend declared that they were going to try todemoralize her by the seductions of the aristocracy. 

After all, Cecil was too much of an ingrained Charnock to be verydeeply imbued with Women's Rights. All that she wanted was her ownway, and opposition. Lady Tyrrell had fascinated her and securedher affection, and she followed her lead, which was rather that ofcalm curiosity and desire to hear the subject ventilated than actualpartisanship, for which her ladyship was far too clever, as well astoo secure in her natural supremacy. They had only seemed on thatside because other people were so utterly alien to it, and becauseof their friendship with the really zealous Mrs. Duncombe. 

The sanitary cause which had become mixed with it was, however, brought strongly before their minds by Mrs. Tallboys' final lecture, at which she impressed on the ladies' minds with great vehemencethat here they might lead the way. If men would not act as a body, the ladies should set the example, and shame them, by each doing hervery utmost in the cleansing of the nests of disease that reeked inthe worn-out civilization of the cities of the old country. Theladies listened: Lady Tyrrell, with a certain interest in such aneager flow of eloquence; Eleonora, with thoughts far away. BessieDuncombe expressed a bold practical determination to get onefragment, at least, of the work done, since she knew Pettitt, thehair-dresser, was public-spirited enough to allow her to carry outher ideas on his property, and Cecil, with her ample allowance, asyet uncalled for, in the abundance of her trousseau, promised tosupply what the hair-dresser could not advance, as a tangible proofof her sincerity. 

She held a little council with Mrs. Duncombe at the working society, when she resigned her day into that lady's hands on going away. "Ishall ask Mrs. Miles Charnock, " said that lady. "You don't object?"

"Oh no, only don't ask her till I'm gone, and you know she will onlycome on condition of being allowed to expound. "

"We must have somebody, and now the thing has gone on so long, andwill end in three months, the goody element will not do much harm, and, unluckily, most women will not act without it. "

"You have been trying to train Miss Moy. "

"I shall try still, but I can't get her to take interest in anythingbut the boisterous side of emancipation. "

"I can't bear the girl, " said Cecil; "I am sure she comes only forthe sake of the horses. "

"I'm afraid so; but she amuses Bob, and there's always a hope ofmoving her father through her, though she declares that the ThreePigeons is his tenderest point, and that he had as soon meddle withit as with the apple of his eye. I suppose he gets a great rentfrom that Gadley. "

"Do you really think you shall do anything with her?" said Cecil, who might uphold her at home, but whose taste was outraged by her. 

"I hope so! At any rate, she is not conventional. Why, when I wasset free from my school at Paris, and married Bob three monthslater, I hadn't three ideas in my head beyond horses and balls andsoldiers. It has all come with life and reading, my dear. "

And a very odd 'all' it was, so far; but there was this differencebetween Bessie Duncombe and Cecil Charnock Poynsett, that the'gospel of progress' was to the one the first she had ever reallyknown, and became a reaching forward to a newly-perceived standardof benevolence and nobleness: to the other it was simplyretrograding, and that less from conviction than from the spirit ofrivalry and opposition. 

Lady Tyrrell with her father and sister were likewise going to leavehome, to stay among friends with whom Sir Harry could hunt until theLondon campaign, when Eleonora was to see the world. Thus thebazaar was postponed until the return of the ladies in the summer, when the preparations would be more complete and the season moresuitable. The church must wait for it, for nothing like asufficient amount of subscription had been as yet promised. 

There was still, however, to come that select dinner-party at Mrs. Duncombe's, to which Julius, moved by her zeal and honesty, as wellas by curiosity, had promised his presence with Rosamond, "at hisperil, " as she said. 

They were kept so long at the door of Aucuba Villa that they hadbegun to doubt if they had not mistaken the day, until the Sirenwoodcarriage crashed up behind them; and after the third pull at thebell they were admitted by an erect, alert figure, --a remnant ofCaptain Duncombe's military life. 

He marshalled them into the drawing-room, where by dim firelightthey could just discern the Professor and a certain good-naturedhorsey friend of the Captain's, who sprang up from easy-chairs onthe opposite sides of the fire to greet them, while the man hastilystirred up the fire, lighted the gas, dashed at the table, shuttingup an open blotting-book that lay on it, closing an ink-bottle, andgathering up some torn fragments or paper, which he would havethrown into the scrap-basket but that it was full of little books onthe hundred ways of dressing a pumpkin. Then he gave a wistful lookat the ami de la maison, as if commending the guests to him, andreceiving a nod in return, retired. 

"I fear we are too early, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"Fact is, " said the familiar, whose name Julius was trying toremember, "there's been a catastrophe; cook forgot to order theturkey, went to bed last night in hysterics, and blew out the gasinstead of turning it off. No, no"--as the guests expecting fatalconsequences, looked as if they thought they had better removethemselves: "she came round, and Duncombe has driven over toBacksworth to bring home the dinner. He'll soon be back. "

This not appearing greatly to reassure the visitors, the Professoradded, "No, no, ladies. Mrs. Duncombe charged me to say that shewill be perfectly fixed in a short time, and I flatter myself thatmy wife is equal to any emergency. "

"It is very kind in her, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"I confess, " said Professor Tallboys, "that I am not sorry that suchan occasion should occur of showing an American lady's domesticpowers. I flatter myself they do not discredit her cause. "

Just then were heard the wheels of the drag, and in rushed one ofthe boys, grasping Eleonora's skirts, and proclaiming, "We've gotthe grub! Oysters and a pie! Oh my!"

"Satisfactory!" said the friend. "But let go, Ducky, you arerumpling Miss Vivian. "

"She's coming to see the quarion! You promised, Lena! Here's ajolly crayfish! He'll pinch!"

There was a small conservatory or glazed niche on one side of theroom, into which the boy dragged Lenore, and Julius followed, dimlysensible of what the quarion might be, and hoping for a word withthe young lady, while he trusted to his wife to occupy her sister. 

The place contained two desolate camellias, with leaves in the sameproportion as those on trees in the earlier ages of illumination, and one scraggy, leafless geranium, besides a green and stagnanttank, where a goldfish moved about, flapping and gasping, as the boydisturbed it in his search for the crayfish. He absorbed all theconversation, so that Julius could only look back into the room, where an attempt at artistic effect was still dimly visible throughaccumulated litter. The Venus of Milo stood on a bracket, with ariding-whip in her arms, and a bundle of working society ticketsbehind her, and her vis-a-vis, the Faun of Praxiteles, was capped bya glove with one finger pointing upwards, and had a ball of worstedtangled about his legs; but further observation was hindered by theman-servant's voice at the outer door, "Master Ducky, where are you?Your ma says you are to go to bed directly. "

"No, no, I'll put myself to bed!"

"Come, sir, please do, like a good boy--Master Pinney won't gowithout you, and I must put him to bed while they are dishing up. Come, sir, I've got a mince-pie for you. "

"And some oysters--Bobby said I should have some oysters!"

"Yes, yes; come along, sir. "

And Master Ducky submitted to his fate, while Julius looked hiswonder, and asked, "Is he nursery-maid?"

"Just now, since the bonne went, " said Lenore. "He is a mostfaithful, attached servant, who will do anything for them. _She_does attach people deeply when the first shock is over. "

"I am coming to believe so, " he answered. "There seem to me to beexcellent elements. "

"I am so glad!" said Lenore; "she is so thorough, so true and frank;and much of this oddness is really an inconsistent struggle to keepout of debt. "

"Well! at any rate I am thankful to her for this opportunity ofseeing you, " said Julius. "We have both been longing to speak ourwelcome to you. "

"Thank you. It is so kind, " she fervently whispered; "all thekinder for the state of things that is insisted on--though you knowthat it can make no real difference, " she added, apparentlyaddressing the goldfish. 

"Frank knows it, " said Julius, in a low voice. 

"I trust he does, though I cannot see him to assure him--you will?"she added, looking up at him with a shy brightness in her eye and aflush on her cheek. 

"Yes, indeed!" he said, laying his hand on hers for a moment. "Ifear you may both have much to pull through, but I think you are ofa steadfast nature. "

"I hope so--I think I am, for none of my feelings seem to me ever tochange, except that I get harder, and, I am afraid, bitterer. "

"I can understand your feeling that form of trial. "

"Oh, if you could, and would help me!"

"As a brother; if I may. "

Again she laid a hand on his, saying, "I have longed to talk openlyto you ever since we met in the cow-shed; but I could not make anyadvance to any of you, because, " she whispered in haste, "I thoughtit my duty to hold back from Frank. And now, till we go away, Camilla watches me and occupies me every minute, will not even letme ride out with papa. I wonder she lets me talk to you now. "

"We know each other, " said Julius, shortly. 

It was so. Once, in the plain-spoken days of childhood, Miles andJulius had detected Camilla Vivian in some flagrant cheating at agame, and had roundly expressed their opinion. In the subsequentperiod of Raymond's courtship, Miles had succumbed to thefascination, but Julius had given one such foil, that she had neveragain attempted to cajole him. 

"I have seen that you did from the first, " said Lenore. "And itwould make it much easier to talk to you than to any outsider, whowould never understand, even if it were possible for me to explain, how hard it is to see which way my duty lies--especially filial. "

"Do you mean in general, or in this special matter?"

"Both. You see, in her hands he is so different from what he wasbefore she came home, that I don't feel as if I was obeying him--only her; and I don't think I am bound to do that. Not in the greatmatter, I am clear. Nobody can meddle with my real sincere pledgeof myself to Frank, nobody!" she spoke as if there was iron in herlips. "But as far as overt acts go, they have a right to forbid me, till I am of age at least, and we must bear it. "

"Yes, you are right there. "

"But there are thousands of other little cases of right and wrong, and altogether I have come to such a spirit of opposition that Ifind it easier to resist than to do anything with a good grace. "

"You cannot always tell when resistance is principle, and whentemper or distaste. "

"There's distaste enough always, " said poor Lenore. 

"To gaieties?" he said, amazed as one habituated to his wife'sravenous appetite for any sort of society or amusement. 

"Of course, " she answered sadly. "A great deal of trouble just fora little empty babble. Often not one word worth remembering, and ageneral sense of having been full of bad feelings. "

"No enjoyment?" he asked in surprise. 

"Only by the merest chance and exception, " she answered, surprisedat his surprise; "what is there to enjoy?"

The peculiar-looking clergyman might have seemed more likely to asksuch a question than the beautiful girl, but he looked at heranxiously and said, "Don't nourish morbid dislike and contempt, mydear Lena, it is not a safeguard. There are such things as perilousreactions. Try to weigh justly, and be grateful for kindness, andto like what is likeable. "

At that moment, after what had been an interval of weary famine toall but these two, host and hostess appeared, the lady as usual, picturesque, though in the old black silk, with a Roman sash tiedtransversely, and holly in her hair; and gaily shaking hands--"That's right, Lady Rosamond; so you are trusted here! Your husbandhasn't sent you to represent him?"

"I'm afraid his confidence in me did not go so far, " said Rosamond. 

"Ah! I see--Lady Tyrrell, how d'ye do--you've brought Lena? Well, Rector, are you prepared?"

"That depends on what you expect of me. "

"Have you the convinceable spot in your mind?"

"We must find it. It is very uncommon, and indurates very soon, sowe had better make the most of our opportunity, " said the Americanlady, who had entered as resplendent as before, though in sodifferent a style that Rosamond wondered how such a wardrobe couldbe carried about the world; and the sporting friend muttered, "Stunning! she has been making kickshaws all day, and looks as ifshe came out of a bandbox! If all women were like that, it mightpay. "

It was true. Mrs. Tallboys was one of those women of resource whosepractical powers may well inspire the sense of superiority, and withthe ease and confidence of her country. 

The meal was a real success. That some portion had been procured, ready dressed, at Backsworth, was evident, but all that had beendone at home had a certain piquant Transatlantic flavour, in whichthe American Muse could be detected; and both she and her husbandwere polished, lively, and very agreeable, in spite of the twang intheir voices. Miss Moy, the Captain and his friend, talked horsesat one end of the table, and Rosamond faltered her woman's horrorfor the rights of her sex, increased by this supposed instance. 

When the ladies rose at dessert, Mrs. Duncombe summoned him: "Come, Rector!--come, Professor! you're not to sit over your wine. "

"We rise so far above the ordinary level of manhood!" said Julius, obediently rising. 

"Once for all, Mr. Charnock, " said Mrs. Duncombe, turning on himwith flashing eyes and her Elizabethan majesty, "if you comeprepared to scoff, we can have nothing to do with you. "

Rosamond's eyes looked mischievous, and her brow cocked, but Juliusanswered in earnest, "Really, I assure you I have not come in aspirit of sarcasm; I am honestly desirous of hearing yourarguments. "

"Shall I stay in your stead?" added Miss Moy. "They'll be much moreamusing here!"

"Come, Gussie, you're on your good behaviour, " said Mrs. Duncombe. "Bob kept you to learn the right way of making a sensation. "

As they entered the drawing-room two more guests arrived, namely, Joanna Bowater, and Herbert, who walked in with a kind of grimsubmission, till he saw Lady Tyrrell, when he lighted up, and, on alittle gracious gesture with her hand, he sat down on the sofabeside her; and was there solaced by an occasional remark in anundertone; for indeed the boy was always in a trance wherever shewas, and she had a fair amount of by-play wherewith to entertainherself and him during the discussion. 

"You are just in time, Jenny, " said Rosamond; "the great question isgoing to be started. "

"And it is--?"

"The Equality of the Sexes, " pronounced Mrs. Duncombe. 

"Ex cathedra?" said Julius, as the graceful Muse seated herself in alarge red arm-chair. "This scene is not an easy one in which todispute it. "

"You see, Bessie, " said Mrs. Tallboys, "that men are so much afraidof the discussion that they try to elude it with empty complimentunder which is couched a covert sneer. "

"Perhaps, " returned Julius, "we might complain that we can't openour lips without compliments and sneers being detected when we wereinnocent of both. "

"Were you?" demanded Mrs. Tallboys. 

"Honestly, I was looking round and thinking the specimens before uswould tell in your favour. "

"What a gallant parson!" cried Miss Moy. 

But a perfect clamour broke out from others. 

"Julius, that's too bad! when you know--"

"Mr Charnock, you are quite mistaken. Bob is much cleverer than I, in his own line--"

"Quite true, Rector, " affirmed Herbert; "Joan has more brains thanall the rest of us--for a woman, I mean. "

"For a woman!" repeated Mrs. Tallboys. "Let a human being do or bewhat she will, it is disposed of in a moment by that one verdict, 'Very well for a woman!'"

"How is it with the decision of posterity?" said Jenny. "Can youshow any work of woman of equal honour and permanence with that ofmen?"

"Because her training has been sedulously inferior. "

"Not always, " said Jenny; "not in Italy in the cinque cento, nor inEngland under Elizabeth. "

"Yes, and there were names--!"

"Names, yes, but that is all. The lady's name is remembered for thecuriosity of her having equalled the ordinary poet or artist of hertime, but her performances either are lost or only known to curiousscholars. They have not the quality which makes things permanent. "

"What do you say to Sappho?"

"There is nothing of her but a name, and fragments that curiousscholars read. "

"Worse luck to her if she invented Sapphics, " added Herbert. 

"One of womankind's torments for mankind, eh?" said his neighbour. 

"And there are plenty more such, " asserted Mrs. Duncombe, boldly(for these were asides). "It is only that one can't recollect--andthe men have suppressed them. "

"I think men praised them, " said Jenny, "and that we remember thepraise, not the works. For instance, Roswitha, or Olympia Morata, or Vittoria Colonna. Vittoria's sonnets are extant, but we onlyvalue them as being hers, more for what she _was_ than for theirintrinsic merit. "

"And, " added Eleonora, "men did not suppress Hannah More, or JoannaBaillie. You know Scott thought Miss Baillie's dramas would rankwith Shakespeare's. "

Mrs. Tallboys was better read in logic and mathematics than inhistory, and did not follow Jenny, but she turned her adversary'sargument to her own advantage, by exclaiming, "Are the gentlemenpresent familiar with these bright lights?"

"I confess my ignorance of some of them, " said Julius. 

"But my youngest brother knows all that, " said Rosamond at a braveventure. 

"Macaulay's school-boy, " murmured Lady Tyrrell, softly. 

"Let us return to the main point, " said Mrs. Tallboys, a littleannoyed. "It is of the present and future that I would speak, notof the past. "

"Does not the past give the only data on which to form aconclusion?" said Julius. 

"Certainly not. The proposition is not what a woman or two in herdown-trodden state may have exceptionally effected, but her naturalequality, and in fact superiority, in all but the physical strengthwhich has imposed an unjust bondage on the higher nature. "

"I hardly know where to meet you if you reject all arguments fromproved facts, " said Julius. 

"And the Bible. Why don't you say the Bible?" exclaimed his wife inan undertone; but Mrs. Tallboys took it up and said, "The preceptsof Scripture are founded on a state of society passed away. You mayfind arguments for slavery there. "

"I doubt that, " said Julius. "There are practical directions for anexisting state of things, which have been distorted into sanctionfor its continuance. The actual precepts are broad principles, which are for all times, and apply to the hired servant as well asto the slave. So again with the relations of man and wife; I cannowhere find a command so adapted to the seclusion and depression ofthe Eastern woman as to be inapplicable to the Christian matron. And the typical virtuous woman, the valiant woman, is one of thenoblest figures anywhere depicted. "

"I know, " said Mrs. Tallboys, who had evidently been waitingimpatiently again to declaim, "that men, even ministers of religion, from Paul if you like downwards, have been willing enough to exaltwoman so long as they claim to sit above her. The higher theoppressed, so much higher the self-exaltation of the oppressor. Paul and Peter exalt their virtuous woman, but only as their ownappendage, adorning themselves; and while society with religiousministers at the head of it call on woman to submit, and degrade thesex, we shall continue to hear of such disgraces to England as I seein your police reports--brutal mechanics beating their wives. "

"I fear while physical force is on the side of the brute, " saidJulius, "no abstract recognition of equality would save her. "

"Society would take up her cause, and protect her. "

"So it is willing to do now, if she asks for protection. "

"Yes, " broke in Rosamond, "but nothing would induce a woman worthsixpence to take the law against her husband. "

"There I think Lady Rosamond has at once demonstrated the highernature of the woman, " said Mrs. Tallboys. "What man would becapable of such generosity?"

"No one denies, " said Julius, "that generous forbearance, patience, fortitude, and self-renunciation, belong almost naturally to thetrue wife and mother, and are her great glory; but would she not bestripped of them by self-assertion as the peer in power?"

"Turning our flank again with a compliment, " said Mrs. Duncombe. "These fine qualities are very convenient to yourselves, and so youpraise them up. "

"Not so!" returned Julius, "because they are really the highervirtues!"

"Patience!" at once exclaimed the American and English emancipatorswith some scorn. 

"Yes, " said Julius, in a low tone of thorough earnest. "Thepatience of strength and love is the culmination of virtue. "

Jenny knew what was in his mind, but Mrs. Tallboys, with a curioustone, half pique, half triumph, said, "You acknowledge this whichyou call the higher nature in woman--that is to say, all the passivequalities, --and you are willing to allow her a finer spiritualessence, and yet you do not agree to her equal rights. This is theinjustice of the prejudice which has depressed her all thesecenturies. "

"Stay, " broke in Jenny, evidently not to the lady's satisfaction. "That does not state the question. Nobody denies that woman isoften of a higher and finer essence, as you say, than man, and hassome noble qualities in a higher degree than any but the mostperfect men; but that is not the question. It is whether she havemore force and capacity than man, is in fact actually able to be onan equality. "

"And, I say, " returned Mrs. Tallboys, "that man has used brute forceto cramp woman's intellect and energy so long, that she has learntto acquiesce in her position, and to abstain from exerting herself, so that it is only where she is partially emancipated, as in my owncountry, that any idea of her powers can be gained. "

"I am afraid, " said Julius, "that more may be lost to the world thanis gained! No; I am not speaking from the tyrant point of view. Iam thinking whether free friction with the world way not lessen thatsweetness and tender innocence and purity that make a man's home anideal and a sanctuary--his best earthly influence. "

"This is only sentiment. Innocence is worthless if it cannot standalone and protect itself!" said Mrs. Tallboys. 

"I do not mean innocence unable to stand alone. It should be strongand trustworthy, but should have the bloom on it still, not rubbedoff by contact or knowledge of evil. Desire of shielding that bloomfrom the slightest breath of contamination is no small motive forself-restraint, and therefore a great preservative to most men. "

"Women purify the atmosphere wherever they go, " said the lady. 

"Many women do, " returned Julius; "but will they retain that poweruniversally if they succeed in obtaining a position where there willbe less consideration for them, and they must be exposed to acertain hardening and roughening process?"

"If so, " exclaimed Mrs. Tallboys, "if men are so base, we would soonassert ourselves. We are no frail morning glories for you to guardand worship with restraint, lest forsooth your natural breath shouldwither us away. "

As she spoke the door opened, and, with a strong reek of tobacco, incame the two other gentlemen. "Well, Rector, have you given in?"asked the Captain. "Is Lady Rosamond to mount the pulpithenceforth?"

"Ah! wouldn't I preach you a sermon, " returned Rosamond. 

"To resume, " said Mrs. Tallboys, sitting very upright. "You stillgo on the old assumption that woman was made for you. It is all thesame story: one man says she is for his pleasure, another for hisservant, and you, for--for his refinement. You would all have usadjectives. Now I defy you to prove that woman is not asubstantive, created for herself. "

"If you said 'growed, ' Mrs. Tallboys, it would be more consistent, "said Jenny. "Her creation and her purpose in the world stand uponprecisely the same authority. "

"I wonder at you, Miss Bowater, " said Mrs. Tallboys. "I cannotunderstand a woman trying to depreciate her sex. "

"No, " thrust in Gussie Moy; "I want to know why a woman can't goabout without a dowager waddling after her" ("Thank you, " breathedLady Tyrrell into Herbert's ear), "nor go to a club. "

"There was such a club proposed in London, " said Captain Duncombe, "and do you know, Gussie, the name of it?"

"No!"

"The Middlesex Club!"

"There! it is just as Mrs. Tallboys said; you will do nothing butlaugh at us, or else talk sentiment about our refining you. Now, Iwant to be free to amuse myself. "

"I don't think those trifling considerations will be greatimpediments in your way, " said Lady Tyrrell in her blandest tone. "Is that actually the carriage? Thank you, Mrs. Tallboys. This isgood-bye, I believe. I am sorry there has not been more time for afuller exposition to-night. "

"There would have been, but I never was so interrupted, " said Mrs. Tallboys in an undertone, with a displeased look at Jenny at theother end of the room. 

Declamation was evidently more the Muse's forte than argument, buther aside was an aside, and that of the jockey friend was not. "Soyou waited for us to give your part of the lecture, Miss Moy?"

"Of course. What's the use of talking to a set of women andparsons, who are just the same?"

Poor Herbert's indignant flush infinitely amused the party who werecloaking in the hall. "Poor Gussie; her tongue runs fast, " saidMrs. Duncombe. 

"Emancipated!" said Jenny. "Good-bye, Mrs. Duncombe. Please let usbe educated up to our privileges before we get them. "

"A Parthian shot, Jenny, " said Julius, as they gave her a homewardlift in the carriage. "You proved yourself the fittest memberessfor the future parliament to-night. "

"To be elected by the women and parsons, " said Jenny, with littlechuckle of fun. "Poor Herbert!"

"I only wish that girl was a man that I might horsewhip her, " theclerical sentiment growled out from Herbert's corner of thecarriage. "Degradation of her sex! She's a standing one!"

CHAPTER XXVivienne

Of all the old women that ever I saw, Sweet bad luck to my mother in law. --Irish Song

The Parliamentary Session had reached the stage that is ended by nopower save that of grouse, and the streets were full of vansfantastically decorated with baths, chairs, bedsteads, and nurserygear. 

Cecil could see two before different house-doors as she sat behindher muslin curtains, looking as fresh and healthful as ever, andscarcely more matronly, except that her air of self-assertion hadbecome more easy and less aggressive now that she was undisputedmistress of the house in London. 

There was no concern on her part that she was not the mother ofeither of the two latest scions of the house of Charnock. Certainlyshe did not like to be outdone by Rosamond; but then it was only agirl, and she could afford to wait for the son and heir; indeed, shedid not yet desire him at the cost of all the distinguished andintellectual society, the concerts, soirees, and lectures that hisnon-arrival left her free to enjoy. The other son and heirinterested her nearly, for he was her half-brother. There had beensomething almost ludicrous in the apologies to her. His motherseemed to feel like a traitor to her, and Mr. Charnock could hardlyreconcile his darling's deposition with his pride in the newcomer. Both she and Raymond had honestly rejoiced in their happiness andthe continuance of the direct line of Dunstone, and had completedthe rejoicing of the parents by thorough sympathy, when the partywith this unlooked-for addition had returned home in the spring. Mrs. Charnock had insisted on endowing his daughter as largely as hejustly could, to compensate for this change in her expectations, andwas in doubt between Swanmore, an estate on the Backsworth side ofWillansborough, and Sirenwood itself, to purchase and settle on her. Raymond would greatly have preferred Sirenwood, both from itsadjoining the Compton property and as it would be buying out theVivians; but there were doubts about the involvements, and nothingcould be done till Eleonora's majority. Mr. Charnock preferredSwanmore as an investment, and Raymond could, of course, not presshis wishes. 

A short visit had been made at Dunstone to join in the festivitiesin honour of the little heir, but Cecil had not been at Comptonsince Christmas, though Raymond had several times gone home for aSunday when she had other companionship. Charlie had been with thempreparing his outfit for India whither he had been gone about amonth; and Frank, though living in lodgings, was the more frequentlyat his sister-in-law's service, because wherever she was the Viviansisters might be looked for. 

No sooner had Raymond taken the house in --- Square than LadyTyrrell had engaged the opposite one, so that one household couldenjoy evening views of the other's interior, and Cecil had chieflygone into society under her friend's auspices. Her presentation atCourt had indeed been by the marchioness; she had been staying withan old friend of Mrs. Poynsett's, quite prepared to be intimate withRaymond Poynsett's wife, if only Cecil would have taken to her. Butthat lady's acceptance of any one recommended in this manner was notto be thought of, and besides, the family were lively, merry people, and Cecil was one of those who dislike and distrust laughter, lestit should be at themselves. So she remained on coldly civil termswith that pleasant party, and though to a certain degree followingher husband's lead as to her engagements, all her ways were mouldedby her friend's influence. Nor was the effect otherwise thanbecoming. Nothing could be in better taste than all in Mrs. Charnock Poynsett's establishment, and London and Lady Tyrrelltogether had greatly improved her manners. All her entertainmentswent off well, and she filled her place in the world with grace andskill, just as she had always figured herself doing. 

Yet there was a sense of disappointment and dissatisfaction, whichincreased upon her as the time drew nearer for returning to be againonly a guest in her married home. It was a tangible grievance onwhich her mind could fix itself. Surely it was hard on her that herhusband should require it of her, and yet she perceived that hecould not avoid it, since his mother was mistress. She knew toothat he was unfailingly kind, attentive, and indulgent, except onthat one occasion when he had sharply reproved her for her behaviourin the Tallboys matter; and strange to say, a much stronger feelingtowards him had been setting in ever since that one time when shehad seen him thoroughly angry. She longed and craved to stir thateven, gentle courtesy to frowns or smiles; and yet there was aperversity in her nature that seem to render it impossible to her toattempt to win a smile from him, far more so to lay aside any deviceor desire of her own to gratify him. All she did know was, that tobe all that her ambition had sought, a Charnock by marriage as wellas birth, and with a kind, considerate husband, was not enough tohinder a heartsickness she had never known or supposed possible. 

Presently, through the flowers in her balcony, Cecil saw the openingand closing of the opposite house-door, and a white parasolunfurled, and she had only time to finish and address her letter toMrs. Duncombe before Lady Tyrrell was announced. 

"Here I am after a hard morning's work, winding up accounts, &c. "

"You go to-morrow?"

"Yes, trusting that you will soon follow; though you might be acockney born, your bloom is town-proof. "

"We follow as soon as the division on the Education Question isover, and that will not be for ten days. You are come to look at mystores for the bazaar; but first, what are you going to do thisafternoon?"

"What are your plans?"

"I must leave cards at half-a-dozen people's at the other end of thepark. Will you come with me? Where is Lenore?"

"She is gone to take leave of the Strangeways' party; Lady Susaninsisted on having her for this last day. Poor Frank! I confessimpartially that it does not look well for him. "

"Poor Frank!" repeated Cecil, "he does look very forlorn when hehears where she is. "

"When, after all, if the silly boy could only see it, it is the mostfortunate thing that could happen to him, and the only chance ofkeeping his head above water. I have made Lady Susan promise me twoof her daughters for the bazaar. They thoroughly know how to makethemselves useful. Oh, how pretty!"

For Cecil was producing from the shelves of various pieces offurniture a large stock of fancy articles--Swiss carvings, Spa toys, Genevese ornaments, and Japanese curiosities, which, as Lady Tyrrellsaid, "rivalled her own accumulation, and would serve to carry offthe housewives and pen-wipers on which all the old maids ofWil'sbro' were employed. "

"We must put out our programmes, " Cecil added; "people will not workin earnest till the day is fixed and they know the sellers. "

"Yes, the lady patronesses are most important, " said Lady Tyrrell, writing them down: "Mrs. Raymond Charnock Poynsett; Lady Rosamond, eh?"

"Oh no, Julius won't hear of it. "

"And opposition is sweet: so we lose her romantic name, and thestall of the three brides. Mrs. Miles Charnock is too much out ofthe world to be worth asking. Then myself--Mrs. Duncombe, Mrs. Fuller, as a matter of necessity, Mrs. Moy. "

"Oh!"

"Needful, my dear, to propitiate that set. Also that mayoress, Mrs. Truelove, isn't she? Six. We'll fill up with country people!"

Six more distinguished names were soon supplied of ladies who wouldgive their patronage, provided neither toil nor care was required ofthem; and still consulting, the two friends took their seats in thecarriage. The time of the bazaar was to be fixed by the opening ofthe town-hall, which was to take place on the 12th of September--aThursday, the week before the races; and the most propitious daysappeared to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before the Great BacksworthCup Day, since the world would then be in an excited, pleasure-seeking state, favourable to their designs. 

"I shall have a party in the house, " said Lady Tyrrell: "shall yoube able?"

"I can't tell; you know it does not depend on me, and I certainlyshall not ask it as a favour. Camilla, did I tell you that I triedto make my father understand the state of things, and speak toRaymond? But he would only say, that while I am so young andinexperienced, it is a great advantage for me to live with Mrs. Poynsett, and that I must be the greatest comfort to her. Papa isan intense believer in Mrs. Poynsett, and when he once has taken upa notion nothing will convince him. "

"You can't even make capital of this purchase of a house of yourown?"

"I don't like to do that. "

"My dear, I see your delicacy and forbearance, and I would not urgeyou, if I did not see how deeply your happiness is concerned. Ofcourse I don't mean merely the authority over the wirthschaft, though somehow the cares of it are an ingredient in femalecontentment; but forgive me, Cecil, I am certain that you will nevertake your right place--where you care for it more--till you have ahome of your own. "

"Ah!" The responsive sound burst from the very depths of Cecil'sheart, penetrated as they had never been before; but pride andreserve at once sprang up, and she answered coldly, "I have noreason to complain. "

"Right, my dear Cecil, I like you the better;" and she pressed herhand. 

"It is quite true, " said Cecil, withdrawing hers. 

"Quite, absolutely true. He would die rather than give you anyreason for the slightest murmur; but, Cecil, dearest, that veryheedfulness shows there is something he cannot give you. "

"I don't know why you should say so, " answered a proud but chokedvoice. 

"I say so, " replied the clear tones, firmly, though with a touch ofpity, "because I see it. Cecil, poor child, they married you veryyoung!"

"I missed nothing, " exclaimed Cecil; but she felt that she couldonly say so in the past, and her eyes burnt with unshed tears. 

"No, my dear, you were still a girl, and your deeper woman's hearthad not grown to perceive that it was not met. "

"He chose me, " she faintly said. 

"His mother needed a daughter. It was proper for him to marry, andyou were the most eligible party. I will answer for it that hewarned you how little he could give. "

"He did, " cried Cecil. "He did tell me that he could not begin infreshness and warmth, like a young man; but I thought it only meantthat we were too sensible to care about nonsense, and liked him forit. He always must have been staid and reserved--he could neverhave been different, Camilla. Don't smile in that way! Tell mewhat you mean. "

"My dear Cecil, I knew Raymond Poynsett a good many years before youdid. "

"And--well? Then he had a first love?" said Cecil, in a voiceschooled into quiet. "Was he different then? Was he as desperateas poor Frank is now?"

"Frank is a very mild copy of him at that age. He overbore everyone, wrung consent from all, and did everything but overcome hismother's calm hostility and self-assertion. "

"Did that stop it? She died of course, " said Cecil. "She could nothave left off loving him. "

"She did not die, but her family were wearied out by the continualobjections to their overtures, and the supercilious way of treatingthem. They thought it a struggle of influence, and that he was tooentirely dominated for a daughter-in-law to be happy with her. Sothey broke it off. "

"And she--" Cecil looked up with searching eyes. 

"She had acutely felt the offence, the weakness, the dutifulness, whatever you may choose to call it, and in the rebound she married. "

"Who is she?" gasped Cecil. 

"It is not fair to tell you, " was the gentle answer, with a shade ofrebuke. "You need not look for her. She is not in the county. "

"I hope I shall never see her!"

"You need not dread doing so if you can only have fair play, andestablish the power that belongs rightly to you. She would have nochance with you, even if he had forgiven her. "

"Has not he?"

"Never!"

"And he used up all his heart?" said Cecil in a low, musing tone. 

"All but what his mother absorbed. She was a comparatively youngand brilliant woman, and she knew her power. It is a greatascendancy, and only a man's honest blindness could suppose that anywoman would be content under it. "

Cecil's tongue refused to utter what oppressed her heart--thoseevenings beside the sofa, those eager home expeditions for Sunday, the uniform maintenance of his mother's supremacy. 

"And you think absence from her would lessen her influence?"

"I am sure of it. There might be a struggle, but if I know Mr. Charnock Poynsett rightly, he is too upright not to be conscious ofwhat is due to you, and be grieved not to be able to give you more--that is, when his mother is not holding him in her grasp. Nor canthere be any valid objection, since Mrs Miles Charnock is always ather service. "

"She will return to Africa. I don't know why she and Rosamond havebeen always so much more acceptable. "

"They are not her rivals; besides, they have not your strength. Sheis a woman who tries to break whatever she cannot bend, and theinstant her son began to slip from her grasp the contest necessarilybegan. You had much better have it over once and for ever, and havehim on your side. Insist on a house of your own, and when you havemade your husband happy in it, then, then--Ah! Good morning--SirGeorge!"

She had meant to say, "Then you win his heart, " but the words wouldnot come, and a loathing hatred of the cold-hearted child who had aproperty in Raymond so mastered her that she welcomed theinterruption, and did not return to the subject. 

She knew when she had said enough, and feared to betray herself; norcould Cecil bear to resume the talk, stunned and sore as she was atthe revelation, though with no suspicion that the speaker had beenthe object of her husband's affection. She thought it must havebeen the other sister, now in India, and that this gave the key tomany allusions she had heard and which she marvelled at herself fornot having understood. The equivocation had entirely deceived her, and she little thought she had been taking counsel with the rivalwho was secretly triumphing in Raymond's involuntary constancy, andsowing seeds of vengeance against an ancient enemy. 

She could not settle to anything when she came home. Life had takena new aspect. Hitherto she had viewed herself as born to allattention and deference, and had taken it as a right, and now shefound herself the victim of a mariage de convenance to a man ofexhausted affections, who meant her only to be the attendant of hisdomineering mother. The love that was dawning in her heart did butadd poignancy to the bitterness of the revelation, and fervour toher resolve to win the mastery over the heart which was her lawfulpossession. 

She was restless till his return. She was going to an eveningparty, and though usually passive as to dress, she was so changeableand difficult to satisfy that Grindstone grew cross, and showed itby stern, rigid obedience. And Cecil well knew that Grindstone; whowas in authority in the present house, hated the return to be merelythe visitor of Alston and Jenkins. 

In the drawing-room Cecil fluttered from book to window, window topiano again, throwing down her occupation at every sound and takingup another; and when at last Raymond came in, his presence at firstmade her musings seem mere fancies. 

Indeed it would have been hard to define what was wanting in hismanner. He lamented his unavoidable delay, and entertained her withall the political and parliamentary gossip he had brought home, andwhich she always much enjoyed as a tribute to her wisdom, so muchthat it had been an entire, though insensible cure for the Rights ofWoman. Moreover, he was going with her to this 'drum, ' though hewould greatly have preferred the debate, and was to be summoned incase of a division. She knew enough of the world to be aware thatsuch an attentive and courteous husband was not the rule. But whatwas courtesy to one who longed for unity?

"Is Frank to be there this evening?" he asked. 

"Yes, I believe so. "

"I thought he was to have gone with us. "

"He told me not to depend on him. He had made an engagement to rideinto the country with Sir Harry Vivian. " And she added, though theproud spirit so hated what seemed to her like making an advance thatit sounded like a complaint, "So you can't avoid going with me?"

"I should any way have gone with you, but I may have to leave you toFrank to see you away, " he said. "And I had rather have Frank herethan with that set. "

"Breaking up one of our few tete-a-tete evenings, and they arebecoming few enough!"

This murmur gratified him, and he said, "We shall be more alonetogether now. The Rectory is almost ready, and Julius means to movein another week, and I suppose Miles will carry Anne off before theyear is over. "

"Yes, we are the only ones with no home. "

"Rather, we hold fast to the old home. "

"Not my old home. "

"Does not mine become yours?"

"Not while--. " She paused and started afresh. "Raymond, could wenot live at Swanslea, if it is bought for us?"

"Swanslea! Five miles off! Impossible. "

Cecil was silent. 

"My dear Cecil, " he said, after a few moments' consideration, "I canunderstand that you felt unfortunately crowded last year, but allthat is over, and you must see that we are necessary to my mother, and that all my duties require me to live at home. "

"You could attend to the property from Swanslea. "

"The property indeed! I meant my mother!"

"She has Anne. "

"Anne will soon be in Africa--even if she were more of a companion. I am sorry it is a trial to you; for my proper place is clearly withmy mother, the more in her helpless state, and with my brothers goneout into the world. Now that the numbers are smaller, you will findit much easier to take the part that I most earnestly wish should beyours. "

"I cannot get on with her. "

"Do not say so! Do not think so! To have Rosamond there with herIrish ease, and her reserve, kept you in the background before; Isay it, but I could not help it; and now there will be no hindranceto your drawing together. There is nothing I so desire. "

If the carriage had not stopped as he spoke Cecil would not haveuttered the thought that smote her, namely, that his desire was onbehalf, not of his wife, but of his mother, to whom he was ready tosacrifice her happiness without a pang. She did not see that hecould imagine no greater happiness for her than a thorough love ofhis mother. 

They certainly were not the happiest couple present as they walkedup-stairs, looking like a model husband and wife, with their nameechoing from landing to landing. 

If any expression savouring of slang could possibly be applied toRaymond, he might be said to be struck all of a heap by his wife'sproposition. He had never even thought of the possibility of makinga home anywhere but at Compton Poynsett, or of his wife wishing thathe should do so; and proverbial sayings about the incompatability ofrelatives-in-law suddenly assumed a reasonableness that he could notbear to remember. 

But his courtesy and sense of protection, trained by a woman of theold school, would not suffer him to relax his attention to his wife. Though he was very anxious to get back to the house, he would notquit her neighbourhood till he had found Frank and intrusted her tohim. 

He was not happy about Frank. The youth was naturally of anintellectual and poetical temperament, and had only cared for horsesand field-sports as any healthy lad growing up in a country housemust enjoy them; and Raymond had seen him introduced to the style ofmen whom he thought would be thoroughly congenial to him, and notunlikely to lead him on to make a mark in the world. 

But that unfortunate Vivian attachment stood in the way; Sir Harryand his elder daughter ignored it entirely, but did not forbid Frankthe house; though Lady Tyrrell took care, as only she could do, thatEleonora should never have ten minutes private conversation withhim, either at home or abroad. Even in a crowd, a ball, or garden-party, the vigilant sister had her means of breaking into any kindof confidence; and Frank was continually tantalized by the pursuit. It could not but unsettle him, and draw him into much more gaietythan was compatible with the higher pursuits his mother had expectedof him; and what was worse, it threw him into Sir Harry Vivian'sset, veteran roues, and younger men who looked up to theirknowingness and listened to their good stories. 

What amount of harm it was doing Raymond could not guess. He hadknown it all himself, and had escaped unscathed, but he did not fearthe less for his younger brother, and he only hoped that theinducement to mingle with such society would be at an end beforeFrank had formed a taste for the habits that there prevailed. 

Eleonora Vivian had been much admired at first, but her cold mannerkept every one at a distance, and her reserve was hardly ever seento relax. However, her one friendship with the Strangeways familygave Raymond hopes that her constancy was not proof against theflattering affection, backed by wealth, that seemed to await herthere. The best he could wish for Frank was that the infatuationmight be over as soon as possible, though he pitied the poor fellowsincerely when he saw him, as he did to-night, waiting with scarcelyconcealed anxiety while Miss Vivian stood listening to a longdiscourse about yachting from an eager pair of chattering girls. 

Then some break occurred, and Frank moved up to her. "Your lastevening! How little I have seen of you!"

"Little indeed!"

"I called, but you were at the Strangeways'. "

"They are very kind to me. When is your holiday?"

"Not till spring, but I may get a few days in the autumn: you willbe at home?"

"As far as I know. "

"If I thought for a moment you cared to see me; but you have shownfew signs of wishing it of late. "

"Frank--if I could make you understand--"

They were walking towards a recess, when Lady Tyrrell fastened uponRaymond. "Pray find my sister; she forgets that we have to be atLady Granby's--Oh! are you there, Lenore! Will you see her down, Mr. Poynsett? Well, Frank, did you get as far as you intended?"

And she went down on his arm, her last words being, "Take care ofyourself till we meet at home. For this one year I call Sirenwoodhome--then!"

Raymond and Lenore said no more to one another. The ladies were putinto the carriage. The elder brother bade Frank take care of Cecil, and started for Westminster with the poor lad's blank anddisappointed face still before his eyes, hoping at least it was wellfor him, but little in love with life, or what it had to offer. 

CHAPTER XXIAwfully Jolly

When life becomes a spasm, And history a whiz, If that is not sensation, I don't know what it is. --LEWIS CARROLL

"Is Lady Rosamond at home?"

"No, ma'am. "

"Nor Mrs. Charnock?"

"No, ma'am; they are both gone down to the Rectory. "

"Would you ask whether Mrs. Poynsett would like to see me?"

"I'll inquire, ma'am, if you will walk in, " said Mr. Jenkins movedby the wearied and heated looks of Miss Vivian, who had evidentlycome on foot at the unseasonable visiting hour of 11. 15 a. M. 

The drawing-room was empty, but, with windows open on the shadyside, was most inviting to one who had just become unpleasantlyaware that her walking capacity had diminished under the stress of aLondon season, and that a very hampering one. She was glad of therest, but it lasted long enough to be lost in the uncomfortableconsciousness that hers was too truly a morning call, and she wouldhave risen and escaped had not that been worse. 

At last the door of communication opened, and to her amazement Mrs. Poynsett was pushed into the room by her maid in a wheeled chair. "Yes, my dear, " she said, in reply to Eleonora's exclamation ofsurprise and congratulation, "this is my dear daughters'achievement; Rosamond planned and Anne contrived, and they bothcoaxed my lazy bones. "

"I am so very glad! I had no notion I should see you out of yourroom. "

"Such is one's self-importance! I thought the fame would havereached you at least. "

"Ah, you don't know how little I see of any one I can hear from!And now I am afraid I have disturbed you too early. "

"Oh no, my dear; it was very good and kind, and I am only grievedthat you had so long to wait; but we will make the most of eachother now. You will stay to luncheon?"

"Thank you, indeed I am afraid I must not: papa would not like it, for no one knows where I am. "

"You have taken this long walk in the heat, and are going back! Idon't like it, my dear; you look fagged. London has not agreed withyou. "

Mrs. Poynsett rang her little hand-bell, and ordered in biscuits andwine, and would have ordered the carriage but for Lenore's urgententreaties to the contrary, amounting to an admission that shewished her visit to be unnoticed at home. This was hardly settledbefore there was a knock at the door, announcing baby's daily visit;and Miss Julia was exhibited by her grandmamma with greatsatisfaction until another interruption came, in a call from thedoctor, who only looked in occasionally, and had fallen on thisunfortunate morning. 

"Most unlucky, " said Mrs. Poynsett. "I am afraid you will doubtabout coming again, and I have not had one word about our Frankie. "

"He is very well. I saw him at a party the night before we lefttown. Good-bye, dear Mrs. Poynsett. "

"You will come again?"

"If I can; but the house is to be full of visitors. If I don't, youwill know it is because I can't. "

"I shall be thankful for whatever you can give me. I wish I couldsave you that hot walk in the sun. "

But as Mrs. Poynsett was wheeled into her own room some compensationbefell Eleonora, for she met Julius in the hall, and he offered todrive her to the gates of Sirenwood in what he called 'our newplaything, the pony carriage, ' on his way to a clerical meeting. 

"You are still here?" she said. 

"Till Tuesday, when we go to the Rectory to receive the two DeLancey boys for the holidays. "

"How Mrs. Poynsett will miss you. "

"Anne is a very efficient companion, " said Julius, speaking to herlike one of the family; "the pity is that she will be so entirelylost to us when Miles claims her. "

"Then they still mean to settle in Africa?"

"Her heart has always been there, and her father is in treaty for afarm for him, so I fear there is little hope of keeping them. Ican't think what the parish will do without her. By the bye, howdoes Joe Reynolds get on with his drawings?"

"I must show them to you. He is really very clever. We sent him tothe School of Art twice a week, and he has got on wonderfully. Ibegin to believe in my academician. "

"So you don't repent?"

"I think not. As far as I can judge he is a good boy still. I makehim my escort to church, so that I am sure of him there. Renvillewould have taken him for a boy about his studio, and I think he willgo there eventually; but Camilla thinks he may be an attraction atthe bazaar, and is making him draw for it. "

"I was in hopes that the bazaar would have blown over, but theBishop has been demanding of Fuller and his churchwardens how soonthey mean to put the building in hand, and this seems to be theironly notion of raising money. "

"I am very glad of this opportunity of asking what you think I hadbetter do about it. Your wife takes no part in it?"

"Certainly not; but I doubt whether that need be a precedent foryou. I am answerable for her, and you could hardly keep out of itwithout making a divided household. "

"I see the difference, and perhaps I have made myself quiteunpleasant enough already. "

"As the opposition?"

"And Camilla has been very kind in giving me much more freedom thanI expected, and pacifying papa. She let me go every Friday eveningto help Lady Susan Strangeways at her mothers' meeting. "

"Lady Susan Strangeways! I have heard of her. "

"She has been my comforter and help all this time. She is allkindness and heartiness, --elbow-deep in everything good. She got upat five o'clock to finish the decorations at St. Maurice's, and to-day she is taking five hundred school-children to Windsor forest. "

"Is she the mother of the young man at Backsworth?"

"Yes, " said Eleonora, in rather a different tone. "Perhaps she goesrather far; and he has flown into the opposite extreme, though theysay he is improving, and has given up the turf, and all that sort ofthing. "

"Was he at home? I heard he was on leave. "

"He was said to be at home, but I hardly ever saw him. He wasalways out with his own friends when I was there. "

"I should not suppose Lady Susan's pursuits were much in his line. Is not one of the daughters a Sister?"

"Yes, at St. Faith's. She was my great friend. The younger onesare nice girls, but have not much in them. Camilla is going to havethem down for the bazaar. "

"What, do they patronize bazaars?"

"Everything that is _doing_ they patronize. I have known them beeverywhere, from the Drawing-room to a Guild-meeting in a back slum, and all with equal appetite. That is one reason why I fear I shallnot see much of your mother; they are never tired, and I shall neverget out alone. The house is to be full of people, and we are to bevery gay. "

She spoke with a tone that betrayed how little pleasure sheexpected, though it strove to be uncomplaining; and Julius, who hadlearnt something of poor Frank's state of jealous misery, heartilywished the Strangeways family further, regarding the intimacy as amanoeuvre of Lady Tyrrell's, and doubting how far all Eleonora'sevident struggles would keep her out of the net; and though whiletalking to her he had not the slightest doubt of her sincerity, hehad not long set her down at the lodge before he remembered that shewas a Vivian. 

Meantime Rosamond, carrying some medicament to old Betty Reynolds, found the whole clan in excitement at the appearance of Joe in allhis buttons, looking quite as honest and innocent, though a gooddeal more civilized, than when he was first discovered among theswine. 

"Only to think, " said his great-grandmother, "that up in London allthey could gie to he was a bad penny. "

"It is the bronze medal, my lady, " said Joshua, with a blush; "thesecond prize for crayons in our section. "

"Indeed, " cried Rosamond. "You are a genius, Joe, worthy of yournamesake. There are many that would be proud to have the grandsonyou have, Betty. "

"Tubby sure, " added an aunt-in-law, "'tis cheap come by. Suchthings to make a young lad draught. They ought to be ashamed ofthemselves, they did oughter. Shut it up, Josh; don't be showing itto the lady--'tis nothing but the bare back of a sweep. "

"My lady and Miss Vivian have seen it, " said Joshua, blushing. "'Tis torso, my lady, from a cast from the museum. "

"A black-looking draught, " repeated the grandmother. "I tells Joeif he drawed like King Geaarge's head up at Wil'sbro' on the sign, with cheeks like apples, and a gould crown atop, he'd arn hisbread. "

"All in good time, Betty. He can't colour till he can draw. I'mglad to see him looking so well. "

"Yes, my lady, he do have his health torrablish, though he lives ina underground sort of a place; and they fine servants puts upon heshameful. "

"Granny!" muttered Joshua, in expostulation. 

"He's a brave boy, and does not mind roughing it, so he can get on, "said Rosamond. 

"And the ladies are very good to me, " said the boy. 

"Show Lady Rosamond the draught you did of Miss Vivian, like ahangel, " suggested the aunt. 

The rising artist coloured, saying, "Please, my lady, don't name itto no one. I would not have shown it, but little Bess, she pulleddown all my things on the floor when I was not looking. It is frommemory, my lady, as she looks when she's doing anything for SirHarry. "

It was a very lovely sketch--imperfect but full of genius, andwonderfully catching, the tender, wistful look which was often onEleonora's face, as she waited on her father. Rosamond longed thatFrank should see it; but the page was very shy about it, and hisgrandmother contrasted it with the performances of the painter 'whohad draughted all the farmers' wives in gould frames for five pounda head; but satin gownds and gold chains was extry. '

But Joe had brought her a pound of tea, and an 'image' for hermantelpiece, which quite satisfied her, though the image, being aParian angel of Thorwaldsen's, better suited his taste than itssurroundings. 

The whole scene served Rosamond for a narrative in her most livelystyle for Mrs. Poynsett's amusement that evening. There was thefurther excitement of a letter from Miles, and the assurance that hewould be at home in November. Anne had become far less chary ofcommunications from his letters than she had at first been, but ofthis one she kept back so large a portion in public, that theinstant Mrs. Poynsett had bidden them good night and been wheeledaway, Rosamond put a hand on each shoulder, and looking into herface, said, "Now, Anne, let us hear! Miles has found ArchieDouglas. It is no use pretending. Fie, Mrs. Anne, why can't youtell me?"

"I was not to tell any one but Julius. "

"Well, I'm Julius. Besides, wasn't I at the very bottom of thetracing him out? Haven't I the best right to know whether it is bador good?"

"Not bad, I am sure, " said Julius, quickly and anxiously. 

"Oh, no, not bad, " answered Anne. "He has seen him--had him onboard for a night. "

"Where?"

"Off Durban. But this whole sheet about it is marked 'Private--onlyfor Julius, ' so I could say nothing about it before your mother. Ihave hardly glanced at it myself as yet, but I think he says Mr. Douglas made him promise not to tell her or Joanna Bowater. "

"Not tell Jenny!" cried Rosamond. "And you said it was not bad. Hemust have gone and married!"

