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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 » ■■ i^^?^ ■■■ --h (ANAl)IAN.(&pYRi&HT 'iS^ OHNVTRANO-EllpTtf^ iRf PN .f'it^a^'fcia^ vl 1^ National Library Bibliotheque nationale ol Canada du Canada if ^■''liipsas^^' ' «m>mmmmA imm.,mm m i m» > m^ '^' W^''W.^'' / c 7 ! / 'r^ E^•l ■m Itm t A mam^its'va^^miK' ^WB^S^^U^^I^PKf *' ^P??i ^Kje-^ # ;.ij r BOOTIES' CHILDREN ^ . —BY- JOHN STRANGE WINTER R.'. PREFACE. >f the 3 year I FEEL that it 18 necessary for me to give some word of explanation that, after bidding farewell to BooTLES' Baby, I should continue the story of BooTLEs' Children. The truth is this-I received many letters asking me to show some- thing of Mignon's later life, all of which made me wish with regret that I had not closed that page, as I thought, for ever. But when my dear and honoured friend, Mr. Ruskin, said to me that he also would like to know more of Mignon, I felt that there was no more to be said, but that when the spirit moved me to do it, Mignon must go on the stage again. There is not much about Mignon in this story, but there is a little that I hope will interest those who love her, and if there are some who are a little tired of her, well, I hope they will bear with her when they remember that this atory was written in t- hope of giving an hours pleasure to one wx.o.e whole life has been to give, delight and help wherever the English language iu spoken. JOHN STEANGE WINTER. The Cedars, Putney, June, 188tf. -Twa ■m^fiyim CONTENTS. CDAP. I. II.- III. IV.- V.- VI.- VII.. VIII.- IX- X.- XI.—' XII, XIII, XIV. —Ask no Questions • • • -Lassie Wilcox . • • • • -A Burden op Sorrow ! -Out of the Shadows • ' • -Lassie has Visitors • • • -Rememder or PoRcnrr? -Mr. TERRr • • • • -Freedom ■Mignon's Wedding-Dat ■The Turn in the Gamc . • • • Tbrry's — Sister * • • • • •Lassie's Sacrifice • • » • ■Santa Glaus at Ferrers Court . HANaiNs IN the Balance . PAoa . 1 10 . 19 25 88 89 45 58 59 73 79 89 98 105 jirS»i- **►■«»* l«|».*!S- BOOTLES' CHILDREN. PAOB 1 10 19 26 83 89 45 58 59 78 79 89 98 106 CHAPTER I. ASK NO QUESTIONS. " little souls ! as pure and white And crystalline as rays of light." — Wearihesb. ••Pleasant thy franltncss of speech, and Ihy souls immaculate whiteness." livANQELINB. EvEUYONE who knew Captain Ferrers, or, aa his familiar friands called him, Booties, in the old days when he was the life and soul of the bcarlet Lancers, knew that he had two soldier servants who were greatly attached to him and upon whom he set great store— Browne his personal attendant, and Terry, his head h7Z; .1 Q «^.^^yo^e who knew him after he left the Service, and settled down to the ^1 ^ J'T*''^ gentleman, knew that Browne and Terry had also turned their S TV^^ army-for a consideration authority-and foUowed him into his new I ■- I J^ -^ ' BOOTLES' CHILDREN. life in which they both settled down as d the gay, restless soldierino- davs had nn had^ the smallest attractiS.t^ ""^CZf Browne was still Captain Ferrers's v^l.f and ever since he had been at The Coi' Terry had been at the head nf X \ u> department; and a person of nn '''^n importance he was, n?t on^v 1 \- '"^^^ eyes, but in those of LrvL^^.^" ^^^ about the place. ^^e^yone who came in£drsK;y tt^^^^^^^^ ffer» saddle-room. The l^ft^t „? ^ *° "'^ woman. That go^^'XiZj'Z ■ ''"T^ and looked big at tbe°gaV b?t waX ^^^ S^eS-r-'w-idtH^ Hm! — wants me to meet hpr nf «3foT.T * •ound.." lookinHt Z le" tef Sn^"i' A'^ you re getting to know too mufh my dear that s about the meaning of it. Well I p,*.,' wrofetn-*''f«'''' "'*''» e-tal'forTve wrote to Liza that I shall be elsewhere." mm^ """—"■""■'•"'iiirff down as lad never either of rs's valet, te Court, he stable no small his own ho came ovember sinking r in the a young ing, for ;he holy I at all com the )ne side by way tty lass and of lid who apleton Dg else, itli the "Ah I ' dear ; I can't T I've ASK. so QUESTIONS. , Just then there was a sound of running feet upon the pathway without, and two slim little figures sped past the window, and, after a sharp imperative knock at the door, the enterel ^^^ ^daughters of the house ;;0h! you're here, Terry I" exclaimed one. the other * ^°''^^°^' ^^"« 7^^ ^lave I " cried ^ "We want to see the new pups?" exclaimed the elder of the pair r..*i* ^?r T P^°°^ised to take em in to show little Madge. She's got a bad cold! and — y.» ""'^^ ^'' ^'' ''^' °"^«ide the Terry shoved the letter into his pocket and Btraightened himself into a peculiar att tude of military stiffness, which was his idea of a a'n^oT t'h?Sr ''^' " ''' ^^^"^^^ ^' "Well, young ladies," he answered. «' I dont suppose old Juno '11 object to your taking the pups indoors for a bit to show little m ssie; but I wouldn't keep 'em very 1 l'n/v7'V'^^f ^''^' things, and sqS a good bit when they're handled, and Juno gets anxious if they're kept apart from her for very ong together. I doubt you'd best let me take 'em in myself." ^ h.r ^f • ^" ""H^^" returned Pearl, settling herself m one of the big Windsor chairs, and stretchmcr out h^r in — °i--i- i ^"«"o> aiiu shofl W°f;:'iu ui "^ "'^^^^egs and neatly shod feet to the blazing fire. " How comfort- 1* ^^tJii' . ,.,-^ * BOOTLES- CHILDREN. able you are here, Terry— I rinn'f «, j FaU.er likes to get i^ here^whenf^ JTan'" H™ ^r,.P'^?'°g™P'' i« 'tis, Terry?" fions oflhfr'^' -ho disdained the fac- tions ol the fire, and had started on a tonr IZrr ^^"^^ ^--y'^ speciafdUZ nwn"""^ "dratted" the photograph in his own mind, but answered the little Tadv's question promptly. "Oh th«t'« 1 • .^ Miss MaudV' he^Jid, hop^^. ^to sto7C ''' questioning by telling a lu^mXgtlto^:: "Your sister! H'm! She is 1 ^reat laf younger than you are, Terry," was Maud's embarrassmg comment was Mauds ad^fttetdfsS;.*^"'"^' •"'-«'" Terry asked"'' """* ^°"°Ser is she?" Maud ohriJ*' .^Ohf 'il r, '" ^^^'•' f™-" *e big Wh, 1 J' """' y<'"r "ster, Terrv? Whjs how much prettier she is than you "^ Polly IS pretty. Miss Pearl," said Terrv um &mt^ e^'d'^r"' ""« eyeswere'S' /l,'/qr.'f n , -^"^y -••erry! What a pity the v didnt call her something else," she IddeJ "Poll Jf '''''^^' ^'"^^^^«« «f childhood . Polly doesn;t go at all well with Terry " ' Perhaps it don't, missie," Terry a-reed hopino- devnnflv thit fliP ,.r., V J^ agreea, i ^. ^ mac tne young ladies would -wemm^i^" AMmfiTntr,^.**.- wonder he can." Terry ? » J attrac- 1 a tour domain in his 5 lady's 7 sister, further at once. Jat deal Maud's Terry Maud he big Terry ? )U." Terry, e fixed jply to Pearl rthey idded, hood; r." ?reed, ivould ASK NO QUESTIONS. 5 soon demand the puppies and carry them off into the house. "^ I ^I r.r i"" ^^^''^' ^^^^°g possession of the other Windsor chair. evUiVef """^''^ bit, missie," answered Terry, ''Yes, but how much?" Maud ner- extc%." '''''' '" know how old she is Thus badgered, Terry made reply with the truth, the whole truth,'and noth'in^gbut the St vtTously. ' '"'' '"' ""^ "Just— EIGHT— EEN!" cried Mai.H in accents of the most profound astonishm'ent Pa?/'J:7a JZ t^eVfer^tS bXTthf.^^'^^'^-'''°'<^-"^^'^ =„^'?.f-''? ''"^H"'''" "^'-^ P«">. meditatively. Ma o r'S?" "' *"" ^'^^^ -'-• Mig--. a-S tJ,»l^°' °°^\^J l'"sband; Terry's too old for that, cried Maud, decidedly. "Yes, I do know. Pearl. I know exactly, for it was onlv yesterday that Jane Carmine said To Mrs Smith that Mignon was a great deal too » ou^ii a great, mspanty in their ages as there IS between her and Major Lucy." :*.-4.=i„. !1 • BOOTLES- CHILDREN. Pelrf ""^ I^andover, you mean," corrected fli.r ^^"i' ^^""5 handover. And that was what she said, and Mrs. Smith said in her way-!- Zr T""'.^'"'^"-'?^' ^ydear Mrs. Land- over, don t use such a dreadful word as dispanty ; a difference in age does nTbegin years"' ^'^"'^ ^ '"'"''^ '' ^''' *° '^'^'V "How very funny," said Pearl, sagely, « to ^T ^ w^'^J ^^ ^^" ^^^^^^^ a brSthS and sister. What does it feel like, Terry? " Terry's face grew hot and scarlet. He had fondly hoped that the introduction of Squfre i^nrnTJT^' T'i^ '^''y '^'^ conversation into other channels, but Pearl's direct question nZf .^"^ VP sharply, as it were, ^^ith his nose to the grindstone again. However, before he could answer a quick, firm footstep fell upon the flagged path outside, and Maud caUed out, "Oh, here's Father!" just as Captain Ferrers entered the saddle-room. ^allol what are you two doing here?" he asked ; but his tone did not express much surprise, and he was evidently well accus- tomed to seeing his little daughters in posses- sion of the big chairs beside Terry's fire ^^^Pearl entered into an elaborate explana- "Well, you see, Father, it was this way: Madge has got a horrid cold," she said, "and Humphie won't let her go out, and Madjre gets preuy cross staying about the nursery -pmm. •iXj' orrected ^as what r way — 3. Land- lord as )t begin twenty 3ly, « to her and He had ' Squire srsation uestion ith his , before ep fell Maud ust as n. liere?" } much accus- posses- -*• plana- way : "and \iadffe urtiery ASK NO QUESTIONS. 7 all day, and so Maud suggested that we should go and fetch Juno's pups for her to see, and Madge wanted them at once, and so we came to see if we could have them." ht"^^^/^^^ ^^^ ^ ^°°^ ^i* ago»" added Maud, who was noted for an accuracy of detail m relatmg any circumstance such as frequently resulted in her being more literally truthful than conventionally polite ; « and I should think Madge is getting very sick of waiting for us. But, of course you know. Father, we had to come in and ask Terry if we could have the pups, and then we got talking about other things. Now this "—to Terry's unmitigated horror, holding out the photograph for Captain Ferrers' inspection— "this IS Terry's sister ; her name is Polly, and she s just eighteen. She's very pretty, isn't she. Father?" ^ ^ . •''""'' " Wouldn't you like to take the pups in for httle missie to see now, Miss Maud ? " put in Terry, hurriedly. ^ ^ " Yes ; but wait till Father has seen your sister s photograph," returned Maud, calmly. She s very pretty, isn't she, Father ? " " How many other sisters have you got, ierry? asked Pearl, wondering why the man was so uneasy and kept shifting about trom one foot to the other. ^ "Not any more, Miss Pearl," answered ierry, his face gradually becoming deeper anu deeper in colour. Captain Ferrers cast a quick glance of in- VVfer- —• -i t I • BOOTLES' CmLDREN, •'And hf " """■" embarrassini que tion : Terry?" ^ "^"^ '"'""'^'-^ ''«^e you, •" Hni"'''*''^ '"'^^ J'e"!." he replied. How very funny," remarked Pearl " to " Not at all, Missie," said Terrv at wh\^h tarn mare with him, and he had onlVtTn minutes more to spare. ^ "Here's your — «ster, Terry," he <,»i,1 handrng over the photo-Jraph o^' tl.prel" girl to the servant. "So vouVp at tL „i, game, hey ? Much better fo low L examo f and settle down once for all " ^ example said^ S*"' ^ ^ had your 'temptation, sir," kuahJ ^'^ P™",P%. a' which Booties laughed agam, well pleased, for he knew to H™ a%:fthird"tL^^^^^ " Juno is going with us," said Maud when "ou.se, .a^iwith a St. Bernard pup in her p^^^^mw^-' ■*i-*' ASK NO QUESTIONS. arms, and Juno following with stately step and a certain anxiousness of expression w^hich told that the warm little roly-polies belonged to her. " She doesn't mind our having them a bit." ^ " Yes, but if they begin to whine, Missie," said Terry, forgetting the uncomfortable quarter of an hour through which he had just passed, " put them down at once ; and as soon as the Captain has looked at the mare I'll ^ come in myself and fetch 'em back. She's good-natured enough in a general way, sir," he added to Booties, as the children and dogs passed on towards the house, "but if her pups start whining she's like a mother with a crying babe, she stands nothing and she sticks at nothing." "Always best to be careful— not that I think she'd harm one of the children," an- swered Booties ; " only it's best to be careful, so I'll just glance at the mare and set you free to go in after them. ^Ijl^^lTS i.fc'*!* ' ohaptee il LASSIE WILCOX. 7r Tt*" "■" °»«nai light? Tl,";/'"-' I !;«»«ni.e that fac°e Tiooghbnie has toaohed it in his flight J-^o was safely back '^l""""" ^''"^■ again, and the r^L ° i^ ,7" corner supper with aviditr Tl,» *'""" "'«''• stables were cw7' . }.i. ^"*' rambjing fairly quiet oijlthi ^^ "•' ''"'^» "'«'-eo1 the U3es\°ndVe''4Xuff"'':r»« °^ ASl:^^MlT..'"*'^St7e^si.enl°"^ °'- about he stabt bJ'"^ ?"«^ *« -"^n ^^Vt^it^eS^""^^^^^^^^^^^^ trSi^-^-?^r.s letter in Ws hl^ ^'^^ " *?'' """'h and a with son,etLr,Vl ".'"™^ •'^'° *« fire frown on his face. 'SS'^^P^' LASSIE WILCOX. || "H'm! If the little baggage had contrived to get a letter here a bit sooner, I might as weU a gone to Stapleton Corner to meet Liza he muttered. "Just like a woman, to wait till a fellar s sent his excuse elsewhere, to find out that she can't come. As it is ere I am wasting my whole evening, and disappointing Liza for nothing. It's just like er Strikes me I shall have to straighten Polly up a bit She's getting to think too much of erself, she is. I woSder what little game she s up to now-it's all bosh about not being able to get out and her father wanting er. _ Polly d get out fast enough if she'd haS a mind to. I wonder who it is ? Shouldn't be surprised If 'twas that chap from Land- over, though what any good-looking girl, with a respect for herself, can find to bok at in a greasy ferret-faced foreign chap like that beats me to know. Well, there is no account- ing for taste, and perhaps that ain't it, after all; and maybe It's just as well I was kept from going to Stapleton Corner to-night, for Lizas getting to know more than is |ood for her, that's certain." ^ He tossed the letter into the fire, and i?.? « w'i?^P' '^^!' ""^^^'^ *h^ side of the I^T v^^^f^?'^ ^''-^^^" ^e «aid» glancing at the little clock on the chimney-shilf. " f may as well have another pipe before supper." a s?undli."'V'' ^'' ^r ^^^"^ again,^^hen wmdow just m time to see a figure pass by. ■i^r^ ' ^ y^' i^ r III! I ' i BOOTLES' CHILDREN. Ti?" J® '"'" touted Terry. „ ."^""°' Missis," exclaimed Terrv snr prised at such a visitor at ...^iT ^'.. "What can I do for rou? n *" ''°"- the way to tlie kitchen?" ^°" '''^' „i,r^°,'- / ^'"ited to see you, Mr Terrv" "7kf'Jrf- ""^y' come inr^' a vain attempt to discern her feature °' '° make him rJc^gn'eC ELt^^^,': %ht, and he was able to see her clearly and thoutrh""' """^ '''■"'""^ than thrv'oice X'natrit.-^'^'^'^^^''^^— ntTo pn'^Id^es^why^'"''"■''^ "' ''^'^•■* .aidl^^a^eTMalntToic:-. ^iJ.^'^'' *« Za..