"I do not think that is it, " said Anne; "but you shall hear. Milessays:--'I have at last seen our poor Cousin Archie. I told you Iwas following up your brother Sandie's hint about the agents for thehunters; and at last I fell in with a merchant, who, on my inquiry, showed me an invoice that I could have sworn to as in Archie's hand, and described his white hair. It seems he has been acting asmanager on an ostrich farm for the last three years, far up thecountry. So I lost no time in sending up a note to him, tellinghim, if he had not forgotten old times, to come down and see mewhile I was lying off Durban Bay. I heard no more for ten days, andhad got in the stores and was to sail the next day, thinking he hadgiven us all up, when a boat hailed us just come over the bar. Isaw Archie's white head, and in ten minutes I had him on deck. 'ForHeaven's sake--am I cleared, Miles?' was the first thing he said;and when I could not say that he was, it went to my heart to see howthe eager look sank away, and he was like a worn-down man of fifty. Poor fellow, I found he had ridden two hundred miles, with the hopethat I had brought him news that his innocence was proved, and therevulsion was almost more than he could bear. You see, he had nonotion that we thought him dead, and so he took the entire absenceof any effort to trace him as acquiescence in his guilt; and when hefound out how it was, he laid me under the strongest injunctions todisclose to no one that he is living--not that he fears any results, but that he says it would only disturb every one and make themwretched--"

"He must have gone and married. The wretch!" broke in Rosamond. 

"No, oh no!" cried Anne. "Only hear the rest. 'I told him that Icould not see that at all, and that there was a very warm and tenderremembrance of him among us all, and he nearly broke down and said, 'For Heaven's sake then, Miles, let them rest in that! There's morepeace for them so. ' I suppose I looked--I am sure I did not speak--as though I were a little staggered as to whether he were ashamed tobe known; for he drew himself up in the old way I should have knownanywhere, and told me there was no reason I should fear to shakehands with him; however his name might be blasted at home, he haddone nothing to make himself unworthy of his mother and Jenny--andthere was a sob again. So I let him know that up to my last lettersfrom home Jenny was unmarried. I even remembered those descriptivewords of yours, Nannie, 'living in patient peacefulness andcheerfulness on his memory. '"

"I was called on deck just then, so I gave him my home photograph-book, and left him with it. I found him crying like a child over itwhen I came back; I was obliged to strip it of all my best for him, for I could not move him. We went through the whole of the oldstory, to see if there were any hope; and when he found that TomVivian was dead, and George Proudfoot too, without a word about him, he seemed to think it hopeless. He believes that Proudfoot atleast, if not Moy, was deeply in debt to Vivian, though not to thatextent, and that Vivian probably incited them to 'borrow' from mymother's letter. He was very likely to undertake to get the draftcashed for them, and not to account for the difference. It may havehelped to hasten his catastrophe. Moy I never should havesuspected; Archie says he should once have done so as little; but hewas a plausible fellow, and would do things on the sly, while allalong appearing to old Proudfoot as a mentor to George. Archieseemed to feel his prosperity the bitterest pill of all--reigninglike one of the squirearchy at Proudfoot Lawn--a magistrateforsooth, with his daughter figuring as an heiress. One thing worthnote--Archie says, that when it was too late, he remembered that theunder-clerk, Gadley, might not have gone home, and might have heardhim explain that the letter had turned up. '"

"Gadley? Why that's the landlord of the 'Three Pigeons!'" exclaimedRosamond. "It is Mr. Moy's house, and he supports him through thickand thin. "

"Yes, " said Julius, "the magistrates have been on the point oftaking away his license, but Moy always stands up for him. There issomething suspicious in that. "

"I heard Miss Moy, with my own ears, tell Mrs. Duncombe that he wasthe apple of her father's eye, " cried Rosamond. 

"He's bribed! he's bribed! Oh, I see it all. Well, go on, Anne. If Archie isn't at home before he is a year older--"

Anne went on. "'He allowed that he would have done more wisely infacing it out and standing his trial; but he said, poor fellow, thathe felt as if the earth had given way under him. There was not asoul near who believed him; they brought his father's historyagainst him, and moreover he had been at the races, and had beenbetting, though in fact he had won, and not lost, and the 201. Hehad become possessed of was his capital, besides the little he coulddraw out of the bank

"'If he could only have seen Jenny in London she would have turnedhim back. Indeed, that first stage was to consult her, but hefancied he saw the face of the Wil'sbro' Superintendent in a cab, and the instinct of avoiding arrest carried him to Southampton, where he got a steerage berth in a sailing vessel, and came out tothe Cape. He has lived hard enough, but his Scots blood has stoodhim in good stead, and he has made something as an ivory-hunter, andnow has a partnership in an ostrich farm in the Amatongula country. Still he held to it that it was better he should continue dead toall here, since Mr. Bowater would never forgive him; and theknowledge of his existence would only hinder Jenny's happiness. Youshould have seen the struggle with which he said that! He left meno choice, indeed; forbade a word to any one, until I suggested thatI had a wife, and that my said wife and Julius had put me on thescent. He was immensely struck to find that my sweet Nan came fromGlen Fraser. He said the evenings he spent there had done more torenew his home-sickness, and made him half mad after the sight orsound of us, than anything else had done, and I got him to promiseto come and see us when we are settled in the bush. What should yousay to joining him in ostrich-hatching? or would it be ministeringtoo much to the vanities of the world? However, I'll do somethingto get him cleared, if it comes to an appeal to old Moy himself, when I come home. Meantime, remember, you are not at liberty tospeak a word of this to any one but Julius, and, I suppose, hiswife. I hope--' There, Rose, I beg your pardon. "

"What does he hope?" asked Rosamond. 

"He only hopes she is a cautious woman. "

"As cautious as his Nan, eh? Ah, Anne! you're a canny Scot, andmaybe think holding your tongue as fine a thing as this Archie does;but I can't bear it. I think it is shocking, just wearing out theheart of the best and sweetest girl in the world. "

"At any rate, " said Julius, "we must be silent. We have no right tospeak, however we may feel. "

"You don't expect it will stay a secret, or that he'll go and pluckostriches like geese, with Miles and Anne, and nobody know it?'Twould be taking example by their ostriches, indeed!"

"I think so, " said Julius, laughing; "but as it stands now, silenceis our duty by both Miles and Archie, and Anne herself. We must notmake her repent having told us. "

"It's lucky I'm not likely to fall in with Jenny just yet, " saidRosamond. "Don't leave me alone with her, either of you; if you do, it is at your peril. It is all very well to talk of honour andsecrets, but to see the look in her eyes, and know he is alive, seems to me rank cruelty and heartlessness. It is all to let Mileshave the pleasure of telling when he comes home. "

"Miles is not a woman, nor an Irishwoman, " said Julius. 

"But he's a sailor, and he's got a feeling heart, " said Rosamond;"and if he stands one look of Jenny, why, I'll disown him for thebrother-in-law I take him for. By the bye, is not Raymond to know?"

"No, " said Anne; "here is a postscript forbidding my telling him orMrs. Poynsett. "

"Indeed! And I suppose Herbert knows nothing?"

"Nothing. He was a boy at school at the time. Say nothing to him, Rose. "

"Oh, no; besides, his brain is all run to cricket. "

It was but too true. When the sun shone bright in April, and thewickets were set up, Herbert had demonstrated that his influence wasa necessity on the village green; and it was true that his goodlyand animated presence was as useful morally to the eleven as it wasconducive to their triumphs; so his Rector suppressed a few sighs atthe frequency of the practices and the endless matches. Compton hadplayed Wil'sbro' and Strawyers, Duddingstone and Woodbury; the choirhad played the school, the single the married; and when hay andharvest absorbed the rustic eleven, challenges began among theirbetters. The officers played the county--Oxonians, Cantabs--Etonians, Harrovians--and wherever a match was proclaimed, thatprime bowler, the Reverend Herbert Bowater, was claimed as theindispensable champion of his cause and country. 

If his sister had any power to moderate his zeal, she had had littlechance of exercising it; for Mrs. Bowater had had a rheumatic feverin March, and continued so much of an invalid all the summer thatJenny seldom went far from home, only saw her brother on his weeklyvisits to the sick-room, and was, as Rosamond said, unlikely tobecome a temptation to the warm heart and eager tongue. 

* * * * *

The week-day congregation were surprised one August morning at eighto'clock by the entrance of three ladies in the most recent style offashionable simplicity, and making the most demonstrative tokens ofreverence. As the Rector came out he was seized upon at once by theelder lady. 

"Mr. Charnock! I must introduce myself; I knew your dear mother sowell when we were both girls. I am so delighted to find such achurch--quite an oasis; and I want to ascertain the best hour forcalling on her. Quite an invalid--I was so shocked to hear it. Will the afternoon suit her? I am only here for three days todeposit these two girls, while I take the other on a round ofvisits. Three daughters are too great an affliction for one'sfriends, and Bee and Conny are so delighted to be near their brotherand with dear Lena Vivian, that I am very glad above all, since Ifind there are real church privileges--so different from the Vicarof Wil'sbro'. Poor man; he is a great trial. "

All this was said between the church and the lych-gate, and almosttook Julius's breath away; but Mrs. Poynsett was prepared to welcomeher old friend with some warmth and more curiosity. 

Lady Susan Strangeways was a high-bred woman, but even high breedingcould not prevent her from being overwhelming, especially as therewas a great deal more of her than there had been at the last meetingof the friends, so that she was suggestive of Hawthorne's inquiry, whether a man is bound to so many more pounds of flesh than heoriginally wedded. However, it was prime condition, and activitywas not impeded, but rather received impetus. She had already, since her matutinal walk of more than a mile and back, overhauledthe stores for the bazaar, inspected the town-hall, given heradvice, walked through the ruins for the church, expressed herselfstrongly on the horrors of the plan, and begun to organize shillingcards, all before Sir Harry had emerged from his room. 

She was most warm-hearted and good-natured, and tears glistened inher honest gray eyes as she saw her old friend's helpless state. "You don't know how much I have improved, " said Mrs. Poynsett; "Ifeel quite at liberty in this chair, all owing to my good daughters-in-law. "

"Ah! I have so pitied you for having no girls! My dear daughtershave been so entirely one with me--such a blessing in all I havegone through. "

Mrs. Poynsett of course declared her complete comfort in her fivesons, but Lady Susan was sure that if she had had as many boys, instead of one son and four daughters, she should have been wornout. Lorimer was a dear, affectionate fellow. Those he loved couldguide him with a leash of gossamer, but young men in his positionwere exposed to so many temptations! There ensued a little sighingover the evils of wealth; and to see and hear the two ladies, no onewould have thought that Julia Poynsett had married a young man forlove--Susan Lorimer an old man for independence. 

Possibly with her present principles she would not have done so; butthrough the vista of a long and prosperous widowhood deficiencies inthe courtship were easily forgotten; and perhaps there was the moreromance and sentiment now because she had been balked of it in heryouth. She had freely allowed her eldest daughter to enter asisterhood from the purest, most unselfish motives, but there wascompensation in talking of her Margaret as a Sister of Mercy. 

And ere long she was anxiously inquiring Mrs. Poynsett's opinion ofEleonora Vivian, and making confidences somewhat trying to themother of the young lady's ardent lover. 

She was quite aware that as to fortune there could hardly be a worsematch than Miss Vivian; but she was sensible enough to see that herson had a sufficiency, and generous enough to like the idea ofredeeming the old estate. Her husband had spent his latter years ina vain search for a faultless property, and his wealth was waitingfor Lorimer's settling down. She had always regretted the having novassals rightfully her own, and had felt the disadvantages of beingLady Bountiful only by tenant right. To save an old estate fromentirely passing out of a family, and relieve 'a noble old wreck, 'like Sir Harry, seemed to her so grand a prospect that she could notbut cast a little glamour over the manner of the shipwreck. Still, to do her justice, her primary consideration was the blessing such awoman as Lenore might be to her son. 

She had not fathomed Lady Tyrrell. No woman could do so withoutknowing her antecedents, but she understood enough to perceive thatEleonora was not happy with her, and this she attributed to thegirl's deep nature and religious aspirations. Rockpier was anecclesiastical paradise to Lady Susan, and a close bond with Lenore, to whom in London she had given all the facilities that lay in herpower for persevering in the observances that were alien to the gayhousehold at home. She valued this constancy exceedingly, andenthusiastically dilated on the young lady's goodness, andindifference to the sensation she had created. "Lorimer allows henever saw her equal for grace and dignity. "

Allows! Fancy Frank _allowing_ any perfection in his Lenore! Wasit not possible that a little passing encomium on unusual beauty wasbeing promoted and magnified by the mother into a seriousattachment? But Lady Tyrrell was playing into her hands, andLenore's ecclesiastical proclivities were throwing her into the armsof the family!

It hardly seemed fair to feign sympathy, yet any adverse hint wouldbe treason, and Mrs. Poynsett only asked innocently whether herfriend had seen her son Frank. 

"Oh yes, often; the handsomest of all your sons, is he not?"

"Perhaps he is _now_. "

"My girls rave about his beautiful brown eyes, just as you used todo, Julia, five-and-thirty years ago. "

Mrs. Poynsett was sure that whatever she had thought of MilesCharnock's eyes five-and-thirty years ago, she had never raved aboutthem to Susan Lorimer, but she only said, "All my boys are liketheir father except Charlie. "

"But Master Frank has no eyes for any one but Miss Vivian. Oh yes, I see the little jealousies; I am sorry for him; but you see itwould be a shocking bad thing for a younger son like him; whereasLory could afford it, and it would be the making of him. "

Mrs. Poynsett held her peace, and was not sorry that her visitor wascalled away while she was still deliberating whether to give a hintof the state of the case. 

Lady Susan was, however, more aware of it than she knew; LadyTyrrell had 'candidly' given her a hint that there had been 'somenonsense about Frank Charnock, ' but that he could never afford sucha marriage, even if his mother would allow it, all which she neverwould. Besides, he had not fallen into a satisfactory set inLondon--why, it was not needful to tell. 

When, after the drive, Lady Tyrrell, fairly tired out by hervisitor's unfailing conversation and superabundant energy, had goneto lie down and recruit for the evening, Lady Susan pressed onEleonora a warm invitation to the house in Yorkshire which she wasrenting, and where Lorimer would get as much shooting as his colonelwould permit. The mention of him made Lenore blush to the ears, andsay, "Dear Lady Susan, you are always so kind to me that I ought tobe open with you. Don't fancy--"

"I understand, I understand, my dear, " broke in Lady Susan. "Youshall not be teased. Do not the girls and I care for you for yourown sake?"

"I hope so. "

The elder lady sprang up and embraced her. Affection was verypleasant to the reserved nature that could do so little to evokecaresses. Yet Eleonora clasped her Rockpier charm in her hand, andadded, "I must tell you that so far as I can without disobedience, Ihold myself engaged to Frank Charnock. "

"To Frank Charnock?" repeated Lady Susan, startled at this positivestatement. "My dear, are you quite sure of his ways?--since he hasbeen in town I mean. "

"I know him, and I trust him. "

"I'm sure he is a fine-looking young man, and very clever, they say;dear Julia Poynsett's son too, and they have all turned out sowell, " said honest Lady Susan; "but though you have been used to itall your life, my dear, a taste for horses is very dangerous in ayoung man who can't afford to lose now and then, you know. "

"I have seriously made up my mind never to marry a man who hasanything to do with the turf, " said Eleonora. 

"Ah, my poor dear, I can understand that, " said Lady Susan, awarehow ill this told for her Lory. "May I ask, does he know it?"

"It would insult him to say it. None of the Charnocks ever meddlewith those things. Ah! I know your son saw him on the Derby-day;but he went down with his eldest brother and his wife--and _that_ isa very different thing! I stayed at home, you remember--papa had afit of the gout. "

"My dear, I don't want to accuse him. Don't bristle up; only I amsorry, both for my own little plan of having you for my _very_ own, and because I fear there is trouble in store for you. It can't bepalatable. " Here Eleonora shook her head, and her worn, weariedlook went to the good-natured heart. "Dear child, you have gonethrough a great deal. You shan't be worried or fretted aboutanybody or anything at Revelrig. "

"I should be very glad, " said Lenore, who had no fears of Lorypersonally, though she could not be invited on false pretences. 

"You had better come when Bee and Conny meet me. Let me see--willthe retreat be over by that time? Are you going to it? You are anassociate of St. Faith. "

"Yes, but I don't see how I could go to the retreat. Oh, what arelief it would be to have such a week!"

"Exactly what I feel, " said Lady Susan, somewhat to her surprise. "It strengthens and sets me right for the year. Dr. Easterbyconducts this one. Do you not know him? Is not Rood House nearBacksworth?"

"Yes on the other side, but he is utterly out of my reach. JuliusCharnock looks up to him so much; but his name--even more than St. Faith's--would horrify my father. "

"You could not go direct there, " said Lady Susan; "but when once youare with me you are my charge, and I could take you. "

She considered a little. Both she and her friend knew that all herreligious habits were alien to Sir Harry, and that what he hadfreely permitted, sometimes shared at Rockpier, was now only winkedat, and that if he had guessed the full extent of her observances hewould have stormily issued a prohibition. Could it be wrong tospend part of her visit to Lady Susan with her hostess in asisterhood, when she had no doubt as to attending services which heabsolutely never dreamt of, and therefore did not forbid? Thesacred atmosphere and holy meditations, without external strife andconstant watchfulness, seemed to the poor girl like water to thethirsty; and she thought, after all the harass and whirl of thebazaar and race week, she might thus recruit her much-neededstrength for the decisive conflicts her majority would bring. 

Lady Susan had no doubts. The 'grand old wreck' was in his presentaspect a hoary old persecutor, and charming Lady Tyrrell a worldly, scheming elder sister. It was as much an act of charity to givetheir victim an opportunity of devotion and support as if she hadbeen the child of abandoned parents in a back court in East London. Reserve to prevent a prohibition was not in such cases treachery ordisobedience; and she felt herself doing a mother's part, as shetold her daughters, with some enjoyment of the mystery. Eleonoramade no promise, hoping to clear her mind by consideration, or toget Julius's opinion. He and his wife dined at Sirenwood, and foundJoe Reynolds's drawings laid out for inspection, while Lady Susanwas advising that, instead of selling them, there should be anindustrial exhibition of all curiosities of art and nature to becollected in the neighbourhood, and promising her own set of foreignphotographs and coloured costumes, which had served such purposesmany and many a time. 

After dinner the good dame tried to talk to Rosamond on what shedeemed the most congenial subjects; but my Lady Rose had no notionof 'shop' at a dinner-party, so she made languid answer that she'left all that to the curates, ' and escaped to a frivolous youngmatron on the other side of the room, looking on while her husbandwas penned in and examined on his services, and his choir, and hissystem, and his decorations, and his classes, and his schools, forall or any of which Lady Susan pressed on him the aid of the twodaughters she was leaving at Sirenwood; and on his hint that thiswas beyond his parish, she repeated her strong disapproval of theVicar of Wil'sbro', whom she had met at dinner the night before, andbesides, the school there had numerous Sunday teachers. 

Julius assented, for he had no redundance of the article, and hissenior curate had just started on a vacation ramble with a brother;but a sort of misgiving crossed him as he heard Herbert Bowater'slast comic song pealing out, and beheld the pleasingly plain face ofa Miss Strangeways on either side of him. Had he not fought theEton and Harrow match over again with one of them at dinner? and hadnot a lawn tennis challenge already passed?

For Lady Tyrrell and Mrs. Charnock Poynsett were to have garden-parties on alternate Wednesdays, and the whole neighbourhood soonfollowed suit. 

"You'll find nobody at home, Jenny, " said Julius, coming out of acottage opposite, as she rode up to Mrs. Hornblower's, on one of thelast days of August. "Nobody--that is, but my mother. Can you comeup and see her?"

"With all my heart; but I must get down here; I'm sent for one ofHerbert's shirts. The good boy lets mamma and aunty manage themstill! I believe their hearts would break outright if he took toshop ones, like the rest of them. Hush, Tartar, for shame! don'tyou know me? Where's your master?"

"At a garden-party at Duddingstone. Your mother is better, I see. "

"Yes, thank you--out driving with papa. Good Rollo!" as thedignified animal rose from the hearthrug to greet her, waving hishandsome tail, and calmly expelled a large tabby cat from the easy-chair, to make room for his friends. "Well done, old Roll! Fancy acat in such company. "

"Herbert's dogs partake his good-nature. "

"Mungo seems to be absent too. "

"Gone with him no doubt. He is the great favourite with one of theMiss Strangeways. "

"Which--Herbert or Mungo?"

"Both! I might say, I know the young ladies best by one beingrapturous about Tartar and the other about Mungo. Rollo treats bothwith equally sublime and indifferent politeness, rather as Raymonddoes. "

"What sort of girls are they? Herbert calls them 'awfully jolly. '"

"I'm sorry to say I never can think of any other epithet for them. For once it is really descriptive. "

"Is it either of them in particular?"

"Confess, Joan, that's what brought you over. "

"Perhaps so. Edith heard some nonsense at Backsworth, and mammacould not rest till she had sent me over to see about it; but wouldthere be any great harm in it if it were true? Is not Lady Susan asuper-excellent woman?"

"You've hit it again, Jenny. Couple the two descriptions. "

"I gather that you don't think the danger great. "

"Not at present. The fascination is dual, and is at least acounteraction to the great enchantress. "

"That _is_ well! It was not wholesome!"

"Whereas, these two are hearty, honest, well-principled girls, quitegenuine. "

"Yet you don't say it with all your heart. "

"I own I should like to find something they had left undone. "

"What, to reduce them to human nature's daily food?"

"Daily indeed! There's just no escaping them. There they are atmatins and evensong. "

"How shocking! What, gossip afterwards?"

"Ask Rollo whether Mungo and Tartar don't stand at the lych-gate, and if he finds it easy to put an end to the game at play. "

"Oh! and he said they never missed a Sunday service, or the school. Do they distract him?"

"Whom would it not distract to see two figures walking in withhunches on their backs like camels, and high-heeled shoes, and hatson the back of their heads, and chains and things clattering allover them?"

"Aren't they lady-like?"

"Oh! they are quite that. Rose says it is all the pink of fashion--only coming it strong--I declare they are infectious!"

"I believe so. I never heard so many nibbles at slang from any ofyou five, as from the Rector of Compton in the last five minutes. Igather that he is slightly bothered. "

"There's so much of it. We are forced to have them to all the mealson Sunday, and their lectures on functions have nearly scared poorAnne to the Pilgrim level again. They have set upon me to get up achoir-concert and a harvest-feast; but happily no one has time forthe first at this season, and as to the other, I doubted whether tomake this first start after such a rainy summer, and they decide meagainst it. To have them decorating the church!"

"Awfully jolly, " suggested Jenny. 

"Even so. They are, if you understand me, technically reverent;they have startled the whole place with their curtsies and crossingsin church; but they gabble up to the very porch; and the familiaritywith which they discuss High Mass, as they are pleased to call it!I was obliged to silence them, and I must say they took it nicely. "

"How do they suit Lena?"

"She likes them. Lady Susan was a great help to her in London, andshe feels the comfort of their honesty. They brought her to churchwith them one or two mornings, but it knocked her up to walk soearly. Insensibly, I think they do Lady Tyrrell's work in shuttingher up from any of us. "

"Spite of croquet, which seems perpetual. "

"Chronic and sporadic parties make it so. There are few dayswithout that or something else. Cricket or the band at thebarracks. "

"People say the neighbourhood has never been so gay since CamillaVivian's marriage. I sometimes wonder whether anything can be goingto happen, " said Jenny with a sigh, not guessing at what Julius wasthinking of; then changing her tone: "Surely Herbert does not go toit all, and leave you alone? O, Julius! you should not let him. "

"Never mind, Jenny, there's no more work now in the holidays than Iam sufficient for; and for him, it is quite as guileless play asever he had twenty years ago. It will soon be over, or I shouldtake it more seriously. "

"But it is at such a time!"

"Yes, that is the worst of it. I have thought it over; but while heis in this mood, the making him feel victimized and interfered withhas a worse effect than the letting him have his swing. "

"What is he doing now, I wonder? Here's his sermon-paper on thetable, and a Greek Testament, and Hints on Decorating Churches, with'Constance Strangeways' on the first leaf--no other book. How longwill this saturnalia last?"

"Up to the Ordination, I fear. You know the good people havecontrived to put bazaar, races, and ball, all into the Ember Week, and they are the great object of the young ladies' visit. Could youhave him home for a quiet week first?"

"It would not be a quiet week; Edith is in the way of most of theseaffairs; besides, to open fire about these young ladies might justbe putting nonsense into an innocent head. Now, I've not seen yourRectory!"

The said Rectory was in a decided state of fresh, not to say raw, novelty outside, though the old trees and garden a little softenedits hard grays and strong reds; but it promised to look well whencrumbling and weather-stain had done their work. At the door theymet the pretty young nurse, with a delicate sea-green embroideredcashmere bundle in her arms. 

"Little Lady Green Mantle, " exclaimed Jenny. 

"Erin-go-bragh, " said Julius. "Rose clung to her colours in spiteof all predictions about 'the good people. ' Asleep of course, " asJenny took her and uncovered her face. "She won't exhibit her eyes, but they are quite _proper_ coloured. "

"Yes, I see she is like Raymond!"

"Do you? They all say she is a perfect Charnock, though how theyknow I can't guess. There, " after a little more baby-worship, "youmay take her Emma. "

"Is that the under-nurse?" asked Jenny, rather surprised by herjuvenility. 

"The sole one. My mother and Susan are rather concerned, but Roseasserts that experience in that department is always associated withgin; and she fell in love with this girl--a daughter of JohnGadley's, who is much more respectable than he of the 'ThreePigeons. ' I suppose it is not in the nature of things for two womento have the same view of nursery matters, unless one have brought upthe other. "

"Or even if she have. Witness mamma's sighs over Mary's nurses. "

"I thought it was the common lot. You've not seen the dining-room. "And the full honours were done. They were pleasant rooms, stillunpapered, and the furniture chiefly of amber-coloured varnisheddeal; the drawing-room, chiefly with green furniture, with only afew brighter dashes here and there, and a sociable amount ofcomfortable litter already. The study was full of new shelves andold books, and across the window-sill lay a gray figure, with a bookand a sheet of paper. 

"You here, Terry! I thought you were gone with Rose, " said Julius, as the boy rose to greet Miss Bowater. 

"She said I need not, and I hate those garden-parties, " said Terry;and they relieved him of their presence as soon as Jenny had paidher respects to the favourite prints and photographs on the walls. 

"He has a passion for the history of Poland just now, " said Julius. "Sobieski is better company than he would meet at Duddingstone, Isuspect--poor fellow! Lord Rathforlane has been so much excited byhearing of Driver's successes as a coach, as to desire Terry to readwith him for the Royal Engineers. The boys must get off his handsas soon as possible, he says, and Terry, being cleverest, must do sosoonest; but the boy has seen the dullest side of soldiering, andhates it. His whole soul is set on scholarship. I am afraid it isa great mistake. "

"Can't you persuade him?"

"We have both written; but Rose has no great hopes of the result. Iwish he could follow his bent. "

"Yes, " said Jenny, lingering as she looked towards Church-house, "the young instinct ought not to be repressed. "

Julius knew that she was recollecting how Archie Douglas hadentreated to go to sea, and the desire had been quashed because hewas an only son. His inclination to speak was as perilous as if hehad been Rosamond herself, and he did not feel it unfortunate thatJenny found she must no longer stay away from home. 

CHAPTER XXIITimes Out of Joint

Alte der Meere, Komm und hore;Meine Frau, die Ilsebill, Will nicht als ich will!

Life at Compton Poynsett was different from what it had been whenthe two youngest sons had been at home, and Julius and Rosamond inthe house. The family circle had grown much more stiff and quiet, and the chief difference caused by Mrs. Poynsett's presence was thatRaymond was deprived of his refuge in her room. Cecil had taken aline of polite contempt. There was always a certain languid amountof indifferent conversation, 'from the teeth outward, ' as Rosamondsaid. Every home engagement was submitted to the elder lady withelaborate scrupulousness, almost like irony. Visitors in the houseor invitations out of it, were welcome breaks, and the whirl ofsociety which vaguely alarmed Joanna Bowater was a relief to theinhabitants of the Hall. 

Anne's companionship was not lively for her mother-in-law, but shewas brightening in the near prospect of Miles's return, and they hadestablished habits that carried them well through the evening. Annecovered screens and made scrap-books, and did other work for thebazaar; and Mrs. Poynsett cut out pictures, made suggestions, andhad associations of her own with the combinations of which Anne hadlittle notion. Or she dictated letters which Anne wrote, andthrough all these was a kindly, peaceful spirit, most unlike thedreary alienation in which Cecil persevered. 

To Cecil this seemed the anxious desire for her lawful rights. Shehad been used to spend the greater part of the evening at the piano, but her awakened eyes perceived that this was a cover to Raymond'sconversations at his mother's sofa; so she sat tying knots in stiffthread at her macrame lace pillow, making the bazaar a plea fornothing but work. Raymond used to arm himself with the newspapersas the safest point d'appui, and the talk was happiest when it_only_ languished, for it could do much worse. 

"Shall you be at Sirenwood to-morrow, Cecil?" asked Mrs. Poynsett, as she was wheeled to her station by the fire after dinner. "Willyou kindly take charge of a little parcel for me? One of the MissStrangeways asked me to look for some old franks, so Anne and I havebeen turning out my drawers. "

"Are they for sale?" asked Raymond. 

"Yes, " said Cecil. "Bee Strangeways is collecting; she will pay forall that are new to her, and sell any duplicates. "

"Has she many?" asked Mrs. Poynsett, glad of this safe subject. 

"Quantities; and very valuable ones. Her grandfather kneweverybody, and was in the Ministry. "

"Was he?" said Raymond, surprised. 

"Lord Lorimer?" said Mrs. Poynsett. "Not when I knew them. He wasan old-fashioned Whig, with some peculiar crotchets, and never couldwork with any Cabinet. "

"Beatrice told me he was, " said Cecil, stiffly. 

"I rather think he was Master of the Buckhounds for a little whilein the Grey Ministry, " said Mrs. Poynsett, "but he gave it upbecause he would not vote with ministers on the poor laws. "

"I knew I was not mistaken in saying he was in the Ministry, " saidCecil. 

"The Master of the Buckhounds is not in the Cabinet, Cecil, " saidher husband. 

"I never said he was. I said he was in office, " returned theinfallible lady. 

Mrs. Poynsett thought it well to interrupt by handing in an envelopefranked by Sir Robert Peel; but Cecil at once declared that thewriting was different from that which Bee already owned. 

"Perhaps it is not the same Sir Robert, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"She got it from the Queen, and they are all authenticated. TheQueen newspaper, of course" (rather petulantly). 

"Indisputable, " said Raymond; "but this frank contained a letterfrom the second Sir Robert to my father. "

Mrs. Poynsett made a sign of acquiescence, and Cecil pouted in herdignified way, though Mrs. Poynsett tried to improve matters bysaying, "Then it appears that Miss Strangeways will have a series ofPeel autographs, all in fact but the first generation. "

Common sense showed she was right, but Cecil still feltdiscontented, for she knew she had been resisted and confuted, andshe believed it was all Mrs. Poynsett's doing instead of Raymond's. 

And she became as mute as Anne for the next half-hour, nor dideither Raymond or his mother venture on starting any fresh topic, lest there might be fresh jarring. 

Only Anne presently came up to Mrs. Poynsett and tenderly purredwith her over some little preparation for Miles. 

Certainly Anne was the most improved in looks of all the threebrides, who had arrived just a year ago. The thin, scraggy Scotchgirl, with the flabby, washed-out look alternating with angularrigidity was gone, but the softening and opening of her expression, the light that had come into her eyes, and had made them a lovelyblue instead of pale gray; the rose-tint on her cheeks, the delicaterounded contour of her face, the improved carriage of her reallyfine figure, the traces of style in the braiding of her profuseflaxen hair, and the taste that was beginning to conquer in thedress, were all due to the thought that the Salamanca might soon bein harbour. She sat among them still as a creature whose heart andspirit were not with them. 

That some change must come was felt as inevitable by each woman, andit was Mrs. Poynsett who began, one forenoon when her son hadbrought a lease for her to sign. "Raymond, " said she, "you knowChurch-house is to be vacant at Michaelmas. I wish you would lookat it, and see what repairs it wants, and if the drawing-roomwindows could be made to open on the lawn. "

"Are you hoping to tempt Miles to settle there?"

"No, I fear there is no hope of that; but I do not think an oldbroken-backed invalid ought to engross this great house. "

"Mother, I cannot hear you say so! This is your own house!"

"So is the other, " she said, trying to smile, "and much fitter formy needs, with Susan and Jenkins to look after me. "

"There is no fit place for you but this. You said that once. "

"Under very different circumstances. All the younger boys werestill under my wing, and needed the home, and I was strong andvigorous. It would not have been acting right by them to have givenup the place; but now they are all out in the world, and I am laidby, my stay here only interferes with what can be much bettermanaged without me or my old servants. "

"I do not see that. If any one moves, it should be ourselves. "

"You are wanted on the spot continually. If Sirenwood were in themarket, that might not be so much amiss. "

"I do not think that likely. They will delay the sale in the hopeof Eleonora's marrying a rich man; besides, Mr. Charnock has set hismind upon Swanslea. I hope _this_ is from nothing Cecil has said ordone!"

"Cecil wishes to part then? She has said nothing to me, but I seeshe has to you. Don't be annoyed, Raymond; it is in the nature ofthings. "

"I believe it is all Lady Tyrrell's doing. The mischief such awoman can do in the neighbourhood!"

"Perhaps it is only what any friend of Cecil would advise. "

"It is the very reverse of what I intended, " said Raymond, shadinghis face. 

"My dear Raymond, I know what you meant, and what you wish; but I amalso certain it is for no one's happiness to go on in this way. "

He groaned. 

"And the wife's right comes first. "

"Not to this house. "

"But to this man. Indeed I see more hope of your happiness now thanI did last year. "

"What, because she has delivered herself over bound hand and foot toCamilla Vivian?"

"No, because she is altered. Last year she was merely vexed at myposition in the house. Now she is vexed at my position with you. "

"Very unjustly. "

"Hardly so. I should not have liked your father to be so muchdevoted to his mother. Remember, jealousy is a smoke that cannotexist without some warmth. "

"If she had any proper feeling for me, she would show it by hertreatment of you. "

"That would be asking too much when she thinks I engross you. "

"Mother, while you show such marvellous candour and generosity, andshe--"

"Hush! Raymond, leave it unsaid! We cannot expect her to see morethan her own side of the question. She has been put into anavowedly trying position, and does not deserve hard judgment for notbeing happy in it. All that remains is to relieve her. Whether bymy moving or yours is the question. I prefer the Church-houseplan. "

"Either way is shame and misery to me, " broke out Raymond in achoked voice. 

"Nonsense, " said his mother, trying to be cheerful. "You made animpracticable experiment, that's all. Give Cecil free scope, lether feel that she has her due, and all will come right. "

"Nothing can be done till after the Wil'sbro' business, " saidRaymond, glad of the reprieve. He could not bear the prospect ofbanishment for his mother or himself from the home to which bothwere rooted; and the sentence of detachment from her was especiallypainful when she seemed his only consolation for his wife'sperverseness. Yet he was aware that he had been guilty of theoriginal error, and was bound to give such compensation to his wifeas was offered by his mother's voluntary sacrifice. He was slow tobroach the subject, but only the next morning came a question aboutan invitation to a dull house. 

"But, " said Cecil, "it is better than home. " She spoke on purpose. 

"I am sorry to hear you say so. "

"I can't call it home where I am but a guest. "

"Well, Cecil, my mother offers to leave the home of her life andretire into Church-house. "

Cecil felt as if the screw she had been long working had come off inher hands. She frowned, she gazed, collecting her senses, whileRaymond added, "It is to my intense grief and mortification, but Isuppose you are gratified. "

"Uh, it would never do!" she exclaimed, to his surprise andpleasure. 

"Quite right, " he returned. "Just what I felt. Nothing can make meso glad as to see that you think the idea as socking as I do. "

"Our going to Swanslea would be much better--far more natural, andno one could object. We could refurnish, and make it perfect;whereas nothing can be done to this place, so inconveniently builtand buried in trees. I should feel much freer in a place of myown. "

"So that is what you meant when I thought you were thinking of mymother?"

"I am obliged to take thought for myself when you take heed to noone but her, " said Cecil; and as the carriage was at that momentannounced, she left him. Which was the most sick at heart it wouldbe hard to say, the wife with the sense that she was postponed ineverything to the mother, the husband at the alienation that hadnever before been so fully expressed. Cecil's errand was a councilabout the bazaar; and driving round by Sirenwood, Lady Tyrrellbecame her companion in the carriage. The quick eyes soon perceivedthat something had taken place, and confidence was soon drawn forth. 

"The ice is broken; and by whom do you think?"

"By la belle mere? Skilful strategy to know when the position isnot tenable. "

"She wants to retreat to Church-house. "

"Don't consent to that. "

"I said I should prefer Swanslea for ourselves. "

"Hold to that, whatever you do. If she moves to the village youwill have all the odium and none of the advantages. There will bethe same daily haunt; and as to your freedom of action, there are nospies like the abdicated and their dependents. A very clever plan, but don't be led away by it. "

"No, " said Cecil, resolutely; but after a moment: "It would beinconvenient to Raymond to live so far away from the property. "

"Swanslea will be property too, and a ride over on business is notlike strolling in constantly. "

"I know I shall never feel like my own mistress in a house of hers. "

"Still less with her close by, with the Rectory family running inand out to exchange remarks. No, no, hold fast to insisting thatshe must not leave the ancestral halls. That you can do dutifullyand gracefully. "

Cecil knew she had been betrayed into the contrary; but they were bythis time in the High Street, bowing to others of the committee ontheir way to the town-hall, a structure of parti-coloured brick inharlequin patterns, with a peaked roof, all over little sham domes, which went far to justify its title of the Rat-house, since nothinglarger could well use them. The facade was thus somewhat imposing;of the rear the less said the better; and as to the interior, it wasat present one expanse of dust, impeded by scaffold-poles, and allthe windows had large blotches of paint upon them. 

It required a lively imagination to devise situations for thestalls; but Mrs. Duncombe valiantly tripped about, instructing herattendant carpenter with little assistance except from the well-experienced Miss Strangeways. The other ladies had enough to do inkeeping their plumage unsoiled. Lady Tyrrell kept on a littlepeninsula of encaustic tile, Cecil hopped across bird-like andunsoiled, Miss Slater held her carmelite high and dry, but poor MissFuller's pale blue and drab, trailing at every step, becameconstantly more blended!

The dust induced thirst. Lady Tyrrell lamented that the Wil'sbro'confectioner was so far off and his ices doubtful, and Miss Slatersuggested that she had been making a temperance effort by setting upan excellent widow in the lane that opened opposite to them in ashop with raspberry vinegar, ginger-beer, and the like mildcompounds, and Mrs. Duncombe caught at the opportunity of exhibitingthe sparkling water of the well which supplied this same lane. Thewidow lived in one of the tenements which Pettitt had renovatedunder her guidance, and on a loan advanced by Cecil, and she wasproud of her work. 

"Clio Tallboys would view this as a triumph, " said Mrs. Duncombe, as, standing on the steps of the town-hall, she surveyed the fourtenements at the corner of the alley. "Not a man would stir in thebusiness except Pettitt, who left it all to me. "

"Taking example by the Professor, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"It is strange, " said Miss Slater, "how much illness there has beenever since the people went into those houses. They are in mydistrict, you know. "

"You should make them open their windows, " said Mrs. Duncombe. 

"They lay it on the draughts. "

"And stuff up my ventilators. That is always the way they begin. "

The excellent widow herself had a bad finger, which was a greatimpediment in administering the cooling beverages, but these were soexcellent as to suggest the furnishing of a stall therewith for thethirsty, as something sure to be popular and at small expense. Therewith the committee broke up, all having been present but MissMoy, whose absence was not regretted, though apologized for by Mrs. Duncombe. "I could not get her away from the stables, " she said. "She and Bob would contemplate Dark Hag day and night, I believe. "

"I wouldn't allow it, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

Mrs. Duncombe shrugged her shoulders and laughed. "That's Mr. Moy'slook-out, " she said. 

"You don't choose to interfere with her emancipation, " said LadyTyrrell. 

"Clio would tell you she could take care of herself at the stablesas well as anywhere else. "

"Query?" said Lady Tyrrell. "Don't get into a scrape, Bessie. Doesyour Captain report on the flirtation with young Simmonds?"

"Who is he?" asked Cecil

"The trainer's son, " said Bessie. "It is only a bit of imitation ofAurora Floyd. "

"You know she's an heiress, " said Lady Tyrrell. "You had bettertake care how you put such a temptation in his way. "

"I don't suppose the Moys are anybody, " said Cecil. 

"Not in your sense, my dear, " said Lady Tyrrell, laughing; "but fromanother level there's a wide gap between the heiress of ProudfootLawn and the heir of the training stables. "

"Cecil looks simply disgusted, " said Bessie. "She can't bear theMoys betwixt the wind and her nobility. "

"They are the great drawback to Swansea, I confess, " said Cecil. 

"Oh! are you thinking of Swanslea?" cried Mrs Duncombe. 

"Yes, " said Lady Tyrrell, "she is one to be congratulated onemancipation. "

"Well can I do so, " said Mrs. Duncombe. "Don't I know what mothers-in-law are? Mine is the most wonderful old Goody, with exactly thenotions of your meek Mrs. Miles. "

"Incompatibility decidedly, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"Only she was the Spartan mother combined with it, " continued Mrs. Duncombe. "When Bob was a little urchin, he once, in anticipationof his future tastes, committed the enormity of riding on a stick onSunday; so she locked him up till he had learnt six verses of one ofWatts's hymns about going to church being like a little heavenbelow, isn't it?"

"Increasing his longing that way, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"She doesn't even light the drawing-room fire on Sunday, for fearpeople should not sit in their rooms and meditate, " continued Mrs. Duncombe. "Bob manages to be fond of her through all; but sheregularly hates me. "

"Not very wonderful, " said Lady Tyrrell, laughing. "I suppose thereis a charming reciprocity of feeling. "

"I think I can afford to pity her, " said Mrs. Duncombe, lightly. "Just fancy what I must have been to her! You know I was brought upin a convent at Paris. The very bosom of the scarlet woman. "

"But, " interrupted Cecil, "you were never a Roman Catholic, Bessie!"

"Oh dear, no; the Protestant boarders were let entirely alone. There were only two of us, and we lay in bed while the others wentto mass, and played while they went to confession, that was all. Iwas an orphan; never remember my mother, and my father died abroad. Luckily for me, Bob was done for by my first ball. Very odd heshould have liked a little red-haired thing like me; but every oneis ticketed, I believe. My uncle was glad enough to get rid of me, and poor old Mrs. Duncombe was unsuspecting till we went home--andthen!"

"And then?"

"Cecil may have some faint idea. "

"Of what you underwent?"

"She wanted to begin on me as if I were a wild savage heathen, youknow! I believe she nearly had a fit when I declined a prayer-meeting, and as to my walking out with Bob on Sunday evening!"

"Did she make you learn Watts's hymns?"

"No! but she did what was much worse to poor Bob. She told him shehad spent the time in prayer and humiliation, and the poor fellowvery nearly cried. "

"Ah, those mothers have such an advantage over their sons, " saidLady Tyrrell. 

"I determined I would never go near her again after that, " said Mrs. Duncombe. "Bob goes; he is really fond of her; but I knew we shouldkeep the peace better apart. I let her have the children now andthen, when it is convenient, and oddly enough they like it; but Ishall soon have to stop that, for I won't have them think me areprobate; and she has thought me ten times worse ever since I foundout that I had brains and could use them. "

"Quite true, " said Camilla; "there's no peacemaker like absence. "

"The only pity is that Swanslea is no further off, " returned Bessie. 

And so it was that Cecil, backed by her two counsellors, held herpurpose, and Raymond sadly spoke of the plan of separation toJulius. Both thought Mrs. Poynsett's own plan the best, though theycould not bear the idea of her leaving her own house. Raymond wasmuch displeased. 

"At least, " he said, "there is a reprieve till this franticfortnight is over. I envy your exemption from the turmoil. "

"I wish you would exempt yourself from the races, " said Julius. "The mischief they have done in these villages is incalculable! Thevery men-servants are solicited to put into sweepstakes, wheneverthey go into Wil'sbro'; and only this morning Mrs. Hornblower hasbeen to me about her son. "

"I thought he was the great feather in Herbert Bowater's cap. "

"Showing the direction of the wind only too well. Since Herbert hasbeen infected with the general insanity, poor Harry Hornblower haslapsed into his old ways, and is always hanging about the 'ThreePigeons' with some of the swarm of locusts who have come downalready to brawl round the training stables. This has come toTruelove's ears, and he has notice of dismissal. At the mother'sdesire I spoke to Truelove, but he told me that at last year's racesthe lad had gambled at a great rate, and had only been saved fromdishonesty by detection in time. He was so penitent that Truelovegave him another trial, on condition that he kept out of temptation;but now he has gone back to it, Mr. Truelove thinks it the only wayof saving him from some fresh act of dishonesty. 'It is all up withthem, ' he says, 'when once they take that turn. '"

"You need not speak as if I were accountable for all theblackguardism. "

"Every man is accountable who lends his name and position to bolsterup a field of vice. "

"Come, come, Julius. Remember what men have been on the turf. "

"If those men had withheld their support, fashion would not have ledso many to their ruin. "

"Hundreds are present without damage. It is a hearty out-of-doorscountry amusement, and one of the few general holidays that bringall ranks together. "

"You speak of racing as it has been or might be in some golden age, "said Julius. "Of course there is no harm in trying one horse'sspeed against another; but look at the facts and say whether it isright to support an amusement that becomes such an occasion ofevil. "

"Because a set of rascals choose to bring their villainies there youwould have the sport of the whole neighbourhood given up. 'No cakesand ale' with a vengeance!"

"The cakes and ale that make a brother offend ought to be given up. "

"That sentences all public amusements. "

"Not necessarily. The question is of degree. Other amusements mayhave evil incidentally connected with them, and may lead totemptation, but it is not their chief excitement. The play or theopera is the prime interest, and often a refined and elevated one, but at races the whole excitement depends upon the horses, and is sofictitious that it needs to be enhanced by this betting system. Nobetter faculty is called into play. Some few men may understand themerits of the horse; many more, and most of the ladies, simply likethe meeting in numbers; but there is no higher faculty called out, and in many cases the whole attraction is the gambling, and thefouler wickedness in the background. "

"Which would be ten thousand times worse if all gentlemen stoodaloof. "

"What good do these gentlemen do beyond keeping the contesthonourable and the betting in which they are concerned? Do not theymake themselves decoys to the young men on the border-land who wouldstay away if the turf were left to the mere vulgar? Why should theynot leave it to drop like bull-baiting or cock-fighting?"

"Well done, Julius!" said Raymond. "You will head a clericalcrusade against the turf, but I do not think it just to compare itwith those ferocious sports which were demoralizing in themselves;while this is to large numbers simply a harmless holiday and excusefor an outing, not to speak of the benefit to the breed of horses. "

"I do not say that all competitions of speed are necessarily wrong, but I do say that the present way of managing races makes them somischievous that no one ought to encourage them. "

"I wonder what Backsworth and Wil'sbro' would say to you! It istheir great harvest. Lodgings for those three days pay a quarter'srent; and where so many interests are concerned, a custom cannotlightly be dropped. "

"Well, " said Raymond with a sigh, "it is not pleasure that takes me. I shall look on with impartial eyes, if that is what you wish. "

Poor Raymond! it was plain that he had little liking for anythingthat autumn. He rode over to Swanslea with Cecil, and when he saidit was six miles off, she called it four; what he termed bare, marshy, and dreary, was in her eyes open and free; his swamp was herlake; and she ran about discovering charms and capabilities where hesaw nothing but damp and dry rot, and, above all, banishment. 

Would she have her will? Clio would have thought her lecture hadtaken effect, and mayhap, it added something to the general temperof self-assertion, but in fact Cecil had little time to think, sothickly did gaieties and preparations crowd upon her. It was thefull glory and importance of the Member's wife, her favourite ideal, but all the time her satisfaction was marred by secret heartache asshe saw how wearily and formally her husband dragged throughwhatever fell to his lot, saw how jaded and depressed he looked, andheard him laugh his company laugh without any heart in it. Shethought it all his mother's fault, and meant to make up foreverything when she had him to herself. 

Julius had his troubles. When Rosamond found that races were whatshe called his pet aversion, she resisted with all her might. Herhome associations were all on fire again. She would not condemn thepleasures she had shared with her parents, by abstinence from them, any more than she would deviate from Lady Rathforlane's nurserymanagement to please Mrs. Poynsett and Susan. A bonnet, whichJulius trusted never to see in church, was purchased in the face ofhis remark that every woman who carried her gay attire to the standmade herself an additional feather on the hook of evil. At firstshe laughed, and then grew tearfully passionate in protests thatnothing should induce her to let her brothers see what their ownfather did turned into a crime; and if they went without her to takecare of them, and fell into mischief, whose fault would that be?

It was vain to hint that Tom was gone back to school, and Terrycared more for the Olympic dust than that of Backsworth. She hadpersuaded herself that his absence would be high treason to herfather, whom she respected far more at a distance than when she hadbeen struggling with his ramshackle, easy-going ways. Even now, shewas remonstrating with him about poor Terry's present misery. Hislast half year had been spent under the head-master, who hadcultivated his historical and poetical intelligence, whereas Mr. Driver was nothing but an able crammer; and the moment the ladbecame interested and diverged from routine, he was choked offbecause such things would not 'tell. ' If the 'coach' had anyenthusiasm it was for mathematics, and thitherwards Terry's brainwas undeveloped. With misplaced ingenuity, he argued that sums cameright by chance and that Euclid was best learnt by heart, for 'thepictures' simply confused him; and when Julius, amazed at finding soclever a boy in the novel position of dunce, tried to find out whathe did know of arithmetic, his ignorance and inappreciation were sounfathomable that Julius doubted whether the power or the will wasat fault. At any rate he was wretched in the present, and dismal asto the future, and looked on his brother-in-law as in league withthe oppressors for trying to rouse his sense of duty. 

Remonstrance seemed blunted and ineffective everywhere. WhenHerbert Bowater tried to reclaim Harry Hornblower into giving up hisnotorious comrades, he received the dogged reply, "Why should not achap take his pleasure as well as you?" With the authority at onceof clergyman and squire's son, he said, "Harry, you forget yourself. I am not going to discuss my occupations with you. "

"You know better, " rudely interrupted the lad. "Racketing about allover the country, and coming home late at night. You'd best notspeak of other folks!"

As a matter of fact, Herbert had never been later than was requiredby a walk home from a dinner, or a very moderate cricket supper; andhis conscience was clear as to the quality of his amusements; butinstead of, as hitherto, speaking as youth to youth, he used thelanguage of the minister to the insulting parishioner. "I am sorryI have disturbed Mrs. Hornblower, but the case is not parallel. Innocent amusement is one thing--it is quite another to run intohaunts that have _already_ proved dangerous to your principles. "

Harry Hornblower laughed. "It's no go coming the parson over me, Mr. Bowater! It's well known what black coats are, and how theynever cry out so loud upon other folks as when they've had a jollylark among themselves. No concealment now, we're up to a thing ortwo, and parsons, and capitalists, and squires will have to looksharp. "

This oration, smacking of 'The Three Pigeons, ' was delivered so loudas to bring the mother on the scene. "O, Harry, Harry, you aren'tnever speaking like that to Mr. Bowater!"

"When folks jaw me about what's nothing to them I always give themas good as they bring. That's my principle, " said Harry, flingingout of the house, while the curate tried to console the weepingmother, and soon after betook himself to his Rector with no mildcomments on the lad's insolence. 

"Another warning how needful it is for us to avoid all occasion formisconstruction, " said Julius. 

"We do, all of us, " said Herbert. "Even that wretched decoction, Fuller, and that mere dictionary, Driver, never gave cause forimputations like these. What has the fellow got hold of?"

"Stories of the last century 'two-bottle men, '" said Julius, "trumped up by unionists now against us in these days. The truth isthat the world triumphs and boasts whenever it catches the ministryon its own ground. Its ideal is as exacting as the saintly one. "

"I say Rector, " exclaimed the curate, after due pause, "you'll be atEvensong on Saturday? The ladies at Sirenwood want me to go toBacksworth with them to hear the band. "

"Cannot young Strangeways take care of his sisters?"

"I would not ask it, sir, but they have set their heart on seeingRood House, and want me to go with them because of knowing Dr. Easterby. Then I'm to dine with them, and that's the very last ofit for me. There's no more croquet after this week. "

"I am thankful to hear it, " said Julius, suppressing his distastethat the man he most reverenced, and the place which was his havenof rest, should be a mere lion for Bee and Conny, a slight pastimebefore the regimental band!

CHAPTER XXIIIThe Apple of Ate

Oh mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest of us all?--The Three Bears

"I do really think Terry has found the secret of happiness, for a_little_ while at least, " said Rosamond, entering Mrs. Poynsett'sroom. "That funny little man in the loan museum has asked him tohelp in the arrangement. "

"Who is it?"

"The little watchmaker, or watch cobbler, in the old curiosityshop. "

"Yes; Terry calls him a descendant of the Genoese Frescobaldi, andI'm sure his black eyes were never made for an English head. Terryhas always haunted those uncanny wares of his, and has pursued themto the museum. ''Tis not every young gentleman I would wish to seethere, ' says the old man, 'but the Honourable Mr. De Lancey has thesoul of an antiquarian. '"

"They say the old man is really very clever and well read. "

"He looks like an old magician, with his white cap and spectacles, and he had need to have a wand to bring order out of that awfulchaos. Everybody all round has gone and cleared out their rubbish-closet. Upon my word, it looks so. There are pictures all onenetwork of cracks, and iron caps and gauntlets out of all the hallsin every stage of rust, and pots and pans and broken crocks, andbaskets of coin all verdigris and tarnish!--Pah!"

"Are Miles's birds safe?"

"Oh yes, with a swordfish's sword and a sawfish's saw making atrophy on the top. Terry is in the library, hunting material for adissertation upon the ancient unicorn, which ought to conclude withthe battle royal witnessed by Alice in Wonderland. The stuffeddepartment is numerous but in a bad way as to hair, and chieflyconsists of everybody's grandmother's old parrots and squirrels andwhite rats. Then, every boy, who ever had a fit of birds' eggs orbutterflies, has sent in a collection, chiefly minus the lowerwings, and with volunteer specimens of moth; but luckily some giveleave to do what they please with them, so the magician is makingcomposition animals with the debris. "

"Not really!"

"I made a feeble attempt with an admiral's wings and an orange tip, but I was scouted. About four dilapidated ones make up a properspecimen, and I can't think how it is all to be done in the time;but really something fit to be seen is emerging. Terry is sortingthe coins, a pretty job, I should say; but felicity to him. But oh!the industrial articles! There are all the regalia, carved out ofcherry-stones, and a patchwork quilt of 5000 bits of silk each nobigger than a shilling. And a calculation of the middle verse inthe Bible, and the longest verse, and the shortest verse, and thelike edifying Scriptural researches, all copied out like flies'legs, in writing no one can see but Julius with his spectacles off, and set in a brooch as big as the top of a thimble, all done by aone-legged sergeant of marines. So that the line might not be outdone, I offered my sergeant-major's banner-screen, but I am sorry tosay they declined it, which made me jealous. "

"Are there any drawings of the Reynolds' boy?"

"Yes, Lenore Vivian brought them down, and very good they are. Every one says he has the making of a genius, but he does not lookas if it agreed with him; he is grown tall, and thin, and white, andI should not wonder if those good-for-nothing servants bullied him. "

"Did you see anything of Eleonora?"

"Nothing so impossible. I meet her every day, but she is alwaysbeset with the Strangeways, and I think she avoids me. "

"I can hardly think so. "

"I don't like it! That man is always hanging about Sirenwood, andLenore never stirs an inch without one of those girls. I wish Frankcould see for himself, poor fellow. "

"He does hope to run down next week. I have just heard from him inhigh spirits. One of his seniors has come into some property, another is out of health and retires, so there is some promotion inview. "

"I wish it would make haste then. I don't like the look of things. "

"I can hardly disbelieve in the dear girl herself; yet I do feel asif it were against nature for it to succeed. Did you hear anythingof Mrs. Bowater to-day?"

"Yes, she is much better, and Edith is coming to go into the gallerywith me on Tuesday when they inaugurate the Rat-house. Oh! did youhear of the debate about it? You know there's to be a procession--all the Volunteers, and all the Odd Fellows, and all the GoodTemplars, and all the school-children of all denominations--whatevercan walk behind a flag. Our choir boys grew emulous, and askedHerbert to ask the Rector to let them have our lovely banner withthe lilies on it; but he declined, though there's no choice but togive the holiday that will be taken. "

"Was that the debate?"

"Oh no! that was among the higher powers--where the processionshould start from. The precedent was an opening that began withgoing to church, and having a sermon from the Bishop; but thenthere's no church, and after that spur the Bishop gave them theycan't ask him without one; besides, the mayor dissents, and so do agood many more of them. So they are to meet at the Market Cross, and Mr. Fuller, in the famous black gown, supported by Mr. Driver, is to head them. I'm not sure that Julius and Herbert were not inthe programme, but Mr. Truelove spoke up, and declared that Mr. Flynn the Wesleyan Methodist, and Mr. Howler the PrimitiveMethodist, and Mr. Riffell the Baptist, had quite as good a right towalk in the foreground and to hold forth, and Mr. Moy supportedhim. "

"Popularity hunting against Raymond. "

"Precisely. But Howler, Flynn, and Co. Were too much for Mr. Fuller, so he seceded, and the religious ceremonies are now to beconfined to his saying grace at the dinner. Raymond thinks it aswell, for the inaugural speech would only have been solemn mockery;but Julius thinks it a sad beginning for the place to have noblessing because of our unhappy divisions. Isn't that like Julius?"

"Exactly, though I see it more from Raymond's point of view. So youare going to the dinner?"

"Oh yes. Happily my Rector has nothing to say against that, and Iam sure he owes me something for keeping me out of the bazaar. Infact, having avoided the trouble, I _couldn't_ take the pleasure!and he must set that against the races. "

"My dear, though I am not set against races like Julius, I think, considering his strong feelings on the subject--"

"My dear Mrs. Poynsett, it would be very bad for Julius to give into his fancies. The next thing would be to set baby up in a littlehood and veil like a nun!"

Rosamond's winsome nonsense could not but gain a smile. No doubtshe was a pleasant daughter-in-law, though, for substantial care, Anne was the strength and reliance. Even Anne was much engrossed bypreparations for the bazaar. It had been a great perplexity to herthat the one thing she thought not worldly should be condemned byJulius, and he had not tried to prevent her from assisting Cecil, thinking, as he had told Eleonora, that the question of right andwrong was not so trenchant as to divide households. 

The banquet and inauguration went off fairly well. There wasnothing in it worth recording, except that Rosamond pronounced thatRaymond only wanted a particle of Irish fluency to be a perfectspeaker; but every one was observing how ill and depressed helooked. Even Cecil began to see it herself, and to ask Lady Tyrrellwith some anxiety whether she thought him altered. 

"Men always look worn after a Session, " said Lady Tyrrell. 

"If this really makes him unhappy!"

"My dear Cecil, that's the very proof of the necessity. If it makeshim unhappy to go five miles away with his wife, it ought not. Youshould wean him from such dependence. "

Cecil had tears in her eyes as she said, "I don't know! When I hearhim sighing in his sleep, I long to give it up and tell him I willtry to be happy here. "

"My dear child, don't be weak. If you give way now, you will rue itall your life. "

"If I could have taken to his mother, I think he would have caredmore for me. "

"No. The moment her jealousy was excited she would have resumedhim, and you would have been the more shut out in the cold. Alittle firmness now, and the fresh start is before you. "

Cecil sighed, feeling that she was paying a heavy price for thatfresh start, but her hands were too full for much thought. Guestscame to dinner, Mrs. Poynsett kept more to her own room, and Raymondexerted himself to talk, so that the blank of the evenings was lessapparent. The days were spent at the town-hall, where the stallswere raised early enough for all the ladies, their maids andfootmen, to buzz about them all day, decking them out. 

Mrs. Duncombe was as usual the guiding spirit, contriving all with acleverness that made the deficiencies of her household the moreremarkable. Conny and Bee Strangeways were the best workers, havingplenty of experience and resource, and being ready to do anything, however hard, dusty, or disagreeable; and to drudge contentedly, with plenty of chatter indeed, but quite as freely to a female as toa male companion; whereas Miss Moy had a knot of men constantlyabout her, and made a noise which was a sore trial to Cecil's heavyspirit all the first day, exclusive of the offence to her nativefastidiousness. She even called upon Lady Tyrrell and Mrs. Duncombeto hold a council whether all gentlemen should not be excluded thenext day, as spoiling the ladies' work, and of no use themselves;but there were one or two who really did toil, and so well that theycould not be dispensed with, and Mrs. Duncombe added that it wouldnot do to give offence. 

There was a harassed look about Mrs. Duncombe herself, for muchdepended on the success of her husband's filly, Dark Hag. TheCaptain had hitherto been cautious, and had secured himself againstheavy loss, so as to make the turf a tolerable speculation, on butthe wonderful perfections of this animal had led him to stake muchmore on her than had been his wont; and though his wife was assuredof being a rich woman in another week, she was not sorry for themultiplicity of occupations which hindered her mind from dwellingtoo much on the chances. 

"How calm you look, --how I envy you!" she said, as she came toborrow some tape of Eleonora Vivian, who was fastening the pendentarticles to the drapery of her sister's stall. Eleonora gave aconstrained smile, feeling how little truth there was in herapparent peace, wearied out as she was with the long conflict andconstant distrust. She was the more anxious to be with Lady Susan, whose every word she could believe, and she finally promised toleave home with Bee and Conny the day after the ball, and to meettheir mother in London. They knew there was no chance for Lorimer, but they took her on her own terms, hoping something perhaps, and atany rate glad to be a comfort to one whom they really loved, whileLady Tyrrell was delighted to promote the visit, seeing that thefamily did more for Lorimer's cause than he did for himself; and inhis own home who could guess the result, especially after certainother manoeuvres of her ladyship had taken effect?

Lady Tyrrell did not know, nor indeed did Conny or Bee, that, thoughthey would meet their mother in London, she would not at once gointo Yorkshire with them, but would send them to their uncle's, while she repaired to the retreat at St. Faith's. The harass ofthese last few weeks, especially the endeavour to make her go to theraces, had removed all scruples from Lenore's mind as to leaving herhome in ignorance of her intentions. To her mind, the circumstancesof her brother's death had made a race-course no place for any ofthe family, especially that of Backsworth; gout coming opportunelyto disable her father in London, and one or two other littleaccidents, had prevented the matter from coming to an issue whileshe had been in London, and the avowal of her intention to keep awayhad filled her father with passion at her for her absurd scruplesand pretences at being better than other people. It had been LadyTyrrell who pacified him with assurances that she would soon dobetter; no one wished to force her conscience, and Lenore, always onthe watch, began to wonder whether her sister had any reason forwishing to keep her away, and longed the more for the house of truthand peace. 

So came on the bazaar day, which Mrs. Poynsett spent in solitude, except for visits from the Rectory, and one from Joanna Bowater, wholooked in while Julius was sitting with her, and amused them by heraccount of herself as an emissary from home with ten pounds to begot rid of from her father and mother for good neighbourhood's sake. She brought Mrs. Poynsett a beautiful bouquet, for the elderlyspinsters, she said, sat on the stairs and kept up a constantsupply; and she had also some exquisite Genoese wire ornaments fromCecil's counter, and a set of studs from a tray of polished pebblessent up from Vivian's favourite lapidary at Rockpier. She had beenamused to find the Miss Strangeways hunting over it to match thatvery simple-looking charm which Lena wore on to her watch, for, asshe said, "the attraction must either be the simplicity of it, orthe general Lena-worship in which those girls indulge. "

"How does that dear child look?"

"Fagged, I think, but so does every one, and it was not easy to keeporder, Mrs. Duncombe's counter was such a rendezvous for noisypeople, and Miss Moy was perfectly dreadful, running about forcingthings on people and refusing change. "

"And how is poor Anne enduring?"

"Like Christian in Vanity Fair as long as she did endure, for sheretired to the spinsters on the back stairs. I offered to bring herhome, and she accepted with delight, but I dropped her in thevillage to bestow her presents. I was determined to come on here;we go on Monday. "

"Shall you be at the Ordination?"

"I trust so. If mamma is pretty well, we shall both go. "

"Is Edith going to the ball on Thursday?"

"No, she has given it up. It seems as if we at least ought torecollect our Ember days, though I am ashamed to think we never didtill this time last year. "

"I confess that I never heard of them, " said Mrs. Poynsett. "Don'tlook shocked, my dear; such things were not taught in my time. "

Julius showed her the rubric and the prayer from the book in hispocket, knowing that the one endeared to her by association was oneof the Prayer-books made easy by omission of all not needed at thebarest Sunday service. 

"I see, " she said, "it seems quite right. I wish you had told mebefore you were ordained, my dear. "

"You kept your Ember days for me by instinct, dear mother. "

"Don't be too sure, Julius. One learns many things when one is laidon one's back. "

"Think of Herbert now, " whispered Jenny. "I am glad he is shelteredfrom all this hubbub by being at the palace. I suppose you cannotgo to the Cathedral, Julius?"

"No, Bindon will not come back till his brother's holiday is over, nor do I even know where to write to him. Oh! here comes Anne. Nowfor her impressions. "

Anne had brought her little gift for Mrs. Poynsett, and displayedher presents for Glen Fraser, but as to what she had seen it madeher shudder and say, "You were right, Julius, I did not know peoplecould go on so! And with all those poor people ill close by. MissSlater, who sat on the stairs just below me tying up flowers, ismuch grieved about a lad who was at work there till a fortnight ago, and now is dying of a fever, and harassed by all the rattling of thecarriages. "

"What! close by! Nothing infectious, I hope?"

"The doctor called it gastric fever, but no one was to hear of itlest there should be an alarm; and it was too late to change theplace of the bazaar, though it is so sad to have all that gaietyclose at hand. "

If these were the impressions of Anne and Joanna early in the day, what were they later, when, in those not sustained by excitement, spirit and energy began to flag? Cecil's counter, with herexcellent and expensive wares, and her own dignified propriety, wasfar less popular than those where the goods were cheaper and thesaleswomen less inaccessible, and she was not only disappointed ather failure, but vexed when told that the articles must be raffledfor. She could not object, but it seemed an unworthy end for whathad cost her so much money and pains to procure, and it was notpleasant to see Mrs. Duncombe and Miss Moy hawking the ticketsabout, like regular touters, nor the most beautiful things drawn bythe most vulgar and tasteless people. 

Miss Moy had around her a court of 'horsey' men who were loungingaway the day before the races, and who had excited her spirits to apitch of boisterousness such as dismayed Mrs. Duncombe herself whenher attempts at repression were only laughed at. 

Somehow, among these adherents, there arose a proposal for theelection of a queen of beauty, each gentleman paying half-a-crownfor the right of voting. Miss Moy bridled and tried to blush. Shewas a tall, highly-coloured, flashing-eyed brunette, to whom atriumph would be immense over the refined, statuesque, severe MissVivian, and an apple-blossom innocent-looking girl who was alsopresent, and though Lady Tyrrell was incontestably the handsomestperson in the room, her age and standing had probably prevented heroccurring to the propounders of the scheme. 

The design was taking shape when young Strangeways, who was willingto exchange chaff with Gussie Moy, but was gentleman enough to feelthe indecorum of the whole thing, moved across to his sister, andmuttered, "I say, Con, they are getting up that stupid trick ofelection of a queen of beauty. Does Lady Tyrrell know it?"

"Wouldn't it be rather fun?"

"Horrid bad form, downright impudence. Mother would squash it atonce. Go and warn one of them, " signing with his head. 

Constance made her way to Eleonora, who had already been perplexedand angered by more than one critical stare, as one and another manloitered past and gazed intrepidly at her. She hurried at once toher sister, who was sitting passively behind her counter as ifwearied out, and who would not be stirred to interference. "Nevermind, Lenore, it can't be helped. It is all for the cause, and tostop it would be worse taste, fitting on the cap as an acknowledgedbeauty, and to that I'm not equal. "

"It is an insult. "

"Never fear, they'll never choose you while you look so forbidding, though perhaps it is rather becoming. They have not the taste. "

Eleonora said no more, but went over to the window where Raymond waskeeping his guard, with his old-fashioned sense of protection. Shehad no sooner told him than he started into incredulous indignation, in which he was joined by his wife who only wished him to dashforward to prevent the scheme before he would believe it real. 

However, when the ballot-box came his way, and a simpering youthpresented him with a card, begging for his opinion, he spoke so asto be heard by all, "No, thank you, sir. I am requested by theladies present to state that such competition was never contemplatedby their committee and would be repugnant to all their sentiments. They beg that the election may be at once dropped and the moneyreturned. "

Mr. Charnock Poynsett had a weight that no one resisted. There wasa moment's silence, a little murmur, apologetic and remonstrant, butthe deed was done. 

Only a clear voice, with the thrillings of disappointed vanity andexultation scarcely disguised by a laugh, was heard saying, louderthan the owner knew, "Oh, of course Mr. Charnock Poynsett spoiledsport. It would have been awkward between his wife and his oldflame. "

"For shame, Gussie, " hushed Mrs. Duncombe, "they'll hear. "

"I don't care! Let them! Stuck-up people!"

Whoever heard, Cecil Charnock Poynsett did, and felt as if theground were giving way with her. 

CHAPTER XXIVThe Lady Green Mantle

The night, just like the night before, In terrors passed away, Nor did the demons vanish thence Before the dawn of day. --MOORE

The turmoil was over, the gains had been emptied into bags to becounted at leisure, the relics of the sale left to be disposed ofthrough the Exchange and Mart. Terry, looking tired to death, descended from his post as assistant showman; and, with somegentlemen who were to dine at Compton Poynsett, Cecil drove home todress in haste, and act hostess to a large dinner-party. All thetime she felt giddy at the words she had heard--"Mr. Poynsett's oldflame. " It was constantly ringing in her ears, and one convictionwas before her mind. Her cheeks burnt like fire, and when shereached her own room at night, and leant from the window to coolthem, they only burnt the more. 

Had she been wilfully deceived? had she been taking the counsel of ajealous woman about her husband? Had not Camilla assured her thatthe object of his first love was not in the country? Ay; but whenthat was spoken Camilla herself was in London, and Cecil knew enoughof her friend to be aware that she viewed such a subterfuge asingenious. Even then she had perceived that the person alluded tocould only have been a Vivian, and the exclamation of careless spitecarried assurance to her that she had been tricked into confidence, and acceptance of the advice of a rival. She had a feverish longingto know more, and obtain explanation and external certainty. Buthow?

Raymond was one of the very tired that night. He fell asleep theinstant his head touched the pillow; but it was that sobbing, sighing sleep which had before almost swept away, from very ruth, her resolution; and on this night there were faltering words, strangely, though unconsciously, replying to her thoughts. "Camilla, a cruel revenge!" "Poor child! but for you she might havelearnt. " "My mother!" "Why, why this persistent hatred?" "Cannotyou let us alone?" "Must you destroy our home?"

These were the mutterings at intervals. She listened, and in thedarkness her impulse was to throw herself on her husband, tell himall, show him how she had been misled, and promise to give up all towhich that true Vivienne had prompted her. She did even try to wakehim, but the attempt caused only a more distinct expostulation of"Cannot you let her alone?" "Cannot you let us learn to love oneanother?" "It may be revenge on me or my mother; but what has shedone?" "Don't!--oh, don't!"

The distress she caused forced her to desist, and she remembered howRaymond had always warned her. The intimacy with Lady Tyrrell hadbeen in the teeth of his remonstrances. He had said everything toprevent it short of confessing his former attachment, and thoughresentful that the warning had been denied her, she felt it had beenwell that she had been prevented from putting the question on herfirst impulse. Many ways of ascertaining the fact were revolved byher as with an aching head she lay hopelessly awake till morning, when she fell into a doze which lasted until she found that Raymondhad risen, and that she must dress in haste, unless she meant tolose her character for punctuality. Her head still ached, and shefelt thoroughly tired; but when Raymond advised her to stay at home, and recruit herself for the ball, she said the air of the downswould refresh her. Indeed, she felt as if quiet and lonelinesswould be intolerable until she could understand herself and what shehad heard. 

Raymond took the reins of the barouche, and a gentleman who hadslept at the Hall went on the box beside him, leaving room forRosamond and her brother, who were to be picked up at the Rectory;but when they drew up there, only Rosamond came out in the wonderfulbonnet, just large enough to contain one big water-lily, whichsuited well with the sleepy grace of her movements, and the glossysheen of her mauve silk. 

"Terry is not coming. He has a headache, poor boy, " she said, asJulius shut her into the barouche. "Take care of him and baby. "

"Take care of yourself, Madam Madcap, " said Julius, with a smile, asshe bent down to give him a parting kiss, with perhaps a littlepleading for forgiveness in it. But instead of, as last year, shuddering, either at its folly or publicity, Cecil felt a keen pangof desire for such a look as half rebuked, while it took a lovingfarewell of Rosamond. Was Camilla like that statue which thehusband inadvertently espoused with a ring, and which interposedbetween him and his wife for ever?

Rosamond talked. She always had a certain embarrassment in tete-a-tetes with Cecil, and it took form in a flow of words. "Poor Terry!he turned faint and giddy at breakfast. I thought he had beenindulging at the refreshment-stall, but he says he was saving for afine copy of the Faerie Queen that Friskyball told him of at a book-stall at Backsworth, and existed all day on draughts of water whenhis throat grew dry as showman; so I suppose it is only inanition, coupled with excitement and stuffiness, and that quiet will repairhim. He would not hear of my staying with him. "

"I suppose you do not wish to be late?"

"Certainly not, " said Rosamond, who, indeed, would have given upbefore, save for her bonnet and her principle; and whatever she saidof Lady Rathforlane's easy management of her nurslings, did notdesire to be _too_ many hours absent from her Julia. 

"I only want to stay till the Three-year-old Cup has been run for, "said Cecil. "Mrs. Duncombe would feel it unkind if we did not. "

"You look tired, " said Rosamond, kindly; "put your feet upon thefront seat--nobody will look. Do you know how much you cleared?"

"Not yet, " said Cecil. "I do not know what was made by the raffles. How I do hate them! Fancy that lovely opal Venetian vase going tothat big bony Scotswoman, Mr. M'Vie's mother. "

"Indeed! That is a pity. If I had known it would be raffled for, Iwould have sent a private commission, though I don't know if Juliuswould have let me. He says it is gambling. What became of the Spawork-box, with the passion-flower wreath?"

"I don't know. I was so disgusted, that I would not look any more. I never saw such an obnoxious girl as that Miss Moy. "

"_That_ she is, " said Rosamond. "I should think she was acting thefast girl as found in sensation novels. "

"Exactly, " said Cecil, proceeding to narrate the proposed election;and in her need of sympathy she even told its sequel, adding, "Rosamond, do you know what she meant?"

"Is it fair to tell you?" said Rosamond, asking a question she knewto be vain. 

"I must know whether I have been deceived. "

"Never by Raymond!" cried Rosamond. 

"Never, never, never!" cried Cecil, with most unusual excitement. "He told me all that concerned himself at the very first. I wish hehad told me who it was. How much it would have saved! Rosamond, you know, I am sure. "

"Yes, I made Julius tell me; but indeed, Cecil, you need not mind. Never has a feeling more entirely died out. "

"Do you think I do not know that?" said Cecil. "Do you think myhusband could have been my husband if he had not felt _that_?"

"Dear Cecil, I am so glad, " cried impulsive Rosamond; her gladness, in truth, chiefly excited by the anger that looked like love forRaymond. "I mean, I am glad you see it so, and don't doubt him. "

"I hope we are both above that, " said Cecil. "No, it is Camillathat I want to know about. I _must_ know whether she told metruth. "

"She told! what did she tell you?"

"That _he_--Raymond--had loved some one, " said Cecil in a stifledvoice; "that I little knew what his love could be. I thought it hadbeen for her sister in India. She told me that it was nobody in thecountry. But then we were in town. "

"Just like her!" cried Rosamond, and wondered not to becontradicted. 

"Tell me how it really was!" only asked Cecil. 

"As far as I know, the attachment grew up with Raymond, but it waswhen the brother was alive, and Sir Harry at his worst; and Mrs. Poynsett did not like it, though she gave in at last, and tried tomake the best of it; but then she--Camilla--as you call her--met theold monster, Lord Tyrrell, made up a quarrel, because Mrs. Poynsettwould not abdicate, and broke it off. "

"She said Mrs. Poynsett only half consented, and that the familygrew weary of her persistent opposition. "

"And she made you think it Mrs. Poynsett's doing, and that she isnot possible to live with! O, Cecil! you will not think that anylonger. Don't you see that it is breaking Raymond's heart?"

Cecil's tears were starting, and she was very near sobbing as shesaid, "I thought perhaps if we were away by ourselves he might cometo care for me. _She_ said he never would while his mother was by--that she would not let him. "

"That's not a bit true!" said Rosamond, indignantly. "Is it notwhat she has most at heart, to see her sons happy? When has sheever tried to interfere between Julius and me? Not that she could, "added Rosamond to herself in a happy little whisper, not meant to beheard, but it was; and with actual though suppressed sobs, Cecilexclaimed--

"O, Rose, Rose! what do you do to make your husband love you?"

"Do? Be very naughty!" said Rosamond, forced to think of theexigencies of the moment, and adding lightly, "There! it won't do tocry. Here are the gentlemen looking round to see what is thematter. "

Ardently did she wish to have been able to put Cecil into Raymond'sarms and run out of sight, but with two men-servants with crossedarms behind, a strange gentleman in front, the streets of Wil'sbro'at hand, and the race-ground impending, sentiment was impossible, and she could only make herself a tonic, and declare nothing to bethe matter; while Cecil, horrified at attracting notice, rightedherself and made protest of her perfect health and comfort. WhenRaymond, always careful of her, stopped the carriage and descendedfrom his perch to certify himself whether she was equal to going on, his solicitude went to her heart, and she gave his hand, as it layon the door, an affectionate thankful pressure, which so amazed himthat he raised his eyes to her face with a softness in them thatmade them for a moment resemble Frank's. 

That was all, emotion must be kept at bay, and as vehicles thickenedround them as they passed through Wil'sbro', the two ladies betookthemselves to casual remarks upon them. Overtaking the Sirenwoodcarriage just at the turn upon the down, Raymond had no choice butto take up his station with that on one side, and on the otherCaptain Duncombe's drag, where, fluttering with Dark Hag's colours, were perched Mrs. Duncombe and Miss Moy, just in the rear of thelike conveyance from the barracks. 

Greetings, and invitations to both elevations were plentiful, andRosamond would have felt in her element on the military one. Shewas rapidly calculating, with her good-natured eye, whether thechoice her rank gave her would exclude some eager girl, when Cecilwhispered, "Stay with me pray, " with an irresistibly beseechingtone. So the Strangeways sisters climbed up, nothing loth; LadyTyrrell sat with her father, the centre of a throng of gentlemen, who welcomed her to the ground where she used to be a reigningbelle; and the Colonel's wife, Mrs. Ross, came to sit with LadyRosamond. The whole was perfect enjoyment to the last. She felt ita delightful taste of her merry old Bohemian days to sit in theclear September sunshine, exhilarated by the brilliancy and lifearound, laughing with her own little court of officers, exclaimingat every droll episode, holding her breath with the thrill ofuniversal expectation and excitement, in the wonderful hush of themultitude as the thud of the hoofs and rush in the wind was heardcoming nearer, straining her eyes as the glossy creatures and theirgay riders flashed past, and setting her whole heart for the momenton the one she was told to care for. 

Raymond, seeing his ladies well provided for, gave up his reins tothe coachman, and started in quest of a friend from the other sideof the county. About an hour later, when luncheon was in fullprogress, and Rosamond was, by Cecil's languor, driven into doingthe honours, with her most sunshiny drollery and mirth, Raymond'shand was on the carriage door, and he asked in haste, "Can you spareme a glass of champagne? Have you a scent-bottle?"

"An accident?"

"Yes, no, not exactly. She has been knocked down and trampled on. "

"Who? Let me come! Can't I help? Could Rosamond?"

"No, no. It is a poor woman, brutally treated. No, I say, I'llmanage. It is a dreadful scene, don't. "

But there was something in his tone which impelled Rosamond to openthe carriage door and spring out. 

"Rose, I say it is no place for a lady. I can't answer for it toJulius. "

"I'll do that. Take me. "

There was no withstanding her, and, after all, Raymond's tonebetrayed that he was thankful for her help, and knew that there wasno danger for her. 

He had not many yards to lead her. The regions of thoughtlessgaiety were scarcely separated from the regions of undisguised evil, and Raymond, on his way back from his friend, had fallen on ahorrible row, in which a toy-selling woman had been set upon, throwndown and trodden on, and then dragged out by the police, bleedingand senseless. When he brought Rosamond to the spot, she was lyingpropped against a bundle, moaning a little, and guarded by a youngpoliceman, who looked perplexed and only equal to keeping back thecrowd, who otherwise, with better or worse purposes, would haverushed back in the few minutes during which Mr. Poynsett had beenabsent. 

They fell back, staring and uttering expressions of rough wonder atthe advance of the lady in her glistening silk, but as she kneltdown by the poor creature, held her on her arm, bathed her face withscent on her own handkerchief, and held to her lips the champagnethat Raymond poured out, there was a kind of hoarse cheer. 

"I think her arm is put out, " said Rosamond; "she ought to go to theInfirmary. "

"Send for a cab, " said Raymond to the policeman; but at that momentthe girl opened her eyes, started at the sight of him and tried tohide her face with her hand. 

"It is poor Fanny Reynolds, " said he in a low voice to Rosamond, while the policeman was gruffly telling the woman she was better, and ought to get up and not trouble the lady; but Rosamond waved offhis too decided assistance, saying:

"I know who she is; she comes from my husband's parish; and I willtake her home. You would like to go home, would you not, poorFanny?"

The woman shuddered, but clung to her; and in a minute or two anunwilling fly had been pressed into the service, and the girl liftedinto it by Raymond and the policeman. 

"You are really going with her?" said the former. "You will judgewhether to take her home; but she ought to go to the Infirmaryfirst. "

"Tell Cecil I am sorry to desert her, " said Rosamond, as he wrungher hand, then paid the driver and gave him directions, thepoliceman going with them to clear the way through the throng to theborder of the down. 

The choice of the cabman had not been happy. He tried to go towardsBacksworth, and when bidden to go to Wil'sbro', growled out animprecation, and dashed off at a pace that was evident agony to thepoor patient; but when Rosamond stretched out at the window toremonstrate, she was answered with rude abuse that he could not behindered all day by whims. She perceived that he was so much inliquor that their connection had better be as brief as possible; andthe name on the door showed that he came from beyond the circle ofinfluence of the name of Charnock Poynsett. She longed to assumethe reins, if not to lay the whip about his ears; but all she coulddo was to try to lessen the force of the jolts by holding up thegirl, as the horse was savagely beaten, and the carriage so swayedfrom side to side that she began to think it would be well if therewere not three cases for the Infirmary instead of one. To talk tothe girl or learn her wishes was not possible, among the moans andcries caused by the motion; and it was no small relief to be safelyat the Infirmary door, though there was no release till after afierce altercation with the driver, who first denied, and thenlaughed to scorn the ample fare he had received, so that had anypoliceman been at hand, the porter and house surgeon would havegiven him in charge, but they could only take his number and let himdrive off in a fury. 

Poor Fanny was carried away fainting to the accident ward, andRosamond found it would be so long before she would be visibleagain, that it would be wiser to go home and send in her relations, but there was not a fly or cab left in Wil'sbro', and there wasnothing for it but to walk. 

She found herself a good deal shaken, and walked fast because thusher limbs did not tremble so much, while the glaring Septemberafternoon made her miss the parasol she had left in the carriage, and find little comfort in the shadeless erection on her head. Itwas much further than she had walked for a long time past, and shehad begun to think she had parted with a good deal of her strengthbefore the Compton woods grew more defined, or the church tower cameany nearer. 

Though the lane to the Reynolds' colony was not full in her way, shewas glad to sit down in the shade to speak to old Betty, who did notcomport herself according to either extreme common to parents inliterature. 

"So Fanny, she be in the 'firmary, be her? I'm sure as 'twas verygood of the young Squire and you, my lady; and I'm sorry her's binand give you so much trouble. "

Everybody was harvesting but the old woman, who had the inevitablebad leg. All men and beasts were either in the fields or at theraces, and Rosamond, uncertain whether her patient was not in adying state, rejoiced in her recent acquisition of a pony carriage, and speeding home with renewed energy, roused her 'parson's man'from tea in his cottage, and ordered him off to take Betty Reynoldsto see her daughter without loss of time. 

Then at length she opened her own gate and walked in at the drawing-room window. Terry started up from the sofa, and Anne from a chairby his side, exclaiming at her appearance, and asking if there hadbeen any accident. 

"Not to any of us, but to a poor woman whom I have been taking tothe Infirmary, " she said, sinking into a low chair. "Where'sJulius?"

"He went to see old George Willett, " said Anne. "The poor old manhas just heard of the death of his daughter at Wil'sbro'. "

"And you came to sit with this boy, you good creature. How are you, master?"

"Oh, better, thanks, " he said, with a weary stretch. "How done upyou look, Rose! How did you come?"

"I walked from Wil'sbro'. "

"Walked!" echoed both her hearers. 

"Walked! I liked my two legs better than the four of the horse thatbrought me there, though 'twasn't his fault, poor beast, but thebrute of a driver, whom we'll have up before the magistrate. I'vegot the name; doing his best to dislocate every bone in the poorthing's body. Well, and I hope baby didn't disturb you?"

"Baby has been wonderfully quiet. Julius went to see after heronce, but she was out. "

"I'll go and see the young woman, and then come and tell my story. "

But Rosamond came back almost instantly, exclaiming, "Emma must havetaken the baby to the Hall. I wish she would be more careful. Thesun is getting low, and there's a fog rising. "

"She had not been there when I came down an hour ago, " said Anne;"at least, not with Mrs. Poynsett. They may have had her in thehousekeeper's room. I had better go and hasten her home. "

Julius came in shortly after, but before he had heard the tale ofFanny Reynolds, Anne had returned to say that neither child nornurse had been at the Hall, nor passed the large gate that morning. It was growing rather alarming. The other servants said Emma hadtaken the baby out as usual in the morning, but had not returned todinner, and they too had supposed her at the Hall. None of thedependants of the Hall in the cottages round knew anything of her, but at last Dilemma Hornblower imparted that she had seen my lady'sbaby's green cloak atop of a tax-cart going towards Wil'sbro'. 

Now Emma had undesirable relations, and Rosamond had taken her inspite of warning that her uncle was the keeper of the 'ThreePigeons. ' The young parents stood looking at one another, andRosamond faintly said, "If that girl has taken her to the races!"

"I'm more afraid of that fever in Water Lane, " said Julius. "I havea great mind to take the pony carriage and see that the girl doesnot take her there. "

"Oh! I sent it with Betty Reynolds, " cried Rosamond in an agony. 

"At that moment the Hall carriage came dashing up, and as Raymondsaw the three standing in the road, he called to the coachman tostop, for he and his friend were now within, and Cecil leaning back, looking much tired. Raymond's eager question was what Rosamond haddone with her charge. 

"Left her at the Infirmary;--but, oh! you've not seen baby?"

"Seen--seen what! your baby?" asked Raymond, as if he thoughtRosamond's senses astray, while his bachelor friend was ready tolaugh at a young mother's alarms, all the more when Julius answered, "It is too true; the baby and her nurse have not been seen heresince ten o'clock; and we are seriously afraid the girl may havebeen beguiled to those races. There is a report of the child'scloak having been seen on a tax-cart. "

"Then it was so, " exclaimed Cecil, starting forward. "I saw ababy's mantle of that peculiar green, and it struck me that somefarmer's wife had been aping little Julia's. "

"Where? When?" cried Rosamond. 

"They passed us, trying to find a place. I did not show it to youfor you were talking to those gentlemen. "

"Did you see it, Brown?" asked Julius, going towards the coachman. "Our baby and nurse, I mean. "

"I can't tell about Miss Charnock, sir, " said the coachman, "but Idid think I remarked two young females with young Gadley in a tax-cart. I would not be alarmed, sir, nor my lady, " he added, with thefreedom of a confidential servant, who, like all the household, adored Lady Rosamond. "It was a giddy thing in the young woman tohave done; and no place to take the young lady to. But there--therewere more infants there than a man could count, and it stands toreason they come to no harm. "

"The most sensible thing that has been said yet, " muttered thefriend; but Rosamond was by no means pacified. "Gadley's cart!They'll go to that horrid public-house in Water Lane where there'styphus and diphtheria and everything; and there's this fog--and thatgirl will never wrap her up. Oh! why did I ever go?"

"My dear Rose, " said Julius, trying to speak with masculinecomposure, "this is nonsense. Depend upon it, Emma is only anxiousto get her home. "

"I don't know, I don't know! If she could take her to the races, she would be capable of taking her anywhere! They all go and drinkat that beer-shop, and catch--Julius, the pony carriage! Oh! it'sgone!"

"Yes, " said Julius in explanation. "She sent Betty Reynolds intoWil'sbro' in it. "

"Get in, Rosamond, " cried Cecil, "we will drive back till we findher. "

But this was more than a good coachman could permit for his horses'sake, and Brown declared they must be fed and rested before theball. Cecil was ready to give up the ball, but still they could notbe taken back at once; and Rosamond had by this time turned as ifsetting her face to walk at once to the race-ground until she foundher child, when Raymond said, "Rose! would you be afraid to trust toKing Coal and me? I would put him in at once and drive you till youfind Julia. "

"Oh! Raymond, how good you are!"

The coachman, glad of this solution, only waited to pick up Anne, and hurried on his horses, while the bachelor friend could not helpgrunting a little, and observing that it was plain there was onlyone child in the family, and that he would take any bet 'it' was athome all right long before Poynsett reached the parsonage. 

"Maybe so, " said Raymond, "but I would do anything rather than leaveher mother in the distress you take so easily. "

"Besides, there's every chance of her being taken to that lowpublic-house, " said Cecil. "One that Mr. Poynsett would not allowour servants to go to during the bazaar, though it is close to thetown-hall, and all the others did. "

"Let us hope that early influence may prevent contamination, "solemnly said the friend. 

Cecil turned from him. "I still hope she may be at home, " she said;"it is getting very chill and foggy. Raymond, I hope you may nothave to go. "

"You must lie down and get thoroughly rested, " he said, as he helpedher out; and only waiting to equip himself for the evening dance, hehurried to the stables to expedite the harnessing of the powerfuland fiery steed which had as yet been only experimentally driven byhimself and the coachman. 

Rosamond was watching, and when King Coal was with difficulty pulledup, she made but one spring to the seat of the dog-cart; and Julius, who was tucking in the rug, had to leap back to save his foot, soinstantaneous was the dash forward. They went like the wind, Rosamond not caring to speak, and Raymond had quite enough on hishands to be glad not to be required to talk, while he steeredthrough the numerous vehicles they met, and she scanned themanxiously for the outline of Emma's hat. At last they reachedWil'sbro', where, as they came to the entrance of Water Lane, Rosamond, through the hazy gaslight, declared that she saw a tax-cart at the door of the 'Three Pigeons, ' and Raymond, albeituncertain whether it were _the_ tax-cart, could only turn down thelane at her bidding, with difficulty preventing King Coal fromrunning his nose into the vehicle. Something like an infant's crywas heard through the open door, and before he knew what she wasabout, Rosamond was on the pavement and had rushed into the house;and while he was signing to a man to take the horse's head, she wasout again, the gaslight catching her eyes so that they glared like atigress's, her child in her arms, and a whole Babel of explainingtongues behind her. How she did it neither she nor Raymond everknew, but in a second she had flown to her perch, saying hoarsely, "Drive me to Dr. Worth's. They were drugging her. I don't knowwhether I was in time. No, not a word"--(this to those behind)--"never let me see any of you again. "

King Coal prevented all further words of explanation by dancinground, so that Raymond was rejoiced at finding that nobody was runover. They were off again instantly, while Rosamond vehementlyclasped the child, which was sobbing out a feeble sound, as if quitespent with crying, but without which the mother seemed dissatisfied, for she moved the poor little thing about if it ceased for a moment. They were soon within Dr. Worth's iron gates, where Raymond couldgive the horse to a servant, help his sister-in-law down, and speakfor her; for at first she only held up the phial she had clutched, and gazed at the doctor speechlessly. 

He looked well both at the bottle and the baby while Raymond spoke, and then said, "Are you sure she took any, Lady Rosamond?"

"Quite, quite sure!" cried Rosamond. "The spoon was at her lips, the dear little helpless darling!"

"Well, then, " said the doctor, dryly, "it only remains to be provedwhether an aristocratic baby can bear popular treatment. I dare saysome hundred unlucky infants have been lugged out to the race-courseto-day, and come back squalling their hearts out with fatigue andhunger, and I'll be bound that nine-tenths are lulled with this verysedative, and will be none the worse. "

"Then you do not think it will hurt her?"

"So far from it, that, under the circumstances, it was the bestthing she could have. She has plainly been exhausted, and though Iwould not exactly recommend the practice in your nursery, I doubt ifshe could have taken nourishment till she had been composed. Shewill sleep for an hour or two, and by that time you can get herhome, and feed her as usual. I should be more anxious about LadyRosamond herself, " he added, turning to Raymond. "She lookscompletely worn out. Let me order you a basin of soup. "

But Rosamond would not hear of it, she must get baby home directly. Raymond advised a fly, but it was recollected that none wasattainable between the races and the ball, so the little one wasmuffled in shawls and cloaks almost to suffocation, and the doctorforced a glass of wine on her mother, and promised to look in thenext day. Still they had a delay at the door, caused by thepenitent Emma and her aunt, bent on telling how far they had beenfrom intending any harm; how Emma, when carrying the baby out, hadbeen over-persuaded by the cousins she had never disappointedbefore; how they had faithfully promised to take her home early, long before my lady's return; how she had taken baby's bottle, buthow it had got broken; how impossible it had been to move off theground in the throng; and how the poor baby's inconsolable cries hadcaused the young nurse to turn aside to see whether her aunt couldfind anything to prevent her from screaming herself intoconvulsions. 

Nothing but the most determined volubility on Mrs. Gadley's partcould have poured this into the ears of Raymond; Rosamond eithercould not or would not heed, pushed forward, past the weeping Emma, and pulled away her dress with a shudder, when there was an attemptto draw her back and make her listen. 

"Don't, girl, " said Raymond. "Don't you see that Lady Rosamondcan't attend to you? If you have anything to say, you must comeanother time. You've done quite enough mischief for the present. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, "tell your brother to put them both to bed, and keep them quiet. I should like to prescribe the same for you, Mr. Poynsett; you don't look the thing, and I suppose you are goingto take the ball by way of remedy. "

Raymond thanked the doctor, but was too much employed in envelopinghis passengers to make further reply. 

It was quite dark, and the fog had turned to misty rain, soft andstill, but all pervading, and Rosamond found it impossible to holdup an umbrella as well as to guard the baby, who was the onlypassenger not soaked and dripping by the time they were among thelighted windows of the village. 

"Oh, Raymond! Raymond!" she then said, in a husky dreamy voice, "how good and kind you have been. I know there was something thatwould make you very, very glad!"

"Is there?" he said. "I have not met with anything to make me gladfor a long time past!"

"And I don't seem able to recollect what it was, or even if I oughtto tell, " said Rosamond, in the same faint, bewildered voice, whichmade Raymond very glad they were at the gate, where stood Julius. 

But before Rosamond would descend into her husband's arms, sheopened all her child's mufflings, saying, "Kiss her, kiss her, Raymond--how she shall love you!" And when he had obeyed, andRosamond had handed the little one down to her father, she pressedher own wet cheek against his dripping beard and moustache, andexclaimed, "I'll never forget your goodness. Have you got her safe, Julius? I'll never, never go anywhere again!"

CHAPTER XXVThe Pebbles

O no, no, no; 'tis true. Here, take this too;It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't. Let there be no honour, Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love, Where there's another man. --Cymbeline

When Julius, according to custom, opened his study shutters, athalf-past six, to a bright sunrise, his eldest brother stood beforethe window. "Well, how are they?" he said. 

"All right, thank you; the child woke, had some food, and slept welland naturally after it; and Rose has been quite comfortable and atrest since midnight. You saved us from a great deal, Raymond. "

"Ah!" with a sound of deep relief; "may Julia only turn out as sweeta piece of womanhood as her mother. Julius, I never understood halfwhat that dear wife of yours was till yesterday. "

"I was forced to cut our gratitude very short, " said Julius, layinghis hand on his brother's shoulder. "You know I've always takenyour kindness as a matter of course. "

"I should think so, " said Raymond, the more moved of the two. "Itell you, Julius, that Rosamond was to me the only redeeming elementin the day. I wanted to know whether you could walk with me to askafter that poor girl; I hear she came home one with hergrandmother. "

"Gladly, " said Julius. "I ought to have gone last night; but whatwith Rose, and the baby, and Terry, I am afraid I forgoteverything. " He disappeared, and presently issued from the frontdoor in his broad hat, while Raymond inquired for Terry. 

"He is asleep now, but he has been very restless, and there issomething about him I don't like. Did not Worth say he would comeand look at the baby?"

"Yes, but chiefly to pacify Rosamond, about whom he was the mostuneasy. "

"She is quite herself now; but you look overdone, Raymond. Have youhad any sleep?"

"I have not lain down. When we came home at four o'clock, Cecil wasquite knocked up, excited and hysterical. Her maid advised me toleave her to her; so I took a bath, and came down to wait for you. "

Julius would have liked to see the maid who could have soothed hisRosamond last night without him! He only said, however, "Is Frankcome down? My mother rather expected him. "

"Yes, he came to the race-ground. "

"Indeed! He was not with you when you came back, or were we notsufficiently rational to see him?"

"Duncombe gave a dinner at the hotel, and carried him off to it. I'm mortally afraid there's something amiss in that quarter. What, didn't you know that Duncombe's filly failed?"

"No, indeed, I did not. "

"The town was ringing with it. Beaten out-and-out by Fair Phyllida!a beast that took them all by surprise--nothing to look at--butcausing, I fancy, a good deal of distress. They say the Duncombeswill be done for. I only wish Frank was clear; but that unhappyengagement has thrown him in with Sir Harry's set, and he was withthem all day--hardly spoke to me. To a fellow like him, a veteranscamp like old Vivian, with his benignant looks, is ten times moredangerous than men of his own age. However, having done the damage, they seem to have thrown him off. Miss Vivian would not speak tohim at the ball. "

"Eleonora! I don't know how to think it!"

"What you cannot _think_, a Vivian can _do_ and does!" said Raymond, bitterly. "My belief is that he was decoyed into being fleeced bythe father, and now they have done their worst, he is cast off. Hecame home with us, but sat outside, and I could not get a word outof him. "

"I hope my mother may. "

"If he be not too far gone for her. I always did expect some suchtermination, but not with this addition. "

"I don't understand it now--Lena!"

"I only wonder at your surprise. The girl has been estranged fromus all for a long time. If it is at an end, so much the better. Ionly wish we were none of us ever to see the face of one of themagain. "

Julius knew from his wife that there were hopes for Raymond, but ofcourse he might not speak, and he was revolving these words, whichhad a vehemence unlike the wont of the speaker, when he was startledby Raymond's saying, "Julius, you were right. I have come to theconclusion that no consideration shall ever make me sanction racesagain. "

"I am glad, " began Julius. 

"You would not be glad if you had seen all I saw yesterday. Youmust have lent me your eyes, for when you spoke before of the evils, I thought you had picked up a Utopian notion, and were running a-muck with it, like an enthusiastic young clergyman. For my own partI can't say I ever came across anything offensive. Of course I knowwhere to find it, as one does wherever one goes, but there was nocall to run after it; and as we were used to the affair, it was amere matter of society--"

"No, it could never be any temptation to you, " said Julius. 

"No, nor to any other reasonable man; and I should add, thoughperhaps you might not allow it, that so long as a man keeps withinhis means, he has a right to enhance his excitement and amusement bybets. "

"Umph! He has a right then to tempt others to their ruin, andcreate a class of speculators who live by gambling. "

"You need not go on trying to demolish me. I was going to say thatI had only thought of the demoralization, from the betting side; butyesterday it was as if you had fascinated my eyes to look behind thescenes. I could not move a step without falling on somethingabominable. Roughs, with every passion up to fever-pitch, ferocitybarely kept down by fear of the police, gambling everywhere, innocent young things looking on at coarseness as part of the humourof the day, foul language, swarms of vagabond creatures, whose tradeis to minister to the license of such occasions. I declare thatyour wife was the only being I saw display a spark of any sentimenthuman nature need not blush for!"

"Nay, Raymond, I begin to wonder whose is the exaggerated feelingnow. "

"You were not there, " was the answer; and they were here interruptedby crossing the path of the policeman, evidently full of an officialcommunication. 

"I did not expect to see you so early, sir, " he said. "I was comingto the Hall to report to you after I had been in to thesuperintendent. "

"What is it?"

"There has been a burglary at Mrs. Hornblower's, sir. If youplease, sir, " to Julius, "when is the Reverend Mr. Bowater expectedhome?"

"Not before Monday. Is anything of his taken?"

"Yes, sir. A glass case has been broken open, and a silver cup andoar, prizes for sports at college, I believe, have been abstracted. Also the money from the till below; and I am sorry to say, youngHornblower is absconded, and suspicion lies heavy on him. They dosay the young man staked heavily on that mare of CaptainDuncombe's. "

"You had better go on to the superintendent now, " said Raymond. "You can come to me for a summons if you can find any traces. "

Poor Mrs. Hornblower, what horror for her! and poor Herbert too whowould acutely feel this ingratitude. The blackness of it was beyondwhat Julius thought probable in the lad, and the discussion of itoccupied the brothers till they reached the Reynolds colony, wherethey were received by the daughter-in-law, a much more civilizedperson than old Betty. 

After Fanny's dislocated arm had been set, the surgeon had sent herhome in the Rectory carriage, saying there was so much fever inWil'sbro', that she would be likely to recover better at home; butshe had been suffering and feverish all night, and Dan Reynolds wasnow gone in quest of 'Drake, ' for whom she had been calling allnight. 

"Is he her husband?" asked Julius. 

"Well, I don't know, sir; leastways, Granny says he ought to beanswerable for what's required. "

Mrs. Reynolds further betrayed that the family had not been ignorantof Fanny's career since she had run away from home, leaving herchild on her grandmother's hands. She had made her home in one ofthe yellow vans which circulate between fairs and races, driving anostensible trade in cheap toys, but really existing by setting upgames which were, in fact, forms of gambling, according to the tasteof the people and the toleration of the police. From time to time, she had appeared at home, late in the evening, with small sums ofmoney and presents for her boy; and Mrs. Dan believed that shethought herself as good as married to 'that there Drake. ' She wasreported to be asleep, and the place 'all of a caddle, ' and Juliuspromised to call later in the day. 

"Yes, sir, " said Mrs. Reynolds; "it would be a right good thing, poor girl. She've a kind heart, they all do say; not as I know, notcoming here till she was gone, nor wanting to know much on her, for'twas a right bad way she was in, and 'twere well if them nastyraces were put down by Act of Parliament, for they be the very ruinof the girls in these parts. "

"There's a new suggestion, Raymond, " said Julius as he shut thegarden gate. 