^./" he cried, in a sudden burst of recognition. "Good God! ' " -°"^®^ ^^ ID if , O »» io ill \UU J" r 'I*-* . LASSIE WILCOX. jj "I knew I'd altered," she said, in a dull hopeless tone, and with a sad shake of he^ head. " I m so tired. Would you let me sit down a bit? I've walked milL and mil" this day, and I'm just done up " ^^ Terry pushed his chair nearer to the fire bit here and get warmed. It's a cold night he said, kindly. "Can I get you augli^ to eat my girl ? You look famislie^d." JNot a bite has passed my lips this day " said the woman ; " but don't trouble. I'm not so hungry as I was yesterday. I was like a wolf then; but I'/ sit here a bityif you 11 let me, and get rested " " Yes ; sit you there while I go and <.et you some supper," returned Ter?y, seizhS he poker and stirring the fire v^S "Don t be afraid, nobody will comet and 11 be back m a minute or two " » ^ ^ ^^ ? ' T^r ^^^""y ^^^^ off *o the kitchen where he found the cook just restinJafL; sendrng up the late dinner, W some^of the undermaids served up the kitchen supper. Cook,^ I want you to do me a favour," he said, m the pleasant, civil tones whTch had made him a favourite with evervone about the place. «A poor soul has w come into the saddle-room that I knew years ago, and she'd dead beat, and hungeyLto (i Poor soul! Bring her in here. We re ¥ '»'i»ii U BOOTLES' CHILDREN, just goin^ to have our supper," returned the cook, hospiuibly. "Why, thank yrm kindly, cook, but I 4on't think she'd like to oonie. She's down on her luck, and tired out," Terry explained • " too tired to tell me how she got iiere or what the brute that married her's doing ; and I think " " Oh I all right. Jane," cried the cook to a young maid just then passing ; " get some supper on a tray for Mr. Terry— a basin of soup and a bit of that hotted chicken— and put it in a little covered dish. Terry, I'll go and ask Mr. Bowles for a glass of sherrv for her." "^ "Better say a drop of whiskey," said Terry, remembering how chilled and blue Lassie had looked. " Very well. I daresay you've got a kettle out there," replied the cook ; " so I'll just put sugar and a bit o' lemon, and may it do her all the good in the world, poor soul, this bitter night I " She went off followed by Terry's profuse expressions of gratitude, and in a very few minutes the tray was ready. " Is she a young woman ? " asked the cook as she put the tray into his hands. "A matter of ten yeris younger tha'^. -ni " replied Terry, "but she might be niL^.j to look at her. If you was to ask the Capt'n who Lassie Wilcox was, he'd tell you that iue was the prettiest girl, not only in th^ mt ■■ *«||«p«iM(i LASSIE WILCOX. IS 3turned the )ok, but I She's down explained ; ot here or lohig; and tie cook to "get some -a basin of 3ken — and Terry, I'U of sherry n sey," said and blue ot a kettle 11 just put it do her soul, this 's profuse very few [ the cook than Tit/* niL^uj to he Capt'n you that ly in thQ ^m Scarlet Lancers, but in the whole of the British Army ; but I did'nt know her when t;he came in. I knew the voice, and I knew the face, but I didn't like to put the name of Lassie Wilcox to such a wreck as she's come to bo now, I didn't, upon my soul." ** Poor thing, poor thing ! " murmured the coo::, pityingly. " Well, I hope she'll enjoy her supper anyway." Thus laden with a tray of good things, Terry went back to the saddle-room, where he found Lassie before the fire just where he had left her. She was sitting fast asleep, though in that peculiar attitude which nurses and tramps acquire, or, in fact any persons accustomed to sleeping without going to bed. Terry set his tray down on the table and dragged it close to her side, but she did not wake. "'Pon my soul," he said, lookin^r at her with pitying eyes, "I'd never have known you. I wonder what the Capt'n would say if he was to see you — he used to say you was the prettiest girl in the Service ; and I was gone on you. Poor little Lassie, you turned me over for Sim Halliday, and " he broke off sharp with a big sigh to the memory of that bygone pain, and laid a gentle and kindly hand upon her thin shoulder. , " Lassie, my girl," he said ; *' I've brought your supper. Come ; eat it whilst it's hot " The poor soul started up with a nervous II I 18 EOOTLES* CHILDREN. to cry. « Yes, I'm going ; I only sat down rest for a minute. Please, let me " " Lassie, Lassie," cried Terry; "don't be frightened. There's no one here but me. Come, eat your supper." But Lassie could not still the trembling which had seized her. " I thought it was a policeman," she said, with a scared glance around, " and I'm so afraid of 'em. If one looks at me I feel as if he wanted to shove me into prison." "Oh! rubbish, rubbish. You're nervous and tired," returned Terry, soothingly. « Get your supper before it's cold, and then you'll feel more like yourself again." He took the cover off the bowl of steam- ing soup, which sent forth such a rich and savoury odour that the weary woman all at once realised the fact that she was desperately hungry, and that she had not tasted good and nourishing food for weeks, and no food of any kind during that long and weary day. "I ^haven't seen such food I don't know when," she said, fairly gloating over it ; " and to-day I've had nothing— nothing at all. You'll wonder how I came to find you out, but I was on my way to a place called Landover Castle. I've a cousin who is house- kefeper there, and I thought she might get me a place where Halliday wouldn't be able to find me." Halliday I Is he living?" asked Terry, « fj ii iWi l ilii' f**?!^ at down to »j "don't be :e but me. trembling n she said, and I'm so £ I feel aa on." re nervous gly. " Get then you'll 1 of steam- a rich and man all at desperately asted good id no food and weary ion't know r it ; " and ig at all. I you out, ace called is house- might get I't be able :ed Terry, LASSIE WILCOX. if his face darkening at the sound of his rival's name. "Living! Yes. I wish to heaven he wasnt, she answered "At least, he was hvmg a month ago, and drunk enough to knock me down. Yes, me"—mth a wild sob --"77i« with a babe of a month old, the brute! And as soon as he was quiet and asleep I came away, and, please God"— letting her spoon fall and rocking herself to and fro—" please God, we'll never meet again any more, either in this world or the other " " You haven't got the baby there ? " Terry exclaimed, i^n dismay. « Yes "—rocking herself still—" but she's so quiet, so good ; she never cries nor stirs You^von'tsendme away till I've got rested because I ve got a little baby here, will you, Bill, for old times' sake .? " The use of his Christian name, or the plea for old times sake, brought a lump into Terry s throat. It was so long since anyone had called him "Bill." At The Court he was always called Terry, or Mr. Terry, accord- ing to who It was that addressed him ; and Liza was a free-and-easy young person, who had never asked what his proper name was, but had dubbed him " Tom " from a very early stage of their acquaintance ; while miy (hissister) was of a more sentimental and affectionate turn, and always raUfid him " Ti^l;-" ^^""^ '° ^'^^^ ^^1 ^^^ other Lizas and Follies who had held sway over his heart '2 •^Aitl II I 1! 18 BOOTLES* CHILDREN. for a longer or shorter time— one had called him this, and the other had called him that, but never, since he had left the Scarlet Lancers, had he heard the once familiar " Bill." "Come, get your supper, my girl," he said, with rough kindness ; " if you've got anyone at Landover who can help you, your troubles are well-nigh over, for it's only a matter of nine miles from here, and I'll drive you over in the morning.^ And, to-night, for old times* sake, I'll see if some of the women won't give you a bed and make you comfortable. The Captain's the last in the world to deny a night's lodging to one of the old regiment ! " " The Captain ? " cried Lassie. " Captain Ferrers— this is Ferrers Court," he answered. « I didn't know it," she gasped. " I went into a little shop in the village to ask my way to Landover, and a lad came in with a message from you, and I said, *What Mr. Terry is that?' *0h,' said he, ' he is head- groom at the Court.' * Was he ever in the army.?' said L * Yes,' said he— Mn the Scarlet Lancers,' and so I knew it was you ; but Captain Ferrers—' Booties,' they used to call him— I— I " and then she began to cry weakly, and at last slipped off into a dead faint, when her feeble grasp of the bundle in her arms relaxed, and it rolled to the^ ground, where it lay without sound or .iii|ll|iWlill|l#iiiili«W e had called ed him that, the Scarlet niliar " Bill." irl," he said, ! got anyone our troubles ' a matter of ve you over or old times* 7omen won't comfortable. Id to deny a regiment ! " rers Court," I. "I went to ask my e in with a *What Mr. he is head- ever in the e — * in the it was you ; ley used to le began to off into a asp of the it rolled to It ijound or CHAPTEE ni. A BURDEN OF SORROW I It is the fate of a woman Long to be patient and silent, to wait like a ghost that is speechless. — Miles Standish. For the good, the heavenly Shepherd Took the lost lamb in His arms — — Children of the Lord's Supper. Fob a moment Terry was almost beside him- self, and knew not what next to do. It was, however, imperative that he should not stand staring at the faded wreck of her who had once been his heart's best and dearest love, 80 he pulled himself together and care- fully lifted the bundle containing the little babe from the ground. There was a large, old-fashioned chair at the other side of the room, and he dragged it over to the fire and laid the bundle gently down in it ; then he took the loose cushion from the back of it and slipped it under Lassie's head, thinking, as he did so and looked into her worn and altered face, that her pretty name, which had once seemed to 2* BOOTLES' CHILDREN. suit her so well, had come to be sadly in- appropriate. But rouse her he could not nor yet force any of the hot whiskey-and' water between her tightly-clenched teeth, and at last he realised that the sooner he got help from the house the better. By that time he knew that if the gentle- men had not already left the dining-room, they would be about to do so, therefore he went straightway in search of Bowles, the butler, who had been at Ferrers Court almost from time immemorial. "Mr Bowles,"' said Terry, knocking at the door of ^ the butler's sanctum and pushing it open, " is there company to-night ? " " Twenty-four to dinner, Terry," answered Mr. Bowles ; "fourteen staying in the 'ouse." ^ Cause I want to speak to the Capt'n par- ticularly,' Terry went on. "They haven't left table yet; leastways only the ladies," said Mr. Bowles ; « but I'll let the master know you want him. Hadn't you better go into the study ?" " Very well," said Terry, and betook him- selt oil to await his master there. It never occurred to him that the room would have any occupants, so he pushed the door open and went in, to find, however Major Lucy and Miss Mignon sitting close together on the roomy old sofa. "I'm sure I beg your pardon, sir," said lerry, turning scarlet, and feeling that h^ iiad put his foot in it utterly. I * «< ty"" vt* m " miM tm A BURDEN OF SORROW I SI be sadly in. e could not, whiskey- End- ed teeth, and [• he got help the gentle- dining-room, therefore he Bowles, the 3ourt almost eking at the 1 pushing it ?" '■," answered i the 'ouse." Capt'n par- ; leastways i ; " but I'll im. Hadn't )etook him- t the room pushed the 1, however, itting close , sir," said ng that he *• Never mind, Terry. Do you want the Captain ? " Mignon called out. Terry turned back. " Yes, Miss Mignon, I wanted to speak to the master, and Bowles has just gone into the dining-room to ask him to come. I'm very sorry, I didn't know there was anyone here." " Well, never mind ; there's no harm done," said Mignon, with a laugh. " Oh 1 here he is. Terry wants you, dear." "Hollo, Terry, what is it? Anything wrong ? " said Captain Ferrers. "Not with the stables, sir," answered Terry, with a formal salute, which was a compliment to Major Lucy's presence. "But perhaps you'll remember Lassie Wilcox?" " I do," said Mignon at once. " Of course I do," said Booties. "Pwretty girl," murmured Lucy. " Well, sir, she came into the saddle-room an hour or so ago, and— and I didn't know her, gentlemen. Just on tramp she seems to have been, and hungered into the bargain. She'd a babe in her arms but a few weeks old, and I got cook to give her some supper — for I knew, sir, you wouldn't grudge it to any starving woman, let alone one of the old regiment —and she just took a spoonful or two and then all at once she give way, and she's lying senseless on the saddle-room floor at this momens;." "Good God I" cried Booties in dismay; ijll ■1 \ 1^ j I \ ! 22 BOOTLES' CHILDREN. " she had better be brought into the house at once." "Let us go out and see her," suggested Mignon ; " I used to like Lassie awfully." Captain Ferrers had already moved towards the door. "Where is her hus- band? Didn't she marry Sergeant Halli- day?" "Yes sir; and he's treated her like the brute he is, and always was," answered Terry, bitterly. "I remember when she was married it was thought a grand thin? to be marrying a sergeant— the ranks," with meaning, "wasn't good enough for the provost's daughter; but there was plenty in the ranks of the Scarlet Lancers as would have treated her diflerent to what Sergeant Halliday's done ; and whatever they'd been they couldn't have treated her wonse— judging by her looks, that is." " H — m ! " was Booties' comment. He guessed by the intense bitterness in Terry's tone that this was the solution to the mystery of Terry's unmarried state — this was the reason that he had to invent relationships now and again — this was the meaning of all the Lizas, and Follies and Susies of whose existence he every now and ther became aware. He had never dreamt that there was a bygone romance in Terry's life, and he all at once felt very sorry for him — more sorry in fact, than v/as needful. "She's never stirred — I hope she ain't M^^L ' ..H-;.1-^i mit' mimtm riNbi i(^g^jM*.