Raymond was long in answering, and when he spoke, it was to say, "Ishall withdraw from the subscription to the Wil'sbro' Cup. "

"So much the better. "

Then Raymond began discussing the terms of the letter in which hewould state his reasons, but with an amount of excitement that madeJulius say, "I should think it better not to write in this firstheat. It will take more effect if it is not so visibly done on thespur of the moment. "

But the usually deliberate Raymond exclaimed, "I cannot rest till itis done. I feel as if I must be like Lady Macbeth, continuallywashing my hands of all this wreck and ruin. "

"No wonder; but I should think there was great need of caution--touse your own words. "

"My seat must go, if this is to be the price, " said Raymond. "Ifelt through all the speeches at that gilt-gingerbread place, thatit was a monument of my truckling to expediency. We began the wholething at the wrong end, and I fear we are beginning to see theeffects. "

"Do you mean that you are anxious about that fever in Water Lane?"

"There was an oppressive sickly air about everything, strongest atthe ball. I can't forget it, " said Raymond, taking off his hat, sothat the morning air might play about his temples. "We talked aboutmeddling women, but the truth was that they were shaming us by doingwhat they could. "

"I hope others will see it so. Is not Whitlock to be mayor nexttime?"

"Yes. He may do something. Well, they will hardly unseat me! Ishould not like to see Moy in my place, and it would be a sore thingfor my mother; but, " he continued, in the same strange, dreamymanner, "everything has turned out so wretchedly that I hardly knowor care how it goes. "

"My dear old fellow!"

Raymond had stopped to lean over a gate, where he could look up tothe old red house in the green park, set in brightly-tinted trees, all aglow in the morning sunshine. Tears had sprung on his cheeks, and a suppressed sob heaved his chest. Julius ventured to say, "Perhaps there may yet be a change of mind. "

"No!" was the answer. "In the present situation there is nothingfor it but to sacrifice my last shred of peace to the one who hasthe chief right--in a certain way. "

They walked on, and he hardly spoke again till, as they reached theRectory, Julius persuaded him to come in and have a cup of tea; andthough he said he must go back and see his friend off, he could notwithstand the sight of Rosamond at the window, fresh and smiling, with her child in her arms. 

"Not a bit the worse for her dissipation, " she merrily said. "Oh, the naughty little thing!--to have begun with the turf, and then the'Three Pigeons'! Aren't you ashamed of her, papa? Sit down, Raymond; how horribly tired you do look. "

"Ha! What's this?" exclaimed Julius, who had been opening the post-bag. "Here's a note from the Bishop, desiring me to come to thepalace to-day, if possible. "

"Oh!" cried Raymond. "Where is there vacant--isn't there a canonryor a chaplaincy?"

"Or an archbishopric or two?" said Julius. "The pony can do it, Ithink, as there will be a long rest. If he seems fagged, I can putup at Backsworth and take a fly. "

"You'll let James drive you, " said Rosamond. 

"I had rather not, " said Julius. "It may be better to be alone. "

"He is afraid of betraying his elevation to James, " laughedRosamond. 

"Mrs. Daniel Reynolds to see you, sir. "

This was with the information that that there trapezing chap, Drake, had fetched off poor Fanny in his van. He had been in troublehimself, having been in custody for some misdemeanour when she wasthrown down; but as soon as he was released, he had come in searchof her, and though at first he seemed willing to leave her to benursed at home, he had no sooner heard of the visitors of thatmorning than he had sworn he would have no parson meddling with hispoor gal! she was good enough for him, and he would not have a packof nonsense put in her head to set her against him. 

"He's good to her, sir, " said Mrs. Reynolds, "I think he be; but heis a very ignorant man. He tell'd us once as he was born in one ofthey vans, and hadn't never been to school nor nothin', nor heardtell of God, save in the way of bad words: he've done nothin' butgo from one races and fairs to another, just like the gipsies, though he bain't a gipsy neither; but he's right down attacted topoor Fanny, and good to her. "

"Another product of the system, " said Raymond. 

"Like the gleeman, whom we see through a picturesque medium, " saidJulius; "but who could not have been pleasant to the mediaevalclergyman. I have hopes of poor Fanny yet. She will drift home oneof these days, and we shall get hold of her. "

"What a fellow you are for hoping!" returned Raymond, a littleimpatiently. 

"Why not?" said Julius. 

"Why! I should say--" replied Raymond, setting out to walk home, where he presided over his friend's breakfast and departure, andreceived a little banter over his solicitude for the preciousinfant. Cecil was still in bed, and Frank was looking ghastly, andmoved and spoke like one in a dream, Raymond was relieved to hearhim pleading with Susan for to his mother's room much earlier thanusual. 

Susan took pity and let him in; when at once he flung himself into achair, with his face hidden on the bed, and exclaimed, "Mother, itis all over with me!"

"My dear boy, what can have happened?"

"Mother, you remember those two red pebbles. Could you believe thatshe has sold hers?"

"Are you sure she has? I heard that they had a collection of suchthings from the lapidary at Rockpier. "

"No, mother, that is no explanation. When I found that I should beable to come down, I sent a card to Lady Tyrrell, saying I wouldmeet them on the race-ground--a post-card, so that Lena might seeit. When I came there was no Lena, only some excuse about restingfor the ball--lying down with a bad headache, and so forth--makingit plain that I need not go on to Sirenwood. By and by there wassome mild betting with the ladies, and Lady Tyrrell said, 'There's achance for you, Bee; don't I see the very fellow to Conny's charm?'Whereupon that girl Conny pulled out the very stone I gave Lenathree years ago at Rockpier. I asked; yes, I asked--Lena had soldit; Lena, at the bazaar; Lena, who--"

"Stay, Frank, is this trusting Lena as she bade you trust her? Howdo you know that there were no other such pebbles?"

"You have not seen her as I have done. There has been a gradualalienation--holding aloof from us, and throwing herself into thearms of those Strangeways. It is no fault of her sister's. She haslamented it to me. "

"Or pointed it out. Did she know the history of these pebbles?"

"No one did. Lena was above all reserved with her. "

"Camilla Tyrrell knows a good deal more than she is told. Where'syour pebble? You did not stake that?"

"Those who had one were welcome to the other. "

"O, my poor foolish Frank! May it not be gone to tell the same taleof you that you think was told of her? Is this all?"

"Would that it were!"

"Well, go on, my dear. Was she at the ball?"

"Surrounded by all that set. I was long in getting near her, andthen she said her card was full; and when I made some desperateentreaty, she said, in an undertone that stabbed me by its verycalmness, 'After what has passed to-day, the less we meet thebetter. ' And she moved away, so as to cut me off from anotherword. "

"After what had passed! Was it the parting with the stone?"

"Not only. I got a few words with Lady Tyrrell. She told me thatearly impressions had given Lena a kind of fanatical horror ofbetting, and that she had long ago made a sort of vow against abetting man. Lady Tyrrell said she had laughed at it, but had nonotion it was seriously meant; and I--I never even heard of it!"

"Nor are you a betting man, my Frank. "

"Ay! mother, you have not heard all. "

"You are not in a scrape, my boy?"

"Yes, I am. You see I lost my head after the pebble transaction. Icouldn't stand small talk, or bear to go near Raymond, so I gotamong some other fellows with Sir Harry--"

"And excitement and distress led you on?"

"I don't know what came over me. I could not stand still for fear Ishould feel. I must be mad on something. Then, that mare ofDuncombe's, poor fellow, seemed a personal affair to us all; and SirHarry, and a few other knowing old hands, went working one up, tillbetting higher and higher seemed the only way of supportingDuncombe, besides relieving one's feelings. I know it was being noend of a fool; but you haven't felt it, mother!"

"And Sir Harry took your bets?"

"One must fare and fare alike, " said Frank. 

"How much have you lost?"

"I've lost Lena, that's all I know, " said the poor boy; but heproduced his book, and the sum appalled him. "Mother, " he said in abroken voice, "there's no fear of its happening again. I can neverfeel like this again. I know it is the first time one of your sonshas served you so, and I can't even talk of sorrow, it seems allswallowed up in the other matter. But if you will help me to meetit, I will pay you back ten or twenty pounds every quarter. "

"I think I can, Frankie. I had something in hand towards my ownpossible flitting. Here is the key of my desk. Bring me mybanker's book and my cheque book. "

"Mother! mother!" he cried, catching her hand and kissing it, "whata mother you are!"

"You understand, " she said, "that it is because I believe you werenot master of yourself, and that this is the exception, not thehabit, that I am willing to do all I can for you. "

"The habit! No, indeed! I never staked more than a box of glovesbefore; but what's the good, if she has made a vow against me?"

Mrs. Poynsett was silent for a few moments, then she said, "My poorboy, I believe you are both victims of a plot. I suspect thatCamilla Tyrrell purposely let you see that pebble-token and begoaded into gambling, that she might have a story to tell hersister, when she had failed to shake her constancy and principle inany other way. "

"Mother, that would make her out a fiend. She has been my good andcandid friend all along. You don't know her. "

"What would a friend have done by you yesterday?"

"She neither saw nor heard my madness. No, mother, Lenore's hearthas been going from me for months past, and she is glad of this pleafor release, believing me unworthy. Oh! that stern face of hers!set like a head of Justice with not a shade of pity--so beautiful--so terrible! It will never cease to haunt me. "

He sat in deep despondency, while Mrs. Poynsett overlooked herresources; but presently he started up, saying, "There's one shadowof a hope. I'll go over to Sirenwood, insist on seeing one her andhaving an explanation. I have a right, whatever I did yesterday;and you have forgiven me for that, mother!"

"I think it is the most hopeful way. If you can see her withoutinterposition, you will at least come to an understanding. Here, you had better take this cheque for Sir Harry. "

When he was gone, she wondered whether she had been justified inencouraging him in defending Eleonora. Was this not too likeanother form of the treatment Raymond had experienced? Her heartbled for her boy, and she was ready to cry aloud, "Must that womanalways be the destroyer of my sons' peace?"

When Frank returned, it was with a face that appalled her by itsblank despair, as he again flung himself down beside her. 

"She is gone, " he said. 

"Gone!"

"Gone, and with the Strangeways. I saw her. "

"Spoke to her?"

"Oh no. The carriage turned the corner as I crossed the road. Thetwo girls were there, and she--"

"Going with them to the station?"

"I thought so; I went to the house, meaning to leave my enclosurefor Sir Harry and meet her on her way back; but I heard she was goneto stay with Lady Susan in Yorkshire. Sir Harry was not up, norLady Tyrrell. "

Mrs. Poynsett's hope failed, though she was relieved that Camilla'stongue had not been in action. She was dismayed at the proneexhausted manner in which Frank lay, partly on the floor, partlyagainst her couch, with his face hidden. 

"Do you know where she is gone?"

"Yes, Revelrig, Cleveland, Yorkshire. "

"I will write to her. Whatever may be her intentions, they shallnot be carried out under any misrepresentation that I cancontradict. You have been a foolish fellow, Frankie; but you shallnot be painted worse than you are. She owes you an explanation, andI will do my best that you shall have it. My dear, what is thematter?"

She rang her bell hastily, and upheld the sinking head till helpcame. He had not lost consciousness, and called it giddiness, andhe was convicted of having never gone to bed last night, and havingeaten nothing that morning; but he turned against the wine and soupwith which they tried to dose him, and, looking crushed andbewildered, said he would go and lie down in his own room. 

Raymond went up with him, and returned, saying he only wanted to bealone, with his face from the light; and Mrs. Poynsett, gazing ather eldest son, thought he looked as ill and sunken as his youngerbrother. 

CHAPTER XXVIA Stickit Minister

And the boy not out of him. --TENNYSON'S Queen Mary

Julius had only too well divined the cause of his summons. He foundHerbert Bowater's papers on the table before the Bishop, and therewas no denying that they showed a declension since last year, andthat though, from men without his advantages they would have beenpassable, yet from him they were evidences of neglect of study andthought. Nor could the cause be ignored by any one who had kept aneye on the cricket reports in the county paper; but Herbert was sucha nice, hearty, innocent fellow, and his father was so muchrespected, that it was with great reluctance that his rejection wasdecided on and his Rector had been sent for in case there should beany cause for extenuation. 

Julius could not say there was. He was greatly grieved andpersonally ashamed, but he could plead nothing but his own failureto influence the young man enough to keep him out of a rage foramusement, of which the quantity, not the quality, was the evil. Sopoor Herbert was sent for to hear his fate, and came back lookingstunned. He hardly spoke till they were in the fly that Julius hadbrought from Backsworth, and then the untamed school-boy brokeforth: "What are you doing with me? I say, I can't go back toCompton like a dog in a string. "

"Where will you go?"

"I don't care. To Jericho at once, out of the way of every one. Itell you what, Rector, it was the most ridiculous examination I everwent up for, and I'm not the only man that says so. There wasRivers, of St. Mary's at Backsworth, --he says the questions wereperfectly unreasonable, and what no one could be prepared for. Thisfellow Danvers is a new hand, and they are always worst, setting onea lot of subjects of no possible use but to catch one out. I shouldlike to ask him now what living soul at Compton he expects to be thebetter for my views on the right reading of--"

Julius interrupted the passionate tones at the lodge by saying, "Ifyou wish to go to Jericho, you must give directions. "

Herbert gave something between a laugh and a growl. 

"I left the pony at Backsworth. Will you come with me to Strawyersand wait in the park till I send Jenny out to you?"

"No, I say. I know my father will be in a greater rage than he everwas in his life, and I won't go sneaking about. I'd like to go toLondon, to some hole where no one would ever hear of me. If I werenot in Orders already, I'd be off to the ivory-hunters in Africa, and never be heard of more. If this was to be, I wish they hadfound it out a year ago, and then I should not have been bound, "continued the poor young fellow, in his simplicity, thinking histhoughts aloud, and his sweet candid nature beginning to recover itsbalance. "Now I'm the most wretched fellow going. I know what I'veundertaken. It's not your fault, nor poor Joanna's. You've allbeen at me, but it only made me worse. What could my father bethinking of to make a parson of a fellow like me? Well, I must faceit out sooner or later at Compton, and I had better do it there thanat home, even if my father would have me. "

"I must go to Strawyers. The Bishop gave me a letter for yourfather, and I think it will break it a little for your mother. Would you wait for me at Rood House? You could go into the chapel, and if they wish for you, I could return and fetch you. "

Herbert caught at this as a relief, and orders were givenaccordingly. It seemed a cruel moment to tell him of youngHornblower's evasion and robbery, but the police wanted thedescription of the articles; and, in fact, nothing would have sobrought home to him that, though Compton might not appreciateminutiae of Greek criticism, yet the habit of diligence, of which itwas the test, might make a difference there. The lingering self-justification was swept away by the sense of the harm his pleasure-seeking had done to the lad whom he had once influenced. He hadbeen fond and proud of his trophies, but he scarcely wasted athought on them, so absorbed was he in the thought of how he hadlorded it over the youth with that late rebuke. The blame he hadrefused to take on himself then came full upon him now, and hereproached himself too much to be angered at the treachery andingratitude. 

"I can't prosecute, " he said, when Julius asked for the descriptionhe had promised to procure. 

"We must judge whether it would be true kindness to refrain, if heis captured, " said Julius. "I had not time to see his mother, butRosamond will do what she can for her, poor woman. "

"How shall I meet her?" sighed Herbert; and so they arrived at thetranquil little hospital and passed under the deep archway into thegray quadrangle, bright with autumn flowers, and so to the chapel. As they advanced up the solemn and beautiful aisle Herbert droppedon his knees with his hands over his face. Julius knelt beside himfor a moment, laid his hand on the curly brown hair, whispered aprayer and a blessing, and then left him; but ere reaching the door, the low choked sobs of anguish of heart could be heard. 

A few steps more, and in the broad walk along the quadrangle, Juliusmet the frail bowed figure with his saintly face, that seemed tohave come out of some sacred bygone age. 

Julius told his errand. "If you could have seen him just now, " hesaid, "you would see how much more hope there is of him than of manywho never technically fail, but have not the same tender, generousheart, and free humility. "

"Yes, many a priest might now be thankful if some check had come onhim. "

"And if he had met it with this freedom from bitterness. And itwould be a great kindness to keep him here a day or two. Apart frombeing with you, the showing himself at Compton or at Strawyers onSunday would be hard on him. "

"I will ask him. I will gladly have him here as long as the quietmay be good for him. My nephew, William, will be here till the endof the Long Vacation, but I must go to St. Faith's on Monday toconduct the retreat. "

"I leave him in your hands then, and will call as I return to seewhat is settled, and report what his family wish. I grieve more forthem than for himself. "

Julius first encountered Jenny Bowater in the village makingfarewell calls. He stopped the carriage and joined her, and not aword was needed to tell her that something was amiss. "You havecome to tell us something, " she said. "Herbert has failed?"

"Prayers are sometimes answered as we do not expect, " said Julius. "I believe it will be the making of him. "

"Oh, but how will mamma ever bear it!" cried Jenny. 

"We must remind her that it is only a matter of delay, notrejection, " said Julius. 

"Have you seen him?"

"Yes, the Bishop sent for me, and asked me to see your father. Itwas partly from slips in critical knowledge, which betrayed the wantof study, and the general want of thought and progress, and all therest of it, in his papers--"

"Just the fact--"

"Yes, which a man of less reality and more superficial quicknessmight have concealed by mere intellectual answers, though it mighthave been much worse for him in the end. "

"Where is he?"

"At Rood House. Unless your mother wishes for him here, he hadbetter stay there till he can bear to come among us again. "

"Much better, indeed, " said Jenny. "I only hope papa and mamma willsee how good it is for him to be there. O, Julius, if he is takingit in such a spirit, I can think it all right for him; but for them--for them, it is very hard to bear. Nothing ever went wrong withthe boys before, and Herbert--mamma's darling!" Her eyes were fullof tears. 

"I wish he had had a better Rector, " said Julius. 

"No, don't say that. It was not your fault. "

"I cannot tell. An older man, or more truly a holier man, mighthave had more influence. We were all in a sort of laissez-allerstate this autumn, and now comes the reckoning. "

"There's papa, " said Jenny. "Had you rather go to him alone, or canI do any good?"

"I think I will go alone, " said Julius. 

Mr. Bowater, who had grown up in a day when examinations were muchless earnest matters, never guessed what brought Julius over, butsimply thought he had come to wish them good-bye; then believed inany accident rather than in failure, and finally was exceedinglyangry, and stormed hotly, first at examinations and modern Bishops, then at cricket and fine ladies, then at Julius, for not havinglooked after the lad better, and when this was meekly accepted, indignation took a juster direction, and Herbert's folly andidleness were severely lashed more severely than Julius thought theyquite deserved, but a word of pleading only made it worse. Have himhome to take leave? No, indeed, Mr. Bowater hoped he knew his dutybetter as father of a family, when a young man had publiclydisgraced himself. "I'll tell you what, Julius Charnock, if youwish him to forget all the little impression it may have made, andbe ready to run after any amount of folly, you'd make me have himhome to be petted and cried over by his mother and sisters. He hasbeen their spoilt pet too long, and I won't have him spoilt now. I'll not see him till he has worked enough to show whether there'sany real stuff in him. "

Mr. Bowater never even asked where his son was, probably taking itfor granted that he was gone back to Compton; nor did Julius seeJenny again, as she was trying to comfort her mother under thedreadful certainty that poor dear Herbert was most cruelly treated, and that the examining chaplain came of a bad stock, and always hadhad a dislike to the family. It was to be hoped that Mr. Bowaterwould keep to his wise resolution, and not send for Herbert, fornothing could be worse for him than the sympathy he would have metwith from her. 

What with looking in to report at Rood House and finding Herbertmost grateful for leave to remain there for a few days, Julius didnot reach home till long after dark. Pleasantly did the light greethim from the open doorway where his Rosamond was standing. Shesprang at once into his arms, as if he had been absent a month, andcried, "Here you are, safe at last!" Then, as she pulled off hiswraps, "How tired you must be! Have you had any food? No--it's allready;" and he could see 'high tea' spread, and lighted by the firstfire of the season. "Come and begin!"

"What, without washing my hands?"

"You are to do that in the study; it is all ready. " He did notexactly see why he should be too tired to mount to his dressing-room; but he obeyed, not ungratefully, and his chair was ready, hisplate heaped with partridge and his tumbler filled with ale almostbefore his eyes had recovered the glare of light. The eagerness andflutter of Rosamond's manner began to make him anxious, and he beganfor the third time the inquiries she had always cut short--"Baby allright? Terry better?"

"Baby--oh yes, a greater duck than ever. I put her to bed myself, and she was quite delicious. Eat, I say; go on. "

"Not unless you eat that other wing. "

"I'll help myself then. You go on. I don't see Herbert, so Isuppose it is all right. Where's your canonry?"

"Alas! poor Herbert is plucked. I had to go round by Strawyers totell them. "

"Plucked! I never heard of such a thing. I think it is a greatshame such a nice honest fellow should be so ill-used, and when allhis pretty things have been stolen too! Do you know, they've takenup young Hornblower; but his friends have made off with the things, and they say they are in the melting-pot by this time, and there'sno chance of recovering them. "

"I don't think he cares much now, poor fellow. Did you see Mrs. Hornblower?"

"No; by the time I could get my hat on she had heard it, poor thing, and was gone to Backsworth; for he's there, in the county gaol; wastaken at the station, I believe; I don't half understand it. "

Her manner was indeed strange and flighty; and though she recurredto questions about the Ordination and the Bowaters, Julius perceivedthat she was forcing her attention to the answers as if trying tostave off his inquiries, and he came to closer quarters. "How isTerry? Has Dr. Worth been here?"

"Yes; but not till very late. He says he never was so busy. "

"Rosamond, what is it? What did he say of Terry?"

"He said"--she drew a long breath--"he says it is the Water Lanefever. "

"Terry, my dear--"

She held him down with a hand on his shoulder--

"Be quiet. Finish your dinner. Dr. Worth said the great point wasto keep strong, and not be overdone, nor to go into infected airtired and hungry. I would not have let you come in if there hadbeen any help for it; and now I'll not have you go near him tillyou've made a good meal. "

"You must do the same then. There, eat that slice, or I won't;" andas she allowed him to place it on her plate, "What does he call it--not typhus?"

"He can't tell yet; he does not know whether it is infectious oronly epidemic; and when he heard how the dear boy had been for dayspast at the Exhibition at the town-hall, and drinking lots of icedwater on Saturday, he seemed to think it quite accounted for. Hesays there is no reason that in this good air he should not do verywell; but, oh, Julius, I wish I had kept him from that horrid place. They left him in my charge!"

"There is no reason to distress yourself about that, my Rose. Hewas innocently occupied, and there was no cause to expect harm. There's all good hope for him, with God's blessing. Who is with himnow?"

"Cook is there now. Both the maids were so kind and hearty, declaring they would do anything, and were not afraid; and I canmanage very well with their help. You know papa had a low fever atMontreal, and mamma and I nursed him through it, so I know prettywell what to do. "

"But how about the baby?"

"Emma came back before the doctor came, crying piteously, poorchild, as if she had had a sufficient lesson; so I said she mightstay her month on her good behaviour, and now we could not send herout of the house. I have brought the nursery down to the spareroom, and in the large attic, with plenty of disinfecting fluid, wecan, as the doctor said, isolate the fever. He is quiet and sleepy, and I do not think it will be hard to manage, if you will only begood and conformable. "

"I don't promise, if that means that you are to do everything and Inothing. When did Worth see him?"

"Not till five o'clock: and he would not have come at all, if Annehad not sent in some one from the Hall when she saw how anxious Iwas. He would not have come otherwise; he is so horribly busy, withlots of cases at Wil'sboro'. Now, if you have done, you may comeand see my boy. "

Julius did see a flushed sleeping face that did not waken at hisentrance; and as his wife settled herself for her watch, he felt asif he could not leave her after such a day as she had had, but anindefinable apprehension made him ask whether she would spare him torun up to the Hall to see his mother and ask after Raymond, whoselooks had haunted him all day. She saw he would not rest otherwise, and did not show how unwilling was her consent, for though she knewlittle, her mind misgave her. 

He made his way into the Hall by the back door, and found his motherstill in the drawing-room, and Raymond dozing in the large arm-chairby the fire. Mrs. Poynsett gave a warning look as Julius bent overher, but Raymond only opened his eyes with a dreamy gaze, withoutspeaking. "Why, mother, where are the rest?"

"Poor Frank--I hope it is only the shock and fatigue; but Dr. Worthwished him to be kept as quiet as possible. He can't bear to seeany one in the room, so that good Anne said she would sit inCharlie's room close by. "

"Then he is really ill?" said Julius. 

"He nearly fainted after walking over to Sirenwood in vain. I don'tunderstand it. There's something very wrong there, which seemsperfectly to have crushed him. "

"I'll go up and see him, " said Julius. "You both of you look as ifyou ought to be in bed. How is Cecil, Raymond?"

"Quite knocked up, " he sleepily answered. "Here's Susan, mother. "

Susan must have been waiting till she heard voices to carry off hermistress. Raymond pushed her chair into her room, bent over herwith extra tenderness, bade her good night; and when Julius had donethe same they stood by the drawing-room fire together. 

"I've been trying to write that letter, Julius, " said Raymond, "butI never was so sleepy in my life, and I can't get on with it. "

"What letter?"

"That letter. About the races. "

"Oh! That seems long ago!"

"So it does, " said Raymond, in the same dreamy manner, as if tryingto shake something off. "Some years, isn't it? I wanted it done, somehow. I would sit down to it now, only I have fallen asleep adozen times over it already. "

"Not very good for composition, " said Julius, alarmed by somethingindefinable in his brother's look, and by his manner of insisting onwhat was by no means urgent. "Come, put it out of your head, and goto bed. "

"How did you find the boy Terry?" asked Raymond, again as if in hissleep. 

"I scarcely saw him. He was asleep. "

"And Worth calls it--?"

"The same fever as in Water Lane. "

"I thought so. We are in for it, " said Raymond, now quite awake. "He did not choose to say so to my mother, but I gathered it fromhis orders. "

"But Frank only came down yesterday. "

"Frank was knocked down and predisposed by the treatment he metwith, poor boy. They say he drank quarts of iced things at thedinner and ball, and ate nothing. This may be only the effect ofthe shock, but his head is burning, and there is a disposition towander. However, he has had his coup de grace, and that may accountfor it. It is Cecil. "

"Cecil!"

"Cecil, poor child. She has been constantly in that pestiferousplace. All Worth would say was that she must be kept quiet andcool, but he has sent the same draughts for all three. I saw, forTerry's came here. I fancy Worth spoke out plainly to that maid ofCecil's, Grindstone; but she only looks bitter at me, says she canattend to her mistress, and has kept me out of the room all day. But I will go in to-night before I go to bed, " added Raymond, energetically. "You are ready to laugh at me, Julius. No one hasmeddled between you and Rosamond. "

"Thank God, no!" cried Julius. 

"Friend abroad, or you may leave out the r, " said Raymond, "maid athome. What chance have I ever had?"

"I'll tell you what I should do, Raymond, " said Julius, "turn outthe maid, keep the field, nurse her myself. "

"Yes, " said Raymond, "that's all very well if--if you haven't gotthe fever yourself. There, you need say nothing about it, nobodywould be of any use to me to-night, and it may be only that I amdead beat. "

But there was something about his eyes and his heavy breath whichconfirmed his words, and Julius could only say, "My dear Raymond!"

"It serves us right, does not it?" said his brother, smiling. "Ionly wish it had not fixed on the one person who tried to do good. "

"If I could only stay with you; but I must tell Rosamond first. "

"No, indeed. I want no one to-night, no one; after that you'll lookafter my mother, that's the great thing. " He spoke steadily, buthis hand trembled so that he could not light his candle, and Juliuswas obliged to do it, saying wistfully, "I'll come up the firstthing in the morning and see how you are. "

"Do, and if there is need, you will tell my mother. A night's restmay set me right, but I have not felt well these three or four days--I shall be in my own old room. "

He leant heavily on the balusters, but would not take his brother'sarm. He passed into his dressing-room, and thus to the open door ofthe room where he heard his wife's voice; and as Mrs. Grindstonecame forward to warn him off, he said, "She is awake. "

"Yes, sir; but she must not be excited. "

"Raymond!"

"How are you now?" he asked, coming up to the bed. 

"Oh! it is very hot and heavy, " said Cecil wearily, putting her handinto his; "I'm aching all over. "

"Poor child!" he said softly. 

She lifted her eyes to his face. "I wanted to tell you all day, "she said. "Didn't you come to the door?"

"Many times, my dear. "

"And now! oh dear! I don't recollect. Don't go, please. "

He sat down by her; she held his hand and dozed again. 

"You had best leave her now, sir, " said the maid; "she will only goon in this way, and I can tend her. "

He would have given a great deal to have been sure that he couldhold up his head ten minutes longer and to venture to send the womanaway. Cecil muttered "Stay, " and he sat on till her sleep seemeddeeper, and he felt as if a few moments more might disable him fromcrossing the room, but his first movement again made her say"Don't. "

"Mr. Poynsett cannot stay, ma'am, " said Grindstone, in a persuasivetone. "He is very tired, and not well, and you would not wish tokeep him. "

"Give me a kiss, " she said, like a tired child. It was not like theshy embrace with which they had sometimes met and parted, but heknew he must not rouse her, and only said very low, "Good night, mypoor dear; God bless you, and grant us a happy meeting, whenever itis. "

Tears were flowing down his cheeks when Julius presently came to himagain, and only left him when settled for the night. 

CHAPTER, XXVIIThe Water Lane Fever

The Water Lane Fever. People called it so, as blinking its realname, but it was not the less true that it was a very pestilence inthe lower parts of Wil'sbro'; and was prostrating its victims farand wide among the gentry who had resorted to the town-hall withinthe last few weeks. 

Cases had long been smouldering among the poor and the workmenemployed, and several of these were terminating fatally just as theoutbreak was becoming decisive. 

On Monday morning Julius returned from visits to his brothers tofind a piteous note from Mrs. Fuller entreating him to undertake twofunerals. Her husband had broken down on Sunday morning and wasvery ill, and Mr. Driver had merely read the services and thenjoined his pupils, whom he had sent away to the sea-side. He hadnever been responsible for pastoral care, and in justice to themcould not undertake it now. "Those streets are in a dreadfulstate, " wrote the poor lady, "several people dying; and there issuch a panic in the neighbourhood that we know not where to turn forhelp. If you could fix an hour we would let the people know. Thedoctor insists on the funerals being immediate. "

Julius was standing in the porch reading this letter, and thinkingwhat hour he could best spare from nearer claims, when he heard thegate swing and beheld his junior curate with a very subdued andsobered face, asking, "Is it true?"

"That the fever is here? Yes, it is. "

"And very bad?"

"Poor Frank is our worst case as yet. He is constantly delirious. The others are generally sensible, except that Terry is dreadfullyhaunted with mathematics. "

"Then it is all true about the Hall. Any one else ill?"

"Only the two Willses. They were carousing at the 'Three Pigeons. 'I hope that Raymond's prohibition against that place may have beenthe saving of the Hall servants. See here, " and he gave the note. 

"I had better take those two funerals. I can at least do that, "said Herbert. "That Driver must be a regular case of a hireling. "

"He never professed that the sheep were his, " said Julius. 

"Then I'll go to the Vicarage and get a list of the sick, and seeafter them as far as I can, " said Herbert, in a grave, humble tone, showing better than a thousand words how he felt the deprivation hehad brought on himself; and as to shame or self-consciousness, theneed had swallowed them all. 

"It will be a great act of kindness, Herbert. The point ofinfection does not seem clear yet, but I am afraid it will be aserious outbreak. "

"I did not believe it could all be true when the report came to RoodHouse, but of course I came to hear the truth and see what I coulddo. How is Mrs. Poynsett bearing up?"

"Bravely. Anne contrived our carrying her up-stairs, and it is thegreatest comfort to Raymond to lie and look at her, and Susan looksafter them both. "

"Then he can't be so very ill. "

"Not so acutely, but there are symptoms that make Worth anxious. Shall I give you a note for Mrs. Fuller?"

"Do, and put me at your disposal for all you can spare for, or I cando. Have you written to Bindon?"

"I don't know where, within some hundred miles. But, Herbert, Ithink we ought to undertake the help that is wanted at Wil'sbro'. Smith of Duddingstone is too weakly, and poor old Mr. Mouldenneither could nor would. We are the nearest, and having it herealready, do not run the risk of spreading it. As things are, Icannot be very long away from home, but I would come in for an houror so every day, if you could do the rest. "

"Yes, that was what I meant, " said Herbert. 

"Worth says the best protection is never to go among the sick hungryor exhausted. He says he keeps a biscuit in his pocket to eatbefore going into a sick house. I shall make Rosamond keep yousupplied, and you must promise to use them. "

"Oh yes, I promise. "

"And never drink anything there. There is to be a public meetingto-morrow, to see whether the cause of this outbreak is nottraceable to the water down there. "

"Mrs. Duncombe's meddling?"

"Don't judge without evidence. But it does seem as if the water atthe well at Pettitt's houses had done much of the harm. Terry wasdrinking it all that hot day, and to-day we hear that Lady Tyrrelland two of the servants are ill, besides poor little Joe Reynolds. "

"It is very terrible, " said Herbert. "Lady Tyrrell, did you say?"

"Yes. She was there constantly, like Raymond's wife. Happily thereis not much fear for your people, Herbert. Your father was at thedinner, but he is not a water drinker, and Jenny only just came tothe bazaar, that was all. Edith happily gave up the ball. "

"I know, " said Herbert, colouring. "Jenny persuaded her to give itup because of--me. Oh, how I have served them all!"

"I told Jenny that perhaps her Ember prayers had been met in thetrue way. "

"Yes, " said Herbert. "I can't understand now how I could have beensuch an audacious fool as to present myself so coolly after the yearI had spent. God forgive me for it! Rector, thank you for leavingme at Rood House. It was like having one's eyes opened to a newlife. I say, do you know anything about Harry Hornblower? Is hecome home?"

"Yes. You wouldn't prosecute?"

"Happily I couldn't. The things were gone and could not beidentified, and there was nothing about him. So, though they had meover to Backsworth, they could not fall foul of me for refusing toprosecute. Have you seen him?"

"No, I tried, but he had got out of my way. You've not been there?"seeing that Herbert had brought back his bag. 

"No; I will not till I come back;" and as he took the note he added, "Rector, I do beg your pardon with all my might. " Then, after astrong clasp of the hand, he sped away with a long, manful, energetic stride, which made Julius contrast his volunteer couragewith the flight of the man who, if not pledged to pastoral care atWil'sbro', still had priestly vows upon him. 

Julius had no scruples about risking this favourite home child. Ifhe thought about it at all, it was to rejoice that Mrs. Bowater wassafely gone, for he had passed unscathed through scenes at St. Awdry's that would have made his mother tremble, and he had littlefear of contagion, with reasonable care. Of course the doctors hadthe usual debate whether the fever were infectious or epidemic, butit made little difference. The local ones, as well as an authorityfrom London, had an inspection previous to the meeting, which tookplace in the school, whose scholars were dispersed in the panic. Noladies were admitted. "We have had enough of them, " quotedWorshipful Mayor Truelove. Mr. Briggs, the ex-mayor, was at thebedside of his son, and there were hardly enough present to makedecisions. 

The focus of the disease was in Pettitt's well. The water, thoughcold, clear, and sparkling, was affected by noxious gases from thedrains, and had become little better than poison; the air was notmuch better, and as several neighbouring houses, some swarming withlodgers, used this water, the evil was accounted for. The 'ThreePigeons' had been an attraction to the servants waiting with theirladies' carriages during the entertainments, and though they had notmeddled much with the simple element, spirits had not neutralizedthe mischief. Thence too had come water for the tea and icedbeverages used at the bazaar and ball. Odours there had been inplenty from the untouched drainage of the other houses, and these, no doubt, enhanced the evil; but every one agreed that the badmanagement of the drains on Mr. Pettitt's property had been the mainagency in the present outbreak. 

The poor little perfumer had tears of grief and indignation in hiseyes, but he defended his cause and shielded the ladies withchivalry worthy of his French ancestry. He said he had striven todo his duty as a proprietor, and if other gentlemen had done thesame, and the channels could have had a free outlet, this misfortunewould never have occurred. He found himself backed up by Mr. JuliusCharnock, who rose to declare that what Mr. Pettitt had said wasjust what his brother, Mr. Charnock Poynsett, had desired should bestated as his own opinion, namely, that the responsibility rested, not with those who had done all within their power or knowledge forthe welfare of their tenants, but with those whose indifference onthe score of health had led them to neglect all sanitary measures. 

"He desires me to say, " added Julius, "that being concerned both inthe neglect and in the unfortunate consequences, he is desirous toimpress his opinion on all concerned. "

Future prevention was no longer in the hands of the Town Council, for a sanitary commission would take that in hand; but in themeantime it was a time of plague and sickness, and measures must betaken for the general relief. Mr. Moy, to whom most of the housesbelonged, was inquired for; but it appeared that he had carried offhis wife and daughter on Saturday in terror when one of his servantshad fallen ill, and even his clerks would not know where to write tohim till he should telegraph. The man Gadley was meantime drivingan active trade at the 'Three Pigeons, ' whither the poor, possessedwith the notion that spirits kept out the infection, were resortingmore than ever, and he set at defiance all the preventives whichdoctors, overseer, and relieving officer were trying to enforce, with sullen oaths against interference. 

Two deaths yesterday, one to-day, three hourly apprehended; doctorsincessantly occupied, nurses, however unfit, not to be procured byany exertion of the half-maddened relieving-officer; bread-winnersprostrated; food, wine, bedding, everything lacking. Such was thestate of things around the new town-hall of Wil'sbro', and thegentry around were absorbed by cases of the same epidemic in theirown families. 

To telegraph for nurses from a hospital, to set on foot asubscription, appoint a committee of management, and name atreasurer and dispenser of supplies, were the most urgent steps. Julius suggested applying to a Nursing Sisterhood, but Mr. Truelove, without imputing any motives to the reverend gentleman, wasunwilling to insert the thin end of the wedge; so the telegram wassent to a London Hospital, and Mr. Whitlock, the mayor-elect, undertook to be treasurer, and to print and circulate an appeal forsupplies of all sorts. Those present resolved themselves into acommittee, and consulted about a fever hospital, since people couldhardly be expected to recover in the present condition of WaterLane; but nothing was at present ready, and the question wasadjourned to the next day. As Julius parted with Mr. Whitlock hemet Herbert Bowater returning from the cemetery in search of him, with tidings of some cases where he was especially needed. As theywalked on together Mrs. Duncombe overtook them with a basket on herarm. She held out her hand with an imploring gesture. 

"Mr. Charnock, it can't be true, can it?--they only say so out ofignorance--that it was Pettitt's well, I mean?"

In a few words Julius made it clear what the evil had been and howit arose. 

She did not dispute it, she merely grew sallower and said:

"God forgive us! We did it for the best. I planned. I neverthought of that. Oh!"

"My brother insists that the mischief came of not following theexample you set. "

"And Cecil!"

"Cecil is too much stupefied to know anything about it. "

"You are helping here? Make me all the use you can. Whatever hasto be done give it to me. "

"Nay, you have your family to consider. "

"My boys are at their grandmother's. My husband is gone abroad. Give me work. I have brought some wine. Who needs it most?"

"Wine?" said Herbert. "Here? I was going back for some, but halfan hour may make all the difference to the poor lad in here. "

Mrs. Duncombe was within the door in a moment. 

"There has been an execution in her house, " said Herbert, as theywent home. "That fellow went off on Saturday, and left her alone toface it. "

"I thought she had striven to keep out of debt. "

"What can a woman do when a man chooses to borrow? That horsebrought them to more unexpected smash. They say that after theball, where she appeared in all her glory, as if nothing hadhappened, she made Bob give her a schedule of his debts, packed hisportmanteau, sent him off to find some cheap hole abroad, and stayedto pick up the pieces after the wreck. "

"She is a brave woman, " said Julius. 

Therewith they plunged into the abodes of misery, where the onlyother helper at present was good old Miss Slater, who was going fromone to another, trying to show helpless women how to nurse, but ableonly to contribute infinitesimal grains of aid or comfort at immensecost to herself. Julius insisted on taking home with him hiscurate, who had been at work from ten o'clock that morning till six, when as Julius resigned the pony's reins to him, he begged that theymight go round and inquire at Sirenwood, to which consent was themore willingly given because poor Frank's few gleams ofconsciousness were spent in sending his indefatigable nurse Anne toask whether his mother had 'had that letter, ' and in his delirium hewas always feeling his watch-chain for that unhappy pebble, andmoaning when he missed it. Mrs. Poynsett's letter had gone onFriday, and still there was no answer, and this was a vexation, adding to the fear that the poor fellow's rejection had been final. Yet she might have missed the letter by being summoned home. Closeto the lodge, they overtook Sir Harry, riding dejectedly homewards, and, glad to be saved going up to the house, they stopped andinquired for Lady Tyrrell. 

"Very low and oppressed, " he said. "M'Vie does not give us reasonto expect a change just yet. Do they tell you the same? Worthattends you, I think?"

"He seems to think it must run on for at least three weeks, " saidJulius. 

"You've been to the meeting, eh? Was it that well of Pettitt's?Really that meddling wife of Duncombe's ought to be prosecuted. Ihope she'll catch the fever and be served out. "

"She tried to prevent it, " said Julius. 

"Pshaw! women have no business with such things, they only put theirfoot in it. Nobody used to trouble themselves about drains, and onenever heard of fevers. "

Instead of contesting the point, Julius asked whether Miss Vivianwere at home. 

"No; that's the odd thing. I wrote, for M'Vie has no fear ofinfection, and poor Camilla is always calling for her, and thatFrench maid has thought proper to fall ill, and we don't know whatto do. Upper housemaid cut and run in a panic, cook dead drunk lastnight, not a servant in the house to be trusted. If it were not formy man Victor I don't know where I should be. Very odd what thatchild is about. Lady Susan can't be keeping it from her. Unjustifiable!"

"She is with Lady Susan Strangeways?"

"Yes. Went with Bee and Conny. I was glad, for we can't afford todespise a good match, though I _was_ sorry for your brother. "

"Do I understand you that she is engaged to Mr. Strangeways?"

"No, no; not yet. One always hears those things before they aretrue, and you see they are keeping her from us as if she belonged tothem already. I call it unfeeling! I have just been to the post tosee if there's a letter! Can't be anything wrong in the address, --Revelrig, Cleveland, Yorkshire. "

"Why don't you telegraph?"

"I shall, if I don't hear to-morrow morning. "

But the morning's telegrams were baffling. None came in answer toSir Harry, though he had bidden his daughter to telegraph backinstantly; and two hospitals replied that they had no nurses tospare! This was the first thing Julius heard when he came to thecommittee-room. The second was that the only parish nurse had beenfound asleep under the influence of the port-wine intended for herpatients, the third that there were five more deaths, one being Mrs. Gadley, of the 'Three Pigeons, ' from diphtheria, and fourteen morecases of fever were reported. Julius had already been with theschoolmistress, who was not expected to live through the day. Hehad found that Mrs. Duncombe had been up all night with one of themost miserable families, and only when her unpractised hands hadcared for a little corpse, had been forced home by good Miss Slaterfor a little rest. He had also seen poor Mr. Fuller, who was tooweak and wretched to say anything more than 'God help us, Charnock:you will do what you can;' and when Julius asked for his sanction tosending for Sisters, he answered, "Anything, anything. "

The few members who had come to the committee were reduced to thesame despairing consent, and Julius was allowed to despatch atelegram to St. Faith's, which had sent Sisters in the emergency atSt. Awdry's. He likewise brought an offer, suggested by Raymond, ofa great old tithe barn, his own property, but always rented by Mrs. Poynsett, in a solitary field, where the uninfected children mightbe placed under good care, and the houses in Water Lane thusrelieved. As to a fever hospital, Raymond had sent his advice touse the new town-hall itself. A word from him went a great way justthen with the Town Council, and the doctors were delighted with theproposal. 

Funds and contributions of bedding, clothing, food and wine werecoming in, but hands were the difficulty. The adaptations of thetown-hall and the bringing in of beds were done by one strongcarpenter and Mrs. Duncombe's man Alexander, whom she had broughtwith her, and who proved an excellent orderly; and the few who wouldconsent, or did not resist occupying the beds there, were carried inby Herbert Bowater and a strapping young doctor who had come downfor this fever pasture. There Mrs. Duncombe and Miss Slaterreceived them. No other volunteer had come to light willing toplunge into this perilous and disgusting abyss of misery; and amongthe afflicted families the power of nursing was indeed small. 

However, the healthy children were carried away without muchresistance, and established in the great barn under a trustworthywidow; and before night, two effective-looking Sisters were incharge at the hospital. 

Still, however, no telegram, no letter, came from Eleonora Vivian. Mr. M'Vie had found a nurse for Lady Tyrrell, but old Sir Harry rodein to meet every delivery of the post, and was half distracted atfinding nothing from her; and Frank's murmurs of her name were mostpiteous to those who feared that, if he were ever clearly consciousagain, it would only be to know how heavy had been the meed of hisfolly. 

CHAPTER XXVIIIThe Retreat

What dost thou here, frail wanderer from thy task?--ChristianYear

Eleonora Vivian was trying to fix her attention on writing out themeditation she had just heard from Dr. Easterby. 

It had been a strange time. All externally was a great hush. Therewas perfect rest from the tumult of society, and from the harassingstate of tacit resistance habitual to her. This was the holyquietude for which she had longed, yet where was the power to feeland profit by it? Did not the peace without only make her hear thestorm within all the more?

A storm had truly been raging within ever since Conny Strangewayshad triumphantly exhibited the prize she had won from Frank Charnockat the races; and Camilla had taken care that full and undeniableevidence should prove that this was not all that the young man hadlost upon the Backsworth race-ground. 

Lenore might guess, with her peculiarly painful intuition, who hadbeen the tempter, but that did not lessen her severity towards thevictim. In her resolution against a betting man, had she nottrusted Frank too implicitly even to warn him of her vow? Nay, hadshe not felt him drifting from her all through the season, unjustlyangered, unworthily distrustful, easily led astray? All themisgivings that had fretted her at intervals and then cleared awayseemed to gather into one conviction--Frank had failed her!

Eleonora's nature was one to resent before grieving. Her spirit wastoo high to break down under the first shock, and she carried herhead proudly to the ball, betraying by no outward sign the sterndespair of her heart, as she listened to the gay chatter of hercompanions, and with unflinching severity she carried out thatjudicial reply to Frank which she had already prepared, and thenguarded herself among numerous partners against remonstrance orexplanation. It had been all one whirl of bewilderment; LadyTyrrell tired, and making the girls' intended journey on the morrowa plea for early departure; and the Strangeways, though dancingindefatigably, and laughing at fatigue, coming away as soon as theysaw she really wished it. All said good night and good-byetogether, both to Lady Tyrrell and Sir Harry, and Lenore started atten o'clock without having seen either. Her sense of heroism lastedtill after the glimpse of Frank on the road. Her mood was of bitterdisappointment and indignation. Frank was given up, but not less sowere her father, her sister, and the world. Sir Harry had madeCamilla suffice to him, he did not want her. He had been the meansof perverting Frank, and Lenore could not see that she need anylonger be bound for his sake to the life she detested. In a fewweeks she would be of age, and what would then prevent her fromfinding a congenial home in the Sisterhood, since such kindred couldhave no just claim to her allegiance? It was the hastydetermination of one who had suffered a tacit persecution for threeyears, and was now smarting under the cruellest of blows. Her loverperverted, her conditions broken, her pledge gambled away, and allthis the work of her father and sister!

Conny and Bee thought her grave and more silent than usual, and whenLady Susan met them in London there was no time for thought. Saturday was spent on a harvest festival at a suburban church, afterwhich the daughters were despatched to their uncle's by a latetrain. Sunday was spent in the pursuit of remarkable services; andon Monday Lady Susan and Eleonora had gone to St. Faith's and theRetreat began. 

Here was to be the longed-for rest, for which she had thirsted allthe more through those days of hurry and of religious spectacles, asshe felt that, be they what they might to their regular attendants, to her, as an outsider, they could be but sights, into whose spirither sick and wearied soul could not enter. 

Here was no outward disturbance, no claim from the world, noimportunate chatter, only religious services in their quietest, mostunobtrusive form; and Dr. Easterby's low tender tones, leading hissilent listeners to deep heart-searchings, earnest thoughts, andsteadfast resolutions. 

Ah! so no doubt it was with many; but Lena, with book and pen, wasdismayed to find that the one thing she recollected was thequestion, "Friend, how camest thou in hither?" After that, she hadonly heard her own thoughts. Her mind had lapsed into one vagueapprehension of the effects of having cut off all communication withhome, imaginings of Frank's despair, relentings of pity, all brokenby dismay at her own involuntary hypocrisy in bringing such thoughtsinto the Retreat. Had she any right to be there at all? Was not athing that should have been for her peace become to her an occasionof falling?

It was Thursday evening, and on the morrow there would be theopportunity of private interviews with Dr. Easterby. She longed forthe moment, chiefly to free herself from the sense of deception thathad all this time seemed to vitiate her religious exercises, deafenher ears, and blow aside her prayers. There was a touch on hershoulder, and one of the Sisters who had received the ladies said, interrogatively, "Miss Vivian? The Mother would be obliged if youwould come to her room. "

The general hush prevented Lenore from manifesting her extremeagitation, and she moved with as quiet a step as she could command, though trembling from head to foot. In the room to which she camestood the Superior and Dr. Easterby, and a yellow telegram-paper layon the table. 

"My father?" she asked. 

"No, " said the Superior, kindly, "it is your sister, who is ill. Here is the telegram--"

"Sister Margaret to the Mother Superior, St. Faith's, Dearport. Lady Tyrrell has the fever. Miss Vivian much needed. 

"Wils'bro, Sept. 26th, 5. 30. "

"The fever!" She looked up bewildered, and the Superior added--

"You did not know of a fever at Wil'sbro'? Some of our nursingSisters were telegraphed for, and went down yesterday. I was sorryto send Sister Margaret away just when her mother and you are here;but she was the only available head, and the need seemed great. "

"I have heard nothing since I left home on Friday, " said Eleonora, hoarsely. "It is my own fault. They think I am at Revelrig. "

"Your family do not know you are here?" said the Superior, gravely. 

"It was very wrong, " she said. "This is the punishment. I must go. Can I?"

"Surely, as soon as there is a train, " said the Superior, beginningto look for a Bradshaw; while Dr. Easterby gave Lenore a chair, andbade her sit down. She looked up at his kind face, and askedwhether he had heard of this fever. 

"On Sunday evening, some friends who came out from Backsworth to ourevening service spoke of an outbreak of fever at Wil'sbro', and saidthat several of the Charnock family were ill. I have had this cardsince from young Mr. Bowater:--

"T. F. In severe form. J. C. Well, but both his brothers aredown in it, and Lady K. 's brother, also Lady T. And the Vicar. No one to do anything; we have taken charge of Wil'sbro'. I haveno time to do more than thank you for unspeakable kindness. H. B. "

"You knew?" exclaimed Lenore, as she saw her sister's initial. 

"I knew Lady Tyrrell was ill, but I do not know who the ladies arewhom I address. I did not guess that you were here, " said Dr. Easterby, gently. 

No one living near Backsworth could fail to know Sir Harry Vivian'sreputation, so that the master of Rood House knew far better thanthe Superior of St. Faith's how much excuse Lenore's evasion mighthave; but whatever could seem like tampering with young people wasmost distressing to the Sisters, and the Mother was more grave thanpitiful. 

There was no train till the mail at night, and there would be twohours to wait in London; but Lenore would listen to no entreaties towait till morning, and as they saw that she had plenty of health andstrength, they did not press her, though the Superior would send anurse with her, who, if not needed at Sirenwood, might work in WaterLane. It was thought best not to distract Lady Susan, and Lenorewas relieved not to have her vehement regret and fussy cares abouther; but there were still two hours to be spent before starting, andin these Dr. Easterby was the kindest of comforters. 

Had she erred in her concealment? He thought she had, though withmuch excuse. A Retreat was not like a sacrament, a necessity of aChristian's life; and no merely possible spiritual advantage oughtto be weighed against filial obedience. It was a moment ofcontrition, and of outpouring for the burthened heart, as Lenore wasable to speak of her long trial, and all the evil it had caused inhardening and sealing up her better nature. She even told of herunsanctioned but unforbidden engagement, and of its termination;yearning to be told that she had been hasty and hard, and to bebidden to revoke her rejection. 