« ito the house at ler," suggested ie awfully." Iready moved e is her hus- ergeant Halii- . her like the ;^as," answered er when she grand thing to } ranks," with ough for the :e was plenty acers as would what Sergeant IT they'd been voTue — judging lent. 2 bitterness in solution to the Jtate — this was it relationships neaning of all sies of whose ther became that there was e, and he all at more sorry in 3pe she ain't A BURDEN OF SORROW I 98 dead," said Terry, as he opened the door of the saddle -room. " It looks uncommonly Hke it, poor soul," returned Booties. "Mignon, my pet, you'd better not come in here." "I would rather," said Mignon, quietly, and kneehng down in her pretty velvet gown beside the woefully draggled and travel-stained figure on the floor "Oh, poor thing, she is wet through, and so cold ' ferry, run and fetch Humphie; she will know what to do better than anyone else 2 should send off for the doctor— or, stay, why not ask Dr. Delaney to come out here ? I'm sure she ought to have all these wet thincrg oft at once, and be got to bed. You'll let her stop here for the night. Booties, won't you? _ "Poor soul, yes," answered Booties, with a pitying look at the face he had never seen since he had seen it as a blooming bride, "ill go and ask him to come and look at her. "She is not dead," said Mignon, decidedly ; "but she must be very ill. But, Terry didn't you say there was a baby?" '; Yes, Miss Mignon ; but it seems pretty quiet, Terry answered. «It never even cried when it rolled out of her arms on to the floor, so I put it on the chair here. I was that scared about the mother I hadn't time to look to it." Mignon gave a cry of pity. «0h! did it I f BOOTLES' CHILDREN. fall? Poor little thing, how good of it to sleep, for it must be cold and hungry and wet like its mother. We must take it to Humphie; she will soon feed it and make it Oh I Terry, Terry " — as she un- folded the large shawl and the babe's little white, pinched face was brought to light — " it is ill— it is " Dead, Miss Mignon," said Terry, sorrowfully. " No ; not dead" Mignon began. " Put the little thing down,' my darling," put in Lucy at this point. "You can. do nothing for it but be thankful that its troubles are all over. No, don't cwry, my dear ; it is far better that it is so." rtBs^ -0m^mf ;i »0 ■«MMMm lllti1liiiiliEN. id to spare of Iier lot which was mo ess fortunate than e that," she said s. And you are poor Lassie, her id I am at Ferrers ourt," said Mrs. at her poor guest t was not easy to le," Lassie went lesperate when I I had no idea Bnt into a little vay to Landover, housekeeper." Ferrers kindly. 26 you several 3ly," said Lassie le over to look It a trouble to ;ard the name was of the boy from him. He the Court, but ^ourt till I got ned it was all OUT OF THE SHADOWS. |0 the better for you," said Mrs. Ferrers kinrllv It was so much better to be ill amon- old friends than if you had fallea a.noii" know^""' ^"^"^ ^^^^ ^^^'' ^^""^ ^" y'^'^ " Yes, and if I'd been a queen I couldn't have been better cared for," cried La.sie, her eyes fillm«W^WI*wfejf«iiiiii>i;iii^ CTMtjJ OUT OF THE SHADOWS. Ferrers incre- 81 The tears flooded in Lassie's hollow eves a in •' again. see me when I get a bit stronger." "Of course-they are very anxious to see you, Mrs. Ferrers answered, «so let them come up any time that Mrs. Hallidav wishes for them, Nurse." ^ "Yes, Ma'am," said the nurse, feelincr pro- foundly thankful that her patient had°taken the news of her baby's death so quietly. And Miss Mignon," said the invalid shyly J- I should hke to see her. I well remember T u ^S'?.?^ ^"^ ^^^ regiment. Ma'am, and — I^should like to see her now she's grown " So you shall. I daresay she will come in this afternoon for a little while, if she is at home, that IS," Mrs. Ferrers returned kindly. But her time is scarcely her own just now for you know she is going to be married to Major Lucy very soon-on the first of December, that is." to M^ f ^'g?,°^ -going to be married-and to^L^""!?- «^«l*;"^ed Lassie, going back to the od way of calling Lucy. «OhI Ir^i^'lP^^^^^ ^^^ i* was^ only the itZ t^^ '^/' ^ '^^ ^'' ^^^^^"^g ^bout the barrack-yard scarce able to kee°p her feet! Uh ! I hope she'll be hanpv. hannjir fhor. t'„. 1 1 1 i \\ 32 BOOTLES' ClIILDHKN. " Or than I was" said Mrs. Ferrers under her breath, and thinking of the sad days gone by when life had seemed to her quite as dreary and the future quite as hopeless m this poor soul's could ever look. " Ah ! but there's very few Captain Ferrera about," said Lassie wisely. "Pi«fc''^ p iill» ^» i fii iiiiiiii iw»a i «' «f »ii ii «^'f ^ CHAPTEE V. LASSIE HAS VISITORS. Come to me, ye children, And whisper in my ear What the birds and the winds are singin/? In your sunny atmosphere! "—Children. Captam Ferrers' little daughters to ask if Lassie had asked for them before, but the nurse had persuaded her to wait a lit le wh k for Pearl and Maud were known to be rathe; boisterous young ladies, and her patienfwL ?hp »1 J^.v"^^^ **' *« l^^d been afraid of iresliness might have upon her. But now ib^ to bear"^ really stronger, and betteT aoie to bear a less thoughtful and more hTrSVt"' *h" ^'S"°° h'^-i proved nerseu,she consented to go in search of iho young ladies on condition^hat Lassie woum rorTirT"^"''^'' '''' ^«" '^« 1-' -- (( Mr/ Humphie," she aaid when sh^ 3 ^''^^ ^'^ ^^ '^'^"^ i^ the south conservatory. ." T^^at was very kind of you, dears " LassiV ihl^'"''^^ ^i"" ''^ ^'''^^' y^^^g ladies ? " said ! :^r ^:;u!^^ ^^^^^^ '^ ^-^^^- - quia " Thank you, Nurse," said Pearl, and down they sat side by side, and still solemnly scru tmised the invalid. ^ ;; You are better .? " said Pearl at last. dear,^:;idrasS'"^" '^"" ^^"' ^^^^^ ^-' "I'm very glad of that," said Pearl "You know you look ill yet very ill But you must be real^ better, or kurse wouldn" have let us m. She wouldn't for ever so Ion., when Mother was ill last time " ^ "Was Mrs. Ferrers ill lately?" Lassie thelt her. "'''" ^'' ^^^" «^ ^^^P^ "whin M«/ ^''''^ *^r ,^^^ ^«^'" «aid Pearl, « A Vf?"^?^ "^^^ ^ b^by, in fact." "Mofh^r i' '" """^'^ '^''''^" P^t i^ Maud. Mother was very lU. And Father went about looking so miserable, for he thoS .^l%7^"^^^ * let any of us into the mom small to know anything about it or to have M BOOTLES' CHILDREN. II i )i V minded a scrap if she'd been kept out And one afternoon Father came down and toW feTn^.^^'^^^^"' ^^'^"«- cried Lai lully, and then Father shut himself up in the den, and I believe he cried too " ^ *'I was only seven then," said Maud. didnfe^"'''r.^^ ''.' y°" '^' °^«^"ing. aidn t she ? asked Pearl, who liked to get on from one subject to another. ^ " Yes ; she has been to see me several ll \"t"n'' ^"' '^' °^««^ important person about the Court just at that time. ^ Mignon IS going to be m.rried next week you know," said Pearl. » Ppl'rf """^/if/r !,'^ ^""'^^ ^° ^^ ^e^ bridesmaids. Pearl and Madge and I," added Maud « We are going to wear white Indian cashmere and large white felt hats." ^^a^mere, ana "And we are to carry big posies of French mignonette--that is Mignon's name-flower you know," Pearl explained. * "And Major Lucy is going to give us each k^ul'-'^nf ■' "^^' :^^^"°^ u|on icTa d Maud, and in raised letters." "That will be very nice," said Lassip scanning the two bright face«, and th nk! rng^how like their handsome 'father they PpI' J"' ^?"^ ^-^f" Major Lucy t> nice," said Pearl, with a sigh of satisfaction. " Did vou know him too, when you knew Father Ld Mignon long ago ?" MMbi jam ■^0fm HILDEEN. been kept out. And came down and told Mignon cried dread- tiut himself up in the ed too." 1," said Maud, e you this morning, I, who liked to get on her. I to see me several rather proudly, for ost important person lat time. B married next week, • be her bridesmaids, added Maud. " We ndian cashmere, and 3ig posies of French ?non's name-flower, id. Ding to give us each non ' upon it," said ers." nice," said Lassie, faces, and think- Isome father they Lucy wnice," said faction. " Did you knew lather and LASSIE HAS VISITORS. 37 "Yes, dear; I knew them all in the old regiment," answered Lassie, sadly, «a long time ago." ^ " Yes ; it must have been a long time ago," said Pearl, "because Father was sayin^ at ^ breakfast to-day that you were the prettiest J girl m the Scarlet Lantaers, and that must be =] a long time since," with an unconscious but f significant glance at Lassie's face. " Yes, it was a long time since," Lassie ad- mitted. " But Mother said that Mrs. Halliday was some years younger than her," chimed in Maud. " Yes, she did. Some years. Those were her very words." "Some people wear better than others," said Lassie. " And when am I to see your little sister, dears ? " u^^nTJ'?? y^^ ^^^^'" returned Pearl. You 11 find her rather shy— she takes after TV..' ^S^ ^^°^- ^^^ N^i'se tell you about •Mother Earth '?" " No." "It M?a5 such a joke. The other day Madge nearly tumbled down in the drive because she was looking the other way to the way we were going; and Humphie said- she s very funny is Humphie, you know- tome, my bird, look where you're goinir V X?"".^^ ^^.^^°'^"^^ "P ^.?^i^st Mother Earth ; and Madge said, ' i/y mov— ah with the golden hair, Mov— ah Earth ?— she is— ent I t8 BOOTLES' CHILDREN. // ! Madp always says ^is— ent ' and *did— ent and/could-ent/ you know," put in detail accustomed accuracy of "And when we got home Humphie told s^,r 'T^n-^^^^'V^^?'' ^^^^ «^^? A^d she Earth, Ltd"^ ""''' "^ -^^^ -y ^«^^- 1' I ?/" V'^^ *'''' ^ ^^^^^^^'' objected Mother. « , n/ l^av-~ent dot a father,' cried Madge. Oi course you have,' laughed Mother. * Da-da IS your father.' " Madge looked at Mother for a minute or two, and then she said, in a threatening sort of way a shall go and tell my Da-Da you called him a father; and off she went. And presently she toddled back into the hall, and Mother asked what he had said. " Madge shook her head mournfully. " 'He says he could—dent help it.' "* " But the next day," ended Maud, taking up the story, «' I heard her calling out Fa— ther Ea-ther,' and asked her who father was.? ' Why_i>a-Z>a/' she answered, as If I ouaht to be ashamed of myseijf for asking such a siily question.'* ! '■ 1 CHILDREN. 18— ent' and *did— you know," put in accuracy of ustomed home Humphie told t you see ? And she we must say Father ler/ objected Mother. a father,' cried Madge, ive,' laughed Mother. Dther for a minute or in a threatening sort i tell my Da-Da you id off she went. And -ck into the hall, and ad said, sad mournfully. dent help it.' " ended Maud, taking sard her calling out md asked her who 1-Dat' she answered, lamed of myaelf for lOU. i m w CHAPTER VT. REMEMBER OR FORGET? In this false world, we do not always know ■\yiio are our friends and who are our enemies. "VVe all have enemies, and all need friends. — The Spanish S indent. After the ice was broken by their first visit. Captain Ferrers' little daughters spent a good deal of time in tlie sick room of Sergeant Halliday's fugitive wife. She was still very weak and ailing, but she improved every day, and their fresh, bright presence had a wonderfully good effect upon her. It was surprising how she cast off the depression that had weighed her down for years, and, during those dark winter days, how the aged look faded off her worn face, and the sweet prettiness of former days began to shine out again. And after a week or so she was able to get up from her bed and be dressed in a warm crimson wrapper of Mrs. Ferrers' — such a tasteful and pretty garment as poor Lassie had never had the chance of ""^ ^iii'^v u^i xiivuiei iiau uxuviaeu. lier weddi'ag gown nine years before. And then, 40 BOOTLES' CHILDREN. with the help of her o-ood nur«;p'q «rm i, look bright and^euHorLr'^ ^^^^'^^'^^^ Ihey had put a little table wnh a .m..f which they had tt oua?l .T'" ""''^ "^ favourite book, thl P j"' °"'" •""«' chocolates, and a little ^l'hitT2' ^^? ^^ with liJies of tie vaUev^^^^^^^^ ^"^^ nonette. And then wW t • '"''^^ ^^^- settled, the/eat^iotTw^T'eS t^ vanous preparations had had upon W ''"' ^f couldn't come up before "said Ppn.i ■ when she and Maud had squeezed infn f v^' chair opposite to Lassie'rcrul " be^.,^'" Mr. Landover anri Tar! ^""^n, because They came to"brini""Mi:n": aT",^?"' present." ^ iviignon a weddirrg "Is that Mr. Landover's daughter 9 » a«,tp^ w Z' ert' rj r "^^ p-p'e with' Sergeant HamdTXed " '''™'"" ^^"^ .ametrerth/"'="^'''^'^°<='^"''->.-the Pearl!"" b^cfu^tr"'?^^ '^''"''" ^"^^ »n , ^. ,. if"J^// "V ^^^^'''^y ^^he would like n. to c... acr xvlrs. Landover, but we never do.''" ^mm ^Wimj^' >riMlM*dMMMMM>lMft> *tl" CHILDREN, good nurse's arm, she 'e sofa and be wheeled ora, where the young n to make evervthinff for her. ^ e table, with a smart beside her couch ; and It a larger table on ' t all their own most unch and the Lady's n the hall, a box "of I'hite china vase filled =y and French mig. len Lassie was fairly ee what effect their ^ had upon her. p before," said Pearl, squeezed into a bier e's couch, "because e were downstairs. Mignon a wedding 's daughter?" asked in the people with her salvation from two children, in the f i her Ja?ie;' went on '^ to call her Jane, ? ermine and nobody * 3 would hke us t© A t we never do." REMEMBER OB FORGET P 41 it And we never mean to," added Maud with decision. "Then she is young?" said Lassie. " Oh, well — yes ; not so very young, though," said Pearl. "She's younger than Mother, you know, but a great deal older than Mignon. But she was only married to i. Mr. Landover in the spring. She met him here, you know, last winter ; and whenever they come here Mr. Landover always reminds her of it, and somehow Jane doesn't seem to like it— I can't tell why, because if she had never come here she would never have met Mr. Landover." '' Is she pi 3tty ?" Lassie asked. "Yes; I suppose so," Pearl admitted, rather unwillingly — "some people think so, but we never did — did we, Maud ? " "Never," said Maud. "Pearl do you remember what Darkey said about her? » Pretty ! * he said, * yes, as pretty as a water- rat.' " " Mrs. Halliday doesn't know who Darkey is," laughed Pearl—" he is Mr. St. John of the Scarlet Lancers, and he didn't like Jane Landover much." "I see. And what did Mr. Landover bring Miss Mignon, for her wedding present ?" enquired Lassie — surely she was growing young again that she took such interest in all that concerned the bride. " Well, Lhey brought her a present ea'^h," ar.s\vered Pearl. " A big diamond ring from ♦ 1 *■ SOOTLES' CHILDREN, Jane, and a big diamond bracelet from M Landover And when they came in he sai^ JJow, my dearest you give yours first ; ' an. of course, Jane did. And Mignon put it o Wely and all that-and so did Mother an Major Lucy and all of them. And then M, Landover handed out his parcel, and he said Its my fancy that we should give tw« presents instead of a joint one~because : wanted to show how much more / wa, indebted to you all for meeting such a wife than Jane here was in picking up such a Mignon got the packet open and saw the lovely diamond bracelet he had brouf?ht And It t^o. lovely," the child wound tp;* al^ vltf just tossed her head back and gave a little laugh — very funny." mli''^ 1^^-'''' ^"7 ^""""S^^^ <^oo," said Maud, taking up the story; "and Jane Landover gave him such a look, as if she were offended-it was what Humphie calls looking daggers. I asked Major Lucy what fie was laughing at, as soon as the others began to talk again. 'I always was a fool, Maud, he said, very solemnly; 'and I suppose I'm a fool still.' I "don't quite know what he meant," ended the child, with X^i'^i'"^^ '}^^' " ^'«- Halliday, did you think Major Lucy a fool when you knew him and father and Mignon long ago ? " Lassie burst out laughing," the first time 8' CHILDREN. imond bracelet from Mr. 3n they came in he said, •u give yours first ; ' and, And Mignon put it on Bd it, and said it was too and so did Mother and f them. And then Mr. his parcel, and he saidj we should give two I joint one— because I w much more / was r meeting such a wife, in picking up such a e as I am ; ' and then ket open and saw the 3let he had brought. the child wound up; d her head back and ry funny." r laughed too," said e story ; « and Jane uch a look, as if she I what Humphie calls ked Major Lucy what as soon as the others ' I always was a fool, ' solemnly; 'and I still.' I don't quite ended the child, with 's. Halliday, did you I when you knew him long ago ? " ighing,^ the first time i REMKMBER OR FOROETT H ihe had really laughed since she had come to the Court; aye, and for many a long day before that. " I don't think we ever thought Major Lucy a fool, my dear," she said, and •omehow the laugh had made her look youn«T »nd pretty again. Pearl noticed it. ^ " Mrs. Halliday, do you feel much better ? *' ihe asked. ^ *M^uch, much better," answered Lassie, f ushmg all over her delicate face as she remembered that for years she had not had a tenth part of the kindness and attention that ahe had had lavished upon her during the past few, very few, weeks. " I thought you must be," remarked Pearl, * because you don't look quite so old as you ,did when we first came to see you. Pm glad you're better; and do you know, when you are well enough to go out, Terry is going to take you for a drive in Mol her's little cart ? I heard Mother talkin co Terry about it yesterday." " That was kind," murmured Lassie. " You are very fond of Terry, aren't you ? " ^fPearl went on. ^ f "Terry is of you," Maud chimed in, as ,;Lassie laughed. "I know, because I asked him If he was, and he said, * Yes, poor soul; id do her a good turn if I could, for old times sake. "Terry is very good," murmured Lassie. her eyes filling with tears. "Manv a mail «ouiuni own as much, for the old times V-.***., ■ t^^'^^ il ^issm B00TLE3' CHILDREN. weren't the same as these. Terry's gone up fn the world, and I've gone down ^'«ce those days, and it's astonishing how one sort forgets the other when there's been a change of that '" Which sort ? " asked Maud. "Both I" answered Lassie, with a Ditter ring in her voice; "the only diffe'e'«=f, '^^ tha! one tries hard to forget and the other tries hard not to remember, that s all. __ ..I don't see any diHerence at al, exclaimed Maud, after a puzzled stare at the '"''"Of' course you do not, dearie,- cried Tassie penitent in a moment that she had Ift "he slightest flavour of the bitternes, which pervaded her whole life tinge the S pure mind. "Tou mustn't ake any MtSe. I get talking rubbish som'.times, for ^■'.1 td it wC rubbii," said Maud, with considerable emphasis, to Pearl afterwards. ,#*■ ^msm^- m CHAPTER VII. MR. TERRY. Th» passing years had drunk a portion of the light from her eyes, and left their traces on her cheeks, as birds that drink at lakes leave their footprints on the margin. But the pleasant smile remained, and reminded him of the bygone days. — Kavanagh, An hour or two later Terry was, with solemn state, conducted upstairs that he might pay the invalid a visit, his first visit ; and Terry was, as he looked, particularly nervous and uncomfortable. He had certainly no need to be either the one or the other, for he was a person of goodly presence and was always well-dressed, whether he happened to be in livery or in plain clothes ; for now, as in the old Service days, he' and Browne shared the reversion of their master's morning clothes between them. On this occasion he was wearing a remark- ably well-built suit of rough yellowish stuff, with a pale-blue cotton cravat which suited his fresh-coloured clean shaven face uncommonly well. The cotton crav^at was a].,«o £^ reversion BiMiiiHilitiiS BOOTLTSS" CHILDRElSf, from Captain Ferrers' wardrobe, and was adorned with a neat horse-shoe pin which had been given to Terry by one of the officers of his old regiment, on some occasion when he had looked after his horses at a pinch in addition to his own work. And he was a very clean person was Terry, with a goodly crop of curly brown hair which he held under the pump in the stable yard almost every morning in a vain attempt, to get it to lie straight, and altogether he looked as nearly like a smart cavalry officer as you could imagine, only a certain awkwardness and redness about his big hands letting a rather more keen and wide-aw^ke observer than usual know that he was not of that rank. But to poor Lassie there was no flaw in his looks. She caught her breath in a gasp as he entered her presence ; he was so big and straight and strong ; he stood up before her in his good well-cut clothes, with such an honest look and manly air, that she was fairly dazzled by him. She knew that he must be at least ten years older than she was, and she was eight- and-twenty, and yet she was a broken-down wreck, a grey-haired old woman ; and he — he had the keen clear eyes of perfect health and temperate living, and the fresh wholesome skin of a man who lives much in the open And she was a wreck, a broken-down old weman, tied up for ever to a cowardly hound Iff-^^ robe, and was ! pin -which had the officers of casion when he at a pinch in And he was a with a goodly ti he held under d almost every bo get it to lie oked as nearly as you could kwardness and letting a rather observer than ' that rank. LS no flaw in his in a gasp as he as so big and i up before her , with such an it she was fairly be at least ten she was eight- a broken-down an ; and he — he rfect health and resh wholesome ich in the open )roken-down old cowardly hound MR. TERRY. 49 who made no more of knocking her down than he had done of ill-using the poor lit^o deaf-mute, whom she had daily thanked God for two years past that He had taken to Himself. The very thought of it all caused poor Lassie to shiver and shrink and then to begin crying, weakly trying the while to cover her shamed face with her poor thin trembling hands. And Terry stood helplessly before her, feeling neither more nor less than abject. It was dreadful to him to have a pretty — yes, even if she was still a little "gone oif" she was still, he thoi ;^dit, very pretty — a pretty woman cryi' > ke that, and be able to do nothing, ab L^cdy nothing whatever to com- fort her ; and, to make matters worse for him, the nurse at this point took the opportunity of slipping out of the room, leaving him alone with poor Lassie. Now it happened that Terry was very tender-hearted when women and children were concerned, but though he was well-nicrh at his wits' end to devise some means of stop, ping her tears, his only instinct in such a case was to take the poor sufferer into his arms and comfort her, as he would comfort a child which had fallen and bruised itself ; yet, though he would not in the least have minded giving poor Lassie a kiss for old times' sake — aye, or for the new times' sake, so " far as that went h( neio. Daci the remembrance of one Sergeant Halliday, '2^^^*>..*?5;:i f^^ 4tf BOOTLES' CIIII,DREN. who had once been his siiccei=.sFul rival and whom he would dearly like lo see kicked ft jm Ferrers Court right away to Eccles village— which was a distance of something over three miles. So he stood there clench- ing and unclenching his hands, and shifting about from one foot to the other, the very picture of misery, and at last he burst out, "For God's sake, don't cry like that, my girl ; it makes me feel as if I should go out- side and hang myself." It was some time, however, before Lassie could control her sobs sufficiently to be able to speak; and then she began to reproach herself for her unkindness in receiving him in such a way. "I'm a poor, broken-down, miserable thing, Mr. Terry," she said, humbly ; " and the sight of an old friend's face was too much for me." "Don't call me * Mister ' Terry," said he, finding his wits and sitting down on the chair beside the couch whereon the two little daughters of the house had sat earlier in the day ; " can't you call me Bill, like you used to do ? " An April smile broke out upon Lassie's face. " You're such a swell now," she said, half slyly; "it's like taking a liberty with you to call you anything but Mr. Terry. And I've gone down in the world — aye, down with a run since the days when I used to call you * Bill.' Besides, I should be forgetting, t tHmm mm •^ EN. iepsful rival and } lo see kicked away to Eccles ice of something od there clench- nds, and shifting 1 other, the very ,st he burst out, y like that, my should go out- r, before Lassie ently to be able :^an to reproach receiving him in lown, miserable humbly ; " and ce was too much Terry," said he, f down on the ion the two little d sat earlier in r\e Bill, like you it upon Lassie's I now," she said, y a liberty with but Mr. Terry. ^orld — aye, down en I used to oall d be I'orgelting, MR. TEBRY. 40 and calling you * Bill ' when the others were by, and — and it wouldn't do. No ; we'd better stick to Mr. Terry, for all reasons." " As you think best, of course," answered Terry, remembering that one of the reasons took the form — the hated form — of Sergeant Halliday. "It was a good Providence that sent me in search of you that night," Lassie went on, leaning back among her pillows again, and looking at him with grateful eyes. " Captain Ferrers is just what he was when he was in the regiment, and if I was a princess they couldn't have taken more care of me, or have treated^ me better — me that's been kicked about like a thing of naught for years past I " Terry got up from his chair and walked to the window, where he stood with his hands thrust deep down into the pockets of his jacket. « Did— did— did Halliday ill-use you ? " he asked at last. He blurted the words out as if the question was hateful, too hateful to him to ask, and as if he wished, yet dreaded, to hear the answer. "Ill-use me!" echoed Lassie— then went into a history of her life during the past nine years, how her children had sickened and died one after another, until she had called out in her misery that the Heavens were brass, and that the Almighty had forgotten " But I was wrong," she said with a sad ■r*fe*»*r;' n.m BOOTLES' CHILDREN. sigh ; " the day came when I fell on my knees and thanked the Almighty I had called ont against, for taking away the poor little thing that had to bear and sulTer in silence, because it was deaf and dumb. And the other day when I asked for my baby — my poor little baby that died on the way here — the nurse went and fetched the dear beautiful mistress to break it to me. Kind soul ! she thought I should be heart-broken to think my baby had died out in the cold and the rain. Ah! she don't understand; but I've got used to it ; and if only he don't find me out and make me go back, I want nothing but some quiet corner where I can sew or wash or be useful until my life is over." " He shan't 'ave you back — the Capt n '11 see to that," said Terry, sturdily. He wheeled round from the window as if he was about to confront Halliday and offer to fight him on the spot. Lassie was twisting her thin fingers together, and answered, with- out looking at him, " Ah, but if he finds me out he will ; for, in his way, he's fond of me yet." " Brute ! " Terry muttered savagely be- tween his teeth. " Yes, that's just it ; he's a brute. I got to think at last he couldn't help it — his nature was savage, and he couldn't help the brute comino" out everv now and then= Many a time when he's hit me, he's been i*a^.^ 'Wmm^ iilMil.li'tti'iilllni EN. n I fell on my Llmighty I had ig away the poor lar and sufler in md dumb. And 2d for my baby died on the way Fetched the dear it to me. Kind be heart-broken out in the cold Dn't understand; 1 if onlv he don't go back, I want •ner where I can until my life is £->the Capt n '11 'dily. e window as if he day and offer to isie was twisting . answered, with- it if he finds me he's fond of me ;d savagely be- MR. TERRY. 61 got a brute. n't help it — his ;ouldn't help the now and then=, ,t me, he's been «( sorry when he came to his own senses again ; but it never kept him from doing it again, and I got tired out with him at last." Terry felt that he must get out of the room ; he had come to the end of his endur- ance, for he knew that he must not say a word which would further agitate the poor trembling soul before him. " I must go now, my girl," he said, gruffly, my time's not quite my own, you know ; and 'orses is 'orses, and have to be seen to pretty near as often as babbies. I'll come and see you to-morrow if they'll let me ; and when you're able to get out, I'm to drive you all round the country. Good-bye, my girl ; make haste and get well, and never doubt but that you're quite safe with the Captain, to say naught of me." He got himself out of the room and shut the door. He could still see the pathetic, wan face he had left; he seemed still able to hear the sad tones of her voice — she who had been the blithest little witch he had ever known ; he could still feel the clasp of the weak, clinging hands! He stood perfectly still for a moment, as if he could not trust himself to move. Then he turned sharply on his heel and went quickly back to his own quarters, across the stable-yard and into the saddle-room, where he shut himself in with a crash of the door which warned "the lads" that they had better not disturb him. . And then he crossed the room to the desk, 4* ?.wmaiiHiP«-^„i( V »*^h« I 6. BOOTLES' CHILDBEN. where he brought his hand down with a mighty bang upon the pad of blotting-paper lying upon it. " Quaking lest he should find 'er out and make her go back again," he cried aloud. "Aye, but let my fine gentleman shovr his face 'ere, and maybe the quaking *11 be on his side. Damn him ; but let him show his ugly mug anywhere hereabouts, and I'll grease all the steps that he may break 'is neck. Devil ! It's all he's worth," and then Terry dashed something away from his eyes and walked out into the yard to look after '* the lads," never noticing that there was a letter lying on the desk, addressed to him in the handwriting of his sister Polly 1 i^-m PW'<^4 ;en. id down with a of blotting-paper find 'er out and he cried aloud, .tlema-i shovr his iiaking '11 be on et him show his ibouts, and Til e may break 'is svorth," and then ly from his eyes xd to look after that there was a dressed to him in Polly 1 ^ CHAPTER Vin. FKEEDOM. Something within her said, " At length thy troubles are ended ! " — Evangeline. But Terry had no need to resort to greasing the steps of Ferrers Court in order to help Serguant Halliday to break his neck and cut short his disreputable and bullyinle you 'any more," list not fret, though ed Lassie, sitting "Mrs. Ferrers — lea of what I have lands, if you can ^!_fret!