She found that Dr. Easterby would not judge for her, or give herdecided direction. He showed her, indeed, that she had given way topride and temper, and had been unjust in allowing no explanation;but he would not tell her to unsay her decision, nor say that itmight not be right, even though the manner had been wrong. Whilethe past was repented, and had its pardon, for the future he wouldonly bid her wait, and pray for guidance and aid through her trial. 

"My child, " he said, "chastening is the very token of pardon, andtherein may you find peace, and see the right course. "

"And you will pray for me--that however it may be, He may forgiveme?"

"Indeed, I will. We all will pray for you as one in sorrow andanxiety. And remember this: There is a promise that a greatmountain shall become a plain; and so it does, but to those whobravely try to climb it in strength not their own, not to those whotry to go round or burrow through. "

"I see, " was all she answered, in the meek submissive tone of astrong nature, bent but not daring to break down. She could notshed tears, deeply as she felt; she must save all her strength andbear that gnawing misery which Herbert Bowater's mention of J. C. 'sbrothers had inflicted upon her--bear it in utter uncertaintythrough the night's journey, until the train stopped at Wil'sbro' ateleven o'clock, and her father, to whom she had telegraphed, mether, holding out his arms, and absolutely crying over her for joy. 

"My dear, my dear, I knew you would come; I could trust to my littleLena. It was all some confounded mistake. "

"It was my fault. How is she?"

"Does nothing but ask for you. Very low--nasty fever at night. What's that woman? M'Vie sent a nurse, who is awfully jealous;can't have her in to Camilla: but there's plenty to do; Anais islaid up--coachman too, and Joe--half the other servants gone off. Itold Victor I would pay anything to him if he would stay. "

"And--at Compton?" faintly asked Lenore. 

"Bad enough, they say. Serves 'em right; Mrs. Raymond was asmischievous as Duncombe's wife, but I've not heard for the last twodays; there's been no one to send over, and I've had enough to thinkabout of my own. "

"Who have it there?" she managed to say. 

"Raymond and his wife, both; and Frank and the young De Lancey, Iheard. I met Julius Charnock the other day very anxious about them. He's got his tithe barn stuffed with children from Water Lane, as ifhe wanted to spread it. All their meddling! But what kept you solong, little one? Where were you hiding?--or did Lady Susan keep itfrom you? I began to think you had eloped with her son. You aresure you have not?"

"I was wrong, father; I went to a Retreat with Lady Susan. "

"A what? Some of Lady Susan's little poperies, eh? I can't scoldyou, child, now I've got you; only have your letters forwardedanother time, " said Sir Harry, placable as usual when alone withLenore. 

Fears of infection for her did not occur to him. Mr. M'Vie held thenon-contagion theory, and helpless selfishness excluded all thoughtsof keeping his daughter at a distance. He clung to her as he usedto do in former days, before Camilla had taken possession of him, and could not bear to have her out of reach. In the sick-room shewas of disappointingly little use. The nurse was a regularprofessional, used to despotism, and resenting her having broughthome any one with her, and she never permitted Miss Vivian'spresence, except when the patient's anxiety made it necessary tobring her in; and when admitted, there was nothing to be done but tosit by Camilla, and now and then answer the weary disjointed talk, and, if it grew a little livelier, the warning that Lady Tyrrell wasgetting excited was sure to follow. 

Outside there was enough to do, in the disorganized state of thesick and panic-stricken household, where nobody was effective butthe French valet and one very stupid kitchen-maid. Lena helped theSt. Faith's nurse in her charge of the French maid, but almost allher time in the morning was spent in domestic cares for the sick andfor her father; and when he was once up, he was half plaintive, halfpassionate, if she did not at once respond to his calls. She readthe papers to him, walked up and down the terrace with him while hesmoked, and played bezique with him late into the night, to distracthis thoughts. And where were hers, while each day's bulletin fromCompton Hall was worse than the last? Little Joe Reynolds had beensent home on being taken ill, and she would fain have gone to seehim, but detentions sprang up around her, and sometimes it wouldhave been impossible to go so far from the house, so that days hadbecome weeks, and the month of October was old before she waswalking down the little garden of old Betty's house. The dooropened, and Julius Charnock came out, startling her by the sight ofhis worn and haggard looks, as he made a deprecating movement, andshut the door behind him. Then she saw that the blinds were in theact of being drawn down. 

"Is it so?" she said. 

"Yes, " said Julius, in a quiet tone, as sad and subdued as hislooks. "He slept himself away peacefully a quarter of an hour ago. "

"I suppose I must not go in now. I longed to come before. Poorboy, he was like a toy flung away. "

"You need not grieve over him, " said Julius. "Far from it. Youhave done a great deal for him. "

"I--I only caused him to be put into temptation. "

"Nay. Your care woke his spirit up and guarded him. No one couldhear his wanderings without feeling that he owed much to you. Thereis a drawing to be given to you that will speak much to you. It isat the Rectory; it was not safe here. And his mother is here. Ican't but hope her soul has been reached through him. Yes, " asLenore leant against the gate, her warm tears dropping, "there is nogrief in thinking of him. He had yearnings and conceptions thatcould not have been gratified in his former station; and for him anartist's life would have been more than commonly uphill work--fullof trial. I wish you could have heard the murmured words thatshowed what glorious images floated before him--no doubt nowrealized. "

"I am glad he was really good, " were the only words that would come. 

The hearts of both were so full, that these words on what was alittle further off were almost necessary to them. 

"Take my arm, " said Julius, kindly. "Our roads lie together downthe lane. How is your sister? Better, I hope, as I see you here. "

"She has slept more quietly. Mr. M'Vie thinks her a little better. "

"So it is with Terry de Lancey, " said Julius; "he is certainly lessfeverish to-day;" but there was no corresponding tone of gladness inthe voice, though he added, "Cecil is going on well too. "

"And--" Poor Lenore's heart died within her; she could only presshis arm convulsively, and he had mercy on her. 

"Frank's illness has been different in character from the others, "he said; "the fever has run much higher, and has affected the brainmore, and the throat is in a very distressing state; but Dr. Worthstill does not think there are specially dangerous symptoms, and isless anxious about him than Raymond. "

"Ah! is it true?"

"He does not seem as ill as Frank; but there have been bleedings atthe nose, which have brought him very low, and which have hithertobeen the worst symptoms, " and here the steady sadness of his voicequivered a little. 

Lenore uttered a cry of dismay, and murmured, "Your mother?"

"She is absorbed in him. Happily, she can be with him constantly. They seem to rest in each other's presence, and not to lookforward. "

"And Cecil?"

"It has taken the lethargic turn with Cecil. She is almost alwaysasleep, and is now, I believe, much better; but in truth we havenone of us been allowed to come near her. Her maid, Grindstone, hastaken the sole charge, and shuts us all out, for fear, I believe, ofour telling her how ill Raymond is. "

"Oh, I know Grindstone. "

"Who looks on us all as enemies. However, Raymond has desired us towrite to her father, and he will judge when he comes. "

They were almost at the place of parting. Eleonora kept her hand onhis arm, longing for another word, nay, feeling that without it herheart would burst. "Who is with Frank?"

"Anne. She hardly ever leaves him. She is our main-stay at theHall. "

"Is he ever sensible?" she faintly asked. 

"He has not been really rational for nearly ten days now. "

"If--if--oh! you know what I mean. Oh! gain his pardon for me!" andshe covered her face with her hand. 

"Poor Frank!--it is of your pardon that he talks. Tell me, Eleonora, did you ever receive a letter from my mother?"

"Never. Where was it sent?" she said, starting. 

"To Revelrig. It was written the day after the ball. "

"I never went to Revelrig. Oh! if I could have spoken to you firstI should have been saved from so much that was wrong. No one knewwhere I was. "

"No, not till Sister Margaret told Herbert Bowater that her sistershad been at a ball at the town-hall the week before. Then he sawshe was Miss Strangeways, and asked if she knew where you were. "

"Ah, yes! disobedience--tacit deception--temper. Oh! they havebrought their just punishment. But that letter!"

"I think it was to explain poor Frank's conduct at the races. Perhaps, as the servants at Revelrig had no knowledge of you, it mayhave been returned, and my mother's letter have been left untouched. I will see. "

They knew they must not delay one another, and parted; Juliuswalking homewards by the Hall, where, alas! there was only one ofthe family able to move about the house, and she seldom left herpatient. 

Julius did, however, find her coming down-stairs with Dr. Worth, andlittle as he gathered that was reassuring in the physician's words, there was a wistful moisture about her eyes, a look altogether ofhaving a bird in her bosom, which made him say, as the doctorhurried off, "Anne, some one must be better. "

"Cecil is, " she said; and he had nearly answered, "_only_ Cecil, "but her eyes brimmed over suddenly, and she said, "I am sothankful!"

"Miles!" he exclaimed. 

She handed him a telegram. The Salamanca was at Spithead; Milestelegraphed to her to join him. 

"Miles come! Thank God! Does mother know?"

"Hush! no one does, " and with a heaving breast she added, "Ianswered that I could not, and why, and that he must not come. "

"No, I suppose he must not till he is free of his ship. My poorAnne!"

"Oh no! I know he is safe. I am glad! But the knowledge wouldtear your mother to pieces. "

"Her soul is in Raymond now, and to be certain of Miles being athand would be an unspeakable relief to him. Come and tell them. "

"No, no, I can't!" she cried, with a sudden gush of emotion sweepingover her features, subdued instantly, but showing what it was toher. "You do it. Only don't let them bring him here. "

And Anne flew to her fastness in Frank's attic, while Juliusrepaired to Raymond's room, and found him as usual lying tranquil, with his mother's chair so near that she could hand him the coolfruit or drink, or ring to summon other help. Their time togetherseemed to both a rest, and Julius always liked to look at theirpeaceful faces, after the numerous painful scenes he had toencounter. Raymond, too, was clinging to him, to his ministrationsand his talk, as to nothing else save his mother. Raymond hadalways been upright and conscientious, but his religion had beenchiefly duty and obligation, and it was only now that comfort orpeace seemed to be growing out of it for him. As he looked up athis brother, he too saw the involuntary brightness that the tidingshad produced, and said, "Is any one else better, Julius? I knowTerry is; I am so glad for Rose. "

"I asked Anne the same question, " said Julius. "Mother, you will bemore glad than tantalized. The Salamanca is come in. "

Raymond made an inarticulate sound of infinite relief. His motherexclaimed, "He must not come here! But Frankie could not spare Anneto him. What will she do?"

"She will stay bravely by Frank, " said Julius. "We must all waittill the ship is paid off. "

"Of course, " said Raymond. "If she can rejoice that he is out ofdanger, we will; I am content to know him near. It makes all mucheasier. And, mother, he will find all ready to own what a pricelesstreasure he sent before him in his wife. "

There was the old note of pain in the comparison. Julius's heartwas wrung as he thought of Sirenwood, with the sense that the victimwas dying, the author of the evil recovering. He could only stiflethe thought by turning away, and going to the table in his mother'sadjacent room, where letters had accumulated unopened. 'On HerMajesty's Service' bore the post-mark which justified him in openingit, and enclosing the letter it contained to Miss Vivian. 

He did so almost mechanically. He had gone through these weeks onlyby never daring to have a self. The only man of his family whocould be effective; the only priest in the two infected parishes; hehad steadfastly braced himself for the work. He ventured only toact and pray, never to talk, save for the consolation of others. ToWil'sbro' he daily gave two morning hours, for he never failed to bewanted either for the last rites, or for some case beyond Herbert'sexperience, as well as to see the Vicar, who was sinking fast, in adevout and resigned frame, which impressed while it perplexed hisbrother clergyman, in view of the glaring deficiencies so plain toothers, but which never seemed to trouble his conscience. 

The nursing-staff still consisted of the Sisters, Herbert Bowater, Mrs. Duncombe and her man-servant. Under their care, the virulenceof the disease was somewhat abating, and the doctors ventured to saythat after the next few days there would be much fewer fatal cases;but Water Lane was now a strangely silent place, --windows open, blinds flapping in the wind, no children playing about, and the'Three Pigeons' remained the only public-house not shut up. It waslike having the red cross on the door. 

CHAPTER XXIXA Strange Night

Cold, cold with death, came up the tide In no manner of haste, Up to her knees, and up to her side, And up to her wicked waist;For the hand of the dead, and the heart of the dead, Are strong hasps they to hold. --G. MACDONALD

"Rector, " said Herbert Bowater, "are you specially at home?"

"Why?" asked Julius, pausing. 

"There's that man Gadley. "

"Gadley! Is he down?"

"It seems that he has been ill this fortnight, but in the low, smouldering form; and he and that hostler of his kept it a secret, for fear of loss of gain, and hatred of doctors, parsons, Sisters, and authorities generally, until yesterday, when the hostler madeoff with all the money and the silver spoons. This morning early, apoliceman, seeing the door open, went in, and found the poor wretchin a most frightful state, but quite sensible. I was passing as hecame out to look for help, and I have been there mostly ever since. He is dying--M'Vie says there's not a doubt of that, and he has gotsomething on his mind. He says he has been living on Moy's hush-money all this time, for not bringing to light some embezzlement ofyour mother's money, and letting the blame light on that poor cousinof yours, Douglas. "

Herbert was amazed at the lighting up of his Rector's worn, anxiousface. 

"Douglas! Thank Heaven! Herbert, we must get a magistrate at onceto take the deposition!"

"What! Do you want to prosecute Moy?"

"No, but to clear Archie. "

"I thought he was drowned?"

"No; that was all a mistake. Miles saw him at Natal. Herbert, thiswill be life and joy to your sister. What!--you did not know aboutJenny and Archie?"

"Not I--Jenny!--poor old Joan! So that's what has stood in her way, and made her the jolliest of old sisters, is it? Poor old Joanie!What! was she engaged to him?"

"Yes, much against your father's liking, though he had consented. Iremember he forbade it to be spoken of, --and you were at school. "

"And Joan was away nursing old Aunt Joan for two years. So Archiewent off with this charge on him, and was thought to be lost! Whew!How did she stand it? I say, does she know he is alive?"

"No, he forbade Miles to speak. No one knows but Miles and I, andour wives. Anne put us on the scent. Now, Herbert, I'll go to thepoor man at once, and you had better find a magistrate. "

"Whom can I find?" said Herbert. "There's my father away, andRaymond ill, and Lipscombe waved me off--wouldn't so much as speakto me for fear I should be infectious. "

"You must get a town magistrate. "

"Briggs is frantic since he lost his son, and Truelove thinks he hasthe fever, though Worth says it is all nonsense. There's nobody butWhitlock. Dear old Jenny! Well, there always was somethingdifferent from other people in her, and I never guessed what it was. I'd go to the end of the world to make her happy and get thatpatient look out of her eyes. "

Herbert had nearly to fulfil this offer, for Mr. Whitlock was goneto London for the day, and magistrates were indeed scarce; but atlast, after walking two miles out of the town, his vehemence anddetermination actually dragged in the unfortunate, timid justice ofthe peace who had avoided him in the road, but who could not refusewhen told in strong earnest that the justification of an innocentman depended on his doing his duty. 

Poor Mr. Lipscombe! The neglected 'Three Pigeons' was just now theworst place in all Water Lane. The little that had hastily beendone since the morning seemed to have had no effect on the foetidatmosphere, even to Herbert's well accustomed nostrils; and whatmust it have been to a stranger, in spite of the open window and allthe disinfectants? And, alas! the man had sunk into a sleep. Julius, who still stood by him, had heard all he had to say torelieve his mind, all quite rationally, and had been trying to showhim the need of making reparation by repeating all to a magistrate, when the drowsiness had fallen on him; and though the sound of feetroused him, it was to wander into the habitual defiance ofauthority, merging into terror. 

Herbert soothed him better than any one else could do, and he fellasleep again; but Mr. Lipscombe declared it was of no use to remain--nothing but madness; and they could not gainsay him. He left thetwo clergymen together, feeling himself to have done a very valiantand useless thing in the interests of justice, or at the importunityof a foolishly zealous young curate. 

"Look here, " said Herbert, "Whitlock may be trusted. Leave a notefor him explaining. I'll stay here; I'm the best to do so, any way. If he revives and is sensible, I'll send off at once for Whitlock, or if there is no time, I'll write it down and let him see me signit. "

"And some one else, if possible, " said Julius. "The difficulty isthat I never had authority given me to use what he said to me inprivate. Rather the contrary, for old instinctive habits of cautionawoke the instant I told him it was his duty to make it known, andthat Archie was alive. I don't like leaving you here, Herbert, butRaymond was very weak this morning; besides, there's poor Joe'sfuneral. "

"Oh, never mind. He'll have his sleep out, and be all right when heawakes. Think of righting Jenny's young man! How jolly!"

Julius went across to the town-hall hospital, and told the Sisters, whose darling his curate was, of the charge he had undertaken, andthey promised to look after him. After which Julius made the bestof his way home, where Rosamond had, as usual, a bright face forhim. Her warm heart and tender tact had shown her that obtrusiveattempts to take care of him would only be harassing, so she onlytook care to secure him food and rest in his own house whenever itwas possible, and that however low her own hopes might be, she wouldnot add to his burden; and now Terry was so much better that shecould well receive him cheerily, and talk of what Terry had that dayeaten, so joyously, as almost to conceal that no one was better atthe Hall. 

"I will come with you, " she said; "I might do something for poorFanny, " as the bell began to toll for little Joshua's funeral. Fanny Reynolds, hearing some rumour of her boy's illness, hadbrought Drake to her home three days before his death. The poorlittle fellow's utterances, both conscious and unconscious, hadstrangely impressed the man, and what had they not awakened in themother? And when the words, so solemn and mysterious, fell on thoseunaccustomed ears in the churchyard, and Fanny, in her wildoverpowering grief, threw herself about in an agony of sorrow andremorse, and sobbed with low screams, it was 'the lady' whom sheviewed as an angel of mercy, who held her and hushed her; and whenall was over, and she was sinking down, faint and hysterical, it was'the lady' who--a little to the scandal of the more respectable--helped Drake to carry her to the Rectory, the man obeying like onedazed. 

"I must leave the sheep that was lost to you, Rose, " said Julius. "You can do more for them than I as yet, and they have sent for meto the Hall. "

"You will stay there to-night if they want you; I don't want anyone, " said Rosamond at the door. 

He was wanted indeed at his home. Frank was in a wilder and moreraving state than ever, and Raymond so faint and sinking, and withsuch a look about him, that Julius felt, more than he had ever donebefore, that though the fever had almost passed away, there was nospirit or strength to rally. He was very passive, and seemed tohave no power to wonder, though he was evidently pleased when Juliustold him both of Archie Douglas's life and the hopes of clearing hisname. "Tell Jenny she was right, " he said, and did not seeminclined to pursue the subject. 

They wheeled Mrs. Poynsett away at her usual hour, when he wasdozing; and as Frank was still tossing and moaning incoherently, andoften required to be held, Julius persuaded Anne to let him take herplace with him, while she became Raymond's watcher. He dozed abouthalf an hour, and when she next gave him some food, he said, in avery low feeble tone:

"You have heard from Miles?"

"Yes; he says nothing shall stop him the moment they are paid off. "

"That's right. No fear of infection--that's clear, " said Raymond. 

"I think not--under God!" and Anne's two hands unseen clasped overher throbbing, yearning heart. 

"Dear old fellow!" said Raymond. "It is such pleasure to leavemother to him. If I don't see him, Anne, tell him how glad I am. I've no charge. I know he will do it all right. And mother willhave you, " and he held out his hand to her. Presently he said:"Anne. One thing--"

"Yes, " she said anxiously. 

"You always act on principle, I know; but don't hang back fromMiles's friends and pleasures. I know the old fellow, Anne. Hisnature is sociable, and he wants sympathy in it. "

"I know what you mean, Raymond, " said Anne; "I do mean to try to doright--"

"I know, I know, " said he, getting a little excited, and speakingeagerly; "but don't let right blind you, Anne, if you censure andkeep from all he likes--if you will be a recluse and not a woman--he--don't be offended, Anne; but if you leave him to himself, thenwill every effort be made to turn him from you. You don't believeme. "

"My dear Raymond, don't speak so eagerly, " as his cheeks flushed. 

"I must! I can't see his happiness and yours wrecked like mine. Gowith him, Anne. Don't leave him to be poisoned. Mesmerism has itspower over whoever has been under the spell. And he has--he has!She will try to turn him against you and mother. "

"Hush, Raymond! Indeed I will be on my guard. There's no onethere. What are you looking at?"

"Camilla!" he said, with eyes evidently seeing something. "Camilla!Is it not enough to have destroyed _one_ peace?"

"Raymond, indeed there is no one here. "

But he had half raised himself. "Yes, Camilla, you have had yourrevenge. Let it be enough. No--no; I forgive you; but I forbid youto touch her. "

He grasped Anne's arm with one hand, and stretched the other out asthough to warn some one away. The same moment there was anotheroutburst of the bleeding. Anne rang for help with one hand, andheld him as best she could. It lasted long; and when it was over hewas manifestly dying. "It is coming, " he said; looking up toJulius. "Pray! Only first--my love to Cecil. I hope she is stillyoung enough not to have had all her life spoilt. Is her fathercoming?"

"To-morrow, " said Anne. 

"That's well. Poor child! she is better free. "

How piteously sad those words of one wedded but a year! How unlikethe look that met his mother's woeful yet tender eyes, as she heldhis hand. She would aid him through that last passage as throughall before, only a word of strong and tender love, as he againlooked up to Julius and Anne, as if to put her in their keeping, andonce more murmured something of "Love to sweet Rose! Now, Julius, pray!"

An ever dutiful man, there was no wandering in look or tone. Hebreathed 'Amen' once or twice, but never moved again, only his eyesstill turned on his mother, and so in its time came the end. 

Old Susan saw at first that the long fluttering gasp had nosuccessor, and her touch certified Julius. He rose and went towardshis mother. She held out her hands and said. "Take me to myFrank. "

"We had better, " whispered Anne. 

They wheeled her to the foot of the stairs. Julius took her in hisarms, Anne held her feet, and thus they carried her up the stairs, and along the passage, hearing Frank's husky rapid babble all theway, and finding him struggling with the fierce strength of deliriumagainst Jenkins, who looked as if he thought them equally senseless, when he saw his helpless mistress carried in. 

"Frank, my boy, do lie still, " she said, and he took no notice; butwhen she laid her hand on his, he turned, looked at her with hisdull eyes, and muttered, "Mother!"

It was the first recognition for many a day! and, at the smoothingmotion of her hand over him, while she still entreated, "Lie still, my dear, " the mutterings died away; the childish instinct ofobedience stilled the struggles; and there was something more likerepose than had been seen all these weary months. 

"Mother, " said Julius, "you can do for us what no one else can. Youwill save him. "

She looked up to him, and hope took away the blank misery he haddreaded to see. "My poor Frankie, " she said dreamily, "he haswanted me, I will not leave him now. "

All was soon still; Frank's face had something like rest on it, ashe lay with his mother's hand on his brow, and she intent only onhim. 

"You can leave them to me, I think, " said Anne. "I will send ifthere be need; but if not, you had better not come up till you havebeen to Wil'sbro'--if you must go. "

"I must, I fear; I promised to come to Fuller if he be still here. I will speak to Jenkins first. "

Julius was living like a soldier in a campaign, with numbersdropping beside him, and no time to mourn, scarcely to realize theloss, and he went on, almost as if he had been a stranger; while thegrief of poor old Jenkins was uncontrollable, both for his lady'ssake and for the young master, who had been his pride and glory. His sobs brought out Mrs. Grindstone into the gallery, to insist, with some asperity, that there should be no noise to awaken hermistress, who was in a sweet sleep. 

"We will take care, " said Julius, sadly. "I suppose she had betterhear nothing till Mr. Charnock comes. "

"She must be left to me, sir, or I cannot be answerable for theconsequences, " was the stiff reply, wherewith Mrs. Grindstoneretreated into her castle. 

Julius left the hushed and veiled house, in the frosty chill of thelate autumn just before dawn, shivering between grief and cold, andhe walked quickly down the avenue, feeling it strange that thewindows in the face of his own house were glittering back thereflection of the setting moon. 

Something long and black came from the opposite direction. "Rector, " it said, in a low hoarse voice, "I've got leave from himto use what he said to you. Sister Margaret and I signed it. Willthat do?"

"I can't tell now, Herbert, I can't think. My brother is justgone, " said Julius in his inward voice. 

"Raymond! No! Oh, I beg your pardon; I never thought of that;Raymond--"

"Go home and go to bed, " said Julius, as the young man wrung hishand. "Rest now--we must think another time. "

Did Rosamond know? was perhaps the foremost of his weary thoughts. Ah! did she not! Was she not standing with her crimson shawl roundher, and the long black plaits falling on it, to beckon him to thefirelit comfort of his own room? Did she not fall on his neck as hecame heavily up, and cling around him with her warm arms? "Oh, Julius, what a dear brother he was! What can we do for yourmother?"

As he told her how Frank's need did more than any support could dofor her, her tears came thicker; but in spite of them, her fondhands put him into the easy-chair by the fire, and drew off his dampboots; and while listening to the low sunken voice that told her ofthe end, she made ready the cup of cocoa that was waiting, and putthe spoon in his hand in a caressing manner, that made her care, comfort, not oppression. Fatigue seconded her, for he took the warmfood, faltered and leant back, dozing till the baby's voice awokehim, and as he saw Rosamond hushing her, he exclaimed:

"O, Rose! if poor Raymond had ever known one hour like this!" and heheld out his arms for his child. 

"You know I don't let you hold her in that coat. Go into yourdressing-room, have your bath, and put on your dressing-gown, and ifyou will lie on the bed, you shall take care of her while I go andfeed Terry. You can't do anything for anybody yet, it is only sixo'clock. "

These precautions, hindering his going jaded and exhausted intoinfection, were what Rosamond seemed to live for, though she neverforced them on him, and he was far too physically tired out not toyield to the soothing effect; so that even two hours on the bed senthim forth renovated to that brief service in the church, whereHerbert and he daily met and found their strength for the day. Theyhad not had time to exchange a word after it before there was aknock at the vestry door, and a servant gave the message to Herbert, who had opened it: "Lady Tyrrell is taken worse, sir, and Sir HarryVivian begged that Mr. Charnock would come immediately. "

A carriage had been sent for him, and he could only hurry home totell Rosamond to send on the pony to Sirenwood, to take him toWil'sbro', unless he were first wanted at home. She undertook to goup to the Hall and give Anne a little rest, and he threw himselfinto the carriage, not daring to dwell on the pain it gave him to gofrom his brother's death bed to confront Camilla. 

At the door Eleonora came to meet him. "Thank you, " she said. "Weknew it was no time to disturb you. "

"I can be better spared _now_, " answered Julius. 

"You don't mean, " she said, with a strange look, which was not quitesurprise. 

"Yes, my dear brother left us at about three o'clock last night. Achange came on at twelve. "

"Twelve!" Eleonora laid her hand on his arm, and spoke in a quickagitated manner. "Camilla was much better till last night, when attwelve I heard such a scream that I ran into her room. She wassitting up with her eyes fixed open, like a clairvoyante, and hervoice seemed pleading--pleading with _him_, as if for pardon, andshe held out her hands and called him. Then, suddenly, she gave aterrible shriek, and fell back in a kind of fit. Mr. M'Vie can donothing, and though she is conscious now, she does nothing but askfor you and say that he does not want you now. "

Julius grew paler, as he said very low, "Anne said he seemed to beseeing and answering _her_. Not like delirium, but as if she werereally there. "

"Don't tell any one, " entreated Eleonora, in a breathless whisper, and he signed consent, as both felt how those two spirits must havebeen entwined, since these long years had never broken that subtlelink of sympathy which had once bound them. 

Sir Harry's face, dreary, sunken, and terrified, was thrust over thebalusters, as he called, "Don't hinder him, Lena, she asks for himevery moment;" and as they came on, he caught Julius's hand, saying, "Soothe her, soothe her--'tis the only chance. If she could butsleep!"

There lay Camilla Tyrrell, beautiful still, but more than ever likethe weird tragic head with snake-wreathed brows, in the wastedcontour of her regular features and the flush on her hollow cheeks, while her eyes burned with a strange fire that almost choked backJulius's salutation of peace, even while he breathed it, for mightnot the Son of Peace be with some there?

The eager glance seemed to dart at him. "Julius Charnock!" shecried, "come!" and as he would have said some word about her health, she cut him short: "Never mind that; I must speak while my brainserves. After that be the priest. He is dead!"

"My brother? Yes. "

"The only one I ever loved! There's no sin nor scandal in saying sonow. His wife is better? It will never kill her. "

"She does not know. "

"No? There was nothing to make her. He could not give her hisheart, try as he would. Why did he turn the unchangeable to hate!hate! hate!"

"Lady Tyrrell, you did not send for me to hear what ought not to besaid at all?"

"Don't fly off, " she said. "I had really something to say. It wasnot wholly hate, Julius; I really tried to teach his little idiot ofa wife to win him at last. I meant it to turn out well, and nothingcould, with that mother there. "

"I must leave you, Lady Tyrrell, if you will not control yourself. "

"Don't be hard on me, Julius, " and she looked up with a glance ofbetter days. "You idolize her, like all the rest of you; but shechilled me and repelled me, and turned me to bitterness, when I wasyoung and he might have led me. Her power and his idolatry made mejealous, and what I did in a fit of petulance was so fastened onthat I could not draw back. Why did not he wait a little longer toencumber himself with that girl! No--that wasn't what I had to say--it's all over now. It is the other thing. How is Frank?"

"Very ill indeed; but quieter just now. "

"Then there shall not be another wreck like ours. Lena, are youhere? You saw that Frank had let Constance Strangeways win yourpebble. It was because I showed him the one Beatrice bought, and hethought it yours. Yes, I saw nothing else for it. What was tobecome of the property if you threw yourself away, and on _her_son?" she added, with the malignant look. "Whether he knew of thislittle vow of yours, I can't tell, but he had lost his head and didfor himself. It was for your good and papa's; but I shall not behere to guide the clue, so you must go your own way and be happy init, if _she_ will let you. Father, do you hear? Don't think toplease me by hindering the course of true love; and you, Julius, tell Frank he was 'a dull Moor. ' I liked the boy, I was sorry forhim; but he ought to have known his token better;--and there was theestate to be saved. "

"Estates weigh little now!"

"Clerical! I suppose now is the time for it? You were allprecision at Compton. It would kill me; I can't live with Mrs. Poynsett. No, no, Tom, I can't have old Raymond quizzed; I'll gethim out of it when the leading-strings are cut. What right has she--?"

The delirium had returned. Julius's voice kept her still for a fewmoments, but she broke out afresh at his first pause, and murmursfell thick and fast from her tongue, mixing the names of her brotherand Raymond with railings at Mrs. Poynsett for slights in the dayswhen the mother was striving to discourage the inclination thatresulted in the engagement. 

Earnestly did Julius beseech for peace, for repentance for the poorstorm-tossed soul; but when the raving grew past control, and thetime was coming for his ministrations to the Vicar of Wil'sbro', hewas forced to leave her. Poor old Sir Harry would have clung to himas to anything like a support, but Eleonora knew better. "No, dearpapa, " she said, "he has given us too much of his time already. Hemust go where he can still help. Poor Camilla cannot attend tohim. "

"If she came to herself--"

"Then send for me. I would come instantly. Send to the town-hallany time before twelve, after that to Compton. Send withoutscruples, Lenore, you have truly the right. "

They did not send, except that a note met him as he returned home, telling him that suffusion of the brain had set in. Camilla Tyrrelldid not survive Raymond Poynsett twelve hours. 

CHAPTER XXXCome Back

And are ye sure the news is true?And are ye sure he's weel?--J. THOMPSON

Eleonora Vivian was striving to write her sorrowful announcements inthe deepening dusk of that autumn evening, while her father had shuthimself up after his vigil to sleep under Victor's care, when amessage came that Lady Rosamond Charnock earnestly begged to seeher. She stood with a face white and set, looking like a galvanizedcorpse, as her lips framed the words, "He is dead!"

"No!" almost screamed Rosamond, snatching her hand. "No! But noone can save him but you. Come!"

Without a word, Eleonora stepped into her own room, and came back incloak, hat, and veil. 

"Right, " said Rosamond, seizing her arm, and taking her to the pony-carriage at the door, then explaining while driving rapidly: "Hehas left off raving ever since his mother has been with him, but helies--not still but weak, not speaking, only moaning now and then. His throat is so dreadful that it is hard to give him anything, andhe takes no notice of what one says, only if his mother takes thespoon. He gets weaker, and Dr. Worth says it is only because thereis no impulse to revive him--he is just sinking because he can't beroused. When I heard that, I thought I knew who could. "

Eleonora's lips once moved, but no sound came from them, andRosamond urged her little pony to its best speed through the twoparks from one veiled house to another, fastened it to the garden-door without calling any one, and led her silent companion up thestairs. 

Mrs. Poynsett felt a hand on her shoulder, and Rosamond said, "Ihave brought our only hope, " and Eleonora stood, looking at theghastly face. The yellow skin, the inflamed purple lips, thecavernous look of cheeks and eyes, were a fearful sight, and onlythe feeble incessant groping of the skeleton fingers showed life oraction. 

"Put this into his hand, " said Rosamond, and Lenore found the pebbletoken given to her, and obeyed. At the touch, a quivering trembledover face and form, the eyelids lifted, the eyes met hers, there wasa catching of the breath, a shudder and convulsive movement. "He isgoing, " cried his mother, but Anne started forward with drops ofstrong stimulant, Rosamond rubbed spirit into his forehead, thestruggle lessened, the light flickered back into his brown eyes, hisfingers closed on hers. "Speak to him, " said Mrs. Poynsett. "Doyou see her, Frankie dear?"

"Frank! dear Frank, here I am. "

The eyes gazed with more meaning, the lips moved, but no sound cametill Anne had given another drop of the stimulant, and the terriblepain of the swallowing was lessened. Then he looked up, and thewords were heard. 

"Is it true?"

"It is, my dear boy. It is Lena. "

"Here, Frank, " as still the wistful gaze was unsatisfied; she laidher hands on his, and then he almost smiled and tried to raise it tohis cheeks, but he was too weak; and she obeyed the feeble gesture, and stroked the wasted face, while a look of content came over it, the eyes closed, and he slept with his face against her hand, hismother watching beside with ineffable gratitude and dawning hope. 

Lenore was forgetting everything in this watching, but in anotherquarter of an hour Anne was forced again to torture him with herspoon; but life was evidently gaining ground, for though he put itfrom him at first, he submitted at Lena's gesture and word. Shefelt the increased warmth and power in his grasp, as he whispered, "Lena, you are come back, " then felt for the token. 

Alas! that she must leave him. They knew she must not stay awayfrom her father; indeed, Rosamond had told no one of her attempt, her forlorn hope. Lena tried to give assurances that she only wentbecause it could not be helped, and the others told him she wouldreturn, but still he held her, and murmured, "Stay. " She could nottear herself away, she let him keep her hand, and again he dozed andhis fingers relaxed. "Go now, my dear, " said Mrs. Poynsett, "youhave saved him. This stone will show him that you have been here. You will come back to-morrow, I may promise him?"

"Yes, yes. In the morning, or whenever I can be spared, " whisperedLena, who was held for a moment to Mrs. Poynsett's breast, ereRosamond took her away again, and brought her once more down-stairsand to the pony-carriage. There she leant back, weeping quietly butbitterly over the shock of Frank's terribly reduced state, whichseemed to take from her all the joy of his revival, weeping too atthe cruel need that was taking her away. 

"He will do now! I know he will, " said Rosamond, happy in her boldventure. 

"Oh! if I could stay!"

"Most likely you would be turned out for fear of excitement. Thestone will be safer for him. "

"Where did that come from?" asked Lenore, struck suddenly withwonder. 

"I wrote to Miss Strangeways, when I saw how he was always feeling, feeling, feeling for it, like the Bride of Lammermoor. I told herthere was more than she knew connected with that bit of stone, andlife or death might hang on it. Then when I'd got it, I hardly knewwhat to do with it, for if it had soothed the poor boy delirious, the coming to his right mind might have been all the worse. "

Rosamond kissed her effusively, and she dreamily muttered, "He mustbe saved. " There was a sort of strange mist round her, as thoughshe knew not what she was doing, and she longed to be alone. Shewould not let Rosamond drive her beyond the Sirenwood gate, butinsisted on walking through the park alone in the darkness, by thatvery path where Frank had ten months ago exchanged vows with her. 

Rosamond turned back to the Hall. It was poor Cecil's pony-carriagethat she was driving, and she took it to the stable-yard, where herentreaty had obtained it from the coachman, whom she rewarded bysaying, "I was right, Brown, I fetched his best doctor, " and the oldservant understood, and came as near a smile as any one at Comptoncould do on such a day. 

"Is the carriage gone for Mr. Charnock?"

"Yes, my lady, I sent Alfred with it; I did not seem as if I couldgo driving into Wil'sbro' on such a day. "

Rosamond bade a kind farewell to the poor old coachman, and waswalking homewards, when she saw a figure advancing towards her, strangely familiar, and yet hat and coat forbade her to believe ither husband, even in the dusk. She could not help exclaiming, "Miles!"

"Yes!" he said, coming to a standstill. "Are you Rosamond?"

"I am;--Anne is quite well and Frank better. Oh! this will do themgood! You know--"

"Yes--yes, I know, " he said hastily, as if he could not bear to lethimself out to one as yet a stranger. "My mother?"

"Absorbed in Frank too much to feel it yet fully; Anne watches themboth. Oh! Miles, what she has been!" and she clasped his handagain. "Let me call her. "

And Rosamond opened the hall door just as some instinct, for itcould hardly have been sense of hearing, had brought Anne upon thestairs, where, as Miles would have hurried up to her, she seemed, inthe light gray dress she still wore, to hover like some spiriteluding his grasp like the fabled shades. 

"Oh no! you ought not. Infection--I am steeped in it. "

"Nonsense, " and she was gathered into the strong grasp that was homeand rest to her, while Miles was weeping uncontrollably as he heldher in his arms. "O, Nannie, Nannie! I did not think it would belike this. Why did they keep me till he was gone? No, I did notget the telegram, I only heard at the station. They let me go thismorning, and I did think I should have been in time. " He loosedhimself from her, and hung over the balustrade, struggling with astrong man's anguish, then said in a low voice, "Did he want me?"

"He knew it was your duty, " said Anne. "We all were thankful youwere kept from infection, and he said many little things, but thechief was that he trusted you too much to leave any specialmessages. Hark! that must be Mr. Charnock, Cecil's father! I mustgo and receive him. Stay back, Miles, you can't now--you know myroom--"

He signed acquiescence, but lingered in the dark to look down andsee how, though Rosamond had waited to spare them this reception, his wife's tall graceful figure came forward, and her kindlycomforting gestures, as the two sisters-in-law took the newcomerinto the drawing-room, and in another minute Anne flitted up to himagain. "That good Rosamond is seeing to Mr. Charnock, " she said;"will you come, Miles? I think it will do your mother good; onlyquietly, for Frank knows nothing. "

Mrs. Poynsett still sat by Frank. To Miles's eyes he was a fearfulspectacle, but to Anne there was hourly progress; the sunkendejected look was gone, and though there was exhaustion, there wasrest; but he was neither sleeping nor waking, and showed no heedwhen his brother dropped on one knee by his mother's side, put anarm round her waist, and after one fervent kiss laid his black headon her lap, hiding his face there while she fondled his hair, andsaid, "Frank, Frankie dear, here's Miles come home. " He did notseem to hear, only his lips murmured something like 'Anne, ' and thetender hand and ready touch of his unwearied nurse at once fulfilledhis need, while his mother whispered, "Miles, she is our blessing!"

Poor Miles! Never had sailor a stranger, though some may have hadan even sadder, return. He had indeed found his wife, but hers wasthe only hand that could make Frank swallow the sustenance that heneeded every half-hour, or who knew how to relieve him. Indeed, even the being together in the sick-room was not long possible, forAnne was called to the door. Mr. Charnock was asking to see Mrs. Poynsett. Would Mrs. Miles come and speak to him?

Mr. Charnock was a small and restless man with white hair, littleblack eyes, looking keener than they were, and a face which hadevidently been the mould of Cecil's. He was very kind, with a fullpersuasion that the consolations of his august self must beinfallible; but this was coupled with an inclination to reproveeverybody for the fate that had left his cherished darling achildless widow at two-and-twenty. To take him to Frank's room wasimpossible, and he had to be roundly told so. Neither had he seenhis daughter. She was very weak, but recovering, and Grindstone, whom he had seen and talked with, was as strenuous in deprecatingany excitement as he was nervous about it. So he could only bedisposed of in his room till dinner-time, when he came down preparedto comfort the family, but fulfilled his mission rather by doingsuch good as a blister, which lessens the force of the malady bycounter-irritation. 

Julius came up to be with Miles, and to help them through thedinner, the first which had been laid for many a long day. Hisenquiry for Cecil was answered: "She is progressing as favourablyas there can be reason to expect, but I have not seen her. I followthe judgment of her faithful Grindstone. "

"Then she still knows nothing--"

"Of her bereavement? No. Her state does not yet warrant it. Infact, I almost wish I had obeyed my original impulse, and broughtdown Venn to make the melancholy communication. "

To every one's surprise Anne bristled up, saying, "Why, here isJulius, Mr. Charnock!"

Mr. Charnock bowed: "I understand that my Cousin Julius has beenengrossed by his wife's family and by the adjoining parish, the careof which he has assumed. "

Anne fairly coloured up, and exclaimed, "Julius has been our main-stay and help in everything--I can't think how he has done it. Hehas been here whenever we needed him, as well as at Wil'sbro', wherepeople have been dying everywhere, the poor Vicar and all--"

"Far be it from me to discourage philanthropy, " said Mr. Charnock, "only I would have it within due bounds. I am an old-fashionedsquire, of a school, it may be, antiquated, an advocate of theparochial system; and I cannot help thinking that if this had beenclosely adhered to by hot-headed young clergymen, my poor childmight not have been a childless widow at two-and-twenty. "

Julius was too much tired and too sad-hearted to heed greatly whatMr. Charnock said. It was so strange to have Miles in sight, yet tofeel so unable to be glad, that he scarcely heard anything. ButAnne again took up the cudgels: "Mr. Charnock, you don't supposethat it was anything Julius did that brought this fever here. Itwas going to the town-hall among the drains. "

"My dear Mrs. Miles Charnock, I am sure your husband will agree withme that sanitary arrangements and all connected with them are beyondthe range of ladies, who are happily exempted from all knowledge ofthe subject. "

Anne could not say aloud that she wished Cecil had held thisopinion, but she subsided, while Mr. Charnock prosed on, askingquestions about the arrangements, and seeming shocked to hear thatthe funeral must be early the next day, this being one of the primeinjunctions of the doctors, and that the one had been asked toattend it. It made him sigh again for his poor daughter, as hehanded Anne in to dinner. She did not stay half through it, for itwas again the time for feeding Frank. Miles went half way up-stairswith her and returned, looking very wistful. Julius smiled at him, "Your wife is too valuable, Miles; she is every one's property. "

"It must be very gratifying to you, " added Mr. Charnock, "to findhow example and superior society have developed the native qualitiesyour discernment detected in the charming young lady who has justquitted us. It was a most commendable arrangement to send her toenjoy the advantages of this place. "

"I sent her to be a comfort to my mother, " said Miles, bluntly. 

"And so she has been, " said Julius, fervently, but sotto voce. 

"I understand, " said Mr. Charnock; "and as I was saying, my dearCecil expressed from the first her desire to assist in forming herstranger sister-in-law, and I am happy to see the excellent effect. I should scarcely have guessed that she came from a colony. "

"Indeed, " Miles answered dryly. 

Mr. Charnock might have it his own way, if he liked to think Annehad been a Hottentot till Cecil reclaimed her. 

The two brothers did feel something like joy when a message at lastinformed Mr. Charnock that his daughter was awake and he might seeher. They drew nearer together, and leant against one another, withabsolute joy in the contact. They were singularly alike in outline, voice, and manner, in everything but colouring, and had always beenone in spirit, except for the strong passion for adventure which hadtaken Miles to sea, to find he had chosen his profession too youngto count the cost, and he held to it rather by duty than taste. Slight as had been his seniority, poor Raymond had always been on asort of paternal pinnacle, sharing the administration with hismother, while Miles and Julius had paired on an equality. 

"Poor mother!" sighed Miles. "How is she to live without him?Julius, did he leave any word for me with you?"

"Above all, that Anne is the daughter for my mother, and so she is. "

"What, when this poor wife of Raymond's was said to be the superiorcreature?"

"You see her adoring father, " said Julius. "My Rose has necessarilyher own cares, but Anne has been my mother's silent aid and stay formonths, and what she has been in the present need no words can say. My mother has had no power to take the direction of anything, herwhole being has been absorbed, first in Raymond, now in Frank; andnot only has Anne been Frank's constant nurse through these fiveweeks of the most frightful fever and delirium I have seen at allhere, but she has had thought for all, and managed all the house andservants. We could do comparatively little, with Rose's brother illat home, and the baby so young; besides, there have been elevencases in the parish; and there was Wil'sbro'--but Anne has been theangel in the house. "

"I knew--I knew she would be everything when once the firststrangeness was over; but, poor girl, her heart is in Africa, and ithas been all exile here; I could see it in every letter, though shetried to make the best of it. If there had but been a child here!"

"I think you will find sufficient attachment to mother to weigh agood deal with her. Poor Anne, she did think us all very wicked atfirst, and perhaps she does still, but at least this has drawn usall nearer together. "

And then the brothers lowered their voices, and Miles heard the fullhistory of Raymond's last illness, with all the details that Juliuscould have spoken of to none else, while the sailor's tears slowlydropped through the hands that veiled his face. It was a greatdeprivation to him that he might not look on Raymond's face again, but the medical edict had been decisive, and he had come home to beof use and not a burthen. As Julius told Rosamond, he onlythoroughly felt the blessing of Miles's return when he bade goodnight and left the Hall, in peace and security that it had asufficient aid and stay, and that he was not deserting it. 

Miles had proposed to send his wife to bed and take the night watch, and he so far prevailed that she lay down in the adjoining room inher dressing gown while he sat by Frank's side. She lay where shecould feast her eyes upon him, as the lamplight fell on his ruddybrown cheek, black hair, and steady dark eye, so sad indeed, but sofull of quiet strength and of heedful alacrity even in stillness--alook that poor Raymond, with all his grave dignity, had never worn. That sight was all Anne wanted. She did not speak, she did notsleep; it was enough, more than enough, to have him there. She wastoo much tired, body and mind, after five weeks of strain, for morethan the sense that God had given her back what she loved, and thiswas 'more than peace and more than rest. '

CHAPTER XXXIBreaking Down

Funerals were little attended in these sad days. The living had tobe regarded more than the dead, and Raymond Poynsett was onlyfollowed to the grave by his two brothers, his father-in-law, andsome of the servants. Rosamond, however, weeping her soft profusetears, could hear everything from behind the blind at Terry's openwindow, on that moist warm autumn day; everything, for no exceptionwas made to the rule that coffins might not be taken into the churchduring this deadly sickness. She did hear a faltering and ablundering, which caused her to look anxiously at the tall whitefigure standing at the head of the grave, and, as she now saw, onceor twice catching at the iron railing that fenced in the Poynsetttombs. Neither her husband nor his brother seemed to notice whatshe observed. Absorbed in the sorrow and in one another, theyturned away after the service was ended and walked towards the Hall. Rosamond did not speak for a minute or two, then she turned round toTerry, who was sitting up in bed, with an awe-struck face, listeningas well as he could to the low sounds, and watching her. 

"Terry, dear, shall you mind my going to see after Herbert Bowater?I am sure they have let him overwork himself. If he is not fit totake Lady Tyrrell's funeral this afternoon, I _shall_ send toDuddingstone on my own responsibility. I will not have Julius doingthat!"

"Do you think he is ill--Bowater, I mean?" asked Terry. 

"I don't like it. He seemed to totter as he went across thechurchyard, and he blundered. I shall go and see. "

"Oh yes, go, " said Terry; "I don't want anybody. Don't hurry. "

Rosamond put on her hat and sped away to Mrs. Hornblower's. Asusual, the front door leading to the staircase was open, and, goingup, she knocked at the sitting-room door; but the only response wassuch a whining and scratching that she supposed the dogs had beenleft prisoners there and forgotten, and so she turned the lock--butthere was an obstruction; so that though Mungo and Tartar darted outand snuffed round her, only Rollo's paw and head appeared, and therewas a beseeching earnestness in his looks and little moans, as ifentreating her to come in. Another push, vigorously seconded byRollo within, showed her that it was Herbert's shoulder thathindered her, and that he was lying outstretched on the floor, apparently just recalled to consciousness by the push; for as Rolloproceeded to his one remedy of licking, there was a faint murmur of"Who--what--"

"It is I! What is the matter?"

"Lady Rose! I'll--I'll try to move--oh!" His voice died away, andRosamond thrust in her salts, and called to Mrs. Hornblower forwater, but in vain. However, Herbert managed to move a little toone side. She squeezed into the doorway, hastily brought water fromhis bedroom within, and, kneeling down by him, bathed his face, sothat he revived to say, in the same faint voice, "I'm so sorry Imade such mulls. I couldn't see. I thought I knew it by heart. "

"Never mind, never mind, dear Herbert! You are better. Couldn'tyou let me help you to the sofa?"

"Oh, presently;" and as she took his head on her lap, "Thank you; Idid mean to hold out till after this day's work; but it is all rightnow Bindon is come. "

"Come!--is he?" she joyfully exclaimed. 

"Yes, I saw him from the window. I was getting up to hail him whenthe room turned upside down with me. "

"There's his step!" now exclaimed Rosamond. "Squeeze in, Mr. Bindon; you are a very welcome sight. "

Mr. Bindon did make his way in, and stood dismayed at the black masson the floor. Rosamond and Rollo, one on each side of Herbert'sgreat figure, in his cassock, and the rosy face deadly white, whileMungo and Tartar, who hated Mr. Bindon, both began to bark, and thusdid the most for their master, whose call of 'Quiet! you brutes, 'seemed to give him sudden strength. He took a grip of Rollo's curlyback, and, supported by Mr. Bindon, dragged himself to the sofa andfell heavily back on it. 

"Give him some brandy, " said Mr. Bindon, hastily. 

"There's not a drop of anything, " muttered Herbert; "it's all gone--"

"To Wil'sbro', " explained Rosamond; then seeing the scared face ofDilemma at the door, she hastily gave a message, and sent her flyingto the Rectory, while Mr. Bindon was explaining. 

"I wish I had known. I never will go out of the reach of lettersagain. I saw in the Times, at Innspruck, a mention of typhoid feverhere, and I came back as fast as trains would bring me; but toolate, I fear. "

"You are welcome, indeed, " repeated Rosamond. "Herbert has brokendown at last, after doing more than man could do, and I am mostthankful that my husband should be saved the funerals at Wil'sbro'. "

Mr. Bindon, whose face showed how shocked he was, made a fewinquiries. He had learnt the main facts on his way, but had beenseeking his junior to hear the details, and he looked, like thewarrior who had missed Thermopylae, ashamed and grieved at hisholiday. 

The bottle Rosamond had sent for arrived, and there was enoughvigour restored to make her say, "Here's a first service, Mr. Bindon, to help this poor fellow into bed. "

"No, no!" exclaimed Herbert. 

"You are not going to say there's nothing the matter with you?" saidRosamond, as a flush passed over the pale face. 

"No, " he said; "but I want to go home. I should have taken a fly atWil'sbro'. Cranky will see to me without bothering anybody else. If you would send for one--"

"I don't think I can till I know whether you are fit to move, " saidRosamond. "I desired Dilemma to tell them to send Dr. Worth herewhen he comes to Terry. Besides, is it quite right to carry _this_into another place?"

"I never thought of that, " said Herbert. "But they would shut meup; nobody come near me but Cranky. " But there a shivering fitcaught him, so that the sofa shook with him, and Rosamond coveredhim with rugs, and again told him bed was the only place for him, and he consented at last, holding his head as he rose, dizzy withthe ache. 

"Look here, Lady Rose, " he said, falling back into a sitting postureat the first attempt, "where's my writing-case? If I go off myhead, will you give this to the Rector, and ask him if it will beany good in the matter he knows of?" and he handed her an envelope. "And this keep, " he added, giving her one addressed to his father. "Don't let him have it till it's all over. You know. " Then he tookup a pen and a sheet of paper, and got as far, with a shaking hand, as 'Dear Crank--' but there he broke down, and laid his head on thetable, groaning. 

"I'll do it. What shall I say, dear Herbert?"

"Only tell her to come to me, " he gasped. "Cranstoun--our oldnurse. Then I'll be no trouble. "

While Mr. Bindon helped Herbert into his room, Rosamond sped home tosend for Mrs. Cranstoun, arrange for the care of the new patient inthe intervening hours, and fetch some of those alleviations of whichexperience had taught the use. Mr. Bindon came to meet her on herreturn, carefully shutting the door, and saying, "Lady Rosamond, canhe be delirious already? He is talking of being plucked for hisOrdination. "

"Too true, " said Rosamond. "I thought it a great shame to be sohard on a man with _that_ in him; but I believe you expected it?"

"No; I may have said he would fail, but I never expected it. "

"Fail, indeed! Fancy a man being turned back who has worked nightand day--night and day--doing all the very hardest services--neverresting! Very likely killing himself!" cried Rosamond hotly. "MayI come back to him? Terry can spare me, and if you will go toWil'sbro' I'll stay till my husband comes, or the doctor. TheSisters will tell you what to do. "

Herbert was, however, so much more comfortable for being in bed, that he was able to give Mr. Bindon directions as to the immediatecares at Wil'sbro'; but he was distressed at occupying Lady Rose, his great object being to be no trouble to anybody, though he hadseen so much of the disease as to have been fully aware that it hadbeen setting in for the last two days, yet his resolution to sparehis Rector had kept him afoot till he had seen other help arrive. He declared that he wanted nobody but Rollo, who could fetch andcarry, and call any one, if only the doors were open, and really thecreature's wistful eyes and gentle movements justified thecommendation. 

"Only, " said Herbert anxiously, "I suppose this is not catching fordogs. You'll make a home for him Lady Rose?" he added. "I shouldlike you to have him, and he'll be happier with you than with anyone else. "

"Herbert, I can't have you talk of that. "

"Very well, " he said, quietly. "Only you will keep my dear oldfellow--I've had him from a puppy--and he is but three years oldnow. "

Rosamond gave all promises, from her full heart, as she fondled thesoft, wise black head. 

Herbert was unhappy too about Mrs. Hornblower's trouble. Harry hadbeen one of the slighter cases, and was still in his room, a gooddeal subdued by the illness, and by the attention the lodger hadshown him; for Herbert had spent many hours, when he had beensupposed to be resting, in relieving Mrs. Hornblower, and she wasnow in a flood of gratitude, only longing to do everything for himherself. Had he not, as she declared, saved her son, body and soul?

The most welcome sight was Julius, who came down in dismay as soonas he could leave the Hall. "I am so glad, " said the patient; "Iwant to talk things over while my head is clearer than it ever maybe again. "

"Don't begin by desponding. These fevers are much less severe nowthan six weeks ago. "

"Yes; but they always go the hardest with the great big strong youngfellows. I've buried twelve young men out of the whole forty-five. "

"Poor lads, I doubt if their life had been such a preparation asyours. "

"Don't talk of my life. A stewardship I never set myself tocontemplate, and so utterly failed in. I've got nothing to carry tomy God but broken vows and a wasted year. "

"Nothing can be brought but repentance. "

"Yes, but look at others who have tried, felt their duties, andcared for souls; while I thought only of my vows as a restraint, andtried how much pleasure I could get in spite of them. A prettystory of all the ministry I shall ever have. "

"These last weeks!"

"Common humanity--nonsense! I should always have done as much;besides, I was crippled everywhere, not merely by want of power as apriest, but by having made myself such a shallow, thoughtless ass. But that was not what I wanted to say. It was about Gadley and hisconfession. "

"O, Herbert! I am afraid I was very unkind that night. I did notthink of anything but our own trouble, nor see how much it had costyou. "

"Of course not--nonsense. You had enough to think of yourself, andI was only ashamed of having bored you. "

"And when I think of the state of that room, I am afraid it was thenyou took in the poison. "

"Don't say _afraid_. If it was for Jenny, I shall have done somegood in the world. But the thing is--is it good? Will it clearDouglas? I suppose what he said to you was under seal ofconfession?"

"Scarcely so, technically; but when a man unburthens himself on hisdeath-bed, and then, so far from consenting, shows terror and dismayat the notion of his words being taken down as evidence, it seems tome hardly right or honourable to make use of them--though it wouldright a great wrong. But what did you get from him?"

"I gave Lady Rose the paper. He raved most horribly for an hour ortwo, as if all the foul talk of his pot-house had got into hisbrain, " said Herbert, with a shudder. "Rector, Rector, pray for me, that I mayn't come out with _that_ at any rate. It has haunted meever since. Well, at last he slept, and woke up sinking butconscious, knew me, and began to ask if this was death, and wasfrightened, clutching at me, and asking to be held, and what hecould do. I told him at least he could undo a wrong, if he wouldonly authorize us to use what he said to clear Douglas; and then, asSister Margaret had come across, I wrote as well as I could:"George Gadley authorizes what he said to the Rev. Julius Charnockto be used as evidence;" and I suppose he saw us sign it, if hecould see at all, for his sight was nearly gone. "

Julius drew a long breath. 

"And now, what was it?" said Herbert. 

"Well, the trio--Moy, young Proudfoot, and Tom Vivian--detained aletter of my mother's, with a cheque in it, and threw the blame ofit on Archie Douglas. They thought no one was in the office butthemselves; but Gadley was a clerk there, and was in the outer room, where he heard all. He came to Moy afterwards, and has been preyingon him for hush-money ever since. "

"And this will set things straight?"

"Yes. How to set about the public justification I do not yet see;but with your father, and all the rest, Archie's innocence will beas plain as it always has been to us. "

"Where is he?"

"On an ostrich farm at Natal. "

"Whew!--we must have him home. Jenny can't be spared. Poor Jenny, when she hears that, it will make all other things light to her. "

"What is their address?"

"No, don't write. Mamma has had a fresh cold, and neither my fathernor Jenny could leave her. Let them have a little peace till itgets worse. There will be plenty of time, if it is to be a twenty-eight days business like the others. Poor mamma!" and he rolled hishead away; then, after some minutes of tossing and shivering, heasked for a prayer out of the little book in his pocket. "I shouldknow it, but my memory is muddled, I think. "

The book--a manual for sick-rooms--was one which Julius had givenhim new five weeks back. It showed wear already, having been usedas often in that time as in six ordinary years of parish work. Bythe time the hard-pressed doctor came, it was plain that the feverwas setting in severely, aggravated no doubt by the dreadful nightat the 'Three Pigeons, ' and the unrelaxed exertions ever since; forhe was made to allow that he had come home in the chill morning air, cold, sickened, and exhausted; had not chosen to disturb anybody, and had found no refreshment but a raw apple--the last drop of winehaving been bestowed on the sick; had lain down for a short sleepworse than waking, and had neither eaten nor slept since, but workedon by sheer strength of will and muscle. When Julius thought of thecherishing care that he had received himself, he shuddered, with asort of self-reproach for his neglect; and the doctor, though good-humouredly telling Herbert not to think he knew anything about hisown symptoms, did not conceal from Julius that enough harm had beendone in these few days to give the fine Bowater constitution a hardstruggle. 

"Grown careless, " he said. "Regular throwing away of his life. "

Careless Herbert might have been, but Julius wondered whether thismight not be losing of the life to find it. 

Cranstoun or Cranky arrived, a charming old nurse, much gratified inthe midst of her grief, and inclination to scold. She summarilysent off Mungo and Tartar by the conveyance that brought her, andwould have sent Rollo away, but that Herbert protested against it, and no power short of an order from him would have taken the dogfrom his bedside. 

And Mr. Bindon returned from Wil'sbro' in unspeakable surprise. "The heroes of the occasion, " he said, "were Bowater and Mrs. Duncombe! Every sick person I visited, and there were fourteen inall stages, had something to say of one or other. Poor things, howtheir faces fell when they saw me instead of his bright, honestface! 'Cheering the very heart of one!' as a poor woman said;'That's what I calls a true shepherd, ' said an old man. You don'treally mean he was rejected at the Ordination?'"

"Yes, and it will make him the still truer shepherd, if he is onlyspared!"

"The Sisters can't say enough of him. They thought him very illyesterday, and implored him to take care of himself; but he declaredhe could not leave these two funerals to you. But, after all, he isless amazing to me than Mrs. Duncombe. She has actually been livingat the hospital with the Sisters. I should not have known her. "

"Great revolutions have happened in your absence. Much that hasdrawn out her sterling worth, poor woman. "

"I shall never speak harshly again, I hope. It seems to be ajudgment on me that I should have been idling on the mountains, while those two were thus devoting themselves to my Master in Hispoor. "

"We are thankful enough to have you coming in fresh, instead ofbreaking down now. Have you a sermon? You will have to takeWil'sbro' to-morrow. Driver won't come. He wrote to thechurchwardens that he had a cold, and that his agreement was withpoor Fuller. "

"And you undertook the Sunday?"

"Yes. They would naturally have no Celebration, and I thoughtHerbert's preaching in the midst of his work would be good for them. You never heard such an apology and confession as the boy made toour people the first Sunday here, begging them to bear with him. "

"Then I can't spare you anything here?"

"Yes, much care and anxiety. The visitation has done its worst inour house. We have got into the lull after the storm, and you neednot be anxious about me. There is peace in what I have to do now. It is gathering the salvage after the wreck. "

Then Julius went into his own house, where he found Terry alone, and, as usual, ravenously hungry. 

"Is Bowater really ill?" he asked. 

"I am afraid there is no believing otherwise, Terry, " said Julius. "You will have to spare Rose to him sometimes, till some one comesto nurse him. "

"I would spare anything to him, " said Terry, fervently. "Julius, itis finer than going into battle!"

"I thought you did not care much for battles, Terry. "

"If it was battles, I should not mind, " said the boy; "it ispeaceful soldiering that I have seen too much of. But don't youbother my father, Julius, I won't grumble any more; I made up mymind to that. "

"I know you did, my boy; but you did so much futile arithmetic, andso often told us that a+b-c equalled Peter the Great, that Dr. Worthsaid you must not be put to mathematics for months to come, and Ihave told your father that if he cannot send you to Oxford, we willmanage it. "

A flush of joy lighted up the boy's face. "Julius, you are a brickof a brother!" he said. "I'll do my best to get a scholarship. "

"And the best towards that you can do now is to get well as soon aspossible. "

"Yes. And you lie down on the sofa there, Julius, and sleep--Rosewould say you must. Only I want to say one thing more, please. IfI do get to Oxford, and you are so good, I've made up my mind to onething. It's not only for the learning that I'll go; but I'll try tobe a soldier in your army and Bowater's. That's all that seems tome worth the doing now. "

So Julius dropped asleep, with a thankworthy augury in his ears. Itis not triumph, but danger and death that lead generous spirits eachto step where his comrade stood!

CHAPTER XXXIIThe Salvage

Frank was certainly better. Ever since that sight of Eleonora hehad been mending. If he muttered her name, or looked distressed, itwas enough to guide his hand to her token, he smiled and sleptagain; and on the Sunday morning his throat and mouth were so muchbetter, that he could both speak and swallow without nearly so muchpain; but one of his earliest sayings was, "Louder, please, I can'thear. When does she come?"

Mrs. Poynsett raised her voice, Anne tried; but he frowned andsighed, and only when Miles uttered a sea-captain's call close tohis ear, did he smile comprehension, adding, "Were you shouting?" afact only too evident to those around. 

"Then I'm deaf, " he said. And Anne wrote and set before him, "Wehope it will pass as you get better. " He looked grateful, but therewas little more communication, for his eyes and head were stillweak, and signs and looks were the chief currency; however, Juliusmet Eleonora after morning service, to beg her to renew her visit, after having first prepared her for what she would find. Eleonorawas much distressed; then paused a minute, and said, "It does himgood to see me?"

"It seems to be the one thing that keeps him up, " said Julius, surprised at the question. 

"O, yes! I can't--I could not stay away, " she said. "It is all sowrong together; yet this last time cannot hurt!"

"Last time?"

"Yes; did you not know that papa has set his heart on going toLondon to-morrow? Yes, early to-morrow. And it will be for ever. We shall never see Sirenwood again. "

She stood still, almost bent with the agony of suppressed grief. 

"I am very sorry; but I do not wonder he wishes for change. "

"He has been in an agony to go these three days. It was all I coulddo to get him to stay to-day. You don't think it will do Frankharm? Then I would stay, if I took lodgings in the village; butotherwise--poor papa--I think it is my duty--and he can't do withoutme. "

"I think Frank is quite capable of understanding that you are forcedto go, and that he need not be the worse for it. "

"And then, " she lowered her voice, "it does a little reconcile methat I don't think we ought to go further into it till we canunderstand. I did make that dreadful vow. I know I ought not now;but still I did, in so many words. "

"You mean against a gambler?"

"If it had only been against a gambler; but I was stung, and wantedto guard myself, and made it against any one who had ever betted!If I go on, I must break it, you see, and if I do might it not bringmischief on him? I don't even feel as if it were _true_ to havecome to him on Friday, and now--yet they said it was the only chancefor his life. "

"Yes, I think it saved him then, and to disappoint him now mightquite possibly bring a relapse, " said Julius. "It seems to me thatyou can only act as seems right at the moment. When he is his ownman again, you will better have the power of judging about this vow, and if it ought to bind you. And so, it may really be well you donot see more of him, and that his weakness does not lead you furtherthan you mean. "

A tottering step, and an almost agonized, though very short sobunder the crape veil, proved to Julius that his counsel, thoughchiming in with her stronger, sterner judgment, was terrible to her, nor would he have given it, if he had not had reason to fear thatwhile she had grown up, Frank had grown down; and that, after thisillness, it would have to be proved whether he were indeed worthy ofthe high-minded girl whom he had himself almost thrown over in apassion. 

But there was no room for such misgivings when the electric shock ofactual presence was felt--the thin hollow-cheeked face shone withwelcome, the liquid brown eyes smiled with thankful sweetness, thefingers, fleshless, but cool and gentle, were held out; and thefaint voice said, "My darling! Once try to make me hear. "

And when, with all her efforts, she could only make him give a sortof smile of disappointment, she would have been stonyhearted indeedif she had not let him fondle her hand as he would, while shelistened to his mother's report of his improvement. With those eyesfixed in such content on her face, it seemed absolutely barbarous tofalter forth that she could come no more, for her father was takingher away. 

"My dear, you must be left with us, " cried Mrs. Poynsett. "Hecannot spare you. "

"Ah! but my poor father. He is lost without me. And I came of ageon Tuesday, and there are papers to sign. "

"What is it?" murmured Frank, watching their faces. 

Mrs. Poynsett gave her the pen, saying, "You must tell him, if it isto be. "

She wrote: "My father takes me to London to-morrow, to meet thelawyers. "

His face fell; but he asked, "Coming back--when?"

She shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears, as she wrote:"Sirenwood is to be put up to auction. "

"Your sister?" began Frank, and then his eye fell on her crapetrimmings. He touched her sleeve, and made a low wail. "Oh! isevery one dead?"

It was the first perception he had shown of any death, thoughmourning had been worn in his room. His mother leant down to kisshim, bidding Lena tell him the truth; and she wrote:

"I am left alone with poor papa. Let me go--now you can do withoutme. "

"Can I?" he asked, again grasping her hand. 

She pointed to his mother and Anne; but he repeated, "You--you!"

"When you are better we will see how it is to be, " she wrote. 

He looked sadly wistful. "No, I can't now. Something was verywrong; but it won't come back. By and by. If you wouldn't go--"

But his voice was now more weak and weary, tired by the effort, anda little kneeling by him, allowing his tender touch, soothed him, enough to say submissively, "Good-bye, then--I'll come for you"--wherewith he faltered into slumber. 

Rosamond had just seen her off in the pony carriage, and was on theway up-stairs, when she stumbled on a little council, consisting ofDr. Worth, Mr. Charnock, and Grindstone, all in the gallery. "Awidow in her twenty-second year. Good heavens!" was the echo sheheard; and Grindstone was crying and saying, "She did it for thebest, and she could not do it, poor lamb, not if you killed her forit;" and Dr. Worth said, "Perhaps Lady Rosamond can. You see, LadyRosamond, Mrs. Grindstone, whose care I must say has been devoted, has hitherto staved off the sad question from poor young Mrs. Poynsett, until now it is no longer possible, and she is becoming soexcited, that--"

Cecil's bell rang sharply. 

"I cannot--I cannot! In her twenty-second year!" cried her father, wringing his hands. 

Grindstone's face was all tears and contortions; and Rosamond, recollecting her last words with poor Cecil, sprang forward, bothmen opening a way for her. 

Cecil was sitting up in bed, very thin, but with eager eyes andflushed cheeks, as she held out her hands. "Rosamond! Oh! Butaren't you afraid?"

"No, indeed, I'm always in it now, " said Rosamond, kissing her, andlaying her down; "it has been everywhere. "

"Ah! then they sent him away--Raymond?" then clutching Rosamond'shand, and looking at her with searching eyes, "Tell me, has hismother any right! Would you bear it if she kept _you_ apart?"

"Ah! Cecil, it was not her doing. "

"You don't mean it was his own? Papa is not afraid. You are notafraid. If it had been he, I wouldn't have feared anything. Iwould have nursed him day and night till--till I made him care forme. "

"Hush, dear Cecil, " said Rosamond, with great difficulty. "I knowyou would, and so would he have done for you, only the cruel feverkept you apart. "

"The fever! He had it?"

"Yes, he _had_ it. "

"But he is better. I am better. Let me be taken to him. Hismother is not there now. I heard them say she was in Frank's room. Call papa. He will carry me. "

"Oh! poor, poor Cecil. His mother only went to Frank when he didnot need her any more. " And Rosamond hid her face on the bed, afraid to look. 

Cecil lay back so white, that Grindstone approached with some drops, but this made her spring up, crying, "No, no, don't come near me!You never told me! You deceived me!"

"Don't, don't, ma'am--my dear Miss Charnock--now. It was all forthe best. You would not have been here now. "

"And then I should be with him. Rosamond, send her away, I can'tbear her. She sent him away from me that night. I heard her. "

"My dear Cecil, this will not do. You are making your fatherdreadfully unhappy. Dear Raymond stayed with you till he reallycould not sit up any longer, and then he kissed you. "

"Kissed me! Oh, where? Did you see? No, don't ask Grindstone. She made me think he had left me, and fancy--oh, Rosamond! such--such things! And all the time--"

The moaning became an anguish of distress, unable to weep, liketerrible pain, as the poor young thing writhed in Rosamond's arms. It was well that this one sister understood what had been in Cecil'sheart, and did believe in her love for Raymond. Rosamond, too, hadcaressing power beyond any other of the family, and thus she couldbetter deal with the sufferer, striving, above all, to bring tearsby what she whispered to her as she held her to her bosom. Theywere a terrible storm at last, but Cecil clung to Rosamond throughall, absolutely screaming when Grindstone came near; poor Grindstonewho had been so devoted, though mistaken. Weakness, however, afterthe first violent agitation was soothed, favoured a kind of stunnedtorpor, and Cecil lay still, except when her maid tried to doanything for her, and then the passion returned. When old SusanAlston came with a message, she was at once recognized andmonopolized, and became the only servant whom she would suffer abouther. 

The inconvenience was great, but relapse was such an imminentdanger, that it was needful to give up everything to her; and Mr. Charnock, regarding his daughter's sufferings as the only ones worthconsideration, seemed to pursue Rosamond the instant she had satdown by the still feeble, weary, convalescent Terry, imploring herto return to Cecil with the irresistible force of tearful eyes andpiteous descriptions; and as Terry had a week's start in recovery, and was not a widow under twenty-two, he had to submit, and lie ascontentedly as he could in his solitude. 

Susan could be better spared to Cecil's morbid fancy of being waitedon by her who had attended her husband, for Miles and Anne weresufficient for Mrs. Poynsett and Frank. The long-sundered husbandand wife scarcely saw each other, except over Frank's bed, and Mr. Charnock was on the Captain's hands whenever he came beyond it. Onthe Wednesday, however, Julius, who had only once spoken to hisbrother alone, came up to the breakfast-table where he and Mr. Charnock were sitting, and hurt the feelings of the latter by firstasking for Frank. "He had slept all night, and only half woke whenMiles and Anne changed watch and gave him beef-tea. Cecil, verymoaning and restless--more fever about her, poor dear. When wouldLady Rosamond come up?--she was asking for her. " When she had seento a few things at home, given her brother his breakfast, and seento poor Herbert; he had had a dreadful night, and that Cranstoun_would_ shut the window unless some one defended him. Mr. Charnockbegan to resume his daughter's symptoms, when Julius, at the firstpause, said:

"Have you finished, Miles? Could you speak to me in the library aminute? I beg your pardon, Mr. Charnock, but my time is short. "

"I hope--I quite understand. Do not let me be in your way. " Andthe brothers repaired to the library, where Julius's first wordswere, "Miles, you must make up your mind. They are getting up arequisition to you to stand for Wil'sbro'. "

"To me?"

"You are the most obvious person, and the feeling for dear Raymondis so strong as to prevent any contest. Whitlock told Bindonyesterday that you should have no trouble. "

"I can't. It is absurd. I know nothing about it. My poor motherbred up Raymond for nothing else. Don't you remember how she madehim read history, volumes upon volumes, while I was learning nothingbut the ropes? I declare, Julius, there he goes. "

"Who?"

"Why, that old ass, down to hunt up poor Rosamond; I don't believehe thinks there's any one in the world but his daughter. I declareI'll hail him and stop him. "

"No, no, Miles, Rosamond can take care of herself. She won't cometill she has seen to her patients down there; and, after all, Cecil's is the saddest case, poor thing. To return. If you don'ttake to politics in the end, I think you should let them put you innow, if only as a stop-gap, or we shall get some one whom it may notbe easy to get rid of. "

"There's something in that, but I can't accept without knowing myposition, and I would not utter a word to disturb my mother till itoccurs to her of herself. "

"Now that Frank is better?"

"No. It will all come on her soon enough. "

"Would you stand if she made it right for you?"

"I can't tell. There would be no punishment so great to my poorAnne as to be dragged into society, and I don't know how she wouldbear it, even if she had no scruples. We never thought of anythingbut settling in Glen Fraser, only I wanted her to know you all. Ifthat poor Cecil only had a child we could be free to go back. PoorAnne!"

"Do you think she is still as homesick as at first?"

"Well, not quite, perhaps; but I never can get to talk to her, and Iknow it is a terrible sacrifice to her to live here at all, and Iwon't have her forced into a style of thing against her conscience. If they come to me, I shall tell them to take Mr. Bowater. "

"Poor Mr. Bowater! He will have little heart. "

"Who else is there? That fellow Moy would like it, I suppose. "

"That fellow Moy may have to change his note, " said Julius. "Ithink we have the means of clearing Archie, when we can see how touse them. "

Miles gave a sort of leap as he stood by the fire. "Tell me. Archie! I had no heart to write to him, poor fellow. "

"Write to him by all means, but say nothing here. " And Juliusbriefly repeated what Gadley had said. 

"I don't see that the scoundrel Moy deserves any consideration. "

"I don't know whether he does; but he has a good wife, ailing andsickly, and a daughter. He has lived in good report these manyyears, and I think it is due to him and to old Proudfoot not tospread the report before giving him warning. In fact, I am not surewhether we could proceed against him as things stand. "

"It is just what Raymond would have known, " said Miles, with a sigh;"but you are right, Julius, one ought to give him fair play. Ah!what's that, Jenkins?--Note from Lord Belfort? Wait for an answer. Can't they give one any peace?"

While Miles was reluctantly answering his note, Julius, resolving toact before he was forbidden, mounted to Frank's room, requested tospeak with his mother, and propelled her into the outer room, leaving Anne on guard. 

"Now then, my dear, " she said, "I have known a talk must soon come. You have all been very good to me to leave it so long. "

"I am come now without poor Miles's knowledge or consent, " saidJulius, "because it is necessary for him to know what to do. "

"He will give up the navy, " said his mother. "O, Julius! does herequire to be told that he--?" and she laid her head on her son'sshoulder. 

"It is what he cannot bear to be told; but what drives me on is thatWhitlock tells me that the Wil'sbro' people want to bring him in atonce, as the strongest proof of their feeling for Raymond. "

"Yes, " she raised her head proudly, "of course he must come forward. He need have no doubt. Send him to me, Julius, I will tell him toopen letters, and put matters in train. Perhaps you will write toGraves for me, if he does not like it, poor boy. "

She had roused herself into the woman of business, and when Miles, after some indignation at her having been disturbed, obeyed thesummons, she held out her arms, and became the consoler. 

"Come, my boy, " she said, "we must face it sooner or later. Youmust stand foremost and take up his work for him. "

"Oh, mother! mother! you know how little I am able, " said Miles, covering his face with his hands. 

"You do not bring his burthened heart to the task, " she said. "Ifyou had watched and felt with him, as perhaps only his mother could, you would know that I can be content that the long heartache shouldhave ceased, where the weary are at rest. Yes, Miles, I feel as ifI had put him to sleep after a long day of pain, as when he was alittle child. "

They hardened themselves to the discussion, Mrs. Poynsett explainingwhat she thought the due of her eldest son, only that Cecil'sjointure would diminish the amount at her disposal. Indeed, whenshe was once aroused, she attended the most fully; but when Milesfound her apologizing for only affording him the little house in thevillage, he cried out with consternation. 

"My dear, " she said, "it is best so; I will not be a burthen on youyoung ones. I see the mistake. "

"I know, " stammered Miles, "my poor Anne is not up to your mark--notclever like you or Jenny--but I thought you did like her prettyhandy ways. "

"I feel them and love them with all my heart; but I cannot have herhappiness and yours sacrificed to me. Yes, you boys love the oldnest; but even Julius and Rose rejoice in their own, and you mustsee what she really wishes, not what she thinks her duty. Take herout walking, you both need it badly enough. "

They ventured to comply, and eluding Mr. Charnock, went into thepark, silvery with the unstanched dews, and the leaves floating downone by one like golden rain. "Not much like the Bush, " said Miles. 

"No, " was all Anne durst say. 

"Poor Nan, how dreary it must have looked to you last year!"

"I am afraid I wrote very complaining letters!"

"Not complaining, but a direful little effort at content, showingthe more piteously, because involuntarily, what a mistake I hadmade. "

"No, no mistake. Indeed, Miles, it was not. Nothing else wouldhave cured me of the dreadful uncharitableness which was the chiefcause of my unhappiness, and if I had not been so forlorn, I shouldnever have seen how good and patient your mother was with me. Yes, I mean it. I read over my old diary and saw how tiresome andpresumptuous I was, and how wonderfully she bore with me, and so didJulius and Rosamond, while all the time I fancied them--noChristians. "

"Ah! you child! You know I would never have done it if I had knownyou were to be swamped among brides. At any rate, this poor oldplace doesn't look so woefully dismal and hateful to you now. "

"It could not, where you are, and where I have so many to know andlove. "

"You can bear the downfall of our Bush schemes?"

"Your duty is here now. "

"Are you grieved, little one?"

"I don't know. I should like to have seen mamma; but she does notneed me now as your mother does. "

"Then you are willing to be her daughter?"

"I have tried hard, and she is very kind; but I am far too dull andignorant for her. I can only wait upon her; but when she has youand Julius to talk to, my stupidity will not matter. "

"Would you be content to devote yourself to her, instead of making ahome of our own?"

"She can't be left alone in that great house. "

"The question is, can you be happy in it? or do you wish for a houseto ourselves?"

"You don't, Miles, it is your own home. "

"That's not the question. "

"Miles, why do you look at me so?"

"I was told to ascertain your wishes. "

"I don't wish anything--now I have you--but to be a comfort to yourmother. That is my first earthly wish just now. "

"If that be earthly, it has a touch of the heavenly, " muttered Milesto himself. "You will make it clear to mother then that you like togo on with her?"

"If she does not mind having me. "

"And Julius says it really cheered our dear Raymond to think youwould be the one to look after her! But that's not all, Nanny, I'veonly till to-morrow to decide whether I am to be Member forWil'sbro'. "

"Is that a duty?"

"Not such a duty as to bind me if it were altogether repugnant toyou. I was not brought up for it, and may be a mere stop-gap, butit is every man's duty to come to the front when he is called for, and do his utmost for his country in Parliament, I suppose, as muchas in action. "

"I see; but it would be leaving your mother alone a great deal. "

"Not necessarily. You could stay here part of the time, and I gobackwards and forwards, as Raymond did before his marriage. "

"It would be better than your being at sea. "

"But remember, " he added, "there is much that can't be shirked. Idon't mean currying popularity, but if one is in that position, there's no shutting oneself up. It becomes a duty to keep societygoing, and give it the sort of tone that a nice woman can do. Doyou see?"

"I think I do. Julius said so once. "

"So if we are to have such tears and despair as there were about theball in the Chimaera, then--"

"I was wrong then, " said Anne. "I did not behave at all well to youall that time, dear Miles; I have been sorry for it ever since Iunderstood. "

"It was not you, little one, it was Mr. Pilgrim. "

"No, it was not Mr. Pilgrim who made me cross. "

"Yes, it was. He exacted pledges that he had no right to lay onyour conscience, and your poor little conscience was in terriblestraits, and I was too angry to feel for it. Never mind all that;you have done with the fellow, and understand better now. "

"He thought he was right, and that only such abstinence could guardme. And, Miles, a promise is a promise, and I do not think I oughtto dance or play at cards. It is not that I think them wrong forothers, but I cannot break my word. Except those--I will dowhatever is fitting for your wife. "

"Spoken like a heroine!"

"I don't think I could ever give a tone. Rosamond could, if shetried, but I have no readiness and no training; but I do see thatthere is more good in being friendly like Jenny Bowater, than inavoiding everything, and as long as one does it because it is rightand loving, it can't be the world or worldliness. "

It was not lucidly expressed, but it satisfied the Captain. 

"All right, my bonnie Nance, I'll promise on my side never to askyou to go against your real conscience, and if you must have a Pope, I had rather it were Pope Julius than Pope Pilgrim. "

"Don't, Miles. Popes are all wrong, and I don't know whether Mr. Pilgrim would give the right hand of fellowship to Julius. "

Miles chuckled. "You may think yourself lucky you have not toadjust that question, Madame Nan. "

"There's the quarter chiming, Frank will want his beef-tea. "

Presently after Miles laid his hand on his mother's shoulder, andsaid, "Mother, here's a daughter who thinks you want to turn us outbecause she is too slow and stupid for your home child. " And hedrew Anne up blushing as if she were his freshly-won bride. 

"My dear, are you sure you don't want to go away from the old woman?Should you not be happier with him all to yourself?"

"I could not be happy if you were left, " said Anne. "May I go on aswe did last winter? I will try to do better now I have him to helpme. "

"My own dear child!"

That was the way Anne forgot her own people and her father's house. 

CHAPTER XXXIIIHerbert's Victory

And of our scholars let us learnOur own forgotten lore. --KEBLE

"Joan, Jenny, dearest old Joanie!" It was eagerly spoken, thoughthe voice was strangely altered that came from behind the floweredcurtain of that big bed, while the fingers drew it back, and Rolloraised his black muzzle near at hand. "Oh, Jenny! have you come tome?"

"My dear, dear, poor boy!"

"No kissing--it's not safe, " and he burrowed under the sheet. 

"As if I did not mean to do more for you than that! Besides, it isnot catching. "

"So I said, till it caught me. What a jolly cold hand! You've notcome in cold and hungry though?"

"No, indeed, Rosamond forced me to sit down to a whole spread. Asif one could eat with a knot in one's throat. "

"Mind you do, Jenny--it was what did for me. The Rector ordered menever to go about unfed; but one could not always--and there wassomething I have to tell you that drove all the rest out--"

"Dear Herbs! Papa can't talk of what you have done without tears. He longed to come, but we could not leave mamma without one of us, and he thought I could do the most for you. I have a note for you. "

"Forgiving me?"

"I should _think_ so. It is in my bag--"

"No, not this moment; I like to know it. And mammy--poor mammy--"

"She is as comforted as she can be that you have Cranky and me; andthen papa's being proud of you has cheered her--oh! so much. "

"I'm glad they can comfort themselves--"

"But, Herbert, dear, you must be much better; I did not expect tosee you so well. "

"I am not so bad between whiles, " said Herbert, wearily. "And, while I can, I've got something to tell you that will make it up toyou, and a great deal more. "

"Make it up?" said Jenny, looking with bewildered eyes at the dearface. 

"Yes, I made Gadley consent. The Rector has it in writing, and itwill do quite as well if I die. O, Jenny, woman, think of my neverknowing what you had gone through!"

"Is it about Archie?" said Jenny, beginning to tremble. 

"Yes. It will clear him. "

"I always knew he was clear. "

"Yes, but he can come back now all right. Eh! what an ass I am!I've begun at the wrong end. He wasn't drowned--it was all amistake; Miles saw him in Africa--Cranky, I say, come to her. "

"Yes, Master Herbert, you've been talking a great deal too much foryour sister just off a journey. You'll get the fever on again. Miss Joanna, you ought to know better than to let him run on; Isha'n't be able to let you do nothing for him if this is the way. "

"Was it too sudden, Joan?" said Herbert, wistfully, as she bent tokiss his brow with trembling lips. "I couldn't let any one tell youbut myself, while I could; but I don't seem able to go on. Is theRector there, Cranky?"

"Yes, sir, waiting in the parlour. "

"Rector, " and Julius hurried in at once, "take her and tell her. Ican't do it after all. "

"Is he alive?" whispered Jenny, so much overcome that Julius had tohold her up for a moment as he led her into the other room. 

"Really! She thinks me delirious, " said Herbert, rather amused. "Tell her all, Rector. "

"Really, Joan, " said Julius, putting her into the great chair, andholding her trembling hand. "Miles has seen him, has had him in hisship. "

"And you never told me!"

"He made Miles promise not to tell. "

"But he told you!"

"Yes, because it was Anne who gave the clue which led to hisdiscovery; but when he found we all thought him dead, he laid Milesunder the strictest charge to say nothing. He is on an ostrich farmin Natal, Jenny, well, and all that he ever was, and more too. Hetook your photograph from Miles's book. "

"And I never knew, " moaned Jenny, quite overcome. 

"He would not be persuaded that it was not more for your peace notto know of his life, and when Miles was put on honour, what could wedo? But now it is all changed. Since Herbert's discovery he neednot be a banished man any more. " And Julius told Jenny the mannerof the discovery. She listened, evidently gathering all in, andthen she asked: "And what have you done?"

"Nothing as yet. "

"Nothing! while there is this blot on Archie's name, and he isliving in exile, and that Moy is revelling in prosperity. Nothing!Why don't you publish it to every one?"

"My dear Jenny, I have only known it a week, and I have not beenable to find out where Mr. Moy is. "

"What, to have him taken up?"

"Taken up, no; I don't imagine he could be prosecuted after thislength of time and on this kind of evidence. No, to give himwarning. "

"Warning? To flee away, and never clear Archie! What are youabout, Julius? He ought to be exposed at once, if he cannot be madeto suffer otherwise. "

"Nay, Jenny, that would be hard measure. "

"Hard measure!" she interrupted; "what has my innocent Archie had?"

"Think of the old man, his wife and daughter, Jenny. "

"She's a Proudfoot. --And that girl the scandal of the country! Youwant to sacrifice Archie to them, Julius?"

"You are tired and shaken, Jenny, or you would see that all I wantto do is to act with common consideration and honour. "

She interrupted again. "What honour do you mean? You are notmaking it a secret of the confessional?"

"You are misunderstanding me, Joanna, " Julius gently said. "Herbert's vigil spared me from that difficulty, but--"

"Then you would have sacrificed Archie to this imaginary--"

"Hush, Jenny! I fear he is wandering again. Alas! it is the sadold refrain!"

As they came to the door together, Herbert's voice, under thatstrange change which wandering brings, was heard muttering, "Give anaccount of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward. "And Mrs. Cranstoun received them, with her head shaking, and tearfuleyes. "It has come on again, sir; I was afraid it would be too muchfor him. "

Herbert's prayer had been granted, inasmuch as the horrible ravingsthat he feared repeating never passed his lips. If he had gone downto the smoke of Tartarus to restore his sister's lover, none of itsblacks were cleaning to him; but whether conscious or wandering, theone thought of his wasted year seemed to be crushing him. It was acurious contrast between poor Mr. Fuller's absence of regret for aquarter of a century's supineness, and this lad's repentance fortwelve months' idleness. That his follies had been guileless inthemselves might be the very cause that his spirit had such power ofrepentance. His admiration of Lady Tyrrell had been burnt out, andhad been fancy, not heart, and no word of it passed his lips, farless of the mirth with the Strangeways. Habit sometimes brought thephrases of the cricket-field, but these generally ended in a shudderof self-recollection and prayer. 

The delirium only came with the accesses of fever, and whensensible, he was very quiet and patient, but always as one weigheddown by sense of failure in a trust. He never seemed to entertain ahope of surviving. He had watched too many cases not to be awarethat his symptoms were those that had been almost uniformly fatal, and he noted them as a matter of course. Dr. Easterby came to seehim, and was greatly touched; Herbert was responsive, but it was notthe ordinary form of comfort that he needed, for his sorrow wasneither terror nor despair. His heart was too warm and loving notto believe that his heavenly Father forgave him as freely as did hisearthly father; but that very hope made him the more grieved andashamed of his slurred task, nor did he view his six weeks atWil'sbro' as any atonement, knowing it was no outcome of repentance, but of mere kindliness, and aware, as no one else could be, how hispast negligence had hindered his full usefulness, so that he onlysaw his failures. As to his young life, he viewed it as a mortallywounded soldier does, as a mere casualty of the war, which he waspledged to disregard. He _did_ perhaps like to think that the fatalnight with Gadley might bring Archie back, and yet Jenny did notgive him the full peace in her happiness which he had promisedhimself. 

Joanna had suffered terribly, far more than any one knew, and hermind did not take the revulsion as might have been expected. Herlighthouse was shining again when she thought it extinguished forever, but her spirits could not bear the uncertainty of the spark. She could not enter into what Miles and Julius both alike told her, of the impossibility of their mother beginning a prosecution formoney embezzled ten years back, when no living witness existed, nothing but the scrap of paper written by Herbert, and signed by himand Margaret Strangeways, authorizing Julius Charnock to use whathad been said by the dying, half-delirious man. What would a jurysay to such evidence? And when Julius said it only freed himselfmorally from the secrecy, poor Jenny was bitter against hisscruples, even though he had never said more than that he shouldhave been perplexed. The most bitter anti-ritualist could hardlyhave uttered stronger things than she thought, and sometimes said, against what seemed to her to be keeping Archie in banishment; whilethe brothers' reluctance to expose Mr. Moy, and blast his reputationand that of his family, was in her present frame of mind anincomprehensible weakness. People must bear the penalty of theirmisdeeds, families and all, and Mrs. And Miss Moy did not deserveconsideration: the pretensions of the mother had always been halfscorn, half thorn, to the old county families, and the fast airs ofthe daughter had been offensive enough to destroy all pity for her. If an action in a Court of Justice were, as Miles and Julius toldher, impossible, --and she would not believe it, except on the wordof a lawyer, --public exposure was the only alternative for rightingArchie, and she could not, or would not, understand that they wouldhave undergone an action for libel rather than not do their best toclear their cousin, but that they thought it due to Mr. Moy to givehim the opportunity of doing the thing himself; she thought itfolly, and only giving him time and chance for baffling them. 

The strange thing was, that not only when she argued with the twobrothers, but when she brooded and gave way to these thoughts as shekept her watch, it probably made her less calm--for an access ofrestlessness and fever never failed to come on--with Herbert. Probably she was less calm externally, and the fret of face andmanner communicated itself to him, for the consequences were soinvariable that Cranstoun thought they proved additionally what sheof course believed, that Miss Joan could not be trusted with herbrother. At last Jenny, in her distress and unwillingness toabandon Herbert to Cranky's closed windows, traced cause and effect, and made a strong resolution to banish the all-pervading thought, and indeed his ever-increasing weakness and danger filled her mindso as to make this easier and easier, so that she might no longerhave to confess to herself that Rollo was a safer companion, sinceHerbert, with a hand on that black head, certainly only derivedsoothing influences from those longing sympathetic eyes. And hecould not but like the testimony of strong affection that came tohim. The whole parish was in consternation, and inquiries, and veryodd gifts, which he was supposed to 'fancy, ' came from all overCompton as well as from Strawyers, and were continually showeringupon his nurses, so that Mrs. Hornblower and Dilemma spent theirlives in mournful replies over the counter, and fifty times a day hewas pronounced to be 'as bad as he could be to be alive. ' Oldservants and keepers made progresses from Strawyers, to see MasterHerbert, and were terribly aggrieved because Miss Bowater kept themout of his room, as much for their sake as his; and Mrs. Cranstounpointed to the open lattice which she believed to be killing him, assurely as it gave aches to her rheumatic shoulder. 

Julius thought almost as much as Jenny could do of the means ofrecalling Archie; but it was necessary to wait until he couldcommunicate with Mr. Moy, and his hands were still over-full, forthough much less fatal, the fever smouldered on, both in Wil'sbro'and Compton, and as St. Nicholas was a college living which hadhitherto been viewed as a trump card, it might be a long time goingthe round of the senior fellows. 

Julius had just been at poor Mrs. Fuller's, trying to help her toput her complicated affairs in order, so as to be ready for a moveas soon as one daughter, who had the fever slightly, could be takenaway, and he was driving home again, when he overtook Mrs. Duncombeand offered her a lift, for her step was weary. She was indeedaltered, pale, with cheek-bones showing, and all the lustre andsparkle gone out of her, while her hat was as rigidly dowdy as MissSlater's. 

She roused herself to ask feebly after the remaining patients. 

"Cecil is really getting better at last, " he said. "Her fatherwants to take her to Portishead next week. "

"And young Bowater?"

"No change. His strength seems to be going. "

"I wouldn't pity him, " sighed Bessie Duncombe; "he has only seen thebest end of life, and has laid it down for something worth! I'msure he and your brother are the enviable ones. "

"Nay, Mrs. Duncombe, you have much to work for and love in thislife. "

"And I must go away from everything just as I had learnt to valueit. Bob has taken a house at Monaco, and writes to me to bring thechildren to join him there!"

"At Monaco?"

"At Monaco! Yes, and I know that it is all my own fault. I mighthave done anything with him if I had known how. But what could youexpect? I never saw my mother; I never knew a home; I was bred upat a French school, where if one was not a Roman Catholic there wasnot a shred of religion going. I married after my first ball. Nobody taught me anything; but I could not help having brains, so Iread and caught the tone of the day, and made my own line, while hewent on his. "

"And now there is a greater work for you to do, since you havelearnt to do it. "

"Ah! learnt too late. When habits are confirmed, and home stationforfeited--What is there left for him or my poor boys to do?"

"A colony perhaps--"

"Damaged goods, " she said, smiling sadly. 

"Then are you going?"

"As soon as I have seen this fever out, and can dispose of thethings here. I have just been to Moy's office to see about gettingrid of the lease. "

"Is Mr. Moy come home?"

"Yes. Have you not heard?"

"What?--Not the fever?"

"No. Worse I should say. Gussie has gone off and got married toHarry Simmonds. "

"The man at the training stables?"

"Yes. They put up their banns at the Union at Brighton, and weremarried by the Registrar, then went off to Paris. They say it willkill her mother. The man is a scoundrel, who played Bob false, andwon largely by that mare. And the girl has had the cheek to writeto me, " said Mrs. Duncombe, warming into her old phraseology--"to_me_!--to thank me for opportunities of meeting, and to tell me shehas followed up the teaching of last year. "

"What--the rights of women?"

"Ay. This is a civil marriage--not mocking her with antiquatedservile vows, " she says. "Ah, well, it was my doing, I suppose. Clio Tallboys held forth in private, I believe, to poor Gussie, ontheories that were mere talk in her, but which this poor girl hastaken in earnest. "

"Very sad earnest she may find it, I fear. Can I do anything foryou?" as they reached the gate of Aucuba Villa. 

"No, thank you, unless to get the house off my hands. "

"You are alone. Will you not come and spend the evening with us?"

"That is very kind, but I have too much to do, and besides, SisterMargaret is coming to spend the night with me. "

"I am glad to hear it. "

"Yes, Mr. Charnock, I trust I have learnt something in this spell ofwork. I've not been for nothing in such scenes with those Sistersand young Bowater. I'm more ignorant than half the poor things thatI've heard talk of their faith and hope; but I see it is not thedecorous humbug it once looked like. And now that I would havelearnt, here I go to Monaco. "

"You will learn. You have a work before you that will teach you. "

"My boys are young enough to start with on a different tack, " shesaid. "You will tell me--no--I'll not hinder you now. I shall seeyou again. "

Julius was too anxious to get home to refuse to be released, much ashe felt for this brave woman. The day before, Herbert had beenfrightfully faint and exhausted by the morning's attack of fever, but had been so still ever since that there was a shade of hope thatthe recurrence might not take place; and this hope grew stronger, when Jenny came into the outer room to say that the usual time forthe fever was passing so quietly in a sort of sleep that Dr. Worthseemed to think rally possible, if only there was no fresh access. 

They stood over the fire, and Julius asked, "Can't you lie on thesofa, Jenny? I can stay. "

"No, " said Jenny, restlessly. "No, I can't. I know you havesomething to tell me. "

"Moy has come home, Jenny. He is in terrible trouble. His daughterhas eloped with young Simmonds at the training stables. "

"The most appropriate end of her bringing up, " said Jenny, in thehard tone it was so difficult to answer--it was so unlike herself--and her thought was that weak pity and forbearance would hinderexertions in Archie's cause. "Generous at other folks' expense, "said she to herself. "Sparing the guilty and leaving the innocentto exile!"

But a moaning murmur, and Cranstoun's movement at once summoned themboth to the bedside. 

Alas! here was the attack that the doctor had evidently apprehendedas likely to be fatal. Hour after hour did sister, nurse, andfriend stand watching, and doing their best, their piteously littlebest, while consciousness, if there was any, was far out of theirreach. 

Late into the night it went on, and then followed the collapse, withlocked teeth, which could hardly be drawn asunder to put thestimulus hopelessly between them, and thus came the tardy Decemberdawn, when the church-bell made Jenny bid Julius not stay, but onlyfirst read the commendatory prayer. 

"I thought there was a little more revival just now, " he said; "hishands are warmer, and he really did swallow. "

The old nurse shook her head. "That's the way before they go, " saidshe. "Don't ye wish him, poor lamb, it makes it the harder forhim. "

Julius prayed the prayer, and as he tenderly laid his hand on thebrow, he wondered whether he should find the half-closed eyes shutfor ever on his return. 

But as he went, there was a quiver of lip and flicker of eyelid, thelightening, as Cranky called it, was evidently gaining ground. Herbert's faint whisper was heard again--"Jenny!"

"Dearest!"

"The Lord's Prayer!"

She began, --his fingers tightened on hers. "Pray it for old Moy, "he said; and as she paused, scarce hearing or understanding, "He--hewants it, " gasped Herbert. "No! One can't pray it, without--"another pause. "Help me, Jenny. Say it--O Lord, who savedst us--forgive us. Help us to forgive from our hearts that man histrespasses. Amen. "

Jenny said it. Herbert's voice sank in the Amen. He lay breathingin long gasps; but he thus breathed still when Julius came back, andJenny told him that a few words had passed, adding--

"Julius, I will say nothing bitter again. God help me not to thinkit. "

Did Herbert hear? Was that the reason of the calm which made thewhite wasted face so beautiful, and the strange soft cool hushthroughout the room?

CHAPTER XXXIVSilver Hair

And how should I your true love knowFrom another man?--Friar of Orders Gray

"Please God, I can try again. "

Those were the words with which Herbert Bowater looked into hisRector's face on awaking in the evening of that same December dayfrom one of a series of sleeps, each sweeter and longer than thelast, and which had borne him over the dreaded hours, without fever, and with strengthening pulse. 

Julius had not ventured to leave the sick-room that whole day, andwhen at last he went home and sank into the chair opposite Terry, for the first time through all these weeks of trouble and tension, he burst into a flood of tears. 

He had hardly made the startled lad understand that life, not death, had thus overcome him, when the door flew open, and in rushedRosamond, crying, "Julius, Julius, come! It is he or his ghost!"

"Who? What?"

"It is your hair! At Mrs. Douglas's grave! He'll be gone! Makehaste--make haste!"

He started up, letting her drag him along, but under protest. "Mydear, men _do_ come to have hair like mine. "

"I tell you it was at our graves--our own--I touched him. I hadthis wreath for Raymond, and there he was, with his hat off, at therailing close to Mrs. Douglas's. I thought his back was yours, andcalled your name, and he started, and I saw--he had a white beard, but he was not old. He just bowed, and then went off very fast bythe other gate, towards Wil'sbro'. I did call, 'Wait, wait, ' but hedidn't seem to hear. Oh, go, go, Julius! Make haste!"

Infected by the wild hope, Julius hurried on the road where his wifehad turned his face, almost deriding himself for obeying her, whenhe would probably only overtake some old family retainer; but as, under the arch of trees that overhung the road, he saw a figure inthe moonlight, a thrill of recognition came over him as he markedthe vigorous tread of the prime of life, and the white hair visiblein the moonlight, together with something utterly indescribable, butwhich made him call out, "Archie! Archie Douglas! wait for me!"

The figure turned. "Julius!" came in response; the two cousins'hands clasped, and there was a sob on either side as they kissed oneanother as brothers. 

"Archie! How could you!--Come back!" was all that Julius could say, leaning breathlessly against him and holding him tight. 

"No! Do not know that I have been here. I was sent to London onbusiness. I could not help running home in the dark. No one mustknow it. I am dead to them. "

"No, Archie, you are not. Gadley has confessed and cleared you. Come home!"

"Cleared me!" The two arms were stretched up to the sky, and therewas the sound of a mighty sob, as though the whole man, body, soul, and spirit, were relieved from an unspeakable burthen. "Say itagain, Julius!"

"Gadley, on his death-bed, has confessed that Moy and Proudfoot tookthat money, incited by Tom Vivian. "

Archie Douglas could not speak, but he turned his face towardsCompton again, strode swiftly into the churchyard, and fell on hisknees by his mother's grave. When at last he rose, he pointed tothe new and as yet unmarked mound, and said, "Your mother's?"

"Oh no! Raymond's! We have had a terrible fever here--almost apestilence--and we are scarcely breathing after it. "

"Ah! some one in the train spoke of sickness at Wil'sbro', but Iwould ask no questions, for I saw faces I knew, and I would lead tono recognition. I could not stay away from getting one sight of theold place. Miles made it all burn within me; but here's my return-ticket for the mail-train. "

"Never mind return-tickets. Come home with me. "

"I shall startle your mother. "

"I meant my home--the Rectory. It was my wife who saw you in thechurchyard, and sent me after you. She is watching for you. "

Archie, still bewildered, as if spell-bound by his ticket, muttered, "I thought I should have time to walk over and look at Strawyers. "

"Joanna is here. "

"Julius! It is too much. You are sure I am awake? This is not theold dream!" cried the exile, grasping his cousin's arm quitegainfully. 

"I am a waking man, and I trust you are, " said Julius. "Come intothe light. No, that is not Jenny on the step. It is my Rose. Yes, here he is!"

And as they came into the stream of light from the porch, IrishRosamond, forgetting that Archie was not a brother, caught him byboth hands, and kissed him in overpowering welcome, exclaiming, "Oh, I am so glad! Come in--come in!"