— I?" she : God — I — thank — ti»g me free I — , woman like, she her pillows, and of hysterical sobs aured Mrs. Ferrers, 1 her own. It all her. She saw no i inconsistency between Lassie's words and her actions, and sat patiently beside her until she was more calm and like herself again. "Who told you? How did you hear?" she asked, presently. " Captain Ferrers wrote to a friend of his at Cl^rtsey," Mrs. Ferrers answered, " and asked him to enquire if Halliday was there, and what he was doing. Thf^ was at the time when — when — when rhey had the inquest on your poor litli bavV, you know." " Yes ; and " " And this morning this gentleman wrote and told us that Halliday died on Saturday evening. He thought as Captain Ferrers had enquired about him so lately that we should be interested in knowing it ; he little knew how deeply we are interested." " Did he die a natural death ? " Lassie asked, suddenly. Mrs. Ferrers hesitated. « Well, he seems to have drank heavily for some time past, as probably no one knows so well as your- self, and that, of course, was bound to have an effect in time, and " "Did he die in his bed?" asked Lassie, bluntly. "Well — no— he didn't," Mrs. Ferrers admitted. " Mrs. Ferrers," cried Lassie, straining her thin hands together, "don't break it to me, please. Tell me the whole truth at once and ,Sfe^ 6S BOOTLES' CHILDREK. keep back nothing. I can't pretend to feel any grief for him. I should only be a hypocrite if I did. He ruined my life, broke me down into an old woman when I ought to be but a girl yet, and murdered my children -—aye, murdered them — seven dear little innocent children, and I'm thankful to God Who has set me free from him. But tell me all." "Well, Mrs. Halliday," said the lady, "he was found in a ditch with his neck broken. He had been drinking all day as usual, and went out of the inn and set off to go home alone — that is all that is known of his end." "It is a just retribution," said Lassie, sternly. "I warned him it would come sooner or later. My last words to him before I ran away from my wretched home were a warning ; for I said to him, * Be sure your sin will find you out' ; and it has found him out already." f ■»» irmtm^mttr^ . n m m^ w^i^tttfatriiMrtiSi*",'^'"*^ Xaj w fc i "sar iLDBEll. 'an*t pretend to feel should only be a uined my life, broke lan when I ought to irdered my children —seven dear little 'm thankful to God from him. But tell said the lady, " he th his neck broken. ,11 day as usual, and set off to go home fnown of his end." ition," said Lassie, :m it would come words to him before etched home were a m, ' Be sure you?' sin has found him out i^^ CHAPTEE IX. mignon's wedding day. * In life's delight, in death's dismay, In storm and sunshine, night and daj, In health, in sickness, in decay, Here and hereafter, I am thine," — Tlie Golden Legend. It was Mignon's wedding - morning, and Ferrers* Court, aye and the village of Ferrers too, was all in excitement and bustle. |A11 the morning Mrs. Brandon and a dozen lyoung ladies of the neighbourhood had been jbusy decking the old church with costly hot- Ihouse blooms and deHcate ferns and tall balms, which had been sent over by cart- lloads, the finest and best of all coming Ifrom Landover Castle. It was true that the Imistress of that stately abode had that very jmorning gone into the almost empty conser- Ivatories and hdd looked round with a dis- |Consolate face. "I shall not, h#» nlilo +« Ii^stt^ -,.^*i.: t.m_- la decent show for months after this," sh© M^^m' BOOTLES' CIIILDREN. muttered to her sister, Sopliy Carmine, who was staying with her—and who, as a matter of fact, spent a good deal of time at Landover. "Then why didn't you tell Geotfrey you didn't see the good of sending so many?" asked Sophy sensibly. " They were only for the church, and, after all, they'll be back again before dark ; it isn't as if they were going to spend the night in a ball-room." « N'o — but a nine miles' journey in Decem- ber will be enough to kill half of them," Jane Landover grumbled. " And, indeed but there, what's the good of talking about it. Geoff is just infatuated about Mignon Ferrers, but as he puts it all on the score of wanting to show his gratitude for having met me there, I can't say a word. So absurd ! He actually gave two hundred and fifty pounds for the bracelet he gave Mignon, and fifty for the ring from me. As if three hundred pounds wasn't enough proof of his gratitude, without ruining alt his conservatories and upsetting the best gardener in the county. Beally, I do think it awfully selfish of Mignon to take so much." Sophy Carmine laughed. " Oh, Jane, my dear, it's not worth worrying yourself about —be thankful Mignon did not take Geoffrey himself, as well as his bracelets and his palms." Mrs. Landover's nose went sky-wards, and her short upper Up curled itself iu the same direction. '0msi -^Am>*^ opliy Carmine, who , who, as a matter of time at Landover. I tell Geoffrey you lending so many?" They were only for dl, they'll be back sn't as if they were in a ball-room." ' journey in Decem- half of them," Jane Lnd, indeed but I talking about it. )out Mignon Ferrers, he score of wanting for having met me d. So absurd ! He •ed and fifty pounds Mignon, and fifty for .8 if three hundred oof of his gratitude, conservatories and mer in the county, illy selfish of Mignon ;d. "Oh, Jane, my •ying yourself about lid not take Geoffrey bracelets and his went sky-wards, and ;Q itself in the same MIQNONS WEL/DING DAY. €1 _" Mignon— a child like tliat— cut me out with Geoff ? " she repeated with the utmost scorn. " Oh, my dear ! " A retort rose to Sophy Carmine's lips that Mignon undoubtedly had cut Mrs. Landover out with Major Lucy and had given very threatening if unconscious signs of being able to do so with the master of Landover Castle— but she bit the remark off short and told her sister with a laugh that it was time to dress for *' the child's " wedding ; for, now- a-days, Sophy Carmine was very careful what - she said to her younger sister ; to Jane Car- mine she had been accustomed to say what . she liked and to give at times very unpalat- able and wholesome advice— but to Jane, the mistress of Landover, Sophy's natural tart- ness of expression was always well sugared. ■Landover was the most pleasant house to visit that Sophy had ever known, and she stayed there very often. . Meantime, the costliest treasures of the I Landover conservatories were in the hands of .iMrs. Brandon and her helpers in Ferrers Church ; while at the Court the busy servants were putting the last touches to the great breakfast set out in the long dining room and .the substantial lunch prepared for guests of ^|another degree in the servants' hall. At the suggestion of Captain Ferrers' younger daughters, the invalid guest, who yas being nursed and cared -for for old ^nies' sake, was moved from her accustomed I 6a BOOTLES' CHILDREN. rooms to the day-nursery, which overlooked the court-yard and from whose windows she would be able to get an excellent view of all who came and went during^ that most im- portant day. Lassie was nothing loth 1 In spite of the terrible experience marriage had been to her, she took a very real and feminine interest in Mignon's wedding and all that was connected wiSi it, and she sat by the window in a big chair, still clad in the w^rm Jind pretty crimson wrapper which Mas. Ferrers had provided for her, although she was a widow now, and a neat outfit of black {)' Not widow's-, mourning, Ma'am," poor Lassie had cried beseechingly, when Mrs. Ferrers first sug- gested the necessity of new garments, and, under the circumstances, thie advisability of their being black ones) was in r^ourse of pre- paration for her. And, in spite of the gener 1 bustle and busyness of the morning, Lassie had several visitors. First the three lovely littl^. brides- maids, in their pretty white frocks and their big yellow sashes, who capered about -and showed themselves off !tefore her to her in- finite amusement and .delight. Then the bridegroom. Major tiucy himself, who came with his soft laugh and pleasant smile tp ask for her good wishes. "I couldn't go to church unless you wished me good luck, you know. Lassie," he said, by way of explanation for his presc o m^ Fmm ■(if^l^^^-ftxv' iiliiiSlii'-*^ LDREN. iT, which overlooked whose windows she excellent view of all ring' that most im- hi In spite of the ige had been to her, feminine interest in . that was connected he window in a big w^rm Jltid pretty Mis. Ferrers had ih she was a widow Slack (J* Not widow's.. )r Lassie had cried . Ferrers first sug- new garments, and, ;, the advisability of vas in <^ourse of pre- MIONONS WEDDING DAY. 6S gener!" bustle and , Lassie had several J lovely littl^. brides- hite frocks and then- capered about And tefore her to her in- .delight. Then the y himself, who came )leasant amile tp ask 'ch unless you wished r. Lassie," he said, by is presB. c f Lassie's eyes filled with tears instantly. " Ah, sir," she cried, " I'm afraid my good wishes won't bring you and Miss Mignon good luck. I've been so unlucky myself all my life that you ought rather to have kept away from me lest I bring harm on you both." "Oh, nonsense— nonsense. Lassie," Lucy Icried in his kindest tones. " You mustn't [talk like tliat — it's downwright twrash, 'tis 'Wreally. Of course you have had bad luck 80 far — er — the vewry worst of luck ; but, after all, the longest innings get bowled out at last, and you may look for the turn in the game now." " The time's gone by for that," vsaid Lassie with a desponding shake of her head ; " but there, how selfish I am — how can I deserve to have better luck, while I think so little of others. It's your wedding- morning, sir, and I must not cloud it with my misfortunes. And I do wish you good luck, every joy that life can give you, a diffierent life in every way from what mine has been." They were almost alone, for the under- nurse was helping Mrs. Humphie to dress in the next room, and the four elder children had strayed off to the hall to see what was going on there— only little Madge, in her pretty, white and yellow garments, was standing on a stool looking out of the window at the horses and carriages in the court-yard below, and turning round every now and again to BOOTLI'-S' CHILDREN. stare with, solemn wondering eyes' at Lassie when the sound of tears in her isad voice at- tracted her attention. "Thank you so vewry nmch, Lassie,** Lucy answered in his gentlest tones. " 1 only hope that before long the silver lining may come to the fwront ai '1 you rany find life diffewrent." " Oh ! Cecil — Major Lucy," cried i'earl, at that moment — " it is time you went to churcli. Father sent me ui) to find you." " And Father csazV?," added Maud, ho truth- fully that it seemed like IBootles himself who wa?i t-peaking, " ' Now Where's Lucy ? Not mmi. yet — H'm ! I wonder if the dear old chap's gone to sleep?' — that wiis what Father said — exactly." " I don't doubt it for a moment," answered Lucy with a laugh — " and I'll be ofi" at once —good bye, Lassie." As he went out of the room, Maud joined little Madge at her post by the window and Pearl sat down on a chair opposite to Lassie's. There I That is off" my mind," she said, with a sigh which was a delightful imitation of Mrs. Booties when she happened to be es- pecially bothered about something or other. We have left those two boys downstairs," remarked Maud with a resigned air — " and they are sure to get into some mischief or other. I sha'n't be at all surprised if Bertie does not get out among the horses, and if he does his smart page's suit wiJl be ruined. 4k-^ 'im:siLA K^*' 'l4r ILDREN. ering eyes' at Lassie, in her .sad voice at- mnch, Lfisiie,** Lucy :ones. " 1 only hope r lining may come to find life diffewrent." jucy," cried learl., at time you went to 3 111) to find you." Med "Maud, bo truth- Booties himself who Where's Lucy ? Not ider if the dear old that wiii what Father a moment," answered id I'll be ofi* at once 3 room, Maud joined by the window and chair opposite to my mind," she said, delightful imitation 3 happened to be es- 3omething or other, wo boys downstairs," resigned air — " and to some mischief or 11 surprised if Bertie the horses, and if he suit wiJl be ruined. MIGNON'S WEDDING DAY. 66 They ouffht to have come up and shown them- selves to Mrs. Halliday while their faces were clean." " It is too late," returned Pearl — « Here is Stephen." *'The carriage is waiting for the young ladies," said a tall footman solemnly at that 'noment. T- ?^^,^^l's grown-up air vanished. "Hum- "phie," she cried running to the door which led in to the night nursery — " we have to go, so if you mean to come with us, you must be* quick." " In half a minute, my dearie," came Mrs. ^ Humphie's reply. Her voice sounded as if she was strugglinper place a finger of I go on wrong side L Maud — "Yes, you ion was attracted in- you never did ? " she all aflame. Humphie," Maud re- ad the Major said— you don't mean — er— e WANTS to marwry | Dr Lucy," Maud went ' ik you' did at all, fori m. «4M«A» -^isMiiy,j 68 BOOTLES' CHILDRFJN. ,■1 i I M .; 'ii, ; "Old Mise Mignon, you look lovely, lovely," ciieu Lassie rapturously. " And I do hope you'll be happy. You're going to marry a good man, and that's everything — everything. I thought of nothing when I married except that TT~ii--«^y ^^^ q^^q Qf ^i^e smartest men in tne regiraeni, but I soon learnt that smartness is naught again' goodness." " But Major Lucy is smart and good too," said Mignon, smiling happily at her. " That's so, Miss Mignon. And oh! I hope you'll be happy. I do hope it with all my heart." " Thank-you so much," answered Mignon, laying her hand for a moment on Lassie's. She turned herself about that Lassie : ight see the beautiful crystal embroideries of her gown, the effect of the sweeping train, the shower of tulle which fell from the golden coronet of her hair, and the lovely posy of real orange-blot^.^oms which she carried in l)er hand. " You think I lo' <. nice ? " she asked. " Nice ? vJh 1 U.J dear, you look lovely,' Lassie cried rapturously. Ther, ' /ith a laugh and a gay word of farewell, Mignon v^ent away with never a tear or cloud to dim th*^ lustre of 'Sae lovely sapphire-coloured ey. which had never given thought or g]' e to any other than the gallant bridegi ai vaiting her m the old church across Uio puut. mm :.DREN. you look lovely, turously. " And I . You're going to that's everything — )f nothing when I ""^y was one of the riraeni, but I soon is naught again' nart and good too," lily at her. n. And oh ! I hope lope it with all my answered Mignon, nent on Lassie's, it that Lassie : ight jmbroideries of her sweeping train, the .1 from the golden the lovely posy of h she carried in l)er 1 ? " she asked. ', you look lovely,* md n gay word of way with never a lustre of ;£ie lovelv ich had never given ny other than the ing her m the old MZGNON'S WEDDING DAY. <9 " It was a lovely wedding," said Pearl to Lassie an hour or two later. The Ferrers children did not happen ever to have seen any otlier wedding ; but every- body had declared it to be the prettiest wedding they had ever beheld, and so it was all right. '* We waited in the porch," Maud explained. " And Hnniphie sat down in Mrs. Gadaby's pew and got her gloves on at last. And then, when Mignon came with Fathf " you know, we made a procession. Madge first, then Pearl and I together, then Father and Mignon, and last of all Bertie and Cecil carrying Mignon's gown at the back." " Her train," corrected Pearl. ' Yes, of course. We got all placed and read to start, and then Mignon said 'Go along and we started Madge oflT up the aisle. Madge ery nearly tumbled down at the chanci . sidps she was so taken up with her posy and he ew bangle; but Pearl caught her in time ain we got there all right." " Father was the most nervous of anybody," said Pearl twisting her bangle round and round her wrist. "Father nearly cried," added Maud with appalling candour. " I was watching him all the time, for I never saw Father look like that before — ^just like Cecil does if he gets a scolding. And once I heard a queer little sound in his liiroat and I almost think Mother must have heard it too, for she smiled at him ro BOOTLES' CHILDREN. g things," mothers because as she alwa\ s does if she thinks he's vexed about anything. But I d -^'t think Father saw thfl% for lie didn't take any notice until Mother moved a step nearer to him and took hold of his hand, and then he turned and smiled back at her. I don't think anybody but me saw that, for Mother was holding Mignon's posy and that kept her hand hidden ; but / saw it and I believe Father was crying, or all but. Mrs. Halliday, why should Father cry because Mignon was gettin married ? " "Marriages are very serious answered Lassie. " And fathers and are often very nervous about them no one can ever tell how they may be going to turn out." " But it isn't like some marriages," Pearl cried. "Now when Jane Carmine married Mr. Landover, she really didn't know him. Why, she had never even seen him three months before. But with Mignon and Major Lucy it's quite different. She's known him all her life, and he's Father's great pal." "You had better not let Fraw-line hear you talking about a pal, my lamb," remarked Humphie wisely. " But he is Father's great pal," expostulated Pearl, "his very greatest pall I must know more about it than Fraulein." " It's not exactly a nice word for a young lady to say," explained Humphie, with ;"i feeling that Booties' children were more of %^ .DREN. e thinks he's vexed d -'t think Father ke any notice until rer to him and took hen he turned and on't think anybody other was holding pt her hand hidden ; I Father was crying, iday, why should ignon was getting r serious things," Fathers and mothers bout them because they may be going e marriages," Pearl 3 Carmine married ' didn't know him. Ten seen him three Mignon and Major She's known him er's great pal." let Fraw-line hear ny lamb," remarked it pal," expostulated pal ! I must know ein." ;e word for a young . Humpliie, with a Idren were more of anONON'S WEDDING DAY. fl a handful to her than Booties* baby had been. Maud took advantacfe of the discussion to explain matters to Mrs. Halliday. " Jane Carmine was staying liere when she got en- f^aged to Mr. Laiidover," she 8aid. " Slie and ISophy had been here a long, long time, and when they went away it was on a Thursday afternoon, just after lunch, you know. Mr. Landover was staying here too, and just before lunch I was lying on the hearth-rug in front of the hall- fire with the dogs, and Mr. Landover came in and began to write a letter at the table. And then Jane Carmine came too, and she sat down at the table too and began to look at Punch. 'Don't mind mey Geofi'dear,' she said in a queer little shy voice ; • I won't disturb you. I'll be as quiet as a little mouse.' And then Mr. Landover said, 'Darling — Dar ling! ' and Jane put her head on one side and she said ' Bar — ling ! ' too. It was very funny," said Maud in a puzzledr tone, " for I heard her tell Sophy less than a week before, that she hated Mr. Landover like poison and she didn't care if he was as rich as creases. I'm sure I don't know why creases should be thought rich ! I know if I get a crease in any of my things, Humphie always says I've ruined them." " She meant Croesus," put in Pearl, who had come to a triumphant end of her discussion with Humphie — "dont you remember he was that very rich person that Fraulein tells a ".««4 72 BOOTIES' CHILDREN. nice little story about in German sometimes ? I say, Humphie, wasn't Jane Landover smart to-day?" "I thought Mrs. Landover looked real handsome, dearie," Humphie replied. *' I wonder why she didn't like Mignon's presents ? " said Maud in a musing tone. ''Oh! she must have liked them," cried Lassie, who had been downstairs for a few minutes that she might see the costly array of bridal gifts. " But she didn't — she walked all round the room, but all she did was to give a little sniff and say, ' lieally, Mignon has been most for- tunate — most fortunate ' — and then she gave another sniff" and walked off to the drawing- room agam.' mt p^^ m.m» JREN. 3rman sometimes ? De Landover smart over looked real ie replied, in't like Mignon's . musing tone, iked them," cried srnstairs for a few the costly array of Iked aU round the ^o give a littia sniff has been most for- nd then she gave ff to the drawing- OHAPTEE X: THE TITRN IN THE GAME. He felt at that moment how sweet a thing it would be to posf^ess one who should eeem beautiful to him alone, and yet be to him more beautiful than all the world be- side ! — Hyperion. After this time, Lassie began to mend fast ! She felt as if with her freedom had come new lifp and new interests ; she felt as if she had cast off the past as a serpent casts his skin ; she was able to breathe without fear at last. And there was now no question of her going aiif further in search of that sphere of quiet usefulness for which her soul had longed, no question of her appealing to her cousin at Landover to find her a place in which to lay her head ; for, although they had gone on very comfortably for a good many years without knowing it, the household at Ferrers Court suddenly discovered that they were, and had been for a long time, sadly iu need of a supe- rior needle-woman ! Not a common sewinrr- u BOOTLES' CHILDREN. maid, mind you, but someone who could help Mademoiselle Fanchette if necessary, who could mend lace and make all manner of odds and ends for the numerous bazaars which Mrs. Ferrers was called upon to help by having a stall herself or contributing largely to the stalls of those who did ; and very often Mrs. Brandon was badly in need of help in similar ways, and so long before Lassie was sufl&- ciently well to exert herself beyond wandering from her own room to the nursery or from the nursery to the snug little apartment where the house-keeper reigned supreme, or in putting a few stitches to the little square of delicate cambric which she was embroidering as a wed- ding-gift for Mignon, it was arranged and looked upon as quite a settled thing that she was to remai!i for '^ood and all at Ferrers Court. •'It's awii K fHK I of you to make a place for the poor soul, my darling," said Booties to his wife after Mrs. Booties had broken the news to Lassie that there was to be no more wandering about for her, but that she was to look upon the place into which a merciful Providence had led her weary feet as her home for the future — " I should think not another fellow in England has got such a kind-hearted generous wife as I have." Mrs. Booties sat herself down on the arm of her husband's chair and twined her arm about his neck. "And very few women in the worldj I should think," she retorted, " have ^':jtM iBEN. le who could help f necessary, who all manner of odds us bazaars which 1 to help by having ing largely to the id very often Mrs. of help in similar Lassie was suffi- beyond wandering lursery or from the artment where the me, or in putting a square of delicate roidering as a wed- vas arranged and [ed thing that she nd all at Ferrers THE TUEN IN THE GAME. T5 u to make a place y," said Booties to i had broken the ^as to be no more lit that she was to which a merciful y feet as her home think not another ich a kind-hearted Dwn on the arm of led her arm about V women in the e retorted, " have husbands who make it so easy to be generous as mine does. And oh ! Algy, if you had seen the poor thing's delight ; she couldn't speak for ever so long ; and then Uttle Madge ran in, and she clutched hold of her and hid her face against her shoulder — ' I've dreaded so to leave you all,' she sobbed. * I've hardly dared to let myself get fond of the children ' — she said to me — ' I knew it would be such a wrench to leave them when I had to go.' And oh ! Algy, dear, the children are so pleased about it, you can't think." " Oh ! yes I can — they're your children, you know,'' he answered. " And, after all, you know, it's a very simple arrangement, as you are able to find something for her to do. She'll go on a little bit as she is — potter about with the chicks and pick up her looks as she gets stronger. And then when the horror of what she has gone through with that brute- — well, well, he's dead and I won't say that quite— but she'll forget the bad time she had with Halliday, and Terry and she will make a match of it and then they'll set up in the set of rooms over the west stables and it'll be all right." " And you think that Terry is " " Not a doubt about it," answered Captain Ferrers promptly. "Of course, I always knew there ^ was a woman at the bottom of his gay Lothario ways but now, without jokinfir. as I told him nnW flip aftt^rr^nr>■n fiiof poor Lassie turned up here, it's about time BOOTI.ES' CHILDREN. now that he settled down and took life seriously. All the same," he went on medi- tatively, "I expect there will be a terrible to-do among the girls when they find out he's married and done-for, for Terry has been popular, to say the least of it." But, although Captain Ferrers had quite made up his mmd about Terry and Sergeant Halliday's widow, Terry himself had as yet no ideas about Lassie, except as a poor soul who had fallen upon uncommonly evil days and whom he had known long, long ago. It was difficult for him to realize that the wan invalid whom he went occasionally to visit in an upper room at Ferrers Court was the blithe and bonny lass who had stolen his heart away years and years be- fore and had forgotten to give it back to him again. But as the winter days grew shorter and shorter. Lassie gained strength and was able to get further than the kind old house- keeper's room, to go out into the stables and see the horses, to be taken by Pearl to see her pony, and by Maud to see the St. Bernard and her pups— not roly-polies now but great clumsy fellows with considerably more heart than discretion or manners ; to be dragged by the lordly young Bertie to be shown a par- ticularly nasty smelling ferret which was the coveted possession of one of " the lads," and to be coaxed by little Cecil into a visit to his ouinea-pigs which lived in a cornei of lEN. THE TURN IN THE GAME. 77 n and took life le went on medi- vlll be a terrible they find out he's Terry has been it. Ferrers had quite rry and Sergeant nself had as yet it as a poor soul •mraonlyevil days long, long ago. to realize that went occasionally at Ferrers Court ny lass who had irs and years be- give it back to grew shorter and igth and was able kind old house- Lto the stables and by Pearl to see her he St. Bernard and 8 now but great lerably more heart ; to be dragged by o be shown a par- :ret which was the of " the lads," and [ into a visit to his in a cornel of the loose-box just then given up to the grand-daud of her unhappy he said — "we want us, Maud and I." can," Lassie replied— ed — " first of all we irprise to put Father's ut that we have got won't take very long him a stud to wear is Terry's present we possible, still more •esent is, dearie," she ten I shall be better aph album," answered We thought, TERRY'S— SISTER, •1 air. then we told Mother we h.iught an album would be about the best, because though you see Terry is not married and so doesi?t take much pride in his rooms, which he always says are too untidy for us ever to see, he has lots of photographs and they get thrown about the desk in the saddle-room and so are spoilt in no time. And we thought if we bought him a nice album he would be able to keep them all together and it would be tliere if he ever did get married. Well, when we went to get the presents at Farhngton yesterday, the only decent album, except a very, very expensive one, was covered with pale blue plush, so we bought that and thour;rht Terry would be delighted with it. But Mother says it is most unsuitable and that it will be dirty in a week if he leaves it throwing about the saddle-room, and really we don't know what to do. Still Maud and I v\ere talking it over and we thought, at least ^laud did, that if you were to make us some kind of a cover that would look prettier than brown paper (which is horrid; I know I always hate ray books if I have to have them h brown paper), and yet be more useful than pale blue plush— why— it would be all riffht. dnu'tyousee?" '' I see exactly. Supposing I make a cover oi this pretty bit of silk that Mrs. Ferrers had spared from the linings of the bai?s she «is SendinO- to Mrs T^mnrlnn » co^/l ht, Maud and i, ^m^^;^^ a piece o7 dark royal blue silk from 11 BOOTLES' CHILDEKN, her work-basket. "The mistress does not want it and said, indeed, that I was to keep it by me in case any of the ciJldren wanted something making." "It would be lovely," cried Pearl rap- turously. . . . , " And I could work Terry's mitials on it in pale blue silk to match the plush," Lassie added. "Exquisite," exclaimed Pearl almost breathless from excitement — "Isn't it, Maud ? Now, Mother will be quite satisfied, and, as I told her, we had to think of the money "And it wasn't altogether the money, either you know. Pearl," said the truthful Ma-** - flectively. "We had to think of the kin;.; <>1 photographs that we know Terry has aiid wlather the album would have the right kind i/i holes for them. Now there's that one of his sister, Polly " " His sister" cried Lassie, speaking almost involuntarily in her extreme surprise— " Terry's sister ! " Maud turned her big blue eyes upon her. " Yes. Didn't you know her ? " " No," shaking her head. "Well, that is funny! But still she's so much younger than Terry that I daresay he did not talk about her very often ; but he has a sister and her name is Polly and it's very odd— but there is a disparity between »«..f: pTT^^-^-.V!^'^';-- '1^ TEKRY'S-SISTER. g, ''A disparity I" repeated Lassie getting more and more puzzled every moment.^ ^ ^es a disparity," answered Maud who was not a little proud of her new word "I? means age I" "^w woru. it "And not less than twenty years " sun plemented Pearl. "Years don't bel?