There he stood, blinking in the lamplight, a tall, powerful, broad-chested figure, but hardly a hero of romance to suit Terry's fancy, after a rapid summary of the history from Rosamond. His hair andbeard were as white as Julius's, and the whole face was tanned touniform red, but no one could mistake the dazed yet intense gladnessof the look. He sank into a chair, clasped his hands over his facefor a moment, then surveyed them all one by one, and said, "You toldme she was here. "

"She is with her brother Herbert, at Mrs. Hornblower's lodgings. No, you must wait, Archie; he has barely in the last few hours, byGod's great mercy, taken a turn for the better in this fever, and Idon't see how she can leave him. "

"But she must hear it, " cried Rosamond. "I'm going to make her orCranky get some rest; but you ought to be the one to tell her, Julius, you that have stood by her through all. "

"And aren't you burning to do so, Rosey, woman? and I think you hadbetter, rather than that I should startle Herbert by returning; butstay, mind your own rules--eat and drink before you go, and give thesame to Archie. I shall send up a note to Miles. How is Cecil?"

"Very silent and broken, poor thing. She is to see your mother to-morrow. How well it was that she kept me so late over her wreath ofcamellias!"

Archie submitted to wait for food and fuller information, --indeedthe lady of the house manifested more impatience than he did, as sheflitted about making preparations, and he sat with hands lockedtogether over his knee, gazing fixedly at Julius, scarcely speaking, though eagerly listening; and when the meal was brought in, he couldnot eat, only eagerly drank off a cup of scalding tea, and watchedRosamond, as if jealous of any delay over her cutlet. She did notabuse his patience. 

"Now then?" she said, rising. "You shall hear something of herbefore long. "

"Let me come to her door, " entreated Archie. 

And as the light shone from the window of the sick-room, Rosamondsaid, "Stand under that tree in the moonlight, and I will make herlook out. "

All was intensely quiet; Cranky fast asleep in the arm-chair in theouter-room, and Jenny sitting by the bed, watching the smooth quietbreath. 

"You are to lie down on the sofa and sleep, " said Rosamond, kissingher, and she shook her head, "You must. People want strength forjoy as well as grief. Trust him to me, for there is some one foryou to see to-morrow. "

"Not papa!" said Jenny, startled. "No, nor Phil! Tell me, Rosamond. There is only one you could look at me like that for!"

"Look out at the window. "

Trembling all over, Jenny went and put her face to the lattice. Thefigure under the tree came nearer. Archie must have been ableclearly to see her face in the moonlight. He stretched up his armsto her, then folded them together on his breast, and let himself beled away by Julius, while Jenny slid down on her knees, with herface buried, and the suppressed choking sobs made Herbert look up atRosamond, and whisper, "It is?"

"It is, " repeated Rosamond, who had thought him asleep, or entirelyabsorbed in the trouble of living. 

"Go to her, " he added. 

Rosamond put her arm round her, and supported her into the nextroom; for, after the month of hopeless watching, the longsleeplessness and the struggle of this silent day to force herspirit to the forgiveness she had promised, and then the suddenreaction, had overpowered her, and the suppression and silence werebeyond endurance. She did not even know that Herbert was awake whenRosamond brought her out into Mrs. Hornblower's room, and said, "Have it out now, my dear, no one will hear. Scream comfortably. It will do you good. "

But Jenny could not even scream. She was in the excited agony whenthe mind is far too much for the body, and joy, unrealized, is likegrief. If her brother had that day passed away, and if nothing hadbeen heard of her lover, she would have been all calmness andresignation; but the revulsion had overcome her, and at the momentshe was more conscious of strangulation than of anything else. Rosamond tended her for full half an hour, and then she seemedalmost asleep, though she resisted the attempt to undress her, withthe words, "I must go to Herbert. "

"I will take care of Herbert, " and Jenny was too much spent not toacquiesce, and fell asleep almost before she was laid down on thebed their landlady had given up to the watchers. 

Rosamond's task was a comfortable one, for every hour of sleep, every mouthful of food seemed to do its work of restoration on thesound, healthy frame, and a smile and word of thanks met herwhenever she roused her patient with the inevitable spoon. 

When he awoke towards morning, he asked what day it was, and whenshe told him, answered, "So I thought. Then I have not lost countof time. "

"No, you have been wonderfully clear-headed. "

"I can't see how there can have been time to write, " he said. "Itis true that he is come, is it not?"

"Quite true; but he came independently on business, " and Rosamondtold of Julius's chase, bringing a look of amusement on his face. 

Jenny came in with the rising sun, pale indeed, but another creatureafter her rest and in the sight of the restful countenance thatgreeted her with a smile. The moaning, hoarse voice was gone too, it was a faint shadow of Herbert's own tones that said, "Is not thisgood, Jenny? I didn't think to have seen it. "

"My Herbert, you have given him back! You have given me the heartto be glad!"

"You must go and see him, " said Herbert. 

Jenny looked wistful and undecided; but Julius entered to say thatshe must come at once, for Archie must go back to London by the teno'clock train to an appointment, and could not return for two days. 

Herbert smiled her away, for he was still in a state where it wasnot possible to bear any engrossing of his head-nurse, and thelover's absence was, even to his unselfishness, good news. 

Rosamond could not refrain from the pleasure of peeping down thelittle dark stair as Archie and his Jenny met in the doorway, andshe walked demurely in their rear, wondering whether other eyes sawas much as she did in the manner in which Jenny hung on his arm. She left them to their dewy walk in the Rectory garden to the lastminute at which breakfast could be swallowed, and told Jenny thatshe was to drive him in the pony-carriage to Hazlett's Gate; shewould take care of Herbert. 

"You ought to be asleep, you know, " said Jenny. 

"My dear, I couldn't sleep! There's a great deal better than sleep!Is not Herbert going to get well? and aren't you jolly again andArchie back again? Sleep!--why I want to have wings and clap them--and more than all, is not Mr. Charnock off and away to-morrow?Sleep indeed!--I should like to see myself so stupid. "

"Mr. Charnock?" interrogatively said Archie. 

"The head of the family--the original Charnock of Dunstone, " saidRosamond, who was in wild spirits, coming on a worn-out body andmind, and therefore perfectly unguarded. "Don't shake your head atme, Jenny, Archie is one of the family, and that makes you so, and Imust tell you of his last performance. You know he is absolutelycertain that his dear daughter is more infallible than all thePopes, even since the Council, or than anybody but himself, and thatwhatever goes wrong here is the consequence of Julius's faith in Dr. Easterby. So, when poor Cecil, uneasy in her mind, began askingabout the illness at Wil'sbro', he enlivened her with a prose aboutmisjudging, through well-intentioned efforts of clericalphilanthropy to interfere with the sanitary condition of the town--so that wells grew tainted, &c. , all from ignorant interference. Poor man he heard a little sob, and looked round, and there wasCecil in a dead faint. He set all the bells ringing, and sent anexpress for me. "

"But wasn't he furious with Anne for mentioning drains at all?"

"My dear Joan, don't you know how many old women there are of bothsorts, who won't let other people look over the wall at what theygloat on in private? However, he had his punishment, for he reallythought that the subject had been too much for her delicacy, andsimply upset her nerves. "

"When was this?"

"Four or five days ago. She is better, but has said not a word moreabout it. She is nothing like strong enough, even for so short ajourney as to Portishead; but they say change will be the best thingfor her, and the coming down into the family would be too sad. "

"Poor thing! Yes indeed, " said Jenny; and feeling universallybenevolent, she added, "give her my love, " a thing which so sincerea person could hardly have said a few weeks ago. 

Reserve was part of Cecil's nature, and besides, her father wasalmost always with her; but when she had been for the first timedressed in crape up to her waist, with the tiniest of caps perchedtoy-like on the top of her passive head, the sight upset himcompletely, and muttering, "Good heavens!--a widow at twenty-two!"he hid himself from the sight over some business transactions withMrs. Poynsett and Miles. 

Rosamond seized the opportunity of bringing Julius in to pay hisfarewell visit, and presently Cecil said, "Julius, I should be muchobliged if you would tell me the real facts about this illness. "

"Do, " said Rosamond. "Her half knowledge is most wearing. "

He gently told her what science had pronounced. 

"Then it was Pettitt's well?" she said. 

"They tell us that this was the immediate cause of the outbreak; butthere would probably have been quite as much fatal illness the firsttime any infectious disease came in. The whole place was in ashameful state, and you were the only people who tried to mitigateit. "

"And did worse harm, because we would not listen to advice, " saidCecil. "Julius, I have a great deal of money; can't I do anythingnow? My father wants me to give a donation to the church as amemorial of _him_, but, somehow, I don't feel as if I deserved to dothat. "

"I see what you mean, Cecil, but the town is being rated to set thedrainage to rights, and it will thus be done in the most permanentand effectual way. There are some orphans who might be saved fromthe Union, about whom I thought of asking you to help. "

Cecil asked the details of the orphans, and the consultation overthem seemed to be prolonged by her because, even now, she could notresolve to go below the surface. It lasted until her father came toask whether she were ready to go with him to Mrs. Poynsett'ssitting-room. She looked very fragile and childish as she stood up, clinging to his arm to help her wavering, uncertain step, holdingout her hand to Julius and saying, "I shall see you again. "

He was a little disappointed to see her no older, and no warmer;having gone thus far, it seemed as if she might have gone furtherand opened more. Perhaps he did not understand how feelings, naturally slow, were rendered slower by the languor of illness, which made them more oppressive than acute. As Mr. Charnock and hisdaughter knocked, the door was opened by Miles, who merely gave hishand, and went down. Frank, who had been reading in a low easy-chair by the fire, drew it close to his mother for her, andretreated to another seat, and the mother and daughter-in-lawexchanged a grave kiss. Cecil attempted some civility about thechair, to which poor Frank replied, "I'm afraid it is of no use tospeak to me, Cecil, Miles can only just make me hear. "

Regret for his misfortune, and inquiry as to the chance ofrestoration, were a possible topic. Mr. Charnock gave much adviceabout aurists, and examples of their success or non-success; andthence he diverged to the invalid-carriage he had secured, and hisfuture plans for expediting his daughter's recovery. Meanwhile Mrs. Poynsett and Cecil sat grave, dry-eyed, and constrained, eachfeeling that in Mr. Charnock's presence the interview was a nullity, yet neither of them able to get rid of him, nor quite sure that shewould have done so if she could. 

He, meanwhile, perfectly satisfied with his own considerate tact, talked away the allotted half-hour, and then pronounced his daughterpale and tired. She let him help her to rise, but held Mrs. Poynsett's hand wistfully, as if she wished to say something butcould not; and all Mrs. Poynsett could bring out was a hope ofhearing how she bore the journey. It was as if they were bothfrozen up. Yet the next moment Cecil was holding Frank's hand in aconvulsive clasp, and fairly pulling him down to exchange a kiss, when he found her tears upon his cheek. Were they to hismisfortune, or to his much-increased resemblance to his brother?

Mr. Charnock kept guard over her, so that her other farewells werealmost as much restrained as these, and though she hung onRosamond's neck, and seemed ready to burst forth with some ferventexclamation, he hovered by, saying, "My dear child, don't, don'tgive way to agitation. It does you honour, but it cannot bepermitted at such a moment. Lady Rosamond, I appeal to yourunfailing good sense to restrain her emotion. "

"I haven't any good sense, and I think it only hurts her to restrainher emotion, " said Rosamond, with one of her little stamps, pressingCecil in her arms. "There, there, my dear, cry, --never mind, if itwill comfort your poor heart. "

"Lady Rosamond! This is--Cecil, my dear child! Your resolution--your resignation. And the boxes are packed, and we shall be latefor the train!"

Mr. Charnock was a little jealous of Lady Rosamond as a comforterpreferred to himself, and he spoke in a tone which Cecil had neverresisted. She withdrew herself from Rosamond, still tearless, though her chest heaved as if there were a great spasm in it; shegave her hand to Miles, and let him lead her to the carriage; and soRaymond's widowed bride left Compton Poynsett enfolded in thatstrange silence which some called sullenness and pride; others, moremerciful, stunned grief. 

Poor Cecil! there was less pity to be spared to her because of theintense relief it was to be free from her father, and to be able tostand in a knot consulting on the steps, without his coming out tofind out what they were talking about, and to favour them with someDunstone counsel. 

The consultation was about Mr. Moy. It was determined that sinceArchie was in England, it would be better not to wait till Herbertwas recovered, but that Miles and Julius should go together at onceto see what effect they could produce on him. 

They drove together to his office. He was a tall man, a few yearsover forty, and had hitherto been portly and well-preserved, with acertain serene air of complacent prosperity about him, that hadalways been an irritation to the county families, with whom he triedto assert an equality; but as he rose to greet the brothers, therewas a bent and shrunken look about him: the hair on his temples hadvisibly whitened, his cheeks seemed to have sunk in, and there weredeep furrows on them. Altogether he had grown full twenty yearsolder in appearance since he had stood proposing a popular toast atthe dinner at the town-hall. There was something nervous andstartled in his gray eye, as he saw them enter, though he tried toassume his usual half-bland, half-easy, manner. 

"Good morning, Captain Charnock Poynsett. Good morning, Mr. Charnock, I hope I see you well?" the words faltering a little, asneither sailor nor clergyman took notice of his proffered hand; buthe continued his inquiries after the convalescents, though neitherinquired in return after Mrs. Moy, feeling, perhaps, that they wouldrather not hear a very sad account of her state just before lettingtheir inevitable Nemesis descend; also, not feeling inclined forreciprocal familiarity, and wanting to discourage the idea thatMiles came for political purposes. 

"It has been a terrible visitation, " said Moy, when he had beenreduced to replying to himself. 

"It has, " said Julius. "Perhaps you have heard that your tenant, Gadley, is dead?"

"Yes, I did hear it. A very melancholy thing--the whole familyswept-away, " said Mr. Moy, his eye again betraying some uneasiness, which Julius increased by saying--

"We thought it right that you should hear that he made a disclosureon his death-bed. "

"Indeed!" Mr. Moy sat erect--the hard, keen, watchful lawyer. 

"A disclosure that nearly affects the character of Mr. ArchibaldDouglas, " proceeded Julius. 

"May I ask what this may be?"

"Mr. Gadley then informed me that he had been in the outer room, behind his desk, at the time when Mr. Douglas brought in the letterfrom my mother, containing the missing cheque, and that afterDouglas was gone, he heard Mr. Vivian propose to those within toappropriate the amount to their own debts. "

"Pardon me, Mr. Charnock, this is a very serious charge to bring onthe authority of a man in a raving fever. Was any deposition takenbefore a magistrate?"

"No, " said Julius. "Mr. Lipscombe was fetched, but he was unable tospeak at the time. However, on reviving, he spoke as is thusattested, " and he showed Herbert Bowater's slip of paper. 

"Mr. Charnock, " said Mr. Moy, "without the slightest imputation onthe intentions of yourself or of young Mr. Bowater, I put it toyourself and Captain Charnock Poynsett, whether you could go beforea jury with no fuller attestation than you have in your hand. Weknow what Mr. Charnock and Mr. Bowater are. To a jury they wouldsimply appear--pardon me--a young clergyman, his still more youthfulcurate, and a sister of mercy, attaching importance to the words ofa delirious man; and juries have become very incredulous in suchcases. "

"We shall see that, " said Miles sharply. 

"The more cautious, " added Mr. Moy, "when it is the raking up of amatter eleven years old, where the witnesses are mostly dead, andwhere the characters of two gentlemen, also deceased, would beimplicated. Believe me, sir, this firm--I speak as its presenthead--will be rejoiced to make any compensation to Mrs. Poynsett forwhat went astray while coming to their hands. It has been ourdesire to do so from the very first, as letters of which I havecopies testify; but our advances were met in a spirit of enmity, which may perhaps be laid aside now. "

"No so-called compensation can be accepted, but the clearing ofDouglas's character, " said Miles. 

"It is a generous feeling, " said Mr. Moy, speaking apparently mostdispassionately, though Julius saw his hands trembling below thetable; "but even if the word of this delirious man were sufficient, have you reflected, Captain Charnock Poynsett, on the unequalbenefit of justifying--allowing that you could justify--a young manwho has been dead and forgotten these eleven years, and has norelation living nearer than yourself, at the expense of those alsogone, but who have left relations who could ill bear to suffer fromsuch a revelation?"

"Justice is justice, whether a man be dead or alive, " said Miles;"and Douglas is alive to demand his right. "

"Alive!" cried Mr. Moy, starting violently. "Alive! Archie Douglasalive!"

"Alive, and in England, " said Julius. "He slept in my house thenight before last. He never was in the Hippolyta, at all, but hasbeen living in Africa all these years of exile. "

Mr. Moy's self-command and readiness were all gone. He sank back inhis chair, with his hands over his face. The brothers looked at oneanother, fearing he might have a stroke; but he revived in a moment, yet with a totally different expression on his countenance. Thekeen, defensive look was gone, there was only something piteouslyworn and supplicating in the face, as he said--

"Then, gentlemen, I cannot resent anything you may do. Believe me, but for the assurance of his death, I should have acted verydifferently long ago. I will assist you in any way you desire inreinstating Mr. Douglas in public opinion, only, if it be possible, let my wife be spared. She has recently had the heaviest possibleblow; she can bear no more. "

"Mr. Moy, we will do nothing vindictive. We can answer for mymother and Douglas, " began Julius; but Miles, more sternly, wouldnot let his brother hold out his hand, and said--

"You allow, then, the truth of Gadley's confession?"

"What has he confessed?" said Moy, still too much the lawyer not tosee that his own complicity had never yet been stated. 

Julius laid before him his own written record of Gadley's words, notonly involving Moy in the original fraud, but showing how he hadbribed the only witness to silence ever since. The unhappy man readit over, and said--

"Yes, Mr. Charnock, it is all true. I cannot battle it further. Iam at your mercy. I would leave you to proclaim the whole to theworld; if it were not for my poor wife and her father, I would beglad to do so. Heaven knows how this has hung upon me for years. "

"I can well believe it, " said Julius, not to be hindered now fromgrasping Mr. Moy's hand. 

It seemed to be a comfort now to tell the whole story in detail. Moy, the favoured and trusted articled clerk at first, then thepartner, the lover and husband of the daughter, had been a model ofsteadiness and success so early, that when some men's youthfulfollies are wearing off, he had begun to weary of the monotony ofthe office, and after beginning as Mentor to his young brother-in-law, George Proudfoot, had gradually been carried along by thefascination of Tom Vivian's society to share in the same perilouspursuits, until both had incurred a debt to him far beyond theirpowers, while he was likewise so deeply involved, that no bonds ofGeorge Proudfoot would avail him. 

Then came the temptation of Mrs. Poynsett's cheque, suggested, perhaps in jest, by Vivian, but growing on them as the feasibilityof using it became clear. It was so easy to make it appear toArchie Douglas that the letter was simply an inquiry for the lostone. Mr. Proudfoot, the father, was out of reach; Mrs. Poynsettwould continue to think the cheque lost in the post; and Tom Vivianundertook to get it presented for payment through persons who wouldguard against its being tracked. The sum exceeded the debt, but hewould return the overplus to them, and they both cherished the hopeof returning it with interest. Indeed, it had been but a halfconsent on the part of either, elicited only by the dire alternativeof exposure; the envelope and letter were destroyed, and Viviancarried off the cheque to some of the Jews with whom he had had onlytoo many transactions, and they never met him again. 

Moy's part all along had been half cowardice, half ambition. Thesense of that act and of its consequences had gnawed at his heartthrough all his success; but to cast himself down from his positionas partner and son-in-law of Mr. Proudfoot, the keen, clever, trusted, confidential agent of half the families around--to let hiswife know his shame and that of her brother, and to degrade hisdaughter into the daughter of a felon--was more than he could bear;and he had gone on trying to drown the sense of that one lapse inthe prosperity of his career and his efforts to place his daughterin the first ranks of society. No doubt the having done an injuryto the Poynsett family had been the true secret of that enmity, morethan political, which he had always shown to Raymond; and afterthinking Gadley safer out of that office, and having yielded to hissolicitations and set him up at the Three Pigeons, he had beenalmost compelled to bid for popularity by using his position as amagistrate to protect the blackguardism of the town. He had beenmeant for better things, and had been dragged on against hisconscience and judgment by the exigencies of his unhappy secret; andwhen the daughter, for whose sake he had sacrificed his better self, had only been led by her position into the follies and extravagancesof the worst part of the society into which she had been introduced, and threw herself into the hands of a dissipated gambler, to whomher fortune made her a desirable prey--truly his sin had found himout. 

His fight at first had been partly force of habit, but he was soentirely crushed that they could only have pity on him when he puthimself so entirely in their hands, only begging for forbearance tohis wife and her aged father, and entreating that principal, interest, and compound interest might at once be tendered to Mrs. Poynsett. 

The brothers could answer for nothing. Archie must decide forhimself what he would accept as restoration of his character, andMrs. Poynsett could alone answer as to whether she would accept thecompensation. But neither of them could be hard on one so strickenand sorrowful, and they did not expect hardness from their motherand cousin, especially so far as old Mr. Proudfoot and his daughterwere concerned. 

That the confession was made, and that Archie should be cleared, wasenough for Julius to carry to Herbert's room, while Miles repairedto his mother. It was known in the sick-room where the brothers hadbeen, and Julius was watched as he crossed the street by Jenny'seager eye, and she met him at the door of the outer room with a faceof welcome. 

"Come in and tell us all, " she said. "I see it is good news. "Herbert was quite well enough to bear good news in full detail as helay, not saying much, but smiling his welcome, and listening withears almost as eager as his sister's. And as Julius told of thecrushed and broken man, Jenny's tears rose to her eyes, and shepressed her brother's hand and whispered, "Thanks, dear boy!"

"Small thanks to me. "

"Yes, I can enjoy it now, " said Jenny; "thanks to you for forcingthe bitterness out of me. "

"Can you bear a little more good news, Herbert?" said Julius. "Whodo you think is to have St. Nicholas?"

"Not William Easterby? That's too good to be true. "

"But so it is. All the Senior Fellows dropped it like a red-hotcoal. "

"I thought Dwight wanted to marry?"

"Yes, but the lady's friends won't hear of his taking her there; soit has come down to young Easterby. He can't be inducted of courseyet; but he has written to say he will come down on Saturday andtake matters in hand. "

"The services on Sunday? Oh!" said Herbert, with as great a gasp ofrelief as if he had been responsible for them; and, indeed, Rosamonddeclared that both her husband and Mr. Bindon looked like new mensince Wil'sbro' was off their backs. Archie was coming back thatevening. Jenny much longed to show her two treasures to each other, for it was a useless risk for the healthy man, and the sick one wastoo weak and tired to wish for a new face, or the trouble ofspeaking; nay, he could not easily bring himself to cheerfulacquiescence in even his favourite Lady Rose taking his sister'splace to set her free for an evening with Archie at the Hall. 

Mrs. Poynsett was in the drawing-room. She had taken courage toencounter the down-stair associations, saying she would make it nosadder for the dear boy than she could help, and so Miles hadcarried her down to meet one who had been always as one of her ownsons. 

And thus it was that she gathered him into her embrace, while thegreat strong man, only then fully realizing all the changes, sobbeduncontrollably beside her. 

"My boy, my poor Archie, " she said, "you are come at last. Did younot know you still had a mother to trust to?"

"I ought to have known it, " said Archie, in a choked voice. "Ohthat I had seen Jenny in London!"

For indeed it had become plain that it had been his flight that hadgiven opportunity and substance to the accusation. If he hadremained, backed by the confidence of such a family as thePoynsetts, Gadley would have seen that testimony in his favour wouldbe the safer and more profitable speculation; and Moy himself, as hehad said, would have testified to the innocence of a living man onthe spot, though he had let the blame rest on one whom he thought inthe depths of the sea. Archie's want of moral courage had been hisruin. It had led him to the scene of temptation rather than resisthis companions, and had thus given colour to the accusation, and inthe absence of both Joanna and of his cousins, it had prevented himfrom facing the danger. 

This sense made him the more willing to be forbearing, when, afterdinner, the whole council sat round to hear in full the history ofthe interview with Mr. Moy; Anne taking up her position besideFrank, with whom, between her pencil and the finger-alphabet, shehad established such a language as to make her his best interpreterof whatever was passing in the room. 

"One could not help being sorry for Moy, " said Miles, as heconcluded; "he turns out to be but half the villain after all, madeso rather by acquiescence than by his own free will. "

"But reaping the profit, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"Yes, though in ignorance of the injury he was doing, and thusclimbing to a height that makes his fall the worse. I am sorry forold Proudfoot too, " added Julius. "I believe they have not venturedto tell him of his granddaughter's marriage. "

"I do not think the gain to me would be at all equal to the loss tothem, " said Archie. "Exposure would be ruin and heartbreak there, and I don't see what it would do for me. "

"My dear Archie!" exclaimed both Mrs. Poynsett and Joanna, inamazement. 

"So long as you and Mr. Bowater are satisfied, I care for littleelse, " said Archie. 

"But your position, my dear, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"We don't care much about a man's antecedents, within a few years, out in the colonies, dear Aunt Julia, " said Archie, smiling. 

"You aren't going back?"

"That depends, " said Archie, his eyes seeking Joanna's; "but I don'tsee what there is for me to do here. I'm spoilt for a solicitoranyway--"

"We could find an agency, Miles, couldn't we?--or a farm--"

"Thank you, dear aunt, " said Archie; "I don't definitely answer, because Mr. Bowater must be consulted; but I have a business outthere that I can do, and where I can make a competence that I canfairly offer to Jenny here. If I came home, as I am now, I shouldonly prey on you in some polite form, and I don't think Jenny wouldwish for that alternative. I must go back any way, as I have toldher, and whether to save for her, or to make a home for her there, it must be for her to decide. "

They looked at Jenny. She was evidently prepared; for though hercolour rose a little, her frank eyes looked at him with a confidingsmile. 

"But we must have justice done to you, my dear boy, whether you staywith us or not, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"That might have been done if I had not been fool enough to runaway, " said Archie; "having done so, the mass of people will onlyremember that there has been something against me, in spite of anyjustification. It is not worth while to blast Moy's character, andshow poor old Proudfoot what a swindler his son was, just for that. The old man was good to me. I should like to let it rest while helives. If Moy would sign such an exculpation of me as could beshown to Mr. Bowater, and any other whom it might concern, I shouldbe quite willing to have nothing told publicly, at least as long asthe old gentleman lives. "

"I think Archie is right, " said Miles, in the pause, with a greateffort. 

"Yes, right in the highest sense of the word, " said Julius. 

"It is Christian, " Anne breathed across to her husband. 

"I don't like it, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"Let that scoundrel go unhung!" burst from Frank, who had failed tocatch the spirit of his interpreter. 

"I don't like it in the abstract, mother, " said Miles; "but you andFrank have not seen the scoundrel in his beaten down state, and, asArchie says, it is hard to blacken the memory of either poor GeorgeProudfoot or Tom Vivian, who have fathers to feel it for them. "

"Poor Tom Vivian's can hardly be made much blacker, " said Mrs. Poynsett, "nor are Sir Harry's feelings very acute; but perhaps poorold Proudfoot ought to be spared, and there are considerations as tothe Vivian family. Still, I don't see how to consent to Archiegoing into exile again with this stigma upon him. I am sure Raymondwould not, and I do not think Mr. Bowater will. "

"Dear Aunt Julia, " said Archie, affectionately, coming across toher, "it was indeed exile before, when I was dead to all of you; butcan it be so now the communication is open, and when I am making orwinning my home?" and his eyes brought Jenny to him by her side. 

"Yes, dear Mrs. Poynsett, " she said, holding her hand, "I am sure heis right, and that it would spoil all our own happiness to breakthat poor old father's heart, and bring him and his wife to disgraceand misery. When I think of the change in everything since two daysback--dear Herbert wrung a sort of forgiveness out of me--I can'tbear to think of anybody being made miserable. "

"And what will your papa say, child?"

"I think he will feel a good deal for old Proudfoot, " said Jenny. "He rather likes the old man, and has laughed at our hatred of MissMoy's pretensions. "

"Then it is settled, " said Archie; "I will write to Moy, for Isuppose he had rather not see me, that I will say nothing about itpublicly while Mr. Proudfoot lives, and will not show thisconfession of his, unless it should be absolutely necessary to mycharacter. Nor after old Proudfoot's death, will I take any stepwithout notice to him. "

"Much more than he ought to expect, " said Mrs. Poynsett. 

"I don't know, " said Archie. "If he had refused, it would not havebeen easy to bring him to the point, I suppose I must havesurrendered to take my trial, but after so many years, and with somany deaths, it would have been awkward. "

"And the money, mother, " said Miles, producing a cheque. "Poor Moy, that was a relief to him. He said he had kept it ready for years. "Mrs. Poynsett waved it off as if she did not like to touch it. 

"I don't want it! Take it, Archie. Set up housekeeping on it, " shesaid. "You are not really going back to that place?"

"Yes, indeed I am; I sail on Tuesday. Dear good Aunt Julia, howcomfortable it is to feel any one caring for me again; but I amafraid even this magnificent present, were it ten times as much, could not keep me; I must go back to fulfil my word to my partnerout there, even if I returned at once. "

"And you let him go, Jenny?"

"I must!" said Jenny. "And only think how different it is now! Forthe rest, whether he comes back for me at once, or some years hence, must depend on papa and mamma. "

She spoke with grave content beaming in her eyes, just like herself. The restoration was still swallowing up everything else. 

CHAPTER XXXVHerbert's Christmas

And when the self-abhorring thrill Is past--as pass it must, When tasks of life thy spirit fill, Then be the self-renouncing will The seal of thy calm trust. --Lyra Apostolica

By Christmas Day Archie Douglas was in the Bay of Biscay; but evento Joanna it was not a sorrowful day, for did not Herbert on thatday crawl back into his sitting-room, full dressed for the firsttime, holding tight by her shoulder, and by every piece of furnitureon his way to the sofa, Rollo attending in almost pathetic delight, gazing at him from time to time, and thumping the floor with histail? He had various visitors after his arrival--the first beinghis Rector, who came on his way back from church to give hiscongratulations, mention the number of convalescents who had thereappeared, and speak of the wedding he had celebrated that morning, that of Fanny Reynolds and her Drake, who were going forth the nextday to try whether they could accomplish a hawker's career free fromwhat the man, at least, had only of late learnt to be sins. It wasa great risk, but there had been a penitence about both that Juliustrusted was genuine. A print of the Guardian Angel, which had beenher boy's treasure, had been hung by Fanny in her odd littlebedroom, and she had protested with tears that it would seem likeher boy calling her back if she were tempted again. 

"Not that I trust much to that, " said Julius. "Poor Fanny is soft, and likes to produce an effect; but I believe there is sterlingstuff in Drake. "

"And he never had a chance before, " said Herbert. 

"No. Which makes a great difference--all indeed between thePublicans, or the Heathens, and the Pharisees. He can't read, and Idoubt whether he said the words rightly after me; but I am sure hemeant them. "

"I suppose all this has done great good?" said Jenny. 

"It will be our fault if it do not do permanent good. It ought, "said Julius, gravely. "No, no, Herbert, I did not mean to load youwith the thought. Getting well is your business for the present--not improving the occasion to others. "

To which all that Herbert answered was, "Harry Hornblower!" as ifthat name spoke volumes of oppression of mind. 

That discussion, however, was hindered by Mrs. Hornblower's ownarrival with one of her lodger's numerous meals, and Julius went offto luncheon. The next step on the stairs made Herbert start andexclaim, "That's the dragoon! Come in, Phil. "

And there did indeed stand the eldest brother, who had obtained afew days' leave, as he told them, and had ridden over from Strawyersafter church. He came in with elaborate caution in his great muddyboots, and looked at Herbert like a sort of natural curiosity, exclaiming that he only wanted a black cap and a pair of bands to beexactly like Bishop Bowater, a Caroline divine, with a meek, oval, spiritual face, and a great display of delicate attenuated fingers, the length of which had always been a doubt and marvel to his sturdydescendants. 

"Hands and all, " quoth Philip; "and what are you doing with them?"as he spied a Greek Testament in the fingers, and something far tooponderous for them within reach. "Jenny, how dare you?" heremonstrated, poising the bigger book as if to heave it at her head. "That's what comes of your encouraging followers, eh?"

"Ah!" said Jenny, pretending to dodge the missile, while Rolloexercised great forbearance in stifling a bark, "Greek is not quiteso severe to some folks as dragoon captains think. "

"Severe or not he might let it alone, " said Phil, looking muchdisposed to wrest away the little book, which Herbert thrust underhis pillow, saying--

"It was only the Lesson. "

"Why can't you read the Lesson like a sensible man in its nativeEnglish? Don't laugh, children, you know what I mean. There's nogood in this fellow working his brain. He can't go up again beforeSeptember, and according to the Bishop's letter to my father, he issafe to pass, if he could not construe a line, after what he did atWil'sbro'. The Bishop and Co. Found they had made considerabledonkeys of themselves. Yes, 'tis the ticket for you to be shocked;but it is just like badgering a fellow for his commission by askinghim how many facets go to a dragon-fly's eye, instead of how he canstand up to a battery. "

"So I thought, " said Herbert; "but I know now what it is to be inthe teeth of the battery without having done my best to get myweapons about me. "

"Come now! Would any of those poor creatures have been the betterfor your knowing

"How many notes a sackbut has, Or whether shawms have strings, "

or the Greek particles, which I believe were what sacked you?"

"They would have been the better if I had ever learnt to think whatmen's souls are, or my own either, " said Herbert, with a heavy sigh. 

"Ah! well, you have had a sharp campaign, " said Phil; "but you'llsoon get the better of it when you are at Nice with the old folks. Jolly place--lots of nice girls--something always going on. I'lltry and get leave to take you out; but you'll cut us all out!Ladies won't look at a fellow when there's an interesting youngparson to the fore. "

Herbert made an action of negation, and his sister said--

"The doctors say Nice will not do after such an illness as this. Papa asked the doctor there, and he said he could not advise it. "

"Indeed! Then I'll tell you what, Herbs, you shall come intolodgings at York, and I'll look after you there. You shall ridePimento, and dine at the mess. "

"Thank you, Phil, " said Herbert, to whom a few months ago thisproposal would have been most seducing, "but I am going home, andthat's all the change I shall want. "

"Home! Yes, Ellen is getting ready for you. Not your room--oh, no!but the state bedroom! When will you come? My leave is only tillTuesday. "

"Oh! I don't know how to think of the drive, " sighed Herbertwearily. 

"We must wait for a fine day, when he feels strong enough, " saidJenny. 

"All right, " said Phil; "but ten days or a fortnight there will bequite enough, and then you'll come. There are some friends ofyours, that only looked at me, I can tell you, for the sake of yourname--eh, Master Herbs?"

Herbert did not rise to the bait; but Jenny said, "The MissStrangeways?"

"Yes. Wouldn't he be flattered to hear of the stunning excitementwhen they heard of Captain Bowater, and how the old lady, theirmother, talked by the yard about him? You'll get a welcome indeedwhen you come, old fellow. When shall it be?"

"No, thank you, Phil, " said Herbert, gravely. "I shall come backhere as soon as I am well enough. But there is one thing I wish youwould do for me. "

"Well, what? I'll speak about having any horse you please taken upfor you to ride; I came over on Brown Ben, but he would shake youtoo much. "

"No, no, it's about a young fellow. If you could take him back toYork to enlist--"

"My dear Herbert, I ain't a recruiting-sergeant. "

"No, but it might be the saving of him, " said Herbert, raisinghimself and speaking with more animation. "It is Harry Hornblower. "

"Why, that's the chap that bagged your athletic prizes! Whew!Rather strong, ain't it, Joan!"

"He did no such thing, " said Herbert, rather petulantly; "neverdreamt of it. He only was rather a fool in talking of them--vaunting of me, I believe, as not such a bad fellow for a parson; sohis friends got out of him where to find them. But they knew betterthan to take him with them. Tell him, Jenny; he won't believe me. "

"It is quite true, Phil, " said Jenny, "the poor fellow did get intobad company at the races, but that was all. He did not come homethat night, but he was stupefied with drink and the beginning of thefever, and it was proved--perfectly proved--that he was fast asleepat a house at Backsworth when the robbery was committed, and he wasas much shocked about it as any one--more, I am sure, than Herbert, who was so relieved on finding him clear of it, that he troubledhimself very little about the things. And now he has had the fever--not very badly--and he is quite well now, but he can't get anythingto do. Truelove turned him off before the races for hanging aboutat the Three Pigeons, and nobody will employ him. I do think it istrue what they say--his mother, and Julius, and Herbert, and all--that he has had a lesson, and wants to turn over a new leaf, but thepeople here won't let him. Julius and Herbert want him to enlist, and I believe he would, but his mother--as they all do--thinks thatthe last degradation; but she might listen if Captain Bowater cameand told her about his own regiment--cavalry too--and the style ofmen in it--and it is the only chance for him. "

Philip made a wry face. 

"You see I took him up and let him down, " said Herbert, sadly andearnestly. 

"I really do believe, " said Jenny, clenching the matter, "thatHerbert would get well much faster if Harry Hornblower were off hismind. "

Phil growled, and his younger brother and sister knew that theywould do their cause no good by another word. There was an oddshyness about them all. The elder brother had not yet said anythingabout Jenny's prospects, and only asked after the party at the Hall. 

"All nearly well, except Frank's deafness, " said Jenny. "In a dayor two he is going up to London to consult an aurist, and seewhether he can keep his clerkship. Miles is going with him, andRosamond takes Terry up to see his brother in London, and then, Ibelieve, she is going on to get rooms at Rockpier, while Miles comeshome to fetch his mother there. "

"Mrs. Poynsett!" with infinite wonder. 

"Oh yes, all this has really brought out much more power of activityin her. You know it was said that there was more damage to thenervous system than anything else, and the shock has done her good. Besides, Miles is so much less timid about her than dear Raymond, who always handled her like a cracked teapot, and never having knownmuch of any other woman, did not understand what was good for her. "

"Miles has more pith in him than ever poor old Raymond had, " saidPhil. "Poor old Poynsett, I used to think he wanted to be spoony onyou, Joan, if he had only known his own mind. If he had, I supposehe would have been alive now!"

"What a pleasing situation for Jenny!" Herbert could not helpmuttering. 

"Much better than running after ostriches in the wilderness, " quothPhilip. "You ride them double, don't you?"

"Two little negro boys at a time, " replied Jenny, "according to thenursery-book. Will you come and try, Phil?"

"You don't mean to go out?"

"I don't know, " said Jenny; "it depends on how mamma is, and howEdith gets on. "

Philip gave a long whistle of dismay. Herbert looked at himwistfully, longing to hear him utter some word of congratulation orsympathy with his sister; but none was forthcoming. Philip haddisliked the engagement originally--never had cared for ArchieDouglas, and was not melted now that Jenny was more valuable thanever. She knew him too well to expect it of him, and did not wantto leave him to vex Herbert by any expression of his opinion on thematter, and on this account, as well as on that of the fatigue shesaw on her patient's features, she refused his kind offer of keepingguard while she went in the afternoon to church, adding that Herbertmust rest, as Mrs. Duncombe was coming afterwards to take leave ofhim. 

Philip shrugged his shoulders in horror, and declared that he shouldnot return again till _that_ was over; but he should look in againbefore he went home to settle about Herbert's coming to York. 

"York!" said Herbert, with a gasp, as Jenny brought his jelly, andarranged his pillows for a rest, while the dragoon's boots resoundedon the stairs. "Please tell him to say no more about it. I wantthem all to understand that I'm not going in for that sort of thingany more. "

"My dear, I think you had better not say things hotly and rashly;you may feel so very differently by and by. "

"I know that, " said Herbert; "but after all it is only what myordination vows mean, though I did not see it then. And this yearmust be a penance year; I had made up my mind to that before I fellill. "

"Only you must get well, " said Jenny. 

"That takes care of itself when one is sound to begin with, " saidHerbert. "And now that I have been brought back again, and had myeyes opened, and have got another trial given me, it would be doubleshame to throw it away. "

"I don't think you will do that. "

"I only pray that all that seems burnt out of me by what I haveseen, and heard, and felt, may not come back with my strength. "

"I could hardly pray that for you, Herbert, " said Jenny. "Spiritsare wanted to bear a clergyman through his work, and though you arequite right not to _go in_ for those things, I should be sorry ifyou never enjoyed what came in your way. "

"If I never was tempted. "

"It need not be temptation. It would not be if your mind were fullof your work--it would only be refreshment. I don't want my boy toturn stern, and dry, and ungenial. That would not be like yourRector. "

"My Rector did not make such a bad start, and can trust himselfbetter, " said Herbert. "Come, Jenny, don't look at me in that way. You can't wish me to go to York, and meet those rattling girlsagain?"

"No, certainly not, though Sister Margaret told Rosamond they hadnever had such a sobering lesson in their lives as their share inthe mischief to you. "

"It was not their fault, " said Herbert. "It was deeper down thanthat. And they were good girls after all, if one only had hadsense. "

"Oh!--"

"Nonsense, Jenny, " with a little smile, as he read her face, "I'mnot bitten--no--but they, and poor Lady Tyrrell, and all are proofenough that it is easy to turn my head, and that I am one who oughtto keep out of that style of thing for the future. So do silencePhil, for you know when he gets a thing into his head how he goeson, and I do not think I can bear it now. "

"I am sure you can't, " said Jenny, emphatically, "and I'll do mybest. Only, Herbie, dear, do one thing for me, don't bind yourselfby any regular renunciations of moderate things now your mind isexcited, and you are weak. I am sure Julius or Dr. Easterby wouldsay so. "

"I'll think, " said Herbert. "But if I am forgiven for this year, nothing seems to me too much to give up to the Great Shepherd toshow my sorrow. 'Feed My sheep' was the way He bade St. Peter provehis love. "

Jenny longed to say it was feeding the sheep rather than self-privation, but she was not sure of her ground, and Herbert's low, quiet, soft voice went to her heart. There were two great tears onhis cheeks, he shut his eyes as if to keep back any more, and turnedhis face inwards on the sofa, his lips still murmuring over 'Feed Mysheep. ' She looked at him, feeling as if, while her heart hadwakened to new glad hopes of earth, her brother, in her fulfilledprayer, had soared beyond her. They were both quite still till Mrs. Duncombe came to the door. 

She was at the Rectory, her house being dismantled, and she, havingstayed till the last case of fever was convalescent, and the Sistersrecalled, was to go the next day to her mother-in-law's. She wasalmost as much altered as Herbert himself. Her jaunty air had givenway to something equally energetic, but she looked wiry and worn, and her gold pheasant's crest had become little more than a sandywisp, as she came quietly in and took the hand that Herbert held outto her, saying how glad she was to see him on the mend. 

He asked after some of the people whom they had attended together, and listened to the details, asking specially after one or twofamilies, where one or both parents had been taken away. "PoorCecil Poynsett is undertaking them, " was the answer in each case. Some had been already sent to orphanages; others were boarded outtill places could be found for them; and the Sisters had takencharge of two. 

Then one widow was to 'do for' the Vicar, who had taken solitarypossession of the Vicarage, but would soon be joined there by one ormore curates. He had been inducted into the ruinous chancel of thepoor old church, had paid the architect of the Rat-house fiftypounds (a sum just equalling the proceeds of the bazaar) to be ridof his plans; had brought down a first-rate architect; and in themeantime was working the little iron church vigorously. 

"Everything seems to be beginning there just as I go into exile!"said Mrs. Duncombe. "It seems odd that I should have to go fromwhat I have only just learnt to prize. But you have taught mo agood deal--"

"Every one must have learnt a good deal, " said Herbert wearily. "Ifone only has!"

"I meant you yourself, and that is what I came to thank you for. Yes, I did; even if you don't like to hear it, your sister does, andI must have it out. I shall recollect you again and again standingover all those beds, and shrinking from nothing, and I shall hold upthe example to my boys. "

"Do hold up something better!"

"Can you write?" she said abruptly. 

"I have written a few lines to my mother. "

"Do you remember what you said that night, when you had to hold thatpoor man in his delirium, and his wife was so wild with fright thatshe could not help?"

"I am not sure what you mean. "

"You said it three or four times. It was only--"

"I remember, " said Herbert, as she paused; "it was the only thing Icould recollect in the turmoil. "

"Would it tire you very much to write it for me in the flyleaf ofthis Prayer-Book that Mr. Charnock has given me?"

Herbert pulled himself into a sitting posture, and signed to hissister to give him the ink. 

"I shall spoil your book, " he said, as his hand shook. 

"Never mind, " she said, eagerly, "the words come back to me wheneverI think of the life I have to face, and I want them written; theysoothe me, as they soothed that frightened woman and raving man. "

And Herbert wrote. It was only--'The Lord is a very present help introuble. '

"Yes, " she said; "thank you. Put your initials, pray. There--thankyou. No, you can never tell what it was to me to hear those words, so quietly, and gravely, and strongly, in that deadly struggle. Itseemed to me, for the first time in all my life, that God is a realPresence and an actual Help. There! I see Miss Bowater wants megone; so I am off. I shall hear of you. "

Herbert was exhausted with the exertion, and only exchanged a closepressure of the hand, and when Jenny came back, after seeing thelady to the door, she thought there were tears on his cheek, andbent down to kiss him. 

"That was just the way, Jenny, " his low, tired voice said. "I nevercould recollect what I wanted to say. Only just those few Psalmsthat you did manage to teach me before I went to school, they cameback and back. "

Jenny had no time to answer, for the feet of Philip were on thestairs. He had been visiting Mrs. Hornblower, and persuading herthat to make a dragoon of her son was the very best thing for him--great promotion, and quite removed from the ordinary vulgarenlistment in the line--till he had wiled consent out of her. Andthough Philip declared it was blarney, and was inclined to think itinfra dig. To have thus exerted his eloquence, it was certain thatMrs. Hornblower would console herself by mentioning to herneighbours that her son was gone in compliment to Captain Bowater, who had taken a fancy to him. 

The relief to Herbert was infinite; but he was by this time too muchtired to do anything but murmur his thanks, and wish himself safeback in his bed, and Philip's strong-armed aid in reaching thathaven was not a little appreciated. 

Julius looked in with his mother's entreaty that Philip, and ifpossible his sister, should come up to eat their Christmas dinner atthe Hall; and Herbert, wearily declaring that sleep was all heneeded, and that Cranky would be more than sufficient for him, insisted on their accepting the invitation; and Jenny was not sorry, for she did not want a tete-a-tete with Philip so close to herpatient's room, that whatever he chose to hear, he might. 

She had quite enough of it in the walk to the Hall. Phil, with thepersistency of a person bent on doing a kind thing, returned to hisYork plan, viewing it as excellent relaxation for a depressed, over-worked man, and certain it would be a great treat to 'little Herb. 'He still looked on the tall young man as the small brother to bepatronized, and protected, and dragged out of home-petting; so hepooh-poohed all Jenny's gentler hints as to Herbert's need of careand desire to return to his work, until she was obliged to sayplainly that he had entreated her to beg it might not be argued withhim again, as he was resolved against amusement for the present. 

Then Phil grew very angry both with Herbert and Jenny. 

"Did they suppose he wanted the boy to do anything unclerical?"

"No; but you know it was by nothing positively unclerical that hewas led aside before. "

Phil broke out into a tirade against the folly of Jenny's speech. In his view, Herbert's conduct at Wil'sbro' had confuted theBishop's censure, and for his own part, he only wished to amuse theboy, and give him rest, and if he did take him to a ball, or evenout with the hounds, he would be on leave, and in another diocese, where the Bishop had nothing to do with him. 

Jenny tried to make him understand that dread of the Bishop was thelast thing in Herbert's mind. It was rather that he did not thinkit right to dissipate away a serious impression. 

That was worse than before. She was threatened with the mostserious displeasure of her father and mother, if she encouragedHerbert in the morbid ascetic notions ascribed to Dr. Easterby. 

"It was always the way with the women--they never knew where tostop. "

"No, " said Jenny, "I did not know there was anywhere to stop in theway of Heaven. "

"As if there were no way to Heaven without making a fool ofoneself. "

This answer made Jenny sorry for her own, as needlessly vexatious, and yet she recollected St. Paul's Christian paradoxes, and feltthat poor Herbert might have laid hold of the true theory of theministry. At any rate, she was glad that they were at that momenthailed and overtaken by the party from the Rectory, and that Philpounced at once on Julius, to obtain his sanction to giving Herberta little diversion at York. 

Julius answered more warily, "Does he wish it?"

"No; but he is too weak yet, and is hipped and morbid. "

"Well, Phil, I would not put it into his head. No doubt you wouldtake very good care of him, but I doubt whether your father wouldlike the Bishop to hear of him--under the circumstances--going todisport himself at the dragoon mess. Besides, I don't think he willbe well enough before Lent, and then of course he could not. "

This outer argument in a man's voice pacified Phil, as Julius knewit would, much better than the deeper one, and he contented himselfwith muttering that he should write to his father about it, whichevery one knew he was most likely not to do. 

Who could have foretold last Christmas who would be the party atthat dinner? Mrs. Poynsett at the head of her own table, and Milesin the master's place, and the three waifs from absent familieswould have seemed equally unlikely guests; while of last year'sparty--Charlie was in India, Tom De Lancey with the aunts inIreland, Cecil at Dunstone. Mrs. Duncombe was perfectly quiet, notonly from the subduing influence of all she had undergone, butbecause she felt herself there like an intruder, and would haverefused, but that to leave her at home would have distressed herhostess. Mrs. Poynsett had never seen her before, and after all shehad heard about her, was quite amazed at the sight of such aninsignificant little person as she was without her dash and sparkle, and in a dress which, when no longer coquettish, verged upon theslovenly. 

Poor thing, she was waiting till the Christmas visit of the elderMrs. Duncombe's own daughter was over, so that there might be roomfor her, and she was thankful for the reprieve, which left her ableto spend Christmas among the privileges she had only learnt to valuejust as she was deprived of them. She looked at Mrs. Poynsett, halfin curiosity, half in compunction, as she remembered how she hadhelped to set Cecil against her. 

"But then, " as she said to Rosamond, in going home, "I hadprejudices about the genus belle-mere. And mine always knew andsaid I should ruin her son, in which, alas! she was quite right!"

"She will be pleased now, " said Rosamond. 

"No, indeed, I believe she had rather I were rapidity personifiedthan owe the change to any one of your Rector's sort. I have had aletter or two, warning me against the Sisters, or thinking there isany merit in works of mercy. Ah, well! I'll try to think her agood old woman! But if she had only not strained the cord till itsnapped, how much happier Bob and I should have been!"

What a difference there is between straining the cord for one's selfand for other people! So Julius could not help feeling whenHerbert, in spite of all that could be said to him, about morbidhaste in renunciation, sent for the village captain of the cricket-club, and delivered over to him the bat, which had hitherto been asa knightly sword to him, resigning his place in the Compton PoynsettEleven, and replying to the dismayed entreaties and assurances ofthe young farmer that he would reconsider his decision, and that hewould soon be quite strong again, that he had spent too much timeover cricket, and liked it too well to trust himself at it again. 

That was the last thing before on a New Year's Day, which was likean April day, Herbert came into church once more, and then wascarried off in the Strawyers carriage, lying back half ashamed, halfastonished, at the shower of strange tears which the ecstatic shoutsand cheers of the village boys had called forth. 

CHAPTER XXXVIRockpier

For Love himself took part against himself To warn us off. --TENNYSON

Rosamond was to have a taste of her old vocation, and go campaigningfor lodgings, the searching for which she declared to be herstrongest point. Rockpier was to be the destination of the family;Eleonora Vivian, whose letters had been far fewer than had beenexpected of her, was known to be there with her father, and this waslure sufficient for Frank. Frank's welfare again was the lure toMrs. Poynsett; and the benefit Rosamond was to derive from sea air, after all she had gone through, made Julius willing to give himselfthe holiday that everybody insisted on his having until Lent. 

First, however, was sent off an advanced guard, consisting ofRosamond and Terry, who went up to London with Frank, that he mightthere consult an aurist, and likewise present himself to his chief, and see whether he could keep his clerkship. All this turned outwell, his duties did not depend on his ears, and a month's longerleave of absence was granted to him; moreover, his deafness waspronounced to be likely to yield to treatment, and a tube restoredhim to somewhat easier intercourse with mankind, and he was in highspirits, when, after an evening spent with Rosamond's friends, theM'Kinnons, the trio took an early train for Rockpier, where Rosamondcould not detain Frank even to come to the hotel with them and haveluncheon before hurrying off to Verdure Point, the villa inhabitedby Sir Harry. All he had done all the way down was to impress uponher, in the fulness of his knowledge of the place, that the onlyhabitable houses in Rockpier were in that direction--the nearer toVerdure Point the more perfect!