^ to bJ a disparity until there are twenty o/Ihem."'' -no i T ^ '' •'^'^.i^"^ y y^^^« younger -no—no-I mean older, just twenty vears older than Polly, so that' there T^'uT a disparity between them," Maud contCed Polly is eighteen and she is very pret^* Terry ^ is quite proud of having^Sr^. dJl^''.'*'^'^,,-'^ "'^''^^ heard of his having a sister be ore," murmured Lassie. ^ Well It is odd, but we never did either »» remarked Pearl-" Not until the verf^^^^ that you came here. Lassie I Do you rZ member, Maud ? " ^ ^ "Of course I do," Maud answered and forthwith entered into a detaileT aLunt I howing precisely how Terry had come to Pea^ r. f '^ ^' ^^' " I' ^*» this way- Pearl and I went to ask for the St Bernard pups, Juno's pups, you know, to show Mad Je who was poorly and not let to go out of tIS nurseries; and, of course, we had to go into the saddle-room to ask Terry if we could I We them. Well, whil.t we^ werHwr^i 'Was looking about and I saw this photoTi^anh tlie desk and, of course, I asked Ter?y IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) y /, A 1.0 I.I 1^ 1^ m IIIM 1^2 1^ III 2.2 1^ ||2.0 tut 1-25 ■ 1.4 1.6 rlluttjgiapmu Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ,\ iV <> A ^^ '%^ r^^ ^ •%»*« jt;. ; ' -ritH.-^f^^- , BOOTLES' CHILDREN, who it was, and Terry told us that it was his sister and that she was eighteen. And he hasn't any other brothers or sisters at all." " It is quite news to me that he has one at all," said Lassie, in a strangled kind of voice. « Then if vou will bring me the album, I'll set to work on the cover at once and make it as pretty as I possibly can." "Yes, please, Lrssie. And you won't let Terry see it ? " " Not I ! Besides there is no fear of that, mv dear — ^Terry does not come up here -." And you promise not to tell him ? " « Not for the world," then added tenderly "Why that would spoil all your fun, dearie." And you won't tell him that we told you he has a sister will you?" Pearl persisted anxiously—" because if you once begin, you may forget and tell him about the album." "I won't breathe a word," said Lassie decidedly, and with their minds thus sot at rest the children went and brought the album, which they gave into her safe keeping and left there. As long as they were in the room, Lassie kept her composure pretty well, but when they were fairly gone and she knew that they would not be coming back for some little time, she let her hands fall into her lap and «„^« i^ovooif nr» tn, tlip fnll hittemess of the blow which had fallen upon her. ■ms^mmmm TEREY'S-SISTER. gg ^ His sister — Aw sister! Oh I how the innocent babble of the children had crushed her— crushed the very life and light out of her heart the poor, sore, aching, bleeding S "Iw^.f ^^^'' ^^'^ ^^y« ^^d begun to think that the summer might bloom for it again ! OhI fool, fool that she was! After such a long and dreary autumn as her life had been how could she be so mad, so mad as to look even for an Indian summer ? Fool that she had been, she had mistaken the kindly pity of one who had known her in her better days for a deeper and more tender teelmg than either he or any other man could ever feel for such a broken-down wreck as herself! Fool! Fool! At last she could bear her miserable thoughts and self-reproaches no longer • she got up and went to the glass which hung over the chmmey-shelf, where she stood and ^i;' '""^' ^^"^^^' 'y^^ w -d " What a fool I was," she muttered, shaking her head sadly-" what is there left about me tor such as him to see aught in ? " There was a good deal and Lassie would have been the first to see it, could slio but have looked at herself with Terry's eyes. There was a pretty refinement of appearance, a piquancy of feature, a pretty wave in the dark hair so fast turning grey, and an equally prettvshv exnrfission in iha rio,.ir _ ^ "^ ol looking up from under the thickly irincrea %«Wj»|»iMi»Aa^'"''i ■| ,|gpi^ -. BOOTLES' OHILDBEN. eyelids which if she had but known it, had stirred Terry's Ijeart just as it had been used to stir it years and years ago ; nor had he ever seen the same charm in any one of the Lizas and Follies and Susies, the suns who had at one time or other lighted his heart's firma- ment. But Lassie did not know it nor, for the matter of that, did she recognise the charms of her face at all ; she only saw, as she stood steadfastly regarding her reflection, that her hair was turning grey, that her face was sad and worn, and that her once plump and rounded figure was frail and wasted. " It was only pity," she murmured, as she turned away from the glass — "his heart is with this Polly— Aw sister T' She sat down again at the table and took up the piece of blue silk of which she was to make a cover for Terry's album. It was soon planned out and she threaded a needle with pale blue embroidery silk and soi out a little book of ornamental initials Wiiua was at hand in her basket. " I must have my iron for this,'* she mur- mured, and put her work down that she might set the iron to get hot ; then whilst she was waiting for it, she began restlessly to examine the album which the children had chosen for Terry's Christmas present. It was a rather large one, holding four small photographs on a single page, or one of cabinet size ; at the corners of the leaves were coloured iiorai desi^jus, and the spaces -^'^mm. f^^!!^^^ic TEERY'S-SISTEB. „ "Yes hilir- '^'^'''''S on arouad her. les—here it is— dear little souls I " « To Mr. William Terry, His little'fden' s!!' '"' ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ f--* « Pearl Winifred Ferrers. "Maud Ferrers. ;; Bertram Algernon Ferrers. OHARLEs Cecil Ferrers. .< T? r. ^^^^^ Madge Ferrers Ferrers Court, Christmas, 1887." For a short time Lassie stared at the dr^tp which bore the inscriDtion wJfi. /i ?^® "I am a fool," she said aloud and dried ?-*»**' -^,^-~' 0im*m- 88 BOOTIES' OHII.DREN. tier eyes resolutely — " crying for the moon I " and then she put her handkerchief away and fetched her iron from the fire, and having taken the impression from the pattern-book of the letters W and T, sat down and began diligently to embroider the initials for the cover of the album wherein the portrait of Terry's sister was to be enshrined. ^Ai. ■mm^^^^mmt CHAPTER XII. lassie's saorificb. With a light heart Terry started out for he jewellers on High street, and eXinJ n«r ll^'^\'°'"r^^* embarassed mLn^ p!f^/^¥.l to be shown some rings. Mr. ;•■""> ^^c juvveuer placed before him a. tray of temptmg looking jewels, but Terry —. '?■ U,aX^ mm fHiimtm: 10 BOOTLES' OHILUREN. quickly rejected sparkling diamonds and delicate pearls not because they were beyond his means, for he had an uncommonly good berth at Ferrers Court and had accumulated a very tidy bit of property, but because they were not exactly what he wanted. " These aren't what I want, Mr. Bond, any of 'em," he said pushing the trays away from him towards the jeweller. " I want the ring to be quite plain and heavy, with three stones set in level with the gold — like gentlemen wear sometimes." **OhI you mean gipsy-rings, Mr. Terry," said the jeweller who knew Captain Ferrers* head-groom well. " Yes, I daresay I do — and I want those pale blue stones — turk-waw, don't you call 'em ? " •* Yes — turcquoises," returned the jeweller. He cleared away the trays of rings and brought out another which was entirely filled with rings set with the pretty blue stones which are the emblems of good luck. •♦ Green's forsaken and yellow's for-sworn, And blue is the bonniest colour that's worn.** (( with much ' rings, Mr. Aye! that's it!" said Terry, satisfaction — "I like them sort o Bond, they're neat and 'andsome." He finally decided on a massive gipsy, set with three good-sized stones, and paid down five golden sovereigns and twice as many silver shillings with a pleasant feelincr that he could afford to be extravagant for once, and ■■••■■■•s,.^:^: LAmv/3 SACRIFICE. 91 quired the jeweller pleasaatly. ^ ' "" cauf^'il ^r'*"' * ^;? '"^'^^^ instantly. "I '^^"'i^y'^msnre, Mr. Bond." ' the door opened and Booties' two little daughters entered the shop. ^^^® they h^ T??l',^'- ^"°^'" «^id Pearl- children «m?^^^ '"'^^""«' *^« ^e^rers Shi i. '^^^ ^® ^^it here for Mother? She has gone to call on Mrs. Fordyce a tL fiectory-her little boy is yery ill "^ *^' Mr. Bond bustled round the counter fnr the polite mZ r^ Z ^""^ particularly to chlir^"'"'^'''^ ^"""^ Mes-let me set you a Terry. ..Good Wrning"^-—^-^" 93 BOOTLES- CHILDREN. expect to see you in Mr. Bond's shop. What nave you been buying ? " In the presence of the attentive 8hopkeeT)er ierry could not very well prevaricate " I've been buying a little present for— for— a friend, Miss Pearl, he answered, awkwardly. ^ « Oh, yes— a Christmas present," said . "/?, ^* ? present for a man— is it a breast- pin ? asked Maud. "No, it's a ring," cried Pearl. ««May we see r Now Terry would just have given the world that they should not see, but he did not quite like to say so or to snub them by reminding them of the difference between their station and his, and trying to make them understand that although it was very nice that they should be pleasantly friendly to him as Mr. Terry the head-groom in their father's stables, yet that they ought when they met him abroad clearly to remember that he was Terry the servant who touched his hat and expected scarcely a recognition in return. Even the most pleasant traits of character may have their disadvantages sometimes, and on this occasion Terry certainly found him- self wishing heartily that his master's family were in the habit of observing the general rule. But it was no use. Booties never passed the youngest and most insignificant man or wornaii-servani of hk esttibUsiimeut without LASSIirs SACHIFICE. 08 rhou"I'f '',™S""J"» ""J >"""1<1 as soon have Thus It never entered into their honest anrt J^^je'::7errshtrKir'''ii Ferrers wo^ulTCT d^^ atU^^^ .. L,r\P""'"y'" ^'"5 Maud. it;i?^te^^;^svi;/??'rr" wears," said Pearl ^ ""^ <^'*«i'« "ter's is a /i^. nfrrler andTl!^^."' '^^'^'' a7» bigger, and CKt%rdr,,."1 written inside-because Father gavi^jf"/!?^ you know when they were marred " '° ^'^ " """ ^^* eugagement ring, was it *" ''ii ■ -111 •* BOOTLES' OHILDREIf, Mr. Bond P You will remember Father buyinc that, he bought it here, didn't he ? " "Yes, I remember it well. Miss Ferrers," answered the jeweller, "the Captain i?ave eighty gumeas for it^it was a beautiful rinff. And I remember the blue one too— he bou^rht that of me and had the words written inside It. I remember it well." "I've often noticed it on the mistress's hand," remarked Terry, hoping devoutly that the conversation would now drift gently and naturally away from him and his ring alike. Vain hope I Pearl's very next question brought Him back sharply to the subject again I **And are you going to have anything written ^mside, Terry ?" she enquired. " No," broke in Maud, without waiting for Terry to reply, " people only put words inside rings when they're going to be married to the other people, and Terry said this was for a mend. "And a friend means a man," said Pearl, holding the ring out for inspection almost exactly as the jeweller had done a few minutes before, then added, " And what little hands he must have, it is not very much too large for me." ^ " But a man is not always a friend. I mean a friend is'nt always a man," cried Maud. " Is It, Terry ? " ** Not always. Miss Maud," answered Terry keeping an anxious eye on the door. "No, because I rPrnPTnh*»r 1 nar^r,^ i^4.^ ..U_ -»- •-•wiiiv/ XHUU hud » LtidSWa 8ACBIFICBL letter and you Sr1?w7 p" ''«"/«ading a when I a'kerC whJhe wTlt ^''""^ '""^ it wasn't a him/' ^ ''^^' y^" «aW "for fVe »e^;e^uStotr'"rP-r«'y. &Sr2°"r!„^f;r^'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Miss " A n^ K r^ ^P ^^'^ nie— thank vou fir»tto one little 'itdyLdthen"^!''''' J"^ and was gone. '^ "^« °^^fr wit7^vef falTJ!?"''" S''P«^ P«»rf. s'arina story to her omrtea out the whole should not be SqufsM^e J^" f ' ''"' y°" questions." '"^'""t've and ask so many She looked so fair and womanly, and smiled OS EOOTLES' CllILDRKN. SO pleasantly at the jeweller, that he wondered no longer at the attractiveness of her charming children. '• One might almost have thought," said he, in relating the incident to his wife afterwards, " that she knew all about the ring and who it was for and everything ! Aye, but I should think the servants at Ferrers Court do get a good time, they're the most pleasant- mannered people ever I knew, are Captain and Mrs. Ferrers." Met. itime, Mrs. Ferrers had specially charged her two little daughters not to say a word to a single soul about Terry or his ring. "Because, my darlings," she wound up, " we don't know who it is for, and you may just spoil a surprise he wants to give someone ; so be very careful not to breathe a word to a single soul." " Mother, we won't even t;ell Father," cried Pearl, earnestly. "I should think not," exclaimed Maud. " Why as likely as not, it's Father he is going to send it to." Mrs. Ferrers smiled at the idea of Terry presenting his master with a turcquoise ling but said nothing ; she was essentially a woman who knew when it was best to keep silence. And in due time Christmas morning came I Great was the excitement all over the Court, and especially in the nursery department, for the five youngsters had not only their own nresents to receive and admire but aiso to keep an eye on the various surprises which nmm^mi I^SSIE'S SACRinoB. 97 the new silk ^VZoh"'!'"^^^' ^""'^ Miatress were sSghertow Sf.^h"'- "l^ young ladies' maid lit! ■! .7 ^'^P''™'*' ">e was sent toher bj S fnTirT' ^'^ silver-bound prayer blttv^.''^""^''''"! "=« turtr„g"otrhtofffr'''"™°'?^^^''°« Terry in pale bC pith and ^7''" '"'™ ''°""d from the fivrchildren .'"'f ^ '"''^" ""^^^ master, a silver-monnM ,' ^.^^eque from the mistress, a pair of 1 "^"'^-."hip from the old friend iS comraf e '^ ^^"^'^ ^^"^ ^" breast-pin of doubtfulgoM serwlth' '.• *°"J that was not doubtf,,! „7 n T . * '''amond love " from PolW : ^ l"' ^''^^ ^ndest book, wWiher i^^n nf ' ^''°^' * '''"^ay. and the si.e oTh^ gloTerblTli ?""' \'!^y a dozen or so nfl ''^'ow it from Liza, Christmas cards frl n.T "^ ''^' «»«'«W bia acquaintance-W I*!":/"""? '"-^'^^ «' the smillest token jLZ' "if "'"'''• """ even from his orfrield, L&""'""'"^"'''^'"« -HI ' "^''^*'«'MNiiWBB?M*iit»'- CHAPTEE XTII. SANTA CLAUS AT FERRERS COURT, Fatienoe and abnegation of self and devotion to others, This was the lesson a life of trial and sorrow had taught her. — Evangeline. Now although Lassie had not thought fit to send her old friend Terry any token of kindly remembrance of the day which is, of all days, that of general peace and good-will, this did not alter the fact that on the pre- vious evening he had made the little box containing the turcquoise ring into a neat parcel and had given it to the good-natured and motherly Mrs. Humphie, with instruc- tions that she should convey it to her, with any other parcels or letters which she might receive on Christmas morning ; and Humphie had faithfully fulfilled her trust. So, when Lassie awoke, she found that the days of good old Santa Claus had come back for her and that her bed was spread with offerings. It seemed as if everyone about ^he place had sent her some token of their regard ; even Mrs. Lucy — Miss Mignon, that was — had SANTA CLAUS AT FERRERS COURT. 99 and :Tr'or4;V;- ^ » Pre«y card something from tha ^ . There was from the liSsln^.f'^ ^^^ something sent their7ffr;XrS: ofTh:'^^'^^" ^^^ invention. surprise of their very own And Mr. Browne flip Por.* • • and looked at her teasulr^"^ ^'' ?"'<"'» . she saw that there wa,'-^*'" ' f^ "'^'^ which she had ovJrln^t^"" *'"'*«■• o°e parcels. overlooked among the larger she cried aloud iu he?' •■;;^//<"''°-ly' " by thegirshf/* T' '^"°»' b«'ri'«lered finger afd gS We tr^'f "^^^"g" do, even when t W „ ^ ^ ^,^^ *^ ^^^^en beyond w^rds to :U?s T'^ V"' «^^ turned the box ovpT^ ?' "^^^ '^^^ she (for certain, that i/f'°^^ ""T ^ ^^^ o"^ plainly enoiaM fro^^ ,^^' ^"^^^ ^^^^ ^^r there Vas no™ J^^^ But seemed as if it IT^ u ^^ ,''» ^^^ at first it then in f,ir.^: ° — ""' '^^t^" "^ "S /n turmng over the paper in 7» ^m^^ ':»•>■ '^^mmmmmmm^-. 100 B00TLE8» CHILBREN. which it had been wrapped, she perceived some writing on the inner side. " To my old friend Lassie, with Bill's love.* Yes, that was what it said — "To my old friend, Lassie, with Bill's love.'* "He has only sent it as a friend," she thought bitterly, "it's good of him and generous— but it's that Polly that has his heart, his love," and then she put the ring up in her box again and thrust it for safe keeping under her pillow while she dressed. But all the time she kept thinking about it and wondering why he had chosen such a gift for her. "For a ring's like naught else," she mused. However, thinking and thinking did not solve the riddle for her and presently she went down to her breakfast, where she found Terry I There happened to be nobody in the room, and Terry had but just looked in in search of Browne and perhaps with just a hope of getting a glimpse of Lassie. He grew very red at the sight of her but stood his ground like a man, and she went up to him. " Bill, you sent me a pretty present this morning," she began — " and I felt ashamed of not even having sent you my good wishes. I've little else to give now, but I've plenty of them." "There's always your " -Self, he was going to say but the entrance of Browne imm^ SANTA CLAITS AT FERRERS COURT. loi made him stop short. But presently, after one or two others had come in, Lassie moved towards him again. « I wish it had been aught else but a ring, Bill," she said anxiously. ■ It might make mischief and " "There's always a way to prevent it's making mischief, my girl." said Terrv promptly. "^ " And that is ? " "To put a plain one along of it," Terrv blurted out bluntly. ^ He looked so big and frank and manly as he said It that any woman might have been torgiven for hking him too well. But Lassie was not looking at him at all, only at her own nervous fingers ; and just at that mo- ment the housekeeper turned round to Lassie and said-" Come, my dear, come, all the breakfast will be cold. Come, sit down. Come, Mr Terry, are you going to breakfast with us this morning ? " The kitchen-meals were quite a function at ±errers Court and were held in the Servants' ±la.l, a large and spacious room conducted very much on the lines of a sergeants' mess. At the head of the table sat the housekeeper —at the foot the cook ; the pantry-boy and the two kitchen-maids waited and re- placed the dishes and took their own meals at a side-table in the same room because there were more servants in the establishment than ---- ^.-....„j,,,^ i.cii^ic uuuiu accommodate; but this only applied to breakfast on Sundays and '^^mmmmmmm^* ft- «'•*.. .«is«A;„f^;. tIa-Mv..,..,,, iU JJOOTLtlS' CHILl)EEl». festivals and to the three o'clock dinner Other meals, such as tea and supper, were taken by some in the housekeeper's room and by others at this same table. It did not happen that Terry was able to secure the seat next to Lassie and before the meal was at an end, a message came for him to say that the master was out in the stables and that he was wanted. " We're so awfully late this morning," said Terry to the housekeeper, as he rose to go. There were several things that Captain Perrers wanted to say to Terry ere he went off across the park to the eleven o'clock service, and Terry had not a chance of speak- ing to Lassie again or indeed of seeing her until they met in church when she carefully avoided meeting his eye. Nor did he see any chance of getting a word in private with her at all, for the servants' dinner was at six o'clock that day being Christmas time, the company feast being always on that day at half-past eight. However, he had the chance sooner than he thought, for that afternoon, when the dusk was just beginning to fall, the door of the saddle-room was pushed gently open and Lassie herself entered. Terry jumped up from his chair and went to meet her, thrusting his pipe hastily into his pOviket the while. " Why, my girl," he cried joyously. " I'm itfsm^p ^- 6AKTA CLAIJS AT FERRERS COURT lOS right glad to see you. Come and sit you down by the fire." But Lassie, though she moved into the circle of light cast by the fire, did not sit down in the chair which Terry dragged for- ward for her. On the contrary she stood on the hearth and let her eyes wander round and round the room where she had found her firm friend on the awful night when her last little child died. "It's Christmas Day," she said in a low voice, "and I went to see my little Kate's grave this morning. There were fiowers, white ones as pure as snow, put there for her by the dear httle ladies ; but there was one little posy of violets that they had not taken and I think I have to thank you for it, Bill." " Well, I did carry a few flowers with me when I went to church this morning, Lassie," Terry admitted in a shame-faced way and with a half apologetic tone, "you see I thought you'd like it, my girl." "I did— I do," Lassie cried earnestly, « and I thank you from the very bottom of my heart, Uill. Nobody but you would have thought of it— you and the little ladies ! But it wasn't ^together for that I came out here to-day you sent me this, this morning. Bill. I didn't quite understand it till you said what vou said at breakfast, and I came to tell you that It can t be, BiU-and to bring it back to you. D--'- -. j^^a lo oiici iuu It ana the one to put along of it, but it can't be. I'm ?-mimmmm>mm^^> 104 old and BOOTLES' CHILDREN. and worn, and there* weary plenty of good girls who are fresh and young and have all their lives in front of them. Give it to one of them, Bill, and I'll stand her friend and yours as long as I live." " Hers — Whose ? " cried Terry, struck by some special significance in her tone. "That one they call Polly, Bill," said Lassie very meekly — " the one that passes for your sister sometimes." For a moment, Terry stood staring at her in open-mouthed puzzled amazement. " Polly — passes for my sister," he repeated blankly — then a light began to dawn upon him as he recalled the day when the little ladies had cross-questioned him about the photograph which Miss Maud had discovered lying on the desk — " My sister," he said again — " my sister — d her I " *-3lC3i6-<- 'Wlt^P'^ CHxVrTER XIV. HANGING iH THE BALANCE, " Strange is the heart of mtn, with its quick mysterious instincts ! Strange is the Vie of man, ani fatal or fated are moments Whereupon tuin— aj on hinges— the gates of the wall adamantine. — Miles Standish. " D her ! " Terry cried, with a sudden blaze of passion Avhen he saw what was passing in his old sweetheart's mind.; then pulled himself up short for he saw a shudder pass through Lassie's frame and guessed with the quick instinct of love that he had too painfully re-called the past to her — "I oughtn't to have said that, Lassie," he said humbly— " but I couldn't help it, I was so vexed for the minute to think that aught about any other girl should have come to your ears. But I see how it's been— the young ladies have been chattering to you and they've told a little more than they knew isn't that it, Lassie ? " "It was them told me about her," said Lassie very meekly. "It wasn't that they ■■'^^mmmmmmm- «4S-A'S^2,'?^^»tl«». , IM BOOTLBS' CHlLDRElf. meant to be telling anything only they brought their album to me to get a cover made for it and they just happened to tell me about your sister and how pretty she is— and — and — I knew you hadn't a sister, you know. Bill." ^ " Ah ; I guessed as much I I oughtn't to have told them that she was my sister at all —-and whenever I tell a lie, I always wish I hadn't afterwards— but what could I do ? The Captain lets them come about the stables freely, and I'd left the thing lying about and they wanted to know all about it, and who it was, and— and I just said it was my sister by way of stopping their mouths. All the same it didn't, for the Oapt'n come in and little Miss, she up and showed it to him ; and the Capt'n he says, * Well — here's your — sister, Terry.' He knew right enough that I'd neither a sister nor any other relation in the world.'* " "But if she's fond of you. Bill," cried Lassie, who was positively afraid to let herself drift on to this sea of happiness. She stood hesitating like one who hesitates to draw up a blind which hides the morning glory of the sun from her half awakened eyes—" If she's fond of you," she repeated. "Fond of me," cried Terry scornfully. **Pooh ! She cares no more for me than for a dozen other fellows here-abouts ; and if she did, what of that ? I've walked out with her, and 1 may have given her a kiss now and HANOINO IN THE BALANCE. 107 again, but as to marrying her, why I never thought of it." " But maybe she does," faltered Lassie. "Not she!" cried Terry. *'And if she does, why I can't help it. I never meant to marry her and I'm not going to marry her, and I don't believe she'd 'ave me if I was to go down on my bended knees and beg and pray of her. Why, my old sweetheart," he con- tinued in a softer tone — " don't you think I should have been married and done for long since, if it hadn't been that I've never met the likes of Lassie Wilcox again ? Of course, I should ; but that was just it — that was where the rub came in! I've been about in 'all sorts of places at one time or other, and I've trotted 'em out, all sorts of girls — but I never could bring myself to feel that I could tie myself to any one of 'em for good and all, from this end of my life to the other. And then when you came back again, so altered that I hardly knew you, I began to feel — well — I don't rightly know. But I do know that day I went with you to the little 'un's grave, I felt all at once as if, it you didn't stop with me for the rest of my life, I should just chuck up everything, the Capt'n and all." " You felt like that — for me?" murmured Lassie, a soft rosy colour stealing all over her pretty face. *-Just like that, my darling," Terry an- swered — ** and you'll let me put the ring on n Ml BOOTLES' CHILDRldi^ and, aff^f a bit, put another one again it, won't you ?" "Do you thiiiJr U's tight?" she cried, in a positive agony of doubt. "Eight, of course, it's right," Terry re- turned promptly. "Why, see here — here I am, head-groom to Capt'n Ferrers, his right- hand among his 'orses-— with a set o' rooms over here," pointing to the ceihng— " and all snug and comfortable. And the Capt'n always at me — * Why don't you get married, Terry ? Why, don't you follow my example and settle down? ' and so on. Well, as I've said to the Capt'n, times out of count — * If oh't^ I could meet with the right woman, I'g .settle down fast enough.* But even that's not every thing there is to be thought of ! I not only want to find the right woman but I'd like to find one as '11 please the Capt'n and the mistress, d' you see? And," in triumphant conclusion — " where'll I meet with a woman who'll do that as well as you will? Tell me that I But Lassie did not tell him that for she could not truthfully I So she gave up the battle against herself and let him draw her into his strong true arms and laid her head down upon his faithful heart like a uird which ha'i fluttered to rest or a storm-tossed ship that had suddenly got into port ! Some men might have been very angry that just then ''-ere was a sound of young feet scamperin,9f ^^^ti the yard, but Terry IlANOINd IN Till-: nAT.ANCE. 109 was too thoroughly hap])y to mind an inter- ruption from the two little ladies whose sweet friendliness had done so much to bring the light back to his sweetheart's eyes and the roses to her clifjks. "Oh! Vou hctu?" cried Pearl, as she saw that it was Lassie who was standitig on the hearlh talking to Terry. (C W came to see Terry's Christmas- presents," said Maud. "And oh! Terry, we do like our books very much. We are en chanted with them." " I'm very glad, missie. I thought you'd like 'em," said Terry beaming. "You look very happy, Terry," observed Maud scanning him closely. " Yes, missie, I am," he answered. " H'ra I And how many pre^sents did you have ? Oh ! that from Father, and that from Mother, and — why, which is Lassie's then ? " Lassie looked up at her sweetheart in mute distress, but Terry faced the situation boldly with his future's wife's hand in his. " Lassie has given me the best of all, missie," he said gladly — " she has given me — herself I " "Herself!" repeated Maud, not quite understanding him — "Oh! and are you gf 11,^ to marry her ? " «'Yes, missie," answered Terry proudly. " I'm going to marry her." " Then that was why you bought that ring ' — it is on her finsfer — " cried Maud — " Oh ! Lassie, how nice, how nice. You'll stay here f ^mmmummm ^ no BOOTLES' CHILDREN. always now, won't you?"— and then some- how the dear little arms found their way round Lassie's neck and Lassie could not help shedding a few happy tears on the tender and innocent haven of the child's slender shoulder. "When Major Lucy said to Mother that Mignon had given herself to him," said Pearl, "Mother called out— * Oh! Cecil, my dear Cecil let me kiss you '— so I think," with a very dignified copy of her Mother's manner, that I should like to give you a kiss, %M>#^*^ THE END. J I! ij ■ • . . • ^ \. » m m- m ■ft *W. »I0^-' -» rfH* *' m '\ \ 1 > j \ T^^ ^\, PW & POPULAR IfOVELS Canadian Copyright Editions. Scheherazade. By Florence Warden. Price 30 cts. From the Other Side. By the Author of " Olive Vabcoe." Price 40 cts. Monads Choice. By Mrs. Alexander. Price 30 cts. Maryel. By The Duchess. Price 30 cts. A Life Interest. By Mrs, Alexander. Price 30 cts. A. False Start. By Hawley Smart. Price 30 cts. 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