Terry listened with smiling eyes, sometimes viewing the lover as abore, sometimes as a curious study, confirming practical statements. Terry was thoroughly well, only with an insatiable appetite, and heviewed his fellow convalescent's love with double wonder when hefound it caused oblivion of hunger, especially as Frank still lookedgaunt and sallow, and was avowedly not returned to his usual health. 

Rosamond set forth house-hunting, dropping Terry ere long at theLibrary, where she went to make inquiries, and find the sine quanon. When she reached the sitting-room at the hotel, she foundFrank cowering over the fire in an arm-chair, the picture ofdespondency. Of course, he did not hear her entrance, and shedarted up to him, and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up toher with an attempt at indifference. 

"Well, Frank!"

"Well, Rose! How have you sped?"

"I have got a house; but it is in Marine Terrace. I don't know whatyou'll say to me. "

"I don't know that it signifies. "

"You are shivering! What's the matter?"

"Only, it is very cold!"

(Aside. "Ring the bell, Terry, he is as cold as ice. ") "Did yousee her?"

"Oh yes. Did you have any luncheon?" ("Some port-wine and hotwater directly, please. ")

"Yes, I believe so. You are not ordering anything for me? There'snothing amiss--only it is so cold. "

"It is cold, and you are not to be cold; nor are we to be cold, sir. You must go to bed early in the evening, Terry, " said Rosamond, atlast. "I shall make nothing of him while you are by, and an hour'smore sleep will not be lost on you. "

"Will you come and tell me then, Rosey? I deserve something. "

"What, for sleeping there instead of here, when you've nothing todo?"

"Indeed, but I have. I want to make out this little Chaucer. Ishall go down to the coffee-room and do it. "

"Well, if you like poking out your eyes with the gas in the coffee-room, I have no objection, since you are too proud to go to bed. Wish him good night first, and do it naturally. "

"Nature would be thrown away on him, poor fellow, " said Terry, as heroused Frank with difficulty to have 'Good night' roared into hisear, and give a listless hand. He was about to deal with Rosamondin the same way, but she said--

"No, I am not going yet, " and settled herself opposite to him, withher half-knitted baby's shoe in her hands, and her feet on thefender, her crape drawn up from the fire, disposed for conversation. Frank, on the other hand, fell back into the old position, lookingso wretched that she could bear it no longer, picked up the tube, forced it on him, and said, "Do tell me, dear Frank. You used totell me long ago. "

He shook his head. "That's all over. You are very good, Rosamond, but you should not have forced her to come to me. "

"Not!"

"My life was not worth saving. "

"She has not gone back from you again?--the horrible girl!" (thislast aside). 

"It is not that she has gone back. She has never changed. It is Iwho have forfeited her. "

"You!--You!--She has not cast you off?"

"You know how it was, and the resolution by which she had boundherself, and how I was maddened. "

"That! I thought it was all forgiven and forgotten!" criedRosamond. 

"It is not a matter of forgiveness. She put it to me whether it waspossible to begin on a broken word. "

"Worse and worse! Why, when you've spoken a foolish word, it is thefoolishest thing in the world to hold to it. "

"If it were a foolish word!" said poor Frank. "I think I could haveatoned for that day, if she could have tried me; but when she leftme to judge, and those eyes of sweet, sorrowful--"

"Sweet! Sorrowful, indeed! About as sweet and sorrowful as thebutcher to the lamb. Left you to judge! A refinement of cruelty!She had better have stayed away when I told her it was the onlychance to save your life. "

"Would that she had!" sighed Frank. "But that was your doing, Rosamond, and what she did in mere humanity can't be cast back againto bind her against her conscience. "

"Plague on her conscience!" was my Lady's imprecation. "I wonder ifit is all coquetry!"

"She deserves no blame, " said Frank, understanding the manner, though the words were under Rosamond's breath. "Her very troublesin her own family have been the cause of her erecting a standard ofwhat alone she could trust. Once in better days she fancied I cameup to it, and when I know how far I have fallen short of it--"

"Nonsense. She had no business to make the condition withoutwarning you. "

"She knows more of me than only that, " muttered poor Frank. "I wasan ass in town last summer. It was the hope of seeing her that drewme; but if I had kept out of that set, all this would never havebeen. "

"It was all for her sake. " (A substratum of 'Ungrateful, ungenerousgirl. ')

"For her sake, I thought--not her true sake. " Then there was asilence, broken by his exclaiming, "Rose, I must get away fromhere!"

"You can't, " she called back. "Here's your mother coming. Shewould be perfectly miserable to find you gone. "

"It is impossible I should stay here. "

"Don't be so chicken-hearted, Frank. If she has a heart worthspeaking of, she'll come round, if you only press hard enough. Ifnot, you are well quit of her. "

He cried out at this, and Rosamond saw that what she calledfaintness of heart was really reverence and sense of his ownfailings; but none the less did she scorn such misplaced adoration, as it seemed to her, and scold him in her own fashion, for notrushing on to conquer irresistibly; or else being cool and easy asto his rejection. He would accept neither alternative, wasdepressed beyond the power of comfort, bodily weariness adding tohis other ills, and went off at last to bed, without retracting hisintention of going away. 

"Well, Terry, it is a new phase, and a most perplexing one!" saidRosamond, when her brother came back with arch curiosity in hisbrown eyes. "The girl has gone and turned him over, and there helies on his back prostrate, just like Ponto, when he knows hedeserves it!"

"Turned him over--you don't mean that she is off? I thought she wasa perfect angel of loveliness and goodness. "

"Goodness! It is enough to make one hate goodness, unless this isall mere pretence on her part. But what I am afraid of is hissetting off, no one knows where, before any one is up, and leavingus to confront his mother, while he falls ill in some dog-hole of aplace. He is not fit to go about by himself, and I trust to you towatch him, Terry. "

"Shall I lie on the mat outside his door?" said Terry, half meaningit, and somewhat elated by the romantic situation. 

"No, we are not come to quite such extremities. You need not eventurn his key by mistake; only keep your ears open. He is next toyou, is he not?--and go in on pretext of inquiry--if you hear him upto mischief. "

Nothing was heard but the ordinary summons of Boots; and it turnedout in the morning that the chill had exasperated his throat, andreduced him to a condition which took away all inclination to move, besides deafening him completely. 

Rosamond had to rush about all day, providing plenishing for thelodging. Once she saw Sir Harry and his daughter in the distance, and dashed into a shop to avoid them, muttering, "I don't believeshe cared for him one bit. I dare say she has taken up with LorimerStrangeways after all! Rather worse than her sister, I declare, forshe never pretended to be too _good_ for Raymond, " and then as acurate in a cassock passed--"Ah! some of them have been working onher, and persuading her that he is not good enough for her. Impertinent prig! He looks just capable of it!"

Frank was no better as to cold and deafness, though somewhat lessuncomfortable the next day in the lodging, and Rosamond went upwithout him to the station to meet the rest of the party, andarrange for Mrs. Poynsett's conveyance. They had accomplished thejourney much better than had been, hoped, but it was late and darkenough to make it expedient that Mrs. Poynsett should be carried tobed at once, after her most unwonted fatigue, and only have oneglimpse and embrace of Frank, so as to stave off the knowledge ofhis troubles till after her night's rest. He seconded this desire, and indeed Miles and Anne only saw that he had a bad cold; butRosamond no sooner had her husband to herself, than she raved overhis wrongs to her heart's content, and implored Julius to redressthem, though how, she did not well know, since she by turns declaredthat Frank was well quit of Lenore, and that he would never get overthe loss. 

Julius demurred a good deal to her wish of sending him on a missionto Eleonora. All Charnocks naturally swung back to distrust of theVivians, and he did not like to plead with a girl who seemed only tobe making an excuse to reject his brother; while, on the other hand, he knew that Raymond had not been satisfied with Frank's Londonhabits, nor had he himself been at ease as to his religiouspractices, which certainly had been the minimum required to suit hismother's notions. He had been a communicant on Christmas Day, buthe was so entirely out of reach that there was no knowing whatdifference his illness might have made in him; Eleonora might knowmore than his own family did, and have good and conscientiousreasons for breaking with him; and, aware that his own authority hadweight with her, Julius felt it almost too much responsibility tointerfere till the next day, when his mother, with tears in hereyes, entreated him to go to Miss Vivian, to find out what was thisdreadful misunderstanding, which perhaps might only be from his wantof hearing, and implore her, in the name of an old woman, not tobreak her boy's heart and darken his life, as it had been with hisbrother. 

Mrs. Poynsett was tremulous and agitated, and grief had evidentlytold on her high spirit, so that Julius could make no objection, butpromised to do his best. 

By the time it was possible to Julius to call, Sir Harry and MissVivian were out riding, and he had no further chance till at thegaslit Friday evening lecture, to which he had hurried after dinner. A lady became faint in the heated atmosphere, two rows of chairsbefore him, and as she turned to make her way out, he saw that itwas Eleonora, and was appalled by seeing not only the whiteness ofthe present faintness, but that thinness and general alterationwhich had changed the beautiful face so much that he asked himselffor a moment whether she could have escaped the fever. In thatmoment he had moved forward to her support; and she, seeming to haveno one belonging to her, clung to the friendly arm, and waspresently in the porch, where the cool night air revived her atonce, and she begged him to return, saying nothing ailed her butgas. 

"No, I shall see you home, Lena. "

"Indeed, there is no need, " said the trembling voice, in which hedetected a sob very near at hand. 

"I shall use my own judgment as to that, " said Julius, kindly. 

She made no more resistance, but rose from the seat in the porch, and accepted his arm. He soon felt that her steps were growingfirmer, and he ventured to say, "I had been looking for you to-day. "

"Yes, I saw your card. "

"I had a message to you from my mother. " Lenore trembled again, butdid not dare to relax her hold on him. "I think you can guess whatit is. She thinks poor Frank must have mistaken what you said. "

"No--I wrote it, " said Lena, very low. 

"And you really meant that the resolution made last year is to standbetween you and Frank? I am not blaming you, I do not know whetheryou may not be acting rightly and wisely, and whether you may nothave more reason than I know of to shrink from intrusting yourselfto Frank; but my mother cannot understand it, and when she sees himheartbroken, and too unwell to act for himself--"

"Oh! is he ill?"

"He has a very bad cold, and could not get up till the afternoon, and he is deafer than ever. "

Lena moaned. 

He proceeded: "So as he cannot act for himself, my mother begged meto come to an understanding. "

"I told him to judge, " said Lena faintly, but turning Julius so asto walk back along the parade instead of to her abode. 

"Was not that making him his own executioner?" said Julius. 

"A promise is binding, " she added. 

"Yet, is it quite fair?" said Julius, sure now which way her heartwent, and thinking she was really longing to be absolved from asuperstitious feeling; "is it fair to expect another person to bebound by a vow of which you have not told him?"

"I never thought he could, " sighed she. 

"And you know he was entrapped!" said Julius, roused to defend hisbrother. 

"And by whom?" she said in accents of deep pain. 

"I should have thought it just--both by your poor sister and by him--to undo the wrong then wrought, " said Julius, "unless, indeed, youhave some further cause for distrusting him?"

"No! no!" cried she. "Oh, Julius! I do it for his own good. Yourmother knows not what she wishes, in trying to entangle him againwith me. "

"Lenore, will you tell me if anything in him besides that unhappyslip makes you distrust him?"

"I must tell the whole truth, " gasped the poor girl, as they walkedalong in the sound of the sea, the dark path here and therebrightened by the gas-lights, "or you will think it is his fault!Julius, I know more about my poor father than ever I did before. Iwas a child when I lived here before, and then Camilla took all themanagement. When we came to London, two months ago, I soon saw thekind of people he got round him for his comforters. I knew how hespent his evenings. It is second nature to him--he can't get put ofit, I believe! I persuaded him to come down here, thinking it ahaven of peace and safety. Alas! I little knew what old habitsthere were to resume, nor what was the real reason Camilla broughtus away after paying our debts. I was a happy child _then_, when Ionly knew that papa was gone to his club. Now I know that it is abilliard-room--and that it is doing all the more harm because he isthere--and I see him with people whom he does not like me to speakto. I don't know whether I could get him away, and it would be asbad anywhere else. I don't think he can help it. And he is oftenunwell; he can't do without me when he has the gout, and I ought notto leave him to himself. And then, if--if we did marry and he livedwith us in London, think what it would be for Frank to have such aset brought about him. I don't see how he could keep them off. Oreven an engagement bringing him down here--or anywhere, among papa'sfriends would be very bad for him. I saw it in London, even withCamilla to keep things in check. " She was almost choked withsuppressed agony. 

"I see, " said Julius, gravely and pitifully, "it would take a man ofmore age and weight than poor Frank to deal with the habits of alifetime. The risk is great. "

"And when I saw it, " added Eleonora, "I felt I must never, neverbring him into it. And how could I tell him? Your mother does notknow, or she could not wish it!"

"It is plain that in the present state of things you ought not tomarry, and so far you are judging nobly, " said Julius; "but nextcomes the question--how far it is well to make that day at the racesthe pretext?"

"Don't call it a pretext, " said Lenore, quickly. "I meant what Isaid a year ago, with all my soul. Perhaps it was hasty, when poorCamilla drove me into saying I did not mean only an habitualgambler, but one who had ever betted. And now, well as I know howcruelly she used that presumptuous vow of mine, and how she repentedof it at last, still I feel that to fly in its face might be sowrong, that I should have no right to expect not to drag Frankdown. "

"Perhaps I am too much interested to judge fairly, " said Julius. "Ishould like you to consult some one--say Dr. Easterby--but it seemsto me that it is just such a vow as you may well be absolved from. "

"But is it not Frank's protection?"

"Put yourself in that poor fellow's place, Lena, and see what it isto him to be cast off for such a reason. He did the wrong, I know. He knew he ought not, apart from your resolution, and he did thusprove his weakness and unfitness--"

"Oh no, no--it was not his fault. "

Julius laughed a little, and added, "I am not saying he deservesyou--hush!--or that it would be well to take him now, only that Ithink to find himself utterly rejected for so insufficient a reason, and when he was really deceived, would not only half kill him now, but do his whole nature cruel harm. "

"What is to be done then?" sighed Eleonora. 

"I should say, and I think my mother would put him on some probationif you like, even before you call it an engagement; but give himhope. Let him know that your attachment is as true and unselfish asever, and do not let him brood in misery, enhanced by his deafness. "

"I can't marry while poor papa is like what he is, " said she, as iftrying to keep hold of her purpose. 

"But you can be Frank's light and hope--the prize for which he canwork. "

"If--your mother will have it so--then, " said Eleonora, and the sighthat followed was one to relieve, not exhaust. 

"May I tell her then?"

"You must, I suppose, " said the poor girl; "but she can never wishit to go on!"

Julius left her at her own door and went home. 

As Mrs. Poynsett said, she could expect nothing better of him. "Itis quite clear, " she said, "that poor Lena is right, that Frank mustnot set up housekeeping with him. Even if he were certain to beproof against temptation, it would be as bad a connection as couldbe. I never thought of his being with them; but I suppose there isnothing else to be done with him. "

"Frank ought not to be exposed to the trial. The old man has acertain influence over him. "

"Though I should have thought such a hoary old wreck was nothing buta warning. It has been a most unhappy affair from first to last;but Lena is a good, unselfish girl, and nothing else will give Franka chance of happiness. Waiting will do them no harm, they are youngenough, and have no great sum to marry upon, so if you can bring herto me to-morrow, Julius, I will ask her to grant my poor boy leaveto wait till she can see her way to marrying. "

Julius ventured to write down, 'Hope on!'

To this Frank replied with rather a fiery look, "Mind, I will nothave her persuaded or worked on. It must be all her own doing. Yes, " answering a look of his brother, "I see what you are about. You want to tell her it is a superstition about her vow and notusing me fairly. So it may be in some points of view; but the factremains. She thought she might trust to my good sense andprinciple, and it proved that she was wrong. After that it is notright to force myself on her. I don't dare to do it, Julius. Ihave not been shut up with myself all these weeks for nothing. Iknow now how unworthy I ever was to think of her as mine. If I canever prove my repentance she might in time forgive me; but for herto be driven to take me out of either supposed justice or mercy, Iwill not stand! A wretched deaf being like me! It is not fitting, and I _will_ not have it done!"

Julius wrote--"She is suffering greatly. She nearly fainted atchurch, and I had to take her out. "

Frank's face worked, and he put his hand over it as he said, "Youare all torturing her; I shall write a letter and settle it myself. "

Frank did write the letter that very night, and when Julius next sawEleonora her eyes were swollen with weeping, and she said--

"Take me to him! I must comfort him!"

"You have heard from him?"

"Yes. Such a beautiful letter. But he must not think it _that_. "

She did show the letter, reserved though she was. She was rightabout it; Julius was struck with the humble sweetness, which madehim think more highly of poor Frank than ever he had done before. He had decided against himself, feeling how much his fall at therace-ground had been the effect of the manner in which he hadallowed himself to be led during the previous season in London, andowning how far his whole aim in life fell short of what it ought tobe, asking nothing for himself, not even hope nor patience, thoughhe could not refrain from expressing his own undying love, and hisone desire that if she had not attached herself to one more worthy, he might in time be thought to have proved his repentance. In themeantime she would and could be only his beacon star. 

Julius could not but take her home, and leave her with Frank, thoughhis mother was a little annoyed not to have first seen her; but whenFrank himself brought her to Mrs. Poynsett's arms, it turned outthat the two ladies were quite of one mind as to the inexpediency ofSir Harry living with Frank. They said it very covertly, but eachunderstood the other, and Eleonora went home wonderfully happier, and looking as if her fresh beauty would soon return. 

There was quite enough to dazzle Miles, whose first opinion was thatthey were hard on Sir Harry, and that two ladies and a clergymanmight be making a great deal too much of an old man's form ofloitering, especially in a female paradise of ritualism, as he waspleased to call Rockpier, where all the male population seemed to beinvalids. 

However, it was not long before he came round to their view. Hefound that Sir Harry, in spite of his gentlemanly speech andbearing, was a battered old roue, who was never happy but whengambling, and whose air and title were baits to victims of a lowerclass than himself; young clerks and medical students who wereflattered by his condescension. He did not actually fleece themhimself, he had too little worldly wisdom for that; but he was thedecoy of a coterie of Nyms, Pistols, and Bardolphs, who gathered upthe spoil of these and any unwary youth who came to Rockpier in thewake of an invalid, or to 'see life' at a fashionable watering-place. Miles thought the old man was probably reduced to a worsestyle of company by the very fact of the religious atmosphere of theplace, where he himself found so little to do that he longed for theopening of the Session; but he was strongly impressed with theimpracticability of a menage for Frank, with the baronet as father-in-law. 

Not so, Sir Harry. He was rather fond of Frank, and had been gladto be no longer bound to oppose the match, and he had benignantlymade up his mind to the great sacrifice of living in his house inLondon, surrounding himself with all his friends, and making theyoung couple supply him with pocket-money whenever he had a run ofill-luck. They would grant it more easily than Camilla, and wouldnever presume to keep him under regulation as she had done. Theywould be too grateful to him. 

So, after a day or two, he demanded of Eleonora whether her youngman had given her up, or what he meant by his coolness in notcalling? Lena answered the last count by explaining how unwell hehad been, and how his hearing might be lost by a renewal of hiscold. She was however further pressed, and obliged to say howmatters stood, namely, that they were engaged, but meant to wait. 

Whereupon, Sir Harry, quite sincerely, poor old man, grewcompassionate and grandly benignant. The young people were prudent, but he would come to their aid. His pittance added to theirs--evennow would set all things straight. He would never stand in the wayof their happiness!

Mrs. Poynsett had bidden Lena cast the whole on her shoulders. Thegirl was too truthful and generous to do this, fond as she still wasof her father. 

"No, dear papa, " she said, "it is very kind in you, " for she knewthat so he meant it, "but I am afraid it will not quite do. You seeFrank must be very careful in his situation--and I don't think soquiet a way of life would suit you. "

"Nonsense, child; I'm an old man, and I want no racketing. Justhouse-room for myself and Victor. That fellow is worth two women ina house. You'll keep a good cook. I'll never ask for more than afew old friends to dinner, when I don't feel disposed to have themat the club. "

Old friends! Yes, Lenore knew them, and her flesh crept to think ofFrank's chief hearing of them constantly at his house. 

"I don't think we should afford it, dear papa, " she said. "We haveagreed that I had better stay with you for the present, and letFrank make his way. "

Then a thought occurred to Sir Harry. "Is this the Poynsetts'doing?"

"No, " said Eleonora, stoutly. "It is mine. I know that--oh! papa, forgive me!--the things and people you like would not be good forFrank, and I will not leave you nor bring him into them. Never!"

Sir Harry swore--almost for the first time before her--that this wasthat old hag Mrs. Poynsett's doing, and that she would make hischild abandon him in his old age. He would not have his daughterdragged into a long engagement. Wait--he knew what waiting meant--wait for his death; but they should have her now or not at all; andhe flung away from her and her entreaties to announce hisdetermination to the suitor's family. 

He did not find this very easy to accomplish. Frank's ears werequite impervious to all his storming, and if he was to reduce hiswords to paper, they came less easily. Miles, to whom he tried tospeak as a man of the world, would only repeat that his mother wouldnever consent to the marriage, unless the young couple were to livealone; nay, he said, with a grain of justice, he thought that hadbeen Sir Harry's own view in a former case. Would he like to seeMrs. Poynsett? she is quite ready. 

Again Sir Harry quailed at the notion of encountering Mrs. Poynsett;but Miles, who had a great idea that his mother could deal witheverybody, and was the better for doing so, would not let him off, and ushered him in, then stood behind her chair, and thoroughlyenjoyed the grand and yet courteous way in which she reduced tonothing Sir Harry's grand beneficence in eking out the young folks'income with his own. She knew very well that even when the estatewas sold, at the highest estimate, Eleonora would have the barestmaintenance, and that he could hardly expect what the creditors nowallowed him, and she made him understand that she knew this, andthat she had a right to make conditions, since Frank, like her othersons, could not enter into possession of his share of his father'sfortune unless he married with her consent. 

And when he spoke of breaking off the engagement, she was callous, and said that he must do as he pleased, though after young peoplewere grown up, she thought the matter ought to rest with themselves. She did not wish her son to marry till his character was moreconfirmed. 

He went home very angry, and yet crest-fallen, sought out Eleonora, and informed her of his command, that her engagement should bebroken off. 

"I do not know how that can be done, papa, " said Eleonora. "We havenever exactly made an engagement; we do not want to marry at once, and we could not help loving each other if we tried. "

"Humph! And if I laid my commands on you never to marry into thatfamily?"

"I do not think you will do that, papa, after your promise toCamilla. "

She had conquered. No further objection was made to her being asmuch as she pleased with the Charnocks as long as they remained atRockpier, nor to her correspondence with Frank when he went away, not to solitary lodgings as before, but to the London house, whichMiles and Anne only consented to keep on upon condition of theirmother sharing it with them. 

CHAPTER XXXVIIThe Third Autumn

A good man ther was of religion, That was a poure Persone of a toune;But rich he was of holy thought and work, He also was a learned man a clerk. --CHAUCER

Autumn came round again, and brought with it a very differentSeptember from the last. 

Willansborough was in a state of commotion. That new Vicar had notonly filled the place with curates, multiplied services in the ironchurch, and carried on the building of St. Nicholas in a style ofbeauty that was quite affronting to those who were never asked tocontribute to it, but he gave people no peace in their easyconventional sins, pricked them in their hearts with personalindividual stings, and, worse than all, protested against the races, as conducted at Wil'sbro'. 

And their Member was just as bad! Captain Charnock Poynsett, instead of subscribing, as part of his duty to his constituents, hadreplied by sending his brother Raymond's half-finished letter to theclub, with an equally strong and resolute one of his own, and hadpublished both in all the local papers. 

Great was the fury and indignation of Wil'sbro', Backsworth, and allthe squires around. Of course it was a delirious fancy of poorRaymond Poynsett, and Miles had been worked upon by his puritanicalwife and ritualistic brother to publish it. Newspapers teemed withabuse of superstition and pharisaism, and praise of this wholesome, moral, and 'truly English' sport. Gentlemen, and ladies too, tookthe remonstrance as a personal offence, and threatened to visit nomore at Compton; the electors bade him look to his seat, and heldmeetings to invite 'Mr. Simmonds Proudfoot, ' as he now calledhimself, to represent them; and the last week, before the races, theroughs mobbed him in Water Lane. He rode quietly through them, withhis sailor face set as if against a storm, but when he was out ofthe place, he stopped his horse at Herbert Bowater's lodgings, thathis black eye might be washed, and the streams of rotten egg removedfrom his coat before he presented himself at home. Not that he hadmuch fear of startling his wife and mother. It was more from theEnglishman's hatred of showing himself a hero, for Anne wasperfectly happy in the persecution he had brought on himself, forshe never had been so sure before that he was not of the world, worldly. 

The races were exceptionally brilliant, and fully attended, but thetriumph of the roughs had made them more outrageously disgraceful intheir conduct than ever; and when Miles went to the quarter-sessions, rather doubting whether he should not find himself landedin Coventry, not only did the calendar of offences speak for itself, but sundry country gentlemen shook him by the hand, lamenting thatrailways and rowdyism had entirely altered races from what they usedto be, that he was in the right, and what they had seen so recentlyproved that the only thing to be done was to withdraw from whatrespectable people could no longer keep within bounds. Suchwithdrawal will not prevent them, but it will hinder thedemoralization from being so extensive as formerly, since no one ofmuch character to lose will attend them. 

Mr. Bowater rejoiced in Miles's triumph. None of that family hadbeen at these same races. They had all been much too anxious aboutHerbert not to view Ember Week in a very different light from thatin which they had thought of it before. 

Lent had brought the junior curate back from Strawyers, not muchmore than a convalescent, but with his sister to look after him, andboth Rector and senior anxious to spare him; he had gone on welltill the family returned and resumed Jenny, when he was left to hisown devices, namely, 'all work and no play. ' He was as fixed asever in his resolution of making this a penance year, and believedhimself so entirety recovered as to be able to do withoutrelaxations. Cricket, riding, dinners, and garden-parties alike hehad given up, and divided his time entirely between church andparish work and study. Hard reading had never been congenial, andtook a great deal out of him, and in fact, all his theological studyhad hitherto been little more than task-work, into which he hadnever fully entered, whereas these subjects had now assumed such aforce, depth, and importance, that he did in truth feel constrainedto go to the very foundation, and work through everything again, moved and affected by them in every fibre of his soul, whichvibrated now at what it had merely acquiesced in before. It was aphase that had come suddenly on him, when his mind was in fullvigour of development, and his frame and nerves below par, and theeffect could not but be severe. He was wrapped up in these greatrealities, and seemed to care for no talk, except discussing themwith Julius or the senior curate, and often treated things of commonlife like the dream that they really are. 

Julius laid as little parish work on him as possible, only, indeed, what seemed actually beneficial by taking him out; but it may befeared, that in his present fervid state he was not nearly sowinning to his young clients as when he was less 'terribly inearnest, ' although the old women were perhaps more devoted to him, from the tender conviction 'that the poor dear young gentleman wouldnot be here long. '

For indeed it was true that he had never advanced in strength orlooks since his return, but rather lost ground, and thus everychange of weather, or extra exertion, told on him, till in August hewas caught in a thunder-storm, and the cold that ensued ran on intoa feverish attack, which barely left him in time for the Ordination, and then with a depressed system, and nerves morbidly sensitive. 

So sensible (or more than sensible) was he of his deficiencies, thathe would willingly have held back, and he was hardly well enough todo himself justice; but there was no doubt that he would pass, andit was plain that three more months of the strain of preparationmight leave permanent effects on his health. 

As it was, the examining chaplain did not recognize the lean, pale, anxious man, for the round-faced, rosy, overgrown boy of a year ago. His scholarship and critical knowledge were fairly above the mark, in spite of a racking headache; and his written sermon, togetherwith all that was elicited from him, revealed, all unconsciously tohimself, what treasures he had brought back from the deep waterswhich had so nearly closed over him. 

So superior had he shown himself, that he was appointed to read theGospel, a choice that almost shocked him, knowing that what had madehim excel had been an experience that the younger men had happilymissed. But the mark of approval was compensation to his parentsand sisters for the disappointment of the last year, and the onlydrawback was fear of the effect of the long ceremonial, so deeplyfelt. 

He met them afterwards, very white-faced, with head aching, andweary almost beyond speech, but with a wonderfully calm, restfullook on his face, such as reminded Jenny of those first hours of hisrecovery. 

They took him home and put him to bed, and there he lay, hardlyspeaking, and generally sleeping. There he still was on the Monday, when Julius came to inquire after him, and was taken up-stairs atonce by Jenny, with the greeting, "So the son and heir is come, Julius?"

"Yes, and I never saw my mother more exulting. When Rosamond randown to tell her, she put her arms round her neck and cried. Shewho never had a tear through all last year. I met your father andmother half-way, and they told me I might come on. "

"I think nothing short of such news would have made mamma leave thisboy, " said Jenny; "but she must have her jubilee with Mrs. Poynsett. "

"And I'm quite well, " said Herbert, who had been grasping Julius'shand, with a wonderful look in his eyes; "yes, really--the doctorsaid so. "

"Yes, he did, " said Jenny, "only he said we were to let him alone, and that he was not to get up till he felt quite rested. "

"And I shall get up to dinner, " said Herbert, so sleepily, thatJulius doubted it. "I hope to come back before Sunday. "

"What does your doctor say to that?"

"He says, " replied Jenny, "that this gentleman must be rational;that he has nothing the matter with him now, but that he is low, andripe for anything. Don't laugh, you naughty boy, he said you wereripe for anything, and that he must--yes, he _must_--be turned outto grass somehow or other for the winter, and do nothing at all. "

"I begin to see what you are driving at, Mrs. Joan, you look sotriumphant. "

"_Yes_, " said Jenny, blushing a little, and looking quite youngagain; "I believe poor mamma would be greatly reconciled to it, ifHerbert were to see me out to Natal. "

"Is that to be the way?"

"It would be very absurd to make Archie come home again for me, "said Jenny. "And everything else is most happily smoothed for me, you know; Edith has come quite to take my place at home; mammalearnt to depend on her much more than on me while I was withHerbert. "

"And it has made her much more of a woman, " added Herbert. 

"Then you know that full statement poor Mr. Moy put forth when heleft the place, on his wife's death, quite removed all lingeringhesitation on papa's part, " added Jenny. 

"It ought, I am sure!" said Julius. 

"So, now, if Herbert will go out with me, it seems to me to be allright, " said Jenny, colouring deeply, as she made this lame andimpotent conclusion. 

"My father wishes it, " said Herbert. "I believe he meant to see youto-day to ask leave of absence for me. That is what he wishes; butI have made up my mind that I ought to resign the curacy--where Ihave never been any use to you--though, if I had been well, I meantto have worked a year with you as a priest. "

"I don't like to lose you, but I think you are right. Yourbeginning with me was a mistake. There is not enough work for threeof us; but you know Easterby would be delighted to have you at St. Nicholas. He says his most promising people talk of what you saidto them when they were ill, and he asked me if you could possiblycome to him. "

"I think it would be better to begin in a new place, further fromhome, " said Herbert, quietly. 

And both knew what he meant, and how hard it would be to be theclergyman he had learnt to wish to be, if his mother were at hand tobe distressed by all he did or did not do. 

"But, any way, " added Herbert, "I hope to have some time longer atCompton before I go. Next Sunday, if I only _can_. "

His mind was evidently full of the Feast of the Sunday, and Juliusanswered, "Whichever Sunday you are strong enough, of course, dearfellow. You had better come with him, Jenny, and sleep at theRectory. "

"Oh! thank you. I should like nothing so much; and I think theywill spare me that one day. "

"You will come in for a grand gathering, that is, if poor Cecilaccepts. Miles thinks she ought to be godmother. "

"Oh!"

"And no one has said a word of any cloud. It is better he shouldknow nothing. "

"And oh! Julius, is it true that her father has bought Sirenwood forher?"

"Quite true. You know it was proposed at first, but the trusteesdoubted of the title; but when all that was cleared up, it turnedout to be a better investment than Swanslea, and so they settled it, without much reference to her. "

"She will let it, of course?"

"I suppose so. "

"You don't think she will come to the christening?"

"I cannot tell; Rose has had one or two very sad letters from her. She wanted us very much to come to Dunstone, and was muchdisappointed that we were prevented. I fancy her heart has turnedto us, and that it is very sore, poor thing. "

Julius was right. Cecil did return an answer, whose warmth quiteamazed all but Miles and Anne, who thought nothing too much fortheir son; and she gladly came to attend the christening of theyoung Raymond. Gladly--yes, she was glad to leave Dunstone. Shehad gone home weary and sick of her lodging and convalescence, andhoping to find relief in the home that had once been all-sufficientfor her, but Dunstone was not changed, and she was. She had notbeen able to help outgrowing its narrow opinions and formalprecisions; and when she came home, crushed with her scarcelyrealized grief, nothing there had power to comfort her. 

There was soothing at first in her step-mother's kindness, and shereally loved her father; but their petting admiration soon grewoppressive, after the more bracing air of Compton; and theiridolatry of her little brother fretted and tried her all the more, because they thought he must be a comfort to her, and any slightfrom her might be misconstrued. Mr. Venn's obsequiousness, insteadof rightful homage, seemed deprivation of support, and she saw noone, spoke to no one, without the sense of Raymond's vastsuperiority and her own insensibility to it, loving him a thousandtimes more than she had loved him in life, and mourning him with ananguish beyond what the most perfect union would have left. She hadnothing to do. Self-improvement was a mere oppression, and shelonged after nothing so much as the sight of Rosamond, Anne, Julius, or even Frank, and her amiable wishes prevailed to have them invitedto Dunstone; but at the times specified there were hindrances. Annehad engagements at home, and Rosamond appeared to the rest of thefamily to be a perpetual refuge for stray De Lanceys, while Frankhad to make up for his long enforced absence by a long unbrokenspell of work. 

Cecil therefore had seen none of the family till she arrived atCompton. She was perfectly well, she said, and had become a greatwalker, and so, indeed, she showed herself, for she went outdirectly after breakfast every morning, and never appeared againtill luncheon time; and would take long rides in the afternoon. "Itwas her only chance of sleep, " she said, when remonstrated with. She did not look ill, but there was a restless, worn air that wasvery distressing on her young features, and was the more piteous toher relations, that she was just as constrained as ever in herintercourse with them. She was eagerly attentive to Mrs. Poynsett, and evidently so anxious to wait on her that Anne left to her manylittle services, but if they were alone together, they were tongue-tied, and never went deeper than surface subjects. Mrs. Poynsettnever discussed her, never criticized her, never attempted to fathomher, being probably convinced that there was nothing but hardcoldness to be met with by probing. Yet there was somethingstriking in Cecil's having made people call her Mrs. RaymondPoynsett, surrendering the Charnock, which she had once brandishedin all their faces, and going by the name by which her husband hadbeen best known. 

To Anne she was passively friendly, and neither gave nor soughtconfidences, and Anne was so much occupied with her baby, and allthe little household services that had grown on her, as well as withher busy husband, that there was little leisure for them; and thoughthe meeting with Rosamond was at first the most effusive andaffectionate of all, afterwards she seemed to avoid tetes-a-teteswith her, and was shyer with her than with Anne. 

It was Miles that she got on with best. He had never so fullyrealized the unhappiness of his brother's married life as those whohad watched it; and he simply viewed her as Raymond's loved andloving widow and sincere mourner, and treated her with all brotherlytenderness and reverence for her grief; while she responded with acordiality and gratitude which made her, when talking to him, apleasanter person than she had ever been seen at Compton before. 

But it was not to Miles, but to Rosamond, that she brought anearnest question, walking in one autumn morning to the Rectory, amidthe falling leaves of the Virginian-creeper, and amazing Rosamond, who was writing against time for the Indian mail, by asking--

"Rosamond, will you find out if Mrs. Poynsett would mind my comingto live at Sirenwood?"

"You, Cecil!"

"Yes, I'm old enough. There's no place for me at home, and though Imust be miserable anywhere, it will be better where I have somethingto do, of some real use to somebody. I've been walking all roundevery day, and seeing what a state it is in--in the hands ofcreditors all these years. "

"But you would be quite alone!"

"I am quite alone as it is. "

"And would your father consent?"

"I think he would. I am a burthen to them now. They cannot feel mygrief, nor comfort it, and they don't like the sight of it, though Iam sure I trouble them with it as little as possible. "

"Dear Cecil!" and the ready tears welled up in Rosamond's gray eyes. 

"I don't want to talk of it, " said Cecil. "If I felt worthy togrieve it would be less dreadful; but it all seems like hypocrisy. Rosamond, if you were to lose Julius to-morrow, you would not be asunhappy as I am. "

"Don't, don't!" cried Rosamond, making a gesture of horror. "Butdoes not coming here make it worse?"

"No, real stabs are better than dull aching; and then you--you, Rosamond, did know how it really was, and that I would--I would--"

Cecil wept now as Rosamond had longed to see her weep when she hadleft Compton, and Rosamond spoke from her tender heart of comfort;but the outburst did not last long, and Cecil said, recoveringherself--

"After all, my most peaceful times of late have been in walkingabout in those woods at Sirenwood; I should like to live there. Youknow _he_ always wished it to be the purchase, because it joinsCompton, and I should like to get it all into perfect order andbeauty, and leave it all to little Raymond. "

"I should have thought the place would have been full of ghosts. "

"I tried. I made the woman let me in, and I sat where poor Camillaused to talk to me, and I thought I was the better for facing itout. The question is whether Mrs. Poynsett will dislike it. Shehas a right to be consulted. "

Perhaps Cecil could not be gracious. Certainly, Raymond would havebeen thankful for even this admission. 

"You wish me to find out?"

"If you would be so good. I would give it up at once if she has anyfeeling against it, and go somewhere else--and of course she has!She never can forget what I did!"

Rosamond caressed Cecil with that sweetness which saw everything inthe most consoling manner; but when the poor young widow was out ofsight, there was a revulsion of feeling. 

"No, Mrs Poynsett must always feel that that wretched marriage brokeher son's heart, and murdered him!--murdered him!" said Rosamond toherself, clenching that soft fist of hers. "It ought not to bebroached to her!"

But Julius--when she stated it to him rather less broadly, but stillsaying that she did not know whether she could bear the sight ofCecil, except when she was before her eyes, and how could his motherendure her at all--did not see it in the same light. He thoughtSirenwood gave duties to Cecil, and that she ought not to behindered from fulfilling them. And he said his mother was a large-minded woman, and not likely to have that personal bitternesstowards Cecil that both the ladies seemed to expect, as her rival inher son's affections, and the means of his unhappiness and death. 

He was right; Mrs. Poynsett was touched by finding that Cecil clungto them rather than to her sublime family, and especially by thedesign as to little Raymond, though she said that must never bementioned; nothing must bind so young a creature as Cecil, whoreally did not know what love was at all. 

"She is afraid the sight of her is distressing to you, " saidRosamond. 

"Poor child, why should she?" said Mrs. Poynsett. "She was thevictim of an unsuccessful experiment of my dear boy's, and theunsuspecting instrument of poor Camilla's vengeance. That is all Isee in her. "

"Mrs. Poynsett, how can you!" cried Rosamond, impetuously. "Withall I know of her sorrow, I rage at her whenever I am out of sightof her. "

"I can't do that, " said Mrs. Poynsett, half smiling, "any more thanI could at a doll. The poor thing was in a false position, andnobody was more sorry for her than Raymond himself; but you see hehad fancied that marriage must bring the one thing it would not inthat short time. "

"It would, if she had not been a little foolish donkey. "

"Or if Camilla Tyrrell had let her alone! It is of no use to rakeup these things, my dear Rosamond. Let her come to Sirenwood, anddo such good as she can there, if it can comfort her. It was for mysake that the unconscious girl was brought here to have her lifespoilt, and I would not stand in the way of what seems to be anyrelief. "

"But is it no pain?" persisted Rosamond. 

"No, my dear. I almost wish it was. I shall never get on with her;but I am glad she should come and be near you all; and Miles likesher. "

Mr. Charnock demurred at first, and wanted to saddle Cecil with herold governess as a companion, but when he found that Mrs. Poynsettand Miles made no objection, and remembered that she would be undertheir wing, and would be an inestimable adviser and example to Anne, he consented; and Cecil's arrangements were made with startlingrapidity, so that she was in possession before Christmas, which sheinsisted on spending there. Dunstone had stereotyped hospitalities, which she could not bear, and would not prevent, and now that herfirst year of widowhood was over, the sorrow was not respected, while it seemed to her more oppressive than ever. 

So there she was in vehement activity; restless rather thanreligious in her beneficence still, though the lesson she had hadshowed itself in her constantly seeking the advice of Miles, whothought her the most sensible woman in the world, except his Nan. Whether this constant occupation, furnishing, repairing, planning, beautifying her model cottages, her school chapel, and all the rest, were lessening the heartache, no one knew, but the sharp black eyeslooked as dry and hard, the lines round the mouth as weary as ever;and Rosamond sometimes thought if Sirenwood were not full of ghoststo her, she was much like a ghost herself who came

"Hovering around her ancient home, To find no refuge there. "

There was another who could not help seeing her somewhat in thatlight, and this was Eleonora Vivian, who had come to Compton to bewith Frank, when he was at last able to enjoy a well-earned holiday, and with ears restored to their natural powers, though he alwaysdeclared that his eight months of deafness had done him more goodthan anything that had ever befallen him in his life. It had thrownhim in on his real self, and broken all the unfortunate associationsof his first year in London. His first few months, while he wasstill in need of care, had been spent with Miles and Anne, and thattender ministry to him which his sister-in-law had begun in hisillness had been with him when he was tired, dispirited, or beset bythe trials of a tardy convalescence. As his interpreter, too, andcaterer for the pleasures his infirmity allowed, Anne had beeneducating herself to a degree that 'self' improvement never wouldhave induced. 

And when left alone in London, he was able to take care of himselfin all ways, and had followed the real leadings of his disposition, which his misdirected courtship had interrupted for the time, returning to the intellectual pursuits which were likely to bebeneficial, not only as pleasures, but in an economical point ofview; and he was half shy, half proud of the profits, such as theywere, of a few poems and essays which he certainly had not had it inhim to write before the ordeal he had undergone. 

Eleonora's elder sister, Mrs. Fanshaw, had come home from India withher husband, newly made a Major-General. Frank had gone to Rockpierearly in January, to be introduced to them, and after spending a dayor two there, to escort Lena to Compton. Mrs. Poynsett needed butone glance to assure her that the two were happier than their wooinghad ever made them before, save in that one brief moment at Cecil'sparty. Eleonora looked more beautiful, and the look of wistful painhad left her brow, but it had made permanent lines there, as wellhad seemed likely, and though her laugh would never have the abandonof Rosamond's, still it was not so very rare, and though she wasstill like a beautiful night, it was a bright moonlight one. 

A few private interviews made the cause of the change apparent. Thesister, Mary Fanshaw, had something of Camilla's dexterity, buthaving been early married to a good man, she had found its useinstead of its abuse; and though Lena's trust had come very slowly, she had given it at last, and saw that her elders could deal withher father as she could never do. Sir Harry respected the Generalenough to let himself be restrained by him, and the husband and wifewere ready to take the charge--removing, however, from Rockpier, forthe religious atmosphere of which they were unprepared, and whichGeneral Fanshaw thought very dull. Affairs were in course of beingwound up on the sale of Sirenwood, and the General had talked toFrank, as one of the family, in a way that had proved to him his ownmanhood more than anything that had happened to him. Out of thewreck, nothing remained to the old man, and the portion which hadbeen secured by the mother's marriage settlements to youngerchildren, though hitherto out of reach, was felt by the daughters tobe due to the creditors, so that only two thousand pounds apiece hadbeen secured to each of them; and this the General consulted Frankabout appropriating for Sir Harry's use during his lifetime, himselfretaining the management, so as to secure the attendance of thefavourite valet, the keeping of a horse, and a fair amount of menusplaisirs. 

It was also made plain to Frank that Lena's filial duties andscruples need no longer stand in the way of the marriage. Mrs. Fanshaw had two girls almost come out, and perhaps she did not wishthem to be overshadowed by the aunt, who, however retiring, couldnot help being much more beautiful. So all that remained was thatMrs. Poynsett should be willing to supplement Frank's officialincome with his future portion. She was all the more rejoiced, asthis visit showed her for the first time what Lena really was whenbrought into the sunshine without dread of what she might hear orsee, or of harm being done by her belongings; and her gratitude forthe welcome with which she was received was most touching. 

The rest of her family were in course of removing to their new home, where Mrs. Fanshaw would be mistress of the house, and so Eleonora'sstay at Compton was prolonged till the general migration to London, which was put off till Easter. Just before this, Herbert Bowatercame back from Natal, and walked from Strawyers with all his happydogs, as strong and hearty and as merry as ever; his boyish outlinesgone, but wholesome sunburn having taken the place of his rosiness, and his bonny smile with its old joyousness. He had married Jennyand Archie himself, and stayed a month on their ostrich farm, whichhe declared was a lesson on woman's rights, since Mrs. Ostrich washeedless and indifferent as to her eggs, but was regularly huntedback to the duties by her husband, who always had two wives, andregularly forced them to take turns in sitting; a system whichHerbert observed would be needful if the rights of women were towork. He had brought offerings of eggs and feathers to LadyRosamond, and pockets full of curiosities for all his villagefriends; also, he had been at the Cape, had seen Glen Fraser, rejoiced the inhabitants with his accounts of Anne, and brought homea delightful budget for her. 

But the special cause of his radiance was a letter he brought fromhis father to Mr. Bindon. The family living, which had decided hisown profession, had fallen vacant, and his father, wishing perhapsnot to be thought cruel and unnatural by his wife, had made noappointment until Herbert's return, well knowing that he woulddecide against himself: and feeling that, as things stood, it wouldbe an awkward exercise of patronage to put him in at once. Herberthad declared that nothing would have induced him to accept what hepersuaded his father to let him offer to James Bindon, whom he hadfound to have an old mother in great need of the comfortable home, which, without interest, or any talent save for hard work, he couldscarcely hope to secure to her. 

"And you, Herbert, " said Julius, "can I ask you to come back to me, now that we shall have a fair amount to do between us?"

Herbert smiled and shook his head, as he took out an advertisementfor a curate in one of the blackest parishes of the Black Country. "I've written to answer that, " he said. 

Julius did not try to hinder him. What had been exaggerated hadparsed away, and he was now a brave man going forth in his strengthand youth to the service he had learnt to understand; able stillkeenly to enjoy, but only using pleasure as an incidental episodefor the delight of others, and as subordinate to the true work ofhis life. 

He asked for his fellow-worker, Mrs. Duncombe. There were tidings, but disappointing ones. She had written a long letter to Julius, full of her reasons for being received into the Roman Communion, where she rapturously declared she had for the first time foundpeace. Anne and Rosamond took the change most bitterly to heart, but Julius, though believing he could have saved her from theschism, by showing her the true beauty and efficiency of her ownChurch, could not wonder at this effect of foreign influences on oneso recently and imperfectly taught, and whose ardent nature requiredstrong forms of whatever she took up. And the letters she continuedto write to Julius were rapturous in the cause of the Pope and as toall that she had once most contemned. She had taken her childrenwith her, but her husband remained tolerant, indifferent, and soprobably he would do while his health lasted. 

Early in the summer Frank and Eleonora were married, and a prettylittle house in the outskirts of London found for them, suiting withthe grace of the one and the poetry of the other. It was a small, quiet household, but could pleasantly receive those literary friendsof Frank's whom he delighted to present to his beautiful andappreciative wife, whose sweetness and brightness grew every dayunder the influence of affection and confidence. The other auguryof poor Lady Tyrrell, that their holidays would be spent at ComptonHall, was fulfilled, but very pleasantly for both parties, for itwas as much home to Lena as to Frank. 

Miles's geniality made all at ease that came near him, and Anne, though never a conversational person, was a quietly kind hostess, much beloved by all who had experienced her gentleness, and she hadFrank and Lena to give distinction in their different ways to herLondon parties, as at Compton, Rosamond never failed to giveeverything a charm where she assisted in planning or receiving. 

Rosamond would never cease to love society. Even had she been agrandmother she would have fired at the notion of a party, enjoy, and render it enjoyable; and the mere announcement of a new facewould be as stimulating to her as it was the reverse to Anne. Butshe had grown into such union with her husband, and had so forgottenthe Rathforlane defence, as to learn that it was pleasanter to do ashe liked than to try to make him like what she did, and a look ofdisapproval from him would open her eyes to the flaws in any scheme, however enchanting at first. 

She was too necessary an element in all hospitalities of Cecil or ofAnne not to get quite as much diversion as so thorough a wife andmother could find time for, since Julia did not remain by any meansan only child, and besides her permanent charge of Terence, relaysof De Lanceys were constantly casting up at the Rectory formothering in some form or other. 

Cecil depended on her more than on any one else for sympathy, notexpressly in feeling, but in all her pursuits. In three years' timeSirenwood was in perfect order, the once desolate garden blazed withribbons, triangles and pattipans of verbena, scarlet geranium andcalceolaria, with intervals of echiverias, pronounced by Tom to belike cabbages trying to turn into copper kettles; her foliage plantsgot all the prizes at horticultural shows, her poultry wereincomparable at their exhibitions, her cottages were models, herschool machinery perfect, and if a pattern in farming apparatus werewanted, people went to Mrs. Raymond Poynsett's steward. She hadpeople of note to stay with her every winter, went to London for theseason, and was made much of, and all the time she looked as little, and pinched, and weary, and heart-hungered as ever, and never seemedto thaw or warm, clinging to no one but to Miles for counsel, and toRosamond for the fellow-feeling it was not always easy to give--whenit was apparently only about an orchid or a churn--and yet Rosamondtried, for she knew it was starvation for sympathy. 

The Charnock world murmured a little when, after a succession of DeLancey visitors for four months, the Rectory was invaded byRosamond's eldest brother, Lord Ballybrehon, always the most hair-brained of the family, and now invalided home in consequence of aconcussion of the brain while pigsticking in India. He was but ayear older than Rosamond, and her favourite of all, whose scrapesshe had shared, befriended, defended, and scolded in turn, veryhandsome, very lazily daring, droll and mischievous, a sort ofconcentration of all the other De Lanceys. His sister loved himpassionately, he fascinated the Rector, and little Julia was theadorer of Uncle Bally. 

But Rosamond was rather aghast to find Bally making such love asonly an Irishman could do to the prim little widow at Sirenwood, dismayed and a little bit ashamed of her unspoken conviction thatBally, after all his wild freaks and frolics, had come to have aneye to the needs of the Rathforlane property; and what were herfeelings when, instead of finding the wild Irishman contemned, sheperceived that he was believed in and met fully half way? Thestiffness melted, the eyes softened and sparkled, the lips parted insoft agitated smiles, the cheeks learnt to blush, and Cecil wasabsolutely and thoroughly in love!

Yes, she had found her heart and was won--won in spite of theDunstone dislike to the beggarly title--in spite of Miles's well-considered cautions--in spite of all her original self. And ifBallybrehon began from mere desire to try for the well-endowedwidow, he had the warm loving nature that was sure to kindle andreciprocate the affection he evoked, enough to make him a kindhusband. 

And yet, could any one have wished Cecil Poynsett a more trying lifethan one of her disposition must needs have with impetuous, unpunctual, uncertain, scatter-brained, open-handed Ballybrehon, always in a scramble, always inviting guests upon guests withoutclassification, and never remembering whom he had invited!

Rosamond herself declared she should be either in a rage or worn tofritters by a month of it. How Cecil liked it never appeared. Somethought that they squabbled and worried each other in private, butit is certain that, as Terry said, Bally had turned the block intoliving flesh and blood, and Lady Ballybrehon was wondrouslylivelier, brighter, and sweeter ever since she had been entirelyconquered by the tyrant love, and had ceased to be the slave of herown way.